Chapter 622

Reina, tightly gripping her weapon as she departed from the Plov estate, resolved that she would stand and fight if any danger menaced the citizens of this land.

‘If his true purpose was to lure me here by taking me prisoner, then the entire Plov territory is being held over my head as a hostage.’

She desperately wished not to become an impediment to her son, Leo, but Reina understood all too well that such a wish was unrealistic.

Zorua wielded a terrifying power that she couldn’t have defeated even back when she was at the peak of her strength.

Furthermore, her Aura was completely gone.

Remaining sheltered inside the Plov estate would do nothing but turn her into a liability.

‘The solitary advantage right now is that his attention has drifted away from me entirely.’

The pathways of the Plov territory were currently teeming with a multitude of perils.

Even so, she believed facing those hazards was far better than remaining a helpless captive in that mansion.

Besides, the chaos filling the streets meant that the innocent people living here were in immediate jeopardy.

‘I can at least offer some assistance in shielding the local populace. Even if my Aura has vanished, the combat instincts and swordsmanship I forged over a lifetime haven’t abandoned me.’

It was undeniable that her lack of Aura left her physical form fragile and weakened.

Yet, Reina had never neglected her daily sword routines.

Naturally, pushing her body to its absolute limits would mean her stamina would rapidly deplete, and agonizing pain would inevitably take hold.

‘But this is no time to be coddling myself.’

The moment Reina finished steeling her resolve and stepped out into the open air, immediate chaos erupted.

Vicious monsters and terrifying magical beasts manifested out of nowhere.

To make matters worse, an unfamiliar magical beast began summoning a massive swarm of minor, airborne magical beasts.

‘So that must be the creature known as Fafnir.’

It was the very beast that had posed an existential threat to existence during the ancient Age of Calamity, resurfacing in Rumerin shortly after Leo commenced his studies there.

Though the Great Heroes had long ago driven that species to total extinction, it had somehow returned to plague the modern era.

And terrifyingly, this specific beast possessed the capacity to cast summoning spells.

An endless stream of creatures was pouring forth from the glowing invocation array.

‘This is entirely different from standard beast summoning techniques. The core structure of that magic relies on phantom beast invocation. What sort of monstrosity is this entity, truly?’

Reina felt a chill of horror at this unnatural display, but there was no luxury of time to ponder it.

The entire district had dissolved into utter pandemonium.

“Mom, run! Hurry, get out of here!”

“No! Ron, I can’t leave you!”

“Don’t worry about me, just move!”

Just ahead, a monster was closing in on some fleeing citizens.

A young boy who looked to be around Leo’s age was swinging his blade frantically, desperately attempting to shield a woman who appeared to be his mother.

Without a second thought, Reina bolted forward.

Thud!

She cleanly severed the neck of a lesser beast from behind.

Thump!

Targeting its absolute weakest point, Reina brought the low-level magical beast down instantly, tightly bracing herself against the jarring impact that rattled up her arm.

While it might have looked like a simple, effortless strike to an observer, it was anything but.

She had executed a flawless strike on the creature’s weak spot, drawing upon the deep combat instincts she had honed through countless life-or-death struggles decades ago.

She relied strictly on refined technique to make up for her distinct lack of physical power.

It was a small victory earned entirely through the element of surprise.

‘Though having such a finely crafted weapon certainly helps.’

Reina glanced down at the blade clenched in her fingers.

It truly deserved to be called a masterwork.

This marked her first genuine engagement in two decades.

‘If this were the past, I would have reduced it to ashes in an instant.’

Swallowing a bitter wave of nostalgia, Reina offered a gentle, reassuring smile to the shivering boy.

“Are you hurt?”

“I-I’m okay, big sis.”

“Oh? Well, thank you.”

Reina pressed a hand to her lips, blinking in mild surprise at the compliment.

“Wait…! You’re the Lady of the Domain?!”

The boy’s mother suddenly recognized Reina’s face, her eyes widening in shock.

The young boy looked equally stunned as his mother’s words registered.

Observing the panicked pair, Reina instructed them firmly:

“Take your mother and make haste to the emergency bunkers. The Knights will ensure your safety.”

“M-My Lady, you need to flee to safety as well!”

Reina shook her head softly at the older woman’s frantic plea.

“No, I have to ensure the safety of the rest of our people. That is my responsibility.”

Uwoooooooh!

Another predatory beast caught sight of the group and began barreling toward them.

The mother and son froze in sheer terror.

Facing the oncoming threat, Reina adjusted her grip, holding her weapon securely with both hands.

“Do not worry for my sake, just run.”

“Right, right! Come on, Mother, we have to move!”

“But… the Lady…”

“I am more than capable of handling these pathetic creatures.”

Reina offered a comforting, serene smile to the trembling woman who was looking at her with deep anxiety.

It was a facial expression Reina had used frequently in her youth.

Beholding that confident smile, the middle-aged woman felt an unexpected wave of calm wash over her.

“Young man.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Keep your mother safe, understood?”

“Yes! I’ll protect her even if it costs me my life!”

“That is the wrong answer.”

“Huh?”

“You must ensure you survive as well. If you don’t, your mother’s heart will break.”

“Ah… I understand!”

The boy quickly grasped his mother’s arm and hurried away from the danger zone.

As they fled, the image of Reina’s slender but unyielding silhouette remained deeply impressed upon the youth’s mind.

‘All those hours practicing dramatic poses in front of my bedroom mirror back during my academy days actually proved useful.’

She had spent considerable effort practicing facial expressions meant to comfort others and routines designed to project unwavering confidence during crises.

Those old habits were paying off beautifully now.

‘Sister! That is completely useless!’

Reina smiled inwardly as a memory surfaced of her kicking her younger brother Zis Gerdinger for howling with laughter at her antics.

“Well, I may have exaggerated my capabilities a bit, but…”

Grrrroooooooaar!

A massive, bear-like magical beast armed with razor-sharp talons roared fiercely, swinging a heavy paw downward.

Crash!

Narrowly evading the crushing blow, Reina lunged into the beast’s guard, aiming a sharp strike directly at its throat.

Thud!

The edge of her weapon bit into the creature’s neck.

However, the blade ground to a halt halfway through, unable to pierce any deeper.

“Tch! Just as I feared, my raw physical strength falls short against a Blood Bear.”

Undeterred by the failed strike, Reina smoothly disengaged her weapon and leaped backward, putting distance between herself and the furious Blood Bear.

Kyaaaaaaaaaa!

As the Blood Bear lunged forward, snapping its jaws wide with its forelegs raised high, Reina took a measured breath and dropped low into a crouch.

KABOOM!

The ground where Reina had stood a fraction of a second prior exploded under the brute force of the Blood Bear’s maw and claws.

Using that exact moment, Reina propelled herself high into the air.

A sharp ache flared through her joints and leg muscles.

“I haven’t reached grandmother status just yet!”

Reina taunted the beast, throwing her body into a rapid aerial rotation.

Flutter-flutter-flutter!

Spinning aggressively to generate maximum momentum, she descended like a falling star, driving her blade straight down toward the Blood Bear’s neck.

Every ounce of residual strength she could muster was focused entirely into the very edge of her sword.

CRUNCH!

With the accumulated force of the fall, she shattered the Blood Bear’s neck structure.

The blade tore through the dense muscle and thick leather hide as if it were nothing.

Yet, the sheer impact sent a sickening jolt through her wrist, making it feel as though the bone had cracked.

Reina ignored the sensation entirely.

“Cough! Cough-!”

The intense physical exertion left her internal organs reeling from the strain.

Reina hacked violently, her lungs burning, and spat a small splatter of crimson onto the earth.

Regrettably, there was no window to recover.

“Uwaaaaaaaah!”

In the distance, a crowd of dozens of citizens was fleeing from a pack of avian magical beasts.

Thump-thump!

Reina forced her protesting muscles to move once more, leaping into action.

Utilizing the ledges and architecture of the surrounding structures, she scaled her way to the rooftops, sprinting toward a grotesque, eagle-faced flying monster before throwing herself onto its back.

“Where do you think you’re taking those people?!”

Thud!

Kieeeeeek!

Reina buried her steel deep into the avian beast’s neck.

The blade pierced flesh, though it missed the fatal core by a hair.

Thanks to the creature’s immense resilience, it remained airborne despite the torrent of blood pouring from the wound.

Kieeeeeeeek-!

The flying magical beast veered sharply upward into the sky, thrashing wildly in an attempt to dislodge the rider on its back.

Reina’s expression turned icy cold.

Thud!

She wrenched the embedded blade even deeper into its neck.

Chirp!

The avian monster shrieked in agony, dipping its altitude slightly in response to the pain.

‘I need to ensure it doesn’t expire before I can safely return to solid ground.’

Just as a shadow of concern crossed Reina’s features, a magnificent, snow-white Pegasus soared into view amidst the chaos.

Reina’s eyes brightened at the sight. She manipulated her blade to steer the failing monster toward the Pegasus’s flight path.

As the two creatures drew level, she delivered a final, decisive slice to her mount’s neck and leaped gracefully onto the back of the Pegasus.

“And that is how I ended up here.”

“That was incredibly reckless! If a single thing had gone awry, you could have lost your life!”

“But everything turned out perfectly fine in the end, didn’t it?!”

“Aaaah! Talking to you is absolutely impossible!”

“My brother used to tell me the exact same thing. Ohhohohohoho!”

“How can you possibly be laughing right now?!”

Celia clutched her head in frustration, letting out a sharp cry.

“Lady Reina. Your devotion to your people, along with your unyielding spirit… I am profoundly touched. Knowing that a legendary figure like Lady Reina once walked the halls of Rumerin fills me with immense pride.”

“Oh, my~ You flatter me.”

“The profound emotion I harbor for Lady Reina… it can only be described as true love.”

“That counts as infidelity!”

Celia barked back, her cheeks flushing crimson, while Ulta merely offered a bewildered expression.

“What sort of scandalous notions are occupying your mind, Celia? Love manifests in countless ways. Romantics between genders isn’t the sole definition of love. Deep admiration and profound respect are equally valid expressions of love.”

“Ugh! Senior Ulta, you phrased that in a manner that was bound to be misinterpreted…”

“Not whatsoever. What sort of wild fantasies do you normally indulge in to immediately leap to such a conclusion, my dear niece?”

“Hmm, perhaps I should share this conversation with Lis later on…”

“Don’t you dare! Do not say a word to her! If you do, I cannot be held responsible for my actions!”

Celia shrieked in protest.

Reina giggled softly, thoroughly amused by Celia’s dramatic reaction.

Right at that moment, the surrounding airborne monsters spotted the trio and began radiating intense hostility.

Noticing the shift, Ulta called out,

“Celia, if you please.”

“Understood!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Celia plunged off the back of the Pegasus.

Whoosh-whoosh!

A swirling vortex of massive fire erupted around Celia’s form, instantly vaporizing the encroaching monsters into ash.

Reina smiled warmly as she observed the blazing Aura fire, which easily rivaled high-tier destructive magic.

‘It really brings back memories of the old days…’

Watching Celia, Reina could see a clear reflection of her younger self.

Ulta turned to Reina, asking in a hushed, protective tone,

“Are you holding up alright?”

“Yes. I am fine. And you have my gratitude, Ulta. Thank you for drawing that girl’s attention away before she could spot my true state.”

Reina’s limbs were shuddering violently.

The tremors she had forced herself to contain until now were rushing back all at once.

It was the inevitable physical consequence of overtaxing her body without Aura to protect it.

If Celia had caught on to her exhaustion, she would have been too distracted by worry to fight effectively.

“That girl… she commands an extraordinary amount of power, but her youth leaves her vulnerable, which concerns me.”

Maintaining a steady, unshakeable focus even when comrades fall or suffer grievous wounds is a harsh necessity.

Such emotional detachment is a vital quality required of a true hero.

And Celia was still far too tender in years to possess that kind of cold resilience.

“We shall make landfall as swiftly as possible.”

“Take your time, I am perfectly fine.”

Kwagagagagang!

Leo, gripping Zorua firmly by the skull, slammed him brutally into the terrain, dragging his face through the dirt.

“Graaaaaaaah!”

A maddened, animalistic shriek tore from Zorua’s throat.

Releasing his hold on the thrashing figure, Leo delivered a crushing kick.

Whoosh! Kwagagagagang!

Zorua’s form sailed through the air like a cannonball before crashing hard into a structure.

Thud-thud

Leo walked toward the embedded figure with a cold, unreadable expression.

“This is impossible…”

Zorua croaked, his voice thick with disbelief.

At this very moment, Leo was utterly dominating him using nothing but raw Aura.

He hadn’t even resorted to any of Kyle’s legendary sword techniques.

Instead, he was effortlessly picking Zorua apart using solely the unique flames and swordsmanship of the Gerdinger lineage.

Every single countermeasure Zorua attempted was rendered utterly useless against the oppressive heat of Leo’s flames.

“See? I told you how this would go.”

Leo remarked casually.

Thud! Whoosh-whoosh!

“Graaaah!”

Leo’s blade flashed, carving into Zorua’s flesh.

The man writhed on the ground in pure agony.

“You do nothing but degrade the techniques you steal. A god? Don’t make me laugh.”

Leo brought his boot down hard on Zorua’s skull, grinding it into the dirt, and noted,

“That marks the fifteenth time.”

Leo gazed down at his opponent with completely detached, empty eyes.

“Tell me. If you perish while relying on an inherited ability, that specific power becomes locked to you forever, and you forfeit one of your lives, correct?”

Zorua flinched violently at the statement.

‘How could he possibly know that?’

This particular trait was a hidden boon granted to him upon his resurrection by the King of the Dead.

It was an obscure mechanic that possessed absolutely no written record within the history of this world.

Yet, Leo had managed to dissect the fundamental rules of the ability through a mere brief skirmish.

To Zorua, this revelation was terrifying.

For Leo, however, having survived the chaotic anomalies of the Age of Calamity meant that figuring out an adversary’s hidden traits was second nature.

Back in the era when Erebus’s dark favor cast a shadow over the land, there were countless fiends wielding powers far more convoluted than anything Zorua could offer.

Leo tilted his head slightly.

“How many more times must I execute you before you stay dead permanently?”

Zorua’s entire frame trembled.

It wasn’t born of terror.

It was absolute, consuming fury.

‘This brat… he’s treating me like nothing more than an insect…! How dare he…!’

“You… I will tear you apart for this… Leo Plov!”

Zorua hissed out the vow, formatting each syllable with venomous rage.

“I have no further use for your stolen magic! Just perish…!”

Thud!

Leo stomped down once more, pulverizing Zorua’s head into pieces.

Right at that moment.

Leo sensed an unnatural sensation brush against his foot.

Simultaneously, the rapidly mending jawbone of Zorua began to clatter, emitting a mocking laughter.

“Now, experience the true dread of the Queen of Monsters! Leo Plov!”

“What?”

The moment Leo’s brows knit together in suspicion, a glowing notification materialized right before his eyes.

Upon reading the contents, Leo’s expression instantly turned grim.

Ever since his initial year at the academy, a singular riddle had plagued his mind.

Five millennia ago.

How could the Fafnir species, which they had personally wiped from the face of the earth, suddenly emerge in the modern world?

Granted, a previous Legion Commander, the Poison King Zardiac, had made an appearance prior to this.

However, that scenario was fundamentally similar to the method he had utilized to guide Luna and Arion into the external realm.

It occurred because Tartarus had expended a portion of the stolen remnants of Erebus’s power that it held within its grasp.

Just like their own faction.

Tartarus was fully capable of utilizing Hero Records.

Furthermore, any historical entity manifested through the medium of Hero Records constantly drains vitality just by maintaining a physical presence.

While undeniably potent, squandering the precious energy of Erebus on a common magical beast—one that didn’t even hold the status of a Legion Commander—was an egregious waste of resources.

The exact same rule would apply even if they had transported a physical monster egg.

The creature hatching from such an egg would still ultimately be a manifestation generated via Hero Records.

‘The functions we can perform using Hero Records can be replicated by them as well. They can even infiltrate the domains of the heroes.’

Following that logic.

He had previously entertained the theory that their adversaries might also possess the ability to claim completion rewards, identical to their own system.

[Legion Record Open. World of Silatuna. Chapter: Prologue – Forest of Monsters.]

And that long-held suspicion transformed into an absolute certainty the very second the holographic prompt materialized in the air before him.