Chapter 693

693.

“Is everyone prepared?”

Artian asked with a solemn expression, gazing toward Dweno’s workshop looming in the distance.

“Our objective is to obliterate the Legion’s archives as swiftly as possible. To that end, the moment we breach the Legion’s realm, we must locate the most direct route.”

Hearing this, Luke lifted his hand.

“Do you have a inquiry, Luke?”

“How exactly do we track down the Legion’s records once we are inside the Legion’s world?”

“When entering the Hero’s World via the core of the Hero Dungeon, there is always a location where space itself is conspicuously warped. The Legion’s World should follow a similar pattern.”

The group nodded in agreement with Artian’s reasoning.

“Karl, please assume leadership.”

“Understood.”

“Very well, let us set off immediately—”

“What brings you all here?”

“Ah, Lord Dweno.”

Artian turned around at the sound of the voice and gave a respectful nod.

Upon seeing Dweno appear, both Chelsea and Karl visibly tensed.

“The city is currently facing a dire crisis. Your strength is needed out there.”

Driana stepped forward to speak, observing Dweno’s apologetic demeanor.

“Yes! That is precisely why we are aiming to shatter the barrier right now, so we can call for reinforcement from the outside!”

“Oh? Is that the case?”

Dweno expressed admiration and gently patted Driana’s head.

“Hey, what’s the plan?”

When Karl murmured the question, Chelsea bit her lip anxiously.

Dweno still held the memories of his past triumph over the previous Hero’s World.

Because of this, he had deliberately concealed the gateway to the Legion’s World.

He wanted to reveal to the citizens of Ivaldi what lay ahead for them.

Chelsea and Karl had kept this truth hidden from the rest of the group.

As it directly involved Leo’s confidential matters, they could not speak of it carelessly.

They had merely informed the others that a pathway to the Legion’s World lay beneath Dweno’s workshop.

Yet now, Dweno himself had arrived.

Dweno was fully aware.

The very instant they crossed over into the Legion’s World.

The existence of the Ivaldi people would reach its conclusion.

‘Lord Dweno is going to obstruct us.’

Just as Chelsea began to sweat nervously from the realization.

Thud—!

Karl gave Chelsea’s arm a gentle nudge.

Chelsea looked up at Karl, her expression stiffening.

Karl gave a subtle tilt of his chin toward Dweno.

‘…Understood. There is no other option.’

Chelsea clamped down on her lip.

The precise moment her resolve solidified.

Swish—!

Chelsea unleashed a gale incantation, utilizing her specialized rapid-casting technique.

A fierce tempest suddenly slammed into Dweno.

“Chelsea! What is the meaning of—!”

“Sprint to the workshop!”

Chelsea yelled frantically.

Simultaneously, she directed the currents of wind to propel her companions directly toward the workshop.

Though startled by the abrupt turn of events, the group quickly yielded to Chelsea’s magic.

It was an incredibly sudden and impulsive move, but they chose to trust her intent for the time being.

Such was the profound trust they placed in their ally.

“What on earth is happening! What are you doing!?”

As Driana demanded an explanation in shock, Karl clarified the situation.

“Lord Dweno remembers our previous victory here!”

“What did you say?”

Driana’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“He knows that obliterating the Legion’s records will cause the people of Ivaldi to vanish! That is why he deliberately concealed the entrance despite knowing its location!”

Hearing this, astonishment rippled through the entire party.

Illiana began to stammer.

“Th-that would mean…”

“Yes.”

Karl glanced over his shoulder, breaking into a cold sweat.

Dweno, who had been pushed far back by Chelsea’s gale, was already rising to his feet.

“It means Lord Dweno will actively block our path.”

“…I would honestly prefer to face the Giant King a thousand times over.”

Illiana wore a look of utter despair.

Underneath the fading night sky of the early morning.

Dweno, having recovered from the impact of Chelsea’s wind spell, stood upright.

“Hmm.”

Brush, brush—he swept the debris from his attire, watching Chelsea retreat into the distance.

“An impressive display of rapid incantation.”

He had heard tales of her youth.

Yet, to effortlessly manifest magic of this caliber in an instant.

‘With further growth, she might truly rival Luna’s speed in casting. Her future is bright.’

Dweno, processing these thoughts, let out a melancholy smile.

‘The future, is it.’

What he was attempting right now might very well strip them of that future.

‘A reckless path to take.’

Yet, he felt powerless to act otherwise.

The citizens of Ivaldi.

To Dweno, they held a place in his heart just as significant as the Great Heroes.

During his youth.

He had abandoned his birthplace simply to gain mastery over the golden flames that felt more like a curse.

It was Ivaldi that had embraced him.

The very people he had ultimately failed to safeguard.

‘The time has arrived to finally lay to rest this lingering sorrow after passing.’

He did not desire grand things.

He merely wished for them to experience the daylight once more.

‘I must place my faith in Kyle.’

A true champion, far surpassing his own capabilities.

Kyle would undoubtedly bring down Gias.

In the same manner he had stubbornly triumphed over Erebus.

Dweno lowered his stance, bending his knees.

At that exact instance.

“He’s moving!”

Following Karl’s shout, Dweno launched himself forward with staggering velocity.

Crackle—!

Duran immediately moved to intercept.

With his golden eyes gleaming, Duran swung his blade using both hands.

Arcs of lightning sliced through the shadows.

Flash!

Concurrently, Eliza called forth Pegasus.

The wild golden lightning crackling in the air was instantly drawn into Eliza’s Pegasus.

Just as Dweno noted this and prepared to strike the pair.

Flash—!

Illiana materialized directly in front of Dweno in a burst of light.

Luke, Aina, and Havidon followed closely, driving their blades forward from right behind her.

‘Magnificent.’

Dweno felt a pang of admiration.

When they had first crossed paths.

They were incapable of mounting a proper offensive against him.

But the situation had changed entirely.

They were now pushing past their limits to hold him back.

“Splendid.”

Dweno commended the resolve of these emerging warriors.

And yet…

“Wait?! You aren’t even attempting to avoid it?!”

Illiana panicked for a split second, realizing Dweno wasn’t making any effort to evade or parry her incoming blade.

Even so, the sharp momentum of her weapon did not waver.

Clang clang clang—!

Four blades struck Dweno’s frame simultaneously.

Immediately after, the weapons recoiled off him.

“Evade? Why should I feel compelled to?”

Dweno tilted his head slightly and executed a swift, light tap with his fingertip just beneath Illiana’s jawline.

Thump—!

“Kh?!”

Leaving Illiana to tumble backward, Dweno casually advanced right into the oncoming electrical onslaught unleashed by Eliza and Duran.

Zapzapzapzap!

A torrential burst of lightning completely enveloped Dweno.

Even under this barrage, his pace did not falter in the slightest.

“How is this possible?!”

Shock washed over the group.

Dweno, effortlessly bypassing Arhi’s faction, took up a solid stance right before the entrance of the workshop.

“Hmm. That carries a bit of a sting.”

Dweno massaged his shoulder and rotated his neck.

“Liar! That is completely a lie!”

“Illiana senior, are you unharmed?”

“Uh, wait?”

Prompted by Aina’s inquiry, a bewildered Illiana began checking herself over for injuries.

She couldn’t find a single spot that ached.

“A person shouldn’t inflict harm on young companions, should they?”

Dweno crossed his arms and offered a gentle grin.

“Regardless, your offenses pose very little danger to me.”

“Tsk!”

Duran grimaced with irritation.

Even if it was the reality, it was infuriating to hear.

“Therefore, please retreat.”

“And if we refuse?”

In response to Chelsea’s query, Dweno smiled softly.

“I plan to incapacitate every single one of you.”

“You just claimed you wouldn’t harm us.”

“There exist numerous methods to neutralize a combatant without causing physical injury. Take this, for instance.”

Dweno shifted his focus toward Karl.

The exact moment Karl recoiled.

Swish—!

Boom—!

In that very brief window.

A fist came hurtling directly toward Karl’s face.

Artian, who had thrust his own fist out to intercept right before Karl’s nose, was drenched in a cold sweat.

Dweno had unleashed a punch that propelled a dense bullet of pressurized air toward Karl’s skull.

While it wouldn’t kill or permanently damage him, a direct hit to the face would have knocked him cold instantly.

“Whoa! Professor! My thanks!”

Hearing Karl’s gratitude, Artian bellowed.

“Listen well, rookies! Fight Lord Dweno with the absolute intent to slay him! Your adversary is a Great Hero renowned as the ultimate shield long before he earned the title of Divine Blacksmith! Assume battle positions!”

Artian tightened his fist and advanced.

Karl quickly moved toward Driana.

“Driana! Prepare yourself for combat.”

“Ah, I still cannot comprehend this! There is no way Lord Dweno would disregard the peril of the world… For what reason? Why?”

Driana was visibly distraught.

Observing her inner turmoil, Karl spoke gently.

“Lord Dweno is human as well. He possesses an incredibly noble spirit, but… he is far from a flawless entity.”

“…!”

“Is it truly bizarre for him to harbor something he treasures more than the world itself?”

At Karl’s words, Driana bit her lip hard.

She then adopted a look of fierce resolve and moved to the front line.

“You will find it impossible to breach my defense. Thus, I suggest you step down.”

When Dweno delivered the statement with absolute calm, Chelsea let out a smile.

“Regrettably, our commander is someone who simply does not comprehend the concept of quitting.”

“…You have instructed them excellently.”

Dweno closed his eyes briefly.

“In that case, I have no choice but to force that realization upon you.”

The onslaught of the Legion persisted without a moment’s pause.

The siege warfare had reached its peak.

Defensive artillery atop the ramparts discharged continuously, striking down the fiends and beasts that sought to scale the defenses.

Sorcerers unleashed incantations.

The combatants of Ivaldi resisted with immense bravery.

‘For what reason! Why has Dweno not shown himself!’

Gias seethed with anger at the unfolding scene.

‘Is it possible… he is completely absent from this conflict? Could he have fled?’

That was an impossibility.

Dweno was an unbending soldier.

Gias understood Dweno’s character better than most.

Dweno would never choose flight.

Yet, regardless of how he analyzed the current battlefield, he could not shake the unsettling reality that Dweno was nowhere to be found.

Right at that moment.

Rumble—!

A segment of the defensive wall fractured and collapsed.

The focal point of the Legion’s charge immediately pivoted toward the breach.

Ivaldi’s spellcasters scrambled frantically to mend the opening.

‘Precisely! Facing a disaster of this scale, he will no longer be able to remain hidden!’

Dweno had to be lurking in the shadows.

His conviction that Dweno would show up was bound to be validated at any moment.

And yet…

Only Leo remained prominent across the warzone.

Dweno was still entirely missing.

Leo stood alone, holding back the overwhelming tide of the Legion.

During this desperate stand, the breach in the wall was narrowly sealed.

The moment that sight registered.

“Groaaaaaaaar!”

Gias let out a thunderous bellow and began his charge.

The movement of the Giant King triggered what felt like a massive seismic event.

The terrain across the entire sector began to tremble violently.

“Tsk.”

Leo clicked his tongue as he witnessed the advance.

“Why is he making his move only now?”

When Ar questioned in a panicked tone, Leo responded with total composure.

“That individual is inherently timid.”

Possessing an excessively calculating disposition.

“Well, owing to his miscalculation, I managed to fight with relative ease until now… though it appears that advantage has reached its limit.”

Leo stepped out to the front.

“D-do you require backup?”

To Ar’s offer, Leo shook his head in refusal.

“This level of combat is premature for you.”

“You possess the capability to triumph on your own, correct? After all, you are Lord Kyle! Is that not right?!”

“It appears improbable this time.”

Leo cast a gaze down at the center of his hand.

Sacred energy had completely failed to manifest since his arrival in the Legion’s domain.

Because the Legion’s labyrinth was fundamentally the territory of Erebus—which served as the direct counter to sacred attributes—he was rendered incapable of evoking divine intervention.

“Ugh! Then why do you remain so incredibly unbothered!”

As Ar frustratedly tugged at her hair, Leo offered a gentle smirk.

“He will arrive.”

“Pardon?”

“Dweno will make his appearance.”

That was absolute conviction.

A deep trust forged with someone to whom he had surrendered his safety over countless years.

“Without a doubt.”

Leaving those parting words, Leo sprinted directly toward Gias.

“Surviving Hero Kyyyyle! Where have you hidden Dweno!”

Gias roared, elevating his colossal blade high into the air.

Leo, observing the descent, tightened his grip on Posteritas and let out a mocking smile.

“He is currently lying in wait to claim your head.”

“Cease your groundless falsehoods!”

A slender blade radiating a dull silver luminescence clashed violently against a monolithic greatsword charged with malevolent sorcery.

—!

The monsters in the immediate vicinity were instantaneously reduced to ash.

Among the creatures positioned further away, countless entities perished as their forms ruptured from the pressure.

“The audio…?”

Despite the monumental spectacle occurring right before her, she could register absolutely no sound.

Ar, highly disoriented, suddenly noted that her own internal thoughts felt entirely muffled.

Drip!

“Uh, wait?”

She instinctively raised a hand to her ear, noting a distinct moisture.

A sticky residue adhered to her fingertips.

Crimson fluid was trickling from her ear.

‘What on earth… what an immensely savage clash!’

Ar’s eyes expanded in sheer shock.

This represented the true scale of an encounter between a Great Hero and a Legion Commander.

“Ugh! When is Lord Dweno going to show up? Is gathering his armaments taking this long?”

Ar stamped her feet in anxiety.

At that exact instant, Enniha, who had been directing the forces across the field, tightly balled her fist.

“Radon.”

“Yes! Lord Enniha!”

“Oversee the command structure for a brief period.”

“Eh? Where are you heading…?”

“That insufferable dwarf! I am going to strike him square in the face and haul him out here myself!”

Enniha, grinding her teeth in fury, stormed off in the direction of Dweno’s workshop.