Chapter 694

Volume 1 Chapter 694

694.

The confrontation between Leo and Gias.

From a mere single impact, the entire environment was thrown into absolute ruin.

Every living being near the epicenter of the crash was instantly reduced to a gory pulp.

Those crimson remnants vaporized completely, vanishing without a single mark.

The geography of the immediate landscape began to transform.

Boom—!

The very air warped, and Leo was propelled backward.

Crash—!

Resembling a falling star, Leo arched through the sky before violently slamming into the earth.

The neighboring terrain was thoroughly ravaged by the resulting impact wave.

A dense cloud of debris erupted.

Fiends and horrific creatures began to swarm the area.

Roar—!

A swirling torrent of fire roared past, incinerating the nearby fiends and horrific creatures.

Those monsters and fiends that escaped total incineration shrieked in agony.

Yet, even as their flesh burned, the monsters and fiends radiated murderous malice and rushed blindly toward the heart of the blaze.

Slash—!

A streak of ash-gray sliced through the atmosphere.

Splat—!

The torsos of the fiends were cleanly bisected by a razor-sharp blade strike, tumbling across the ground.

Step— Step—

Emerging from the inferno, Leo casually rolled the shoulder of the arm that held his weapon.

He then directed his gaze toward Gias, who remained positioned at a distance.

‘It is a manifestation of divine authority.’

An absolute prerogative, a unique capability possessed exclusively by the paramount Greater Demons.

Even so, the divine authorities wielded by Legion Commanders are of a separate caliber.

The traits possessed by subordinates under a Legion Commander are merely granted by their superior, whereas a Legion Commander’s own divine authority is given directly by Erebus.

This explained why the Legion Commanders of this current era possessed less power than their historical predecessors.

It came down down to whether they possessed this divine authority or not.

A Legion Commander, though incredibly formidable on their own, was essentially an incomplete entity without this absolute trait.

Following the containment of Erebus, Gias had also been stripped of his divine authority.

‘Granted, they are such aberrations that even stripped of that power, they still far outclass the Legion Commanders produced during the Age of Heroes.’

Yet right now.

Gias had successfully reclaimed his divine authority.

He had received the essence of Erebus, who lingers within the realm of the Legion.

‘The nature of his divine authority is Berserker.’

The instant it is unleashed, his physical capabilities scale exponentially, reshaping him into an apocalyptic entity that brings forth devastation and obliteration.

It was basic, but because of that unvarnished nature, it stood out as one of the most destructive divine authorities among all the Legion Commanders.

Furthermore, the divine authority of a Legion Commander also permeates their entire army.

Consequently, the overall combat capacity of the Giant King’s Legion was now significantly elevated.

Though straightforward and devastating, Gias’s personal trait carried a glaring flaw.

It reduced him to a mindless predator governed purely by the urge to destroy.

Gias is fundamentally prone to extreme wariness.

In the grand scheme of a massive conflict, that hesitation can sometimes backfire on him.

Just as it had occurred moments ago.

‘Had he advanced immediately rather than being intimidated by Dweno, things would have turned grim.’

But Gias allowed his wariness of Dweno to get the better of him, committing the error of stalling the Legion’s forward drive during their initial engagement.

He inadvertently granted Ibaldi sufficient time to construct a formidable perimeter.

Nevertheless, that hesitation does not invariably work against him.

There are moments when his careful calculations and endurance transform into Gias’s ultimate assets.

‘This is particularly true in a solitary duel.’

The crushing pressure projecting from his massive frame is undeniably terrifying.

Yet, that physical size also presents a vulnerability, creating a substantial target area.

Because of this, Gias meticulously plans his approach when facing an individual adversary.

He avoids reckless charging even when holding a distinct advantage.

Dealing with Gias under the influence of Berserker is typically a straightforward matter.

One must either match his raw output or, failing that, lure him into an ambush.

Regrettably, the current Gias retained his cognitive faculties despite unleashing Berserker.

What was worse, his divine authority felt vastly more potent than what Leo recollected.

Fwoosh—

Calamitous embers erupted across Gias’s form.

He had not merely augmented his capabilities through his absolute trait alone.

At this moment, Gias was basking in the direct favor of Erebus.

‘To receive the blessing of Erebus, a profound personal toll must be paid.’

Observing the phenomenon, Leo narrowed his vision.

‘Remarkable… did he actually offer up an alternate version of himself as the tribute?’

The present Gias had consumed his past iteration.

From those skeletal remains and flesh, he had forged his defensive plate and armaments.

The blade held in Gias’s grip.

That weapon had been fashioned out of Gias’s own spinal column.

‘The divine authority wasn’t anchored to Gias himself, but rather to his equipment.’

He had fully transferred his essence to his future counterpart.

And he had anchored his awareness directly inside his vertebrae.

An instinctive revulsion welled up from such a grotesque display.

‘He has become an absolute abomination.’

Leo shifted into a lower stance.

‘Judging by the effort required to eliminate him… he stands on the same tier as Jörmungandr.’

Jörmungandr, the King of Gluttony, whom Leo and Lisinas had barely managed to overthrow by uniting their full capabilities.

A lone Legion Commander who commanded no forces whatsoever.

The supreme fiend, someone who could rightfully be considered an entire military force unto himself.

Gias’s current output rivaled that of Jörmungandr.

Thud—! Thud—!

Gias closed the distance toward Leo, his eyes contracting.

“Stunning. To reclaim such immense capability after existing for scarcely more than a decade.”

“I only truly began to direct my internal energies three years ago.”

Leo offered a casual, confident grin.

“Is that a fact?”

Boom—!

Gias’s heavy blade descended toward Leo.

The ruinous embers that clung to the steel dissipated.

A deep fissure was carved into the soil.

Leo, who had managed to parry Gias’s blade by altering its path, endured the searing agony of his arm fracturing under the weight.

Gias, staring down at Leo, shifted his attention toward the defensive fortifications.

His gaze locked onto the position where Ar was observing.

“That youth, recognized as the heir to Arion, her advancement is similarly unnatural.”

Even when accounting for the unique properties of the Hero Record, Ar’s developmental pace was incredibly rapid.

‘The identical sentiment applies to that elven youth, rumored to be Luna’s heir.’

It was obvious that a single individual stood at the center of all these anomalies.

“However, your run of fortunes concludes this very day.”

Gias’s features contorted into a monstrous grimace.

“What exactly are you implying?”

“It implies your demise here. The last remaining champion.”

“I see.”

Leo nodded as though everything clicked, his expression forming a distinct smirk.

“I don’t view butchering you as some sort of grand phenomenon. Isn’t it just the natural outcome?”

Smash—!

Gias delivered a brutal kick to Leo.

Whoosh— Crash—!

Leo was launched across the battlefield, colliding violently into the fortification wall.

“L-Black Rabbit!”

Ar shouted toward Leo in sheer panic.

Leo, spitting out a mouthful of blood, pried his limb free from the masonry.

His weapon vibrated with the distinct energy of Arion.

Leo stared directly ahead.

Right before the impact of the kick.

He had managed to slice across Gias’s lower leg.

Utilizing the absolute peak of his current strength.

‘I couldn’t even breach the skin.’

Leo’s maximum offensive output was incapable of damaging Gias’s frame, which was fortified by both divine authority and the dark grace of Erebus.

“Black Rabbit!”

Ar, her expression marked by tears, descended to Leo’s side, assisting him up before retreating back atop the rampart.

“Let me join the fight as well!”

“You are not prepared for this yet.”

“But!”

“We require an opening to bring him down.”

“An… opening?”

“Correct. The necessary window to finalize the incantation.”

Leo stepped away from Ar’s support and wiped the crimson from his lips.

His internal organs felt utterly shattered.

‘Even so, I can persist.’

There existed only a single path to reverse this predicament.

The spellcraft of Luna.

And he possessed the ability to replicate Luna’s work.

The issue lay with the front line.

He required the ultimate defensive barrier to shield him while he executed the ritual.

“Dweno will arrive.”

“B-but! He has been missing for so long! I should just…!”

“I told you, it is far too soon for you.”

Leo gave Ar a light rap on her head.

Step— Step—

Leo advanced toward the battlefield.

‘Every person experiences moments of hesitation.’

He was far from flawless.

By that same token, Dweno harbored his own imperfections.

It wasn’t restricted to just the two of them.

Arion, Luna.

Even Lisinas.

Not a single soul was completely flawless.

Stumbling and losing one’s way was simply part of existence.

However…

‘The objective we kept our eyes on remained identical.’

This conviction remained absolute.

Leo cast his gaze toward the sky.

The deep night just prior to the first light.

The arrival of dawn was fast approaching.

Right at that moment.

A notification materialized directly before Leo.

“Do you see?”

As Ar’s eyes widened in astonishment, Leo let out a subtle smile.

“I assured you he would show up.”

Crash—!

Dweno extended his arm toward a flurry of sharp blade strikes that drifted through the air like cascading blossoms.

Catch—!

“Gah?!”

Aina, her throat firmly gripped, gasped for air.

A weapon radiating an intense, sharp frequency drew his attention.

‘That is a blade of my own creation.’

It was a piece of equipment theoretically capable of bypassing Dweno’s defensive fields.

Yet unfortunately for her, a weapon forged by his hands would never inflict harm upon him.

The gear he manufactured possessed that exact property.

At that exact instant—

Slice—

“……?”

Aina’s weapon, Demon Slayer, managed to nick the side of Dweno’s face.

A brief moment of confusion crossed Dweno’s thoughts.

Tighten—!

“Ack?”

As Dweno increased his grip slightly, Aina’s oxygen was cut off, and her body temporarily went limp.

“Aina!”

Luke rapidly accelerated, closing the distance to rescue Aina.

“Take custody of her.”

“What?”

Dweno tossed Aina over to Luke as if handing over a package.

Luke, scrambling to secure Aina, lost his footing and tumbled across the dirt.

He pulled Aina firmly against himself to shield her from the impact.

Dweno stepped up to the rolling Luke and delivered a swift flick to his forehead.

Crack!

“Gah?!”

Luke’s vision went dark, and he instantly lost consciousness.

Swish— Swish— Swish—!

Right then.

An immaculate white radiance coupled with golden arcs of electricity erupted, obscuring Dweno’s sight line.

It was the combined assault of Duran and Iliana.

“Their velocity is impressive,”

Dweno noted under his breath.

“But that is the extent of their capability.”

Grab— Grab—

“Gasp?!”

“Ngh?”

Dweno extended both arms and neatly intercepted Duran and Iliana by their collars.

He had accurately anticipated their trajectories and plucked them from mid-air.

In that very moment.

“Remove your hands from my pupils! You rascal—AAAAH!”

“You. If you wish to use informal speech, commit to it, and if you intend to be formal, remain consistent.”

Artian, who had deftly targeted a vulnerability from behind Dweno, threw a heavy punch.

Dweno smiled subtly and driven his skull backward with immense force.

Thud—!

In that instant, Artian’s brow smashed directly into the back of Dweno’s head.

Thump—

Artian dropped straight to his knees, immediately passing out.

Dweno then tightened his fingers, applying precise pressure to the necks of Duran and Iliana.

Shortly after, both of them succumbed to the pressure and drifted into unconsciousness.

At that exact juncture.

Roar—!

“Strike now!”

Coinciding with Chelsea’s loud instruction, Habiden brought his weapon downward in a heavy arc.

Chelsea channeled her maximum reserves of magical energy to manifest a slicing gale around Habiden’s blade, which already commanded the elemental property of wind.

Observing the incoming threat, Dweno drew a deep breath.

And…

“Haaaah!”

He discharged a roaring shockwave saturated with his internal aura.

It differed completely from Arion’s distinct battle cry.

The ambient pressure of the area shifted violently in a fraction of a second.

The slicing gale dissolved into nothingness.

The instantaneous barometric shift and the overwhelming resonance within Dweno’s shout severely affected the hearing of Chelsea and Habiden, both of whom were highly attuned to atmospheric currents.

As a direct consequence, the two of them rolled their eyes back and collapsed into unconsciousness.

“…What… sort of power is this…”

Karl, who had been directing operations from the rear atop Eliza while mounted on a Wind Wyvern, stared in utter disbelief.

“Your tactical overview is precise, Karl.”

Dweno offered a faint smile.

“However, this particular methodology appears unfamiliar to you.”

Dweno’s assessment was accurate.

It was an unprecedented approach to engagement.

‘This is effectively equivalent to bludgeoning an adversary using nothing but a shield.’

He had incapacitated them entirely through a display of peerless defensive supremacy.

With a cold shiver racing along his spine, Karl instinctively pulled Eliza closer to himself.

Eliza, who would typically object to such physical contact, merely swallowed hard.

Her pulse raced wildly due to an overwhelming primal terror.

Amidst that tense atmosphere…

“Haaaah!”

Driana launched herself directly at Dweno from the front line.

“Wait! Disengage! Driana! Fall back!”

Karl bellowed out in frantic desperation.