Chapter 697

697.

An intense radiance bathed the entire realm.

It felt as though a new dawn had broken.

Every soul present on the battlefield turned their eyes toward the source of the brilliance.

Leo stood at the absolute epicenter.

The dazzling beam originating from the point of Leo’s blade slammed directly into Ghias.

Ghias, bearing the full brunt of Leo’s unique magic, Zero, widened his eyes in sheer disbelief.

‘My very being…!’

Ghias could feel his existence slipping away.

This power transcended mere physical devastation.

It was, in the truest sense, a force designed to nullify wickedness.

Neither a formidable defense nor limitless regeneration offered any salvation.

It was a magic that fundamentally erased life itself.

“Aaaaaaaargh!”

Ghias pushed his dark magic to its absolute limits.

He desperately needed to withstand this overwhelming power.

While Ghias was locked in this desperate struggle,

“You won’t be escaping death this time.”

Dweyno leaped into the air.

In that precise instant,

The hammer gripped by Dweyno expanded until it matched the size of Ghias’s head.

“Hryaaaaaap!”

Whoosh-

Golden flames erupted into a blaze.

Just as the colossal weapon was poised to shatter his face,

Ghias roared up at the sky.

“To the magnificent Erebus! Boundless glory! According to His desire! Triumph…!”

Smack-!

Dweyno’s hammer violently severed Ghias’s head.

Swoosh-!

Dissolving into the brilliant light, Ghias crumbled into nothingness.

[God of Blacksmiths Dweyno has survived.]

[Giant King Ghias has been subjugated.]

Ar’s eyes grew wide with shock.

“Wow!”

Throwing her hands in the air, she began jumping up and down excitedly where she stood.

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!

The vast army of Ghias, which had choked the battlefield, began turning to ash and dissolving away.

Even so, the forces of the Giant King that had crossed over from the real world remained intact.

Regardless, their remaining numbers were trivial.

Turning their attention to this remnant of the Giant King’s forces, Ivaldi’s warriors pivoted to the offensive and commenced their final eradication.

“Victory is ours! We won, Black Rabbit!”

With a glowing countenance, Ar directed her gaze toward the remnants of the defensive wall, which still loomed like a stone tower.

Losing his footing atop the high wall, a faltering Leo slipped and plummeted downward.

“Aaaargh!”

Gasping in panic, Ar dashed toward him and managed to securely catch Leo with both hands.

Thump-!

“Are you hurt?!”

“How could I not be? My mana is completely spent.”

Leo exhaled a heavy breath.

Dweyno, having delivered the definitive strike to Ghias, also descended rapidly from the heavens.

Ar moved to catch Dweyno as well, but Enniha had already darted forward to intercept him safely.

Observing this, Ar breathed a sigh of relief and spoke with palpable excitement.

“Regardless, that was spectacular! What sort of magic did you just use?!”

“It’s a newly developed unique magic. Though it remains incomplete.”

The spell had not yet reached its ultimate form.

During Kyle’s era, he had failed to land a fatal blow on Erebus, resulting only in a sealing spell.

Leo had relentlessly analyzed this magic to eventually defeat Erebus, never letting that memory fade, and had only recently managed to cast it.

Yet, a great deal of refinement was still required.

While they spoke, Ivaldi’s warriors wrapped up the eradication of the remaining hostile forces.

“Wooowaaaaaaah!”

“Victory is ours!”

Shouts of pure triumph echoed from Ivaldi’s warriors.

Watching the celebration, Leo whispered.

“We actually won.”

“Indeed, we triumphed, Black Rabbit.”

“You can permit me to stand now.”

“Eh? Since your mana is exhausted, shouldn’t you remain resting comfortably? Besides, you look rather endearing resting so tamely in my arms, don’t you?”

Ar peered down at Leo, her blue eyes gleaming with mischief.

Her snowy tail swayed softly behind her.

Glancing up at the white cat who was teasing him with a sidelong smirk, Leo reached out and firmly gripped her swaying tail.

“Aack!”

“Who gave you permission to mock your elders?”

“Let go! My tail!”

With a crimson face, Ar shrieked and yanked her tail free from Leo’s grasp.

At that moment, Dweyno, leaning on Enniha for support, walked over and broke into a hearty laugh.

“You look ridiculous.”

“Look in a mirror.”

Regaining his footing with Ar’s assistance, Leo cast his eyes up to the heavens.

Dweyno followed his gaze toward the sky.

Celestial bodies were shimmering in the pre-dawn atmosphere.

“Enniha.”

“Yes?”

“Our time is drawing to a close.”

“……”

Enniha offered a sad, knowing smile.

“In that case, let the festivities commence.”

A subtle smile touched Dweyno’s lips.

“Make it as grand as possible.”

“……Understood.”

Nodding, Enniha hurried off toward the gathering warriors.

“Let us share that drink we spoke of.”

“Very well.”

“A toast to our triumph!”

“Let the festival begin!”

Word of the Giant King’s defeat spread rapidly through the settlement.

Inhabitants who received the tidings streamed out from their underground redoubts with ecstatic expressions.

Their joy knew no bounds.

Despite the darkness of the early morning, even the youngsters gathered in the central square to assist with the holiday preparations.

In the middle of the crowd, Leo and Dweyno engaged in a drinking bout.

“Brother Leo!”

A cheerful shout resonated from across the square.

“You emerged victorious!”

She had observed the notification within the Hero Record confirming Ghias’s downfall.

By a stroke of fortune, that occurred precisely when Arhi’s group penetrated the center and successfully reclaimed the Hero Record.

Having fulfilled their primary mission, Arhi’s companions halted their assault on the Hero Record and retreated immediately.

“Indeed, I did. Those are quite the fancy boots you have on.”

“Oh, these?”

Chelsea hoisted up one of her feet.

Beaming with pride, Chelsea showcased the footwear embellished with wing motifs and smiled joyfully.

“A present from Lord Dweyno!”

Chelsea was not the sole recipient.

Luke wielded a new sword.

Habiden possessed a spear.

Aina donned protective wrist guards.

Illiana wore lightweight armor crafted to maximize quickness.

Eliza sported a pair of earrings.

Cal clutched a bracelet, while Artian displayed a necklace.

Identifying the craftsman required no guesswork.

“I forged them during my downtime. They aren’t flawless creations, but they should serve you well enough.”

Dweyno remarked casually, even though the gear possessed quality bordering on divine artifacts.

“You managed to find the hours, it seems.”

“Mending basic weaponry didn’t demand much effort.”

In truth, given Dweyno’s peerless talent, he easily possessed spare time after completing the requested armaments.

“Student Leo.”

Just then, Artian stepped forward and tentatively held something out.

It was a scorched remnant of the Hero Record.

A dim spark still flickered at the edge of the Hero Record fragment.

It was actively consuming itself.

This indicated that the existence of this particular realm was rapidly approaching its expiration.

No one could predict the exact moment this world would collapse.

Leo took the object and sank into a quiet contemplation.

“All of you. Should we not be raising a glass to our success?”

Hearing Dweyno’s remark, Arhi’s companions paused.

“Come along, everyone, grab a drink quickly!”

Declining a beverage offered by a legendary figure was out of the question.

Settling down, Arhi’s group hoisted their vessels high.

“Our gratitude! For waging war on our behalf!”

“Think nothing of it, we merely fulfilled our obligation.”

Artian spoke with a respectful tone.

Dweyno fixed a piercing gaze upon Artian.

“Is there an issue with my appearance…?”

“It is of no consequence.”

Dweyno smirked slightly and proceeded to serve spirits to the remaining pupils.

Consequently, the revelry grew lively.

Dweyno laughed softly, consistently refilling the cups of the prospective heroes.

Before long, those who had developed camaraderie clustered together, conversing with great animation.

“Lord Dweyno!”

Driana addressed Dweyno with an earnest expression.

“I have gained invaluable insights once more! Moving forward, I intend to strive to be a craftsman worthy of your legacy!”

“Splendid. I possess an offering for you as well.”

Dweyno produced a compact hammer.

It was the identical instrument that had just shattered Ghias’s skull.

“This is Aeternus, a tool I forged with every ounce of my capability. It will serve you properly both on the field of battle and at the forge.”

“Ah! This will be perfect for carving statues!”

“Sculpting…?”

“Precisely! I am entirely devoted to my craft as an artist!”

Dweyno nodded slowly, observing Driana’s gleaming eyes.

“Hmm, reflecting on it, there was a specific piece of advice I wished to impart the moment we crossed paths again.”

“What might that be?”

Witnessing this display, Leo interjected,

“Stand up.”

“Eh? For what reason?”

Cal, who was consuming his drink adjacent to him, cocked his head in confusion.

“Clear out.”

Leo uttered the words before taking a methodical gulp of his beverage.

Amidst the perplexed gathering, Cal, blessed with an exceptional instinct for peril, immediately fled the spot.

“I ordered you to abandon artistry! Why do you never heed my words! Are you defying me?! I’ll split your skull open!”

“Hiiiiiiik!”

Dweyno swung Aeternus aggressively toward Driana’s head.

“Forsake art! I commanded you to leave it be! Do not dare defile the concept of beauty!”

Objects in the vicinity were utterly demolished by Dweyno’s wrath, sending shards flying across the area.

Caught in the sudden chaos, the companions shrieked and scattered to escape the destruction.

Leo drank his liquor undisturbed, evading the flying debris with subtle tilts of his head and torso.

Following the brief uproar,

Dweyno massaged his temple and extended Aeternus back to Driana.

Driana looked immensely pleased.

With the rest of the group dispersed,

Only Leo, Dweyno, and Enniha remained seated around the blazing hearth.

Then,

“Excuse me…”

Deet stepped toward Leo.

Leo regarded Deet before speaking.

“You mirror your sire perfectly.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“In the same manner that the implements your father forged preserved my forgotten existence, the armaments you have shaped have undoubtedly preserved an unknown life on the front lines.”

Such was the legacy of Ivaldi’s smiths.

Even following the downfall of Ivaldi, their work migrated into Gardstron.

They played a vital role in the enduring crusade to protect existence.

Even if neither the smiths nor the blades themselves earned a place in the chronicles of history,

The gear created in this fashion fulfilled its purpose in its designated arena.

Through these invisible threads, distinct paths converged, ultimately culminating in the preservation of reality.

‘So long as an individual persists in marching forward, their spirit remains unbroken.’

“Hold your head high.”

Moved by Leo’s declaration, Deet nodded with a glowing face.

“Understood!”

Deet departed after offering a passionate response.

“You have become quite loquacious. It brings to mind Lysinaas.”

“Is that your assessment?”

“The two of you possess a profound bond, even without the bond of matrimony.”

Dweyno smirked and took another draft.

Clicking his tongue at the remark, Leo drained the remainder of his drink.

He then dipped his vessel back into the cask to replenish it.

Having imbibed an immense quantity of alcohol, he was noticeably intoxicated.

“We were wedded.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Lysinaas and myself.”

“Pfft!”

Dweyno sprayed the alcohol he was in the middle of swallowing.

“You say what?!”

“That wretched reptile tricked me into a marriage contract. I only uncovered the truth recently.”

“You fool. Are you truly unaware of the devotion Lysinaas held for you?”

“I am equally aware of that miserable elf’s sentiments.”

“Incredible. Were you merely feigning ignorance the entire time?”

“I pieced it together only after my rebirth.”

“That provides some comfort. You remain an oblivious simpleton.”

“You degenerate old codger.”

Leo lunged to throttle Dweyno.

Yet, Dweyno simply persisted in sipping his drink undisturbed.

Meanwhile,

“Ugh, I have overindulged.”

A short distance away, Cal shook his head vigorously.

Likely due to the volume of spirits he had consumed, his head felt entirely weightless.

“Hmph. Such lack of restraint. To drink far beyond your capacity.”

As Eliza offered a mocking chuckle, Cal raised his cup and declared,

“This is precisely the occasion for drinking!”

“Well spoken!”

Canea, positioned beside him, hoisted her cup in solidarity.

Clink! The pair bumped their vessels and downed the contents.

Eliza shook her head in disapproval as she watched the display.

A short time later, Cal’s head dropped heavily forward.

The alcohol had finally lulled him into a deep slumber.

Canea, who had been observing him intently, sidled over to Eliza.

Without warning, she hoisted Eliza up.

“……?”

“Up we go!”

Canea deposited Eliza directly into Cal’s resting form.

Finding herself suddenly pulled into Cal’s arms, Eliza gasped in shock.

“The two of you make a splendid pair.”

“What?!”

Eliza glared furiously at Canea, whose face was crimson with laughter.

“And yet, you aren’t attempting to break away, are you?”

Amused by Canea’s teasing, Eliza grimaced and extricated herself from Cal’s grasp.

“Huh? What’s happening?”

Awakened by the movement, Cal blinked and surveyed his surroundings.

The celebratory revelry showed no signs of waning.

Eventually, the sky began to tint with the first hues of morning.

“On that note, Enniha.”

“Yes?”

Conversing and sharing a laugh with Dweyno, Enniha tilted her head.

“Your commitment to act as my subject. Fulfill it.”

“Very well. I shall.”

“In that case, divest yourself of your garments.”

“What sort of madness is this dwarf babbling?!”

“Is it not standard for a subject to pose unclad?”

“Do not be absurd! Who could possibly harbor such an idea?”

“I acquired that concept directly from you, didn’t I?”

“When did I ever utter such a thing?!”

Enniha delivered an elbow strike to Dweyno’s head.

Naturally, Dweyno remained completely unmoved.

‘They are perfectly suited for one another.’

Leo clicked his tongue.

In the meantime, Enniha, having successfully avoided posing unclad, exhaled a sigh and inquired,

“What position should I assume?”

“Create a painting for me.”

“A painting?”

Though puzzled, she quickly fetched a canvas and an easel, adopting an earnest demeanor.

Then, struck by inspiration, she began to paint.

Dweyno similarly took his place before a canvas and easel, beginning to capture her likeness.

Engrossed in his artistic endeavor for a spell, Dweyno placed a lengthy pipe between his lips.

It belonged to none other than Enniha.

“Oh? Dweyno? You aren’t a smoker, are you?”

“In the days to come, I am.”

As Leo recollected, Dweyno had carried that specific pipe since their initial encounter.

And he retained that very object until his final breath.

‘It originally belonged to Enniha, then.’

He observed the artwork nearing fruition beside Dweyno.

‘Time is running out.’

Leo sensed a impending conclusion.

There would not be sufficient time to complete the piece.

He glanced at the crumbling piece of the Hero Record in his palm.

It was incinerating at an accelerated pace.

Staring at the minuscule remnant, Leo spoke.

“Dweyno.”

“If your intention is to propose something foolish like extending my existence utilizing divine authority, I will strike you across the face this instant.”

Dweyno, who had accessed Arion’s recollections via Brave, stated firmly.

“Preserve that strength.”

“……”

Leo lowered his eyelids.

“Furthermore, my creations, from the moment my hand touches them, embody perfection itself. The concept of completion is irrelevant.”

“……That is accurate.”

“Is it not magnificent?”

The sight of the elf entirely absorbed in her painting on the canvas was truly magnificent.

“It is magnificent.”

“Precisely. As I maintained, comparing her elegance to Luna is an insult.”

“I cannot speak for temperament, but Luna’s features strike me as more striking.”

“You, a bound man, dare to admire another female?”

“I was deceived, I tell you. I was merely stating an objective reality.”

“You possess no appreciation for aesthetics.”

Dweyno clicked his tongue in apparent pity.

“Hey, how does it appear?”

At that moment, Enniha questioned, unable to contain her curiosity.

“Care to look?”

Noticing Dweyno’s subtle smirk, Enniha stepped closer to his side.

“Wow.”

Enniha’s mouth hung open in astonishment.

“This… this is truly me?”

“Indeed.”

“It is gorgeous. But is it not overly flattered?”

“My perception as a critic of beauty surpasses all others, Enniha. You truly possess this magnificence.”

Dweyno smiled gently.

“Undoubtedly, because of the beauty you revealed to me, I maintained the strength to press onward without fracturing until the absolute end.”

“……”

“My thanks to you, Enniha.”

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-!

The final piece of the Hero Record dissolved entirely into ash.

As Leo curled his fingers into a fist, watching the dark remnants scatter into the breeze,

[The denizens of Ivaldi have been preserved.]

[Dweyno’s World: Prologue – Battle of Ivaldi has been conquered.]

The Hero’s World reached its resolution.

Concurrently, a dazzling radiance saturated the entire domain.

Every individual covered their eyes.

The Hero Dungeon evaporated.

This environment, which had lingered on the precipice between the Hero’s World and actual reality, had now manifested fully into reality.

The instant Leo, with closed eyes, inhaled a steady breath,

“Ah.”

Gasps of awe erupted from all sides.

Arhi’s group, alongside Leo, immediately snapped their eyes open.

The denizens of Ivaldi were gazing toward the eastern horizon.

“……The dawn.”

The sun was rising.

A magnificent radiance fell upon the populace of Ivaldi.

Some were witnessing the sun for the very first time in their lives.

Others were reclaiming a sight they had lost for decades.

Every soul observed the salvaged world with profound emotion.

Enniha, who had been admiring the sunrise, slowly walked over with her artwork.

“I executed it masterfully, did I not?”

She displayed the image to Dweyno, her face lit by a brilliant smile.

Accepting the canvas, Dweyno murmured softly.

“You executed it masterfully.”

“Naturally.”

“Yet my rendition is superior.”

Hearing his retort, Enniha burst into a cheerful laugh.

Then she spoke her final words,

“I shall depart ahead of you.”

Uttering the identical phrase she had gifted Dweyno in the past, Enniha dissolved into shimmering motes of light and vanished.

She was not alone.

Every single resident of Ivaldi transformed into radiant particles and dissipated.

Dweyno, who had watched their departure in solemn silence, extended the artwork to Leo and spoke.

“My gratitude to you…”

Dweyno cut his sentence short.

His span of time had reached its conclusion, yet Leo’s path stretched forward.

Offering appreciation was premature.

Dweyno, breaking his brief silence, spoke clearly.

“I entrust this to your care.”

A final request to his comrade who was destined to keep marching.

The figure who had served as an unshakeable cornerstone of the fellowship delivered a solitary message packed with regret, thankfulness, and encouragement to the companion left behind.

Accepting the painting, Leo offered a firm nod.

“Rest assured, I will handle it.”

Hearing those words, Dweyno smiled peacefully, dissolved into particles of brilliance, and ceased to be.

“……”

As a heavy silence enveloped the group, Leo examined the artwork.

‘I wish to safeguard these.’

Dweyno desired for his artistic legacy to endure for successive generations.

By all standard accounts, this creation left behind by Dweyno ought to have vanished.

However,

[Conquest Reward: Paintings]

The reward for their victory was determined by the deepest desire of Leo’s soul.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Leo meticulously positioned Enniha’s piece directly alongside Dweyno’s creation.

As the morning radiance streamed over the area,

The depiction of Enniha focusing on her canvas and the depiction of Dweyno creating his art were displayed side by side.

Arhi’s companions gathered around to inspect them.

“Wow, exquisite.”

“These are truly phenomenal pieces.”

Observing his companions voice their deep appreciation, Leo spoke.

“They could be nothing less.”

Because,

“These are the creations rendered by the final masters of beauty to inhabit that bygone era.”