Chapter 296
Grrrrooooaaar!
Gias let out a thunderous roar toward the sky.
At the same time, a massive subspace gate opened, revealing knights and mages clad in black armor and robes.
Eiran flinched, her shoulders trembling.
“W-what is that? They don’t look like demons to me.”
“They’re traitors.”
Velkia drew her sword, her eyes narrowing.
“They’re the ones who sided with Tartarus to survive.”
Eiran and the rest of the party gasped.
The traitors who would later be known as the ‘Hero Hunters.’
Unless under very special circumstances, no one ever faced beings like the Hero Hunters—those who betrayed the world and joined Tartarus.
The party had yet to understand the crushing weight of what it meant to cut down those who looked exactly like themselves.
“What should we do?”
From afar, Arron asked Dweno, his eyes fixed on Gias glaring down at Guardslone.
Dweno fell silent in thought.
“It’d be best to strike him down before he fully invades Guardslone, but…”
Dweno’s eyes narrowed.
“If we do that, Guardslone’s defenses will be weakened. The moment you or I leave to fight him, his army could strike here—it’d be a disaster.”
The endless waves of a Legion Commander’s army were the embodiment of despair.
Moreover, unlike other commanders who had exhausted their forces in countless wars, Gias’s legion was nearly untouched, its power intact and overwhelming.
“He’s more cautious than his size would suggest. And cunning.”
Rage flickered deep within Dweno’s eyes.
Seeing that, Leo gripped his sword.
‘Of course he would be.’
Shortly after the Era of Calamity began, it was Gias who destroyed Dweno’s homeland.
Meanwhile, countless monsters began pouring out of Gias’s subspace gate.
Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘So that’s it… he’s been gathering anything he could use as troops for the past ten days.’
Without a legion, a commander’s power was halved.
He had clearly spent these days assembling a makeshift one.
They were a disorganized mob, but with Gias at their head, even such a rabble was a terrifying force.
‘So you really intend to crush Guardslone completely, huh?’
“He won’t move until dawn,” Leo said, glancing at Dweno and Arron.
“So one of you should conserve your strength until then.”
“Conserve our strength? You mean don’t fight?”
“Yeah.”
No one knew better than the Legion Commanders how terrifying the strength of a Great Hero could be—the power to make the impossible possible.
It wasn’t because they were simply strong.
‘If I think back, we always clawed our way to victory no matter how hopeless the battle seemed.’
Looking back now, even Leo couldn’t believe how many miracles they had pulled off.
And Gias was all too wary of that very potential.
‘He plans to wear us down slowly, like a hunter stalking his prey.’
When dawn came and Gias and his legion revealed their true forms, Dweno and Arron would be too exhausted to resist.
‘So he intends to use himself as bait.’
Leo clenched his fists as he stared at Gias in the distance.
Dweno spoke as he watched him.
“I understand what you mean. But if a monster like Gias moves, we’ll have no choice but to fight.”
At Dweno’s heavy words, Leo replied,
“You’re right. You two are the hope of this world.”
Leo looked at Dweno and Arron.
“If it weren’t for you, the world would’ve fallen long ago. You’ve carried too much for too long.”
Leo smiled faintly.
“But sometimes… it’s okay to share the burden.”
Fwoosh—!
A massive shadow spread over Guardslone.
Carr’s jaw dropped.
“Dragons…”
Dozens of dragons filled the sky—a sight so magnificent that it stole everyone’s breath.
It was a spectacle no one could ever witness in the current age.
Following the dragons’ lead, warriors, mages, and summoners of every race appeared atop the fortress walls.
Leo murmured quietly,
“I heard once… it’s too heavy to bear alone.”
Flash—!
The dragons soaring through the sky polymorphed and landed upon the ramparts.
At their head stood Depeser.
“Everyone, stand back.”
Depeser looked at Leo’s group, including Velkia.
“This battle isn’t child’s play. Retreat to a safe zone.”
“I’ll fight too. I have enough strength to stand on my own!”
Velkia protested firmly.
Adjusting his glasses, Depeser sighed.
“Miss Velkia, I know your skill well. But you are one of the future pillars of this world. You still lack the experience for a battle of this scale.”
Velkia flinched at his rare stern gaze.
Depeser—
he was like a father to every child in Guardslone.
He even ran an orphanage himself, and Velkia had known him since she was small.
Gentle as he usually was, there was no defying him in moments like this.
Depeser’s eyes swept across the others.
“Go. Now.”
Leo stepped forward.
“Everyone needs to experience battle someday. If you trust Velkia’s future, shouldn’t you also trust her now?”
Depeser’s cold gaze turned to Leo.
“You really believe you’re qualified to be here?”
Leo smiled.
“More than enough.”
He looked back at his companions.
“We’ve trained for this.”
Rumbleeeee—!
The thunderous march of monsters reached the walls of Guardslone.
Leo raised his hand.
Vwoooom—!
A massive magic circle appeared in the sky.
Depeser’s eyes widened in shock.
Not just his—everyone’s.
“Lady Luna’s… magic?”
The circle responded to Leo’s mana.
It was none other than [Star Magic].
As he completed the incantation, countless spheres of light rained down upon the monsters.
Baaang!
As the radiant magic fell, Dweno closed his eyes.
“Arron.”
“H-huh?”
“Conserve your strength, just in case.”
Arron’s eyes widened.
For the commander of Guardslone himself to heed Leo’s advice—it caught him completely off guard.
“Depeser.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Guard the wall.”
“Then, Lord Dweno…?”
“I’ll face the Giant King.”
Thud.
Dweno gripped his battle axe tightly.
“N-no, sir! If you face him alone and fall into a trap—!”
“When did I say I’d go alone?”
Dweno turned toward Leo.
“This young man will watch my back.” (T/N: SHEEEEEESHH!)
He looked at Velkia and the others.
“Hold the wall, no matter what.”
“Yes, sir! Don’t worry! Those ugly monsters won’t breach Guardslone’s walls!”
Dweno burst out laughing.
“Ha! That’s the spirit!”
With a booming laugh, Dweno leapt down from the towering wall.
Leo followed right after, without hesitation.
“L-Leo!”
Lunia called out in shock, watching him drop.
Leo smiled up at her.
“I’ll be back. Hold the line!”
Thud! Crack!
They landed and sprinted straight toward the Giant King.
Grooaaaar!
An enormous ogre charged them.
As Dweno raised his battle axe, Leo stepped forward.
“Don’t fight until we face Gias.”
“Oh? Think you can clear the way yourself?”
Leo lifted his sword in answer.
Fwoooosh—!
Flames of [Aura] and [Mana] wrapped around the blade.
Vwooom—!
A summoning circle flared open, and a tiny phoenix appeared.
Chirp!
“Huh? You’ve slimmed down.”
Chirp! Chirp!
Fiora fluttered proudly around Leo.
“Guess a little ball game was a good workout.”
At the mention of Katariu, who’d helped her lose weight, Fiora shook her head furiously.
Leo chuckled softly and roused his [Spirit Power].
Fwoosh—!
Fiora’s body blazed brightly before merging into Leo’s sword.
Kyaaaaah!
The flames of the Phoenix roared.
With eyes gleaming, Leo swung his sword toward the ogre and the monsters behind it.
Fwoooosh! KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK!
A torrent of phoenix fire swept through the monster ranks, burning everything in its path.
Ssssshhhhh—!
“Impressive.”
Charging down the fiery path, Dweno readied his battle axe.
Leo dashed ahead, cutting and burning through all that stood before him.
In an instant, they reached Gias.
Dweno bent his knees, gripping his axe tight.
“It’s been a long time.”
Boom!
With a leap that split the earth, he shot toward Gias’s face like a cannonball.
“Giant King Gias.”
Killing intent flickered across Dweno’s face.
KRAAAANG!
Golden flames surged from his axe, shaping into a massive blazing blade.
It swung down, fierce enough to sever Gias’s thick neck in a single strike.
Whooosh!
– It has been long indeed, Dweno!
Gias swung the corpse-sword of Jormungand with wild delight.
– I’ve wanted to kill you for so long!
KRAAAAANG!
The golden axe and the corpse-sword collided.
KABOOOOOM!
The shockwave ripped through the land, overturning the ground and sending everything flying.
Crack-crack-crack!
Leo braced against the shockwave and charged again.
– Hah! I expected Arron… but you bring me this whelp instead?
Gias sneered as dark mana erupted from his body.
Swoooosh!
Scarlet-black energy burst forth.
“Hup!”
Dweno raised his [Aura Armor] to block it.
It didn’t harm Gias—but that wasn’t the point. The attack was meant for Leo.
A Legion Commander’s mana release was pure terror—even its presence could break weaker wills, and a direct hit meant certain death.
Fwoosh!
But Leo, even when bathed in the corrupted mana, didn’t flinch.
Such fear meant nothing to him.
With [Aura Step], he evaded the assault in a blur.
Seeing that near-divine movement, Gias’s eyes twitched.
“Maybe you’re the one underestimating me because you know the future.”
– You…!
“Of course, knowing the future doesn’t mean I’ll change the ending.”
Fwoooosh—!
[Aura] gathered around Leo’s sword.
– Leo Plov!
BOOOOM!
Leo’s sword slashed across Gias’s chest.
Blood gushed from the wound.
Caught off guard, Gias staggered slightly.
Fwoosh! Crack!
Dweno’s axe bit into Gias’s neck.
Just before it could sever his head, Dweno released the axe and jumped back.
Fwoosh!
Gias’s arm swung past the spot where Dweno had stood.
Had he held his ground, he would’ve been smashed to bits.
‘Damn. I almost had him.’
Dweno clicked his tongue.
Even if decapitated, Gias wouldn’t die so easily.
‘If only cutting his neck were enough… we wouldn’t have to suffer this much.’
Still, it was a solid hit—enough to gain the upper hand.
‘Just like before.’
Dweno’s eyes dimmed.
Back when Gias attacked his homeland, he had nearly taken the monster’s head.
He hadn’t been strong enough then, but maybe the outcome could’ve been different— maybe he could’ve saved his people.
As a bitter smile crossed his face—
Thud!
“—?!”
“What are you spacing out for?!”
Leo suddenly appeared behind him, grabbing the back of his neck.
“Hurry up and take his head!”
Fwoosh!
With all his strength, Leo hurled Dweno toward the axe embedded in Gias’s neck.
Dweno gathered every ounce of [Aura] in his body.
Crack!
– You wretches!
Gias’s eyes bulged.
Dweno smirked.
‘Yeah… this time’s different.’
Crunch—! Crack—!
The sound of bone splitting echoed.
‘Because now… I have comrades.’
Thunk!
With a final roar, Gias’s head flew through the air, and a fountain of black blood erupted skyward.