Chapter 297
Whoosh—! Slash—!
A fountain of blood gushed from the severed neck of Gias.
Sizzle—!
The blood that poured onto the ground began to corrode everything around it.
The Legion Commander’s blood, laced with deadly poison, was itself a horrifying toxin that melted flesh and bone on contact.
Yet Dweno, drenched from head to toe in that same blood, didn’t even flinch.
“It reeks as horribly as ever!”
Frowning as if disgusted, Dweno scowled while Leo, watching from a distance, muttered inwardly.
‘His toughness will never stop being terrifying.’
Even Kyle and Arron would avoid being splattered directly by a Legion Commander’s blood if they could.
Swoosh—!
At that moment, Gias raised his foot.
Kraaaash—!
The giant foot came crashing down, stomping Dweno flat.
The impact sent the pool of blood surging high into the air before turning into a wave that crashed toward Leo.
Splash—!
Dodging the dark tide in haste, Leo lifted his head toward Gias’s neck.
‘I struck him, but… it wasn’t enough to do any real damage.’
His attacks had barely affected Gias at all.
To Gias, it was nothing more than a scratch—a minor wound at best.
All Leo had done was create an opening, which Dweno had exploited with precision.
Though the giant’s head was severed, it didn’t mean much.
After all, Gias had survived even a direct hit from Luna’s strongest spell—[End].
He was a being of absurd defense.
Rumble—!
The earth trembled.
“Hup!”
Pinned beneath Gias’s foot, Dweno thrust both arms upward, pushing against the sole.
“Hraaaagh!”
Flare—!
With veins bulging across his forehead, Dweno used every ounce of his strength to shove Gias’s foot away.
Thud—!
Gias staggered back several steps.
Resting his battle axe on his shoulder, Dweno grumbled,
“To think you’d step on a man—how discourteous.”
“You should be grateful you’re the one who got stepped on. Anyone else would’ve been reduced to paste.”
“Durability is a dwarf’s virtue, is it not?”
“You’re a bit too durable, though.”
Dweno let out a hearty laugh while Leo shook his head.
It sounded like a casual exchange, but both of them were completely focused on Gias, ready to strike the moment anything felt off.
-Interesting.
Gias lifted his severed head and pressed it back onto his neck.
In an instant, the wound sealed up completely.
-Leo Plov. Now I see what you’re capable of.
Gias’s cold gaze turned toward Leo.
-I should make sure you die here.
As Gias’s murderous intent washed over him, Leo smirked.
“If you keep worrying about me, you’ll be the one who dies first.”
-Keh heh heh. You overestimate yourself, child.
Gias sneered.
-I’m not wary of what you are now, but what you’ll become. A fledgling like you has no right to stand in the midst of this battle. The moment you set foot here, between me and Dweno…
Gias’s eyes gleamed ominously.
-Your death was decided, you foolish brat!
Kraaaang—!
Gias swung the [Corpse Blade of Jörmungandr].
With a single slash, the world around them was obliterated as if struck by a natural disaster.
It was an overwhelming attack from an overwhelming body.
Barely avoiding the blow, Leo glared up at the towering giant.
‘It’s true… I can’t join this fight head-on.’
His attacks couldn’t hurt Gias.
Even if he poured every drop of his power into a strike, it would only create a fleeting gap—and even that would be harder now.
Gias wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice.
At this point, there was almost nothing Leo could do to influence the battle.
Conversely, Gias didn’t even need to target him directly.
Just being caught in the clash between Gias and Dweno—forces akin to natural calamities—could kill him outright.
That was how vast the difference in power was.
And yet Leo still followed Dweno into battle.
Flare—!
“Dweno!”
Leaping into the air, Leo shouted.
At the same time, Dweno sprang upward toward him.
Leo poured all his [Aura] into his sword and held it out flat as Dweno closed in.
Tap—!
Dweno landed on the blade.
“This makes fighting much easier.”
With a grin mirroring Dweno’s, Leo swung his sword toward Gias with all his might.
Kwoooom—!
Using Leo as a springboard, Dweno shot toward Gias at tremendous speed.
-What?!
Gias’s eyes widened.
The reason Leo had forced his way into this battle—
Was to serve as Dweno’s foothold.
To let the Divine Blacksmith focus completely on the fight.
To draw out his full strength.
Leo had chosen to stand here purely as Dweno’s support.
‘How ironic.’
Once, Dweno had been the one supporting him. Now the roles were reversed.
But that only made Leo all the more determined to fulfill his part perfectly.
-Who are you, really?
Gias’s furious gaze snapped back to Leo.
Leo met it with a chilling smile.
“The biggest variable in your entire plan.”
—
On the ramparts of Guardslone Fortress—
Arron silently watched the battle between Dweno and Gias.
It was a clash of shields, a fight between two beings who could not easily harm one another.
Neither had a decisive way to deal a killing blow.
It was destined to become a long and grueling war of attrition.
In some ways, it was the worst possible matchup.
But even so, the advantage clearly lay with Dweno.
The reason was simple—Leo.
‘How many hours has it been now?’
Arron’s eyes followed Leo’s movements.
To him, Leo wasn’t just walking a tightrope—he was sprinting across one that could snap at any moment.
If he stopped even for a second or made the smallest mistake, it would mean instant death.
Anyone else would’ve perished dozens of times over already.
And yet Leo still lived, still supporting Dweno.
It wasn’t merely a matter of skill or strategy.
It took a superhuman will—an iron mind capable of making precise judgments on the brink of death.
‘The kind of strength only those who’ve lived beside death can attain.’
Watching the desperate struggle, Arron felt a deep sense of kinship with Leo.
That fierce battle to survive mirrored his own kind too well.
He clenched his hand tightly.
‘It’s almost dawn.’
The bleakest hour before sunrise.
Leo had told him to conserve his strength until dawn.
Meanwhile, Gias’s army attacking Guardslone wasn’t even putting a dent in the fortress walls.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly.
‘The Giant King himself led this assault… and this is all?’
A chill ran down Arron’s spine.
‘Lysinas, Kyle… and Luna aren’t here. You’re telling me we can stop Gias’s invasion this easily?’
When had a Legion Commander ever been this careless?
His instincts screamed at him.
The true crisis hadn’t even begun.
“Depeser.”
“Yes, Arron!”
“Still no contact with Lysinas?”
“No, sir. Due to another commander’s barrier, it’s believed Lysinas, Kyle, and Lady Luna are trapped within Reisar. We don’t know when we’ll reach them…”
Arron grit his teeth at Depeser’s report.
“Master Arron! At this rate, we might drive them back without major losses!”
Velkia came running to report, her face bright with hope.
Heroes who would never be remembered by history were giving everything to hold the line.
Dweno clearly had the upper hand against Gias.
Even without Arron’s intervention, the momentum was shifting toward Guardslone.
But that only made his unease grow.
And, as always, his instincts were right.
Fwoosh—
A small spark ignited behind Velkia.
Arron stood up in alarm.
Depeser, who was closer, reacted instantly and yanked Velkia back.
“Huh?”
Velkia gasped, startled—
Flare—!
Something metallic, half-melted and scorched, materialized in the air.
Arron’s sharp nose immediately recognized the scent.
‘Dweno’s… and Kyle’s…’
It was too damaged to identify, but there was no doubt—it was a weapon forged by Dweno and wielded by Kyle.
And then—
‘Erebos’s scent…!’
Fwoooosh—! Kraaash—!
Black flames erupted outward like an explosion.
In an instant, they engulfed Velkia and Depeser.
Flare—!
Arron unleashed his [Aura], cutting through the dark fire.
“Velkia! Depeser!”
He shouted urgently.
When the flames cleared, Depeser stood there, clutching Velkia in his arms.
Her jaw trembled.
“M-Master Depeser… are… are you…”
“Are you all right, Lady Velkia?”
Despite his charred body, Depeser smiled gently.
“I… I’m fine, but… you’re—!”
“It’s nothing serious. Don’t worry.”
Forcing a reassuring smile, Depeser set her down and stepped toward the wavering black fire.
His face went pale.
‘The Flame of Calamity…!’
Depeser had once witnessed the flames of Erebos that scorched the world.
And these flames were unmistakably the same.
‘How… how could this be in Guardslone?!’
The primordial evil that even gods despaired before—Erebos.
The destroyer that burned the world.
Even that monster had one limitation—he couldn’t manifest outside his own domain.
That was why he commanded Legion Commanders: to expand his reach.
Guardslone was still untouched by the Flame of Calamity.
And yet… the black fire had appeared here.
Clang—!
Arron drew [Brave].
Then he charged straight toward the dark fire.
Flare—!
His blade sliced through the black flames.
Fwoooosh—! Kraaash—!
The fire exploded outward, swallowing him whole.
“Master Arron!”
Velkia screamed, her face drained of color.
But Arron emerged through the blaze, protected by his [Aura Armor], and drove his fist into the core of the flames.
Boom—!
The black fire scattered.
‘This can’t be Erebos—it’s far too weak.’
Confusion flickered across Arron’s face.
Clang!
A piece of scorched metal fell to the ground.
Fwoosh—!
Then it began spewing fire again.
‘It’s… growing stronger?!’
Just as Arron’s eyes widened—
“What’s that?”
“Black fire?”
Hero cadets rushed in, sensing the disturbance.
Ar and Carr exchanged bewildered looks.
“Wait, if that’s black fire…”
“No way. Isn’t this too sudden?”
Eiran and Driana looked uneasy.
Then Lunia’s face went pale.
“Erebos…!”
Fwoooosh—!
The black flames began to take shape.
Flare—!
The fire gathered, forming the shape of a person.
Though its body still burned, its silhouette was unmistakably human.
Arron’s expression hardened.
His eyes glinted with killing intent as he swung his sword.
Flare—!
At that instant, the figure’s flaming hand flared, taking the form of a blade.
Clang—!
Their swords clashed.
Crash! Boom—!
The black flame figure was overpowered and slammed into the fortress wall.
“As expected of Master Arron!”
Ar shouted.
Rustle—!
The black flame rose to its feet again.
Arron closed the distance in a blur, preparing a follow-up strike.
Clang—! Crack—!
But the figure deflected his sword and counterattacked.
Arron twisted his neck and narrowly dodged the slash.
Velkia’s face froze.
“No way…”
“Wh-what’s wrong, Lady Velkia?” Eiran asked, alarmed.
Tap—!
As Arron leapt back to create distance, his eyes trembled.
In that brief exchange, a familiar image had flashed through his mind.
“Kyle…?”