Chapter 431
After receiving Melina’s message, Leo snuck out of the training grounds and arrived at the mountain peak.
“You’re saying a Hero Dungeon appeared and a black flame shot up from it?”
“Yes. I think you and I need to go to Delan right now.”
“Alright. But who’s that next to you?”
Leo pointed a finger at the girl standing beside Melina.
A girl with blonde hair and golden eyes.
She had a human form, but Leo could easily tell she was a dragon.
The reason Leo treated Melina as he always did, despite the presence of a dragon he’d never seen before, was simple.
If Melina had brought this dragon here, she wouldn’t question the relationship between him and Melina.
‘Though she doesn’t seem to know my true identity.’
The dragon girl stood there, a hint of curiosity on her face, trying her best not to show any emotion.
At Leo’s question, Melina smiled brightly.
“This child’s name is Enkinias. I call her En. She’s still young, but she’s an incredibly wise and intelligent child. She serves as the librarian of Dragonia.”
At the mention of her being Dragonia’s librarian, Leo looked at En once more.
Because Lysinas was called the King of Wisdom, the dragons of the current era, who prided themselves on being her descendants, pursued knowledge.
As such, Dragonia’s archives were a treasure trove of wisdom, holding countless ancient texts collected by the dragons.
In addition, the dragons’ Hero Records were also stored in Dragonia’s archives.
That was why, in dragon society, the position of Dragonia’s librarian was a status permitted only to a special few.
‘Wasn’t it a position held by candidates for Dragon Lord?’
“En, this is Leo Plov. Please be polite and show your respects.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Leo Plov-nim. My name is Enkinias.”
Watching En lift the hem of her skirt slightly to curtsy, Melina shook her head.
“En. You should greet him with the traditional dragon greeting.”
“Ah, yes.”
En awkwardly tapped her right breast three times in greeting.
“You’re still not used to it. I told you to practice.”
“I apologize, Lord-nim.”
‘I don’t think you’re one to talk,’ Leo thought.
“So, what’s the reason for introducing this kid to me?”
“En possesses a special ability.”
“A special ability?”
“Yes. En.”
At Melina’s words, En stood before Leo and met his eyes.
Her golden eyes reflected Leo’s face as if they were a mirror.
In that instant, a brilliant light burst from En’s entire body.
When the light faded, Leo was standing there.
“Hoh?”
“My mana attribute is Copy. This magic is my Original Magic, Mirror.”
Changing one’s appearance using illusion magic always leaves some sense of unease, no matter how it’s done.
But En’s magic was so perfect that it was hard to believe it was an illusion.
It was literally like looking in a mirror.
“A stand-in for when I’m away?”
“Yes.”
‘Melina prepared her, so she must be trustworthy.’
From Leo’s perspective, she was a junior from a far-flung future, but as the Dragon Lord, Melina was a dragon who led the world.
He could trust Melina’s arrangements.
“Then I’ll be counting on you, En-ssi.”
Leaving En, who would be his double, behind, Leo used a warp with Melina to head to Delan.
—
Despite the black flame that had erupted and the appearance of a Hero Dungeon, the capital city of Delan was as normal as ever.
On the way to the dungeon’s location, Melina asked.
“If the Calamity Flame shot up, could it be a Hero Record of the Genesis?”
“There’s a high probability.”
The fragments of Erebos, sealed by the Genesis Heroes, were using the Hero Records as a passage, constantly looking for a chance to return to reality.
“If we defeat the Calamity Flame this time as well, can we purify it and absorb it as Divine Power?”
“Probably?”
Leo had been dealing with Erebos’s fragments in the Hero Record until now.
‘In Luna’s world, and in Seiren’s world.’
Thinking that far, Leo’s eyes narrowed.
‘One of Erebos’s fragments is sealed in a Hero Record, and another was slumbering in Fairy Land, right?’
So far, a total of two of Erebos’s fragments had been identified.
“I think I have a rough idea of where the third fragment of Erebos is.”
Melina’s eyes widened.
“Where?”
“The third fragment of Erebos is probably in the hands of the Death King Hell Kaiser.”
Melina’s face hardened.
“The Death King Hell Kaiser?”
“Yes. Seeing as that bastard conjured the Calamity Flame back then, I’d say it’s almost certain.”
The symbol of Erebos, the primordial evil.
To the Demons, it was the power of a god.
Just as the inhabitants of the lower world could not create Divine Power.
The Demons, too, could not create the Calamity Flame with their own power.
And yet, the Death King Hell Kaiser who had invaded Lumene at that time had spewed the Calamity Flame.
“Will it be alright?”
“He won’t be able to awaken Erebos’s fragment right away.”
“Why not?”
“If Erebos’s fragment had been revived, there’s no way he would have stayed quiet. But he’s also not the type to easily expose an unawakened Erebos.”
“Then?”
“He has the fragment, but he probably doesn’t know how to awaken it or use its power. The flame he conjured back then was just the fragment reacting to me. He won’t be coming at us with Erebos’s fragment leading the charge anytime soon. Of course, we can’t be completely optimistic either.”
Leo took a deep breath.
‘I need to regain the power of my past life as soon as possible.’
With that thought, he stopped walking.
They had arrived in front of the research facility.
“It’s noisy inside.”
“Yes. A Hero Dungeon must have formed.”
With that thought, Melina waved her hand.
The space distorted.
As Melina walked forward, a massive wall rippled.
‘She twisted space.’
It was magic befitting a Dragon Lord.
Ignoring all obstacles, Leo and Melina arrived at the place where the Hero Dungeon had appeared.
“Are you certain no one was caught up in the Hero Dungeon?!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Report to the royal palace and request support from the Hero Academy at once…”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Huk?!”
The general manager, who was urgently giving orders, flinched and turned his head.
Melina was standing there, smiling brightly.
“We’re from Dragonia.”
“A d-dragon?”
“Yes. We will investigate the Hero Dungeon.”
Saying so, Melina looked at Leo.
Leo approached the Hero Dungeon.
The moment he reached out his hand to the distorted space.
[Hero Record Open.]
A now-familiar message appeared before his eyes.
[Arron’s World. Chapter: Final – The End]
“What?”
For a moment, Leo’s face stiffened at the message that appeared before him.
It was a completely unexpected page.
Fwaaah-!
His vision changed.
Fwoooosh-!
Black flames blazed.
Leo understood why the black flame had shot up as soon as the Hero Dungeon appeared.
A Hero Dungeon encroaches upon the world.
That was why, while a Hero Dungeon was forming, the situation inside the dungeon would sometimes manifest externally.
That black flame was a fragment of these flames.
Leo sucked in a breath.
The smell of a world burning assaulted his nose.
A despairing landscape was seared into his eyes.
All of this was a familiar scene to Leo.
How could he ever forget?
To others, this scene was the desperate and great feat of the grand heroes from the stories.
But from the perspective of Leo, the one who had been there, this scene was a nightmare itself.
Here, Leo… Kyle had lost one of his friends, who was more precious than life itself.
“Haaaaaaaaap!”
At that moment, a spirited cry struck Leo’s ears.
Flash-!
A golden Aura soared high into the sky.
The great Hero, Arron’s sword strike.
‘The Arron of this time… was braver than ever before.’
In his final moments, Arron was worthy of the name Hero.
He was resolute even up to the moment he entered the battlefield.
He sacrificed himself out of fear that his friends would die.
And in his dying moments, he comforted his weeping comrades.
Because he never doubted that his comrades would save the world.
To ease his comrades’ worries, Arron smiled.
That was why even Leo didn’t know what Arron looked like when he faced Erebos alone for his friends.
All Leo knew was the back of Arron, who had unhesitatingly rushed to face Erebos alone at a moment of crisis.
The Hero who had fought the primordial evil alone in his final moments.
The Arron of that final moment, unknown to Leo, was right before his eyes now.
“Arr… on.”
Leo unknowingly called out the name of his comrade who was on the verge of death.
Arron, gripping the broken ‘Brave’, turned his head toward Leo.
Fwoooosh-!
He could see the Calamity Flame lunging to incinerate Arron.
In that instant, Leo ran toward Arron.
—
Fwoooosh-!
“Lysinas! I need a defense!”
Dweno shouted urgently.
Fwoooosh-!
A pure white flame shot up.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gang-!
Lysinas gritted her teeth.
Even though she had almost lost her life, Luna kept her eyes closed and continued her incantation.
She knew.
That her comrades would protect her.
That was why she carried out her role with an unwavering heart.
Flash-!
A pure white light flashed in the sky.
Kyle, with Innocent imbued in his sword, raised his Aura.
A massive slash struck Erebos’s neck.
Fwoooosh!
“Kuk?!”
“Kyle!”
Dweno, cloaked in flames, charged toward Erebos.
Kwaaang-!
The earth shook, and Erebos stumbled back a few steps.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung-!
The ground trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
The impact caused lava to erupt from within the earth.
A colossal battle, enough to remake heaven and earth.
“There’s not enough time! We have to keep him from getting close until Luna’s magic is complete!”
Just as Lysinas shouted urgently.
“I’ll do it.”
“What?”
Arron, having cut through the black flames, stood at the very front and spoke.
“Hey! You idiot! You can’t do it alone…!”
“We’ve always done the impossible, haven’t we?”
Arron laughed at Kyle’s shout.
“You guys always said I had great courage, right?”
“Arron.”
Dweno called out urgently, but Arron didn’t stop.
“Now is the time to show that courage. You guys protect Luna from Erebos’s attacks. I’ll…”
Arron gripped Brave with both hands and lowered his stance.
“I’ll hold him off.”
Kwaaang-!
Arron became a golden flash and charged toward Erebos.
Kwaaaak-!
The soaring golden flash severed Erebos’s arm.
Flash-!
The golden flash tore Erebos to shreds.
With wide eyes, Arron squeezed out a breath.
‘Move. Faster! Stronger!’
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak-!
Arron, dicing the black giant at an invisible speed, looked like a god of war himself.
‘I am a Hero!’
People praised Arron as a Hero.
But Arron had found that title burdensome.
That was why he had continuously denied the title until now.
But now, to gain courage, he repeated the title to himself, steeling his resolve.
‘The one with the greatest courage in the world!’
Spitting blood from his mouth, eyes, and nose, Arron kicked off the air.
Kwa-aaaang-!
With a sound that seemed to shake the world, the massive body of the primordial evil flew through the air.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gang-!
Arron readjusted his grip on his sword, facing the fallen Erebos.
“Haaaaaaaaap!”
Bwa-aaaaaaaaak! Fwoosh-!
A golden sword strike bisected Erebos.
The golden slash soared, as if it would split the very sky.
Jjeo-jeo-jeo-jeok! Kwajik-!
The sword named Brave, broke.
Fragments of Brave scattered.
“Heok— Heok—”
Arron let out ragged breaths.
His body was a wreck from wringing out power that far surpassed his limits.
His muscles were twisted, and his bones were crushed.
His lungs were tattered, making it hard to even breathe.
Arron realized.
‘This is the end.’
He gritted his teeth.
He had already prepared for this.
‘I’m not scared. Lysinas… Kyle! Luna! Dweno! They’ll save the world! For that… I’m not scared!’
[What a pathetic Hero you are.]
Then, a voice filled with immense power was heard.
Fwoooosh-!
Black flames shot up.
[To fear death even as you resolve to die.]
Erebos’s scornful voice echoed in Arron’s ears.
[Insignificant creation, your comrades will not be able to prevent ruin.]
Fwoooosh-!
The black flames blazed to incinerate Arron.
His life flashed before his eyes.
[You’ve struggled through your fleeting life. Now, disappear.]
Arron’s face contorted.
‘You don’t have to care for the world like he does, do you?’
Kyle’s words flashed through his mind.
‘Find what you want to do.’
At the end of Kyle’s uncharacteristically gentle voice, Arron felt an indescribable terror.
The fear he had forcefully suppressed until now reared its head.
‘I don’t want to die.’
He hadn’t even found what he wanted to do yet.
And now he was being told to die?
‘I don’t want to die!’
What kind of Hero was he, trembling like this in the face of death?
His unfinished resolve crumbled.
Just as Arron’s face contorted as if he were about to cry from the terror of death.
“Arr… on?”
A strange yet familiar voice was heard.
Arron turned around.
‘It’s going to be very hard from now on.’
From the far reaches of his memory.
The face of the boy who had cheered him on came to mind.
‘There will be people you can’t protect, and you’ll be frustrated by continuous trials.’
The boy who had cheered him on with a face that was somehow apologetic.
And somehow sad.
‘Still… you’ll make it. Because you’re braver than anyone.’
The boy who had shown him infinite faith, even though they had just met, was right in front of him.
‘Because you saved the world.’
—
“Arrooooooon!!”
Without realizing it, he screamed and reached out his hand.
He hadn’t known.
A side of Arron that not only Leo but also his comrades had never known.
The moment he saw Arron’s face, on the verge of tears, he realized.
Arron, who they thought had faced death with composure because he was afraid of them dying, had been more afraid of death than anyone.
He had pretended to be resolute for their sake as he faced his end.
He had acted like a Hero until the very end, giving them courage.
The moment he realized that fact, Leo instinctively ran toward Arron.
Arron also reached his hand toward Leo.
And the moment their hands touched.
Flash-!
With a flash of pure white light, the world stopped.
—
Clatter!
“Keuk?”
“Keoheok!”
“Leo-nim?”
Melina, who had been about to follow Leo into the Hero Dungeon, widened her eyes.
The Hero Dungeon closed, and Leo suddenly appeared.
Clutching someone’s hand.
“You’re…”
Seeing the face of the young Beastmen, covered in burns and holding a broken sword, Melina’s face filled with shock.
“Arron-nim?”
(T/N: Arron is out?!!?)