Editor : Amethyst00



Kiooooooooooooooooo!

An ear-splitting roar echoed through the inside of Seiren.

To block Zodiac, who had appeared in the center of Seiren, the Hero Alliance was splitting its forces.

In the meantime, a magic circle was forming in midair.

Beyond the circle, Benneth, Albi, Ellen, and Chade appeared.

The four who had withdrawn from the battle with Sillatna quickly joined the fortress wall.

“Lumene Magic Department students, follow me.”

As Albi gave the order with an expressionless face, the magic students who had been suppressing Sillatna’s legion with spells hurriedly gathered around him.

“Jillian.”

“Yes, Patriarch.”

“You and our people continue defending the wall.”

Chade gave orders to the Lewellin magicians gathering around him.

“And you, Patriarch?”

“I’m going to stop that thing.”

Chade’s cold eyes looked up toward the sky.

By now, most of Zodiac’s body had crossed into the present world.

“Patriarch, let us follow—”

“If Lewellin’s power is withdrawn now, our already disadvantageous front will collapse even further.”

At Jillian’s words, Chade spoke coolly.

“You will become the backbone of the Hero Alliance and hold the line. Or do you doubt your Patriarch’s judgment?”

“Absolutely not.”

A Head of a heroic family doesn’t rely on bloodline alone.

Being the strongest in the house is a given.

Chade was the most powerful mage in Lordren, the western continent’s powerhouse.

He was one of the chosen experts personally selected by Sword Saint Kalian to subjugate the Legion Commander.

Thus, Lewellin’s vassals could only obey, because they trusted absolutely in their Patriarch’s strength.

Ellen also quickly gathered the Seiren students.

Before long, all who would go to block Zodiac had assembled.

Meanwhile—

The 1st and 2nd years, who had escorted the audience deep into the school for safety, rushed outside.

When they saw Zodiac emerging through the rift above, their faces turned pale.

Some of them lost all will to fight and collapsed on the spot.

The commander of Tartaros’s legion, an existence of pure terror.

Even though they were hero candidates, they were still only boys and girls in their mid to late teens.

Faced with the worst calamity on earth, fear was inevitable.

“W-we have to run…!”

“What could 1st and 2nd years like us possibly do against that monster!”

A terrified 2nd-year from Lumene shouted.

At his words, the hero candidates began murmuring anxiously.

Fear is contagious.

No matter how bravely one tried to stand firm, courage crumbled once someone voiced despair aloud.

“Then we should retreat toward the Hero Alliance for now—!”

As a 2nd-year from Seiren shouted urgently, Lunia yelled back.

“Wait! Then what about the civilians still inside the school?!”

They had been evacuated to the innermost, safest area, but if that monster descended to the ground, there was no guarantee of safety.

“We have to hold this place somehow…!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Lunia El Lunda! You’re only a 1st-year. What could you possibly do? I’m a 2nd-year, and even I have no idea how to deal with that thing!”

A 2nd-year from Seiren shouted with a distorted face.

“The civilians are already in the safest spot! Our job is to hurry and join the Hero Alliance!”

Kwooooooooooo!

At that moment—

Zodiac, crossing through the rift, let out a roar filled with fury.

His fear struck the ears of the 1st and 2nd years like a hammer.

Those with weak resistance instantly fainted.

“We have to stop him!”

Lunia shouted desperately.

Seeing that, one Seiren student stammered in panic.

“It’s impossible for us to stop that thing! We have to call the seniors for help!”

“He’s right!”

“Hurry to where the seniors are—!”

The Seiren 1st and 2nd years shouted.

Swayed by them, the Lumene 1st and 2nd years also insisted they should head toward the Hero Alliance.

“If we fight now, it’ll just be a pointless death!” a Seiren 2nd-year screamed at Lunia.

Lunia took a deep breath.

Then she reached out, grabbed the 2nd-year by the collar, yanked him close, and smashed her forehead into his.

Thunk!

“Guh?”

The 2nd-year rolled his eyes and collapsed, stunned.

Lunia shoved him aside and glared at the other 1st and 2nd years with blazing eyes.

They flinched.

“Those who want to go, go.”

Lunia spoke calmly but anger trembled beneath her tone.

“I’ll stay here and protect the civilians.”

If the 1st and 2nd years abandoned their post now, the lives inside Seiren would be at definite risk.

At her words, murmurs spread among the students.

Then Celia and Chloe stepped beside her.

“I’ll fight that thing.”

“I can’t back down now.”

Abad and Chelsea joined too.

“My father’s fighting out there, I can’t just retreat.”

“Exactly!”

Then Duran and Eliza snorted.

“I was planning to stay anyway.”

“The Seiren representative already said all the cool stuff, so it’s not very stylish, but I’ll fight too.”

Walden crossed his arms silently and walked over.

Chen Xia joined with a smile, and Eiran and Luca followed.

That started it—the 1st-years from both Lumene and Seiren gathered around Lunia.

“Hey, Lyl! You too?”

A Lumene 2nd-year called urgently to Lyl, who was joining.

Lyl turned back to his classmate.

“Of course. The 1st-years are stepping up to do what we should’ve done first, aren’t they?”

“B-but… isn’t that too reckless?”

“It is reckless.”

At Lyl’s reply, a 2nd-year representative from Seiren scowled.

“Then why do something so reckless? We were chosen. You’re saying you’ll throw your life away here?”

Lyl smiled brightly.

“It is because we were chosen.”

“…!”

“Protecting people is the natural duty of a hero candidate, isn’t it?”

At Lyl’s words, the 2nd-year’s face twisted.

“You're insane. Completely insane.”

The 1st and 2nd years split in half, those staying to defend Seiren and those retreating toward the Hero Alliance.

Kugugugung—!

Then Zodiac burst through the rift and landed on the ground.

The earth shook violently.

The 1st and 2nd years swallowed hard.

‘How long can we hold out? Ten minutes? No… maybe not even five.’

Lunia clenched her teeth.

Then, dark holes opened around Zodiac, and from them poured deformed monsters.

The students’ faces froze.

“The Legion…!”

“That monster—so he really is a Legion Commander!”

Cries of shock erupted everywhere.

Zodiac’s legion charged toward Seiren.

They had no reason, no thought—only the pure instinct to destroy.

The 1st and 2nd years gritted their teeth and fought back.

“Block them!”

“Don’t let them take a single step inside the school!”

At the urgent commands of the 2nd years, the 1st years moved in unison.

“Uwoooooooo!”

Then, a massive demon exuding poison roared and charged at Celia.

She clenched her teeth and ignited her fiery aura.

Fwoosh!

Bwaaaah!

Her sword slash cut the demon apart.

Its flesh split open and blood splattered.

Splurt!

Celia dodged hastily—

—but couldn’t avoid the poison gas that erupted.

“Ugh?”

Celia clutched her mouth.

Grrrrrrr!

“Uwehhh!”

Zodiac’s legion, all monsters carrying lethal toxins.

The more they were slain, the heavier the poison’s toll.

Coughing blood, Celia staggered as just as the demon she’d cut raised its arm again.

“Celia!”

Chloe quickly summoned her mana.

Crack-crackle!

Freezing cold engulfed the demon.

As its movements froze, Chelsea flew in and carried Celia to the rear.

“I can still fight…!”

“You’re coughing blood and still saying that?!”

Chelsea shouted urgently.

The rear lines were overflowing with wounded, tended by healers.

Only a few minutes into the legion’s assault, and already a scene of carnage.

For inexperienced 1st and 2nd years, the enemy was too overwhelming.

Then—

Fwoooosh!

A fierce flame surged at the front lines.

“Rhys-sunbae!”

Lyl shouted toward Rhys for support.

Not just her—hero academy seniors had arrived to reinforce the front and halt the legion’s advance.

The seniors’ arrival—

Yet the 1st and 2nd years couldn’t feel relieved.

Their opponent was none other than Tartaros’s legion.

They had barely avoided being annihilated, but the situation was far from hopeful.

“Can… we even defeat that?”

A hero holding the defense line muttered in despair.

They were barely holding off Sillatna’s legion.

Now, the unknown legion raging in the rear was enough to drive even veteran heroes to despair.

If it were only Sillatna, maybe.

But facing two Legion Commanders, their forces were utterly insufficient.

Then—

The sounds of battle at the front suddenly stopped, as if it were a lie.

Sedgen stared toward the front, face stiff.

The battleground of the Monster Queen and the Sword Saint—

The terrain itself was so utterly changed that it was unrecognizable, proof of how fierce their clash had been.

And now, leaving that battlefield behind—

The Monster Queen was advancing.

With the lower body of a grotesque beast and a small human upper body, Sillatna licked the blood running down her forehead.

“The Principal… has fallen?!”

“Is it really over…?!”

Despair shadowed the heroes’ faces.

Seeing them, Harrid spoke.

“If you’ve got time to despair, use it to prepare to fight.”

“Professor Harrid…!”

Len looked at him with trembling eyes.

“You are professors of Lumene.”

Harrid spoke in his usual cold tone.

“When even students are fighting the legion, don’t you dare be the first to despair.”

At his words, the Lumene professors clenched their teeth.

Then—

Flash!

A colossal slash mercilessly cleaved Sillatna.

Terrifying killing intent burst from her body.

Kwagagagang!

Her black magic spewed crimson light toward the source of the slash.

“Principal…!”

The Lumene professors’ faces contorted.

bl

“Kal… lian…! Cough! Cough!”

In the midst of the devastated battlefield—

Rivein called out urgently to Kalian.

As a dragon—

As a guide of heroes—

He was burning all his power for the hero he had chosen.

Sillatna had been right.

An old hero and an old dragon—

Even in their prime, defeating her was uncertain.

And now, both long past their prime.

If it had been another legion commander, perhaps.

But against one who had lived since before the Age of Calamity, there was no hope.

Tremble-tremble

In Rivein’s eyes, Kalian’s back was visible, using his sword as a cane to stand.

Rivein grit his teeth.

His body had reached its limit long ago and yet, the Sword Saint moved.

‘I don’t care if I die.’

Kalian raised his sword.

He’d lived long enough. If it was for the next generation, his life wasn’t too precious to give.

He spat blood.

‘Just one more strike.’

He had to leave even the slightest chance for those who would come after to defeat Sillatna.

‘Move…’

Shrrng—!

Pouring out what life he had left, the Sword Saint tried to release his aura for one final slash—

Totter—!

—but lost his balance and nearly fell.

Thud—!

He barely managed to stay standing.

But anyone could see he was at his limit.

Step—

“That's enough.”

Then, a voice came from behind.

Kalian and Rivein turned with effort.

“You've done enough.”

It was a young man with gray hair and gray eyes.

“You’ve done more than enough. So now, rest easy.”

Looking into those gray eyes, Kalian felt a certain boy’s face flash in his mind.

“Who… are you?”

At his question, the young man opened his mouth.

“The Hero of the Beginning.”