Editor : Amethyst00



Whoooosh—

A dry wind blowing from afar rustled Leo's white hair.

Leo silently stared at the scene unfolding before him.

The group had reached the outskirts of the Tartaros region.

"I'm getting a bit nervous."

Chelsea muttered, gripping her long staff tightly with both hands.

Most of Leo's party, including Chelsea herself, had previously entered the Tartaros region.

Being children of prestigious families, they had participated in past subjugation expeditions led by their clans.

But the atmosphere now was completely different.

Back when Chelsea had operated in Tartaros, she had moved with powerful members of her family—she had only played a small role in a large-scale subjugation force.

But this time, it was different.

There were only seven party members.

Which meant the burden each of them had to bear was heavier.

Everyone seemed to feel the weight—the atmosphere was sharp.

Duran fiddled with the longsword hanging at his waist, and Eliza, who would usually be tending to her nails, watched the surroundings warily with sharp eyes.

Drianna stood at the front, keeping guard.

Aru crossed her arms and had her eyes closed, but her cat ears were twitching nonstop.

In the middle of it all, Eliana, her face tense, spoke to Leo.

"Leader. You've got plenty of experience fighting in the Tartaros region, right?"

"This is my first time coming here."

"What?"

At Leo's unexpected reply, not just Eliana but the whole group turned to look at him.

"Hahaha! So even the Black Rabbit, who gives off the vibe of a well-worn old warrior, is just a boy after all!"

Aru stood confidently in front of Leo.

"This big sis will guide you with her vast experience—so rely on me."

As Aru's blue eyes sparkled, Leo pulled a coin from his pocket and flicked it to the ground.

Clink!

Aru, who instinctively stepped on the fast-flying coin to stop it, froze for a moment, then flared her eyes and grabbed Leo by the collar, shaking him.

"Seriously! When are you going to stop treating me like a cat?! I'm a legitimate hero! The rightful heir of Brave Aaron!"

"You still just a kitten at best, though."

"Raaaargh!"

As the enraged Aru hissed, Drianna smacked her on the head with the flat of her axe.

Thunk—!

"Ow!"

"Calm yourself, you dumb cat."

Drianna grabbed the back of Aru's neck and dragged her away as she crouched and clutched her head.

Watching the scene, Chelsea sighed softly.

"What a mess…"

"But the tension in the air's eased up a lot, hasn't it?"

"Huh? Now that you mention it…"

Chelsea blinked at Leo's words.

"It's not good to be overly tense in enemy territory. In that sense, Aru's talent for loosening up the mood is actually valuable."

"Leader, you sound like a professor."

Eliana giggled.

Leo gave a soft smile and said, "Well, it looks like the overly tense atmosphere has settled a bit."

Leo narrowed his eyes.

Aru, who had been pouting, sharpened her gaze as well.

Crackle—

Duran's hand crackled with electric aura, and Eliana's shoulder flinched slightly.

Whoosh—!

In that moment, behind Eliza at the rear, a black-red blade flashed.

Clang! Clang—!

"Oh?"

A woman in a black robe let out a small gasp of admiration as she saw Eliana's sword blocking her scythe.

"One quick-reacted little rookie, huh?"

"One?"

Eliana smirked.

Crackle! Flash—!

Behind the woman, golden lightning roared violently.

Duran swung his greatsword, eyes gleaming, ready to cleave the woman in two.

"Oh my~?"

The woman smiled and leapt into the air.

“You reacted quickly, but that’s all…”

"—you think that's all? You dumb demon!"

Smash!

Aru's foot smashed into the robed woman's face.

A thunderous blast rang out as the demon was sent flying, crashing into the ground.

A massive burst of wind pressure followed.

Whoooosh—!

"Ugh?!"

The demon's eyes bulged.

Pinned down by the enormous pressure, she bit her lip.

'That mage bitch!'

Chelsea, holding her long staff with both hands, aimed its tip at the demon and pushed with force.

Hummmm—!

Black mana erupted from the demon's body as she resisted Chelsea's pressure.

Chelsea smiled sweetly.

"Why don't you look up?"

"What?"

The moment the demon looked up—

Drianna, raising her axe with both hands, came crashing down at incredible speed.

"Urgh!"

The axe slammed straight into the demon's head.

BOOM! CRAAAACK—!

The ground split, sending debris flying.

Eliana's mouth gaped.

"What kind of brute strength is that…?"

"Drianna's raw power is terrifying."

"I thought you were the strongest among us."

"My specialty is graceful movement with speed. You guys are fast too, but not quite at my level."

"Sorry, but across all hero academies, the fastest is me! Eliana the Lightspeed Swiftblade!"

"What?"

Aru glanced at Eliana.

Chelsea, cancelling her spell, muttered, "Is she seriously sticking with that embarrassing nickname?"

"It's kinda cool, though?"

Chelsea gave Aru an exasperated look.

Duran murmured, “What a tragedy. To have to live in the same era as these people.”

"For once, I agree with you," Chelsea replied, shaking her head.

Just then, Drianna emerged from the dust cloud.

"She escaped into the sky."

Everyone's eyes turned upward.

"What kind of demon is she?"

Eliza, riding her summoned Wind Wyvern, narrowed her eyes as she asked.

Leo answered, "Judging by the black mana, a demonic sorcerer."

At that moment, the demon—Ingel—took off her robe.

"You arrogant little brats!"

Blood trickled down her forehead where she had been struck.

In a sudden twist, her neck bulged and burst—

"Ugh!"

And she vomited an egg the size of her own face.

"Ugh, gross!"

Eliza grimaced.

"Definitely a demonic sorcerer."

A demon who had mastered monster magic, a formidable foe to any summoner.

The egg hit the ground and splut—! cracked open.

Another Ingel, identical to the first, emerged.

"Urgh! Uuugh!"

She vomited yet another egg, which also hatched into another Ingel.

"What the heck? Are those clones?"

Eliana looked horrified.

"Clones…"

"Clones?"

"It's a unique black magic used by demonic sorcerers."

Leo replied calmly.

"A spell that summons clones with the same strength as the caster. A real nuisance spell."

"I've never heard of such magic!"

'It was popular during the Age of Calamity, used by demonic sorcerers,' Leo thought, about to draw his sword.

"Stay back, Leo Plov."

Duran, resting his greatsword on his shoulder, drew his longsword with his other hand.

"We'll handle this one."

"You sure?"

Chelsea spoke up.

"This mission is the one even heroes have failed. That means it's extremely difficult. And you added us to this party."

Rumble—!

Summoning circles formed before the clone Ingels, and massive figures began to emerge.

Chelsea said, "I get what you're thinking, Leo."

He wanted them to gain experience.

Chelsea, Duran, Eliza, and Eliana understood that.

"But even if we're not perfect, we were chosen to stand on the battlefield with you, right? So trust us."

Chelsea activated her mana.

"Our party shares its name with the Great Heroes' party! Then there's no need for even our leader to step in against just that."

"She's right. Leo, you're our secret weapon. Save your strength."

At Drianna's words, golden aura flared from Chelsea's body.

"Let's go!"

Boom—!

Without hesitation, Aru charged at the five newly summoned Gigantes.

"Raaaaaaagh!"

Aru howled.

"Eliana!"

At Eliza's call, Eliana climbed atop the Wind Wyvern.

Whoosh—!

It shot into the sky at tremendous speed.

"You arrogant brats! I'll make you regret challenging me!"

From above, Ingel's eyes flared with murderous intent.

She'd been surveying the area when these humans, beastkin, and dwarves suddenly appeared.

This area should have been long devoid of life.

And yet weak-looking youngsters had suddenly shown up.

'Heh! I haven't feasted in ages!'

She attacked with glee.

But the youngsters held terrifying power.

'Unbelievable! How do they have this kind of strength at their age?!'

In disbelief, Ingel decided to give it her all.

"Nyaaaaaah!"

Smash—!

As Are launched a powerful kick into a Gigantes's chest, Ingel's eyes widened.

'Beast transformation…?'

It wasn't nighttime.

Yet the beastkin had transformed?

Ingel shuddered in midair.

"So it's you! I'd heard of a beastkin capable of transforming—so you're the one!"

A sneer crept onto Ingel's face.

"You must be the fools resisting annihilation!"

'Impressive, but… with that level of power…!'

Fighting five Gigantes with just one beastkin, one dwarf, and two humans was amazing—but thinking they could save the world? Laughable.

"What are you babbling about, you ugly old hag?"

A sharp voice rang out.

Flash—!

A blinding flash flipped Ingel's vision.

"Huh?"

"To still be using some ancient black magic debunked 5,000 years ago? You're such a washed-up demon."

Eliana sneered.

"What… did you say?"

"Cloning weakens the original too much. So all I have to do is get close and—slash!—and it's over."

Indeed.

That's why the spell, created by the Monster Queen 5,000 years ago, had quickly fallen out of use.

Even Ingel knew that.

But—

"You little wretch! How do you know this magic's weakness?! It was only recently bestowed upon us by Her Majesty the Monster Queen…!"

Whooooosh! BOOM—!

"Well done, Pipi."

Eliza's Wind Wyvern blasted Ingel away.

The wind breath sent Ingel flying, leaving only her head, which fell helplessly to the ground.

Thump! Roll—! Thud!

Her head rolled to a stop at someone's feet.

Ingel's eyes looked up.

"For someone with high-demon powers, you're pathetic in actual combat."

Leo murmured indifferently as he raised his foot to crush her head.

Suddenly—

"Ah… ah… ah…!"

Seeing the terror in her eyes, he paused.

"Why… why is the sky… the sky…?"

Leo spoke calmly as he lowered his foot.

"You. Which legion are you from?"

"The sky… it can't be…"

"I asked what legion you belong to."

Leo's eyes turned gray.

Ingel's face contorted in fear.

She felt a pressure beyond comprehension.

Overwhelmed, her teeth chattered.

"I… I belong to the Monster Queen… Sillatna's… legion…"

'So that's it. This demon isn't from the current era.'

Crack—!

Without hesitation, Leo crushed her head.

'She's from the Age of Calamity.'