Editor : Amethyst00



Boom! Boom!

The faces of the Ivaldi warriors, staring at the endless tide of the Giant King's army, were painted in terror.

Everyone was trembling, clutching their weapons tightly.

Then it happened.

"Let us fight too!"

A voice rang out from below the inner wall.

Leo walked over to the inner wall and looked down.

Below the wall.

Beastkin and dwarf boys and girls, who looked to be in their late teens, were gripping their weapons with desperate expressions on their faces.

"We can fight! We'll be of help!"

"I told you no!"

"We're warriors too! Look! We've got weapons!"

"Those are just things made by immature kids! And what, you've taken down a few monsters and now think you're ready for a battlefield this dangerous?!"

The beastkin girl and dwarf boy standing at the front ground their teeth.

"Leo. What are you looking at?"

At that moment, Carl approached with a curious expression and looked down as well.

Suddenly, the beastkin girl pointed at Leo and Carl.

"Then what about them! They're outsiders! So why are they allowed to fight?!"

"They were permitted to join the battle by Lord Dweno!"

"Argh! Then why not us?! We're prepared to die at any moment too!"

"Wow, what a fiery little beastkin."

Leaning on the railing, Carl turned to Leo.

"They seem pretty confident in their abilities. Can't we ask for their help?"

"No."

"Why not?"

Carl looked bewildered at Leo's firm response.

"The era you're from and this one are different."

This was the Age of Calamity—a time of decline.

An era where even children's basic education was difficult.

Unlike Carl, who was born in the Age of Heroes.

Hero candidates were thoroughly trained and prepared for war. These kids came from a completely different environment.

"They might have some practical experience."

Leo turned coldly away.

"But that's all. In this era, kids like them only take to the battlefield when a city is on the brink of destruction."

Carl licked his lips, watching the kids below, whose eyes were filled with frustration as they looked up.

As he turned to follow Leo, Carl happened to meet eyes with the beastkin girl who seemed to be the leader.

He smiled warmly and waved.

"Don't worry too much. My friends may not look it, but they're monsters. We'll protect this city."

"Aaaargh!"

Sparks flew in the beastkin girl's eyes.

"Carl, hurry up."

"Oops!"

At Chelsea's call, Carl stepped away from the inner wall and headed for the outer wall.

Staring at the Giant King's army beyond the wall, he murmured,

"There are so freaking many of them…"

"Hmph. You were just shouting about rewriting history, and now you say something pathetic like that?"

"Guess I wasn't quite in my right mind a moment ago."

At that, Eliza shook her head and pressed her forehead.

"I was dumb to think you were even slightly cool."

"Huh? What was that? I feel like I just heard something amazing. Mind repeating that?"

"Get lost."

As Carl leaned in with wide eyes, Eliza smacked his head aside irritably.

"You all seem rather relaxed."

Leo commented, watching the scene.

"Yeah. But aside from us, the mood's grim."

Chelsea said, looking at the nervous atmosphere on the wall.

And it was no surprise.

The army of the Giant King before them was the very embodiment of despair.

One of the only reasons the hero candidates could maintain their composure was because of Dweno's presence.

The people of Ivaldi might not know, but every hero candidate did.

Dweno was one of the great heroes who ended the Age of Calamity.

Of course, they didn't rely solely on Dweno.

They shook off their fear and mustered courage.

Because they could see the steady back of one person.

'Lord Dweno is one thing… but Leo is playing a huge role too.'

A hero who had made countless impossibilities possible.

The trust that Leo Plov instilled was immense.

He was, in every sense, their leader.

"Then shall we turn fear into courage?"

"Go, Black Rabbit!"

At Leo's words, Aru clenched her fists.

Leo turned to her with a slightly exasperated look.

"What are you talking about?"

"Huh?"

"That's your job, not mine."

"Me?"

Aru pointed to herself in confusion.

Leo replied.

"In the Age of Calamity, whose job was it to give courage to frightened allies on the battlefield?"

"Lord Aaron!"

"Then who are you?"

"Aru Tune! The Heiress of Brave's Will!"

"Then turning fear into courage is your job."

Leo flicked Aru's forehead lightly.

"How long are you going to leave everything to me? Take this burden for once."

"Agh! You sound like some tired old man!"

Aru grumbled, rubbing her forehead, but soon nodded.

"Still, you're right! Just like the Black Rabbit said! Heh! It's my turn now! The great me, who's inherited the will of the Brave!"

With a triumphant expression, Aru climbed to the highest point of the wall.

Everyone's eyes turned to her as she suddenly stood tall in such an exposed spot.

"Hey! You may have been allowed to fight, but acting on your own is unacceptable!"

"And you're in a dangerous position!"

Beastkin warriors ran to pull Aru down.

It was indeed risky. A magic spell or long-range projectile could easily strike her.

"Huuuuup!"

Aru inhaled deeply.

Leo watched the battlefield.

'He must be watching too.'

The Lich King was surely observing this battlefield.

'Let them know who you are.'

Oooooooooooooooooh—!

A thunderous roar burst from Aru's mouth.

A golden aura surged from her body.

The Ivaldi warriors flinched at the sound.

"This is…?"

"What in the world…?"

The fear began to fade.

In its place bloomed courage.

Dweno's grip on his battle axe tightened.

He stared at Aru's back as the girl let out her howl.

"Wait—!"

"Beast form!"

In broad daylight, without a full moon.

Gasps rang out everywhere as Aru transformed.

But the miracle didn't stop there.

One by one, other beastkin warriors began to transform too.

They stared at their own bodies, stunned.

"W-what is this?!"

"Amazing!"

Strength flooded their limbs.

Beast-formed Aru bumped her fists together and grinned.

"Don't be scared, everyone! If we're scared, we can't win a fight we could've won! Those ugly bastards—let's crush every last one of them!"

"YEAHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The Ivaldi warriors, overflowing with morale, roared in response.

"This is unreal…!"

"Truly impressive!"

Enniha looked shocked, while Dweno burst into hearty laughter, stroking his beard.

Then it happened.

KIAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

A massive flock of Fafnirs appeared in the sky.

Leo spoke.

"Eliza."

"What?"

"How long are you going to keep hiding it?"

"Hmph."

Scoffing, Eliza closed her eyes and brought her hands together.

Crack— Crackle—!

Pure white lightning crackled around her.

Chelsea's eyes went wide.

"No way?"

FLASH!

With a burst of white light, a pure white Pegasus appeared before Eliza.

"You're kidding."

"She summoned a Pegasus at that age?"

"Just who are they?!"

The warriors on the wall shouted again in disbelief.

Clack— Clack—

"Duran Moira. Chelsea Lewellin."

Eliza approached the Pegasus, glanced at her rivals, and smirked.

"You'll never catch up to me now."

"How ridiculous."

"Hmph! I'll catch up soon enough, so enjoy it while you can!"

Duran looked indifferent while Chelsea scoffed.

"Um, Eliza, what about me?"

When Eliana asked hesitantly, Eliza replied coldly.

"Do I need to acknowledge someone as lazy as you?"

"How cruel! Eliza's ignoring me!"

"Then train harder, huh?"

As Eliana pouted and appealed to Leo, he chuckled.

"Wow, Eliza! That's amazing! You finally did it!"

Carl marveled.

As Eliza smiled faintly and climbed onto her Pegasus—

"Hey, Eliza! You're really beautiful!"

"…What?"

She almost slipped and fell at Carl's sudden words.

"What the heck are you saying?!"

With a slightly red face, she screamed.

"Your Pegasus. It's really beautiful."

"…"

Eliza's shoulders trembled.

"You… just wait until this is over."

"What did I do?"

"Hmph!"

As Carl looked flustered, Eliza snorted and gently stroked the Pegasus's neck.

"Let's go, Rue."

[Yes, Eliza.]

Flash— Crackle—!

A storm howled as Eliza's Pegasus, Rue, soared into the sky.

Boom! Boom-boom!

Kyaaaargh!

Screeeeech!

White lightning streaked through the sky, and every place it passed, Fafnirs screamed and fell.

"That's totally one-sided."

"The lightning of a Pegasus is the natural enemy of Fafnirs."

Leo explained to the awestruck Aru and summoned Alty.

"Another one?!"

"How did they form contracts with Pegasi at their age?!"

Cries of astonishment rang out.

'Well, I'm about the same age as you all, actually.'

Leo chuckled inwardly and mounted Alty.

"I'll handle the sky with Eliza. You guys handle the wall."

"Should we follow Professor Artienne's lead?"

"Professor Artienne? Probably not."

Leo glanced toward the rear of the wall.

Rumble—

Massive spiritual and magical energy was swirling around Artienne.

A mage spirit had possessed her.

"She's prepping something big."

"Then should Lord Dweno lead…?"

"You can do it."

"Huh? Me?"

"Of course. You should."

"But you and Lord Dweno are here."

Leo smiled.

"I'll tell you the same thing I told Aru."

"What?"

"How long are you going to leave everything to me? Take this burden already."

"Sigh…"

Carl let out a deep breath.

He slapped his cheeks, then turned.

"Sorry, but—"

He smiled awkwardly.

"Can I trust you all with your lives?"

"Of course."

Duran replied without hesitation.

Carl blinked in surprise.

"Huh? Just like that?"

"Leo handed command to you. So we'll follow."

Chelsea shrugged, and Drianna patted Carl's shoulder.

"Leave it to us."

"Urgh."

Carl staggered at her strength.

"Though, if you mess up, we'll kill you first."

Chelsea grinned, and Carl laughed awkwardly.

"Well, that's fair."

"If we entrust our lives to you, it's only fair we hold yours as collateral."

As Chelsea beamed, Carl chuckled nervously.

Then—

BOOOOM!

A deafening explosion rang out.

Fwwwoooosh—!

"Dark magic shell incoming!"

"Everyone, brace for impact!"

A giant dark energy shell was flying in from the Giant King's army, and screams erupted.

"Lord Dweno! Lady Enniha! Don't expose yourselves!"

At a dwarf's warning, Enniha asked, "Shouldn't we take cover?"

"Don't take your eyes off that man, Enniha."

"Huh?"

Flash! Crackle!

With white lightning flashing, Leo appeared before the dark shell.

Swoosh—!

A long grey line traced left to right.

And then—

BOOOOOOM!

The dark magic shell exploded in midair, shaking the earth.

The wall trembled.

Everyone looked at Leo's back as he rode his Pegasus.

Kyaaaaaaaa!

BWOOOOOOH—!

As their siege weapon failed, the Giant King's army began their charge with a chilling horn blast.

Seeing this, Dweno jumped from the wall without hesitation.

"Dweno!"

As Enniha called out in alarm, Dweno shouted back.

"Don't worry! The sky is in good hands!"

Thud!

Landing heavily, golden flames of aura flickered around him.

Normally, he'd never charge alone.

There would be no turning back but now was different.

Screeeeech!

Boom-boom-boom-boom!

A squad of Gigantes charged straight for Dweno.

Screeeech—!

Dragging his axe against the ground, Dweno grinned fiercely.

"Well then—"

Grip—!

Holding his battle axe in both hands, his eyes gleamed.

Thwack—!

A dull sound echoed. The waists of the Gigantes in front of him were cleaved in half.

His massive axe had bisected them in one sweep.

"With my back secure—guess I can go all out for once!"