Editor : Amethyst00



The Clash Between Leo and Giath

With a single exchange of blows, destruction swept the surrounding area.

Every living being in the vicinity of the clash was torn to shreds.

The resulting gore evaporated without a trace.

The surrounding landscape transformed.

Thud—!

Space twisted, and Leo was flung away.

Crashhhhh—!

Like a meteor, Leo collided with the ground.

The resulting shockwave devastated the surrounding area.

Dust billowed thick into the air.

Demons and monsters gathered from all around.

KRAAAAAHHH!

A vortex of flames swept through, incinerating them all.

Those demons and monsters who hadn't yet turned to ash screamed in agony.

Still, even as their bodies burned, they surged toward the center of the flames with killing intent.

Screech—!

A gray line cleaved through the air.

SPLURT—!

The demons were severed by sharp sword strikes, their bodies strewn about.

Step—step—

Leo walked out of the flames, lightly rotating the arm that had swung the sword.

Then he turned to gaze at Giath, standing far off.

"A power of authority…"

A unique ability possessed by the highest-ranking demons — Authority.

However, a legion commander's Authority is special.

Ordinary demons receive their Authority from their commander. But the commanders themselves receive their Authority from Erebos.

That was why current legion commanders were weaker than their predecessors — the absence of true Authority.

Even though a commander was terrifyingly powerful on their own, without Authority, they were incomplete.

After Erebos was sealed, Giath lost his Authority as well.

"Still… these monsters are so absurdly strong that even without Authority, they're incomparable to the commanders born in the Age of Heroes."

But now—

Giath had reclaimed his Authority.

He was under the influence of Erebos within the legion world.

"His Authority is Berserker."

Once activated, his power skyrocketed, and he transformed into a demon of destruction and ruin.

A simple power — but one of the most formidable among all commanders.

Moreover, the Authority of a commander resonates throughout their entire legion.

As a result, the power of the Giant King's legion had grown even more formidable.

But as simple and powerful as Berserker was, it had a clear weakness.

He lost reason, becoming a monster driven only by the instinct to destroy.

Giath was overly cautious by nature.

In large-scale wars, that caution could become a hindrance — as it had just now.

"If he had jumped in from the beginning without fearing Dweno, it would've been dangerous."

But Giath had overestimated Dweno and made the mistake of hesitating in the first clash, weakening the legion's momentum.

He also gave Ivaldi time to fully prepare his defenses.

Yet Giath's caution wasn't always a liability.

Sometimes, it became one of his greatest weapons — especially in one-on-one combat.

The overwhelming power from his massive frame was awe-inspiring.

But that same size made him an easier target.

That's why Giath remained cautious in direct confrontations — never rushing in, even when he saw a chance.

Berserker-mode Giath was, in one sense, straightforward to counter — either overpower him or lay traps.

But now—

Even though Berserker was activated, Giath retained his reason.

And his Authority was far more powerful than Leo remembered.

Fwooom—

Disastrous flames erupted from Giath's body.

He hadn't just strengthened himself with Authority.

The current Giath was under Erebos's blessing.

"To receive Erebos's blessing… he must have sacrificed himself."

Leo narrowed his eyes.

"So he used another version of himself as the sacrifice."

This Giath had devoured his past self.

And with his own bones and skin, forged his armor and weapons.

Giath's sword—

Was made from his own spine.

"It's not Giath himself who activated the Authority — it's his weapon."

He had transferred his entire power to his future self.

And embedded his consciousness in his spinal bones.

It was a grotesque horror that triggered a primal revulsion.

"He's a complete monster."

Leo lowered his stance.

"In terms of difficulty… he's comparable to Jormungandr."

The Gluttony King Jormungandr — whom Leo and Lysinas barely defeated together.

A legion commander without a legion.

A demon so powerful, he was a legion unto himself.

Now, Giath's strength was on par with Jormungandr.

Thud—thud—

Giath approached Leo and narrowed his eyes.

"Impressive. You've regained that much strength in just over ten years of life."

"I've only seriously trained with mana for three." Leo smirked nonchalantly.

"Is that so?"

CRASHHHH—!

Giath's sword came down on Leo.

The disastrous flames vanished from the blade.

The sword left a deep scar on the earth.

Leo deflected the strike just enough to alter its path but felt searing pain as his arm nearly shattered.

Giath, looking down at him, turned his gaze to the fortress wall.

His eyes locked onto where Aru stood.

"That girl called the successir of Aaron… her growth isn't ordinary either."

Even accounting for the Hero Record, Aru's growth rate was astonishing.

"That elf girl, Luna's successor, must be the same."

And at the center of it all—someone clearly stood.

"But your miracles end today."

Giath's face twisted grotesquely.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That you die here — Surviving Hero."

"Ah."

Leo nodded as if he understood, lips curling into a grin.

"I don't consider tearing you apart a miracle. It just feels… natural."

BOOM—!

Giath kicked Leo hard.

WHOOOOSH! SLAM—!

Leo smashed into the fortress wall.

"Black Rabbit!"

Aru cried out, rushing to Leo.

He spat blood and pulled his embedded arm free from the wall.

Leo's sword was imbued with Aaron's aura.

He looked forward again.

Just before being kicked—

He had slashed Giath's ankle with all his might.

"It didn't cut through."

Leo's sword strike couldn't pierce Giath's body, now reinforced by Authority and Erebos's power.

"Black Rabbit!"

Aru rushed to support Leo, tears welling in her eyes as she pulled him back to the wall.

"Let me fight too!"

"You're not ready yet."

"But—!"

"To defeat him, I need time."

"T-time?"

"Yes. Time to complete a spell."

Leo separated from Aru and wiped his mouth.

His insides felt like a mess.

"Still, I can hold out."

There was only one way to overcome this situation.

Luna's magic.

And Leo could mimic Luna's techniques.

The issue was the frontline.

He needed the strongest shield to protect him while he cast the spell.

"Dweno will come."

"B-but! He's been gone so long! I should—"

"I said you're not ready."

Leo gave her a light flick on the forehead.

Step—step—

He stepped forward.

"Everyone wavers."

He was not a perfect person.

Just as Dweno wasn't perfect either.

Not Aaron, not Luna, not even Lysinas.

There were no perfect beings.

Wavering and hesitation were only natural.

But—

"Our destination was always the same."

That belief never faltered.

Leo looked up at the sky.

The dark pre-dawn sky.

It would soon be morning.

At that moment—

A message appeared before Leo's eyes.

"See?"

As Aru widened her eyes in surprise, Leo smiled.

"I told you—he's coming."

bl

CRASHHH—!

Like flower petals scattering, a sharp sword strike approached. Dweno extended his hand.

Grab—!

"Kugh?!"

Aina flailed as her neck was caught.

A sword filled with energy was visible in her hand.

"A sword I made."

It could possibly pierce Dweno's defenses.

But unfortunately, weapons he forged couldn't harm their maker.

Such was their design.

Then—

Shk—

"…?"

Aina's sword, Clesis, grazed Dweno's cheek.

For a moment, confusion flickered through his body.

Squeeze—!

"Guh?"

He applied light pressure, and Aina immediately went limp, unable to breathe.

"Aina!"

Luke rushed in, closing the distance.

"Catch."

"Huh?!"

Dweno tossed Aina toward Luke.

He caught her in a panic, stumbled, and rolled across the ground while protecting her.

Then Dweno casually gave Luke a flick to the forehead.

Whack!

"Ack?!"

Luke's eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

FLASHHH—!

A burst of white light and golden lightning filled Dweno's vision.

Duran and Eliana.

"Fast."

He murmured quietly.

"But that's all."

Grab—grab—

"Ugh?!"

"Kuh?!"

Dweno snatched both by the scruffs of their necks.

He had predicted their movements and caught them mid-attack.

Then—

"Don't touch my students, you bastardddddd!"

"Pick one: speak casually or speak respectfully."

From behind, Artienne struck with a fierce punch aimed at Dweno's blind spot.

Smiling, Dweno tilted his head back forcefully.

THUD—!

His head collided with Artienne's forehead.

Collapse—

Artienne dropped to her knees, unconscious.

Dweno tightened his grip, and Duran and Eliana also lost consciousness.

KRAAAAAH—!

"Now!"

As Chelsea shouted, Haviden swung his sword.

With wind aura imbued in the blade, Chelsea poured her magic into creating a blade of wind.

Dweno inhaled.

Then—

"HAAAH!"

He roared with aura.

It wasn't like Aaron's howling.

The atmospheric pressure shifted instantly.

The wind blades scattered in the air.

The sudden pressure and roar shocked Chelsea and Haviden, whose ears were sensitive to such changes.

Both passed out instantly.

"…What… is this…?"

Carl, standing behind Eliza atop a Wind Wyvern, gaped.

"Your commands are sharp, Carl."

Dweno smiled.

"But this kind of fighting—must be new to you."

And it was.

An outrageous fighting style.

"It's like… smashing opponents with a shield."

With overwhelming defense, he had suppressed them.

Carl, trembling with awe, hugged Eliza tightly without realizing it.

Eliza, who would normally scold him, swallowed nervously.

Their hearts raced with instinctive fear.

And then—

"HAAAH!"

Drianna charged straight at Dweno.

"Hey! Stop! Drianna! Don't—!"

Carl shouted in panic.