Chapter 749
Editor : Amethyst00
Goooooooo—
Ominous mana began to flow from Lysinas.
The students of Seiren who saw it wore tense expressions.
A great figure among the elves.
Regardless of the blasphemy against Luna, the Poet of the Star, they instinctively sensed that the person before them possessed an extraordinary power.
"I don't sense any of the typical demonic aura, though?"
At Leah's mutter, their second-year classmate Yoinia replied with a nervous voice.
"Lately, there've been more and more demons with all sorts of dark mana traits. Maybe she's one of them?"
Among demons, there are those whose dark mana is undetectable—those whose traits are specialized in secrecy.
"But for that kind of demon, doesn't the atmosphere feel a bit different?"
Leah wore a slightly doubtful expression.
"That person feels like she could wipe us all out in an instant."
Demons lacking the usual sinister, evil aura of dark mana are typically deployed for covert missions—like assassinating heroes and important figures.
Those who have fought on the front lines against demons were well-acquainted with such traits.
However, as Leah said, the one before them was clearly about to sweep them away head-on.
Kukagagak—
As Lysinas moved her hand, the roiling black energy tore into the ground.
Leah and Yoinia gulped dryly.
The sensation was overwhelming—it felt like even their bones would be obliterated if they brushed against it.
Seeing this, the Trina siblings stepped forward.
"Looks like it's our turn."
"We'll hold the front solidly—don't worry!"
Alice and Garin drew their weapons.
"Eiran! Help us!"
"Let's fight that demon together!"
Seeing the students of Seiren so deeply mistaken, Eiran showed aflustered expression.
"U-um! About that person… she's actually—"
Just as Eiran was about to explain the truth to the students—
"Wait."
Lunia stopped Eiran.
"Don't tell them yet."
"Huh?"
"Why do you think Lady Lysinas appeared before us?"
"Um, well…"
Everyone has their own idea of who the greatest of the Great Heroes is.
Most tend to choose someone of their own race.
Since each race produced a Great Hero, it was only natural.
However, most scholars who researched the deeds of the Great Heroes referred to the King of Wisdom as the greatest.
All Great Heroes possessed mythic levels of power.
But even with such strength, none of them alone could have ended the Age of Calamity.
Yet the one who combined the powers of the five Great Heroes, surpassing their limits and making it possible—was none other than Lysinas.
The Erebos Subjugation Force.
It was thanks to the command of the King of Wisdom that the Arhi party always achieved victory.
Not only that.
Countless heroes beyond the five Great Heroes who also stood against Tartaros—
It was Lysinas who united them.
She stood at the apex of all the heroes of that era.
"Lady Lysinas was also the one who chose who would become a hero."
The selector of heroes who led not just the Great Heroes, but all heroes.
If such a Lysinas stood before them now…
"This is a trial."
Lunia clenched her fist tightly.
A hero selection trial.
"You and I figured it out already, so there's no helping that. But we need to show her exactly who we are. Otherwise, it's meaningless."
Lunia clenched her fist again.
"I'm going to be acknowledged by Lady Lysinas."
Lunia had already been acknowledged as Luna's successor.
Not just Luna—even Leo recognized her as Luna's heir.
Lunia herself took great pride in that fact and worked hard to live up to Luna's name.
Even so—
"To be fully recognized… I need to be acknowledged by Lady Lysinas too."
At those words, Eiran also gripped her sword tightly.
She recalled the image of Luna.
And even that of Velkia, who had been Luna's disciple.
Though she was terrified of Lysinas's deadly aura—
She couldn't back down.
"Yes."
Eiran reaffirmed her resolve, but as she looked at the fearsome aura surrounding Lysinas again, her neck shrank back.
"Then she's… not angry, right? She's just pretending to be mad, right?"
"…"
Lunia couldn't answer that.
Velkia and Bihar once fought over whom the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, should marry.
Velkia pushed for Luna.
Bihar, for Lysinas.
And Lysinas even tricked Leo into forming a marriage contract following the ancient traditions of the dragonkin.
That alone showed that the feelings the Wise Queen had for the Hero of the Beginning were no less than Luna's.
"She probably is mad."
"What…!"
Lunia said, seeing the frightened Eiran.
"Do we have the luxury to complain!? Like always, I'm counting on you!"
"Uuuuuh…!"
Eiran made a tearful face as she stepped forward with her sword and shield.
Her face was pale with fear, but her steps didn't hesitate.
Lysinas raised her hand as she watched the students of Seiren form ranks to challenge her.
Goooooooo—!
Her shadow swelled up as if it had a will of its own.
Kwagagagagang—!
The shadow engulfed the three students holding the front—Eiran, Alice, and Garin.
It was a formidable attack.
In that moment—
Eiran stepped forward.
Lysinas's eyes twitched at the sight.
'She should know that's not something one can block alone.'
At that moment, silver mana flowed from Eiran's body.
Silver mana in the form of armor.
As the armor finished forming, the silver mana also coated her sword.
The Animus Armor.
Velkia's unique spell, passed down through the House of Ersar.
And the sword—shaped by Luna for Velkia—was the Animus Sword.
The armor that shields body and mind from darkness, and the sword that slices through it.
The spell Lysinas had cast was a draconic incantation—Shadow Blades.
Not made of dark mana, but it was magic of the shadow element.
Sgak—!
Eiran's sword sliced through the shadow.
Not only that, she deflected the fragments with her shield.
'She handles Erquint well.'
Lysinas's eyes sparkled.
'That shield was also made by Dweno.'
She easily deduced the craftsman and curled her lips into a smile.
Then—
The Trina siblings swiftly approached Lysinas with their weapons.
Star mana swirled at their fingertips, as they were magic swordsmen.
Seeing them, Lysinas waved her hand.
The shadow Eiran had torn apart reformed into blades, pressuring the Trina siblings.
"Not so fast!"
Kagagagak—!
Garin protected his sister Alice.
With an opening created, Alice closed the distance with agile movement.
Lysinas smiled slightly and swung her fist toward Alice.
Startled, Alice cast a protective spell.
'It's a normal punch with no magic! I'll block and counter!'
Crack—!
But Lysinas's fist shattered Alice's barrier effortlessly.
Alice gaped.
'What? Magic?'
Seeing Alice's shock, Lysinas spoke.
"Pure physical power can destroy a magic barrier. Remember that."
With that, she thrust her fist into Alice's abdomen.
Kwang—!
"Alice!"
Garin shouted as Alice was blown away.
Lysinas closed in on Garin.
"Gah?!"
Before he could react, she struck his chest with her palm.
Kwagagang—!
Garin was also sent flying, rolling across the ground in tatters.
Eiran, the last one standing in the front, froze.
"You're Eiran, right?"
Lysinas smiled sweetly.
"You seem to know who I am?"
"It's an honor to meet you…"
Eiran forced an awkward smile.
"Good. Eiran, I have one request."
"W-what is it…?"
"That sneaky novel you're writing—could you stop?"
"Gasp! H-how did you know…?"
Eiran panicked.
Lysinas smiled sweetly at her.
Then—
"Combined spell complete!"
Leah's voice rang out.
The rear-guard mages had connected their spell formulas to create a powerful magic.
Kugagagang—!
Lysinas watched the stellar magic flying toward her and marveled.
"Amazing. Linking formulas to complete a spell… Luna would've been delighted."
She smiled and pointed upward.
Sgagagak—!
Her shadow expanded, swallowing the combined spell the Seiren students had created.
"But I don't need it, so I'll return it."
The star sorcery that had been absorbed was spat back toward the students who cast it.
"Aaaaahhhh!"
"D-dodge itttt!"
Kwagagang—!
In an instant, the Seiren students were incapacitated.
Only Lunia and Eiran remained standing.
Seeing Lysinas smiling cheerfully, Eiran looked on the verge of tears.
"A-are you mad…?"
"Oh my? Why would I be mad?"
"Uuuuuuh…"
Eiran looked terrified.
Truthfully, Lysinas was annoyed.
But she had no intention of unleashing that anger on the children before her.
'The one who deserves punishment is Luna, that girl…'
Lysinas ground her teeth.
'If I see her again, I'll really give her a piece of my mind.'
Just as she was growling low—
Fwoooooosh—!
Flames erupted.
Lysinas turned her gaze to Lunia, who was emitting fire.
At some point, Lunia's hair had turned white. In her hand was a staff of pure white.
The staff named "Essence of White Flame."
A personal gift to Lunia from Dweno.
Goooooo—!
Lysinas's eyes met Lunia's.
Seeing the white flame, Lysinas recalled someone.
'Katariou.'
The final king of the phoenixes.
A pledge-bearer who sacrificed herself to protect her in her last moment.
'So you inherited that child's power.'
Goooooo—!
Looking at Lunia, who was staring her down with clenched teeth, Lysinas smiled.
"Now I know what kind of child you are."
Step—step—
"You're just as reckless as Luna."
As Lysinas approached Lunia, Eiran flinched and hurriedly stepped in front of her.
Blocking Lysinas's path.
"…Indeed."
Lysinas let out a sigh of admiration and smiled.
["Let's see what you're made of."]
Wooooom—!
A radiant light burst from Lysinas.
Kugagagagang—!
A beautiful and majestic black dragon appeared.
Lunia and Eiran gasped.
As the two elven girls stood there, Lysinas opened her mouth—
Flash! Kugagagagang—!
Her breath attack engulfed them.
Leo clutched his right chest.
His mana roiled.
'She's really going all out, huh?'
Lysinas was a heroic spirit summoned by Leo's power.
Which meant that any mana she used was drawn from Leo himself.
And with this much mana being consumed, it meant Lysinas was taking the battle seriously.
'Lunia and Eiran must have exceeded her expectations.'
Leo smirked at the thought.
'Well, of course they should.'
After all, Lunia was Luna's successor—chosen by Leo himself.
If she couldn't earn Lysinas's approval, that would be his failure.
Thinking that, Leo turned his gaze toward the army of the Second Prince's faction—now in chaos.
Spirits of soldiers unjustly killed by Lysinas were attacking the knights.
Though the knights were initially frightened and pushed back, they soon realized that the spirits only had the strength of regular soldiers. They used aura to easily repel them.
"Hmph! Even in death, the lowborn remain lowborn!"
"How dare they try to harm us noble knights with vile necromancy!"
The knights sneered and emitted killing intent toward the spirits.
"We can't waste time here! While the Seiren students fight, we must charge and take the city!"
Even with the dragon blocking their path and the appearance of undead soldiers, morale had already plummeted.
But the nobles and knights didn't care.
"If any of you harbor treasonous thoughts, speak now! I'll personally behead you!"
The captain of the royal guards shouted with aura.
Most of the soldiers were former farmers—they were naturally terrified.
"Advance! Give your lives for the Second Prince! Anyone who refuses will be branded a traitor!"
At the chilling command, the soldiers began to march.
Thud—
Leo stood in their way.
Srrrng—
He drew his sword.
One knight shouted:
"Another enemy!"
"Don't underestimate him just because he's alone! The First Princess faction is clearly colluding with demons!"
"Soldiers to the front! Eliminate that wicked enemy!"
The knights barked orders.
Having witnessed the fearsome Lysinas, they dared not engage directly and instead pushed the soldiers forward to gauge Leo's strength.
The soldiers, unable to defy orders, picked up their weapons and approached Leo.
Watching them, Leo recalled a conversation he once had with Aaron.
"You're too soft, Aaron. What if war breaks out again after peace is restored?"
"Huh? War? But Tartaros is gone—why would there be war?"
"We fight wars even among ourselves."
"That's…!"
Aaron wore a disbelieving expression.
During the Age of Calamity, all races united against the shared enemies of Erebos and Tartaros.
Born during that era, Aaron couldn't imagine races warring against each other.
Flustered, Aaron said:
"I… I don't want to kill anyone."
"You think that's easy?"
"It's surprisingly easy!"
"What?"
Aaron brought a hundred soldiers who guarded Godthrone to the training ground.
And he subdued them all without causing a single injury.
He didn't even exert himself.
Aaron moved at his usual speed and used his usual strength.
Though the soldiers were rendered combat-incapable temporarily, none of them were wounded.
It was nothing short of divine swordsmanship.
"See? Easy, right?"
Aaron beamed at Kyle.
Kyle, dumbfounded, turned to Dweno, who was spectating.
"Hey, pervert. Can you do that?"
"Do I look like I can? That's something only Aaron can pull off."
It wasn't just a skill—it was a realm of mastery.
A realm born from Aaron's desire not to kill.
"You can do it too, Kyle!"
"How would I ever do that?"
"Yes, you can! I can, so you can too!"
Kyle had merely clicked his tongue at his friend's boundless faith back then.
Glancing—Leo looked toward the students watching him from afar.
His gaze landed squarely on the Knight Department students.
'I'll show you… that such a realm exists.'
Step—
Leo began to walk.
And recalled Aaron, who had once believed in him with infinite faith.
'Yeah. Just like you said—it is possible.'
Leo chuckled.
'Though getting to this point was damn hard.'