Editor : Amethyst00



Fwooooosh—!

As the black flames roared violently, the students of Damien quickly formed ranks.

"Any students left behind?"

"None, President!"

At Valhar's question, a male student responded firmly.

Nodding at the answer, Valhar gave the next command.

"Prepare for combat."

"Are we to extinguish those black flames?"

"No. I'll take care of that. You all handle the opposite side."

"Pardon?"

Valhar turned to look behind them.

"Something else will come."

GRAAAAAH—!

The roar of a monster echoed across the land.

This was the eastern edge of the continent—a land where monsters appeared without end.

Thus, countless magical beasts had long inhabited the surrounding region.

Of course, for the sake of mine development, the students of Damien had conducted massive subjugation operations to create a safe zone.

But now, monsters were pouring in—breaching that very safe zone.

"What the hell?!"

"There's no way they should be able to break through the barrier!"

As the dwarves cried out in disbelief, Valhar replied calmly,

"There's no such thing as an absolute in this world."

At those words, the Damien students flinched slightly.

"Don't be afraid just because hundreds of monsters are charging in. Are you not the successors of Dweno, the inheritors of Damien's legacy? Sweep them away."

With that, fire lit in the eyes of the students.

"Vanguard! Move forward!"

Chak! Chak! Chak!

Fully armored Damien students advanced in flawless formation.

Damien had once served as the most unyielding shields in the Heroes of Dawn's party.

Likewise, their successors—Damien's students—were renowned for their solid guard more than any other school.

Many of the most famous vanguard heroes in history had, in fact, been dwarves.

Not all Damien students were warriors, of course.

As the vanguard pushed forward, dwarf mages and summoners in the rear prepared to annihilate the enemies.

Amid the swirling storm of magic, Drianna, wielding a massive warhammer, let out a battle cry and charged to the front.

Watching her, Valhar chuckled.

"They've grown up, those brats!"

Turning his gaze back to the blazing black flame before him, Valhar narrowed his eyes.

Anyone could see it was the Flame of Calamity.

But no one felt its presence more acutely than Valhar—no, Dweno.

He could never forget it.

He had once died in those very flames.

'But… this isn't the true Flame of Calamity.'

This wasn't Erebos.

Had it been Erebos himself, the heat would have been incomparable.

Moreover, all surrounding monsters would have been perfectly controlled.

The fact that monsters were simply charging toward the flame without hesitation indicated only one thing:

'A fragment of Erebos… or perhaps… a lingering thought.'

Dweno saw through the black flame's nature with ease.

He turned his gaze to a distant mountain.

'Mount Erdean.'

The easternmost end of the world.

A land filled with rare resources is considered a dreamland for dwarves.

And yet, even after 5000 years since the end of the Age of Calamity, it remained an unclaimed frontier.

Not because it was claimed by Tartaros.

Tartaros's influence had never reached this land—not even once in the last five millennia.

The reason the dwarves had failed to develop it was far simpler:

'Endless monster appearances.'

No matter how often they purged them, monsters would return in greater numbers.

And not mere lower-level beasts—this was a cursed land where top-tier monsters, even dangerous to heroes, regularly appeared.

Why?

'It was the place we once sought… our final destination.'

But a place even Dweno himself had never reached.

It was here that Erebos, the original evil, had been slain by the Hero of Beginnings.

During that battle, Erebos's blood had rained down like a storm, cursing the very earth itself.

'A land stained with Erebos's hatred.'

In such a land, the appearance of Erebos's lingering thoughts was not strange.

He had been an evil god, yes—but still a divine being.

'But why now…?'

For five thousand years, not once had such black flames manifested here.

Yet now, suddenly, they had.

With a sense of unease, Valhar approached the blazing black flames.

Wooooosh—!

Golden flames erupted from his body.

They wrapped around him, igniting fully.

Though reborn, he was still loved by flame.

In his previous life, that love had been a curse—but this life was different.

And this flame, more importantly, bore resistance to the Flame of Calamity.

Srrring—!

Valhar drew his massive battle axe from subspace.

"Should I say… it's been a while, Erebos? Though I doubt you'll understand."

He spoke coldly.

"Do you recognize me?"

THUD—!

He kicked off the ground and charged toward the black flame.

Fwoooooosh—!

Golden flames danced along the edge of his axe.

"It won't be the same as 5000 years ago!"

Valhar's eyes gleamed.

KWAANG—!

Golden flame clashed with black, creating a massive shockwave.

The shaped embodiment of Erebos's will blocked the axe with its arm.

KRAGAK—!

As power clashed, the ground caved inward.

Erebos's form staggered.

Valhar raised his axe to cleave its neck.

But then—

KRACK!

The remnant plunged one arm into the ground.

GRAB—!

From beneath Valhar's feet, another hand burst forth and seized him.

"Tch."

Valhar clicked his tongue.

KRRGGGAAGG—!

Erebos's grip yanked him straight underground.

KUGUGUGUGUGUNG—!

A tremendous rumble as the earth heaved and trembled.

KWAANG—!

When Erebos ripped his arm back out, Valhar came flying with it, caught by the ankle.

His clothes were a mess, but his body was unscathed.

Still gripping his axe, Valhar hurled it straight at Erebos's remnant.

KRAGAGAGAK—!

The axe, wreathed in golden fire, spun like a disc.

CRACK—!

ROOOOOOOAAARR—!

As the blade struck its chest, the remnant let out a furious howl.

Valhar scoffed.

WHOOOSH—!

The furious Erebos remnant flung Valhar toward the mine entrance.

KRAAAAAASH—!

The long mine tunnel crumbled with explosive force.

Step. Step.

The remnant walked toward the entrance, mouth agape.

KRAAAAAAH—!

Black flames spewed forth, engulfing the mine.

And that wasn't all.

When it raised a hand toward the air—its size grew.

Now as massive as the mine itself, the remnant's hand came crashing down.

KWAAGAGAGANG—!

The mountain split and collapsed.

The terrain itself shifted—reality-breaking devastation.

Damien students who had been fighting monsters stood frozen in terror, staring at the overwhelming force.

The remnant now turned toward the dwarves.

Step. Step.

Tension spiked.

RUMBLE—!

Then, part of the collapsed mine began to move.

GRRRRRRK—!

The mountain shifted—and rose.

It had become a massive quarry during development, a colossal slab of stone.

BOOM—! BOOM—!

Lifting it with both arms, Valhar grinned.

Veins bulged across his forehead and forearms.

The Damien students stood slack-jawed.

Valhar looked at them, then at Erebos's remnant.

"Get clear."

With that, he hurled the slab directly at the remnant.

"M-MOVE!!"

"RUN FOR IT!!"

The students scattered in panic.

KRAAGAGANG—!

The slab slammed down, shockwaves erupting across the land.

The sheer physical force tore through the terrain.

Amid the devastation, Valhar dusted off his hands and clicked his tongue.

"A stalemate."

CRACK—! CRACK—!

The rock split.

The remnant walked out, unscathed.

Physical attacks wouldn't finish it.

But neither could the remnant deliver a fatal blow to Valhar.

Valhar held out his hand.

The axe, buried in stone, flew back into his grip.

Step. Step.

The remnant advanced.

Valhar ran his hand along the blade.

"You know… I've never felt proud of myself since being reborn. I felt pathetic, leaving everything behind."

He glared.

"Even when the world praised me, I felt nothing. Being called a savior? I hated it."

"…"

"So I foolishly tried to forget… that I was once a great hero."

He had enrolled in Damien only to prove Kyle's existence.

"I just wanted to spend this life quietly. Pottery, painting… a peaceful end."

He gripped the axe.

"But I couldn't. I found myself consumed by one thought—how to kill you."

He could no longer do what he loved.

No more painting.

No more crafting.

No more sharing beauty.

Only guilt toward a friend remained.

"Proving his existence… that's not what he needs."

Golden light sparked in his eyes.

"Only by finishing this ourselves… will I be able to face him again."

He raised his axe.

"If I can't even destroy a lingering remnant… that would be disgraceful."

A deadly aura surged forth.

The axe trembled in resonance.

The remnant stopped advancing.

FWOOOSH—

The black flames began to settle.

Slowly, they took human form.

Valhar's face hardened.

CRACK—!

He lunged, cleaving off the remnant's head.

The severed head flew—then rolled along the ground.

FWAAAH—

The remnant began to vanish.

As he watched the disappearing form—bearing Kyle's face—Valhar's expression twisted.

"How dare you… pull this kind of stunt…"