Editor : Amethyst00



Arhi.

The language of dragons, bearing the name of "beginning."

This word was indescribably special in the world.

Because it was the name of the party that defeated Erebos.

A name prouder than anything else.

The Wise Queen, Lysinas.

The Hero of Beginnings, Kyle.

The Poet of the Star, Luna.

The Brave, Aaron.

The Divine Blacksmith, Dweno.

Each race had an ancient, unknowable history.

But if one were to name the greatest figures in that history, it was clear—they were the Great Heroes.

Those who accomplished feats even the gods could not—they were the true new beginning.

"But Arhi wasn't made up of only the Great Heroes."

Now torn into countless fragments, the Hero Record.

Its first chapter began with the tales of the Great Heroes.

But even before them, there were heroes not recorded in the Hero Record.

They too belonged to Arhi and fought for the world.

Though history forgot them.

They were also great heroes who gave their lives for a new beginning.

And it wasn't just heroes.

There were summoned beasts who fought to save the world alongside summoners.

The Phoenix King Katariou, who had formed a pact with Lysinas, and the five Elemental Lords, excluding Darkness.

The Pegasus King and the Darkness Elemental Lord, who had formed a pact with Kyle.

And…

"Me, who had formed a pact with Luna."

Sylord remembered.

All those who had gone to the battlefield with him.

After the Great Heroes ushered in a new beginning…

Countless ages had passed…

"Now I'm the only one left."

Velkia and Bihar had also left this world.

Knowing the final moments of Arhi's last members hadn't been happy brought tears to Sylord's eyes.

But Sylord hadn't been there to witness their final moments.

As the last of Arhi—

This world was special to Sylord.

Perhaps that's true for everyone.

The world is the place where people live.

It cannot be traded for anything and is more precious than anything.

But this feeling is something only those who have lost the world can truly understand.

So many forgotten heroes, unrecorded in the Hero Record, had given everything to reclaim this world.

"I must remember their stories and pass them down to future generations."

It was also his duty.

But…

Sylord never passed down the stories of those heroes.

Because he discovered a seed of black flame—one that could again burn the world.

A fragment of Erebos.

To suppress it, Sylord built Fairyland upon that place.

Leaving behind his former home, he made this his new ground.

And he rarely left Fairyland.

Except for a brief summons by Seiren, the Comet Mage known as Luna's successor, and Kyle.

The new Fairyland became a powerful seal that bound Erebos—and also a prison that bound Sylord himself.

After the age of calamity ended— It had been Sylord's deep wish to witness the beautifully flourishing world with his own eyes.

Because it was a promise made with Luna—his only pact-maker.

But…

Sylord spent nearly all 5,000 years in this place.

The only connection to the outside world came from stories brought by fairies.

Tales of a newly changed world.

Stories of new heroes who, like the old Arhi, put their lives on the line to protect the world brought great joy to Sylord.

And now…

His end was drawing near.

Nothing lasts forever.

It only seems that way.

5,000 years.

He had lived far too long.

"I forced myself to endure it."

Clenching his teeth.

As the last of Arhi.

For a flourishing world he had never seen.

The young fairy king…

No, now the aged fairy king, gave his life.

His miraculous reunion with his long-lost friend Kyle had set Sylord's frozen time into motion again.

"…I've done enough."

Inside the illusion spell he had created, Sylord muttered blankly.

This illusion… was one of his most unforgettable moments.

The walls of Godthrone.

The crimson sky.

The moment they desperately waited for those who had left.

Whooooo—

As always, the wind spirits carried the mournful winds of death.

The night of ruin, where not even the stars could be seen.

"…The masters will return soon, right?"

"We have to believe. I'm sure they'll defeat Erebos. Right, Sylord?"

On Godthrone's walls, Velkia and Bihar spoke.

And Sylord was there too.

"…"

But he didn't answer.

After all, this was a long-ago past—an illusion.

People on the walls of Godthrone looked eastward.

It was time for the sky, now all too familiar, to turn grey.

At that moment…

"Guh?!"

"M-my eyes…!"

People screamed and shut their eyes tight.

"I-is it an attack?!"

"Sound the emergency alarm! The full assault of Tartaros has begun!"

Screams rang out atop the walls.

Velkia and Bihar rushed into action.

"…"

Only Sylord looked calmly at the brilliant light.

At the time, he too had believed this light signaled the start of Tartaros's assault.

But it wasn't.

"The sun."

What came with it was the dawn—and the sky returning to its true color.

"…"

Everyone stood in awe.

A new morning had come, signaling the end of the age of calamity.

All of Godthrone wept.

"…"

Seated atop the wall, Sylord looked up at the radiant sun.

While everyone rejoiced—

Someone spoke.

"You regret it. Your fleeting life."

"I have no regrets, Erebos."

"Hmph… Is that so? Does anyone even know that you, a ghost of the age of calamity, gave 5,000 years of life to the world?"

"Kyle knows."

"He too is just a remnant of the past."

"…"

Sylord looked back.

"You couldn't enjoy the era of peace you helped reclaim, living your life imprisoned."

Sylord stared emotionlessly at Erebos.

"And now you'll disappear, leaving nothing behind. Just like all those you sent off."

"Even after I vanish, many will remember me."

"And what does that matter? You didn't enjoy a single thing while alive."

Fwoooosh—

The illusion began to burn.

Erebos was reviving.

He had invaded Sylord's spell to break the seal.

Vmmmmm—!

Fairy magic surged from Sylord's body.

"You cannot escape, black flame of calamity."

"Here's a bit of advice, old and ragged fairy."

"…"

"Use what little time you have left… for yourself."

Erebos sneered.

"Unless you want your life to end in nothing but regret."

Vmmmmm—!

Sylord clenched his fist.

The power of the seal shackled Erebos's shard.

Roooaar! Fwoooosh—!

Unrestrained black flames burst out, burning the illusion.

Sylord closed his eyes at the sight.

'…Yes.'

He bit his lip slightly.

'My life… may be filled with regret.'

Without denying Erebos's words, Sylord opened his eyes.

'It may have been fleeting.'

He looked around.

He could not see the future in this illusion.

Which meant… the time he missed most, and the moment of greatest happiness, was in the past.

That moment—

Though it was the age of calamity, he had been happy.

Childhood memories burned in Erebos's flame.

The long life's end was approaching.

bl

Flying at tremendous speed toward the eastern continent, Melina narrowed her eyes.

"Everyone, be careful."

"Huh?"

At that moment, a massive scythe flew toward Melina's neck.

Ssslash—!

Melina summoned her magic.

KWAANG—!

A powerful shield surrounded her.

"Huh? As expected of a Dragon Queen—no ordinary opponent, huh?"

A voice full of amusement.

Melina polymorphed back into her true form.

"A demon?"

From the air, floating with Fly magic, Carl widened his eyes.

The figure folding her arms was a petite girl.

"How is a demon here?"

"Why? Is there somewhere I'm not allowed to be, Dragon Queen?"

The demon sneered.

"Is that an illusion too?"

Chelsea tilted her head, asking.

Melina shook her head.

"No. That one's real."

"How can you tell?"

Chelsea blinked in surprise.

Melina replied calmly.

"This illusion shows a future where we have completely defeated Tartaros."

Chelsea and Carl both gasped.

"Erebos is fully gone, and all Tartaros commanders have been defeated. But that one— is a commander."

"A commander? Have we seen one like her before?"

"It's my first time too. Judging by the power… she's a newly emerged commander."

At those words, the commander grinned.

"Correct. My name is Ceneor, Commander of Pain."

'She's far stronger than any previous commander.'

"You consumed the former commander."

"Oho? A descendant of the Wise Queen, eh? Sharp insight."

Ceneor stroked her chin.

"A new-generation commander… Kind of like you all."

Melina smiled and looked back at Chelsea and Carl.

Ceneor scoffed at the sight.

"As young as I may be, don't compare me to snot-nosed kids."

"Oh? One of them's Herald of the Beginning, you know?"

"Herald of the Beginning?"

Ceneor's eyes gleamed as she stared at Carl.

"Oho? You're just my type, handsome."

"Haha."

Carl scratched his head awkwardly.

Chelsea looked at him like he was pathetic.

"Hey, I like your face. Mind giving me just your head? I'd like to add it to my collection."

Ceneor lifted her massive scythe and smiled.

"Lucky you, Carl. Becoming a hero really made you popular."

"Not the kind of popularity I want."

Chelsea smiled slyly, and Carl shook his head.

Melina, staring at Ceneor, spoke.

"Chelsea."

"Yes."

"Go alone. Carl and I will handle the demon."

Chelsea widened her eyes.

"Bring Lord Leo."

"Yes!"

Chelsea nodded and flew off.

"You think I'll let her go?"

Ceneor sneered and swung her scythe toward Chelsea.

In that moment—

Chelsea cast a spell.

"Gale."

Her unique field magic, influencing the surrounding space.

Without warning, Chelsea activated it and dodged Ceneor's attack at incredible speed, flying off.

"S-so fast?!"

Carl's mouth dropped open.

Even Melina was surprised by the overwhelming speed.

"Ah…"

Ceneor's body trembled.

Staring at Chelsea's fleeing back, her mouth curled into a twisted smile.

"Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful!"

Her face flushed with ecstasy.

"What would that pretty face look like soaked in blood?!"

Watching her, Carl clicked his tongue.

"I thought commanders were supposed to be scary, but this one's just a psycho pervert."

"Don't let your guard down, Carl."

Melina said calmly.

"If she devoured her predecessor… then even if she's immature, her power is real."