Editor : Amethyst00



KWOONG—! FWOOOOSH—!

"Guhk?!"

Overwhelmed by the pressure rushing in, Chen Xia bit down hard on her lip.

Her body trembled involuntarily under a pressure so intense it couldn't even be compared to just moments ago.

Chelsea gulped dryly.

For a brief instant, the word "death" flashed across her mind.

And it wasn't just Chelsea.

Chen Xia and Eliza felt it too.

Since entering Lumene.

Chelsea's school life had never been smooth.

She had endured trials worthy of the so-called "Golden Generation"—perhaps even beyond that.

And in those trials, she had felt the threat of death more times than she could count.

But never had she so vividly faced death itself like now.

In that moment of realization—

Chelsea instead felt herself grow calm.

'How strange.'

She was still young, but a candidate for Hero.

Chelsea had long since accepted that the path she was walking was nothing like the fairy-tale stories of heroes.

Especially because the one she admired and chased after—was none other than Leo.

To follow in his perilous footsteps, staking her life was never something unusual.

She had always been prepared to risk her life, never hesitating when the time came.

But she had thought, if she truly came face-to-face with death—she might hesitate, even just a little.

Yet right now, Chelsea was colder than ever.

She tightened her grip on her staff.

'I'm ready.'

What she had to do now was resist death.

She would not give up. She would fight against Erebos.

The moment she resolved herself—

WOOOOONG—!

"The blessing of a fairy?"

'Kiran, perhaps?'

She had known for a while now that Kiran was lending aid with his blessing.

But this power was distinctly different from Kiran's.

"Ah…!"

Chen Xia and Eliza's eyes widened in shock as they too felt the blessing's power.

["Aren't you all a bit too young to be ready to die?"]

A soft voice rang out.

SHHHHRING—!

With golden dust scattering around, a small fairy appeared in the middle of the battlefield, where the tension had reached its peak.

With wings fluttering, Sylord stepped forth before Erebos.

"So you intend to spend what little time remains opposing me? Foolish fairy."

["Yes."]

Sylord's body was burning here and there like faint embers.

But he paid it no mind.

["I won't waver anymore."]

He spread both hands wide.

RUMMBLLLLEE—!

With that, the magic of the Fairy King began to press down on Erebos.

["Hrmph!"]

For the first time, the unstoppable momentum of Erebos faltered.

["Five thousand years. I spent that long buried in regret and longing!"]

The golden light emanating from Sylord's body grew brighter.

["If only I had been a better Fairy King…! Perhaps someone might have returned alive! Perhaps even the Great Heroes could have seen a bright future!"]

Regret and remorse belonged to those who remained.

["Flame of Calamity! I spent five thousand years thinking of how to stop you!"]

GOOOOOH—!

RUUUUUMMBLE!

A golden sealing formation suppressed Erebos.

Sylord knew he couldn't destroy Erebos.

['But at the very least—until Kyle arrives—!']

He could hold on until then.

KWAAAAAH—!

Erebos's flames burned even more fiercely.

"Because you spent that time in regret! That is why you cannot stop me, pitiful fairy!"

Sylord's body began to crack.

"That regret! Because you're chained to the past!"

The more Sylord longed for the past, the stronger Erebos's flames became.

"You can't help but yearn for that age! You are trapped in the curse of those left behind!"

Erebos's mocking laughter echoed.

And in response—Sylord smiled.

["You're right. I probably will never escape the past."]

How could he possibly forget?

The memories of that time—dark, but shining like stars in the night sky.

A time that, though shadowed, had been happy.

["Because I'm an adult."]

When weary and worn out.

At the final moment of life, the past becomes unbearably dear.

But it wasn't because he longed for that era again.

["I recall those happy moments. And I use those memories to move forward."]

CRACK—

A fracture ran through Sylord's body.

["To long for and remember the past is humane."]

bl

Just breathing the air in this place brought death.

If not for the presence of two people here, it would have been unbearable.

Even ordinary Heroes would likely die just from breathing this air.

CRACKLE—CRACKLE

A campfire blazed.

In front of it sat a man with gray hair and a beautiful woman with black hair.

In the woman's hands was a black cloak.

Torn and tattered, Lysinas was carefully sewing it back together.

Kyle simply watched in silence.

"This cloak's gotten old too."

"I received it as a gift a long time ago."

"Yeah, true. So much has happened since then."

At Kyle's words, Lysinas nodded.

She continued stitching without pause.

Watching her, Kyle thought—

'I'm glad it's me and Lysinas who are left.'

He was someone who had grown more used to losing than anyone.

And Lysinas—though she might be shaken by the death of comrades—could maintain calm even in the final moment.

Even in the worst situation, Kyle could still find a reason not to give up.

And yet, he hated himself—for feeling grateful for this moment.

"Fortunate, isn't it?"

"…?"

"That it's just you and me who are left."

Lysinas bit the thread and looked at Kyle.

"You're not the only one who thinks that."

"…"

"I think so too."

She said it with a blank expression.

"Aaron and Dweno… Luna too. I'm sure they'd feel the same."

"…Yeah."

"Let's not think about what we lost."

"Kind of cruel, huh?"

"What is?"

"That in the end, it's you and me who are left."

Lysinas gave a bitter smile.

"…It is."

Seeing her, Kyle felt a sharp sting in his chest.

He recalled the day they became partners.

The promise she made—a promise he tried to forget—that she wouldn't leave him alone.

"Lysinas."

At his call, she turned her empty gray eyes toward him.

"Have you ever missed the past?"

"…Many times. Even now, I miss it. The past I came through. You?"

"I used to miss it a lot."

Kyle looked down at his hands.

"But at some point, just recalling those old memories became too painful. So I tried to forget them."

"And now?"

"…I miss them."

"We miss the past because the present is hard."

"Is that how we become chained to the past?"

Lysinas shook her head as she looked at Kyle's bitter smile.

"No."

"…?"

"It's true—we miss the past because the present is painful. But that doesn't mean we're stuck in the past."

She closed her eyes.

And memories came flooding back.

Of Aaron, Dweno, and Luna—those who went before.

And not just them—countless others with whom she had shared time.

"We long for the past so that we can keep moving forward."

"…"

"So, Kyle."

"…?"

Something felt wrong.

In his memory, Lysinas had never said those words before.

At some point, she had finished sewing and handed the cloak to Kyle.

"Are you ready to use those memories as a foundation—and take another step forward?"

She smiled gently.

Kyle's eyes opened wide.

And there they were—Luna, Dweno, and Aaron—standing beside Lysinas.

'…Right. This is an illusion.'

An illusion showing him what he wanted to see.

Kyle closed his eyes—and opened them again.

He was no longer a man.

He had become a boy with white hair.

"Yes."

Leo stood up and wrapped the cloak around himself.

"I'm ready."

At his words, his dear friends smiled.

bl

"Cough!"

GOOOOOOH—!

Lyl coughed up blood.

Her body was covered in wounds, both large and small.

She had suffered severe internal injuries from excessive use of spirit power.

But her gaze hadn't lost its light.

Her eyes gleamed.

Alone, she was holding back four of the Legion Commanders.

'Victory is impossible. But I can at least slow them down.'

Lyl tightened her grip on her battle hammer.

"Ziguas, looks like it's about time. Why don't you finish her off?"

Queen of Succubus Psyqea looked far ahead—toward Erebos.

"We're off to welcome a god, after all."

"You think I'll let you?"

Though bleeding and on the brink of death, Lyl bared her teeth in a savage smile.

Desire King Ziguas felt a chill.

The power in this elementalist still showed no end.

'She's still an incomplete Hero.'

Though she had grasped a piece of future power, she hadn't made it fully hers.

If a monster like her were ever completed—what would happen?

His desire whispered—

To take this Hero Candidate's life.

"We must ensure Lyl Luce is killed."

As Ziguas said this, he rattled the jewel in his hand—

THUMP—!

Someone grabbed his wrist.

"You know, I've been thinking for a while—that sound is seriously annoying."

"Hyung-nim!"

Lyl's eyes lit up as she saw Leo, returned to his original form from that of an infant.

"Damn it…"

Ziguas's face twisted in frustration.

The other Legion Commanders looked terrified.

The nightmare had returned.

And in full form.

"Now then—shall we continue?"

As Leo smiled coldly, Ziguas—like a lizard shedding its tail—sliced off the hand that Leo held without hesitation.

Escaping, he vanished into the shadows.

And not just him—the other Legion Commanders did the same.

"You're amazing, Hyung-nim! They ran right away!"

"They're nothing but punks who don't even know how to fight properly."

Leo replied calmly and approached Lyl.

He slid his hands under her knees and back—and lifted her.

Then he cast a healing spell.

It wasn't as effective as a proper healer's, but good enough for first aid.

"Reckless as always."

"Heheh. I may have overdone it a bit."

Lyl blinked and smiled.

Leo chuckled.

"You did great."

At that praise, Lyl beamed.

"Worth the effort! This means I can be vice student council president, right?"

"…"

"Big bro?"

"Let's talk about that later."

Leo looked toward the distant Erebos.

"First, let's take care of that damn black flame."

With that, he rejoined the battlefield at terrifying speed.

"Leo!"

Recognizing him, Melina broke into a bright smile.

Leo frowned.

Seeing her state, he immediately realized—

'She was ready to die.'

Given the opponent, it made sense.

She was the eldest among them, so she probably felt responsible for protecting the others.

But regardless, Leo had made up his mind—not to lose a single one of them.

'We'll talk about this later.'

With that, he handed Lyl to Melina.

"Take care of her."

"Yes."

Melina used healing magic on Lyl.

When it came to healing, Melina was better than Leo.

"Leo oppa!"

Chelsea looked on worriedly.

"Lord Sylord is…"

"I know."

Leo answered calmly as he continued forward.

"I'll help, Leo-doryeong," Chen Xia offered.

But Leo stopped her.

"You've done more than enough."

It was clear she could barely move anymore.

They had held out until Leo arrived.

They had completed an almost impossible mission.

"Sylord must be at ease now. So—"

Leo stepped forward.

"Leave it to the old-timers now."

bl

GOOOOOOH—!

The flames raged wildly.

'Erebos, at the height of his power.'

Looking at the overwhelming power of the reborn Erebos, Leo clenched his fist.

And there stood one fairy, holding him back alone.

Like a small tree engulfed in an inferno—about to be reduced to ash—Sylord endured.

"I'm here, Sylord."

["I've been waiting, Kyle."]

"Surviving Hero?"

Erebos's eyes twitched.

"Reincarnated, are you?"

"Something like that. But this time, I'm going to end you for good."

Leo wore a cold expression.

"You're the third piece to be destroyed."

"Ho… As expected of my most hated rival."

Erebos grinned in amusement.

"But can that incomplete vessel really fight me now?"

"…"

"Can you face me—the one who incinerated all your comrades—alone?"

This wasn't just a shard of Erebos.

It was the very being who ushered in the Age of Calamity.

In this illusion, he had returned as a being of destruction.

Leo Plov stood no chance.

He could use the divine power he obtained from purging the other fragments.

But Leo dismissed that possibility.

'I can't cling to the past forever.'

GOOOOOH—!

A massive shadow loomed over Leo.

"I wonder—can you stop me?"

Erebos swung his fist—like a scientist testing a curious experiment.

"Let's find out."

KRAAAAAAAK—!

A great black firestorm engulfed the land.

In that moment—

FLASH! KRAAAASH—!

"…!"

A pure-white slash soared into the heavens.

Erebos's eyes widened in shock.

"Aaron's Aura? No! The Aura of the Surviving Hero!"

THUD—THUD—!

But it was a strike not from Erebos's memory.

FWOOOSH! CRACKLE—CRACKLE—!

"I'm curious too."

A voice came from within the black flames.

More mature than before—

Yet perfectly fitting.

STEP—STEP—

A young man with snow-white hair stepped out.

Sylord sat on his shoulder.

"To face you—calamity of the past."

STEP

The grown-up Leo stood before Erebos and curled his lips into a smirk.

"And me—who defeated you again in the future."

His red eyes gleamed.

"Which of us will win? Though the answer's obvious, isn't it?"