Editor : Amethyst00



KIIIIIIING—FLASH! KWA-GA-GA-GA-GANG—! FWOOOOOSH—!

A blinding light burst from Erebos's eyes, followed by a beam of destructive energy.

It surged out like a dragon's breath, chasing Leo relentlessly.

As Leo darted around the illusory Godthrone to evade Erebos's attack, the entire illusion was instantly devastated.

And in that brief moment when the attack ceased—

Leo, gripping his sword tighter, dashed straight into Erebos's guard.

WUUUUNG—!

A pure, pale-white slash swept up against Erebos's body.

—

In an instant, the world was wrapped in silence, and Erebos vanished.

Just as the onlookers registered what had happened—

The place where Leo had been standing suddenly caved in, as though a meteor had struck, creating a massive crater.

KWA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GANG—!

Then, with a delay, the shockwave and roar followed.

"This… this looks like the end of the world!"

Carl shouted, his face gone pale.

And it truly was.

Just the aftermath of the battle between Leo and Erebos made it feel like the world was about to be destroyed.

"What in the world is going on?!"

Chelsea crouched low to avoid being blown away by the shockwave, stunned.

Chen Xia, who had been watching the fight closely with wide eyes, explained.

"Leo-doryeong launched Erebos into the sky."

"Did he crash into the ground as a recoil from that?"

Lyl asked, and Chen Xia shook her head.

"No. Leo-doryeong chased Erebos into the sky immediately, but he was struck by a counterattack and fell. That crater was formed from the impact of his fall."

Chen Xia had only barely managed to track the situation with her keen eyesight.

Lyl swallowed dryly.

"Our fight… really was just child's play, wasn't it?"

This was a real battle — one that held the fate of the world.

"The higher the goal, the better,"

Eliza said, clenching her fist.

'I'm glad none of them are discouraged.'

Melina watched the hero candidates and turned a worried gaze toward Leo.

'Their strength is evenly matched…'

To stand toe-to-toe with a near-complete Erebos was close to a miracle.

But Leo lacked a decisive blow strong enough to overpower Erebos completely.

'Lord Leo…'

bl

RUSTLE RUSTLE!

Leo, who had been lying flat on the ground, rose to his feet, dirt and dust falling from him.

TUK—TUK—

He brushed the dust off his body and looked up.

THUD—!

Erebos, who had been flung into the sky, landed on the ground.

"Interesting."

With a chilling smile, Erebos revealed his aggressive intent.

GOOOOO—!

He extended his hand, and from it erupted black flames that began to rain down like molten lava.

SSSSSSSS—

The power of corrosion burned the ground, setting the world ablaze.

Leo's eyes twitched as he raised his hand.

WUUUNG—!

His mana constructed a magical formula.

FLASH—!

Hundreds of magic circles lit up the air.

"What is that…?"

Lyl gasped, and Melina answered,

"It's Luna's magic: Extinction."

Leo had instantly constructed hundreds of spells and layered them.

Magical inscriptions engraved themselves onto his body.

He had enchanted himself with sacred scripture-level magic.

Hundreds of Extinction spells were stacked together.

That concentrated power formed into a single point and struck Erebos.

FLASH!

KWA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GANG—!

Space distorted, and Erebos's upper body was blown away.

FWOOSH—!

But the black flames didn't go out—they continued to burn.

"Imitating Luna Luminance, are you?"

Erebos sneered.

It wasn't just imitation.

It could be said he was Luna herself.

"You're clearly different from before."

Back in the final battle, Leo had carried the strength of all his friends.

But he had only been a vessel named Kyle.

He hadn't been able to wield their powers perfectly.

Now, the Leo from the future had fully overcome that limitation.

The current Leo was using the powers of the great heroes almost perfectly—as if he were them.

'But it's still not enough.'

Leo clenched and unclenched his fist.

In the final battle, he had only been able to defeat Erebos because the four great heroes had inflicted fatal wounds with their lives.

Erebos had not been in a normal state then.

But now, he was in his complete form.

["Kyle. Why don't you imagine an even stronger future?"]

At Sylord's words, Leo let out a faint sigh.

"Unlike kids, adults lack imagination."

["True enough."]

Sylord chuckled at Leo's remark.

Even in his future state, the power residing in his current body was only as strong as he could imagine.

He had mustered all his power just to reach Erebos's level.

That alone was incredible, but not enough to defeat him.

He had maximized the power of purity—but without landing a hit, it was meaningless.

Leo felt a growing sense of urgency.

'If this keeps up, Sylord's life will run out.'

Sylord had spent 5,000 years suppressing the fragments of Erebos alone.

Leo wanted to give him peace, free from all duty, in his final moments.

To let him close his eyes without regret.

["Kyle."]

"What?"

["You've really changed."]

"……"

Leo gave a bitter smile at Sylord's words.

"I've learned… how terrifying it is to be left alone."

As the surviving hero, he had ignored that pain.

Sylord had endured that solitude for 5,000 years.

GOOOOOOOOO—!

The black flames roared.

A vile aura crept in.

'I need more power.'

Leo focused.

He assessed his strength and possibilities.

He searched for the strongest card among those available.

At that moment—

FWOOOSH—CRACKLE—

He sensed fire and lightning.

The powers of Phoenix and Pegasus.

But it wasn't Fiora and Alty.

This was a purer, more fundamental force than either of theirs.

And Leo, who had reached the level of summoner Lysinas, could feel the lingering wills.

Leo's eyes widened.

'No way…?'

He opened subspace.

In his hand appeared an old spear and a necklace.

Sylord's eyes widened.

["The Spear of Judgment… and the Necklace of Purification?"]

The symbols of the Beast Kings, like Sylord himself.

'Right. We're not the only ones who couldn't let go.'

Those who had passed without choosing successors might hold even more regret and lingering will.

WUUUNG—!

Spiritual power surged from Leo's body.

As a spirit summoner, he didn't need to forge a new pact.

The bond already existed.

"In the name of our pact, I call upon you."

If he could feel their presence—

Calling them forth as spirits was enough.

"In accordance with our pact, respond to my summons."

FWOOOSH! CRACKLE!

Sylord's eyes grew wider.

KWA-A-A-A-A-AH!

Spiritual power exploded as pure white flames and lightning stormed around Leo.

["Who are you? I'm sure I was annihilated…"]

["How did you summon me?"]

The Phoenix and Pegasus looked bewildered as they gazed at the white-haired youth.

["Katariou, Albus…!"]

Sylord called the two beasts.

["Sylord?"]

["Why do you look so old?"]

The Phoenix King and Pegasus King stared at Sylord in shock.

["Well… it's been 5,000 years."]

["5,000 years?"]

["Good heavens…!"]

Katariou and Albus were horrified.

["Why did you live for 5,000 years?!"]

["Why would you do such a thing?!"]

The Beast Kings didn't have fixed lifespans.

They lived until they chose to end their time.

But even so, living beyond 1,000 years was difficult.

In 1,000 years, everything changes.

It's a time when you must say goodbye to what you love over and over again.

For a being with a self, such repetition of parting is cruel, excruciating.

The pain of losing someone you shared your heart with is universal.

That's why even the strongest-willed Beast Kings grow weary.

Knowing how terrible 5,000 years of life would be, the two couldn't help but get angry.

Yet Sylord smiled brightly at them.

He had been born as a successor, but hadn't inherited the knowledge of the Fairy King—Katariou and Albus had guided him into becoming a true king.

To Sylord, they were more than comrades—they were like mothers and sisters.

["You're smiling?"]

Katariou raised her voice.

But the smile wouldn't stop.

Seeing him like that, Katariou couldn't stay angry.

She knew there had to be a reason he chose to live 5,000 years.

"You're not even surprised the world was saved?"

["Of course not. She's Lysinas."]

["Kyle would never have given up."]

Katariou and Albus responded with firm faith in their summoner.

["But seriously, did that cursed flame of disaster revive after 5,000 years? Damn Kyle! Do your job properly!"]

Katariou muttered with a sour face.

At that, Albus tried to kick her with his hind leg.

["What are you doing?!"]

["Don't you dare insult *my summoner!"]*

As the two beast kings bickered, Leo chuckled softly.

"I missed this."

At his words, both turned to him.

And the question they'd set aside returned.

Who was this youth who had summoned two beast kings as spirits? As they looked at Leo—

Albus's eyes widened.

["No way… Kyle?"]

["What?"]

Katariou also looked shocked.

"We'll do the introductions later."

Leo summoned more spiritual power.

"Right now, it's time to settle the past."

WUUUNG—!

As the summoning circle expanded, Fiora and Alty appeared. To fully unleash their strength as spirits, they needed vessels.

"Fiora, Alty. Let me borrow your bodies for a moment."

["It's an honor."]

["Haaah! To be possessed?! I love it!"]

Fiora bowed gracefully, and Alty squealed with joy.

FLASH! KWA-A-A-A-AH—!

Leo possessed Katariou and Albus.

"This is insane…"

Erebos's face was filled with horror.

WHOOSH—!

Albus, carrying Leo on his back, soared into the sky. Leo reached out his right hand, and Katariou sat elegantly on top. On his left shoulder, Sylord still perched. Leo locked eyes with Erebos.

"Well then."

A deadly smile curled on Leo's lips.

"Let's try a new pattern you've never seen before."