Editor : Amethyst00



A pure white flash, entwined with thunder, slashed across the space.

Kiiiiiiiing—!

A sharp sonic boom pierced the air in the wake of the flash.

And one beat later, a massive shockwave laid waste to the surrounding area.

Albus, possessed by Alty, pursued Erebos who was moving at a speed beyond visibility.

The Pegasus King was the fastest being among all lifeforms in the world.

His movement was so fast, it gave the illusion of teleportation.

Moreover, that speed could be controlled freely.

Paaat—!

Erebos came to a halt in midair.

The primeval evil, his entire body wrapped in black flames.

Though he took the form of a gigantic flame giant, his movement speed was far beyond what his massive frame would suggest.

Crack-crack-crack—! Crunch—!

Then Erebos's body began to rapidly shrink.

No matter how transcendent his speed was, escaping the Pegasus King was impossible.

In that case, his massive body was nothing more than an easy target.

In an instant, Erebos shrank down to human size and opened his mouth wide.

Gooooooo—!

A destructive energy stirred within his mouth.

Kwaaaaah!

A breath of black flame aimed straight at Leo.

Seeing that, Leo grabbed Albus's mane and unleashed his spiritual power.

Zzzzzzt!

Pure white thunder roared out.

The power of a Beast Summoner was to maximize the ability of their beast.

["Kyle! You've gotten even more amazing!"]

"Of course I have!"

Albus's thunder formed a barrier.

Flash—!

Leo pierced through the black flames and raised his hand.

Fwoooosh—!

White flames flickered at his fingertips.

Pop—!

When Leo clenched his fist, the white flame took the shape of a sword.

Wooooong—!

On the sword formed of white flame, an aura of purity condensed.

["Incredible! It's summoning magic like Lysinas's, but completely different?!"]

As Katariou, now in sword form, expressed surprise, Leo replied.

"Lysinas and I are different."

["Hmph! Still, the best is Lysinas!"]

"I agree."

From Leo's body, the flame of Zerdinger rippled, overlaying crimson flame over the white fire.

Then, Dweno's golden flame wrapped around Leo and Albus like armor.

Erebos's black pupils flared as he saw Leo rapidly closing the distance.

Fwoosh—

In Erebos's hand, a sword of black flame materialized.

Leo's eyes surged with hatred.

It was the sword that had taken Luna and Lysinas's lives.

Clang—!

The flaming swords clashed.

Kwooooooooh—!

As flame intertwined with flame, they turned into grey fire and shot into the sky.

From Erebos's body, flames burst out and took the form of a beast.

The beast, baring savage fangs, lunged at Leo's body.

Crunch—! Fwoooosh!

Golden flame protected Leo's body.

Leo extended his free hand.

When the Spear of Judgment, crackling with thunder, was summoned, he thrust it into Erebos's face without hesitation.

Crack—! Fzzzt—! Zzzzzzt!

The thunder that burst from the spear blew off Erebos's face.

The power of the black flame weakened for a moment.

Leo didn't miss that gap—he kicked Erebos, his leg wrapped in aura.

KWAANG!

As space distorted, Erebos's body was flung away.

His body shattered into pieces, but soon reformed as if nothing had happened.

At that moment—

Sylord's magic bound Erebos's body.

"It is Futile."

As Erebos tried to dispel Sylord's magic—

Thud—!

The Spear of Judgment, infused with Albus's power, flew and pierced Erebos's chest.

On the spear was condensed Aaron's golden aura.

"Tag is over."

The balance of battle, which had been neck and neck just before the summoning of the Beast Kings, collapsed the moment Leo summoned them.

Even as a complete form, the Erebos of the Age of Calamity could not match the future version of Leo.

After reincarnation—

Leo had gone over the fight with Erebos in his mind countless times.

'What could I have done then so they wouldn't have died?'

One by one.

He remembered vividly the final moments of each friend who drew their last breath, living a life full of regret as he reexamined every choice of that time.

Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands.

He had spent uncountable moments imagining how he would fight Erebos.

Because of that, Leo completely saw through the Erebos of the past, and that difference was decisive.

"You, nothing more than a remnant of the past, can never defeat me."

That was certainty.

A certainty only one who had suffered through endless regret could possess.

Click—!

Leo grasped Posteritas.

Wooooong—!

A magic circle appeared on the blade.

If Luna had learned magic to bloom flowers—

Leo had learned it to complete this single spell.

Binding Erebos with aura and summoning had all been for this one spell.

"Zero."

The moment Leo completed the spell, magic of purity surged into the sword.

FLASH—!

As Leo swung the sword, a white flash tore through the air.

The power of purity quietly, yet cruelly, shredded Erebos's body.

Fwoooosh—!

The light faded.

Drip— drip-drip—!

The black flame withered, and Erebos's body began crumbling into dust.

"Huhu… huhuhuhuhut."

"What's so funny?"

"It's awe-inspiring, surviving hero."

Erebos's glowing eyes turned to Leo.

"Even after that pain, the fact that you still walk the same path is truly awe-inspiring."

Ssssshhhhh—

"Let's see you struggle again."

Leo's crimson eyes turned to Erebos.

"But the end will still be despair…"

SLASH—!

Leo's sword flashed, severing Erebos's head.

Ssshh—

The black flame faded.

Erebos's body, now ash, was purified.

Leo looked down at his hand, feeling divine power accumulate in his body.

He clenched his fist tightly and retrieved his spiritual power.

'Now… just three more.'

"We won!"

"As expected of Leo! He defeated Erebos!"

Chelsea jumped in place, throwing her hands up in victory, and Carl clenched his fist with a bright expression.

"As expected of you, Hyung-nim!"

"Lyl, please stay lying down. Your wound will reopen."

Eliza made the excited Lyl lie down again.

Melina stood silently, waiting for Leo.

"Professor Mel."

"Yes, Xia?"

"You should rest."

"Fufu? You noticed?"

Melina had suffered even worse injuries than Lyl in this battle.

She just wasn't showing it.

She was in no condition to stay standing.

As she smiled softly and waited for Leo, Melina's eyes suddenly widened.

Chen Xia, puzzled by her reaction, turned forward and froze with her mouth slightly open.

"Ah! Leo oppa! Hurry and… huh?"

Chelsea too had been waving, only to fall silent with a blank look.

"Eliza, something's wrong."

"What is it?"

"I think I have arrhythmia."

Lyl said seriously, concerned for her own health.

Eliza shook her head and glanced at Leo.

"Just like I imagined."

"Huh? What is?"

To Carl's question, Eliza snorted.

"Leo Plov as an adult."

"How did you imagine it?"

"A grumpy old man."

"I think you're the only one who imagined that."

Even Carl's comment didn't wipe Eliza's smirk.

The first to greet Leo as he approached was Melina.

"Good work, student Leo."

Melina bowed with a gentle smile.

Leo, without hesitation, smacked the top of her head.

Thwack—!

"W-Why did you hit me?"

Grabbing her head with a tearful expression, Melina looked up at Leo, who said—

"You were planning to die, weren't you?"

At that, Melina shrank back.

Leo then grabbed her cheek without mercy and pulled.

"Ow-ow-ow! That hurts! I'm sorry!"

Melina didn't even try to resist and was scolded thoroughly.

"Write a reflection letter when we get back to school."

"At my age? That's a bit much…"

"That's why I'm making you do it. Xia, help treat Melina."

"Yes."

At Leo's words, Chen Xia supported Melina.

Even as she did, she glanced at Leo, thinking—

'Even more than I imagined… it's bad for the heart.'

As Chen Xia calmed her heart—

"Leo oppa! You're seriously cool!"

Chelsea came running with a bright smile.

"He just looks like a grumpy uncle."

"Do you need glasses?"

At Eliza's comment, Chelsea frowned.

Watching the two, Leo asked—

"How was it, sensing death?"

"……"

"……"

He had realized that both of them had felt the moment of death.

Faced with that piercing question, they fell silent.

After a pause, Chelsea spoke.

"It was scary."

"Don't forget that feeling."

Leo gently patted her head.

Eliza knew those words were meant for her too and snorted.

"Still, defeating complete-form Erebos… no more worries, right?"

As Carl approached cheerfully, Leo collapsed onto a nearby rock and said—

"Just because this one was easy doesn't mean future fights will be."

"Huh?"

"We don't know what form the next resurrected one will take."

At that, Carl gave a short laugh.

"Still, you'll win in the end, right?"

Leo burst into laughter at that.

"Of course."

As Carl chuckled—

Kiran flew in front of Leo.

Seeing that, Carl backed off.

["…Father."]

["You've done well, Kiran."]

Sylord smiled gently at Kiran.

Kiran bit his lip, looking at him.

["You're ready to be the Fairy King now."]

At those words, Kiran's shoulders trembled.

Becoming the Fairy King meant one thing.

Sylord's end.

'What kind of face should I make?'

Should he cry?

Act like a proper Fairy King?

Or keep up his usual silly demeanor?

He didn't know what would ease Sylord's heart.

As Kiran hesitated—

["Is that fairy your successor?"]

Katariou, in spirit form, appeared.

["He seems rather dignified."]

Albus, also in spirit form, smiled warmly.

Time was short for the two Beast Kings as well.

Their appearance here was thanks to Sylord's magic.

An illusion.

But even illusions could name successors.

The Beast King's contract ritual did not transfer power.

It merely awakened the Beast King's authority in the worthy.

And here, both a Phoenix and Pegasus worthy of succession were present.

["By the way, Albus, your successor looks like a mess."]

Katariou mocked.

Albus's eyes twitched.

["Why?"]

["That Alty or whatever—your Pegasus. She's a crude Pegasus who enjoys being scolded."]

["Ahh! C-Crude! That arrogant glare while speaking! I love it!"]

Alty trembled with joy.

["Hmph! Look at my successor. Still young, but so full of grace!"]

["I may be lacking, but I'll become a Phoenix worthy of Katariou-sama's name."]

Fiora, in adult form, raised her chin with elegance.

Her grace as a Phoenix was clear.

Albus looked dejected as she glanced at Alty.

Watching, Kiran rummaged through his clothes and scattered something on the ground.

Rattle—

What tumbled onto the dirt like birdseed was none other than chocolate.

As the beasts looked at Kiran, puzzled—

"Chocolate!"

Fiora, who had stood upright with chin raised, suddenly panicked and dropped to the ground, hurriedly picking up the chocolates and eating them.

Katariou's jaw dropped.

["Get a grip, Phoenix King. That gluttonix is like a pigeon picking up dropped snacks. Grace, my tail."]

As Kiran gave her a disappointed look, Fiora glared back.

But her mouth was stained with chocolate, and her hands didn't stop picking up the ones on the ground.

Kiran showed his usual self.

So Sylord could rest easy.

["You've really grown."]

Sylord smiled faintly.

["You even know how to consider your father now."]

["……"]

Kiran bit his lip.

["Kiran."]

Sylord called his son's name calmly and embraced him.

Patting his back, he said—

["I truly lived clinging to the past."]

Even when the world was full of light, I remained alone in darkness.

["I didn't live the life I wanted."]

I never got to fulfill my dream of adventuring the world.

["I had many regrets."]

I even resented the world.

But still…

["I was happy."]

Sylord spoke with all his heart.

["I built a new home… met many fairies… and met you and Kiya… I was truly happy."]

He fought to the end to resolve what he couldn't in the past.

But that wasn't the only reason.

All the fairies he met and left.

To protect Fairyland, the home they dearly loved.

Sylord did look back at the past—

But what he never gave up on… was the future.

["So don't pity me too much, Kiran."]

["Father…"]

Tears fell from Kiran's eyes.

Sylord gave Kiran his final pair of wings.

FLASH—

Golden light poured from Kiran's wings.

["Congratulations on becoming the Fairy King, Kiran."]

Smiling brightly, Sylord took out the Ring of Life.

And handed it to Kiran.

Fwoooosh—

At last, Sylord's body, which had held on until now, began to burn.

He turned around.

Looking at the gray-haired young man standing there, he smiled gently.

["You too, cling to the past, don't you?"]

"It's not clinging."

Kyle spoke to the last surviving member of the old Arhi.

"I remember… so I don't forget."

At that, Sylord smiled brightly.

Fwoosh—!

And finally, Sylord's body turned to ash and disappeared.

Before they knew it, the group stood in the heart of the Fairy Forest.

Leo opened his palm, catching the drifting ashes.

"Guess I can't tease you for being a crybaby anymore."

Leo looked up at the sky.

"For five thousand years… You really did well."