Chapter 245


    There were four Greater Earth Elementals now in the battlefield. Wyn Stefard couldn’t believe his eyes. Well, he hadn’t been able to believe his eyes for thest hour or so, ever since the Elder Dragon appeared out of the portal and sted Kallistus Kal with a mountain’s worth of mes, before watching Amelia’s bartender battle the [Hero King] on equal footing.


    And that was not to mention Jax’s contribution too.


    But right now, more than before, the [Knight]-lieutenant was staring in sheer disbelief at the four gathered Greater Earth Elementals fighting alongside the Elder Dragon.


    Never before in Wyn’s life had he ever thought he’d see a dragon, let alone an Elder Dragon. After all, those were mythical creatures that existed during the times of the Grand Nova Empire— that had ruled the world with a tyranny that was remembered even to this day over ten thousand yearster.


    However, the [Knight]-lieutenant had at least thought that there might be an Elder Dragon or to out there in hiding somewhere across the continents. But he never thought a Greater Elemental of any kind even <em>existed </em>in this day and age.


    They were an extinct species of monsters that had pervaded the world ten thousand years ago. And even back then, they were rarely seen, due to the nature of their existence. They were fabled to be SSS-ranked threats that rivaled even an Elder Dragon in strength, and thest recorded Greater Elemental in history was said to have brought a powerful empire to ruin in a single week.


    Yet somehow, right now, there were four of them converging on the [Hero King]’s position, unleashing their magic on him.


    “...but is it enough to win?” Wyn asked himself as he stared at Kallistus Kal standing amidst the magical attacks from all sides, glowing with a purple light.


    It was an inconceivable power to the [Knight]-lieutenant. Every single time the [Hero King] was knocked down or injured, he’d recover from it like he had never even been harmed in the first ce. But supposedly, that was the power of the Void. A thing of myth and legend— of religion and theology.While this was not a topic Wyn Stefard was too familiar with, he knew the basics of it, and he knew that the Void was a mysterious path to twisted powers that existed outside of the World System. So he didn’t question anything he saw in regards to the [Hero King]’s abilities. Anything was possible with the Void.


    And that was why the [Knight]-lieutenant refused to get his hopes up.


    But next to him, Rond Donovan strode up and ced a hand on his shoulder. Blinking, Wyn looked up at the [Knight]-Captain.


    “I know it may seem like our chances of victory are slim,” Sir Rond said as he shook his head. “But you have to believe. Because without hope, we have nothing left.”


    “...right.” Wyn nodded slowly, before raising his head. Even as the battle raged on in the distance. “I believe.”


    —--


    The Elder Dragon joined the battle, turning the tides against the [Hero King].


    This narrative has been uwfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Or at the very least, that was what appeared to be happening. King Jalen didn’t know what exactly was going on from this high up in his pce. But he watched with bated breath anyway as the Forsaken Archer, the dragon, and that strange blond man all battled against Kallistus Kal together.


    Where did they evene from? How did they even get here?


    Jalen didn’t know. When they had arrived, he had already felt that all hope was lost. He hadn’t believed that there was a chance of turning the tide of battle. Even though he was supposed to be the King of the Astrad Kingdom who stood steadfast against all threats, he couldn’t even convince himself that defeating Kallistus Kal was possible.


    Not after seeing Kallistus Kal tear a hole through Astral’s barrier like it was nothing.


    So King Jalen had resigned himself to this fate. And now, his hope was returning as he watched the Elder Dragon spew its mes down at the [Hero King]. As he disbelievingly watched the Greater Elementals join the fray.


    His hands tightened around the railing of his balcony as he took in a deep breath. He couldn’t get too excited. He had to steel himself. Even if he thought that victory was possible now, he couldn’t get his hopes up.


    After all, the weight of disappointment would be even more crushing if he expected victory only for it to be snatched away from him.


    But even still, King Jalen couldn’t help himself but hope— for the sake of his nation and for the world— for the Elder Dragon, the Greater Elementals, the adventurer, and the strange man to defeat the [Hero King].


    —--


    Kallistus Kal was crushed under an onught of magical sts. It was overwhelming. He felt his body beginning to break. First he was burned with fire, then he was frozen in ice, before being shattered by stone, and ripped apart by the wind.


    And he couldn’t even rest after that. The moment his body began to regenerate, he was struck by a flurry of even more powerful magic— cast directly by Grat-ra’zun himself.


    <em>“Rot in the [Eternal Prison of Heat Death]! Behold my [Omnidirectional Acid Hail]! Burn in a [Pit of ck Fire]! Be torn apart in a [Particle Storm]! Be obliterated by [True Lightning]!”</em>


    The [Hero King] could hardly even react in time to defend himself from these attacks. A wave of iridescent shes illuminated the battlefield as he was repeatedly ripped apart again and again. He couldn’t even scream, despite the overwhelming pain he felt.


    Grat-ra’zun flew back as his spells came to an end, giving a moment of reprieve to Kallistus Kal. But immediately after, an arrow struck the reforming chest of the [Hero King]. It immediately exploded into a thousand sts, stopping him from regenerating. His body was practically a pile of goo at this point, before a st of purple lightning struck him from above.


    The [Hero King] was overwhelmed with so much pain. So much agony. More than he had ever felt before. He knew he needed to break free. Because if this kept up, it’d be all over for him.


    But before he could do anything, Grat-ra’zun unleashed a deluge of crimson mes down at him, followed by a wave of magic from the four Greater Elementals. Jax and Arthur joined in with their own respective attacks as Kallistus Kal was torn apart.


    <em>It’s over, </em>the [Hero King] thought as his vision began to grow dark. His regeneration’s speed couldn’t match the speed his body was being destroyed. <em>I have lost this war.</em>


    It didn’t matter to Kallistus Kal. Not when this was a clone anyway. Even if he died and this battle was lost, it didn’t matter.


    Or so he thought for a moment.


    Then a realization settled in


    <em>But if I lost here… </em>then what about his subjects? What about his loyal followers? What about Melissa?


    For the first time ever, the thought of failing his country shed in his mind, and he couldn’t allow that. He couldn’t let them perish here because of his failures. While he did not care for this world, he felt a sense of duty and responsibility to them— to at least win this war for them.


    Because they had followed him this far.


    And a surge of strength washed over him, even as his body was on the verge of copsing. A purple glow covered his body, shining brighter and brighter even amidst the flurry of sts engulfing him.


    Before the [Hero King]’s body exploded, sending out a purple shockwave as he screamed.


    <strong><em>“BEGONE MORTALS!”</em></strong>


    And his st dispersed the attack being unleashed upon him, overwhelming Grat-ra’zun, Jax, Arthur, and the Greater Elementals as the city of Astral was covered by a blinding light.