The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 246
Chapter 246
Artkan, the Grand Duke of the Dead.
The confidant of Commander Hell Kaiser.
A monster who had survived numerous decisive battles against Great Heroes.
Leo also fought Artkan once.
‘He’s still alive?’
Leo could hardly hide his astonishment at Artkan’s sudden appearance.
He was clearly a notorious demon.
Leo still hadn’t expected him to be alive after thousands of years.
After his reincarnation, Leo had reviewed the records of high-ranking demons in Tartaros.
Artkan’s name was missing from those records.
Even if he had survived the Age of Disaster, the absence of his name from the records led Leo to believe that he had been killed long ago.
But now, the demon stood right in front of him.
Leo felt a cold sweat and grew wary of Artkan.
‘In some ways, he’s a more formidable opponent than the new legion commanders.’
The experience and skills accumulated over five thousand years made him an even greater threat.
‘He possesses power rivaling the greatest heroes of this age.’
Leo himself was a tough opponent now, but Artkan’s long-standing power was a serious concern.
Additionally, Artkan knew Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning.
‘If he discovers I’m Kyle, things could get complicated.’
Despite his thoughts, Leo didn’t lower his guard.
Fortunately, they were in the Xian Empire’s base.
If they became aware of Artkan’s presence, they had the means to counter him.
Leo remained on high alert.
“Phew, yes, indeed.”
Artkan’s gaze brightened as he looked at Leo.
“He deserves to be called the greatest hero candidate of his time. He’s an all-class as well. Yes, it is indeed just like seeing Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, once more. Hehehe.”
Artkan burst into laughter.
Leo observed Artkan and spoke.
“The Grand Duke of the Dead? Judging by your title, you must be a high-ranking demon, but I’ve never heard of you before.”
He asked, feigning ignorance.
“Hehehe, I’m merely a common demon tasked with collecting corpses.”
One of Hell Kaiser’s sources of power was the corpses of fallen heroes.
Artkan’s role involved gathering these corpses.
Though it might seem trivial at first glance, it was far from light work.
The more powerful the corpse had been in life, the more formidable the undead it could become.
Thus, Artkan’s collection included the remains of heroes.
In some cases, he even killed heroes solely for the sake of enhancing the corpses he created.
“Recently, I’ve also been assigned the task of assisting those who support Tartaros.”
Leo’s eyes twitched at the revelation.
“In that case, Leo Plov…”
Artkan politely retrieved something from his side and tossed it to Leo.
Fwish—!
Leo caught the item with his index and middle fingers.
It was a plain piece of paper.
‘A business card?’
“How about accepting our support? I’m confident I can provide better assistance than the Hero Academy. As an all-class, Leo, you’ll rise to the ranks of heroes in no time.”
Leo examined the business card.
‘Hero Supporter? So, they collect Hero Records influenced by Erebos and train those they think might be useful in the long term? My guess was correct.’
It seemed Artkan was responsible for this operation.
‘Still focused on backstabbing as always, huh?’
The Hero Academies wielded such strong influence today because they possessed Hero Records.
The Commander King operated in secrecy.
While they might not have had as many Hero Records as the hero academies, it was clear that many, like Xyan, would fall for the temptation to conquer the Hero’s Worlds.
Flutter—
Leo burned the business card without hesitation.
“Oh, what a shame.”
Artkan feigned regret.
‘Why is he sharing this information with me? Does he intend to kill me if I refuse?’
If Artkan failed to kill Leo, this information would surely become public.
‘So, he doesn’t mind if it’s known?’
Currently, the Witch Queen of Tartaros was lost.
This signaled its greatest loss of power since the end of the Age of Disaster.
In contrast, the world was more unified than ever, thanks to the return of the Great Hero and the disappearance of one of its long-standing opponents, the Swordmaster.
If it were revealed that Tartaros could use Hero Records to open the Hero’s World and offer its attack rewards.
Many would seek them out.
A large-scale movement would likely arise to expose the traitors collaborating with Tartaros in the shadows.
Despite appearing united, the world was rife with internal conflicts.
It wasn’t just inter-racial issues but also factional strife within races.
‘Many would use this revelation to eliminate their enemies.’
Such chaos would be immense.
Yet, it was impossible not to disclose this information.
‘Planning to destroy us from within? You treacherous bastards.’
Leo, thinking of Commander Hell Kaiser, raised his Aura.
Flutter—!
Artkan raised his hand, observing Leo.
“Then, let’s see the skills of an all-class.”
With a gentle smile, skeletons began to emerge from all directions.
These weren’t ordinary undead.
Each one was empowered by Artkan’s dark sorcery.
As Leo was besieged by the undead, Artkan approached Xyan with a light step.
“Oh, you’ve suffered greatly, Xyan.”
Xyan looked up at Artkan with trembling eyes.
Artkan smiled and extended his hand.
Xyan’s severed right arm flew through the air and was caught by Artkan.
“Thank goodness Leo’s swordsmanship was precise. It was a clean cut, so reattaching it shouldn’t be difficult.”
Artkan used his dark sorcery to fix Xyan’s arm as he spoke.
Xyan gritted his teeth as he watched his severed arm reattach.
‘Leo Plov.’
“Leo is currently overpowering you, Xyan.”
“What?”
Xyan’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.
Artkan laughed at the sight.
“That’s inevitable. Both of you have equal talent, but Leo is a Lumene-trained hero candidate. He also conquered the Hero’s World of one of the Great Heroes. There’s no way you can match him yet.”
“Huek!”
“If you can obtain the Hero of the Beginning’s sword, hidden in Xian, and conquer the Hero’s World of Kyle that we hold… Xyan, you will certainly surpass Leo.”
“All right. I see.”
Xyan rose from his seat.
“Once I inherit the power of the Hero of the Beginning…”
‘I’ll take you down too.’
Xyan shot Artkan a contemptuous glance and vanished into the darkness.
Artkan watched him go before laughing.
‘He’s no match for Leo Plov. There’s no way he’ll step foot into that Hero’s World.’
Artkan’s gaze shifted to Leo.
‘What a monster.’
Had he been a mere hero candidate, Leo would have perished long ago under the assault of the reinforced undead.
Leo, however, reduced each of them to ashes in an instant.
He sliced through the skeleton knights’ swords and dispelled the skeleton mages’ sorcery with ease.
Whack—! Thud—! Thump—!
Just as Artkan thought so…
A skeleton’s head rolled to his feet.
Leo, undeterred and still breathing easily despite the fierce combat, aimed his sword at Artkan.
“Indeed. You are on a different level from other hero candidates.”
Artkan clapped his hands.
“I’d love to continue watching your performance, but I have other matters to attend to.”
The emperor and Xian’s Shadows would soon notice the unusual events in the palace and take action.
The powerful individuals who could challenge Xyan had to be kept away from him.
‘Only the royal family can access the palace’s underground.’
Since its founding, Tartaros had known that the descendants of Bihar established Xian.
Tartaros also knew that Bihar was Kyle’s disciple and had long coveted the artifacts related to Kyle that Xian possessed.
The opportunity had finally arisen.
It could not be missed.
‘Leo Plov is a threat to us, but he’s still just a kid.’
Artkan reassessed his priorities.
His immediate concern was dealing with Xian’s Shadows.
“Don’t worry. I’ll leave you a gift.”
Artkan gestured as if opening a door.
Squeak—!
A massive stone gate materialized in the air.
A crimson space opened behind it.
Figures emerged from within.
Their skin was pale.
Their eyes were lifeless.
Artkan laughed, gesturing toward them like puppets.
“Shadows are the natural enemies of hero killers, but they’re also the natural enemies of heroes. These are all Shadows for you.”
He bowed politely to Leo.
“They served heroes their entire lives, yet died in vain without ever being recognized. Despite denying it, they resented their heroes. That’s why they became ideal corpses to use. They harbor a deep grudge against you, the greatest hero candidate.”
As he spoke, the shadows charged at Leo.
Clang—Clang—Clang—Clash—!
The clash of weapons rang out sharply.
Endless Shadows poured from the open gate.
These were the dead, stripped of their will.
They retained only their former skills.
Their sharpened blades aimed at Leo.
Flutter—!
Flames enveloped Leo’s entire body.
“Enjoy yourself.”
Artkan smiled and turned away.
Leo spoke as he watched Artkan retreat.
“Among the legion commanders, I despise the Commander the most.”
“That’s typical. He’s the most fearsome of them all, after all.”
“That’s not why.”
Leo ignited his Aura even more intensely, his voice low.
“It’s because he mocks the dead.”
Demons naturally disdained life.
But Hell Kaiser, the Commander who rules over death, did so even more egregiously.
He went out of his way to deny, mock, and ridicule the lives of the living.
His subordinates mirrored this contempt.
That’s why Leo hated the Commander most.
Thwack—!
“Lives are never taken lightly.”
Even if they were never formally recognized.
Even if they were pessimistic about their own existence.
There was only one reason they fought to the end.
“They fought for the peace their ancestors protected in their own way. They deserve to be called heroes.”
“What does it matter if only you affirm those who even the gods turned away from?”
“What do you care about the gods’ approval?”
Flutter—!
A fiercer flame erupted from Leo’s body.
The Shadows touched by the flame ceased moving.
They were freed from the necromantic spell.
Artkan’s eyes narrowed as he observed them resting.
‘Is it truly the Phoenix’s flame?’
Fwoooosh—!
A pair of wings unfurled from behind Leo.
“Whether they were heroes or Shadows, their will was passed down, unchanged, through generations.”
The hope of restoring peace.
The hope Lysinas wished to convey was passed to Kyle.
From Kyle to Luna, to Arron… and then to Dweno.
Eventually, it culminated when Kyle defeated Erebos.
The Great Heroes vanished five thousand years ago.
Yet their will endured.
‘The heart we inherited from Lysinas remains constant.’
The heart that yearned to restore peace.
The heart that wished to protect it.
In the end, they were the same.
From Leo’s perspective, heroes and Shadows alike are those who wished to continue chasing that dream.
‘That dream would eventually bear fruit in the defeat of Tartaros.’
But the Commander-in-Chief mocked and derided their lives.
That’s why Leo hated him the most.
Swish—
Leo lowered his posture.
Seeing this, Artkan summoned his dark sorcery.
‘You little brat. The sword of a mere child won’t reach me…’
Fwooooooosh—!
Pierce—!
“…!”
Artkan’s eyes widened as Leo’s sword cut through his barrier and pierced his neck.
Swish—
Artkan’s body turned to black sand and crumbled away.
Thump—!
Artkan’s hand clutched Leo’s neck, but it, too, soon turned to sand and vanished.
“You… What is your true identity?”
Artkan, whose composure had faltered for the first time, asked with a pale face.
He was gripped by fear.
“Me?”
Leo’s red eyes gleamed as he watched Artkan dissolve.
Leo declared war on the entity behind Artkan’s bloodshot gaze.
“The one who will end you.”
Thwack—!
Leo exerted force and slashed Artkan’s neck.
Thump—!
Artkan’s body fell and scattered like sand.
‘It was a clone after all.’
The main body must have been hit as well, but it wouldn’t perish so easily.
‘If he were that easy to kill, I could have done it five thousand years ago.’
Leo dragged his weary body and surveyed the gate, still summoning the undead.
One hit, one kill.
He had exploited Artkan’s momentary lapse and struck him.
His main body was likely blocking Xian’s Shadows.
‘They won’t notice me now, but they’ll be even more vigilant from here on.’
Leo took a deep breath and focused on the undead.
‘First, I must ensure these people find peace… Then I’ll deal with Xyan.’