This World Needs a Hero - Chapter 144

Chapter 144

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When I closed my eyes and opened them again, a forest that looked exactly like the one in my memory stretched out before me.

The sun was setting faintly in the western sky.

Twilight was creeping closer from the depths of the forest.

The only difference from my memory was that the outskirts of the forest were surrounded by a hazy mist-like substance.

Perhaps this was the limit of the space that could be created by avatar training.

“Whew.”

I took a deep breath and faced forward.

Whooong-

A crimson dome-shaped barrier enveloped the white buildings.

This barrier was a challenge that needed to be dealt with before confronting Ted Redymer.

‘If I go out for external suppression activities, I’ll encounter many barriers like this.’

Even the pile inside the stakes were like that.

In fact, it was rare to be able to easily enter the interior of a pile like during Lonkers.

Back then, because Malekia, who was the administrator at the time, had pulled all the demonic energy for demon and monster production, the stake had become an empty house.

Usually, strong protective devices were installed outside the stake as valuable “cores” were located inside.

Such barrier formations were the most common examples.

Whooong-

At the end of my extended senses, I felt an abnormally dense concentration of mana.

‘…It’s definitely sturdy.’

Just a few days ago, it was only possible to break it by using Halo at maximum output.

‘I had to hesitate because I had to leave some strength to fight the enemies inside.’

Once I open the Third Flare, it would be different from back then.

‘Now, then….’

It was time to test the new technique.

Whooong-

As I drew mana as guided by the “core”, a strange sensation pierced from my temples to my toes.

It was evidence that the mana within my body and the mana in the atmosphere were resonating.

‘This is the preparation stage for the Third flare.’

Originally, for a warrior to substitute the mana in the atmosphere with their own mana.

They had to compress and refine it for a long time and accumulate it within their body.

However, Third Flare was a method of temporarily controlling and condensing the mana in the atmosphere and pushing it into the body.

‘It’s similar to how a mage borrows mana from the atmosphere through a magic circle.’

That’s why it was temporary, but it allowed for much stronger output than usual.

In fact, it was beyond common sense for a human, not even a dragon species, to manipulate mana in its natural state without any magical assistance.

Mana sensitivity was an art that only Ted Redymer, who transcended even geniuses, could achieve.

Tsstsstsst-

Mana, which should not be visible to the naked eye in its natural state, appeared in the form of faint shimmering light.

Dozens of meters of mana around me temporarily came under control, giving rise to a thrilling sense of omnipotence.

However, I must not be swept away by this.

I suppressed and condensed the surging mana, then forcibly pushed it into my body.

“…Ugh.”

A truly ferocious power surged through my entire body.

Refining it into the opposite attribute, when it collided, a nova would be manifested.

However, what was needed now was not speed but overwhelming destructive power.

‘Just a little more….’

Then, at that moment.

All the energy poured out suddenly, and the sensation of pressure that had been pressing on my body evaporated in the blink of an eye.

“Ah….”

I sighed in admiration as I looked at the shining Black Hope beneath the darkened sky.

Whooong!

It was similar in size to the previous Halo, but the color had changed.

Boiling incandescence,

The strength of the aura swirling around the hand holding the sword was enough to make it tremble.

Condensed Halo.

After that, it was the same as a few days ago.

I pushed away the condensed Halo just like Larze had done.

The beam that cut through the night sky like a shooting star collided head-on with the barrier.

—— !!

All I had to do was watch.

As the flames rose into the sky, devouring the surface of the barrier, leaving nothing behind.

When the explosion and flash subsided, the ominous barrier that had surrounded the factory site was nowhere to be seen.

‘It’s stronger than I expected.’

If I had generated this much destructive power on my own, I would have not only consumed most of my mana but also been exhausted.

However, thanks to using nearby mana, my body felt strangely light.

…Enough to perform the second battle without any difficulty.

I didn’t hesitate and struck the ground.

Inside, he was waiting.

* * *

For the past few months, whenever I had free time, I consistently conducted avatar training.

I sparred with disciples who were now capable of being manifested and even fought against formidable opponents that I wouldn’t have dared to face before.

However, except for the initial few times driven by curiosity, I hardly fought ‘Original’.

The reason being…

‘It was useless anyway.’

The Iris of Laplace had revealed that due to the limitations of their functions, they couldn’t fully replicate his abilities.

Therefore, the avatar was probably much weaker than the real Ted Redymer.

But I couldn’t even withstand a single sword strike from him.

Even after awakening Halo.

The same was true when I awakened Nova.

As soon as I faced him, I suffered fatal injuries, and the training ended.

Even when pushing Nova to the limit, I could only see faint traces.

The attacks were ruthless, impervious to any defense or evasion.

It was a strength that was fundamentally different from the leisurely sparring and duels I had while learning the sword at the former hideout.

The intention to peek at techniques, methods, and know-how, and to rehearse the level I would reach in the future, became meaningless at that moment.

‘But it’ll be different now.’

I completely liberated the ‘domain’ of the Black Hope with the help of the 3rd Form and Larze.

I should be able to engage in several battles at least.

With such hope in mind, I walked slowly out of the alley.

It was the very battlefield where I had defeated the demon-worshipping cultists fused with demons.

In the center of it all.

A man stood conspicuously.

Step by step, Ted Redymer turned his head and stared in this direction at the sound of footsteps.

It was a sight I saw every day in the mirror, but seeing it as an avatar was different.

A thorough poker face.

“….”

Seeing that figure, several thoughts crossed my mind, but I was able to suppress them.

After all, that wasn’t Ted in the first place.

It was just an avatar activated for training.

As evidence, he didn’t recognize me at all.

Only his expressions and posture were those that Ted would take.

‘Focus.’

He hadn’t grasped the Black Hope behind him yet, but I couldn’t relax.

After all, he was at a level where preparatory actions were meaningless.

I slowly drew out my greatsword.

However, even after gripping the weapon, the tension only increased gradually.

Tock-

Cold sweat slowly trickled down my cheek.

…How should I express this?

It was impossible to breathe out unless I was very conscious of it.

I couldn’t easily make preparatory movements, and whenever I tried to move, strange imaginations flashed through my mind.

If I walked forward, my throat would be slit.

If I turned sideways, my waist would be cut.

If I retreated, I would be pierced through.

‘Is this what it means to be the hero?’

… The real enemies would have encountered a body much stronger than that avatar on the battlefield.

I could understand why demons would detach themselves from Ted Redymer.

However, it was time to move now.

Tsstsstssts-

The second flare was a bit smoother.

The mana in the atmosphere surged and condensed, being absorbed into me.

While I worried about what he might do if he attacked….

“….”

Ted simply glanced at me as if to say, “Do whatever you can.”

I was fortunate.

‘I’m going all out.’

For now, Nova was essential to keep up with his speed.

Tsstsstssts-

It was accompanied by a faint sparking sound.

In an instant, the world slowed down and fell silent.

I realized that this extent was much more severe than usual.

The dust particles floating in the air were visible down to each speck.

In the midst of it, a bright white lightning bolt streaked through.

Unlike the previous blue arc of Nova, the color had changed again.

The recoil on my body was as intense as the enhanced effect.

Even though I was standing still, I felt a dizzying sensation of falling from a great height and pressure on my body.

…I immediately realized that I couldn’t maintain this condensed Nova for a few more seconds.

I had to fight.

The accident shot through my body like an arrow.

Kwaaaang!

A powerful kick against the ground.

But that wasn’t the end.

Fwurrururk!

A sharp purple flame rose from the Black Hope, twisting like a snake.

Unrecognizable symbols and formulas emitted light where the flames passed.

Wooooong-

At the same time, the 3rd stage of the ‘domain’ was activated, and a strong gravitational force pulled us together.

Ted to me, I to Ted.

It was a collision.

Kwaaaah!

The sword strike aimed at my throat stopped halfway in mid-air, unable to reach me.

Ted appeared in front of me, as if teleporting, and swung his sword.

Byak-!

The moment the Black Hopes met, the bones in both my arms were misaligned and broke at the same time.

But rather than pain, there was much more joy.

‘At last!’

I had blocked the first blow that couldn’t be stopped by any means.

I recovered from the injuries using Polymorph and kicked his feet as if sweeping the ground.

However, as a sinister sensation brushed against the back of my neck, I withdrew the kick halfway and rolled backward.

Thunk!

Sure enough, the Black Hope was stuck exactly where the leg would have passed through vertically.

It was so fast.

If I had continued the attack, I would have been skewered like a kebab.

Hwoong!

I got up as if bouncing off the ground and stabbed with the sword.

However, the counterstrike only floundered in empty space.

I quickly turned around and retrieved the sword towards my side.

I felt an attack approaching through extended senses.

Kraang!

Thus, I barely managed to block the second attack.

I didn’t resist the force pushing me away, but rolled in the opposite direction as if flying.

Woooooong!

At the same time, I set up a powerful gravity field behind Ted, hindering his movement.

It was to regain posture and recover.

The 2nd stage of the domain, the gravity field exerted a strong gravitational force, causing a sandstorm on the ground.

For a moment, a strong wind blew.

Kwaddaddeuk!

Even the thick, beautiful Aramid trees around me were all bent like bows, pouring out leaves.

But Ted remained calm without any signs of shaking.

Step by step, he approached with his ash-colored hair fluttering like a lion’s mane.

As if not feeling threatened at this level, he didn’t even rush.

…A strange joy surged within me.

[PR/N: Maso?]

‘As expected, there’s a long way to go.’

I had expected that.

It wasn’t a level I could achieve in just a few months.

…Even though I was facing an imperfect avatar, I couldn’t last even a few seconds and was defeated.

But today, there was one thing I could clearly understand.

‘That I’ve become much stronger than before. That I’ve progressed.’

I had gotten closer to him.

I wanted to confirm this.

…And I wanted to show it.

How strong I had become.

How much effort I had put in, even in such a short time.

Though just a simulation avatar created by magic, I wanted to show it in front of him.

This irrational and irrational desire must have been something I learned as I became more like humans.

Ted raised his sword.

Phew!

It was a thrust so precise and sharp that there was simply no way to evade it.

It was a declaration of perfect victory.

Clang-

My own Black Hope, which had reached out to meet it, fell to the ground.

“……”

But I didn’t look at the Black Hope that pierced my abdomen.

Ted’s gaze didn’t fall on it either.

Flutter-

The hilt slowly falling from the air.

I proudly spoke up.

“Now.”

“……”

“Not a bad showing, wouldn’t you say?”

There was no answer.

It was natural.

It was just an avatar meant to defeat a sparring partner, not one with a consciousness.

Wooooong-

Instead of an answer, there was a white flash.

Perhaps in an attempt to make a proper conclusion, he raised his mana for the first time in front of me, who was about to die.

A beacon of salvation.

Perhaps due to the radiant halo surrounding him, his figure wasn’t clearly visible.

That must be why.

His face, barely visible, seemed to have a faint smile.

Because people, after all, see what they want to see.

▼

Avatar training terminated.

Training evaluation: D

Overall – Numerous unnecessary breaths

Overall – Dependency on grappling techniques

Overall – Overconfidence in recovery ability, need for restraint

Currently assessing overall performance…

Comprehensive evaluation: Plenty of room for improvement

▲

…Plenty of room for improvement indeed.

It was certainly not a false statement.

That was the moment I was reading the final comment.

▼

Comprehensive evaluation: One with abundant potential

Additional comment:

– One who walks their own path

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