Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Chapter 50: The Elf and Flower (3)

‘Is that really the Leon I knew?’

His appearance was the same. His energy felt identical. That was why it was even harder to believe.

Cooper was a powerhouse, second only to Kazan. And yet, Leon was overwhelming him single-handedly.

‘Even if Leon was strong, he was never comparable to Kazan before. Just what happened in such a short time for him to become that powerful?’

I could only guess. That special training with Garan—wasn’t it supposed to draw out the latent potential within a warrior’s body?

It was absurd. At best, not even two full months had passed. To achieve that much in such a short time?

For the first time, I truly realized what it meant that Leon carried the blood of the Conqueror.

‘No matter how hard I train, I can barely build muscle. But that bastard—he just moves, and his body grows stronger.’

A quiet laugh escaped me without realizing it.

KWAANG—! KWAANG—! KWA-A-AANG!!

Terrifying roars burst out all around, like thunder exploding again and again.

‘What kind of monster is this brat!’

He was bewildered. The boy before him fought without a hint of exhaustion.

Every strike was heavy, like thunder and lightning crashing down. Normally, a body would have begun to wear down by now.

But Leon defied Cooper’s expectations, maintaining that ferocious pace.

‘Why? How can he still move like that!’

Nearly ten minutes had passed since the battle began. Around them, the other fights were already winding down.

‘At this rate, I’ll lose!’

Purely in terms of strength, Leon couldn’t compare to Cooper. But the man simply refused to fall.

No matter what attack hit him, Leon endured. In fact, it was Cooper who was beginning to lose his strength.

And now, Cooper’s stamina was reaching its end.

It was ridiculous. Leon, who had never conserved his energy, still burned bright, while he—who had fought efficiently—was growing weaker.

Anyone watching might have burst into laughter at the sight.

The Infinite Void Heart Fist struck Cooper square in the abdomen. A direct, honest hit—and that made it all the more dangerous.

Until now, Cooper had avoided every blow for one simple reason: if he took even one, he might die.

But this time, he had taken it full on.

Cooper vomited up everything in his stomach. The pain was beyond endurance—his mouth fell open and his insides heaved on their own.

Ragged breaths tore out of him. His mind felt hazy, as though that one strike had blown his soul right out of his body.

Leon looked down at him.

“There are many things I wish to ask you.”

Cooper barely managed to raise his head—and in that instant, he realized. He was kneeling.

A dry laugh escaped him.

Had he lost? Only an idiot wouldn’t realize it. And yet, the reason it was hard to believe was because the reality was so shocking.

‘I don’t even have the strength to lift a finger.’

He had no choice but to accept it. He had been defeated by a young warrior.

Cooper looked up at Leon. Red mana rose off Leon’s body like shimmering heat waves.

It was like looking at a beast drenched in blood.

Cooper’s body trembled involuntarily.

Then, slowly, he opened his mouth.

“I have lost. It’s only right that I answer your questions.”

Leon stared at him steadily. There was no sign of deceit.

‘Still… I can’t trust him easily.’

It was only natural. The man was a heinous criminal. There was no reason to believe him.

‘Even if this battle was fought fairly, there’s no way to know what a criminal like him is truly thinking.’

He couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

“Cooper, why is your group, Flower, targeting Rahan and Lenel?”

Leon asked, his voice steeped in a formless killing intent—his presence blazing like a molten furnace.

Even though he was clearly fatigued, his aura remained terrifying.

The pressure alone was suffocating. Cooper let out a low sigh before answering.

“It was an order from above. I know nothing more than that.”

“The truth-detection spell shows no anomaly. So it must be true.”

At that moment, Retina joined the conversation. Her clothes were torn to rags—she must have fought a fierce battle of her own.

“That’s strange. Even if Flower is a deranged organization, they don’t act without purpose. There must be a reason behind all this.”

Leon agreed. From what he had seen before, Flower was surprisingly well-organized. For them to take an interest in Rahan, there had to be a clear motive.

Leon’s body began to tremble. It wasn’t exhaustion—it was fear.

He didn’t dismiss the reaction. His body had long transcended ordinary human limits. That body had carried him through countless crises.

He couldn’t simply ignore it.

Leon focused—trying to understand what his body was afraid of. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novelFɪre.net

“Have you still not captured it? Humans truly are useless.”

A chilling killing intent brushed against his skin. It wasn’t human—it was monstrous.

He recognized that energy. He had faced its owner not long ago.

He managed to speak the name, his voice laced with despair—a sigh more than a sound.

“So it was you… Zeke’s son. Once again, you stand in my way?”

The source of that killing intent was none other than Ira, one of the Seven Apostles of the Demon King.

Leon asked, keeping his composure as best he could. The Seven Apostles of the Demon King did not move for trivial reasons—there had to be a purpose.

“What a coincidence. I was wondering the same thing about you.”

“Answer me. This is the Imperial Capital. There’s no way a creature like you could simply walk in here.”

“It is I who should be asking. Is it so strange that I am here?”

Was it strange that he was here?

Of course it was. Demon Beasts could never coexist with humans. Yet this creature was striding brazenly through the capital’s streets for all to see.

I knew better than anyone how dangerous a Demon Beast’s presence was. Hatred welled up from deep within me.

“There are Imperial Knights stationed in the capital. There’s no way they wouldn’t have sensed your intrusion.”

“Ah, those men? Indeed—they were strong enough to notice me.”

“Which makes it even stranger. How could you be here at all? It’s impossible unless you somehow deceived the knights’ senses.”

“……Son of Zeke. Aren’t you under some sort of misconception?”

A surge of ominous energy erupted from Ira’s entire body. Just the sight of it was nauseating.

At the same time, the power was so overwhelming that it made me feel as though the Evil God himself had descended once more.

“We, the Seven Apostles, already possess the power to rule over humans. You believe yourselves free—but you are not truly free.”

It was the words of madness. The “humans” he spoke of included elves, dwarves, and all the other races alike.

To claim they could rule over all mankind, even beyond the Empire?

Anyone hearing it would call it nonsense.

“You don’t believe me? Well, that’s only natural. Humans are such foolish creatures—they never believe until they see for themselves. Only Zeke has ever witnessed our true form… Very well then. If you doubt, I shall show you. Revere me. Tremble before me. And despair.”

The aura bursting from Ira’s body grew even stronger—a torrent of mana so intense it could drown the world.

Some nearby collapsed to their knees just from the pressure.

Something shattered, and Ira’s figure began to change.

Horns sprouted from his head, wings unfurled from his back, and a thick black aura coiled around him.

It was the very image of a demon’s descent.

I swallowed hard without realizing it. My body screamed at me—run. Run now, or you will die.

“Except for Zeke, no human has ever known. We, the Seven Apostles, each possess a true form.”

Even without an explanation, I could tell—he was far stronger than when I had last seen him.

Even if my body went berserk now, there was no guarantee I could even stand against him.

‘Back then, I barely managed to keep up with him. But now…’

I would lose before even half a second passed.

‘So Father fought monsters …?’

And not just one of them. Not long ago, Zeke had fought all Seven Apostles. He hadn’t even been losing. If he had continued fighting, the Seven Apostles might have all perished that day.

Goosebumps crept over me. To think that Zeke had been protecting Elphrel from such horrors…

I couldn’t begin to imagine how powerful he truly was.

“The knights in the capital are all dead. Tedious work, but not impossible.”

A battle had erupted right in the middle of the capital, yet not a single knight had appeared to intervene. It was only natural to assume something terrible had happened.

“Son of Zeke, I’ll keep this brief. Hand over the two High Elves to me. Do so willingly, and I shall spare your life.”

“…Your tongue runs long. If you can take my life so easily, why not do it now?”

“If you wish it, I can oblige. It may take a little time, but it’s hardly impossible.”

Ira’s expression remained serene, as though he were merely stating a simple truth.

I closed my eyes. This was madness. Ira was an opponent who could take my life at any moment.

And yet, instead of preparing to resist, I had closed my eyes.

But it didn’t matter. I only thought—

‘Why do they want Rahan and Lenel?’

It had to be for the Demon King’s resurrection. They cared for nothing else. It would be the same this time.

Which led to the next thought—

What would happen if I refused to hand them over?

‘If I don’t accept his offer… I’ll die.’

Everyone here would die as well.

Ira had slaughtered several knights on his own. There was no way those who weren’t even knight-class could hope to stop him.

‘What would Father have done?’

If it were Zeke—the Conqueror, the greatest warrior of Elphrel.

There was no need to wonder. Zeke would have fought Ira. Even if he had no strength left, he would never yield, never bow before a Demon Beast.

Zeke’s actions had never come from mere strength. They came from duty—from conviction. From the unshakable resolve that he must protect.

And the source of that conviction was never something grand.

Protect humanity from Demon Beasts?

Zeke was a cold man. My father—yet I’d never known anyone colder.

No, his goal had always been simple: to protect those around him. His family. His people.

“Ira, I refuse your offer.”

It was a declaration made without consulting anyone. Yet not a single person objected.

I felt my comrades’ gazes burning into my back—sharp, unwavering.

“I don’t care what your purpose is. Just as you feel no interest in humans, I have no interest in monsters like you. But there’s one thing I do understand.”

A chilling killing intent spread across my face.

“You are my enemy. Someday, you will burn everything around me. Rahan and Lenel? Don’t spout nonsense. We’re human—we don’t hand over our comrades like you do.”

Ira’s cold eyes fixed on me. Murderous intent welled up in their depths as he spoke.