I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 69: To The Human Continent [5]

’What do you plan to do?’ Sera asked.

I did want to help this new Hope take down Nathalia. But after thinking for a while, I made a decision—I shouldn’t.

I’ve already attracted too much attention. Both first and second years are aware of me now. I don’t want to make it worse.

I need to be careful from now on.

’Do you want to leave now?’ Sera asked again.

She already knew my plan. She knew what I was going to do.

’Yes. But first...’

I had to separate from this group.

I glanced around. The students had grim expressions. Their eyes were locked on the battle in front of them.

Two figures were fighting.

They seemed completely focused. If I left now, they wouldn’t even notice.

I was sure Nathalia was at that fortress.

I exhaled. Hooofff!

I shifted my weight forward and activated my Earth Essence. The ground beneath my feet rose just an inch—enough for support.

I stared in the direction of the white fortress.

Using my Wind Essence, I created a vacuum around me, trapping the air inside.

I adjusted my stance. The forest ahead was dense. The moonlight barely reached the ground.

Dashhh!

A quiet gust of wind echoed as I moved.

No one noticed.

I sprinted in a straight line.

Bushes, trees, boulders—it didn’t matter. I cut through everything in my way.

I calculated the time instantly. 136.87 seconds to reach my destination.

’Sera, I know this is a dumb question, but… who’s stronger—me or Nathalia?’

Sera went silent for a moment.

Then, she carefully chose her words.

’Can you conquer an entire civilization guarded by fifteen elves? Each one stronger than the top-ranked humans?’

"..."

I was speechless.

Conquering a civilization?

I never even dreamed of something like that.

I shook my head. "No."

"Then you have your answer."

I sighed.

It’s not like I planned to fight her.

Goddess Ylthea had warned me—never fight an Authority Holder.

I knew I was too weak compared to them.

But I had to do this. Somehow.

First, I needed to talk to Ruby and the others.

I didn’t want them to get caught in something dangerous.

But without Ruby and Envy’s help, this plan wouldn’t work.

I reached for Aegis around my neck. The crystal shone with a pure white glow, reflecting rainbow colors on the ground.

The 13-hour hand was still.

It was stuck at number 13.

’No changes huh?’

What does this implies, I really didn’t know that.

It wasn’t broken.

I turned right and headed toward Ruby.

If this plan worked, we would finally be free from Nathalia’s grasp.

***

The night loomed above her. The moon cast a soft white glow on her face.

She wasn’t lonely.

She was worried.

She was waiting.

Waiting for someone to appear.

"Zane..."

His name escaped her lips.

Her voice was filled with desperation.

It had been more than an hour since he left.

But there was still no sign of him.

No response.

No presence.

What happened to him?

Was he safe?

She twirled a strand of her crimson hair around her finger.

She always did that when she was nervous.

Biting her lower lip, she turned to Envy.

"Master, he isn’t back yet."

Envy understood.

She stood up.

She had been sitting beside Aria, gently stroking her hair.

She had stayed here, protecting them.

Watching over them.

Because of his orders.

Zane’s orders.

She upheld and respected the Hero’s protocol.

As the former Rank-1, Zane’s orders were absolute.

He had told Ruby and Envy not to move.

He must have sensed something powerful.

"I’m going to look for him."

Envy gripped her blade.

She prepared to move in the direction where Zane had gone.

"Keep them safe—"

Her words were cut off.

"Master, stop!"

A calm voice echoed.

BANG!

A loud impact followed.

A figure dashed in front of them.

Too fast for the human eye to see.

Jet-black and silver eyes gleamed under the moonlight.

Ruby gasped.

"Zane…?"

The color returned to her face.

She saw him.

Standing there.

Alive.

"Master, wait..." Zane spoke.

His Essence slowly dispersed as he walked toward them.

"There’s a small change of plan."

His tone was serious.

Ruby and Envy understood.

They didn’t ask questions.

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Not yet.

They had many.

But now was not the time.

Zane explained.

A serious threat was responsible for their teleportation.

And he had found her location.

After finishing, he turned to Ruby.

"Ruby, I need your help."

Ruby flinched.

"O-Of course!"

She would help him with anything.

No matter what.

Even if she didn’t know the reason.

Zane nodded.

"Alright, you have to do..."

***

Few kilometers away from Faceless Nathalia:

Just three kilometers away from Faceless Nathalia, two figures moved cautiously through the dark terrain.

Their steps were steady. Careful.

"Where are we going?"

The man in the back spoke, his voice uncertain.

Justice turned to him.

"We have to save the kids on this list before Hope does."

His tone was sharp and determined.

He was desperate.

Desperate to beat Hope—just once.

He didn’t care about the consequences.

He would do anything to win.

No matter what it took.

It took them exactly four minutes to reach their destination.

Then, they stopped.

The sound of metal clashing filled the air.

Continuous. Relentless.

Steel clashing against something over and over again.

It sent chills down their spines.

Justice and Greed stood frozen.

They were just a thick bush away from seeing what was happening beyond it.

But neither of them moved.

Why?

Because of the pressure.

Because of the speed at which those slicing sounds came.

Because of the unsettling feeling growing inside them.

A bead of sweat slid down Justice’s forehead.

Greed’s fingers twitched slightly.

Their eyes met.

Both of them were thinking the same thing.

"This... doesn’t feel right..."

"W-What is happening?"

Justice’s heart pounded.

Greed gulped.

One of them had to move the bush to see what lay beyond.

Neither wanted to do it.

But one had to.

"Greed, slice it."

Justice shamelessly ordered him.

Greed’s hand trembled.

He hesitated.

But in the end, he did as he was told.

He couldn’t go against Justice.

He knew that too well.

SLASH!

The thick bush was cut.

Like a curtain rising before a grand performance.

And the scene beyond was now fully visible.

Their eyes widened.

Their breath hitched.

Their minds struggled to process what they saw.

Two figures floated in the sky.

One of them had pure white skin and angelic feathers.

Her very presence should have made people fall to their knees.

She was divine.

A being that deserved worship.

And yet—

The other figure was butchering her.

Brutally.

Coldly.

He kept slicing her apart.

Bit by bit.

Limb by limb.

Without hesitation.

Without mercy.

"W-What...?!"

Justice’s voice cracked.

Never in their entire careers had they seen something so sick.

So twisted.

So horrifying.

Hope didn’t seem like the person they remembered.

This wasn’t him.

This was a monster.

"Ah!"

A voice cried out from a few meters away.

Justice turned toward the sound.

And he saw them.

All of them.

The First and Second Years.

Standing.

Frozen.

Their faces mirrored his own horror.

Their disbelief.

Their shock.

Justice clenched his teeth.

He felt lost.

He lost again.

How?

How did Hope find all of them first?

How did he always get ahead?

***

Present Time:

After several minutes…

After giving a task to Ruby…

I rushed into the dense forest, where the fortress lay hidden.

Grussss!

I skated across the ground, unleashing my Wind and Earth Essence.

My eyes searched the surroundings.

I needed to find that fortress.

The one I saw through my Elemental View.

"It’s somewhere here."

My movements slowed.

A thick white mist surrounded the area.

My vision blurred.

But I didn’t need my eyes.

My supercomputer mind remembered the way clearly.

Step. Step.

Each step brought me closer.

I halted.

I waited.

A few seconds passed.

In front of me stood a large iron gate.

The place was silent.

Too silent.

For a fortress this massive, there should be guards.

Yet, there were none.

It didn’t surprise me.

I already knew the truth.

Beyond this gate stood the fortress.

It was expected.

"How should I open it?"

I didn’t want to blast the gate open.

That would draw her attention.

The best course of action was to sneak inside.

I made my decision.

Focusing my Earth Essence, I started creating a wooden ladder.

But—

Before I could finish—

CLANG!

Loud metal and shifting gears echoed in my ears.

I froze.

The iron gate creaked open.

Slowly.

Cautiously.

I stepped back.

My gaze locked onto the massive entrance.

And then—

The white pristine fortress came into view.

As if…

As if it was welcoming me.

As the gate fully opened, the entire fortress came into view.

And then—

I saw a lone figure standing at the entrance.

The white mist curled around her feet.

She walked toward me.

Slow. Graceful.

I stood still.

Calm. Unshaken.

I didn’t flinch.

Not even after I saw her face.

The figure approaching me had obsidian-black hair, ruby-red eyes, and white feathered wings on her back.

A face I knew all too well.

"Lilith."

Her name left my lips.

She wasn’t wearing her usual gothic red outfit.

Instead, she was dressed in a maid’s uniform.

She stopped in front of me.

Her eyes locked onto mine.

Then—

She bowed.

"Master Nathalia has been waiting for you to come."

A smile crept onto my face.

End of Chapter.

[A/N]: Sorry I posted an unedited chapter. The problem is fixed.