Endless Leveling Done Right!

Chapter 528: Unwavering Resolve [Part 1]

”Happy birthday to you... happy birthday to you~”

”Happy birthday... Happy birthday.... Happy birthday to you~”

Fran sang happily as she wished Alex a happy birthday.

Actually, today was also her birthday.

It was a weird coincidence, but Alex’s and Fran’s birthdays were the same.

The other members of Dawnseekers used to tease them about it, telling their youngest members that they might be each other’s lost twin despite the difference in age and race.

”Today is the 13th day of the Empress in the 345th Era of The Fool.” Fran spun in the air as if she was dancing. ”And you are now fifteen years old, and I’m eleven years old. We’ve grown older!”

”Happy birthday, Fran,” Alex said with a smile.

A fleeting thought reminded the young man of the Fairies’ long lifespan, which usually extended up to five hundred years. The stronger the fairies, the longer they could live.

”What are you thinking?” Fran asked, noticing that Alex had suddenly become quiet.

”I was just thinking that when I become a very old man, you’ll still look the same,” Alex replied. ”It must be nice to have a long lifespan, huh?”

”Of course!” Fran raised his chin in arrogance. ”Fairies are superior to humans. When you die, make sure to wish that you’re reborn as a fairy. I will raise you properly when that happens.”

”And why would I want to become a fairy?” Alex arched an eyebrow. ”I’d rather become an elf. Their lifespan is even longer. Even becoming a red-headed Half-Elf with green eyes is fine.”

”Um? Why are you being specific?” Fran landed on Alex’s shoulder. ”Why do you want to become a red-headed Half-Elf?”

”Just following a trend.”

”What trend?”

Fran blinked in confusion, but Alex just chuckled and no longer continued the topic.

Spring was almost upon them, and with it, the snow would melt, and the demons would stir once more.

Alex and Fran had refrained from attacking them for the past few months, hoping that they would eat each other until no one remained.

Of course, that was simply wishful thinking.

Still, they hoped that the number of demons had reduced drastically until they only numbered in the hundreds.

Suddenly, the two felt a ripple of power spreading through the entirety of the forest.

It felt so vile that Alex’s and Fran’s faces turned pale from the pressure that spread like wildfire.

”W-What is happening?!” Fran asked, while taking refuge inside Alex’s shirt.

”I don’t know,” Alex replied. ”But whatever it is, I bet that Demon Lord is behind it. Fran, can you use your magic to check where it is coming from? Depending on your answer, we may need to change our hiding spot.”

”On it!” Fran nodded and started to write runes directly on Alex’s chest.

She could have done this by writing on the ground, but she was too afraid to leave Alex’s side at the moment.

Also, they recently discovered that Fran’s power was amplified whenever she cast buffs at the young man, which made her assume that her scrying magic would also become twice as powerful if she used him as a medium.

Alex wondered why Fran was scribbling on his chest but decided not to stop her. Although it felt ticklish, he endured because he didn’t want to break her concentration.

When the spell was completed, Alex’s body shuddered.

By the time he regained his senses, he found himself no longer in their hiding place but in the sky, from where he looked down on the Shadow Forest like a soaring bird.

In the distance, a dark pillar rose up to the sky and hit the barrier, causing it to groan and shake.

’The Demon Lord is trying to break the barrier!’ Fran’s voice spoke right beside Alex, but he couldn’t see her.

Alex didn’t know if he wanted the Demon Lord to succeed or wish him to fail. If he succeeded, that meant that he and Fran could finally leave the forest.

If not, then all of them would continue to be trapped there.

”Breaaaaaaak!”

A loud, overbearing roar reverberated in the forest, confirming their suspicion that the Demon Lord was indeed attempting to break the barrier he personally made.

Cracks started to form on the barrier, making Alex subconsciously clench his fist. But just as it was about to break, something golden seeped through the cracks, and the barrier repaired itself once more.

Outside the Shadow Forest, several Elven Mages were chanting to restore the barrier, making sure it would not break apart.

The spies of the human kingdoms within the Demon Realm had confirmed that the Demon Lord was still trapped inside the forest.

Since that was the case, the humans had asked the Elves, as well as the other races, to help them contain the Demon Lord inside the barrier while their armies marched to the Demon Realm.

They planned to finish the war as soon as possible, making sure that by the time the Demon Lord returned, he would no longer pose any great threat within the continent.

”Damned Elves!” The Demon Lord cursed angrily because he also realized what had happened.

Only Ancient Elven Magic would be strong enough to contend with his Demonic Magic.

The Demon Lord had augmented his magic by creating blood magic crystals made from the flesh and blood of his subordinates.

He believed that it was a necessary sacrifice to destroy the same barrier he had created to trap the Hero and the Human Armies inside the Shadow Forest.

Now that he had eliminated all of his enemies, except for Alex and Fran, he decided to just break it by force and leave the forest to return to the Demon Realm to recuperate.

Unfortunately, the great minds of humanity were a step ahead of him. They had long prepared to deal with his attempt to escape the Shadow Forest.

When the pillar of darkness finally dispersed, Alex and Fran returned to their own bodies.

”Alex...”

”I know.”

A look of determination appeared on their faces after watching the Demon Lord’s attempt to break the barrier.

Although it wasn’t long, they had seen him collapse on the ground, physically, mentally, and magically exhausted from his recent action.

The Demon Lord was strong.

Extremely so that Alex and Fran both understood that they couldn’t win against him even if they fought side by side.

But now, there was a chance to win.

As long as they killed the Demon Lord, they would be able to avenge their comrades and finally free themselves from the constant fear and anxiety they had buried deep inside their hearts.

Had they fought alone, the loneliness and sadness might have broken them completely.

Fortunately, they had each other.

Thanks to that, they managed to cope during the long winter nights, seeking each other’s company and warmth.

”We only get one chance,” Alex said quietly. ”If he recovers, we won’t survive another winter.”

Fran clenched her fists. ”Then we won’t let him recover.”

She fluttered into the air and hovered in front of him, her expression uncharacteristically serious. Runes shimmered faintly around her body, responding to her resolve.

”I can suppress him,” Fran continued. ”Not completely, but it will be enough for you to deal the killing strike.”

Alex looked at her sharply. ”Fran, that will drain you.”

”I know.” Fran puffed her cheeks. ”But it’s our birthday. That means we’re allowed to be a little reckless.”

Despite himself, Alex laughed softly. ”You’re unbelievable.”

”Hehehe.” Fran grinned, then pointed a finger at him. ”And you’re not allowed to die. If you do, I’ll really have to raise you properly in your next life.”

”Then I’ll do my best to stay alive,” Alex replied.

The two smiled and nodded in unison before leaving their shelter behind, slipping through the snow-covered wonderland and toward the heart of the forest, where their most-hated enemy was staying.