Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 299: The King of Heroes!?

Chapter 299: The King of Heroes!?

Lyan opened his eyes, blinking against the intense, pervasive whiteness that surrounded him. This place was unlike any he had ever seen. There were no walls, no ceiling, no ground—just an infinite expanse of white. It felt different from the time when he had been given the quest to kill Tiamat. He had no memory of entering such a place and found himself disoriented.

As he tried to make sense of his surroundings, a voice rang out, clear and commanding, "Hou... So you’re the one called the Hero of The Two Realms..." The voice was arrogant yet charismatic, carrying a weight that bore down on Lyan with a pressure he had never felt before. It was a pressure that surpassed even what he had experienced facing the eight high spirits and might even be comparable to the malevolence of Tiamat.

Lyan’s muscles tensed involuntarily, his body reacting to the overwhelming presence.

"There is no need to get so tense," the voice continued, almost amused. "I just summoned you because I suddenly could. I have been interested in you for quite some time and called you on a whim."

Lyan turned towards the source of the voice and saw a figure approaching him. The man was striking, with a powerful yet slim body, exuding an aura of absolute confidence and supremacy. His hair was a vibrant golden, catching the nonexistent light and almost glowing. His eyes were piercing, a deep shade of red that seemed to see right through Lyan. He was dressed in an opulent, gold-trimmed outfit that looked both regal and ancient, as if he had stepped out of the legends of old. Every inch of him radiated an undeniable charisma and authority that demanded respect and awe.

"Who are you?" Lyan managed to ask, keeping his voice steady despite the tension in his body.

The figure smirked, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "I am honored," Lyan continued, "I am Lyan Arkanum Evocatore, Summoner and the Baron of Grafen."

The man’s smirk widened into a grin. "Mongrel, so you’re a Baron," he mocked.

Suddenly, an immense power surged from the man, and Lyan could feel the murderous intent radiating from him. The golden aura that enveloped the figure was suffocating, pressing down on Lyan with a force that made it hard to breathe. Despite the overwhelming pressure, Lyan stood his ground. He had faced Tiamat, the Evil Demon Dragon God, and survived. He could bear this.

The man before him laughed aloud, a sound that echoed through the endless white void. "Interesting, very interesting. You’re the second person after Draven, the stiff and genius professor from the other world, who dared to ask me for strength. But you..." He trailed off, summoning a golden sword with a flourish. The weapon was magnificent, clearly a masterpiece of craftsmanship, its blade shimmering with an inner light that spoke of its power.

"I am Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes," the man declared, his voice resonating with regal authority. "You should be amazed and praise my name."

Lyan was about to kneel in respect when Gilgamesh cut him off. "Fight me, Evocatore. Summon all of your monsters and entertain me!"

Lyan’s heart raced as the reality of the situation sank in. He was being challenged by a figure from legend, a being whose power was unfathomable. But he had no choice. He had to rise to the occasion.

With a determined look in his eyes, Lyan nodded. "As you wish, King of Heroes."

He reached into the depths of his soul, calling upon the power of his summoning grimoire. The familiar weight of the book appeared in his hand, its pages glowing with a soft, ethereal light. He flipped through the pages quickly, summoning his most trusted companions.

Grimclaw, the Deadlight, emerged first, his skeletal form moving with a sinister grace. The Papilio Slime, Galia the Galewing Butterfly, and the Gryphon appeared next, their presence filling the void with an array of vibrant colors and energies. The Rock Golem and Ice Golem stood side by side, their massive forms exuding strength and resilience. The Acid Ant Queen commanded her workers and soldiers, their movements precise and coordinated.

Lyan’s summoned monsters arrayed themselves around him, ready for battle. He could feel their determination and loyalty, their trust in his leadership.

Gilgamesh watched with a keen interest, his red eyes glinting with anticipation. "Very well, Evocatore. Show me what you and your creatures are capable of."

Without warning, Gilgamesh raised his golden sword and charged. His movements were impossibly fast, a blur of gold that closed the distance between them in an instant. Lyan barely had time to react, his body react quickly to take the sword held by one of his goblin champion skeleton to block the incoming strike. The impact reverberated through his body, the sheer force of it nearly knocking him off his feet.

Grimclaw was the first to respond, his skeletal form darting forward to intercept Gilgamesh. The Deadlight’s bony fingers clashed with the King of Heroes’ blade, sparks flying from the collision. Galia swooped down from above, her wings creating a shimmering barrier that momentarily halted Gilgamesh’s advance.

But Gilgamesh was relentless. He moved with an ease and fluidity that belied his immense power, weaving through the attacks with a grace that seemed almost effortless. He parried Grimclaw’s strikes with his sword, deflected Galia’s energy waves with a flick of his wrist, and even withstood the combined assaults of the Rock Golem and Ice Golem without breaking a sweat.

"Is this all you’ve got?" Gilgamesh taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "Show me your true strength, Evocatore!"

Lyan gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He had to find a way to turn the tide of the battle. Summoning more of his monsters, he called forth the Primeval Hound and the Flame Lioness. The Hound’s psychokinetic abilities and the Lioness’s fiery mane added new elements to the battlefield, their combined powers creating a chaotic whirlwind of energy and flame.

Lyan thought about needing his magic glaive to fight, and suddenly it appeared in his hand. With the weapon in hand, he launched himself into the fray, fighting head-on with Gilgamesh. His monsters backed him up, but the King of Heroes remained formidable, even as Lyan’s relentless assault forced him to change weapons. From sword to golden bow, then to a shield, and back to a sword, Gilgamesh adapted with ease, matching Lyan blow for blow.

Lyan moved with precision, his glaive slicing through the air with deadly intent. He feinted left, hoping to catch Gilgamesh off guard, but the King of Heroes read the move effortlessly, countering with a swift strike that Lyan barely parried in time. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through his arms, but he held firm.

Gilgamesh’s laughter echoed in the void. "Hahaha! You fight well, Evocatore, but can you keep up?"

Lyan didn’t respond, focusing instead on his next move. He used his illusion magic to create multiple afterimages of himself, each one attacking from a different angle. The illusions were nearly indistinguishable from the real Lyan, their movements synchronized perfectly. But Gilgamesh was not easily fooled. He shifted his stance, his eyes narrowing as he discerned the real Lyan among the illusions.

With a swift motion, Gilgamesh swung his sword, dispelling the illusions and striking at Lyan. Lyan brought his glaive up to block, the clash of their weapons creating a burst of energy that rippled through the air. Gilgamesh pressed the attack, his strikes coming faster and harder, forcing Lyan to defend with all his might.

Drawing on his past experience as an incubus, Lyan began to use his illusion magic, enhancing his physical abilities by tricking his mind into unlocking hidden strength. His movements became faster, his strikes more powerful, and his presence more elusive. He fought with great martial prowess, his attacks flowing seamlessly from one to the next, blending his illusions with his combat skills.

Gilgamesh’s eyes narrowed as he observed Lyan’s fighting style. "Impressive," he muttered. "But is it enough?"

Lyan pressed on, his body moving with a fluidity that came from years of honing his skills. He used his illusions to create openings, attacking from angles that were difficult to predict. His strikes came close, almost hitting their mark, but Gilgamesh always managed to evade or block at the last moment.

"Your illusions are remarkable," Gilgamesh admitted, his voice filled with grudging respect. "But you still cannot land a blow."

Lyan didn’t respond, focusing all his energy on maintaining the relentless assault. His monsters coordinated with him, attacking in perfect synchrony. The Gryphon swooped down with a powerful dive, Galia created shimmering barriers to trap Gilgamesh, and the Ice Golem launched icy projectiles to restrict his movements.

Despite their combined efforts, Gilgamesh remained a step ahead. He deflected the Gryphon’s talons with his shield, shattered Galia’s barriers with his sword, and dodged the Ice Golem’s projectiles with fluid grace. His laughter echoed through the void, a sound both mocking and admiring. "Hahaha! You are indeed a worthy opponent, Evocatore!"

Lyan pushed himself to his limits, using every trick, every skill he had learned, combining his illusion magic with his martial arts to create a fighting style that was both unpredictable and deadly. Yet, despite his best efforts, he could only reach the level of ’almost’ hitting and landing a blow on the King of Heroes.

Gilgamesh’s expression was one of exhilaration. "You fight well, Evocatore. Better than most. But remember, true strength lies not in power alone, but in the heart that wields it. For giving my royal self such an interesting experience, let me give you a special gift,"

With a final surge of power, Gilgamesh unleashed a devastating attack. A beam of golden light erupted from his sword, cutting through Lyan’s illusions and striking him with a force that shattered his defenses. The impact sent Lyan crashing to the ground, his vision dimming as darkness closed in.

As he lay there, struggling to stay conscious, Lyan heard Gilgamesh’s voice, faint and distant. "You fought well, Evocatore. Better than most. But remember, true strength lies not in power alone, but in the heart that wields it."

With those words echoing in his mind, Lyan’s vision faded to black, and he slipped into unconsciousness.

When he awoke, he found himself back in the familiar surroundings of the hut. His body ached, but he was alive. His monsters surrounded him, their expressions a mixture of concern and relief.

"Master," Grimclaw’s voice rumbled, "are you alright?"

Lyan nodded slowly, wincing at the pain. "I’m fine, Grimclaw. It was... quite an experience."