The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

Chapter 831

There were several factors that could change the tide of war.

Sheer military force.

Perfect tactics.

However, neither seemed to apply to the situation Davey created.

- Kiaaa!!!

A mysterious being let out a monstrous shriek as it was gruesomely torn apart by the massive mana chainsaw. The other mysterious beings that witnessed this hesitated and began to retreat. Their red eyes—usually void of emotion—were now filled with confusion and fear.

Vrrrooommm!!

Doom, the youngest golem in the Decepticon Fleet, mercilessly sliced through enemies with its mana chainsaw. After tilting its unique looking face, it shot forward like a missile, grabbed the head of a fleeing mysterious being, and crushed it.

It was a true embodiment of brute force. Davey wondered where its savage personality came from.

Juggernaut bombarded the enemies with elemental shots while Tanker held off enemy advances—both were awe-inspiring.

But the one who truly captured all eyes was Rinne, flying across the battlefield like an angel leaving a tail of light like a comet. Every time she changed direction, dozens of beams of light shot out as if alive, bombarding and slaughtering the enemies.

"Don’t move.”

Davey placed his hand on the wound of a mage, coughing up blood and on the verge of death from the attack, and channeled holy power into him. Though the Saint Sanctuary had created a massive healing zone, he went around to personally help those with more severe injuries.

"You... Who are you...?"

"Gather all the severely injured in one place, please."

"But you..."

"If you waste time asking unnecessary questions, I won’t be responsible for the consequences."

There was a faint trace of the power of taboo in the attacks of the mysterious beings, which was why the severely injured needed stronger healing magic.

"Do you want them all to die? Hurry up and move!" Davey shouted.

Upon hearing his cry, the ones who had been standing frozen with shock finally started moving. The battlefield was already mostly cleared, thanks to the overwhelming firepower Rinne and her Decepticon Fleet. There was thankfully no longer any need for those defending the barrier to overexert themselves.

"We're alive... We survived!!"

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"This... This is a miracle from the gods!"

Davey found it amusing to see mages calling out to the gods, shouting in disbelief at their survival.

"Incredible... We didn’t even turn into mysterious beings!”

"We should’ve been dead for sure!"

The reason for their reaction became clear when Elder Schweitz came up to explain something.

He told Davey that those who had suffered significant damage from the mysterious beings usually experienced changes in their vitality—much like a human being turned into a zombie from infection. These people were fated to become mysterious beings themselves. The fact that Davey had successfully healed them was understandably shocking.

But in his eyes, all he did was remove the faint traces of the power of taboo lingering in their bodies.

"Could you be... a messenger sent by the gods?"

‘These people are really persistent with their talk of gods despite being mages.’

"Well, the good thing is that there aren’t any more seriously injured people. Does this kind of attack happen often?"

Boom!

The battle came to an end as Rinne pierced the final mysterious being with her spear. The golems had terrified even the previously fearless mysterious beings, making them retreat in panic.

"No... This isn’t common. The occasional mutant mysterious being may appear, but a large-scale assault like this..."

As Davey suspected, it became clear that the reason they had gathered was because of him. He realized that if he stayed there, he would only bring more harm to them.

'Even so, this is something beyond what divine power alone can handle.'

Davey wanted to heal everyone before leaving, but there wasn’t much more he could do—he wasn’t a complete god. Without understanding why the vitality was amplifying, he knew meddling could cause bigger problems.

He couldn’t just perform miracles.

Rinne reverted to her original form after retrieving her spear. She approached Davey with her expressionless face, small chest confidently puffed out with a swagger in her step.

"Master Davey, Rinne evaluates her combat abilities highly.”

"What did you eat this time?"

"Unique flavor data. Rinne rates it one star.”

She spat out a peculiar-looking berry that had the same color as a poisonous mushroom.

"Wh-What exactly are you?"

Once the situation settled down, Elder Schweitz approached Davey with a bewildered expression. Given the chaos the stranger had caused, his confusion was understandable.

"I’m just a traveler and a mage. Nothing special."

"What you just did didn’t seem like magic. Besides, you don’t have even a trace of mana..."

"Technically, it’s holy power."

"Holy power? Hmm..."

Holy magic was certainly different from devil mana.

Davey assumed that the continent of Peslisa must’ve had many different races and forms of magic beyond devil mana, but most of what he had seen through the battle revolved around devil mana. He figured the continent must’ve undergone some unknown change over time.

This situation seemed less like evolution and more like decline or regression.

"No wonder. After all, those records were in such a mess."

"Hmm? What was that?"

"Nothing important. Anyway, make sure the patients get some rest. They must be exhausted from mana reversal."

"R-Right! Move the patients! Those who are uninjured, repair the barrier!"

Leaving Elder Schweitz behind, Davey turned to Rinne silently watching him.

"Let’s get out of here."

* * *

The capability for selfishness humans possessed was a frightening thing.

Now that some knew the attack had been triggered by Davey’s presence, they decided his staying would benefit no one. However, some were unaware of this fact and began opposing his departure, using the ongoing danger as an excuse.

“You can’t leave! It’s far too dangerous out there! You’d be safer staying here...”

“We’ve never seen healing magic as powerful as yours! And on top of that, you wield long-lost holy magic. We need his power, Tower Master!”

Though the Tower Master wasn’t thrilled with the situation, in the eyes of those desperate to survive, Davey knew he would be deemed as an invaluable asset. Plus, they had already seen Rinne’s combat abilities firsthand. Letting him leave wouldn’t be easy for them to accept.

“This is a bit ridiculous, isn’t it? Aren’t we getting things backward?” Davey retorted.

“T-That’s not...”

“I helped you, yet this is how you treat me? It doesn’t leave a great impression.”

Silence fell over the room. One elderly mage hurriedly tried to explain.

“It’s... It’s because of the danger! The danger!”

“That’s right! We heard you mention going near the rift earlier. We’ve tried many times to retake that area, but it’s the most dangerous place of all! There are many Fallen Ones there, and mysterious beings even more terrifying than the ones we just faced!”

Elder Schweitz sighed as he heard them bark.

“I apologize for their behavior. Everyone’s just on edge...”

Davey nodded in response. “I understand, but it’s not exactly a pleasant experience.”

“But... Why do you want to go to the rift?”

“I’m interested in this situation and want to investigate it myself.”

“It’s... It’s too dangerous...”

“There’s nothing dangerous for me. I’ll be fine,” Davey said firmly.

They then exchanged glances, likely recalling how Rinne fought.

“But... What exactly is that girl? I’ve seen mutants with enhanced physical abilities, but nothing like her level of strength...”

“Rinne is a very advanced, high-performance biological golem, and evaluates herself highly,” Rinne boasted proudly with her usual blank expression, adding unnecessary details.

“Haha. A golem? That’s ridiculous.”

“Indeed. Haha.”

For this place, golems were merely simple constructs with basic movement. No one could or would think that a being like Rinne, who moved so freely, ate food, and possessed a mind of her own would be a golem. Plus, it was only natural when her appearance was far from what anyone would associate with a typical golem.

“In any case, I believe I’ve repaid the favor by helping in the battle.”

“Couldn’t you reconsider? We truly need your help...”

“No. Let him do as he wishes.”

A new voice interrupted.

It was none other than the Tower Master. The elderly man, with his long, graying beard, looked at Davey and spoke.

“So, you wish to investigate the rift?”

“Yes, I feel I need to see it for myself.”

“Elder Schweitz, give him a map.”

“T-Tower Master!”

Elder Schweitz shouted in surprise, but the Tower Master simply shook his head with a solemn expression.

“We have neither the right nor the power to stop him. Have you all forgotten?”

The Tower Master knew that if Rinne made a move, the entire settlement could be wiped out. It was the natural conclusion—this was the fate of those who had grown complacent and stagnant under the name of peace. Moreover, after experiencing such a large-scale disaster and losing much of their knowledge, their deteriorated condition was understandable.

As if the Tower Master’s orders were absolute, no one else voiced any opposition. Not that it would’ve changed anything if they had.

“If you stayed with us, you might just be able to solve this terrible problem we’re facing...”

“Don’t worry. What I’m looking for is probably the same thing Elder Schweitz is after.”

At his words, the Tower Master widened his eyes.

“But we can’t just let the one who saved us leave without any help. I’ll assign you a guide and a small escort.”

His offer surprised those around who heard him, but his face remained stern. Davey couldn’t help but smile as he met his gaze.

‘Now this is what it takes to lead a tower.’

Davey knew that he wasn’t simply sending escorts and a guide to help him. The Tower Master was simply trying to use him to retrieve something they needed from the rift.The location of the rift was actually a massive archive containing the Tower’s lost magical research and records. It was a place they hadn’t been able to reclaim, but they thought they could recover it with his help. On top of that, they could even make it look like they were helping him.

As a leader, it wasn’t a bad move. Davey really had no reason to refuse a guide—he knew it’d certainly make things easier.

“A guide would be useful, so I’ll accept.”

“It’s a dangerous path. If you need anything else...”

“No need. Let’s make this a win-win for both sides.”

At his response, the Tower Master said nothing further. He soon assigned Holygon, the squad leader Davey had met earlier, and twenty of his men to accompany him.

“Take care of yourself. Though we need you, that place truly is dangerous...”

Out of all of them, Elder Schweitz stood out as a genuinely decent person to Davey. Even considering the fact that he just needed Davey because he was crucial to his research, he didn’t seem happy about him heading into a dangerous area.

“Please, don’t get hurt. I owe you my life, and I would never want to see my savior perish.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not the type to die easily anywhere I go.”

With a sigh, he handed Davey a necklace from around his neck.

“It’s an artifact. I know you won’t have any problems since you have the girl that can protect you, but one can never be too careful.”

With those final words, he said no more.

* * *

As Davey made his way out of the settlement, he unexpectedly encountered a few familiar faces.

"Davey, I heard you saved my brother’s life."

A small boy looked up at him, holding out a handful of dry potato chunks.

"Thank you very much."

Sniffling, the boy bowed his head in gratitude. He was one of the mutated survivors in the settlement. With his tail drooping sheepishly, he expressed his thanks before quickly running off.

It wasn’t just the boy. Before Davey could leave, many others he had saved with his magic during the battle came to express their gratitude. Despite the harshness of life, it seemed people’s goodwill hadn’t completely died out.

Davey felt pained to realize that the situation they found themselves in had started because of him. The guilt gnawed at him, like a dagger slowly making its way through his heart.

"Thank you, Messenger..."

"Thank you, thank you!"

The survivors began referring to him as the Messenger. Since he had healed them using a power different from the devil magic they were familiar with, he must've seemed like some divine messenger drawing power not from magic but from some religion.

Most of them didn’t even recognize the existence of holy magic. The situation of the continent of Peslisa had contributed to their rapid decline—Davey wondered if the continent could ever be rebuilt.

The rift was located in the enormous royal palace beyond the Sapphire Tower, situated past a ridge. The palace had once been the royal archive, where most of the towers sent their valuable information and research to be stored.

"We’re almost there, but from here on out, be extra careful. Mysterious beings frequently appear in this area. Several expeditions have been sent to reclaim the palace, but perhaps due to some unknown force within, none have returned. Ten full expeditions, all wiped out."

It seemed the expeditions had been one of the primary reasons the already small settlement’s population had dwindled. Reflecting on those words, Davey stopped in his tracks.

"Rinne."

As he nodded, Rinne, who had been waiting for his orders, grabbed her lightsaber in one hand and a crowbar in the other.

"Mage?"

Holygon, the squad leader, called out to Davey in confusion just as red eyes flickered from all directions.

"M-Mysterious beings!!"

"Form a defensive line!"

Holygon and his twenty mages panicked, scrambling to react. They hadn’t noticed the mysterious beings until they were nearly upon them.

But there was no need for them to act.

Rinne, without even undergoing Sephirothization, tore through the forest and crushed every mysterious being that appeared with her lightsaber and crowbar. She effortlessly cleared the area in mere moments before landing in front of Davey.

"Evalutes highly.”

He didn’t say much, but it was clear she was pleased with his praise, nodding a couple times with her usual blank expression.

"How did you...?" Holygon stammered.

"Rinne states she heard them.”

"H-Heard them?"

Everyone was confused by her response. She then went to drag the fallen mysterious being’s arm and came back. She calmly lifted it, showing the grotesque limb to them. It was making a puffing sound as if it were still alive.

"Breathing, though letting out unique sounds due to structural mutations."

"You... You heard this?”

The sound was faint, with the mysterious being on the verge of death. It was barely distinguishable from human breathing, but Rinne had heard it nonetheless.

"Incredible..."

The shocked individuals were now looking at Rinne with newfound respect. It seemed traveling with her was giving them a sense of confidence that they wouldn’t die, no matter what might happen.

Her ability to detect and eliminate threats before they even reached her was beyond exceptional.

As they approached the royal archive, they encountered a staggering number of monsters drawn to the rift. Yet none of them made it within range, as Rinne effortlessly wiped them out before they got close with her light blasts.

There was no need to call upon the Decepticon Fleet, the Spirit King, or even Davey’s own power. Rinne alone was more than enough.

Rinne after Sephirothization had long since surpassed the abilities of a typical golem. She was the leader of her kind. Although she was only an embodiment, not the true leader of an entire race, her strength was real.

"We’re here..."

"The entrance is revolting."

Their journey had been so one-sided that there hadn’t been a moment of tension. Upon reaching the vine-covered palace archive, Davey nodded in satisfaction. He knew that if he had come alone, it would’ve taken him ages to find this place.

"The rift is inside. We know its location, but none of the earlier expeditions returned after entering. Please be cautious,” Holygon warned.

Davey nodded and pushed open the massive, dust-covered doors of the archive.

Creak–!

The rusty hinges groaned as the door opened, and a strange silence fell over the area. He saw a dark corridor ahead and felt an unfamiliar energy that filled the air.

"We’re lucky. There aren’t any of the giant mutant mysterious beings around."

Just as he had said, the enormous mutant mysterious beings that had attacked the settlement weren’t here. It felt like the calm before a storm, but Davey wasn’t about to complain. Facing no resistance, they proceeded further toward the rift.

He then saw the red rift, created by the shattering of space.

His first impression upon seeing it was simple—it looked eerily similar to the rift he had once seen in China back on Earth. In fact, it was almost exactly the same.

But there was one difference.

While mutants had emerged from the rift in China, the only thing this one seemed to emit was a unique energy.

"The enemies disappeared... Where could they have gone?"

A female mage muttered as she glanced around. Holygon quickly issued orders.

"Form teams of three and search the area. If you find anything suspicious, make sure not to engage—report back immediately. Remember, multiple expeditions in the past were wiped out here!"

He then gave further instructions to the mages accompanying them as guides.

"Retrieve the records the Tower Master mentioned. Even though it seems like there are no enemies, something about this place feels off, so we shouldn’t stay long."

With tense expressions, the mages began scouring the nearby bookshelves, gathering what they needed and storing it in their space-expanding bags.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Holygon asked after a while.

Davey turned to him as he was gathering his mana with his eyes fixed on the rift. Holygon grimaced after looking at his expression.

"Doesn’t seem like good news."

"No... It’s actually quite surprising. I feel like I’ve won the lottery,” Davey chuckled coldly as he stared at the rift.

‘Jackpot. No wonder Hercules never found this.’

Without hesitation, Davey stuck his hand into the rift. The force resisted him, but he twisted the flow with his mana. He then stabilized it with holy power and drove out any interfering forces with devil mana.

Only then, a hidden flow, only discoverable through multiple powers working together, revealed itself. At the same time, some force opposed him.

Time seemed to slow, and an ancient force—familiar yet unseen before—enveloped him.

It was the same force that had erased the Hero Reina, the one that had been hindering him all along, tied to the very foundation of this world.

Normally, interfering with such a force would be a suicidal act, but Davey drew on his divinity and spread his will.

‘I know you’ve got something valuable hidden in there. Open up, you bastard.’

For a moment, an immense, formless power swept over him. Then, the truth inside began to reveal itself.

Davey then saw his jackpot. It was something no other hero had been able to find. Something only he could see now.

It was...