The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

"Hurry up and walk!!"

Thud!

With a rough shout, a boy dressed in rags got pushed onto the ground.

"Ugh..."

The boy who groaned in pain was still young and full of vigor; however, he lacked the courage to resist those tormenting him. The completely lifeless expression on his face vividly portrayed the extent of his suffering in a world where humanity had been defeated.

The humans never doubted that they would forever be the masters of the continent, never anticipating this situation. They never imagined that they would be treated like slaves by something non-human and endure a painful life. It was a horrific existence.

Nonetheless, gritting his teeth, the boy rose up, casting a glance at another boy who followed him with an equally lifeless expression. This boy was smaller than him.

The older boy's name was Roxy Coronel. Nowadays, his last name held no significance, so people around him simply called him Roxy. However, once upon a time, he had been the promising eldest son of a ducal family, occupying the highest position in a kingdom. That is, if he had not spent most of his life swept away by the chaotic war.

"Hey! Do you want to die?"

Slap!!

A cold voice rang out followed by a sharp sound.

"Ugh!!"

"B-Brother..."

None of the others reacted to Roxy's painful groans, but his younger brother stared at him with vacant eyes.

"Please, don't look."

He recalled instructing his brother not to witness the horrors they encountered during the war, just before they became enslaved. Back then, aided by the last remaining resistance fighters, they had set fire to a small village. Roxy had always promised his brother that he would bring an end to the war and present him with a better world. However, the outcome had been tragically different. Powerless, he was captured and forced into slavery, unable to resist even as the last of the human resistance was annihilated.

Their captors were detestable beings known as Blood Elves, adherents of the twisted World Tree. Their behavior, unlike that of any fairytale fairy, was cruel and merciless. It had been six long months since he was dragged into this wretched place.

Roxy remembered the words of an elderly man, a fellow slave, who claimed that the number of humans trapped here and left to perish equaled the stars in the sky.

Whack!! Whack!!

Roxy, who had gone without a proper meal for days and struggled to move, endured merciless lashes from the Blood Elf. Despite the excruciating pain, he lacked the strength even to scream and felt himself slowly breaking down. In this living hell, death might have seemed like a preferable option.

He needed to protect his brother, but hope seemed nonexistent.

Lying on the ground, enduring the lashes, Roxy contemplated that if he could endure a little longer, he might find a peaceful release in death.

"Bro... Brother..."

However, his brother didn't share the same sentiment. His brother approached slowly and intercepted the whip, enfolding Roxy in his arms. Roxy's eyes widened in shock. As much as he desired death, he didn't want to use his brother as a shield.

"Guh... Gahhhhhhh!" Summoning unknown strength, Roxy rose to his feet, shielding his brother and gritting his teeth, causing the red-haired Blood Elves to grimace.

"How dare you resist?! You filthy slave!"

With a fierce shout, the whipping continued relentlessly. Amid the brutal assault, Roxy desperately shielded his brother, enduring blows to his face, back, and legs. Every whip was met with his madman-like grip, refusing to let go.

"This bastard!"

Consumed by rage, one of the Blood Elves retrieved a dagger from his pocket and raised it high. In a world where humans had been defeated, the killing of a human slave was not uncommon. Seeing the gleaming metallic light, Roxy instinctively closed his eyes.

Boom!!!

Had it not been for the massive explosion that ensued, a colossal shockwave reverberated through the area, followed by a tremendous earthquake that shook everything. Panic-stricken screams echoed in all directions. The Blood Elf, who had been about to kill Roxy, was taken aback by the sudden turn of events and looked around in a state of panic.

"What the! What's going on?!"

However, there was no one present to answer the bewildered question. Amidst the confusion, a voice resonated from a distance.

"Intrusion..." A Blood Elf hurriedly rushed in, shouting, only to freeze in place.

Everyone observed the unfolding scene in stunned silence. The Blood Elf, already distinguished by their red hair and eyes, now appeared drenched in blood, truly living up to their name. Yet, the pitiful sight swiftly faded from memory as a figure emerged from behind the Blood Elf.

"Advocates of peace, the forest race? How laughable," muttered a calm voice. The boy, who had firmly grasped the Blood Elf's frozen head, knelt down and spoke with nonchalance. "In contrast, humans with their blatant duplicity are far more honest, don't you think?"

The Blood Elf, held captive by the boy's relaxed demeanor, trembled as if encountering a monstrous being.

Thud!!

However, as an intangible force burst forth from the figure's body, the Blood Elf convulsed in fear and foamed at the mouth before collapsing. Only the enslaved humans remained conscious, while all other Blood Elves lay unconscious.

"What kind of method was used?" Roxy, standing dumbfounded, slowly uttered as he witnessed the colossal magic circle formed of radiant light expanding in the sky.

During the war, when humans were defeated, they lost everything due to the extermination policy enacted by their own kind and other races. This included weapons, power, and magic. The boy before them appeared human, but since the annihilation of the last resistance several years ago, Roxy had never seen a human wield magic.

Furthermore, he had never witnessed someone casually employing magic on such a grand scale. Even during the siege when the last resistance provided aid, Roxy had seen firsthand the gathering of dozens of magicians to create a much smaller magic circle.

As the boy slowly approached him, Roxy questioned whether he was truly human or some other entity in human guise. If not either, could he be a manifestation of a deity, pitying the plight of the wretched humans?

Regardless of the truth, when the boy's gaze met his, Roxy instinctively embraced his younger brother. There was something hauntingly familiar in the emotions reflected in the boy's eyes—chilling madness.

Sensing that madness, Roxy was overwhelmed by the fear that the boy, with his black hair and red eyes, might not be a mere savior but something far more complex.

* * *

Davey was constantly plagued by insanity. After a long period of synchronization, the madness he had managed to control resurfaced, providing a somewhat refreshing feeling. This had occurred before when he used the jewel, so the reaction was nothing new to him. He was accustomed to suppressing the madness and gathering his strength.

Great power came at a great cost. Ironically, the erosion caused by this half-tamed madness seemed even more dangerous than the erosion power emitted by Urd, as Davey had no knowledge of how far it would spread.

The changes in Davey, having mostly expelled the madness, were evident in the ominous laughter that refused to fade from the corners of his mouth. Additionally, his impulsivity had significantly increased.

The Blood Elves guarding the sacred place of the World Tree could not turn back once they underwent this transformation. Exposed to their destructive instincts, they were no different from demons, and Davey swiftly beheaded them without hesitation before entering the forest.

The sacred place of the World Tree was vast, and thus there were likely many Blood Elves remaining. However, they were not his concern. Davey found himself annoyed when the World Tree Yggdrasil, whom he expected to appear in response to his disturbance, remained silent.

His primary reason for coming here was not to rescue the captured humans or to destroy the World Tree of this world, both of which carried significant risks. Rather, it was to find clues about the unsettling gaze directed at him and to determine if there were any factors that could prevent the erasure of Aeria's memories.

From the start, he knew that time was not on his side in this world. He had a little over three days. What could be accomplished in such a short period? It was best not to interfere in matters for which he could not assume full responsibility.

'Actually, I'm violating that.'

There was a nearby beastfolk boy who suffered from unfair treatment, but Davey had no intention of helping him despite the fear evident in the boy's eyes. Instead, he gathered holy power, resembling a bubble, and carelessly applied it to his own face.

"Here, take some healing magic," Davey said, pressing the pure white droplets onto the boy's face.

The boy seemed surprised at first, but soon the droplets, emitting a pure light, were absorbed into his body, swiftly displaying their healing effects. The boy's severe wounds began to gradually heal, which was quite satisfactory given his young age.

Without hesitation, Davey also applied the same healing droplets to the small boy he held and walked away, paying no further attention to them. However, he heard a voice calling out to him, "Wait a moment!"

Davey paused, weaving through the human slaves, as the voice came from behind him. All eyes were fixed on Davey and the boy.

Silently, Davey glanced at the boy, whose lifeless eyes had now vanished, and asked, "Are you... human?"

"Can't you tell?" Davey gruffly responded, prompting the boy to throw another question at him.

"Are you... going to help us...?"

"I won't do anything more."

"What?" The color drained from the boy's face at Davey's cold response.

Davey’s anger and impulsiveness caused his words to become harsher than usual.

The boy fell silent, as did the desperate human slaves. They must have thought that this powerful being who suddenly appeared was their savior, if only for a moment. However, Davey had no energy to spare for them, let alone save them.

"I see..."

"Why should I bother saving all of you?"

Davey's words caused confusion to flicker across the boy's face, followed by a gasp.

"Clever humans are the ones who seize opportunities. In this cruel world, it's the clever ones who survive."

The Blood Elves who were supposed to be watching over the slaves had all passed out, and some had even died as their mana backfired while hastily casting spells upon seeing Davey. It was an expected outcome, considering he had shown no mercy in the first place.

"But we have these shackles on our bodies..." a cautious woman spoke up amidst the chaos.

"Who cares about those damn shackles? Figure it out yourselves." With that cold response, Davey reluctantly made his way through the crowd.

No one dared to stop him, perhaps due to his intimidating aura.

Then, it happened. The metal shackles binding a slave's arms and legs suddenly shattered. Simultaneously, the shackles on dozens of slaves broke, causing them to stare at him with wide eyes, realizing who had caused this.

However, Davey had already passed them and was making his way toward the sacred grounds of the Divine Tree. Regardless of the actions taken by the humans, he continued moving forward, unhindered by the Blood Elves.

Perhaps because they had witnessed his earlier display of power, the Blood Elves restrained their violent tendencies and did not dare to confront him directly.

Finally, in the heart of the sacred grounds, Davey laid eyes on the immense tree, tainted in a deep crimson hue. Positioned in the expansive square before the tree were three crucifixes. Without uttering a word, Davey drew his sword slowly.

"Come out, you wretch."

His voice resonated in the surroundings, causing silence to descend.

After a brief pause, a man leisurely emerged from among the Blood Elves, capturing the attention of everyone present, regardless of whether the slaves had managed to escape or not.

"Who are you? You don't seem like a devil, but I've never heard of a human like you," the man remarked in a relaxed tone, questioning Davey.

Yet, Davey remained silent in response.

"Well, I don't know how you managed to break through Mother's barrier, but you're fearless, aren't you? This place is protected by our mother's power, particularly this central sanctuary where her power is at its peak," the man explained unprompted, revealing his identity, which Davey already knew.

He was a Blood Elf, although his face had not undergone complete transformation. He was the Saint of the Divine Tree.

He was the one responsible for turning Yuria Helishana and Aina Helishana into their current states, showcasing the despicable depths to which the Elves could sink by aligning with the previous Yggdrasil. Truly an intriguing individual.

"Saint of the Divine Tree," the words slowly escaped Davey's lips.

"Hmm? Do you...know me?"

"Yes, I do. You don't know me, but I know you," Davey murmured quietly, slowly lowering and embedding his blue blade into the ground before extending his fingers. Then, pointing toward the figures crucified on the crosses, he asked, "Are you enjoying this?"

"What?" the man questioned.

"I'm asking if you find pleasure in binding and mocking an elf who is not even of age yet."

Before he could respond, the man stiffened, and his eyes met Davey's. Upon encountering Davey's gaze, his eyes widened, and he began to shudder instinctively.

It was the 8th Circle of dark magic, [Fear].

"It would be helpful if you explained what Myuu has to do with your war.”

The three elves bound to the crosses were individuals whom Davey recognized. Aina Helishana, Myuu, and Madis, Yuria's teacher. The World Tree sought to achieve something by sacrificing Yuria, aware of the presence of Dark Lord Perserque, in preparation for the war with the demon tribe. Aina, in particular, would have undoubtedly resisted, unwilling to witness her younger sister being sacrificed in vain.

‘So, I understand why they are hanging there. But what has Myuu done wrong? She's just an innocent child.’

Although he did not recognize the elf named Madis, the other two were different. Regardless of the differences, witnessing someone with whom Davey had developed a close relationship being killed and left tied for an extended period without being allowed to return to nature ignited a surge of suppressed rage and madness within him.

‘Just a little... Let me give in to impulse, just a bit.’

After witnessing this scene, the thought of moving on no longer crossed his mind. Unconcerned by the gazes and gossip surrounding him, Davey was confident in his ability to flawlessly portray a cruel persona.

With his decision made, he immediately advanced toward the Divine Tree. Simultaneously, the trembling and levitating blue blade returned to his hand, and with each step he took, dozens of overlapping circular magic circles formed beneath his feet. Each circle represented a complex and sophisticated magic spell, overlapping to create something colossal.

‘Become ferocious, not foolish.’

The Blood Elves remained silent, seemingly stunned by his actions. Soon, they could no longer conceal their astonishment as changes unfolded in the sky.

The atmosphere darkened, and hundreds of white spheres of light descended rapidly from above, targeting the massive World Tree and the surrounding area, including Davey. Each sphere held the overwhelming power of 8th Circle counter-rotational magic, manifesting as the Heat-class Fireball, the White Nova.

The Blood Elves would have to accept their misfortune, as this was far beyond a mere display of stepping forward.