Chapter 30

〈Chapter 30〉Part 1, Chapter 2 (16)

All officers, meaning the battle against the mind-control spirit, is carried out in two phases.

In the first phase, you fight the brainwashed officer until they go berserk in the second phase. Victory in this phase breaks the mind control.

This process applied equally to Shadow.

If the first form was a human-killing machine, then the second stage transformed it into a world-ending destruction weapon.

“Transform into a Dragon.”

The term used for beings called Demonkind is Attribute-Ma-Dragon. In Phase 1, it takes the form of the original spirit, but in Phase 2, during its berserk state, it transforms into a ‘Dragon.’

“Well, let’s see how we catch this thing.”

I threw my canned coffee. As it drew an arc through the air and hit the rooftop floor—

KIAOOOOO!!

Shadow Phoenix, Flame Dragon, let out a roar.

* * *

“Ugh?!”

The heat emitted by the Flame Dragon made Seung-hyeong cross his arms to shield his face.

An overwhelming wave of magical power made standing nearly impossible. The black flames summoned by the Demonkin halted the heroes’ advance.

Grrrrr.

The ghostly purple flames burning around the monster bird disappeared, and a dragon cloaked in darkness bared its fangs.

“…A Wyvern?!”

This beast resembled the A-Rank monsters rampaging across Europe.

The difference? Black flames spewed from between its scales.

[Pull yourself together! This is actually good! It broke its own barrier!]

Yoo Yeong-ho’s rebuke snapped the heroes back to their senses.

The transformation into dragon form signified that the Demonkin had shed its barrier and revealed its true self.

Why it discarded its own barrier was unknown, but there were suspicions.

“<Judicial Officer>! There’s still blue flame!”

Wings resembling arms sprouted from the dragon’s side rather than its back. The Flame Dragon used these asymmetrical wings not to fly but to cover its back.

Seung-hyeong could sense the blue flames hidden beneath those wings.

[Are you sure?]

“It’s a feeling!”

Seung-hyeong answered with unwavering confidence. The heroes exchanged uneasy glances between Seung-hyeong and the Flame Dragon.

[… … …]

Yeong-ho fell silent. Without removing the dragon’s wing, it was impossible to confirm if the blue flames perceived as a weakness remained.

If the blue flames disappeared upon transforming into dragon form or if Seung-hyeong was mistaken…

Yeong-ho shook his head. A commander mustn’t waver without solid information.

[Seung-hyeong.]

“Yes sir!”

[I trust you.]

So Yeong-ho decided to trust Seung-hyeong. He believed something seen from the S-Rank level of perception that he himself couldn’t reach.

Recalling the memories of the vanished S-Rank heroes, Guangjian and Xuehua Gongzhu.

[All heroes prepare for total attack! The opponent is a coward hiding its weak point behind its wings! Usa! Pungbaek!]

“I know already!”

Usa swung her staff. Water coalesced in mid-air, forming a sharp spear.

Sweeet!!

Usa’s water spear sliced through the air, grazing the Flame Dragon’s neck. The tip accurately pierced the gap between the wing and body.

Hwoorrr!!

Black flames erupted. Even this minor provocation caused the Flame Dragon to unleash excessive magical power.

At that moment, wind grazed the dragon’s horns.

“Old man!”

“Right here!”

Pungbaek, who had already leaped onto the dragon’s back, spun his legs in the air. Whirlwinds wrapped around his legs swept under the membrane wings.

Keeaaack!!

The Flame Dragon lashed its tail at Pungbaek. But Pungbaek easily dodged and slid down below.

[Fire users, draw its attention! Special ability users, aim for the target!]

“You heard it?! 3, 2, 1, Fire!”

Following Sung-oh’s count, hunters’ guns spat fire. The bullets ricocheted off the dragon’s scales but succeeded in distracting it.

Sung-oh loaded a shell into the mortar mounted on his shoulder. Gas exploded from the propulsion unit, sending the shell crashing onto the Flame Dragon’s wings.

KWAANG!!

The chunk of magical energy inside detonated, striking the Flame Dragon’s back. One of its legs buckled.

HOOAAACK!!

Raising its head, the Flame Dragon opened its mouth. Concentrating magical power on its long tongue, Yeong-ho shouted.

[Breath!]

Yeong-ho’s finger quickly traced the expected path of the Breath attack.

“Uhgggk!”

Heroes caught in the line scrambled to retreat. A companion hunter accompanying Sung-oh searched for him nearby.

“Boss?!”

Sung-oh was running along the line towards the wall. At the end of the line lay Yang Seonyu, still unconscious.

[What?!]

Startled by Sung-oh’s unusual behavior, Yeong-ho exclaimed.

[Why is she still here?!]

He had instructed D-Rank heroes to escort Yang Seonyu off the battlefield due to her disqualification from frontline duty. Tracing the signal of the missing D-Rank hero, Yeong-ho realized he had fled alone beyond Anyang.

[Pungbaek!]

Even before being called, Pungbaek was already racing alongside the wind. But the Flame Dragon had already lowered its head,

KWAANGGGGG—!!

And unleashed its Breath attack, scraping the ground of the stadium. Faster than Pungbaek’s quick footwork, the Breath attack sped ahead.

“!!”

Sung-oh, supporting Seonyu, closed his eyes tightly as the black flames approached, wrapping her in his arms.

‘Dying now?’

A massive shadow loomed over Sung-oh.

[Seung-hyeong!]

“HAAAAGH!”

No one knew when he arrived, but Seung-hyeong stood before Sung-oh, slamming his fist into the ground, wreathed in flames.

KWAANG!

A fiery pillar split the earth, surging skyward. The Flame Dragon’s Breath collided with Seung-hyeong’s flames.

“!!”

Unable to pierce Seung-hyeong’s fiery pillar, the Flame Dragon’s Breath deflected sideways, dissipating in crimson streaks.

[Seung-hyeong!]

Through the watch, Yeong-ho’s voice rang out in reproach. Seung-hyeong steadied his breath, lifting the knee he had dropped. Flames still clung to his fist.

Puuushhh….

The black flames, unable to overcome Seung-hyeong’s power, faded and died. Where the Breath had swept across the field, black flames continued to burn.

* * *

“Ah, impressive usage despite your role?”

I played with the veil while marveling. The young hero with fire affinity was actively drawing out the purifying magic power embedded in his heart by Chang-yeom.

The unique attribute possessed solely by Chang-yeom, ‘purification’.

Pure flames that burn away impurities are the hard counter to interdimensional spirits whose powers stem from corrupted magic.

That’s why the original protagonist, inheriting all of Chang-yeom’s power, was able to defeat the interdimensional spirit.

“…Ah, feels bitter.”

It would have been nice if I wasn’t just a ‘spirit.’ If I could march into Tera and incinerate every last bit of those interdimensional spirits.

Only humans who inherit the power of spirits can defeat interdimensional spirits.

But this young man, drunk on Chang-yeom’s limitless firepower, cannot defeat the interdimensional spirit. Only the protagonist can fully contain Chang-yeom’s power within their heart.

“Ah, got a great idea.”

I manipulated the Mini-Phoenix’s magic, reshaping it into a tiny ember invisible even to psychics.

I remotely directed this particle toward the fire-attribute hero.

“Instinct is always golden, isn’t it?”

* * *

“Are you alright?”

Seung-hyeong turned his head to ask. Sung-oh nodded vigorously.

“Thank you, thank you so much!”

“Not at all. It’s only natural.”

As Seung-hyeong walked forward with a smile, Sung-oh was reminded of the old kung fu fighter, causing his emotions to well up.

“He’s really fearless.”

Pungbaek landed beside Seung-hyeong and tapped his head with his stick. Seung-hyeong smiled sheepishly at the worried scolding.

“Aha ha.”

[Seung-hyeong! What dangerous stunts are you pulling?!]

Yeong-ho’s shout echoed through the watch.

[Is there some crazy guy who wants to take a Breath attack head-on?! Even the Round Table says to avoid dragon Breath attacks!]

“I’m fine.”

Flames enveloped Seung-hyeong’s legs. Before him, remnants of the black flames still lingered.

Fssshh…

Wherever Seung-hyeong stepped, the black flames weakened and dissipated. Speaking into the watch, Seung-hyeong said,

“This power… it’s possible. Time is almost up, after all.”

The giant said, purifying corrupted magic power with flames.

“The flames in my heart can do it!”

Seung-hyeong sprinted forward. His speed was so fast that even Pungbaek was surprised, leaving Yeong-ho no time to issue orders.

KIAAAACK!

Checking his watch, Seung-hyeong confirmed the time.

7:28 AM. With the appearance of the Demonkind, the ‘countdown’ allowing foreign heroes to intervene had already passed 58 minutes.

If the monster wasn’t defeated within the next 2 minutes, Chinese and Japanese heroes waiting outside territorial waters would rush in.

‘One decisive blow!’

Taking a large step forward, Seung-hyeong compressed his magic power.

The magic power bursting through blocked meridians surged like a runaway train. Seung-hyeong’s skin turned bright red as steam rose from his entire body.

“Uuuugh!”

Overheat. The phenomenon of magic power going haywire in flame-based psychics. The humid field rapidly vaporized around Seung-hyeong, creating thick steam.

“Commander! Seung-hyeong is overheating!”

[Stop! Seung-hyeong! Pull back! We can find another way!]

“I’m fine.”

Magic power surged through Seung-hyeong’s legs. Despite the lingering embers of black flames ahead,

Fssshh…

They were extinguished wherever he stepped. Speaking into the watch, Seung-hyeong said,

“With this power, it’s possible. Time is almost up, after all.”

The giant said, purifying corrupted magic power with flames.

“The flames in my heart can do it!”

Seung-hyeong sprinted forward. His speed was so fast that even Pungbaek was surprised, leaving Yeong-ho no time to issue orders.

KIAAAACK!

Checking his watch, Seung-hyeong confirmed the time.

7:28 AM. With the appearance of the Demonkind, the ‘countdown’ allowing foreign heroes to intervene had already passed 58 minutes.

If the monster wasn’t defeated within the next 2 minutes, Chinese and Japanese heroes waiting outside territorial waters would rush in.

‘One decisive blow!’

Taking a large step forward, Seung-hyeong compressed his magic power.

The magic power bursting through blocked meridians surged like a runaway train. Seung-hyeong’s skin turned bright red as steam rose from his entire body.

“Uuuugh!”

Overheat. The phenomenon of magic power going haywire in flame-based psychics. The humid field rapidly vaporized around Seung-hyeong, creating thick steam.

“Commander! Seung-hyeong is overheating!”

[Stop! Seung-hyeong! Pull back! We can find another way!]

Yeong-ho tried to stop him. No matter how urgent the situation, sacrificing a young man with a bright future, especially one who had just awakened to S-Rank, was unacceptable.

But the words didn’t reach Seung-hyeong, who had already leaped into the air.

– Do you desire this power?

A whisper reached his ears. Through his bloodshot vision, he saw a massive bird blazing with pure blue flames far surpassing the black flames.

The phoenix of Chang-yeom, burning with flames that purified all corruption.

Seung-hyeong felt a warm sensation from deep within his heart.

‘The cleansing flames that burn away even corrupted magic power.’

Seung-hyeong entrusted himself to the surging power rising from within his chest. The red flames enveloping his entire body quickly turned white.

“UUUUUUUUUGH!!”

With a roar mixing pain and ecstasy, Seung-hyeong pulled his fist back past his shoulder. The white flames began to faintly glow cyan.

KIAAAACK!!

The Flame Dragon sensed the spiritual presence in Seung-hyeong’s flames. Its entire head erupted in black flames.

Thud!

The Flame Dragon’s neck stretched impossibly long, swallowing Seung-hyeong whole. The matchstick-sized flames were consumed by the massive dark blaze.

“!!”

In the pitch-black darkness. Seung-hyeong felt his spirit weakening under the oppressive aura of the black flames within the Flame Dragon’s mouth.

Anger, hatred, death, malice. Amidst this cesspool of negative emotions, Seung-hyeong perceived a single intense will.

– I shall destroy everything in this world.

Black flames swirled around Seung-hyeong’s entire body. The white flames around his clenched fist gradually turned black. His eyelids grew heavy as his vision darkened.

Suddenly, a figure flashed through his mind.

– Is this all you’ve got?

The priestess clad in a cassock with a veil, standing beside the colossus of Cheongnyeon, extended her hand. A small blue flame flickered above her palm.

– Is this all you intend to protect the world with?

Seung-hyeong accepted the blue flame she offered. Her body dissolved into blue flames and disappeared.

– So please, just a little more effort.

Flash!

Seung-hyeong opened his eyes, glowing with azure light. Within his turquoise irises, Chang-yeom’s flames burned fiercely.

Hwooorrrrr!!

The black flames engulfed Seung-hyeong even more intensely. The sweet temptation to corrupt him and destroy everything in the world.

Seung-hyeong resisted, recalling the price of the power given to him.

World peace.

“UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!!”

With a shout, Seung-hyeong thrust his fist forward.

Cyan flames, reminiscent of a clear blue sky, pierced through the Flame Dragon’s neck.

KWAANGGGGG!!

A massive pillar of fire burst through the back of the Flame Dragon’s head.

April 4, 2020, 7:29 AM.

Undiscovered Demonkind, ‘Flame Dragon’. Defeated.

* * *

Gaeul pushed open the tightly shut rooftop door.

Creeeak.

The rusted iron door groaned as it slowly opened. The cold night air brushed against Gaeul’s cheeks.

“What a beautiful evening, isn’t it?”

Phoenix sat reclined in a chair woven from threads of flame, gazing at the night sky. As the sun set and the moon began to rise, stars started appearing one by one.

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen such a clear Seoul night sky.”

“…Is that so?”

Gaeul looked up. The clear sky was devoid of even a single cloud. Phoenix rose from her chair, her cassock perfectly smooth.

“So, have you made your decision?”

“Yes.”

“Oh ho. What will you do?”

Gaeul placed her right hand over her chest. Her wide-open eyes showed no hesitation.

“I will follow you.”

“May I ask why?”

Phoenix walked up to stand face-to-face with Gaeul. Though smaller by a head, the pressure emanating from Phoenix made Gaeul involuntarily step back before catching herself.

“Because there are things I want to protect.”

“Things you want to protect?”

Gaeul tapped her chest with her palm.

“My body, my family, my dreams.”

“Your dreams?”

Phoenix tilted her head curiously. She didn’t know about the dreams held by the person known as Cheon Gaeul.

All she wanted was to forget her terrible past by staying with her loved one.

“Actress, yes.”

“Yes. I still have many roles I want to play. I want to include a ten million viewer film in my filmography and go to Hollywood. Coming to Seoul was ultimately about showing more people my acting.”

An actress who should have shone on the screen had ended up in the gutter. To survive, the precious ‘acting’ she cherished became a means to kill people.

Phoenix bit her lip. There was something she wanted to say but couldn’t bring herself to voice it easily.

“Which is why I want to return to where I belong. So please…”

Cheon Gaeul lifted the bowed head of Phoenix. Phoenix’s delicate features were contorted as if she were about to cry.

“Please make me a psychic. Let me return to my place and continue acting.”

“Will you continue acting even after becoming a psychic?”

Gaeul simply closed her eyes.

“Hmm, truly…”

Phoenix smiled as if about to burst into tears.

“You’re really nothing like the person I knew.”

“Really?”

“Indeed. Earlier in the lecture room, the story about that woman – who do you think it was about?”

Gaeul hesitated to answer.

“Pi, Phoenix, weren’t you talking about yourself?”

“No. It was about you.”

Instantly, Gaeul felt her heart sink.

“……What?”

“If I hadn’t saved you, you would have been gang-raped by monsters. After the dimensional gate closed and the monsters lost their power, they would have been hunted by hunters who would have taken you underground to be repeatedly raped.”

“……Surely not.”

“You don’t have to believe me if you don’t want to. But remember this one thing.”

Phoenix hugged Gaeul even tighter.

“I’ll be by your side. To ensure you never experience such painful futures. To help you stay with the person you truly love and pursue your dreams, I’ll be your support.”

“Eh, um, that is…”

Gaeul’s face flushed red. The feelings stirred within her were far stronger than anything she’d experienced with Seung-hyeong. Phoenix brushed Gaeul’s bangs aside with her left hand, cupping her cheek.

“Miss Cheon Gaeul.”

“Ye, yes?!”

Smiling, Phoenix tiptoed and kissed Gaeul’s forehead.

“Therefore, you need to die for me.”

“Wha?”

Chang-yeom’s flames pierced through Gaeul’s heart.

Gaeul’s blood splattered across the rooftop.