Chapter 57

〈 Chapter 57 〉 Part 1, Chapter 4 (14)

“…!”

First impressions are light. Phoenix Sir gathered Magic Power and fired off Flame Spheres with precise timing. Seok Harang immediately erected an Ice Wall to block the path of the flames.

BOOM! KA-BOOM!

The Flame Sphere exploded, shattering the ice shield. Shards of the destroyed Ice Shield scattered, but they didn’t inflict any damage on Seok Harang who was hiding behind it.

“If you’re coming at me, I’ll return the favor!”

Seok Harang raised his right hand. In less than a second, Ice Spears embroidered in midair descended like flails upon Phoenix. Instead of dodging, Phoenix simply flicked her fingers.

Ruffle-

Behind Phoenix, translucent blue feathers unfurled. Seok Harang clearly saw the flames burning within those feathers.

“So this is it? Showing off because you have lots of Magic Power?!”

Phoenix folded her wings forward as a shield against the incoming spears.

PABAAK!

The Ice Spears managed to pierce halfway through the blue feathers before losing momentum. The Phoenix’s wings bristled like a porcupine’s quills with embedded ice shards. Then Phoenix incinerated her wings, completely destroying all the spears in one go.

“Not bad…”

[…….]

Phoenix still remained silent. Seok Harang pretended to stay calm despite breaking into a cold sweat.

The opponent before him was undoubtedly a powerful warrior, far surpassing Seok Harang’s current level.

“Who are you? Round Table, right? That’s why you’re hiding your true identity?”

The strongest warriors in the world – one of them might be using their Special Ability to disguise themselves like this.

‘Probably to keep an eye on Korea.’

The emergence of a new S-Rank Hero and the feat of defeating the Fire Demon Dragon in one strike would certainly make even the Round Table members nervous.

“Right? I’m correct, aren’t I?”

[…Such amateurish reasoning.]

The flames inside the eagle helmet flickered, making Seok Harang feel especially irritated as if they were mocking him.

“What? You can talk, can’t you? Why won’t you speak?”

[Do you really want to know who I am?]

Phoenix spread both arms wide. Simultaneously, massive fiery wings spread out behind her like a peacock displaying its plumage.

“Hmph.”

Harang also extended his hands sideways, releasing Magic Power. Moisture in the air froze instantly in response to his power.

“Frieris!”

With Harang’s declaration, chunks of ice began taking shape. They transformed into frosty butterflies glowing with white light, awaiting orders while sprinkling icy powder.

Dozens, hundreds. Behind Harang, ice butterflies flitted about, sprinkling snowflakes as they waited for instructions.

“There’s one thing we know for sure, whoever you are!”

Harang raised his right hand, holding an icy baton similar to a conductor’s wand.

“Anyone blocking a Hero’s path! If you’re a villain, I’ll arrest you; if you’re a Hero, help me!”

[Frieris Butterfly. A signature technique representing Princess Snowflake. An exclusive skill that pushes Ice Manipulation abilities to their limits, unmatched by anyone in the world.]

“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

From the joints of Phoenix’s black armor, blue flames erupted. Surrounding herself with flames, Phoenix raised her hand provocatively toward Seok Harang.

[All style, no substance, right?]

“THIS!!”

Seok Harang violently brought down his hand. At the signal, the ice butterflies sprinkling snow flew towards Phoenix.

[Slow speed, low destructive power. A technique that freezes where the butterflies touch. Just dodge it and you’re fine.]

Phoenix gracefully weaved through the butterflies by flapping her wings, moving like a mermaid swimming underwater. Harang directly controlled some butterflies to intercept her.

“Too much talking!”

The butterflies swiftly chased after Phoenix. Ignoring inertia, they created vertical trajectories to block Phoenix’s path.

Chirp, chirp!

Sounds of freezing accompanied by white mist filled the air. Seok Harang carefully repositioned the butterflies without letting his guard down.

[Useless unless they actually touch you.]

Around Phoenix, tiny flames blocked the ice butterflies, freezing them into crystals before shattering them. Watching Phoenix effortlessly defend against his signature move, Frieris, made Seok Harang grind his teeth in frustration.

“This is really…!”

Seok Harang horizontally sliced the air with his left hand.

Swish!

The ice butterflies surrounding Phoenix from all directions charged straight at her. Hundreds of ice butterflies crossed paths in a flawless assault.

[One more thing. While the technique consumes a lot of Magic Power overall, each butterfly requires very little. Therefore…]

Phoenix placed her hands together as if praying. Centered around Phoenix, massive blue flames surged outward in all directions.

KA-BOOM!!

“Kyaaah!”

Caught off balance on the icy surface from the explosion’s shockwave, Seok Harang fell to the ground.

“Ugh!”

Trying hastily to create another ice platform, but his body was already plummeting toward the ground. In the end, Seok Harang surrounded himself with Magic Power to cushion the impact.

Thud.

“…?”

Realizing he hadn’t hit the ground, Seok Harang looked up in surprise.

“Tsk. Dangerous.”

“Wha-?!?!”

Before he knew it, Phoenix had flown over and was cradling Seok Harang princess-style.

“You should reflect on your actions when fighting opponents with explosive powers. Learn from this.”

Phoenix tossed Seok Harang away. He quickly executed a landing technique and landed on his feet.

“You, you crazy person!”

Seok Harang’s face turned bright red like a persimmon.

Frustration at his powerless abilities.

Humiliation from having his signature skill easily countered and critiqued.

The disgrace of being saved by the enemy.

And the shame of being physically held by someone unrelated.

Overwhelmed with mixed emotions, Seok Harang unintentionally started swearing before clamping his mouth shut.

[…Heh.]

She definitely laughed. Seok Harang felt his anger rise to his chin but managed to respond politely.

“Hey! Is this a game to you?”

[I was just correcting your improper use of abilities. Memorize this well, Student Seok Harang.]

“Wow, you’re really pissing me off. Where did you get this lecture attitude?”

Seok Harang screamed and shot an ice spear. Phoenix casually tilted her head to dodge.

[Be honest. If you’re aiming for vital points, you should fire multiple shots instead of just one.]

“Wow, old man, you’re really good at making people angry. Are you my master or something? Why are you critiquing other people’s skills?!”

[…You know. You definitely know.]

Phoenix chuckled softly. With her left hand behind her back and right hand extended, she beckoned him closer, causing Seok Harang’s face to contort in anger.

[Then come attack if you can. I can handle a half-baked ice user with just one hand.]

“I’ll take you down today!”

Seok Harang conjured dozens of ice spears in midair. Phoenix stood her ground, igniting blue flames in her right hand.

“Take this!”

[Tsk.]

Ice and flames clashed spectacularly along the ridge of Gwanaksan Mountain.

***

Gaeul nervously bit her nails.

“Will everything be alright?”

Phoenix went to fight an S-Rank opponent disguised as a monster. Though Phoenix said she’d be fine, Gaeul didn’t really know how strong she was. Even though Phoenix supposedly defeated the SS-Rank Tentacle Toad, it happened so easily that it didn’t quite register.

“She’ll be fine.”

Ji Hwa briefly lowered his hand, blinking several times as if his eyes hurt.

“There’s no one in Seoul who can defeat her. Please don’t worry.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Ji Hwa gave a wry smile.

“Ability users can gauge each other’s Magic Power levels. We call it ‘estimating,’ but I can’t even estimate Phoenix Sir’s power.”

Ji Hwa spread his arms wide.

“If you think ability users can sense Magic Power within arm’s reach, then she possesses an ocean of Magic Power beyond imagination. So please don’t worry. Right now…”

Ji Hwa covered one eye again. Through the help of Mini Phoenix, Devil Eye was relaying live footage from the summit of Gwanaksan Mountain.

Swish!

A giant ice flower bloomed in the sky, resembling a rose made by connecting snow crystals.

The white-haired woman standing on the flower petals moved her hand. Simultaneously, the ice flower fell toward the ground.

“Princess Snowflake Seok Harang!”

Gaeul covered her mouth with both hands. Princess Snowflake was unleashing her full potential, throwing the ice flower at Phoenix.

Ooooh–!

Like a meteor, the ice flower descended. Below it, Phoenix stood with her left hand behind her back, extending her right hand.

“Why isn’t she dodging?!”

Even though the ice flower was dozens of times larger than her body, Phoenix showed no intention of moving. Instead, she raised her right hand toward the falling flower.

Woooom!

A concentrated mass of blue Magic Power formed in Phoenix’s palm and shot toward the ice flower. Like a cannonball, the sphere slowly traveled toward the flower.

Tock.

The moment the ice flower touched the Magic Power bubble, a massive explosion occurred on its outer wall. One quarter of the ice flower exploded, scattering fragments across the summit of Gwanaksan Mountain.

Pabbaat!

The fragments stabbed into the ground like thorns. As they flew toward Phoenix, she took them head-on with her body.

“!”

To Gaeul, it looked like Phoenix was committing suicide. However, the ice fragments failed to inflict any damage on Phoenix.

Crack. The fragments couldn’t even scratch her armor, and those that pierced the joints melted into water droplets upon touching the flames before falling to the ground.

The face of Princess Snowflake atop the ice flower turned red as she shouted something. Phoenix simply responded by flicking her fingers again.

“…What is she saying?”

The video feed was working, but there was no audio. Gaeul turned to Ji Hwa.

“Excuse me, Ji Hwa-san. Why isn’t the sound working?”

“…….”

Ji Hwa was speechless, looking elsewhere. Beside him, digital visual information converted through his ability appeared on the screen.

All red. The sticky crimson liquid made Gaeul feel nauseous.

“What is this…?!”

Ji Hwa’s vision suddenly shifted. The screen displayed a scene too gruesome to describe in words.

“What is this?!”

Blood splattered again. Human blood, not from a monster.

A massacre was occurring at the entrance of the National Cemetery dedicated to fallen heroes.

* * *

“Aaaaah!”

An elderly man coughed up blood in his final moments. The old man collapsed on the stairs, blood seeping from his torn clothes.

Thud!

The man continued shooting refugees climbing the stairs like a programmed robot. Each bullet claimed a life.

Bang! Bang!

Every shot killed someone. Refugees in the terminal below hesitated. Meanwhile, another mad killer rampaged inside the station.

“Hahaha! That makes 30 days!”

The woman threw a dagger imbued with Magic Power at a fleeing man’s neck, killing him instantly.

The woman had a pine tree tattoo on her neck.

“…This isn’t right.”

Adongsung clenched his fists and shook his head. The coppery smell of blood seemed to carry the screams and suffering of the refugees.

“Ahaha, Adongsung. You may be A-Rank in ability, but you’re such a coward! You said it was your first time, right? That won’t do~ We need to reduce our prison sentences!”

The woman jumped into the crowd of refugees with her dagger drawn. Despite being only C-Rank, she was an unstoppable killing machine against regular people.

Thud, thudthud!

“Don’t you remember? You have to kill diligently.”

“These are civilians! How can you do this?!”

Adongsung shouted angrily. The woman paused, then giggled as she tapped her smartwatch.

“Kehehe. What are you talking about? Civilians?”

On Adongsung’s screen, their assigned mission appeared: Eliminate spies infiltrating Seoul.

“We’re dealing with enemy spies now, right?”

“Don’t spout nonsense!!”

Though Adongsung shouted, he could do nothing. The pine tree tattoo on his neck reminded him – disobeying orders would increase his prison sentence, and resisting would result in immediate execution.

“These people aren’t spies!”

“You haven’t lived in society much, have you? Even when superiors hint, subordinates need to understand and follow properly. Got it? Kill the spies if you don’t want to die. Blame Sun Icheol if you must.”

The woman licked the sticky blood off her dagger’s blade. Adongsung closed his eyes.

The veterans Chopyo mentioned…

They were professional killers and mass murderers.