Chapter 159

〈 Chapter 159 〉 Part 1, Chapter 8, Section 19

The already chaotic battlefield descended into utter pandemonium with Gale Guest’s sudden intrusion.

Xiao Lin, the one responsible for luring in the troublesome Gale Guest, skillfully maneuvered Black Flame Dragon’s mount while dodging fighter jets.

[Should I just burn everything?]

“Please hold back!”

Though Black Flame Dragon might find them irritating, to Xiao Lin, they were still compatriots.

“Right now, our purposes may differ, but they are merely following orders from above—”

[True. I too received orders from above.]

Black Flame Dragon brushed past a fighter jet, glaring fiercely.

[That esteemed figure commanded me to run rampant.]

“…Just a moment!”

Xiao Lin urgently pounded on Black Flame Dragon’s back.

“Drop me off and then go wild!”

[I’m not a taxi, you know. Besides, aren’t we in China?]

Black Flame Dragon pointed toward the mainland. Though not far from the sea, it was still within Chinese territory as Xiao Lin had hoped.

[Shall we disembark?]

“Do you really think the person waiting for you would expect this?!”

[Division of labor. The land is vast, so there are designated areas for my rampaging.]

Kaaang!

Black Flame Dragon roared. Its roar shook the fighter jets, causing them temporary confusion as they struggled to regain control.

[Beijing.]

“Oh no…!”

[Let’s stop at just there.]

Despite the declaration of an S-Rank Monster intending to wreak havoc in the capital, Xiao Lin couldn’t stop it. After all, her master, Chaos Dragon, awaited her far to the west.

“Ugh, fine! You’re such a cheat! So petty!”

[I’m a monster.]

“Ugh, so annoying!”

Xiao Lin kicked off from Black Flame Dragon’s back and leaped into the air. Surprised by Xiao Lin’s action thousands of meters above ground, Black Flame Dragon had no choice but to turn away from the fighters’ gunfire.

Whoosh—

A torrent of magical power began to surge around Xiao Lin’s body during freefall—a power far exceeding her usual capabilities.

[…An S-Rank Core, perhaps?]

Black Flame Dragon realized the source of Xiao Lin’s immense power. Her magic dwarfed even its own A-Rank core, gushing out of her body as she hovered mid-air.

“Until now, my lack of power has held me back…”

Xiao Lin brimmed with newfound confidence alongside the surging magical energy.

“But now, I can do things like THIS!”

Snap.

Xiao Lin propelled herself forward through the air. Her speed surpassed even that of Black Flame Dragon, the fighter jets, and even the full-speed Crimson Blaze.

[…I’m envious.]

While someone had given up being human to barely reach S-Rank, another was already S-Rank and possessed an S-Core. For a fleeting moment, Black Flame Dragon felt regret for not receiving an S-Core itself.

[Nonsense. If not for that great figure, I wouldn’t have even reached A-Rank.]

Recalling the days when it was mocked as a goat instead of a dragon, Black Flame Dragon spread its wings. It was nearing its destination, and the fighter jets showed clear signs of panic as it flew toward civilian areas.

[I don’t intend to fight the military.]

Folding its wings, Black Flame Dragon dove toward the ground. Amidst the blaring monster alarms, countless heroes armed themselves, aiming at Black Flame Dragon like ants gathering.

[It’s natural for villains to fight heroes.]

Smirking, Black Flame Dragon glanced at the thousands of guns aimed at it.

[As per the command of that great figure, I simply act madly…]

Blazing Phoenix wreaks havoc in the west while Black Flame Dragon draws attention in the east. That was its given order and role.

[It’s unfortunate I can’t kill them…]

Black Flame Dragon opened its mouth, gathering magical power.

[But if they die because they’re too weak, that great figure will surely understand.]

Thus, the beginning must be grand and spectacular.

Kaaaaa—!!

Black Flame Dragon unleashed its breath attack.

* * *

Battle after battle after battle.

Though I felt fatigue from the continuous fighting, the tension outweighed it.

Clang!

The sword blade grazed my cheek. The sharp slash I failed to deflect targeted my face, and Gale Guest flashed his gray eyes with a smirk.

“You know, I’ve always wanted to smash that pretty face of yours.”

“Who talks during a fight?”

Though it wasn’t my place to say, I clenched my fists and aimed at Gale Guest’s stomach. He hastily tried to step back, but I changed the direction of my rising punch.

Pow!

“Ugh?!”

I struck Gale Guest’s wrist with my fist. His sword wavered momentarily, but he didn’t let go.

“Haaa!”

With a yell, Gale Guest extended his leg. His boot aimed for my face, so I crossed my arms to guard. Gale Guest pushed off my arms and leapt backward to create distance.

“Where are you going?!”

Gale Guest floated in the air. I unfolded my wings behind me and soared toward him. Replacing my numb arm with my leg, I extended my foot, sharpened with blue magical energy.

Kaaang!

My foot met Gale Guest’s sword tip. The clash of powers caused me to swing my other foot horizontally, imbued with magical force.

Whooosh-!

Gale Guest deflected my kick by swinging his sword downward and countered with a reverse upward slash. The magical blade gleamed sharply, attempting to slice through my leg horizontally.

“Hmph!”

I spun my body by rotating my wings. His sword narrowly sliced through my robe, prompting me to pull my knee up.

“What are you looking at?”

I infused my heel with magical power and struck the side of the ascending sword. Fortunately, this time I landed a direct hit, and Gale Guest winced, dropping his sword.

Clang!

The magical blade split in half. Gale Guest landed on the ground, shaking his wrist, while I stopped in mid-air, spreading my wings.

“You’ve been possessed for how long and yet you handle yourself so freely? And you’re even S-Rank.”

“That’s my power.”

Chaos Dragon, possessing Gale Guest, twisted his lips into a grin, boasting about his abilities. Watching him take pride in his powers made me inwardly grimace.

“Did you even try using your possession ability to undo brainwashing?”

“Why would I do that?”

Chaos Dragon started to get annoyed. Gray magical energy emanated from his outstretched hand, solidifying into a sharp blade.

“Do you even know how to fully undo brainwashing? Don’t you use a monster form because you don’t know?”

“I do.”

“What is it?”

“Love.”

“Pfft, hahahaha!”

Chaos Dragon clutched his stomach and burst into laughter. I folded my wings and landed on the ground.

“Love, huh? Love! Haha! Ah, now I get why you broke the brainwashing.”

Chaos Dragon even shed a tear while mocking me.

“Because you love yourself so much, right? Breaking the brainwashing by loving only yourself. Isn’t that right?”

“…I’ll give you partial credit for that.”

Explaining further would only hurt my throat and be futile since he wouldn’t understand. It’s better to let him keep thinking this way.

“So, how do you plan to make me feel love? Hmm? Since you’re in a man’s body now, are you trying to bake some rice cakes with me?”

“Where did that filth come from? I’m not the one who’ll love you.”

Once again, the roles are reversed. I corrected Chaos Dragon’s misunderstanding.

“You’ll break free once you start to love someone.”

“……There’s absolutely no chance of that happening.”

Chaos Dragon stiffened, resting the flat of his sword on his shoulder.

“Why should I bother with something as annoying as love? Why should I care about other people’s feelings? Why should I live getting my heart hurt for others?”

“You’ll naturally experience that when you start to love someone.”

“…I don’t get it at all. Really.”

Chaos Dragon scoffed, kicking at the dirt.

“A crazy woman who hates everything, a crazy woman who knows nothing beyond herself, a crazy woman who broke brainwashing by only loving herself—is this what you’re telling me right now?”

“……At least I seem better than you, who throws everything away just because it’s annoying.”

Indeed, words won’t get through. As Future Dragon promised, the current Chaos-infused Dragon is beyond redemption.

“Guess I’ll have to knock some sense into you.”

Click. Click. Clenching my fists, I loosened my hands.

“I seriously don’t get it. Wasn’t it you who did the wrong thing?”

Chaos Dragon also took a stance, ready to cut me down with Gale Guest’s sword technique.

“If I just came to wake you up, I wouldn’t have gone this far. But considering the alarming sound that woke you up, I think you messed up first, don’t you?”

“Thanks to you, you got up and came looking for me. Didn’t you say you were asked? By your future self in five years.”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

“Hooh…”

He won’t understand.

How could he imagine that in five years, feeling ashamed of his past self from the original story, he’d personally devise the ‘Chaos Dragon Redemption Project’? This topic arose casually during a personal event, and I joked about it.

‘After all, the mastermind behind the Good Morning Terror is you.’

I just amplified the scale slightly. Regardless, it’s important to correct Chaos Dragon’s attitude now.

“You called me a psycho three times, didn’t you?”

“What’s wrong with calling a psycho a psycho?”

“Hooh… Fair enough. I forgive you. But…”

I summoned magical power and transformed back into my monster form.

[Calling Blazing Phoenix a psycho is unforgivable!]

“Wow, you’re really a psycho!”

For each insult, I’ll deliver a slap to the rear. I smashed my gauntlet into the crescent-shaped sword stroke.

* * *

Bonghyo staggered as he collected the cores of his subordinates. It had been a long time since he learned that a core alone could revive them, and if Chaos Dragon revived them, their essence could return.

“Cough… cough…”

Bonghyo spat blood and collapsed. With one arm torn off and his waist twisted, he still gathered the cores of his fallen subordinates.

“The last one…!”

Bonghyo plunged his hand into the chest of the last sword-wielding monster killed by Phoenix, extracting the core and placing it in his inner pocket. Though it meant killing his cherished subordinates himself, without doing so, revival would be impossible.

Kaaang! Kaaang!

However, the one who could revive them, Chaos Dragon, was currently at a disadvantage. Even possessing Gale Guest, an S-Rank Ability User and Hero of the Round Table, Chaos Dragon was overwhelmed by Phoenix’s monstrous transformation.

“…So strong! So powerful!”

Each punch lacked any unnecessary movement. Like a master who’d honed the same martial art for years, the punches smoothly hammered into Gale Guest’s body.

“Guh!”

Faster and stronger than the speed of the sword swings, the punches battered his body. Despite halving the damage with Illusion Magic, bruises began forming all over Chaos Dragon’s body.

‘Recall what I felt when defeating Shaolin; close combat is disadvantageous.’

Even among the Round Table, there were only two who excelled in melee combat, and Phoenix was overwhelming both effortlessly. Bonghyo’s mouth watered watching the smooth martial arts mastery. Wanting to help the sweat-drenched Chaos Dragon, Bonghyo couldn’t think of any effective strategy.

‘If the problem lies in the body…?’

Could Chaos Dragon win if it weren’t for the specs issue? Apparently, Phoenix was determined to beat Chaos Dragon to death by any means necessary.

‘Opponent is SS-Rank villain. Need a body worthy of that rank.’

Who could provide it? The distant peninsula’s Crimson Blade? Gawein in England?

‘I do know one person though.’

Bonghyo hesitated. Awakening the body of a hero who saved the world would be a grave sin. What kind of evil reawakens a hero’s corpse?

‘But…’

If his prediction was correct, Mo Taegyeong would eventually defile that body anyway. It was practically already happening, and Bonghyo already knew where it lay.

‘I need to seize the opportunity.’

Bonghyo summoned his magical power. To aid his master even slightly, he fired a magical bullet at Phoenix.

Boom-!

“What?!”

The magical bullet exploded in mid-air before reaching Phoenix. Ignoring Bonghyo completely, Phoenix thrust her fist toward Chaos Dragon’s wrist.

[Gotcha.]

“Guh?!”

Instead of dropping the sword when caught, Chaos Dragon’s body was seized.

[Forced ejection.]

Phoenix stretched out her palm toward Chaos Dragon. Her palm strike hit Gale Guest’s chest, violently shaking the Chaos Dragon’s magical power within.

“Cough!”

Chaos Dragon was ejected from Gale Guest’s body and rolled across the ground. The parasitic spirit, residing in a foreign body, was expelled as soon as the magical connection broke. Phoenix shoved Gale Guest aside and pursued Chaos Dragon.

Swoosh!

Phoenix’s wrist was severed. The gauntlet fell, and flames began leaking from the joint.

“What are you trying to do?”

Gale Guest, now freed, flashed his green eyes and licked his tongue while drawing his sword.

“I lost my will, didn’t I? But it doesn’t matter, does it?”

Gale Guest grinned, pointing at the fallen Chaos Dragon.

“He wants to fight you, and I want to fight you too.”

“…Hmph.”

Chaos Dragon steadied his breathing and stood up. Attempting to possess Gale Guest again, Chaos Dragon was met with a wave of sword energy, growling fiercely.

“I want a proper fight! Stop messing around!”

[You’ll get your proper fight later. Stand aside now.]

“Not interested. If I don’t fight now, the opportunity will—”

BOOM!

Someone landed in front of Chaos Dragon, raising a massive cloud of dust. The towering figure, with long black hair flowing, blocked Chaos Dragon protectively.

“My apologies for being late.”

Yunjang, Xiao Lin, raised her gray eyes and stood up. Chaos Dragon, tearing up, greeted Xiao Lin, who gently smiled and extended her hand.

“Feel free to use me.”

“…Alright!”

Swiftly.

Chaos Dragon possessed Xiao Lin. Phoenix, utterly baffled, found herself speechless.

[2:1, or rather, 3:1…]

“4:1.”

Bonghyo, bleeding profusely, stood beside Xiao Lin. Phoenix looked at the three opponents aiming weapons at her and pressed her hand against her forehead.

[…No choice. I can’t take on two members of the Round Table simultaneously right now.]

Under the visor, Phoenix’s eyes glowed blue.

[This is the last resort I didn’t want to use…]

Snap.

Crossing her arms in an X-shape, Phoenix assumed a different stance. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the trio swallowed hard and readied their magical powers.

“Gale Guest. Joint attack now.”

“Shut up. I’ll fight my way.”

“…Here it comes!”

With Chaos Dragon’s shout, an enormous magical power erupted from Phoenix. Sensing an incredible technique coming, Bonghyo widened his eyes.

[Behold! My ultimate technique!]

Phoenix flung her crossed arms outward to the sides of her helmet and extended her palms beside her temples.

[Solar Fist!]

A brilliant flash exploded.