Chapter 484

〈Chapter 484〉 Part 1, Chapter 20, Section 16

The Boatman, who had been plummeting at high speed, suddenly stopped mid-air and transformed into eight grotesque stakes. Like soldiers standing at attention, they raised their arms as if in salute before aligning themselves horizontally with the ground.

[Director! The shield patterns are all different!!]

“How?”

[One for each attribute except one!]

Upon receiving Hikari’s data, I could do nothing but bite my lip. Was this a precaution against the future where I obliterated the Boatman along with its shields using my ultimate attack? Seongju had split the Boatman into parts and embedded individual shields within each stake.

Woooom!!

The Boatman’s originally gray color changed entirely, now matching the core’s hues—red, blue, green, yellow, gold, black, and silver. Before we could even react, the stakes vanished without a trace. I recalled the pattern Seongju used when he waged war against Earth.

– A type that induces chaos to prevent concentration of force on any single point.

It was an endless storm of attacks, leaving no room for breath while simultaneously dispersing full strength to stop the enemy from gathering a decisive blow. This was Seongju’s primary tactic.

“Executioners, prepare for movement–!”

At my command, everyone tensed up, channeling magic power. Whether running or flying, it was already too late to chase after the scattered Boatman stakes spread across the globe. To respond quickly, we needed to fold space and move.

“Hikari, drop us near the closest ones! Kim Penril, go by foot!”

Whoosh-!

As soon as my words ended, Kim Penril soared into the sky. Moving faster than teleportation by riding wind currents at full strength, chasing after the wind-attribute stake based on instinct was more efficient.

“Be careful…!”

Baek Hee-a utilized Angu’s power to pull all spirits into the darkness until Hikari completed her detailed analysis. Once done, the heroes would begin moving toward the scattered stakes around the world.

“Hmph.”

I remained alone atop the 63 Building, gazing upward. Seongju had cunningly assigned me the fire-attribute stake alongside another containing all seven attributes, moving them slowly.

The fire stake headed southeast.


The seven-attribute stake ascended toward the heavens.

“Seongju’s location is obvious…”

Even though the Boatman was split, Seongju’s nature hadn’t changed. He would undoubtedly be aboard the rainbow-colored stake, and his next actions were predictable.

‘The Boatman isn’t just one.’

If left unchecked, he’d surely launch another Boatman. Therefore, we had to neutralize the stakes as quickly as possible.

“The heroes can handle the rest… We need to deal with this.”

The red stake moving endlessly toward the southeast continuously erupted with flames like a beacon. Fortunately, so far, it was only showing signs.

“Thought he’d immediately crack open the shell and release monsters.”

What advantage does spreading out his forces provide? Is it merely fear stemming from my destruction of the future Boatman or part of another plan?

‘Guess we’ll find out if we wait.’

All I have to do is maintain sync and destroy Seongju. But first, I must eliminate my assigned stake.

‘It’ll burrow straight into the core otherwise.’

Though weaker compared to the original Boatman, even a single success would result in Earth’s destruction. Before taking flight, I checked my body condition once more.

‘Not as bad as I feared.’

There was no risk of fizzling out within three minutes or disappearing mid-battle. Maintaining this comfortable state of synchronization made me regret not doing it sooner.

“Wrong.”

Snap. I slapped both cheeks. …Though it wasn’t something I did.

“This process led us here.”

“Is that so? …Ah, this feels awkward.”

Though it was Chang-yeom speaking and I responding, externally, it might look like I’m engaging in self-dialogue, which worried me about appearing insane.

“Then how about this?”

Chang-yeom raised a hand, drawing out magical energy. Simultaneously, my consciousness was pulled into the magic she summoned.

Whoooom—!!

My awareness turned blue, and as my vision returned to normal, I found myself facing Chang-yeom. My original body waved at me from afar, now distinctly phoenix-like.

“Finally… What is this?”

“Huh?”

“Is this what happens when you synchronize? Can you really do this?”

I inspected my new form created through our sync.

Wings of blue flame. A body entirely unlike a human’s. Considering Chang-yeom’s height, I stood roughly 190cm tall.

I had become a literal phoenix, a Phoenix.

“Compressed combat power? It’s smaller than expected.”

“Now we burn it. You can make it bigger if you want. Like…raising it.”

“…That’s inappropriate. Anyway, this will make communication easier.”

I slightly bent my knees, and Chang-yeom climbed onto my back.

“Chang-yeom, you may proceed.”

“Is that alright?”

“Your voice is now Qingnyeon’s.”

“…Alright then. I’ll take good care of it.”

Chang-yeom chuckled bitterly while tapping the magical gear. The authority I built as Qingnyeon for her finally returned to its rightful owner.

“Qingnyeon Sect, assemble.”

* * *

“Honestly, quite swift. As if they anticipated it.”

Seongju clicked his tongue atop the rising Boatman. The phoenix responded faster than expected, and other spirits moved swiftly as well.

“I hope they buy us some time.”

Believing the Pluto stakes scattered worldwide would sufficiently delay them, Seongju looked toward space.

“One more Boatman remains.”

When fully upgraded, Earth would shatter into pieces.

“Well…this name fits perfectly.”

The name resonated similarly to his technique, pleasing Seongju greatly.

***

It had been a long time since the Qingnyeon Sect gathered.

Prepared to face the Tera-lists emerging from the Great War against Seongju, the sect leaders were immediately summoned to the penthouse hideout.

Flame Giant, Lighthouse, Phantom, Gongsung, Black Flame Dragon, Architect, Sky Castle.

Kim Nori, who joined later as both hunter and hero, was instructed to move with the heroes. Thus, those present were the purest members, having consistently supported me since the beginning.

– Meeting you all for the first time feels oddly awkward.

Chang-yeom, seated at the head while glancing nervously at me behind her, awkwardly smiled. She usually let me take the lead in conversations, clearly feeling out of place sitting there. Of course, the other officers were equally uneasy.

“…This reminds me of when you followed Cheon Gaeul at S Hospital.”

“Th-That thing is huge! Is it a summon creature? That’s the true form of mini-phoenixes…?”

“Do you really have to hold it like that with wings?”

Various questions arose naturally among the officers. Chang-yeom initially showed slight irritation but soon began acting as Qingnyeon.

“It’s a power gained through sync. It’s both the original form of mini-phoenixes and a compact version requiring less magic power. You all know the original size, right? Mechaphoenix. The 30-meter giant beast we used against spirits. Not exactly a summon creature but…a kind of spirit division.”

As ‘explanation’ flowed, Chang-yeom introduced herself and me to the Qingnyeon Sect.

“Pleased to meet you. This is Chang-yeom, and I am called Phoenix.”

“…Phoenix?”

Cheon Gaeul was the first to look ambiguously between Chang-yeom and me, seemingly sensing our relationship differed from other spirits.

“For differentiation. Though my phoenix is a manifestation, it holds equal power to me.”

“In simple terms, both human-form phoenix and monster-form phoenix exist simultaneously. When divided, we’re not SSS but SS+ level…”

I briefly rested my chin on Chang-yeom’s crown. She embraced me as her magic dissipated, pulling me back into her instantly. The sensation of returning home filled my body, and after clearing my throat, I slightly raised my magic power.

“Hmm, like this.”

“…Is this your true power?”

“To the extent that even reaching S rank wouldn’t perceive it…”

The officers marveled or felt fear at my SSS-level strength. Their dread seemed more directed at enemies rather than themselves.

“You’re thinking, ‘How much stronger does this guy need to get to defeat the enemy,’ right, Architect?”

“…Can you read minds, Boss?”

“Even without reading magic, expressions say enough. Yes, I’ll crush them all. Seongju, interdimensional gods, whoever.”

I deliberately hinted, changing the officers’ expressions.

“What, are you on a deadline?”

“Something like that. More accurately, it’s a time bomb whose detonation timing is unknown. Could be ten minutes from now or a hundred years later. Or possibly close to eternal life. Frankly…I could collapse mid-conversation. That’s why I carry it with me.”

Pretending to raise magic, I exited Chang-yeom’s body, reverting to phoenix form. I subtly signaled Chang-yeom, who chuckled wryly while pointing at me.

“When Phoenix disappears, the sync will break. But don’t worry. We won’t fall to Seongju’s brainwashing anymore.”

More precisely, Seongju won’t use the brainwashing beam again—not risking his own life.

‘If he tries, it’s mutual annihilation.’

If I attack Seongju, he’ll counter with the brainwashing beam. If he brainwashes me, I’ll retaliate. Now judging almost like a ‘human,’ Seongju won’t recklessly sacrifice himself for desires.

‘And the beam doesn’t work anymore.’

Although caught off guard when Seongju jumped from the Boatman, constant vigilance due to my presence prevents further brainwashing of Chang-yeom.

In short, even if I descend into hell with Seongju, Chang-yeom survives. That’s the real meaning of “Phoenix may disappear.” Chang-yeom adjusted the narrative, smiling sorrowfully.

“Even if brainwashed by Seongju, the spirit division, Phoenix, will absorb it. So…I survive.”

“Don’t look at me with such pity. I’m derived from Chang-yeom. Existing to protect her, I’m fully prepared.”

The officers’ expressions toward me serving as Seongju’s brainwashing bait were complex. Especially, Cheon Gaeul appeared deeply troubled. To avoid giving away any hints, I suggested shifting topics, prompting Chang-yeom to initiate discussion.

“Hmm, let’s talk about the fragments Seongju left behind from the Boatman. Known as stakes—”

“That’s what we call them.”

“Who named them that?”

“Director Yu Yinghuo.”

Chang-yeom bit her lower lip, trembling her hands. She hadn’t foreseen the Boatman transforming into stakes and thus failed to assign names, allowing Yu Yinghuo to beat her to it. I gently pressed her magical gear with my wing, infusing magic.

[Yu Yingho. Why Pluto specifically?]

[Is naming important amidst chaos?]

[Other names exist.]

[Should’ve mentioned earlier lol. Already decided. Hee-a just confirmed it.]

[When?]

[10 seconds ago.]

Even Baek Hee-a. Although Pluto being fragmented rendered it ambiguous whether it was still a planet or dwarf planet, assigning a completely new name felt strange despite the original existing.

‘What if naming the enemy makes them stronger?’

Doesn’t the title ‘king’ evoke strength? Mentioning Pluto often brings to mind Hades from Greek mythology; attaching such a name to the enemy seems unnecessary.

‘Meh, aliases mean nothing ultimately.’

Winning is all that matters.