Chapter 493

〈 Chapter 493 〉 Part 1, Chapter 20, Section 25

At the moment when a fierce battle was taking place on the moon.

All spirits except for those of the Fire Attribute had gathered at Yeouido’s Blue Wind Sect hideout. The six synchronized spirits and the sect’s executives who had successfully taken down the replica Phoenix were assembled in the first-floor hall.

To be precise, Architect, Hikari, Karna, and Kim Penril were absent. Two executives of the Blue Wind Sect had temporarily vacated their seats for some preparations and Karna, who was on an expedition to the farthest point from Yeouido, was doing his best to return.

The problem was that there was no easy way for Karna to fly halfway around the Earth within an hour. Unfortunately, Karna was delayed because he had to deal with the Light King stationed in the Amazon.

“Are we really just supposed to wait like this?”

Whanryong tapped his foot anxiously. The one most restless about Phoenix leaving without saying anything was none other than Whanryong himself.

“Don’t you think we should figure something out right now? It’s been 30 minutes already.”

“He is coming from the other side of the Earth. Please wait just a little longer.”

Even though they were spirits, it wasn’t easy for them to travel from all over the world to Korea within an hour.

The only ones who might possibly manage it would be Phoenix, Kim Penril, Baek Hee-a, and Angu.

Seok Harang had crossed the Pacific Ocean using brute magical force while riding nearby, and Yuinah and Whanryong had come through Baek Hee-a’s dimensional space.

The issue was that Baek Hee-a couldn’t pull Karna, who was of the light attribute, into the darkness due to their elemental conflict. Either Phoenix or Kim Penril would have to go and fetch him, but since Phoenix wasn’t available, Kim Penril was currently racing across the sky with Karna on his back.

“Executioner, where is Kim Penril now?”

“Just a moment. There’s another Dimensional Gate near Sri Lanka…”

Baek Hee-a was monitoring real-time updates from her Magical Gear. Though going to the moon was important, managing the portals on Earth as an Executioner was also a critical task.

“Is it really okay to leave Earth like this? Shouldn’t we focus on closing the portals here on Earth instead of relying on Phoenix?”

“That can’t happen. If we just leave things as they are, what if something happens?”

“But if all the spirits leave, won’t Earth descend into chaos?”

“That’s why we’re planning to quickly go to the moon and come back, aren’t we?”

The spirits following Phoenix planned to ascend to the moon, while the sect leaders wanted Phoenix to take charge of the Earth’s portals.

With conflicting opinions clashing, a single message arrived on everyone’s Magical Gears.

[Preparations are complete. Everyone, please head to Dongjak.]

Whoosh, Clank.

A long automatic rail stretched out from their location to Dongjak. The person responsible for laying down this distinctly Korean-style automatic rail was Architect, who was with Hikari.

[Hey executives, and ladies, is this your first time visiting Dongjak underground?]

Along with Architect’s greeting, the destination information for the automatic rail arrived, surprising everyone.

“What? This is our base?”

[Hehe, it sort of turned out that way. They said this place would be difficult for Sun Icheol to easily interfere with.]

[And it’s also the ‘secret base’ of the Blue Wind Sect.]

The ultimate convergence of all the capital and technology of the Blue Wind Sect—a secret stronghold unknown even to its executives.

It was the last bastion left by the refugees of Seoul in Dongjak, and the underground fortress to which Architect had devoted the most effort.

Right above it was the National Seoul Hyochung Cemetery.

“Isn’t this sacrilegious?”

Of all the most sensible beings present, Phantom spoke up. While the Seoul refugees had settled in Dongjak, no one expected them to set up shop beneath the cemetery of all places.

Not only had Phoenix made it her personal secret base, but Hikari had also turned it into his private laboratory.

[It was originally meant to be temporary. But the boss said that if we protect people from Sun Icheol and make Korea great again, even the patriotic spirits would approve. Hehe.]

[In fact, the surrounding magical data is extremely stable. Have you arrived? Then let’s go.]

Squeak.

The spirits and executives arrived at the park of Hyochung Cemetery. Suddenly, a massive earthquake began beneath their feet.

Grrrrr.

A giant pillar began to rise from the ground. The octagonal column soared so high it surpassed even the memorial tower, and soon the individual segments began to split apart to the left and right.

“…What is that?”

[Let me introduce it to you.]

From the Magical Gear, Karna’s partner Yun Yuhwa appeared. Yun Yuhwa and Hikari grinned mischievously like children preparing a prank.

[A customer once asked us to build a rocket that could reach the moon. We invested funds from selling cores into aerospace technology and recruited engineers.]

[I oversaw everything! This was my top priority regardless of anything else. We must’ve used almost 200 S-Rank cores, right?]

The spaceship, built with immense funds and technological expertise, revealed its majestic form right in the middle of the cemetery. Standing at a towering height of approximately 30 meters, the spaceship looked ready to soar towards the moon at any moment.

[If we board this, we can safely make a round trip to the moon. According to calculations, it’ll take 15 minutes to get there.]

[Even I can get there in 15 minutes! Board immediately and hold onto your seatbelts tightly!]

If they boarded the spaceship without delay, they’d arrive on the moon in 30 minutes.

“Gentlefolk of the Blue Wind Sect, please take care of the Earth. Lighthouse, or rather Mr. Kim Ji-hwa, I entrust you with the command of all special ability users in Korea.”

“Huh?! Executioner, wait a minute?!”

“I must board too. I have my duties.”

As the entity most deeply involved in the political issues surrounding the creation of the spaceship, Baek Hee-a naturally had to board. In fact, the spaceship was designed with Baek Hee-a sitting in the captain’s chair.

“So, esteemed spirits, please board. …The captain included, seven people can board.”

“Seven…? Isn’t that basically telling the spirits to go alone?”

“You’re correct. The battlefield on the moon can only be reached by those who are synchronized. In case the moon is destroyed, we need individuals capable of returning to Earth independently without breathing in outer space.”

The Blue Wind Sect executives who volunteered to board the spaceship recoiled. Though they had heard rumors, they didn’t expect the final battle to truly involve only the spirits.

Though disappointed internally, the Blue Wind Sect executives accepted it silently, fearing the worst-case scenario if things went wrong.

Unless you can break through the atmosphere alone,

or survive in outer space without breathing,

or return to Earth independently in a zero-gravity environment, ascending to the moon was essentially impossible and suicidal.

“Then, I leave the rear matters to you all. Gentlemen.”

[Open the hatch.]

Squeak.

A staircase made of blue light emerged from the center of the spaceship. The magical power emitted from the spaceship’s core became a staircase for the spirits to ascend, and Captain Baek Hee-a boarded first.

“I shall board first. We will synchronize in five minutes, but feel free to board early and prepare.”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Seok Harang raised his hand.

“What is it, Seolhwaryeong? Do you have any questions-”

“Why does the design look like this?”

Seok Harang criticized the appearance of the spaceship.

“Didn’t Gold Horse forbid this?”

[Hehe, Harang.]

Yun Yuhwa, riding on Kim Penril’s back, giggled while covering her mouth.

[We were told to do as we pleased, so we did. Hehe.]

“Sis, even so, isn’t this too much…?”

“Isn’t it magnificent? Hehe. Then, please prepare to board…”

Baek Hee-a spread her arms wide to welcome the spirits.

“Hooh.”

Young Cheong.

Blue Flame White Phoenix.

Standing proudly before them was a spaceship identical in appearance to the mechanical phoenix that fought at White Phoenix Isle, its nose pointed towards the moon.

* * *

No matter how urgent the situation may be, necessary tasks must still be done.

Even though my current state feels strange, I don’t dare to nitpick about the actions Blazing Phoenix is committing.

“Ahahaha!!”

Blazing Phoenix laughed while raising her staff high. The end of the staff, shining like the sun, scattered beams of blue laser, teasing Seongju.

“Running around like a rat suits you perfectly, Jeolpung!”

BOOM, BOOOOOM!!

Blazing Phoenix’s bombardment covered the areas where Seongju fled. Seongju tried to seize the opportunity to counterattack, but Blazing Phoenix continued her relentless assault without giving him a chance.

SQUEAL!!

Phoenixes made of flames flew around the entire area, charging towards Seongju. Seongju hurriedly evaded by creating wind currents.

“You, you dare to burn the property of the gods!”

“I’m not interested in that thing! What I want to burn is you!”

Blazing Phoenix looked happier than ever. She seemed to be enjoying herself immensely, as if she had reached the seventh climax during a spiritual encounter.

“Burn to death quickly!”

Blazing Phoenix slammed her staff downward. Even though the battlefield was the moon, magma erupted from the ground, engulfing Seongju. The tidal wave of blue magma created by magic filled the entire floor.

“How long do you plan to keep running!”

Just as I had waited day and night to claim Blazing Phoenix, she must have been waiting for this very moment. How exhilarating it must be to exact revenge on Seongju, the root cause of all these incidents.

WHOOSH!

Below, columns of fire shot up, and mini phoenixes hovered in the sky, waiting for Seongju to approach. Explosive fireballs floated innocuously in the air, and lasers fired by Blazing Phoenix through her staff zipped like light, attacking Seongju.

“This level of power is insufficient!”

Seongju swung his fists and kicked, generating gusts of wind. He unleashed a yellow storm to fend off the flames coming from all directions.

“Do you dare to plot against the robe of that being with such weak power!”

“Tsk!”

A significant amount of magical power was poured out. However, Seongju either dodged or deflected the attacks, ensuring not a single spark touched the robe of the interdimensional deity. Judging by the situation alone, none of Blazing Phoenix’s attacks landed on Seongju, yet she was smiling.

On the contrary, Seongju seemed increasingly irritated.

“Stop playing around, Blazing Phoenix–!!”

“The joke’s been exposed? And my identity too. Then it’s no longer fun.”

Blazing Phoenix held her staff upside down with a serious expression. The blue sun emblem decoration pointed downwards, and Blazing Phoenix slowly ascended into the sky while spreading her blue wings.

“I was hoping to play with you a bit longer until you caught on, but alas.”

Blazing Phoenix thoroughly teased and mocked Seongju. Considering the timing, wasting time like this could potentially lead to catastrophic consequences.

For example, if the synchronization breaks right before delivering the final blow. If that happens, Blazing Phoenix’s distant attacks mocking and taunting Seongju like training a puppy would become a serious disadvantage.

However, I allowed Blazing Phoenix to do so. In fact, I was the one who suggested it first.

– Feel free to unleash all your pent-up feelings towards Seongju here and now.

You can shatter his legs if you want, or twist his neck. You can even start by burning the sleeves of that precious robe of the interdimensional deity. If this allows Blazing Phoenix to exact revenge for her fall, I would be satisfied even if the synchronization breaks.

“One hit, and I’ll send you off. With my ultimate move.”

The staff held upside down by Blazing Phoenix floated in the air. The handle began to descend towards the sun emblem, and Blazing Phoenix closed her eyes while holding the sun disc.

“I’ve truly waited a long time for this moment. For the day I could say this to you again while alive.”

WHOOSH, WHOOSHHH—!

The sun disc held by Blazing Phoenix began to spin fiercely. Emitting blue flames, it started to rotate, becoming a blue sphere—a miniature sun.

“I’ll say it again. Listen carefully.”

Blazing Phoenix lifted the blue sun high into the sky and sneered at Seongju, who had set up a guard on the ground.

“Disappear from my star, you filthy bug.”

Snap.

Blazing Phoenix flicked her finger.

It was daytime.

Neither morning—Khepri, nor evening—Atum, but the time when Blazing Phoenix could unleash her strongest power.

– La Explosion.

The divine blue sun exploded.