Chapter 831

EP.831 Part 3 Chapter 2 Section 13

“If this were flat terrain, I’d be summoning a tank right about now.”

Using the Sand Dragon’s corpse, I created a new “Spirit.”

This is not about birthing a spirit.

It’s an application of monstification.

In the past, monsters used cores to create more monsters, but I utilized the Sand Dragon’s corpse to produce countless beasts. My magic power, which gives form to the Sand Dragon’s remains, acts as its core.

Though my magic was drained again in clumps, if left alone, it would naturally consume itself like fuel. However, I managed to find and use a fuel tank that wouldn’t just spill into the ground.

A Spirit Stone.

These days, even border areas have some Spirit Stones due to military infrastructure. These stones serve as the power source for certain machines.

“Re-engineering enemy supplies? That’s basic rebel know-how.”

Actually, it wasn’t just the Sand Dragon’s corpse I used. Its body was only applied on the surface; the interior is different.

Think of humans crawling on all fours like animals, bundled under winter quilts, moving inch by inch.

The quilt here represents the Sand Dragon’s corpse.

And the beings beneath, performing the role of humans, are twisted, remodeled golems.

Yes, those massacre machines subdued using Seok Harang’s modified acupuncture techniques.

We dismantled the golems, known as ‘Titans,’ after seizing them from the enemy.

Then we extracted their control systems, dismembered the limbs, and altered their structure from bipedal to quadrupedal movement—like knights riding dragons.

“Nope. Forget dragons. Tanks are better.”

Rather than dragon knights, I designed this with tanks in mind.

From below, it looks no different from a four-wheeled vehicle, but the heavy Sand Dragon skin covering the chassis makes it appear as though it’s crawling.

Why?

If this were the open plains of the Vishnia Kingdom where aerial combat was necessary, I’d obviously have repurposed the Titans into siege tanks.

Or operated them in their original bipedal form as walking siege tanks.

But here, in the Gaya Kingdom, most of the terrain consists of straight pathways.

With no need for aerial combat, it’s logical to deploy ground-based forces.

To minimize our losses while maximizing the enemy’s.

That’s why I’ve remodeled the Titan into a tank using the Sand Dragon—dubbed the ‘Peaver.’

At first glance, the front resembles a cannon firing bombs imbued with Chang-yeom’s fire magic, but regardless, this Peaver is indeed a doom tank.

Now, we must advance using this Peaver.

Staying too long in this fortress risks retaliation from the locals.

Thus, we move forward.

“Is everyone ready?”

“””Yes!!”””

Tera’s Blue Wind Sect members all donned new outfits.

Their attire, white robes resembling priestly garments with blue accents, gave them the appearance of a grand pilgrimage group.

Soldiers controlling the Peaver lead the way, followed by children boarding transport vehicles connected to the Peaver.

Though the children seem delighted, as if going on a camping trip, the reality is far darker.

They could’ve fled to the Vishnia Kingdom as refugees.

Yet they chose to march into battle alongside us.

Leaving the safety of the fortress behind, we head toward a new nest.

Where is this nest?

“Phoenix Lady, where are we headed?”

“To the spirits’ nest.”

Here, there are no “monsters,” only spirits.

Most spirits, unless they go berserk or cause trouble, either become revered beasts dominating their territory or benevolent beings akin to divine creatures.

“We will encounter and ally with these spirits along the way.”

* * *

Meanwhile.

Yun Yuhwa and Hikari, observing another dimension through Krishna, were debating Phoenix’s actions atop the grotesque tank.

“Could it be a time loop?”

“There’s no way. Wake up, President.”

Yun Yuhwa and Hikari were seriously discussing something.

“No, isn’t it possible someone could do that? After overthrowing Seongju, they could return to the past.”

“So you’re saying Phoenix had a romantic relationship with you back then?”

Blinded by love.

Hikari sighed at Yun Yuhwa’s dazed expression as he gazed at Phoenix.

“She probably would’ve jumped ship if she had sex with you.”

“Wha…!”

Yun Yuhwa turned red.

“What, what are you talking about!”

“That’s what Xiao Lin told me. About Phoenixroid’s sexual technique. She said it was so good it was ‘real.’”

“……Hmph.”

After Phoenix left part of her consciousness in the Xroid and departed,

some immediately scrapped the Xroid upon receiving it,

others locked it away in storage, never wanting to see it again,

some treated it like a plush doll,

some even entered the Xroid themselves to become Phoenix,

and others… well, others went too far.

Xiao Lin.

Famous for her martial arts prowess, she eventually consummated her relationship with Phoenixroid.

“Her virginity may be gone, but her first experience was with Phoenix. Truly, she’s not an ordinary woman…”

“What does that mean?”

“SR-6974 exists. A girl masturbating with a sword scabbard gets caught by her older brother.”

“…Wow.”

Hikari shook her head in disgust.

“Amazing. But President, didn’t you hear this from Xiao Lin?”

“Ugh.”

“You watched her sex tapes repeatedly, didn’t you?”

“I saw it, but…”

Yun Yuhwa firmly shook his head.

“My customer would never say such things.”

“Wow, an otaku.”

“What?!”

“If there’s a Phoenix otaku, it’s you, President.”

“Hey! You think I don’t know you’re designing a new suit based on that monster form over there?”

“President.”

Hikari spoke seriously.

“That’s not a monster form. It’s called a ‘spirit-form.’ If I could communicate through Krishna, I’d surely ask her to call it that.”

Standing up,

“Change!”

“Divine!”

“Chang-yeom, ultimate evolution!”

In a bizarre pose, raising both arms to the sky, her face brimming with pride, while Yun Yuhwa turned back to Phoenix through Krishna’s perspective.

“I should shut up.”

“What? Are you mocking tokusatsu shows? Or ridiculing people who mimic heroes with suits in an age of special abilities? Don’t forget many heroes emulate tokusatsu characters!”

“Yes, yes.”

Yun Yuhwa half-heartedly listened to Hikari’s anger while focusing on Phoenix’s movements.

“That woman…”

Still unnamed, this woman, seemingly enslaved by Phoenix yet fawning over her, bears an uncanny resemblance to Karna.

“Arrogant.”

Biting his lip, Yun Yuhwa had Krishna ram into Hari without warning.

* * *

“Ow…!”

“Why did it suddenly do that?”

Without any warning, Krishna slammed into Hari.

She stumbled forward, and I grabbed her leg to steady her.

Almost falling off the Peaver, my body leaned forward, inadvertently revealing her skirt.

Calmly pulling Hari closer and calming her down, I picked up Krishna and stood up.

“Why did it suddenly act like that?”

As soon as I held it, Krishna became docile, like a lamb.

However, when Hari approached, Krishna growled and bared its teeth.

“Hari, what did you do wrong?”

“It’s not that…”

Hari genuinely felt wronged, thumping her chest in frustration.

“For now, I’ll hold Krishna. Try to rebuild your bond.”

“Can effort fix this?”

“Not just effort, super-effort.”

“That sounds really awkward.”

“It’s supposed to feel awkward. Back in my day, befriending spirits sometimes meant risking death.”

An old story.

Not only the six prickly spirits but especially one particularly difficult spirit required being killed over a thousand times just to start a conversation.

Compared to that, Krishna and Hari’s relationship is relatively harmonious.

“Understand? Make an effort to befriend the spirit.”

“Does that mean we’re trying to befriend the thing we’re heading towards?”

Hari pointed at the map.

On the road to Gaya’s capital, less than 10% of the journey has been covered, yet countless roots sprawl everywhere.

“Mr. Gray, the spirit here…”

“A top-tier spirit. We call it ‘Target.'”

Target.

A name quite different from the one given on Earth.

“Unlike kanji naming conventions.”

It’s nice to meet it again after so long.

“Earth Dragon.”

“Yes?”

“Did you say Target? We’re not here to talk to it.”

I clenched my fist.

“If it’s male, I’ll beat it to death. If female, I’ll cuddle it.”

We’re coming for Target and its land, nothing more.