Chapter 1011

EP.1011 2(-1) Part 10 Chapter 24: Advancement

The year 2021, near Gae-ma Plateau.

Research on the otherworld is ongoing everywhere at all times.

The concept of crossing dimensions—of something coming over from another world—has already been experienced countless times by humanity through the appearance of ‘Dimensional Gates’ on Earth.

So, couldn’t it be possible for people from this world to cross over to the other side?

With that thought in mind, people worldwide began studying dimensional travel after the Great Deliverance.

“Like, does that even make sense? Sounds like a middle-schooler’s fantasy delusions to me.”

Middle school girl Kim Nori slurped her strawberry milk from a pack while scrolling through short videos.

After the Deliverance, an alarming number of people around the world started showing interest in “dimensional travel.”

Perhaps seeking revenge for the two decades humanity suffered under monsters from the otherworld, they were searching for a gateway to that world.

Desire for Core resources.

A thirst for vengeance against the monsters.

And pure curiosity about the otherworld.

None of these things mattered much to Kim Nori, now a full-fledged third-year middle school student.

Even if there were endless Cores.

Even if the monsters were disappearing.

Even if the existence of the otherworld was proven and humans could cross over…

For Nori, who was now in her final year of middle school, the most pressing issue was the very real problems she faced in her life.

“…No matter what, I can’t just join ‘Super High School’ even if I am part of the Blue Wind Sect.”

In 2021, after the Deliverance, Korea established special-purpose high schools to cultivate Special Ability users.

Unlike academies aimed at adults, these schools educated minors under the age of 20, combining regular schooling with lessons on the virtues expected of Special Ability users.

-Young Special Ability users must first receive character education.

This principle, left behind by the esteemed principal Blazing Phoenix, led to the establishment of a high school for Special Ability users in Seoul, supported by the Blue Wind Sect.

Currently, many young Special Ability users attend this school.

While it operates similarly to a normal school, it also follows a hastily developed curriculum designed to train Special Ability users.

Most students are around C Rank.

There are already some A Rank students, but for Kim Nori, who would soon need to consider advancing to high school, there were many things to think about.

“Wouldn’t it just be more profitable to live as a Hunter instead of going to school…?”

Kim Nori, still a third-year middle school student, had far too many worries about the future.

This was because, unlike ordinary third-year students, she’d experienced so much during her second year of middle school.

S Rank Special Ability user.

Youngest ability user of the Blue Wind Sect.

Someone who could have ascended to the position of a ‘Goddess.’

Kim Nori was a “legend” among teenage Special Ability users.

Being affiliated with the Blue Wind Sect was already a major popularity boost, but after achieving S Rank and growing into an adult-like form, she became an “idol” figure to teenagers.

In such a situation, the prospect of entering high school…


Hey, will they ever get to enjoy a normal school life?

“…The captain said that around flowers, there are always bugs seeking pollen. If it’s just pollen, we’re lucky, but there are also those who chew on the stems and leaves.”

One year has passed now.

Kim Nori fully understands the meaning of the words Phoenix said to her.

There are plenty of people around who seek to use those with power.

Even if they’re blood-related kin.

It’s only because the senior members of the Blue Wind Sect play the role of social and economic protectors that Kim Nori didn’t have to step into society from a young age already carrying two invisible, massive burdens on her shoulders.

So Kim Nori is worried.

She’s still a “student,” but next year she’ll be able to shed the societal constraints of being a student.

It’s absolutely not because she’s embarrassed about “Blazing Phoenix High School” – or as it’s colloquially known, “Blaze High.”

Since there seems to be nothing more for her to gain there, Kim Nori can’t help but seriously contemplate her future.

Keeeeeeyaaaaah!

The bell rings.

Kim Nori quietly listens to the bell tone, lost in thought.

Blaze! Flame! Rebirth!

A strange bell tone.

But after the resurrection, the bell tone sold by the Blue Wind Sect for Blazing Phoenix Revival became the number one seller, spewing some indescribable roar.

While people question why this is number one, Nori understood.

Because she’ll never hear it again.

Though filled with madness, the thrilling moments of watching its frenzied activity made her want to witness them once more.

Because she wants to remember those scenes, even just a little bit more.

“I want to go back…”

Ah, of course, minus the part where humanity is threatened by monsters.

Without the threat to humanity, she wishes to return to 2020.

To the era when she could recklessly use her powers without strain.

To the time when she traveled the world with the people of the Blue Wind Sect, exploring battlefields and contributing to the peace of humanity.

“…Is this what they call post-war PTSD?”

Possessing S-Rank power but having nowhere to use it.

This feeling of boredom and emptiness surely isn’t something only Kim Nori experiences.

Perhaps it’s because of problems like these that people search for a gateway to another world.

At this point, using your strength on Earth would just result in ‘goddesses’ showing up and smashing your pot, yet you still want to use your power somewhere.

Recently,

Nori recalled when she couldn’t resist using her strength and caught a hunter turned villain—someone who had attacked a monster during their reintegration into society.

– Shit! What do you know?! I’ve finally found a new chapter in my life at this age, and now I have to go back to being an ordinary office worker?!

– So what if I have special abilities?! In this era, even someone with superpowers has nowhere to use them! Should I just go beat up some villains?! Huh?! Start some kind of Civil War?!

– I wish some alien lifeforms would invade Earth! Let me prove myself! I want to prove my worth, that I’m useful!

“Hmph.”

Kim Nori sighed.

If she feels this way, then how must those who barely clung to their special abilities in the face of a dead-end life feel?

No wonder there are even those who openly say things like “Phoenix shouldn’t have saved us.”

“What do you think, sis?”

“…I’m not your sister.”

The raven-haired woman, who closely resembled Baek Cheonghwa, sipped her strawberry milk with similar annoyance.

“Call me uncle.”

“But you’re my sis right now, aren’t you?”

“Where did you learn such a phrase?”

“I’ll stop if you admit you’re my sister.”

“…Haa.”

The raven-haired woman, who especially resembled ‘Baek Cheonghwa,’ tightly shut her eyes.

“If God saw you, He’d definitely bash your head in.”

“The captain likes me, so she doesn’t hit me. Admit it?”

“…Blazing Phoenix Revival.”

The woman spread her arms in a Y-shape to pray, then drew a cross with one hand before clasping both hands together.

“Ahyoung sis, don’t…”


“Seriously, you remind me of the sect leader.”

“Really?”

“But you don’t resemble the sect leader.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“The sect leader did it with overflowing confidence. No, she didn’t even know what shame was.”

“Y-you’re saying I feel shame in my faith right now?”

Bang.

The black-haired woman slammed her fist on the table and stood up.

“I, Black Flame Dragon Gwak A-Young! My faith and belief in Her are-”

“Hey, you just said your name is Gwak A-Young.”

“Damn it…”

The black-haired woman, Gwak A-Young of the Blue Wind Sect, an S-Rank Special Ability user known as ‘Black Flame Dragon,’ collapsed helplessly.

“It’s frustrating.”

“What’s there to be frustrated about? Didn’t the sect leader bless you, sister?”

“I really hate having to say this.”

Gwak A-Young’s eyes trembled.

“After salvation, I never expected this would continue.”

“That’s true.”

After salvation.

The monsters created by Blazing Phoenix remained in their physical forms.

It was clearly stated that if Blazing Phoenix were to die, the monsters would all perish too. Yet, despite Blazing Phoenix disappearing, the monsters were still alive.

– The Living Lord Phoenixes!

– Phoenix Sir has gone to America! She’ll be back soon!

– Wait, isn’t it another world, not America?

– Anyway, doesn’t that mean they’re still alive?

One: If Phoenix dies, the monsters die.


Two: Despite Phoenix dying, the monsters live.


Three: So, isn’t Phoenix still alive?

“I believe the Lord will surely return. And… I believe she will turn me back into a man, the righteous youth Gwak Yongwoo. Blazing Phoenix Revival, Blazing Phoenix Revival.”

“No hope.”

“No…!!”

“Sis, you should just stay as you are. It’s better this way. Give up already and go out with Brad…”

Suddenly, both of them stood up.

“Did you sense it?”

“Yeah.”

A strange energy could be felt from afar.

They quickly ran toward the direction where the energy was emanating.

“Should we transform, sis?!”

“Running is faster than transforming!”

The source of the strange energy was clearly to the north.

They swiftly climbed the mountain and headed toward its peak.

Mount Paektu.

Heaven Lake.

The place, which should have been filled with clear water, had a man standing on the water’s surface motionless.

Entirely dressed in black, wearing an unusually tall top hat, the suspiciously tall man was fiddling with something in his hand.

“What is he doing?”

“The situation isn’t normal. Let’s contact Professor first…”

Click.

Something disconnected.

Both of them stiffened at the interruption of the Magical Gear signal.

“How…?”

“SS Rank…?”

“Hahahaha.”

The man’s laughter sent shivers down their spines.

In the past.

On the day Pluto fell.

That same shock and fear, the pain gnawing at their minds, began to seize them again.

“Don’t interfere…”

“Who do you think you are to talk back?! Do you want to die?!”

“C-Cack-cackle…”

The man mocked them while fiddling with the cube-like object.

“Barely, I’ve found the singularity point…! Don’t interfere with me…!”

“Singularity…?”

“Master of Pluto!!”

The man held the object high towards the sky.

“Open the gate to another world here!!”

Upon seeing the object, both froze.

“A Cube…?”

“How is that possible…?”

“Let the world become one where special abilities reign supreme once more!!”

“Ah, no! We must stop that thing! That thing-”

Whoosh.

“Stop.”

Black flames grabbed Kim Nuri’s ankles.

“I’ll go.”

Suddenly restrained by the mysterious fire, Kim Nuri couldn’t move forward.

“Children should obediently go to school. From here on, it’s the adults’ domain.”

“Auntie!!”

Rushing forward, Gwak A-Young raised her hands high and shouted.

“Come forth, flames of myth! Burn my body, and become a single beam that scorches heaven and earth!”

Whoosh.

“Revival of the Black Flames!!”

Heaven Lake.

Turned black with flames.