Storm Mirien of the North Sea was observing the situation from atop a tower.
Through what was called a “smartphone,” a tool of advanced civilization, she had confirmed that a group claiming to be rulers had set out to exterminate the Storm Dragon Tempestra.
“How ridiculous.”
Mirien felt that this newly entered dimension was quite boring.
Although it was more advanced and offered more entertainment than the previous dimension she had been in, that was only at a surface level. Compared to the territory of the rulers within the Rift that Mirien had been part of before, this world was pitiful.
What’s more, they were recklessly calling themselves rulers and trying to destroy the world’s order.
Summoning calamities is the sole authority of the rulers. It was unacceptable for them to poorly imitate this.
Mirien wanted to wave her hand and cut down these insignificant ones immediately, but since the ruler Actor was among them, it was impossible to do so.
“…Actor. Why do you ignore me? All you had to do was come here.”
Mirien’s face twisted.
When she first came to this world, Mirien had trembled with joy, believing that the ruler would surely recognize her. She thought that all her expulsion from the base was for this.
[5★ Mirien of the North Sea’s contract is terminated.]
[Y / N]
“—Ah, no? Actor, you’re not that kind of person, are you?”
Mirien refused to acknowledge the fact that she had been abandoned by the ruler she loved and adored so deeply. If she had given her affection, it was only right that it be reciprocated.
Thus, Mirien denied reality. Instead, she erected a tower that reached the sky so that the ruler could find her anytime. In this newly entered dimension, she created a home for the two of them and waited for Actor’s return. However, he had turned away from her. Some fox-like woman had taken him away.
“…That dog.”
Mirien gritted her lips and suppressed her anger. Though she wanted to find Selene immediately and tear her loathsome body to shreds, Actor was currently under Selene’s care.
Mirien knew Actor did not like internal conflict. But she had no intention of sitting around doing nothing.
She was, to the core, a Wizard. Someone who pursued analysis over storytelling, and practicality over justification.
“I need to prove my worth. I must show that I am better, more superior than that woman.”
Fortunately, Mirien had an extraordinary mind.
She roughly understood why the Actor had freed them and why he appeared among them in human form in this new dimension. Mirien placed her hand on her heart. The new life Actor had gifted her.
“Actor desires ascension. That is the same as me.”
Mirien reached this conclusion.
The purpose of Actor, the ruler, discarding his divine status and donning the veil of humanity was not much different from the Reverse Heaven that Mirien once dreamed of: Ascending to the higher dimension as a human and becoming a god among gods.
Ultimately, to reign over all dimensions as the ruler of rulers, the presence of Mirien as his companion was inevitable. Therefore, she needed to be the supportive partner.
[Awakened One Management Bureau ‘Expedition for Elimination of Storm Dragon Tempestra’… What will be the outcome of the liberation of Ilsan’s nest?]
Mirien had a great tool at hand. The group called Awakened Ones was setting out to eliminate the Storm Dragon Tempestra, and among them was Actor. Coincidentally, Tempestra, the Storm Dragon, was currently under Mirien’s control, acting as a puppet to her commands.
“…Good.”
Mirien smiled with satisfaction.
*
Above Ilsan.
“Slowly, the nest comes into view.”
At Cho Geon-wook’s words, we looked up. We were traveling by helicopter, and far away, there was the nest we had seen on the news. Near the nest were various 1-star calamities, and at the center, Storm Dragon Tempestra perched, glaring at us.
“…It looks so fierce.”
Its size was easily over three meters. Luckily, its size did not match the enormous proportions implied by its name ‘Storm Dragon’, but it still exuded an overwhelming presence. Cho Geon-wook wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and glanced at me.
“Nam Joo-yeon, our role is to assist Group 1. Let’s just remember that.”
“Yes.”
The helicopter slowly descended. The ground was bustling with Awakened Ones and soldiers. Groups 3 and 4, who had moved ahead by transport, seemed to be clearing the calamities around the nest.
As soon as the helicopter landed, Management Bureau Chief Yoo Jun-seo jumped out energetically and shouted.
“Go for it!”
“… That guy, judging by his gaze, is determined to take the final strike even if he sacrifices someone. Joo-yeon, don’t get on his bad side. He’s someone who stirs up trouble real good.”
Cho Geon-wook shook his head, looking exasperated. Apparently, Management Bureau Chief Yoo Jun-seo was quite greedy.
“Anyway, let’s get in.”
The Awakened Ones of Group 2, including Cho Geon-wook and me, refreshed our operations one more time and entered the dungeon entrance.
[Entering the dungeon 「Tempestra’s Nest」.]
A nauseating sensation, like my stomach twisting, filled me as the sky turned a bright blue. The only time I had been this close to a dungeon was when Selene had cleared the nest and I had watched from a distance at her request. It wasn’t a pleasant experience.
“…Is that the Storm Dragon?”
Storm Dragon Tempestra had chosen a large convention center as its nest, allowing the entire view of the nest to be visible at once. Arriving at the center of the plaza, we faced Tempestra perched atop an office building. Its enormous size was worthy of a 4-star calamity; when it spread its wings, it seemed to grow twice as large.
Though it seemed impossible for us to defeat such a creature, fortunately, they were one and we were many.
“Surround it!”
The Awakened Ones each summoned calamities, and the soldiers fired supporting weapons. Crystalline spiders spun webs that bound Tempestra’s feet, and golems with anti-chaos rock properties rushed towards the dragon.
Kwang!
A tremendous sound echoed, and Tempestra’s massive body shook. However, instead of falling, it spread its wings wide and opened its mouth.
[4★ Tempestra, the Storm Dragon, roars forward.]
Kugugu!
The ground beneath me trembled. I hurriedly dodged as Tempestra leaped high and began sweeping everything around it. A few soldiers who didn’t escape in time were crushed under Tempestra’s wings, turning into corpses in an instant. Watching people die right in front of me was something I had seen many times, but it never got easier.
“…”
Certainly befitting an irregular calamity. However, we Awakened Ones also summoned calamities.
Group 1, led by Yoo Jun-seo who summoned two 3-star calamities at the forefront, was especially active. I, too, summoned the faded spirit Lusibin to counter Tempestra’s attacks. With the support of Group 2, including myself and Cho Geon-wook, the Storm Dragon’s movements gradually slowed.
“A little more!”
The expressions of the soldiers providing supporting fire brightened with hope. The expectation of successfully clearing a 4-star calamity with the least casualties in history was rising.
However, such wishes were nullified as a purplish lightning enveloped Tempestra’s body.
“…What?”
Tempestra the Storm Dragon is of the Sky Void attribute. In simpler terms, a wind attribute. But the lightning currently enveloping Tempestra was undeniably just that—lightning. And lightning was also Mirien’s attribute.
[4★ Tempestra the Storm Dragon becomes enraged.]
[4★ Tempestra the Storm Dragon is affected by the “Blessing of Thunder”.]
[4★ Tempestra the Storm Dragon is afflicted with the abnormal status “Frenzy”.]
“…Damn, really?”
Blessing of Thunder.
I was well aware of this skill, as it was frequently used in the Disaster Order. It’s a skill that only a few rare lightning attributes calamities could acquire. The effect boosts the power and durability of the target while driving them into a frenzy.
In other words, with the Blessing of Thunder, Tempestra the Storm Dragon was now on an entirely different level from before.
“…How are we supposed to beat that?”
It was certain that Storm Mirien of the North Sea had done something to Tempestra the Storm Dragon. Moreover, Tempestra didn’t seem to distinguish between friend and foe. Should I summon Selene anyway? As I hesitated, this happened.
[4★ Tempestra the Storm Dragon uses the skill 「Roar of the Void」!]
My hair stood on end. Roar of the Void. In simpler terms, a breath attack. Conveniently, Tempestra was aiming its head at me. Reflexively, I grabbed the neck of an unknown Awakened One nearby and ducked.
“Ugh!”
At the same time, a cold sensation passed over my head. The beam swept the area around me. The calamities in its path were all destroyed, and a few Awakened Ones who were caught in it met their deaths.
“…Aah, uh…”
The Awakened One who had been dragged down by me turned pale as they saw the damage caused by Tempestra’s breath. They must have been thinking the same thing.
This existence is beyond human power to defeat. And thinking this were not only they.
“AAAAAAAAAAH!”
When one person runs, it invites another to follow. In an instant, the extermination team began to disintegrate.
