208 – Lightning Ability is Generally Strong # 4
The predicted win rate of my duel with Han Ju-Ryeon could be safely considered 100 to 0.
As long as I was handling various animals, it meant I would definitely win.
But what if I took the animals away from me?
What would the duel win rate between Han Ju-Ryeon and me be without the animals?
Zwoooong-.
I pulled out the fully charged beam saber from my waist.
It was a blade capable of cutting through even the sturdiest steel plates.
It would be sufficient to penetrate the defense of the superconducting suit that Han Ju-Ryeon was wearing.
Chwarur-.
I also grabbed the steel stakes I had collected while wandering around this power plant and secured them at my waist.
While I was preparing, Han Ju-Ryeon brushed off his body and got into a stance.
“Are you stupid? Without animals, you’re no match for me. Are you trying to prove your weakness by challenging me without them?”
“You know you can’t beat me with animals, yet you still came at me. Let’s just call it even; we both did something foolish. And, you’d better not let your guard down.”
The distance between Han Ju-Ryeon and me was about 3 meters.
In 0.5 seconds after a leap, the blade of my beam saber would reach him.
First, I drove the stake I had strapped to my waist into a nearby table.
Tick-.
As I pressed the button, the stake emitted a low humming sound and vibrated.
At that moment.
Woodeuk, woodeuk-.
Han Ju-Ryeon loosened his hands and neck, reaching out to me.
“Don’t regret this. Thunder Strike!”
Pajijijik-!
A fierce lightning bolt erupted from Han Ju-Ryeon’s palm. The azure energy that could be seen with the n*ked eye was indeed a calamity itself.
However, it was Han Ju-Ryeon who frowned in confusion.
“What? My lightning—.”
The lightning that Han Ju-Ryeon emitted did not strike me; it was drawn into something. That something was the stake I had lodged into the table.
To be precise, that stake was a lightning rod.
When this power plant once went into overload, and currents and energies swirled like a vortex and exploded, that lightning rod had cleared a path through which no person could step.
It was developed for such a purpose.
“I know well about this power plant. I came here a long time ago.”
I recalled the memories from years ago, picking up the lightning rods that had been abandoned inside the power plant and easily selecting about five usable ones to keep.
“Thunder Strike!”
Kwarung-!
Han Ju-Ryeon extended his hand again.
But this time too, his attack was drawn into the lightning rod without touching me.
In other words.
As long as that stake was installed, Han Ju-Ryeon’s every attack had its vector value predetermined from the start.
Just one second had passed.
I had already reached in front of Han Ju-Ryeon, lightly cutting into his knee with the beam saber.
Zwoong-.
“Urgh!”
Han Ju-Ryeon fell forward with a thud.
Seizing the moment, I pressed him down with my knee and grabbed his wrist. Of course, Han Ju-Ryeon struggled to avoid losing his watch.
“Get off! Get away!”
“Just stay still! It’s all over!”
I was slightly surprised by the strength of Han Ju-Ryeon’s physical power. Just at that moment of my struggle to subdue him, a powerful wave spread out—Kwarung—enveloping the area.
Guuk…!
I suddenly felt as if my mind had gone blank.
When I regained my senses, I found myself wedged awkwardly into a corner.
My whole body ached.
“What was that just now…?”
Had Han Ju-Ryeon discharged all of his power as a last resort?
No, that didn’t seem to be the case.
Han Ju-Ryeon was also over there, presumably in a similar predicament.
Importantly, something white crackled in front of my eyes.
That must be the source of the anomaly!
—Kruurung…!!!
The Squirrel Beast fluffed up its entire fur as if it was very angry.
Bang Bang and Ahn Ahn also clung to my shoulder, entering a state of alert.
—Kwangkwang…!!!
—Zzzi…!!!
When the animals were on high alert like this, it meant one thing.
They had been invaded by unfamiliar creatures!
—Sssssssssssss…
The white entity appeared to be composed entirely of lightning or electric currents. Its body stretched about 4 to 5 meters long, and it had no arms or legs.
A snake.
A long python.
That would be the better description.
Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, this creature was one I remembered.
Do Jun-Hwan had explained it to me.
“Is it the local master of this power plant!? At this timing…!?”
The master of the power plant was said to be the “Copper Python”. It was a snake made of copper that loved electric energy and had settled in this abandoned power plant, which had once overflowed with energy.
Had that thing shown up here, attracted by our recent fight?
—Sssszzzzzzzzzzzz…!!!!!
The Copper Python, extending electricity in all directions, gleamed brightly as it slithered toward the lightning rod. As if to wrap itself around it, it bit down with its mouth.
Then, it began to absorb the energy stored in the lightning rod, growing in size and emitting a radiant glow.
Wooooooom—
I knew all too well what this light was.
I had seen it when I evolved animals through hyper evolution.
Yes, this was the light of evolution.
The Copper Python had begun to evolve by absorbing the energy stored in the lightning rod.
An evolution of a pseudo S-Rank Demon—.
“Everyone, run! Come to me!”
# # #
A storm of energy swept through the area.
First, I checked on the animals I had protected in my arms.
“Are you guys okay?”
It was an explosion that could be labeled as an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). The small creatures like Kkungkkungi, Bang Bang, and Ahn Ahn seemed unharmed since I held them tightly.
Then the problem was with that creature.
—Zzi. Zziiiii…zzzzz…
Before my eyes, the Copper Python had transformed into a larger, thicker version of itself. Its entire body was enveloped in lightning, and a horn-like protrusion sprouted sharply from its forehead, resembling a fearsome beast.
In my view, it could boldly be called an S-Rank Demon.
The Copper Python, no, at this point, could I not call it a “Superconducting Dragon”?
Honestly, I didn’t care about names.
I could vaguely sense that the S-Rank Demon in front of me was still hungry and craving more energy.
This was a sense developed from living with the animals.
If a monster like a high-voltage power line, stripped of its insulation, sought more energy and moved towards densely populated cities, it would undoubtedly cause terrifying events!
I thought I had to do something.
“I need to bring it down here…! While it’s still in an incomplete state…!”
I still remembered the tragedy that had occurred in this power plant. I could not let such a situation happen in the world again.
“Ahn Ahn, it’s hyper evolution…!”
—Zzi…!
I poured my magical power into Ahn Ahn.
Ahn Ahn rapidly evolved, becoming a hyper honey ant with powerful defenses.
—Zzi…!
The enraged Ahn Ahn charged toward the Superconducting Dragon. Ahn Ahn’s horns pressed down on the Superconducting Dragon, which writhed in agony, squirming in all directions.
Pajik, pajijik-!
Ahn Ahn’s body swayed slightly from that writhing.
Although Ahn Ahn’s body was sturdy enough to withstand a fierce wind, it was leaving scorch marks behind, unable to endure the high voltage currents.
—Zzi…Zzi…!
Ahn Ahn made a rather distressed sound.
If things went on like this, Ahn Ahn might end up charred and cooked.
At that moment, I noticed Han Ju-Ryeon regaining his composure.
“What, what is that—?”
Han Ju-Ryeon seemed startled at the sight of the Superconducting Dragon.
I quickly shouted since I had no time to explain.
“Hey! Han Ju-Ryeon! From now on, do as I say! When I signal, we attack together! If not, everything will be ruined!”
It was a very fast and concise explanation.
If Han Ju-Ryeon was truly a top-tier A-Ranker aiming for S-Rank, he would understand that this Superconducting Dragon was a fearsome demon and that he would grasp my strategy.
I activated the power of all the lightning rods strapped to my waist.
And I yelled at Ahn Ahn.
“Ahn Ahn! Get away from there for now!”
—Zzi…Zziiiiii…!
Ahn Ahn flew far away as hyper evolution was released.
Paat-.
I activated the beam saber and charged toward the Superconducting Dragon. However, the button-pressed beam saber exploded.
It was due to the overload.
“cr*p, d*mn it!”
Having lost my means of attack, I grabbed the Superconducting Dragon with my body.
It was so that I could hold onto it as it struggled to escape.
But the Superconducting Dragon was pure lightning, and my body received the shock as though I was getting hit with intense energy.
“Ughghggggg…!”
If I weren’t an Awakened or wearing an amazing suit, it wouldn’t be unusual for me to be electrocuted and charred black from that force.
“Hey! Haildo! What is that!”
“Han Ju-Ryeon! It’s an overload! Create an overload! When dealing with electric-type demons, an overload is the best…!”
Like the beam saber that exploded from the overload, a plan formed in my head to blow this bizarre dragon up with an overload.
Just in time, we had Han Ju-Ryeon, who had the highest firepower among electric-type possessors!
“Quick…!!! There’s no time to explain—.”
I felt as if my limbs were twisting, squeezing out all my strength to shout. Of course, that I was shouting was just my perception, and it might have sounded strange to Han Ju-Ryeon.
But it seemed Han Ju-Ryeon quickly understood the situation.
“Animals…Haildo…animals…I don’t know…Urgh!”
I sensed Han Ju-Ryeon reaching out his arm.
Kwahijijijijik-.
At the same time, I could vividly feel the intense lightning pouring out from Han Ju-Ryeon’s body onto me.
I felt like an electrocuted rat.
All currents converged on me who had activated the lightning rod.
And they converged on the Superconducting Dragon I was holding.
—Sssssssssssss…!
The Superconducting Dragon seemed pleased with the energy it had started charging into its body. But shortly after—.
—Ssssssssh!?!
It seemed the creature was taken aback by Han Ju-Ryeon’s incessant barrage of energy.
It had just finished evolving, but in its energy-starved state, receiving excessive energy would also create problems.
Just because it was thirsty, it wouldn’t drink to the point of bursting its belly.
“Eat all the electricity you want here!”
—Ssssssssssss…!
I could feel the Superconducting Dragon trying to escape from this location.
Its struggles intensified.
That meant my tactic was working brilliantly.
So, I held onto the dragon even tighter, refusing to let go.
Kwahch, kwahijijik-.
But my body was not enough to withstand the overload.
I lacked strength, and the sturdy suit began to burn along with the scorching marks. This reminded me of long-ago memories.
The energy storm that had swept through the control device of the power plant when it began to run rampant.
Someone had to reach in and pull the switch down.
Back then, it had been Kang Cheol-Min.
But if he hadn’t, it would have been me.
And that turn had just come back to me now.
“Ughhh…!”
I shut my mouth tightly, fearing that I might break my teeth, and released magical power from my entire body. However, my magical power was gradually depleting, and I felt I might lose consciousness at any moment.
Han Ju-Ryeon shouted.
“Haildo! Let go now! If you take any more voltage, you’ll d*e!”
Let go?
No way!
The moment I let go, this snake or dragon, I didn’t even know which, would escape!
At that very moment, I sensed Ahn Ahn, who had been distanced, flying back toward me and landing on my back. I was startled.
“Ahn Ahn! Stay away! If you get electrocuted too, it’ll be a big deal! Leave this to me and you all—.”
Sssssssssss-.
In that moment, I felt Ahn Ahn’s magical power gradually seeping into my body! It felt ticklish, as if a single honey ant had stuck to my back.
—Zzi…!
“What is this…!?”
A magical backflow from Ahn Ahn.
Instead of me giving magic to Ahn Ahn, I was receiving magic from Ahn Ahn.
This was a first-time experience.
Fwoooom—!
As the honey ant’s magic began to mingle within me, or perhaps due to the overload, everything around me, including myself, was wrapped in light.
But rather than being uncomfortable, it felt warm.
It felt similar to the light of evolution.
Was Ahn Ahn evolving in this moment?
No, this felt different.
“Whoa…!?”
I realized that my body was enveloped in a golden glow, surrounded by something hard that could be called a shell or armor.
It was as if Ahn Ahn’s shell was wrapping around my skin, robust enough to protect me against the intense currents of the Superconducting Dragon and the discharges from Han Ju-Ryeon.
In essence, it was not Ahn Ahn but me, ‘Haildo’, who was evolving through the intense energy and Ahn Ahn’s magic.
And at this moment, I might be able to endure it!
“Now’s the time!!! Pour all your strength into it!!!”
Kwarung—!
Intense lightning struck in all directions inside the power plant.
At that moment, my body floated into the air.
Despite the perilous situation, I felt quite good drifting gently in the sky.
However, I had no wings and ultimately fell helplessly to the ground.
# # #
I opened my eyes in the hospital.
Something cold had touched my face.
—Eeeeng eeeeng yaaang.
“Ah-! The house owner has opened his eyes…! Our Nymph sisters have been performing the recovery Nymph dance every day, and it seems to have worked…!”
“Of course…! That superconducting dance of Illinois…! Most illnesses have an impossible resistance against it…!”
“This is Coris, and while I don’t know what the situation is about, I’m just glad that the house owner woke up safely…!”
I got up from the bed and looked out the window.
Red maples were already falling, turned to the ground as leaves.
A whole week.
It seemed I had slept for an entire week.
No, wait a minute, a whole week?
“…The A Rank battle…?”
I asked with a voice that had become hoarse and cracked from disuse.
Then, Inoi showed me the newspapers it had gathered during the past seven days.
