Chapter 274

〈 Chapter 274 〉 Part 1, Chapter 12, 20

It’s as simple as just swinging the sword, but Rusalka seemed to be hesitating.

“What are you hesitating about?”

[Um… Where are the people trapped?]

Rusalka blushed while asking Abyss Dragon where the people it had swallowed were being held. Below Abyss Dragon’s neck hung two orbs. One was its core, and the other was a barrier containing the captured people. While I and Phoenix knew which one was the real core thanks to some monster info, unfortunately, Rusalka didn’t seem able to tell them apart.

“There’s nothing we can do. I’ll help you this ONE time.”

[Help me with what?]

“I’ll rescue the people; you cut off the core.”

I finally pulled out something I’d been hiding in my pocket. As soon as Phoenix saw what I took out, its expression changed.

“A gun?”

“Yeah. It looks like a plastic model revolver, but…”

I loaded magic power into the chambers like bullets by pushing the cylinder sideways like a revolver. With a *click*, the magical bullet lined up in the barrel, and I aimed at Abyss Dragon from the balcony.

“Is it okay if I shoot drunk?”

“I was a top-grade marksman back in the day, you know?”

“What if you accidentally shoot the core?”

“…We’ll deal with that when we get there.”

Though it was an irresponsible statement, what could be done? If the technique passed down from Blazing Phoenix is used, I’d hit the mark even with my eyes closed.

“Hey, Abyss Dragon-”

Phoenix pointed at Rasputin. Abyss Dragon stretched its long neck towards us and opened its massive maw.

“This isn’t good.”

I immediately pulled the trigger.

“Shiiit!”

For some reason, those words just came out. A burst of blue flame shot from the gun’s muzzle, and the magical bullet flew over the railing like light itself.

* * *

Undine raised her golden sword high into the sky. The golden blade gleamed like melted starlight, growing larger as it absorbed Undine’s magic power.

GooOOOoo!!

Water spirals began swirling around the golden sword that soared toward the heavens. The water currents rose higher than the Side Palace, spinning and swirling around the blade.

ROAR!!

Dark Demon Dragon thrashed violently, breaking free from the water’s restraints. It spread its folded wings, forcefully tearing away the water binding its arms, and using magic power in its lower body, it slowly rose above the lake.

KYAAAOO!!

Abyss Dragon roared towards the sky. While Undine gathered her strength, the heroes on the riverside concentrated all their firepower on Abyss Dragon’s neck.

“Protect <Undine>! Stop the Dark Demon Dragon!”

No one knew exactly what technique Undine was preparing, but every hero instinctively understood it required significant preparation. The cool, humid air cutting through our skin proved Undine’s magic power was spreading throughout the area.

“What is this…?”

“Is that Undine-sama’s ultimate move?”

The water current had already risen higher than the palace. Dark Demon Dragon Rasputin also succeeded in freeing its lower body from the lake, stepping onto the surface with its wings spread wide.

KYAAAH!!

While still struggling against the tenacious water bindings, Dark Demon Dragon charged towards Undine. The monsters born from its heart collided with its belly and splashed across the lake.

ROAR!!

Faster than sharp claws or wings, Abyss Dragon flashed its pitch-black fangs and opened its mouth wide. Its speed was indescribably fast, and it looked like Undine was about to be devoured.

“<Undine>?!’

Seeing her daughter about to be eaten by Abyss Dragon, Suborof unknowingly jumped into the river. Undine’s technique seemed incomplete, and it appeared no one could stop Abyss Dragon from devouring her.

At that moment, a flash of blue light emerged from below the tower window.

CRASH!

The blue light shattered the glass and spiraled like a bullet towards Abyss Dragon, shattering one of its fangs.

Abyss Dragon instinctively pulled its head back for a brief moment, then a second bullet curved and grazed below its body.

TING!!

The blue-flame bullet illuminated the dark sky and reached the black orb beneath Abyss Dragon’s neck. Suborof, who had entered the river, stared in disbelief at the bullet flying towards the top part of the orb.

“Bird?”

The blue canary-shaped projectile, resembling a phoenix, flapped its wings and slammed directly into Abyss Dragon’s orb. The bird-shaped bullet embedded itself between the pillar and the orb, exploding upon impact. The black sphere split open and fell apart.

“AAAAHH?!”

People trapped inside the shattered orb tumbled out. Miraculously, they landed safely in the middle of the lake, far from any lurking monsters.

“To the moonlit song…”

Undine’s voice, joined by Rusalka’s, echoed across the entire lake. Rusalka stood atop the tower like a fairy guarding the lake, whispering beautifully.

“<Snowfall Night's Rusalka>.”

Rusalka gently swung her sword downward. She didn’t strike forcefully, merely lowering her sword like placing a baton.

SWISH—

People only heard something being cleanly sliced. Without clapping, cheering, or even considering celebration, they simply stared blankly as Rusalka lovingly embraced her golden sword.

And then they saw why Rusalka had withdrawn her sword.

CHUNK—

Dark Demon Dragon was cleanly bisected along the path traced by Rusalka’s sword.

Starting from the left shoulder, Rusalka’s diagonal slash cut through the heart and straight to Abyss Dragon’s core, severing it with a single blow. With its core destroyed, Abyss Dragon stopped moving. Unaware that its left side had been asymmetrically severed, Dark Demon Dragon Rasputin leaned forward, extending its right hand to grab Undine.

[MU—N—D—IN—E—]

Dark Demon Dragon Rasputin’s right hand reached for the top of the tower but its entire right side slipped forward and collapsed.

“Hmph.”

Undine looked down at Dark Demon Dragon tipping sideways with disdain.

“I am Rusalka.”

Holding her golden sword close, her gentle smile was unmistakably that of a maiden in love.

* * *

“My hands and feet.”

I nearly turned into a full-on monster form after hearing Rusalka’s technique name. My hands and feet, now encased in black armor, stopped trembling completely, and Phoenix, who was sipping alcohol beside me, tightly gripped its glass, fighting back tears.

“That older sister…”

Phoenix was trying hard not to burst out laughing. From its perspective, while it had been brainwashed but maintained its sanity, poor Rusalka couldn’t shake off the influence of Dark Legion sensibilities due to the brainwashing. I recalled what Phoenix had done earlier and pointed it out.

“You’re not much different, are you?”

“It’s different. I’m doing what’s necessary, but that older sister truly believes it’s ‘cool’ and acts accordingly.”

“…True. That bloodline won’t just disappear.”

All my actions, whether it’s Blazing Phoenix Revival or creating monsters, are purely out of necessity.

“Honestly, embarrassing.”

“But if we go full power, there’s nothing we can do about it, right?”

“From now on, let’s not feel embarrassed around each other, alright? What do you think?”

Phoenix raised its glass to me, and I responded by clinking glasses with it. In reaffirming our duty to awaken the four officers still stuck in monster sensitivities, we gulped down our drinks.

“What did you mean by ‘blood’?”

“A story for another time.”

I briefly mentioned the sixth officer, Seok Harang, from the original stage.

“Recite it briefly. ‘Unleash! Freeze time itself, Gale Guest!’… Let’s stop there. I can’t say anymore.”

“Yeah. Good call.”

Having faced Seok Harang once before, Phoenix shook its head vigorously at the mere thought.

“You really did well. If she ever found out, she probably wouldn’t have stepped outside for life. How did you calm her rampage?”

“With the camaraderie of teammates.”

The protagonist group’s desperate efforts to reverse Seok Harang’s brainwashing aired live worldwide. Already a dried-up individual, Seok Harang retreated into seclusion as soon as she calmed down, and all subsequent personal episodes took place exclusively in her home.

“Luckily, that won’t happen again.”

“Thankfully. …Does that apply to her too?”

Phoenix wiggled its pinky finger at me. Since I had no intention of denying it, I nodded, causing Phoenix to pout unhappily.

“What? Did you whisper sweet nothings to her?”

“On live TV in front of the whole world, I proposed. When I hugged her waist and kissed her, the brainwashing broke.”

“Wow.”

Phoenix covered its face with its hands, blushing furiously.

“Why don’t you do the same for me?”

“Why would I do that to you?”

“If you fall in love with me later. Okay?”

“…I’ll consider it. Though it’s unlikely to happen.”

I raised my glass, only to find it empty. Phoenix’s glass was also empty, and there was no more vodka left.

“Hmm… We can’t get more, so what should we do? Should we ask Big Sister Lu for more?”

“Never mind. Rasputin is already dead—”

Just as I tried to stand up from the couch, an abnormality occurred in the lake.

“Oh crap.”

ROAR!!

The decapitated body of Abyss Dragon surged out of the water, jaws wide open. Despite losing its core and flesh, its violet eyes glared with insane fury, targeting its mortal enemy…

Above us, towards Mr. and Mrs. Rusalka.

* * *

It was overwhelming power.

SS+ rank Phoenix’s magic power, and the SS-ranked weapon Light Blade created from that power. Although using her beloved master as a weapon troubled Rusalka, she was satisfied knowing she had protected her subordinates with that power.

“Sorry, Master. You’re not mad, are you?”

[Of course not.]

Rusalka tightly embraced Light Blade. The blade sank between her breasts, and Rusalka buried her face into the hilt, rubbing her cheek against it.

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to Master.”

[Don’t mention it. I’m glad I could help in some way.]

“Yeah. I never expected we’d end up fighting together like this… This is my token of gratitude.”

KISS.

Rusalka lightly pressed her lips to the hilt. Her lips curled upward involuntarily, and the blade trembled.

“Once we return, let’s try it once. After the incident cleanup, this time in my bed—”

[LUSALKA!!]

Light Blade detected the danger first. Preoccupied with thoughts of making love to the blade and mistakenly judging the battle over, Rusalka had relaxed her guard.

KYAAAHHH!!

Abyss Dragon opened its mouth wide to swallow both of them. Acidic saliva dripped from its teeth, and some broken fangs slightly tilted towards Rusalka’s side.

“Ah-”

Too late to raise the sword. The imagined happy future started crumbling. Rusalka’s vision went dark.

SWISH.

SWISH?

“After nagging me endlessly about staying vigilant, you almost got killed, huh?”

In front of Rusalka stood a swordsman with long black hair, splitting Abyss Dragon’s head in half while grinning. Round Table Hero Gale Guest floated mid-air, stabbing Abyss Dragon repeatedly with his sword. Each stab oozed sticky black goo.

“…I just didn’t want to soil my sword with that stuff.”

Rusalka lowered her head while hugging her sword. Gale Guest shrugged and kicked the dragon’s severed head off the blade with his foot.

“Can I cut all of that up then?”

KYAAAHHH!!

Before Rusalka could slice the dimensional gate, many monsters still remained. Gale Guest licked his lips, ready to slash everything apart.

“…If the Round Table gets involved, we won’t even get 10% of the spoils, you know?”

“I don’t care! All I want is—”

Without finishing his sentence, Gale Guest rushed toward the group of monsters.

“To sever their heads!!”

* * *

“It’s over.”

Dark Demon Dragon Rasputin: Dead.

Penis recovered by Baek Cheongyoung.

Dimensional Gate: Collapsed.

It was a perfect victory.

“Shit, what a fight.”