Chapter 305

〈Chapter 305〉 Part 1, Chapter 13, Section 22

“There are only a few spots where you can deal proper damage to the Yasha. Though its body looks skeletal, attacking it without S-Rank level power won’t do anything. Even its skin is tough enough that even S-Rank heroes might have trouble penetrating it. So we need to aim here.”

Phoenix pointed at her own abdomen. When the hologram of the Yasha was flipped over, the heroes’ expressions hardened.

“Guts spilling everywhere? Yep, you gotta hit the guts. That’s this guy’s weak point.”

“Can’t we go for anywhere else?”

Phantom openly grimaced, but Phoenix shook her head.

“Yes, targeting anything else will be useless. You know those monsters that keep reviving unless certain conditions are met? The Yasha is exactly like that.”

Phoenix conjured up a holographic human figure. Beside it, a tiny flame entered the person, causing them to swell into the monstrous form of a Yasha.

“It’s a beast with dark elemental properties. A kind of virus-monster that turns hosts into these creatures.”

Gongsung placed his hand on his stomach and turned pale. Unsah beside him grabbed his hand to comfort him. Phoenix cleared her throat to avoid being noticed and continued.

“If you just knock it down, the core might appear, but the virus will spread to another host, turning them into a monster too. So what do we do? Keep farming cores by killing it improperly, or just finish it off right now? Choose.”

Everyone chose the latter. Phoenix nodded as if she expected this and proceeded.

“Alright, let me explain how to completely kill both the Yasha and its virus. It’s simple: burn it to death. Without fire or lightning attributes, it’s an incredibly annoying pest.”

Phoenix gestured toward Hwakwon. Since Phoenix couldn’t personally step in, Hwakwon was inevitably the key player who would take down the Yasha.

“So, Hwakwon, are you ready to incinerate the Yasha’s insides?”

“…Of course.”

Hwakwon clenched her fist and vowed to Phoenix.

“I’ll not only burn its insides but ensure the entire body is torched so the virus doesn’t spread.”

“Good. Other heroes should support Hwakwon, but if she gets hit, don’t interfere. If she really gets knocked back, then you can restrain the Yasha.”

Phoenix ran a simulation using holograms of the Yasha and Hwakwon. Just before the Yasha’s greatsword split Hwakwon’s head open, Hwakwon slipped beneath it and delivered an uppercut of flames straight into its guts.

“You parry the attack on cue and then deliver a fatal blow to the weak spot. Got it?”

“Why do we have to bother with all this?”

“It pisses the virus off. We’re not just defeating a virus-infected monster; we’re taking it down while the virus is fully integrated and pissed off. It’s annoying, but that’s the condition.”

Phoenix grumbled something under her breath about unnecessary complications, though deep down, the one actually performing this task would be Hwakwon.

“Let’s call this ‘parrying.’ If done correctly, the Yasha will stagger briefly. Use that moment to unleash your full assault. Ideally, aim for the guts, but from your positions, just start firing at the Yasha.”

From the rear, Gongsung, Tempest Lady, and Unsah were assigned to suppress and focus-fire the Yasha when it falls.

“While Hwakwon draws the Yasha’s aggro, Unsah and Pungbaek should alternate disrupting it from mid-range. Focus more on drawing its attention rather than dealing damage. Even if you get hit by the greatsword at full strength, you can endure it once, so relax until then.”

In the mid-range, Unsah and Pungbaek would take over drawing the Yasha’s aggro if Hwakwon falters.

“Phantom and I will stay airborne on the Black Flame Dragon. We’ll oversee everything from above and issue commands.”

Since the Yasha was only half the size of the Black Flame Dragon, a direct fight between them would be difficult. After assigning roles among the heroes and discussing with the Executioner, I handed Phantom a weapon adorned with golden patterns.

“What’s this?”

“A weapon for landing the final blow on the Yasha.”

Though ornate, the weapon’s shape was incredibly crude—a halberd with jagged blades. Phantom inspected it carefully and whistled.

“Such a barbaric weapon.”

“It’ll definitely work. In various ways, it’ll counter the Yasha perfectly.”

After concluding the briefing, Phoenix clapped her hands and scanned the room. With the Executioner’s approval, the raid essentially became a battle orchestrated by Phoenix.

“So, who wants to make the grand opening move?”

“I’ll do it.”

Hwakwon volunteered, and Phoenix agreed. Up until this point, Phoenix hadn’t imagined Hwakwon would declare “Chang-yeom” so confidently.

This marked the beginning of a historic battle where Hwakwon’s ultimate technique, “Blazing Phoenix Revival,” would officially echo worldwide.

* * *

KAAHH!!!

The Yasha burst forth from a blaze of azure-white flames. Rolling on the ground to extinguish the fire clinging to its fur, it scattered acidic bodily fluids across the floor.

– Pungbaek, Unsah, draw its attention. Hwakwon, incinerate the spilled fluids on the ground. They’re corrosive acid.

Through the watch, Phoenix’s instructions came through. Hwakwon, having moved far back, unleashed flames towards the ground. Meanwhile, Pungbaek and Unsah leaped forward together after landing nearby, charging directly at the Yasha.

KAANG—!

Pungbaek’s staff and Unsah’s spear struck the Yasha’s back simultaneously. Though no visible damage was inflicted, it was enough to divert the Yasha’s gaze from Hwakwon.

BUUUUUM!!

The Yasha swung its grotesque left arm to snatch them. Pungbaek evaded by riding the wind, while Unsah boldly dove beneath the Yasha.

– Unsah, no reckless moves. Just retreat.

“…Kkrrt!”

Phoenix’s ghostly command rang out. Unsah, poised to thrust her spear upward, noticed the Yasha’s intestines dangling from its groin and pushed off the ground to escape.

– Both of you focus on disruption. Once Hwakwon clears the field debris, then you can deal damage.

“What? She’s not even the commander!”

Pungbaek channeled wind into his legs and kicked the Yasha’s jaw, sending it reeling sideways. Enraged, the Yasha glared at Pungbaek.

KYAAAH!!!

The Yasha opened its mouth wide, but Pungbaek had already jumped onto its shoulder and leapt away.

Twitch, twitch!

Part of the Yasha’s internal organs oozed out from its back. Pulling out its intestine like a whip, the Yasha attempted to swing it around.

“Kkrrt?!”

“Damn.”

Pungbaek and Usa gauged the reach of the whip and clicked their tongues. They needed to evade quickly to avoid being intercepted.

KWA—ANG!!

Just as the Yasha raised its whip, gunfire erupted toward it. Gongsung, Usa, and Tempest Lady began firing arrows and magic bullets from a distance where the whip couldn’t reach. Thick smoke billowed around the Yasha as explosions erupted.

– Pungbaek, Unsah, create some distance and catch your breath during this break.

With the Executioner’s order, they retreated from the whip’s range. The Yasha roared and searched for its enemies, spotting the nearest target and slamming down its intestine.

“Huff!”

Out of the smoke emerged Hwakwon. Keeping her eyes fixed on the descending intestine aimed at her head, she didn’t budge from her position.

– Now!

Phoenix and the Executioner’s orders synchronized perfectly. Hwakwon sprinted forward just as the whip descended.

Swoosh–

Dodging the attack by mere inches, Hwakwon clenched her right fist, wreathed in azure-white flames.

Her target: the decaying flesh hidden beneath the fur. Beneath it lay intestines writhing with parasites and bugs.

“Haaa!”

Flames surged from Hwakwon’s eyes. The Blaze Emblem embedded in her heart circulated mana throughout her body, amplifying her strength.

“First strike–!!”

KWA—ANG!!

Hwakwon’s flaming fist pierced the Yasha’s gut. The fiery punch tore through the wound and struck the intestines precisely.

– Twist it and detonate.

Phoenix’s instruction came through. Whether due to shared understanding as fire-elemental ability users, Hwakwon immediately powered her fist, twisted it, and released mana upon hearing the command.

KWAAAGH!!

The flames exploded, propelling Hwakwon away from beneath the Yasha. The Yasha screamed in pain, dropping to its knees and collapsing forward with its arms extended.

“Kkrrt?!”

The speed at which the Yasha’s arm fell was faster than Hwakwon’s retreat. Expecting to be crushed, she raised her guard just as a jet of black flames flew in from afar.

KWAANG!!

The black flames targeted the Yasha’s joints, bending its arm. Hwakwon, who had retreated safely, quickly realized who had fired the magical projectile to save her.

– We’ll provide support if it gets dangerous. Don’t worry about getting hurt.

Grrrr.

Phoenix and the Executioner aboard the Black Flame Dragon circled the Yasha, monitoring the situation. The Yasha, clutching its wounded belly, howled fiercely at its surroundings.

KYAAAAAAA!!

The heroes instinctively understood: the Yasha was growing enraged with pain. The Executioner swiftly issued additional orders.

– Full Strength assault begins.

– We’re pissing it off.

The Executioner gave the orders, and Phoenix added her input. Some followed the commands thoroughly, while others endured the Yasha’s grotesqueness to unleash their mana freely, bombarding the Yasha with attacks.

KIIIIEEEK!!

The Yasha shielded its insides thoroughly while enduring the magical projectiles with its body. Despite appearances, the Yasha’s fur and skin possessed significant defensive capabilities, showing no signs of penetration even against A-Rank powers.

– Hwakwon re-engages, Unsah assists. Pungbaek standby.

Hwakwon charged at the Yasha again. Though angered by the major damage dealt earlier, the Yasha remained cautious of Hwakwon’s mana, swinging its arm defensively.

“Krrk?!”

A geyser of blood sprayed from the Yasha’s arm. The crimson liquid bubbled as if capable of melting anything it touched.

“I’m going!”

Unsah, trailing alongside Hwakwon, slammed her spear tip into the ground. A powerful gust erupted from the spear, preventing the Yasha’s blood spray from reaching Hwakwon.

– Pungbaek engage. Ride the magical projectiles.

“Leaving the old man exhausted? Not on my watch!”

Pungbaek propelled himself through the air, weaving between the magical projectiles fired by Gongsung and Usa. Slipping stealthily through the armpit, Pungbaek gripped his staff tightly, awaiting further instructions.

– Stab it.

“That’s helpful!”

Pungbaek plunged his staff between the ribs. A violent gust erupted from the staff, tearing through the muscles between the Yasha’s ribs caused by the wind he generated.

KIIIAAAK!

The Yasha instantly reached toward its chest with its right hand, attempting to grab Pungbaek.

– Tempest Lady, create a vortex. Pungbaek, ride it to disengage.

“Thanks, old man!”

Tempest Lady swooped in and launched a massive vortex between the Yasha’s armpits. Pungbaek rode the vortex and escaped from the Yasha’s side, leaving its hand to swipe at empty air.

– Now, Gongsung.

PA–ANG!

Gongsung, shooting from behind the Yasha, twisted his bowstring and fired. The arrow pierced through the Yasha’s armpit, curved significantly, and performed a U-turn thanks to Gongsung’s special skill, embedding itself between the ribs previously stabbed by Pungbaek.

CRUNCH!!

The arrow imbued with Tubulus’ properties pierced the lung, creating a wind hole. The Yasha wobbled violently and collapsed onto the ground again, prompting the heroes to resume their bombardment under the Executioner’s command.

KIIIIEEEK….

The Yasha roared and toppled forward. The heroes, weapons at the ready, watched its movements closely.

– It’s a feint. Don’t fall for it. It’ll glow and charge the moment it attacks.

Grrrr….

The Yasha appeared clearly injured, yet the heroes, heeding Phoenix’s warning, refrained from approaching.

Grrr….

Finally, the Yasha abandoned its deception and moved to extract its intestines again. Upon noticing this, Phoenix jubilantly called out a clear command.

– It’s trying to counterattack! Damage dealers, go in with magical strikes.

Thud.

A gray-cloaked woman wearing a mask leapt down from atop the Black Flame Dragon, wielding a golden-bladed halberd.