Chapter 321

〈Chapter 321: Part 1, Chapter 14, Scene 11〉

Greetings.

Conversation.

That stuff is unnecessary.

What’s necessary is attack and defense alone.

I burst out of Karura’s cockpit, hoisting Deokbate high above my head as I swung it down towards Karna’s crown. His golden eyes, molten like liquid gold, flickered faintly.

“What are you trying to do right now?”

Karna asked me. In response, I slammed Deokbate straight down onto him.

Psshk!!

Deokbate shattered into pieces. Even though I had struck his bare head without a helmet, the stone weapon broke apart instead.

‘Huh, figured as much.’

“Your skull sure is hard, huh?”

Karna’s expression remained utterly unimpressed. The thin protective layer covering his skin didn’t even waver.

It was my mistake to expect a B-Rank weapon to pierce through an SS-Rank defense. As soon as I landed, I slipped Deokbate’s Core into my inner pocket and simultaneously extended my other hand, thrusting upward toward Karna’s jawline.

“…!!”

Tsk. Karna’s lips curled up slightly despite his rigid stance. From beneath his golden breastplate, a black steel gauntlet brimming with killing intent shot upward.

Kaaang!

Karna blocked my punch by simply extending his palm. But alas, my transformed hand wasn’t just one—thanks to partial monsterification, there were multiples! I withdrew the hand that stored Deokbate and jabbed it directly at Karna’s abdomen.

“Where do you think you’re aiming?!”

Karna used my arm as leverage to leap backward in a single bound. Covering the distance he had traversed in a mere step, Karna extended his spear forward.

Planning on fighting with a spear, huh? When we were allies, he looked cool, but now that he’s my enemy… well, he still looks pretty cool.

“You’ve got way too much free time. Aren’t you going to run?”

“There’s no point in closing the distance!”

That’s true. Karna hurled his spear at me while gripping it tightly. Even though the spear was long, it was still far from reaching me—but I kicked off the ground and sidestepped anyway.

Buuuuzzz!!

A golden spearhead sliced through the air. It was magic power released from the spear itself, grazing past my hair and cutting through empty space.

“Hmph.”

As I effortlessly dodged Karna’s initial strike, he grinned and pulled back the spear shaft for several rapid thrusts. I leaned sideways and charged forward.

Pa-pa-pak!

Golden spearheads shot out like laser beams. Each one carried immense destructive power; even a graze would likely slice through my defenses.

Karna’s attacks were undeniably threatening to me. So then, the question remains: what about Karna’s defense?

Tat-tat-tat!

I sprinted diagonally across the remnants of a wall, landing behind Karna in an instant. Clenching my fist, I launched it toward his back.

Kaaang!

A clear sound rang out as Karna’s armor trembled. The ground shook violently under the force of my blow, but it only shook—it didn’t break. Karna’s golden armor remained completely unscathed, neither dented nor scratched.

‘Figured as much.’

His defense is impressive. As befits someone who, as a humanoid, achieves SS-Rank specs among the Dark Legion officers, my punch barely pierced through his protective barrier before striking the armor.

‘This guy’s defensive capabilities are genuinely top-notch.’

But hitting him left not a single scratch. Karna has naturally high defenses, but this damn golden armor makes it impossible to deal any damage.

“Still, you’re strong. Stronger than anyone I’ve fought so far!”

Karna sounded delighted, even after taking a hit to the back. No, he seemed exhilarated.

“I’m getting the taste for a ‘real’ fight!!”

“Tch!”

If only I could give it my all against Seongju…

I retracted my fist and kicked Karna’s back. Using the recoil, I leapt high into the air, while Karna casually swung his spear around.

Buuuuzzz!!

Another golden spearhead surged toward me. I spread my wings and soared higher into the sky, tumbling forward to dodge the attack.

“Doesn’t matter if you’re in the air, does it?!”

Karna lunged at me mid-flight with his spear. Another golden spearhead darted straight at me, and I ascended even further to evade it.

Puuk!

The spearhead embedded itself into the barrier. The barrier, which no one had managed to penetrate until now, already bore countless marks from Karna’s previous spear strikes. However, Karna’s attacks couldn’t shatter or destroy it.

“The barrier won’t break.”

This special barrier was specifically designed for the battle against Karna, functioning as a dueling arena.

Though it provides no buffs for me or debuffs for Karna, its sheer thickness blocks everything inside and outside the Taj Mahal.

“To enter or exit, you need my permission.”

“I don’t understand.”

Karna gathered magic power and hurled a spearhead at the barrier. It was a fairly large one, nearly splitting the barrier in half.

“…Hmm. Guess it can’t be done. Too solid. Stronger than my armor.”

“Right?”

Karna gave up on breaking the barrier. My magic-powered barrier might get scratched or cut on the surface, but it cannot be pierced. There’s no way for Karna, an officer of the Dark Legion, to escape this barrier.

“It was built specifically as your prison, after all.”

Even if he tries to break through at a single point, the barrier recovers faster than Karna can destroy it. Every mark left by Karna’s spearheads except the last one vanished completely.

“So, there’s only one option left.”

“That’s correct.”

To defeat me, the one who erected the barrier.

I folded my wings and landed on the ground.

“But can you really defeat me?”

“Hmph. We’ll see when we try.”

Karna walked toward me, and I shook my hands once, lowering my stance. Karna was smiling more brightly than ever before—brighter than even during his personal route where he shared love with the protagonist.

“I always wanted to fight. But because of that damn mission, I had to keep holding back. Officers have to cooperate, after all!”

“…Hold on. Question. How long has it been since we last met?”

“Is that important?!”

“Yeah. Extremely. If you answer, I’ll go full power.”

Hesitation. Karna’s steps momentarily halted. He frowned, then quickly returned to his position and assumed a defensive stance.

“…Since I fell into this wretched world, it’s been the first time.”

“Figures. You must’ve been sneaking around looking for brawls with humans instead of sleeping. By the time I tried to find you, you’d already wandered off somewhere.”

“…”

Karna closed his eyes gently.

I knew that meant he was embarrassed, but thanks to his aggressive nature, I was certain that twenty years ago, Phoenix hadn’t been able to pull anything funny with monsters like Fenril, Hydra, and Azidahaka, since they never encountered the remaining three.

There are some questionable points, but those are questions for Phoenix later. To uncover the truth from Phoenix, I need to awaken Karna as Gaechonkwang.

“Thanks. Now let me fight you at full power.”

“Heh heh heh…! Bring it on!”

“Not me. These guys.”

“What… did you say?”

I jumped into Karura as black smoke billowed, grabbing Hwakwon and Garura by their necks as they continued wrestling.

“S-sensei?!

“Master, this guy is messing with my body, kyaaaaa!”

I grabbed them both and took off vertically from Karura’s cockpit. The Core transferred into the human form of Garura I held, causing Karura to collapse and disintegrate.

Boooom!

On my left, Hwakwon. On my right, Garura.

“What is the meaning of this…?”

Karna furrowed his eyebrows and exuded killing intent. His eyes, filled with anticipation for our battle, now appeared deflated and disappointed. That disappointment transformed into anger and combativeness, spilling forth as ominous killing intent.

“Let me explain. This one’s just a bonus.”

I shoved Garura forward. Caught between me and Karna, Garura hesitated awkwardly.

“…Hm? I don’t recall creating such a monster.”

“Ahhh…”

Karna tilted his head, puzzled, reading the residual power of Gaechonkwang within Garura. Realizing he still didn’t recognize Garura, Garura lowered her head.

“Take hope. At least now we can communicate, right?”

“…That’s true… snifff!”

Garura laughed through tears. Back then, when she was consumed by madness and rampaged uncontrollably, and now, as an officer brainwashed into obedience, at least words could pass between us—and the conditions to undo the brainwashing were already in place.

“Now, Phoenix, stop rushing me.”

“Quit stalling already.”

Karna bit his lip in frustration, but I paid him no mind as I prepared for the next phase.

“Alright, your role is crucial now, disciple.”

I placed my hand on Hwakwon’s shoulder, infusing my magic power directly. The flame residing in his heart reacted to my magic.

Whoosh.

Hwakwon’s entire magical power was restored. While I was at it, I also replenished Garura’s power. Both the S-Rank Hero and the S-Rank Monster recovered all the magical power they had lost in battle.

“Then, Karna, I’ll need a little time to reach full power. You know, since I spent so much creating a barrier that can withstand our full-strength clashes without affecting the outside world.”

“…Ahem. Is that so?”

Karna nodded. His raised eyebrows relaxed slightly.

“And another thing. You came too early. I need some time to recover my magic power.”

“Huh? Master, you’re-”

“Disciple, shut him up. And Garura, zip it.”

Hwakwon covered Garura’s mouth with his pot-sized hand, while Garura struggled fiercely to break free.

“Ahem. So if we fight now, I can only use this much strength. Surely you don’t want that, do you?”

“Of course not.”

“Then can you give me some recovery time?”

“As much as you need.”

Karna agreed readily. I gestured toward Hwakwon and Garura, pushing them forward.

“But waiting around would be boring, wouldn’t it? Why don’t you play with them for a bit? Among my subordinates, these two are the strongest.”

“…Ahem.”

“Y-yeah, that’s true. Hehe.”

Sure thing. The two S-Ranks burned with determination upon receiving my praise. Though Garura hesitated to fight her creator-like figure, Karna, she’d fallen for my sweet talk long ago.

“So, if you win 1-on-1, you’ll achieve spirit awakening, right?”

“Hmph, someone like you could never defeat Lord Gaechonkwang.”

“Y-yes, Sensei. Who gets to fight first?”

“Obviously me! How dare this lowly human presume to team up with Lord Gaechonkwang? Unforgivable!”

Hwakwon raised both hands in deference, yielding his turn, while Garura growled fiercely and ignited her fighting spirit. After entrusting the battle to them, I hopped away and landed atop the skeletal remains of the mausoleum building.

“…Phew.”

Ten years of patience. Who would’ve guessed Karna would show up here? I never imagined he’d appear so early.

‘I planned to relax while they played around for thirty minutes.’

Fortunately, Karna fell for my bait and accepted Hwakwon and Garura’s challenge. At least during their battle, I needed to handle something urgent.

‘About an hour to capture Karna.’

I absolutely have to catch Karna before sunset. What’s most important to me right now?

“Should I return to the country today or tomorrow…?”

Pretending to recover my magic power, I closed my eyes and entered meditation.

Did I expend too much creating the barrier? Do I need to recover?

Sorry, Karna, but that’s a big fat lie. Didn’t I just restore Hwakwon and Garura’s magic power? Karna didn’t catch on.

‘It’s July 24th today. If I return now, there’s work to be done…’

Assuming I awaken one spirit, let’s consider a few tasks.

First, introduce Yun Yuhwa to Karna, fulfill Yun Yuhwa’s request, assess the academy’s opening status, open it a bit earlier, and promote the growth of heroes like Hwakwon there—

Bzzzzt! Boom!

Two figures zipped past my left and right.

“…Not even giving me time to adjust my schedule.”

Hwakwon and Garura collapsed unconscious against the barrier, falling to the ground.

Thud.

S-Ranks, so they won’t die, but seeing Garura sprawled on top of Hwakwon like that suggests fate isn’t kind to him.

“Are there pheromones exclusive to monsters or something?”

I shook my head as I stood up. Standing at the center of the Taj Mahal Garden, Karna shouted loudly.

“Hey! I won! Hurry up and come down to fight!”

“…Can’t you give me a little more time?!”

“Haha! I’ll wait however long it takes! Hurry down and let’s have a quick match!”

Karna beckoned me with his hand.

“I’ll adjust my strength exactly to whatever you put out!!”

“Tch.”

You battle maniac. Reluctantly, I adjusted my power to a level where I could “definitely and quickly win.”

SS+, 99.

I became a monster, unfurling wings behind my armor.

Karna standing below me didn’t change outwardly, but the maximum output of his rising magic power clearly increased.

[No limits on max-level battles. Complaining halfway through will get you killed.]

“Exactly what I hoped for!”

Same goes for me. I leapt down from the top of the Taj Mahal.