Chapter 338

〈 Chapter 338 〉 Part 1, Chapter 14, 29

Demon Dragons are classified as SS-Rank Monsters, but among them, the most notoriously difficult to deal with were said to be the Light Demon Dragon and the Dark Demon Dragon.

The singular entity known as the Light Demon Dragon, often called the strongest of its kind.

Similar to how Rasputin appeared in Moscow, spewing out countless underling monsters upon arrival, the Dark Demon Dragon was also a force to be reckoned with.

The simultaneous emergence of both Demon Dragons through a Dimensional Gate was beyond the power of ordinary means to suppress.

– Where is the Round Table?

Two Demon Dragons have appeared. There’s no more time to waste; only the Baegnaroh is struggling on its own.

Though they managed to close three Dimensional Gates, whether they could hunt down two Demon Dragons in such a short time remained questionable in people’s eyes.

But the parties involved weren’t worried at all.

Karna, the <Gaechonkwang>.

Since Demon Dragons inherit the traits of their elemental Spirits, Gaechonkwang too was considered one of the strongest single entities.

Although his strength was publicly rated as S-Rank, he was one of the few who could rival Phoenix.

Currently, the heroes aboard the Baegnaroh were pondering how to close the Dimensional Gates.

“Preferably, we should close the gate from which the Light Demon Dragon emerged, right? If one Light Demon Dragon appears and doesn’t come out again, that would be ideal.”

“I agree. We witnessed what happened when Rasputin and the Dark Demon Dragon rampaged in Moscow. They just kept pouring out like crazy.”

“So it’s decided then.”

Defeat the Light Demon Dragon and close its Dimensional Gate.

Subdue the Dark Demon Dragon that emerges from the remaining open Dimensional Gate and eliminate as many monsters as possible before the one-hour deadline for the gates expires.

“Even if we calculate it at 7:3 or 5:5, it’ll be an incredible gain. Just from the number of monsters we’ve taken down alone, Cores will be overflowing.”

Setting aside the Cores from the Dimensional Gates opened mid-air and the monsters that fell because of them, the Cores rolling around on the deck of the Baegnaroh were already Korea’s heroes’ spoils.

Without either Phoenix or Gaechonkwang, this level of confidence would have been impossible, but the heroes had already seen the true prowess of Gaechonkwang.

“Mr. Gaechonkwang, can you subdue the Light Demon Dragon?”

“Don’t need to say it twice. I’m stronger today than I was yesterday.”

Karna smirked confidently.

While everyone struggled to grasp what “stronger than yesterday” meant after witnessing his battle with Phoenix, the heroes had already seen enough.

“I understand. But the Light Demon Dragon is rare even among Demon Dragons. This raid might provide valuable experience.”

The Executioner quickly issued orders to the heroes.

“Hwakwon, Garura, keep the Dark Demon Dragon in check! Everyone else, handle the Light Demon Dragon and close the Dimensional Gate! Mr. Gaechonkwang, please restrain Azidahaka!”

“No, there’s no need for that. Leave Azidahaka be.”

Karna firmly advocated leaving Azidahaka unchecked.

With his hair cut short and bloodshot eyes, Azidahaka looked ready to cause even greater chaos.

– Surely, he won’t just unleash another Dimensional Gate frenzy by spawning two Demon Dragons, right…?

That was the common thought among the heroes. Despite their reluctance to leave Azidahaka unchecked, Karna simply shook his head after scanning the heroes with his gaze.

“Not out of malice, but I intend to take care of both the Light Demon Dragon and Azidahaka myself. Alone.”

“What?”

“Why so surprised? I can do it alone, hence my words.”

Gaechonkwang plucked the string of his green bow with his fingers. The heroes had wanted to ask about the identity of this bow and the whereabouts of the missing person since earlier, but Gaechonkwang continued speaking in his own rhythm.

“I acknowledge your strength, but for me, this is a necessary task. It’s something I must do as a Light Spirit — to put that poor child to rest. Also, for the sake of capturing Azidahaka.”

“…Understood. Then please do your best.”

“Executioner!”

Karna made unreasonable demands without explanation, and the Executioner readily accepted. Though Tempest Lady showed some hesitation, Garura and Hwakwon, who had recovered their magic power, were already preparing to leap off the deck of the Baegnaroh.

“We’re going to restrain the Dark Demon Dragon!”

“That isn’t necessary either.”

“What?”

Garura stopped in her tracks, and Karna pointed at the two Dimensional Gates and the haughty Azidahaka with crossed arms.

“One arrow will suffice.”

Karna combined his Biuja with Gongsung. A sharp, green-glowing arrow from the Gongsung had Biuja attached like an additional glove.

“The Demon Dragons are our replicas, victims of the experiments conducted by Seongju to merge us into one. Therefore, it’s our duty to reclaim them.”

“To merge…?”

Karna’s words stiffened everyone’s expressions, but he began muttering something else to himself.

“Let’s gather the souls of the Dark Demon Dragon as well.”

“What? Merge? What are you talking about—”

Gurrrr!!

The Dimensional Gates began to go berserk. Azidahaka tilted his head back and mocked the heroes.

“Ho ho ho! I don’t care anymore! Kill both the Light Demon Dragon and the Dark Demon Dragon!”

“You’re showing your true colors now that your hair’s flying.”

Woooom!!

As Gaechonkwang aimed his bow at Azidahaka, a soft golden glow began to frost over it. The magical power emanating from Gaechonkwang shone brighter than ever, causing the Demon Dragons to thrash wildly as they tried to poke their heads out of the Dimensional Gates.

“Go tell the main body, fool.”

Karna aimed the Gongsung, enhanced with Biuja, at Azidahaka. Azidahaka twisted his lips while leaning into the darkness, facing the serious expression of Karna.

“Hmph! What are you trying to say—”

“Brahmasutra!”

Karna fired the arrow. Twisting the golden-feathered arrow clockwise, the laser-like projectile carved a curve through the darkness.

BOOM!!

The combination of Gongsung’s indirect fire, Tubulus’s destructive power, and Biuja’s speed, known as Brahmasutra, pierced through the head of the Light Demon Dragon just as it was emerging from the Dimensional Gate.

“What—”

Azidahaka’s eyes widened at the arrow that obliterated the Demon Dragon in one shot. But the arrow didn’t stop there.

Wiiiiiiing!!

The Brahmasutra-shaped arrow wriggled like a snake, curving back towards Azidahaka.

“Wha—what are you doing!!”

Azidahaka screamed as the arrow returned towards him, pointing accusingly at Karna.

“I had something to say—!!”

Pu—uuck!

The arrow pierced through Azidahaka’s chest, and without stopping, it also skewered the Dark Demon Dragon trying to emerge beside him.

“…”

The heroes were astonished by Karna’s power. Karna detached Biuja from Gongsung with a satisfied face.

“Hmm, it’s indeed a fine bow.”

Karna disarmed Gongsung and Biuja. Suddenly turned into a weapon by Karna, Gongsung was left flustered with a bright red face.

“How…?”

“What? It’s a sort of loophole due to my relationship with Phoenix.”

Pointing at the Brahmasutra ascending towards the heavens, Karna shrugged.

“Both me and Phoenix share roots in the Sun.”

Kwa—-ang.

The Brahmasutra exploded in the sky, spreading light that dispelled the darkness. The exploding arrow hung in the sky like the sun, illuminating the surroundings as bright as day.

Kiiieeek!

The monsters flowing out of the Dimensional Gate where the Dark Demon Dragon emerged screamed and squirmed upon seeing the light of the Brahmasutra. Karna nodded contentedly.

“Now even a child with a slingshot could kill them.”

Karna cleaned up everything except the Dimensional Gates, creating a light source in the sky to weaken the monsters emerging from the gates.

“…So, sister Usa, what did you want to say to that officer?”

Confused Usa asked, and Karna tilted his head as if questioning why she asked.

“Brahmasutra.”

“…?”

“‘Brahmasutra,’ that’s what I told you to relay.”

“…”

Everyone fell silent. Was Karna really intending to relay the name of his technique, or was it a ruse to deceive Azidahaka? The man himself pointed at the remaining Dimensional Gates with a composed look.

“Well then, Executioner, the Dimensional Gates are still open. What shall we do?”

“…”

It hadn’t been an hour since the Dimensional Gates first appeared. With the Demon Dragons defeated, the next step was to hunt as many monsters as possible before other countries could intervene.

“…I’ll contact <Rama> briefly.”

At the 59th minute after the Dimensional Gates appeared.

The expeditionary force had felled as many monsters as possible, and a Core shower poured down over Darjeeling.

Of these, approximately 30% went to Korean heroes, and another 30% went to Gaechonkwang Karna.

Azidahaka did not reappear.

Five Dimensional Gates, successfully destroyed.

After hastily collecting the Cores on the Baegnaroh, the heroes turned the ship towards Incheon upon receiving urgent news from Korea.

* * *

Majima Island was originally not a place suitable for human habitation.

Just over two months ago.

Due to the rampage of <Moby Dick>, an SS-Rank Monster and the second form of the Water Demon Dragon, Majima Island became a land of monsters. People evacuated, and the bridge leading to Majima Island was destroyed, making it a complete island.

However, until just an hour ago, hundreds of thousands of people were living on Majima Island.

Most of them were not original residents but individuals using Majima Island as a stepping stone to seek asylum in Korea.

Those who originally lived on Majima Island, those who crossed over in small boats, and those attempting illegal entry into Korea via the relatively closer Majima route due to the impossibility of entering Kimhae.

Though devastated by Moby Dick, they all hoped to migrate to Korea.

But not in this manner.

“Aaaaah!! An earthquake!!”

The island is moving. The island is charging towards the peninsula. The people on Majima Island were terrified. Even though all the monsters were supposedly eradicated, the danger hadn’t completely disappeared.

And this danger manifested as an unprecedented situation—an earthquake and the island’s charge.

Perhaps it was divine punishment for trespassing onto a land destined to become a death zone. They resigned themselves as the island charged towards the Korean Peninsula.

The entire island races across the sea. There was no way for them to resolve this supernatural event.

For them.

Chjerjerjer.

The sea froze. The trembling of the island intensified momentarily before gradually subsiding.

“Oh, this is…!”

“Impossible!”

People cheered at the sight of the frozen white sea.

Ki-gi-jik, ki-jik.

After pushing against the frozen sea for quite some time, the island lost momentum and came to a halt. The people looked up at the sky with bewildered faces.

On top of an ice wall several dozen meters high.

A white-haired hero with butterfly wings sprinkling snowflakes looked down at them with a troubled expression.

* * *

[This is bad… I managed to stop it, but what should I do now?]

Seok Harang awkwardly waved at the cheering people below. Heroes serve humanity, but the blood coursing through Seok Harang’s veins expressed significant reluctance regarding the current situation.

“Worry not. Hydra has completely fled. There won’t be any monstrous repercussions.”

I was returning to Seoul after de-transforming.

I communicated with Seok Harang through Magical Gear. Since Hydra had escaped, there was no need to show Phoenix tenderly conversing with Seolhwa-ryeong.

“For now, relax. I’ve built an ice wall by freezing the sea, so it won’t easily cross over.”

Having escaped Hydra’s attack and regained composure, Seok Harang promptly used Busan Strait seawater to create a massive wall. The ice wall, towering dozens of meters high, encircled Majima Island in a crescent shape and successfully blocked its advance.

[Uh… Does this mean our sea area will drastically shrink?]

“…Legally speaking, yes.”

Since Majima Island is Japanese territory, if it attaches itself to the Korean Peninsula, the narrowing of the Busan Strait is inevitable.

“But it’s fine. You have various options. The choice is yours.”

[Various options?]

“Yes.”

I briefly outlined the plans that immediately came to mind.

“There’s the option to melt it entirely, sink the island, or fill it with monsters…”

[Stop with the weird ideas. Isn’t there a more peaceful solution?]

“There is.”

I presented two choices to Seok Harang.

“Evacuate everyone inside back to Japan and make it our territory.”

[That sounds tough. Will the Japanese hand over Majima Island just because they’re insane?]

“It might happen if we offer substantial compensation. Or you control the sea. And…”

I overlaid a map on Seok Harang’s screen and flung Majima Island far away.

“Misdelivered packages should be returned.”

[…In that case, the sea area will expand, right?]

“Yes. Well then.”

I ended communication with Seok Harang and descended onto the rooftop of the 63 Building. Folding my wings silently from mid-air, I quietly landed without anyone noticing and dispersed my magic power throughout Seoul, once again surveying the entire city.

“…”

I sense the unfortunate presence of villains sporadically infiltrating Seoul, but otherwise, no unusual energy signatures.

Above all, there’s no reaction from Penril, or Kim Penril.

“…He’s probably playing somewhere again.”

If Azidahaka entrusted Busan to Hydra and Seoul to Penril, I can safely advise that it was a terrible decision.

“There’s no way he’d act punctually.”

Kim Penril is cunning. Extremely cunning to the point where he specializes in precisely estimating the time required to perform assigned tasks.

‘If there’s a task that can be done in 10 seconds, he’ll start exactly 10 seconds before the deadline.’

Thus, if Penril is coming to destroy Seoul, he’ll leisurely play wherever he is, calculating the exact time needed to reach Seoul and move accordingly.

“I guess I should stay in Seoul for a while.”

Penril will undoubtedly visit Seoul. It might be today, or perhaps he’ll casually delay it as he always does.

I climbed onto the railing and clenched my fist.

“Welcome to Korea, Kim Penril.”

I’ll greet him upon arrival by serving mint chocolate with kimchi.

Thus, I returned to Seoul first, and the Indian expedition concluded.