Chapter 360

〈 Chapter 360 〉 Part 1, Chapter 15, Section 18

Four layered barriers plus the barrier Nuclearian had set up.

In the barrier erected by five SS-Rank beings, where nuclei clashed in a battle of nuclear forces, Karna emerged victorious.

Rustle.

The fluorescent-colored wall disappeared, and Nuclearian lay unconscious on the ground on his side. Even Karnas opposite looked far from well.

“Hahaha.”

Karna lay sprawled on the floor, laughing as he stared at Bijaya extended toward the heavens, confident in his victory.

“Ugh.”

Seok Harang and Hwanryong frowned at Karnas battered appearance. There wasn’t an inch of Karna that wasn’t injured; it was astonishing that he was even still alive.

If a corpse struck directly by a hundred white bombs could move, it would probably look like Karna does now.

“So this is why I said I’d do it.”

“Phoenix, don’t be disappointed. Heh. I’m quite satisfied.”

Karna raised his thumb with a smirk. Seok Harang and Hwanryong turned their heads away as if they couldn’t bear to look anymore.

“Anyway, you nuke-heads.”

I walked straight over to the unconscious Nuclearian and pulled the core attached to his forehead. The powerful magic-filled core shone emerald green.

“Wind Attribute…”

Finding out the random SS-Rank core was Wind Attribute made me rather displeased. But right now, what mattered most was Karna’s recovery.

Click.

I set Nuclearian’s body alight. The blue flame quickly turned the fluorescent Nuclearian into charcoal, and from within, I extracted the culprit behind Nuclearian’s transformation.

Cube.

I finally got my hands on the last Cube remaining on the Korean Peninsula.

Squeal!

As soon as I grabbed the Cube, evil energy flowed out. I immediately burned away the sinister aura with sacred energy and held the purified Cube as I approached Karna, holding it above his head.

“I’ll transfer some magic power to you, so just absorb it.”

“I wouldn’t mind if you fed it to me directly.”

“Are you saying this while in this state?”

“Are you implying you’ll feed it to me when I’m not in this state? Haha.”

“Anyway, you wouldn’t stop talking even if you wanted to hate me.”

I stuck the Cube onto Karna’s forehead and pushed my magic power into it. Karna closed his eyes and gradually absorbed the filtered magic power through the Cube.

“I can do it too.”

“Me too.”

Seok Harang and Hwanryong placed their hands on top of mine. The combined elemental powers concentrated into the Cube, and Karna began absorbing the Cube’s power, converting it into his own Light Attribute.

“Anyway, Phoenix, do we have to go through all this trouble every time we get a Cube?”

“Nope. This is the highest difficulty level. The rest, you just pick them up.”

And there wasn’t much left. Karnas charred skin started regaining its color, and it took about twenty minutes for him to fully recover.

“So why did you make me do that?”

“Make? Didn’t you do it yourself?”

“It’s not like anyone else would do it. Seok Harang and Hwanryong were two, you were three, and I had to face Nuclearian alone.”

Though the number assigned per sector is fixed, the composition of the avatars is randomly decided. And Nuclearian preferred to duel one-on-one with the strongest member of the raid team.

‘Except for those who say ‘did I kill it?’ Misunderstood weakness. Damn.’

“Well… In the end, everything went fine. Don’t do this next time, alright?”

“Understood.”

While it’s a little embarrassing for me to say this, I somewhat understood why Chang-yeom told me to use my body. Knowing I won’t die doesn’t mean enduring pain isn’t unpleasant to watch.

“So, what do we do now?”

“One thing. What time is it?”

“9 o’clock.”

We have over an hour before the scheduled time. If Seok Harang hadn’t hesitated, and if the spirits hadn’t insisted on fighting each other, we would’ve finished before 8 o’clock.

‘I guess we should all just be grateful everyone’s alive.’

“Hwanryong, is Xiaolin alright?”

“Yeah. She disengaged her spirit possession and avoided any radiation exposure.”

When she detached herself from Nuclearian’s avatar, I was genuinely worried whether Hwanryong might possess Nuclearian or if Xiaolin would be exposed to radiation.

Fortunately, none of that happened.

“In that case, let’s start the operation.”

“Operation?”

“Yes.”

Now it’s my turn to shine. I transformed my body into a monster form and pointed to right beside me for the spirits.

[Come inside my wings.]

I spread my wings as wide as possible and embraced the three of them. Everyone looked puzzled, wondering why we were doing this when there was no need to escape from Nuclearian.

“Wow, are we going 3 vs 1? Can we finish within an hour?”

“4 vs 1. Xiaolin and I count as two, you know.”

“Hmm. I prefer 1 vs 1 though…”

All the spirits looked at me with subtle expressions. Trying my best to keep them safe, they ended up clinging closely to my body.

“Hey bro…isn’t this a good opportunity?”

“With only an hour left on the barrier, I don’t like group activities.”

“True. Right now, if these guys keep quiet, that’s all it takes. Hurry up and bring out your male form. Male form.”

[…These guys are serious.]

I pinched Karna’s and Seok Harang’s ribs with the hands wrapped around my waist, and stepped on Hwanryong’s foot trying to sneak a feel with his leg.

[Do you really think I’m doing something funny with you guys?]

“…Wasn’t I?”

[Didn’t I say we’re doing the operation? What did you misunderstand?]

Flare.

I lit the space inside my wings with Chang-yeom to burn off contaminants. It took some time, but at least the space inside my wings was now clean of pollutants.

“Ah…so how do we deal with the outside?”

[There’s only one way.]

To completely erase every trace.

[Destroy everything within the barrier.]

Contaminants, soil, air.

By eliminating the entire radioactive field controlled by the Cube, this raid will come to an end.

“B-but then, should I unleash my ultimate attack again…!”

Karna pleaded, pressing close against me.

[Even if you cry, it’s useless.]

“H-have mercy! Let me fire one more shot, please!”

[It’s me who’ll fire.]

I scattered the miniature suns I had prepared in advance in all directions. As the world turned blue with light, I cradled the spirits inside my wings and waited for the appointed time.

BOOM! KA-BOOM, KA-BOOM—!!

Inside the four-layered barriers, the blue suns exploded, incinerating everything.

***

<Shortly After, New Seoul Hero Association Press Conference Room>

9:58.

People were swarming around the association, but Baek Hee-a still hadn’t appeared.

“Hey, where’s Baek Hee-a?”

“Don’t know. Seems like she’s gone into hiding.”

“Did she flee overseas? Man, this is frustrating.”

“Kimhae Airport is paralyzed. Everyone’s panicking, trying to escape abroad.”

The small projectile launched by Baek Hee-a threw the entire Korean Peninsula, indeed all of East Asia, into chaos. Some people even attempted to confirm the situation in Pyongyang in person, but were stopped by heroes guarding the 38th parallel.

9:59.

With less than a minute until the “Execution” time of the operation, Baek Hee-a couldn’t be found anywhere in Korea.

-Shouldn’t Phoenix appear to stop those things?

As public anxiety reached its peak…

Thud.

Baek Hee-a appeared on all screens wearing a dark blue beret. Her location was unknown, but her calm demeanor suggested she had hijacked the national network.

“…”

Everyone held their breath.

The heroes of the association, government officials, ordinary citizens, members of the Blue Wind Sect, refugees crawling into Seoul, residents of Daima Island, and even the green-haired cat-eared maid girl all fell silent as Baek Hee-a quietly opened her mouth.

At exactly 10:00:00 AM today, the Pyongyang conquest operation begins…

She glanced down slightly.

…At 10:00:07 AM today, the Pyongyang conquest operation concludes.

???????

People were thrown into confusion. Then Baek Hee-a’s screen minimized, replaced by satellite footage of the Pyongyang sky.

“Damn it!”

Without receiving any prior notice, Prime Minister Baek collapsed in surprise.

A massive crater over 1km in diameter.

Right in the middle stood <Seolhwa-nyeo> in celestial attire.

Fellow citizens,

Baek Hee-a’s calm voice echoed nationwide.

The SS-Rank monster <Nuclearian> in Pyongyang has been eliminated.

The Korean Peninsula is now ours.

On August 15, 2020,

Korea’s borders expanded to the Yalu and Tumen Rivers.

***

<10:30 AM, Yeouido Blue Wind Sect Penthouse>

“You’ve worked hard. You’ve heard all the insults you’ll hear in a lifetime in just one day.”

“…I’ll live long now.”

Baek Hee-a lay sprawled out on my bed. As I said, she’d heard every unspeakable word during the time before 10 AM.

And after 10 AM, Baek Hee-a became a national savior.

“Seriously, Baek Hee-a, they’re making such a fuss about appointing you as the special envoy of Pyongyang Special City. Congratulations.”

“But what about the mess in Pyongyang?”

“That’s just about filling in some land.”

Thankfully, the chain explosions exceeding ten Zar Bomb equivalents only erased a space over 1km in diameter. While I’ve done my best to minimize the damage, watching the recorded battle footage, Baek Hee-a clearly didn’t see it that way.

“What kind of battle is this… Ah, I couldn’t command something like this.”

“Just endure it once. This level of difficulty will probably be the final battle.”

“On the contrary, aren’t you saying that we must reach this level to defeat the interdimensional deity?”

“Of course.”

Since we defeated the hidden boss exclusive to the second round, Baek Hee-a’s statement wasn’t entirely wrong. Usually, encountering the true final boss—the interdimensional deity—occurs in the second or third round, so there wasn’t much difference in difficulty between Nuclearian and the interdimensional deity.

Just…

‘The difference lies in whether or not it can be strategically countered.’

As a game, the difficulty differs from reality. Spirits can’t counteract Seongju’s brainwashing beams and end up brainwashed, and unless they reach myth-level power, they can’t inflict damage.

Specifically speaking, Nuclearian’s level is 99, while the interdimensional deity’s level is 100.

Though it’s just a one-level difference, I know better than anyone how significant that gap truly is.

“Anyway, Executioner, when you return to New Seoul, you probably won’t be able to leave your house. How are you taking me back now? I’m planning to go to New Seoul right now.”

“That’s very considerate…but how do you plan to enter?”

“By flying.”

“Hmm. Alright, I’ll find my own way back then.”

Baek Hee-a gave up on everything. With all the tension released, she lay T-shaped on the bed with no intention of getting up.

“My underwear’s showing…it’s black.”

“Whether you see it or not…”

Baek Hee-a subtly crossed her legs.

“That’s a lie.”

“Excuse me? How do you know the color of my underwear?”

“Don’t you only wear black? Relax. No one’s abducting you.”

“If a bird suddenly snatches me, you’ll know it’s me.”

Baek Hee-a pointed to her ring with her raised hand.

“Ah, what should I do now? People are saying <Phoenix> is staying quiet because Baek Hee-a is suppressing her.”

“A conspiracy theory. We’re not that close, are we?”

“Would you like us to be?”

“…”

It seems Baek Hee-a was deeply moved by the expansion of the entire Korean Peninsula’s territory. Sitting demurely on the bed, she seemed to have firmly resolved something.

“Phoenix Sir.”

“Yes?”

“Are you considering becoming ‘Baek Cheonghwa’?”

“Miss Baek Hee-a.”

I decided to counterattack.

“You’re not actually from the Baek family. So don’t be overly attached to the Baek clan.”

“When I was young, I was swapped with another baby in the incubator. Farewell!”

Baek Hee-a stared blankly at me. I sprinted towards the window at full speed.

Crash!

I left Seoul.

* * *

“…I was just going to ask her to become part of the family.”

Phoenix didn’t hear it.

* * *

“Hmm, hmm~”

I stood in the middle of a major street in New Seoul, tidying up my reflection in the mirror. My attire was different from my usual priestly robes, and while I felt awkward, I had no choice but to wear it.

‘It feels like Phoenix playing the protagonist’s cosplay.’

My outfit consisted of an entirely black shirt and pants topped with a white coat—a minimalist formal style.

‘At least it’s not all black.’

Thankfully, the white coat helps. Feeling awkward yet familiar, I sat in a convenience store frequented by ‘her’ and drank strawberry milk.

“Hey, isn’t that Cheongnyeon?”

“This guy drinking strawberry milk here in this situation is Cheongnyeon? Rather, believe Oracle’s prophecy that the world will end in five years. What’s happening anyway? Are we really heading to Gaema Plateau?”

“Heh heh. I’m imagining us standing guard on Mount Baekdu together right now. Heh heh heh.”

Sorry, but that’s 100% going to happen. I silently mourned their tragic frontline life and stood up.

The target appeared. I exited the convenience store and ran towards the middle of the school district. The target was selecting college entrance exam books at a bookstore.

“Isn’t studying on a holiday exhausting?”

“Excuse me?”

The young goddess, barely distinguishable from adulthood, turned around in her school uniform. She held a book titled [Great Hunter Era: What Profession Will We Choose?].

“Are you aiming to become a hunter?”

“No, I’m just looking.”

“Are you an ability user?”

“…No, but considering the future development of industries, there’s a high possibility that professions related to this field could become a blue ocean. Even if I’m not an ability user, I might work in supporting roles for them.”

The brown short-haired high school girl remained calm despite my impolite questioning. Though it would be awkward for someone to randomly ask questions, the girl treated me as if she’d known me for a long time and responded kindly.

I confirmed the name tag on the summer vest.

Yuna Lee.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Yuna.”

The goddess. I extended my hand to Yuna.

“Nice to meet you. I’m ‘Cheongnyeon.'”

“Ah, hello… Can I ask one question?”

Yuna pointed to the sky while shaking my hand. The sun was shining brightly.

“Isn’t it hot in summer?”

“…”

I got carried away. For a moment, I forgot that this was our first meeting in winter in this form. Meanwhile, students passed by, making a commotion.

“Hey, hey! People are advancing towards Seoul from Gaseong! Is the northern expansion real?”

“Does that mean all that area becomes ours?”

“Baek Hee-a! Baek Hee-a! Baek Hee-a!”

Students were swept up in a fervent enthusiasm bordering on madness. Amidst this, Yuna, contemplating the future and searching for her career path, was exemplary in many ways.

The titular heroine and the existence I had always known the location of but avoided seeking out.

“Miss Yuna, do you want to become an ability user?”

“…But I haven’t awakened yet.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll awaken you.”

“…?”

Though skeptical, Yuna extended her hand, and I clasped it with both of mine.

Flare.

Blazing flames flowed from my hand into Yuna. The ‘Blazing Flames’ residing within Yuna met my magic power, slowly igniting a spark within her body.

“Eh…?”

Yuna was surprised by the power filling her body, and while she was distracted, I pulled her closer and embraced her tightly.

Thump, thump.

I could feel the magic power spreading throughout Yuna’s entire body. Closing my eyes, I carefully examined the foundation of the magic power permeating Yuna’s body from the outside.

Thump, thump.

I could sense it. The Blazing Flames within Yuna recognized me and guided me deeper into her inner self. A portion of the magic power replicated from the Blazing Flames traveled through my roots, circulating through Yuna’s entire body, informing me about her.

Thump, thump.

I could feel all elemental magic powers.

And I could sense all ‘spiritual energies.’ Not just the Blazing Flames, but the spiritual energies of the seven spirits gathered in one place.

Heart.

Within Yuna’s heart resided a nucleus imbued with the energies of the seven spirits.

“Miss Yuna.”

“Yes…”

“I’m sorry for coming to meet you so late. I was too scared about what might happen when I met you.”

If I had known it would be this uneventful, I would have come to meet Yuna much earlier. I resolved that if I ever get another chance, I’ll visit Yuna first. Slightly distancing myself from Yuna,

“I’ve come to escort you, Goddess.”

I extended both hands towards the goddess.

Yuna Lee.

The titular heroine.

Possessing all elemental magic powers within her body and capable of synchronizing with all-element spirits—a genius.

And.

An artificial spirit created by duplicating the seven spirits’ powers by Seongju,

Designed to contain the soul of the interdimensional deity summoned to Earth,

The avatar (化身體) of the Interdimensional Deity,

<Deity of the Other Realm>,

The True Final Boss.