Chapter 417

〈 Chapter 417 〉 Part 1, Chapter 17, Section 25

“Of course, stopping the monster. Already guessed you’d be rocking that Durability S-Rank.”

I was perched on the rooftop of Holy Angel City in Rome, hiding within Hydra’s wall of earth as I surveyed the battlefield. Aruel was unleashing devastating counterattacks, using massive concrete shields to absorb and reflect the breath attacks from the dark demon dragons—her power was fierce.

“And Gawein…he’s fighting Azidahaka right now. Ceres, do you think this is the real one or just a decoy?”

“…A decoy pretending to be the main body?”

“Sharp eyes! That’s right. Azidahaka’s a coward and wouldn’t show up with their true form.”

“Is that knowledge from your future sight?”

I gave Hydra a quick rundown of my abilities. Ever since Ji Ryun outed me as not being the spirit Chang-yeom, Hydra had been quite curious about my true identity.

Separate from Spirit Chang-yeom: Phoenix. That’s how I introduced myself.

“More or less. The issue is, whichever way we look at it, we’re at a disadvantage.”

Even though Aruel revealed her original power—Durability S-Rank—it wasn’t enough to take down two Demon Dragons simultaneously. And guarding the city while fighting made things even harder.

Not to mention, Gawein was severely injured, and while the lighthouse appeared moderately damaged, the reality upon closer inspection was dire. The poison from the Demon Dragon was eating away at Gawein, and if time continued, his Magic Power might become corrupted.

“B-Rank and below turned into monsters when they touched it.”

Gawein must have been holding on, but he didn’t seem to understand why Azidahaka kept dragging out the fight. Gawein fell for the mockery of sculpting the queen’s face out of darkness.

“We need some kind of mood shift here.”

“If you step in, it’ll all be over…no, wait. Phoenix is trapped in Korea, so you’re asking me to step in?”

“Always a pleasure talking to someone who understands me so well, Miss Ceres.”

“Still, you’re completely hiding after coming out here. Ugh, fine, I get it.”

Hydra gathered her Magic Power and prepared to manipulate the ground. Attacking Azidahaka would clearly be seen as an act of rebellion against Seongju, but Hydra decided to betray for her own survival and upcoming pleasures. At least until she killed Seongju, she wouldn’t betray me.

“Hmm…this really isn’t visible, right?”

“Of course. Don’t you trust me?”

“It’s not about trusting or not trusting; your fashion sense just confuses me in various ways.”

Hydra tilted her head at the outfit draped over her—a skin created with Magic Power mimicking the best-selling battle suit from the original work. I couldn’t figure out why Hydra wore such an expression.

“Why?”

“Cause when you infiltrated Holy Angel City, you were strutting around in a swimsuit, but now you’re asking me to bundle up like this before going out in public. Is it because only I can see your nudity?”

“Not necessarily…”

I scrutinized Hydra’s attire from top to bottom. Her dress, blending beige and ivory perfectly, resembled a dignified ancient Greek goddess statue.

Of course, since it was a full-length gown, the wind wouldn’t reveal anything, and the string tied under her chest emphasized her figure, but I was innocent. If there was any fault, it lay with the creators of such skins.

“Do you dislike it?”

“I like it too much.”

Hydra adjusted the straw hat I’d given her onto her head. I wrapped a thin ivory shawl around her shoulders, covering her exposed collarbone. Apparently, adding the shawl completed the look most suitable for Hydra, fitting Ji Ryun perfectly.

“What does this mean?”

“Too many items?”

“Forget it. Tch…Alright, then, I’ll be back.”

Hydra placed her hand on the earthen wall and ascended above Holy Angel City. I stayed hidden within Hydra’s earth barrier to observe the battlefield.

“The game is over.”

Even without perfect synchronization, through our contract, Hydra awakened to a higher level of power.

It was Ji Ryun.

Ji Ryun transferred the spirit power she possessed to Hydra. Unlike Karna, they remained separate entities, but Ji Ryun clearly maintained her self-awareness.

It seemed Ji Ryun sympathizing with Hydra caused her to turn against me, stirring Hydra’s emotions. Some sort of Shota Alliance. For me, it was spine-chilling in multiple ways.

‘And now Ji Ryun steps forward.’

I pulled out the Spirit Network constructed through Magical Gear. Coincidentally, Ji Ryun, who had just accepted my invitation, was rampaging wildly.

[Ji Ryun appears! Long time no see, everyone. So, Xian is mine, right?]

[O O O O O O O O O O O]

[Do as you please. But if our daughter tries to eat him, I won’t let you off easily. He’s my son-in-law. Remember that.]

…Currently, Ji Ryun has officially joined the Spirit Network. As soon as Hydra accessed it through the Magical Gear I gave her, she could interact freely. This network functioned somewhat like a chatroom where inviting Karna meant all spirits participated.

‘Did Hydra develop some attachment living with Ji Ryun?’

While Hydra chose temporary coexistence with Ji Ryun, the latter showcased her presence in full force.

[Phoenix can do whatever! But if you dare drool over the Shota-Xian I bid on, it’ll end in mutual destruction. Got it? I’m not joking.]

“……Sigh.”

Absolutely, young Baek Cheonghwa should never be brought up in front of others. Ji Ryun’s yandere tendencies surpass imagination.

‘If synchronization goes wrong, it’s game over.’

Hydra is fine, but Ji Ryun is a spirit capable of killing heroines and boarding nice boats. Hoping Hydra serves as a good deterrent, I turned my gaze back to the battlefield for Queen Ceres’ grand debut scene.

***

KWAANG!!

A colossal Earth Dragon erupted from the ground. Nine snake heads crowned with dragon faces emerged, each as large as a building, endlessly stretching skyward.

“What, what is that?!”

“Princess, could it be?!”

The heroes behind the concrete shield turned their heads toward Aruel. Even Aruel’s heart sank at the sudden appearance of nine Earth Dragons. She could only erect barriers using the power of the earth.

Though protecting an entire city from the Demon Dragons’ breath was impressive, the arrival of these colossal Earth Dragons, which seemed capable of destroying all of Rome, plunged the entire city into despair.

“Damn it!”

Gawein swore, something he rarely did, as he raised his sword. Just as Azidahaka was about to slash at Gawein with its claws, it spread its arms wide and laughed.

“Kukuku! We truly understand each other without words!”

Who else in this world could wield such dominion over the earth? Azidahaka soared high into the sky, scanning all of Rome. Precisely nine snakes encircled the city like a diamond, their teeth gleaming sharply.

“Hmph, thought you disappeared quietly. Where were you-”

Azidahaka spotted the woman standing atop Holy Angel City. Dressed differently than their previous encounter, Hydra waved at her. Feeling friendly, Azidahaka waved back, but something felt off-

CRUNCH.

An Earth Dragon swallowed Azidahaka whole.

“What—?!”

The decoy broke free by forcing the Earth Dragon’s mouth open with its upper body.

“You, why are you attacking me?!!”

“Confused why you’re asking?”

Hydra stretched out her hand, pointing downward. Every hero, hunter, and civilian’s gaze was now fixed on Hydra standing atop Holy Angel City.

“This land belongs to me.”

CRUNCH!

The Earth Dragon bit down on Azidahaka again. The decoy disintegrated into black mist between the Earth Dragon’s teeth, and Azidahaka vanished immediately. The people’s gazes remained glued to Hydra.

“Exactly who-”

“Huh.”

Only Gawein recognized Hydra’s identity upon seeing her. Though more refined and dignified than the usual image, her condescending expression towards humans left Gawein feeling uneasy.

“Was it…a failure?”

Just by looking, it was unclear. The peculiar aura characteristic of officers still lingered in her magic power. Did Phoenix lose to Hydra?

“……This!”

Gawein attempted to throw his Claymore. However, his hands lacked strength. Exhausted from battling Azidahaka, he had used far too much energy and lost too much blood. Immediate healing was necessary.

♪♩♬

From somewhere, the chirping of birds echoed. Gawein turned his head, and a blue canary waddled out from an alley, carrying something in its beak until it reached Gawein.

The canary dropped something in front of Gawein and transformed into flames. Gawein picked up the small vial left behind by the canary, finding Phoenix’s unique magic power inside.

“Is this…?”

Could the defeated Phoenix have left behind her magic power for him? Just as Gawein’s expression paled,

CAAAAWWWW!!!

The eight Earth Dragons, having swallowed Azidahaka and returned underground except for their heads, attacked the Demon Dragons. They entangled the limbs of the Dark Demon Dragon with their heads, opened their mouths wide to bite the three heads of the Earth Demon Dragon, and one mouth aimed to tear apart the Dark Demon Dragon’s main body.

Hydra intended to kill the Demon Dragons.

“……Why?”

Gawein was shocked and terrified. People dumbly watched the bizarre spectacle of monsters devouring each other. Strangely, the Earth Dragons gave off a sense of relief, as if saving them.

“It’s time to finish.”

Hydra’s voice resonated softly. Her voice, imbued with magic power, spread throughout Rome, causing the ground to rumble gently as thorny vines of dirt sprouted from the roads.

These thorny vines harmlessly bypassed the people and extended skyward toward the Demon Dragons. Together with the Earth Dragons, the vines pierced both Demon Dragons simultaneously.

ROAR!!!

The Demon Dragons writhed in painful roars. Their struggles transmitted through the Earth Dragons and vines, causing tremors that gradually weakened. People instinctively understood the situation.

Thud, Thud.

The woman stepping on the body of an Earth Dragon and ascending into the sky revealed her true colors to kill the Demon Dragons. A few people recognized Hydra’s face and felt a sense of déjà vu.

“Could it be…?”

A young couple enjoying a date during a Vatican Square mass. Among them, the woman was none other than the one now standing atop the head of an Earth Dragon, raising her arm dramatically.

“It’s over.”

Hydra stretched out her arm skyward. Mounds of earth extending from the Earth Dragons and vines began to envelop the two Demon Dragons. Despite twisting their bodies violently, the Demon Dragons couldn’t escape Hydra’s earthen tomb.

“If you make noise on someone else’s land, this is what happens.”

Hydra smiled faintly and slowly clenched her fist. The Earth Dragons coiled around a sphere of dirt, which began compressing toward the center. When it had shrunk enough,

Crack. Crack crack.

The sound of something crushing echoed alongside the Demon Dragons’ agonized screams. People gulped nervously as they watched Hydra’s hand. The sphere continued shrinking slowly, and Hydra hadn’t yet fully clenched her fist.

“Hmph.”

Hydra chuckled briefly, flipped her clenched hand, and pointed it downward as if dropping a small ball.

Rumble rumble.

The Earth Dragons gently placed the sphere in the park of Holy Angel City. The Earth Dragons and thorny vines returned to their original emergence points. The roads damaged during their ascent were restored to their original state.

“……Yawn.”

Hydra yawned and turned around, ready to leave any moment. One hero rushed forward and shouted.

“Who exactly are you?!”

“……Ceres.”

Hydra kissed her fingers and blew a kiss before diving off the summit.

“Xian’s wife.”

With those final words, Ceres disappeared. People were flabbergasted but knew one thing for sure:

Ceres, Xian’s wife, was a powerful special ability user capable of subduing two Demon Dragons at once.

* * *

“Did you say that and then immediately feel embarrassed and come here?”

“…Didn’t know it would be this embarrassing when I was an officer!!”

Hydra sat hunched in a corner, covering her face with both hands.

I cast a magical spell on Hydra.

“Behold! The power of Heaven and Earth, Ground Zero-”

“…….”

Ah.

It echoed.