Chapter 486

〈 Chapter 486 〉 Part 1, Chapter 20, Section 18

After the government dangled every negotiation card to secure an advantageous position…

Following Baek Hee-a’s strong request, the battlefield was also chosen as a place of great significance, and ultimately, the interception point for Flame King was set at Dokdo – East Sea.

[It absolutely must be “East Sea.” Make sure to register it this way when filing with the association. Otherwise, we cannot cooperate!]

…Due to Baek Hee-a and Baek Se-joon’s stubbornness, the battlefield became the ‘East Sea.’ And in the East Sea, the team intercepting Flame King would be Korea’s Hunter Guild: Blue Wind Sect.

[In place of the currently absent Snow Lotus, Hwakwon, and numerous other heroes, Blue Wind Sect has stepped up. The fee…is one steaming bowl of rice soup upon returning victorious.]

‘Was it right to take on everything?’

To the extent that they made people embarrassed, Baek Hee-a and Baek Se-joon exploited Blue Wind Sect. Thinking they were just some patriotic flower boys, but unexpectedly, people nodded in agreement at the rice soup story.

– Of course! They’re Korean, so it’s natural!

– While they milk foreigners dry, no one is more generous than Blue Wind Sect toward Koreans.

– A hundred bowls of rice soup? That’s reasonable.

The Hunter Guild Blue Wind Sect agreed to receive a hundred bowls of rice soup as payment. Domestically, public opinion soared sky-high, while internationally—especially in Japan where Flame King was expected to arrive—the reaction was icy cold.

– This is something Korea should resolve within its own territory. But Flame King is located—

– So do you actually have the power to destroy it? Even Moby Dick couldn’t handle these guys!

– …

Public opinion on the community forums was instantly crushed by brute force logic, leaving no other entity capable of handling Flame King besides Blue Wind Sect.

– Where is Gale Guest?!

– Gale Guest is riding the winds over the Baltic Sea right now to cut down Wind King.

Naturally ignoring the national request, the Japanese Round Table Hero Gale Guest showed no regard. With their pride utterly shattered, Japan had no choice but to cling to their last ounce of dignity.

– As soon as it crosses into Japanese territorial waters, Korea will withdraw from the battlefield. We’ll handle it ourselves within Japan before any further requests.

They invoked the self-priority processing agreement used during dimensional gate incidents. And Baek Se-joon readily accepted the condition.

[Then if we deal with it before it crosses into Japanese waters near Dokdo, our territory will be clearly defined.]

[No, that’s OUR land—]

[If you’re upset, bring your ability users and break Flame King yourselves.]

With Baek Se-joon’s somewhat aggressive statement, priority finally shifted to Blue Wind Sect. With many ability users having fled overseas due to the Great Dama Island incident, Japan lacked both heroes and state power to mobilize.

– Withdraw immediately once it crosses!!

– From Dokdo to Japanese territorial waters, it’ll take about an hour. That should be enough time.

Thus, Blue Wind Sect had exactly one hour to completely eliminate Flame King.

Through this, what Baek Hee-a aimed for was the record—”One of the Seven World-Destroying Kings was defeated at Dokdo, solely by Korea”—and history would show that Dokdo, over the East Sea, saw the destruction of Flame King entirely by Korea’s Hunter Guild.

For this grand achievement, around a hundred members of Blue Wind Sect gathered.

Command staff included Flame Giant, Lighthouse, Phantom, Tubulus, Sky Castle, Architect, and Black Flame Dragon.

And Lighthouse-led ability users.

From the elite troops who went on the Mexico expedition to all surviving Blue Feathers up until now, everyone in Blue Wind Sect wore identical uniforms as they headed to the battlefield.

[We’ll support you up to your destination.]

President Baek Se-joon smiled at us and gifted a single “warship.”

[By coincidence, we secretly constructed a ship just for days like today.]

To ensure Blue Wind Sect could reach Dokdo without loss of strength, they provided the warship, and we boarded it at Samcheok Port after racing from Seoul through Gangwon-do.

“…I know whose work this is.”

It looked like an aircraft carrier but had a dragon head on the bow, and the deck design resembled a turtle shell. In the 21st century.

We advanced toward Dokdo aboard a Turtle Ship.

* * *

“Even so, isn’t the Turtle Ship a bit much?”

I pointed at the dragon-head decoration on the bow. In the era of modern aircraft carriers, a Turtle Ship? And even remodeled with sleek modern designs—it seemed almost too polished.

Being polished made it even more embarrassing.

“This level of nationalism is excessive.”

Though it didn’t really matter, I suspected the live broadcast to the Japanese side might annoy them quite a bit. I briefly contacted Hikari, who was relaying the live stream via magical gear.

“Hikari, how’s the reaction?”

[Everyone’s going crazy! Haha, idiots. Actually, they’re dying of jealousy while furiously raging.]

Hikari was analyzing data with one hand while keeping an eye on Japanese community reactions with the other. Ironically, given her history of being bullied for being pretty back home, watching their humiliation relieved her stress.

‘But why did they bully you when you were cute?’

Thanks to that bullying, she paradoxically became a great asset to me and Blue Wind Sect, always feeling as reliable as an army of ten thousand.

[Oh, by the way, I had a hand in the Turtle Ship too. Director, let me share a secret command with you.]

“What is it?”

Staring at the data Hikari sent, I was astonished. I knew she had tampered with something, but I never imagined she’d pull off such madness here.

“You’ve added a cannon…?”

[Hohoho, it’s a dream come true!]

“But even so…”

Regardless of aesthetics, the problem was that I was the one expected to fire it.

“You want me to do this?”

[Who else, Director? Anyway, since you need to break the outer shield, my setup will be more effective than just firing magic bullets. It’s all about visual impact.]

“True, it might be more dazzling than just breaking the shield with a magic bullet…”

Not only was the firing sequence pre-determined, but even the dramatic lines were scripted. Was this the moment of ultimate battle or public execution?

[This is a golden opportunity, right? Besides, Director, you secretly like it, don’t you?]

“……”

While I decided to let it slide, I wondered how Blazing Phoenix inside me would feel about it. Silently, I asked her.

‘Call?’

‘Isn’t this obvious?’

“…Alright, I’ll do it. Just tell me when to fire.”

[Yay!]

Hikari grinned broadly as she transmitted Flame King’s real-time data. She seemed intent on monitoring our progress closely rather than focusing elsewhere.

“What about the other Kings?”

[They’ll intercept according to the schedule coordinated with Flame King’s attack. No worries about civilian casualties; local heroes are ready worldwide.]

Worldwide, the Kings were being handled in locations where spirits could easily intercept them. Each battlefield and local heroes were prepared to act at a moment’s notice.

“The Water King will get frozen paths from Seok Harang, Earth King will rise from Yuna’s ground manipulation, and Wind King will get wind tunnels from Kim Penril. Nearby Round Table members are joining too.”

Each had at least one method of approach. The issue was with others.

“How about Karna and Vermilion Dragon?”

[Karna will use Brahmasutra to drop Light King into the desert. Vermilion Dragon will charge ahead with Xiao Lin’s synchronization onto Scarlet Path. Executioners will strip away shields and directly deploy into hyperspace.]

“Then that’s fortunate.”

No need to worry about the other Kings. Now I just needed to finalize my method. I reviewed the “request” given to me.

“Hikari, are you serious about doing it this way?”

[Yes. Or else I’ll throw a tantrum and cry. All space travel research will stop.]

“…I understand breaking the shield with firepower, but does it have to be THIS extravagant?”

[Maybe…you don’t like it? I perfectly tailored it using big data analysis.]

I wasn’t against it. What shocked me was how perfectly Hikari’s request nailed Blazing Phoenix’s preferences.

“No, I don’t dislike it. It’s just…how did you come up with this idea?”

[Collective intelligence! I subtly turned it into an assignment for the Galactic University students. Wow, genius ideas really flow when collective intelligence meets a touch of brilliance.]

“……”

I gave up thinking about it. Inside me, Blazing Phoenix was already seriously considering which witty lines to deliver while firing the cannon and spreading her wings.

‘Screw it.’

My role ends with stripping away the shield and deploying Blue Wind Sect into Flame King. Command remains with the director responsible for the field.

“It’s time…Let’s begin, Ji Hwa.”

I stood at the bow of the Turtle Ship. Before me lay the control stick for the cannon, and my heart began pounding. I emerged from Blazing Phoenix and covered her seated body with feathers.

“Hehehe, thank you. How shall I blast it away~”

Reaffirming my thoughts, Blazing Phoenix was undoubtedly a pyromaniac.

* * *

At precisely 4 AM.

As the Turtle Ship carrying Blue Wind Sect passed under Flame King, all combatants raised their weapons, channeling magic power.

“All personnel, brace for impact.”

A young man dressed in black suits with sunglasses gave quiet instructions. Everyone formed protective barriers with their magic power.

“Fire the main cannon simultaneously. All Blue Wind Sect members prepare for enemy assault.”

Tears welled up in Lighthouse’s eyes despite himself as he spoke. Though no one would die, and revival methods existed, he hadn’t imagined they’d fight like this.

“And Miss Cheongnyeon…prepare the main cannon.”

“Main cannon preparation!!”

Lighthouse swallowed hard at Cheongnyeon’s excited voice like a child.

‘Please just shatter the shield alone, Director!’

Let the embarrassment end with Cheongnyeon alone. Lighthouse watched TAT-equipped Cheongnyeon from behind the dragon head.

“……”

Behind Cheongnyeon stood a blue phoenix silently gazing upward. Watching the phoenix’s readiness for battle, Lighthouse felt chills reminiscent of the monstrous Phoenix.

‘Could it be?’

“Main cannon firing sequence, 3, 2, 1–!!”

Tubulus’ booming voice echoed beside him as the dragon head tilted upward, mouth wide open toward Flame King.

“3, 2, 1–!!”

Cheongnyeon counted along, aiming the TAT. The white magic gun synchronized perfectly with the dragon head, and the blue phoenix scattered flames into the barrel.

“Blazing Phoenix Revival.”

Cheongnyeon recited the incantation with a joyful voice.

“Divine Cannon of Azure Flames (蒼炎神砲)!!”

With a clear voice, she pulled the trigger.

Grrrrr.

Blue flames gathered from the dragon’s mouth like a dragon’s breath.

□□□□□□□!!!

A blue phoenix over 100 meters long soared toward Flame King. Upon contact, it began burning away the outer shield, causing mysterious monsters to pour out.

Squeeeeeeeek!!!

“Attention all Blue Wind Sect members! Keep your eyes on the terracists!!”

Some retched at the grotesque sight, but the terracists turned to ash upon touching the blue flames surrounding Flame King.

Crack, crackle!

Circular shields began cracking,

BOOM—–!!

Like all building windows shattering, Flame King’s shields collapsed. The blue phoenix flapped its wings and descended toward the Turtle Ship.

Pssss.

The blue phoenix gradually shrank, and Cheongnyeon raised her hands high, gently embracing the miniaturized Phoenix.

“Good job.”

Cheongnyeon smiled wryly and bowed her head.

“The rest…is up to all of you.”

“Infiltration team, prepare for assault—!!”

Clang, clang!!

Responding to Lighthouse’s call, about ten Blue Wind Sect members leaped toward the bow. Lighthouse pointed at Flame King’s broken entrance.

“Soar forth, Black Flame Dragon!”

Kaaaaaawwww!!

At 4:14 AM, the Blue Wind Sect’s assault on Flame King began.