Chapter 489

〈 Chapter 489 〉 Part 1, Chapter 20, Section 21

Phantom leaped off the Flame Giant’s shoulder with a bound. Behind him, a black-haired Special Ability user followed, springing off with a similar leap.

“Haaaaaat!”

The Black Flame Dragon soared into the air alongside a jet of black flames. The black dragon coiled on his back opened its maw wide towards the Black Flame Dragon, who assumed a flying kick stance aimed at the replica Phoenix.

“Chaaooo!!”

The dragon of black flames spewed forth a breath of Chang-yeom flames. Accompanied by the flames, the Black Flame Dragon darted like an arrow toward the replica Phoenix.

[Guh?!]

The replica Phoenix hastily thrust its staff forward to create a protective barrier. A semi-spherical violet shield materialized in layers, blocking the Black Flame Dragon’s kick trajectory.

Pababak!!

The Black Flame Dragon’s kick began shattering the shields mercilessly. The breath attack continued without pause, and neither did the Black Flame Dragon lose momentum.

Bangbang!

As the final shield shattered, the Black Flame Dragon bent his leg slightly before extending it again. Blue flames roared around his foot.

“It’s over!!”

[You bastard!]

Kagagak! The replica Phoenix crossed its arms to block the incoming kick. The impact sent it reeling several meters backward.

[Is this all you’ve got?!]

Jjepsek! The replica Phoenix grabbed the Black Flame Dragon’s calf, where blue flames weren’t burning. Purple flames from the replica engulfed the Black Flame Dragon’s leg as it was flung aside.

Bwoong, Bwoong—!!

The Black Flame Dragon tumbled through the air, heading straight for a wall that writhed like internal organs. There, Tera Lists awaited with mouths agape, ready to ambush him.

“Who throws people into walls like that?!”

Just before hitting the wall, earthy hands shot up and caught the Black Flame Dragon. Within the palm of these earthen hands, the Black Flame Dragon gathered his Magic Power.

“Architect! Throw me back!”

“Without saying!”

The Architect who created the earth wall hurled the Black Flame Dragon once more. The replica Phoenix aimed its staff at the incoming Black Flame Dragon.

Kwangoon—!!

At that moment, the replica Phoenix’s right wing exploded.

[What, what is this?!]

The replica Phoenix wobbled, looking around. Neither the Flame Giant, Phantom, Tubulus, nor the Black Flame Dragon had any way to counter it. So then, what could it be?

“I’m sorry about that.”

Behind the Flame Giant stood Sky Castle in a bowler hat, holding twin mortars on his shoulders and laughing maniacally. Though each mortar easily weighed dozens of kilograms, thanks to activated Magic Power bulging his muscles, it felt like child’s play to him.

“My powers aren’t imbued with magic because I’m not a monster. This is the best support I can offer.”

“You shouldn’t have said that!”

“What does it matter? We’re almost done here!”

Kwangoon—!! Sky Castle fired another mortar round. Naturally, refined Magic Bullets were loaded inside, and the replica Phoenix erected a shield around itself to deflect the attacks coming from all directions.

The bullets erupted, spraying blue flames like flares. The shield weakened.

Tubulus’s arrows pierced through the shield. The replica Phoenix released Magic Power into its legs to reinforce the shield.

The Architect-assisted Black Flame Dragon stomped down on the shield with his leg. The replica Phoenix swung its staff to push him away.

Phantom transformed into Garura, flapping golden wings. Blue feathers shot out like daggers, embedding themselves into the shield.

Finally, the Flame Giant grabbed the shield with both hands and slammed it onto the ground.

[You bastards–!!]

The replica Phoenix drained all the Magic Power from its core to retract the shield. It couldn’t keep getting toyed with like some random monster, nor could it endure further humiliation at the hands of these lowly humans.

[I was born from Phoenix! I cannot lose!!]

“You’re all pretty much the same except for these two humans, right?”

With a roar, the replica Phoenix was brought to its knees by Phantom’s tentacles, which glowed with a faint blue light.

“They’re all monsters he created, aren’t they?”

“What are you talking about? Let’s just finish him.”

The Flame Giant raised his fist high, ready to crush even Phantom.

“Hey, Mr. Cho. If you’re not going back to normal, stay still.”

Architect conjured an earthen ceiling to stop the Flame Giant’s punch.

“What are you doing?!”

“This is a golden opportunity we can’t miss.”

[Cocksure brats, kuhk?!]

A dropkick landed on the replica Phoenix’s back. The Black Flame Dragon slammed its head into the ground, then hopped aside and lifted his leg.

“Phantom, hold it down!”

“Anytime.”

Phantom’s tails pinned down the replica Phoenix’s limbs. All members of the infiltration team, except for the giant-sized Flame Giant, gathered beside the subdued replica.

[Let go—! I am not meant to endure such humiliation on the ground—!!]

“Your manner of speaking makes you seem a bit different from the original, doesn’t it? Sky Castle, how much time left?”

“Plenty, about five minutes remaining.”

“Five minutes will do.”

[Oooohh—!!]

The replica Phoenix strained its remaining Magic Power to flap its wings. Perfect timing to incinerate the fools clinging around it.

But the timing and opponent were poor.

Kwadak-!

“Where do you think you’re causing trouble? Hmph.”

Phantom stomped on the joint of the replica Phoenix’s wing with her boot heel. The blue Magic Power flowing from the heel began eating away at the feathers, ending the replica’s final struggle.

“Well then, everyone—”

“I’ll take the left arm.”

“Then I’ll take the right leg.”

The officers positioned themselves one by one, lifting their legs. Their soles shimmered with sharp blue flames, like spikes embedded in them.

[You, you guys stop this! What do you intend to do?!]

“To put it simply…”

Phantom stamped down on the replica Phoenix’s crown with the heel of her boot.

“Stomp!!!”

The officers gleefully began stomping on the replica Phoenix.

“Wait, what about me?!?”

Everyone except the Flame Giant whose transformation hadn’t reverted joined in until they felt thoroughly relieved.

“You, you too!!”

“You later!”

“Aaaaahhh!!”

In the end, only the Flame Giant refrained while the rest repeatedly stomped on the replica Phoenix until they felt satisfied.

* * *

Kwadak.

The finishing blow to the replica Phoenix came from Phantom’s tentacle.

Like the original, the life form made entirely of Magic Power had its core located in the same spot.

Guduk, Guddeok!

Decisively crushed by Phantom’s crystallized tentacle tail, the replica Phoenix collapsed flat on its back. Its body was battered beyond recognition by the Blue Wind Sect officers, but nothing hurt worse than being overwhelmingly defeated by mere S-Rank Special Ability users.

Its pride was trampled.

It believed itself to be the strongest, yet now it had lost to mere humans.

[Why?]

The replica Phoenix refused to accept its given situation. No matter how it thought about it, there was no reason why it should have lost. It had more Magic Power, and the opponents were clearly weaker.

“Why indeed. It’s because we all have the power to counter you.”

Sky Castle bowed respectfully to the replica Phoenix. He discarded the twin mortars slung over his shoulders and drew a small pistol from his coat.

Walter PPK. Once used by Phoenix, recovered and repaired by Hikari, the pistol now rested in Sky Castle’s hand.

“This contains a bullet imbued with his Magic Power. Your flaw is one: we borrowed the strength of your original.”

[But just that alone—]

“Eh, shut up already.”

Kwadak.

Phantom lifted her boot and stomped down hard on the replica Phoenix’s core. The replica Phoenix disintegrated silently into purple ash, trembling all over. Sky Castle adjusted his bowler hat and chuckled awkwardly.

“Didn’t you deserve to hear a last testament on your way out?”

“Even if you gave a flashy last word, you’d just get kicked around anyway. You’re the enemy. Not necessary. No reason to tell us anything, right?”

“With the boss’s Magic Power, victory is guaranteed. Without it, defeat is certain. Reason simple enough, isn’t it?”

Architect waved a fan hanging from his waist. On the bamboo frame adorned with a crescent-shaped paper, blue flame patterns burned fiercely.

“So everyone. Are we ready?”

Tubulus was first to draw a core from his pocket. The black-gleaming S-Rank core belonged to Black Sand, and Tubulus stared longingly at it before reluctantly handing it over with tears in his eyes.

“Restore your Magic Power, Black Flame Dragon.”

“Excuse me.”

The Black Flame Dragon swallowed the core whole. As he chewed it slowly like melting candy, the other officers surveyed the battlefield while swallowing saliva nervously.

“Shouldn’t we be expecting a reaction by now?”

“We don’t know when it’ll come, so prepare… Ah, it’s coming already.”

Guguguu.

The entire stomach began to tremble. The Fortress of Flames started shaking violently. Walls crumbled simultaneously as S-Rank Terasites emerged stealthily from the gaps between the innards.

“Black Flame Dragon, prepare to take off immediately.”

“Hmph, naturally. I’ll make a grand escape through the skies. As someone trapped in darkness who finally meets sunlight—”

Keeeeeek!!

The Terasites swarmed the officers, who gathered back-to-back, hoping time would pass quickly.

“Boss, please hurry—!!”

Until the time came to fire explosives toward the Fortress of Flames, they began engaging the Terasites.

* * *

“A. Looks like it’s over.”

Chang-yeom, who had been firing Magic Bullets at Terasites emerging from beneath the ship, looked up at the Fortress of Flames with sparkling eyes. Na behind her, sweeping enemies away with feathers, also sensed what Chang-yeom meant.

“The replica has been suppressed.”

“Good thing. That clumsy imitation of you wasn’t great at all.”

“…Do you dislike becoming a replica yourself?”

“Not at all. Just following imperfectly pisses me off, that’s all.”

Chang-yeom began walking briskly along the center of the deck. Qinghua Sect members cleared her path per Ji Hwa’s instructions.

“Watch out for falling Terasites, Boss!”

“Yikes! No time!!”

The subordinates were busy keeping an eye on the airborne Terasites and checking the time. Only ten minutes remained before the Fortress of Flames fully exited Korean territorial waters.

‘It will move slower now.’

The SS+ Rank Core that formed the base of the Fortress of Flames—the Replica Phoenix—had depleted its Magic Power and disappeared. Thus, the Fortress could be attacked slowly, but many couldn’t bear to wait even a short while.

“Boss! Please issue the attack order!”

“Nope.”

My subordinates wanted to personally cut off the Fortress of Flames’ lifeline. However, it was my duty to end its life.

I had the obligation to pull the trigger on the woman who desperately wanted to destroy the Fortress of Flames right now. The woman—Chang-yeom—raised her gun again after placing it behind the turtle ship’s head.

“I’ll give it one shot.”

“……Haa.”

A sigh escaped me involuntarily, but I masked it well while channeling Magic Power into Chang-yeom’s barrel.

Thump, thump.

“…….”

Suddenly, the response of Magic Power became urgent. Though Chang-yeom didn’t notice, I distinctly felt something amiss in the magical connection forming my phoenix-like body.

“Boss…?”

Lighthouse looked at me curiously. Chang-yeom still aimed her TAT at the Fortress of Flames, and I subtly nodded to Lighthouse.

“……Boss will fire two shots! Everyone brace for impact!!”

Fortunately, Lighthouse cleverly deflected the attention. It was fortunate that Chang-yeom was eager to obliterate the Fortress of Flames.

Uuuuung—!!

“Here comes the big one—!!”

Timing set for exactly one minute left.

Chang-yeom deliberately counted down teasingly before pulling the trigger of her TAT.

“Chang-yeom, Kai—–jin!!”

Fire erupted from the muzzle. The refined Magic Bullet entered the dragon head of the turtle ship, forming a massive sphere of Magic Power. In one second, it would engulf the Fortress of Flames.

Kyaoooooo!!

A black dragon burst out of a colossal hole in the Fortress of Flames’ outer wall. The Black Flame Dragon, carrying the officers on its back, flew out as if by agreement. Chang-yeom grinned broadly and unleashed her Magic Power.

“Chang-yeom Divine Cannon—-!!”

Second shot.

The Fortress of Flames was completely enveloped in blue flames from Chang-yeom’s cannon. Starting from the outer walls, it began crumbling and slowly descended toward the sea due to its weight.

Pasaak, Pasasaak!!

The Fortress of Flames scattered purple ashes as it gradually faded away. Chang-yeom and I watched it collapse, adjusting our Magic Powers.

“Truly breaks apart beautifully.”

“The same applies elsewhere.”

Chang-yeom checked through Magical Gear whether the assault operations on the other Kings were proceeding smoothly. The Spirits successfully intercepted all six Kings, and the last remaining Fortress of Flames was nearing its end.

Guguguu—-

The massive mass known as the Fortress of Flames sank into the middle of the East Sea. Its location was precisely 11 kilometers away from Dokdo.

The East Sea where Baek Hee-a cried so much—it was within the territorial waters of the Republic of Korea.

“Per-fect.”

Could there be a more flawless operation? Chang-yeom raised both arms toward the east. I followed suit, spreading my wings high into the sky.

Beyond the horizon, the red sun began to rise.

6:06:06 AM.

The Seven Kings were perfectly destroyed.

* * *

“…….”

Hikari observed the seven battlefields with a serious expression. In each field, the power source of the Kings was completely destroyed, rendering them powerless as planetary weapons.

However, Hikari’s face showed no signs of relaxing. Her eyelids didn’t even blink as she stared intently at the screen.

“Could this be…?”

Hikari kept her gaze fixed on the turtle ship deck during the intense phase of the Fortress of Flames assault. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the sturdy blue phoenix guarding Chang-yeom among the heroes battling the Terasites.

“Indeed, as expected….”

Sa-rak.

Was the scene witnessed by Lighthouse present at the site? No matter how many times she rewound the footage, it wasn’t visible from her camera angle. And asking directly wasn’t feasible in this situation, leaving Hikari quite perplexed.

“If this continues, we’ll have to go to Plan S8….”

Hikari recalled a plan discussed long ago. A plan scrapped due to Phoenix’s successful synchronization.

“…Will you hold out until then?”

Hikari guzzled caffeine-rich drinks while placing her hands on the keyboard.

“This will be a race against time.”

* * *

“It’s over.”

Seongju clicked his tongue at the complete severance of signals. The seven ambitious stakes prepared with great effort failed to inflict any damage and were all intercepted.

“If we just sit here, they’ll surely reach the moon.”

Once the situation ended, with propulsion, they would undoubtedly ascend to the moon to confront him. Seongju still needed time.

“I need to send some perfect time-wasting guests.”

Seongju pulled out a cube from the bracelet on his wrist. Unlike the cubes scattered across Earth, it featured a thermal plate, but it was sufficient to bring his thoughts to reality.

“Now…let the war begin.”

Seongju raised the cube in his hand high.

“Full open dimensional gates. All monsters, dragons, and creatures of Terra…go and die. Buy us some time.”

Uuuuung—–!!

Black vortices began swirling throughout various places on Earth.