Chapter 499

〈Chapter 499〉 Part 1, Chapter 20, Section 31

“…Seriously, we’re gonna shoot here?”

“If they tell us to peel it, we gotta peel it. Hero uncle, do you wanna get court-martialed right before humanity’s extinction?”

“But even if we shoot, it’s not like we’re hitting a monster but just the mountain….”

“Ah, seniors. No more chit-chat from now on.”

Maho tilted the control stick of her assigned Core Weapon, the modified K-9 self-propelled howitzer, and tilted her head in confusion. Though the active artillery soldiers beside her were assisting, it still felt off.

“I should be out there closing the Dimensional Gate with my feet-”

– Ah, this is Mugunghwa Unit 1.

A cheerful voice accompanied by a massive shadow appeared at the shooting range. Maho realized that this was the ‘target’ she’d been briefed about.

– I’ll keep it short.

“Senior, this is-”

“It’s fine. I’ll handle it myself.”

Maho manually lifted a shell into the barrel, infused with her magic power. The C-Rank core inside began to glow.

“These days sure are good. Back in my time-”

– Artillerymen ready, commence firing!

“…I’m an artillery soldier, so what?”

In the end, who cares? Maho placed her hand on the launch pad.

“Screw it.”

The Executioners will take responsibility. As Maho poured her magic power in, the K-9 self-propelled howitzer spewed fire.

And then…

From various military bases across the Korean Peninsula, all sorts of firearms began to spit flames towards the darkness.

****

“They’re all pretty skilled after all.”

‘Well, we were decent too, but whatever.’

“Still, spirits are spirits, huh?”

‘They used to be gods too.’

We sat atop the crest of the Mecha Phoenix – though it probably had another name, but whatever – watching the battle unfold.

“One extra tentacle behind Karna.”

Of course, we weren’t just idly spectating. We paid our viewing fee in commentary. Though sitting silently staring ahead wasn’t really our style, the only way I could help was by running my mouth.

Swish-swash.

The hemispherical Barrier shimmered as starlight disappeared. Though space was uniformly black, it wasn’t that the stars had vanished; rather, a curtain of darkness had descended.

“I never imagined it would be used like this.”

I couldn’t help but marvel at the darkness enveloping the entire hemispherical Barrier. This was insight even I hadn’t considered.

“Support fire from Earth, huh…”

Pew-pew-pew—

The familiar sound of BB guns tickled my ears. The sound of triggers pulled in full-auto mode filled the air.

“Did they promise early discharge for unloading everything?”

‘With a national disaster situation, everyone’s mobilized, right?’

“Whoa, that’s harsh.”

Flames rained down from the sky alongside magical bullets. Seeing regular ammunition mixed in, it seemed like support fire from rear units not equipped with Core Weapons like the K2.

Kwaaaang!!

The fiery barrage pierced through the darkness, covering the Tera’s tentacles erupting from its legs. Each magical bullet, weaker than a C-Rank monster, formed a vast network of fire that proved somewhat effective.

Kung, Kooouuuung—!!

A shell struck the giant squid’s forehead precisely. Flames erupted from its smooth scalp, causing Seongju to go berserk.

■■■■■!!

Seongju lifted all its remaining legs. It seemed like it wasn’t using ordinary techniques. Even the legs kicked by Kim Penril, with reduced regenerative capacity, and those pierced through by frozen spears from Seok Harang were forcibly raised for attack.

“Octopus Hurricane Spin incoming.”

The so-called high-speed spin began as the moon squid started rotating clockwise.

Boing, boing, whoooosh!!

The massive squid spun like a fidget spinner, ejecting Teras randomly through its suckers.

“It’s throwing Teras like bombs.”

Instead of ink, the moon squid fired S-Rank monsters. Not only that, but it hurled them skyward to counter Baek Hee-a’s fiery web.

– Cease fire—!!

Pew-pew…

The darkness dissipated, the fiery barrage subsided. Stars twinkled again in the sky while Teras collided with the hemispherical Barrier.

Zzzt-zzzt!!

Like electrified mosquitoes, the Teras flapped their wings before vanishing. Though small, each was equivalent to a first-phase dragon-class monster, but Seongju used countless Teras as bait and discarded them.

“He’s a bit hurt in his pride, it seems.”

‘These lowly beings from Earth hitting him with gunfire must be humiliating.’

Baek Hee-a likely installed interdimensional gates at various military bases leading to the lunar surface. With the cease-fire order issued, any further bombardment would land in Ang’s other dimension.

“Bae Hee-a’s only offensive means has been blocked… huh.”

Whiiing, clunk.

The sound of machinery moving came from behind. I turned around in surprise to see the fully spread wings of the Mecha Phoenix deploying numerous small barrels.

“Wow, it’s not just a rocket but a miniature space battleship?”

Kiyoooot!!

The Mecha Phoenix responded to my question by opening fire on the moon squid. From the main cannon in its beak to the super-large barrels on its back, it unleashed a chaotic barrage of firepower at Seongju.

‘This one looks exactly like Karura.’

The Mecha Garuda remodeled from Garura – Karura came to mind. Having personally faced off against Baek Hee-a, she might’ve drawn inspiration from that encounter.

“Just making a round trip to the moon would’ve been enough, but they had to add weapons anyway.”

‘It’s Hikari, after all.’

The culprit was obvious. There was only one person who’d modify a spaceship out of romantic notions.

‘Anyway, it’s helping now, so let’s move on. Time’s running out.’

Guruguru.

The moon squid gradually slowed its spinning speed. It seemed to have expelled most of the Teras within, slightly reducing its size compared to before.

‘They’re using this now. Is it because he’s lost his mind?’

The berserk Seongju had lost its cool judgment.

What was once proudly declaring victory has now become a monstrous creature screaming wildly. Consequently, it easily expended the Teras composing its body.

Pooooshhh—

Massive purple smoke billowed from the suckers on its legs, a devastating organ attack.

“Kim Penril?”

Gooooh!!

A green typhoon swept out centered around Seongju. In the current situation where the extraplanar deity’s robe had burned to ashes, Kim Penril was the strongest wind-attribute special ability user.

Keeeyaaah!!

Kim Penril transformed into rushing wind. Like wolves, the winds traversed the entire battlefield, blocking the organs from approaching.

“Phoenix–!!”

Karuna called out to me. Thanks to Kim Penril buying time, Karuna successfully charged her magic power.

“Just a moment.”

I briefly glanced toward the far reaches of space. Though it didn’t quite satisfy Chang-yeom, fortunately, the sun was directly illuminating Karuna.

“Check the timing.”

Five minutes remained. A gradual downward pull began acting beneath the hemispherical Barrier. The area below even started getting hotter.

It was entering the atmosphere. Delaying would mean total failure.

“Karuna, fire away.”

“I’ve been waiting for this!”

Flash!

“Vajra Shakti!!”

Karuna released the bowstring. Concentrating all her magic power into one arrow, Karuna’s ultimate skill twisted like a snake.

The light arrow pierced through one of the elevated legs of the moon squid. Though the arrow passing through the mountain-sized leg seemed futile at first glance-

□□□□□□□!!

An explosion erupted centered around the hole. The arrow emerging from the leg was shorter, like its tail had been clipped off. Approximately 1/7th.

‘Damn Yoon Yuhwa.’

When Karuna’s explosive firepower combined with Yoon Yuhwa’s efficiency pursuit, instead of concentrating all magic power into one arrow, it was divided into 1/7ths to detonate.

Naturally, the remaining 6/7ths of the arrows flew comet-like toward other targets – the legs.

The arrow penetrated one leg, leaving behind a 1/7th fragment. That fragment began condensing the concentrated magic power inside the leg, triggering an explosion.

“Holy Explosion.”

True to form, Karuna, sharing roots with Chang-yeom, caused her 1/7th arrow to explode with the impact of a star’s destruction inside the leg.

Was it an explosion or annihilation? Karuna’s arrows eradicated everything within the blast radius with light. The moon squid’s body separated from its legs, with necrotic traces left on the severed surfaces.

“Still five more shots left.”

Kooohhhooooo!!

With successive stellar chain explosions, Seongju screamed as it ejected organs from its entire body. Deadly toxic gases spreading upon contact began to proliferate, turning victims into berserk Teras.

Kyyyaaah!!

Kim Penril darted faster across the battlefield, suppressing the organs. However, the stronger Karuna’s ultimate skill shattered the legs, the stronger the organs became.

“There’s nothing more annoying than attack patterns emerging from severed limbs.”

‘Though they’re ineffective, obviously.’

Karuna separated the legs from the torso. Accordingly, lizard-tail-like detached legs began spewing Teras laden with organs.

Kwa—ang!!

Karuna’s final arrow embedded itself into the seventh leg. All legs had been torn off the torso, making regeneration impossible. Only one leg remained for Seongju.

The leg pierced through by Seok Harang’s ice spear, already injured. Though the ice spear had long broken, the hole had yet to fully heal, leaving it tattered.

“Break it.”

“I’ve been waiting for that!”

Seok Harang grinned widely, raising her hand high into the sky. Seeing her posture reminded me of someone, prompting an involuntary smile.

“Seoya’s Rusalka…”

How could someone prepare a technique so identically?

Of course, I was well aware of the power behind that technique, giving me peace of mind.

Sssshh—!!

The Ice Butterfly held aloft an enormous ice sword. Though not golden, its form closely resembled someone else’s sword.

“The last one—!!”

Seok Harang vertically swung down the ice sword reaching the ceiling, slicing through the hole pierced by the ice spear.

■■■■■■■?!!!?!?

All of Seongju’s legs were severed. Now, it was time to remove the torso.

Remaining time: three minutes.

Kya-ha-ha-ha-ha!!

A repulsive laughter echoed from somewhere. The sound assaulting the eardrums made me worry blood might spill from them.

It’s too late now! There’s no going back!

Seongju, reduced to just the octopus head, began bouncing on the ground. In its final throes, the severed leg wounds tore open, revealing parasite-like Teras emerging from them.

This will fall to Earth! Earth will meet its end! Your defeat, Phoenix—-!!

“Why are you calling me while fighting against all the spirits?”

For some reason, perhaps due to momentarily becoming human, I distinctly sensed the emotions Seongju harbored towards me.

Jealousy, anger, hatred, and the joy of victory.

“Hey, aren’t you stupid?”

The grotesque Seongju floating above turned its head toward me. I pointed upward while gesturing around.

“There are four spirit combatants on this battlefield. Where are the other two right now?”

I mocked Seongju with the same expression it directed at us.

“Do you think I’ve done this kind of thing once or twice?”

From the start, I entrusted tasks to two individuals.

“That thing popping up on your head makes it easy to identify your weak point. Puhehe.”

Penetrate internally and eliminate Seongju’s true form.

“Is your brain alright right now?”

* * *

“We’ve arrived.”

Xiao Lin materialized from her ethereal state, landing on the ground. Seongju’s berserk body was covered in sticky slime, and the floor was littered with organs.

“Thank you. This makes finding it easier.”

However, the floor Xiao Lin stepped on was identical to the lunar surface. Yuna, following closely behind, reached the destination without encountering any enemies.

Thump, thump.

A vast cavern.

In the completely empty space, devoid even of Teras, a small circular table rose from the floor like a protuberance. Yuna manifested her magic power into a marble path connecting to the protuberance.

Click, click.

Silently, the two stood before the protuberance. On the table made of tentacles lay a small cylinder the size of a PET bottle. The tentacle bundle supported the cylinder from below.

“This is…”

“Seongju’s main body… we could call it that.”

Yuna, expressionless, lifted her staff and tapped the container lightly. Removing the tentacles coiling around the container with the tip of her staff revealed a transparent interior where a tiny brain floated.

“. Is this Seongju’s true form? Should we call it a core?”

“I’ve never heard of anything like this… seriously, is this Seongju? Smaller than a fist?”

“That’s right, ‘you’ might be seeing it for the first time, but. Hydron.”

At Yuna’s words, Xiao Lin – Hydron stiffened. For a moment, she wondered if a Hydra had emerged, but the brown-haired woman before her was unmistakably Yuinah.

“You don’t…?”

“Hu-huht.”

Yuna winked at Hydron, placing a finger to her lips. Hydron knew all too well what it meant, which only made her headache worse.

“I don’t understand what’s going on at all.”

“Don’t overthink it. There’s only one thing to do now that we’ve come this far, right?”

“…Right.”

Hydron drew her Crescent Blade. Yuna also gripped her staff firmly.

Gnosis—-!!

A familiar mushroom-shaped monster suddenly burst from the ceiling. Yuna waved at it with a smile.

“This is the first time greeting each other, source of all evil.”

Gnosis, let’s make a deal! Hand over, the Phoenix, to make it yours!! Yes, along with Hydron! Let’s create a future together forever!! Kill Chang-yeom, and make them yours!

Seongju hastily shouted. Hydron felt her heart sink.

What if Yuna accepts the deal?

“Pfft.”

Yuna raised her staff high.

“Sorry, time’s up. Hydron, can you open it?”

Hydron slashed horizontally with her Crescent Blade. The glass container’s lid flew off, and Yuna approached the pale gray brain inside, grasping the container.

Gno-sis!!!

Yuna smirked as she flipped the glass container upside down.

“I am Yuinah.”

Crack.