Part 1 Chapter 4 (10)

“This won’t do, Commander. Please send me.”

Harang, who had been silent, rose from his seat. A chill emanated from his body, as if he would rush out the moment an order was given.

“No! You all must conserve your strength until you defeat the snake in the city hall!”

“What if another C-rank Hero dies trying to conserve that strength? What if things go even more wrong from here? It won’t just end with you losing your job, can you handle that?”

At Harang’s resolute words, Shin Jingwang turned his head.

Lee Giseong’s life signal hadn’t cut off yet. While Shin Jingwang procrastinated, several Heroes trapped in Guro’s labyrinth were abducted by monsters.

He knew well enough what fate awaited humans captured in a monster’s nest, without needing it explained. Shin Jingwang punched the whiteboard behind him and shouted.

“Argh! Agent Seok Harang! Trust the Heroes! To send you out so easily like this-“

“I’ll go.”

Lee Seung-hyung placed a hand on Harang’s shoulder, making him sit down. Harang looked up at Lee Seung-hyung in disbelief at the touch, which was imbued with mana.

“What are you doing, mister…?”

“I’ll go.”

At Lee Seung-hyung’s firm words, both Harang and Shin Jingwang fell silent. Something beyond mere chivalry emanated from Lee Seung-hyung.

Gulp.

Shin Jingwang’s gulp echoed through the command room. Aside from Lee Seung-hyung being an S-rank Hero, his background-President Seonui Cheol-weighed on Shin Jingwang’s mind.

What if that man tattled to the President, claiming Shin Jingwang had disregarded his opinion?

‘…This isn’t a defeat to connections at all. It’s the broad-minded generosity of a commander who accepted an appropriate strategy.’

Shin Jingwang could only nod.

“……I can’t take responsibility for what happens next.”

“That’s enough.”

Lee Seung-hyung left an afterimage and vanished.

Towards Guro.

* * *

Thwack!

Deokbae’s fist struck the spear shaft. Unsa quickly released his grip on the spear.

The spear flew straight into a nearby building. Deokbae recoiled in surprise at Unsa’s action of throwing his weapon.

“Too late!”

Unsa’s fist had already landed in Deokbae’s stomach. Deokbae was pushed back and rolled on the ground.

Fwoosh….

Where Unsa’s fist had touched, the rock skin vanished, revealing bare flesh. It was more accurate to say that the fist had devoured the affected area rather than shattered the rock skin.

Crunch, crunch.

The small Gluttonous Cloud that emanated from Unsa’s fist ravenously devoured Deokbae’s rock skin. Unlike blue flames, the Gluttonous Cloud siphoned mana from the rock skin, satisfying Unsa’s thirst.

Unsa held the Gluttonous Cloud clenched in his fist.

“……Taking away the Flame Giant’s power, that was your losing move.”

Unsa had already predicted victory. The rock skin on various parts of Deokbae’s body was being eaten away by Unsa’s Gluttonous Cloud, leaving his body exposed.

“You talk too much. Are you one of those types who fight by blabbering, like someone else I know?”

Deokbae spat on the ground. A heat haze rose from the blood on the sidewalk. Unsa checked his mana and tapped his watch.

On the mini-map displayed on the screen, Tempest Lady moved freely through Guro, dealing with the Hellhounds. Fortunately, no more Heroes were abducted or injured.

“All Hellhounds have been exterminated. Guro will soon be subdued.”

Unsa kicked off the ground and charged. Deokbae immediately raised his guard to block Unsa’s fist.

“Damn it!”

Unsa’s fist didn’t reach Deokbae’s raised arms. Unsa’s body slid and burrowed under Deokbae’s.

“Agh!!”

Deokbae hastily pulled his body to the opposite side. But Unsa had already grabbed Deokbae’s thigh and waist.

Crunch!

The Gluttonous Cloud bit into Deokbae. Unsa used the Gluttonous Cloud as a pivot and spun around to Deokbae’s back.

Thud!

Unsa, almost lying horizontally, stretched out his leg and kicked Deokbae’s back. Deokbae, in pain from the mana-infused attack, tried to grab Unsa, who was behind him.

“You’re slow.”

Unsa raised his foot again and stomped on the back of Deokbae’s neck. Deokbae’s head dropped to the ground from the immense pain transmitted as the Gluttonous Cloud tore through his rock skin.

“Kuaaak!!”

Unsa didn’t loosen his attack. The Gluttonous Cloud that sprouted from his foot devoured the rock skin on Deokbae’s lower back, and Unsa climbed onto Deokbae’s back, continuously stomping on his lower back.

Thump!!

Deokbae lay sprawled on the main street. He had bravely charged and exchanged blows for over ten minutes, but Deokbae was subdued by Unsa with surprising ease.

“It seems you haven’t been awakened for long. Your ability to wield power is severely lacking.”

Even if he possessed A-rank mana due to the power of the Spirit Stone, his combat ability didn’t even reach C-rank. In contrast, Unsa had years of diverse combat experience as an A-rank.

The difference in combat experience. That’s what decided their victory and defeat. Unsa clicked his tongue as he examined the fallen Deokbae.

“……It seems impossible to put handcuffs on him.”

The rocks growing on his body made it difficult to pull his arms behind his back. Unsa sent the Gluttonous Cloud to his limbs, shackling him like a prisoner.

“If you try any tricks, the Gluttonous Cloud will devour your wrists and ankles.”

“Kuh, just kill me!”

Deokbae, despite his pain, unhesitatingly demanded to be killed. Unsa was curious about that.

“Aren’t you a Villain? When arrested like this, shouldn’t you usually beg for your life?”

“Stop talking and just kill me!”

Despite Deokbae’s screams, Unsa calmly shook his head.

“If you truly wished to die, you would have given up your life long ago. Indeed. You must be someone who knows something. For instance, aren’t you the one who set up this trap in Guro?”

Deokbae was slowly getting annoyed.

“Just shut up and kill me! Isn’t that what Heroes do?! Catch and stomp out Villains!”

“We apprehend and arrest, we don’t kill. Please wait. In accordance with the World Hero Association regulations, you are hereby arrested as of this moment. You have the right to a lawyer….”

Deokbae sighed at Unsa’s leisurely tone as he read the Miranda warning. His master’s voice echoed in his ear.

– You got completely owned, Subordinate No. 2?

‘……Tch.’

“…you can. Do you understand why you lost?”

They were all being ridiculous in stereo. Deokbae wanted to burst his eardrums.

– It’s my fault you couldn’t use the Flame Giant, but since you got crushed so badly without even putting up a fight, it’s even more awkward for me to blame myself. This way, there’s no result from your training, is there? Reflect on yourself.

“It seems you’ve learned a bit of fighting, but it’s still insufficient. You appear to be from the back alleys, and those bad habits remain. If you just change your mindset through the Association’s rehabilitation program, you could become a good Hero….”

“Argh, fuck!”

Deokbae slammed his head directly into the ground. Unsa was speechless at his bizarre action. Blood seeped out from between the crumbling rock fragments.

“……Self-harm, well…. I’m sorry. But as you know, ability users aren’t harmed by that much….”

– Oh dear. You know you can’t kill yourself, right? It’s fine. As long as your Core is alive, I can revive you. Don’t worry too much.

‘I wish I could just die forever.’

– Don’t say things you don’t mean. Fufufu. Pretending to be unconscious is good. It can make them drop their guard.

Deokbae closed his eyes, feigning unconsciousness. Even if Phoenix directly transmitted thoughts to his head, at least the other loudmouth wouldn’t engage in the strange act of talking to an unconscious Villain.

Unsa scratched his head slightly and tapped his watch. He was still standing with his foot on Deokbae’s back.

“This is Unsa. I’ve apprehended the Villain.”

– Good job, Unsa! You moved well according to my command, as expected! Khahaha!

Shin Jingwang beamed and praised himself. Shin Jingwang’s command was useless, but Unsa didn’t stir up trouble.

“Commander-nim. I apologize, but can you ascertain the overall battle situation right now? I’ve been separated from my teammates due to a one-on-one fight.”

– Uh, oh, right.

Unsa checked the data received from headquarters. Headquarters had already exterminated all Hellhound packs, centered around Tempest Lady.

Fortunately, the Heroes seemed to have been rescued safely. Unsa was about to let out a sigh of relief when he questioned the location of the Heroes marked on the map.

“……Why are they here?”

Below the Heroes’ signals, a small Pine Tree Unit mark was displayed. Those who had joined Team A were carrying out operations at a separate location from Tempest Lady.

– No, you don’t need to worry about that! It’s an order I gave! Do you have a complaint?!

“No, I don’t.”

However, their location bothered him. The Pine Tree Unit was located north of the Digital Complex, on the road leading to the station.

* * *

– Jo Deokbae-nim has been subdued. Hellhounds annihilated.

– In Gangnam, Black Flame Dragon shattered Pungbaek and Unsa’s combined technique. But Black Flame Dragon suffered mana exhaustion. He was immediately subdued by Unsa.

– Seonmudang surrendered. His subordinate Villains fled.

– Haneulseong’s forces have not yet lost their will to fight. However, if Pungbaek and Unsa rejoin the battle, they will be at a disadvantage.

– Heroes are superior in both Guro and Gangnam.

Jihwa’s rapid-fire reports continued. Towards the end, her voice trembled slightly, as if she was a little worried.

– Phoenix-nim, are you really still going to wait?

“I told you, didn’t I? I’m waiting until two S-ranks appear.”

– That’s true, but….

– Excuse me, Phoenix-ssi? At this rate, the Seoul occupation and everything else will be ruined, won’t it?

Gaeul, who was next to Jihwa, also spoke worriedly. Even if it was Jihwa, it was a bit concerning that Gaeul, who knew nothing about this kind of thing, was also worried.

“As expected, we are indeed lacking in executive-level forces.”

Deokbae, who could briefly exert A-rank power, was subdued. Black Flame Dragon burned with fighting spirit but was arrested, and Seonmudang himself knelt before the Villains.

“It’s about time I got a call.”

Ding!

He was not one to wait. I checked the alarm on my watch.

[Haneulseong] : I will follow. Help me.

“He’s quite the tease, isn’t he?”

– What will you do? Your subordinates are already hiding, and there are no more usable forces.

“If there aren’t any, then I’ll just create them, won’t I?”

I lay on the railing and took out a cube, holding it up to the sun. Its appearance was hideous, but right now, it was the best means to drive the Heroes out of Seoul.

‘It feels a bit unsettling to use something from an Otherworld God, though.’

In a situation where forces were at a disadvantage like now, all available resources had to be utilized.

‘And if Seongju finds out, I can make an excuse.’

If Seongju were to awaken from her sleep before the original story began and briefly observe the surface, she would naturally find Phoenix’s movements, awakening earlier than planned, to be strange.

“So, I’ll make it seem like these current activities are the work of a Dark Legion executive.’

‘At least I have to hide that the brainwashing has been broken.’

If Phoenix presented himself as a member of the evil organization executive that Seongju desired, Seongju would cast aside her suspicions and focus on her recovery again.

It had to be. It absolutely had to be. Otherwise, he would be brainwashed by Seongju again, and his Spirit life would immediately end.

In this situation where he couldn’t even get help from the Round Table, facing Seongju was a suicidal act, and he would be brainwashed without being able to use his power. He hoped Seongju wouldn’t wake up at all, but just in case she woke from a light slumber.

‘Then Seongju-nim. If you’re watching from up there right now, please cast aside your suspicions. Please.’

Mana surged from the cube. That mana, almost infinite yet somewhat sticky, was purified as it touched my Azure Flame.

“Ugh, I really hate this….”

It felt like putting a hand into contaminated sewage and sifting out impurities. But rather than casually using mana influenced by an Otherworld God, undergoing this purification process made it much easier for me to utilize mana.

“Beacon, listen carefully. ‘Second Phase’ is standard for all Azure Syndicate members.”

– Huh? What do you mean?

“You’ll see. …Witness and realize how powerful and great your master is.”

I got up and stood on the railing. The purified mana extracted from the cube soared into the sky, heading towards Gangnam and Guro.

Woooosh—-

The mana painted the sky with flames and reached the Mini Phoenixes hovering near Gangnam and Guro. The Mini Phoenixes transformed into countless feathers and fell to the ground.

“There’s not much left on the Guro side, but….”

The Hellhounds, which had disappeared without leaving even a trace due to Unsa’s Gluttonous Cloud, bothered him, but such a power vacuum would soon be filled anyway.

“If animal carcasses are just left unattended, flies will gather and it will get dirty, so naturally, someone has to dispose of them, right?”

Pop!

The Phoenix’s feathers touched the Hellhounds’ corpses.

“Now, it’s time to resurrect.”

Flash!

Blue flames ignited in the dead eyes of the Hellhounds.