27. White Night (14)

The next morning, we packed up our temporary shelter.

Since we didn’t have much stuff to begin with, the work took less than an hour.

The chilly dawn air.

We quietly spent our time, greeting a sun that wouldn’t rise in the dim sunlight.

Only now, before the final battle, could we finally breathe a sigh of relief.

And so, all preparations were complete.

The squad members, carrying their backpacks, approached and saluted me.

“We’ll depart now.”

I finally realized that this place would be the last chapter of our journey.

Whether we live or die, it will end here.

I don’t care what Pira-hyeon wants. I also don’t care how she intends to create this world with such absurd schemes; that’s not my problem.

Here, right here.

We kill Korum-puntur and get the hostages back.

Then my journey ends.

The war that I, a mere ordinary citizen, had no choice but to participate in to save them, will finally come to an end.

Lyushin-ssi will take care of the aftermath.

I just wanted to live quietly as I had always done once this was over.

No, I have to.

With my will, with the will of the squad members, we will make it happen.

“Let’s go.”

November 23rd.

The final operation ‘Omega Zero’ begins.

Objective: Complete dismantling of Pantagruel.

* * *

Pantagruel’s elite, excluding Korum-puntur, are unknown opponents we have never faced before.

They’re bound to be covered in artificial mana stones and various rare artifacts. If not, they might have chosen to directly enhance their bodies like that flesh monster from last time.

Either way, it’s just as dangerous.

That’s why I told the squad members to be wary of any kind of surprise attack that might occur…

But it’s already been almost 20 minutes since we entered Omega Zero, and there’s no sign of the enemy at all.

“No infrared signatures detected!”

“Same here, nothing detected.”

What on earth are they up to?

I feel suffocated by their completely unknown intentions.

Are they planning to trap us in the middle and attack all at once?

No, that’s not a feasible plan at all.

If necessary, we can reverse the situation with Alice’s teleportation right before the battle breaks out, and our unit’s strength isn’t weak enough to collapse from a single attack.

Then what is it…?

I have to think. I have to remember.

The safety of the squad members depends on my judgment alone.

“Could they have moved their base altogether?”

“Check the Magi levels.”

“…They’re still high.”

The Magi level varies depending on the concentration of demons.

After all, Magi is just the atmosphere’s mana that has been polluted, so the Magi remaining in a place where demons have disappeared is quickly purified and returns to mana.

In other words, the fact that the Magi is still high means that they haven’t abandoned this place and run away.

In other words, they are either watching us somewhere here, or hiding inside and observing our movements.

“Secure each building as we come across it while searching.”

“Yes.”

It might take a while, but this was the most reliable method.

The structure of Omega Zero is a radial shape with several low-rise buildings closely attached, and more buildings appear as you go deeper inside, so there was no great danger in exploring.

[Jihoo-ya. Do you think everything around you is real?]

Pira-hyeon’s voice still echoes in my ears.

A factor that gnaws at my nerves and reduces my concentration.

Even if I try not to pay attention, I can’t just ignore the voice that keeps coming, and I get more and more tired.

She promised not to interfere in combat, so is she planning to continue this mental attack instead?

While I was frowning and listening to the repetition of meaningless words, a squad member who seemed to have found something called me with a short exclamation.

“Here, there’s something here!”

When I got closer and looked, it was something that resembled a tear in a rubber structure.

However, unlike a harmless rubber structure, it was emitting an uneasy energy from the gap.

An appearance that could be called a gap in space.

As soon as I saw that space, which looked unusual at first glance, I immediately ordered all the squad members not to touch it.

I think this is probably a ‘remnant’ of Pira-hyeon’s power.

Considering her ability to absorb and release…

That gap probably acts like a black hole.

I tentatively tore off a piece of the wall inside the building and threw it towards the gap.

• Shuwoooosh!

As expected, the gap greedily sucked in the wall material.

And the gap that ate the wallpaper is getting a little wider.

What does this mean?

A simple trap? Or a real passage disguised as a trap?

Why, of all places, did she leave such a trace here?

If that only has the ability to absorb something, and also has the ability to spit something out to match the name of absorption and release.

[That’s right.]

“What the fuck…”

• Bleep! Bleep! Bleep!

Suddenly, the Magi level around us starts to skyrocket.

At the same time, the gap in space expands noticeably.

The crack, which wriggled and widened as if eating up the surrounding space itself, soon became large enough for a huge person to pass through.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Before long, the purple hole wriggles and tries to spit something out.

I urgently ordered the squad members to prepare for battle.

The squad members, who quickly lined up in formation in less than a few seconds, began to stare intently at the inside of the hole.

Slowly but surely, something comes out of the gap.

Two huge horns.

A bizarrely shaped head and contrasting intense eyes.

I could tell just by looking at it.

That I had met this guy before.

And that I had already been defeated once.

The National Intelligence Service raid.

That painful memory flashed through my mind.

The bitterly painful wound of defeat.

The feeling of wandering that was close to futility.

The memory of that day came to mind here, going back in time.

“…Alert status! Danger level 3!”

“Guns aren’t working at all!”

“It’s probably immune because of the gap until it’s completely over here! Don’t waste ammunition, just be on guard!”

One leg, torso, face, and the remaining leg in order.

Even the remaining legs, which resembled those of a horse but were thicker and more muscular, finally crossed the crack and came over here.

Finally.

I was able to witness it.

The Great Demon of Collapse.

…Korum-puntur, stronger than before.

“Long time no see, Lee Jihoo.”

A sound like scraping iron echoes all around.

If the previous voice only gave me an unpleasant feeling, the current voice goes beyond that and makes the surrounding space ripple.

A warning bell rings in my head.

My heart is pounding and beating fast, as if warning me that ‘this is really dangerous’.

“Then shall we begin?”

The Great Demon of Collapse raised his arm high.

In less than three seconds, dozens of purple spheres were created at the same time, and then flew quickly towards all the squad members.

Judging by the color and shape, it was an attack with the power of collapse.

“Don’t intercept, dodge!”

The power to ‘collapse’ something immediately if hit.

If you’re unlucky and the attack is directed at your mind rather than a physical wound, there’s nothing more troublesome than that.

‘Alice, don’t come out this time, just stay hidden. You’re the most important. If the squad members are in danger, teleport them to the coordinates connected to the outside immediately, okay?’

• Yes, yes…! I’ll do my best!

The final boss from the beginning.

Isn’t that too much?

As if there’s no such thing as a growth cliché when a hero goes to catch the Demon King, Korum-puntur came to face us directly.

Moreover, he is definitely different from before.

I can feel that he has become stronger at a glance, so if I make even a small mistake, I can be injured or even lose my life.

The goal is to win, but only in a safe state.

Since there have already been many victims, I can’t create any more deaths.

Even if I have to give up the battle, I will fight as safely as possible.

Then the three captured people…

I’ll have to go save them alone.

“The opponent uses the power of collapse! Find magic that can offset the gravity-based elements that are mixed in a lot!”

But, it’s always been like this.

During the Sea Dragon incident, and during the facility raid.

So I wasn’t afraid.

Isn’t this a much better situation?

So many people are helping me by my side.

What else is there to be afraid of and fall down?

That’s why.

I put all my strength into fighting Korum-puntur.

With the determination to kill him here.

“Everyone, attaaaaack!”

The battle was just beginning.