Ch.110110. First Battlefield, the Showdown Between Villain and Hero Armies

“The first battlefield is opening! The theme is ‘military.’ Entry limit is 100 people! Good luck, Vengeance!”

The host bumped my shoulder in a friendly manner. What an annoying guy.

The detailed rules for the first battle had been announced through the system window a day before.

One hundred ability users from each side would enter the battlefield and be eliminated if they died or were ringed out as the combat zone narrowed.

When only one person remained, a symbol would appear. It was an easy-to-understand battle royale rule.

“Operation orders completed, Geo.”

Lua reported. For efficiency, all team members had built strategies based on different squads for this battle.

The basic premise was 25 squads of 4 people each. The strategy was to have two to four people following one squad leader.

“The moment we enter, all hundred people will be scattered and randomly positioned. We’ll definitely need to form squads on site and move immediately.”

“The hierarchy is clear, so we can determine squad leaders instantly regardless of combination. With five or more, mobility becomes an issue, and with three or fewer, blind spots appear and striking power weakens.”

“Why is Boksil’s rank so low? I want to be captain!”

“Just follow someone else’s orders properly. If this ends well, I’ll get you a truckload of steak.”

Boksil has good firepower but is slow to assess situations.

“You’ll frequently encounter enemies right from the start, and you may become isolated or face enemies with abilities that counter yours. Everyone, move with all scenarios in mind.”

My subordinate villains responded energetically to my communication. They’re all elites who have honed their skills for this day.

Kang Wan, who’s been with me since Harbor 7; Prism Shin, the guard captain; Finisher, the Holy Tree’s second-in-command; Conqueror, the former Hell’s Babel boss; Wrap Paper, UVC’s first champion; Defector, the powerhouse from the underwater prison; Sealer, UVC’s second champion; Pint In, who quickly grew despite being eliminated in the semifinals; and many other powerful figures were positioned.

“Since it’s your strategy, I’m sure you have a big picture in mind, but Geo, there are only five battles during the Incursion. Is it okay to commit so much force from the beginning?”

I corrected the part Lena misunderstood.

“It’s not five battles.”

“It’s best of five, isn’t it?”

“Yes. So it’s three.”

“Hehe, that’s also correct.”

We were standing upstream of Niagara Falls in Canada.

Soon the time came, and the barrier before our eyes began to crumble, opening up the space.

“Vengeance, commence battle.”

Following my order, one hundred villains sprang forward in perfect unison and began disappearing into the battlefield.

***

“Kueok!”

Shortly before the first battle began, a villain coughed up blood in the darkness and collapsed to the ground.

A hero in a snow-white suit who had stomped on his head leaned down and whispered to him with a smirk.

“Don’t blame me too much. I targeted you because you were the weakest among the selected hundred. Blame yourself for choosing the dragon’s tail.”

The villain had already fainted and couldn’t hear Sulphur’s words. Sulphur skillfully stole the villain’s outfit and disguised himself as him.

“Could I miss a big event that determines the fate of the world? Haha. No way. Above all else.”

Sulphur, having completed his disguise, paused as if lost in thought.

“…because he needed me.”

Who was he speaking as when he uttered those words?

Sulphur quickly left the place.

***

“Hmm.”

The moment I crossed the barrier, I felt space-time twisting. What appeared before me was a steeply cut cliff and an endless sea. To the left and right was jungle-like terrain.

Since I could see the horizon stretching far, this must be the end of a peninsula or an island.

The sea couldn’t be the battlefield, so the combat zone would narrow toward the inland.

As I turned my body to enter, I immediately sensed a presence.

“Damn, it’s muddy everywhere. My suit looks like it rolled in a pile of shit. See? You probably don’t care. Your suit is shit-colored anyway, Gold.”

It was a familiar voice. Hiding behind a tree to observe, I saw Exile and AbsoluteSeven.

However, Exile was wearing a pink suit, and Absolute was in gold.

These pathetic guys are part of the Dragon King Sentai?

It’s laughable.

“Lower your voice. This is a combat zone.”

“That stuck-up Red Dragon will sweep everything anyway, so what does it matter to us? Fucking Yellow Monkey being Red. Why should a manly guy like me wear pink tights? I’m not gay.”

“Shut up, you racist.”

“Huh? Listen, assigning suit colors based on skin color is tradition! Don’t you know the first S-Sentai did that too? Black for Black people, Yellow for Asians! Jung should know that. Changing the colors to Yellow Dragon, Yellow Saber, Yellow Mirrored would be more authentic.”

“That’s why the first S-Sentai is forbidden to mention. And according to you, that suit matches your skin color perfectly, Pink Exile.”

“Fucking cocoa bastard, you’ve got a mouth on you. A hundred years ago, you’d have been working on my plantation.”

Their banter wasn’t bad quality for stand-up comedy, but time was precious, so I activated the blue of death.

Approaching, I simultaneously channeled red into my fist.

Kwajik!

In an instant, my fist penetrated Exile’s heart, spraying blood across Absolute’s face.

“Shiiit! Devil Man!”

Absolute activated his ability, lighting up his eyes. Without giving him a chance, I took a flamingo stance.

Jumping into the air, I executed a 3-stage air raid. Left foot fore, right foot side, left foot rear—striking Absolute’s head in succession as if to crush it.

“Uuugh!”

Absolute fell. I fired white to finish him off.

Looking behind me, I saw the barrier approaching like a wave.

So the arena shrinks as participants are eliminated.

It would be advantageous to move inward.

“Lord!”

There were voices calling me.

“Wrap Paper, Cloud, Jumper. We’ll move as a squad. Follow me.”

“Yes.”

I joined with three subordinate villains and began moving.

***

“What an unpleasant place. Are elements from both worlds combined and twisted? All of you, don’t neglect your reconnaissance.”

Shin Yukyong gave orders to the other heroes. No hero anywhere could refuse her, a veteran of the Dragon King Sentai.

“Below is a river. The rapids could be dangerous if caught in them during battle.”

“Are you cautious about mere water currents? How pathetic.”

“This isn’t ordinary terrain. The space itself is like a massive ability…”

“There are also strange buildings scattered around. There are many blind spots, so we need to be careful of ambushes.”

Shin Yukyong snorted at the junior hero’s report.

“A battlefield fitting for cowardly villains. When have I ever cared about such things? I’ve pulverized anyone who approached me.”

“Haha, that’s right. It’s reassuring to have Silver Mirrored with us, of all people.”

“Um… there won’t be problems like the synthetic monster incident last time, right?”

Shin Yukyong’s eyes sharpened. The junior hero who had misspoken closed his mouth.

“Shh! Tactless fool. After all Silver went through then, how dare you bring it up… Urk!!”

Pshuk!

One of the heroes beside Shin Yukyong collapsed, blood gushing violently from his neck.

Shin Yukyong immediately entered a combat stance.

“Hieek! Where from…! Aaak!”

The junior hero beside her also had his limbs severed by a flying boomerang.

Shin Yukyong leaped from her position, but a black object grabbed her ankle and slammed her to the ground.

Bwoong!

Before her, a woman soared into the air.

“No need for ambushes, Silver. I was walking right toward you, and you didn’t even notice? Where are you all keeping your minds?”

Lua created dark matter in both hands, smiling refreshingly.

Her ability, now more compact and solid than before, was perfectly under her control.

Seven villain squad members appeared behind Lua.

“Dark Matter…!”

Shin Yukyong angrily vibrated her dagger to cut through the dark matter and retreated into a mirror.

It was the signal for battle to begin.

***

“Haaah!”

Kang Yerin knocked down villains with an elegant roundhouse kick.

Fighting on the outskirts, she had already eliminated four Vengeance villains by ring-out.

This area, where buildings stood densely like alleys, was crowded with people and continued to be a chaotic battlefield.

“I need to rendezvous with the Dragon King Sentai first. We need Red Dragon’s command…”

Kang Yerin clicked her tongue. She had expected individual combat, but the villain side was moving much better than the hero side.

They grouped in units of four at most, and even when one or two were cut off, they formed new teams as if accustomed to it.

They moved as if they had trained for this battle style for a long time.

She had to admit it. The enemy’s strategy was one step ahead.

“I need to advance to the central area…”

Just then, she heard the sounds of intense fighting.

“Ugh!”

“Urgh!”

The sounds of heroes and villains falling indiscriminately. Soon, kwang! The wall in front of her shattered, and a villain appeared.

Kang Yerin immediately took a combat stance, but the villain spread his hands to show he meant no harm.

“Wait a moment, Yellow Cloaker. I’m here to talk.”

Saying that, the villain tore off his mask and upper clothing and threw them away.

Underneath revealed a snow-white helmet and suit. That appearance was unmistakably that of a hero, which made Kang Yerin waver slightly.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Sulphur. I’m the last remaining hero in that world. Currently infiltrating. I’m someone who wants to kill Gerogius.”

“The last hero…”

“That doesn’t mean I’m particularly looking to cooperate with you all. I have affection for my world after living there my whole life.”

“Then what’s your purpose?”

“There’s something I must ask you, Yellow Cloaker. No, Kang Yerin.”

Sulphur walked steadily toward Kang Yerin. Only then did she realize he was exactly the same height as her.

Sulphur asked her with a somewhat hesitant voice.

“…Do you love Jung Ui-seok?”