Ch.1111. The Galactic Empire’s Assault, Dragon King Squadron Suffers a Crushing Defeat

“What the hell is that thing! What is it!”

The Association President gnawed at his fingernails while berating the control room. But the operators were equally flustered.

“All we can determine is that it’s a spaceship. An enormous one at that…”

“A spaceship? It’s still farther than the moon’s orbit, yet visible to the naked eye—what kind of spaceship is that!”

Bang! The Association President slammed his fist on the control panel.

“Even so, sir…”

The Association President couldn’t believe what he was seeing on the screen.

Even the mighty Dark Kingdom’s ultimate weapon—the spaceship they had been constructing in space—was enormous, about the size of a Seoul district. The damage it would have caused attacking Earth was unimaginable. Fortunately, the Dragon King Sentai had stopped the Dark Kingdom’s spaceship before it was completed.

But this thing was completely beyond common sense.

Calculating by distance, this oval planet-like spaceship appeared to be larger than the moon—about a quarter the size of Earth. And it was clearly approaching Earth.

If this was a vessel of hostile beings like the Dark Kingdom…

Could the Dragon King Sentai stop it?

“Summon the Dragon King Sentai, immediately!”

The Association President screamed hysterically.

All while thinking that nothing should threaten the wealth and status he had built up, symbolized by the Association building.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Geo, you said an evil organization called the Galaxy Empire is invading, right?”

“Yes.”

I answered Lee Lu-a’s question calmly.

“With a spaceship that size, isn’t it dangerous?”

“It is. Much more dangerous than the Dark Kingdom.”

“Then what do we do? Can the heroes stop it? You’re not even there anymore.”

“They can’t stop it.”

“Sigh. You talk like it’s someone else’s problem…”

“It’s fine for now. For a month, at least.”

“Which means there will be a problem after a month, right?”

“Hmm.”

I turned to Lee Lu-a and asked.

“Lu-a, if I ordered you to fight the Galaxy Empire, would you do it?”

“Me? Against the Galaxy Empire? That’s…”

Lu-a seemed frightened. Considering the trauma the Dark Kingdom had inflicted worldwide, it wasn’t unreasonable.

“Of course, that’s a hero’s job. It’s not immediate, so think about it slowly.”

“Okay.”

“But it would be troublesome if the Dragon King Sentai died in the first battle. My revenge isn’t complete yet.”

I have absolutely no intention of helping those women.

If they’re lucky enough to survive, they might train or find strong new members to fight.

Though I don’t think they’re capable of that.

“I don’t plan to sit idle against the Galaxy Empire. I have a plan.”

“Really?”

“First, I need several talented people.”

“What kind of ability users do you need?”

“Haha. I don’t need abilities. Find me excellent actors.”

“Actors?”

I smiled at Lee Lu-a and answered.

“They’re necessary for the resurrection of Red Dragon.”

◈ ◈ ◈

“A spaceship? That thing?”

Ji Se-hwa frowned.

“What are you talking about? Information control won’t even work! Damn it, anyone can see it just by looking up! It’s coming right at us!”

Bang, Ji Se-hwa slammed the table.

“That’s why I’m asking. Did you really defeat the Dark Kingdom for certain? Is that thing not the Dark Kingdom resurrected?”

The Association President asked anxiously.

“Stop talking bullshit, you bitch! You’ve seen our helmet recordings!”

“Hmm…”

When Ji Se-hwa acted defiantly, the Association President averted his gaze and turned away.

“So the identity isn’t even known? Could it be a new evil organization…?”

Shin Yukyong’s voice trembled as she spoke.

“Hey, Choi Minseo. Don’t you know anything?”

Ji Se-hwa asked. But Choi Minseo didn’t answer, staring into space.

“Choi Minseo!”

“Ah, yes?”

“Where are you looking!”

“S-sorry. I have no idea either…”

Choi Minseo shrank her neck like a turtle.

“We have no choice but to prepare.”

Kang Yerin interjected.

“Everyone, we haven’t trained since defeating the Dark Kingdom, right? We should start training now and recruit strong heroes to prepare.”

“The new Red already said the discussion was over.”

The Association President snorted dismissively.

“She’s just an idol brought in for popularity. Originally a B-rank hero. That’s not enough. We need to scout and select from S-rank and A-rank heroes worldwide.”

“What? The contract is already finalized. We’re just coordinating schedules for the world tour.”

“She only disrupts teamwork. Fire her.”

“Stop talking nonsense! Do you know how much the penalty fee with her agency would be? She’s not an Association hero! And worldwide heroes? Do you know how complicated contracts with overseas associations are?”

“That damn contract. The Dark Kingdom was an evil organization that threatened the entire world. But because of those precious associations and treaties, heroes all had to fight separately. Even the Dragon King Sentai, as an S-Sentai, couldn’t receive any support from other countries!”

“If we had received that support, it would be those foreigners sitting here instead of me! Kang Yerin, your father is a congressman—don’t you understand this? I protected you all from the clutches of other nations!”

The Association President raged.

Kang Yerin knew this wasn’t untrue. Nations, races, ideologies—even with a common enemy, they could never truly unite.

Even at the moment of extinction, the world would never come together as one.

“That spaceship hasn’t even been confirmed as an evil organization yet, right? When the time comes—”

“By then it will be too late.”

Kang Yerin declared firmly.

When the enemy is at your doorstep, it’s already too late.

That’s why we must look one step ahead and train ourselves.

Jung Ui-seok always said that and practiced it.

“Hey. I think it’s already too late.”

Ji Se-hwa was looking at her device with a serious expression. Everyone at the meeting took out their devices and looked at the hologram screens.

“…Damn it.”

The Association President gritted his teeth.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Aah, aaah!”

“Aaaah! Run away!!”

“Save me!!”

People fled in panic.

Before them was a massive crater as if a meteor had struck.

Until moments ago, it had been a place where countless people lived and breathed. Several neighborhoods had completely vaporized.

Those who witnessed the scene either collapsed from shock or ran blindly in the opposite direction.

The being standing in the center of the crater was too dignified to be called a monster.

Standing five meters tall, his armor of unknown material glowed with nuclear fusion in places. His eyes emitted a soft light. A dignified cape fluttered behind him.

It was obvious to anyone that this being, who had just descended from space, had created this crater.

It was the moment when the Galaxy Empire’s Lord, “Emperor Recter,” set foot on Earth.

The priest-like official watching from the ship was only worried.

“How could His Imperial Majesty set his noble body on such a lowly planet without escorts? My concern reaches the heavens.”

“You, always confined to your office, don’t understand the sublimity of dueling! Witness His Majesty’s great conquest!”

“Now that His Majesty has arrived, use the communication methods of this primitive race.”

The subordinate monsters moved according to the officials’ orders. The Emperor’s image began broadcasting worldwide.

“I am Recter, son of the great Ut, Emperor of Galaxy Empire Raniakain.”

A deep, abyss-like voice that could make one faint just by hearing it flowed out.

“The reason I personally came to this small, remote planet is simple. I seek a duel. I have spent my life searching for a brave warrior who could defeat me.”

Aura erupted from his fist—a galaxy-colored aura rising as if to pierce the stratosphere.

“I heard rumors. The leader of Dark Kingdom Apocamellot, Dark Arthur. I thought I could have a good duel with him. When I heard Apocamellot was advancing into space, I thought that day was not far off. But!”

The Emperor spread his arm holding the aura. Boom! Another crater formed beside him.

“Dark Arthur is dead! I heard the warrior who defeated him is on this planet. I demand it! Bring that warrior before me! I believe without doubt that they will give me a blood-boiling duel!”

Mechs flew down rapidly from the sky. The Dragon King Sentai descended from them and landed in the crater.

“You trilobite bastard! Who do you think you are causing trouble here!”

Ji Se-hwa pointed her Leviathan Saber at the Emperor, cursing profusely.

“Hooh, so it’s you. You look just as I’ve heard. Are you the Dragon King Sentai!”

“Tch. Word travels fast.”

Kang Yerin clicked her tongue.

“Blue, Silver, Yellow, Green. Hmm? No Red. Well, no matter. Great warriors! I expect the finest duel!”

The Emperor wrapped both hands in aura. He intended to fight with bare fists.

“The size of that aura…”

“We don’t have time to hold back. Go all out immediately.”

Everyone nodded at Shin Yukyong’s words. The four charged in.

“Five Light, Moon Mirror!”

“Leviathan, Ocean Slash!”

“Noztorm, Clock Out!”

“Quetzalcoatl, Nature Power!”

Each immediately unleashed their dragon powers and used their finishing moves. The Dragon King Sentai struck the Emperor with full force. The Emperor, about to counter, suddenly sensed something strange and stopped his fist.

“Haaaah!”

“Die, you cockroach bastard!”

The Emperor tilted his head. He looked at the four rushing toward him one by one.

‘Are they mocking me?’

The Emperor could only be dumbfounded.

He had spent his entire life searching for the strongest warrior who could defeat him.

He had traveled the entire universe his whole life looking for a brave warrior who could heat his heart and cause a big bang in his galaxy.

Empire, Emperor—those were merely byproducts of that quest.

That’s why he came to this remote place.

But what was this?

These insects.

Grab!

The Emperor seized Shin Yukyong and Ji Se-hwa by their necks.

“Kuh!”

“Aak!”

Their faces turned blue from lack of oxygen.

Crash!! The Emperor slammed them into the ground with a suplex.

Shin Yukyong and Ji Se-hwa coughed blood.

“What…!”

Kang Yerin and Choi Minseo were shocked, but only briefly. The Emperor suddenly grabbed their heads too and Boom! smashed them together like eggs. Their helmets shattered.

“Stop playing games.”

The Emperor said in a genuinely disappointed voice.

“You defeated Dark Arthur? What nonsense.”

“Ugh, uuugh.”

Shin Yukyong realized in that single blow.

This was a completely different dimension.

Fear.

The fear she had felt once before and grown accustomed to now consumed her body again. Shin Yukyong didn’t even realize her lower body had become wet with urine.

“Bring before me the warrior who defeated Dark Arthur.”

Thud, thud.

Ji Se-hwa felt like her head was on the chopping block. Those footsteps sounded like the pulley of a rope raising a guillotine.

“N-no!”

“What are you saying?”

“I-it wasn’t us! The one who defeated Dark Arthur!”

“Hmm?”

“Dark Arthur was defeated by Red Dragon! Jung Ui-seok defeated him!!”

Ji Se-hwa screamed, fearing for her life.

And that scream was broadcast worldwide by the Galaxy Empire’s live feed.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Dark Arthur was defeated by Red Dragon! Jung Ui-seok defeated him!!”

“Pfft.”

I couldn’t help but laugh hearing Ji Se-hwa’s desperate voice.

“Heh, hehehehe.”

Se-hwa always had a cute side. On the surface she lived with curses and acted tough.

But she’s actually quite tender inside. She’s too scared to watch horror movies and loves cats.

She’s also awkward with romance—when a junior crew member confessed to her, she didn’t know what to do and came to me for advice.

You must have been really scared of Emperor Recter.

I understand, Se-hwa.

Well.

I still won’t help you though.