Ch.122122. The Day Before the Final Battle

“You’re saying Ui-seok was hiding something like that?”

Kang Yerin was shocked after hearing Shin Yukyong’s explanation. She had been inspecting her suit and equipment in preparation for the third round.

“He called it his trump card. Said he would have disposed of it if there was no need to use it in the Incursion.”

“No matter what, that’s… too dangerous.”

“I know. Honestly, I don’t understand it either. The world ended up like this because we fought against synthetic monsters.”

Shin Yukyong sighed. Kang Yerin found this somewhat unexpected and said to her:

“I thought you wouldn’t care about such things.”

“How could I not? I’m a hero too. I achieved my goal of becoming stronger, so now I protect the world. But we failed.”

“…Yes, we did.”

The two fell silent. Ji Se-hwa and Pak Hayoung noticed them as they were walking down the corridor.

“Why the gloomy atmosphere? Were you commemorating Minseo?”

“That’s part of it. We’ve lost too many comrades. I’ve become numb to it for a long time now.”

Shin Yukyong responded bitterly.

“Let’s stay strong together, Yukyong. We can’t give up yet.”

Pak Hayoung bit her lip firmly as she took Shin Yukyong’s hands. Being quite perceptive, she often shared courage with all team members.

“Well, honestly, I’m not sure anymore. Do any of you know how Pads are made?”

Everyone shook their heads at Shin Yukyong’s question.

“Dark Matter’s mention in the first round bothered me, so I looked into it. It seems heroes were somewhat different from what we understood. When I first learned from Jung Ui-seok, it definitely wasn’t like this.”

“But that’s because Ui-seok has been struggling lately…”

Ji Se-hwa mumbled.

“What do you think about ‘that thing’ participating as the sixth member in the third round, Se-hwa?”

Ji Se-hwa couldn’t immediately answer Kang Yerin’s question.

“I don’t know… don’t ask me difficult questions. I’m stupid, remember?”

Unable to deny her love for Jung Ui-seok, Ji Se-hwa avoided answering.

“Whatever happens, we’re heroes. We have to fight to protect.”

Pak Hayoung pleaded, but the atmosphere remained tense. Kang Yerin nodded.

“You’re right. But realistically, the score is 2-0. The matches so far haven’t given us much hope. That’s why I wanted to have this conversation with all of you.”

Kang Yerin put her arms around the other members’ waists, drawing them closer. Shin Yukyong and Ji Se-hwa looked slightly surprised, as this had never happened before.

“If we lose tomorrow and vanish, I’ll have many regrets. Still, it’s been an honor to fight alongside all of you as comrades.”

Kang Yerin made eye contact with each team member.

“Se-hwa, Yukyong, Hayoung. Thank you for everything.”

Her voice carried no regrets.

She seemed at peace, as if she had already accepted the end.

“You should have been like this sooner. It’s too late now, idiot.”

Ji Se-hwa leaned her shoulder against Kang Yerin, hiding her embarrassment.

“Would things have been different if we had Gerogius instead of Jung Ui-seok?”

“We’d probably be dead already.”

Kang Yerin snorted at Shin Yukyong’s joke. Shin Yukyong quickly agreed.

“Jung Ui-seok wasn’t a bad leader, but I think we need a different hero leader now.”

Shin Yukyong expressed her thoughts without any filter as usual.

“How can you say that? You really have the worst social skills.”

Ji Se-hwa scolded Shin Yukyong, who simply shrugged her shoulders, unfazed.

***

“Condition D2 to G7.”

On the final day, Vengeance continued their training in the training room.

The simulation environment changed in real-time according to my instructions—cutting-edge technology.

“I’ll maintain Formation E3!”

“I’m going to the rear. Boksil, please support me.”

“Leave it to me!”

The team members worked in harmony.

At this point, there’s no need for intensive training to improve specs. This is just a final check to confirm everyone knows the strategy.

“Okay, no problems. Good work, everyone.”

This is training we’ve done countless times. Lu-a’s judgment in determining formations based on the situation, Lena and Somi’s movements in response, and Boksil’s reaction speed—all are at their absolute best.

There’s nothing more to prepare. I decided to dismiss everyone and approached Sulphur, who had been watching us with folded arms from the corner of the training room.

“You look quite displeased.”

Sulphur tilted her head.

“Of course I am. How am I supposed to work on teamwork with you people now? Why am I just sitting here like a sack of rice?”

“I called you here because you should at least understand our abilities and movements to work better with us.”

“That’s ridiculous. I never even agreed to your proposal.”

“So, are you not going to do it?”

Sulphur hesitated for a moment before clicking her tongue.

“Fine, I’ll do it. I still don’t understand what you’re thinking, Gerogius. That’s what bothers me.”

“It’s exactly as I explained. I made the proposal because it benefits me too.”

I had proposed to Sulphur a role she could continuously fulfill in this world after the Incursion.

For that to happen, she needed to participate in the third round.

“The battlefield opens tomorrow at nine in the morning. Don’t oversleep.”

I gave her this reminder before leaving the training room.

“Good work, Lord!”

A sharp fellow was waiting with a towel. As a good manager, he’s always in the right place at the right time, handling just the tasks assigned to him—I like that about him.

While wiping off my sweat and walking to the shower room, I received a brief report from him.

“The executives are waiting. It’s for tomorrow’s operation briefing.”

“I understand.”

This guy has been working beside me for quite some time. Our connection goes back to the day we raided the underground arena.

Hmm.

“You, what was your name again?”

“It’s Jack.”

Such an unremarkable name—I’ll probably forget it soon.

***

“Ahh, taking a bath after working out really is the best. I’m melting, just melting.”

Lee Lu-a relaxed her face as she immersed herself in the hot water.

The open-air bath on the rooftop of their hideout rivaled the quality of any countryside hot spring. The moon hung high in the sky.

Behind her, Boksil was splashing around in the cold bath as if it were a swimming pool.

“I agree. Vengeance’s bathhouse is so well-made that I always want to come here too.”

E.lena, with a towel wrapped around her, agreed as she dipped her feet into the water. She took a deep breath, her cheeks flushed.

“Oh, when did you switch?”

When Lu-a asked, E.lena’s eyes sharpened.

“Lena hates moving her body, yet she enjoys post-exercise baths more than anyone. Always skipping the hard work.”

“Come on, that’s why I give up snacks to Lena.”

“That’s not enough anymore. From now on, I’m completely prohibiting private conversations with Ui-seok. You’re not being helpful at all.”

“That’s because Lena is so frustrating. We need to keep reminding Mr. Ui-seok.”

“Right. I agree with Eli on that.”

Lu-a nodded. She had now adapted to Eli and Lena’s habit of talking to themselves as if in conversation, and could interact with them without difficulty.

“Now even Lu-a is doing this? Sigh. Just so you know, restrain yourselves tonight. Ui-seok’s lust meter is already at 10. Somi, that goes for you too. I didn’t tell you to behave like animals.”

“I-it’s not like that,” Han Somi strongly denied as she was washing her hair behind them.

“Tomorrow is an important day. I won’t tolerate even a single variable.”

“Lena, don’t be so anxious.”

“Yeah. It’s us. We’ll win.”

Eli and Lu-a reassured Lena. Lena sighed.

“A simple victory isn’t enough. We must win perfectly. Without a single casualty among us, without any damage to our world. That would be Ui-seok’s wish.”

Lena stretched her arms high toward the sky. Droplets of water rolled down her snow-white arms.

“And haven’t you all noticed how difficult the conditions for this perfect victory are? We already have an uncontrollable variable like Sulphur.”

“That’s true. I understand Mr. Ui-seok’s plan, but still…”

Han Somi nodded.

“The Dragon King Sentai will be desperate since they’re backed into a corner, so we could be in danger too. There’s also the risk of Sulphur betraying us… but if that happens, we’ll fight with everything we’ve got.”

Lu-a lightly splashed the bathwater with her toes.

All the women of Vengeance understood the plan after hearing it from Jung Ui-seok.

“Somi, didn’t this story make you feel uncomfortable?”

“I didn’t think much of it. I’m a villain now too.”

Han Somi answered calmly as she entered the bath. Lena seemed satisfied with her answer and nodded indifferently.

“What’s certain is that Mr. Ui-seok and we still have a lot to do.”

“Of course! Boksil still has lots to eat!”

Boksil, who had been running around the open-air bath, jumped into the tub where the three were sitting. Water splashed everywhere. Lena lightly blocked the splashing water with her command.

“Boksil is right too. Let’s eat well and get plenty of rest tonight. All of you.”

Eli suggested kindly. Everyone there agreed with her.

***

“Geo, five minutes left.”

“Good.”

After receiving Lu-a’s report, I grabbed my belt, fastened it around my waist, and inserted the card.

[The End begins]

[Harmagedōn]

Transformed into Harmageddon form.

At the same time, a massive roar erupted from the front.

“It’s Harmageddon, back from hell!”

“Lord Gerogius!!”

“I’m dying! Please marry me!!”

“Let’s go to Round 3!!”

Citizens who came to support us formed a massive crowd.

I waved my hand lightly and turned toward the barrier to focus.

We were beneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

“Prism God, are you ready?”

“Former Vengeance villains, ready to enter.”

The answer came through the direct line. The villains who will raid the other world when Round 3 begins are waiting in Seoul.

“One minute left! The score is 2-0. If we win here, we can end the Incursion. I wish you luck, Vengeance!”

The officiator swung his fist at me. All kinds of helicopters and cameras are focused on us.

The countdown approaches.

On the left are Lu-a and Boksil.

On the right stand Lena, Somi, and Sulphur.

Finally, with the number 0, the barrier opens.

“Vengeance, move in.”

We charged into the battlefield with all our might.