Ch.16555. Flame Master Lee Min-su (4)

The battle in Sumida Ward was reaching its end.

The demonic energy saturating the area had already exceeded its critical point. Standing still at the epicenter of that intense pressure was difficult even with a clear mind.

Yet the hunters of the Alliance were barely holding on.

“The demonic energy concentrated on Seomun-yeom is now directed at those four! That’s why our Alliance hunters can relatively endure it.”

Team Leader Han nodded hurriedly at Seo Du-ho’s explanation.

“Team Leader Seo is correct. Thanks to those four directly confronting that monster Seomun-yeom…”

Team Leader Han was right.

Seomun-yeom, a 4th-ranked Mage, was already a villain who surpassed SS-rank hunters. And now he had summoned and fused with an Archfiend directly into his body.

Just looking at the demonized Seomun-yeom caused hunters’ MCI levels to spike dangerously close to their limits.

‘So this is the demonic energy emitted by a single-digit ranked Archfiend…’

The information team members, being relatively weaker awakened ones, would likely have died instantly under that demonic pressure if they weren’t inside the van that could block demonic energy.

But the demonic energy wasn’t the only thing to fear.

Seomun-yeom began attacking again.

‘Each of those simple attacks has the destructive power equivalent to 7th-tier magic spells. Damn it.’

Kuuuuuuuung—

Another massive building completely disintegrated under the black mass of demonic energy created by Seomun-yeom.

“Kugh! To create such attacks! With that kind of power, even SS-rank hunters would…”

The impact of the attack could be felt even in the van, which was quite far from the transmission tower.

Team Leader Han trembled with a pale face. Then he said:

“D-did the Flame hunters just die from that attack…?”

But the drone that had rushed to the transmission tower soon confirmed their figures.

“Fortunately, the Guild Master and her companions appear to be safe.”

Seo Du-ho was right. The massive smoke created by the building’s disintegration cleared. Within it, the figures of four hunters were confirmed.

Yuri Tarkovskaya, Yeon So-so, Seong A-rin, and Lee Min-su—thankfully, all were alive.

The four were engaged in an intense battle against the demonized Seomun-yeom.

“They are now the Alliance’s last hope! There are no more hunters here who can face Seomun-yeom!”

Team Leader Han quickly nodded at Seo Du-ho’s words.

“Because they’re holding out… we’ve somehow managed to survive until now. The performance of those four is truly unbelievable. According to these readings…”

Team Leader Han was constantly checking the screen of his terminal.

“The combined attack power of those four registers as equal to the Five Celestial Stars! No, it’s even beyond that!”

Through equipment that detected changes in demonic energy and mana, they could confirm the destructive power of the battle taking place.

‘Team Leader Han is right. If each of those four were to battle one of the Five Celestial Stars individually, victory wouldn’t be guaranteed. But the current combination of those four is different.’

It was truly the most ideal combination sought in hunter raids.

Seo Du-ho, along with Team Leader Han, focused on the current battle. He checked the scene near the transmission tower through the terminal receiving drone footage.

Seomun-yeom was floating in the air in front of the transmission tower. He opened his mouth to create a massive shockwave of demonic energy.

Paaaang—

But immediately, a huge ice wall formed to block the shockwave. And in the brief opening created by that attack, a sharp sword strike thrust forward.

Pajik—

Seomun-yeom, who had grown six arms, barely blocked that sword strike with the weapons in those arms.

But even with multiple arms, he couldn’t ultimately withstand the fierce sword attack.

Seuk—

Two arms were eventually severed.

‘The combined attack of tank Yuri Guild Master and dealer Yeon So-so Team Leader…’

This same pattern had been continuing for 30 minutes.

Yuri Tarkovskaya was blocking the barrage of demonic energy that Seomun-yeom was fiercely pouring out. A massive shield created with ice spells.

That shield remained unbroken despite Seomun-yeom’s fierce attacks.

And Yeon So-so’s aura sword, over 3 meters long, kept rushing toward Seomun-yeom like the fangs of a ferocious hunting dog.

With Seomun-yeom having to think about both attack and defense simultaneously, he couldn’t concentrate his rampaging demonic energy in one place.

‘That must be Min-su’s strategy.’

And while Seomun-yeom’s attention was focused on that combined attack, Lee Min-su’s flame spell exploded.

Kwakwakwakwakwang—

Blue-white fire engulfed Seomun-yeom’s body.

‘To target that very brief moment when Team Leader Yeon withdraws…’

It was a flame spell with such great firepower that allies could have been caught in the explosion if timed poorly.

But the creator of that blue-white flame, known as the Flame Master among Alliance hunters, calculated the perfect timing to successfully execute the attack.

‘A truly ideal sub-dealer. One whose firepower doesn’t lack compared to a main dealer…’

Moreover, it was Min-su who was coordinating the timing of Yuri and So-so’s offense and defense.

As someone who always checked Flame’s battle logs, Seo Du-ho knew that the current battle pattern was Flame’s standard pattern established by Min-su.

‘With such strong personalities and abilities among those three, if that balance collapses, it could be disastrous.’

But Min-su was now executing that perfect command.

As Flame’s main operator, and when the fatigue of the three became visibly apparent after the continuous exchange of offense and defense,

The holy power ignited from Seong A-rin’s body as she waited behind them.

When that holy power attached to the bodies of her companions, their eyes immediately regained their vigor.

‘And the perfect sustainability of the raid party through the Saint, Seong A-rin.’

The party of these hunters was creating a sustainability that seemed to surpass even the elite party of Jeon Tae-hyun from Light, historically the strongest guild.

Even Seo Du-ho and Team Leader Han, who had been in the hunter world for nearly decades, couldn’t take their eyes off the battle that was now exceeding limits.

Seo Du-ho unconsciously made the sign of the cross over his chest.

“May Ayel’s blessing be with them.”

And Team Leader Han nodded.

“The battle will end soon. Whichever side wins.”

At those words, Jang Dong-hyuk, who was with them, said:

“The winner will definitely be… our Flame!”

Seo Du-ho joined in repeating those words.

***

Finally, the battle with Seomun-yeom, who had become Amon, was nearing its end.

It was truly a precarious fight. If there had been even a moment’s opening, the raid party’s attack would have collapsed.

That’s why I was controlling only four people including myself.

I concentrated to my mental limit to create perfect movements for those four. And I continuously strengthened my entire body with the power of the Black Tortoise.

‘This is the final moment.’

Seomun-yeom in front of me let out another monstrous scream.

Kraaaaaaak—

His blood-red eyes were filled with hatred for the four of us.

Though Seomun-yeom had transformed into a demon nearly 5 meters tall, his body was now in tatters.

Even his demon wings had been cut by So-so’s aura blade, and now he had descended from the air to confront our party.

“Never… I can never retreat like this! The will of the great Evil God… a new world led by our great new human race instead of primitive humans… a world ruled by Mages… it was right in front of us… Kyaaaaaaak!!!”

With that demonic roar, Seomun-yeom’s blood-red blade emitted demonic energy.

It made a thunderous sound as if squeezing the surrounding air, but the sharpness contained in that blade had clearly diminished compared to before.

“Our sustainability has overcome Seomun-yeom and Amon’s demonic energy.”

Yuri said as she landed again on the rooftop of a building.

A-rin’s holy power once again restored the party.

As Yuri said, the party, with the most ideal composition for a raid, gave Seomun-yeom no opening. They had faced Seomun-yeom alone for nearly 40 minutes.

During that time, the party’s stamina was rapidly depleted, but they could endure thanks to A-rin.

‘But now it’s precarious. It’s time for the final blow.’

I’m holding my tattered body together with the Black Tortoise’s power. Having used the Vermilion Bird’s fire without restraint for 40 minutes,

I instinctively felt that I could use only one more flame spell.

“Everyone, for the final strike.”

I told my companions.

Papapapapang—

A massive crescent-shaped slash. The blade strike created by Seomun-yeom’s demonic energy headed toward the rooftop where the party was gathered.

But once again, Yuri’s ice wall blocked that slash. Urgency was now clearly visible on Seomun-yeom’s face.

“Damn you brats!”

With a cry full of rage, Seomun-yeom turned his back on the party.

“The power of an Archfiend… of the Evil God isn’t just this much! Yes… if I take care of some other ones first… more demonic energy…”

It seems he couldn’t think of a way to break the party’s sustainability. So he thought of killing other awakened ones to use as offerings to replenish his depleted demonic energy.

‘Just as I expected.’

But ultimately, that wrong choice created the biggest opening from Seomun-yeom. I had been waiting 40 minutes for just this moment when he would take his eyes off us.

“Now!”

I hurriedly called out to So-so.

Shwook—

Before Seomun-yeom could even recognize it, So-so’s body leaped forward using her movement technique.

“Kyaaaaaaak!”

And So-so’s aura sword created a large wound on Seomun-yeom’s body, which had been like solid armor.

Papapapat—

Simultaneously, I moved along the ice path created by Yuri, quickly approaching Seomun-yeom.

“Prometheus.”

And I threw the highest-grade resonance compression spell created with the Vermilion Bird’s fire, that blue-white flame spear, toward Seomun-yeom’s wound.

It felt as if time had stopped, like silence had fallen over the world.

The other three also fell silent simultaneously. And I watched my flame spell penetrate Seomun-yeom’s body as if in slow motion.

A moment later, when time began to move again.

A massive blue-white flame enveloped Seomun-yeom’s body like divine punishment. The Archfiend burned with a death scream.

***

“Flame did it!”

Cheers from the hunters in Sumida Ward rang out.

And the terrible demonic energy that had been pressing down on the surroundings dissipated all at once. Flame’s elite raid team had finally succeeded in killing Seomun-yeom.

“Seomun-yeom is dead! Without Seomun-yeom, the villains are just a disorganized rabble!”

As one hunter said, the battle situation changed dramatically right after Seomun-yeom’s death. Villains who had been strengthened by wide-area spells were instantly weakened.

On the other hand, although the Alliance hunters were exhausted, their morale was maintained very high due to Flame’s hard fight.

The hunters began to sweep up Seomun-yeom’s remaining forces. Within less than an hour, all battles in Sumida Ward finally came to an end.

“Confirmation of villains retreating not only from Sumida Ward but throughout Tokyo! We’ve succeeded in recapturing Tokyo!”

The hunters all cheered. Sumida Ward, where the fiercest battle had taken place. And at its center, the figures of those who had ended the battle and were finally taking a rest could be seen.

Flame’s elite team. And the feelings of the hunters watching them were all the same.

Reverence. And pride in having witnessed a new legend. Flame’s people hurriedly approached these new heroes.

“Is everyone safe?!”

Executive Director Maria shouted. Not just her, but other Flame members approached as well. Pyo Seong-hun urgently called out:

“Is Team Leader Lee Min-su alright?”

While Yuri, So-so, and Seong A-rin didn’t look unscathed, Min-su had collapsed.

“T-Team Leader Min-su was the one who brought down Seomun-yeom! W-why is he like this…”

Looking quite shocked, Pyo Seong-hun’s face turned pale, but Seong A-rin, who was watching, carefully put her index finger to her lips.

“Senior Min-su is safe. He’s just unconscious for now.”

At those words, the surrounding hunters all sighed in relief.

Everyone had seen it.

Lee Min-su, known as the Flame Master among Alliance hunters. The massive flame he created had burned even an Archfiend.

As if they couldn’t believe the miracle he had created, the hunters alternately looked at the transmission tower where Seomun-yeom had burned and at Min-su’s group.

At that moment, Yuri raised her hand to carefully call Executive Director Maria. And she whispered in her ear.

“Maria. We don’t have time. The four of us will depart for the Vatican immediately.”

Maria quickly nodded. And so the four who had defeated Seomun-yeom headed to the naval base in Yokosuka, not far from Tokyo.

There, Min-su opened his eyes again.