Ch.206Chapter 8. A Toast to Your Patriotism (7)

Victory’s desire, obsession.

The compulsion to be stronger than others.

While this can arise from within an individual, it can also be created by one’s environment.

Unlike Ray Huang, most Chinese heroes are indoctrinated by the state—specifically the Party—with the ideology that they “must win at all costs.”

Unconditional victory.

For that, Ray Huang pushed his ability to its limits, and now he has become a demon.

“UOOOOOOOH!!”

The rampaging demon’s estimated rank is nearly S-class.

Anyone could see that the purple magical energy emanating from the giant, clearly over 5 meters tall, with its form growing increasingly dense, was not the power of Ray Huang’s A-class magic.

Clank, clank.

Armor materialized around the purple giant’s body, and enormous antennae sprouted from its head.

What should we call this thing?

Yes, as everyone would say, it would be right to call it a Horokwan Grasshopper.

“I am Ye Bongson! The invincible War God! No one can defeat me!!”

Or perhaps we should call it by what it wishes to be called—the demon “Ye Bongson.”

Whatever the name, it now craves victory, spinning the massive Bangcheonhwa Spear in its hand—

“Those who interfere with the battle, die!!”

It swung the spear directly at Hayabusa.

“!!”

Hayabusa leaped backward to avoid the attack, but the spear was no ordinary blade.

KWAAANG!!

An explosion erupted where the spear had passed, engulfing Hayabusa.

The tremendous magical blast sent Hayabusa flying backward, tumbling across the ground before barely managing to right himself with a breakfall.

“An explosion…?”

[Something like a Gunblade, perhaps. Well, if it’s formed from mana, there’s no reason it couldn’t take the shape of a Bangcheonhwa Spear.]

It looks like a Bangcheonhwa Spear, but it’s a weapon that creates explosions from its tip.

“UOOOH!!”

What’s more, when it gripped the spear and aimed its tip at Hayabusa, magical energy gathered at the blade’s point, firing magical bullets like a gatling gun.

TUDUDUDUDU!!

Hayabusa deflected the incoming magical bullets with his sword-drawing technique, simultaneously swinging his blade wildly in place to repel all the bullets.

It was worthy of an S-class skill, but the barrage of magical bullets was strong enough to force Hayabusa to take a step back.

‘A being that reached S-class through sheer obsession with victory.’

From an objective viewpoint, using mana powder was cheating, but he probably thought it was fair in his own way.

And Hayabusa’s intervention was unfair according to his personal sense of justice.

[This is why heroes need universal justice, I’m telling you.]

With differences in nationality, race, and culture, everyone has different “triggers,” making it impossible to predict when someone might go berserk.

Therefore, everyone needs to be given fair and equitable guidelines.

As heroes and ability users, we need to standardize when it’s acceptable to get angry and when one must remain calm.

To prevent people from believing their own justice while others see it as wrong, universal norms must be established and given to all ability users.

Of course, that’s for later, when the Syndicate conquers the world.

Right now, subduing Ye Bongson is the priority, so I’ll use my full power since I’ve finally made an appearance.

[Summon.]

[Blade Vent].

As I stretched my hand forward, magical energy erupted, creating a massive greatsword before me.

The magically glowing greatsword had a green handle with black and white blades symmetrically shining on either side, and Ye Bongson, sensing my magical energy, turned around.

[Ye Bongson.]

“Grrrr….”

[I’ve heard you’re China’s strongest warrior. Shall we see who’s stronger?]

“……!!”

Ye Bongson’s eyes gleamed.

Even while rampaging as a demon, he still desired his own version of a “fair fight” and “victory.”

“Kuhaha! The Goblin of the Syndicate! Let’s see who’s stronger! Of course, I’ll be the winner!”

Ye Bongson aimed his Bangcheonhwa Spear at me.

He fired magical bullets from the spear’s tip just as he had at Hayabusa, and I—

Tududududu.

I took the hits directly on my body while walking forward.

“W-what…!”

[Self-protection is basic.]

Green glowing wind swirled around my Rider Suit’s armor, deflecting the incoming magical bullets to the sides.

[Now then.]

“Kugh!”

Just as Ye Bongson raised his Bangcheonhwa Spear to swing it again.

[Let’s clear away the interference.]

KWAAANG!

I swung my sword widely toward Ye Bongson.

The crescent-shaped slash flew toward Ye Bongson, then curved sharply like a swallow, flying past him to his rear.

“?!”

“Kugh?!”

The slash wasn’t aimed at Ye Bongson but behind him, at Hayabusa who was trying to stab Ye Bongson from behind.

KAGAGAGANG!

An impact stronger than Ye Bongson’s earlier bullet barrage struck Hayabusa, who blocked the slash by holding her sword vertically, but the force sent her flying out of bounds.

“…….”

[Now the interference is gone. It’s a shame that A-class fighter isn’t here, but you wouldn’t want to keep fighting an A-class now that you’ve become an S-class demon, would you?]

“……KUHAHAHAHAHA!!”

Ye Bongson clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.

Perhaps he hadn’t expected me to attack Hayabusa, as genuine laughter crossed the face of the giant formed from mana.

“Magnificent! This is truly the Goblin! Someone who understands fairness! The title of world’s strongest villain is no empty name!”

I’m not sure which part of what I just did makes me the world’s strongest villain, but I decided to play along for the sake of my experiment.

[Now that the interference is gone, I can execute you properly. Consider it an honor to fight one-on-one against the world’s strongest villain, be defeated, and meet your death.]

“……!”

Humans fear death.

But would this man, who became a demon for the sake of victory, truly fear death?

If he fears death, that would be fine, but—

“Good! A worthy opponent!”

Fortunately.

Very fortunately, he showed the reaction typical of those addicted to life-or-death battles.

“UOOH!”

Ye Bongson charged at me with his Bangcheonhwa Spear.

The pressure of a 5-meter giant attacking directly was certainly intense, but I didn’t back down, maximizing Taowu’s magical energy to strengthen my entire body.

Straight ahead.

“DIEㅡㅡ!”

[Hmm!]

KAㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡANG!

I met the Bangcheonhwa Spear head-on.

The spear’s blade and my black-and-white greatsword clashed, creating sparks of magical energy around us as we pushed against each other in a test of strength.

“UOOOOOOO!!”

As Ye Bongson continued shouting battle cries, trying to overpower me with his size, I channeled more magical energy into my sword and supported the blade’s back with one hand.

[Explosive swords aren’t your exclusive property.]

[Explode!]

“!!”

Green magical energy began to discharge from the back of my sword.

Like a rocket engine igniting behind a spacecraft, magical energy erupted from behind my sword, beginning to push back the Bangcheonhwa Spear.

“Kh, nnngh…!”

[You’re strong. Definitely S-class. However.]

I stepped forward, lowering my stance.

[You’re not as strong as me.]

“!!”

KAㅡㅡㅡANG!

As I swung my sword sideways with an explosion, Ye Bongson fell backward.

He stumbled back two steps to create distance, and the arm holding the Bangcheonhwa Spear was momentarily thrown upward.

[I’ll execute you now.]

“!!”

I swung my sword forward with great force.

Gathering magical energy in the greatsword, I brought it down in a powerful strike, aiming to cleave Ye Bongson precisely in two.

KWAㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡANG!!

“UOOOOOOOOㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ!”

Ye Bongson howled as he took my slash head-on.

Standing firm with both feet planted, red magical energy began to well up from his eyes.

“I, I will not lose…!!”

Despite taking the slash directly head-on, he didn’t back down.

Though the slash left its mark from his crown to his lower body, with his armor in tatters and covered in explosion burns, Ye Bongson didn’t fall.

It’s still not enough.

To strike at the “core” of the demon that Ye Bongson has become.

Its guard is stronger than anywhere else, so I need to push my attack further.

“I will never!”

Ye Bongson swung his spear widely behind him.

That slash wasn’t aimed at me but was a preemptive strike against Hayabusa, who was trying to climb back onto the arena.

“Kugh…!”

“Woman, stay out of this! How dare you cowardly interfere in a battle between men!”

“W-what did you say…!”

“I have no time for a contemptible woman who only knows how to attack from behind! There’s no place for someone like you in a true warrior’s battle!!”

Hayabusa couldn’t approach due to Ye Bongson’s enraged shouts.

Though I couldn’t see her face because of her helmet, strong humiliation and anger seemed to emanate from beneath her visor.

“You, you bastard…! You have the nerve to say that after using mana powder and trying to kill your opponent?!”

From Hayabusa’s perspective, this must feel unfair.

At the point when Ye Bongson, Ray Huang, cheated, when his dishonesty became apparent, he was disqualified, and there was nothing wrong with Hayabusa appearing to report that dishonesty.

“The one who farted getting angry first—that’s exactly what you’re doing! That’s why you became a demon!”

She simply didn’t know that Ray Huang was someone who would do anything to win, so obsessed with victory.

“Demons, goblins! I’ll sweep away all you villain scum!”

Perhaps angered that I had attacked her, blue magical energy began to leak explosively from Hayabusa’s entire body.

“I’ll kill you both!!”

[So I’m facing both sides now. Hmm. Interesting.]

I gripped my greatsword with both hands and raised it high.

Then the handle part split sideways, and I lightly flicked the belt at my waist.

[Then I’ll casually take on both of you.]

“What did you say?”

[Manifest.]

[Stardust Mirage!!]

Click.

The greatsword.

Split in half—black and white.

And then.

[Black Goblin.]

[White Goblin.]

[[Now, let’s face you.]]

I, too, split into two.