Ch.255Chapter 10. Manufactured Hero (7)

Looking at this world so far, the world after the Great Cataclysm, there’s something to be observed.

Can conventional firearms subdue ability users?

We know it’s difficult, but maybe with the right approach, it might be possible?

General Jeokrang has already vividly demonstrated how the military was defeated by ability users, but humans don’t truly comprehend something until they experience it firsthand.

There are no official records.

No documented cases of someone killing an ability user by firing missiles at them or blowing them up.

If even one such case existed, everyone would be embedding missiles into ability users’ guts, but unfortunately, even if such attempts were made, not a single ability user has been killed this way.

The same applies now.

I bring both arms forward.

I gather magical power in front of Dragon Killer, concentrating it like I did with the cavalry spear.

Then, simultaneously releasing magical power behind me, I spin my body.

[Blaze Tornado.]

I precisely thrust Dragon Killer into the missile’s head.

The magical blade instantly slices through the steel-covered warhead, and swirling flames burrow into the missile.

No matter how elongated a missile is, if you precisely intercept and destroy its tip…

Whether the detonator triggers and the explosives detonate or not, if you intercept it mid-air and tear it to shreds…

And if you pierce through the missile before the explosion reaches you…

KWAAANG!!

You can easily make the missile explode in mid-air.

[How weak.]

Moreover, if the explosion doesn’t scatter missile fragments in all directions, but instead melts everything into ash that disperses…

There’s no damage to civilian areas.

Only small embers drift downward, like sparks from fireworks falling to the ground.

[Did you think mere missiles could bring me down?]

I turn my head in the direction I just came from.

Suspended in mid-air, I gather my magical power while dispersing the flames swirling around my body.

‘The situation is almost over.’

In the distance, two heroes are rushing over.

Nguyen Ong Bac and Red Brassard, heroes who had gone to Coral Island, have hurried back to protect the Hero Association headquarters.

And behind the Association.

There are children who are armed, but pointing their guns not at civilians but at the villains and escaped prisoners causing the disturbance.

‘How much Marine Academy training have they received to be stepping forward like this already?’

Perhaps these children are truly seeking their real selves.

If there are those who are not Laplace’s slaves but are searching for themselves to be reborn as new beings in this world, it would be these children.

Although I can’t speak directly to them now, I’ve done my part by saving them and providing an environment where they can live in this society.

If there’s anything more I can do, it’s to show another path forward for ability users.

‘They wouldn’t fire just one shot.’

Right now, I’ve drawn all the aggro.

If the rebel leader, Rai Chai, isn’t trying to blow up this entire Phuket street but just me, or even if he’s trying to destroy the city along with me…

If he’s launching multiple missiles to destroy the entire city…

It would be the perfect situation to demonstrate the status of ability users.

The best outcome would be if he gives up without doing any of that, but…

‘That’s unlikely.’

Villains are always like this—they cross the line when pushed to extremes.

Rumble.

Beyond the horizon, in the sky, something glints.

Not just one or two lights, but multiple projectiles flying in a parabolic arc toward me and the city.

‘Maximum magical power.’

Ready to call upon Taowu’s help if necessary, I gather all the magical power from both myself and Qiongqi.

Leaving only the minimum magical power needed to maintain my transformation, I concentrate everything into a sphere between my hands.

The principle is like an artificial sun.

Inside the sphere of magical power, I continuously collide, compress, and synthesize magical atoms.

Even if I’m not well-versed in this, Qiongqi is.

Since I’m currently unified with Qiongqi, he can handle the actual synthesis of magical power to create the firepower I want.

All I need to think about is how powerful this small sphere can be and how best to throw it.

Flash.

Multiple missiles have become visible.

They seem to have been fired haphazardly, clustered together and heading toward the Hero Association and its surroundings along my trajectory, as if to destroy everything.

This actually makes it easier.

No need to deal with them one by one—I can sweep them all away at once.

Time to show the power of an S+ rank.

Time to demonstrate that ability powers aren’t just for killing, tormenting, or intimidating through violence, but can also save an entire city.

Of course, this might also reinforce the perception that ‘ability users are dangerous.’

But if that existence is one that protects them, humanity can trust ability users.

Just one concern.

‘What should I call it?’

Original or translation?

After a moment’s hesitation, I raise the sphere of magical power synthesized by Qiongqi high above me.

No time to hesitate.

Would I miss my chance by overthinking the technique name and let missiles fall on the city?

Nothing could be more absurd.

-Follow your heart.

If the Chairman is into the Sephirot Knights, I might as well use something that fits the Sephirot concept.

[Hesed Force.]

There’s only one thing to do.

This massive artificial sun that will devour all the missiles.

I simply need to throw it forward.

Together with Qiongqi in our unified state, I threw the sphere.

The massive sphere, glowing with a dark red light, flew toward the missiles, engulfing them all and causing an even greater explosion.

KWAAAAAAANG!!!

Toward the sky from which the missiles came.

Like a golden tree shooting upward, a massive pillar of flame erupted.

Ah.

[How weak.]

I was satisfied.

* * *

“…Holy shit.”

The expletive came out involuntarily.

It was funny how a curse slipped out as an exclamation, but who wouldn’t react that way to such a sight?

Whoosh.

Amidst the explosive clouds filling the void, the black dragon-man simply stood still.

As if this outcome were perfectly natural, he remained suspended in the sky, calm and dignified.

Once.

Red Brassard, Jung Sang-in, had heard such a story when he first entered the military.

That modern armies could no longer oppose ability users in any way.

For Jung Sang-in, who had grown up watching soldiers strive for national security due to his father’s influence, this seemed absurd.

No matter how strong ability users were, could a single individual defeat an entire army?

Now he seemed to be witnessing, at least partially, the answer to that question.

How do you deal with that?

If that being flew to the Korean peninsula and unleashed that attack on Busan, would the city be safe?

You might be able to kill it by bombarding it with missiles until the Earth itself was damaged, but would it even die?

“…Ha, haha.”

The only consolation was that the monster didn’t seem interested in harming people, at least for now.

That was an enormous relief.

“…Woooow.”

Behind him, the children’s exclamations echoed.

“That’s fucking awesome.”

The children’s reactions, peppered with crude language, were pure admiration for power.

Unlike himself, who couldn’t help but think about political and security implications, the children were purely amazed by the strength of that monstrous ability user.

One might expect to feel jealous, but perhaps the display was too overwhelming for even jealousy.

“Instructor. Can we… become like that too?”

One trainee cautiously asked.

The child, whose eyes had been as dark as the heavy circles beneath them, was beginning to show a sparkle in those eyes.

The light reflected in those pupils was still the explosive flames painting the sky, but the trainee was clearly looking straight up at that fire.

“Yes. Of course.”

Jung Sang-in clenched his fists.

“You can become like that too. In Korea, an A-rank ability user rose to S-rank. You can certainly do it too. You just… need to start learning now.”

In education, setting goals is always crucial.

“Someday, it won’t be that nameless being destroying all the incoming missiles to save citizens—it will be you, intercepting and destroying all incoming missiles.”

And if.

Instead of missiles, that monster comes flying in, it will be ability users who destroy that monster.

Yes.

If modern weapons and armies cannot perfectly subdue ability users…

“You are ability users, but you will become true soldiers of this country, protecting national and global security. Understood!”

“””Yes…!!”””

Then ability users must become soldiers.

“Now, we’re heading to the scene! Arrest the villains and escaped prisoners, and rescue the citizens! Move now, ASCE! We are soldiers who save citizens!”

“””AAAAH!!”””

The ability user children, wearing red caps and red t-shirts, all rushed toward the streets.

Not to kill anyone.

But to save citizens, just like that being who stopped the missiles.