Ch.288Chapter 288 – What If One Shot Isn’t Enough?

The .45 caliber pistol that Cheon Hyeryeong pointed to inside my jacket.

This weapon, currently loaded with a magazine containing seven rounds, was something that had served as a frontline tool for a long time even in the world I came from.

I don’t know its exact designation, but I heard it was made in the 1910s, making it a veteran warrior that has been in action for nearly 100 years.

The one in my hand might have been manufactured a century ago.

Or perhaps it belonged to an American soldier who fought in Normandy or somewhere in the Pacific before somehow ending up in this world.

I gripped the pistol inside my jacket.

The solid weight of the gun, slightly warmed by my body heat, transmitted directly to my palm.

But at the same time, I had doubts.

Could this small weapon really inflict direct damage on a demon god’s true form?

While I was questioning the weapon’s potential, Cheon Hyeryeong approached and placed her hand on my shoulder.

“My husband. You doubt your abilities. Where in this world is there anyone with capabilities like yours? And if not for you, could this one and the others have even mounted a counterattack against the demon god?”

Her eyes sparkled brilliantly as she looked at me.

She gazed at me with eyes full of conviction.

“So stop doubting yourself and believe. This one believes that with your abilities, you can certainly defeat that demon god.”

“Well then… I guess I’ll give it a try.”

With Hyeryeong’s encouragement, things that seemed impossible suddenly felt possible.

“Can you help me put this on?”

“If it’s your request, of course.”

With Hyeryeong’s help, I began equipping the exoskeleton that Sister Regina had sent me.

Since I had previously put it on with Sister Regina and the dwarves’ help, I instructed Hyeryeong on how to operate the various parts.

“Is this correct?”

“Yes.”

After equipping the exoskeleton with Hyeryeong’s assistance, moving my arms and legs became incredibly easy.

With just a little effort, my limbs moved swiftly—at this rate, I might actually be able to pull my weight on the battlefield.

“Then this one shall go assist the others. It seems my presence will be needed to create an opening for your attack.”

“I’m counting on you.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than Hyeryeong kicked off the ground and rushed toward the demon god.

Alright.

Let me quickly assess the current situation.

Right now, the holy knights and priests from each order are coordinating their attacks against the demon god.

They seem to be amplifying each other’s abilities, as evidenced by the massive energy blades—as tall as utility poles—attached to the holy knights’ swords.

Additionally, the holy magic periodically cast by the priests diverts the demon god’s attention, preventing it from responding to the holy knights’ attacks.

Meanwhile, Cheon Hyeryeong is pressing the demon god hard, fully utilizing her overwhelming physical abilities and her overpowered martial art, the Heavenly Demon Divine Technique.

The demon god must be in tremendous pain right now.

While it’s impossible for them to kill the demon god with their abilities, they can certainly damage its physical form.

[Grrr, you insects!]

The demon god roars in anger and launches attacks furiously, but most are deflected by Hyeryeong, while the remaining attacks bounce off the protective barriers created by the priests, only destroying the innocent ground.

It’s truly awe-inspiring to see such disparate beings uniting as one to face a single enemy.

“When should I jump in?”

I was gauging the right moment to enter the battle from the sidelines.

Although I had secured some mobility with the exoskeleton, I was still more vulnerable than the others in every other aspect.

Etherna’s blessing and the effects of holy magic still lingered, but that alone wouldn’t be enough to withstand the demon god’s attacks.

Even with the effect that triples attack and defense power, someone with a defense rating of 100 would become 300, but someone with 10 would only reach 30.

My defense rating… would be generous at 2 or 3.

In other words, I needed to approach the demon god without taking a single hit and give it a taste of my earth-made lead projectile launcher.

For that, I needed to charge in at the safest possible moment. I had to rush in quickly and plant this holy lead bullet in the creature.

“But when do I charge in…?”

No matter how long I waited, I couldn’t find an opening to jump in.

The near-perfect coordinated attacks of the holy knights, priests, and Hyeryeong left no room for me to intervene.

While I was pondering what to do, Etherna approached me.

“Are you troubled by something?”

“Lady Etherna? Why aren’t you fighting?”

“That lady over there said she would hold it off by herself, and asked us to somehow create an opening for you to jump in.”

Oh, as expected of the Heavenly Demon. As a leader, she certainly knows how to see the big picture.

I’m newly grateful that she’s on our side.

“Then could you create an opening for me?”

“Of course. I may not be as good as the Heavenly Demon, but I didn’t earn the title of Holy Maiden for nothing.”

Etherna grinned and then grabbed me.

“What are you doing?”

“Come on! Jump in with me, and I’ll create an opening. Use that chance to defeat the demon god!”

“Waaaaaah!”

As Etherna suddenly embraced me and started running, I could only yell in response to the unexpected burst of speed.

Occasionally, stray magic bullets from the demon god flew toward us, but Etherna deflected them all with one hand as if they were nothing.

“Don’t worry! I’ll block all attacks aimed at you!”

Thanks to Etherna, I was able to reach the vicinity of the demon god without a scratch.

Near the demon god, explosions continued to occur from what appeared to be Hyeryeong’s attacks, and occasionally, hammers infused with holy power flew in and struck the demon god directly.

[Arrrgghhh!]

I’m not joking or exaggerating.

Whenever the demon god tried to catch its breath, another attack would come from somewhere and damage it.

It was like watching experienced survivors toying with a killer in a certain survival game.

After all, everyone gathered here was a veteran among veterans who had served as holy knights or priests for a long time.

The demon god staggered slightly under the relentless attacks, and even I could see an opening.

“Now!”

The moment I spotted the opening, I aimed my pistol at its solar plexus and pulled the trigger.

—Bang! Bang!

Two bullets flew out and hit the demon god’s body.

[Guh! What is this?]

The demon god tried desperately to heal the areas hit by the bullets.

However, the wounds weren’t healing.

[What! Why aren’t the wounds healing!]

‘It’s working!’

Seeing that the bullet wounds weren’t healing, I aimed at the demon god again.

‘I’ll empty the entire magazine!’

I poured all my remaining bullets into the demon god.

[You, you bastard!]

The demon god, realizing I was the one inflicting unhealable wounds, became enraged and tried to lunge at me.

But I wasn’t afraid, because I had reliable comrades.

“How dare you!”

—BOOM!

[Gaaah!]

Hyeryeong, with her enhanced abilities, grabbed the demon god and slammed it into the ground.

Why does slamming someone into the ground sound like a bomb explosion?

Wow, we definitely shouldn’t have marital fights later. I might literally have my bones separated from my flesh!

[Urrrgh…]

The demon god seemed unable to get up, sprawled on the ground due to my attack and Hyeryeong’s throw.

I realized this was my chance.

I quickly replaced the magazine with my last one and rushed toward the demon god.

As expected, the demon god was still groaning and unable to get up.

I could see that the wounds caused by Hyeryeong and the others were healing, but the bullet wounds remained unhealed.

I slowly approached it and pointed my gun.

“Any last words?”

[Hehehe. How arrogant. You may have gotten lucky finding a weapon from another world that can push me this far, but you’re still a person of this world—you can’t kill me!]

“Oh, is that so?”

I feel bad for him. The demon god clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

“I’m not from here.”

[What?]

Leaving the bewildered demon god behind, I aimed at its head and pulled the trigger.

—Bang! Bang! Bang!

After three gunshots rang out, blood began to flow from the demon god’s head.

[You damn…]

Hmm, three shots and it’s still not dead.

Well then, I’ll just keep shooting until it dies.

I used my ability to refill the empty magazine with ammunition and continued firing relentlessly until all magazines were empty.

“I think that’s enough now.”

Only when Etherna stopped me did I finally cease firing. The barrel of my gun had turned bright red from heat.

And the demon god’s head… there was nothing left of it.

I must have fired so many rounds that even my body was splattered with what appeared to be its blood.

As I stepped back, the demon god’s body gradually turned ashen before becoming dust that scattered in the wind.

We had won.

“Victory!”

“We’ve won!”

“The demon god has fallen!”

Amidst everyone’s cheers, I finally realized that I had accomplished my purpose for coming to this world.

We had won.

The cleanup… that would be someone else’s job.