Part 1 Chapter 10 26

A gigantic crater appeared on the island. I landed in the middle of that crater and restored my severed right arm.

“Should I have just transformed into my monster form and used it?”

My restored right arm was no different from before. However, perhaps because it was an Ultimate Skill used in human form, its destructive power was much weaker than when I was in my monster form.

“In the end, I couldn’t even break the Barrier.”

The island was almost half-crushed, and nearly half the oxygen had disappeared. But I couldn’t completely clear away the darkness covering the sky.

The triple Barrier deployed by the three executives.

For me in human form, it was still quite difficult to break through.

“Then I’d have to transform into my monster form….”

“What are you muttering to yourself, chattering on and on…!”

“Oh, you’re alive after all.”

Hydra was panting, her crushed right arm hanging down. As if she had blocked my Ultimate Skill by raising an earth wall, she didn’t have major injuries, but her entire body’s skin was red and cooked.

“Haaah.”

Fenrir lay sprawled out in a corner of the crater, her maid outfit completely burned away. Since she would have taken twice the damage of the other two, it would take some time for her to regain consciousness.

“Aren’t you ashamed of running away upwards by yourself?”

“Shut up!”

From the darkness, Azhdahak, with only her upper body revealed, shot a magic bullet at me. I deflected the magic bullet with my restored right hand and sent it flying towards the unconscious Fenrir’s stomach.

“Cough!”

“That’s revenge for cutting Azhdahak’s hair.”

“Who cut it?! Hey!”

Azhdahak seemed to well up with tears, as if she was choked up. However, Azhdahak didn’t suffer any significant damage other than her hair being cut short.

Fenrir was completely knocked out, and Hydra was severely injured. Only Azhdahak had suffered a minor injury, her hair being cut.

“Haaah, haaah, it’s still tough, meow….”

Supported by Hydra, Fenrir stood up, her legs trembling. She was supporting her body by holding her tail down, looking as if she would collapse at any moment.

“Continue like this? Or admit defeat?”

“Ha, what nonsense. The fight isn’t over yet.”

A purple aura began to surge from Hydra’s body. It was the corrupted mana of Terra, and at the same time, she transformed into her ‘monster form,’ the combat form of the executives brainwashed by Seongju.

[Don’t think you’ll die easily.]

Hydra, clad in snake-headed armor that resembled both a viper and anaconda, tilted her head from side to side, threatening me.

“Forget dying easily, I don’t even plan on dying.”

Hydra unfurled yellowish-brown glowing snakes from her back. The snakes, with their mouths wide open, dripped potent venom and tried to bite me.

“One has transformed, what about the other two?”

[You’re really as arrogant as the original, aren’t you.]

Fenrir also transformed into her monster form to recover her stamina. Just like when she attacked me, green eye-light blazed from between the glossy wolf-shaped helmet.

[Hmph, don’t misunderstand. It’s not because I think I absolutely can’t win that I’m revealing my true form!]

Even Azhdahak transformed into a monstrous human in the shape of a dragon. Black mana shimmered beneath her black armor, making it hard to distinguish, but corrupted mana, sparkling purple, spread across the armor like capillaries.

“Come to think of it, this is my first time facing the real executives.”

Rusalka of Snowy Night fought against Gwanggeom, who was rampaging with his power.

With the Chaos Illusory Dragon, I transformed into a monsterified Chaos and drew out the Illusory Dragon.

So, this was my first time facing the true executives of the Dark Legion, and it was also my first time facing their monster forms.

“Before, I used to tackle them individually.”

Perhaps my desire to defeat them one by one was too much, as the three of them were already working together to try and take me down.

“Alright. To be honest, I was embarrassed to transform first against 1-2-3 stage bosses, you know?”

[Shut up with your chattering!]

[This fake really only says things people can’t understand. Do you fight with your mouth?]

“……If you can’t understand, then never mind.”

Only Fenrir, who had faced my monster form once, took a stance and didn’t let down her guard. I brought my hands together as if in prayer and slightly bowed my head.

“Then, let’s begin.”

[It’s obvious who will win anyway.]

Had my provocation worked, or were they just waiting for me to transform? The monstrous humans pulled out their respective weapons and attacked me from all sides.

Ka-ang!

The first strike was Fenrir. Unlike me, who can only reach top speed when flying, Fenrir kicked off the ground created by Hydra and charged, thrusting her gigantic claws at me. Each claw was larger than a human head, and Fenrir’s claws were even larger than her own body.

[They’re claws, beast-like, but.]

[You won’t have time for small talk!]

Fenrir’s claws slashed at me diagonally. I extended my hand and grabbed Fenrir’s claws.

Kagagagak!

Small blade-winds surrounding Fenrir’s claws wrapped around my gauntlet. The green wind flowed along my gauntlet, trying to engulf my entire arm.

[It’s useless.]

I crushed the middle claw, which I had gripped along with the blade-wind. Fenrir clutched her own hand and dug her claws into my shoulder.

Kakakak!

I crumpled Fenrir’s middle claw, and Fenrir tried to sever my joint. A single exchange of offense and defense took only a few seconds. If we continued this tug-of-war, my victory was guaranteed, but unfortunately, I wasn’t fighting Fenrir one-on-one.

Puk!

From behind, a blade aimed at my joint pierced my chest. An obsidian sword, as if containing the darkness of the night sky, stabbed right through me.

[Your back’s open, isn’t it?]

Azhdahak, who had stabbed me from behind, mocked me to her heart’s content. I also extended my free hand backward and grabbed Azhdahak’s head.

[I deliberately left my back open.]

[L-let go of me!]

[That’s why you should have stabbed me from a blind spot where my arm couldn’t reach.]

I gathered mana to my left and right and unleashed flames. Fenrir and Azhdahak were engulfed in blue flames, and their armor slowly began to char.

Even if this continued, it would be my victory. But another monstrous human was targeting me.

[Where do you think you’re going!]

I stomped my foot down hard, slamming it into the ground. A ground snake that was just about to coil around my ankle had its head crushed by my foot.

[Did you think I’d let you get me again just because I let you get me once?]

I crushed the ground snake’s head thoroughly from side to side. Soon, the ground snake turned into dirt and disappeared, and another ground snake’s head emerged.

Kwadeuk! Kwadeuk!

The ground snakes whose heads I couldn’t kick away bit into my ankle. Venom that melted mana flowed from the ground snakes’ fangs, slowly dissolving my armor.

[Hmph! Go on, try it like before! This time it’ll be different!]

[Your destructive power was unexpected, but we’re quite tough, you know?]

[You’re going to rely on your durability and endure?]

Laughter escaped me naturally. My arm was in a situation where it could be severed, my chest was pierced by a sword, and my ankle was bitten by venomous fangs, yet I still didn’t feel particularly ‘in danger.’

[Then go on, try to endure!]

I spread my wings and rolled on the ground. I succeeded in soaring several meters into the sky, and Hydra, who was embedded in the ground like sweet potato vines, was dragged up into the air.

[Kuk?!]

[Did Azhdahak run away again?]

Leaving only the sword that had pierced my chest, Azhdahak avoided my wings and disappeared into the darkness. Fenrir also cut off her middle claw and retreated far back.

[Now only you remain.]

[You’re really so composed!]

I grabbed the ground snake between my two feet and thrust it high into the sky. Hydra rose to my eye level, and I gripped Hydra’s neck, flapping my wings powerfully.

[Do you like Gyro Drop?]

[Don’t spout dogshit!]

Hydra opened the mouths of the snakes that had grown from her back like arms and bit into my arm. Sharp fangs, glistening with yellowish-brown mana, dug between the plates of my armor and drained mana.

[A Barrier always has a ceiling, after all.]

I stopped my vertically soaring wings. And I slammed Hydra into the ceiling of Azhdahak’s Barrier, which was obscured by darkness.

[Kuh-heuk?!]

[Let’s see your back.]

After slamming Hydra’s head into the ceiling, I climbed onto her back and fixed my wings to the ceiling. Although the situation was inverted by 180 degrees, it was no different from me having Hydra pinned to the ground and sitting on her rear.

Kyaaaak!!

The snakes that had grown from Hydra’s back like arms opened their mouths at me. I grabbed the mouth of the first snake that approached, twisting it up and down.

[Aaaahk!!]

One of the snake heads that had grown from Hydra’s back was torn off. Hydra writhed around, crying out in pain, but I firmly held her pelvis with my lower body to prevent her from moving.

[If this were on the ground, you’d definitely run away. Blame Azhdahak.]

[Th-this crazy bitch!]

Now even Hydra was cursing at me. And Fenrir and Azhdahak, who had chased me, grabbed my arms from both sides and pulled.

[Where do you think you’re climbing, you perverted bastard!]

[You deviant scum! Get down right now!]

[What’s with monstrous humans fighting amongst themselves.]

I swung my arm and pushed away the two monstrous humans who were interfering. And I grabbed the neck of the second snake that tried to bite my neck, twisting it from side to side.

[Ah-heuaak!]

The snake head, its neck being strangled, spewed mana. The yellowish-brown mana splattered on my armor like blood, and as if it contained strong acid, it slowly melted my armor.

[That makes two.]

But I didn’t care. Whether Fenrir bit my shoulder and scratched with her claws, or Azhdahak swung her obsidian sword and stabbed my back and wings, I simply held Hydra to the ceiling and tore off the snake heads one by one.

The third snake head that coiled around my wrist, I spun my arm around, grabbed its neck, and twisted it off.

The fourth snake head that dug its fangs into my side, I slammed my elbow down on it-though “slamming up” might be more accurate given the position-and crushed it on Hydra’s back until it burst.

The fifth snake head that sprayed venom at my face, I dug my claws into its neck and spewed fire.

[Ah, heuah, Kuh-haat…!]

Hydra writhed in agony, tearing at the Barrier. The other two monstrous humans tried even more fiercely to pull me off Hydra, but I endured the pain to the limit of what my body could bear and tore off the snake heads growing from Hydra’s back.

The moment I tore off the sixth snake head by its roots, Azhdahak finally severed my wing.

The moment I severed the seventh snake head with a hand chop, Fenrir condensed her blade-wind and cut off my wrist as well.

The moment I gripped the eighth snake head with both hands, Hydra flipped her body 180 degrees and embraced me.

[Kyaaaak!]

Kwadeuk.

The moment I crushed the eighth snake head in my grip, Hydra bit my nape. Venom, flowing from the ninth and final head-Hydra’s true head-began to course through my body.

[Hehehe, hehehehe!]

Hydra chewed on my entire neck, crunching it. With no strength left to endure, I began to fall helplessly towards the ground, my neck half-torn.

Kung!

I fell limply onto the ground, sprawled out. My entire body’s armor was tattered, my wrists and ankles were severed, and blue mana streamed out from between the broken, melted, and severed armor plates.

Tat.

The two monstrous humans who had fallen from the Barrier’s ceiling landed gently, supporting Hydra. Hydra, having set foot on the ground, her ragged breathing slowly began to stabilize.

[Perhaps because of her sustained nature, she recovers as soon as she touches the ground.]

“Haaah, haaah. …Kih-hee-heet.”

Hydra even released her monster form and focused on recovery. Perhaps certain that they had seized victory after seeing my condition, the other two monstrous humans also reverted from their monster forms to human appearances.

“She’s truly a crazy bitch like no other.”

“I don’t want to fight like this, meow….”

Azhdahak shivered eerily as she tidied her hair, which had grown long again, and Fenrir gently stroked Hydra’s back, comforting her.

“Haaah, haaah, what grudge do you have against me?! Why are you only tormenting me!”

As soon as the three executives turned into monstrous humans, I persistently targeted and attacked only Hydra.

[It’s not that I have a grudge. You were just unlucky.]

I raised my remaining hand. Coincidentally, three fingers were left.

[I decided to start by crushing one of you bitches first, you see. Congratulations, Hydra. You won the 1/3 lottery.]

“You truly insane bitch, haaah, h-huh…!”

Hydra coughed up blood, yet twisted the corner of her mouth into a sneer, mocking me.

“Hehe, but this is the end now! No matter if you’re Phoenix, with those injuries, you can’t take on all three of us-“

[What injuries?]

Blue flames erupted from my body. Gigantic flames, enough to turn the surroundings into a wasteland, filled the area around me, and I pushed off the ground with my ‘regenerated arm,’ standing up on both feet.

[You should have realized it from the moment I willingly severed my right arm with my Ultimate Skill at the beginning.]

“I-impossible…!”

My body was in a pristine state, without any injuries, just like at the start of the battle.

[If you thought I would get injured without any thought, you underestimated me too much.]

I pointed to my neck, which Hydra had bitten. The place where the armor had been torn off was completely regenerated without a single scar.

[There’s no need to explain the principle, I suppose.]

I walked towards the three executives with leisurely steps. Fenrir and Azhdahak bit their lips and retreated, and Hydra trembled uncontrollably, completely terrified.

[Considering the nine-headed snake is taking a short break, what should I do with the two of you? Shall I give you a chance?]

I pointed at Fenrir and Azhdahak alternately with my finger.

[Should I grind down all the wolf’s claws, or pull out all the dragon’s scales? Right.]

My finger pointed at Hydra.

[You choose, Hydra. Then I’ll spare your life.]

“……Heh, hehehe.”

Hydra hung her head and sobbed. Fenrir and Azhdahak subtly backed away from Hydra.

“She’s really, really talking so much I want to kill her…!”

[Weren’t you already fighting to kill me?]

“Shut up!”

Hydra screamed at me, her eyes bloodshot, then hid her body underground.

[Oh.]

Surely she’s not going to do ‘that thing,’ is she? I clapped my hands in anticipation.

[If you’re going to bring out your true body, I’d be more than welcome-]

“Fenrir! Azhdahak! You two as well!”

[-but not that!]

I spread my wings and leaped forward. Before something big happened, I had to definitely take down at least one of them before fighting.

“Hmph! It’s useless, meow!”

“Are you scared?! Ohohoho!”

The two monstrous humans disappeared into the atmosphere and darkness, avoiding me. I chased after the mana traces they left before disappearing, intending to deal with the closest trace first.

A trace of an executive.

It was first felt from the ‘ground’ I was standing on.

[Damn it.]

Kiaaaak!

The entire ground surged upwards towards the ceiling. I didn’t even have time to spread my wings and fly vertically, and I was overwhelmed by the gigantic body that coiled around me like a gimbap roll.

[Don’t you think we could fight more in human form?]

Kyaaaak!!!

The ‘monster’ was baring its venomous fangs at me.

[Three SS-class monsters….]

I looked at the gigantic black dragon and the green wolf appearing in the air, feeling disheartened.

[I’m fucked.]