Father!
Originally, divine beasts were beings praised as gods of the ancient murim, yet they showed a somewhat indifferent attitude toward human affairs. Official and martial shall not invade—officials and martial artists do not trespass into each other's domains. In simple terms, the imperial court, called the administration, and the jianghu never interfere in one another's matters, nor do they challenge each other; this unspoken rule is maintained like an ironclad tradition. But the ancient murim had one more unspoken rule: Gods do not meddle in human affairs.
People often say that gods remain unstained by worldly matters, preserving their lofty purity. But if you dig deep into the etymology, it stems from utter indifference. Divine beasts have no interest in humans. They don't care what humans do. Just fifty years ago, during the interlayer war, the divine beasts didn't even twitch. To them, it was just another one of humanity's petty wars.
That's why no one could have anticipated the Azure Dragon tearing through space above Cyber City. Not even that the reason it moved this time was because it had a daughter born from its heart—and her childish whims.
—This is as far as it goes.
The Azure Dragon, not fully revealing itself beyond the rift in space, declared in a low rumble. If it crossed any further, it would inflict irreparable damage on Cyber City. They hadn't come to destroy the city, but to normalize it. Simply opening the gate had already taken on the hardest task for them.
"Thank you."
Baek Yeonhwa bowed politely from atop the Azure Dragon. As she gazed at Cyber City's skyline, a faint addition whispered in her ear.
—A son would be nice.
"I'm a daughter."
—...As you wish.
Figures from each floor arrived one after another through the rift the Azure Dragon had created: from the 3rd floor, Yu Ye-na leading the Chilgeuk hunters and soldiers; the 4th floor's holy knight brigade; even the 5th floor's imperial Golden Guard. All had come to lend their full might to suppress Cyber City's AI rebellion.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
The roar of helicopter blades reached Baek Yeonhwa's ears. Spotting the man inside the chopper come to fetch her, a radiant smile bloomed on her face. How many months had it been?
"I'll be off!"
At Baek Yeonhwa's bright farewell, the Azure Dragon impassively cleared the way.
* * *
Inside the helicopter, I had no choice but to endure Baek Yeonhwa's embrace head-on as I sat buckled in.
"Daaae-hyeop!"
"Guhk?!"
Her grip was stronger than expected. Before I could react, she buried her face in my nape, sniffing deeply.
"Hngh, Dae-hyeop's scent...! So good. Ahh, Dae-hyeop."
Her tongue licked my Adam's apple, sending chills down my spine, but shaking her off was tough. She'd helped us this far, after all. For the record, the condition for the Azure Dragon's aid was lifting Baek Yeonhwa's ban on entering the 3rd floor.
"Kh, khem. Should've smoked."
"Nooo. Smoking washes away Dae-hyeop's scent."
Baek Yeonhwa whined and pressed even closer. Yu Ye-na, watching intently from the side, cleared her throat.
"Ahem, Yin-Yang Twin Veins Baek Yeonhwa. Thank you for your help."
"No problem. This much is nothing for our Dae-hyeop."
Our Dae-hyeop. Last time, I'd complained in a letter about Yu Ye-na calling me "our Juseon," and this was her sharp retaliation.
"......"
Yu Ye-na glanced at me briefly, then said flatly,
"Kim Juseon, I came this far with you because you said there was something you wanted to check. But still, separate work from personal matters."
"I know, I got it."
"Good."
Just then, the sky flashed. A searing blue light, incomparable to mere lightning, scorched the chill air with intense heat. From beyond the clouds, a blue laser slammed straight down onto the Azure Dragon's head, like judgment upon the intruder.
—GRRROOOAAARRR!
"Lord Azure Dragon!"
Baek Yeonhwa finally released me in panic and looked up.
"That's Cyber City's satellite laser..."
Yu Ye-na bit her lip as she explained quietly. I'd heard about the city's defense systems, but not that they'd fire a satellite laser right away.
"Hurry. There's no blocking that. While it's got the Azure Dragon's attention, we end this."
The first satellite laser went quiet, likely needing recharge time. But—
—GRRROOOAAARRR!
Unable to contain its rage, the Azure Dragon spewed breath toward the sky, trying to shatter the satellite. It might not hit, but it could at least deter another laser.
'And it survives a direct headshot from that.'
The high altitude and night air had felt cold, but one laser blast turned it sweltering. A human would melt without a trace, yet the divine beast took it to the head and merely got wounded, not killed.
The helicopter pressed forward. Just before rappelling from the side door, Yu Ye-na reminded us of the plan.
"This chopper heads straight for the Central Control Management Center from here. See that? The tallest building between the skyscrapers."
Through the window, a jagged spire pierced the skyline. That was the institution managing the city alongside Axis—the first place Axis seized.
"Plan's simple. While we draw eyes here, you play your detached unit role perfectly."
It was a tightrope to avoid escalating to an interlayer war. The main force never advances. Distract attention, scatter their strength. Then the key players on this chopper neutralize Axis. No point continuing the fight without Axis.
"We'll cover you, so don't stop for anything. Be careful."
Our eyes met at her final words, but she was already leaping out. No gear—just freefall. Yet she shot ahead faster than the chopper, intercepting incoming drones.
"Wish I had powers like that."
Victor Brooke, the black man in military fatigues behind me, crossed his thick arms with a sigh. As a Chilgeuk hunter, he was key personnel too. Everyone aboard was a powerhouse. Beside him sat Joanna Carlson, another American Chilgeuk. Behind her, Gawain of the Papal Holy Knights sat stoically in his armor. And beyond him, our top ace from the ancient murim—
"Dae-hyeop, it's already started down there."
"For real."
Baek Yeonhwa tugged me, pointing below.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Heavy footsteps echoed rhythmically on the asphalt. The Papal Holy Knights in silver-white armor formed a shield wall.
"Sound the hymn of commencement!"
At the long trumpet blast, the knights slammed their shields on the ground.
"Holy light!"
"Holy light!"
"Burn the foe!"
"Burn the foe!"
The fully armored knights chanted their hymn. It looked majestic at a glance, but their emotion was razor-sharp.
"Dae-hyeop, those folks have a scary vibe."
"They're probably miffed we aren't pushing harder. Holy Knights have hated Cyber City forever."
I glanced at Gawain, but he neither affirmed nor denied, eyes closed in silence. Holy Knights and Cyber City had been at odds since ancient times—complicated incidents with the city's devil worshippers. They seemed to be unleashing long-suppressed hostility now.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
Cannon fire sliced across the 8-lane road where the knights stood. Asphalt flipped, flinging a few who held firm.
What emerged: Harvesters, 3-meter bipedal tanks. From above, I could see them flooding the roads in real time.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
Ongoing barrages. Massive holy shields protected the knights.
"Those are Cyber City's weapons, huh."
Baek Yeonhwa, unfamiliar outside ancient murim, clutched my collar tight. The spectacle of giant cannons firing wildly was impressive, but—
"Those are the old models. Cyber City always downgrades autonomous war machines."
"Really?"
"Yeah. They know humans must stay central."
Or maybe they feared an AI revolt like this. As the barrage continued, the knights counterattacked. Behind the giant holy shield, their captain drew a spear.
"Praesto!—!"
(Prepare—!)
At the command, the knights drew spears into javelin stance. Their movements were precise, like one body.
"Iudicium!—!"
(Judgment—!)
Spears rained like a storm. Harvesters blocking the road were pierced and crushed. Their formation crumbled in seconds. Stepping over oil spilling like blood, the ancient murim Golden Guard charged ahead.
"Build the wall!"
"No one's inside—don't hesitate!"
"Value your life above all! No one dies! No one kills!"
The Golden Guard swiftly piled Harvester wreckage for cover. In typical wuxia tales, officials lag far behind martial artists. Not in ancient murim—their systematically trained soldiers outclassed average murim folk.
Yet Cyber City's numbers were endless. Ignoring the spears, triple the amount surged onto the roads.
Thud! Thud!
The battle wasn't just on asphalt. Drone swarms filled the sky. Helicopters formed a protective formation around us. At the center, Yu Ye-na wielded telekinesis like a conductor. Drones fought swiftly and cunningly, downing a few choppers midway, but couldn't touch ours under her guard.
Finally, beyond the dark road's end, the tallest skyscraper piercing Cyber City's skyline came into clear view.
Central Control Management Center.
'Axis's wish...'
I kept mulling over what it had said. A wish. An odd word for an AI. That's why I'd forced my way here—something to confirm.
Then, the helicopter began slowing its engines.
"Contact! Comet phase starts now! Hold tight!"
At the pilot's shout, we all unbuckled. Propellers slowed to a stop, yet we didn't plummet.
"An honor serving great ones! Bring us victory and peace!"
The pilot came back, saluted, and jumped. Moments later, his parachute deployed safely onto a nearby rooftop.
Yu Ye-na arrived beside the chopper. She pressed her hand to it, bit her lip, and swung her arm like hurling a shot put with full power—
The helicopter rocketed forward at insane speed. Not flying—thrown.
Smashing through drones, it hurtled toward the Central Control Management Center. Pinned back by the rocket-launch sensation rippling my skin—
"Dae-hyeop!"
Baek Yeonhwa gripped my hand tight and leaped toward the side door.
"Waaahhh!"
"Into my arms, Dae-hyeop!"
She hugged me fiercely. Wings sprouted from her back as she clung with arms and legs, landing on the rooftop.
"......Felt like a rollercoaster without safety bars."
Lying on the roof, I calmed my pounding heart. Baek Yeonhwa's tight embrace, refusing release, was par for the course.
"They're dating."
"Whew! Nice mood breaker."
The two Chilgeuk landed next: Victor Brooke and Joanna Carlson.
Thud!
Gawain cracked the rooftop in heavy armor on descent.
And last, a man drifting down like a feather. The operation's core power—and in a way, here for his worthless son too.
"To shelter the unworthy is to shake the family's roots."
Tsking his tongue, the Namgoong family patriarch, Namgoong Pacheon, strode forward. To save his foolish son and daughter-in-law.