021. Wounded Dragon (1)
“Your Excellency, long live!”
“Long live!”
The reconstruction of buildings in the Second West Sector was complete. The new residents, having heard tales of the 'miracle' from the original ones after moving here, were all kneeling before me.
Residential / Hospital / Farm / Livestock Pen / Bathhouse / ??? / ??? / ???
Haa...
The bathhouse... not bad. I had to build housing for the new residents anyway, but seeing the bathhouse still drew a sigh.
Compared to the farm, hospital, and livestock pen—buildings that defied all common sense—the bathhouse felt a bit disappointing. We could already bathe inside the residences. Sure, with so many people per building, long soaks were tough, but with four bathrooms per house, it wasn't a huge issue.
The annoying part was that to unlock the next building, I'd eventually have to build the bathhouse. For now, priority went to housing for the new residents still sleeping in tents every night. We'd prioritized kids for the existing houses, so most adults were still roughing it in tents.
“Housing.”
As the building began to glow, the new residents prostrated themselves, tears streaming down their faces.
“I-it's really a miracle...”
“Just like they said.”
“Ah... ah!”
Once the house was complete, I asked the Han sisters to move the tent-dwellers there.
“Your Excellency!”
“Thank you! Your Excellency!”
“Yeah, you'll be living there from now on, so keep it clean.”
“Yes, Your Excellency!”
I was disappointed, but there was no rush. We had time; we could build them one by one. The bathhouse might even have some unexpectedly good features I hadn't thought of.
Under the carpenters' direction, the residents were stacking pre-cut planks layer by layer to spec. Normally, you'd want well-dried wood, but they couldn't wait that long, so they were using green timber to erect a fence.
“Your Excellency!”
“Yeah.”
It wasn't even trading day, but Kim Dae-geon showed up at lunchtime, pale as a ghost. Han Seol and Han Byeol had spoken to him first and said with grave faces that I needed to hear it myself.
Already anxious. It hadn't been long since we crushed the Reconstruction Government—hopefully no word of another force pushing down already.
“What's going on?”
“Your Excellency... the Moon Dancer has reappeared.”
Han Seol leaned in and whispered.
“Your Excellency, the Moon Dancer was the one who decimated the old Republic of Korea government forces...”
“I know. The dragon all torn up, one eye mangled, right?”
“Master, how do you know about the Moon Dancer?”
“How? I saw it myself.”
Back when I lived alone, one dawn I woke to a massive roar while sleeping. I went out and saw this enormous dragon slamming its head against the barrier, bellowing. Even knowing it couldn't break through, witnessing it up close made my body tremble.
Looking closer, it was badly wounded: guts spilling from a ripped belly, wings shredded everywhere, one eye completely crushed. It headbutted the barrier a few more times, thrashed around, then staggered off into flight.
Even I'd seen all sorts of monsters early on, but that sight was unforgettable. I lived to see a dragon... the world's truly fucked.
Later, after meeting Jeong Su-hwan and hearing stories, I realized it was the named monster twin dragons: Sun Dancer & Moon Dancer, the ones that routed the government forces.
I'd wondered why such bloodthirsty killers had such romantic names. Turns out, at first they just flew overhead without attacking humans. Sun Dancer was red-scaled; Moon Dancer gleamed like moonlight. People nicknamed them for their graceful flights.
I first heard the full story of how they symbolized the government army's collapse from Han Byeol.
“Master, the Republic of Korea forces had just taken down one named monster and were exhausted.”
“Then those two crashed the party? Why?”
“No one knows. The twin dragons, who used to avoid humans, suddenly attacked the awakener unit resting there, starting the battle.”
“A pyrrhic victory, huh.”
“Yes. Sun Dancer died in that fight, and Moon Dancer went berserk, fleeing with fatal wounds.”
“So the one I saw was fleeing. But it's back? Even I know those weren't survivable wounds...”
Kim Dae-geon knelt, face twisted in terror.
“Y-Your Excellency... I saw it myself. You can still see it now.”
“Where? Don't tell me...”
“Yes... that mad dragon has nested near the Seonghun Merchant Association.”
Haa...
“The Association has awakeners from that battle. They confirmed it from afar—definitely Moon Dancer.”
The Seonghun Merchant Association was in full panic. Sure, it was wounded, but a dragon that once crushed a government army? A botched subjugation could see it crash into the Association heart and rampage—total endgame.
They were allies in the Union, and facing a monster threat, I'd help if I could. But sending my people into that deathtrap? No.
If it were a war against humans like the Reconstruction Government, maybe send Im Jui. But not this.
“Named monsters usually hole up once settled. Just don't provoke it, right?”
“Your Excellency... we hoped so at first, but scouts report it smashing nearby ruins at dawn for no reason.”
Dangerous. The beast seemed like it was warming up before going full rampage.
Hmm... I've decided.
“Yes, Your Excellency!”
“I can send drones as support, but no people. Too risky. Understand?”
“Yes, Your Excellency! Thank you! Truly!”
For them, drones capable of aerial combat against a flying dragon were a godsend.
“Sending them now. Got a subjugation plan?”
“All combat personnel assembled this morning; Odujeong sent a small force too.”
“When do you take it down?”
“Truth be told, even if you refused, we planned to start tonight.”
“Isn't that rushed?”
“All trade's halted because of it. No one goes near.”
“Alright... got it.”
“Your Excellency! Thank you! Thank you!”
Kim Dae-geon wept tears of joy. Since the Yongsan battle, he'd gone from mere merchant to involved in Association internals.
I had Kim Dae-geon wait in Nakyuan. Met with executives; Im Jui and First Guard insisted on joining, but I vetoed. Moon Dancer breathed blue flames that melted countless awakeners. No guarantee even Im Jui could tank it.
Kept him waiting till 4 p.m., then loaded drones onto his truck and departed. Delay was for coating them—wanted to maximize the 12-hour duration.
Coated four drones one by one at 4 p.m. and sent them off.
Plan was simple: At night, a tiny elite team sneaks up silently and piles on. Crucial to ground it first—rip or snap wings, whatever, drop it. Once pinned, full awakener assault. Its underbelly wound from before hadn't fully healed, per eyewitness from below during flight.
If they failed to ground it and it took flight? Disaster. Straight to crowded Seonghun.
“Your Excellency, thank you again. Chairman Ham Seong-hoon apologizes profusely for not coming himself.”
No, it'd be weirder if he did in this mess...
Seonghun had set up a command post 30 minutes out. Ham Seong-hoon bowed deeply as my drones arrived.
“Your Excellency...! Four of them, no less. We're endlessly grateful...”
We help in tough times. That's what the Union is for, right?
“Thank you...! Thank you!”
Save thanks till after success.
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Honestly, I'd be lying if I said I never wondered why bother going that far. The old me would've refused allies or not. Guess I've changed. Now I have people to protect; hearing their horrific pasts, I don't want more innocents dying to these monstrous fucks.
If I had godlike power and invincible troops, I'd wipe every named monster sleeping in Seoul. Kids and elders live at that Association too.
Sounds noble, but if shit hits the fan, I just recall drones and retreat. Fine with that.
Around 10 p.m., I led the four drones with the 20-man vanguard toward Moon Dancer's nest. Lee Seong-guk took point; we followed. 214 elite awakeners from Seonghun and Odujeong trailed at distance; rest held at Association.
Not all at once—vanguard strikes first undetected, grounds it, then main force piles on.
Only quiet footsteps; no talking. These 20 overcame death's terror with superhuman will, marching to battle. Especially Lee Seong-guk, a survivor of the government vs. Sun & Moon fight. Volunteering vanguard after witnessing that horror? Incomprehensible courage.
To avoid detection, we crept slowly another hour to the hill.
“Moon Dancer's asleep.”
Can I peek?
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Floated one drone over the hill. It was the one I'd seen—coiled in ruins, wounds everywhere, slumbering.
Lowered drone; Lee Seong-guk briefed vanguard one last time.
“We circle behind the sleeping Moon Dancer and...”
BOOM!
A massive roar from beyond the hill. Giant beast leaping off ground. Wingbeats followed; full moon eclipsed by the colossal monster.
“Ah...”
“Master? Battle?”
“Do-hyun?!”
Moon Dancer lived up to its name: back to the moon, scales shimmering moonlit glow, glaring with its one good left eye instead of the crushed right.
Shredded wings and massive belly gash signaled it wasn't at full strength.
One second of silence, then it inhaled deeply. Lee Seong-guk bellowed.
“Scatter! Now!”
“KIIEEEEEEK!”
Moon Dancer screeched horrifically, spewing blue flames from its maw.
KABOOM!
More napalm than fire—hit the hill and exploded massively.
Drones dodged flames swiftly, but tragically, two vanguard awakeners couldn't, vanishing into the blaze without trace.
“It takes time to breathe again after one blast! Don't panic—charge!”
Lee Seong-guk shouted to vanguard, seizing the low dip to leap without hesitation onto Moon Dancer's back.
Awakeners charged; of 18 left, six made it aboard.
“KYEK! KIIEEK!”
I drone-hopped onto its back too, claws gripping scales, pulled plasma cutter and stabbed between them. No dissolving liquid projection here—risk splashing allies.
ZZZAP!
Flames like a welder, but scales too tough—even plasma couldn't pierce instantly. Probably would've shrugged off dissolving liquid too.
“GRRREK!”
Sensing wrongness, Moon Dancer charged the hill, slamming body into it.
KABOOM! CRASH!
A side-clinger smashed against hill, bursting dead. Hill-shaking impact flung all but Lee Seong-guk off.
Moon Dancer rocketed airborne.
“Your Excellency!”
Ha... shit.
Plan failed. Worst case.
CRUNCH! CRACK!
“Your Excellency! Somehow drop it back to ground!”
Lee Seong-guk, unflinching, climbed to head, left gripping scales, right pummeling skull.
No! It's heading to Seonghun! Even if we down it, it'll crash there!
“Your Excellency... then...”
Hold on tight first! You fall, you're dead!
I clawed drones forward step by step toward its remaining eye.
“KIIEEEEK!”
Slapped all four drones onto eye, jammed plasma cutter in.
ZZZAP!
“KIIEK! KEEEK!”
It squeezed shut, but one drone wedged through, cutter piercing.
“Your Excellency!”
“KYEK!”
Blinded in both eyes, Moon Dancer wobbled midair. Gripping eyelid with claws, I yanked directionally—course shifted.
One choice left.
“Grab pulse rifles and rooftop now—stand by! Tell Im Jui to wait inside barrier; residents can't leave houses!”
“Yes!”
Han Seol and Han Byeol grasped instantly, snatching radios and guns for rooftop.