Festival of Blood and Explosions

My response made Bloody Clown's face freeze over.

"W-What did you just say...?"

"Want me to repeat it? I mean it literally. Instructor Ji Suhyun said you're fucking weak when she evaluated you."

I definitely said that, right?

'What? Bloody Clown? He's just a third-rate villain who spits explosive gas and uses a bit of magic. Without his disguise ability, he'd be nothing... Yeah, he was so pathetically weak it was deflating.'

But that was just by Ji Suhyun's standards. To most people, Bloody Clown wasn't weak at all. He wasn't called a named villain for nothing. He was a rare case with multiple abilities and a headache of a terrorist who'd caused countless attacks and battles.

The only reason anyone could call him weak was probably because it was her.

'Whatever. That's not the point.'

The real key here was that my provocation had landed perfectly. Even now, his white-painted face was visibly flushing red.

"H-How dare you! How dare that bi-, bi-, BITCH evaluate me like that?!"

"Your anger confirms ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it's true, huh?"

I hadn't expected it to work this well... This was gonna be easy.

The quest window finally popped up in front of me. Things were unfolding just as I'd planned.

"That bi—! Where's that bitch?! The one I need to blow up right now!"

"You're in C District—why look for the instructor here? Your destination was decided from the start."

"My destination? Kuhahat! Hilarious. You mean back to Niflheim? That hellhole?"

No, not there. Above all—

"Niflheim is hell? Fitting joke from a clown."

He was misunderstanding something...

"Once you touch the Caliones, the hell you go to is one we decide."

That's the price for messing with the Caliones.

"Kuhah—! You? What gives you the right to say that? This is so ridiculous, my anger's fading. A punk like you dares—"

"—Heir and enforcer of the Calione Famiglia. Eugene Han Calione."

That should be enough stalling. I gathered the excess aura swirling in the air and slammed it into Midas's Gloves. Thanks to the bracelet from Elder Gwak Chunsik, the infusion was quick.

With the hidden quest triggered, dragging this out would just make Alesia suffer more back there.

—End it in one go.

The black gloves covering my hands turned red and began to morph. Blood-red knuckles that radiated menace just by looking at them.

"Eu-Eugene Han Calione? No way, you're—"

I ignored his startled reaction and charged, swinging my fist.

"Mi-Mime!"

He spread his palms again, erecting an invisible barrier to block. But I was different now.

The rippling aura at my fist's tip slammed into the wall like a pile bunker, unleashing a massive shockwave that spread outward.

"Urk...! You felt it earlier too. You can't break my mime!"

"True, it was a bit short on power before."

But stacking more force let him barely hold. So I'd prepared something extra.

A burning pain flared from my right shoulder, but instinct told me how to wield it. I channeled the energy to my fist and loaded it into the knuckles.

A deafening roar erupted from the knuckles, swallowing the surroundings. The sound shook the air, threatening to rupture eardrums.

At the same time, the red aura from my bloodline spread via the sound, invading everything.

Ziiiiing—!!!

Sensing what came next, I ducked. The hyper-vibrating aura exploded.

The blast hurled everything—including me—away. I braced my legs, but the shockwave was beyond imagination. My body crashed into the ground.

"Ha, haha! Hahaha!"

I couldn't help laughing. The spot where he'd stood was cratered like it'd taken a bombing run.

"Young master!"

Alesia, who'd seen me fly, rushed over to check me.

"Young master! Are you alright?!"

"Yeah... luckily?"

Thanks to Dis Pater or the technique itself, no injuries. My fist throbbed at worst—and it was red-hot from heat. But my Natural Healing (C) trait was already mending it.

Lying there, the sky looked redder than ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠usual. Probably from the aura I'd suppressed spilling out with the attack. The white moon was bloodied, bathing the eerie, beautiful landscape in crimson.

"..."

I wanted to rest, but it wasn't over. No rest till the end.

"Young master. Over there."

As I struggled up, Alesia stared at the crater with murderous eyes, drawing a dagger.

"Kihik! Impressive! So impressive! A truly beautiful... explosion! Kihit! Keehee!"

Like a classic zombie flick, a phlegmy voice and blood-soaked hand emerged from the crater. Slowly, a red something crawled up. Charred everywhere, wretched—but he climbed out casually, stood, and glared.

"...Explosion resistance, huh."

No completion message, so I'd suspected. His innate resistance halved the damage. Still, he wasn't unscathed.

"Never expected such a spectacular blast... Guess I should return the favor?"

He plunged a hand into his soot-covered bag and flung something at us scattershot.

"Enjoy my explosions too!"

Animal-shaped balloons in the dozens flew at us, sealing every escape. No dodging that barrage.

Alesia stepped in front of me, resolute, smiling reassuringly.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you, young master."

"Alesia."

Even her couldn't survive that head-on. No trace left.

"W-What beautiful loyalty! Show me how deep it runs with your own eyes!!"

Excited at our "doomed" stance, he ranted theatrically. Sickening.

I exhaled sharply and stepped forward.

"Alesia. Fall back."

"No. I must protect—"

"You're in the way."

I yanked her behind me and faced the oncoming balloons.

"Fight fire with fire. Explosions with explosions."

Snap—!

From the crimson-lit ground, red wolves rose slithering.

—Awoooo—!

Dozens surged instantly. The air was thick with scattered aura from the fight. Plus:

Prolonged battle had activated my bloodline, and the ring—which grew stronger with blood loss—was maxed. Power overflowed, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠injuries be damned.

"?!"

The wolves filled the area completely.

"Take care of them."

I pointed, and they surged as a red wave, ripping into the balloons. Each bite triggered mini-blasts, sweeping wolves away—but more spawned under the moonlight.

"W-What? What's going...?"

No balloons left in moments. Bloody Clown gawked blankly. His ripping grin at my "dying" state had frozen long ago.

"Bite."

Remaining wolves charged him. He flung arms for mime—but

—Grrr!

Other wolves bit his arms, preventing the pose. I knew the mime needed specific gestures.

"W-Wait! Don't you need Plague intel?! Just clear these—"

"Hey."

"H-Hek?!"

I approached steadily, meeting his horrified gaze—the first real fear I'd seen.

But.

"P-Please! I'll tell everything!"

"No need."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"...Pardon?"

"I already know whatever you do."

"H-Huak!"

Thud. I kicked him back into the crater.

"I know a bomber who, unlike you, always says this."

Perfect words for today.

"Explosions are art."

Personally, I agreed today.

"P-Please—!"

"Explosion resistant, right? Don't die. You need a bigger hell."

Short blasts echoed from the crater repeatedly. Not as big as my punch, but substantial. The crater widened and deepened amid the destruction.

And then.

"Just as expected."

Like the game, beating him with explosions gave the rewards. As a gunslinger, I'd planned to get this trait eventually—but him showing up let me snag it early.

"Young master..."

I turned at the voice. Alesia had barely stood, eyes half-lidded.

"Alesia. Hurt anywhere?"

I checked her worriedly—then something plopped on my head.

"...Guess I've been worrying needlessly."

"Alesia?"

Brush-brush— Her hand moved over my hair.

"You're strong enough without my protection now. Truly relief—"

Thud. She pitched forward into my arms.

"...Alesia?"

Huff— huff— Her ragged breathing filled my chest—far from normal.

At the same time, a green flare lit the sky above.

"...Rest for now. I'll be back soon."

The green signal meant this spot was secure. The end of the line.