The Scorched Saint's Misunderstanding
The 5★ Mother of Ill Omens, Karne. Selene's inner world had always been a vast furnace. Yet now the flames deep within her heart had gone out. Selene's greatest flame was her lord. Therefore, as long as her lord Actor remained afflicted by Karne's ominous beasts, she had no right to burn away her own life.
My Lord.
Thus, the guilt that had seeped into her very bones like fire slowly consumed Selene. The Scorched Saint. The great sinner who had burned the world. Selene, who should have received a judgment hotter than any death, had been offered salvation only by her lord. Yet she had failed to protect him. She had failed to answer his kindness, the warmth he had extended to her.
“Mirien, I will kill that woman.”
Selene's single-minded resolve was absolute. Whether Actor was safe or not, she would take the head of the Mother of Ill Omens, Karne. She would snap the monster's neck and reclaim her lord.
“Kill her or don't, I don't care. You're burning up, though. Mind toning down the heat?”
The Storm of the North Sea, Mirien, stepped back with an annoyed expression to escape Selene's heat. Because the Stigma of the Holy Flame responded to Selene's emotional state, the flames surrounding her now flowed in a sticky crimson.
“Mirien, are you certain this is the place?”
“Probably.”
[5★ Storm of the North Sea Mirien casts the skill “Eye of the Storm.”]
Mirien, true to her title of the Archmage of Reversal, skillfully traced Actor's trail. Despite the adverse condition of being inside a nest, her tracking magic had pinpointed Actor's location within a cave. After casting Spatial Leap, Mirien and Selene stood before the cave and prepared for battle.
“Anyway, let's scout the situation first before going in. Don't just start swinging your sword right away.”
“I already know that without your advice, magic sack.”
“Fine. What would be the point of me saying more?”
The Mother of Ill Omens, Karne, specialized in covert and underhanded combat. Anything could emerge from anywhere, so the two disasters sharpened all their senses and entered the cave. Or rather, they had no need to enter.
“…Actor!”
“My Lord.”
Because inside the cave, the master they had been desperately searching for, Actor, was walking out on his own two feet, perfectly fine. Selene hurriedly examined Actor's body. There were no visible external injuries. Judging by his complexion, there were no internal injuries either. Selene let out a sigh of relief. Yet something felt off. It was the awkward smile hanging at the corner of her lord's lips.
“…M-My Lord. Has something happened?”
Perhaps there were internal injuries that hadn't shown on the surface after all. Or perhaps the Mother of Ill Omens, Karne, had done something. Selene felt as though her heart had plummeted.
“…Hmm. Well, you see…”
However, our lord, whether aware of Selene's inner turmoil or not, spoke with an embarrassed smile.
“There's something I need to tell you two…”
Actor slowly stepped aside, and behind him stood a crimson-haired harlot. No, it was the Mother of Ill Omens, Karne, wearing a benevolent smile.
“…My Lord?”
“That's how it is.”
Selene's pupils trembled as if struck by an earthquake. Actor cleared his throat and continued.
“Let me introduce her. So… uh, well…”
Actor trailed off, and only after meeting Mirien and Selene's sharp gazes did he reluctantly continue.
“She's… my mother.”
An eternity passed in an instant.
“…H-Huh?”
It was Mirien who broke the silence.
“…M-M-Mother?”
Mirien blinked several times before tilting her head. The gesture reminded one of an owl cocking its face. Having grasped the situation, Mirien quickly turned her gaze toward Selene. While traveling together, Mirien had noticed how shaken Selene was. Therefore, she could easily predict how Selene would react to this shocking sight.
“…Hey, Selene? You don't mean to…”
It was only a single word, but it conveyed Mirien's sense of crisis well enough. Regardless, Selene took a deep breath. She organized her thoughts. Her mind cleared as if cold water had been poured over her brain.
“…I see. My Lord, I understand everything.”
“Selene, you're understanding?”
“Yes. You need not say more.”
Selene nodded in acceptance. As Actor's face brightened, she continued.
“How dare she brainwash my lord with vile sorcery. You filthy harlot, did you truly think you could keep standing on two feet after this?”
Her lord had been brainwashed by that slut. That had to be it. It could be nothing else. The Scorched Saint Selene drew the Wedge Sword of Hellfire.
[5★ Scorched Saint Selene casts the skill “Hellfire Crater.”]
“Wait! Selene! Stop! It's all a misunderstanding!”
A massive explosion erupted. It would take Selene considerable time to understand the full story of the incident. Precisely speaking, enough time for two casualties to occur.
*
“What the…”
Meanwhile, Leihu, the leader of the Chinese Awakened Alliance, could not comprehend the situation unfolding before his eyes. At the defensive line established at the First Refugee Camp, the alliance's Awakened were barely holding back tens of thousands of disaster forces. Disasters in the form of birds poured forth endlessly. In the end, they even handed equipment to the camp's refugees and had them assist. Even so, the battle situation continued to worsen, but fortunately, the alliance had two hopes. They were the two S-class Awakened who had come from South Korea. Upon hearing that Korea's disasters were heading this way, the two Awakened who had come to track them had readily offered their help the moment they learned of China's circumstances. Their presence was truly a great strength. Even now, the Flame Emperor's Red Flame Guardian was single-handedly withstanding attacks from hundreds of disasters. Though Leihu also possessed a 4★ disaster, he could not provide as reliable support as the Flame Emperor.
“…The Flame Emperor is one thing, but the Dragon Emperor…”
What worried Leihu was Nam Juyeon, the Awakened who had suddenly departed toward where the disasters had gathered. It was strange to worry about someone who possessed the strongest force even within the alliance, but right after, it was revealed that this place was a 5★ dungeon. No matter how much of an S-class among S-classes the Dragon Emperor was, could he face a 5★ disaster and still be safe? Feeling no small amount of guilt for sending their benefactors who had offered help into danger, the Chinese alliance's Awakened continued their bloody battle.
“Team 3 has been wiped out!”
There were casualties. Nearly two-tenths of the thousand Awakened had already been killed or injured. The front line was barely being maintained, but it could not hold forever. Supplies were nearly depleted, and the Awakened were beginning to tire. Though disasters fought in their stead, mental fatigue could never be ignored.
“Should we… retreat?”
Leihu seriously considered it. Abandoning the First Camp and mounting a defense within Beijing's city limits. There would be casualties that could not be ignored, and the alliance would never escape responsibility. Leihu bit his lower lip hard enough to draw blood.
[5☆ Dungeon “Nest of Ill Omens” has been destroyed.]
[Reward: 100 Exp]
As if to mock his worries, the surroundings suddenly brightened. The veil lifted, and sunlight poured down. After an all-night defensive battle, morning had finally arrived.
“…This is…”
Leihu widened his eyes and placed his hand on the remnants of the veil scattering as particles of light. The moment the notification that the dungeon had been destroyed appeared, the disasters turned their formation. Everyone could not hide their bewilderment as they watched the forces disappearing into the distance.
“…We did it!”
Someone who had grasped the situation shouted, and a single cheer became a thunderous roar of joy. While everyone embraced one another in celebration, Leihu turned his furrowed brow toward the S-class Awakened Yu Junseo. At that moment, Yu Junseo also looked at Leihu, and their gazes met. Though they did not share a language, they thought the same thing.
“…Adjutant, prepare the vehicle.”
“Yes.”
Leihu and Yu Junseo hurriedly boarded the van and set off in the direction the disasters had disappeared. After driving for some time, the vehicle could go no further. It was because of the thick piles of ash covering the road.
“…This is…”
Before their eyes lay countless disasters reduced to piles of ash. Moreover, these disasters had died without even disappearing.
“Flame Emperor, was this your doing?”
The adjutant translated, and Yu Junseo immediately shook his head. He was a man who knew shame. Above all, he did not have the gall to steal credit in front of so many corpses. “Then…”
Could it be that the Dragon Emperor who had suddenly departed here had dealt with so many disasters? Was that even possible alone? The group advanced through the ashes with mixed doubt and soon had to face a shocking sight.
“…What the…”
Yu Junseo was the first to be shocked. It was as if the god of destruction had passed through. Centered around the cave on the ridge, countless traces of battle remained. Trees on the mountain had been uprooted or cut down, and rocks bore scorch marks in the shape of lightning. That was not all. The cave entrance was covered in countless sword marks and clotted crimson blood. Anyone who came to see it would clearly understand that an unimaginably fierce battle had taken place here.
“…If the Dragon Emperor truly did this…”
Leihu continued in a trembling voice.
“…Then even the title of S-class would be an understatement for him.”
As someone classified as an S-class Awakened himself, Leihu could tell. He was in a league of his own.