Chapter 692
Chapter 692
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 692
Chapter Title: Vanguard - Alien Invasion
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The Nightmare slithered across the ground like a crawling shadow before wrapping both hands around Cloud's neck from behind.
"Guh... Krrgh!"
Cloud thrashed wildly, kicking at the Nightmare with both feet. But her kicks passed straight through its body without dealing any damage.
Moment.
In an instant, I closed the distance to the Nightmare and swung to sever its head. But a blast of black wind from the creature hurled me backward.
Dorothy slammed her wooden staff into the ground. A single beam of light descended from the sky, searing the Nightmare's shoulder.
"Blondie! Use the clouds!"
"Aaaahhh!"
Clouds burst from her body, engulfing the Nightmare.
"Cloud! Even three seconds is enough! Bind it with the clouds!"
I shouted as I launched into the air. The fluffy white clouds swelled up, binding the Nightmare tight. Cloud was performing beyond my expectations.
"Y-You bastards...!"
The panicked creature swung its arms, tearing at the clouds. But they regenerated swiftly, constricting it once more.
This was an irreplicable golden opportunity.
Moment!
In the slowed world, I gripped my sword and assumed position. Just before the first Moment released, I chained another, slicing off the Nightmare's head at maximum speed.
Its grotesque head floated into the sky. The creature was smirking leisurely.
"Don't think chopping off my head ends it."
"You mad bastard...! Should I have split it instead of just beheading?!"
Thinking back, the ghost tree I fought when I first arrived in the Underworld was the same. I could hack it apart with my sword, but I couldn't fully kill or erase it.
"No. This is the end."
It was Dorothy. She floated her wooden staff toward the Nightmare's head hovering in the sky. A gust of wind from the staff's tip pulled the head toward her.
"Grrgh! Witch! You think you'll turn against us for an outsider?!"
"You get ugly when you're losing. Don't act so pathetic. You're the one who tried to kill me alongside them, remember?"
"Aaaagh! I can't vanish like this..."
The Nightmare's head was sucked into the staff and vanished. Its body crumbled to dust. Only then did Cloud collapse to her knees, gasping for breath. Her face was pale.
"Haa... Haa... I-I really almost died...!"
I approached Cloud and checked her over. Aside from her poor complexion, she didn't seem seriously hurt.
"Dorothy. What happened to it? Is it dead?"
"Just sealed inside the staff. Nightmares are immortal in the Underworld. This is the best I can do."
"Outside the Underworld?"
She nodded.
"Unseal it in another world—like Earth, for example—and kill it there. It'll be relatively easy since it's not the Underworld."
Dorothy straightened her disheveled clothes, then gave me a sultry smile.
"And since I lost the bet, I have to follow you to Earth, right? Mmm. Take good care of me there, Master."
???
Before heading to Earth, we stayed one more day at Dorothy's house. It was the home where she'd lived her whole life for the past few decades. We might return someday, but she needed to tidy up before leaving—and pack her things.
And thanks to Dorothy's magic, we reached the portal back to Earth faster than the trip there.
By the time we returned to Earth, the world was in chaos.
The internet, accessed via my smartphone, was flooded with talk of aliens. I wasn't surprised. It was straight out of the original movie.
The world learning about aliens means... we're in the latter half of the movie in the original plot.
I calmly pulled out my smartphone and dialed Brand.
"Brand? This is S. I just successfully completed the mission and returned to Earth."
"Oh! S! You're finally back! I knew you'd succeed! I'd love to send a chopper to pick you up right away, but things here aren't that great. Bring the Underworld witch and Cloud to HQ yourself. As soon as possible."
Brand's voice feigned calm, but it carried unprecedented urgency.
"Brand. Give me the rundown. Have the aliens started their invasion?"
"It began three days ago. Not a full-scale invasion, though. They're sending scout parties to Earth first—like probing our defenses. That's not their only goal, for sure... The whole world's aware of the extraterrestrials now and plunged into pandemonium. Over 2,000 of those alien bastards are swarming the U.S. alone right now! Mr. S! Hurry!"
Click.
The call ended. He must be swamped.
Next, I called Jena, my wife in this world.
"Honey?"
"Jena. I've heard about the Earth situation. Where are you?"
"In an underground shelter. It's crowded and noisy, but safe enough. You should come to the shelter too."
"Sorry, Jena. You know what my job is. I'll be running myself ragged to save Earth."
"Can't you leave that to the heroes? You're just a regular guy."
"Not a hero, but not exactly regular either. You know how important my work is."
A sigh came through the smartphone.
"...Honey. You know I love you, right?"
"I do. You wouldn't be satisfied without me. I'll pound you with everything I've got when I get back—look forward to it."
"You say that now?"
"Especially now. I'll call again soon."
"...Be careful."
The call ended. I tried Reisi too, but no response.
I glanced over, and Cloud was staring at me with utter disbelief.
"Overhearing that made even me cringe. You... aren't you too shameless? I figured you'd at least feel guilty toward your wife..."
"I love Jena, I love Cloud, and I love Dorothy."
"You trash bastard."
"Doesn't Cloud love me?"
"..."
Cloud hesitated, mumbling before turning her head away.
"I love Master."
Dorothy, who'd been quiet, sidled up behind me and hugged my back. I felt two massive mounds pressing against me.
"That ajumma...!"
I held back Cloud as she glared furiously. Now wasn't the time for their bickering.
"Dorothy. Can you use magic to teleport us straight to the city?"
"Not possible. I don't know Earth's geography. Long-distance spatial jumps require thorough prep anyway."
"Got it. Then we move as fast as we can."
We headed for New York.
???
New York was eerily quiet.
Few cars roamed the streets, and no pedestrians were in sight. Most people were holed up in buildings or shelters.
The big cities are fine. Heroes and the military have them locked down tight. The countryside's the real problem.
The military and police were frantic evacuating rural folk. Heroes were busy fending off the invading Bractasians.
I headed to HQ with Dorothy. Cloud veered off midway after getting a distress call. The heroes were short-handed too.
"This city feels quieter than the Underworld."
"That's the situation for you. Normally, it's swarming with people. Oh, at HQ, lots of folks will want to talk to you. Bear with it, even if it's annoying."
"Can I curse the rude humans?"
"Please go easy."
"Kidding. I'll endure to a point. I'm Master's slave, after all. But before we go..."
Dorothy grabbed my right arm and pulled it to her chest. It sank between towering peaks. Her body heat and heartbeat pulsed through my arm.
"No blond bimbo around... Can't we take a little break?"
Her hot breath tickled my ear.
"...No hotels nearby..."
"I'm fine outside."
"We save Earth with some rest too."
Dorothy and I slipped into a dark New York alley.
"Haaaang!"
???
Outside HQ, I ran into Lord Saber. He looked more exhausted than when we first met. Spotting me, then Dorothy beside me, his face hardened.
"Ha, look who it is. The loser and the runaway."
Dorothy sneered at Lord Saber. I gripped her shoulder. If she caused a scene here, it'd make my life harder.
"Dorothy..."
Lord Saber started to say something to her, gave up, and turned to me.
"As expected of our top agent—you brought her. My respects, Mr. S."
"Just did my job. Your sword helped a ton. Want it back?"
"Keep it. Ausvider suits you, Mr. S."
"Thank you."
I'd planned excuses if he asked for it back. This sword was seriously useful.
"By the way, Lord Saber. Something you want to say to Dorothy? You keep glancing her way."
"..."
"Spit it out quick. Your face alone pisses me off, but for Eugene's sake, I can hold back a bit."
Lord Saber clenched his fist anxiously before speaking.
"...Dorothy. Sorry about back then. I couldn't let you kill me, and I didn't want to kill you."
"Ha. So you chose to run? If you were gonna make lame excuses, just shut up. I might've been less disappointed."
"Nothing more to say."
Lord Saber trudged away. I caught his odd vibe. Maybe the old Lord Saber had feelings for Dorothy.
I watched him go, then kissed Dorothy.
"Mm... Mmm..."
She responded eagerly, no hesitation.
I felt Lord Saber's gaze from afar. I pulled Dorothy into a full embrace and kissed her deeply. He watched our display briefly before leaving.
???
Dorothy agreed to cooperate with HQ. She quickly became central to operations.
Her astrology magic could predict Bractasian invasions on Earth. Thanks to Dorothy, Earth's casualties dropped over 80%, and the world regained some stability.
As time passed, alien incursions grew less frequent. HQ folks celebrated defending Earth, but I knew the massive invasion was coming. Surviving that would make Earth truly safe.
One day, Reisi came to see me.
"Hi, Eugene."
"...Reisi. Weren't you holed up somewhere safe?"
I'd tried contacting her several times, but never got through. Texts went unanswered.
"I did go somewhere safe. Dad prepared a ton without telling me. Now, he and I are heading somewhere even safer."
I felt puzzled.
Somewhere safer? Earth was stabilizing—that didn't add up.
...Unless you know about the big invasion like I do.
I knew because of the original story. Some might suspect, but none were certain enough to flee to a bunker.
"...You mean an underground bunker?"
"Safer than that. Bractasia."
"No way."
"Dad handed all the intel Bractasia needs for the big invasion over to them."
"He betrayed humanity."
"I didn't care... but Dad surrendered after seeing their tech. Eugene, I like you. Come with me. Earth's gonna be ruled by Bractasia anyway. Better to live as masters than slaves, right?"
Reisi extended her hand to me.
"Take my hand, Eugene."