Chapter 296
Chapter 296
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 296
Chapter Title: Episode 91. With Spear and Shield, Into the Eye of the Storm (7)
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‘What’s the intention here?’
BM’s eyes narrowed.
He couldn’t fathom Yoo Ji-tae’s motives.
‘Only those who offer their lives as sacrifice may enter and face the truth...’ It wasn’t even presenting a pretext—it was just dodging the issue.
‘Is he really planning to kill whoever goes in?’
The atmosphere suggested as much.
An absolute being suddenly turning hostile toward humans. What was the point beyond instilling pure terror?
“What should we do, sir? The vibe says we shouldn’t go in recklessly.”
“I have no idea what he’s playing at...”
“For now, we should hold position.”
As his aides grew confused by the inexplicable situation, BM’s brow furrowed.
‘What are you thinking, Yoo Ji-tae...’
Even if told not to enter, they couldn’t just stay out. Eventually, someone would go in.
If someone did, Yoo Ji-tae would react—kill them or let them live. If they returned alive, there’d be no reason for this chaos. If they died, humanity’s last stand wouldn’t back down from such a tense standoff.
Either way, it was ambiguous.
‘...Wait, someone going in?’
Suddenly, a strange thought struck BM.
The pressure Yoo Ji-tae had exuded moments ago was like an elephant crushing a fist-sized doll.
An indescribable presence. Even knowing it was Yoo Ji-tae, BM felt he’d die for sure if he entered. Who would go in there?
Yet someone definitely would. BM thought so out of habit.
Who was that ‘someone’?
‘I forgot because it’s been so long...’
Humanity’s unforeseen SSS-rank monster, the Black Dragon.
And the colossal damage it had wrought.
Wartime declaration R5 (Bursted grenade)
In this land, whenever such massive crises arose, a being would appear from somewhere far in the sky, moving to save the world.
Only then did BM realize.
There had never been any intention of providing justification.
Yoo Ji-tae had split the space to meet ‘him’ alone and dragged things out with this ploy.
No sooner had BM’s speculation landed than...
A new presence descended from the heavens.
“He’s finally here...”
“To think I’d see him again...”
The savior who would resolve the impasse.
The sky parted as a massive orb descended. The orb, shrouded in light, gave off a sacred aura at first glance.
The orb split into eight slender crystal prongs, revealing a human form within.
「Oscar Blanc」
The world’s number one ranker.
The ‘Ruler of Earth’ had revealed himself.
A colorless glass mask to protect his face and eyes.
His body was wrapped head to toe in gear—at least level 3 artifacts, up to level 4—including armor, cloak, gloves incorporating the 「Heaven-Piercing Eight Wings」 on his back, necklace, rings, epaulets, and more.
At his waist hung a greatsword, a level 5 artifact, the Ruler’s exclusive weapon.
Oscar Blanc.
Without a word, he stepped into the rift’s darkness to confront Yoo Ji-tae.
It had been a long time since they’d met.
Across multiple regressions, Yoo Ji-tae had faced Oscar Blanc several times—sometimes as allies in the Federation, other times as foes. Yet the regressor had never clashed with the Ruler. Their goals aligned in protecting Earth, bolstered by the support of the 「Apocalyptic Clock (EX)」.
Inside the rift’s darkness, facing Yoo Ji-tae, Oscar Blanc peered afar to assess the ‘Black Dragon’s’ form.
“First time meeting like this. So you’re the Prophet Season.”
“Yeah. Blanc.”
“What’s all this commotion about?”
Oscar Blanc always knew much, receiving information from Providence itself.
Naturally, he had some intel on Yoo Ji-tae.
“I set this stage to call you aside. Thought we could talk about what to do with that dragon.”
“...My nape’s been aching lately. Flooded with info on something dangerous, but couldn’t pin it down. Perfect timing.”
The entity feeding info to Oscar Blanc?
None other than the 「Apocalyptic Clock」.
“Probably referring to that.”
“Here to kill it?”
“Got a duty to fulfill. It’s too dangerous an entity.”
Shring... He drew his sword.
“Step aside.”
The Ruler was akin to a white blood cell.
His purpose: the peace and perpetuity of the ruled dimension.
Oscar Blanc, regardless of his own will, sought to eliminate the Black Dragon as a risk factor.
“Sorry, can’t do that.”
Oscar Blanc’s eyes narrowed at Yoo Ji-tae’s words.
“Mind giving me a reason?”
“We have to keep that one alive. To eliminate Earth’s fundamental threat.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“...”
“Explain how sparing a dangerous entity removes threats.”
Yoo Ji-tae shook his head.
In some nameless regressions, he’d explained the baby dragons’ plight and sought aid, but it always circled back to bad ends.
He couldn’t bluff either. Oscar Blanc could discern truth from lies.
“No persuasion at all, and you want to spare it? No one will sympathize. Zero justification for saving an adult Black Dragon. If this leaks, the world might brand you an enemy.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s why I’m meeting you alone like this.”
“Elaborate.”
“Announce that you went ahead and killed the Black Dragon. Your word carries that credit and authority. Won’t be hard. Just fool the G12 and the Federation.”
“You’re asking me to lie?”
“Just once.”
“And if I refuse?”
“We both get tired.”
Yoo Ji-tae replied slowly.
“Even without your help, I can hide it. Things might spiral, and I may have to kill a lot. But I’ll hide it anyway. Somewhere no one knows.”
“...”
“So how do you plan to stop me? Mobilize an army? Drag the Federation and G12 into it to build your side? Reach out to disaster-class mages for cooperation? Or tell Kalliofan I’m a traitor? Think you can stop me then?”
Oscar Blanc fell silent.
The Ruler pondered the situation from every angle. But his ultimate decision was singular.
Might makes right.
A truth from micro-ecosystems—bugs and birds, rats and cats—to macro wars between nations.
In this world, the mightiest was Yoo Ji-tae.
“...”
Soon, the Ruler’s face twisted in annoyance.
He wouldn’t rush into conflict lightly.
Receiving info on Yoo Ji-tae from the Apocalyptic Clock had shown he wasn’t an ‘enemy’.
Even if deemed one, he couldn’t be defeated in battle.
“...Fine. But with conditions.”
“Name them.”
“I know it can transform into humanoid form. Turn it humanoid and place it under Federation management so I can check its status anytime.”
“Tricky. If I say I brought it, too many suspicions in the Federation.”
“I’ll provide the cover story.”
“Oh?”
“One lie’s the same as two. Designate it a Ruler’s special containment subject, managed by the Prophet.”
If he couldn’t kill it now, he’d keep it close to kill anytime.
The best concession the Ruler could offer. Yoo Ji-tae knew it.
“Got it.”
Yoo Ji-tae accepted.
The Ruler added a question.
“What then, with it alive?”
“Isolate. Protect. Run some simple tests.”
“Can I observe the tests?”
“No. Sorry.”
“...Understood.”
Each stepping back, finding what they needed.
With the talk done, Oscar Blanc turned to leave.
Yoo Ji-tae stopped him. ‘Hey.’
“What?”
“The Apocalyptic Clock is gone.”
Instantly, the gaze behind the glass mask sharpened.
“I still sense its presence. Connection’s there. But no direct communication. You too, right?”
“...Yeah. That’s the situation.”
“Don’t have time to search for it myself. Can you check?”
The Apocalyptic Clock’s forge existed separately for each connected human. Oscar Blanc had his own.
Searching that vast cosmos would cost Yoo Ji-tae precious time.
Once started, who knew days or weeks it might take.
“I’ll look.”
With that, Oscar Blanc vanished.
The prepared two hours elapsed, and the rift in the air sealed.
The incident concluded.
Oscar Blanc publicly announced the incident as a fabrication.
His excuse: ‘An otherworldly beast (dragon) flew in. An otherworldly entity (from the rift) came to hunt it. It vanished after a parley with Oscar Blanc.’
Blame shifted to unverified other dimensions, closing the matter.
“Real other-dimensional monsters exist?”
“Never had an enemy like this before...”
Some doubted, but none could refute.
The ‘dragon’ and ‘mysterious entity’ battle warped space with intense mana fields. No facilities or agencies had properly observed.
“At least Oscar Blanc was there...”
“Heard the Federation and G12 are teaming up over this.”
“Good news.”
Australia and other nations/cities hit by indiscriminate dragon barrages received Federation and G12 aid.
The Mage Tower, sunk in water, was jointly recovered by G12 and Federation. All great mages confirmed dead.
A global wave of mourning followed.
Federation and G12 began analyzing the shattered tower. An unknown metal ‘nest’ found inside was moved to a lab.
Follow-ups on ‘Quasar’ and Mexico proceeded.
Meanwhile, as Federation and world busied with aftermath...
Yoo Ji-tae headed underground.
The Federation basement housed the 「Hazardous Entity Containment Chambers」. Dangerous superhumans, monsters, artifacts isolated under protection and watch.
The black-haired woman, ‘Mu’, was now contained and protected there. On the Ruler’s request.
For Mu’s protection, Ruler Oscar Blanc demanded three things from the Federation:
1. Twice daily, day and night. Deploy 0-rank agents (ex-cons deemed dead) for meals and amenities. Mental check immediately after contact; execute if anomalies.
2. Prophet Season granted free access; no records of interactions.
3. Full support for all Prophet Season’s requests.
The sudden containment subject.
The vanished Black Dragon.
Sensing the truth, Jeon Gal-hae-yeon assigned Mu the widest, most humane chamber and silenced all involved.
Mu was now Federation containment subject ‘B-12’.
“...”
Yoo Ji-tae peered through the containment glass.
After Oscar Blanc left and the sub-space closed. As Mu awoke from stupor, she convulsed. After Yoo Ji-tae pummeled her, she shifted to humanoid.
Then passed out again from the beating.
Now, she lay on the containment bed.
Jet-black hair splayed across the white sheets.
Wounds wouldn’t heal in a day or two. When she woke, they’d call Yoo Ji-tae. Then he’d talk again with the mutant adult dragon.
Yoo Ji-tae gazed at Mu, then turned away.
Time to go home.
In the office, Bom—who’d returned post-incident—watched the anxiously bustling staff with unease.
Yoo Ji-tae called Bom.
“We’re done here. Let’s head back.”
“Okay...”
Federation business wrapped for now.
Aftermath was their job.
On the way to the underground garage, Bom asked.
“That was... the Black Dragon, right?”
After such rampage, impossible not to know.
“Yeah.”
“And you caught it, oppa?”
“Yep.”
Bom eyed him worriedly, asking cautiously.
“...Is it dead?”
He’d agonized over this.
No need to tell the kids about the Black Dragon. But living at the Federation, Bom might learn of Mu someday.
No immediate reason to tell—or hide.
He decided against lying.
“Not dead.”
Sensing Yoo Ji-tae evading, Bom didn’t press. He wasn’t in a playful mood.
Then his phone rang.
As Yoo Ji-tae talked with Jeon Gal-hae-yeon, Bom glanced down the hall. The direction he’d come from.
And stared silently.