Chapter 51: Γ
Chapter 51: Γ
A Hero appeared.
A Hero who dyed the gray world in her own colors, scattering Black Particles as she moved.
The mass of red poison spat out by the Hydra was pulverized by the new Hero’s hands.
As the red slime splattered in every direction, the Hero continued to swing her hammer, and the exploding, scattering slime vanished into nothingness.
The Black Magical Girl had achieved what I could not.
“There are two Ha-ram-nims! Poyo!”
Against the backdrop of the stupid mascot’s voice, I opened my mouth.
“Yumil?”
“Why do you look so surprised?”
A black Magical Girl outfit.
A dark Red Hammer.
My black Mirror Image smiled brightly, puffing out her chest as she flaunted her achievement.
But that wasn't why I was surprised. It was the fact that I could feel two existences simultaneously: Yumil as a Mutant and Yumil as a Hero.
How did a Mutant get chosen as an Awakened? And at this specific timing?
“Where is your mascot?”
If she was a Magical Girl, there had to be a mascot that triggered her awakening.
“I didn't have anything like that…?”
“Then how did you transform?”
I briefly recalled her ability to mimic my appearance, but if that were the case, her hair should have turned white like mine. There was no reason for it to remain pitch black.
“I just pictured the form of a Magical Girl in my heart, and I was able to transform.”
What kind of nonsense was that?
It was so absurd that the heat of the battle I had been fighting just moments ago seemed to evaporate.
“Does that even make sense, Un-ho…?”
“It’s impossible! Magic wands are exclusive products of the Magic Kingdom. More importantly, who is she?”
The term "exclusive product" was ridiculous in its own right, but according to Un-ho, what she did was impossible. Then what was the Magic Wand inside her?
“A Magic Wand? You mean this?”
Perhaps because she had inherited my techniques, she manifested a Magic Wand with a perfectly natural motion.
What Yumil held in her left hand was…
A Red Pry Bar.
What the hell.
Why is that a Magic Wand?
Don't tell me she has a "Story" as a Hero, too?
Even Un-ho, who should have been explaining the situation, looked flustered, his eyes darting back and forth.
Fine. I’ll just stop thinking.
What was the point? This world had been turned upside down, and strange things happened every other day. As long as the Heroes were alive, wasn't that enough?
I composed myself.
“Can you fight?”
“That red Hydra, you mean?”
“Yeah.”
The lava-tentacled Hydra was slowly moving its legs, approaching the barrier.
“I don’t like that thing either, so I’ll help you.”
“Right…”
Wasn't she supposed to follow my orders anyway?
‘I’ll help you,’ she says. I wonder if she’ll actually function well as my proxy.
…On second thought, it didn't really matter. If we could take that thing down, I could worry about the rest later.
Just as I was about to turn my wounded body to face the Hydra—
A loud noise pierced my ears.
“Black! Marauderrrrrrr… huh?”
It was Baek Si-hyun, now turned gray, shouting as she ascended through the air, creating stairs with her shield.
She seemed incredibly excited, manifesting countless weapons as she charged, but she skidded to a halt in front of us as if she’d noticed something strange.
Standing before us, Baek Si-hyun looked back and forth between Yumil and me with a bewildered expression.
“Black? Marauder?”
She asked in a strained voice, unable to process the situation.
And why was she here now?
The situation had become truly incomprehensible.
I knew who Yumil was, but the others didn't. I hadn't even told Yumil how to act in a situation like this.
How was I supposed to get out of this…
“My adversary? This isn't the time to be fighting me, is it?”
Yumil wiped the confident expression off her face and replaced it with a villainous smirk.
“There is an unrighteous being over there. That is reason enough.”
She spun her hammer and pointed it at the Hydra.
She was pretending to be the Black Marauder and acting the part perfectly.
Good job, Yumil!
Thanks to Yumil’s unexpected cooperation, I didn't have to say anything weird.
As long as Yumil and I stayed on the same page, we could get through this smoothly.
It stung a bit that Un-ho was looking at me suspiciously, but I wasn't ready to be doubted by my disciples just yet.
“I’ve already reached an understanding with my clone Mutant. She said she’d help me fight that thing.”
“Indeed. By my judgment, that creature is unrighteous.”
Yumil and I spoke in unison.
A shared sense of purpose: to take that thing down.
Since I, as the Black Marauder, preached about justice every single day, Yumil’s behavior was exactly what I would have done.
“Hmm…?”
Despite my best acting, Baek Si-hyun looked dissatisfied and pouted, tugging at the Black Marauder’s skirt.
Thump. Thump.
“Hmmmm?”
Then she started tapping on the Black Marauder’s hammer.
Was she even listening to me?
Yumil seemed flustered by the behavior as well, but she didn't resist and just stood there as Baek Si-hyun poked and prodded her.
After a while, Baek Si-hyun finally looked up, her face brightening.
“It’s perfect! This is exactly what Master’s clone Mutant should be like. After all, Master looks best in those kinds of clothes.”
What is she even talking about?
“Is this the outfit you wear when you’re fighting for real? Are the Pry Bar and the black dress like… clothes of judgment or something?”
“Adversary? Could you step back a bit…”
“Does this hammer get bigger too? Can it transform? Are the gauntlets black, too? Do you happen to have a black ferret?”
Si-hyun. That is, technically, the Black Marauder you’re supposed to defeat.
She’s not an object for your curiosity.
Yumil mouthed a silent plea for help to me.
‘What’s wrong with her?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘If the Master doesn't know, who does?’
She can even lip-read.
Whether she inherited my memories or just absorbed my techniques, it seemed she possessed all the same functions I did.
‘Deal with it yourself. I’m staying out of it.’
For some reason, I felt a pang of guilt.
Was it because my skin had been peeled off by the heat?
Fine, I’ll save her.
“Si-hyun. That’s enough.”
“But aren't you curious? The black version of Master is so cool!”
It was strange enough having a fan, but I didn't expect such a passionate eccentric.
I knew she was a bit odd, but my evaluation of Baek Si-hyun hit rock bottom at that moment.
From a genius but airheaded Wild Boar to a weirdo who had nothing but talent.
“She’s the primary antagonist of your story, so you’ll see her plenty. Right now, that Hydra is more important.”
If the Gray World continued to spread, there was no telling what would happen to the Heroes.
“Ah. Right. Master. A message from Headquarters. Most Heroes are incapacitated. Those who aren't are using all their strength to halt the progression of the Gray World.”
Great. She’s not just an eccentric; she’s less reliable than Un-ho.
A messenger forgetting her duty because she was obsessed with her hobbies.
Halting the progression, huh?
That meant I had to end this as quickly as possible.
Should I use it?
The "time of the two" mentioned in the prophecy must mean right now.
Yumil and me.
A story about the two of us.
If so, the prophecy would be fulfilled, and the future would be set in stone.
“Black Marauder, Baek Si-hyun.”
“What.”
“Yes! Master!”
Look at that attitude. "What."
The contrast with the respectful Un-ho-tier disciple next to her made it even more glaring.
Patience.
Didn't she just save me from my own mistake?
“Can you fight that Hydra?”
“….”
The two women turned their heads to look at the Hydra.
They must be afraid.
The overwhelming difference in power, the commander of an army that had defeated countless Heroes.
It was only natural to be afraid.
Even so, they had to overcome this limit.
I didn't know what kind of even more dangerous things might happen after this…
“How long do I need to hold out?”
“I even survived the Black Marauder’s attacks; a beast like that is nothing!”
I guess my worries were unnecessary.
“Hold out for 30 seconds.”
“Will do.”
“I can do 30 minutes, no problem!”
Leaving only those words, the two Magical Girls with hammers turned and charged toward the red Hydra.
Yumil kicked off the air, seemingly able to run through the sky even without Un-ho.
Baek Si-hyun sprinted across the earth, swinging her hammer wildly.
Was it an amplification of mana?
I let out a small laugh.
To think that in the final moment, I would be borrowing the strength of my young disciples.
The outcome of this battle was now in the hands of two youths.
A Mutant who hadn't even been born for a month.
A Hero who hadn't even been awakened for a month.
Even if it was only for the final 30 seconds, it was ironic that two young girls were the ones to decorate the end of this long war.
How ironic.
“Un-ho. Limiter Release. 20 seconds.”
20 seconds.
Because I absolutely cannot afford to fail.
“Your body won't hold! Even at 13 seconds, your left arm…”
“The kids have stepped up. I have to put at least this much on the line.”
I knew.
Even in my prime, 18 seconds was my limit. With a left arm that wasn't even properly attached and skin that was practically cooked, there was no way I could endure it.
“Hurry. We don't have time to argue.”
The battle over there had already begun.
The Hydra was swinging its nine heads, firing beams and tilling the earth.
Two small dots were moving rapidly, but they would soon be driven into a corner.
“Look. they’re already being pushed back.”
Small tentacles erupting from the Hydra’s body moved swiftly, blocking the two Magical Girls' paths.
To dodge those, one needed overwhelming speed and judgment.
At first, they would be able to dodge.
Into wide-open spaces, into places where it was easy to maneuver.
But those were traps set by the tentacles to slowly encircle The Enemy.
In the end, they would be devoured.
“…Please don't die.”
“I won't.”
I took my stance.
The power to end everything.
The final will to wield it and endure.
“20 seconds. Releasing the limiters.”
I heard Un-ho’s recitativo.
The final sentences to continue the narrative of the story.
Kkiriririk.
The mechanical sound emanating from The Hammer joined Un-ho’s song.
It’s hot.
I thought my nerves had died because my skin and flesh were seared, but it seemed the inside was still intact.
Perhaps because of the 20-second duration, The Hammer sucked in an excessive amount of air as it entered the final stage of the Limiter Release.
Clang.
The platform Un-ho had created shattered, unable to withstand the weight of The Hammer.
The wind whipped against my body and gravity pulled at me, but it wasn't an entirely unpleasant feeling.
It’s cold.
A cold wind to cool the heat.
Even though it would instantly turn into scorching air, it provided a small comfort to my mind.
Un-ho, perhaps also thinking this wasn't a bad thing, didn't take any action and continued the chanting.
The ground drew closer.
Just before my small body collided with the earth—
“Agent of The Queen. By the authority of the Selector. I approve this.”
【Power shall have Will】
I redirected the force generated by the acceleration into my will and poured it into controlling my body.
My body spun once, and I landed safely on the ground.
Without hesitation, I immediately began to spin The Hammer.
To make it as strong as possible while I could still swing the heavy weapon.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
I took my stance and rotated my body.
The force generated there turned back into rotational force, continuously accelerating The Hammer.
My arms hurt.
It felt like my flesh was being torn off.
No, perhaps it had already been torn off. Doesn't seared flesh peel easily from the bone?
Whoosh.
I closed my eyes and tried not to think about the pain in my body.
Was it thanks to the Gray World?
I was able to focus my mind endlessly.
In the silent world, the only thing I felt was the weight of The Hammer in my hands.
I was a single central axis.
A single massive core creating a giant star.
“10 seconds left!”
Had 10 seconds passed?
It was a time when my body should have been screaming that it was dying, but I felt nothing.
Had my body surpassed its limits? Or had those mechanisms stopped working because I was already dying?
Whatever.
Whoosh.
“Orbital Control.”
I couldn't even hear Un-ho’s voice anymore.
The only thing I felt was The Hammer accelerating even further.
The burden on my arms lightened slightly.
How many seconds were left?
I just continued to control the power.
“#!!$!”
Hadn't 13 seconds already passed?
And yet, why wasn't it difficult?
“#!!!”
Whoosh.
I didn't know anymore.
What I was even doing.
—1 second!
I opened my eyes at Un-ho’s telepathy.
I couldn't see.
I couldn't feel.
I couldn't hear.
It was fine. Because I was certain The Hammer was still in my hands.
Because the red light of the star illuminating the sky was gripped in my palm.
—0.5 seconds!
And over there, I saw a massive red energy. The moment to release all my power.
“—————.”
I opened my mouth and let out a roar.
A shout for both of them to get out of the way.
Words I couldn't hear myself.
Two small energies pulled away from the red energy.
The moment I perceived that, I swung The Hammer.
The red light was unleashed.
The Hammer did not open.
The Hammer simply followed the guidance of my arm; The Hammer that twisted the world with its immense weight emitted neutrons as it brought the red energy closer.
No. In reality, that was just the perspective of someone who couldn't feel anything.
In truth, I was the one charging toward the red energy.
This was the most powerful technique I could currently use.
The technique I had used on The Sea was an application designed to use this without risk; this was my true power.
Following a familiar sensation, I brought down The Hammer I had raised above my head.
Overwhelming power concentrated in The Hammer, and everything inside it was guided in the direction I struck.
Everything inside The Hammer was ready to burst forth in the direction of my swing.
——.
An unknown sensation was transmitted to my hand.
The feeling of striking something sticky.
Seal release.
Whoosh.
My vision, which had been painted black, was dyed red.
It began with visible light.
Then, countless physical forces burst forth according to the guidance.
the end of the star that had been born inside The Hammer.
As the star exploded, all matter poured out rapidly, creating a bizarre flow.
The flow for the final power to burst forth.
With this, the final power opened.
The final power that would bring about a massive catastrophe if it couldn't be controlled.
The concentrated power was fired.
A single beam of light with a short wavelength that could not be seen by the eye.
The moment it made contact, the red energy began to shrink rapidly.
What was this called again?
I couldn't quite remember.
But I knew. I must not let go of this.
Even if I could control it, the ripples would be immense.
1 second.
2 second.
Time flowed.
But how much time had passed outside? 0.01 seconds? 0.02 seconds?
The distortion of time experienced within the space created by overwhelming weight.
In that space, I simply held onto The Hammer and endured.
Because even power with will could not offset the force applied to myself.
Time of unbearable pain flowed.
10 seconds.
15 seconds.
How much was left?
The red energy still remained.
I could still endure.
.
..
…
….
…..
The Hammer began to slip from my hands.
Why?
Had my strength run out, or had the hands to hold it disappeared?
I didn't know.
The Hammer was slipping.
The red energy had not yet been extinguished.
I had to endure, but my body’s strength was failing.
Let’s stop.
Let’s leave the rest to someone else.
The Hammer slipped from my hand.
At the final moment, only my small middle finger was hooked on The Hammer.
And then, I gripped The Hammer again.
A dark red Otherworldly energy.
Red mana.
Two unknown powers approached me and supported The Hammer.
The two energies placed The Hammer back into my hands.
It seemed I couldn't rest just yet.
With my final will, I gripped The Hammer.
Time passed, and the red light went out.
Kkiririririk.