Chapter 297
Chapter 297
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 297
Chapter Title: Chapter 297
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 297
Chapter Title: S5. Stellaria of the Storm ~Sprouting Dawn~ -3
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『Meteor』 Unit 2 & Auxiliary Armament 『Meteor Strike』
Built-in Type III mana engines and numerous other power sources, advanced joint structures evolved from previous generations, shock-absorbing outer armor utilizing special alloys.
COMPLETE
After emerging from the underground bunker and walking for about ten minutes, a low hill came into view, topped by an unmarked gravestone.
A roughly made wooden cross with rosary beads draped over it. Symbols from various religions hung or were carved around it as well.
It wasn't because the person buried here was a polytheist. This was a graveyard for the missing.
The man who left to scavenge food from outside, the man who departed the bunker clutching a pistol, seeking revenge on his parents' killers among nearby raiders, the woman who set off on a long journey believing her daughter lived in another bunker...
No one knew what became of them afterward.
Missing, presumed dead or alive—only heaven knew.
All humans could know was that, for whatever reason, they rarely ever returned.
One-armed pilot Kim Yunseo gazed down at the gravestone and spoke to Gordius.
"Honestly, my heart sank when I heard the story. That... pilot. Middle-aged truck driver, surname Kim, so I thought, no way, is that my dad?"
"......"
"You can't imagine the relief when I heard he had a daughter. I'm an only child, so it couldn't have been my dad. Then where on earth is he? When the 『Archfiend』 appeared, Dad was away on a business trip."
"He's surely still alive."
"Thank you. Yeah. He must be surviving somewhere."
Kim Yunseo voiced optimism, but the two bouquets in her hands betrayed her true feelings. She probably believed her father was already dead.
She laid the flowers at the nameless grave.
After a time of silent mourning, Gordius quietly asked,
"Aren't you afraid?"
"Of course I am. You too, right, mage?"
"Yes. I'm terrified. But I've taken on a debt. A debt of entrusting the future to me—I have to repay it. And you?"
"......Me? Well. Not something so noble. Just... I want to live. I feel like I can't go on unless I finish off the 『Archfiend』 myself."
Kim Yunseo quietly surveyed her surroundings.
The brilliant modern civilization was gone. The dense forest of skyscrapers, the neat roads—all shattered, soiled, dyed in cold hues.
Only after layering memories thickly over it could she glimpse the past landscape.
In Kim Yunseo's irises reflected that era when everything was intact. Civilization was fine, but the colors of memory were dark. Back then, she was a middle schooler, depressed.
"I couldn't adjust to school. The kids bullied me bad, but I lacked the courage back then. So I begged Dad. To transfer schools. To move house."
"You didn't stand up to them."
"Yeah. I took the easy way out... After I begged like that, Dad's work hours got later and later. Seeing it, I felt more glad than sorry. Finally, I could transfer."
No courage to face the enemies swarming school, yet somehow courage to sacrifice her family. In the end, she moved homes and schools... and soon the 『Archfiend』 incident erupted.
The house they moved to was near the Archfiend's initial appearance.
The house collapsed, her mother died there. She lost an arm. Her father, who was commuting at the time, remained missing to this day.
Had they not moved, they wouldn't have been directly caught up. Her mother and arm would be fine.
Before the move, his company was close to home, so he could've rushed by car to pick them up. The chances of parting forever would've been low.
"I caused the collapse. So, this won't atone, but... if I don't kill the 『Archfiend』, my heart will crumble. That's why I kept scavenging stuff despite Joseph's objections."
"......"
"Pathetic, right? No guts to fight a middle schooler my height, but I end up resolved to battle a 100-meter monster."
So.
"I won't run away or anything. Don't worry, mage."
"That's a relief. You're talented... If you'd studied magic, you'd have entered the Magic Tower as a key member. Your courage goes without saying. If you fled, this project would be doomed."
"......Flattery?"
"Usually with jewels, but I have none now."
Kim Yunseo chuckled and pulled a cigarette pack from her pocket. Gordius's eyes widened at the shocking sight. He'd never seen her smoke; he'd pegged her as straight-laced.
Click. The Zippo lid flipped open.
Flick flick. Sparks flew, and thick cigarette smoke billowed up. Kim Yunseo inhaled deeply on the nicotine and offered one to Gordius.
"Treasure them, so I smoke sparingly. Got two left. Want one?"
"......If it's like mana cigs. Sip, gulp, cough, cough cough...!!"
"Mages command clouds but can't handle cloud pastries?"
"......Cough, I'm Golden Magic Tower. Can't summon clouds to begin... Urk."
The two sent cigarette smoke mingled with wistful longing skyward. One naturally, one clumsily. Hoping it reached their precious ones somewhere far in the heavens.
Everyone has peculiar memories.
Chocolate chips in chocolate dough, strawberries atop shortcake cream—and like the sharp horn at a golem's peak, standout special memories sharper than any.
Waaaaah—!!
"You have to win! We'll cheer from here!"
"Glory to 『New Stellaria』! Victory to 『Meteor』!"
A young boy, watching a knight in crude armor from behind, felt moved—and yearned to recreate that sensation. The boy grew into a young man.
He dreamed a giant golem everyone—from tiny kids to hulking adults—would look up to, thinking the feeling came from size. But now he knew.
"Mage Gordius, Kim Yunseo. Once you go out, no turning back. So... since you're heading out, leave words for the history books!"
"......"
That day, the knight's back looked so reliable because—
"—Today, the 『Archfiend』 won't fall to humanity's civilized might."
"Then what, Gordius? What can topple that monster?!"
"The three months you all paid for—the three months you invested without letting go of hope in a dying world—that's what fells the 『Archfiend』. Watch closely. Your victory, 『New Stellaria』's victory!"
Waaaaaaaah—!!
Cheers propelled 『Meteor』's back. The colossal 100-meter robot stepped toward the world, one foot at a time.
Thud. Thoom. Thoom!
Was it the crowd's excited heartbeats? The petty rich trembling in fear of lost investments? Or the earth quaking?
None. It was the sound of a young man set on his path, advancing without hesitation.
Like the clumsy knight who blocked hordes of bandits to save a boy. Like that man who bore a desperate boy's hopes and fought to the last.
Bearing it on his back. Bearing it in his soul. He'd carry it all and triumph.
In the side-by-side linked cockpit, one-armed pilot Kim Yunseo adeptly manipulated the robot's movements. Meanwhile, Gordius handled left arm assistance and mana engine oversight.
Beep. Power lit the displays, activating all external cams. Screens from multiple angles filled their view.
Visible again: the Archfiend wrapped in its white shell.
"About 1km to the 『Archfiend』. Still looks asleep. Rush in and grab it by the hair?"
"No. It has keen mana detection. With 『Meteor』's engines plastered everywhere, it's noticed us long ago."
"But... no movement?"
"Bluffing. Sly bastard."
But they knew its traits. No falling for it twice. 『Meteor』 approached cautiously, vigilance high.
Then the lower camera caught unnatural ground movement.
"......That's?!"
"Tail. Buried underground, it'll strike like an 『Earth Spike』!"
"Like a zergling rush, huh? Leave it to me!"
Shrrrr...
Splat—!!
A white tail erupted, shattering the earth. Simultaneously, mana engines spun, powering boosters across 『Meteor』.
Tsssh!
Shin's front boosters flared briefly, maneuvering swiftly. 『Meteor』 pulled its leg back, dodging. And then.
Grip!
"Got it!"
Hand seized the tail's tip. The Archfiend twisted in panic.
"What now?"
"Likes knocking foes down? Let's topple it too!"
Greeee—!!
Mana engines roared. Shoulder, arm, waist boosters fired in unison, yanking the tail.
Drrrt! Thoom!
Tail ripped free; the Archfiend's bulk toppled backward. With the tail gripped, no blindside attacks!
『Meteor』 seized the chance. Charged, slamming a heavy fist into the slippery head.
Tsssh! Boom! Baaam—!!
Each punch accelerated by boosters. And 20 meters taller than Unit 1. The mass differed!
"Handle the Archfiend's moves. Keep striking."
"All over, right?"
"Yes. Last fight, phase 2 after 10 minutes grappling. Gets much nimbler, so watch—"
"Hey, it's tearing out already?! Not even 5 minutes!"
Not a wrinkle—good news. Damage exceeded expectations. Gordius smirked calmly.
"Stick to the plan!"
"『Decoy』 op, confirmed! Proceeding!"
Rip. Riiip. Shrrk!
Kyahahahahaha—!!
Black dragon burst from the torn white flesh. Jagged maw opened in laughter-like roar. Eerie enough to shake emotions just hearing it.
Shlick, smack!
Archfiend rolled free instantly, whipping its flexible tail twice in that blink. Lower armor peeled; durability display yellowed.
Deliberately let through. Reason for loose mount: calculated.
Whiiish—!
『Meteor』 guarded with right arm, gradually widening distance against whipping tail. Moments later, Kim Yunseo reported.
"......Tail's longer now! Our prediction holds!"
Phase 2: metallic dragon scales covering all, rigid as hell. But Gordius suspected from its cunning.
In Unit 1 fight, despite speedy agility... it ended in a 'hug'. Intentional?
Lightweight, so crushing by weight seemed straightforward—but riskier up close?
The hypothesis: form-shifting. Retaining phase 1's amorphous flesh traits.
"Hug it, and spikes erupt body-wide, stabbing like a mace! Spot on!"
"Yes. Keep distance, watch for openings. Stay calm."
"Calm... calmly!"
Calmly.
Thoom! Thooom!
Fierce battle raged. Archfiend assailed with claws and tail relentlessly; 『Meteor』 chipped away, damage accumulating.
Counterattacks? Mobility gap too wide. Booster punches? Effortlessly dodged. Slow death.
Still, calmly.
"Right arm armor cracked! Dismount?!"
"Use it dented to the end. Better that way. Just cut mana to that engine!"
"Power sources failing! Ugh, can we hold...?!"
"......Good. Downshift mana engine output!"
Vrooom—.
Sway, 『Meteor』 wobbled. Looked fatigue-slowed. Archfiend grinned wide. Time to end play.
Bam! Boom!
Pounded. Until guard slipped. Range and speed dominance allowed solo barrage. Wearing it down revealed.
Fatal gap.
Archfiend's tail speared like black harpoon. Slippery, yet forceful. Toward dual-mana signatures.
Dead aim at 『Meteor』 Unit 2's head. Too late to dodge, armor too thin to block.
Gordius and Kim Yunseo steeled for the incoming tail 'slightly above'. The end.
This was the crux.
......Calmly feign death.
Unlike before, cockpit shifted to chest. Head housed two Type II engines, humanoid-like.
Bait from the start.
Screeeee—! Crunch!
『Meteor』's head pierced. Feigned collapse, pilotless. Archfiend laughed. Raised claws to shatter prey fully.
Now.
"Now!"
"Confirmed. All mana engines max output! Zero-point adjust!"
"Trajectory nominal. Activation within error margin. Ready."
"『Meteor Strike』 all ready!"
Vreeeeee—!!
『Meteor Strike』
Massive spiraling pilum - Launch imminent
Light flashed. 120% engines spewed azure glow everywhere. Clank clank! Auxiliary 『Meteor Strike』 shed covers, revealing true form.
A colossal stake, tip spiraling sharp.
"Fire—!!"
Kaaaaboom—!!
Rocket thrusters blazed. Rocket power launching civilizations to space poured solely to slay one monster. Stake's tip met Archfiend's chest.
And.
Crick, crrrunch!
Scales? Laughable. Shredding all obstructions, advanced.
Buuuurst—!!
Instantly, drum-burst roar shook skies. Massive hole in Archfiend's chest. Monster shook head, uncomprehending.
No scream even.
"......"
"......"
Silence like frozen time descended.
Kim Yunseo, eyes squeezed shut at launch, peeked and muttered.
"......D-did we get it?"
"You, don't say that..."
As if cursed.
Ruuuumble.
Vast mana swirled from pierced chest.
"Hey!!"
"Ah, no. Then what should I say instead of 'did we get it'?!"
"Just wait quietly...!"
"This my fault?!"
Phase 3? Unbelievable. Gordius gnawed nails, glaring. That flow—he'd seen it. Like Woo Chaerin's self-destruct.
Just vastly more potent.
Last surprise gift? Not about pilot survival now. If it blew, world in peril—gut screamed.
Kikiki, uahahaha!
Ominous laughter from mana depths. Gordius pegged it: wide-info bomb. Mind-shattering payload.
Couldn't allow. Victory so near, couldn't end tragic. Find way. But how?
Then.
Flash!
Gordius noticed wrist watch tattoo glowing. Light swelled, engulfing him instantly.
Sun-like brilliance forced eyes shut.
When he opened them again.
"Congratulations."
"......"
"Leave the rest to me. This... was arranged for this moment."
In empty white space, Gordius faced the mad mage.
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