The Phoenix's Assembly
April 12, 2020, 11:55 AM — Line 9 Underpass
Monsters pop out everywhere in Seoul. But the most dangerous paths are the underground tunnels where subways used to run. To avoid heroes and hunters patrolling the surface, the monsters hid in the pitch-black darkness below. Having claimed the underground as their domain, they fattened themselves on any fools who dared venture down. That's why the monsters openly prowled the tunnels, ambushing anyone who walked through—for food, as always.
But this time, the predators weren't the monsters. They were the four ability users striding through the underpass.
"Kekeke! Burn in the darkness!"
The man once known as Black Flame Goat—now the Black Flame Dragon—covered his left eye with one hand and ignited dark red flames. The bat-like monster lurking on the ceiling burned up with the stench of roasting protein, its flesh charring away.
Keruk!
Monsters caught the scent of the core spilling from the corpse and came charging from the direction of Yeouido Station.
"Hahaha! Pathetic fools!"
As packs of monsters swarmed from front and back, surrounding the four intruders, the Black Flame Dragon leaped forward. Black flames gaped open like a serpent's maw, engulfing the beasts.
Kyaaang!
Wolf monsters writhed in agony from the fire clinging to their bodies, slamming their heads against the walls. Bat monsters plummeted to the floor, their wings ablaze.
Whoosh!
The Black Flame Dragon didn't miss the opening. He gathered all his mana into his right fist and thrust it out, unleashing a whirlwind of flames that swept the monsters away in one go.
"Hahaha! I'm A-rank now! Who dares challenge me?!"
"If it weren't for that, I wouldn't believe it."
The black-haired woman in shaman robes tossed a talisman backward. The yellow paper, inscribed with blood-red characters, glowed brightly.
Keruk?!
The amorphous monster lunging at them took the talisman hit. It erupted in lightning, shredding the beast, which slid down the wall spewing its core.
The shaman retrieved the talisman with mana, grumbling irritably.
"Black Flame Goat. Tone it down a bit?"
"Tone what down? The Saintess surely wants this too. For Seoul to be purified in flames!"
The Black Flame Dragon charged at the next wave of monsters.
Thanks to Seoul's many transfer stations, monsters with their freakish senses for underground scents frequently ambushed via every possible route. It was a common occurrence.
"This is really the way to the National Assembly, right? This isn't a trap?"
The shaman pointed at the monster corpses littering the area, shuddering in disgust.
Haneulseong of Gangnam, Black Flame Dragon of Gangdong, and Seonmudang of Songpa. These villains, representatives of their districts—all now A-rank—had come to Yeouido on behalf of their territories.
But no welcoming committee awaited them. Just monsters and corpses.
"If you're suspicious, feel free to leave. No one will blame you."
Seonmudang snorted at Haneulseong's words and lit a cigarette. The smoke might attract monsters, but with the Black Flame Dragon having torched everything, it had no effect.
"Half my turf in the neighborhood already bolted to Seongnam. My guys stuck around because they trust me to hold the line. Hey, Haneulseong. How many you got left?"
"70."
"...That's a lot. Rich Gangnam folks really can't let go of their land, huh?"
"They don't trust the government. No way they'll honor pre-capital-relocation property rights."
The government had already pulled that stunt when reclaiming Jeju Island. Most Seoul landowners had sold up and moved to New Seoul to live large. If they returned, the government would demand they hand over their original land and buildings. The nation wouldn't side with those who stayed in Seoul—at least not under Seon Ui-cheol's regime.
"Haneulseong. But is it true? What that woman said."
"What specifically?"
"She called herself a professor one minute, then her district's assemblywoman the next."
"...Do you believe that?"
"Her words and actions make both sound right."
While the Black Flame Dragon rampaged, the trio arrived at the National Assembly Station.
It had taken killing countless monsters along Line 9 from Gangnam to Yeouido.
"...Looks like someone's been waiting."
Seonmudang unfolded and refolded her fan weapon.
Beyond the platform, a man held blue flames like a torch, welcoming them.
In a blue tie and black suit, he wore an eyepatch over both eyes.
Haneulseong recognized him instantly.
"Lighthouse?"
"It's been half a year, Haneulseong."
"Weren't you dead?"
"...Cheonghwa-dan revived me. Cheonghwa-dan's Lighthouse—that's my new name."
Lighthouse scanned the three entering the platform and nodded.
"Sufficient. I worried none might show."
"Others beat us here?"
"They all ran. Except Dongjak's 'Architect.'"
"This smells like a bust. Total flop?"
The Black Flame Dragon snapped back at Seonmudang's snark.
"You gonna abandon everything in Seoul and run? After six years holding the line, no reward? The Saintess promised to protect us!"
"Gotta survive first. ...Hey, Lighthouse, you invite those guys too?"
As Seonmudang sneered, Lighthouse turned.
Monsters charged from the opposite track.
"Damn. Still some left. Come down!"
Lighthouse raised a hand. People waiting on the platform descended to the tracks, forming ranks.
Men, women, elderly, children—all gripped weapons like bows and spears.
Haneulseong blinked in disbelief. They weren't ability users.
But their weapons hummed with mana residue.
"Battle stations."
Lighthouse lifted his eyepatch slightly. His demon eye gleamed, scanning the monsters visually. Even in darkness, they appeared clear as day with night vision. Three of them. All C-rank quadrupeds.
"Weapons up, ready to fire."
At his command, the shooters raised their arms. Some held plastic model guns, others festival toy bows—but Haneulseong spotted the blue cores embedded in them and shivered.
"Core weapons?"
New weapons powered by cores as energy sources.
How'd Lighthouse get his hands on those?
Before he could ponder, Lighthouse shouted.
"Fire!"
Pew-pew-pew!
Mana extracted from the cores morphed into bullets and arrows, streaking toward the tracks. Pure mana projectiles shredded the gaping maws of the charging monsters.
Kieek...
The beagle-like beasts smashed headfirst into the rails from momentum. As the first row reloaded swiftly, the second row pumped more rounds into the fallen foes.
Long-range confirmation kills, then the reloaded first row advanced cautiously for close-range doubles. The shooters stayed vigilant until Lighthouse's order.
Lighthouse blinked. Like a thermal camera, he confirmed the mana flows from the monsters had ceased, then lowered his eyepatch.
"Kills confirmed. Dismantle."
The shooters drew knives and butchered the corpses with veteran ease, extracting cores from the hearts. A boy, apparently their leader, slipped the cores into a thin translucent plastic bag from his pocket.
"Urgh. Hey."
Haneulseong groaned, calling to Lighthouse.
"What the hell is Cheonghwa-dan? Where'd this group come from? Foreign outfit trying to take over Korea? Japan? China? Russia?"
"...Still purely Korean natives, for now."
Lighthouse guided the three A-rank villains up to the platform. Lost in their thoughts, they followed silently out of the station.
As underground darkness gave way to sunlight, the charred National Assembly building greeted them.
"......It's really all burned to hell."
"This way. The Captain awaits."
"Captain? Your boss?"
"Yes. ...One thing to keep in mind."
Lighthouse spoke with a hint of weariness.
"Answer questions sincerely, but try not to ask any yourselves."
"Why?"
"Our Captain's style is a bit... like your department head types."
They reached the main assembly hall doors, scarred by fire but barely clinging to the wall like freshly repaired.
Creeeak—thud.
The half-open door detached and slid to the floor.
Haneulseong gaped at the gutted chamber, everything incinerated.
"Totally torched. Ugh, what the hell is this?"
Seonmudang yanked her hand from a desk, repulsed by the mysterious stain reeking foully.
Fwoosh.
Flames erupted above the speaker's podium, illuminating the room. Near the lectern, two masked figures sat in assembly seats.
"Ooh, Saintess!"
The Black Flame Dragon rushed to the masked woman—Phantom—and knelt.
Cheonghwa-dan, which had elevated him to A-rank, was his holy faith now.
"You've come."
A man in the front row waved lazily. His modified hanbok looked like he'd bolted from high school history class, screaming individuality.
Seonmudang snapped her fan shut happily.
"Architect bro's here too?"
"Call me Architect. Don't mix our words with Yankee talk."
"Bullshit. Your name's James Lee."
"Eat shit."
The blond, blue-eyed Architect flipped her off, his lower face a wild beard thicket.
Seonmudang chuckled and grabbed a seat.
"Free seating today. Pick wherever."
Lighthouse headed to a corner in the top tier.
Haneulseong hesitated, then went for a familiar spot.
"......."
His old seat was obliterated, like something had crashed from the ceiling.
"300 assembly members once. Now... eight."
The villains flinched at the sudden melodic voice, mana flaring in alert.
"Good. I didn't expect to fill up on the first try. This'll do."
"Up there?"
Haneulseong looked skyward at the voice.
"...Sun! Glory to the Sun!"
A blazing blue sun hung there.
Immeasurable mana. Blue flames so intense they could blind just by looking.
Thud.
The Phoenix of the Azure Flame folded her wings and perched on the unburnt speaker's lectern.
"Welcome to Cheonghwa-dan's assembly hall, stranger villains. I am the villain striving for world peace today—Phoenix of the Azure Flame."
"......□□."
"Tsk. Rock monster. I said your cursing comes out clean and pretty now."
The sunglass-wearing Phantom, hiding her face even indoors, clapped.
"Noon. Let's start."
"I said speak casually just between us two...."
"Start."
"...Understood. Sigh."
Phoenix fiddled with her veil, cleared her throat, and gathered eyes.
"Ahem! Thanks for coming. Let's see. Architect, Seonmudang, Haneulseong, Black Flame Goat—right?"
"By the Saintess's grace, this lowly one reborn as a dragon, O Sun! Call me Black Flame Dragon henceforth!"
"...Ah, yes. Up to Black Flame Dragon. Three combatants, one producer. Perfect. This'll suffice for prep. From here on—"
"Do you truly believe,"
Haneulseong interrupted,
"you can beat the Hero Association's heroes? With this force, take down two S-ranks?"
Smirk.
Phoenix's lips curled.
Lighthouse stifled a sigh.
Haneulseong jolted at the hot surge up his spine.
Behind the playfully posed Phoenix loomed a gigantic phantom: an azure-flamed phoenix.
Haneulseong realized instantly.
"I see. You were there too, back then."
"As expected from near-S-rank—you sensed it. Yes. I was at that meeting. Behind Phantom."
The Black Flame Dragon eyed Phantom; she shrugged nonchalantly.
"Boss babies her cadres too much."
"Where else would I go without cadre love?"
"□□□□□□□."
The rock monster muttered, but none understood.
Phoenix subtly raised her mana, locking eyes with the villains.
"You asked if I have the power for two S-ranks?"
"Hup!"
Breath caught. Blood boiled under skin. Sweat poured; mouth parched.
Mana wouldn't budge to counter—like stone. Prey before predator. One second more, and talons would rip his throat.
Clap.
Phoenix clapped; the four villains gasped raggedly.
Lighthouse's subordinates delivered water bottles and vanished.
"That prove enough?"
"......Never heard of an S-rank villain like you in Korea."
Seonmudang chugged a 500ml bottle and raised hands in surrender.
Overwhelming four A-ranks with pure mana proved S-rank—at least. Maybe beyond.
"Okay, got it. You're one scary villain. But that's all?"
"I can awaken the powerless into ability users—limited, but. Elevate existing ones higher. Like Lighthouse showed, even talentless normals can wield guns against monsters."
"...Tons of questions, but first: how'd you awaken Black Flame Dragon to A-rank?"
"Curious?"
Phoenix grinned wide.
Phantom raised a hand first.
"Join the organization, maybe we'll tell. Not right away, though."
"Eh, could just tell 'em, no big—"
"Fine. Simply the source: Cheonghwa-dan proprietary tech. Origin here."
Phoenix tapped her temple.
"Join, and I'll spill everything. One to ten, in detail."
Haneulseong eyed the message on his smartwatch, meeting Phoenix's gaze.
"One more question."
"Shoot."
"If Snow Flower Princess and Fire Fist sync up—two S-ranks. Anyone here handle that?"
"Naturally."
Phoenix pointed skyward at herself.
"Me."
Five years before the original story—2020. The world yet knows nothing of SS-rank beyond S-rank.
Twenty A-ranks couldn't scratch an S-rank. Ability gaps are absolute.
And above S-rank: SS-rank.
That's me.
Phoenix of the Azure Flame.