Azure Flame Lodged in the Heart
The Azure Flame embedded in his heart granted its bearer mana near-infinite in scope, as it formed the foundation of fire-attribute mana. But at my whim, I could make that mana dissipate or backflow.
'Not what I gave it to you for.'
Once it took down that thing called the Shadow Phoenix—Flame Demon Dragon—its usefulness as a hero was spent. My investigations revealed it had quite the backing. Nephew to President Seon Ui-cheol and an A-rank hero. The male lead actor who'd starred alongside Cheon Ga-eul in a drama.
'Cheeky bastard.'
The guy I'd elevated to S-rank with my power had obliterated my Hellhound squad in one blow. And that refreshingly carbonated laugh of his rubbed me the wrong way, so I'd immediately triggered the heart bomb. I wanted to detonate it right there, but I held back out of concern for Unsa, Park Ra-on, settling for a mana backflow instead.
'Wasn't even counting him as enemy forces to begin with.'
What was the point of letting him rampage when I could erase him with a flick of a finger? He still wasn't worth my personal intervention.
- Guro heroes are retreating. Shall I pull out the subordinates and attack?
Kim Ji-hwa chased the heroes fleeing down the road with his eyes. Unsa lay unconscious from over-absorbing mana.
'Surely this won't be her retirement trigger?'
In the original story, she'd simply ended up injured in a monster fight. With her mana increased, this trial wouldn't push her to retire.
'The original... it's driving me nuts.'
Ever since saving Cheon Ga-eul—no, from the moment I'd burst out into the open—the original plot had effectively crumbled. Should I follow it or just do my own thing?
'Screw it.'
No point agonizing over it anyway. Who knew if another original heroine like Cheon Ga-eul would pop up and shatter more flags?
A chill wind carrying frosty energy brushed my cheek from the south.
"Whoa!"
I leaped up onto the rooftop railing. "Nngh." Stretching to loosen my stiff muscles. It didn't really help, but it felt necessary.
"Lighthouse. From now on, you take command."
⊳ What do you mean all of a sudden?
Kim Ji-hwa jumped in surprise. After watching me command from right beside him, that reaction made me feel awkward.
"Figure it's time I set down the baton and join the front lines as one more unit."
⊳ Sorry, could you explain that in terms I can understand?
I waved at Ga-eul and snapped my fingers. Whoosh. My vision shifted. My entire body turned to blue flames. I could feel the mana churning inside me burn faster and fiercer. Transformation. From human to kaijin form. After discussing with Ga-eul, we'd decided to present this shift to the outside world as my "ability." I couldn't speak, but I could convey intent. With the mini-Phoenix I'd left inside the National Assembly barrier transmitting my will in my stead since we weren't close.
[Do not come out of the barrier under any circumstances.]
'Maybe I should just go say it in person.' I could jump there in 10 seconds flat.
Ga-eul let out a hollow chuckle at my concern.
'Nope, can't do this.' I immediately leaped off the 63 Building. My falling body vanished midair under gravity's pull, my mana flowing to the mini-Phoenix, shifting me beside Ga-eul. Whoosh. Flames erupted as my form materialized. Ga-eul turned at the oddity, startled upright upon seeing me behind her.
"You little... ahem! How'd you get here...?"
Ga-eul glanced slyly at Ji-hwa. He covered his eyes with his hand but stared at me through the demon eye on its back, mouth agape.
[Be careful.]
I straightened the veil around Ga-eul's neck with a hand.
[I'd rather keep you somewhere safer, but the situation's dire. Understand.]
"Well... I get that, but..."
I placed a hand on Ga-eul's shoulder. Intangible, but the blue-burning flames of mana would convey warmth to her.
[So just wait a moment.]
"That's what I'm saying, where are you even—"
"...! Anomalous reaction on Gwanak Mountain summit!"
Lighthouse hurriedly linked the mini-Phoenix's view. Frost began settling over the entire mountain. As expected. That presence from beyond hadn't been my imagination.
[Kim Ji-hwa!]
"Y-yes?!"
[I'm entrusting Cheon Ga-eul to you. Guard her with your life.]
"...Yes!"
Kim Ji-hwa nodded frantically. Even as a non-combat ability user, he could handle basic fighting. If he just stalled inside the barrier—an S-rank couldn't easily breach—we'd be fine until I returned. And right now, I had one S-rank to intercept.
[I'll be back.]
My body ignited once more. Consciousness flashed like light to the mini-Phoenix on Gwanak summit, reconstituting my kaijin form.
[.......]
An immense chill surged from the mountain's south side. The world's finest ice sorceress, master of water-attribute mana. Korea's sole female S-rank hero. And one of the main heroines.
[Seok Ha-rang.]
The Snow Flower Princess crossed the mountain via an ice path in the sky. Flowing dress. Snow-white hair like fresh snowfall. Ice-transparent eyes reflecting me.
"Who the hell are you?"
I fired blue flames wordlessly.
***
The sudden revival of the Hellhound pack threw the command center into utter chaos. Guro and Gangnam. A-Team and B-Team—the split forces were far from weak. As a nation's top assets, they shouldn't struggle this much against mere Hellhounds. Yet Unsa, an A-rank, had passed out from successive battles, and heroes were being kidnapped by monsters—a humiliation born of one reason.
"Hwagwon went to Guro! You gotta send me too!"
The white-haired girl bellowed at a man old enough to be her father, voice cracking.
Shin Jin-gwang floundered before the charging girl. "No, listen—one has to stay and guard the command center..."
"Can't trust the heroes here to guard it? Gangnam's a mess right now too!"
Lee Seung-hyung had gone to Guro. That left Snow Flower Princess Seok Ha-rang as the only other reinforcement.
"Damn it! If the Executioner were here, we'd have breached Yeouido by now!"
Grinding his teeth. Before Shin Jin-gwang was tipped for Monster Countermeasures Minister, that name—the Executioner Yoo Yeong-ho—had always been the frontrunner. Compared to the globally renowned Executioner, Shin Jin-gwang, with just decades of military service, had faced comparisons from his confirmation hearings onward. Not a mountain to climb, but a name he was sick of hearing. Reminding himself she was one of Korea's three S-ranks, he barely suppressed his anger.
"Hoo, listen well. You're young, so maybe you don't grasp..."
"What?! I've been smashing monsters since I was twelve! When do they respect elders? They kill regardless of age or gender!!"
The command center fell silent. Operators shivered as chill crawled over their skin. Crackle, crackle. Frost coated the monitors. Ha-rang's hair lifted slightly—proof of involuntary mana release.
"H-Hero Seok Ha-rang! Using abilities in command is insubordination! Clear ability misuse!"
"......Tch!"
Ha-rang bit her lip, settling her mana. The room warmed slightly. Often called the Ice Witch over Snow Flower Princess by villains, the merciless ice sorceress was infamous for her dogshit personality—in the worst way. Fortunately, a savior broke the tension.
Seung-hyung's face appeared on the main screen.
"What now!"
Shin Jin-gwang snapped irritably, then cringed realizing it was Lee Seung-hyung. Same S-rank or not, he was the nephew of the nation's top power broker who'd put him here.
"Ahem! What's the matter, Agent Lee Seung-hyung!"
Access to what? Shin Jin-gwang panicked inwardly. He'd studied heroes diligently, but this was unfamiliar. Sounded vaguely heard, though. Since Seung-hyung requested it, probably fine. With feigned confidence, he barked.
"Stand by!"
"Are you insane?!"
Tempest Lady shouted over video, Ha-rang in person. Ha-rang quickly clocked Shin Jin-gwang's ignorance and explained curtly.
"Mana patterns are heroes' unique signatures! Top-secret, needs Association approval even for the state! Think resident registration numbers!"
Ha-rang pressed, shrinking Shin Jin-gwang. Handling secrets himself, he realized his near-fatal blunder—and that Lee Seung-hyung of all people demanded it. Who'd take the fall? No way they'd arrest an S-rank for leaking state secrets. His own head would roll. Then, magic words eased his burden.
"Me too. If anyone complains, come to me. I'll help. If you're really worried... I'll ask my master too."
With two S-ranks' pleas—plus Korea's top hero's backing—fear vanished. At Shin Jin-gwang's order, operators fetched the missing heroes' mana patterns.
"Pattern analysis confirmed! Detecting ambient mana to trace paths!"
Everyone knew heroes had unique mana patterns. They naturally vented mana into the air. Isolate that signature from ambient mana, and you'd pinpoint their location. While operators scanned, Ha-rang slyly tapped her smartwatch. Broadcasts, media, internet— all eyes on Seoul reclamation. Even a Kyung-gi live-streamer with binoculars hit 200k viewers. Public streams exploded; major media near-real-time. Hot topic: Hellhounds' revival. Blue-flamed zombie Hellhounds drew global eyes.
"What the hell's going on... seriously!"
Ha-rang clawed her hair. Half her life in hero circles, she sniffed the government's ploy to spotlight Seung-hyung. But she itched to sever past grudges, ploy be damned. Beep. Mid-scan results popped on monitor. Life signs held steady.
"They're alive, alive!"
Shin Jin-gwang sighed relief, yelling at another operator. "Notify media now! Heroes alive, Seung-hyung en route to rescue!"
"Yes!"
Then bad news from Guro.
"What?!"
Monitor showed Seung-hyung clutching his heart, vomiting blood. Command held breath. An enemy downed an S-rank in one hit? No... then why? Amid confusion, Shin Jin-gwang regained composure, ordering retreat. "......." Ha-rang kicked open the door. Blazing sunlight scorched her skin. "Nice weather for total chaos."
"Agent Seok Ha-rang! You can't just leave...!"
An operator followed. Beyond the door, red-faced Shin Jin-gwang yelled visibly. "Hey! Scan results?!"
Ha-rang ignored him. Operator glanced between, slyly sending data. "Thanks." Tapping her watch for positions, Ha-rang scowled. Blessed or cursed, all kidnapped heroes clustered same spot.
Yeouido National Assembly.
"...Isn't that the rumored S-rank hideout?"
Prime suspect for sheltering rumored S-rank monster. "Kill that S-rank, and the monster command vanishes!"
Ha-rang closed the screen, mana surging full-body. "Agent Seok Ha-rang! Get back!" Shin Jin-gwang chased outside. Her body already hovered.
"Hey, Minister. One thing you don't seem to know—short version."
Ha-rang swept her hand. Massive ice path formed north to sports complex. "S-ranks have hyper-senses by default, so we got independent op authority on-site?"
"What?!"
Ha-rang stepped onto the ice. "No reason to follow your orders, old man!"
She waved at Shin Jin-gwang, dashing the path. Thud, thud! Each step propelled her dozens of meters. Path ended? Mana forward, reconnecting ice. Snowy trail to Gwanak summit—an ice sorceress overflowing with mana exclusive feat. Ha-rang glanced down. Long rampage scars striped the ridge.
'Flame Demon Dragon's descent path...!'
Seung-hyung one-shotted a demon she'd never faced. Respect as fellow hero, but envy too. Whatever downed him, another S-rank—Snow Flower Princess—must fill the gap.
Whoosh.
"!!"
Blue flames sparked ahead past summit. Screech! Ha-rang channeled mana to her heel, friction-braking precisely at path's end. Black armor cloaking full body. Blue flames rising from eagle-helm.
"Who the hell are you?"
The foe attacked without intro.