Bryunak's Fury
Gabriel clenched her fist around the orb of light forming above her hand.
Crackle, crackle—!
The sparks swirling around her scattered in an instant. Soon, a holy spear boasting a pristine white shaft revealed itself.
Its five-pronged tip gleamed sharp enough to pierce anything.
Originally, this spear had a different owner—the god of light from Celtic mythology.
But Gabriel wielded it simply because she liked it.
No one complained.
A constellation's status depended on fame.
Gabriel was a top-tier constellation known to all.
With the spear in her grasp, vitality and holy power surged through her body. She felt an omnipotent rush, like she could do anything.
Just as Gabriel flashed a faint smile and kicked off the ground—
……?
A strange sense of dissonance enveloped her.
A similar scene, the same companions, flickered like an illusion.
- There is no time to rest, not even for a moment. Salvation from destruction—I cannot waste a single second. Don't command me, you human.
In the vision, Gabriel spoke in a stiff tone. She rushed forward relentlessly, as if chased by something, never pausing. She cleaved through monsters and swung her spear.
What the hell.
Gabriel's delicate brows furrowed.
The figure looked exactly like her,
but the words coming out were from someone entirely different.
Her life's motto was live and enjoy.
It had never changed.
So what was that Gabriel?
Especially her dismissive attitude toward her master—it was shocking.
A mere human? Is she sane? I'd smack her upside the head.
It's gone.
The hazy vision faded. Lucifer, who had been watching her closely, spoke up.
"No way, you saw it too?"
"You too…?"
"That… Never mind. We'll talk later."
Her master and the Blue Dragon stared at her oddly. Her master asked with concern.
"You okay? Side effect from your exclusive weapon?"
"Nah. Hmm… Guess I read too many comics."
Gabriel brushed it off and looked up.
"I'll show you my power. Blue Dragon, where's the Black Mist King's fortress?"
"Ah, one moment."
The Blue Dragon checked the map and pointed in one direction.
"That way."
"Okay."
Gabriel pulled her spear hand back. Tap, ta-tap. She took a running start and hurled it straight ahead.
A light motion, but—
Whoooosh—!
Wind exploded around her. Holy power trailed from the spear like a meteor's tail.
It sliced through the black mist and flew through the air.
The spear's target: the Black Mist King's fortress.
Through the parting fog, the fortress came into faint view.
The spear was already a mere speck.
The distance was immense.
Yet it struck the fortress dead-on.
A small puff of dust rose,
and the entire structure began to crumble.
Rumble, ruuumble…
Like a sandcastle collapsing.
The Black Mist King's long-enduring fortress shattered meaninglessly.
And that wasn't the end.
Kabooom!
Gabriel's holy power erupted like a pillar of light, piercing the heavens. A devastating blow that eradicated even the surviving forces.
"…Whoa."
Too far away for it to feel real. But the system messages confirmed it.
Five Lieutenants Defeated 3 / 5
A few constellations are satisfied with the destructive power.
The constellation 'Otherworld Discipline' is in awe.
The constellation 'Fierce Flame' nods in approval.
"…Looks like the Black Mist King survived."
Gabriel raised one hand. The light gathering at her fingertips reformed into a spear.
"This time, I'll finish him off."
Gabriel said it with deadly seriousness.
"One of the five lieutenants has been defeated."
"The wild boar Gruk? That guy…?"
In the pitch-black egg chamber.
A man draped in ashen fur sat cross-legged on his throne.
The Black Mist King.
He was the absolute tyrant ruling this world. The one who had walked the path beyond humanity, dyeing the entire world in death.
Now, the world was practically in his grasp.
But one of his cherished lieutenants, the wild boar Gruk, was dead.
A weapon capable of reducing a city to ashes single-handedly. One body slam from him could collapse even a massive castle.
"The resistance bugs shouldn't have the power for that. Do they have a hidden card?"
Discomfort was evident on the Black Mist King's face. His subordinate shook his head.
"No, my lord. It's confirmed to be the work of outsiders."
"Tch, outsiders…"
That's what they called beings from other dimensions. But most were insignificant, swept in by dimensional currents.
"Send all the five lieutenants to eliminate them. Or four now, whatever. Better to cut out annoying buds early."
Once they were gone, no humans would block his path. Dominion over humanity was near.
I abandoned being human for this day.
Embracing monstrous power, he was now more monster than man. But he'd gained commensurate strength.
His soldiers walked the same path beyond humanity. They devoured human flesh, drank blood, and claimed entrails.
But the Black Mist King didn't hesitate for power.
If he could seize this world.
From the System…
But the thought didn't continue.
No, power…
What was the point of ruling this world?
Why had he forsaken humanity and wrought this massacre to reach here?
He couldn't quite remember.
But it didn't matter.
He would take it all.
Recalling that blind goal made everything feel fine.
"My king, the unit stationed below the cliff zone reports an attack."
"Did they strike first? How many forces?"
The resistance had likely joined them.
This could be their all-out assault.
The subordinate spoke cautiously.
"Th-that is… The report says four."
"Four?"
The Black Mist King let out a hollow laugh.
"They think four can break through my army?"
Insanity. His monsterfied soldiers were several times stronger than ordinary humans.
Four couldn't breach them all.
The subordinate glanced nervously and continued.
"Y-yes… But their abilities are extraordinary. They seem to control the weather. Floods and lightning are sweeping our soldiers away."
"Mages, huh."
The Black Mist King rose and walked to the window. Far off, through cleared black mist, he saw it.
"If mages, engage in close combat. Have the five lieutenants set out yet?"
"Yes, all but one have already departed."
"Good, as fast as possi—"
His words cut off.
A white flash appeared in his peripheral vision. A beam of light hurtling straight for the fortress.
In that instant, instinct screamed to dodge.
Too late.
Kaboom—!
A massive shock rocked the entire fortress. Cracks spiderwebbed across it, sections collapsing in sequence.
"Argh! Wh-what the—!"
The subordinate screamed.
The Black Mist King's eyes shook. His gaze locked on the spear embedded in the fortress.
From that distance… With a single spear, they targeted the castle?
And the power was unbelievable.
Ruuumble—!
The fortress collapsed. Dust billowed, the ground sank with massive debris.
"!"
It wasn't over.
The following light explosion reduced the entire fortress to powder.
Gabriel hurled the spear repeatedly.
Even after three throws, the Black Mist King didn't die. Gabriel lowered her spear in resignation.
"…He escaped."
Too far for precision hits unless direct.
Anyway, he was the SSS-rank gate's boss.
"I'll head down first and soften them up."
Gabriel leaped off the cliff. Kaboom! Flashes of light surged repeatedly, the earth quaking violently.
She bulldozed through the soldiers like a tank. One ground roll upheaved the terrain, burying them in a landslide.
The spear split into five prongs, stabbing the ground and erupting into pillars of light that turned the surroundings to ash.
She pushed forward alone like a tank.
Many constellations are awestruck by the apostle's prowess.
The constellation 'Master of the Black Star' is pleased.
"With an exclusive weapon, she outputs at Myth-level. Can't wait to see how much stronger you'll both get at Myth-rank apostles."
The Blue Dragon said this as he wrapped clouds around me—a technique to slow descent.
"Master, I'm itching too."
Lucifer grabbed his black spear and jumped off the cliff. I followed with the Blue Dragon.
I bit into a white bread bun.
Hunger hits way faster than before.
Using her exclusive weapon intensified Gabriel's hunger.
Meant massive energy consumption.
After clearing the gate, I'd stock up properly on white bread.
Cheon Iryeong the hunter went to learn baking… Should be fine.
Heard she went to France.
Felt a bit bad sending her alone.
Soon as she returns, have Lucifer or Gabriel teach her new skills.
"What the hell are you guys?!"
"This power shouldn't be possible…"
"Gahhh!"
Soldiers swarmed endlessly even as they fell.
Boom! Kaboom!
Black magic beams from Lucifer on the left.
Gabriel's bombardment on the right.
A storm from the Blue Dragon head-on.
"I am one of the Black Mist King's five lieutenants—"
Bam—!
A massive soldier appeared, only to fly from Gabriel's kick. He slammed into a wall and slumped. His helmet rolled off.
Under it, a human-monster hybrid. All soldiers here were like that.
Don't care about gate internals, but…
What were they after, going this far?
What was so great about world domination?
I didn't know.
But something feels off.
This was a ruined world already.
Per the Blue Dragon, a fragment of a System-captured world, reconstructed.
Meaning our world could end up like this?
If we can't stop the System… Will it be like this?
My thoughts didn't linger.
Shooo—
Suddenly, the sky darkened. Thick black mist descended in moments.
Kaboom—!
Something landed heavily. Gabriel immediately stabbed her spear into the ground. Whoosh. Surging holy power blew the black mist away.
In the cleared spot stood a ragged man.
Among SSS-rank gate monsters, he boasted the highest level. Soldiers froze as he appeared.
Silence blanketed the area.
Instinct told me.
Black Mist King.
This was him.
"What are you…"
The Black Mist King asked, suppressing rage. His state was wrecked—clothes torn and charred, fur pelt nearly gone.
"What's your goal? Outsiders like you, why interfere with me?"
His eyes glowed red. His face twisted grotesquely. No point in talk.
To clear the gate, we had to kill him.
Yet I answered.
"Just as you seek to rule this world, I seek only to end you. That's it."
"Oh, Master."
Lucifer turned, surprised by my words.
Did I overdo the dramatic flair?
For some reason, the robe amps up my tone.
But the Black Mist King said something odd.
"Are you emissaries from the Ruler?"
"Ruler?"
"I haven't breached your covenants. I haven't peered into Chaos or the Abyss. So why now…!"
Come to think of it, a system message after killing that monster bird.
The Rulers of Chaos and the Abyss take note of your existence.
I glanced at the apostles—they all averted their eyes.
"Ahem."
"Ehem."
Info restriction, probably.
Sa Choiheon might tell me.
"I won't give up. I'll kill you and claim this world!"
Black mist rose from the roaring Black Mist King. Soldiers panicked and fled.
"R-run!"
"The king unleashes true black mist!"
"Get away!"
Kaaaa—!
The black mist swirled madly.
"Tch."
I raised a hand to shield my face. Fierce winds howled. To use Instant Death, now—right before he vanished—was the chance.
Slap.
Gabriel placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Master, let me."
Step, step.
Gabriel ignored the black vortex and advanced on the Black Mist King. Her next move was simple.
Crack!
A light jab.
But effective.
Whoosh—!
The gathered mist scattered instantly. The Black Mist King's stunned face emerged.
"Wha—!"
Pow-pow!
Gabriel's combo shook his head. He tried summoning black mist desperately, but—
Crack!
Each solid punch from Gabriel dispersed it effortlessly.
"A specter of a failed world."
Crack, crack!
"Can't block Master's path."
Crack—!
Her right fist sank into his gut. He spewed blood and collapsed.
"Gahk—!"
On the ground, disbelief twisted his face.
"I… I'm the strongest in this world… Surely…"
Overwhelming difference.
No chance to resist.
Nearby soldiers froze mid-escape.
The Black Mist King glared murderously up at Gabriel.
"I am the pinnacle of this world. Why me…"
Stab—!
Gabriel impassively plunged her spear before him.
"I'm the strongest among my friends too."
With that, a pillar of light erupted.
Kaaaa—!
It obliterated everything it touched.
The Black Mist King turned to ash and scattered.
Black Mist King Defeated 1 / 1
"Th-the Black Mist King is down…!"
"R-run! We can't win!"
"Everyone, retreat!"
Soldiers who witnessed his end fled in terror.
"You idiots, avenge the king!"
"Win here, and the throne's mine."
"Kahaha! Fools, the battle isn't over!"
But three of the five lieutenants hadn't given up. They slaughtered fleeing soldiers and charged with their elites.
And the result?
Our victory, naturally.
All clear conditions achieved.
Clear rank: 'Myth'.
"It's over."
The Blue Dragon looked around. Corpses of monster soldiers everywhere. Not a pleasant sight.
Still, relief from clearing it.
"Pfft, this gate from that proxy? Nothing special."
"Perfect warm-up."
Took half a day maybe. Insanely fast—S-rank gates usually take a week to two. Abnormal speed.
Grrrrowl.
"Ugh, so hungry."
Hunger making my stomach stick to my back.
Saved one white bread, holding out.
No point eating now that combat's done.
"I'll prep a meal right away when we return. Or here? Didn't expect it to end this quick."
"Nah, let's eat back home."
No need to eat in the gate. Hate chowing down amid corpses.
"What'll it be?"
"Chicken for me. Pizza too."
"I prefer fish dishes."
"Didn't ask you lot."
The apostles headed one by one to the exit gate.
I looked up at the cliff.
Did this cleared gate world persist?
Unknown, but without the Black Mist King, the resistance would breathe easier.
Live better than before.
"…Hero!"
As I moved to exit—
"Hero! Thank you!"
"Truly, thank you!"
"Hero! We'll remember you forever!"
People on the cliff waved flags and shouted.
Told them not to come, but they did anyway.
"…"
I gave a light wave and stepped through the gate.
SSS-rank gate cleared.
Rewards distributed based on clear rank.
Many constellations take interest in your exploits.
A few constellations express awe at your strength.
Shiiiine—!
The outer shell around the Apocalypse+ reward began to glow.
Time to check the real reward.