Piercing the Dream Demon

It felt strange.

It didn't feel like I'd shot a person.

"Wh-what? Huh?"

The moment Seol collapsed, Ollie looked puzzled too.

Clearly, 'ZZZ······' was floating above her head in double layers.

But a powerful energy began surging around her.

"Something's inside! It's coming out!"

I knew that already. I could see it on the screen.

Something was trying to reveal itself.

But by my standards, it wasn't hard to guess.

Dream Demon.

Definitely. That demon from Seol's status window...

- Shwaaaaaaaa...

"!!!"

Thick, dark, blood-red mist was seeping out.

The blood-red mist slowly took shape above Seol's body.

'A-a demon?'

It was a humanoid figure the size of an adult woman, with small horns sprouting from its forehead. Its skin wasn't bright red but a deep pink hue.

- Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Jenny's judgment clouded for a moment; all she could hear was her heartbeat pounding in her ears, her body frozen in tension.

The demon was emitting killing intent that pierced even her barrier little by little.

At that moment,

- Jenny!!! Jenny Gorwell!!!

The Captain's urgent voice barely reached her ears.

Startled, Jenny snapped out of it and finally listened to his orders.

"!!!"

- Return. Right now.

A massive enemy appeared before Jenny.

- Whoooooom!

The spatial distortion noise was far louder than usual.

Following protocol, she ignored the noise entirely and formed the clearest possible distortion point.

"Returning now!"

The distortion point formed behind her back.

Jenny threw her body backward with all her might.

Whoosh! In an instant, she teleported from the dungeon to the shelter.

She sealed the distortion point simultaneously.

Through the closing rift, it sounded like a chilling woman's laughter echoed.

Thud! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Thanks to Rule 1, the shelter-side distortion point landed on the Captain's bed.

She didn't get hurt throwing herself backward.

"Hah! Hah! Hah!" Jenny bolted straight to the operations room. Just as she reached for the door,

Bang! The Captain came looking for her first.

"Safely returned!!!"

"Good. Jenny!"

"I'm fine! But it was an incredibly powerful demon!"

"Yeah."

Ollie and I saw it too.

If we left it like that, we couldn't recover the Power Fragment.

With safety secured, I planned to take it down as best I could.

Now it was time to attack.

The Dream Demon was a female-shaped devil.

From brief observation, it couldn't detach from Seol's body and was scattering unknown energy around.

Unlike other monsters or bosses, it didn't exude violence or overwhelming force.

It seemed utterly uninterested in shooting around, killing people, or destroying civilization.

Instead, it even felt friendly and beautiful. You could mistake it for an ally or an angel at a glance.

Dream Demon.

I knew it lived off dreams and essence. Its very purpose was probably different.

That's why it didn't feel like a boss—seductively eerie instead.

But it was still my enemy to kill.

HP bar full. Worst case.

Felt trickier than Cartibes.

One weakness: it seemed bound(?) to Seol, not fully manifested.

Still, I'd never faced a quasi-constellation rank before.

『Haa... That girl was so good just now. Pure soul. Big vessel too. Baby—where'd you hide? I'll give you great power. Come here.』

The Dream Demon smacked its lips regretfully into the air.

It must've eyed Jenny as a new vessel.

The energy it scattered was probably meant to snag her.

But your target is already by my side now.

- Whoom...

I formed a distortion point as far from the immobile Dream Demon as possible.

No reason to hesitate.

Fired three Untraced shots through the distortion point.

『Hm? Don't attack me. You can't reach me yet. Where are you? I can help you reach me.』

"What the hell?"

No such message during the Cartibes hatchling. Looked like even the genuine Jackal Mask made it tricky to kill like this.

"Can't reach" probably meant rank difference. Physical attacks useless?

Then,

『There you are?!?!』

"!!!"

- Fwoooooosh!

The Dream Demon instantly fired blood-red energy at my distortion point.

"Gasp!"

Tremendous speed.

I dodged as Jenny sealed the point.

On screen, the energy sliced like a laser to the dungeon wall, sucking surroundings into the Dream Demon momentarily.

"Trying to grab and drag me close."

Like clinging to Seol, scheming a new vessel. Really liked Jenny.

"Dream Demon can't detach from Seol! Glued to her body with insane energy!"

Ollie's precise analysis.

Quasi-constellation rank? Normal attacks useless, spots distortion points fast.

'Different.'

No one had sensed my presence before. Even now, sniped from 16x zoom distance.

Tricky foe. Understood what "rank difference" meant.

Repeat a few times, it'll bombard whenever a distortion forms. Can't let that happen.

Immediately after, the Dream Demon started muttering like a madwoman.

『I like your evasion too. What to do. Haaa. Better than Seol. She's pretty but bad-tempered. That girl earlier, you listening? You had power to pierce my curse and sleep through it. Soul so pure.』

"......"

Now even operations room couldn't analyze its power. Stabilizing to true strength gradually.

Chilling.

What if it cared about "destruction"?

『Regrettable. You'll linger in my mind...』

The Dream Demon hesitated to re-enter Seol.

Whatever, back inside and we're done. It eyed Jenny, might pop out anytime.

"Kill it. But chances few. More normals seem pointless. Switch ammo."

"ROGER!"

White bullets no. Unknown effect.

Seol still useful. Source of penalty knowledge, endless info potential.

Can't risk incendiary killing her.

[Ally Setting] off for sleep shot, but unconscious—no [Consent].

Disspell? Ollie's report: no shamanic/magic protection.

Spots distortions, so 1-2 chances max. Need surest attack.

'One way.'

I'm much changed since Cartibes.

"Power Bullet it is."

Quick decision to use new finisher.

Power Fragment holds constellation power.

If rank the issue, this breaks through.

Power Bullets craftable from owned fragments. Time-consuming, but.

Catch Dream Demon, gain another fragment—pure profit.

Consumable skill formed Power Bullet instantly.

Whirr—sniper rifle vibrated faintly, golden glow shimmering over it.

Even I, a layman, felt this ammo different.

『Where are you. Come to me. Pure baby. No regrets. Power, pleasure, unforgettable nights—all yours.』

Ignoring the Dream Demon's hypnotic voice,

"Jenny. Make it way more precise than usual, smaller scale."

"Yes!"

Formed another distortion point.

- Whoom...

Smaller scale, definitely different.

Dream Demon hadn't noticed yet.

Problem: me.

Might sense my presence.

Stealth duration left. Re-enter carefully.

- Swish.

Added [Guidance] skill.

Guaranteed hit.

Only one Power Bullet on hand.

Key: aim so Dream Demon glows green for guidance targeting.

Easy. Just look, right?

『...Hm?』

"!"

Slight body movement, Dream Demon reacted faintly.

『Filthy male presence somewhere...』

Sensed me. Fine.

No need for precision aim. Guidance enough.

『Weak, gutless, pitiful yang energy somewhere. Where's that pure girl? This filthy...』

Target set.

『There!!!!!!』

- Zwoooooom!

"!!!"

Dream Demon pinpointed my position, fired blood-red energy again.

- Bang!

I fired the Power Bullet. Then,

- Zwoooooom!

The Power Bullet cleaved the laser left and right.

As if such resistance was beneath notice.

『???』

Dream Demon exposed through the laser gap.

- Thwack!

『Kaaaaack!』

"......It worked."

Dream Demon's body pierced clean through.

Tssstssst, tssstssst! Golden radiance lingered, sizzling like frying its very existence.

『Aaaack! Aaaaack! Why! Aaaack!』

Dream Demon screamed, groping its pierced body atop Seol's. Golden glow blocked regeneration.

But,

"Ah, damn it."

Power Bullet from trace energy of one Power Fragment.

Didn't expect not one-shot.

Rank barrier higher than thought.

『How dare you! Wielding constellation power?!』

- Chill.

Suddenly, completely different voice.

Dream Demon's form twisted into grotesque blood clump. Seductive exterior gone—hybrid demon-monster.

『I won't forget. I won't forget!』

It fled into Seol like a coward.

- Bang!

Fired Untraced just in case. Precision-guided, hit Dream Demon.

'No message!'

But no damage.

"No damage dealt!"

Ollie confirmed.

Power Bullet blurred rank gap ambiguously. No message, no damage.

『Kyaaaack!』

Aware of attack, Dream Demon screamed, seeping rapidly into Seol.

Lower body vanishing, upper lingered.

'Physical no.'

Attribute ammo: Shadowless, Disspell, White.

Only Disspell safe for Seol—useless.

But not my "bullets," other attributes/concepts possible.

"Not letting you go easy. Pay the Power Bullet toll."

Temporarily, attack concept worked. One more try.

Infused bullet with divine aura,

Imbued with dragon-slaying malice,

Added my exclusive pain concept,

- Bang!

Fired Untraced slathered in every means,

『Keuk! Keuk!』

Hit.

Dream Demon writhed, unable to even groan properly.

『Kaaaaack!!』

- Craaaaaack!

"!!!"

With scream, Dream Demon exploded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠horrific blood-red energy around itself.

Not attack—thrashing agony.

Range too wide, reached my distortion point.

"Tch!"

Returned to shelter, sealed point.

- Boom... Rumble...

On screen, amid dungeon debris cloud, Dream Demon twisted back into Seol barely.

"......"

Watched aftermath long.

Dust settled; only collapsed Seol left. 'ZZZ······' still above head.

Last HP sliver (■) nagged.

Failed to kill Dream Demon.

Tried hard, but only Power Bullet connected.

Still, dragon slayer malice, undead enlightenment, sniper warning—one worked.

That final agonized groan.

"Heh, still effective!"

Ollie, monitoring Seol's status, reported excitedly.

"Huh?"

Hongmaehwa's status window.

Dream Demon dormant inside Seol.

- Tap tap tap...

After long monitoring confirming stability, Jenny crossed to dungeon, approached Seol.

- Pop!

Pulled Power Fragment ring from Seol's finger, pocketed it, returned via distortion magic.

"Success!"

"Wooo!" "Nice shot!"

Gained another Power Fragment.

"We're progressing like this bit by bit, huh. Kim Yu-hee."

"Amazing, Captain!" "Ooo!"

Essentially stolen from Hongmaehwa.

Good news: Dream Demon's curse temporarily halted. Basis to not war with her.

'Next time, say I'll kill the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Dream Demon later, or preemptive strike Hongmaehwa if war looms.'

"Okay! Good work, everyone!"

"Yes!" "ROGER!"

Operations screen showed Hongmaehwa guildmates—plain-clothed woman, muscle monster, blind swordsman, other oddballs—carrying her off somewhere.

Notable: utmost care not to wake her.

"Good. Ignoring for now."

Thus ended the skirmish sparked by contact.

Lingering unease.

'Even my attack power can't touch some existences.'

Power Bullet breached, but.

Without it, I'd tremble from afar, helpless till it re-entered Seol.

"Worrying."

More for humanity than me.

Three days after Dream Demon battle.

No contact or declaration from Hongmaehwa. Sleep effect lingering?

Lifetime sleep not bad. Wake angry? Kill from fear.

Meantime, Bureau emails piled—【Emergency】 prefixed.

Tone panicked near-hysterical.

Quasi-constellation monster appeared, vanished.

'That was my fight, idiots...'

Sent: 『I killed it. Pay up.』

Man who doesn't work unseen/unacknowledged. That's me.

Reply: massive gold prepay, info share request.

"Sigh. Yeah. Should share this."

Still chills. Seductive demon immune to attacks.

Shared with Bureau: normals useless, attributes too, needs power fragment-level force.

Prepare, protect humanity.

Next three days: focused reinforcing "power"-related strength.

"Make two weak Power Bullets or one strong?"

Topic.

[Two Weak Power Bullets] or [One Strong Power Bullet]

Combine two fragments into one, or separate?

Extraction then recreation time-consuming.

Time to spare now. (Hell Gate probe left.)

"Ollie thinks two better! Worst if one-shot fails like before, multiples possible!"

Ollie: weak two.

"B-but. Captain sniper, so one strong better!"

Jenny: strong one.

Both valid. My call.

"One strong."

Sniper skills not burst. Sniper principle: one shot everything. Chains/penetration assist.

Stronger foes demand all-in-one shots. Weak one failed to kill Dream Demon.

Matches 1-day no-reset 'Guidance' best as one-shot-kill.

"Inject both fragments into one! Remake later anyway!"

Ollie started work. Days, maybe week.

Impossible without Ollie's skill.

Later, email.

Read, knew:

"Done. Hongmaehwa fully resolved."

"Ooo." "COPY!"

Sensed fragment fully mine.

Hongmaehwa sent sponsorship too. Signal item.

Proof of ally—perfect.

Good. No hassle.

Eyes opened to:

Birds chirping morning, warm sunlight.

Messy hair, senses still drowsy.

"......!"

Seol 'woke from sleep'.

Grab. Clutched hair with both hands.

First emotion since awakening.

Sunlight not hellfire, birdsong not grinding metal.

Air not stinging, breathing not torment.

Alive.

As living being.

Skin vibrant.

Palm open: human flush.

"!!!"

As awareness returned, guildmates appeared like nurses.

"What happened to me?"

Plain-clothed woman reported events.

Dream Demon's curse stealing sleep, eroding self—【Temporarily Halted】.

System insomnia gone.

Finger's Power Fragment ring too.

- Let you rest.

"......"

Seol huddled, meditated long.

Faint sob-like sound.

Guildmates withdrew.

"Haa......"

Seol lifted head, tears streaming.

Stagger. Rose from bed, dizzy spells, approached hideout wall.

Slash! Dagger nicked palm. Crimson blood trickled.

- Swish. Swaaash.

Drew on wall: more demonic than demon, angelic than angel.

Blood portrait of the absolute.

No name.

He has none.

Seol caressed portrait long, kissed it.

Savior.

Any who touch him—kill all.

With pain worse than world's worst...

End