The Galactic Empire Strikes, The Dragon King Squadron Defeated
“What the hell is that! What is it!” The Association President bit his nails, badgering the control room staff. But the operators were just as panicked.
“We can only assume it’s a space battleship. An incredibly massive one, at that…”
“A space battleship? It’s still further out than the moon’s orbit—how can you see a space battleship with the naked eye!”
Bang! The Association President slammed his fist against the control panel.
“Even if you say that, sir…”
The President couldn't believe his eyes, even looking at the screen. The space battleship that the formidable Dark Kingdom had been constructing in space as their ultimate weapon had been huge, too—about the size of a district in Seoul. The damage it would have caused if it had attacked Earth was unimaginable. The Dragon King Squadron had managed to stop it before it was completed, and things had worked out well. But this? This was something beyond all common sense.
Calculating by distance, the size of that oval, planet-like battleship was at least that of the moon. It looked to be about a quarter the size of Earth. And it was clearly approaching.
What if it was a ship belonging to monsters hostile to Earth, just like the Dark Kingdom? Could the Dragon King Squadron alone stop it?
“Summon the Dragon King Squadron, now!” The Association President shrieked, his hysteria peaking. He thought of the wealth and status he had built, symbolized by the Association building. He refused to believe that anything in this world could threaten that.
“Zeo, you said an evil organization called the Galactic Empire was coming.”
“Yeah.” I answered Irua’s question calmly.
“They have a space battleship that big—isn’t that dangerous?”
“It’s dangerous. Far more than the Dark Kingdom.”
“Then what do we do? Can the heroes stop them? You’re not even there.”
“They won’t be able to stop them.”
“Haa. You talk like it’s someone else’s problem…”
“It’s fine for now. For a month, at least.”
“Doesn’t that mean it’ll be a problem in a month?”
“Hmm.” I turned to look at Irua and asked, “Lua, if I ordered you to fight the Galactic Empire, would you do it?”
“Me, fight the Galactic Empire? That’s…” Irua looked terrified. It was no wonder, considering the trauma the Dark Kingdom had inflicted on the entire world.
“Of course, that’s a hero’s job. It’s not happening right now, so think about it slowly.”
“Okay.”
“But it would be a problem if the Dragon King Squadron died in the first battle. My revenge isn’t finished yet.”
That said, I had no intention of helping those bitches. If they were lucky enough to survive and had any sense, they’d train or find strong new members to fight. I didn’t think they were capable of it, though.
“I don’t intend to sit idly by against the Galactic Empire. I have a plan.”
“Really?”
“First, I need several talented people.”
“What kind of ability users do you need?”
“Haha. Abilities aren’t necessary. Recruit some excellent actors.”
“Actors?”
I smiled at Irua and replied, “They’re needed for the resurrection of the Red Dragon.”
“A space battleship? That thing?” Ji Se-hwa furrowed her brow.
“What are you talking about? Information control isn’t even possible, is it? Damn it, you can see it just by looking up! It’s coming here!” Bang, Ji Se-hwa slammed the table.
“That’s why I’m asking. You guys, are you sure you definitely defeated the Dark Kingdom? Isn’t that the Dark Kingdom resurrected?” The Association President asked in an anxious tone.
“Cut the bullshit, you son of a bitch! You saw our helmet records!”
“Umm…” As Ji Se-hwa bluffed, the Association President averted his gaze and turned his head.
“Is the culprit not even identified? Could it be a new evil organization…?” Shin Yu-kyung’s voice trembled as she spoke.
“Hey, Choi Min-seo. Do you know anything?” Ji Se-hwa asked. But Choi Min-seo didn’t answer, staring blankly into the air.
“Choi Min-seo!”
“Ah, yes?”
“Where are you looking!”
“I-I’m sorry. I don’t have any idea either…” Choi Min-seo pulled her neck in like a turtle.
“We have no choice but to prepare.” Kang Ye-rin interjected. “Everyone, you haven’t trained once since defeating the Dark Kingdom, have you? We need to start training now and recruit strong heroes to prepare.”
“Didn’t I say the deal was already done for the new Red?” The Association President scoffed and rebuked her.
“That’s just an idol brought in to gain popularity. She was originally a B-class hero. That’s not enough. We need to select and scout S-class and A-class heroes from all over the world.”
“Huh? The contract is already finished. We’re just adjusting the schedule because of the world tour.”
“She’s just a hindrance to teamwork. Cut her.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Do you know how much the penalty for breach of contract with the agency is? She’s not an Association hero! And heroes from all over the world? Do you know how complicated contracts with overseas associations are?”
“That damn contract. The Dark Kingdom was an evil organization threatening the whole world, too. But because of those high-and-mighty associations and treaties, the heroes had to fight separately. Even the Dragon King Squadron didn’t receive any support from other countries just because they were an S-squad!”
“If we had received that, it would be those big-nosed bastards in this seat, not me! Kang Ye-rin, your father is a member of the National Assembly, don’t you know that? I protected you from the clutches of other countries!” The Association President screamed.
Kang Ye-rin wasn’t unaware of that. Nation, race, ideology. Even with a common enemy, they could never unite. Even in the moment of destruction, the world would never join forces as one.
“It hasn’t even been confirmed that that space battleship is an evil organization yet, has it? When that time comes…”
“It will be too late by then.” Kang Ye-rin asserted. When the enemy is right in front of you, it’s already too late. Therefore, we must look one step ahead and hone ourselves. Jung Ui-seok always said that and practiced it.
“Hey. It looks like it’s already too late.” Ji Se-hwa was staring at her terminal with a serious expression.
Everyone in the room took out their terminals and looked at the holographic screens.
“…Damn it.” The Association President ground his teeth.
“Aaah, aaaaaah.”
“Uaaaaah! Run away!!”
“Save me!!”
People were fleeing in total chaos. In front of them was a massive crater, as if a meteorite had fallen. It was a place where countless people had been breathing and living just a moment ago. Several blocks had been completely vaporized. Those who witnessed the scene collapsed in shock or ran blindly in the opposite direction.
The monster standing in the center of the crater had too much dignity to be called a monster. He was five meters tall. The armor covering his entire body was made of an unknown material, glowing with nuclear fusion in parts. His eyes emitted a subtle, piercing light. A noble cape fluttered behind him. It was obvious to anyone that the monster who had just descended from space had created this crater.
It was the moment the leader of the Galactic Empire, ‘Emperor Ractor,’ set foot on Earth.
The priest-like executive watching the scene from the ship was only worried. “How could His Imperial Majesty step onto such a lowly star without an escort for his noble body? My anxiety is piercing the heavens.”
“You, who are always holed up in your office, do not know the nobility of a duel! Watch His Majesty’s great conquest!”
“Since His Majesty has arrived, quickly use the communication means of these primitive species.”
Following the orders of the executives, the subordinate monsters moved. Then, the appearance of the Emperor began to be broadcast live all over the world.
“I am Ractor, the son of the great At, Emperor of the Galactic Empire Laniakea.”
A low, abyssal voice that felt like it would make one faint just by hearing it echoed out.
“I have come to this small, remote star personally for no other reason. I desire a duel. I have spent my whole life searching for a brave, strong person who can bring me defeat.”
Aura erupted from his fist. Galaxy-colored aura that seemed to pierce the stratosphere.
“I have heard rumors. Dark Arthur, the leader of the Dark Kingdom Apocamelot. I thought I could have a good duel with him. I heard that Apocamelot was advancing into space, so I thought that day was not far off. However!”
The Emperor spread his arms, holding the aura. Ku-kwa-kwa-kwang! Another crater formed next to him.
“Dark Arthur is dead! I heard that the warrior who defeated him is on this star. I desire it! Bring that warrior before me! I have no doubt that he will provide me with a blood-boiling duel!”
Mechs flew in from the sky at high speed. The Dragon King Squadron descended from them and landed inside the crater.
“You trilobite bastard! Where do you think you are to be causing such a scene!” Ji Se-hwa pointed her Leviathan Saber at the Emperor and cursed him out.
“Ho-ho, so it is you. You look just as I heard. Are you the Dragon King Squadron!”
“Tch. News travels fast.” Kang Ye-rin clicked her tongue.
“Blue, Silver, Yellow, Green. Hmm? No Red. Well, that’s fine. Great warriors! I look forward to the best duel!” The Emperor wrapped his hands in aura. He intended to fight with his bare fists.
“The size of that aura…”
“No time to take it easy. We’re going full power immediately.” At Shin Yu-kyung’s words, everyone nodded. The four of them dove in.
“Five Lights, Moon Light Mirror!”
“Leviathan, Ocean Slash!”
“Nose-torm, Clock Out!”
“Quetzalcoatl, Nature Power!”
Each of them immediately unleashed the power of the dragon and used their finishing moves. The Dragon King Squadron struck the Emperor with all their might. The Emperor, who was about to counter immediately, felt something strange for a moment and stopped his fist.
“Haaaaaaat!”
“Die, you cockroach bastard!”
The Emperor tilted his head. He looked at the four people rushing at him in turn.
‘Are they mocking me?’
For the Emperor, it was absurd. He was a man who had spent his whole life searching for the greatest strongman to defeat him. He had traveled the entire universe his whole life in search of a brave warrior who would make his heart burn and cause a Big Bang in his galaxy. Empire, Emperor—those were just byproducts of that pursuit. And yet, he had come all the way to this remote area. What on earth were these things? These insects.
Crunch! The Emperor grabbed Shin Yu-kyung and Ji Se-hwa by the throat with both hands.
“Kuk!”
“Aack!”
Their faces turned blue as oxygen was cut off. Kwa-aaaang!! The Emperor slammed them into the ground with a suplex. Shin Yu-kyung and Ji Se-hwa coughed up blood.
“What…!” Kang Ye-rin and Choi Min-seo were startled, but only for a moment. Before they knew it, the Emperor grabbed their heads too and Ku-ung! smashed them together like breaking eggs. Helmets shattered.
“Don’t play games.” The Emperor said in a voice of genuine disappointment. “You defeated Dark Arthur? What kind of nonsense is that.”
“U, uuuu.” Shin Yu-kyung realized it with that one blow. This was on a different dimension. Fear. The fear she had become accustomed to once before engulfed her body again. Shin Yu-kyung didn’t even realize that her lower body had become damp from incontinence.
“Bring him before me quickly. The warrior who defeated Dark Arthur.”
Step, step. Ji Se-hwa felt as if her neck were caught in a guillotine. The sound of those footsteps sounded only like the pulley of a rope raising a guillotine.
“N, no!”
“What do you mean?”
“I, it’s not us! The one who defeated Dark Arthur!”
“Humm?”
“Dark Arthur was defeated by the Red Dragon! By Jung Ui-seok!!”
Ji Se-hwa shouted that because she valued her life. And that shout was broadcast to the entire world by the Galactic Empire, which was live-streaming the scene.
『Dark Arthur was defeated by the Red Dragon! By Jung Ui-seok!!』
“Puhaha.” Hearing Ji Se-hwa’s desperate voice, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Heh, hehehehe.” Se-hwa had a cute side to her from before. Even though she lived with curses on her lips and was a delinquent on the outside. Deep down, she was a soft-hearted kid. She was so scared she couldn’t even watch horror movies, she liked cats, and she was a novice at dating—when she got a confession from a crew junior, she didn’t know what to do and came to me for advice. Emperor Ractor must have been very scary. I understand that feeling, Se-hwa. Well. I’m still not going to help, though.