The Raid of Morgan and Eridanus, Heroes and Villains Converge

Through the data, I understood exactly what that device was.

"It was an ability extractor."

"Hmm."

Rena used a secondary monitor to check the device's blueprints. "The Dark Kingdom really made something interesting. A machine that allows monsters to absorb the abilities of human superhumans."

"Interesting? Does this look interesting to you, Rena?"

"I don't know what happened, but don't get angry at me. You're aiming at the wrong target."

She wasn't wrong. I had let myself get worked up. Shin Yookyung, that damn bitch. To think she caused all that chaos just because she was obsessed with an object that wasn't even an enhancement device.

"It makes sense now why there were so many corpses at the scene. The Dark Kingdom wouldn't have bothered to separate superhumans from non-superhumans before shoving them into the machine. The civilians must have all died because they couldn't withstand it."

"The extracted abilities were transmitted to the machine on the other side. It seems they were then distributed to the monsters of the Dark Kingdom. Unfortunately, we won't be able to use it. It seems to require a special energy, like mana or something."

"After we defeated Bedivides, the number of high-ranking combatants dropped noticeably. The Dark Kingdom was creating high-ranking combatants using abilities extracted from human superhumans."

It was all in the past, but the causality was clear. On one hand, I felt a little relieved. At least I found evidence that Somi didn't die in agonizing pain. It must have been in the blink of an eye. Her body would have been atomized in an instant, and only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her ability would have been transmitted to the base where Dark Arthur was, through some kind of mana path.

"Wait. Then that's a bit strange."

Somi's ability was the Rainbow Serpent, Yurung. In mythology, it is a creator-class dragon that lives in rivers and brings rain to create lakes and mountains. When she was active as a hero, she preferred using firearms. She said it was easier to imbue custom bullets with the power of the rainbow. But I had never seen the Dark Kingdom's monsters use that ability since then. Of course, neither had Dark Arthur. Did they convert it into stats and distribute it?

"Or does it mean there's more to the story than I know?"

I took everything I could from the wreckage of the Dark Kingdom. It was safe to say there was no more information to gather. No, I should end this matter here. I don't have time to dwell on the past forever. More importantly, finding the whereabouts of the escaped Choi Minseo and Shin Yookyung is the priority. Even the Association hasn't been able to track them down. Rather than leaving dangerous variables that are hard to control, I intend to dispose of them and use them as experience points for Vengeance.

As for Ji Sehwa and Kang Yerin, it's better to leave them as long as they are heroes belonging to the Association. It's better for the balance if we reap the benefits of defeating the Galactic Empire while leaving the cleanup to the hero scum. Of course, that's a story that won't matter once the S-Squad War progresses, the Villain Alliance is integrated, and I get my hands on Washington.

"You're having wicked thoughts again, aren't you?"

"Isn't that what villains always do?"

"Well said. That was a compliment. Don't forget the debt you owe me, either. Interest is piling up every day, so keep that in mind."

"What's the interest rate?"

"It's a variable rate."

"You're impossible."

Rena let out a devilish laugh. As she did, Lua walked into the hideout. She looked quite exhausted, covered in sweat.

"Lua?"

"I'm back, Zeo."

Lua greeted me in a calm voice.

"Are you not going to pick a fight with me today?"

"What am I, a fighting dog? I know my place."

"That's a surprise."

Lua glared at Rena. "...Once I become stronger than Rena, I'll pick all the fights I want."

It was then that Deep Dive projected a video onto the main hall monitor.

"Zeoo. Something big is heree."

We all checked it. The screen was split in two. One showed a building that looked like an offshore drilling rig. The other was in the city.

"Two of them?"

"Yes. There are two."

Zoom in. It's the one at sea. A female monster executive who looked like a wolf-beastman, the Saintess Eridanus, was leading a swarm of high-ranking combatants in an attack.

"Do you know where that is, Zeo?"

"It's the underwater prison."

It was the underwater prison in the East Sea, where SSS-class villains had been transferred from the US just a short while ago. Why attack that place of all places? There are many talents there who could become my subordinates, so they're being quite a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nuisance.

The other side. The city was in Seoul. Seeing the executive who had dropped there, I made a judgment without a moment's hesitation.

"Rena, Lua. Take your subordinates and head to the underwater prison. Defeat Eridanus and take the villains as your subordinates. Execute anyone who refuses immediately."

"What about Zeo?"

"I'm going to have a one-on-one duel with that one."

I pointed at the executive in the city. Large horns rising from both sides of her head. A mesmerizing face. Her hollow eyes seemed to be looking right at me through the camera. Morgan. I had to meet her.

"...I see. I was lying to myself."

Ji Sehwa confirmed once again how stupid she was. Her subconscious had been telling her that the Dragon King Squad was precious, but she had ignored it. She had thought that only the S-Squad title and the perks that came with it were everything. Under a flimsy pretext, she had betrayed Jung Uiseok, who stood in the way of that. In fact, that Jung Uiseok was practically the entirety of the Dragon King Squad.

"I was scared."

Ji Sehwa hated Han Somi. It was annoying that she was the only one with a clear head even when everyone was exhausted from the battle with the Dark Kingdom, and that she had skills second only to Jung Uiseok. On top of that, because she occupied the space next to Jung Uiseok, she felt like a freeloader living in Jung Uiseok and Han Somi's house. Even so, she didn't hate her as much as she hated Choi Minseo. She did recognize her as an ally. That was why she was terrified that Jung Uiseok would find out the truth after that incident. Because he surely wouldn't forgive her. That was why she thought she had been more inclined to accept the Association President's proposal.

"...It's all meaningless."

Realizing it was far too late. She couldn't make Jung Uiseok submit to convey these feelings, and the stage for an apology had already passed.

"He said... he would kill me."

Fear swept through her entire body. Ji Sehwa hugged her own shoulders. He was a person who always kept his word once he said it out loud. Right now, he was just keeping her alive to hurt her more.

"I don't want to, I don't want to. I don't want to die by his hand."

Pain is familiar. She doesn't feel guilt toward anyone. But if the opponent is Jung Uiseok. This situation where he truly hates her was too agonizing.

"What... should I do, what do I do..."

Ji Sehwa trembled as she raised her right hand. She stared at the fingernails that had barely grown back. And slowly, she brought her mechanical left fingers to it and gripped them. As she increased the pressure little by little, snap. Red blood began to seep out.

"Oppa, what do I do...? Uiseok oppa..."

Drip. The fragile fingernail couldn't hold out and shattered, and red flesh began to show underneath.