The Three-Way Clash: Villain, Hero, and Monster

"Haa. This place is truly disgusting. Why on earth did I have to come to a dump like this?" Saint Eridanus let out a deep, weary sigh.

The iron structure built atop the sea was a slaughterhouse. The high-ranking combatants were tearing the humans inside the plant to shreds. "You damn Galactic Empire monsters! How dare you invade this place! I'll kill every last one of you!"

A hero appeared before her. A respectable SSS-rank, he was the warden of this East Sea underwater prison. As he lunged at Eridanus, a red high-ranking combatant stepped in to intercept him. The battle began. The hero seemed to be gaining the upper hand little by little.

"Such loyalty, trying to protect your master. How touching. May the Goddess's blessing be upon you." Eridanus approached the wounded high-ranking combatant and let the holy robes wrapping her body slide down. The hero hesitated for a moment, stunned by her lewd, captivating figure. Eridanus clung to the combatant like a spider, embracing him. A light descended upon the combatant. Instantly, his wounds healed, his frame grew massive, and his appearance became hideously enhanced.

"W-what is this? You damn whore!" The hero lunged at the combatant again, but the creature effortlessly caught the hero's fist and crushed it instantly. Without a shred of hesitation, it drove its arm through the hero's chest. In its hand, it held a beating heart. "Gah... ugh..." The hero couldn't even manage a proper scream before he perished. The combatant tossed the corpse aside and shook its head—no, it was no longer a high-ranking combatant. It was a Super-ranking Combatant.

Eridanus approached the Super-ranking Combatant with a satisfied expression and licked its chest. "You've become magnificent. I think you'll be my partner for today. Take good care of me." The Super-ranking Combatant nodded, scooped Eridanus up, and placed her on its shoulder. Following her lead, the other combatants continued their massacre.

"I don't know why that paper is so important. There are so many fine specimens down here, aren't there? Well then, shall we advance?" Eridanus pointed her finger downward. The combatants began to tear through the floor toward the basement. And above their heads, the wind began to stir. A mecha passed by, momentarily blocking out the sun. Two figures fell from it.

"Transform!"

The two heroes landed before Eridanus. Kang Yerin and Ji Sehwa immediately began to eliminate the monsters. "What is that thing! Is she an exhibitionist?!"

"Sehwa, let's target the officers first!"

Kang Yerin and Ji Sehwa charged at Eridanus. The Super-ranking Combatant countered, but the duo's combination was formidable. Ji Sehwa's sword and Kang Yerin's knuckles sharply tore through the combatant's body. "Oh my. You two are quite good. Your colors have changed a bit, but were you the warriors who fought the gladiator? Then I suppose I should show some courtesy."

Eridanus hopped off the combatant's shoulder and, in a flash, struck Ji Sehwa's upper body with her long, slender leg. "Ugh, she's fast...! And put some clothes on down there, you psychopath!"

"Such foul language. What is your name, dear? I am Saint Eridanus. I serve His Majesty the Emperor while spreading the Goddess's protection."

"A 'Saint'? More like a 'Sinner'! Why the hell are you fighting like this!"

"Hoho. Martial arts are a basic requirement for a Saint of the Empire... you know!" Eridanus stepped lightly on Ji Sehwa's sword and unleashed a kick like a missile. The disadvantage continued. They had assumed she was a support type like Cancer, but that had been a mistake. Kang Yerin was busy dealing with the Super-ranking Combatant. The other combatants continued their demolition work. Down below were the world's most dangerous villains. The result of them escaping was obvious. Kang Yerin wanted to prevent that at all costs, but she was reaching her limit.

Just then.

"Primordial, Zwei."

Zing—! BOOM!

The Galactic Empire's combatants condensed and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then exploded, sent flying. Kang Yerin and Ji Sehwa turned their heads. Two women were landing gracefully, utilizing their abilities. Ji Sehwa ground her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠teeth at the sight of her. "Dark Matter...!" Her titanium left arm was aching. Kang Yerin recognized them as well. "El Lena. Why is the Villain Alliance here?"

Lena unfolded her fan, looking displeased as she surveyed the area. "No matter how many times I see it, I can't get used to this filthy stench. Hey, you monster-thing that looks like a dog."

"...Are you calling me right now?" Eridanus turned to Lena, abandoning Ji Sehwa, her face twisted in rage.

"Who else would I be talking to? Listen, the children down there belong to us. Where do you get off coming here and causing a scene without knowing your place?"

"Inferior species are all the same. It's fine. Once you are liberated from your primitive flesh and only your soul remains, the Goddess will surely forgive you."

"How fortunate. I, however, have no intention of forgiving you. 'Come forth, skewers'."

As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soon as she finished speaking, five spears erupted from the floor, piercing Eridanus's body. She was caught off guard by the surprise attack but calmly wiped the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blood from her lips. "Lena, do as planned."

Irua scolded Lena. Lena snapped her fan shut. "Will you be alright?"

"We need to control the SSS-rank villains right now. Only you can do that."

"Understood. Hey, Irua, don't get hurt."

Lena used her Word Magic to soften the floor and descended directly into the basement. Irua watched the hole with a sour expression. "...What are you doing, revealing your real name, you idiot."

Ji Sehwa gripped her saber tight as she watched Irua. This was her chance. If Dark Matter was isolated like this, she could have her revenge for her left arm. Then, Kang Yerin called out to her. "Sehwa, let's set priorities. Vengeance is a target, of course, but the Galactic Empire is more urgent right now. See the transformation device? Nameless said he'd show the grade information at all times."

Ji Sehwa knew that. She checked the holographic screen. "Dark Matter is T1. You can take her out anytime now, Sehwa. On the other hand, Eridanus is..."

"T4. Stronger than Pegasus."

"See? Don't waste your energy for nothing."

Ji Sehwa ground her teeth. Eridanus recovered from her wounds in an instant and charged. A sonic boom echoed. The Super-ranking Combatant matched her movements. Irua used dark matter to crush the joints, slowing them down. Kang Yerin didn't miss the opening, landing a solid hit on Eridanus. *'Damn it. Even so, I have to cooperate with these villains? And it's Dark Matter, of all people? I want to cut that bitch's arm off right now...!'*

Dark Matter and Georgius. Ji Sehwa harbored a deep hatred for them. Even while fighting the Super-ranking Combatant, she couldn't take her eyes off Irua. And as the battle continued, the loud sound of helicopters began to reach them.

Media helicopters were swarming. Kang Yerin was puzzled. The location of this underwater prison was top-secret. She hadn't called the press. She looked at Ji Sehwa, but she seemed equally clueless. Then who? Had the Villain Alliance pulled a trick? Just then, black lightning began to strike from above their heads.

"Ugh, this is!"

"Get out of the way!"

Ji Sehwa and Kang Yerin dodged. Irua tried to evade as well, but the black lightning persistently targeted her. "Argh!" Finally, one struck Irua. Her entire body was crushed under immense pressure, and she collapsed, suffering the agony of bones being pulverized.

"Haha, ahahahaha! Yes, this is it!!"

Kang Yerin and Ji Sehwa looked up toward the laughter. It was a familiar voice. The figure landed gracefully on the plant. Shin Yukyung, wearing an eyepatch over one eye and with machinery forcibly grafted onto her entire body, stood proudly with a wide, manic smile.

"Yukyung?" Kang Yerin called her name. Shin Yukyung smirked and manipulated something on her left arm. A quantum cannon fired toward the fallen Irua. "Ugh!" Irua rolled quickly to dodge. She clutched her stomach in pain and began to run. "I won't let you get away!"

Shin Yukyung wore a demonic expression. Kang Yerin stopped her. "Wait a minute! What happened to you! Your body is a mess! And that ability—"

"First aid. It's nothing. Oh, this?" Shin Yukyung held up her left arm. Several expansion slots were attached to her transformation device. Every slot was equipped with an item. Five of them. "With this, I can kill everyone."

Seeing the madness in Shin Yukyung's eyes, Kang Yerin felt a sense of danger. "Wait. Please calm down. The Galactic Empire is more urgent right now. And the media..."

"If I have the pad, the Galactic Empire is no problem. Of course I called the media. I have to show the whole world a live broadcast of me smashing Vengeance!"

"Wait—"

Before Kang Yerin could stop her, Shin Yukyung took off, chasing after Irua. She looked back at Eridanus. Eridanus had climbed a high spire with the Super-ranking Combatant and was drawing something like a magic circle. A sense of dread, a bad premonition, kept washing over Kang Yerin.

***

I arrived at the scene, jumped off the airship, and landed. The creature was walking alone, without even a single combatant. It didn't bother to catch and kill the fleeing humans; it simply carried death in its stride, corroding everything in its vicinity. I called out to it.

"Morgan."

Morgan looked down at me as if I were beneath contempt and cracked her whip. "You heard wrong from the Red Dragon. I am Warden Ursula. You're Georgius, aren't you? Let's see if you're a man worthy of His Majesty."

As she said that, Morgan gave me a slight wink. It was a hand signal that monsters didn't know.