Arakhan Subjugation Battle (1)
Beep— beepbeepbeep—.
The alarm blared in my ears.
"Ughhh……."
I reflexively pried my eyelids open.
D-DAY
A ridiculously simple phrase.
There's only one alarm set on my smartphone to begin with.
……Has a week already passed?
Today, the B-rank disaster descends on our neighborhood.
I've finished all the preparations I aimed for.
In the corner, forty-eight Magic Scrolls piled up. Priceless treasures, each one inscribed with my own blood.
And finally, I'd reached 3rd Tier Flame Magic.
I haven't tested it yet, but it promises quite the performance.
The Forbidden Book of Divine Punishment has never let me down.
I passed out the moment I ranked up.
The pain was on another level compared to 1st and 2nd tier.
The sensation of my nails and toenails burning from the inside……
Just recalling it makes me shudder.
But.
"……Ugh, the smell."
The stench from the room had reached unbearable levels. I'd already pushed myself to the brink of death.
Gurgle.
My stomach rumbled like an earthquake.
Guess I'll wash up first. It's a leisurely 5 a.m., plenty of time.
I've done all the prep I can. Now it's just waiting in peak condition.
Creeeak—.
In front of the door sat an appetizing lunchbox.
What the hell is this? From Officer Lee Ye-ji?
Sacrifice my ass. I'm doing this to save my own skin.
Whatever misunderstanding she's got going on. I shook my head and shoveled the food into my mouth.
It was cold but damn tasty.
* * *
Look at this skin damage.
After a refreshing shower, I checked the mirror. The veins that had bulged blue through my skin like they were about to burst had returned to normal.
This is the perk of being a traditional mage. Still, I never want to push myself that hard again.
I really felt like I knocked on hell's gates two or three times.
Even trying to recall exactly what happened during the scroll-making process feels hazy.
Early-onset dementia?
Well, yeah, I overdid it. The elixirs I chugged over the week probably cost over 200 million won.
I never thought I'd actually consume them all.
Even if family and friends betray you, money stays loyal.
Thanks to force-feeding myself top-shelf elixirs from every corp, my mana reserves had doubled.
"Time to rally some hunters, maybe."
I muttered as I fired up the system.
But this time, my destination wasn't Cradle: Mage Gallery.
This was a place I should've hit up first. I posted on the Q&A board right away.
A short post, just in case. To cross-check with Bingbing Girl's intel.
But.
Banned from Q&A Board for 30 days.
Reason: Trolling
"……."
I choked on air.
How can fellow Earthlings be like this?
The other-dimensional mages jumped in barefoot to help, for fuck's sake.
Tsking, I searched "Incheon" on the free board. As expected, a few anxious posts popped up.
I should treat the mages better. Hunter rep's trash compared to mage rep.
Sighing, I started typing a post.
The familiar username popped up right away—guy probably hadn't slept from anxiety. I went to reassure him with a reply.
Banned from Free Board for 30 days.
Reason: Trolling
Am I dreaming? I just blinked in disbelief.
Well, post didn't get deleted, so mission accomplished.
That scrap of hope alone will draw every nearby hunter.
So until then…… more sleep.
* * *
Wheeeen— The siren wailed. This time, not just inside the District Office— the streets overflowed with evacuating civilians.
[This is a drill. Evacuate to the village outskirts immediately. Government inspectors incoming. Comply fully.]
The District Chief gripped the mic, herding them with lies. I watched the staff follow the manual and stepped out front.
"You guys here from the post?"
Eight hunters stood before me, looking ragged.
Pathetic, but this is reality.
A rare few aware of the approaching death. Faces full of anxiety, eyes hollow.
"Is it true what you wrote? You can take Arakhan solo……?"
A man asked. Vicious tattoos on his axe-wielding arm.
I nodded.
"Yeah. Your job's simple."
I handed out the stack of papers from my right hand.
"Place one at each spot the staff marked, then evac with civilians. Help out if you got time."
"Wh-what is this?"
"Talismans I made."
No plans to explain one by one. Predictable backlash.
"T-talismans? You kidding? Lives are at stake! I mustered the guts to show up!"
"Then don't believe me."
"What?"
"Don't, and go die."
The guy raising his voice shrank at my confidence.
"You doing it or not?"
"……."
No answer, but they got it. I distributed the Magic Scrolls.
"Don't approach the papers once placed. Scatter fast and evac. Like flyer duty—no need to stick 'em, just drop at intervals on the ground."
"Y-yes……."
"Go!"
Half-doubting to the end, but the hunters left anyway. Empty District Office and streets.
Alone now, I logged into Cradle.
"……Haha."
Reading it made me chuckle for no reason.
I'd adapted to this madhouse vibe.
No—it's comfortable.
Maybe 'cause these are bonds forged in the extreme, a week from death?
Never thought I'd feel this subtle warmth for faceless, inhuman strangers.
Live long and prosper, huh.
"Ha……."
Maybe the weird weather news hype. March wind still bit cold—no spring yet.
Barren urban sprawl. Used to be cherry blossom festivals, they say.
No budget even for trees.
Everything in sight ash-gray in this pathetic city. Fine dust sky above—
A single black seed began falling.
I watched its leisurely descent alone.
Checked my mana circuits. Flipped the Forbidden Book of Divine Punishment open and shut to soothe nerves. And when the black seed hit asphalt.
Corrosion began. Flowers bloomed brilliantly on mana-stone barren pavement.
Crack—!
A massive tree trunk burst through the underground garage, coiling around apartments.
Tower 30F. Theme: Elf Forest.
That otherworld slowly devoured my hometown, Incheon.
Purple eye-flowered buds bloomed wildly; pure white light poured down.
Wind now carried mana scent.
Ding!
A bell tolled somewhere.
Through the towering foliage surpassing my height, I glimpsed its form.
A monster emitting mystical white light.
You're shitting me. That's a deer?
Sharpened twin antlers, bus-sized body—too terrifying for "hill deer."
Confirming the system alert.
I recalled our pre-planned guide.
—Destroy the forest itself.
So the showdown starts now. Short burst decisive battle, these few seconds.
"Open."
I snapped my fingers. A mana clump at the tip rocketed skyward.
"Release."
With the chant, it tore apart. Into forty-five arrows mid-air.
"Ignite."
The instant each mana arrow hit the prepared scrolls.
Boom—!
The stockpiled 2nd tier flame spells detonated in unison.
Screee—.
Ear-ringing noise, then tinnitus. Intense heat nearby.
Forty-eight fire pillars erupted simultaneously, devouring the sprouting grass and trees.
Pushing back the otherworld invasion, reducing it to ash. The world turned crimson in a flash.
Crackle, crackle.
Branches toppled one by one. Through them, my eyes met Arakhan's blue pupils.
「■■■■■■■■────!!!」
The guardian god's rage shook the air. I grinned before it.
"Come at me, beast."
I'm ready to kill you now.