When Dawn Breaks (3)
Where the shockwave had passed, not even a shadow or a trace of the gingerbread house remained. Just dust scattered in the air.
"…What insane firepower. Are all magical girls like this?"
Yuseolhwa stared at me in disbelief.
"You had to be at least this strong to survive the Great Subjugation."
Back then, anything less meant death.
"A human weapon, through and through."
"What're you saying."
Hero, warrior—plenty of nice words out there, so why human weapon of all things?
Sounds like we're all battle-crazed maniacs.
Thud. Thud.
Then, from the distance, massive footsteps echoed.
Something was approaching.
Each step shook the ground.
"Finally here."
The giant doll.
A colossal puppet the size of a building lumbered into view.
Perched on its shoulder was a witch doll in a black dress and hat.
"Keter, deploy the barrier."
"Yes, miss."
As the doll entered range, Keter began erecting the barrier.
A brilliant golden dome swallowed the entire area.
The witch doll flinched at the sight, then hurled a black orb at Keter.
"Not on my watch."
I kicked the incoming orb away.
It sliced through the air, slammed into a nearby building, and exploded.
"Ready?"
No answer.
I glanced over—Yuseolhwa's face was stiff, her sword-gripping fingers trembling.
She looked tormented. Reliving the last subjugation, maybe.
"Not scared, are you? Or… pissed off?"
I asked with a smirk.
"…Something like that."
Killing intent burned in Yuseolhwa's eyes.
The kind that said she'd cleave it in two right now.
"Well, give it hell."
The words had barely left my mouth when Yuseolhwa charged the giant.
Her twin swords flashed like lightning, slicing into its arm.
I slipped through the opening and drove my fist into its gut.
The giant roared. The thunderous bellow shook nearby buildings.
"Gonna bust my eardrums."
At the same time, the witch's black orbs flew at us.
I rubbed my ringing ears and stepped back.
The orbs detonated, dust billowing everywhere.
As the dirt cleared, something squirming was filling the giant's wound.
Yuseolhwa slashed at it, but the cut regenerated instantly.
"Figures it wouldn't be that easy."
I thought raw power would bulldoze through, but no such luck.
"I'll take the witch. You tie down the giant."
"Got it."
I gave Yuseolhwa's back a light pat.
Acceleration.
I poured every buff into speed alone.
Whoosh—
I leaped toward the witch.
I swung at her position, but she'd vanished.
"Teleport…"
Quick reflexes.
I threw punches once, twice at the witch.
The missed shockwaves pulverized surrounding buildings.
The witch widened the distance and reached toward the giant.
Black threads spilled from her fingertips, strangling its neck. Then the giant's roar intensified.
I breathed fire at the threads.
But the flames passed right through without touching them.
"Intangible magic, huh."
I glanced aside.
The giant, which had been on the ropes, was now pressing Yuseolhwa hard.
Those threads weren't just buffs—they linked them somehow.
'At this rate, Yuseolhwa'll break first.'
This was getting annoying.
No way to sever it from here.
Kyahahahahaha!
The witch cackled at me. A twisted, inhuman sound.
Shadows crept up from the ground.
"Still got more?"
After all that sweeping earlier.
No wonder Yuseolhwa was pissed. How many had it eaten?
I swung my gauntlet's flames, unleashing hell.
The shadows vanished into the blaze.
"Not untouchable."
She kept teleporting at the edge of my range, but I was getting the pattern.
I'd smashed faster puppets than this countless times.
I summoned more flames and charged.
Closed the gap in an instant.
Deep breath. The gauntlet's gem glowed red. Flames enveloped my fist, flickering.
"Die." I slammed it into her solar plexus.
Boom—
Smoke billowed as the witch crashed into a wall.
Time to finish—
"What? Where'd she go?"
The smoke cleared. Nothing there.
Kyahahahahaha!
The eerie laugh echoed from above.
I looked up—shattered witch flesh was reassembling.
"Regeneration too? What a pain."
Beat her till she can't?
But Yuseolhwa was the issue. Post-buff, the giant moved differently. She was holding, but barely.
"Miss."
Keter appeared at my side.
"Yeah?"
"Those two. They're connected."
"Connected how?"
"The instant you critically wounded the witch doll, the giant slowed."
Those black threads.
Not just buffs—a link between them.
"So, keep pounding the witch?"
Keter shook his head.
"When the witch started regenerating, the giant recovered too."
Tricky bastard.
"Then what?"
"Inflict critical wounds simultaneously. It likely won't regenerate then."
Makes perfect sense.
Unless it's some freak without weaknesses.
Hitting them together might be the 'Candy Siblings'' weak point.
"So, just crit the witch again?"
"Yes. Once you do, I'll inform Ms. Yuseolhwa. Focus on the witch."
"Got it. You're on."
I rocketed toward the reassembled witch.
She reacted faster now.
"Quit dodging."
Overclock.
Stack accelerations repeatedly.
For a moment, the world slowed.
Gauntlet flames carved the air, rising in dragon form.
Boom—
Hit.
Fist connected before she could react.
She slammed into the ground amid flames.
This time, to delay regen, I stayed close, hammering explosions nonstop.
Waiting for the giant to take its crit. Keep going.
After that back pat with lingering afterimages, Yuseolhwa's body felt lighter.
She marveled. Such combat prowess, plus high-level buffs.
No wonder they said Great Subjugation magical girls outclassed modern Awakeners.
'Odd…'
Her body was light. Well-rested for days, condition perfect.
But the giant's attacks hit heavier now.
Specifically, after that roar—unnaturally stronger.
It hesitated once, but that was it.
"Damn it."
Yuseolhwa barely dodged the giant's fist.
She climbed its arm, slashing to the shoulder with twin blades.
The roar flung her down.
But no pain.
Something caught her.
A small golden barrier below.
"Remnant's secretary, huh…"
Yuseolhwa landed and reset her stance.
"What's the plan?"
"Found a way to finish that doll."
"You sure?"
"Even if not, no reason not to try."
Yuseolhwa let out a hollow chuckle.
"Fair enough."
She was tiring against the giant's onslaught.
Instinct said she'd lose if it dragged on.
'Remnant's secretary won't suggest nonsense.'
Yuseolhwa eyed Keter, breathing ragged.
"What's the method?"
"Crit the witch and giant simultaneously. Remnant's already started."
Yuseolhwa blinked in disbelief. He'd seen her fight.
"I'm not Remnant. Blocking this monster's all I can manage—crit it?"
Maybe at first.
She could've severed limbs easily then.
Not now.
Wounds barely stuck, and regenerated fast.
Boom—
Explosion from afar.
"Remnant's underway. Can't you?"
Yuseolhwa sighed.
"I'll try. No promises."
"Understood. I'll protect till you're set."
"Fine."
Once.
Exactly once, she had a way.
But using it would break her body.
No more Awakener work.
'…Doesn't matter.'
Yuseolhwa didn't care.
When Dawn Guild fell to that doll. When her members turned to shadows. When Management Bureau rescued her.
Everything in her heart had ended. Nothing left to lose.
Deep breath.
Twin swords spread, eyes locked on the giant's chest.
Power into legs, ready to leap.
Isn't this unsatisfying, like this?
A voice whispered in her ear.
It's not your fault.
It felt like it would embrace her. Absolve all her sins.
Pull her from this hell.
My little lamb.
No need to suffer anymore.
Receive my grace. I'll save you from that hell.
This voice might save her.
Forgive her.
Thoughts bloomed: accept it, skip the technique, everything fixes.
But.
"Don't need it."
Even if divine. Even God's will to save her.
Yuseolhwa needed no salvation.
Only one desire.
Revenge for her guild, even if it ended her.
She charged the giant.
Hwamuseolilhong (花無十日紅)—No flower stays red for ten days.
Yuseolhwa knew.
Time weakened her, unlike old heroes.
She aged. Her final bloom was fading.
So she'd saved it.
For the end—pour everything.
The technique unused in the last subjugation.
Ilseom.
Her blades cleaved the giant's torso perfectly in half.
Before it could roar, the body crumbled.
Then agony cracked through her body.
Recoil from all-out effort. Standing was torture.
Yuseolhwa spat blood and turned.
From the severed giant poured weapons.
Swords, spears, daggers, broken bows, cracked shields.
Countless familiar guild arms.
Traces of their final struggles while devoured. Her unforgivable past.
Yuseolhwa dropped her twin swords to the ground.
She knelt.
"Sorry."
Her voice, unreachable to her guild now, echoed softly through the erosion zone.
"Sorry I couldn't protect you."