Into the Land of Fire
Mount Saint Helens.
It was a volcano in Washington State—the western one, not Washington DC.
Roughly a hundred kilometers south of Seattle.
It had always been famous as an active volcano, but after the first Great Erosion, the name “Land of Fire” was burned into the minds of people across the globe.
— Mister Yu. Did I mishear you?
“You heard correctly.”
“Since I’ve invested in Yeokcheon, I’ll ask.”
“I’ll answer honestly within the limits of what I can say.”
A short silence hung on the other end of the line.
“Are you perhaps bored with life?”
“I have no plans to kill myself.”
“Hah. And yet such a person intends to enter the demonic realm.”
“Have you already forgotten who brought back meaningful results from exploring Dreamland?”
“That place doesn’t turn you into charcoal the instant you step inside, unlike the Land of Fire.”
The Land of Fire.
That was the name of the demonic realm overlapping Mount Saint Helens. The average temperature outside its boundary was seven hundred degrees Celsius—far beyond what any heat-resistant suit could handle. Even players with fire resistance could only endure it for so long. Specialized equipment was mandatory.
— Is there any reason to take such a risk?
“A certain Constellation gave me some information.”
I couldn’t exactly say I knew it from my regression. Instead I sold out Nyx, who was currently perched on my shoulder, nodding off.
“It seems you have no intention of telling me what it is.”
“That’s correct.”
“Are you confident you’ll return alive?”
“If I weren’t, I never would have brought it up.”
“Very well. I’ll spread the rumor through the press.”
“Why involve the media?”
“They say the demonic realm isn’t expanding any further, yet people remain anxious.”
Seattle had become a half-ghost city. The moment the Land of Fire expanded, its residents would be roasted alive. Living an ordinary life beside a fiercely burning demonic realm was no easy task.
“The hero of Paris seeks to assess the danger of the demonic realm… Heh. An article has already been published.”
“Please frame it appropriately.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll soon be called America’s savior.”
Mr. William was a friend who didn’t understand the meaning of the word “appropriately.” Building fame on the scale of the Great Paris Catastrophe would be difficult, but he would handle it his way.
Fame brought twice the annoyance, but it also had its uses, so I didn’t press him further.
— When do you think you’ll be ready?
“I’m going alone, so please arrange it as quickly as possible.”
I wasn’t heading there to conquer the place. At this point in time, erasing the Land of Fire was still impossible.
***
It was simply more convenient to move alone when I wanted to Devour the essence I desired.
“Understood.”
The call ended with a click.
Transportation was settled, but now I had to figure out how to explain this to the guild members…
The image of Jiyoung constantly stressing the importance of teamwork overlapped in my mind, and a wave of exhaustion crashed over me.
* * *
“Have a safe journey, Master!”
“…You’re not upset?”
“If I went, it would be too hot—no, I would only hold you back, Master.”
Jiyoung clapped her hands together and bowed repeatedly, apologizing nonstop.
“Won’t you feel left out if you don’t come along?”
“Nnnnnot at all.”
Jiyoung shook her head so violently I wondered if she had somehow transformed into a helicopter.
You really are…
“The supreme one is naturally a solitary existence. Please go alone.”
“Ping Lei. Since when have I been the supreme one?”
“Since we discussed who is the strongest in the world, your qualifications are more than sufficient.”
The rest of the guild members swiftly averted their eyes from my gaze.
Good grief.
Not a single trustworthy soul among them.
“My fire resistance is too weak to be of any help.”
“No, your sentiment alone is enough.”
Only Youngsu-hyung spoke the truth and apologized.
Sob, sob, sob.
To think my personal popularity amounted to nothing more than this.
Oh dear.
Even you, Goddess!
Truly, there wasn’t a single person—or god—I could trust.
Where had the one who could heal my wounded heart gone?
No choice, then. I would have to enact a special measure.
“While I’m gone, clear one A-rank Gate as a team.”
“Did I hear that correctly?”
“I’m not telling you not to rest. I’m saying earn your keep. You know I don’t interfere as long as you protect what needs protecting.”
Whoa.
Goodness.
To think such military-advisor-sounding words had come out of my mouth. It had to be because my regression point was right after my discharge.
Begone from my body already, you ghost of the army!
“Please take care of things while I’m away, Youngsu-hyung.”
“Everyone is diligent. It will be fine.”
The moment Youngsu-hyung said those words—
“Um, Noona. Where was that famous toy store again?”
“Duncan’s Toy Store. On the first floor of Rockefeller Center…”
Ah.
***
Yes, yes. How very reliable.
Receiving a send-off from guild members who possessed neither blood nor tears, I boarded the private jet and headed for Washington State, home of the demonic realm.
The journey to the Land of Fire was surprisingly peaceful. After disembarking from the jet, I rode in a vehicle prepared by the Rockefeller Foundation.
“There aren’t many cars on the road.”
“A lot of people moved away after the demonic realm appeared.”
The streets were quiet. The wide roads held few vehicles. This was another change brought by the first Great Erosion. If the erosion progressed any further, scenes like this would become everyday life.
After traveling forty kilometers south, the earth began to take on a deep red hue.
“They’ve erected iron fences everywhere.”
“Many civilians came out of curiosity about the demonic realm.”
“Just looking at it is quite the spectacle.”
Some abandoned their beloved homes, while others bet their lives on the claim that the demonic realm would not expand and came to watch. An ironic situation indeed.
When we were roughly a kilometer from the Land of Fire, a checkpoint built between the fences blocked our path.
“Stop. Stop right there.”
“We’re from the Goldmoon Guild.”
“Entry is permitted only for Platinum-rank or higher.”
“This is the Savior of Paris, Mister Yu.”
“Ah—oh!”
“The Savior of Paris himself!”
“My son is a huge fan. Could I trouble you for an autograph?”
As the guards approached the window, the driver gave an awkward chuckle.
“I’m fine. No need to worry about me.”
This was exactly why fame was exhausting. Still, fame was a form of power. Nothing to be done about it. Even I weakened when someone mentioned their son.
“What should I write?”
“‘Grow up bravely,’ if you would.”
I scribbled a signature and the message on the paper.
“Pass!”
The massive iron gate blocking the road slid open on both sides. The vehicle continued forward before gradually slowing to a stop.
The road two hundred meters ahead had been melted beyond recognition by extreme heat. A sign on the roadside read: [Land of Fire begins 100 meters ahead. Approach strictly prohibited.]
“This is as far as I can take you.”
“Thank you for your service.”
“When should I return to pick you up?”
“Come at noon three days from now. If I’m not here, wait at the same time the following day.”
“Understood.”
The vehicle made a U-turn and drove away. The scorching air already tried to suck the moisture from my skin.
***
With Mount Saint Helens at its center, a fifty-kilometer radius in every direction had been reduced to this state. The area was several times larger than Seoul—perhaps comparable to Gyeonggi Province? I couldn’t recall the exact figures.
“I only need to head for the center.”
“That’s correct.”
True Dragon Armor
Scales covered my entire body as I walked along the melted road.
Sizzle!
Acrid smoke rose from every footprint.
Scorching air seeps into every breath.
I hadn’t even entered the demonic realm yet, but the blistering heat greeted me right from the outskirts. An ordinary person would have scorched their throat simply by breathing.
“Then I’m heading in.”
I pretended not to hear Nyx’s grumbling and stepped into the Land of Fire.
* * *
Crackling flames rise like mirages. The smoke is thick with toxins—inhaling it will poison you.
Crackling flames rose like heat haze. Occasionally, plumes of smoke thick with toxic particles surged upward; breathing them in would cause immediate poisoning. If hell existed, this had to be it. The Land of Fire greeted visiting players with a scorching welcome from the very entrance.
“This much is nothing.”
Ah.
Comfortable.
Heat? How hot could it possibly be? Nothing here could pierce True Dragon Armor. The toxic gas was the same. After remodeling my body with the Giant Divine Dragon’s Factor, most respiratory poisons no longer affected me. After all, these were the same lungs that could spew a dragon’s breath.
“If you’re suspicious, why don’t you manifest and see for yourself?”
“It’s not that you simply dislike the heat?”
Should I tell her my honest thoughts, or should I sugarcoat it a little?
***
Perhaps I should give her a multiple-choice option.
“That would have been an express ticket straight to the afterlife.”
The Land of Fire hadn’t earned its reputation as a demonic realm for nothing. Until I understood the situation in the area, I couldn’t move at full speed. That was why I ran at a moderate pace without deploying Dragon’s Wings.
“The head visible atop that hill over there.”
Call it good luck. A perfect example monster had revealed itself.
A humanoid monster with a bald head clad in blazing armor. A translucent skull emblem floated above its head.
“Grrraaarrk.”
The Burning Soldier that met my eyes let out a phlegmy growl. More soldiers began emerging from the hill one after another. Despite their sluggish movements, their reinforcement speed was astonishing.
“No. This is actually quite fortunate.”
“That skull count. The more there are, the more annoying it gets.”
Unlike Dreamland, the Land of Fire didn’t offer many essences worth taking. Even if you scoured an area the size of Gyeonggi Province, you would only encounter these burning bald friends. The number of skulls indicated the scale of the unit.
One skull: battalion scale—100 to 1,000.
Two skulls: regiment scale—1,000 to 10,000.
Three skulls: division scale—10,000 to 100,000.
Well… the rest didn’t need explaining.
“Five at the absolute maximum.”
A million-strong force was something I didn’t even want to imagine. Fortunately, unless the third erosion occurred, I would never have to face five skulls.
I spread Dragon’s Wings, which I could now deploy without activating the skill.
“The Giant Divine Dragon name carries its weight.”
Each wing exceeded five meters; together they spanned more than ten. I leaped while flapping them powerfully and simultaneously deployed Thunder Wings.
Dozens of lightning bolts erupted from the enlarged wings. The Burning Soldiers were skewered by the yellow lightning and reduced to ash without the slightest resistance.
“The soldiers’ strength scales with their numbers.”
Battalion scale equals early Gold rank.
Regiment scale equals max-level Gold.
Division scale equals early Platinum.
***
Anything beyond that…
“Even a division of ninety thousand would be too much.”
If I encountered four skulls, I would have to flee by any means necessary. I had said five wouldn’t appear, but four occasionally did. Once you fought Burning Soldiers, you immediately became the target of the entire battalion. Their deployment range was wide, and once battle began it was difficult to shake them off. Since the scale of any encountered force was unpredictable, luck was essential.
“Worrying in advance won’t change anything, so let’s go with the prayer meta.”
But first, I had work to do.
Shadow Dominion
Devour
My elongated shadow swept across the ashes, consuming the soldiers’ remains.