Chapter 98
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Supernova
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'Hmm...'
Arms stretched straight up, legs spread wide. It felt as comfortable as my A-grade bed at home.
Lying back relaxed in the prison cell, I gazed out through the bars.
Even after all that chaos, the demihumans outside just kept watching me—they didn't dare open the cell door and come in. One of them was even the guy who'd dragged Yuderg here. Familiar face.
They didn't spare a glance at their frozen-solid comrade who couldn't move a muscle.
Talk about some real tear-jerking camaraderie.
'They'll swarm in soon enough.'
The one controlling them must have noticed by now.
A demihuman got attacked, and the ones outside witnessed it firsthand, so the alarm should've gone off.
The incoming horde? Just mix light and water in the golden ratio and blast 'em. The real worry was something else.
'How to deal with the summoner—or black sorcerer, whatever they are.'
Honestly, I was a little tense.
But worried? Nah.
I've got Blue Eye, after all.
"Captain..."
Fred called out softly.
His voice, thick with fear, cut right through my thoughts.
Me? I'm a firefighter Holy Knight from the land of propriety and manners.
I gave the cellblock veterans another polite bow.
"Serves you right."
I already knew Yuderg's condition, and Fred and Requiya didn't look too banged up.
Mana mostly scattered and eyes turned into raccoon masks aside.
"Fred's one thing, but Requiya, what's up with your eyes?"
"It's not just mana—these shackles suppress traits too."
Requiya glanced at his wrists as he spoke. Meaning he couldn't tap into his demonic perks like self-healing. Yeah, I get it.
Requiya asked,
"Captain, how'd you manage it? Did you use your power?"
It just worked? Lame answer.
"Holy Knight perks."
I'm a sneaky Holy Knight with killer snap judgment.
I tilted my head toward the shackles.
Frost had crusted white over my restraints.
"Ahh— as expected of the captain. You saw it coming and prepared."
"Something like that."
The Insight Ability had warned me the second the shackles touched my wrists.
Like when you piss in winter and your heart skips—shivers.
I instinctively froze my wrists on that signal.
That's why I only used my legs to take down the demihuman.
Requiya let out a relieved sigh and asked,
"What now? My intel was short—they had these underlings I didn't know about."
"Yeah. Happens. Even the world's smartest can't know everything. That's why you can't prepare for it all or stop every accident—."
Which is why we need pros who can respond on the spot, as my esteemed chairman always preached for better firefighter.
—"So don't beat yourself up. Surviving's what matters."
"Who said that?"
The chairman I respect.
"Not important right now."
Fred cut in.
I shut my mouth and nodded. Yeah, other priorities.
"They didn't have goons like this before. Just weaklings and women. But lately? Unknown muscle showing up. Turns out they were powerhouses even as humans. Should've listened to Captain Crook. My fault. And I ignored Requiya wanting to tag along with you—."
"Enough. Water under the bridge. Let's focus on getting out."
This guy's a riot.
Says priorities matter, then wallows in self-blame.
"Sigh— got it."
Fred looked deflated.
I got where he was coming from, but blaming in a crisis? Loser move.
Right?
Fix the mess first, sort fault later.
Survival trumps all.
"First, let's ditch these."
I melted my wrists with Magma's Power.
The icy barrier that'd shielded me thawed, and the shackles kicked in, suppressing my strength. Divine Power, weak force, oh my, even vitality...
Ooh, neat. Black magic, huh?
Black magic or black sugar, doesn't matter—ain't nothing gonna faze me.
Cold water trickled down my arms, snapping me alert.
I twisted my thawed wrists, slotted the key, and unlocked the shackles. Could've blasted them with Magma heat, but humans use tools, yeah? My exes said I was sexiest with gadgets.
I stepped between Requiya and Fred.
Their suppressors linked to chains from the stone walls.
"I command thee—."
Craaaack!
I summoned frost, flash-freezing the chains.
"Hup—!"
I smashed the frozen chains with my fist.
Boom!
Faster than melting with Magma.
I shrugged at Fred's stunned face.
"Not the shackles' power. Not the chains either. Evil flows from the walls."
Might not matter to Fred, but knowledge is power, as they say.
"Ah, right. Wondered why you didn't use the key on yours—must've been my ugly mug... "
Fred whined, uncharacteristically.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Fred shook his head fast.
What a drip this old man's turning into.
"Restrictions lifted."
"Yeah."
Smashed Requiya's chains, unlocked Yuderg's with the key.
Not pity for the one-armed guy.
Just felt right.
'Sigh. Dumb bastard, poor bastard. Tough fate.'
Requiya, who'd freed his leg shackles himself, was already rattling the bars.
"Black magic on the bars too."
"Smash 'em."
Sure enough, rusty, crumbling bars—but grabbing them sapped my strength.
"Same curse as the shackles."
"Seems so."
"Step back."
Shackles or bars, obstacles to shatter either way.
Not here to analyze.
"I command thee—the fire birthed in the earth's heart—."
No such incantation exists.
Just rambling to invoke Magma's Power—straight from my mouth, not my brain.
Why chant fake spells?
'Looks cool.'
Thought about my Holy Knight identity and public image...
Style's what matters most for a Holy Knight.
Whoosh!
Rusty bars glowed orange.
Molten drool dripped from the top, bars melting down.
Looked like bars to me, but a barrier dividing space for demihumans.
Rooooar!
Late reaction confirmed it.
"Souls that were once human—."
Sizzle!
"—Pitiful souls—."
Left hand water, right hand light.
Left down, right up.
Then swap and mix.
Groooar!
Flesh and bone melted on hot metal, stinking up the place.
Stench turned black mist, regenerating their gooey skin.
The instant they stepped in, a tiny bomb formed in my palm.
Bomb spun wild on X, Y, Z axes.
White light mixed with gray glow.
Supernova.
Yeah, perfect name.
Supernova forged from waves of purification.
I spread my hands molding the orb—it stretched long.
Hands absorbing it glowed faint blue.
"—I grant you rest."
Pow-pow-pow!
Fists hammered demihuman foreheads, chests, faces.
Black magic infesting them? Useless against purification waves.
Experienced it already.
Water wrapped their exteriors, light pierced insides.
Done.
Prison guards just shed black wisps, frozen still.
Then met the end Creator ordained for supernovas.
Pffft.
Demihumans vanished quietly.
As if never there.
Requiya and Fred, supporting Yuderg, eyed me warily.
Complicated feelings plain on their faces.
No hard feelings.
Pitiful, but not mad enough to curse.
"Let's go."
Stepping out, I scanned the demihuman corpses.
Pity, but no sympathy. Don't know what that means? Point is, no hugging and "life sucks" pats.
"Holy Knight Kalruk prays: May you find rest."
Chanting cringey lines felt reverent, not embarrassing.
Lately, memories blurring—feels like I'm becoming someone else.
"Captain..."
Requiya hesitated.
"Back the way we came, fast."
"Got it."
He replied glumly to my firm tone.
What was I thinking, acting disappointed in him?
Not sorry, but his downcast vibe bugged me.
Originally, I planned to help Requiya, aid his revenge.
He'd been loyal, devoted.
What'd I done for him...?
As I blankly eyed corpses, Requiya, who'd been watching me, spoke.
"You saved me twice. Don't waste your energy."
Demonic talent?
Acted like he read my mind.
Lifted my mood a bit.
Resumed walking.
"They'll chase us quick if we bolt like this?"
Now Fred's whining.
"Yeah. So we hunker down and wait for black magic to eat us?"
Again.
Fred just asking if I had a plan.
Are Holy Knights grumpy by nature?
Bigger vessel for divinity means chattier gets annoying.
Hate spelling out thoughts.
Frustrating to share plans ahead.
Can't you just figure it out? Grumpiness reared up.
Is that why Luke was so quiet?
"Sorry, captain. Spoke out of turn."
I'm good at apologies.
To my people, at least.
Not 'cause I'm wrong—'cause I value them, the bond.
Hate them uncomfortable in my space, so I apologize first.
But now Fred bowed first.
Sigh. Not like that.
Stopped, deep breath.
"They've got home advantage. Black magic everywhere—hard to fight loose. Loginin and Ibu coming. Less than a day. No clue how many minions that devil's got, but more allies the better."
"Understood."
I never apologized.
Just focused suppressing supernova-ready emotions.