Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The World After the Prologue (5)
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“How’s this pl…”
Just as Yeomyeong was about to ask something, a brash voice cut him off.
“You worthless lizard that can’t even cough up phlegm! Die!!”
Along with the crude curse, two automatic rifles spat fire at once.
Tutu-tutu-tutu!!!
Bullets glowing with pure white light pierced the darkness and rained down on the dragon. It was less aimed shooting and more like wild spraying.
But the target was a dragon as massive as several trucks stacked together, and the bullets hammered its entire body without fail.
Krraaah!!
They said holy mana was the ultimate counter to undead. And it was true.
Each time a gleaming bullet embedded in the dragon’s bones, the mana emanating from it visibly weakened.
Block it! Block that filthy thing!
The dragon, tormented by the bullets, shrieked like a banshee, and the zombies battling Kim Mansu all charged at the gunner in unison.
Zombies tripped over each other and trampled one another to death. But even more flung themselves toward the bullets than those that fell.
“Tch, should’ve brought a magic wand or something.”
Seeing the zombies swarm in an instant, the gunner tossed his empty magazine to the ground and vanished into something transparent.
The zombies, suddenly losing their target, milled about in confusion, spinning in place or freezing still.
A brief standoff ensued. And that short window was exactly what the dragon had been waiting for.
Barely gathering the mana scattered by the explosion, the dragon shook its wings and tail, rising from its spot.
One who wields this much holiness hides behind an invisibility cloak? How vulgar.
Rage boiled deep in Kahal Magdu’s chest. His leisurely tone vanished, replaced by eerie flames flickering from his maw.
Let’s see how long you can hide!
Right after, an enormous amount of mana began gathering in its mouth—far more than any spell it had shown so far.
Gooo—
The signature dragon attack: Breath.
Sensing the immense power, Yeomyeong tried to pull back as fast as he could. Or at least, he tried.
As he turned to flee, urgent footsteps reached his ears.
Footsteps circling wide to avoid the zombies.
The next moment, Yeomyeong gritted his teeth and launched himself toward the sound.
Though invisible to the eye, something soft yielded as he reached into the empty air where the footsteps came from.
“Kyaa!?”
The transparent body in his grasp stiffened. Yeomyeong scooped her under his arm and unleashed all his mana to leap from the ground.
Kwaaaa!!!
Moments later, blue flames poured onto where he’d stood.
A hair’s breadth escape. His retreating back burned hot, and the stench of singed hair stung his nose.
The gunner under his arm shouted something, but the roar of the flames drowned it out.
After sprinting far enough to escape the dragon’s sight,
“Hey, you…! You lunatic! Where are you grabbing!?”
The gunner thrashed and yelled. Her voice held more panic than anger.
Yeomyeong released her without fuss. Just as lightly as he’d snatched her.
Unprepared for the sudden drop, she landed butt-first with a thud. The transparent cloth draping her slipped down slightly.
Peeking from beneath the translucent veil was a girl about Seti’s age.
Snow-white skin, even longer and whiter straight hair, a straight nose, slender jaw, and a thick blindfold over her eyes.
Noble and mysterious, like a statue on display in a temple… but
With just her head floating in midair, it was hard to appreciate the beauty. Yeomyeong gave a wry smile.
“You, you…!”
“…Thanks for the save? Don’t mention it.”
“No, that’s not…!”
He couldn’t tell how she saw with the blindfold, but she alternated glances between the scorched forest and Yeomyeong, her lips trembling.
“…Tch, fair enough.”
“…”
“Thanks for the save, th-tha… What thanks? I saved you first! We’re even!”
Yeomyeong’s eyebrow arched long, followed by a brief silence. As it stretched, Kim Mansu arrived following the zombies and gaped.
“Saintess?”
Saintess? Her?
Yeomyeong frowned at the unexpected word. The saintess he knew was the previous one… a kindly, grandmotherly figure.
Seeing his expression, the saintess started to raise her voice, but a rumble of falling trees echoed from afar.
The sound of the dragon regathering mana after unleashing its flames.
“Ugh, seriously, not even a minute’s breather.”
The saintess sprang up and extended a hand from beneath the invisibility cloak.
Kim Mansu recoiled at the sight of her floating head and hand, but she ignored him entirely and addressed Yeomyeong.
“Hand over your sword and palms.”
“Huh?”
“No time. Now.”
As Yeomyeong cautiously extended both hands, light burst from hers. Warm, gentle mana.
She seized his hands and poured in her mana. It flowed up his arms, softly filling his body.
First, the torn blood vessels from aftereffects realigned.
Then, his fatigued heart and muscles regained vigor, and finally, his depleted mana welled up anew.
His first healing spell ever.
Yeomyeong blinked in a daze, and the saintess sighed deeply.
“What the hell have you been doing to your body to end up like this?”
“…”
“Ugh, seriously! Even with blessings, three minutes is the limit at this rate.”
She glared at him through her blindfold, then pointed at the dragon scanning for them.
“Now I’m granting you Lord Redox’s Blessing. It lasts three minutes max. I’ll cover you, so rip that thing’s heart out in those three minutes. Fail, and we two…”
She glanced at Kim Mansu, then added,
“…No, all three of us die. Got it?”
Yeomyeong nodded. The next instant, her mana turned red.
Unlike the twisted dark-red mana of the shepherds, this was pure crimson.
As Yeomyeong admired the hue, the saintess began her prayer.
“Red God who governs all strife and war, your warrior beseeches you. Here and now, a fighter in need of your power stands before you…”
As her prayer progressed, the faintly glowing mana swelled larger and larger.
The light, smaller than a flashlight at first, covered his palm, then his entire body.
And the next moment.
Flash!
The dragon’s gaze snapped to the sudden crimson beam shooting skyward.
Beyond the forest scorched by its breath, its blue-flamed eye sockets twisted upon spotting three humans.
A saintess? This wasn’t in the contract.
Grumbling irritably, it flicked a claw.
At the signal, the zombies that survived the breath charged toward them en masse.
I don’t fancy working overtime, but a job’s a job.
As the dragon growled, Yeomyeong gripped his red-tinged sword and charged.
***
“I’ll cover you, so ignore the zombies and run!”
The moment Yeomyeong kicked off the ground, the saintess drew her automatic rifle from beneath the cloak again.
Gunfire echoed through the conifers, followed by the wails of falling zombies.
Yeomyeong did as told. He spared the oncoming zombies not even a glance, sprinting straight for the dragon.
He unleashed the Fluttering Step of Flying Leg Art. Overlaid Wave Yang Art for acceleration, pumped his heart, and finally coated himself in the alien mana coursing through his body.
Divine mana, or holy power as it was called.
The saintess’s blessing pushed his flesh beyond its limits.
His whole-body meridians and heart, teetering on the edge, burst free of restraints and throbbed wildly. Battle lust filled the void left by fear.
To deny the dragon time, Yeomyeong accelerated further. Layering speed on speed, crimson mana trailed behind him like a comet’s tail.
Hwaaaak!
The distance closed in a blink. Quick and decisive. That was all Yeomyeong thought of.
It’s been ages since I felt a proper full-body blessing.
The instant he reached the dragon’s snout, he shifted the acceleration into his shoulder and swung.
The dragon’s mana arrayed in anticipation of the clash. A translucent barrier rose between them.
Clang!
The barrier couldn’t withstand the speed-infused strike. It cracked and shattered, spewing mana shards.
In that split second, ice spikes rained from above the barrier. Yeomyeong kicked off it and accelerated again.
But Earthling, how long will that blessing last? One minute? Three? Even a saintess can’t sustain it forever.
The dragon unleashed spell after spell. Lightning and ice spikes endlessly obstructed his path.
The magic missed Yeomyeong but slowed his advance. And that was the dragon’s aim.
As Yeomyeong faltered briefly, the dragon spread its wings and took to the sky.
Whether some spell coated its skeletal wings, a few flaps carried it higher than the conifers.
To fight a dragon, you should’ve brought a helicopter. Think these wings are for show?
Kahal Magdu sneered at Yeomyeong and opened its maw. A breath far weaker than before swept broadly across the ground.
What? Yeomyeong frowned, dodging the blue flames.
Moments later, gazing at the burning conifer woods, he realized the dragon’s intent.
The flames had encircled the area beneath the dragon’s feet in a ring of conifers.
Yes—its goal was simply to burn every tree that could serve as a launch point.
As I said, you’re green.
Like a demon from hell, the dragon cackled amid burning trees and smoke.
The laugh of one certain of victory. Certain his foe couldn’t harm him with a sword.
Gazing down leisurely, it gathered mana. A massive magic circle formed above its head, whipping the conifers into a frenzy with wind.
Shall we end this game now?
But the next moment, Kim Mansu shouted toward Yeomyeong.
“Newbie!!”
He hefted a massive felled conifer and charged at the dragon and Yeomyeong.
No explanation needed. Realizing its purpose, Yeomyeong veered instantly toward Kim Mansu.
“Step and climb!!”
Face flushed red, Kim Mansu hurled the conifer into the air. A throw channeling a superhuman’s full strength.
Yeomyeong leaped without missing a beat.
Mana surged like a tidal wave into his legs, using the airborne tree as a springboard to soar higher.
But the next instant.
Good idea. But…
Seeing Yeomyeong fly at it, Kahal Magdu raised a claw, fingers curled in a circle.
Can’t change stance midair? Means nothing.
Snap! The dragon flicked toward Yeomyeong. He swung reflexively, but this time it wasn’t alone.
Fragments from the bike the saintess had exploded earlier. Countless metal shards pelted him like a fragmentation grenade.
Brutally simple, yet brutally effective. Impossible to deflect every tiny piece from midair.
Puk—
One shard pierced Yeomyeong’s right shoulder. Severing nerves, his grip slackened.
Yeomyeong dropped his sword.
Lucky.
The dragon snapped again. The final shard pierced him, and he plummeted from his ascent.
Yeomyeong gritted his teeth. Fifty seconds left on the blessing—not enough to leap again.
Is this the end?
Without vengeance, after sudden misfortune and a ridiculous foe.
Ending like this?
Unacceptable. He refused to accept it.
Mid-fall, Yeomyeong poured all mana into his heart, boosting blood and mana to his brain.
Thought accelerated, reality slowed.
In that fleeting moment, Yeomyeong recalled the strongest human he’d seen.
Phrea Khan.
Could the holy sword overcome this? Swordless, wingless, plummeting… what would she do?
‘Fly the heavens on her holy sword and sever the dragon’s neck.’
Pointless fancy. He wasn’t chosen by the holy sword, couldn’t fly.
All he had: Wave Yang Art, Flying Leg Art, and the Comet Sword… its true meaning unrealized.
Then, a line surfaced in his mind.
When starlight overflows, it ignores left and right.
Unconsciously, Yeomyeong’s left hand moved. Grasping the blue dagger cherished in his bosom. Phrea Khan’s secret treasure.
“When starlight overflows…”
No starlight, but the saintess’s holy power overflowed within him. Red blessing gathered in the relic.
“Ignores left and right.”
Right hand useless, but left remained. He assumed the Comet Sword stance with it.
Was this its true meaning? Correct interpretation? Unknown.
But one thing certain: no other answer.
Yeomyeong swung.
Gathering all senses, the blade cleaved air. Holy blessing blazed in place of starlight.
The light from his left dagger…
This swordsmanship, could it be?
Became a long-tailed comet. The dragon reflexively arrayed mana at the red starlight, but the sword aura was faster.
Craaaack—!
The incomplete barrier shattered. The intense starlight pierced straight through, impaling the dragon’s chest.
Krraaaaaah!
Red light stretched between the dragon’s pierced ribs. Kahal Magdu clutched its chest and plummeted.
Kuuung! The ground heaved from its massive frame, scorched trees and stones quaking.
***
“Newbie! Nice one!!”
Kim Mansu, catching Yeomyeong’s fall, cheered at the dragon’s plunge.
But the joy was short-lived as Yeomyeong panted,
“Not… over… yet.”
“What?”
“Missed… the heart…”
As he said, the crashed dragon rose again. Amid the dust on its chest, one rib clattered free.
Yeomyeong’s strike had only severed a single rib, not the heart.
Comet Sword, is it.
Despite the lost rib, the flames in its sockets blazed several times fiercer.
Earthling guided by the stars. You’ve earned my respect. I promise not to revive your corpse as undead.
So declaring, Kahal Magdu gaped its maw.
Mana converged, and a terrifying breath flickered once more.
Flames inescapable even for blessingless Yeomyeong, or Kim Mansu.
Now die.
Sensing death, Kim Mansu squeezed his eyes shut. But no matter how long he waited, no scorching heat came.
…What?
Peeking, he saw the dragon had clamped its mouth and stared beyond the conifers. Exhausted Yeomyeong’s gaze followed.
Soon, a familiar sound reached Kim Mansu’s ears.
Dududududu!!
Helicopter rotors. Reinforcements from the Manchu base.
Reinforcements from Manchu base already? Pathetic. Couldn’t even hold that off?
Snorting, the dragon addressed Kim Mansu and Yeomyeong.
Fortunate, Earthlings. I look forward to meeting again in a more fitting place.
With that, Kahal Magdu flapped hard and ascended. Frantic wingbeats.
How that colossal body managed it was a mystery, but it vanished skyward in moments.
As mysteriously in retreat as in arrival.
“…Why’s it running?”
Kim Mansu muttered blankly, watching the dragon fade into night’s darkness.
Answering was the saintess, having swept away zombies and approached.
“That backwater lizard’s a mercenary. No loyalty for all-out war with a nation.”
Hearing her, Kim Mansu collapsed to the ground, legs giving out.
Yeomyeong, in his arms, sprawled likewise.
Aftereffects squeezing his heart and unleashed fatigue drained his body.
Not a regeneration issue. He’d ache like death tonight.
‘…Survived. Good enough.’
Yeomyeong closed his eyes, intending to pass out. But the saintess suddenly poured healing light into his head.
“No need… for healing.”
Despite his words, she continued.
Eventually, somewhat recovered, Yeomyeong forced his eyes open. In his vision floated the saintess’s frowning head.
“Get up.”
“…”
“Reporters are coming soon.”
“…Reporters? So?”
“You want me facing them alone? They need to snap you too.”
She hauled him up forcibly. Thanks to the healing, he stood shakily on trembling legs.
“They’ll swarm since word’s out about the saintess. Bet one of those choppers is packed with press.”
“…”
Yeomyeong didn’t hide his what-do-you-want-me-to-do expression. The saintess pouted.
“Ugh, seriously. Alone, they’ll hound me filthy again. ‘Saintess this, saintess that…’ Ugh. You fought too, so do the interview together. Then I’ll forgive that grope earlier.”
“…Don’t think there’s anything to forgive?”
Muttering that, Yeomyeong groaned and moved. Remembering he’d come to Manchu for fame.
No reason to pass up the opportunity.
“Fine… sure. I’ll handle the reporters with you.”
“For real? No takebacks?”
Yeomyeong nodded wearily and looked beyond the conifers.
On the dark horizon, countless helicopters and military trucks converged.
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