Chapter 141: The Ultimate Weapon, Her (1)

Black cracks began spreading across the blue sea.

Crack— craaack— craaaack—!

Then.

Ding!  

<Warehouse Keeper ‘Cha Hasang’s request to lend a stored entity has been approved.>  

<Lent entity: “MRG-293 ‘Fierce God Evil Slayer’”>

The hell gate of the warehouse opened, and a massive shape was hurled out.

The Fierce God Evil Slayer had been summoned into the East Sea.

Kwa-kwa-boom!

A thunderous roar like a lightning strike.  

Thick pillars of water shot into the sky, and waves dozens of meters high spread in every direction.

In that instant.

[Graaaaaaar—!]  

A roar that shook heaven and earth echoed.  

The Fierce God Evil Slayer thrashed in agony.

Soon, seawater swirled and rushed into the sunken surface.

Rumble rumble rumble—

Merely the fall of the primordial giant of fire had completely overturned the state of the sea.

I watched the scene from the sky in blood mist form.

A massive amount of steam rose thickly where the embers and seawater mixed.

Sssssssss—

The helmet, armor, and sword formed of black flames melted away like foam.  

Seawater mercilessly seeped into the exposed grayish-brown skin.

[Graaaaaaaaah—!]  

Bubbles surged violently from the deep gash stretching from its left shoulder to its right side.

But the main event was only just beginning.

Splash splash splash splash splash splash splash splash splash splash splash splash splash—!

The Fierce God Evil Slayer began sinking below the surface.  

The more it struggled and flailed, the faster it sank. 

Its height was roughly 500 meters.  

Meanwhile, the average depth of this sea area was close to 1,500 meters.

I chose a generous spot so it could be used to its fullest.

No matter how powerful the Fierce God Evil Slayer was, it would sink all the way to the bottom of the deep sea.

To minimize civilian casualties, I had selected a location in the East Sea 500 kilometers from Seoul — a vast, empty stretch of ocean with no islands or ships.

Soon, the Fierce God Evil Slayer sank completely beneath the surface.

Bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble—

Its enormous shadow gradually receded into the distance.  

Bubbles and steam still rose fiercely.

I opened Morgue Mu Featherback’s journal.

In ancient times, the hero Karus defeated the Fierce God Evil Slayer and sealed it beneath the Eris Strait.  

The heat the Fierce God Evil Slayer emitted evaporated all the seawater, and the area where the Eris Strait once existed became a desert made of salt.

The hero recorded in the journal had also sunk the Fierce God Evil Slayer into the sea to seal it.

In the process, all the seawater evaporated, creating a vast salt desert.

…Well, I have zero intention of turning the East Sea into a desert.

There’s an old saying: “The best strategy is to win without fighting.”

I planned to wait like this until the Fierce God Evil Slayer was neutralized, then store it back in the warehouse.

Then.

Bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble—  

Bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble—

Suddenly, bubbles and steam erupted violently.

At the same time.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble—

The sea began to split in half.

The waters parted left and right as if pushed aside by an invisible giant hand.

Soon, a black pillar of flame surged up from beneath the parted sea.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!

A massive cloud of steam billowed upward.

The Fierce God Evil Slayer stood tall in the center of the exploding current.

Fwooooooooosh—!

The flames it emitted melted deep-sea reefs in an instant.

Black flames rose from its entire body, and black-flame armor and a helmet formed over the skin where salt powder had dried white.

So you won’t fall for the same trick twice?

Then, the Fierce God Evil Slayer drove its black-flame greatsword into the seabed.

Kwa-dududududuk!

Countless cracks spread along the ground.

This time, the sea split vertically.

A wall of black flames burned fiercely, fixing the sea in place as if sliced by a steel plate.

The waters had parted in a cross (+) shape.

At the same time.

Boom—! Boobooboom—!

Undersea volcanoes began exploding one after another.

Crimson lava started filling the cross-shaped area.

Soon, the Fierce God Evil Slayer stepped on the waves of lava and rose back to the surface.

Even after draining its power inside the warehouse, it can still do this.

The S-rank title wasn’t just for show.

But I wasn’t new to S-rank raids either.

The Death Lord in the Lethe Tower, Maslow in Maslow’s Tower.  

This was already the third time.  

I had experienced the absurd strength of S-rank magical beasts and the endless sudden variables they brought.

That’s why I prepared Plan B as well.

Right then—

Bwooooo~! Bwoooooooo—!

A loud horn blast came from beyond the horizon.

A large warship was cutting through the water and approaching rapidly.

Red Cross symbols were painted on both sides of the ship, and a white tower fluttered on its flag.  

Two cargo ships followed closely behind.

I flew closer to the warship.

At the same time, I covered myself in pitch-black ink to hide my form.

Ding!  

<Skill ‘Ink Stealth’ activated!>

As I drew nearer, a familiar figure came into view on the deck.

A boy of about fifteen wearing a pure white robe.  

It was White Mage Tower Lord Yun Yeobaek.

…Perfect timing.

I smiled faintly.

A few weeks ago, during the volunteer work at Songnisan, I had received a wish voucher from Yun Yeobaek.  

I had used it this time.

The message I sent him was simple.

‘An S-rank-class magical beast is likely to appear in the East Sea. Please relay this information to the Korean Hunter Association and dispatch a response team.’

I had also included the approximate date, time, and coordinates.

No one would believe an E-rank hunter saying an S-rank monster was going to appear.

Since my words carried no credibility, I had used Yun Yeobaek as the messenger.

And it had clearly worked.

Familiar faces began appearing one by one on the warship.

A+ rank No. 6, Red Mage Tower Lord Shin Sodam.  

A+ rank No. 7, Blue Mage Tower Lord Han Seoha.  

A+ rank No. 9, Mister Concrete Jo Taekyung.

The A+ rank hunters who had gone through thick and thin with me in Maslow’s Tower had been dispatched.

And that person is……

There was one new face as well.

A woman in her thirties with gray curly hair full of white streaks.  

Her sunken eyes and heavy dark circles were striking.  

Fatigue and annoyance practically oozed from her expression and posture.

The leader of the Gray Mage Tower Guild, which specialized in metal manipulation.  

Gray Mage Tower Lord Son Boyoung.

…Five A+ rank hunters came?

I had only relayed the information to Yun Yeobaek an hour ago.  

Despite the short preparation time, they had not only assembled a response team but had also filled it perfectly with A+ rank hunters.

It seemed the Association’s response system had improved somewhat since the S-rank dungeon incident at Maslow’s Tower.

Well, anyway.

Ancient China’s military strategy book, The Thirty-Six Stratagems, contains the tactic called “Borrow a Knife to Kill Someone.”

Literally, it means “use another person’s knife to kill a man.”

The ideal victory in war is said to be winning without fighting yourself.

Plan B was the “borrow a knife” tactic using the Association’s hunters.

They saw my good side back at Maslow’s Tower……

This time, I’d let the Association do me a favor.

***

One hour earlier, the Hunter Association had issued an emergency summons.

The contents were somewhat absurd.

An S-rank magical beast might appear in the middle of the East Sea.  

Not “it appeared, so deal with it,” but “it might appear, so dispatch a team.”

This type of mission directive had never been issued before.

However, because the speaker was White Mage Tower Lord Yun Yeobaek, who was usually devoted to the Association, five A+ rank hunters had been sent to the area.

And now.

The A+ rank hunters who had arrived at the designated sea area were left speechless.

The waters had split in a cross (+) shape, and the center was filled with bright red lava.

Bubble bubble bubble bubble bubble— Sssssss! Sssssssss—!

White steam rose endlessly where the lava met the seawater.

But what drew every eye more than anything else was—

[Grooooooooaaaaar—!]  

The giant of flames standing tall atop the lava.

Then, Shin Sodam’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“Isn’t this a jackpot?”

Not only Shin Sodam — the other A+ rank hunters were also smiling from ear to ear.

A sudden S-rank magical beast.  

The key point was that it had appeared without a dungeon — just its body.

Usually, there were only two possibilities in such cases.

Either it had been subjugated on the Lokpia Continent and bounced here.  

Or a magical beast on the verge of death from old age had coincidentally transferred over.

In other words, it was prey in a weakened state compared to normal.

Rare artifacts and items from an S-rank magical beast.  

This time, there were other rewards as well.

Whiiiir— whiiiiiiir—

More than a dozen drones were flying overhead.

Drone cameras from terrestrial and aerial broadcasting stations.  

It meant the scene of subjugating an S-rank magical beast would be broadcast live nationwide.

Wealth, fame, and guild promotion effects.  

Every aspect was perfect, even better than the previous Maslow’s Tower incident.

Soon, the A+ rank hunters began assuming combat stances one by one.

The first to start was Red Mage Tower Lord Shin Sodam.

Red Secret Art First Fusion: Neutron Bullet

A red sun rose above the sea.

After facing numerous strong enemies, Shin Sodam’s combat style had changed.  

She would annihilate the enemy with full power from the very beginning.

The neutron bullet shot toward the giant.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa—

Right before the blazing sun struck the lava zone—

“……!”

Shin Sodam quickly altered the neutron bullet’s trajectory.

Shweeeeeeek! Kwa-kwa-boom!

The sun soared into the sky and exploded.

Shin Sodam roughly tousled her hair in annoyance.

…Fucking hell. It’s complete hard-counter compatibility with me.

The instant the neutron bullet was about to strike, Shin Sodam had instantly realized it.

The giant standing in the lava zone in the middle of the sea absorbed flames.  

Furthermore, it recovered the Fierce God Evil Slayer’s stamina.

Shin Sodam stepped onto the bow and said,

“I’ll sit this one out as support.”

White Mage Tower Lord Yun Yeobaek bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Shin Sodam. If I had known it was a flame-type magical beast, I would have told you in advance……”

“Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault. Well, these things happen. It’s just……”

Shin Sodam frowned.

“It pisses me off that I have to babysit that bitch.”

She was looking at the spot where an ice pillar was rising.

Kwa-dudududududududu—

The rolling waves froze solid in an instant.

Soon, Blue Mage Tower Lord Han Seoha elegantly slid down the ice path.

“Don’t worry, everyone! The magical beast that appeared in the East Sea will definitely be stopped by me, Han Seoha, and my A+ rank hunter comrades! So that your daily lives can always remain peaceful!”

Han Seoha smiled toward the drone cameras.

Watching her, Shin Sodam dry-heaved.

“Ugh…… her way of talking is seriously…… I really want to beat the shit out of her.”

Regardless.

“I will not forgive you! Giant of fire!”

Blue Secret Art Seventh Freezing: Blizzard Storm

White ice particles swirled and wrapped around the giant of fire.

Craaaaaack—!

The surrounding sea area began freezing solid in an instant.

Then Mister Concrete jumped down from the sailing ship.

“Thanks to you, we have a foothold! Then I’ll have some fun too……!”

Jo Taekyung swung both hands like an orchestra conductor.

Soon, sand and limestone submerged beneath the sea rose to the surface.

They clumped together like clay and took the shape of golems.

Creak— crack— craaaack—

Ten 50-meter-tall concrete golems were created in the blink of an eye.

Of course, compared to the giant of fire, the size difference was like elephants versus rabbits.

“Alright, who wants to bet which giant is stronger?”

Jo Taekyung looked around the ship with a playful grin.

At that moment.

Shweeeeeeek—

Hundreds of steel beams poured out from the cargo ship’s containers.

The moment Gray Mage Tower Lord Son Boyoung flicked her fingers—

Crunch— craaaaaack—

The steel beams twisted into spiral shapes and transformed into drill-like harpoons.

Then.

Shweeeeeeek!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzt—!

The steel harpoons, concrete golems, and ice spears all shot toward the giant of fire at once.

But at that moment.

Fwooooooooosh—!

Black flames erupted forward.

They turned every incoming projectile and golem into ash.

An awkward smile appeared on Mister Concrete Jo Taekyung’s lips.

“What the… This isn’t the picture I had in mind?”

Gray Mage Tower Lord Son Boyoung muttered in a lifeless voice.

“S-rank…… definitely annoying….…”

Han Seoha, Shin Sodam, and Yun Yeobaek couldn’t hide their bewilderment either.

The giant before them was no weakened magical beast.

It was S-rank.

The fear they had felt in Maslow’s Tower seemed to creep back in.

Then.

Shwoooooong— Boom!

An explosion erupted from the giant’s shoulder.

Once. Twice. Three times.

Boom! Kwa-boom! Kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!

Continuous chain explosions followed.

Hundreds of missiles were flying in, turning the sky pitch black.

In general, modern firearms — guns, cannons, bombs, missiles, etc. — were considered ineffective against magical beasts.

Shin Sodam quickly scanned the surroundings.

“T-That is……”

An Aegis destroyer was cutting through the waves and approaching.

A slender woman stood alone at the ship’s bow.

The head of Asia’s top military-industrial company, “Deus Ex Machina.”  

A+ rank No. 2 of the Korean Hunter Association.

Shin Sodam frowned and said,

“……Mrs. Luddite.”

The Iron Empress, Mrs. Luddite, had joined the battlefield.