‘Fly.’
‘Blink.’
FLASH!
Kang Hyeon-woo vanished in an instant and reappeared in midair.
“Still the same!”
KABOOM!
Without losing any of his momentum, Asimov changed direction and charged straight at Kang Hyeon-woo.
‘Hold.’
A ring of light appeared and constricted Asimov as he hurtled toward him at tremendous speed.
CRACK-!
The ring of light wrapping around Asimov shattered, scattering fragments of white light through the air.
[Target resisted magic]
[Magic Skill (Hold) nullified]
Messages appeared on Kang Hyeon-woo's hologram.
‘Ice Spear.’
Ten ice spears radiating cold formed around Kang Hyeon-woo.
SWISH—!
The ice spears shot toward Asimov with a sharp sound.
BANG-! BANG! BANG-!
Still flying at full speed, Asimov swung the massive two-handed axe from his back and shattered the ice spears.
Now right in front of him, Asimov swung the two-handed axe with lightning speed.
‘Blink.’
FLASH!
Kang Hyeon-woo instantly appeared somewhere else again.
Having swung his axe through empty air, Asimov turned toward Kang Hyeon-woo with a grin.
“Has it been too long? Have you gotten old? Using Bolt magic against Slaughterer!”
“I was merely testing whether you were still the same.”
As he answered, Kang Hyeon-woo cast another spell in his mind.
‘Phase Intervention.’
THOOM.
The phase expanded even farther.
‘Limit Magic, Reality Manipulation.’
CRASH—!
Reality fragmented, and Asimov's figure split into dozens of images like reflections in shattered glass.
‘Magic Amplification.’
‘Control Gravity.’
RRRUMBLE—.
A powerful gravitational force began dragging everything toward the ground.
RRRRRUMBLE.
Under the intensified gravity, the surrounding buildings sank into the ground.
CRUNCH. CRUNCH.
Even the debris scattered across the ground crumbled apart like sand.
“Urgh…… bastard. You really haven't changed.”
Still grinning, Asimov furrowed his brow and slowly began descending toward the ground.
“You're holding up well. Even ordinary buildings are collapsing.”
Kang Hyeon-woo spoke calmly.
Asimov's entire body trembled as he endured the gravity.
Kang Hyeon-woo quietly raised an arm and pointed at Asimov.
“Was it Bolt-type magic you said you hated? You must've missed Direct Damage.”
‘Explosion.’
KABOOM—!
A powerful explosion erupted directly from Asimov's body, fragmented by Reality Manipulation.
‘Lightning Vortex.’
CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE—!
A spherical mass of lightning formed around Asimov.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—!
ZZZZZZAP—!
Dozens of lightning bolts poured from the sphere and struck Asimov's body directly.
[Mana consumption is high.]
[Current Mana 13,500]
Reality Manipulation and phase separation.
His Mana was rapidly being depleted by the continuous use of high-level magic.
“Urrrrrgh……!”
THUD.
Asimov collapsed onto the ground.
‘Blink.’
‘Dispel.’
FLASH!
Kang Hyeon-woo moved to a spot a few steps away from Asimov and dispelled his magic.
“There is no way that would kill you. Get up.”
***
“Hehehehehe. Now that's electrifying.”
Asimov, who had been lying face-down with his shoulders shaking in laughter, slowly rose.
CRACKLE.
Residual lightning sparked between Asimov's teeth as he laughed.
‘He took no damage at all.’
Kang Hyeon-woo had never thought an attack of this level would kill him.
But he had not expected it to leave absolutely no damage either.
“Being on the receiving end really is nasty.”
CRACK.
Asimov tilted his neck and muttered.
“Continue what you were saying earlier about the operation.”
THOOM.
At Kang Hyeon-woo's words, Asimov slammed his massive two-handed axe into the ground and left it planted there.
“Ah, it isn't anything special. We're conducting a kind of small experiment.”
“An experiment?”
“Yeah. Well, you're not even active-duty anymore, so it's none of your business.”
“Right. It isn't my business.”
“Anyway, we intended for that Dragon to rampage here. So I'd appreciate it if you didn't interfere.”
“You intended it?”
“Of course, that silver Dragon from earlier was an unusual case. Hehehe. Where did you pick up a monster like that?”
“None of your business.”
“Still as rude as ever.”
“So you used an entire city for an experiment?”
“Experiment is a nice way of putting it…… Maybe acceleration would be more accurate? Heh.”
“Acceleration.”
“You don't need to know about that. That monster is recovering its Core Stream right now, so I'd like you to get the hell out of here.”
GURGLE.
The hemispherical body of Meras, trapped within the iridescent energy field while transforming into a Dragon, writhed and made a bizarre sound.
Surrounded by red Mana, Meras remained curled up with his transformation about halfway complete, making him look hideous from the outside.
Asimov pointed toward Eorin in the distance.
“Oh, and leave that defective product and the monster behind.”
“Defective product…….”
“Yeah. Defective product. We arranged to dispose of them naturally, but tsk. That woman smuggled one away.”
“You threw them away?”
Shinhwa Company had moved its failed experiments from port to port while leaking information to the Resistance.
Given the Resistance's disposition, they were certain to find them and smash them to pieces.
“Well, it made our employees work a little harder.”
HUM.
Asimov brought up a hologram and adjusted it so Kang Hyeon-woo could see.
Twitch.
The screen displayed gruesome images of Lena and members of the Resistance who had been brutally killed.
“Why did you kill them?”
“Because they're Resistance. Of course we killed them. They're terrorists, aren't they? Hehehehe.”
Among the figures in the various photographs were Seed, the City Lord of Port Mine, and his father, Lee Jong-seok.
“Why did you kill them?”
“They were punished. You could call it responsibility for poor management.”
Brutally mangled corpses.
Kang Hyeon-woo could tell at a glance that Asimov had done it.
“I thought the Resistance was something you deliberately avoided touching.”
“Well, that's true. The City Lord bastards need some tension to give them something to do.”
It was Shinhwa Company's basic policy.
They did not interfere with criminal organizations or the Resistance as long as they did not cross the line.
It was a method of governance born from long experience showing that external threats strengthened internal unity.
“That child. What the hell are you bastards making?”
“Oh, this is the first time I've ever seen you take an interest in something else. Is it because you've gotten old?”
Asimov grinned and continued.
“You don't need to know the details. Now get lost. Go back to wandering the world and causing trouble everywhere like you always have.”
‘Cause trouble.’
Kang Hyeon-woo quietly spoke.
“Is that what Eagle Actual wants?”
“Hehehe. Chris, that bastard always had a plan. I don't like him, but he has a pretty good head on his shoulders.”
“I'll ask again. Is that what Chris Taylor wants? For me to wander the world causing disturbances?”
“Hehehe. We've been monitoring you in real time. We could've killed you whenever we wanted. Even when you met that Special Operations Unit kid last time.”
Shinhwa Company had always monitored Kang Hyeon-woo in real time.
Kang Hyeon-woo had known that, but he had never particularly cared.
Apparently, Shinhwa Company's monitoring had been far more thorough than he had thought.
“Ridiculous. Did Shinhwa Company really have nothing better to do?”
“Well…… are you really in a position to say that when you deliberately hand out absurd contracts just to obsess over star ratings and reviews?”
Asimov thought about something for a moment, then clutched his stomach and burst out laughing.
“Hehehehehe. Someone said something about that. Surely it isn't true?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“No, someone said your obsession with star ratings and reviews was a ‘signal to a former lover.’ Hehehehehe.”
Twitch.
Kang Hyeon-woo stared coldly at Asimov.
“Nonsense.”
“Right? It isn't true, is it? Hehe. There's no way you've been doing that shit for decades because of that crazy bitch…… no, our queen of the Seven Heroes, Caroline, right?”
“Is Caroline in Russia?”
Asimov flinched.
For the first time, the smile vanished from his lips.
“Heh…… What did you hear, and where?”
“Did you bastards imprison her after she returned from the Aishas Continent?”
CLACK.
Asimov's expression hardened as he pulled the axe from the ground.
“Hehehe…… So even an old beast still has one good bite left in it.”
From Asimov's reaction, Kang Hyeon-woo realized that both of his questions were correct.
Caroline had been to the other world, and she was currently under Shinhwa Company's control.
“Hehehe. So now you're going to become the prince who rescues the princess? Aren't you heading in the wrong direction for that?”
“None of your business.”
“Hehehehe. True enough. Now get out of Busan. Leave the defective product and the monster behind.”
WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH.
The Silver Dragon, Eorin, flew high into the sky.
Lena was flying beside her.
Kang Hyeon-woo felt Mana rapidly gathering around Eorin.
Asimov, who had not noticed the flow of Mana, tilted his head as he watched them.
“She isn't a combat type. How is she capable of that?”
“None of your business.”
Kang Hyeon-woo cast a spell.
***
‘Phase Intervention.’
‘Limit Magic, Reality Manipulation.’
‘Mana Control.’
‘Magic Amplification.’
‘Control Gravity.’
RRRUMBLE—!
A force field spread around Asimov in an instant.
At the same moment, a silver flash poured from Eorin's mouth.
‘Blink.’
FLASH!
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOM—!
A massive silver flash the size of a building plunged from the sky toward the ground.
The silver flash poured into the phase Kang Hyeon-woo had created and struck Asimov precisely.
Eorin's Breath converged upon a single point as if being sucked into a black hole, then exploded a moment later.
KABOOM—!
[Mana consumption is high.]
[Current Mana 10,500]
After dispelling the magic, Kang Hyeon-woo hovered motionlessly in the air and looked down at the ground.
Where Asimov had stood, the earth had caved in like a massive crater.
“Did we get him?”
Eorin flew closer and spoke as she looked down at the sunken ground.
Rumble. Rumble.
The pile of stones began shifting little by little, and a human silhouette rose from the center of the crater.
“Hehehehe. Dragon or whatever the hell you are, now that's a rush!”
‘……!’
“W-what is that?”
“……He's similar to me.”
Eorin and Lena spoke at the same time.
Half the flesh had been blown off Asimov's body.
Where bones should have been, titanium-colored android components were completely exposed.
“Hehehehe. Surprised? We call this Transcendence. A masterpiece completed after countless experiments.”
The android skeleton within Asimov's body made Kang Hyeon-woo think of the robots from Planet Ritubalu.
“Was Chris the bastard who made the agreement with Ritubalu?”
The smile vanished from Asimov's face again as he tilted his head.
“There was definitely nothing wrong with the surveillance……? Where the hell did you hear such useless information?”
“None of your business.”
“Hmph. I wasn't asking you. I'll show you why we call this Transcendence.”
Asimov exerted a little strength, and flesh regenerated over his android skeleton in an instant.
RRRUMBLE—!
CRASH—!
The iridescent force field covering Meras burst apart.
“HAHAHAHA! Eagle Actual! Grant me the power of Transcendence Stage 2!”
Mana swirled violently around Asimov as he laughed toward the sky.
“Ah……. Wh-what is…… This is absurd! D-does that not vastly exceed the Mana of the Ancient Dragons……?!”
The Mana gathering around Asimov took on a tangible violet form and rapidly spun around him.
Asimov extended a hand toward Meras, who was manifesting in his true body.
WHOOOOOSH—!
Violet Mana flowed into Meras.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAR—!
Meras's eyes glowed red as he rose into the air.
“Grrrrrrrr.”
“Lizard. Kill that other lizard over there! Go wild to your heart's content! Hehehehehe!”
“……Grrrrrrr.”
Meras flapped his wings a couple of times and stared directly at Eorin.
“Meras……! Answer me! Meras!”
“GRRRRRRRR……!”
FLASH!
Meras shot toward Eorin, leaving a long trail of red light behind him.
FLASH!
Eorin teleported far away in the direction of the sea.
“Lena. Help Big Sis.”
“Yes!”
Lena disappeared with a teleport.
Kang Hyeon-woo descended to the ground and slowly walked toward Asimov.
“Hehehe. A defective Half-Android registered as an Unregistered Mercenary…… Today's turning out to be quite profitable.”
“What the hell are you plotting?”
“Hehehehehe…… You don't have much Mana left, do you? Chris told me to keep you alive if possible, so I'll make you one last offer. Get lost.”
“We were all equal heroes once. Looks like you've become Chris's pet.”
Stop.
The violet Mana spinning violently around Asimov froze in place.
Asimov raised his axe and pointed it at Kang Hyeon-woo.
“Looks like you've lived long enough that you have no regrets. I'll take some beautiful pictures of your torn-off limbs and show them to Caroline.”
“Your tongue's gotten long. Is that because you've become a pet?”
‘I’ll end it in one blow.’
Magic that took the form of manifested projectiles flying toward Asimov was meaningless against a powerful charging warrior like him.
Even with a Power Word, against someone of Asimov's level there was no guarantee it would succeed even if Kang Hyeon-woo poured every last bit of his remaining Mana into it.
Kang Hyeon-woo decided to chain-cast various buffs and amplification spells in his mind, then take Asimov down with a powerful explosion and concentrated force.
“Hehehe. Playtime's over! I revoke Codename SIN's mercenary privileges!”
[Mercenary Registration Revocation Order]
[Removal conditions for S-Grade Magic Skill (Mana:Life Force Exchange) unmet]
[Removal impossible.]
[Mercenary Registration Revocation failed]
“Wh-what?”
Asimov stared at the hologram window in confusion.
Kang Hyeon-woo spoke calmly.
“Stupid. Is it because you're a pet?”
“Hehehe…… I'll just kill you!”
KABOOM—!
FLASH!
Asimov charged toward Kang Hyeon-woo at a speed impossible to follow.
Kang Hyeon-woo cast a spell in his mind.
[Skill use restricted by Administrator.]
[External Skills unavailable.]
His Mana rearrangement failed.
‘Magic Skill Blink.’
[Skill use restricted by Administrator…….]
Even the skills registered in the system could no longer be used.
“Hehehehe. Die!”
Now directly in front of him, Asimov's axe came crashing down toward Kang Hyeon-woo's head.
KABOOM—!
A flash erupted before his eyes, and Asimov was sent flying sideways into the wall of a building.
Where Asimov's axe had been, a familiar figure now stood.
Nearly two meters tall.
A massive build.
A Kite Shield even larger than his enormous frame.
A crude hand axe.
A man with closely cropped hair and a square jaw.
“Park Seong-jun.”
Park Seong-jun stood in front of Kang Hyeon-woo, holding the massive shield between him and the enemy.