Chapter 58

EP.58 Prelude Battle #3

“What… is this?”

Yuria’s question as she examined the cylindrical grenade with her eyes.

Sehwa answered immediately.

“It’s a flash grenade, developed by the Doctor and modified by Jihyuk. It can temporarily blind most demons. It’s really helpful in battle.”

“You’re saying this fits inside that Device?”

“Yes. Amazing, right?”

“It’s almost like magic…? Like a shrinking spell.”

Sehwa’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Can you use magic too, unnie?”

“I can’t. Even if I could, it’s impossible here.”

“Why’s that?”

“Nature’s been too damaged, so there’s no energy. But if we go somewhere like the Amazon, we might be able to gather some.”

“Ah… that’s a shame… I wanted to see it…”

“After we defeat Tairat and reclaim our country, I’ll show you. Make sure to come visit. I’d want to invite you, at least.”

“I’ll definitely come.”

While the two were chatting away, I was having an important conversation with the Doctor in her private lab.

The topic? Yuria’s sense of justice.

I relayed to the Doctor the questions Yuria had asked me at home.

“Really…? Didn’t it seem hypocritical?”

“I’m only twenty. I don’t have the experience to judge that. But I could feel sincerity in Yuria’s tone.”

“Hmm…? So you’re saying her concern for humans outweighs her desire for revenge against her parents’ enemies?”

“It’s just a guess. Think it over carefully.”

“Got it. I’ll definitely consider your input.”

Shouldn’t we decide quickly?

Astaroth is about to emerge and spread a massive energy across all of Seoul.

Beep-beep! Beep-beep!

A warning alarm sounds outside the room.

It’s here. Astaroth, who absorbed life energy from the depths of the Antarctic Ocean.

I locked eyes with the Doctor and immediately dashed outside.

“Jihyuk!”

Sehwa’s urgent shout as she looked at the situation board.

I opened the hangar door and asked, “Percentage and location?”

“75%… Location is Mok-dong, Seoul.”

“75%? Already B-rank?”

“It’s… now 81%… It’s A-rank.”

Sehwa’s voice trembled.

The highest grade among the Evil Energy Gates that have appeared so far.

No wonder she’s panicking.

The gauge stopped at 87%.

With a serious expression, I told Sehwa and Yuria, “Get ready to move out. Yuria, you’re coming with me in the fighter jet…”

Kugugugu—!

Then, an overwhelming pressure crushed everyone in the lab.

Unable to finish my sentence, I bent over as if an invisible force was pressing down on my shoulders.

“Ugh!”

I could feel my strength draining away.

Astaroth’s ability to sap the will of all life forms within a large area.

If I had my modified body, I wouldn’t be affected, but now I’m human.

It’s only natural I’d be affected.

The Doctor was worse off than me. She collapsed while trying to run out, looking around weakly.

Like she was searching for a bed.

By now, outside must be in chaos with all sorts of accidents. Astaroth appeared without giving anyone time to evacuate.

“Damn… it…”

I muttered a low curse, slightly surprised to see Yuria in relatively good condition.

Though she was weakened, she still had the strength to move and was helping the struggling Sehwa.

I knew she was strong, but this much? I underestimated Yuria’s mental fortitude.

“Sehwa…! Are you okay?”

“Un…nie… I… have no strength… I don’t want to… do anything…”

“This is… the energy of Astaroth, one of Tairat’s subordinates…! Song Jihyuk! Doctor! Pull yourselves together…! If you let this emotion crush you…”

I struggled to lift my head.

“Sehwa… we need to transform her…”

“How? Tell me… what to do!”

Gritting my teeth, I picked up a pen rolling on the floor.

Then I stabbed it deep into my thigh.

With a shallow *thud*, my thigh was pierced, and blood seeped out, bringing me back to my senses.

I hurriedly ran to Sehwa, lifted her limp hand, and pressed it twice against the Device on her other arm.

Fzzzt—!

A sky-blue light burst out, and Sehwa transformed into Leona.

Her unfocused eyes regained clarity, and her body was filled with energy.

“Jihyuk…!”

Leona, with her noble eyes, noticed the wound on my thigh and was startled.

Grimacing in pain, I gritted my teeth and said, “Go…! Go and stop it…!”

“Ah, got it!”

Sehwa rushed out of the hangar, shattered the closed ceiling, and soared into the sky.

Yuria, watching this, was restless.

“Song Jihyuk…! Astaroth is a high-ranking demon. Leona alone can’t…!”

“Help the Doctor. And head to the hangar…”

“Yes! But you…”

Ignoring Yuria’s concern, I limped toward the fighter jet.

After roughly pushing aside the debris from the shattered hangar ceiling, I opened the cockpit.

Yuria, having heard something from the Doctor, went with her to the private lab.

Shortly after, the Doctor emerged, supported, holding a Device in her hand.

Just in case, huh? Good.

But Doctor, get a grip.

Yuria might think you’re pathetic. Is this how a lab leader should act?

As soon as the two boarded the fighter jet, I started the flight.

**

Empowered, Astaroth had become a muscular humanoid demon.

About 2 meters tall. Not as large as previous bosses, nor did it look monstrous.

It didn’t cause chaos by destroying buildings upon appearing.

It just gazed down with indifferent eyes.

On the ground, gray, sand-like dust was flowing toward its seven orifices.

The energy of lifeless beings.

-…..-

Then Astaroth did something strange.

Right after Leona arrived.

-My king…-

Astaroth knelt on one knee, speaking in Erandel’s common language.

A respectful gesture, like a knight kneeling before a king.

Flying toward Mok-dong, I felt my heart drop as I watched the scene on the monitor.

The one it was showing respect to wasn’t me flying in from afar, but Leona.

‘Damn it…!’

Alarms blared in my head.

Astaroth had sensed the energy I had hidden deep within Leona, the energy that had taken root and grown.

This was unexpected.

Glancing at Yuria, she was busy tending to the Doctor.

No time to look at the monitor. Only I was wearing the communicator, so she didn’t hear the Erandel language.

Leona probably heard Astaroth’s words as gibberish too… Thank goodness.

-…. What…?

Leona looked confused.

Understandable. She’ll think it’s even stranger after the battle.

But once she reverts to Sehwa, it’ll be a mess to clean up.

Let’s deal with the situation first. That’s the priority.

Stabbing my thigh again, I shouted, “What are you doing!? It’s asking to be attacked! Are you just going to stand there?”

-Ah, right!

“Take it far away! Somewhere uninhabited!”

-Got it!

Leona, regaining her senses, moved.

Whoosh—!

Tearing through the air, she instantly closed in on Astaroth, grabbed its neck, and disappeared into the distance.

**

Leona chose a spot in the middle of the West Sea, far from humans.

There, she began her battle with Astaroth.

Or rather, it was more like a one-sided assault.

Bang! Crash!

With incredible speed, she swung her sword at Astaroth’s entire body.

Astaroth, with a bewildered expression, blocked her strikes.

It didn’t understand why she was attacking.

It definitely doesn’t think Leona is me.

But it sees her as my subordinate, and thus, its ally.

Its current expression is one of confusion as its ally attacks relentlessly.

Crash! Thud!

Astaroth’s arm flesh tore slightly as it blocked.

Then, it grimaced and swung its hand.

Whoosh!

Black flames erupted from its arm, sending Leona flying far away.

Astaroth, radiating unfiltered anger, adjusted its stance and spoke to Leona.

-Traitor! You’re a traitor!-

Damn it… lower your voice, you bastard.

Marcella! Do something! Use magic or something to shut that thing’s mouth!

Yuria’s going to hear and get suspicious!

Ah, Marcella’s probably busy dealing with Astaroth’s earlier actions in Mok-dong.

I got up and approached the still-dazed Doctor, slapping her cheek.

Smack!

“Ah!”

I hit her hard enough to make her scream.

Yuria’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“S-Song Jihyuk…! What are you…!”

Ignoring Yuria’s confusion, I slapped the Doctor’s cheek again.

Smack!

Her head jerked to the side.

I shouted, “Doctor! Hand the Device to Yuria, now!”

The Doctor, touching her reddening cheek, regained focus.

She’s back to her senses.

“What…? B-but…”

“Leona can’t do it alone! It’s too strong! We need one more!”

“…. How’s the situation…?”

“We’re at a severe disadvantage.”

“Damn it…!”

The Doctor trusts my words completely.

She has no choice but to hand it over.

The Doctor seemed lost in thought for a moment.

But as Leona and Astaroth began to clash beyond the cockpit, she sighed and pulled the Device from her pocket.

She handed it to Yuria.

“Just wear it on your arm. You’ll transform.”

Yuria, surprised to receive the Device in such a situation, quickly took it with a determined look.

As she moved to put it on her arm, I said, “I’ll open the cockpit, so transform as you go out. If the jet gets destroyed, the Doctor and I will be fish food. The second Device has limited capacity. The transformation time is short, so don’t panic at the unfamiliar emotions and power. Just take down that demon. Understood?”

“Ah, yes…! Got it!”

I ran to the cockpit and slammed the button.

With a hiss, the cockpit opened.

The sea’s unique scent hit my nose as Yuria stepped out with her long legs, using the cockpit as a stepping stone to jump.

She attached the Device to her arm.

Then,

Fzzzt!

Yuria’s body, falling toward the sea, shot up to the stratosphere, emitting a green light in all directions.

My eyes trembled as I watched.

‘Finally…!’

Finally, the second Beast Slayer has appeared.

For the first time, two will work together to protect Earth.

The situation’s a bit unfortunate, but it can’t be helped.

No, it’s actually good.

A natural transformation was induced in a critical moment.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

---