Chapter 8

EP.8 Leona, Manifestation

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“Wh… what is this…?”

“Se… Seunghyun…!”

A monster, unlike anything ever imagined or heard of, was destroying the surroundings, looking at them with a sinister gaze as if they were delicious prey, drooling.

In such an unrealistic situation, hardly anyone could keep their composure.

Whoosh! Crash!

“Puhihihing!”

The monster was hit by a laser cannon that appeared out of nowhere and fell.

But it quickly got back up and swung its club in the air.

Boom!

Something exploded, and fragments of machinery rolled into the room.

Sparks flew from the fragments, accompanied by a crackling sound.

At that moment, Yoo Seunghyun and Sehwa thought:

We need to get out of here.

They could hear the screams of people from the corridor and outside the building.

We have to help.

Both of them made the same judgment.

A sense of justice, buried deep in their subconscious, had surfaced.

This was why Sehwa could become Leona, and why Yoo Seunghyun became her eternal companion.

“Sehwa… we need to get out of here first!”

“Okay…!”

As the two jumped up and headed for the entrance,

Whoosh!

A transport vehicle, something you’d only see in a sci-fi movie, rose through a large gap in the destroyed building.

It wasn’t very big, just enough to fit about five or six people.

The cockpit opened with a clank, and Dr. Cash, who was at the controls, shouted.

“Get in! The monster is after you! We need to escape quickly!”

The two had no idea who this intelligent and beautiful woman was.

Given the sudden situation, it was understandable.

But they soon noticed that the pattern on the machine fragments scattered in the room matched the pattern on the transport vehicle.

The person in the vehicle was the one who had fired the laser at the monster’s shoulder.

Yoo Seunghyun immediately shouted.

“We’re fine! Save the others!”

Sehwa also joined in, supporting Seunghyun.

“That’s right! Save the others first!”

Dr. Cash twitched her eyebrows.

It wasn’t out of frustration from being ignored, but out of surprise at the two’s altruistic hearts.

In a life-threatening situation.

Even when a savior appears and offers a way out, they think of others?

This isn’t something ordinary altruism can achieve.

‘Perhaps…!’

Perhaps they are the suitable candidates for the device developed after long research.

The device, conceived by her late, immature husband who passed away from an incurable disease, and completed by her following his wishes, was now in her hands.

Biting her lower lip, she thought.

‘At least give it a try…’

There’s no harm in trying.

If nothing happens, just forcibly rescue them and retrieve the device.

Having cursed her late husband in the sky with affection, Dr. Cash made her decision.

Rummaging through her coat pocket, she pulled out a small, square object smaller than her palm and called out to Sehwa.

“Hey! You, girl!”

Sehwa, who was about to open the front door, turned her head at Dr. Cash’s call.

And when the doctor threw something, she instinctively caught it.

“Put that on any arm!”

“Wh… what is this!?”

“Just do it! Quickly!”

Whoosh!

“Eek!”

The doctor moved the control stick to the maximum.

Barely dodging the monster’s club, she urged Sehwa.

“Quickly! Do it now!”

The doctor’s shouting tone was filled with desperation and urgency.

Sehwa, influenced by that emotion, finally did as the doctor said.

And the moment she placed the device on her right forearm,

Flash!

The device emitted a dazzling light, enveloping Sehwa’s entire body.

At the same time, the Aiter, a mysterious energy that had started emerging from Earth at some point, reacted, causing Sehwa, surrounded by light, to soar into the air.

Crash!

The ceiling shattered as Sehwa’s body rose high.

“What… Sehwa!”

Yoo Seunghyun, greatly shocked, reached out to Sehwa, but… she was already far away.

Ascending into the sky, she stood still, casting light over the gloomy evening of Seoul.

A light so dazzling that no one could look directly at it.

People’s eyes instinctively closed,

“Pfft!”

Amducias also covered his face with his arm, blinded by the light.

Then,

Whoosh!

The light surrounding Sehwa made a mysterious sound.

Then, Sehwa’s baggy hoodie and sweatpants, along with her underwear, disappeared somewhere, revealing her naked body.

A perfect, curvaceous figure, with a sky-blue crystal embedded in the center of her collarbone.

Next was her hair.

Her flowing brown hair emitted a strong white light, growing down to her waist.

The slight wave added much more femininity than her previous hairstyle.

The hair color matched the sky-blue crystal on her collarbone.

Then, thigh-high boots, a harmonious blend of white and sky-blue, appeared on her legs.

Her arms were similar.

Elastic gloves covered her arms, except for her delicate triceps.

Next, her body, a white leotard appeared, clinging tightly from her chest to her thighs.

A fluttering tennis skirt wrapped around her hips, and a scabbard suddenly appeared at her waist with a clank.

Then, small, hard accessories, purely for decoration, attached all over her body.

Finally, a headband resembling a communicator was placed on her hair, completing the transformation, and the light subsided, casting the previous darkness back over Seoul.

“…..”

Sehwa… no, Leona, opened her eyes, her irises now a vivid sky-blue, matching the crystal and her hair.

Floating in the air, emitting a faint light, she looked noble and beautiful, like a goddess of war.

Leona, as if knowing what she had to do, silently watched the monster and drew her sword from the scabbard.

Swoosh!

The sword that appeared with a smooth sound was large enough to cleave the giant monster in two.

It should have been incredibly heavy, but the way she held it with one hand seemed oddly fitting, thanks to Leona’s grace.

She was itching to unleash the sense of justice and superhuman power that now filled her entire body.

Only two thoughts occupied Leona’s mind:

[Eliminate evil, this is fate.]

Ignoring the stunned gazes of the people who had opened their eyes, Leona charged at the monster.

This was the moment the first Beast Slayer, Leona, manifested in the world.

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I was barely holding back the urge to cheer.

‘This… this is it! This is it!’

Leona, after her transformation, was far more beautiful than anything seen on a monitor, beyond comparison.

I also loved how the flow followed her first transformation, just like in a game.

I couldn’t hide the smile creeping on my face.

“Pfft…”

All eyes were now on Amducias and Leona.

Even if I split my attention a bit, I wouldn’t be noticed.

I squinted and watched their duel.

A blue aura rose around Leona’s arm, enveloping the sword.

And that sword…

Swoosh!

Cut through the club Amducias swung.

“Pwooaaak!”

Amducias, panicked, screamed and swung his other arm to punch,

Sssk!

But Leona’s upward slash severed his shoulder.

Ssssh!

The demon’s arm, spilling black blood, fell uselessly to the ground.

And Amducias let out a scream of pain.

“Pfft!”

I swallowed my rising excitement again and again.

Leona, quickly finish off Amducias… that disposable minion.

And find me!

By the way, Leona’s speed was incredibly fast.

Too fast for an ordinary human to follow.

I could keep up with my enhanced eyes, but to others, it would just look like a sky-blue flash passing by Amducias.

Sssk! Sssk!

Amducias’ body was gradually being cut into pieces.

Not even a finishing move, just slashes, and he was being defeated so helplessly.

Well, that’s what a sacrificial pawn for awakening is supposed to be.

But isn’t this too cruel… he’s been my loyal subordinate, enduring so much to awaken you.

Just cut off his horns and let him go.

Amducias is looking too pitiful.

“Over here… over here! This way isn’t blocked!”

Amidst the chaos, I heard Yoo Seunghyun’s clear shout.

That righteous bastard… well, that’s you.

Even while your girlfriend is becoming a superhuman and crushing a monster, you’re busy helping others with the police.

Don’t find me, don’t come this way.

“Haaah!”

Leona’s powerful shout echoed from the sky.

She’s about to finish it.

A quick glance showed Leona’s sword piercing Amducias’ neck.

… Crack!

The sword, cutting through like tofu, slightly hit a bone,

Sssk!

Then cleanly severed the entire neck, separating it from Amducias’ body.

“Pfft…”

Amducias’ head, letting out a weak scream like a mob, fell near me.

This is good. Now, pretend to regain consciousness.

“Sa… save me…”

When transformed into the Beast Slayer, her senses are greatly enhanced.

Even if I whisper this softly, Leona would definitely hear it.

And…

Whoosh!

A sound of something cutting through the air, and then the sound of someone landing lightly on the building fragments above me.

Leona must have heard my voice and come down.

Ah… originally, she would have been busy helping the citizens of Seoul, but she came to help me first.

How touching, truly touching.

As I rolled my eyes upward,

Flash!

A tremendous light erupted from Sehwa’s body.

Just like when she started transforming.

Ah… it’s blinding.

“Ugh…!”

I tightly closed my eyes, let out a groan, and when I opened them again, I saw a familiar face above me.

Sehwa, back in her baggy hoodie and sweatpants, her transformation undone.

She was looking at her body with a bewildered expression.

Back to her original form, isn’t it amazing? But don’t you need to help me?

“Se… Sehwa…?”

At my call, Sehwa, startled, finally peeked her face through the debris.

“Ah! Jihyuk!”

“What… what’s going on…”

“Don’t move! You’re trapped! Just wait… over here! Help over here!”

No, if she had cleared the debris while in her Leona form, it would have been fine.

Did she already use up all her transformation energy? That doesn’t seem to be the case…

Let’s just think positively that she canceled it because the fight was over.

Not long after, the transport vehicle Dr. Cash was in came towards me and flashed its lights.

Then, a mechanical arm extended from the vehicle and started clearing the debris.

Good, I need to stand out here.

I decided not to lose my future-scientist, engineering nerd charm even in this difficult situation.

Staring at the mechanical arm, I muttered.

“Po… polymers…? No… alloy… is it an alloy…? Titanium and…”

As I muttered this, the cockpit opened, and Dr. Cash jumped out.

She looked like she was about to fall over in surprise.

A young man like me instantly figuring out the composition of the mechanical arm must have been astonishing, right?

She asked.

“How did you know?”

“Who… are you…?”

“Answer me, how did you know that arm is made of polymer alloy?”

“The… color… and… luster…”

“You figured it out just by looking? Have you seen polymers before?”

As Dr. Cash kept questioning me without rescuing me, Sehwa shouted.

“Ma’am! Just get Jihyuk out of here first and ask questions later! Can’t you see he’s dying!?”

At that, the doctor glared at Sehwa.

“It’s Dr. Jennifer Cash, not ‘ma’am.’ What’s your name?”

“Lee Sehwa! That’s not the point, Jihyuk is…”

“Alright, alright. I’ll get him out, okay? Jihyuk, right? So stop shouting.”

“Okay…”

“You two need to come with me to my lab. I’ll make sure this guy gets treated, so don’t worry.”

“Yo… your lab? But…”

“Don’t you trust me? I gave you my precious device. It’s already bound to you. You must have felt it, right?”

“… You didn’t give it, you forced it…”

“You’ve already accepted your destiny. So stop arguing and get on the transport quietly.”

Sehwa, hesitating, looked at me, my body gradually being revealed thanks to the mechanical arm.

Her eyes filled with worry.

She closed her eyes tightly, then opened them and said.

“Uh… sorry, but we might be a bit busy.”

“I don’t… know what’s… going on… but okay…”

At my weak response, she forced a smile and asked the doctor.

“Can we bring Seunghyun… my boyfriend too?”

“Call him over and get him on board.”

Originally, Yoo Seunghyun wouldn’t go to the lab.

He’d be busy helping the citizens with the police.

Sehwa would respect his decision and go to the lab alone.

But now? I’ll be going with Sehwa.

Dr. Cash will investigate my background on the way to the lab.

But you won’t suspect a thing.

Marcella, who’s been watching this whole situation, will solidify my identity.

‘First, secretly change my body… I need to be in pain now.’

Change the inside and outside to match a normal person.

Make sure no abnormalities are found during a scan.

I’ll blend in perfectly.

You’re all in the palm of my hand now.

To be continued―――――――――――――――――――――

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