Episode 172 Kyushu Crisis (4)
A small mountain, enveloped in a fantastical boundary like shattered glass, in the shape of a hemisphere.
Rumble—!
A deafening roar, as if shaking the heavens and the earth, erupted from the center.
At the same time, a horrifying wave of destruction shook the surroundings, but it wasn't anything new anymore.
The ground was unrecognizable, riddled with cracks and craters as if it had been bombarded.
The remains of trees and rocks, uprooted and scattered everywhere, revealed the devastation.
Naturally, the small mountain lodge that had been nearby was already gone without a trace.
Along with the pitiful bait trapped inside.
"Kuwooooh!"
Boom—!
A metallic muscle monster, over three meters tall, crashed into a hill in the back, collapsing it, with a loud whooshing sound.
He emerged from the pile of dirt after a while, seemingly sturdy as he looked, but he staggered, perhaps because of the accumulated impact, and soon vomited a mouthful of black blood.
["Damn it! Are you supporting me properly? I almost died!"]
["W-what are you talking about? You're alive because I supported you!"]
["Tsk, just shut up and join us if you're healed! This isn't the time to be complaining!"]
["Complaining?! What nonsense!"]
There was a brief commotion in the mental network they had opened for quick communication, but they regrouped and joined forces to hunt down the Demon King who had descended upon the world.
Most of them weren't the type to cooperate, but the vast experience they had accumulated while reaching their level was enough to make that a trivial matter.
"Hooo!"
The metal Devil, 'Tank', who had recovered in an instant thanks to his monstrous regenerative ability and the support of those around him, took a deep breath and charged forward again like a missile.
At a ridiculous speed, reaching supersonic levels.
Rumble!
A massive shockwave swept the surroundings as the air in his path exploded.
A destructive charge, turning anything blocking his path into dust with overwhelming physical force.
Boom!
But the massive projectile, as usual, couldn't reach its target and was forced to stop midway.
"Ugh! Damn it, this shitty thing!"
The abyss, which had materialized as if defying the laws of physics, absorbed the impact and writhed violently, and then started to seep into Tank's body.
He had transcendental durability and magic resistance, but that strange energy was slowly eating away at his body, unlike ordinary magic power.
["Ugh! Support, quick! This creepy thing is piercing through my magic resistance!"]
But Heaven's Turn Society, who had come prepared, wasn't just helplessly taking it.
"Almighty Myurel! Bestow your glory upon this place!"
Twilight light emanated from the woman with a timid appearance who was supporting from the rear.
The abyss's eerie energy, touched by the holy power of the so-called 'High Priestess', weakened, and was finally repelled, unable to penetrate Tank's magic resistance.
Of course, she hadn't completely blocked the abyss with her own power, she had just weakened it, but those present were capable enough to effectively utilize even that small opening.
Boom!
Rumble—!
Explosions erupted from all directions, both on the ground and in the air.
Heaven's Turn Society's elites relentlessly attacked in coordination, using their numbers, and Hahoe Mask was moving through space in an instant, projecting overwhelming firepower in all directions.
As if his magic power was infinite.
"…To think I'd see a Demon King here. How can a human have that kind of power…"
The High Priestess, who muttered softly and raised her holy power again to support the battle, suddenly froze, feeling a chill.
She had looked at Hahoe Mask to grasp his location, and…
Their eyes met.
It was only for a split second, but…
Crackle—!
A momentary lapse in concentration on this battlefield was enough time for a life to be lost.
Crunch!
Sharp teeth emerged from the ground around where the High Priestess was standing and instantly devoured the space, disappearing back into the ground.
The place was empty, without a trace, as if nothing had happened.
Not many could react to that surprise attack, which had no warning or presence, and unfortunately, she didn't have that ability.
But that meant…
It wasn't like there was no one who could react.
"Ugh… Thank you. I almost died…"
The High Priestess, unharmed, wiped the cold sweat from her pale face, standing next to the man in the suit in the back.
[Hmm—.]
And then Hahoe Mask's gaze, filled with displeasure, turned towards him.
Even though he was still moving across the battlefield, with dozens of magic circles floating around him, and facing nearly thirty strong individuals.
'He's amazing.'
The man in the suit, the manager, inwardly admired his opponent while delicately manipulating his energy, not letting his guard down.
His unique skill, "Administrator of the Small World", wasn't just about isolating the surroundings.
That was just a basic application, and this interior was a space entirely under his control.
Of course, he wasn't a god, just an 'administrator', so he couldn't manipulate the world as he pleased, but he could do many things with just a part of that authority.
He could even partially ignore the restrictions of the laws applied on Earth.
'But he's still at that level.'
The man in the suit, the administrator, clicked his tongue as he shifted space with a flick of his finger.
Whoosh—
The place where he had been standing a moment ago was already engulfed in black flames, melting into magma.
'He's restraining his power as much as possible, but he's still this capable. If it hadn't been for this space, we might have been wiped out.'
There was a reason why Yulryeongja had repeatedly emphasized caution.
Back then, he had thought he was just making a fuss after being beaten up somewhere, since he wasn't even a combat type…
'But this is already my world. Hahoe Mask, you'll never escape from here.'
Restricting the opponent's power, strengthening his allies, and even moving those in danger to a safe place.
He sensitively detected everything happening inside his domain and gradually adjusted the battlefield.
To completely neutralize the opponent.
____________________
All sorts of arcane arts erupted from the magic circles that were instantly created.
Lightning, flames, hellfire, demons, shadows, flashes of light… they devastated the surroundings in an instant, showing off their presence.
But the user's mind wasn't at ease, despite the spectacular sight—.
'This is frustrating.'
That was the thought that filled Hans's mind as he was fighting Heaven's Turn Society.
'I knew they would have prepared to some extent, but I didn't expect this level of force.'
And it wasn't just the spatial restriction that was suppressing his power.
He didn't know how many of them were involved, but all sorts of skills were layered and shackling him.
His usually smooth control of dark magic power was faltering, and unnecessary leaks were starting to occur in his efficient magic power design.
It felt like the laws of the world itself were trying to limit him, telling him that this was his limit.
'And the priests are also a problem. Holy power, which is already the opposite of the abyss, is combined with the spatial restriction, amplifying its effect.'
It would have been much easier to deal with them if they were just strong individuals.
But awakened ones, who used all sorts of extraordinary abilities, weren't those whose combat power could be judged solely by that.
And as Hans was searching for a solution while continuing the chaotic battle,
"#$%@#."
He heard an incomprehensible voice from behind, as if aiming for a momentary opening.
'Oh no!'
Thump! Rumble—!
Dozens of impacts overlapped in a single hit.
Hans quickly reacted and turned around, but before he could do anything, the barrier, which had already been weakened, finally shattered while blocking the enemies' attacks.
And just as his near-infinite dark magic power was about to repair it,
A fist, enveloped in brilliant holy power, was already embedded deep in his solar plexus.
Crack!
Boom!
Hans's body was thrown back with a powerful shockwave.
But the middle-aged man in a dobok, who had landed a clean hit, didn't look good either.
"#*%^&…"
Whoosh—
It was only natural, as the fist that had been enveloped in holy power was now contaminated by the abyss, and a curse activated the moment he was hit, enveloping his entire body.
"Gasp!"
He managed to shake off the remnants of the abyss with his forcefully released internal energy, but he couldn't hide his troubled appearance.
[Whew, they're troublesome.]
On the other hand, Hans had already recovered his barrier, and he was in perfect condition, as if he hadn't even been injured.
But that didn't mean he was completely unharmed…
He had recovered quickly thanks to the 'immortality' effect of "Immortal Heart", but the attack, which was mixed with holy power, the opposite of the abyss, in this annoying space, was steadily chipping away at his power.
He had to come up with a solution before it was too late.
If the damage continued to accumulate, he would eventually have no choice but to run away.
'That's ridiculous. I might let the ones who escaped go, but Hans, running away?'
It wasn't just a matter of Hahoe Mask.
It was an absolutely unacceptable act, with the pride of the 'Immortal King', the terror of Auterica, at stake.
'The restrictions of this space are the most annoying, among other things. If it wasn't for this, which is limiting my level, I could somehow shake off the other debuffs.'
And the fact that he couldn't properly finish them off because of the man in the suit who was controlling the space was also a big problem.
The only enemies he had eliminated so far were the two priests who were careless at the beginning and three who were relatively weak.
After that, he hadn't been able to eliminate any more because the man in the suit was focused on protecting his allies.
'No matter how I think about it, destroying this space is the best option. But they won't let me do that.'
He needed a power that could interfere with dimensions to destroy this space, and naturally, he couldn't use such magic without any preparation.
It was impossible in this situation where the battle was continuing without a moment's respite.
'It might be possible if I pour the abyss, a higher-level energy, into the boundary… but he's wary of that, and the restriction on that is especially strong.'
The restrictions were becoming more subtle as he stayed in this space and was analyzed by the opponent.
It wasn't just about weakening Hans's power, but now they were even starting to restrict the 'unknown energy used by Hahoe Mask'.
He might have had a chance if he had responded immediately before the enemy figured it out.
The abyss, which was already less effective on Earth, was now even weaker because of the power restriction, making it difficult to break through the boundary at once.
But…
There was no such thing as perfection in the world, and everything had a loophole.
'He's suppressing the abyss by understanding it through me. In other words, it'll work as long as I'm not the one handling the abyss.'
An entity that was connected to him, but not him.
And a being strong enough to withstand the high concentration of the abyss.
Hans poured dark magic power and the abyss into his "Immortal Heart" while continuing the battle.
Continuously, compressing it to a high density.
The number of times he was hit by the enemies increased in the process, but he was an immortal being who wouldn't die as long as his heart wasn't destroyed.
And to destroy his heart, they would also have to unleash an attack that could cut through dimensions…
In a way, it was a battle he couldn't lose.
But…
'Not losing' wasn't enough.
The only thing that suited Hans was victory!
And it had to be an 'overwhelming victory'.
[Hehehe— Indeed, you're quite something. Then I can't just stand here, can I?]
"What trick are you trying to pull?!"
"Don't be fooled! Maintain formation!"
"Immortal Heart" writhed and pulsated violently.
And finally, when it crossed a certain threshold,
Hans summoned an undead that was closely connected to him.
[Come out, Heratos.]
Squirm—
The Bone Dragon Heratos, created from the Mad Dragon's body, which was consumed by 'madness'.
Unlike Entracio, he was an individual with limited independence because Hans himself was acting as the Dragon Heart.
But that meant…
Conversely, his subordination was superior to any other undead—.
Flap— Flap—
[Kyaaaaaah—!]
Heratos's entire body was already filled with the abyss's power, compressed to its limit, as he appeared beneath Hans's feet, carrying him on his head and taking flight.
Crackle— Crack!
Of course, his body was slowly collapsing as a result, but it was a dragon's body, so it was enough to endure for a while.
"What?!"
"What's that monster! How is something like that on Earth?!"
"Wait! That thing…!"
One of Heaven's Turn Society's members pointed to Heratos's mouth.
The result of continuously absorbing the abyss and dark magic power through his heart before being summoned.
Even though he had just been summoned, a massive amount of power was flickering in his mouth, as if it was about to explode.
"Administrator! That thing, quickly…!"
"Ugh, it's too late…!"
And finally, that power…
Before the other awakened ones could even react,
[Kyaaaaagh—!]
Was poured onto the boundary of the world, compressed to a high density.
In the very intuitive form of a dragon's breath.
Rumble—!
Boom—!
"Ugh! Fall back! Don't fight, retreat!"
"M-Myurel! Protect your servant!"
"Abort mission! The space is collapsing! Immediately…"
Frantic shouts erupted, both through the mental network and their voices, as they were overwhelmed.
[Hahaha— Ah, I finally feel better! Yes, this is it! Hahaha!]
The 'Small World' that had enveloped the mountain finally collapsed.
Hans, Heratos, and Heaven's Turn Society's members revealed themselves on a mountain in southern Kyushu.
On the mountain behind the city, not far from where the underground organization's lodge was located.
"Huh, huh? Wh-what's that? A monster?!"
"M-mommy! Mommy!"
"Kyaaaack—! What are the Guardians doing?!"
It was the moment the Bone Dragon from another world, which no one could have predicted, finally manifested in Earth's sky, against the backdrop of the citizens' screams.