Bang—!!
A fist slammed down from above. The Great Beast was smashed into the ground.
The output was on another level. Meteor , built with the combined forces of the once-flourishing modern civilization, possessed overwhelming power.
The Great Beast lay sprawled on the ground, struggling.
Despite the visible damage on the surface, the reactions inside the cockpit were markedly different. Kim Yoon-seo held a hint of caution and concern.
“It’s tougher than before?!”
The outer shell of the Great Beast was more resilient than recorded. Theoretically, this blow should have pushed it into Phase 2. But it had withstood the impact.
Gordius hypothesized.
“It’s conserving its power, the strength that would have destroyed the world and triggered a nuclear war. This version seems to have higher specs than any Great Beast I’ve faced before... but!”
Bang!!
Then they’d just have to keep hitting it until it transitioned. While the Great Beast was stronger than anticipated, Meteor was tens of times stronger than before!
────!!
Boom—!!
Each strike shattered the Great Beast 's white exterior, revealing swirling black energy within.
“Is that its form before becoming a dragon’s scales...?”
“Before it hardened into those sharp points, it was soft like that?!”
“If it’s having trouble changing its clothes, let’s give it a hand.”
Crack.
Meteor ’s hand gripped the Great Beast ’s outer shell.
“Roger! Meteor Boosters activated!”
Vrrrrrr—!
The engine roared as the rocket thrusters fired from its forward fist. Flames exceeding 3000 degrees burned the monster’s surface and pushed the fist forward with explosive force.
Fwoosh, cr-crunch— Shhh!
Screeee—!!
With the Great Beast 's scream, the white outer layer was torn away. Black vapor, still not fully solidified, writhed and screamed in a hazy, amorphous state. It was forcibly pushed into Phase 2.
Ssssshh!
Black scales quickly formed, taking shape. The Great Beast moved urgently to escape from the metal giant, trying to flee.
With agility, it kicked off the ground, aiming to put distance between them, knowing Meteor was comparatively sluggish.
Thud. Crack!
Screech—?!
But the Great Beast , attempting to leap away, got caught up in the dense forest of buildings.
With most of the structures still intact and unscathed, the city, built on the foundations of modern civilization, had become a trap. An 80-meter-tall monster couldn’t freely navigate such dense architecture.
Before the Great Beast ’s arrival, Stellaria had anticipated this and equipped the surrounding buildings with Magic Engines and reinforced them with enchantments to serve as obstacles.
It was like ropes around a wrestling ring. There would be no escape!
“How does it feel, being trapped by the very civilization you once destroyed like a toy? Meteor Strike , activate!”
“Activating Meteor Strike . Auxiliary Magic Engines online, 50%, 75%... Ready!”
Click, clack!
Meteor ’s arm transformed compactly, extending sharp, pointed stakes from its palm. Magic flowed through copper conduits, imbuing the metal components with enchantments.
Crack.
Meteor aimed its palm directly at the Great Beast 's chest at point-blank range. Even as the beast writhed, the magically reinforced buildings held it tight.
The gleaming eyes of Meteor , framed by the blazing sunset, glowed. Gordius’s mind flashed through memories. All their efforts and sacrifices led to this moment.
“This ends here, Great Beast !”
To put a period on this tragedy.
“ Meteor Strike , fire—!!”
Gordius slammed down on the button on the control panel.
Vrrrrrrrr—!
The whole frame shook with intense vibrations. As the internal temperature skyrocketed and the roar of the machine rose to a crescendo, there was a brief moment of silence.
And then, a cataclysmic impact, like a falling star, struck the Great Beast .
Boom—!!
Screeeeeeeee—!!
Thud, thump!
The Great Beast ’s piercing scream filled the air as the burnt-out right arm of Meteor , scorched black from overload, slammed into it.
The monster that had been humanity’s nightmare now lay collapsed at the foot of the giant robot, a gaping hole in its chest. But they knew it wasn’t over.
Having lost its core, the Great Beast , realizing its life was nearing its end, began preparing for self-destruction with its remaining power.
Vroooooooom.
From the gaping wound in its chest, a massive swirl of magical energy began to form.
Once one-armed pilot Kim Yoon-seo, with a mix of relief and finality, spoke up. The long battle had brought them here at last.
“...This is it, Wizard!”
“Yes, this is the end. Prepare Meteor Fall and switch Meteor to discharge mode!”
“Roger, switching to discharge mode! Joseph, activate Project Hera!”
-What’s with the fancy name? Can’t you just call it the lightning rod installation operation?
Click, clack, clack!
Spike-like structures resembling wings shot out from Meteor ’s back, while stakes erupted from its lower parts, anchoring it firmly to the ground.
The remaining left hand transformed into a suction mechanism.
The Magic Engine’s electricity-to-magic conversion feature would absorb the Great Beast ’s magic, preventing disaster. The enormous amount of electricity generated would be—
Shhhh!
Numerous lightning rods sprang up from the surrounding ground. These would absorb the energy, with most channeled into the earth, while some would be stored to recover Joseph’s finances.
Vrrrrrr—!
Meteor Fall connected with the Great Beast ’s last spell.
Zzzzap—!!
Lightning immediately shot in all directions. Most radiated outwards from the machine and was drawn into the lightning rods, disappearing into the ground, but some arced between the sky and buildings.
Crackle, crackle—! Boom!
Thunder roared across the twilight sky, lightning streaking from the ground up. The bolts that struck the buildings left scorched marks on the walls. At the center, Meteor looked like a glowing plasma sphere.
If they could convert it all before it exploded, they’d succeed. But—
Kim Yoon-seo, watching the gauges, gasped in alarm.
“Dissolution rate at 32%... Time until detonation: 30 seconds. Are we cutting it too close?!”
“The remaining magic from Phase 3 is higher than expected. But the calculations show we’ll barely make it...”
“Dissolution rate at 53%, 20 seconds left. We’re running out of time! Should I increase the dissolution rate?”
“That would put us at risk. We’re already pushing the machine to its limits. Don’t worry. I have an idea.”
“Dissolution rate at 74%, 10 seconds left!”
At this rate, 5% of the magic would remain unconverted. The Magic Engine was already operating at full capacity, with no reserve engines or backup. Kim Yoon-seo thought as much, but—
Gordius knew there was one Magic Engine he hadn’t yet used. He smiled confidently.
“Transforming magic into other elements has always been a wizard’s specialty, not the engine’s. Did you forget who I am?”
“...Wizard!”
“The Golden Tower’s chief disciple, the Golden Tower’s genius, and head of a faction that divides the academy... I, Gordius. Watch closely to see what I can accomplish.”
Vrrrrrrr—!
As Gordius worked, the internal bulkhead opened, revealing the heart of the machine, coursing with crackling electricity. Without hesitation, the wizard placed his hand on the Magic Engine.
Zzzap—!
A sharp current ran through his body, but he had already cast a spell to resist electric shocks, so he wasn’t incapacitated, unlike that time with Woo Chaerin’s stun gun.
After witnessing her death through the cryogenic capsule, he had sworn never to fall to lightning again. Moreover, having dealt with a half-powered machine, he had prepared spells in case of electrical mishaps.
He hadn’t expected that spell to prove useful in the end.
“291, 1, 37. The uncounted deaths lost to the past—upon the rock where they were laid, the monument of victory now stands!”
Chanting, he directed the crackling magic to shape his spell. The ground trembled as a structure rapidly took form.
“The Monument of Stellaria !”
It was a monolith.
Rumble—!!
A massive monument, inscribed with the names of all Stellaria members who fought against the Great Beast , formed, even engulfing the monster’s corpse in its structure.
In the heart of the city.
With Meteor , its arms charred black, and the fifty-meter-tall monument in place—the hunt for the Great Beast was over.
===============================================================
-Good evening, everyone. A shocking event straight out of fiction unfolded in the heart of Seoul. The scene where a 100-meter monster and a giant robot clashed is right here...
“Oh, so that lady is a news anchor.”
The face from New Stellaria was now on TV. She looked completely stunned by the unexpected fantasy unfolding.
Of course, she did. A monster-versus-robot showdown had just happened in the middle of the city.
In the midst of the burning internet, public opinion, government officials, reporters scrambling to understand the situation—all the chaos—
Joseph, chewing on a candy, spoke to Gordius.
“So, how are you planning to explain this? It’s about time, Wizard.”
“Pardon?”
“Pardon? You made a giant war machine, stole parts from the space industry, violated firearm laws in a country that bans gun possession... As soon as they trace the funds, they’ll figure out... it’s my money. Now you’re going to fix this, aren’t you?”
“Well, that’s difficult. I’m not a Purple Tower wizard.”
“Hey—!!”
Joseph grabbed Gordius by the collar and shook him. Saving the world was all well and good, but hadn’t they saved it by beating it up first?
He could already imagine the aftermath. Demands to turn over the robot, complaints about breaking the law, questions about the value of their achievement...
“You were supposed to help me invest in the right thing, you thief! I’m facing prison because of the backlash. Was this a sound investment?!”
“Wait, Joseph? How do you even know that?”
“W-What? W-Wait... What?!”
Joseph’s face filled with confusion. He wasn’t particularly close to this reckless wizard, so what exactly was he talking about?
Gordius, momentarily stunned, glanced over at Woo Chaerin.
Kim Yoon-seo acted immediately.
“...Joseph, quit standing around and come here. Now!”
“Hey, kid. If I was clueless, how did I end up as head of New Stellaria ? From the start, the world’s conspiracies were all... What? Who are you? Why am I the head?”
“I said, get over here!”
After a delighted Kim Yoon-seo dragged Joseph away, only Gordius and Woo Chaerin remained.
-The battle concluded with New Stellaria emerging victorious. After the fight, Meteor stood with its arms charred...
The news continued, with the anchor’s face a mixture of confusion and awe.
Could some magic from the Great Beast ’s final throes have triggered something? Could the lost memories from the past or future be returning?
If that were the case...
Gordius asked carefully.
“...Chaerin?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“By any chance.”
“Nope, I don’t remember.”
I see. You don’t remember.
“I didn’t say anything about signing a contract while drinking, or muttering strange things in front of a cryogenic capsule.”
I see. She doesn’t remember at all. Judging by her red face and embarrassed expression, she seemed genuinely clueless.
Gordius pulled her into a hug.
“...I really don’t remember?”
“Don’t ever do that again. Never again...”
“I’m sorry about that time. But, um... I guess I made the right call? Since things turned out like this, I guess it was my place to go in—hey, don’t yank my face—!”
“That debt will be collected for a lifetime. With ten years of interest, I estimate it’ll take about 137 years to pay it off.”
“What kind of slavery is this... It’s darker than the lab I worked in.”
Woo Chaerin laughed quietly.
As Gordius pondered which words to start with for this reunion, he realized it didn’t matter. What was important wasn’t the size or form... but the feelings that had always been there.
He lifted her chin with his finger. She giggled softly as if it tickled her neck. Then she closed her eyes.
Kissing someone for the first time. His heart was pounding wildly, his mind was overheating. But his courage and impulse outweighed everything.
Gordius leaned in toward her lips—
===============================================================
...When he opened his eyes, the mad wizard was staring down at him.
“Oh, you’re awake. Put those lips away, and come with me. There’s someone you need to meet. I’ll send you back once the meeting’s over.”
“...?”
“Wait, don’t be mad. I didn’t want to interrupt, but there’s a reason. You didn’t intend to stop at a kiss. I can’t wait that long. So logically, cutting the scene off now, before everything begins, is the best choice—”
“...Weapon Synthesis.”
Awakened from the simulation, Gordius quietly formed a bat in his hand, seething with rage and barely able to control himself.
“Gordius?”
“Do you even have a heart?”
“I get it. I really do. But this is a turning point in your life, an opportunity. Do you know who’s here? None other than—”
“Do you even have a heart?!”
“Screee!”
The mad wizard bolted, with Gordius swinging the bat, chasing after him. How could he do this?
The chase continued.
The mad wizard burst into the parlor and hid behind a tall young man sipping tea.
Gordius followed, bat in hand, then stopped dead in his tracks.
“...Mad Wizard. Don’t you think using the prince as a shield is dangerous?”
Inside, waiting, was the Empire’s second prince.