There Is No World For ■■ - Chapter 40: The World After the Prologue (5)

***”How did you end up—?”Just as Yeomyeong was about to voice out a question, a frivolous voice cut him off.”You worthless pile of bones that can’t even produce broth! Just drop dead!!”Following the slew of crude curses, she began firing two automatic rifles simultaneously.Rat-a-tat-tat!!!Bullets, imbued with a brilliant white light, pierced the darkness and rained down on the Dragon. Though it was more of a wild barrage than a precise attack.However, the opponent was a dragon as massive as several trucks stacked together, so the bullets pummeled its entire body relentlessly.- KROAAAARRRR!!!They said that holy mana was the ultimate weakness of the undead. And indeed, it was as they said.Each time the shining bullets struck the Dragon, the mana it was emanating visibly weakened.- Block it! Stop that disgusting thing!As the Dragon, tormented by the bullets, roared in agony, the zombies fighting Kim Mansoo rushed towards the gunslinger.The zombies stumbled and trampled over each other as they died. However, even as their numbers continued to dwindle, more of them kept hurling themselves at the bullets.”Damn, I would’ve carried a wand if I had known that this would happen.”Seeing the swarm of zombies, the gunslinger tossed the empty magazine to the ground and hid within something invisible.Having lost their target all of a sudden, the zombies wandered around in confusion, spinning in place or just stopping altogether.A brief lull followed. And that was exactly what the Dragon had been waiting for.Gathering its dispersed mana with some difficulty, the Dragon rose to its feet, shaking its wings and tail.- Someone able to handle this level of Holiness is hiding behind the Invisibility Cloak? Really? How vulgar.Anger boiled deep within Kahal Magdu’s chest. His previously calm tone vanished and was replaced by a sinister flame flickering from his mouth.- Let’s see how long you can remain hidden from me!Soon after, an enormous amount of mana began gathering in his mouth, making the magic he had displayed until now seem like a mere joke in comparison.- Gooooo—The Dragon’s signature technique—The Dragon’s Breath.Sensing its immense power, Yeomyeong tried to make a break for it as quickly as possible. Or, rather, he was about to.As he was about to make a break for it, the sound of hurried footsteps entered his ear.The footsteps were trying to avoid the zombies by taking a long detour.And the next moment, Yeomyeong gritted his teeth and turned towards the direction of the sound.Although he couldn’t see it, as soon as he reached out to the empty space where the footsteps were coming from, he managed to grab something soft.”Kyaaaakkk!?”The invisible body he touched suddenly went rigid. But Yeomyeong grabbed her, tucked her under his arm, gathered all his mana, and leaped off the ground.KWAAAAAAH!!!Soon, blue flames poured down on the spot he had been standing.He managed to escape by a hair’s breadth. The heat singed his back, and the smell of burnt hair stung his nose.The gunslinger under his arm shouted something, but the roar of the flames drowned it out.After running for a while, he finally managed to get out of the Dragon’s sight.”Hey, you…! You crazy bastard! What do you think you’re grabbing!”The gunslinger squirmed and yelled at it, although it seemed to be more from embarrassment than anger.Yeomyeong obediently let her go. And just like when he grabbed her, he released his grip lightly.Not expecting to be let go of so suddenly, she plopped onto the ground, landing on her butt. The transparent cloth covering her slid down slightly.Peeking out from under the invisible screen was a girl around the same age as Seti.Her skin was white and her long, straight hair even whiter. She had a straight nose, an oval chin, and thick blindfolds covering her eyes.She had a noble and mysterious air, like a statue displayed in a temple. However, it was difficult to appreciate her beauty when it was just her head floating in mid-air.Yeomyeong gave her a wry smile.”You, you…!””…Thank you for saving me’? You’re welcome.””No, that’s not it…!”Although it was unclear how she was still able to see even with the blindfold on, she glanced at the burnt forest and Yeomyeong alternately, her lips trembling.”…Sssp, you’re right.””…””Thank, thank— wait, what the hell are you talking about? I saved you first! We’re even now!”Yeomyeong raised his eyebrow, and a short silence ensued. Just as the silence was about to extend longer, Kim Mansoo, who had arrived while following the zombies, gaped.”Saintess?”The Saintess? This girl?The unexpected title made Yeomyeong frown. The Saintess he was familiar with was the former Saintess… a grandmother with a warm and kind impression.Seeing Yeomyeong’s expression, the Saintess tried to raise her voice, but the sound of trees falling in the distance interrupted her.It was the sound of the Dragon recovering its mana after spewing flames.”Oh c’mon! Seriously? Not even a minute of rest?”The Saintess jumped to her feet and extended a hand from within the Invisibility Cloak.Kim Mansoo was startled at the sight of the floating head and hand, but the Saintess ignored him and spoke to Yeomyeong.”Your sword and hand. Give me.””What?””There’s no time. Hurry up.”As soon as Yeomyeong cautiously extended both his hands, a light emanated from her hand—warm and gentle mana.The Saintess grasped Yeomyeong’s hands and infused her mana into him. The mana gradually climbed up his hands, gently filling his body.As the light passed through, the first thing it healed were the torn blood vessels from the aftereffects.Next, his overworked heart and muscles regained their strength, and finally, his depleted mana was restored.It was the first time he had ever received Healing Magic.As Yeomyeong blinked in astonishment, the Saintess sighed deeply.”What the hell did you do to push your body to this state?””…””Seriously! Even if I bless you, it’ll only last for three minutes at best.”She glared at Yeomyeong through her blindfold and then pointed at the Dragon that was looking around for them.”From now on, I’m going to cast God Redox’s blessing on you. The blessing will last three minutes at most. I’ll cover you, so in those three minutes, pierce that thing’s heart. If you fail, both of us…”She glanced at Kim Mansoo and added.”…no, all three of us will die. Got it?”Seeing Yeomyeong nod, the Saintess’s mana turned red.Unlike the twisted dark red mana belonging to the Shepherds, this mana was pure red.While Yeomyeong was admiring its color, the Saintess began her prayer.”O Red God who presides over battles and wars, your fighter calls upon you. Here and now, a warrior in need of your power stands before you…”As she continued praying, the gently glowing mana began to swell, becoming larger and larger.The light, which was smaller than that of a flashlight, covered the back of his hand and soon grew large enough to envelop his entire body.And the next moment…Flash!Seeing the sudden beam of red light shooting up into the sky, the Dragon turned its gaze.The blue flames in its eye sockets contorted as it confirmed the presence of three humans outside the range of the forest burned by its Dragon’s Breath.- A Saintess? This wasn’t in the contract.It spat out in an annoyed voice and snapped its fingers.That became the signal for the zombies that managed to survive its Dragon’s Breath to start charging toward the three of them simultaneously.- I don’t like doing more than I’m paid for, but… work is work.As the Dragon growled, Yeomyeong started running while holding the now red-tinged sword.

***”I’ll cover you, so don’t worry about the zombies. Just run!”

As Yeomyeong kicked off the ground, the Saintess once again pulled out the automatic rifle from within her Invisibility Cloak.The sound of gunfire, followed by the cries of the falling zombies, filled the space between the coniferous trees.Yeomyeong did as she said. Without even glancing at the approaching zombies, he focused solely on the Dragon as he sprinted towards it.He unleashed the Feather Step from the Flying Kick technique. Building on it, he accelerated using the Surging Wave technique, his heart pumping furiously. Finally, he overlaid his body with the foreign mana flowing within him.The mana of the gods or the power known as Holy Power—The blessing bestowed by the Saintess pushed Yeomyeong’s body beyond its limits.His entire circulatory system and heart, which had been teetering on the edge, broke free of their limits and pulsed as if they were on the verge of bursting. A burning desire for battle settled in the place where fear had once resided.To prevent the Dragon from gaining any time, Yeomyeong accelerated even more. The red mana trailed behind him like a tail as he compounded acceleration upon acceleration.Swoosh!

He closed in an instant. Swift and decisive—that was all Yeomyeong could think about.- It’s been a while since I’ve seen a full-body blessing.And when he reached right in front of the Dragon, he transferred the acceleration to his shoulder and swung his sword at the Dragon.The Dragon’s mana, prepared for the collision, quickly aligned to form a translucent shield, blocking the space between Yeomyeong and the Dragon.Clang!However, the shield prepared by the Dragon could not withstand the impact with the momentum. Hanging in the air, it cracked and spat out mana fragments.In a split second, ice spikes fell from the top of the shield. Using the shield as a foothold, Yeomyeong accelerated again.- But Earthian, how long will that blessing last? One minute? Three minutes? Even if she’s a Saintess, she can’t sustain a blessing of that level for long.The Dragon continued to cast magic as lightning and ice spikes continuously obstructed Yeomyeong’s path.Although the magic was unable to touch Yeomyeong,  it was still able to slow his approach momentarily. And that was what the Dragon was aiming for.While Yeomyeong hesitated for a moment, the Dragon spread its wings and flew into the sky.With only bones left of its wings, it seemed like there was some magic cast on them. And with just a few flaps, the Dragon reached a height above the coniferous trees.- If you want to fight a dragon, you should have brought a helicopter. Do these wings look like decorations?Kahal Magdu sneered at Yeomyeong and opened his mouth. The Dragon’s Breath, far weaker than the one before, spread widely over the ground.What’s this? Yeomyeong frowned as he dodged the blue flames.And only after he looked at the burning coniferous forest did Yeomyeong realize the Dragon’s intention in scattering its Breath.The places the Breath touched were the coniferous forests surrounding the Dragon’s feet in a circle.Yes, its aim was to burn all the trees that Yeomyeong could use as footholds.- Once again, it shows how inexperienced you are.The Dragon laughed heartily from above the burning trees and smoke, as if it were a demon from hell.It was the laughter of someone confident of their victory. The certainty that a sword would not be able to harm itself.The Dragon looked down at Yeomyeong with leisure and gathered its mana. A giant magic circle appeared above the Dragon’s head, and the wind swirled so fiercely that the coniferous trees began to tremble.- Shall we put an end to this game now?However, the next moment, Kim Mansoo yelled at Yeomyeong.”Newcomer!!”He was running towards Yeomyeong and the Dragon, carrying a large conifer tree the Dragon had knocked down.No further explanation was needed. Yeomyeong immediately understood his intention and turned towards Kim Mansoo.”Step on it and jump!”With his face flushed red, Kim Mansoo threw the conifer tree into the air. It was a throw that contained all the strength of a Superhuman.Not missing a beat, Yeonyeong leaped.Mana surged through his legs like a tsunami, and using the trees floating mid-air as footholds, he leaped to a higher point.But the next moment….- The idea is good. But….Kahal Magdu raised his hand as he watched Yeomyeong flying towards him. His fingers curled into a circle.- It’s meaningless if you can’t change your posture in the air.Flick! The Dragon flicked its fingers towards Yeomyeong. Yeomyeong instinctively swung his sword, but this time, it wasn’t just one projectile.The fragments of the motorcycle the Saintess had blown up earlier—Countless pieces of metal rained down on Yeomyeong like a shrapnel grenade.It was simple but effective, as deflecting all the tiny fragments while in the air was impossible.Shlurk—Eventually, one of the metal pieces pierced Yeomyeong’s right shoulder. Unfortunately, it managed to sever a nerve, and caused his grip to loosen.Yeomyeong dropped his sword.- You’re lucky.The Dragon flicked its fingers once again. The last piece of metal pierced Yeomyeong’s body, and he started to fall in the direction he had been flying.Yeomyeong gritted his teeth. The blessing would only last for another 50 seconds, not enough to leap again.Was this the end?Was his life really going to end like this—without achieving his revenge, even after battling unexpected misfortune and a ridiculous enemy?He couldn’t accept it. He didn’t want to accept it.Even as he was falling, Yeomyeong poured all his mana into his heart, increasing the blood and mana flow to his brain.His ability to think accelerated, and reality slowed down.And in that brief moment, Yeomyeong recalled the strongest human he had ever seen personally.Freya Cahn.Would it have been possible for the Holy Sword to overcome this moment? In this situation, falling without a sword and possessing no wings… would she?She would have flown with the holy sword and cut off the Dragon’s neck.It was a meaningless thought. The holy sword didn’t choose Yeomyeong, nor did he possess the ability to fly.All he possessed were the Surging Wave technique, Flying Kick technique, and the Comet Sword… whose true intention he was yet to comprehend completely.At that moment, a line of text flashed through his mind.

– As the light overflows, it does not discriminate between left and right.

Without realizing it, Yeomyeong moved his left hand. He grasped the blue dagger stored carefully in his pocket, the Arcane Relic handed down by Freya Cahn.

“As the light overflows….”Although there was no starlight, the Holy Power bestowed by the Saintess was overflowing within him. The red blessing gathered within the Arcane Relic.”It does not discriminate between left and right.”Although he couldn’t move his right hand, his left hand remained intact. With his left hand, he assumed the initial stance of the Comet Sword.Was this the true intention of the Comet Sword? Did he manage to arrive at the correct interpretation? He didn’t know.However, he was certain of one thing—this was the only way out.Yeomyeong swung his sword.The swordsmanship he performed with his complete focus cut through the air, and in place of starlight, the blessing bestowed by the Saintess burned brightly.The light that began at the dagger in his left hand…- This swordsmanship… could it be?…became a long-tailed comet. Upon seeing the red starlight, the Dragon reflexively re-arranged his mana, but Yeomyeong’s Sword Aura was slightly faster.Clash—!The incomplete barrier shattered. The intense starlight shot straight through the sky and pierced the Dragon’s chest.- KRRRRROOOOAAAARRGHH!The red light continued long and passed through the Dragon’s ribcage. Kahal Magdu clutched his chest as he fell to the ground.BOOM! The ground, which absorbed the impact of its massive body, quaked violently, and the scorched trees and stones quivered.

* * *“Newcomer! Well done!!”

Kim Mansoo, who caught the falling Yeomyeong, cheered as he watched the Dragon fall.However, that joy was short-lived, as Yeomyeong spoke, gasping for breath.“It’s not over… yet.”“What?”“It… missed….”And just as he said that, the Dragon that had fallen to the ground rose again. Amidst the dust, a rib fell from his chest.Yeomyeong’s sword had only managed to cut off one of his ribs, not his heart.- The Comet Sword, huh?Despite losing a rib, the flames in the Dragon’s eye sockets burned several times brighter than before.- Earthian who is guided by the stars. You have earned my respect. I promise not to resurrect your corpse as an undead.Kahal Magdu said as he opened his mouth wide.The surrounding mana began to gather, and once again, a terrifying breath surged from the Dragon’s mouth.It was a flame that neither Yeomyeong, who lost his blessing, nor Kim Mansoo could escape from.- Now, die!Sensing his imminent death, Kim Mansoo shut his eyes tightly. However, no matter how long he waited, he did not feel the scorching flames….What was happening?As he opened his eyes to sneak a peek, he saw that the Dragon had shut its mouth and was looking beyond the conifer forest. Yeomyeong’s tired gaze was also fixed in the same direction.Soon, a familiar sound reached Kim Mansoo’s ears.Thwop-thwop-thwop-thwop!!It was the sound of helicopter propellers— The sound of reinforcements arriving from Manchuria.- How were the reinforcements from the Manchurian base able to arrive already? Those pathetic fools couldn’t even stop that?The Dragon snorted and looked at Kim Mansoo and Yeomyeong, saying…- You’re lucky, Earthian. I hope we can meet in a more appropriate location next time.With those words, Kahal Magdu flew off with all his strength, seemingly beating his wings hurriedly.Although it was hard to understand how such a massive body was able to move so swiftly, the Dragon disappeared into the sky in an instant.And just as it appeared, its disappearance was also swift and elusive.“…Why is it fleeing?Kim Mansoo muttered blankly as he watched the Dragon disappear into the darkness of the night.The one who answered his question was the Saintess, who had been swept away by the zombies but had somehow managed to approach them.“Because at the end of the day, that skeleton bastard is just a mercenary. He doesn’t have enough loyalty to start a full-scale war with the nation.”As soon as he heard those words, Kim Mansoo’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.Yeomyeong, who was caught in Kim Mansoo’s arms, also fell to the ground.The aftereffects of straining his heart and the accumulated fatigue began to overwhelm him, draining all his strength.It wasn’t a problem that could be solved with his Regeneration ability. He would probably be in excruciating pain tonight….It doesn’t matter, seeing that we survived.Yeomyeong shut his eyes. However, just as he was about to pass out, the Saintess suddenly imbued healing light into his head.“You don’t… need to… heal me.”Even though Yeomyeong said that, the Saintess didn’t stop healing him.Eventually, after feeling somewhat rejuvenated, Yeomyeong forced his eyes open. In his vision, he saw the floating head of the Saintess, and she was frowning.“Get up.”“….”“The reporters will be here soon.”“…Reporters? So what?”“Do you expect me to face them all by myself? At least, you have to be in the photos too.”She forcibly helped Yeomyeong stand up. Thanks to the healing light, he managed to stand, albeit shakily.“They must have rushed over as soon as they heard that I, the Saintess, was here. I bet one of those helicopters is full of reporters.”“…”Yeomyeong didn’t hide his expression, ‘ So what do you want me to do about it?’ Seeing this, the Saintess pouted.“Argh, seriously?! They’ll fucking chase me relentlessly if it’s just me, calling me Saintess over and over… Ugh, since you fought as well, do the interview with me. Then I’ll forgive you for touching me earlier.”“…I don’t think there’s anything to forgive.”Despite saying that, Yeomyeong grudgingly moved because he remembered that he had come to Manchuria to gain fame.He had no reason to refuse such an opportunity.“Well… fine, alright. I’ll deal with the reporters with you.”“For real? No backing out?”Yeomyeong nodded with difficulty and turned his gaze beyond the conifer forest.Beyond the dark horizon, numerous helicopters and military trucks were drawing closer.:”