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[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 26: Shooting, Star (1)
The Forest Queen halted her advance.
From countless holes in her shell, massive, winged ants erupted into the sky.
{!WARNING!}
Baek Ho’s system alert window wouldn’t stop blaring.
A Level 4 Insectian: “Antagon” had appeared—it advised him to prepare for the end.
It told the familiars to shut down for salvage.
And told him to self-terminate.
In a moment of total defeat like this, the hierarchy between Necromancer and Reaper flipped.
“We’re all gonna die…”
“Ugh…”
The Pig Mask and Chicken Mask had lost their minds in terror.
On their HUDs, a flashing message urged them to flee to the nearest shelter.
Unlike the two paralyzed by shock, Frank stood silently, gazing at Baek Ho.
He was waiting—for Baek Ho’s decision.
“This is seriously… so messed up.”
Baek Ho gritted his teeth.
This was the worst-case scenario he’d hoped to avoid when he stepped outside.
He was furious at his own incompetence.
His mind boiled with helplessness. His insides felt like they were searing.
This is why he hated coming outside.
This is why he hesitated to leave in the first place.
But the damage was done—there was no turning back now. He had to clean up the mess himself.
Baek Ho tilted his head back, eyes lifting to the empty sky.
His lips, drawn tight with frustration, parted against his will.
“Deploy.”
Just one word.
A simple command—but the weight behind it was anything but.
Vwooooom—
The sky above shimmered.
A cloaking spell dissipated.
The burning sun was suddenly blotted out, casting the ground in shadow.
A massive aerial vessel appeared in the air.
A black airship shaped like a turtle.
It had a dragon’s head at the front, spikes along the deck, long cannons jutting from either side—and crimson characters engraved on its underside.
一One strike to scour the earth. Blood will flood the land.
“Wha…”
The Chicken Mask pulled off his mask.
With wide, whites-only eyes, he stared up at the ship.
His hands trembled.
Fear drained from his face—replaced by a cold, electric shiver.
That was no ordinary aircraft.
It was the Gwisin—a legendary war vessel of Yeomra Corporation.
“Why is “that” here…?”
He’d only ever heard of it in rumors—the Gwisin only took flight when the Baek Family themselves stepped onto the battlefield.
“Then… does that mean…”
He turned to Baek Ho.
Baek Ho’s gaze was fixed, unwavering, on the ship.
Then, as if forcing out the words, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Drop.”
The underbelly of the Gwisin opened wide.
Shadows poured out.
Reapers, cloaked in black robes, fell like bombs from the sky.
“Ah… Ahhh…”
The Pig Mask faltered and collapsed to the ground.
Clad in black robes and a black hat, a long curved sword was strapped at the waist.
That appearance was the symbol of the Prime Reapers created by Yeomra, the "Chasa."
–Hear me, Chasa!
[Chasa — Reaper or Death’s Messenger]
The man at the front let out a battle cry.
–It is the Young Master’s command! Spare none!
No sooner had he spoken than the cannons on the Gwisin fired, unleashing torrents of flame.
Hundreds of explosive shells rained down.
The metal, infused with mana, pierced the bodies of the monsters, turning the area into a sea of flames.
Boom! Boom!
The once peaceful, lush forest swiftly transformed into a battlefield.
Forces from both sides clashed.
–Kill them all!
The Chasa drew their swords.
Gripping their swords with their right hands and holding crimson steel chains in their left. They hurled the chains toward the monsters.
The chains pierced through the monsters' bodies—
Chkiik!
The chains tightened—pulling the Chasa forward.
Using the momentum, they swung their swords with all their might.
Swoosh—
The deep blue sword sliced through the monsters’ exteriors with ease.
What once seemed like unkillable monsters now fell, their legs severed and their bodies split in half by a single strike.
Screech!
The Chasa moved between the monsters with the help of their Necroshell.
Some glided through the air, others walked on nothing but thin air, and some teleported in short bursts.
Each fought with their own method, swinging their swords in every direction.
It was as if they moved in a bloody, death-filled dance.
Like hunters on the prowl, they tore through the monsters below.
“Young Master.”
A tall, lean man descended before Baek Ho.
His pale skin stood in stark contrast to his black hat.
A long, great sword was strapped to his back.
“It’s been a while.”
“Thank you for summoning me. I almost disobeyed the order to stay out of it.”
“…I see.”
Then, another figure descended.
A woman wearing a black robe embroidered with floral patterns, draping it over her shoulder.
Instead of a hat, she wore a hairpin in her hair.
“Young Master, I trust you’ve been well.”
She greeted him softly, smiling brightly.
Her beauty was striking, though her dark eye makeup gave her a cold, eerie aura.
“Seonhwa, you’ve come too.”
"How could I stay away when there's something so tempting?"
"Sis, please stop talking."
"Hoho... you, be quiet."
Despite the chaos of battle, the two Chasa remained composed and unfazed.
“Could it be…?”
The Pig Mask took off his mask.
He blinked in disbelief.
It wasn’t the firepower of the Gwisin, nor the unmatched skill of the Chasa that surprised him.
It was what they wore at their waists.
The Emblem, engraved with a tiger, was a symbol of the Baek Family's elite bodyguards.
What that meant was clear.
That man, D...
“...Baek Ho?”
“You bastard!”
Seonhwa shouted angrily.
She pulled out a pistol inscribed with talismans and aimed it.
“How dare you speak his name so casually!”
“I-I didn’t mean to—”
“A rat chasing paradise dares to run its mouth? I should tear you limb from—”
“Enough.”
At Baek Ho’s words, Seonhwa quickly hid the pistol and bowed her head with demure grace.
“My apologies. I got a little carried away at the sight of such a pathetic worm.”
“Forget it. Just clean this up. We don’t have time.”
“As you wish.”
With a calm nod, Seonhwa turned her back to him.
She drew another pistol from within her robes, raised both arms toward the sky, and bounced lightly on her feet.
Her arms trembled like leaves in the wind.
Then, parting her crimson lips, she whispered the spell—then pulled the trigger.
“Art of the Five Elements—White Flame”
Beams of white light burst from the gun’s muzzle.
Tiny white fireballs shot out and swarmed toward the airborne ants.
Midway through flight, dozens of flames extended white threads toward one another.
As they connected, they formed the shape of a blooming flower—
A white blossom, blooming in midair.
BOOM!
The giant ants were consumed by the blazing white flame.
Reduced to ash, their charred remains rained down onto the ground.
Black embers swirled above the sea of fire.
“I’ve warmed up enough—off I go.”
Seonhwa winked at Baek Ho and vanished like a gust of wind.
“Seongyu, you go too.”
“But my duty is to protect you, Young Master.”
“Frank’s here. I’ll be fine.”
Seongyu looked over at Frank.
He gave a respectful nod.
Frank returned the gesture in kind.
“Then I’ll trust you and take my leave.”
Gripping the hilt of the great sword strapped to his back with both hands, Seongyu slammed his foot into the ground—leaving a deep crater.
A dark blue flash erupted from the back of his leg as he shot skyward.
He channeled mana into his greatsword.
With explosive force and added weight, he swung it sideways.
Whoooooom—!
The air split with a deafening boom.
A massive chunk of the Forest Queen’s carapace was ripped off.
“......”
“......”
The Liberation Army watched in stunned silence, unable to speak in the face of such overwhelming power.
‘That kind of strength was hovering over us the entire time…’
Of course—Baek Ho, heir of one of the Seven Mega Corporations and a Necromancer family, had come outside.
It made sense he’d be escorted.
Still… Why show up only now?
Had they been present from the beginning, they would’ve never clashed with the White Skull Syndicate.
‘We wouldn’t even have had to worry about monsters…’
Doubt gave way to dread.
If Reapers were this powerful, why did humanity still have to hide?
Humans, Otherkin, Monsters.
People in the cities believed the war was fought between these three factions.
But those who lived outside knew the truth.
Earth had become a battlefield for the Otherkin and the Monsters.
Humans? They were just helpless bystanders, caught between the conflict of titans.
Frank approached Baek Ho.
“…You okay?”
“They would've come down even if I hadn’t called them.”
His lips trembled.
He looked so weak, it was hard to believe he was the one who had commanded those powerful Chasa.
"Because of me... people will die again, won't they?"
"It's okay. We just need to hurry."
The two members of the Liberation Army didn't understand Baek Ho's words.
Monsters were being slaughtered in front of them, but who exactly was dying?
Could it be those powerful Chasa?
The answer to that question came from someone else.
Bzzzzz—
A tremor ran across the back of the Chicken Mask’s hand.
The caller was Elise.
He stepped back and quietly answered the phone.
"Yes, Elise..."
–Are you still with Baek Ho?
Elise’s voice was filled with urgency.
"Yes... Elise, you knew about his identity?"
–No, don’t! You need to get out of there, now!
"Why? Isn't it safe here?"
–Think, damn it! Why do you think Baek Ho hasn't called for Gwisin yet?
"I... I don't understand..."
–Baek Ho! The son of the hero! And now his location is showing up on the radar! For me! And for the others!
"So...?"
–Do you think the Otherkin won’t notice?
"Ah... Ah!"
To humanity, he’s the descendant of a hero.
To the enemy, he’s the descendant of a sworn enemy.
A man who could be considered humanity’s greatest warrior is out there, alone.
What does Commander Baek mean to the Otherkin?
Even among their troublesome undead forces, he’s regarded as exceptional.
He’s split off from the main force, Grave, causing destruction wherever he goes.
This is a rare opportunity to exploit his weakness.
No clever species—like elves or goblins—would let such a chance slip away.
There are those who want to kill him, and those who want to protect him.
One side will use all their strength to kill him, while the other will do everything in their power to keep him alive.
This marks the beginning of an all-out war—all because of one person.
–Get out of there right now! Hurry!
＊ ＊ ＊
Commanders' Headquarters.
The bridge of Grave was chaotic.
In front of the wheel that steered the ship, the captain stood with a serious expression. Reapers, who had manned the helm for decades, moved quickly, operating the floating holograms and gauges, barely pausing to speak.
"There's still no distress signal!"
"Teleportation energy has been detected in a nearby sector!"
"Movement from the Elf faction seems suspicious!"
One of the Reapers turned around and looked at the captain.
"There's a message from Yeomra. Should we connect?"
"Yes."
A figure in a red suit appeared on the screen in front of the bridge. It was Baek Ran.
–Turn the ship around immediately!
Her voice was frantic, her face flushed with anger.
"We can't do that."
Baek Ran's voice came through again, more insistent.
–Do you think I'm saying this without reason?
“I understand the severity of the situation, but Grave cannot move. If we proceed, we’ll also have to retreat from Sector 61, Sector 37, and Sector 79. Many lives will be lost in the process.”
This meant that several key battle zones would fall outside of Grave’s control.
Baek Ran closed her eyes tightly, then spoke softly.
–Senior, please.
“…Ran, is Baek Ho on that ship?”
Baek Ran didn’t answer, but her silence spoke volumes.
The captain stroked his beard with a serious expression.
"CEO Baek, the position of Supreme Commander is currently vacant, so we need the approval of the two vice-commanders. Since Commander Baek is on a mission, we require Vice-Commander Masamune's approval."
–Do you think he’ll approve?
“I’m afraid not. I don’t have the authority to recall commanders from the battlefield. Our only option now is…”
The captain’s words trailed off, and Baek Ran cut in.
–I’ll exercise the corporate special resolution rights.
"Understood."
Soon after, the massive screen split into seven sections, displaying the logos of the seven corporations.
Voices from two of them immediately followed.
–Our ‘Hades’ agrees.
–Our ‘Hella’ does as well.
These were the two corporations friendly with Yeomra.
Then, Anubis, a corporation that didn’t interact with others, ended its communication.
3 votes in favor. 1 abstention.
Now, the fate of Grave’s course depended on the decisions of the remaining three corporations.
"We’ll now hear from the heads of Izanami, Chernobog, and Nergal. If you’re unaware of the situation, I can explain, though I don’t think that will be necessary."
–Ha ha…
–This is interesting.
–......
From this point on, the battle for corporate interests would begin.
–As for our Yeomra Corporation…
Just as Baek Ran was about to offer a tempting proposal, the seven corporate logos on the screen slid away, revealing a black star.
It was Commander Baek.
–It seems there’s been some misunderstanding.
His stern voice echoed through the bridge.
–There’s no issue with Yeomra at the moment, so the meeting should be canceled.
With those words, the seven corporate logos disappeared from the screen.
＊ ＊ ＊
In a space resembling a scaled-down version of Grave’s command bridge, Commander Baek stood tall.
Was it the lighting—or the situation?
His already cold face now looked as stiff and lifeless as a corpse.
“Commander.”
A short Reaper with their hand on the control wheel spoke.
“There’s a call from CEO Baek Ran.”
Commander Baek wordlessly fidgeted with something in his coat pocket before responding.
“Put it through.”
The Reaper hit the connection button—and shouting erupted instantly.
–Hey!!
The echoing voice made the Special Operations Unit’s Reapers stationed on the bridge flinch.
–Are you out of your mind? Are you high? Or did His Majesty decide to personally lead a rescue mission?
"Watch your tone."
–You son of a bitch!
"They say power changes people. But I guess that doesn’t apply to you."
–......
Baek Ran fell silent for a moment, thrown off by his cold reply.
Realizing her anger wasn’t getting through, she shifted tactics—her tone turning from rage to desperation.
–Why are you doing this… Is it because of tomorrow’s Council of Elders? Are you worried something might jeopardize your appointment as Supreme Commander? It’s already confirmed—it’s yours. If it really makes you uneasy, I’ll pull more strings in the city.
“How typical of you.”
–Oppa… Have you forgotten what we did to that kid…? What we implanted in him…? What we ripped out of him?
After a moment of silence, Commander Baek spoke again.
“Don’t underestimate him.”
–......
“I trust that boy. Just think about what we made him into—what we did to him.”
–Haah…
“He’s not someone who’ll break this easily.”
–If… if something happens to Baek Ho… I swear I’ll nuke the entire fucking city.
"You’ve lost your damn mind."
–Damn right I have. So you'd better be ready to take full responsibility for this.
The call ended.
Everyone on the bridge turned to look at Commander Baek.
He slowly dragged his hands down his face, covering it for a moment, as if trying to hold himself together.
Then, in a low, steady voice he spoke.
"How long until we reach Grave?"
"Three hours, sir."
"Make it faster. Whatever it takes."
He looked up at the screen.
The Gwisin, ablaze, streaked across the sky—completely surrounded by elven forces.
Boom! Boom!
Blasts of elemental magic erupted from the elves' hands, hammering the Gwisin’s deck without pause.
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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