The Daeryong Group scandal sent shockwaves through Korea. But it didn't generate much interest internationally. Such scandals were commonplace in other countries. Those who heard about it considered the Korean public's reaction excessive.
"…This is going to be troublesome. They've finally started targeting the elites."
But some had been watching closely, especially those directly involved.
"Such a shame. It will be difficult to find another company as perfectly suited as Daeryong."
New Delhi, India.
A woman with brown skin, reclining on a low sofa in a room filled with mandala-patterned fabrics arranged like a maze, muttered softly.
She took a drag from her hookah, exhaling a cloud of pastel-colored smoke.
'…Tsk, it can't be helped. I anticipated this.'
She had deliberately limited the information available to the greedy old man, anticipating his actions.
'It's a shame to lose a valuable asset, but…'
It wasn't a complete loss. She had learned that his influence and information network in Korea were far greater than she had anticipated. She didn't know if it extended overseas, but it was something to consider.
'I'll leave Korea alone for now. There's nothing to gain from intervening in this situation.'
The Oracle nodded slowly. There was no point dwelling on the past. She needed to focus on the bigger picture.
"Hah…"
She exhaled a stream of pale yellow smoke, watching it swirl and dance in the air, her eyes losing focus.
Hum Buzz Hum
A torrent of information flooded her mind: fragmented images, abstract concepts, distorted realities… mountains and oceans coexisting, human-shaped clouds devouring hammers from the sun, reading foxes, insect-shaped guns, elephants drinking lightning, mud-formed stars…
An hour passed before she returned to the present.
"Hmm."
She took another drag from her hookah, reaching for a communication device. She contacted someone.
-"What is it, Oracle? So sudden."
"Nothing much… You're in the Philippines, right?"
-"Indeed. Those pesky rats are annoying me. I was planning to wipe them all out, but they're hiding somewhere. So many islands, it's infuriating."
"Go to Dinagat. They're planning something there."
-"Oh? Excellent news. Eliminating them will be easy once I know their location. They're just rats."
She nodded slowly at the Southeast Asian branch manager's cheerful voice, then spoke. Revealing the rebels' location was just a prelude. She had something more important to discuss.
"I'll be sending the Executioner to your location soon."
-"…That madman? I heard he's busy in Africa."
The branch manager's voice turned wary. He considered himself quite mad, but even he was apprehensive about the Executioner.
"Yes, we need to be more proactive. Yulryeongja, the Duke, and the Scribe are gone, and Doctor is in hibernation. We can't afford any more losses."
-"Ahem, as you wish."
The branch manager reluctantly agreed. He couldn't argue with his superior's decision. And he was also uneasy about the recent death of the Duke, the powerful European branch manager.
"Good. Carry on."
-"Sigh, this is going to be troublesome. I'll take out my frustrations on those rats."
The communication ended. The Oracle narrowed her eyes, staring into space, as if trying to see the unseen...
"I still can't see anything clearly. But…"
She had learned to compensate for her flawed precognition. While not a powerful fighter, she was a Transcendent in her own right, and she had a vast information network.
It wasn't difficult to predict the enemy's next target.
'I should start preparing.'
For the arrival of a troublesome guest.
***
Africa, notorious for its lawlessness. Even before the emergence of Awakened individuals, it had been a land of constant conflict. Now, it was a living hell. Death was an everyday occurrence.
Most governments struggled to control even their capital cities, their authority barely extending beyond urban centers. Warlords and criminal organizations, armed with otherworldly weapons and abilities, clashed daily. It was arguably the most active battlefield for supernatural powers on Earth.
"Gah… Ugh… D-Demon…"
Even in this land of constant violence, what was happening now was unusual. A Transcendent Realm Awakened, a veteran of over a decade of conflict in Africa, was trembling in fear. He was known as a ruthless killer, but… anyone would react the same way if they saw what he was seeing.
Crackle
Red. Everything was red. Raging flames, viscous blood covering the cracked earth.
Squish Crunch
No, there was one thing that wasn't red.
A figure walking towards him, stepping on mangled remains.
Could this being even be called a person?
The Transcendent, lying on the ground, his legs severed, the leader of the largest faction in South Sudan, stared up at the approaching figure.
Black scales reflecting the flickering flames, a towering figure over three meters tall, four sharp horns, bat-like wings, and a long, whip-like tail ending in a sharp point. A demon straight from hell.
'Is that… an Awakened? Or something else entirely?'
Two eyes, glowing red amidst sharp, shark-like teeth. His gaze, hardened through years of conflict, wavered as he met the demon's eyes.
"Damn it!"
Crunch
He bit his tongue, the pain sharpening his mind. He pushed himself up, the severed stumps of his legs already cauterized thanks to his regenerative abilities. He was off-balance, one leg severed below the knee, the other mid-shin, but it was a minor inconvenience for a Transcendent.
'…I can't win.'
He knew it. He had just witnessed his elite Awakened forces, including several Master-level combatants, slaughtered by this single demon.
'But I won't die easily.'
He narrowed his eyes, his pride as a renowned warrior and the strongest in South Sudan refusing to allow him to die without a fight, without even landing a single blow.
His ether surged, fueled by his fighting spirit, enveloping him.
The demon paused. Not because of his opponent's defiance, but because he had just received a message.
["…"]
He nodded slowly, having read the message. He had intended to prolong the fight, but it seemed he had to end it now.
Whoosh
Crimson flames erupted from his hand, swirling around his claws, distorting the space around him, cracking the earth beneath his feet.
"Hah… Hah…"
The Transcendent, facing the overwhelming pressure, felt cold sweat trickling down his face. The flames weren't real fire, but concentrated energy shaped into the form of flames. The same power that had crushed his subordinates and severed his legs.
"Aaaaaah! Die!"
He had nothing left to lose. He launched himself at the demon, a final, desperate attack.
["Pfft…"]
The demon, silent until now, let out a soft chuckle, as if finally satisfied.
Flap
His wings spread wide, his four horns humming. He raised a hand wreathed in flames, swatting away the incoming attack like a fly.
Whoosh
Space itself tore. There was no sound at first, then—
Rumble KABOOM
A deafening roar as the torn space mended itself, the shockwave crushing everything in its path. The earth quaked, the clouds scattered, and the remnants of energy ignited the surroundings.
Rumble Crackle
Only the demon remained standing amidst the devastation, casually dusting off his hands.
["…Such a shame."]
He glanced down at his black scales, a few cracked and broken.
'It would have been more fun if he had used his full power from the start.'
He wondered if he would find a worthy opponent in his next destination. He turned, spreading his wings.
Flap Flap
The Executioner, a member of the Master of Heaven's Turn's personal guard, who had been rampaging across Africa, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction, headed towards the Philippines. Having slain over a dozen Transcendents and countless others.
***
Within the 「Dragon's Lair」, a personal dimension—
"It's finally done!"
A gruff voice echoed from the workshop area.
A dwarf, surrounded by a massive furnace, a glowing anvil, and other advanced crafting equipment, danced and cheered, holding up a pair of metal bracers.
"Ehahaha! Nothing is impossible for me! This was nothing!"
Howard, the dwarf, had been working tirelessly on the language translation magical tool for Andrew, minimizing distractions. He had expected it to be a difficult, time-consuming task, but several factors had accelerated the process.
'This 「Dragon's Lair」 is unbound by any laws!'
This wasn't Earth, Auterica, or Ganghwange. He could use any material, even those from unknown dimensions, without limitations.
'Excellent. The perfect workshop. I could do this in other worlds with 「Savior」, but replicating this environment wouldn't be easy.'
A personal magical workshop, accessible anytime, anywhere. And a semi-permanent time dilation barrier, powered by the Lair's energy, accelerating time by a factor of nearly one hundred.
"Hah, this will give Andrew's activities a significant boost."
He smiled, stroking the beautifully crafted metal bracers, imagining Andrew's delight. He hadn't considered Andrew's preferences. Who wouldn't appreciate such a valuable gift?