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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Second Terror
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After the first terror, a shocking and horrifying event where three A-rank Heroes were helplessly defeated.
BOOM!
Once again, a pink typhoon, without any warning, began to rage in the heart of Seoul.
Winds strong enough to tear away the facades of buildings whipped through the air, making it hard to even open one's eyes.
In the sky, dozens, even hundreds of magic circles appeared, from which purple lightning, stars, and energy beams began to rain down.
The city began to convulse, as if on the verge of instant annihilation, like divine judgment descending upon the mortal realm.
A magnificent yet terrifying spectacle, appearing as a colossal disaster that mere mortals could not halt.
In the very heart of this place, where buildings swayed and the ground trembled.
From this place, where all ordinary people had already fled to save their own lives.
Only one woman was, instead, charging directly into the eye of the typhoon.
"Ugh…"
Stardust.
She, an A-rank Hero of South Korea.
She alone was pushing through the fierce winds of the magical storm, heading towards the typhoon's center where the villain was located.
"...Hah, hah!"
And her condition was.
Far from good, to say the least.
The violent winds threatened to carry her away, making it impossible for her to even properly open her eyes.
When she finally managed to open her eyes and look straight ahead, an even more despair-inducing scene unfolded before her.
The sky, dyed an unnatural pink, felt alien, as if it didn't belong to this world.
And the things attacking her were far more numerous than during the last terror attack.
"...Hah!"
She barely managed to swing her arm and strike a large, purple star-shaped object hurtling towards her, batting it out of the air.
Pop! The star-shaped object burst like a firework upon impact with her fist.
Purple dust scattered everywhere, and then it vanished without a trace.
And at the same time, lightning began to strike all around her.
CRACK!
ZAP-ZAP-ZAP!
A bizarre sight, with purple lightning striking from all directions.
And simultaneously.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzt—
—BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
"Ugh…"
Purple beams of destruction poured forth from magic circles that had materialized in the air.
In this place, where everything was enveloped in pink and strong winds blew.
As if to eliminate the intruder who had trespassed upon its domain, countless magic circles unleashed a barrage of purple star-shaped projectiles, striking lightning, and spewing energy beams.
And Stardust.
She endured it all alone, struggling to advance even a single step.
"Hah… hah…"
Shin Haru gritted her teeth.
After the last terror attack, she had pushed herself relentlessly, preparing rigorously for the next one.
Though already strong enough to transcend human limits, she pushed herself even further, striving to overcome her own boundaries.
However, as if mocking all her efforts.
The enemy had returned.
Stronger than before.
"Hyaah!"
To evade the beams suddenly pouring from ahead, she rolled on the ground.
The enemy was still so powerful, yet her own strength seemed to weaken the moment she entered this area.
Her body felt sluggish and heavy, as if weighed down by sandbags, or crushed by an unseen force.
And for her, facing the disaster before her eyes was truly a cruel task.
Perhaps the only blessing was that, thanks to new intelligence, the Association had learned of the terror date in advance and had swiftly evacuated almost all civilians.
So now, while there was still a chance.
She absolutely had to deal with the villain at the heart of this typhoon.
All by herself.
Because there was no one to help her.
"Hmph…"
As she thought about this, she found herself pondering something unconsciously.
She was a hero.
And a hero was someone who saved others.
Then who would save the hero?
Who would help her?
"...No one. No one at all."
No one.
A hero had to stand alone and fight the endless malice that came their way, all by themselves.
Right.
Nothing else mattered.
In the end, she could only rely on herself.
With that thought, she gritted her teeth.
Yes.
Stop thinking such absurd thoughts.
She had to overcome this trial on her own.
Definitely.
Steeling her resolve once more, she plunged again into the myriad of magic attacks surging towards her.
And on her body.
A yellow streak of light, unnoticed even by herself, was emanating.
***
"Haru… Ugh! She's awakening again!!!"
Seeing the yellow streak of light emanating from the TV, I, being a Stardust expert, immediately understood what was happening.
This was Stardust's awakened state, where her abilities briefly amplified in extreme situations. Since a certain level of strength was maintained even after the awakening ended, it was a good event that allowed her abilities to grow each time it happened.
Considering she would only fight the Moon Priestess this time and the last, before I intervened, I hadn't even expected this, but it was quite a fortunate development.
Yes. This… this is enough…
As I teared up watching this, Seoeun, who was observing me, sighed and muttered beside me.
"Hah… Why is that person getting stronger again? It's already hard enough to match her specs…"
Seoeun, who had been muttering to herself, suddenly seemed to realize something and asked me again.
"But Oppa, couldn't this go wrong?"
"Ugh. What do you mean?"
"Well. Your plan is that if Stardust loses this terror attack again, you'll intervene and kidnap her when she comes next time. But what if Stardust gets stronger and wins now?"
Ah.
So, she's asking what if Stardust, having just awakened and gotten super strong, captures the Moon Priestess?
I kindly explained to Seoeun, who was worrying unnecessarily.
"Seoeun… if it were that easy, would I be crying like this?"
"Then what?"
"Right now, that Moon Priestess is very strong. Extremely strong."
Because of all the buffs and debuffs laid out by Cheonwolhwang, the leader of the Moonlight Cult, it would be difficult to defeat the Moon Priestess in this state, even if you brought in an average S-rank American Hero.
So, she can't win just by being temporarily stronger!!
"Ugh… I can't watch!"
"Oppa… you're crying, but why are you biting your fist…?"
I closed my eyes and endured it like that.
I just can't bear to watch. This terrible spectacle!
And sure enough.
A little later, I heard another explosion.
[BOOM—!]
[Everyone! As I speak, Stardust has been thrown out of the storm! It is presumed she has suffered an unbearable attack!]
Hah. Just as I thought.
Terrible.
***
"Ugh…"
Stardust, unable to withstand the assault, was ultimately repelled.
She lay fallen on the ground, and only after some time did she manage to stumble to her feet.
Still with one knee on the ground, gasping for breath.
"Hah… hah…."
She had done her best.
She had thrown herself into it with all her might.
But still.
The outcome was no different from before.
"Haha… Hahahahaha…."
The enemy was, in fact, much stronger.
That thing. How could anyone possibly defeat it?
It was then that she realized.
Ah.
I won't be able to defeat that.
The moment that thought surfaced within her.
A terrible sense of despair once again swirled within her.
I can't do it.
Is this as far as I go?
Will I forever be forced to watch helplessly, unable to do anything, as that thing destroys everything?
What kind of monster is inside there there, anyway?
How can it be so strong?
She began to be consumed by negative emotions.
However, she shook her head once.
And leading her stumbling body, she stepped back into the storm.
Right.
She was a hero.
Even if she fell. She had to fight, at least.
As she once again steeled her resolve and stepped into the storm, her eyes were.
Undeniably darker than before.
***
The surreal pink typhoon that destroyed everything.
The sight of countless magic circles suspended in the air.
The storm, which continued to devastate an entire city with overwhelming power, just as it had last time.
So silently, without a word, without a shred of blood or tears, it sought to annihilate Seoul.
The one manipulating this entire typhoon was.
A young-faced woman with long black hair, dressed in white priestess robes, kneeling with her eyes closed, deep in prayer.
Amidst the swirling winds centered around her, this woman, quietly shattering her surroundings, was.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
She continuously offered apologies no one could hear, cold sweat beading on her brow.
'What do I do? People are getting hurt because of me… because of me…'
She was now on the verge of tears.
Yet contrary to her thoughts, her hands ceaselessly drew magic circles in the air, conjuring the storm.
'I can't help it…'
Yes. She couldn't help it.
She was already, in essence, bound by the Cult Leader.
Because of the spell he had embedded within her, she had no choice but to move like a puppet, doing whatever he commanded.
Perhaps she would live forever, controlled by him, harming others until her dying breath.
Feeling her heart grow heavy with such thoughts, she held onto her resolve and continued her work.
The only thing she could do was subtly avoid hitting ordinary civilians with her magic attacks, targeting only nearby buildings instead.
As she continued to destroy the city with the storm and fend off the hero charging towards her with magic.
She soon paused, hearing the Cult Leader's voice echo in her ear.
'My child. It is done now. Proclaim the Moonlight to the world one last time, then return.'
The order to return had been given.
Finally, she could stop this meaningless act of destruction.
She let out a sigh of relief, then slowly began to rein in the storm, preparing to project the Moonlight into the sky.
She was retreating now, but.
Soon enough, she would probably have to go out to destroy another city.
Continuously, endlessly.
Controlled by the Cult Leader's grasp.
"...Will someone ever come to save me?"
She muttered to herself unconsciously, then forced a bitter smile.
Of course not.
This world isn't a fairytale with a prince on a white horse.
And if she thought about the sins she had committed so far.
Perhaps.
Death was the only salvation for her.
With such thoughts, she wove the symbol of Moonlight (月光) with magic into the sky.
The prolonged second terror attack had, at last, come to an end.
***
[The symbol of Moonlight has appeared in the sky! The terror attack has finally, finally ended. Our hero has, once again, been defeated…]
The moment I confirmed the second terror attack had ended, I shot up from my seat.
"Oppa?"
"Dain-ssi?"
As everyone looked at me with puzzled expressions, wondering why I had suddenly stood up.
I declared to them all.
"Alright. From this moment on, we prepare."
For the sole purpose of helping Stardust grow. With the singular will to prevent destruction through her, I had endured twice until now.
So. Now.
"We prepare to stop the next terror attack. Soobin-ssi, please contact the Lepis Faction and tell them to return."
"Huh? Oh, right!"
After saying that much, I ran a hand through my hair and moved towards the place where all the plans had been prepared in advance.
Yes. It was finally time to act.
This long, devastating event that occurred dozens of times in the original story, completely annihilating Seoul, I would now end it with my own hands.
Both to save South Korea.
And to save the Moon Priestess suffering under the Moonlight Cult Leader.
And.
For Stardust, who would continue to suffer.
"Alright!! Everyone, gather up, quickly, quickly!!"
D-7 until the next terror attack.
Until then, everything would be perfectly prepared.
All preparations for kidnapping the Moon Priestess.
Wait for me, Stardust.
I'm coming for you!!!