Chapter 94 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: The Righteous Firefighter and Bubiston
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Bubiston.
A relic often found in dungeons inhabited by fire salamanders, it's a highly flammable substance with tremendous explosive power.
A single small bead-sized piece of Bubiston can reduce a 10-meter radius to ashes. For that reason, it's not treated as a tradeable item and must be reported to the Association immediately upon discovery—it's an ultra-high-risk substance.
"Why the hell is there Bubiston here!"
At Lee Seok-gi's shout, the woman averted her gaze and replied.
"Lately, Awakeners have been buying it up. They say it's fine to use in dungeons."
"Awakeners are buying it? What the hell does that mean!"
At Lee Seok-gi's outburst, the woman bowed her head.
"Unregistered... illegal Awakeners."
Conventional firearms like guns or grenades from the past can't be used in dungeons.
Not only do they fail to damage monsters, but improper use can accelerate dungeon destabilization.
But relics don't cause dungeon destabilization when used. That's why unregistered Awakeners had been using them illegally.
"We need to put out the fire fast. If the flames keep burning, all the remaining Bubiston might explode."
"Does this shop have any ice stones or relics that could cool down Bubiston?"
"No."
"Sergeant! There's Bubiston in an Awakener shop right now..."
Lee Seok-gi's expression hardened as he urgently shouted into the radio slung over his shoulder.
A large rock was embedded in the center of the radio, splitting it in two. It must have been debris from the earlier explosion that smashed it.
"Where on the display shelf is the Bubiston..."
When Lee Seok-gi turned his head, the middle-aged woman was already running toward the exit.
"Damn it!"
With no choice, Lee Seok-gi dashed toward the blazing display shelf. As he searched every corner inside, he suddenly spotted a small metal box exhibited under the shelf.
"Is this it?"
Prying open the metal box revealed a gemstone the size of a red bean inside. It was Bubiston.
"Oh no..."
Lee Seok-gi stared at the Bubiston, despair flickering in his eyes. The transparent, ruby-like Bubiston was already glowing red-hot like embers.
"It's on fire."
Bubiston is extremely stable and doesn't explode easily under normal circumstances. But once it catches fire, disassembling it becomes incredibly tricky.
'It's over.'
His vision went dark.
Even one piece could pulverize an entire house. If it exploded in this building, the whole structure might collapse.
"It can't explode now!"
There were still colleagues in the building, and civilians who hadn't evacuated.
Ssssss.
White smoke rose from the red-hot Bubiston. It seemed ready to blow any second.
"I have to stop the explosion."
Slumping to the floor by the display shelf, Lee Seok-gi rummaged through his pockets. There was a way to disarm a ignited Bubiston—it wasn't impossible, just 'tricky.' There was one simple method to cool it down right before explosion.
Massive amounts of blood.
The reason even powerful Bubiston could only take down one monster was that contact with blood reduced its explosive power.
"Damn it. Why the hell were they smuggling this dangerous Bubiston!"
Pulling a foldable knife from his pocket, Lee Seok-gi tossed off his glove and gritted his teeth.
Slash.
Without hesitation, he sliced his wrist, and red blood dripped onto the heated Bubiston.
Sizzle.
The red glow of the Bubiston dimmed slightly, but it didn't go out completely.
"Damn it! Just go out already!"
It wasn't as easy as he'd thought. But he had to stop this explosion even if it meant draining every drop of blood from his body. Dozens, maybe hundreds of lives hung in the balance.
"If I'm unlucky... at least I'll get a promotion."
Shaking off the fear clinging to his lips with a faint smile, Lee Seok-gi poured more blood onto the Bubiston.
He'd been prepared for this since choosing to become a firefighter. Saving countless lives with his own felt rewarding, not regrettable.
"No, there is something to regret."
Sizzle.
The Bubiston in his hand was now on the verge of exploding, spewing heat in all directions and beginning to melt his glove.
"Sorry, honey. And our son."
Tears streaming down, Lee Seok-gi began slicing his dried-up wrist wound again with the knife.
Sizzle.
Everything spun. He wanted to collapse and close his eyes, but he had to delay the explosion even a little.
"Haa..."
On the brink of life and death, Lee Seok-gi chose death without hesitation, his eyes slowly closing.
"What a pointless endeavor."
Suddenly, a low voice rang out, and a pitch-black shadow loomed before him. A muscular giant with flames blazing in his eyes.
It was the Heavenly Demon.
Nameless, perched on the Heavenly Demon's shoulder, hopped down to the floor.
[This isn't pointless. It's a noble sacrifice. Willingly giving one's life to save others.]
It approached Lee Seok-gi, who was fading into unconsciousness.
[In this situation, the driving force—and the only way—for an ordinary human to save others in crisis is nothing but noble sacrifice.]
"Hmm."
[Heavenly Demon. What do you think? Do you truly see this as all futile in your eyes?]
At Nameless's sharp tone, the Heavenly Demon fell silent.
In truth, the Heavenly Demon had only wanted to go to a hotteok stall. But after long pleas and persuasion, Nameless had dragged him to the fire scene.
The stated reason was rescuing a hotteok place he planned to visit. But Nameless was certain that at the fire, the Heavenly Demon would feel something.
"Still a pointless endeavor."
Nameless's prediction was completely wrong.
Surprisingly, the Heavenly Demon turned his back coldly on the collapsing Lee Seok-gi.
[Heavenly Demon!]
"Wh-who are you..."
Lee Seok-gi, who had briefly lost consciousness, opened his eyes again. A man in distinctive hanbok stood tall before him.
"There were... still people here?"
Having slit his wrist to drain blood, Lee Seok-gi's mind was not fully intact.
"Get out... now. Use my mask... hurry!"
[Don't worry, firefighter. We're Awakeners who saw the fire on our way and came in.]
Nameless approached cautiously and spoke, but Lee Seok-gi only saw the Heavenly Demon's shadow.
"It might... explode soon, so..."
Collapsed on the floor, Lee Seok-gi struggled to remove his mask and offer it to the Heavenly Demon.
"Put this on and get out..."
Thud.
Having half-removed his mask while flailing, Lee Seok-gi rolled his eyes back and collapsed again.
[Heavenly Demon!]
"Quiet."
Despite Nameless's desperate cry.
"What a pathetic sight."
The Heavenly Demon sneered down at the unconscious Lee Seok-gi.
"Pathetic wretch. Who do you think you can save, powerless as you are."
But his eyes held not coldness, but a hint of admiration unlike his words.
"...Your will to save me, however, I acknowledge."
Whoosh.
Finger winds shot from the Heavenly Demon's fingers, piercing Lee Seok-gi's body. With a whooshing sound, color returned to Lee Seok-gi's ashen face.
[Haa.]
Nameless sighed in relief, finally noticing the Bubiston pieces in Lee Seok-gi's grasp.
[Heavenly Demon. The Bubiston is on the verge of exploding. We must cool it quickly.]
"Don't command me."
Picking up the Bubiston, the Heavenly Demon circulated his inner energy. With a full cycle's worth of true qi gathered, he could unleash martial arts to a certain level without Heavenly Demon Great Ability.
"Cold Spirit Ice White Freezing the Heavens!"
Swooooosh.
As transparent chill gathered in the Heavenly Demon's hand.
"Ugh."
Suddenly, the collapsed Lee Seok-gi clutched his wrist and screamed.
"Aaaagh!"
Crimson flames erupted from Lee Seok-gi's fingertips, and the fire-resistant suit around his forearm melted in an instant.
"What is that?"
As the Heavenly Demon frowned, Nameless's eye sensor whirred.
Whirr. Click.
Spotting blood-mixed molten Bubiston in Lee Seok-gi's palm, Nameless shouted.
[Part of the Bubiston he held seems to have entered his body, causing an abnormal reaction!]
"Entered his body?"
"Kaaah!"
Lee Seok-gi flailed his arm, spewing crimson flames.
Roar.
The flames pouring from his fingertips set the warehouse interior ablaze even fiercer.
"Heh heh."
With eyes rolled back and spewing smoke, Lee Seok-gi looked like the embodiment of a fire demon.
"Even boiling the air... Like the Flame Hell Art of the Fire Shifting Palace."
The warehouse temperature spiked several degrees from the flames. Watching Lee Seok-gi spew fire, the Heavenly Demon smirked coldly.
"Stones embedded in flesh spew fire? Is this how your world works?"
Nameless shook its head at the Heavenly Demon's question.
[Bubiston extinguishes on blood contact. I suspect this firefighter... was a latent Awakener whose powers awakened due to the Bubiston.]
"Kaaaah!"
With eyes fully white, Lee Seok-gi suddenly unleashed powerful flames at the Heavenly Demon. As the intense blaze surged head-on, the Heavenly Demon circulated energy and thrust out his hand.
"Cold Spirit Ice White Guarding Yin Palm!"
Sizzle.
Though Cold Spirit Ice White Divine Art was the world's supreme ice technique, the Heavenly Demon's energy was only one cycle. Its full power wasn't realized.
"Pushing back one cycle's power?"
As flames surged into his body in an instant, the Heavenly Demon's pride stung.
Of course, with Heavenly Demon Great Ability, he could freeze it instantly, but using it on a trivial human wounded his dignity.
"Fist Demon Seven Forms, Thunderclap Annihilation!"
Enraged, the Heavenly Demon switched from ice to fist technique.
Boom!
With one cycle's energy in a single punch, Lee Seok-gi's body smashed through the warehouse wall and flew to the entrance.
"Ugh."
Amid rubble, Lee Seok-gi's body twitched with crumbling sounds.
"Surviving that."
As the Heavenly Demon's pride stung again, kneading his fist.
"Rescue target... found."
Struggling to open his eyes, Lee Seok-gi staggered up. Spotting the Heavenly Demon, he shouted.
"Are you okay?"
"..."
"Don't worry. You're safe now."
Due to the shock of the Heavenly Demon's punch, Lee Seok-gi's rolled-back white eyes returned to clarity.
"Don't just stand there—get low. I'll come to you..."
Then Lee Seok-gi glanced at the crimson flames still blazing from his palm.
"Huh? Why is there fire in my hand..."
Shaking his hand, Lee Seok-gi suddenly dropped to one knee. The sudden awakening triggered by Bubiston—not natural—overwhelmed his body.
"Why is my body... like this?"
Forcing himself up again, Lee Seok-gi reached out to the Heavenly Demon.
"Grab my hand quick. We need to get out of here."
Ignoring his melting arm like candle wax, Lee Seok-gi struggled to save the Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon watched silently.
"Grab my hand, quick."
Lee Seok-gi reached out, but his arm went limp.
Seeing his fishing-rod-like dangling arm, he fumbled with the other hand.
"There's a portable mask in the pouch on my belt. Hurry and escape. No time."
Flames from his hand had burned his body, leaving his mind unstable. Yet he worried only for others' lives.
After long silence, the Heavenly Demon slowly spoke.
"Are you not afraid of death?"
A question laden with countless meanings.
Staring blankly, blinking, Lee Seok-gi smiled.
"I've been prepared for it for a long time."
"Why."
"It's... my duty."
Heat pouring from his body began melting not just his arms but his facial skin. Yet the resolute will and conviction in his eyes never wavered.
"Duty, you say."
Thud.
Lee Seok-gi collapsed, melting like liquid human. Bones liquefying from his own flames.
"Get away, quick."
Deflating like a punctured balloon, Lee Seok-gi withered pathetically toward death.
Even as his life flickered like a dying candle, he shouted to the Heavenly Demon.
"Hurry before it's too late..."
Narrowing his eyes at the shrinking Lee Seok-gi, the Heavenly Demon activated Heavenly Demon Great Ability. Deeper than flames, blood-flame radiance poured from his eyes.
"A dog's death. Never again stake your life on such duty."
His low voice, powerful and resonant, carried majesty commanding all things.
Woooom.
Grasping Lee Seok-gi's wrist, the Heavenly Demon's eyes poured strange light. Injecting Reverse Extreme True Energy to suppress the invading Bubiston power.
"Ughhh."
Receiving inner energy, Lee Seok-gi's body slowly floated into the air.
Reverse Extreme True Energy, encompassing yin and yang, pierced every meridian, and a powerful force swirled in his dantian.
Kwoooo!
"Hoo."
Exhaling deeply, the Heavenly Demon opened his eyes.
Lee Seok-gi's melted body had fully restored, color returning to his face.
[The Bubiston...]
Nameless gasped.
The Bubiston in Lee Seok-gi's hand had turned from red to transparent.
"No surprise. I merely fused this stone's flame power with my Reverse Extreme True Energy to open the meridians."
As the Heavenly Demon turned indifferently with impassive eyes.
"Heh, a justice-driven Awakener, huh?"
A sneering voice came from behind. No human shadow anywhere.
Clank. Whirr.
Nameless deployed sensors, scanning the voice's origin. Finally, UV sensor revealed a faint shadow at the exit.
[Exit side. An Awakener in AC Suit—active camouflage.]
"I saw it too."
"Oho, quite the advanced nanobots. Customized?"
The faint shadow muttered lowly without revealing itself.
"Insolent."
The Heavenly Demon moved to strike with a sudden punch.
But suddenly, a pop from the display shelf behind him ignited new flames. The shadow shook its head watching.
"Oops. Mistimed it. Should've come sooner."
"What do you mean."
At the Heavenly Demon's question, a grinning smile flickered from the faint shadow.
"The Bubiston hidden in this shop. Came to retrieve it... but too late."
The shadow shook its head regretfully.
"Well, if you wanna live, run till your feet sweat."
A cold voice flowed from the turning shadow.
"The whole area's gonna collapse."
Whirr. Beep. Beep.
That instant, scanning the floor below, Nameless's eyes flashed red. Detecting immense high heat under the display shelf.
[Heavenly Demon, another Bubiston hidden under the display shelf!]
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