217 – Side Story – New Myth
“…….!!!”
Ariel’s eyes, which immediately entered combat mode due to the experience she had become accustomed to, instantly widened.
– Ohhh…!!!
“Is that…?”
A monster with a huge body bursts through the road paved with anti-demon alloy, exuding ferocious force and appears in an instant.
“Kyaaa!?”
“Even in the city center…? Why…!?”
The gigantic beast, which looked like a giant earthworm but had a hard exoskeleton reminiscent of armor, was suddenly raising its head high in the sky and spreading its evil energy in all directions.
‘This is crazy…’
If that guy shakes his head in all directions.
No, it is a serious situation that could immediately lead to a catastrophe if you even pull out the tail from the ground and swing it.
‘No way…’
In that situation, one possibility flashed through Ariel’s mind as she was sweating coldly.
‘…An off-topic level magical beast?’
The first off-topic level demon beast that helped take her older sister’s life about 10 years ago.
But since then, such a demon has never appeared again, so I thought it was an entity created artificially by the dark circles of the time.
What if the world’s culprit disappeared and the impatience of evil used all its might to create that guy?
If so, the fact that the appearance of demonic beasts has become less frequent over the past few years can be explained.
That huge demonic beast in front of you right now may be an ‘off-topic’ grade demonic beast that has appeared in the world for the first time in 10 years.
‘If there is something that can deal with that…’
In an instant, an image of someone who could deal with a being of that size flashed through Ariel’s mind.
A newly reorganized Hero Association centered around Ariel, Miracle Shine, and several top ranking heroes.
Among the risk levels announced by the association, it is the only existing ‘off-topic’ level risk object.
‘Kang Haneul…..’
If he is there, I might be able to deal with that guy.
But…
‘…What are you thinking?’
Ariel was lost in thought for a moment, then shook her head in shock.
‘You said you would leave the world to me.’
River Haneul trusted her twice and entrusted her with the world.
She has become a new icon of justice and deals with the dark things she cannot do as a shadow, just like she did with her older sister.
In that case, you must live up to those expectations.
‘…Did you just get rid of one earthworm like that?’
Suddenly I start laughing.
I feel like I’ve gone back to the reckless days of 10 years ago.
Thanks to the various restrictions that arose after becoming the #1 ranked hero, I haven’t felt it in a while.
When he decided to take his retirement and protect the world as a professor due to the wounds he received during a recent mission, I felt my heart warming for a moment.
[Warning]
[Danger level ‘off topic’ demonic beast appears]
[Residents in nearby areas must urgently follow the guidance of the heroes…]
That feeling soon changes to a sense of responsibility and sacrifice after hearing the same warning sound that would have rang out 10 years ago.
[The hero currently engaged in combat is…]
‘I protect this world.’
If it were for the world he protected, Ariel was ready to throw himself as hard as he could.
[Former ranking #1 hero, Justia…]
“…Hello, earthworm?”
With such thoughts in mind, Ariel left behind the fleeing citizens with a pale complexion, and blocked the path of the demonic beast that was quietly observing the surroundings.
.
.
.
.
.
– Kugwagwagwagwagwang…!
“…Big!”
With a roar that seemed to shake the heavens and earth, Ariel, who was engulfed in red sparks, falls out.
“Cluck, clack… Ugh…”
After rolling on the ground for a moment, she raises her head, casually wiping away the blood flowing from her mouth.
– Ugh…
As expected, the off-topic grade demon beast was an off-topic level demon beast.
Due to her hero activities over the past 10 years, she had become accustomed to hunting down demonic beasts, but her strength, which was naturally reflected in her ‘outside the topic level’, naturally deviated from that.
“It’s so hard…”
Ariel’s hard shoulder blades had already been dented after several effective blows, and her head was flowing with fluid and blood, but she was still standing on the road, radiating a sinister spirit.
“If I just feed it properly once… I think it’ll be fine… Cough.”
Ariel glared at her and tried to stand up, but she soon stumbled and fell back into her seat.
“…Damn, that’s the same for me.”
Her injuries from her last mission had not fully recovered.
In such a situation, there was a one-on-one battle with an ‘off-topic level’ magic beast that was not a good match, so it was natural that even one more hit would make it dangerous.
– Ugh…
“…Then, there is no need to provoke him in a dangerous way.”
But that didn’t mean the situation was the worst.
Thanks to Ariel buying time by evacuating her citizens, the heroes will arrive in just a few minutes.
Even if it is in perfect condition, it may be difficult to suppress a demonic beast that has suffered quite a bit of damage, but not as much as Ariel, but it is possible to suppress it.
“It’s over for you, you worm…”
Ariel skillfully understood this through accumulated experience, and began to gradually distance herself from him.
“…My colleagues will be here in a little while, and then you can roast earthworms…”
It was at that moment when she quietly raised the corner of her mouth, confident of her victory.
– Swish…!
Her earthworm’s head, which had been glaring at her with her blazing eyes as if listening to Ariel’s words, suddenly turned downwards.
– Ugh..
And a few seconds later, a grinning expression appeared on the guy’s face.
“…….Ah!”
The moment Ariel, who once again felt something ominous about her appearance, followed her guy’s gaze and lowered her head.
“No!!!!”
A pitiful scream bursts from her mouth.
“Ah, ah…”
“It’s so… Black…”
Two young children were sitting down in front of the demon beast, trembling with frightened expressions.
‘Damn! Couldn’t you evacuate? But why…?’
Ariel’s eyes widened as she looked at them in confusion as they were unable to evacuate for some reason despite clearly taking enough time.
“Ah…!”
Blood was flowing from the leg of one of the girls.
Looking at it, it seems that he was caught up in the battle because he was late in evacuation while trying to help a comrade with an injured leg.
‘It’s my fault…! I should have looked around a little more…!’
Because the situation was so urgent, Ariel’s head began to spin quickly after blaming herself for not observing her surroundings properly.
‘…Can I save it?’
So far, the atmosphere of the demonic beast is close to curiosity.
In that case, now is the only chance as he is still showing ‘curiosity’.
We have to hurry and save them before this guy’s curiosity turns into murderous intent…
“……Ah!?”
Thinking like that, Ariel’s complexion, which had been covering her legs with red sparks, momentarily turned pale.
– Sreuk…
The moment he decided to save them, the demon’s eyes narrowed.
It is clear murderous intent. And ridicule.
‘…Could it be using children as bait?’
If it is not just a magical beast but an ‘off-topic’ grade magical beast, there is a good possibility.
And if so, it’s a big deal.
Children’s lives are in danger.
“No!!!!!”
– Hwiik…!
Ariel, who had lost her mind to that point, hurriedly threw herself forward, but the animal’s huge tail was already swinging towards the children.
“Ah…”
This is truly an imminent situation.
‘…What should I do?’
In a fleeting moment as if time had stopped, Ariel’s head was busy once again.
‘What would you have done at a time like this…’
From Noble mtl dot com
But that is only for a moment.
“…Ha.”
A harsh laugh comes out of her mouth.
“What should I do? What should I do?”
At the same time, she sped up even more, hugging her children and opening her eyes wide.
“If you were me, you definitely would have done it like this.’
Perhaps, if you maximize your strength in this state, you will be able to turn the impact entirely on yourself.
Of course, unlike her children, she won’t be safe, but whatever.
‘Right? ‘Kang Haneul?’
Children’s future is the future of the world.
‘…Right, sister?’
With the last question she muttered to herself, Ariel closed her eyes, and soon a long silence began to fall.
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“…..Hmm.”
How much time has passed?
‘What is it?’
Ariel, who was hugging her children with her eyes tightly closed, soon begins to tilt her head.
‘Why doesn’t it hurt?”
As expected, there was no pain from the erection that tore through her entire body, nor did she feel like her body was floating.
‘…Is it heaven?”
So Ariel slowly opened her eyes, wondering if she was already in heaven.
“Ah…..”
Then, her eyes and mouth wide open at the sight unfolding before her.
– Shaaa…
As if pure white snow was falling.
Mysterious crystals, half mixed with blue and silver, were embroidered everywhere.
‘…Is this what heaven looks like?’
Ariel stretched out her hand, looking at that scene with a fierce expression for the first time in a long time.
– Challang…
“But this…”
The crystals of light held in her hand scatter in all directions as if melting.
“It’s like… A star….”
At that very moment, Ariel, who had been watching her in fascination, muttered that in a daze.
– Kugugugugugugung…..!!!
“…Heek!?”
Suddenly, the sound of something heavy falling down echoes everywhere.
“What, what is it?”
Only then did she come to her senses and as she looked around her, an unbelievable sight came into her eyes.
“…Ah, ugh. Ah. Ah.”
A silver-haired girl wearing an International Hero Academy student uniform stood in the middle of the crystals embroidering all around her with a mesmerized expression.
“Well, over there… That’s… So…”
With her hands stretched high into the sky.
“Well, I was half-asleep walking down the street… But before I could evacuate, I got swept away…”
The head of the off-topic level demonic beast that was standing in front like an iron wall just moments ago was half blown and half cooked.
“Right now, Solar and Luna… No, you wouldn’t know if I said this… So, I saw the children at the same orphanage in danger… So… Uh…”
“…………”
“…I’m sorry!”
She didn’t even know what she had done, and she only thought that she had interfered with Ariel’s relief efforts, and she was drowning in self-blame.
‘…Did you absorb and release my power and the demon’s power at the same time?’
“Please… Just expel me, just expel me… Please…”
‘I didn’t just release it… I maximized the instantaneous explosive power… And maximized the damage…’
“Well, I’ll do anything… So if you just pretend you didn’t see me just once…”
‘Then… If given the opportunity to store more power than this in the future… This child…’
Ariel, who was lost in thought as she stared at the child blankly for a while, soon opened her mouth quietly.
“…You.”
“hehehe, hehehe. Yes.”
The darkness that had pervaded her face over the past few days soon disappeared as if it had been washed away.
“…What is your name?”
“Well, I… I’m Goa and I don’t have a name…”
It was only then that he realized why Kang Ha-neul handed over the ‘system’ to him and why he had such a dream.
“…But she has a nickname, Stella.”
“…..Hmm.”
Thanks to that, Ariel stroked the head of the child who was dazzling like a star in front of her with a relieved expression.
“Then let’s use that as your hero name from now on.”
“…Yes?”
“Hey, by the way, I have a favor to ask.”
She opened her mouth, extending her hand with a gentle expression to the child with a confused expression.
“Would you like to hold out your hand?”
“…Cow, hand?”
Quietly calling out the ‘system’ that has been closed for the past 10 years.
[Do you want to transfer system privileges?]
“Since you helped me, I want to give you a gift.”
“Yes…?”
“You’ll need it more than me.”
“Yeah, but…”
“…You’re not going to accept the gift?”
“…………”
The silver-haired girl, who had a bewildered expression at the gentle tone and gaze without any malice, soon blushed and quietly nodded her head.
[Accepted]
[Start system user transfer process…]
[Depending on the user’s will, part of the power of the ‘Concept of Heroes’ is also transferred…]
A new myth that will shine with such brilliant starlight has just begun.
“Um, over there…?”
‘…I’ve done my duty with this, so when I’m done teaching, I’ll go look for Haneul-senpai.’
It is probably a different story from the story so far.