Episode 165
To Kang Tae-min, Villain was the totality of negative emotions. He hated and hated the villain, and sympathized with the sorrow and pain felt by the victim.
But he showed no emotion. It was because emotions were rarely helpful in eliminating villains.
For more efficient annihilation of villains, Kang Tae-min has felt the need to act like a machine, and sometimes even replaces his brain with metal to deal with it.
Emotions are usually affected by hormone secretion, so it was easy to control emotions by changing to metal.
But now, the anger Kang Tae-min felt was not of that kind.
‘How dare you… !’
To Kang Tae-min, Lee Lu-ah was a kind of proof. Proof that what he has done is not wrong, and that the future he changes is right.
Kang Tae-min hoped that this future would be enjoyed by Yi-rua, who understood him.
“I can feel the echo of the soul.”
Man-wol looked at the iron man corps slaughtering believers and commented.
In front of Kang Tae-min and his alter egos who share that consciousness, Shinto was nothing more than a piece of meat. It was only natural that the apostles were skilled enough to destroy them.
After clearing up, the legion aimed at him. However, Man-wol did not feel any inspiration.
“You can’t enlighten a machine that moves by mere command.”
The fluttering lobes opened and dozens of tentacles protruded. Its speed and power were so intense that the air-shattering roar was deafening.
The clones who were aiming for the full moon were intercepted by the tentacles and shattered at once. Kang Tae-min dug in between the scattered pieces of metal.
Then, the scattered pieces of metal circled around him and rotated fiercely. Tearing off his tentacles with the blade storm he created, Kang Tae-min approached Man-wol.
“I see, you match madness.”
However, the full moon was still relaxed. Even as Rip and Tear splits his body and collapses.
Kang Tae-min immediately knew the reason.
‘… This?!’
The blood splattered from the torn tentacles was entangled like a spider’s web. Taemin Kang had already seen this phenomenon.
‘Is it Vernon’s ability to regenerate!’
It was the overwhelming super regenerative ability of Vernon, the first apostle he met on Crown Island.
As if that thought was correct, the tentacles of Manwol that had been cut off returned to their original form.
“Life is full of suffering.”
The recovered tentacles entangled in a spiral and flew towards Kang Tae-min. At the same time as the collision, a huge shock wave spread in all directions, and the clones and believers were blown away.
“The cause of suffering is reason.”
However, Taemin Kang persevered. Although about half of the torso was blown off, that much was able to be repaired.
In response, he immediately launched a counterattack.
“Only the pale moon’s blessing, madness can heal its reason.”
A battle that could not be caught with the eyes continued. There was a roaring sound as if it had been bombarded, and the dome shook and collapsed due to the shock wave.
“At the end, wait for peace and rest.”
The full moon looked up at the pale moon as it slithered through countless tentacles. Less than a minute had passed before the gospel he recited was over. However, the surrounding landscape was completely ruined.
“Abandon your egotism and listen to the great being.”
At the end of the full moon, the pile of rubble trembled. No, it didn’t shake, it permeated.
Kang Tae-min stood up, absorbing the metal used for the dome.
‘The distance is quite far.’
Even if the anger was intense, I couldn’t get caught up in it. Kang Tae-min was checking the people who had taken refuge underground even during the battle.
Fortunately, there was a subway track, so the clones were evacuating with them.
“I know for sure.”
When Kang Tae-min stood up, the dust fell.
“It’s not crazy to believe in such nonsense.”
“… No Name wanted you to stay alive.”
The tentacles of the full moon spread in all directions, burrowing into the corpse of a follower lying in the rubble. Tentacles squirmed and the corpse stood up trembling.
“I cannot keep my promise to save your soul.”
The corpse that stood up was not its true form, but a mass of tentacles like Manwol’s body.
‘This time, it’s Anne Nahoz’s proliferative ability. then… .’
The apostle is a being created by the full moon.
‘I’ll have to think of using all of the apostles’ abilities.’
The source of their ability was also the full moon.
* * *
Meanwhile, the association’s headquarters.
“Chief of the association, are you okay?”
Bae Seung-ju looked at Seol Gyu-jin with a sad expression. With the successive use of abilities and the intake of mana potions, Sanity’s replication went smoothly.
However, the mana potion did not recover from mental fatigue, and Seol Ga-eun’s ability could only turn the body.
“I am fine.”
He said it with an expression that didn’t look good at all, so he couldn’t be trusted. But I had to accept it. 1 minute and 1 second was a pity.
“Bo, chief!”
“What’s going on?!”
At that time, everyone’s eyes went back to the voice of the staff member who intruded.
“He said, the teacher of extinction has arrived… .”
“Is that true!?”
“Mr. Kang?”
“Are you Teacher Taemin?!”
Before the words were finished, all three reacted violently. It was because everyone judged that Kang Tae-min was outside the overlapping space.
“Yes, but I’m looking for Seol Ga-eun… .”
“where are you?!”
Seol Ga-eun jumped out in surprise.
‘I don’t think it’s Teacher Taemin… !?’
Perhaps Kang Tae-min suffered a serious injury. It felt like my heart had dropped.
“Let me guide you!”
Bae Seung-joo followed suit. Seol Gyu-jin also wanted to follow, but he was not allowed a moment of leisure.
“Teacher!”
“hurry!”
The first thing that caught Seol Ga-eun’s eyes were the crying special class students.
“Sensei Lua?!”
Next, I saw Irua lying in the middle of them, Kang Taemin and Inoa guarding her sides.
“Oh my gosh… !”
“Sam… ! please… !”
The situation was explained later.
At Inoa’s words, she immediately manifested her abilities on Irua. Blood and flesh began to fill up again.
“Oh, no… What the hell happened?”
In response to Bae Seung-joo’s question, who arrived a beat late, Kang Tae-min spoke in a heavy voice.
“… Mr. Lua was willing to sacrifice himself to save me and the students.”
Seol Ga-eun’s eyes trembled at those words.
‘So far… .’
It was a life-threatening wound. If you were in that situation, could you throw yourself away?
The answer did not come easily.
“… Do not worry. I will definitely save it.”
“Yes, please.”
Taemin Kang lowered his head.
Seol Ga-eun decided to focus on what she could do.
* * *
The surrounding buildings collapsed and the roads turned into crushed tofu. The environment around them was ruined, but Kang Tae-min and Man-wol were still parallel.
“Continuing meaningless resistance is also a kind of madness.”
The full moon was still relaxed. But Kang Tae-min couldn’t do that.
‘… I can’t continue to spend time like this.’
I wasn’t tired
The damage did not spread because Manwol was tied to this spot. Those inoculated with Sanity would be free from the risk of mutation.
That was the problem.
‘Others will rather become prey.’
If the alter ego that took Irua had arrived at the headquarters, the situation here would have been conveyed. Hunters who have been inoculated with Sanity will come to support.
However, even if the strongest came, they would not be able to compete with Man-wol.
‘I have to see the match before that.’
But how?
Manwol possessed the abilities of the apostles, super-regeneration and proliferation, as well as fascination and absorption.
Kang Tae-min has met many immortals in the past, but this time I felt that he was a truly immortal being.
‘But it’s just that I haven’t found a way to kill it yet.’
Kang Tae-min could not give up. It was unacceptable for the villain to win.
He relived the battle by repeating destruction and restoration.
‘… for a moment.’
Man-wol believed in his ability and neglected defense. Strangely, however, there were times when he avoided himself.
‘Perhaps?’
Kang Tae-min quickly deflected his tentacles and displayed his ability. But this time it wasn’t an attack.
A huge iron plate formed in the air cast a shadow. However, after a while, tentacles flew in and tore the iron plate.
“Is that so?”
However, that reaction was enough for Kang Tae-min.
“Your ability was the source of moonlight.”
The iron plate he made was no obstacle to Man-wol. It just covered the pale moon.
Even so, Manwol reacted swiftly and was reluctant to step into the shadows even during battle.
“Has your mind changed after witnessing the infinite power bestowed by a great being?”
Manwol’s answer was like an affirmation.
“Your fate has already been decided. There is a limit to what a mere insignificant thing can accomplish.”
At the base was fanaticism and arrogance. Kang Tae-min looked at the full moon and took up his weapon.
“It is true that life is full of pain.”
“Have you finally realized the providence?”
Manwol considered that action to be giving up. But it was a mistake.
“no.”
Kang Tae-min showed his ability.
The earth shook violently and a huge metal arm formed on top of the full moon.
“Pain is what you endure to go beyond your limits.”
It was the arm of the machine god, Deus Ex Machina. There was no time to complete the whole thing, so I pressed Man-Wol with only my arms.
Naturally, Manwol resisted with her tentacles, and her arm was crushed.
However, Kang Tae-min’s intention was also there.
‘Just tap and press.’
The shattered fragments instantly turned into liquid and stuck to Man-Wol’s body. Eventually, Kang Tae-min applied his power under Man-wol.
Then the floor collapsed and a huge hole formed. Ground subsidence caused by the collapse of the subway line.
“What… .”
The full moon quickly scattered its tentacles. However, it was not Kang Tae-min who would just watch.
After that, he jumped in and filled the hole with metal, while accelerating Manwol’s fall with his ability.
“You are not a high priest.”
Tentacles pierced Kang Tae-min’s body, but it didn’t matter. He turned his body into liquid metal and became even more attached to Man-wol.
“A parasite fucking on the moon.”
When the moonlight no longer shone, the playback gradually slowed down. Manwol’s body began to decay rapidly.
Venom Cainine’s ability caught up with the speed of regeneration.
“You have to see the moon, the great being… !”
Only then did Manwol realize the seriousness of the situation. I resisted fiercely and tried to climb out again.
Something crashed into him with a loud bang. It was the subway that Kang Tae-min called with his ability.
“You ignorant heretic!”
Of course, Manwol wasn’t going to fall under such an attack, but he was far from the exit. Kang Tae-min absorbed even the crooked subway and railroad tracks and entangled Man-wol.
It’s like a giant cocoon.
Man-wol ran wild inside him, but Kang Tae-min had no intention of letting him go easily. Eventually, Man-wol let out a terrible scream.
“no… ! Moon, my master… .”
The full moon, not receiving the light, began to shrink rapidly.
In the end, it was Manwol who failed to cross the limit.
* * *
“Manwol has been defeated.”
At No Name’s words, Rex turned around. Oddly, there was a hint of joy in his voice.
“Head… ?”
Rex’s eyes widened.
I was surprised to hear that Manwol had been defeated.
“As expected, he is strong. Great!”
It was because the body of No-Name, which was supposed to be painted black, had changed.
“Rex, can you see me?”
“… Yes!”
The body was exposed as if the painted parts had been washed away. No Name’s hands and feet belonged to humans.
“It is proof that the cracks in the world have widened further. Just a little more… !”
However, the face was still disfigured. Nonetheless, No-Name was happy.
He turned and looked at the pale moon.
“It’s a pity that you can’t see this magnificent view.”
A huge moon floating solidly in the black night sky.
After that, strange tentacles tumbled.