1.
Among those taken in by Destruction, the strong become Elders of <Eclipse> the moment they join, each bestowed with a title befitting their nature.
For instance, the 7th Elder — Calamity of Whispering Nightmares — is a half-dream demon, half-human hybrid whose specialty is unique dream-related magic.
The 6th Elder — Calamity of Misguided Faith — is a fanatic who outright denies the existence of the Goddess, wielding unique magic that shakes the foundation of faith.
The 5th Elder — Calamity of Twisted Mischief — was a born villain, committing evil as if it were a prank, and his unique traits were aligned with such nature.
Likewise, the other Elders received their titles through the same process, all formidable — except for the 1st Elder.
As for the 2nd Elder — Calamity of December — their title and rank were granted for having single-handedly thrown <the East>, the only nation comparable to the Babylonia Empire, into a month-long terror throughout December.
“All the cowardice I showed before, I regret it. But from now on, I’ll face you with the utmost respect — and with all my strength. Young Hero.”
The moment the sentence ended, a dark crimson system window filled with ominous energy unfurled.
【Warning.】
【<Calamity of December (SSS-)> has germinated <Seed of Regret (???)> in his heart.】
【Due to the grudge of <???? ?? ??>, the individual’s rank temporarily increases.】
【<Calamity of December (SSS-)> has ascended to <Calamity of December (SSS+)>】
The moment he reached a level equal to Asha through an unidentified power.
Crunch.
Crack!
Unlike the crude, statue-like form from earlier, the mask and armor were now diminished.
The previously overwhelming presence, which had radiated chaotically, was now neatly compressed into a calm and deadly aura.
“…Damn, guess I should start listening to the old man better from now on.”
“…Agreed.”
The power had grown so immense that even fellow Elders — Calamity of the Blooming Blood and Calamity of Silent Silence — unconsciously took a step back.
Clang.
Sensing something, Asha gripped her holy sword and muttered toward December.
“Asha Mirabelle.”
“…Calamity of December.”
After a brief introduction, the Calamity of December took a stance, but Asha, still standing upright, stared him down and said once more:
“Hero, Asha Mirabelle.”
Only then did the Calamity of December realize what Asha wanted. After a moment of thought, he met her eyes and replied.
“Grandmaster of the East — Cheonmyeong.”
“…Cheonmyeong.”
A few seconds of silence.
“I shall remember you.”
“As will I.”
【<Asha Mirabelle (SSS+)>’s Skill 1 – <Heroic Crusade (SSS+)> activates.】
【<Cheonmyeong (SSS+)>’s Skill 1 – <Pungmulpae (SSS+)> activates.】
At last, the battle began.
2.
Asha’s Skill 1 – Heroic Crusade.
It generates an isolated space, separate from the current world, and summons the designated <targets> into it.
There is no limit to the number of <targets> summoned, and Asha’s physical capabilities increase proportionally to their rank and number.
Which means — now that she summoned someone of equal rank, Cheonmyeong.
【Battlefield analysis complete.】
【Result of power aggregation.】
【<Asha Mirabelle (SSS+)>’s rank has risen to <Asha Mirabelle (EX-)>】
Asha faced her opponent after breaking through her own limits for the first time in a long while.
Thus, <Cheonmyeong> began the fight by drawing out his full strength from the start.
【<Cheonmyeong (SSS+)>’s Skill 1 – <Pungmulpae (SSS+)> activates.】
【Setting performance time.】
Ultimate Skill – Pungmulpae
After setting a performance duration, every successful attack or damage dealt during that time accumulates as a point.
Accumulation is only possible during the performance, and once it ends—
The number of accumulated points determines how many clones of equal strength are created. These clones remain for the same duration as the performance time before disappearing.
Hence, Cheonmyeong contemplated.
‘Even if I use everything I have, I can only endure for around one minute.’
But to stand a chance at victory against Asha, who has now ascended in rank once again, he would need at least 10 clones to endure for 10 minutes.
Set the time short and he loses regardless; set it long and he might lose before it ends.
‘The amount of time I can somehow survive by pouring out all my power right before death is…?’
After a brief moment of contemplation, Cheonmyeong looked at Asha and set the time for Pungmulpae.
【Time has been set.】
【5 minutes – Count-up begins.】
【00:00:00】
Five minutes.
If he could endure that, the chances of victory could rise up to 70%.
Flash──!!
With a blinding light that could sear the eyes, the bodies of the two clashed.
3.
Meanwhile, Nahan, who had been observing the situation.
Clad in ragged black robes, he was peering into Asha’s mental world when he realized—too late.
‘I’m screwed.’
The original plan was to appear in dramatic fashion just when Asha was in danger and save her…
‘…But Ian Red doesn’t have any attack skills strong enough to stop either of them, right?’
He had tried to stay calm—really tried—but he’d gotten drunk on the overwhelming feeling of power he had never experienced before, and his thinking had dulled for a while.
‘What do I do?’
Appearing as the Yellow Dragon to save Asha? Weird.
Appearing as the Black Wolf to save her? Still weird.
‘I have to save her as Ian Red…’
But if the weak and humble Ian Red were to jump into a fight between those two monsters?
‘He’d die instantly.’
And if he somehow survived that terrifying battle, it would only spark suspicion.
‘What, he awakened divine authority again? But if a priest awakens divine authority three times, don’t they usually get elected as Pope?’
Grabbing his throbbing head, tortured by his own idiocy, he groaned…
Craack!
A crack formed in Asha’s mental world, and the fragmented realm fused back into one.
【Accumulated: 114 clones will be created.】
【5 minutes – Countdown begins.】
【00:04:59】
Simultaneously, a dark system window appeared, and over a hundred clones poured forth.
While the pristine clones surrounded the area, the blood-soaked original wiped away his blood and steadied his breath.
Then Asha stepped forward, brushing blood off her holy sword, and asked Cheonmyeong.
“You were just defending, aiming for this?”
“It’s true I was both defending and aiming for it… but honestly, I couldn’t afford to attack either. Now I understand why you’re called the world’s strongest. However—”
Gulp, Gulp.
Drinking from a small vial, Cheonmyeong adjusted his disheveled mask and added.
“I lacked experience.”
In the next moment—
Five of the clones behind Asha leapt simultaneously and kicked her.
BOOM!
She barely managed to block with her holy sword, but it was only a temporary fix—there was no way she could fend off the waves of incoming clones, all equal to the original.
So Asha shifted from offense to full defense, wrapping her body in Aura—
“It’s useless!!”
Before she could even try to escape, Cheonmyeong and the clones had encircled her, unleashing a relentless assault.
“Apologies, but for the greater good—sleep!!”
Cheonmyeong, the Calamity of December.
A monster who once maintained a performance for all of December and consumed the East with his clones.
The one who, through his own power alone, was known as the strongest in the East—was now launching an unending, coordinated attack with 114 clones.
With her mental world shattered, Asha had only one move left to overturn the situation: her ultimate skill, activated at the cost of her lifespan.
But this was the Capital.
If she used her ultimate skill here, she would likely win the battle—
But countless civilians would be caught in it and die.
Mirabelle.
— Still, you must live.
Until now, Asha had always prioritized revenge above all else. For that goal, she was willing to sacrifice anything. But then, she met Ian Red, the free priest.
And now—
— Put your burden down, even if just a little. It may not be much, but I can help share the load.
— …I cannot do that.
— No. You’re still just one person, Hero. All people deserve happiness. That includes you, too.
She had come to understand—
That something more precious than revenge could exist.
‘Even if the Hero dies, another will take their place. So if the only one who must die… is me…’
For the first time, Asha considered sacrificing herself not for revenge — her long-standing priority — but for the innocent citizens.
A normal person might have subconsciously hoped someone would come save them.
But tragically, Asha could not.
After all, she had realized that even as the strongest in the world, she had no way out of this.
If even she, the strongest, could do nothing but avoid fatal injuries—
Who could possibly subdue the monster before her?
Her failures could lead to the world’s downfall.
That was the weight she had lived with her entire life.
But now, having been changed by Ian Red, she was different.
‘If it’s for the people… even if I die… if he doesn’t feel disappointed in my choice… that alone is enough.’
Asha halted her ultimate skill and calmly faced the death slowly approaching her.
Clang,
Clink!
Kararang!
Pungmulpae.
Though it was just the sound of weapons clashing, Asha pictured instruments of the East she had never seen before, and swung her blade with all she had.
BOOM!
Rumble rumble rumble.
WHAM!
“…I have no personal grudge. Just blame me, young Hero.”
“Khh…!!”
Amidst the chaos and the strangely rhythmic death, Asha’s inner anxiety swelled—
Rustle.
A calming scent filled the air, and someone wrapped Asha in a gentle embrace, whispering.
“You’ve done well, Hero.”
Even in her confusion, she knew immediately.
“…Priest?”
Instead of a reply — warmth.
“Why did you come here!! That man is not someone you can handle!! I—I’ll find a way to create an opening, so please—!!!”
Asha pushed him away in a panic, but Ian Red looked at her with a gentle smile.
“I told you, didn’t I? Even if it’s just a little, I can help carry the weight.”
And in the next moment—
FLASH──!!
From Ian Red’s body burst forth a dazzling golden light that engulfed the battlefield.
4.
Nahan thought to himself:
‘Even if I’m playing another character, does the system treat that character as “me” and therefore still mark allies as my allies?’
In his eyes, a system window appeared.
【Golden Battlefield】
◆ Effect
: Designates a space with a maximum diameter of 1km as a <Battlefield>. <Yellow Dragon>’s rank increases based on the number of <allies> within the battlefield.
*However, enemies on the battlefield also receive three or more beneficial effects.
【<Calamity of December (SSS+)> recognizes you as <Destruction That Covers the Sun (???)>.】
【Number of allies on the battlefield: 115.】
【<Nahan (EX)>’s rank has increased.】
He didn’t fully understand how it all worked, but… this is how it turned out.
“I will save you, Hero.”
Ian Red — the Savior of Heroes.
