Chapter 147 - Summer Night Terror

The coastal terror attack by the global villain organization Lattice affected every country bordering the sea. While many nations still struggled with the aftermath, only South Korea emerged completely unscathed.

The tentative conclusion was that villain Egostic was entirely responsible for South Korea's safety. With this information broadcast across all major networks and the internet, Egostic's recognition and popularity skyrocketed once again. Even people who normally paid no attention to villains now knew who Egostic was.

And now, at the peak of public interest in Egostic, his broadcast finally went live.

***

In the dark night.

Amidst the dim glow of streetlights and scattered illumination from buildings in the dark city streets.

A man dressed in equally dark clothing hovered in the air, his black cape fluttering behind him.

After briefly turning his back to the camera to gaze down at the night streets, he suddenly grinned and finally faced the screen. With a broad smile, he began to speak.

"It's been a while. Hello everyone. This is Egostic!"

As he greeted everyone with his arms spread wide, the chat window erupted into absolute chaos.

[Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic!]

[South Korea's one and only S-class hero Mangostick finally appears lolololol]

[Mango yahooo~! Mango yahooo~! Mango yahooo~! Mango yahooo~! Mango yahooo~! Mango yahooo~! Mango yahooo~!]

[Why now? Why now? Why now? Why now?]

[Hahaha tonight's gonna be lit hahahaha]

[No regrets watching Mangostick's Monday evening livestream hahahaha]

[Like if you rushed in after seeing the stream notification hahahaha]

[Damn it Egostic I believed in you!!!!!]

The chat messages poured in like a flood.

Amid the fervent reactions coming in too fast to read with the naked eye, Egostic simply nodded with his arms still spread wide, as if he'd expected this response.

"Yes, yes. Good to see you all. Good to see you. Have you all been well?"

At his smiling greeting, the chat window blazed with even more messages. Most were praises for Egostic, who had single-handedly stopped Lattice's terror attack.

On screen, after saying that much and grinning again, Egostic suddenly struck his fist into his palm as if he'd just remembered something and continued speaking.

"Yes everyone, it's good to see you, but ahem. I've been hearing some propaganda and fabrications about me lately? That I somehow protected South Korea or whatever."

As he spoke with a smile suggesting how ridiculous this was, the chat continued to burn with messages.

[Propaganda? What propaganda?]

[Fabrications where? Propaganda where?]

[Everything is straight facts though? lololol]

[I protected South Korea (true)]

[What exactly is propaganda and fabrication here? lolol]

[The reason South Korea alone was safe when the whole world was under attack? Thanks to proud K-villain Egostic's behind-the-scenes diplomacy! What kind of country is South Korea where even villains protect the nation? America is shocked, Japan is wailing...]

[Damn the chat above is making me dizzy lol]

[Why can't you admit you protected us! Tell us your true feelings!!!]

Acting as if he couldn't see the chat full of protests, he shrugged and continued.

"Well... it's nonsense, so I'm sure no one seriously believed it anyway. It's completely groundless. Completely groundless."

[Groundless my ass lololololol]

[You can't just say it's groundless without explaining why lololol]

[Breaking news: Egostic claims recent news is groundless. Evidence? None]

[Maybe he made an agreement but didn't actually stop the terror attack]

[At this point the Association should just hold a forgiveness event and rebrand Mango as a hero lolol]

[Who would even believe this? lololololol]

[Whatever you say, Egostic's fan cafe growth is at an all-time high~]

[Mango nonsense ON]

"Ahem... anyway, I've gone on a tangent."

After clearing his throat, he shrugged again and turned his back to the camera.

The camera gradually pulled back, capturing his solitary figure standing in the dark sky.

Egostic began to speak slowly, as if telling a story.

"It's truly a beautiful night. The moon is shining so prettily."

After saying that much, he briefly turned his head with a grin before continuing.

"From ancient times... South Korea has been known to be safe at night. 'No villain can defeat Shadow Walker!' There were many such sayings."

"In that spirit, our Ego-stream will challenge his authority once more."

"Let me introduce you! The new villain of our Ego-stream, Mist!"

After saying this, he extended his hand to point to one side.

The camera panned over, shifting the view to Egostic's side.

What appeared on screen was the figure of a woman.

"......"

With long purple hair reaching her waist and half-lidded eyes. A beautiful yet mysterious appearance that would make it difficult to approach her first in real life. And contrary to her appearance, she wore what looked like a simple, slightly oversized black hoodie.

About a head shorter than Egostic, she was absentmindedly staring at the purple flame flickering from her small hand.

As if suddenly realizing the camera was focused on her, she turned to face the screen.

"....?"

Still with a languid expression, she tilted her head while looking at the screen. Then she made a V-sign with her fingers and raised it to her face.

"Hmm... is this not right? Well, hello everyone. I'm Mist."

She smiled slightly and raised her hand to chest level, waving it gently.

The chat momentarily froze at the ethereal sight of the beautiful girl with purple hair flowing against the night sky.

Then, as if in reaction, it explosively erupted with messages again.

[Oh lololol what's with this atmosphere? lolol]

[Is this a villain introduction or a celebrity introduction? lolol]

[Does Ego-stream recruit villains based on looks? Why are they all cool or pretty or cute? lolol]

[I'm supporting Purple Mango from today]

[Wait, thinking about it, it's another woman lol]

[Gay Mango, have you seduced another woman?]

[Egostic/controversy/womanizing]

[Casanova Mango lolololololol]

[After Star Mango, Electric Mango, Ice Mango, Moonlight Mango, and Hacker Mango, now Purple Mango appears lolol how many are there? lolol]

[Why is no one interested in that purple flame ability? lololol]

[Is this the first broadcast of a terror attack at night? The atmosphere is really something]

While the chat continued to scroll, the camera turned back to Egostic.

Still smiling, he clapped his hands and spoke.

"Yes. Just as I introduce her! Look, he's coming over there!!"

The camera panned again.

In the distance, a dark male figure wrapped in shadows could be seen approaching. The hero Shadow Walker was coming into view.

"Let's see if he can defeat our Mist. I'll be watching from afar with all of you. Now, I'll take my leave!"

With those words, Egostic stepped back.

Before viewers could feel disappointed, Shadow Walker appeared on screen.

"...Villain, what are you doing here."

"Hmm..."

Shadow Walker muttered in a low voice.

In response to his words, the purple-haired woman Mist briefly put her finger to her lips, then answered in a sing-song voice as if stating the obvious.

"Terror?"

And as soon as her words ended.

Whoosh-.

In the dark night sky, a massive ring of purple fire appeared behind her.

Still with half-lidded eyes, she grinned and snapped her fingers.

Multiple purple fireballs materialized around her, all targeting Shadow Walker.

"...Ha. Fighting against Shadow Walker at night. How brave."

"...Well. I think we have to... hmm... try to know what's long and what's short, don't we?"

After responding in a melodic voice, she snapped her fingers once more, and the flames began to blaze toward Shadow Walker.

Shadow Walker also began to conceal himself in shadows to fend off the attack.

The battle had officially begun.

***

'...Ugh. As expected, my attacks aren't very effective against this one either.'

In the dark night.

Fighting against Mist, the villain Egostic had brought, Shadow Walker lamented inwardly.

Ah! How had he, who once defeated everyone with a single blow, come to this?

Now he faced an increasing number of opponents trying to defeat him.

As the nightmares of the Han Group and the Moonlight Cult resurfaced, bringing a sense of frustration, he gritted his teeth and regained his focus.

'...I see. So this is Egostic's intention.'

Egostic must have known that Shadow Walker would feel powerless against a villain who could largely ignore his abilities.

Yes. Then all this terror was Egostic's stern advice to help him grow mentally. Don't whine, pull yourself together and fight.

"...Right. A man must face any situation without wavering."

He muttered quietly so no one could hear, clenching his fist.

Yes. Who was he? Shadow Walker of South Korea.

He could do this.

With that thought, he looked toward where Egostic was likely watching from afar and made an inner pledge.

Egostic, I will not disappoint you!

"Now, let's get serious."

"Hmm..?"

With renewed determination, he looked at the woman shooting purple fireballs at him.

Yes. He would defeat that woman and earn Egostic's recognition.

With that resolve, Shadow Walker charged once more.

Even to himself, his figure overcoming frustration and leaping forward seemed manly.

***

[Oh! Shadow Walker is putting up quite a fight against our Mist. Impressive, very impressive.]

"Director. Shadow Walker is currently fighting evenly with the opponent. He might be able to win!"

"No. It looks like he's losing."

"...What?"

"I think I need to step in."

"What? Wait, Stardus! Please sit down first..."

At that moment, an Association employee was breaking a sweat trying to stop a hero from taking impulsive action.