Chapter 168 - Each One's Reaction

After provoking Methel, I planned to dodge all her attacks, keep her focused on me, and then ambush her when she let her guard down.

With that plan in mind, I rose into the sky.

And sure enough, Methel's attacks began.

After that, everything went strictly according to plan.

I deliberately acted flustered to make Methel lower her guard, while constantly watching for the right timing.

[Oppa, dodge downward!]

In the open sky.

With Seo-eun's help, I slipped through the gaps between the rocks flying toward me in the air, moving like a slippery loach.

...I'm not sure what will happen when I get home after abusing my ability like this, but whatever. I'll do anything to crush that American hero.

The problem was that after dodging like this for dozens of minutes, it was starting to get boring.

*

[Holy shit, my heart's racing too much to watch]

[Mango is dodging so damn well, cutting it super close lol]

[Just hold on a little longer!!]

[What's with this Methel or whatever her name is? I really don't like her. There are hostages and she's like "who cares" lol]

[Egostic fighting!!! Don't lose to that yankee!!!]

[For real though, he's complaining with his mouth but hasn't been hit once while holding a camera. Is he just playing with her? Please tell me that's what's happening!!!!!!]

[Why is everyone cheering for the villain when a hero and villain are fighting? lol]

[Well, any Korean should obviously support patriotic-stic who's fighting against foreign invaders lol]

[Patriotic-stic lmao]

*

Looking at the chat, it seems people generally think I'm barely hanging on.

As I continued dodging the rocks, going back and forth.

Suddenly, there was a shift in the flow.

A giant rock hand, different from the simple boulders until now.

Something that obviously took tremendous energy to create was approaching me.

In this sudden crisis situation.

I grinned.

"Now."

[Yes, oppa!]

After muttering quietly, I grinned widely, grabbed my hat, and spoke to the camera as if I hadn't been dodging all along.

"Well. Shall we stop running away now?"

As I stopped dodging and stood still in the air, waiting for the giant rock hands to come flying at me, the chat started flooding with [????].

At the same time, I raised one hand and flashed my ring.

"Come forth, Death Knight."

[Finally, it's my turn!!!!]

With a voice echoing in my head.

A massive black greatsword materialized in front of me.

Slash

As the approaching rock hand was cut, simultaneously.

BOOM

A purple light flashed from behind, and a massive pink beam shot upward with tremendous force.

With the incredible pressure that nearly blew me away, numerous rocks lost their balance in the air and fell to the ground.

After smoothly dodging a rock falling above me, I naturally looked down.

"Ouch..."

Caught off guard, Methel was hit by both the destruction beam and a lightning strike, bouncing away lifelessly.

She flew like a cannonball, bouncing on the ground like a rubber ball.

Ouch. That must hurt.

She continued flying until.

CRASH.

With the sound of something collapsing, she finally stopped after crashing into a building wall.

Hmm...

'....Was that a bit too powerful?'

I unconsciously scratched my cheek while thinking.

No, today was just a taste. I was planning to properly deal with her next time according to plan.

Somehow the impact was greater than expected...? And we didn't even gang up on her, just brought two more people.

Well, it's not like she's trembling at the sight of me yet, so it doesn't matter. There should be enough for the next terror.

Deciding to think positively, I grinned at the camera and said:

"Well... everything went according to plan. Let's see what happened, shall we?"

After saying that, with Death Knight laughing "Hahaha!" while carrying the greatsword on his shoulder, I descended.

"Oppa...."

"Yes. You did well."

Meanwhile, Eun-wol appeared behind us, panting, so I patted her head saying she did well before going down together.

Just as I was tired from all the dodging, Eun-wol also looked exhausted, probably from preparing all sorts of magic circles and pouring energy into that final beam.

I'll praise her more when we get home, but first, let's meet that American punk.

After descending to the ground, we forcibly cut through the rocks Methel had surrounded herself with using Death Knight's sword.

What we saw was Methel, completely battered, leaning against the building.

...She looked pitiful, hard to believe she was an S-class hero. At least her eyes were still burning with rage as she looked up at me.

Anyway, since the cameras were still rolling, I decided to say what I needed to say quickly.

Starting with provocation.

"Well, well..."

I said with a smirk, and Methel immediately responded with a barely audible voice.

"You... ass..."

Regardless of what she said, I continued speaking.

"I mean, you were making such a big deal about being S-class and whatnot. I thought you'd be really strong. Well. Hmm..."

"You're just much weaker than my hero, Stardust, aren't you?"

When I mockingly said that, she had a fit of rage, absolutely loving it.

Well, that should be enough, but...

If I want her to lose her mind and come at me later, I need to do a bit more.

I approached her as she glared at me, and grabbed her chin with my finger.

Then I leaned in close and whispered quietly so only she could hear, not the camera:

"You should have just hidden behind other heroes like usual. What made you confident enough to come out alone?"

When I said that with a smile, she flinched.

After removing my hand and looking at her again, she was staring at me with burning eyes like she wanted to devour me. Oh my. It's been a while since I've received such a passionate gaze.

Apparently quite enraged, she used her last bit of strength to create a small pointed rock fragment in the air, which Death Knight easily destroyed with one swing of his sword.

I smirked again and said:

"Well... you're too weak to be worth fighting or even entertaining. Let's go, everyone."

After saying that, I turned around with my cape fluttering and walked forward.

I thought I heard some curses like "fuck" or something from behind, but I don't care.

I grabbed Death Knight and Eun-wol and teleported away. Oh, and I also took Electra who was waiting in the back.

Phew, today's work went very smoothly. Better than expected.

Now I should go home and rest a bit, then prepare for the next terror.

Methel. The final terror to completely destroy her and make sure she never thinks of setting foot in Korea again.

And thinking about the plan, it's actually good.

In the meantime, Korea will be buzzing again.

And as expected, my prediction was spot on.

***

[Breaking News) Egostic defeats United States S-class hero Methel... Methel currently being urgently transported to Association hospital]

The video of Egostic defeating an S-class hero, broadcast live across Korea.

This news naturally spread throughout the country in an instant.

People were surprised that an American S-class hero had secretly come to Korea to capture the A-class villain Egostic.

And they were even more surprised that Egostic had crushed her.

This sudden happening.

The Korean people's reaction to this incident can be summarized in one sentence...

'Why cause trouble by coming when no one asked for help?'

*

[Like if you felt satisfied watching this terror lol]

Who asked America for help? lol

Just Egostic<<<pretending to run away frantically, then flipping the script and blasting Methel away at the last moment - so satisfying! Like if you agree lol

=[Comments]=

[Smashing that like button lol]

[For real lol Suddenly came and acted crazy, then got taught a lesson lol]

[I was really dumbfounded when she just said "screw the hostages" and was willing to sacrifice them. Luckily there was no one in the building]

[Just proved American S-class hero<<<<Mangostick lol]

[I was watching with sweaty palms, then stood up and applauded when Methel went flying. For real... this is true national pride lol]

ㄴ[How dare they try to capture our country's S-class hero lol]

ㄴ[For real lol isn't this a security threat to a major power? lol]

[Just checked YouTube and there are already tons of national pride videos up lol "Even America is no match" and stuff lol]

*

[Stardust<<<<Like if you miss her lol]

The one who always protected hostages no matter what...

The one who maintained zero casualties without fail...

The one who always defeated Egostic and made him flee...

The one with amazing chemistry with Mango whenever she appeared on broadcasts...

The one directly acknowledged by Egostic himself...

Simply Korea's overwhelmingly top hero

and Egostic's designated hero

Stardust <---- Like if you think she's the official one lol

=[Comments]=

[Like lol]

[I was Team Electra but switched to Team Stardust after watching this broadcast for real lol]

[Honestly, Stardust is just an S-class hero lol]

[This time Mango was all friendly with Moon Priestess calling her "oppa" but Stardust who didn't even appear was stronger...]

[For real lol Egostic literally said "My hero is Stardust" - if that's not official, what is?]

ㄴ[He just meant arch-enemy, don't get too invested]

ㄴ[Checked the commenter's post history and they're Team Ice Mango lol]

ㄴ[Ah lol]

ㄴ[The Icicle you support is!! NEVER!!! Egostic's "my hero" you gay lol]

ㄴ[Damn lol this is hilarious]

[I really miss you, Stardust...]

[Official like lol]

***

Unlike Korea's heated reaction, American citizens weren't particularly interested in this incident.

They have so many S-class heroes that they don't pay attention to each one individually, and heroes occasionally losing to villains in battle, whether by mistake or otherwise, happens from time to time.

Although it was somewhat shocking that she lost to an A-class from Korea, a country with a small ability user pool, even that was quickly buried as America itself was already in chaos with all sorts of terrorist attacks.

Still, there was some interest in this incident within the North American hero community.

Most Americans, who treat heroes literally as "heroes," expressed sympathy, but of course, there are exceptions.

[Methel has always been useless on her own, why did she show off? lol]

"ARGHHHH!!! Fucking assholes!!!!!"

"Patient! Hero! Please calm down!"

"Administer one dose of sedative B-4 here!!!"

While Methel was screaming in rage at the Association's treatment center.

Shin Ha-ru, sitting nearby with a smartphone in hand, just smirked at the sound.

He looked relaxed for the first time in a long while.