Chapter 175 - New Enemy

# [Kuhahaha! Destroy, destroy again!]

"Kyaaaah!"

Another day of chaos somewhere in the heart of Seoul's downtown.

The capital of the Republic of Korea, where all kinds of supernatural abilities and cutting-edge science intersect, was now busy experiencing the sharp taste of 21st century technology.

A large circular robot floating in the middle of downtown.

The machine, equipped with four mechanical arms, was emitting a red light from its center as it destroyed the city.

[Bow down to me! This Chaos Destroyer will bring about the end of your old city!]

That thing emitting a modulated mechanical voice while destroying the city.

It was a mysterious new villain who introduced himself as the Chaos Destroyer.

...At least, that's what I hoped it looked like.

"Sigh... this is really beneath me."

Inside the weapon.

I sighed from the pilot seat.

A space barely large enough for one person to stand.

From there, I was busy controlling this robot that Seo-eun had made.

And occasionally spouting dialogue.

[Do you think youngsters like you can stop me? The true downfall begins now!]

Saying that, I randomly punched another nearby building.

The building caved in where I hit it.

It's hard enough trying to stay in character with all this weird dialogue, but it's even more exhausting waiting for Stardust who's taking her sweet time. Why isn't Stardust coming when I called for her, and why are these strange B-grade heroes showing up instead?

When I first appeared in downtown with this weapon, some B-grade heroes suddenly showed up which caught me off guard. Of course, they flew away after taking one punch and ran off, but as someone who expected Stardust to show up immediately, it was an incredibly confusing moment.

When I caused terror as Egostic, Stardust would rush over immediately, but when I do it as someone else, I can't even see her because she's an A-grade hero.

...But wait, doesn't this weapon look obviously tough? Why send B-grade heroes?

Anyway, I was busy operating the weapon and smashing several buildings. Making sure not to reveal I'm Egostic, while continuing to spout nonsense.

This terror attack is by Stardust, for Stardust.

More precisely, it's to check if Stardust can withstand the next main event. Our Stardust, whom I've been carefully developing until now. Let's see how strong she's become.

But why isn't she coming?

As I was idly playing with a few buildings while waiting for Stardust.

Finally.

She arrived.

"....What are you supposed to be?"

Sunlight shining through the clouds.

Beneath it, she descended with her long blonde hair fluttering.

Stardust.

Just seeing her still makes my heart skip a beat.

Facing Stardust directly after such a long time made me pause for a moment. But I quickly regained my composure.

Remember. Today I'm a villain meeting Stardust for the first time. I'm a villain meeting Stardust for the first time.

[Ha! So you're the one they call Stardust? You look even weaker in person.]

"...If you surrender now and come out of that machine, I won't resort to unnecessary violence."

[What a joke. Come at me!]

"...Haah."

As I heard her say what she always says to villains she meets for the first time.

I prepared for battle.

And Stardust, floating in front of me, cracking her knuckles.

...She seems colder than usual. Is she not feeling well these days?

Anyway. Stardust doesn't seem particularly tense. Of course. Come to think of it, I must look like just another common criminal that Stardust has dealt with countless times.

However, this will be different from before.

Watching Stardust charge toward me, I couldn't help but grin inside the machine.

...When was the last time I directly confronted Stardust? Was it when I got Behemoth?

Yes. Although I couldn't properly show it then, now I finally can.

How terrifying an enemy can be when they know all of your battle patterns.

Now, my Ha-ru. Let's see how strong you've become.

***

When she heard that another new villain had appeared, Shin Ha-ru didn't think much of it.

Just another villain she always dealt with, nothing new. Unless they were noticeably strong, they wouldn't stay on her radar.

Especially if it wasn't Egostic.

So Stardust, she headed to the heart of downtown where the terror attack was happening today.

Although she wasn't feeling her best, the villain's defeat and citizens' safety were far more important.

After hearing about the terror attack and that other heroes had been defeated, she departed immediately.

What she saw was a kind of weapon—a giant mechanical sphere with four arms attached.

Well, she was familiar with villains who brought these kinds of mechanical devices.

Of course, the fact that it was floating alone in the air and its strange appearance were a bit unusual, but other than that, there was nothing particularly special about it.

Its response to her warning was just like any other common villain.

However.

".....?"

Somehow, seeing that machine and hearing its voice gave her a strange sense of déjà vu.

Of course, it was a completely unfamiliar appearance, and the villain's mechanically mixed voice was strange.

How should I put it...

Rather than feeling déjà vu about the mechanical weapon itself, it was more like the person inside was somehow...

She instinctively felt something was off.

'...Maybe I'm just tired.'

She was too fatigued to pursue that thought further. She already needed all her focus just to fight this villain.

Well, she'd find out after defeating it anyway.

So Shin Ha-ru, without much thought, charged in to destroy it.

And.

"Ugh."

It dodged her attack with fluid naturalness despite its massive body.

Then immediately, one of its four arms flew precisely to where she was.

She quickly dodged upward.

"Huh?"

As if it knew she would move that way, another arm was already swinging toward where she had dodged.

She was hit while trying to evade.

She tried to block it, but being hit by a solid steel fist at an unexpected timing made her efforts useless.

Stardust was knocked back by the punch.

"Kugh..."

She barely managed to stop herself in mid-air and straighten her body again.

But seeing the weapon immediately charging toward her, she had no time to think and had to quickly regain her stance.

Then its attacks began.

"Ugh..."

She couldn't help but be momentarily confused as it continued its offensive as if it knew exactly where she would dodge and how she would attack.

[Kuhahaha! Come on, try to dodge this too!]

Whirr. Click. Whirr. Click.

In the sky above the city.

With her hair fluttering in the wind, numerous missiles came flying.

Of course, she easily dodged the small missiles like she was dancing in the sky, but what blocked Stardust's path as she flew through the smoke that spread with the sound of explosions was:

A steel fist crackling with electricity.

"Kuhk..."

She barely avoided it, but now a laser was coming from another arm of the weapon with a whirring sound.

She dodged that, and as she did, another fist flew toward where she had dodged.

But Stardust wouldn't fall for the same trick twice.

Like making a sharp turn, she instantly changed direction in mid-air and finally managed to land an effective hit on the mechanical device with her fist.

Boom.

With that sound, the weapon's body was knocked back a bit.

However.

'...It's tough.'

Shin Ha-ru assessed, feeling the pain in her fist.

She had faced quite a few villains of this type, wearing suits. Especially since this was the only way normal people could face ability users.

However, this villain's completion was on a different level from the others.

Of course, judging by the slight dent where she hit it, her attack definitely had an effect, but with other villains, it wouldn't have been strange if their suits had broken from that attack earlier.

[Is that all you've got? You're woefully inadequate as an obstacle to my new world. I'll dispose of you quickly!]

The weapon in front of her spoke with a thick mechanical voice.

The dialogue itself was childish and pathetic, full of bluster worthy of a third-rate villain.

But Stardust, she was no longer careless.

'...It's strong.'

She had to admit it. It was strong.

Well, to be fair, it wasn't that strong compared to other enemies she had fought until now.

However.

'....This is impossible.'

Eerily.

It was reading her actions as if predicting everything.

What she would do, where she would go, what decisions she would make.

As if it knew everything.

Throughout all these exchanges so far.

Except for that one hit earlier, it hadn't been hit even once.

Even with that massive machine, not even once.

...How is that possible?

With an eerie feeling, Stardust made a judgment with dark eyes.

'...I must capture it here, no matter what.'

No matter who this villain is or where it came from, I have to capture it here. If I let it escape this time, who knows how much stronger it will return next time.

Especially seeing how it knows my combat habits... it's frightening to think what kind of villain this might be.

It was as if it was arrogantly declaring itself.

As if it was... her counter. Her adversary. Her natural enemy.

I have to capture it here.

Stardust repeated to herself internally and took the fight seriously.

She no longer showed any signs of fatigue.

She was only thinking about how to defeat this villain.

'....That's right.'

And she made one more decision.

This villain that moves as if reading her must be taken down today, when the opportunity arises. Otherwise, who knows when it might become her counter.

Somehow.

'...Egostic is enough of a villain to concern me.'

I don't need another one.

Other than Egostic, no other villain means anything to her.

This one will be dealt with today, right here.

Even if that means death for it.

I will end it here, no matter what.

As the air around Stardust changed.

She charged at the weapon more fiercely, gritting her teeth.

***

One thing I realized after causing this terror:

Stardust has definitely gotten stronger.

Of course, even so, I who knew her perfectly could still handle her adequately.

'...Hmm. At this rate, she might be able to participate in the next main event...?'

Thinking that, I fought against her while provoking her. To assess her power more clearly and accurately.

And, after some time had passed.

'...Huh?'

Something changed. I could feel it.

...Somehow, she seems to be fighting better than before?

No way. Is her ability growing even while fighting me?

'...Is this what it means to be a protagonist?'

I couldn't help but chuckle inside the machine.

Yes. Stardust could do that.

Well, that's good. This turned out to be killing two birds with one stone. Making her grow through this opportunity.

I smiled and engaged in the fight with an even happier heart.

Come on, Ha-ru. Let's evolve a bit more today!

Yes, I was thinking happily like that.

Until I got hit.

"Kuhek."

[Kuhek.]

How long had the battle continued?

During the fight, I finally took a proper punch from her and momentarily crashed to the ground.

...Ouch. That really hurts. Feels like my insides are twisting.

I made a mistake for a moment. I could have dodged it.

But why is she hitting so painfully? She's going to kill someone.

I thought that as I raised the machine.

And as I looked straight ahead to assess the situation, I could properly see Stardust's eyes.

More precisely, Stardust's eyes as she flew toward me, burning with the clear intention to finish me off.

'...Oh.'

Am I screwed?