Chapter 268 - Moonlight Tower

"High Priest. Though resistance is still quite fierce and we haven't conquered many regions yet... how long can those vermin hold out? Eventually, with time, everything will follow the natural order of the moonlight."

"......"

Central Seoul.

A tall tower surrounded by magic circles, where the High Priest of the Moonlight Cult resides.

From that place built with magical power, with a panoramic view of burning Seoul.

Connected to numerous magic circles, the High Priest of the Moonlight Cult, his eyes glowing strangely, quietly contemplated.

Something felt off.

"How strange..."

According to the plan.

By now, Seoul should have already collapsed under the full-scale assault through the Black Moon Gate, and the less prepared provincial areas should have already fallen.

Even if they hadn't committed their full forces to areas outside this peninsula, which they intended to use as a base...

"Why are there so few souls?"

With his white hair slightly floating due to the connected purple smoke.

The High Priest of the Moonlight Cult, the Celestial Moon Emperor, was muttering like that.

The number of observed wandering souls of the dead was far too few.

For someone who expected to easily surpass several million deaths by now, this figure was incomprehensible.

Something had gone wrong.

These contemptible vermin were still stubbornly alive. They should have died long ago.

It was a surprise attack, so even if they struggled, they shouldn't have been able to prepare. Why?

While the Celestial Moon Emperor pondered this question, facing the wind in deep thought.

Among his disciples chanting spells behind him, a man hurriedly rushed to the High Priest.

The disciple urgently delivered new information to the High Priest.

"High Priest! We've completed the full opening of the Moon Gate Phase 3 in the Seoul area! Moon Gate Phase 2 will soon open internationally as well."

The disciple reported that the calamity was progressing steadily according to plan.

...They won't be able to hold out anyway.

The Moon's creations coming through the gates to the new world are an immortal army that continues to emerge endlessly, tirelessly.

Whether it takes 1 year, 10 years, or 100 years.

Eventually, these vermin and this hateful planet are destined for destruction.

As the High Priest of the Moonlight Cult finished this thought and focused again on manipulating the energy.

The disciple, who still hadn't left, hesitantly spoke up.

"Ah, and High Priest. There's something else I need to report."

"What is it, my child?"

"Well... it's this."

The disciple showed him something.

In it was.

"Hmm..."

A man wearing a black hat and white mask.

And the Moon Priestess of the Moonlight Cult... or rather, the traitor Baek Eunwol. An image of her flying through the sky with him.

"This man called Egostic and the priestess... I mean, the traitor, are reportedly coming here now, spouting nonsense about assassinating you, High Priest. What should we do?"

"You..."

Egostic. Seeing the detestable smile of the man who had abducted Baek Eunwol, a once useful tool, the High Priest felt anger rising from deep within his heart.

...I see, yes. That's not a problem.

This is actually good.

"So those two are coming here together?"

"Yes. Though our forces are heavily deployed, they won't be able to break through easily..."

Listening to the disciple's words, the High Priest smiled coldly.

He then waved his hand and said to the disciple:

"There's nothing more to see. Summon the Soul Devourers."

"...Them? Yes, understood."

After briefly questioning the High Priest's order, the disciple hurriedly bowed and left.

The Celestial Moon Emperor turned his head again, looking at the darkness-soaked sky, and focused on controlling the Moon Gates.

...Egostic. Ha.

What could he possibly do?

He and that woman would make fine first sacrifices for the calamity.

That's what the High Priest thought.

Until then.

Near the tower where the High Priest stood with his cold smile, in the city.

A pair of silhouettes was flying toward the city center.

***

Dark sky.

Burning city.

And... Egostic's broadcast!

"Hello everyone. This is Egostic!"

I turned on the broadcast with my usual grin.

Perhaps because of my cheerful voice and opening line, so different from the gloomy sky and the city that looked like it had been bombed.

Or maybe because people in underground bunkers had nothing else to do.

As soon as I started, my broadcast's viewer count and chat began to rise exponentially.

*

[Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick!]

[A hero has entered lolololol]

[Ah~ Don't go around saying Egostic has arrived! Everyone will tell me to be a hero~]

[S-class hero Apple Mango! S-class hero Apple Mango! S-class hero Apple Mango! S-class hero Apple Mango! S-class hero Apple Mango! S-class hero Apple Mango! S-class hero Apple Mango! S-class hero Apple Mango! S-class hero Apple Mango! S-class hero Apple Mango!]

[The chat is going absolutely crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[God is he a mango? God is he a mango? God is he a mango? God is he a mango? God is he a mango? God is he a mango? God is he a mango? God is he a mango? God is he a mango? God is he a mango?]

[Like if you've never been happier to see a Mango broadcast notificationㅋㅋㅋ Get a taste of K-internet, that's what I'm sayingㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[God, why hasn't the meeting started? "Because Mango hasn't arrived yet." God, why hasn't the meeting started? "Because Mango hasn't arrived yet." God, why hasn't the meeting started? "Because Mango hasn't arrived yet."]

*

...Looking at the chaotic chat, I turned my eyes away. Anyone would think a hero had started broadcasting.

Maybe it's because people get anxious being trapped underground, so I asked Lee Seol-ah to connect everyone using Yu-seong Group's technology. The energy is unbelievable for wartime.

Well, I admit I partly wanted people to be able to watch my broadcast, so I just accepted it.

Anyway.

I smiled again, flying through the sky, looking at the camera and said:

"I heard something was happening, so I came outside to check, and what do you know, it's absolute chaos? Monsters pouring out everywhere... it's the end times."

[Screeeech!]

"Look at this. Sigh."

As I was speaking, a purple pterodactyl-like monster flew toward me.

I naturally shattered its head with my psychokinesis.

"So that's the situation. Tsk. All because of that senile old man's cult, the Moonlight Cult or whatever."

...That attack actually drained a lot of my energy, making me instantly tired, but I spoke naturally.

From now on, I'll just leave it to Eun-wol who's following behind...

"Anyway. At this point, you all know what I'm talking about, right?"

"Yes. How dare they invade the Republic of Korea, my territory, without my permission. Shouldn't this be punished? They'll have no land left to conquer."

I grinned at the camera as I cut through the night sky.

After my statement, the chat exploded again.

I naturally asked the camera:

"Does anyone know where Stardus is?"

I need to find Stardus.

Looking at the chat rapidly scrolling up again, I realized there wasn't much useful information. Well, I guess that's natural since most people are underground.

"Anyway, if Stardus is nearby, could someone ask her to come this way? Since we have... the Moon Priestess here on the Ego-stream..."

I said that while briefly glancing back at Eun-wol, then looked at the camera again and spoke clearly.

"High Priest of the Moonlight Cult. I have a plan to defeat him and end this chaos. Stardus."

"So would you join forces with me, just this once?"

...Good. That should be enough to reach Stardus. Association staff will surely see it too.

Though I called for Stardus, I don't understand why unrelated people are making a fuss in the chat... seeing them say nonsense about public proposals and such, I guess people are still doing okay.

After delivering that message, I turned off the broadcast and looked around briefly.

Smoke still filled the air everywhere, and monsters were running around on the ground. Purple gates in the sky continued to pour out monsters.

And in the distance, surrounded by pink mist, stood a black tower so tall it seemed to reach the moon.

...The High Priest of the Moonlight Cult must have created it himself.

So he's finally revealed himself.

"Eun-wol, do you think the High Priest is over there?"

"Yes. I can feel his presence strongly from that direction. An ominous... magical energy."

Eun-wol, floating beside me, said with a hardened expression.

Right. Let's wait for Stardus before heading there.

I flew above central Seoul, looking around.

Now there were many more black gates visible everywhere than before. In Moonlight Cult terminology, Phase 2 Moon Gates.

And nearby, unlike others, giant lizard-like monsters the size of half a building were lumbering around with their massive bodies.

Right. Those are immune to firearms and much stronger than the others.

So, those...

[Hey, Da-in. It's Choi Se-hee. I've arrived! Should we start right away?]

Our Ego-stream should handle them.

Just as I was thinking that, Choi Se-hee's report came through.

-BOOM.

Far to the west, yellow flashes like lightning and explosion sounds could be heard.

...Looks like Electra has started fighting.

And along with that, reports from Seo Ja-young and the PMC began coming in from various locations.

Soon, a dragon—probably Ms. Divine Spirit—visible even from this distance, could be seen shooting a breath attack in a nearby city.

Good. Our Ego-stream has conquered Seoul!

The end. Thank you for watching until now.

...As if.

I smiled wryly, confirming that everything was going according to plan, then grabbed Eun-wol and flew through the sky again. Toward the tower where the High Priest of the Moonlight Cult would be.

And then.

"Egostic....!"

From over there.

That familiar and welcome voice reached me.

"Welcome, Stardus."

"Haa, haa."

What appeared before me, with golden hair fluttering, was:

Our hero Stardus, who had flown here, breathing heavily.

"Haa, haa. Just a moment..."

"Sure. Catch your breath."

It was a dramatic reunion between hero and arch-enemy in this chaos.

She must have been fighting continuously, as her clothes were slightly torn and her face was flushed as she sweated.

Seeing her like that made my heart ache a little, but there were more urgent matters at hand.

After all, only by ending all this could she rest.

After calming Stardus who was breathing heavily in the sky.

I looked at her, adjusted my hat, and began explaining.

"Stardus. Since we don't have much time, I'll get straight to the point."

"I have a plan. A plan to stop this calamity."

"Haa, haa. Really...?"

...She asked in response to my words.

She glanced nervously to the side, seemingly worried about whether this chaotic situation could be resolved.

"Yes. Really."

I said that for now.

There wasn't time for details, and explaining the method would take too long. We needed to leave immediately to save time. Before larger gates formed.

Of course, there was a high possibility she wouldn't immediately accept my words, but I tried anyway. If she asked, I'd explain then.

Anyway, to my vague statement...

"....Okay. Thank you... I'll trust only you."

Stardus smiled slightly despite her heavy breathing, looking into my eyes and answering immediately.

With a gaze full of trust in me, without a hint of doubt.

....And seeing her like that, I hesitated for a moment.

"...Yes. Understood."

I quickly regained my composure and answered.

Right. In this collapsing situation, she probably has no choice but to trust me. Is this that suspension bridge effect or whatever? Right. This is no time for such sentiments in such a serious situation. I need to focus on what needs to be done.

I cleared my throat and quickly summarized the situation.

"If we fly to that tower, I should be able to stop these gates. My colleagues are handling the monsters emerging around here, so please help us by defeating the monsters coming out of the black gates around the tower as we go."

"Okay."

"...Good. Let's go right away."

I said that and immediately flew through the sky.

Our target was the Moonlight Cult's tower.

And.

"...."

Stardus quietly followed behind me, watching me.