Chapter 272 - The End Of Calamity

# A fierce wind blew through the night sky.

I felt the biting cold above as I flew through the air.

And all around me...

"Wow, this is killing me..."

"Everyone, let's attack from the left!"

"Lure it over here! Over here!"

Heroes from the Republic of Korea Association and villains from our Ego-stream had all gathered together.

Together, we were fighting against the monster.

[GRAAAAAAAH!]

The final enemy to end this calamity—the Beast of Moonlight. It was so massive it blocked the entire sky, larger than any building, resembling a dragon as heavy as a mountain.

Everyone.

They were truly giving it their all. Fighting with everything they had.

-Whoosh.

BOOM.

BANG.

Under the pitch-black sky where a white moon hung high alone, explosions echoed everywhere with flashes of light.

"Huff... It's not easy moving around after so long."

"More importantly, hmm... this creature is stronger than I thought...!"

Icicle shooting light blue ice as she flew around... our Lee Seol-ah and Shadow Walker freely navigating the night sky, attacking with shadows.

And between them, our Ego-stream colleagues continued their battle, flashing with light.

"This is the power of modern science...!"

Seo-eun, delivering a kick while riding a giant white robot machine about the size of the monster's head.

"Hahahahaha!"

The most excited of all, Electra, Choi Se-hee, wrapped in electricity, laughing maniacally as she shot lightning while flying around.

[GYAAAAAAAH!]

"Oh no...! This one is a bit scary, isn't it?"

Mist, Seo Ja-young, wearing a hood, desperately avoiding the giant monster's attacks while throwing purple flames.

[KROAAAAAAH!]

Mr. Divine Dragon, transformed into a white dragon, flying around the creature and attacking with breath and blizzards. By the way, he was drawing most of the monster's aggro.

[Hahaha! This is the first time in my life I've faced such a massive enemy!]

And Death Knight, fearlessly climbing onto the monster's shoulder and sawing away with his sword, probably thanks to his immortality.

"Mist, support me from the side!"

"Hyaaaah!"

"Ugh... buff!"

And even our PMC members attacking and harassing the monster's legs.

A heart-stirring sight—people who had nothing to do with each other, all gathered together to face a single enemy.

Yes... this was the sight I wanted to see, why I worked so frantically to gather everyone.

[GRAAAAAAAH!]

To head toward the end of this world, we ultimately had to overcome the mountain that was the Moonlight Church.

And I too was helping them, carrying our healer Ha-yul, using every weapon I had—silver bullets, light guns, everything.

I also made sure to teleport to everyone's side periodically, providing healing and buffs through Ha-yul.

"Oppa, aren't you pushing yourself too hard?"

"I'm, I'm fine. Haa, haa. This much is nothing."

I heard Ha-yul worrying behind me, but I forced a smile and said I was fine.

Yes. I'd been saving my abilities for today. ...Though it felt like they were already depleted.

I held onto my hat, floating high in the sky, looking down and muttering to myself.

A massive monster standing in the middle of the city.

And dozens of my comrades fighting it, emitting various lights—light blue, yellow, black, purple.

The truth is, I know.

I know that their attacks aren't doing much damage to that thing.

The creature has some resistance to abilities, so even with everyone's efforts, it's not enough to bring it down. There's a reason it's the final boss of this calamity.

But.

This is enough to distract it and interfere with its movements.

And this time we've bought...

I smiled quietly as I watched the yellow light cutting through the dark sky, flying toward the monster.

...Yes.

This way, Stardust can attack without any interference.

Flash.

BOOM.

The monster's screams erupted as a yellow light bright enough to illuminate the dark sky burst around it.

[KYAAAAAAAAAAH!]

Yes. This is exactly it.

The giant monster, known as the "Beast of Moonlight," is one of the god's creations.

For some reason, the Moonlight Church leader managed to control it around this time, and it has the serious problem of being resistant to all ability users. In the original story, almost all surviving S-class heroes from America and around the world couldn't defeat it despite their combined efforts.

However, Stardust was different.

Unlike other ability users, Stardust had a different origin for her power. A power of starlight fundamentally different from other supernatural abilities—specially bestowed upon her by a god.

Her attacks actually worked on that thing.

That's why I went to such lengths to help her grow as much as possible before this moment.

And now.

BOOM.

BOOM.

"How satisfying..."

I found myself muttering as I watched the brilliant yellow flashes.

Yes. Stardust is doing amazingly well right now.

All her efforts haven't been in vain.

Everyone watching this battle can have hope.

'...The viewer count is still insane.'

Even though I no longer had the strength to carry the camera and had just fixed it to a nearby building ledge, the viewer count kept rising.

Curious, I checked the chat once, but was shocked to see messages flooding in from all languages and quickly closed it. Practically the whole world is watching...

Yes. Anyway, let's do our best until the end.

To defeat the Beast of Moonlight and bring down the Moonlight Church leader to end this Gate crisis.

With that in mind, I teleported with Ha-yul from the rooftop toward the beast as it swung its massive body.

...Well. I'll just think of it as dying after finishing this today. Life isn't much more than that anyway.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"I told you I'm fine. Now that you're here, get some healing and go."

"Seriously..."

After having Ha-yul heal Choi Se-hee, who flew toward me with a worried expression, I prepared to help in the battle again by wrapping Behemoth around my arm.

"Everyone, drive it this way!"

"Hey Stardust! The back of the monster is exposed, attack from there!"

And so.

"Uncle Death, help me here!"

"Egostic, I'm going to fire missiles that way, could you please move?"

As time passed.

"Eek!"

"Hyaaaaaaah!"

[GRAAAAAAAH!]

The battle against an enemy that seemed impossible to defeat...

Finally, the end was in sight.

...Of course, my own end was also in sight, as I was about to collapse.

Save me.

****

"Haa, haa..."

Flash. Flash.

BOOM. BOOM.

[KYAAAAAAAH! KIEEEEEEEH!]

"Everyone be careful!"

BANG. BANG.

"Ugh..."

Dark sky.

Flying through it, Stardust gasped for breath.

The battle had gone on for quite some time.

Due to the manipulated black sky, it was impossible to tell how much time had passed, but it felt like hours.

The ruins of the city center, destroyed by the battle with the monster, had already grown enormously.

But that didn't mean there was no progress.

In fact, there was quite a lot.

Finally, the monster looked like it was about to fall.

[KYAAAAAAAAAAH!]

The dragon-shaped monster, as large as a mountain, howled with glowing purple eyes, loud enough to tear the sky.

One of its wings had been completely torn off, and its body seemed to be collapsing in many places, making it look exhausted.

Perhaps because of this, it seemed even more ferocious.

[KYEEEEEEK!]

"Ugh..."

"Hey there, hero! Are you alright?"

...And now, it was focusing its attacks solely on her.

Stardust breathed heavily as she flew through the sky like an acrobat, avoiding the magic circle attacks and the monster's charges aimed at her.

"Hey, over here!"

"Augh! Stop looking at that woman and look at me...!"

Meanwhile, Egostic's villain colleagues and hero allies were concentrating their attacks on the monster.

...In truth, without them, she would have fallen long ago, overwhelmed by the monster's attacks. Thanks to them distracting the monster's attention from her, she had been able to conserve her strength and attack effectively.

But now even that had reached its limit.

The monster had fully realized who posed the greatest threat to it.

As a result, it was now relentlessly targeting Stardust alone.

The others seemed tired too, their movements slower than before, just like hers.

"Huff, haa, haa..."

And Egostic, flying on the other side of the sky, looked like he was nearly dying.

...She had told him to rest when they crossed paths earlier, but he hadn't listened and kept going. At this rate, something terrible might happen to him.

'Yes...'

It was time to end this.

No, it had to end. If this dragged on any longer, everyone here would be in grave danger.

'...The monster seems to be at its limit too...'

Of course, she was at her limit as well.

But if she could muster one final, powerful attack with her last bit of strength. Maybe now it would be enough.

"Haa, haa..."

She thought this while looking at the sun-like power burning brightly around her clenched fist.

She steeled herself as she looked at everyone—especially Egostic—who appeared exhausted.

Finally.

"HYAAAAAAAH!"

With all her might, she gritted her teeth and charged at the monster with her fist clenched.

BOOOOOM.

The moment her fist made contact with the monster's body.

A yellow light so bright it could blind the eyes illuminated the entire city for an instant.

[AGYAAAAAAAAAAH!]

With the monster's agonizing scream tearing through the air.

Finally.

This long, drawn-out battle came to an end.

***

"Wow..."

[GROOOOOOAH]

In the sky.

After the bright light that illuminated the entire country burst forth.

I muttered those words as I watched the monster crumble to dust with a final, desperate death cry.

Yes.

Finally, finally it was over.

This terribly long battle, finally.

"Haha... thank goodness."

"Oppa? Oppa! Wake up!"

"I'm fine. I haven't collapsed yet."

I said to Ha-yul, who was urgently calling me from beside me.

...Apart from some blood flowing from my head from bumping into something while dodging, and a little blood in my mouth, I'm fine. Even those were healed by Ha-yul.

And now I need to hold on.

Because everything isn't completely finished yet.

After leaving Ha-yul in a safe place, I went down again.

And.

"...Egostic. You came?"

"Ms. Stardust."

I could meet her again.

Her clothes were a bit torn, and she looked tired.

But still standing properly, smiling slightly at me—Stardust.

"Oppa! Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

After briefly hugging Seo-eun who ran toward me, I turned my gaze again.

There was only one reason we came down here.

"Cough..."

In the center of the deep crater where the monster had stood, the Moonlight Church leader had collapsed on the ground.

Yes.

Once we deal with him, all of this will end. The sky will brighten again.

With that thought, I approached Stardust.

She was looking in that direction with a hardened expression, then nodded when our eyes met.

Yes. It's time to end this. This long, tiresome connection with him.

But what could that church leader do now that he's spent all his power? He should just die quietly.

With that in mind, I naturally approached where he had collapsed, together with Stardust.

He was leaning on a staff, his legs trembling, kneeling on one knee and bleeding.

"You... you bastards..."

Still conscious, he spoke as we approached, and I smiled wryly and said:

"Well. Your madness is finally over. Anything else to say? Seems like you've used up your ultimate weapon."

"You... you! The god, our god will surely take revenge!"

"Yes, yes. I'm sure he will. How concerning."

I said that while naturally taking out my gun.

Stardust didn't say anything even seeing me do this.

Yes. He needs to die here. To stop this calamity. This is the only way.

...Finally, it's ending. This Phase 2 Moonlight Church event.

How much time and effort I've spent trying to stop this.

Yes. We finally stopped it. With minimal damage, as best we could.

Now if we kill this church leader, the sun will rise again, and the gates will disappear one by one.

I was filled with hope thinking about this.

...Perhaps that's why I didn't realize.

That he had one last move hidden.

"Kuhehe... Hahaha!"

As I was loading my gun, the man who suddenly started laughing.

Despite clearly having lost all his power.

Unexpectedly, he made his staff glow and began doing something.

"Did you think I would go alone!"

And at that moment.

Before I could react, the ground beneath me began to glow brightly.

I quickly teleported to avoid it, but.

"...Huh?"

Not where I was, but where Stardust had been standing beside me, a white portal appeared. A small gate.

And simultaneously, with Stardust's surprised expression being the last thing I saw.

Whoosh.

She disappeared beyond it.

As if falling, as if vanishing. Naturally.

And the gate crackled.

Black, pink, blue. Changing colors randomly.

"Hahaha! It's a gate connected one-way to various anomalous dimensions. Now that woman, cough, will never return to this world. Hahaha!"

As the church leader muttered something, my mind went blank for a moment.

Wait. Stop this nonsense. Everything was over, why this at the end? This never happened in the original story.

But there was no time to think further.

Yes. I need to save her first. She's my hero.

"Oppa!"

"Hey, Egostic. Where are you going?"

Without a moment's hesitation, I too jumped into the portal.

Boom.

And then the gate closed.