Chapter 407 - Total Assault (3)
Shin Ha-ru, Stardust.
To her, everything that day happened in an instant.
Thump-.
"...?"
As usual, she was working with other heroes and villains at the American headquarters.
...Although it wasn't easy to cooperate with villains even at Egostic's request, she was just starting to get used to doing it for the greater good.
Just as the angels' attacks had almost completely stopped, and things were beginning to feel somewhat peaceful.
She felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding...
Everything happened in an instant.
"Everyone, breaking, breaking news!!! The angels have launched a full-scale attack right now!!!!!"
That loud voice echoed throughout the headquarters where numerous people had gathered, shouted by someone who had rushed in urgently.
Before everyone gathered there could properly comprehend the meaning of that fear-filled voice.
"-Arrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!"
From outside the headquarters' window, that kind of cry was heard.
When the startled people looked to the side, hundreds, thousands of angels could be seen descending from the sky through the window.
That was the beginning of an unexpected all-out war between ability users and angels.
Although there were quite a few ability users gathered here, the number of angels visible right now was like an army of several thousand.
Because of this, the situation seemed likely to develop into a full-scale war...
"Everyone, please step aside."
But that would have been the case if Stardust hadn't been there.
***
"...Thank you, Stardust! Thanks to you, we avoided a crisis."
After some time had passed.
In the now-empty sky, another hero approached Stardust, who was catching her breath, to express gratitude on behalf of everyone.
-Haaaaaaah!
All those angels had turned into light and disappeared after just a few Star-Punches from Stardust.
To him, Stardust shook her head as if it was nothing and asked.
"It's nothing. You all would have handled it even without me. More importantly, what's the situation elsewhere..?"
"Well, about that... currently other places are also under attack by angels. Apparently, the stronger the angel forces are, the more ability users are gathered in an area... Because of that, everyone gathered here is trying to return to their home countries to stop the angels' invasion."
"...The situation is serious."
Looking around, she could see ability users flying through the sky, all looking worried.
Is Korea okay?
As she was thinking this and taking out her phone to connect to the hotline to contact the Director, she suddenly realized.
'Wait.'
Egostic.
Is Egostic okay?
Thump-.
Feeling a sudden sense of unease, she moved her fingers faster to immediately call the Director.
...After what felt like an eternally long time of the dial tone ringing.
Click
The Director answered the call.
[-Oh! Stardust, are you alright?]
The Director's urgent voice came through, accompanied by all sorts of background noise.
To him, Stardust first asked about the hero situation, getting straight to the point.
"Yes. I'm fine. How is the situation in Korea?"
[...Not very good, but we're somehow holding on with heroes from Egostream and Yu-seong Squad. Still, it looks like things will settle down somewhat soon.]
"That's a relief. ...By the way, do you know what Egostic is doing right now? Is he safe?"
[Ah... Ahem.]
At her question, the Director was silent for a moment before clearing his throat.
At his reaction, Stardust's heart sank, and before she could raise her voice to ask again.
The Director sighed deeply and said in a grave voice.
[...Egostic is safe, for now. However, he was caught up in something outside and was brought to the Association unconscious. Everyone is currently treating him. There are no visible external injuries, but... I'm not sure. He's asleep for now.]
"...What did you say?"
Why do bad premonitions always come true?
Shocked by the news that Egostic had collapsed, Stardust's eyes momentarily darkened.
Then, in a low voice, she murmured to the Director.
"...I understand. I'll head there right away, so please be aware of that."
[Sigh... Alright. Well, we could use the help here too, so if you come...]
Just as the Director's voice was coming through.
KWAAAAAAAAAAAAANG
Suddenly, a tremendous sound erupted.
An incredible wind blew to where Stardust was standing.
"Ugh..."
Even she, a superhuman, staggered from the tremendous wind.
Though nothing was visible to the naked eye, it clearly seemed like the wind was blowing from somewhere in the west.
The communication signal had been cut off because of this.
What on earth is happening now?
As Stardust was thinking this with a serious expression.
Not long after, a hero from another country's association flew hurriedly toward her.
"Hey, Stardust! Take a look at this."
"...What is it?"
On the screen he showed her.
[-KUUUUUUUUUUUNG]
...Something of truly enormous size.
It could be seen descending from the sky.
"Something seems to have appeared over the ocean! It looks beyond human comprehension, and if we don't stop it now..."
He explained with an urgent expression.
Indeed, whatever had appeared on the screen looked like it could bring about the end of humanity.
Just like when she heard the voice of God, even through a video screen, the presence was overwhelming.
As other ability users looked at her with desperate eyes.
"..."
...Contrary to what the other heroes expected—that she would fly off immediately—Stardust hesitated for a moment.
Of course, anyone could see that stopping this thing immediately was the right thing to do. If it wasn't stopped now, humanity would face an early extinction crisis...
'But I'm worried about Egostic...'
She was conflicted, wanting to go see him right away.
...However.
'That's right.'
She steeled her resolve.
...In the end, she realized that abandoning humanity's crisis to go see him was not what Egostic would want.
Also, she knew there wasn't much she could do even if she went now.
Yes.
For now, let's stop that thing.
"...I'll depart immediately."
"....!! Thank you, Stardust! The only person who can stop this is indeed you."
With determined eyes, she murmured as her hair fluttered in the wind.
Whatever was coming down from the sky now. Whoever it was.
...She needed to deal with it quickly and go see Egostic.
***
In a helicopter over the Atlantic Ocean.
The scene being captured by a broadcasting station's camera was truly overwhelming.
[What... what is that...]
KUUUUUUUUUUUUNG
The sky opened, and along with an intense light pouring out, descending from the heavens.
A massive, white something.
Sitting cross-legged, with eyes closed, wrapped in pure white cloth...
A gigantic being that looked like a white Buddha.
This bizarre entity, resembling a massive, pure white Buddha, was silently descending from the sky without moving its enormous body at all.
However, even though it wasn't moving at all.
Just. Just by its presence.
An overwhelming pressure.
[Gack...]
The being's power was so strong that even people who were merely watching on television—those with weak constitutions—foamed at the mouth and fainted just from seeing its image on screen.
...Of course, those who didn't faint felt the same way.
The truly enormous difference in status that could be felt even though they weren't seeing it directly, but only through a screen.
If that thing awakened and couldn't be stopped... humanity would be annihilated.
Without anyone saying it, people realized this fact just by looking at it.
...But who.
Who could possibly stop that thing?
As the whole world was gripped by fear.
Whoosh.
On the screen.
...A woman with fluttering blonde hair appeared in the scene.
It was the S-class hero, recently called the strongest hero, the heroine Stardust.
She simply gazed at the being in front of her, which was sitting cross-legged with its eyes closed, with a calm gaze.
And in the very next moment.
KWAAAAAAAAAAAAANG
Before anyone could notice, she attacked the being floating silently in the sky with a fist glowing with yellow light.
Then, white smoke filled the surroundings.
[...A being less than an insect dares to challenge the executor.]
Suddenly, a chilling, bizarre, and enormous voice was heard.
A voice that caused physiological revulsion, as if dozens of insects were crawling up one's arm, coming from where the white Buddha had been.
BANG.
Suddenly.
A massive golden hand created in the sky clapped down on where Stardust had been, as if squashing an insect.
As the smoke cleared.
...Above the ocean, the massive white being was still sitting cross-legged with its eyes and mouth closed.
And around it, golden hands glowing in mid-air.
...And in front of it, Stardust was still alive, flying in the sky.
Seeing this.
Some people unconsciously murmured with trembling voices.
[...We can't win against that.]
It wasn't just a difference in power.
If you were human. If you were a creation of God, you could feel it, the simple difference in status.
From the beginning, humans were designed to be unable to defeat "that."
Everyone in the world could realize this as soon as they saw it.
A difference in existential power felt at the genetic level.
However.
Stardust, visible on the screen.
"...I'm busy."
As if she wasn't afraid at all.
She was simply murmuring with eyes that still showed no light.
What was important to her right now wasn't this pale monster in front of her.
The biggest problem right now was the fact that Egostic had collapsed somewhere...
Therefore, she had no intention of investing much time in the monster before her.
"Come at me."
With that, she attacked again.
...Of course, contrary to Stardust's wishes, quite a lot of time passed.
She attacked with her glowing hands.
The white being endured.
The white being launched dozens of massive, glowing golden hands at her.
Stardust dodged.
The ocean below exploded.
The sky split from the being's attack, the wind raged and destroyed the camera.
By the time they were able to film the scene again by other means, the white being had already unfolded from its cross-legged position, stood up with its eyes open, and was fighting in the sky with its enormous body.
Stardust faced it, dodging and counterattacking.
The ocean below disappeared dozens of times, the surrounding sky was slashed dozens of times. Yellow light and white light continuously clashed with each other, and finally.
[AAAAAAAAAAAAAA---!!!!!!]
At last.
The massive being collapsed, exploding into yellow light.
And in the end, Stardust remained.
And so.
[....]
Over the empty ocean.
As they watched Stardust, her blonde hair fluttering, quietly gazing at where the white Buddha had been with an injured appearance.
People finally realized.
That this person was humanity's savior-.