Around the building where Chang-Sun was presumed to be, dozens of apostles revealed their murderous intent while channeling their Guardians. Ordinary humans, four-meter-tall Trolls, Lycanthropes, Goblins, Vampires... Each of the apostles had a distinct appearance.
[Many Star Signs are observing the Planet ‘Eos’!]
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...!
The raging storms of Divine Class they emanated shook the ground and collapsed nearby buildings. Lightning sparks flew everywhere, while pillars of fire released gusts of burning wind, melting and cracking the concrete roads. It was an environmental catastrophe that unleashed merciless violence, and mortals were helpless against it.
However, the apostles emitted calming sacred light that was as radiant as the Aurora Borealis, as if they had nothing to do with the ongoing violence. The light looked so miraculous that looking at it alone could make one feel captivated down to one’s very soul.
The apostles truly seemed to embody the ambivalent nature of the gods, who handed down both punishments and blessings.
“W-Why are the Star Signs...”
“Did a war break out?”
“Ah, dear Lords! Please, please!”
The citizens of Clio City were completely lost. Running away from the disaster seemed too disrespectful to their gods, but they were about to die from collapsing buildings, so they could not be happy about the Star Signs’ descent. Regardless, there was one thing that made the citizens more confused and terrified than anything else.
“Why in the world are they doing this now...?”
Even though Eos had been engulfed in chaos due to the Metal Mask’s terror attacks, it had never been a concern for Clio City’s citizens. However, numerous Star Signs had appeared in the city, filling the citizens with a sense of crisis at the thought that their beloved city could become the gods’ battlefield.
“Please...!”
“Dear Lords, please slay the unfaithful!”
Those who had been fervent believers knelt on the ground and prayed that the gods would punish the terrorist who dared to taint their city. As if their prayers were being answered, a god’s voice echoed thunderously.
『Filthy agent of heresy who dares to taint this holy land, listen―!』
“I-It’s a god’s voice!”
“A god is trying to eradicate the heathen!”
“Our city can receive salvation!”
The citizens’ expressions brightened for the first time after the commotion, but they froze up as their god continued.
『You have plunged this city into a pit of sin from which it cannot be raised―! Ahhhh, it is lamentable. What a tragedy. A rain of fire and brimstone shall soon strike the city, which is now beyond salvation; the rains shall engulf it until nothing but a sea remains―!』
“W-What does this mean?!”
“Dear Lord!”
“P-Please save me! I’m a faithful believer! I’ve spent my entire life without committing sins, so what do you suddenly mean by sins?!”
The citizens screamed and called out to their Guardians, but no one answered.
『You should always remember that they are receiving your divine punishment on your behalf―!』
Paaah....!
The specks of sacred light that had been falling beautifully from the sky like snowflakes grew brighter, and the blazing winds intensified. The citizens finally realized that the dozens of apostles and Star Signs in the sky did not care about their lives in the slightest.
“Save meee!”
“Move! Get out of my way, you idiots!”
That was when the exodus of Clio City began. Mothers left their homes while holding their children’s hands, and young men carried backpacks laden with belongings. Roads filled up with people almost immediately, and burglars looted shops that sold daily necessities. The city was overwhelmed with terror.
“Ah... Ahhhhh!”
“We should run...”
“Jane! Jane is still in the city!”
“Everyone, hold your positions! I’ll execute anyone who dares to leave their position.”
“That jerk must be crazy! All of us are going to be killed at this rate, so who cares if we’re disobeying orders?!”
The police and military were in charge of maintaining order in the city, but they were also getting out of control. Although some military officers desperately tried to keep their soldiers in check, their efforts only instigated a coup instead.
Thump, thump, thump!
“Open! Open it up!”
“O-Outside! We’re outside!”
“Hurray! We’ll li...!”
Eventually, the citizens opened the tightly shut castle gate. The drawbridge quickly fell, providing the citizens with a means to escape, so they ran across the drawbridge in delight. However...
“They’re irredeemably corrupt, so only death will cleanse their souls. Kill every last one of them.”
Bang, bang, bang!
Smack, smack, smack―!
“Urgh!”
“Arrggghhh!”
“W-Why is the Arcadian Imperial Army here...?!”
The citizens who were running at the forefront were quickly killed by soldiers firing magical bullets. The survivors paled, realizing that the city was surrounded by elite soldiers with golden coats. The flag those soldiers held bore the symbol of a two-headed eagle, which signified the Imperial Family; it flew high above the soldiers as they marched in orderly ranks. That meant they were truly the Arcadian Imperial Army, the elite soldiers who protected the capital planet where the emperor and Imperial Family lived.
While the Inspection Bureau hunted those who went against the Imperial Family in the shadows, the Arcadian Imperial Army displayed the Imperial Family’s dignity out in the open. It was said that not a single clump of grass would be left wherever the Arcadian Imperial Army passed through, making it terrifying for ordinary citizens.
Of course, only ten thousand soldiers of the Arcadian Imperial Army were present right now; there were very few of them relative to the army’s size. The fact that they were here now mattered, however, because their presence indicated that the Imperial Family had already decided to wipe Clio City off the map.
“Ahhh...!”
“No!”
The Star Signs were inside the city, while the Arcadian Imperial Army was surrounding the city from outside. Thus, it was safe to assume that all the warp gates that could lead the citizens to other cities were also blocked. The fact that there was no way to escape this hell brought despair to the citizens.
[An order for <Extinction> has been declared against Clio City!]
[The order for <Extinction> is going to be executed soon!]
[Remaining time: 5 minutes.]
[Starting the countdown!]
[00:05:00]
[00:04:59:99]
...
* * *
Alioth, the ‘Ursa Major’, led the Star Signs who were looking down at the chaotic city in their apostles’ bodies.
[The Celestial ‘Aquarius’ warns you that this is your last chance!]
『...I’ll keep it in mind.』
Alioth could envision Sadalmelik’s cold gaze as he read through the message, swallowing down his saliva. Sadalmelik never spoke empty words, so this was truly Alioth’s last chance. If he failed her mission, Alioth would immediately be eaten.
‘If the worst comes to pass, I’ll use this...!’ Alioth thought as he tightly gripped a potion bottle in his inner pocket. Sadalmelik had given him the bottle before Alioth had left for Clio City.
“Do you know when actual stars shine the brightest? It’s when they begin to collapse after using up their fuel,” Sadalmelik told Alioth.
The potion was fueled by the consumer’s <Myths>. While those <Myths> were being used up, the consumer could become stronger than their original self; Sadalmelik called this state ‘Energy Surge’.
Of course, Alioth would never be able to shine again after Energy Surge, as he would be annihilated, unable to maintain his soul. It signified true death for him. In other words, Sadalmelik was basically telling him not to come back alive without capturing the Metal Mask, even if he had to self-detonate to do it.
That meant the plan had to be extremely important for Sadalmelik. She was the one who had mobilized the Arcadian Imperial Army, granted permission to burn down a big city, and sent the Star Signs in her faction as reinforcements, indicating how anxious she was getting.
‘I’ll kill him no matter what...!’ Alioth thought as he clenched his fists, determined to rip the Metal Mask to pieces and figure out who was behind him. Alioth had already lost an apostle and had no intention to repeat the same mistake.
『That idiot’s mistake cost us a precious farm.』
『Tell me about it. They should indeed be exterminated, since they’re contaminated, but he was too negligent over a matter that should have been taken care of quicker, creating this mess. That’s why you can’t expect anything to be done right by those who are born stupid. Tsk!』
‘Lacerta’, ‘Hydrus’, and the other Star Signs blatantly criticized Alioth and showed their annoyance, but Alioth paid zero attention to them.
‘Come out, Metal Mask! Are you seriously going to let this city fall and all these citizens die?’ Alioth thought.
[00:03:01:41]
[00:03:01:40]
...
* * *
[00:02:46:39]
[00:02:46:38]
...
“Two minutes left,” Chang-Sun said as he smiled coldly, looking at the countdown clock that was functioning all too well.
While the Star Signs’ willingness to burn down a city of over a million citizens was also amazing, the cheap trick of using a countdown to pressure Chang-Sun psychologically was truly something.
In contrast to Chang-Sun. Ardrin Tigernmas anxiously walked back and forth, muttering, “...They’re really going to do it! You must have a solution! Do something!”
Arin had a duty to protect Arcadia, so she could not sit and watch the innocent citizens being slaughtered. Even her subordinates in this building could be endangered, so the whole situation filled her with terror. Nevertheless, Chang-Sun acted as if he had been expecting the situation and did nothing, leaving Arin frustrated.
“Wait a little longer,” Chang-Sun instructed.
“So how long should I do that?!” Arin exclaimed.
“Until the guest comes,” Chang-Sun replied.
“Who in the world is this guest?!” Arin yelled.
Thump!
She pressed Chang-Sun as if she would storm out of the office unless he explained the situation to her. Only about one minute was left, so she was on the clock.
Chang-Sun suddenly turned his head away from Arin and looked behind him, saying, “The guest has arrived.”
Wondering what Chang-Sun meant, Arin turned in the same direction, and suddenly froze.
Swoosh!
“I did hear that your skills were quite fine for a mortal, and it’s true. Haha,” a pale man with impressively sharp eyes said as he walked out from a spatial gap.
Arin unwittingly grabbed her vines tightly, thinking, ‘I couldn’t sense anything...!’
She had been confident that at least her senses were extremely heightened, but the man was stealthy enough to fool her senses. Besides, this building was her domain, so that also meant the man was quite a good spy and assassin. Not many people could do that, not even the Eighty-Eight Star Signs.
“Well, I guess that’s why you were able to crush that stupid bear, huh?”
[The Celestial ‘Canis Minor’ is revealing his Divine Class using his apostle!]
Whooooosh!
The man revealed his sealed Divine Class to the fullest, looking at Chang-Sun. The stinging storm of his Divine Class raged and shook the building. In response, Arin set up a barrier of energy around Stasha and Ricchi to protect them.
Meanwhile, she continued to think, ‘The guest he’s been waiting for is Procyon...? Then wait!’
Arin came to a realization. Like Sirius, Procyon the ‘Canis Minor’ was a Star Sign in the faction of Chiron the ‘Sagittarius’, which meant he was an enemy of Sadalmelik’s faction, whose members were surrounding the city.
‘Chang-Sun said that he was going to instigate internal strife!’ Arin thought as she felt a drop of cold sweat rolling down her back.
When Chang-Sun had roughly explained his plan to her, she had been uncertain as to whether or not it was actually possible, but watching his plan unfold in reality was an eye-opener.
‘Regardless of everything, someone without extraordinary guts could never gamble with over a million lives...!’
Even though Chang-Sun was called a fiend, he was not an Evil Celestial or a Demonic Celestial, which meant he was not someone who had no regard for human lives. If Chang-Sun had crossed such a line, Arin would never have gotten acquainted with him in the first place. Now, however, Chang-Sun had burned the boats without hesitation, and yet successfully controlled the situation as he wished.
‘...He’s not the Sun I know.’
Arin had to admit that Chang-Sun had not merely grown stronger, but also gained the wisdom to observe the situation rationally. While he was sometimes wicked, he was also sly from time to time. He was like a snake who knew how to quietly observe the situation until the opportunity to snatch his prey came. At that moment, a piece of the Zodiacs’ history, which Arin had heard long ago, flashed through her mind.
‘...There used to be thirteen people in the Zodiacs, but after one of them plummeted from the sky for an unknown reason, the Zodiacs became a group of twelve people.’
Although barely anyone remembered it anymore, the thirteenth Zodiac’s name was ‘Ophiuchus’... Why had Arin suddenly remembered that name?
As Arin was lost in thought, Chang-Sun and the man exchanged glances, and the man said, “Whoa! You can stand my Divine Class too. I see why Sir Chiron is interested in you. But do you know me, human? You stare at me awfully hard.”
“Not really. I just find you familiar for some reason,” Chang-Sun said, shaking his head.
“Wait! Do I know you, human? I want to see your face under the mask,” Procyon said, licking his lips.
At that moment, Chang-Sun received a message from Jin Prezia.
『Master.』
‘Yes, it seems we found him in the last place we expected. It’s him, yes?’ Chang-Sun asked.
『...Yeah, the body he’s using definitely belongs to my nephew.』
Jin’s voice quietly echoed in Chang-Sun’s head.
Around the building where Chang-Sun was presumed to be, dozens of apostles revealed their murderous intent while channeling their Guardians. Ordinary humans, four-meter-tall Trolls, Lycanthropes, Goblins, Vampires... Each of the apostles had a distinct appearance.
[Many Star Signs are observing the Planet ‘Eos’!]
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...!
The raging storms of Divine Class they emanated shook the ground and collapsed nearby buildings. Lightning sparks flew everywhere, while pillars of fire released gusts of burning wind, melting and cracking the concrete roads. It was an environmental catastrophe that unleashed merciless violence, and mortals were helpless against it.
However, the apostles emitted calming sacred light that was as radiant as the Aurora Borealis, as if they had nothing to do with the ongoing violence. The light looked so miraculous that looking at it alone could make one feel captivated down to one’s very soul.
The apostles truly seemed to embody the ambivalent nature of the gods, who handed down both punishments and blessings.
“W-Why are the Star Signs...”
“Did a war break out?”
“Ah, dear Lords! Please, please!”
The citizens of Clio City were completely lost. Running away from the disaster seemed too disrespectful to their gods, but they were about to die from collapsing buildings, so they could not be happy about the Star Signs’ descent. Regardless, there was one thing that made the citizens more confused and terrified than anything else.
“Why in the world are they doing this now...?”
Even though Eos had been engulfed in chaos due to the Metal Mask’s terror attacks, it had never been a concern for Clio City’s citizens. However, numerous Star Signs had appeared in the city, filling the citizens with a sense of crisis at the thought that their beloved city could become the gods’ battlefield.
“Please...!”
“Dear Lords, please slay the unfaithful!”
Those who had been fervent believers knelt on the ground and prayed that the gods would punish the terrorist who dared to taint their city. As if their prayers were being answered, a god’s voice echoed thunderously.
『Filthy agent of heresy who dares to taint this holy land, listen―!』
“I-It’s a god’s voice!”
“A god is trying to eradicate the heathen!”
“Our city can receive salvation!”
The citizens’ expressions brightened for the first time after the commotion, but they froze up as their god continued.
『You have plunged this city into a pit of sin from which it cannot be raised―! Ahhhh, it is lamentable. What a tragedy. A rain of fire and brimstone shall soon strike the city, which is now beyond salvation; the rains shall engulf it until nothing but a sea remains―!』
“W-What does this mean?!”
“Dear Lord!”
“P-Please save me! I’m a faithful believer! I’ve spent my entire life without committing sins, so what do you suddenly mean by sins?!”
The citizens screamed and called out to their Guardians, but no one answered.
『You should always remember that they are receiving your divine punishment on your behalf―!』
Paaah....!
The specks of sacred light that had been falling beautifully from the sky like snowflakes grew brighter, and the blazing winds intensified. The citizens finally realized that the dozens of apostles and Star Signs in the sky did not care about their lives in the slightest.
“Save meee!”
“Move! Get out of my way, you idiots!”
That was when the exodus of Clio City began. Mothers left their homes while holding their children’s hands, and young men carried backpacks laden with belongings. Roads filled up with people almost immediately, and burglars looted shops that sold daily necessities. The city was overwhelmed with terror.
“Ah... Ahhhhh!”
“We should run...”
“Jane! Jane is still in the city!”
“Everyone, hold your positions! I’ll execute anyone who dares to leave their position.”
“That jerk must be crazy! All of us are going to be killed at this rate, so who cares if we’re disobeying orders?!”
The police and military were in charge of maintaining order in the city, but they were also getting out of control. Although some military officers desperately tried to keep their soldiers in check, their efforts only instigated a coup instead.
Thump, thump, thump!
“Open! Open it up!”
“O-Outside! We’re outside!”
“Hurray! We’ll li...!”
Eventually, the citizens opened the tightly shut castle gate. The drawbridge quickly fell, providing the citizens with a means to escape, so they ran across the drawbridge in delight. However...
“They’re irredeemably corrupt, so only death will cleanse their souls. Kill every last one of them.”
Bang, bang, bang!
Smack, smack, smack―!
“Urgh!”
“Arrggghhh!”
“W-Why is the Arcadian Imperial Army here...?!”
The citizens who were running at the forefront were quickly killed by soldiers firing magical bullets. The survivors paled, realizing that the city was surrounded by elite soldiers with golden coats. The flag those soldiers held bore the symbol of a two-headed eagle, which signified the Imperial Family; it flew high above the soldiers as they marched in orderly ranks. That meant they were truly the Arcadian Imperial Army, the elite soldiers who protected the capital planet where the emperor and Imperial Family lived.
While the Inspection Bureau hunted those who went against the Imperial Family in the shadows, the Arcadian Imperial Army displayed the Imperial Family’s dignity out in the open. It was said that not a single clump of grass would be left wherever the Arcadian Imperial Army passed through, making it terrifying for ordinary citizens.
Of course, only ten thousand soldiers of the Arcadian Imperial Army were present right now; there were very few of them relative to the army’s size. The fact that they were here now mattered, however, because their presence indicated that the Imperial Family had already decided to wipe Clio City off the map.
“Ahhh...!”
“No!”
The Star Signs were inside the city, while the Arcadian Imperial Army was surrounding the city from outside. Thus, it was safe to assume that all the warp gates that could lead the citizens to other cities were also blocked. The fact that there was no way to escape this hell brought despair to the citizens.
[An order for <Extinction> has been declared against Clio City!]
[The order for <Extinction> is going to be executed soon!]
[Remaining time: 5 minutes.]
[Starting the countdown!]
[00:05:00]
[00:04:59:99]
...
* * *
Alioth, the ‘Ursa Major’, led the Star Signs who were looking down at the chaotic city in their apostles’ bodies.
[The Celestial ‘Aquarius’ warns you that this is your last chance!]
『...I’ll keep it in mind.』
Alioth could envision Sadalmelik’s cold gaze as he read through the message, swallowing down his saliva. Sadalmelik never spoke empty words, so this was truly Alioth’s last chance. If he failed her mission, Alioth would immediately be eaten.
‘If the worst comes to pass, I’ll use this...!’ Alioth thought as he tightly gripped a potion bottle in his inner pocket. Sadalmelik had given him the bottle before Alioth had left for Clio City.
“Do you know when actual stars shine the brightest? It’s when they begin to collapse after using up their fuel,” Sadalmelik told Alioth.
The potion was fueled by the consumer’s <Myths>. While those <Myths> were being used up, the consumer could become stronger than their original self; Sadalmelik called this state ‘Energy Surge’.
Of course, Alioth would never be able to shine again after Energy Surge, as he would be annihilated, unable to maintain his soul. It signified true death for him. In other words, Sadalmelik was basically telling him not to come back alive without capturing the Metal Mask, even if he had to self-detonate to do it.
That meant the plan had to be extremely important for Sadalmelik. She was the one who had mobilized the Arcadian Imperial Army, granted permission to burn down a big city, and sent the Star Signs in her faction as reinforcements, indicating how anxious she was getting.
‘I’ll kill him no matter what...!’ Alioth thought as he clenched his fists, determined to rip the Metal Mask to pieces and figure out who was behind him. Alioth had already lost an apostle and had no intention to repeat the same mistake.
『That idiot’s mistake cost us a precious farm.』
『Tell me about it. They should indeed be exterminated, since they’re contaminated, but he was too negligent over a matter that should have been taken care of quicker, creating this mess. That’s why you can’t expect anything to be done right by those who are born stupid. Tsk!』
‘Lacerta’, ‘Hydrus’, and the other Star Signs blatantly criticized Alioth and showed their annoyance, but Alioth paid zero attention to them.
‘Come out, Metal Mask! Are you seriously going to let this city fall and all these citizens die?’ Alioth thought.
[00:03:01:41]
[00:03:01:40]
...
* * *
[00:02:46:39]
[00:02:46:38]
...
“Two minutes left,” Chang-Sun said as he smiled coldly, looking at the countdown clock that was functioning all too well.
While the Star Signs’ willingness to burn down a city of over a million citizens was also amazing, the cheap trick of using a countdown to pressure Chang-Sun psychologically was truly something.
In contrast to Chang-Sun. Ardrin Tigernmas anxiously walked back and forth, muttering, “...They’re really going to do it! You must have a solution! Do something!”
Arin had a duty to protect Arcadia, so she could not sit and watch the innocent citizens being slaughtered. Even her subordinates in this building could be endangered, so the whole situation filled her with terror. Nevertheless, Chang-Sun acted as if he had been expecting the situation and did nothing, leaving Arin frustrated.
“Wait a little longer,” Chang-Sun instructed.
“So how long should I do that?!” Arin exclaimed.
“Until the guest comes,” Chang-Sun replied.
“Who in the world is this guest?!” Arin yelled.
Thump!
She pressed Chang-Sun as if she would storm out of the office unless he explained the situation to her. Only about one minute was left, so she was on the clock.
Chang-Sun suddenly turned his head away from Arin and looked behind him, saying, “The guest has arrived.”
Wondering what Chang-Sun meant, Arin turned in the same direction, and suddenly froze.
Swoosh!
“I did hear that your skills were quite fine for a mortal, and it’s true. Haha,” a pale man with impressively sharp eyes said as he walked out from a spatial gap.
Arin unwittingly grabbed her vines tightly, thinking, ‘I couldn’t sense anything...!’
She had been confident that at least her senses were extremely heightened, but the man was stealthy enough to fool her senses. Besides, this building was her domain, so that also meant the man was quite a good spy and assassin. Not many people could do that, not even the Eighty-Eight Star Signs.
“Well, I guess that’s why you were able to crush that stupid bear, huh?”
[The Celestial ‘Canis Minor’ is revealing his Divine Class using his apostle!]
Whooooosh!
The man revealed his sealed Divine Class to the fullest, looking at Chang-Sun. The stinging storm of his Divine Class raged and shook the building. In response, Arin set up a barrier of energy around Stasha and Ricchi to protect them.
Meanwhile, she continued to think, ‘The guest he’s been waiting for is Procyon...? Then wait!’
Arin came to a realization. Like Sirius, Procyon the ‘Canis Minor’ was a Star Sign in the faction of Chiron the ‘Sagittarius’, which meant he was an enemy of Sadalmelik’s faction, whose members were surrounding the city.
‘Chang-Sun said that he was going to instigate internal strife!’ Arin thought as she felt a drop of cold sweat rolling down her back.
When Chang-Sun had roughly explained his plan to her, she had been uncertain as to whether or not it was actually possible, but watching his plan unfold in reality was an eye-opener.
‘Regardless of everything, someone without extraordinary guts could never gamble with over a million lives...!’
Even though Chang-Sun was called a fiend, he was not an Evil Celestial or a Demonic Celestial, which meant he was not someone who had no regard for human lives. If Chang-Sun had crossed such a line, Arin would never have gotten acquainted with him in the first place. Now, however, Chang-Sun had burned the boats without hesitation, and yet successfully controlled the situation as he wished.
‘...He’s not the Sun I know.’
Arin had to admit that Chang-Sun had not merely grown stronger, but also gained the wisdom to observe the situation rationally. While he was sometimes wicked, he was also sly from time to time. He was like a snake who knew how to quietly observe the situation until the opportunity to snatch his prey came. At that moment, a piece of the Zodiacs’ history, which Arin had heard long ago, flashed through her mind.
‘...There used to be thirteen people in the Zodiacs, but after one of them plummeted from the sky for an unknown reason, the Zodiacs became a group of twelve people.’
Although barely anyone remembered it anymore, the thirteenth Zodiac’s name was ‘Ophiuchus’... Why had Arin suddenly remembered that name?
As Arin was lost in thought, Chang-Sun and the man exchanged glances, and the man said, “Whoa! You can stand my Divine Class too. I see why Sir Chiron is interested in you. But do you know me, human? You stare at me awfully hard.”
“Not really. I just find you familiar for some reason,” Chang-Sun said, shaking his head.
“Wait! Do I know you, human? I want to see your face under the mask,” Procyon said, licking his lips.
At that moment, Chang-Sun received a message from Jin Prezia.
『Master.』
‘Yes, it seems we found him in the last place we expected. It’s him, yes?’ Chang-Sun asked.
『...Yeah, the body he’s using definitely belongs to my nephew.』
Jin’s voice quietly echoed in Chang-Sun’s head.
