Chapter 47

046 Chapter

If there is one action that is particularly despicable when dealing with a shapeshifter, it would undoubtedly be attacking them while they are transforming.

Attacking a combined robot while it is combining, or preventing it from transforming.

-Why do you touch the magical girls when they transform, but not the transforming heroes?

-Well, the purpose of watching magical girls transform is to see the transformation. And nowadays, it’s an era of gender equality, so they touch the magical girls when they transform too.

-Back in my day...! Touching someone while they transform is something even your parents wouldn’t do...! These days, tsk tsk! They even attack before the transformation is complete! Their minds are completely messed up!

Many stories about transformations have come out, and countless discussions about how to handle those transformations have also emerged.

Some stories stick to the clichés, some subvert them, and some even counter the clichés.

And for this transformation, I decided to counter the cliché of 'villains attacking during transformation.'

The transformation effect is not just a visual effect; it also releases mana to create a protective barrier around me.

Revealing my fully transformed appearance only after the transformation is complete inside the barrier.

If an attack during transformation had any effect, it would be one thing, but if the attack fails even during transformation?

[Damn...!]

It becomes quite annoying.

[It’s cheating...!]

[I never said I would fight you fairly. I said I would guide you.]

I dashed forward and swung the truncheon.

Clang!

The truncheon struck the gun the guy pulled out.

It wasn’t a specially designed gun but a regular K5 pistol, and I accurately intercepted the live ammunition with the truncheon, sending it to the ground.

[Die, fake!!]

[I didn’t want to treat you as a villain, but your indiscriminate shooting leaves me no choice.]

There are people behind me, and if I dodge the bullets, they will be hit.

Even if I am an adult, I can’t just let a non-adult die.

Demons are an exception.

Once someone becomes a demon, they are neither a minor nor a human.

After a 10-year-old became a demon and killed hundreds of civilians, we decided not to treat fully transformed demons as humans.

I need to knock him out.

If this continues—

"Kraaaah!!"

Zzzz!

Sparks flew from the cut edge of the suit.

Electric sparks shot out from the exposed wiring, and Yookgibong began to clutch his helmet in pain.

"Kraaaah, no...! I’m not a fake...! I, I am the real one...!"

[Hmm.]

I gripped the truncheon again.

If I can knock him out before he becomes a demon, I can subdue him without killing him.

No matter who I am, I can’t just kill a non-adult.

Demons are the exception.

Once someone becomes a demon, they are neither a minor nor a human.

If I can’t stop him now—

"Kraaaaaahhhhh!!"

The demon roared.

Based on the design of the Dori Rider, bulging muscles protruded, and large wings spread from his back.

[I will kill, kill everyone...! I will destroy everything that denies me!!]

The cut edge of the suit I sliced revealed something like the eyes of a beast, and black electrical sparks began to flow from Yookgibong.

[I am the real one...! No one can deny that I am the real one...! I, I am the real one!!]

[You’ve completely lost your mind. Congratulations, Red. You’ve turned that boy into a demon.]

"No, no! I...!"

Ohbang Red stepped back, flustered.

[Stay back!]

I swung the truncheon forward, but Ohbang Red, thinking it was an attack on him, aimed his sword at my truncheon.

Puuuuh!

"...What?"

Something, like a demon’s claw, pierced through Ohbang Red’s chest.

Not just the suit, but the flesh and bone were penetrated by the claw, which belonged to 'Demon Yookgibong' behind Ohbang Red.

"Yeonseong!!"

Another member of the Ohbang Special Task Force, presumably named Ohbang Red, was called out by the others.

[Keeheehee!!]

Demon Yookgibong began to laugh maniacally as he retracted his hand, and Ohbang Red, clutching the hole in his chest, fell forward.

[Tsk.]

I grabbed his chest, gently infused mana, and threw him backward.

"Kyaah!"

[Take him and treat him. Since it’s not a complete penetration but a claw wound, he can survive with the help of a healing ability user.]

It’s not a fist-sized hole, but more like five knives piercing his chest.

"Hil, hil!!"

Fortunately, White seemed to have a healing ability and began pouring mana into Ohbang Red’s chest, much like a healer in a game casting a healing spell.

[Up to injuring a hero. Now you’re a perfect villain. Once you become a demon, you become a target to be eliminated.]

It’s so regrettable.

If only someone hadn’t told Yookgibong that 'you are the real rider,' he might have just been a hero aspirant who made a Dori Rider-like costume like others.

But that possibility is now gone.

He became a demon and attacked a hero, and if left as is, he will become a monster that slaughters people indiscriminately.

'In the end, he will have to be executed.'

There’s no other choice.

He must be executed.

[Villains are executed—]

[Krahaah!!]

Before I could finish my sentence, the guy extended his hand toward me.

He raised his hand, aiming his fingertips precisely at me, and each finger had a hole.

Those are gun barrels.

Tutututut!!

As if his fingers were guns, bullets shot out from his fingertips.

The bullets, infused with dark red energy, flew in rapid succession, each with a different trajectory and timing, making it difficult to deflect them all at once.

In this situation—

"Flames!!"

A pink flame flew past me, heading toward the bullets.

Since they were magical bullets, the collision of the two magical forces caused an explosion in front of me, obscuring my vision.

"Step back... Goblin! This is the jurisdiction of 'heroes'!!"

Yoon Eui-seon stepped forward beside me.

She levitated two pink magical orbs in the air with her telekinetic ability and released ghostly flames from them, making the flames circle around her.

"Confirmed estimated magic level of Demon [Doppelganger]! A-class!! All B-class and below ability users, focus on evacuating civilians! Other A-class ability users, help me subdue the demon!!"

Following Yoon Eui-seon’s command, the onlookers began to move in unison.

While Yoon Eui-seon doesn’t have official control over the scene, her title as student council president gives her some authority, and being an 'A-class ability user' alone grants her command over the situation.

Because she is A-class.

[Krahaah! Die, all of you!! President, kuhuhu, trying to interfere with noise pollution?! Kuhahaha! Seeing this great form is the lesson, and you want to persuade me with that?! Die!!]

"Yieek...!"

Demon Doppelganger extended all ten fingers toward Yoon Eui-seon, firing bullets, and Yoon Eui-seon intercepted the magical bullets with the flames she released from the two orbs.

Pabababang!!

Explosions of magical force continued between them, and the struggle of magical power persisted.

[Sorry, but.]

I lightly grabbed Yoon Eui-seon’s shoulder, patted her fingers, and stood beside her, extending one hand forward.

[You don’t use flames like that.]

Traditionally,

Fire abilities are used—

[Like this.]

To unleash overwhelming firepower.

[Oh, hand of Gunggi.]

[Possession!!]

I extended my left hand forward, like a tiger’s claw.

[Black Flame Tiger Spirit. Open.]

[Infernal Tigris!!]

A massive tiger’s head, emitting black mist and red eyes, appeared centered on my hand.

Kraaaaaahhh!!

As the black tiger opened its mouth, a tremendous black flame, capable of engulfing a dump truck, shot out and enveloped Demon Doppelganger.

[Explode.]

[Searing, Blaster—!!]

Kuuuuuuhhh!!

Centered on Doppelganger, a black pillar of fire several meters high shot up into the sky.