Beros Flaminis stood in his true form, a colossal crimson dragon, as tall as a forty-story building, two hundred meters long. The ground shook under his weight, and the air cracked around his fiery aura. A massive blue system screen appeared in the sky, written in blazing red:
```
╔══════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [SYSTEM ALERT: Monster Data Update] ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Name: Beros Flaminis ║
║ Previous Rank: SS ║
║ Current Rank: SS+ ║
║ Warning: Threat level has risen significantly ║
║ Immediate evacuation of the area is recommended ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════╝
```
Beros Flaminis: (Roaring a roar that shook the earth, making the remaining buildings tremble) "Raaaaaaaaaaa!"
He rose into the sky, and Ji-won followed. They ascended together to an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level. From this height, the earth looked like a miniature map, and the ocean like an endless blue patch.
In the subspace, Nayun watched the giant screen, her eyes sparkling with excitement and fear.
Nayun: (Shouting) "Mom! Be careful! He's huge! He's so big!"
Anas: (Placing his hand on her shoulder) "Don't be afraid. Look at your mother. She's not afraid."
Nayun: (Staring at the screen) "Mom… Mom is smiling!"
In the sky, Ji-won was smiling. But her eyes were serious.
Ji-won: (In her mind) "Now… I'll be serious. 50% of 10%. 5% of my true power. Enough to end this game."
---
The Battle Ignites
Beros Flaminis: (Opening his massive mouth) "Die!"
A crimson fireball, the size of a football field, shot from his mouth. It exploded in the air, creating a hole in the clouds. Enough to erase an entire neighborhood in an instant.
Ji-won: (Evading easily, as if taking a sideways step) "Slow."
Dozens of fireballs shot from him, then hundreds. The sky filled with crimson fire, as if the heavens were raining flames.
Ji-won: (Flying among them like an eagle, not one touching her) "Beautiful… but not enough."
She raised her hands, and thousands of golden fiery arrows appeared around her. They shot upward like reverse rain, heading toward Beros.
SHING! SHING! SHING! SHING! SHING!
Beros Flaminis: (Evading with difficulty, his wings moving like shields) "Impossible! How?!"
Several arrows struck him. Some of his scales burned, stained with crimson blood.
Behind him, massive magical circles appeared, dozens of circles filling the sky. From them shot crimson fiery spears, hundreds, thousands. They headed toward Ji-won from every direction.
Ji-won: (Shouting) "Fire Shield!"
A huge golden fiery shield surrounded her. The crimson spears struck it, shattered, disintegrated, evaporated. Not one penetrated.
Beros Flaminis: (Increasing the number of circles) "I'll burn you!"
Ji-won: (Releasing golden fiery explosions) "You won't touch me!"
The fires clashed. Gold and crimson. They filled the sky, split it, burned it. The battle continued for minutes. Minutes of unquenchable fire, of strikes that never stopped. Fortunately, the battle was at an altitude of 1600 meters. Because every attack that fell to the ground destroyed entire regions.
Beros Flaminis: (Roaring) "Raaaaa!"
He unleashed a massive fiery beam, carving a gash in the ocean.
Ji-won: (Evading) "This is fun!"
The battle continued, moving from above Gangnam to above the ocean. Far from cities, far from view, but the screens still tracked it.
---
Above the Ocean – Ji-won Pauses
Ji-won suddenly stopped. She smiled.
Ji-won: (In her mind) "Now… 8%. Fully."
She vanished.
Beros did not see her. Did not sense her. She simply vanished. Then she appeared behind him.
A flick.
She placed her finger on his back. One finger. A light flick.
CRACK!
Beros shot toward the ocean with insane speed. He pierced the surface, pierced the depths, pierced the seabed. He struck the bottom, causing an underwater earthquake. But he rose. He emerged from the ocean floor, his eyes blazing with indescribable rage.
Beros Flaminis: (Shouting) "How?! How did you do that?!"
Ji-won: (Flying above him) "Easily."
Beros Flaminis: (Gathering his power) "I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"
He opened his mouth, and a crimson fireball appeared within, writhing, rising, growing. It was not an ordinary fireball. It was a pillar of crimson fiery energy. He released it.
KRA-KOOOOOOOOOOM!
The pillar shot into the sky. It pierced the clouds, pierced the atmosphere, pierced space.
It reached the moon.
KRA-KOOOOOOM!
It exploded on its surface. It created a small crater, a very tiny part of the moon. But if this pillar had struck the earth… if it had struck Korea… it would have erased it from the map.
In the control room, a terrifying silence reigned.
Employee: (Whispering) "The moon… it hit the moon…"
Another: (Trembling) "If it had hit the earth… if it had hit us…"
Director Kang: (Staring at the screen, face pale) "My God… my God…"
Across Korea, people watched. Some fell to their knees. Some screamed. Some cried. Some could not speak.
Citizen: (Whispering) "This… this is the end of the world…"
Another: (Trembling) "How… how can anything do this?!"
Child: (Crying) "Mom… scared…"
His Mother: (Holding him) "Don't be afraid… don't be afraid… the phoenix protects us…"
In the subspace, Nayun held Anas's hand tightly.
Nayun: (Lowering her head) "Dad… I'm scared…"
Anas: (Hugging her) "Don't be afraid. Your mother is stronger than him. Look."
---
Above the Ocean
Beros Flaminis: (Looking at Ji-won, his eyes widening) "How did you become stronger?! Were you playing with me?!"
Ji-won: (Laughing a mocking laugh) "Hahahaha… finally you understand?"
Beros Flaminis: (Trembling) "Impossible… you were playing with me?! All this… all this battle… was a game?!"
Ji-won: (Flying slowly toward him) "I was never serious. I was never serious from the start. I was playing with you. Literally. I was playing."
Beros Flaminis: (Shouting) "Impossible! I am the servant of the Great Dragon God! I am a warrior of legends! I am…"
Ji-won: (Cutting him off) "You are a game. A game that amused me a little. That's all."
Beros froze. His eyes widened. His body trembled. Then fear turned to rage. Blind rage.
Beros Flaminis: (Roaring) "Raaaaaaaaaaa!"
Dozens of magical circles appeared around him. Not ordinary circles. They were huge circles, covering the sky, filling the horizon. From them shot giant fiery beams, dark crimson, heading toward Ji-won.
Ji-won: (Yawning) "Ahhh… I'm tired of this."
She dodged the beams easily. Some she deflected with her bare hand. Some passed beside her, striking the ocean.
KRA-KOOOOOOM!
A gap opened in the ocean. A massive hole, so large that water could not fill it. Gigantic tsunami waves rose, but Ji-won froze them with a glance.
In the control room:
Employee: (Trembling) "This… this power… no nuclear bomb could do this…"
Another: (Whispering) "Who is this woman? Who is she really?"
---
Beros Flaminis: (Shouting) "I'll burn you! I'll melt you! I'll erase you from existence!"
His scales began to glow. Their temperature rose. 500,000 degrees. 1,000,000 degrees. 5,000,000 degrees Celsius.
Beros Flaminis: (Turning into a small sun) "Raaaaaaaaa!"
Under this heat, the ocean began to boil. Steam rose everywhere. Fish died. Coral evaporated. Water turned to vapor in an instant. The ocean level dropped noticeably. Coastal cities began to melt. Glass shattered. Concrete cracked.
It continued for five full minutes. Five minutes of unbearable heat. Five minutes of fire that melts everything.
Then… it stopped.
The steam cleared. The ocean returned. And Ji-won appeared. Standing in her place. Unaffected. Unburned. Unscathed. She was perfectly fine. Even her hair was untouched.
Beros Flaminis: (Eyes widening) "Impossible… how?! How did you survive?!"
Ji-won: (Stretching, smiling) "Thank you. I needed a sunbath. It fixed my skin. It was starting to dry out."
Beros Flaminis: (Shouting) "Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!"
Ji-won: (Looking at him) "Are you done?"
Beros Flaminis: (Gathering all his energy) "No! I am not done! I will use my strongest attack! The unstoppable attack! The Eternal Erasure Beam!"
Around his mouth appeared massive magical circles, larger than anything humanity had ever seen. Circles filling the sky, filling the horizon, filling every place. Crimson energy gathered, black in its depths, red on its surface, writhing like a serpent, screaming like the wind.
Beros Flaminis: (Shouting) "Now! Now you will die!"
At that moment, Ji-won felt something. For the first time in ages… she felt concern.
Ji-won: (In her mind) "This… this might hurt. Might scratch me. I can't take the risk. I'll use 10% fully."
She breathed deeply.
Then she released her power.
A golden fiery aura appeared around her. Not like the previous auras. It was massive. It covered the sky. It pushed Beros back. It pressed down on him even before he attacked.
Beros Flaminis: (Trembling) "What… what is this power?!"
Ji-won: (Raising her hand) "This… is my true power."
Beros Flaminis: (Shouting) "It doesn't matter! I'll kill you! Eternal Erasure Beam!"
He released his attack. A massive pillar of crimson energy, the size of a skyscraper, heading toward Ji-won.
Ji-won raised her hand.
Her thumb.
She touched it with her thumb.
She absorbed the attack. All of it. All the energy. All the power. All the crimson fire. It vanished into her finger.
Beros Flaminis: (Eyes widening) "Impossible… impossible… impossible…"
Ji-won: (Vanishing)
She appeared beneath him. Under his belly. In a fraction of a second.
Ji-won: (Smiling) "I enjoyed playing with you. Truly."
Beros Flaminis: (Shouting) "No!"
She returned the attack. The crimson energy she had absorbed, she released from her palm. It rose into the sky. Pierced the clouds. Pierced the atmosphere. Pierced space.
It passed by the moon. Created a small crack. Then disappeared into infinity.
Beros Flaminis: (Uttering a final scream) "Raaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Then… he faded. Disappeared. Erased from existence.
Nothing remained of him. No body, no ash, no trace. Only a memory. And a memory of a battle that would never be forgotten.
---
System Screen
A massive blue screen appeared in the sky. Before Ji-won. Before the crimson gates. Before everyone who had participated in the battle.
```
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [SYSTEM ALERT: Gate Breach Contained] ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ The breach of the crimson gates has been successfully contained. ║
║ All gates will close within 10 seconds. ║
║ ║
║ [Reward Distribution by Contribution] ║
║ ║
║ • Lee Seong-ho ..... 0.8% ║
║ • Kang Min-jun ..... 5.2% ║
║ • Song Ji-ho .... 5% ║
║ • Han Ji-yeon ... 8% ║
║ • Park Chul-soo .... 11% ║
║ • Anas Sharif Yazeed ..... 40% ║
║ • Park Ji-won ... 30% ║
║ ║
║ [Note] ║
║ Other participants will also receive good rewards. ║
║ Rewards will be distributed within 30 minutes. ║
║ ║
║ [Gate Closure] ║
║ 10... ║
║ 9... ║
║ 8... ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
```
9…
8…
7…
6…
5…
4…
3…
2…
1…
0.
The crimson gates vanished. All three. In Hongdae, in Myeong-dong, in Gangnam. They vanished as they had appeared. Suddenly. Leaving behind immense destruction, but gone.
---
Gangnam – Above the Ruins
Anas and Nayun suddenly appeared beside Ji-won.
Nayun: (Running to her mother) "Mom! Mom!"
She hugged her tightly. Crying and laughing at the same time.
Nayun: (Crying) "I was scared! So scared! When I saw that dragon… when I saw the fire… I thought…"
Ji-won: (Hugging her) "Don't be afraid. I'm here. I didn't go anywhere."
Nayun: (Raising her head) "You're amazing! You're stronger than anyone! You're my mom! You're the phoenix!"
Ji-won: (Laughing) "And you're my daughter. You're brave."
Anas approached. He looked at Ji-won with eyes full of pride and love.
Anas: (Kissing her forehead) "You did well."
Ji-won: (Lowering her head shyly) "Thank you."
Nayun: (Grabbing their hands) "Dad! Mom! Come! We won! We won!"
The family embraced. Anas, Ji-won, Nayun. Amidst the destruction, amidst the ruins, they stood together.
Anas: (Calmly) "Come. Let's go home."
Nayun: (Shouting with joy) "Yes! Home!"
Anas: (Smiling) "Teleport."
FWOOOOOSH!
They vanished.
---
Gangnam – After the Battle
Gangnam remained alone. 85% destroyed. Its buildings shattered. Its streets demolished. Its towers collapsed. But it was alive. It witnessed a battle that would never be forgotten.
In the sky, the traces of battle were still visible. Holes in the clouds, craters in the ground, heat in the air. The ocean was still boiling in some places. The shores had turned to glass from the intense heat. The surrounding mountains were destroyed.
But life continued.
In the control room, Director Kang sighed with relief.
Director Kang: (Muttering) "It's over… finally it's over."
Park Jeung-soo: (Beside him) "Sir… what will we do about Gangnam?"
Director Kang: (Looking at the screen) "We will rebuild it. Build it anew. Stronger than before."
Across Korea, people watched. Some cried. Some shouted. Some prostrated in thanks.
Citizen: (Whispering) "We survived… survived…"
Another: (Raising his hands) "The phoenix! The phoenix! The phoenix!"
Child: (Laughing) "Mom! I'm not scared anymore! The phoenix protects us!"
His Mother: (Crying with joy) "Yes… protects us…"
---
Gangnam – The Destruction
The city remained alone. Under the sun that was beginning to rise. Gangnam, which had been the beating heart of Seoul, the center of wealth and beauty, was no more. 85% of its buildings were destroyed. The towers that had adorned the sky had fallen. The streets that had been crowded with shoppers became rubble. The luxury shops turned to ruins.
But in this ruin, something new was being born. Hope. Strength. Faith.
Because the people saw. They saw the phoenix. Saw her power. Saw her stand against giants, defend them, protect them.
And they would never forget.
Nayun: (In their new home, looking out the window) "Mom… Gangnam… is destroyed…"
Ji-won: (Standing beside her) "We will rebuild it."
Nayun: "Promise?"
Ji-won: (Smiling) "Promise."
Anas: (Standing behind them) "Come. Let's rest. Tomorrow is a new day."
Nayun: (Yawning) "I'm tired…"
Ji-won: (Carrying her) "Off to bed."
Nayun: (Closing her eyes) "Mom… I love you."
Ji-won: (Kissing her forehead) "I love you too, little one."
Nayun slept. Ji-won slept. Anas remained awake, looking at the sky.
Anas: (To himself) "That was fun… truly."
He smiled.
Anas: "The game… is not over yet."
```
╔══════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [SYSTEM ALERT: End of the Disaster] ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════╣
║ [Location: Gangnam – 85% destroyed] ║
║ [Casualties: Zero civilians] ║
║ [Heroes: Anas, Ji-won, and others] ║
║ [Rewards: Distributed] ║
║ ║
║ [The fun… is not over yet] ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════╝
```