The Overlord of Blood and Iron (WN)

“Welcome, descendent of the Emperor of Blood and Iron.” Rindermergel welcomed Kang Chul-In. “No, I should say, ‘the’ Emperor of Blood and Iron. As expected from his reincarnation, you resemble him… including the foolishness to jump into fire like a moth.”

Rindermergel’s words did not please Kang Chul-In.

“Spouting nonsense, aren’t you.” Kang Chul-In smirked. “Who’s the Emperor of Blood and Iron? I am Kang Chul-In, the emperor of Pangaea. Also, what do you mean by moth? Me?”

It was ridiculous.

“You lost to the Emperor of Blood and Iron 1000 years ago. Who are you calling foolish?”

“...!”

“You loser!”

What a taunt! Kang Chul-In had never lost to anyone in an argument before.

“A loser should know his place and humbly take part in a revenge match. Aren’t I right, Rindermergel?”

“...”

“I’m the champion, while you are the challenger. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”

Kang Chul-In brimmed with confidence, despite facing the leader of the Agnaga. He had a reason for that.

You are already dead.

Without a doubt, Rindermergel was strong. However...

You are just an actor in this play.

These circumstances were the climax portion of Kang Chul-In’s play based on the scenario that the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Emilia had proposed a thousand years ago!

“Full of confidence, aren’t you, Emperor of Blood and Iron’s reincarnation?” Rindermergel spoke. “That, however, does not mask your weakness.”

“My weakness?”

“Even the Emperor of Blood and Iron could not handle me in the past.”

That was a fact. The Emperor of Blood and Iron was always on the losing end against Rindermergel, utterly ‘dominated.' Without the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s trump card in the final moment, Rindermergel would have been the victor. Truly enough, that battle itself was almost a lose-lose situation.

“You are inferior to the Emperor of Blood and Iron, yet you dare to display such confidence in front of me?” Rindermergel smirked.

“Know your place, reincarnation of...”

At that instant, Kaiforce was swung towards Rindermergel at an incredible speed and clashed with Rindermergel’s arm with tremendous sound.

“...!”

Rindermergel was shocked.

I-Incredible force…!

He wasn’t injured or anything, but the heavy impact caught him off-guard. However, that alone was enough to shock him, because Kang Chul-In’s attack itself was half-hearted.

“What, surprised?” Kang Chul-In grinned. “You thought that I was weaker than the Emperor of Blood and Iron, huh?”

That hit the nail on the head.

Milenius… you bastard…!

Rindermergel gritted his teeth as he recalled Milenius, the previous Time Lord.

Feeding me such inaccurate information…!

According to Milenius, Kang Chul-In was much weaker than the Emperor of Blood and Iron in his prime. However, that was just now proven to be untrue. If a casual attack from him could carry such force, Kang Chul-In was undoubtedly stronger than the Emperor of Blood and Iron.

In that case...

Danger!

Rindermergel, who had not yet recovered his full strength, deemed Kang Chul-In a burdensome enemy.

Thump!

At that moment, Kang Chul-In stepped towards Rindermergel.

“So, you are that strong, huh?”

“...”

“Show me that grandiose strength of yours.” With that, Kang Chul-In became a string of light and leaped towards Rindermergel.

“Keh…!” Rindermergel laughed. “Let me show you my overwhelming power…!”

Kang Chul-In was a burdensome enemy indeed. However, that was it. He was just a burdensome enemy. It took more than being stronger than the Emperor of Blood and Iron to defeat Rindermergel. He was the leader of the Agnaga, who had conquered tens of planets across thousands of years. He would never relinquish his life so easily no matter how difficult the circumstances were!

“Come at me, Emperor of Blood and Iron’s reincarnation!”

Immediately, Rindermergel also became a string of light and charged at Kang Chul-In. That signaled the start of the battle between Kang Chul-In, the emperor of Pangaea and Rindermergel, the leader of the alien race Agnaga.

The battle that would decide the fate of the world and the two races had begun!

***

Meanwhile, the Valhalla’s imperial army also began to move swiftly.

“Left troop, this way!” Drakan shouted.

“Right troop, this way!” Amur also responded accordingly and switched the formation.

“Central troop, split into left and right! Do not interfere with his imperial Majesty’s fight!” Lucia substituted Kang Chul-In as the commander of the central troop.

We will accomplish this mission no matter what! Focus only on your fight, your imperial Majesty! Believe in us!

Lucia, Drakan and Amur clenched their teeth and tried to accomplish their mission given by Kang Chul-In. The three of them were actually the protagonists in this play. Kang Chul-In was just the bait. Although Kang Chul-In was in charge of dealing with Rindermergel, that alone would not win them the final battle.

He needed an army. A triangular formation first, then a circular one. His one million soldiers would bring him the victory.

Yes, they were the stars in this battle!

***

The battle between Kang Chul-In and Rindermergel was intense.

He’s strong! Kang Chul-In was shocked by Rindermergel’s strength. Incredible strength… lightning speed… and also...

Rindermergel wasn’t just strong physically.

He’s experienced too…!

The leader of this alien race was a master of martial arts, and that was to be expected. Rindermergel had led his race to conquer countless planets throughout the entire universe, across tens of thousands of years.

Therefore, Rindermergel’s experience was even superior to the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories. The experience of fighting against innumerable living organisms was definitely insurmountable...

I’m getting pushed back…!

Kang Chul-In could gradually feel himself getting overwhelmed. Rindermergel was the god of martial arts. Kang Chul-In used the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memory to analyze and memorize Rindermergel’s battle style, but he couldn’t find any weakness. It was as if he was facing an impregnable fortress.

Rindermergel grinned.

“How foolish, Emperor of Blood and Iron's reincarnation…!”

With that,

Bang! A compressed force struck Kang Chul-In’s chest.

“Kuhuk!” Kang Chul-In was knocked down as he coughed out blood.

“I acknowledge that you are stronger than the Emperor of Blood and Iron.” Rindermergel looked down at Kang Chul-In.

“However...”

“...”

“Why don’t you realize that it’s not enough? I’m invincible! Nobody in this universe has ever overpowered me before!”

He pressured Kang Chul-In with his overwhelming aura.

“You can’t win me, Emperor of Blood and Iron's reincarnation.” Rindermergel slowly approached Kang Chul-In.

“Is that so?” Kang Chul-In got himself up and replied. “On what basis? The battle has just begun.”

“You think so?” Rindermergel questioned. “Do you really think so, Emperor of Blood and Iron's reincarnation?”

“Of course.” Kang Chul-In refused to be daunted.

Not yet. I have to buy some more time.

Rindermergel was definitely powerful. However, Kang Chul-In wasn’t going all out either. Well, he certainly wished to, but now was now the right time.

Let’s endure a little longer… when the battle reaches its climax...

The battle between the imperial army and the ancient Agnaga army was still premature. If he invested all his energy into this now, his whole plan could be ruined.

“Shut up and come at me.”

Kang Chul-In decided to endure a little longer, just until the battle heated up a bit more...

***

The battlefield was inundated with a massive blood bath. The battle between the Valhalla soldiers and the ancient Agnaga army was gruesome, horrifying and intense.

“Die, die, die, dieee!”

“You fuckers! Die, dieeee!”

“Arghhhhh!”

“Come at me, you fuckers!”

The imperial army soldiers gave their all.

“These bastards...”

“I-I may die here… but… you bastards… are going down… with me… kuhuk!”

“I will… even become an apparition… to haunt you bastards.”

Even on the brink of death, the Valhalla soldiers were engulfed in anger, animosity and fighting spirit. They would attempt a final attack even while collapsing. It wasn’t an exaggeration to term them ‘evil spirits’ based on such behavior. The Valhalla soldiers were that desperate.

They did not have a future if they lost, so now was not the time to value their lives. This battle had a different meaning altogether.

Territory versus territory? Nation versus nation? Such battles were bound to conclude someday, and the parties involved could return to their respective homes after they were done battling. However, that was not the case for this battle. Who could back out from a battle that would result in the extinction of their species?

That was why the soldiers were so desperate to bring down at least one Agnaga soldier with them.

“For the world!”

That was the predominant mindset of all of the Valhalla soldiers!

***

Pssssshhh! Crimson red blood spurted out.

“Argh…!” Kang Chul-In screamed. From the gaping wound on his chest, blood began to spurt out like a fountain. He had been cut by one of Rindermergel’s long fingernails.

God damn it…!

Kang Chul-In was appalled. Muscles tougher than Kevlar cable? The Ectoplasm Oversuit?

…Those were useless. Rindermergel’s attacks negated all defense mechanisms.

“Do you know your place now?” Rindermergel taunted Kang Chul-In. “Have you realized how weak you are yet?”

He had the right to mock Kang Chul-In. Kang Chul-In was in a total mess. Even ignoring the open wound on his chest, he had wounds all over his body. It sufficed to say that he was utterly ‘wrecked’ by Rindermergel.

“Why aren’t you replying, Emperor of Blood and Iron's reincarnation?” Rindermergel spoke to Kang Chul-In. “You were all talk just now. Have you finally learned your lesson…?”

“Kek…!” Kang Chul-In grinned. “Getting cocky after I gave you a few free hits?”

“W-What!?”

Rindermergel’s face crumpled like a demon.

Free hits? How could Kang Chul-In say that after getting pummeled? Rindermergel was flabbergasted.

“Ridiculous… you gave me a few free hits? What bullshit...”

Rindermergel was about to continue his sentence when a tremendous amount of energy – as if a planet’s core had been compressed – began to radiate from Kang Chul-In.

Now’s the time.

Kang Chul-In could sense that the time was finally ripe to end this battle. The battle was now heated up to the maximum. Both parties in the war were all mingled up in a chaotic fight, so now was the time to carry out his ‘plan.'

I am... Kang Chul-In thought as he felt his rising power. Invincible!

He truly was.

[Ability: Full Moon, activate!]

[Attack Power increasing by +20%]

[Defense Power increasing by +20%]

[Regeneration Rate increasing by +200%]

The full moon was up in the night sky, which activated the [Full Moon] ability of Alaric. Also, they were currently on the Earth, not Pangaea. The fact that the second coming of the Agnaga occurred on the Earth was a blessing in disguise. This was because the day-night cycle of the Earth and Pangaea were total opposites. It was currently the dawn of February 22nd on Earth.

[10 seconds left until February 22nd, 02:22:22!]

[Activating Violent Storms! 10, 9, 8...]

It meant that Kang Chul-In could use the ability [Violet Storms], which increased his attack power by 22,222%.

In addition,

“Activate… Trinity Impact!”

Kang Chul-In commanded. He was about to activate the most powerful set item, Trinity Force!

[Activating Trinity Impact!]

[Attack Power, 1000% increase!]

Simultaneously, Kang Chul-In’s body began to glow in gold. At this moment, Kang Chul-In possessed the power to even kill God. He could even single handedly destroy a planet!

“W-What the fuck…!?”

Appalled, Rindermergel escaped as fast as he could.

I-If I take that blow…!

In his long life, Kang Chul-In’s attack was the one thing that he had to avoid. He could not survive that. Even his soul would perish. That was why the “Relentless Predator” shamelessly ran away.

Don’t you dare.

Kang Chul-In had no intention of letting Rindermergel off.

[7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… 0!]

[Violent Storms, activate!]

[Attack Power +22,222% increase!]

When his power had built up enough to even bend space, Kang Chul-In was able to reach light-speed.

“Farewell, you damned bastard.”

With that, Kang Chul-In’s attack landed on Rindermergel’s back.

Banggg!

“...!” Rindermergel was horrified. “N-No…!”

He struggled.

“T-This is…!”

Instantly, his body vanished without a trace. Kang Chul-In’s incredible attack had completely dissolved Rindermergel’s body into nanoparticles!

However...

“No.” Kang Chul-In refused to believe that Rindermergel was dead. “This is not the end, Rindermergel.”

In the first place, Rindermergel was a psychological parasite who had a separate soul and body. Destroying his physical body was not good enough.

It’s bound to be somewhere. Rindermergel’s soul can transfer to another Agnaga’s body within a 2 kilometre radius… this bastard is definitely running away to plan for the future...

The key was not to destroy Rindermergel’s body. He would resurrect as long as there were any Agnaga within a 2 kilometre radius. That was what made the Agnaga so terrifying. It was impossible to eliminate their existence unless they were all killed at once...

There was only one way. It was to completely eradicate all Agnagas on the battlefield at the same time. That was why Kang Chul-In had waited. He waited for the imperial army and the ancient Agnaga army to mingle with each other!

Kang Chul-In held the Core of Pangaea high up in the air.

[Magic-engineered satellite, Cosmic Force, online!]

Cosmic Force, which was located in the air above Russia, responded to the Core of Pangaea.

[Kinetic Strike ready!]

[Activate orbital bombing?]

That was right. This was the final gift for Rindermergel. Kang Chul-In planned to drop a mithril bomb from the satellite to erase the entirety of Moscow off the map, similar to the ‘Hypervelocity Rod Bundles’ project that the USA had proposed in the 1980s.

He could only send Rindermergel’s soul to hell if he eliminated every Agnaga within a 2 kilometre – no, a 200 kilometre radius!

“Kinetic Strike...” Kang Chul-In used the Core of Pangaea to order the Cosmic Force. “I approve… the bombing!”

He had deployed his final trump card, able to drive the Agnaga to extinction!

***

In the space above Moscow, Cosmic Force began to drop mithril bombs... over 10 of them! That was sufficient to not only wipe out Moscow city, but also the entire state. However, that didn’t matter, because not a single human remained in the Moscow region...

***

Stars began to fall from the sky.

“Here they come.” Kang Chul-In knew that those shooting stars were actually the mithril bombs. The end was near. Soon, the mithril bombs would annihilate Moscow and the ancient Agnaga soldiers, together with Rindermergel, the Relentless Predator...

Of course, Kang Chul-In and his soldiers were in danger as well.

“Time to leave.”

However, Kang Chul-In was calm and composed. He had a way to get out of there.

“All men!” Kang Chul-In shouted. “Assemble around me!”

A tremendous voice! It caused the entirety of the Moscow region to vibrate.

“His imperial Majesty is calling!”

“Let’s go! Assemble!”

“Move quick! Hurry!”

The soldiers of the imperial army were extremely well-trained. Even in the midst of battle, they immediately began to move.

“Desdemona.” Kang Chul-In turned around to face Desdemona. “It’s time to leave.”

“Alright.” Desdemona nodded. “You can go first.”

“See you later.” After a short farewell, Kang Chul-In vanished off the face of the Earth. Desdemona had teleported him to Pangaea. Soon afterwards, the Valhalla soldiers and Desdemona disappeared from Moscow as well.

Summon Legion! The fourth summoning skill of Cosmic Force had warped the imperial army to where Kang Chul-In was!

Boom, boom! The orbital bombing, which was more powerful than a nuclear bomb attack, demolished Moscow and the ancient Agnaga army.

“N-No!” Rindermergel despaired. “T-This can’t be… t-this is …!”

Rindermergel was trying to escape the battlefield using an Agnaga soldier’s body. The Kinetic Strike was akin to a death sentence. He could never withstand the impact with his borrowed body, which meant that his soul had nowhere to go to.

That was death. Rindermergel would vanish without a host.

“K-Kang Chul-Innnnnn!” Rindermergel screamed Kang Chul-In’s name.

Booooommmm! At that instant, the third mithril bomb landed on Rindermergel’s head.

It was game over. Just like this, Agnaga, the terrifying conquering race, went extinct[1]. They were eliminated by one of the weakest species in the universe – humans. Or to be precise, by an emperor who came from a poor background in South Korea...

It was a marvelous victory.

***

Two years have since passed from that day.

[1] CuppyNote: Well, that was anti-climatic.