Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 54

Choi Hyun-seok’s face twisted in pain.

He felt an excruciating pain as if his whole body was breaking apart.

“Ugh…”

“Hero, are you alright?”
“He’s still alive… somehow.”
“I’ll heal you right away!”

While being healed by Rachel, Choi Hyun-seok thought,

‘To be in this state from just blocking one attack… it’s absurd.’

To be precise, he didn’t even block it.

The attacks collided.

Outwardly, Choi Hyun-seok had won.

The enemy, struck in the foot, had slammed his head into the ground.

However, the guy got up again as soon as he fell.

And Choi Hyun-seok, who had actually attacked, felt every bone and muscle in his body screaming.

‘I expected him to be strong, but this is a completely different level.’

A human who is unharmed even after having battle spirit strike his head directly.

He wondered if he could even call such a being a human.

“Kuaaaa!”

“Kieeeek!”

Before he knew it, the surroundings were filled with screams and blood.

All from the Demon King’s soldiers.

Swish!

The three intruders rampaged like wolves among sheep.

Numerous soldiers were massacred.

‘The situation isn’t good.’

Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes darkened.

Fortunately, Abelson managed to dodge backward, but the overall situation was only getting more difficult.

“Roiger! We’ve come to help!”

Soon, the regiment commanders and battalion commanders from other units joined in, and they seemed to push back the enemies for a moment.

But the battle turned into a stalemate again.

No, rather, the Demon King’s army was gradually being pushed back.

Despite the fact that all the high-ranking officers stationed in the Black Fortress had gathered, they couldn’t subdue the enemies.

The enemies continued to kill soldiers and gradually approached Abelson.

‘The conditions are too unfavorable.’

Choi Hyun-seok thought.

This was a battle they couldn’t win from the start.

If the enemies carelessly swung attacks at Abelson, they had to throw their bodies to block them.

Those with something to protect were inevitably at a disadvantage compared to those with nothing to lose.

‘I have to take Abelson and escape.’

If Abelson was here, they would have no choice but to fight with a disadvantage.

To resolve this, Abelson had to leave this place.

Just as Choi Hyun-seok was thinking that.

“Human! Take the Saintess and go! We’ll hold them off here!”

As if he had the same thought, Regiment Commander Roiger shouted.

Choi Hyun-seok didn’t hesitate and moved immediately.

“Bobo! Let’s go! We have to escape with Abelson!”

Choi Hyun-seok put Abelson on Bobo and escaped the chaotic battlefield.

***

“Bobo! Run at full speed!”

“Kwang!”

Bobo raced through the Black Fortress.

No one knew where to go.

They were just running to get away from the enemy.

“Abelson, are you alright?”

“Yes…”

Abelson had some minor injuries, but she didn’t seem to be seriously hurt.

Suddenly, Choi Hyun-seok had a question.

“Abelson, why are those guys trying to kill you?”

Why would humans, who should be on the same side, try to kill the next Saintess?

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand.

After pondering for a moment, Abelson opened her mouth.

“…It’s probably because I didn’t follow their instructions.”

“Didn’t follow their instructions?”

“Yes. They don’t need a real Saintess. They only want a puppet Saintess who will obey their words.”

It was hard to understand.

Who were they, and what did she mean by a puppet Saintess?

“Does that mean you’re not the real Saintess?”

“No. I can really hear the voice of God.”

“Then why…?”

“As I said, they don’t need a real Saintess, but a puppet. They abandoned God a long time ago.”

As Abelson was explaining, a strong magical power was felt from behind.

“Duck!”

Choi Hyun-seok forcefully pressed the back of Abelson’s head.

Peeing- Kwaaaang!

The magic that brushed over their heads collided with a building and exploded.

Choi Hyun-seok turned his head to check behind him.

‘They’ve already caught up!?’

In the distance, an enemy was closing the distance at an incredible speed.

Although there was only one of them.

He alone would be enough to kill Choi Hyun-seok and the Saintess.

‘The speed is too fast…!’

At this rate, they would be caught soon.

Choi Hyun-seok quickly made a decision.

“I’ll fight here.”

“Yes?”

“While Bobo and I hold him off, you escape, Abelson.”

“I can’t do that. Their goal is to kill me anyway.”

Abelson shook her head.

She continued with a forlorn expression.

“Leave me here and go. Then you can live, Choi Hyun-seok.”

“Leave you here and save myself?”

“Yes. That’s a better decision for the world too.”

“That won’t do. If you die, won’t I die anyway?”

“That’s…”

Currently, Abelson was the only one who could fix Choi Hyun-seok’s unstable body.

If she died, how long could Choi Hyun-seok last alone?

He didn’t know for sure, but it wouldn’t be long.

So, he had to save Abelson at all costs right now.

That was the way for everyone to live.

“And also…”

Choi Hyun-seok continued with an infinitely serious expression.

“Protecting a beautiful woman is every man’s duty!”

“…”

“The world will definitely want a beauty like you to survive, Abelson.”

Abelson didn’t know what to say.

Choi Hyun-seok chuckled.

“Instead, if we both survive, let’s continue that date we couldn’t have then.”

“This isn’t the time for jokes…!”

“Bobo. Stop!”

Choi Hyun-seok ignored Abelson and patted Bobo’s back.

Bobo stopped, and Choi Hyun-seok got off onto the ground.

“Bobo. We have to fight that gloomy human from before. Can you do it?”

“Kwang!”

Bobo barked as if telling him not to worry.

“Attaboy! You’re the only one I’ve got.”

Choi Hyun-seok was constantly stroking Bobo’s head when suddenly Bobo’s fur stood on end.

“Uh oh? Bobo…?”

“Krrr…!”

A deep, dark growl he had never heard or seen before.

“Kuaaaa!”

In an instant, Bobo roared and rushed forward.

Soon, the noise of battle and a tremendous wind arose.

Choi Hyun-seok raised his arm to block the blowing wind.

‘I have no choice but to try somehow.’

He had to move while Bobo bought him time.

Choi Hyun-seok hardened his resolve.

‘I’ll use Flomote.’

Flomote, the Flower of Death. [A technique that allows one to unleash strong power momentarily by burning their life force.]

He had almost died trying to learn it after seeing Doras use it.

‘It’s registered as an official skill. I can definitely use it.’

After surviving the brink of death.

Flomote appeared in the skill section of Choi Hyun-seok’s status window.

That meant Choi Hyun-seok could use Flomote.

□ Flomote

‧ Proficiency: 2%

‘The proficiency is low, but… this isn’t the time to worry about that.’

Choi Hyun-seok gathered his hands and concentrated.

Magical power and demonic energy mixed and vibrated within Choi Hyun-seok’s body.

“Choi Hyun-seok! You can’t move demonic energy right now!”

Abelson shouted, sensing something was wrong.

Choi Hyun-seok said without looking back.

“We’re all going to die anyway at this rate.”

“But…!”

“Instead, if I fall, please take care of things afterward.”

Choi Hyun-seok concentrated even more.

‘I can do it. I have to do it.’

Demonic energy spread to every corner, activating his body to its limits.

Flomote Stage 1 – Blooming

Choi Hyun-seok’s skin turned red.

His heart rate quickened, and his eyes became bloodshot.

He had fully entered Stage 1, but Choi Hyun-seok didn’t stop.

‘This isn’t enough.’

Although it was only one clash, Choi Hyun-seok could clearly feel the gap between the enemy and himself.

With just Flomote Stage 1.

He couldn’t beat him with this much power.

Flomote Stage 2 – Full Bloom

Choi Hyun-seok’s body turned completely red, and hot steam began to rise from his body.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

His heart pounded as if it would burst.

It felt like it was screaming at him to stop this madness.

In the first place, Choi Hyun-seok had never activated Flomote to Stage 1.

Even that was practically a failure.

He knew in his head how to continue to Stage 2 and Stage 3, but this was his first time trying it.

“You must never move on to Stage 2 until Stage 1 has reached maturity. You could lose your life.”

Raiderun’s appearance, emphasizing this while explaining Flomote, flashed through his mind.

‘I’m sorry, Raiderun. I’ll push myself just this once.’

Choi Hyun-seok continued to channel his battle spirit without stopping.

At this moment, he was exerting a concentration that exceeded his limits.

‘Don’t think about anything… just focus on controlling the magical power and demonic energy.’

The body that had turned red began to die, turning black.

Like fallen petals.

It was as if he had burned all of his life force.

Flomote Stage 3 – Falling Petals

Soon, Choi Hyun-seok’s skin was dyed completely black.

And he opened his eyes.

“Ssssh…”

With a light breath, he kicked off the ground.

With that simple motion, the ground couldn’t withstand the impact and cracked.

Crack, Kwaaaang!

With an explosion, Choi Hyun-seok’s body shot out like a bullet.

***

Lukas was one of the hunting dogs of the Holy Empire who had been投入 [invested/put] into this operation.

Originally from a noble family, he was a man who had abandoned his worldly family for the sake of true faith.

Chasing Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson, he smiled.

‘As the Pope said, he was right.’

The rumor that the next Saintess, Abelson Marriott, had betrayed them was true.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for the Demon King’s army to desperately protect her like this.

‘There is only death for traitors.’

Lukas broke through the encirclement and ran at full speed.

Now that the other comrades were tied up, he was the only one who could deal with Abelson.

‘Fortunately, I have enough divine power.’

There had been several engagements, but about half of his divine power remained.

Of course, he wasn’t in top condition.

He had suffered quite a few injuries during the battle.

But there was no problem.

The ones who escaped were the traitorous hero and the Saintess.

He should be able to deal with them without much difficulty.

‘That bastard. To think he’s a hero, yet he’s colluding with the Demon King’s army…!’

Lukas thought about the man he had clashed with earlier, Choi Hyun-seok.

A presumptuous traitor who struck his head despite having insignificant skills.

His body heated up at the thought of dealing with the two traitors at once.

The Pope would surely be pleased and commend him.

“Have they given up on escaping?”

Finally, Lukas was able to catch up with the fugitives.

“Kuaaaa!”

At that moment, a demonic beast suddenly pounced on him.

It possessed a considerable amount of demonic energy.

‘Although it is a creation of the devil, salvation is open to all.’

Lukas’s eyes shone.

‘I will save you.’

The sword, already stained with blood, gleamed.

Chwaaaak!

Spiderweb-like wounds appeared on the body of the demonic beast, Bobo, and new blood was scattered on the sword.

“Kwaaa!”

Bobo screamed.

‘It’s tough. The leather is tough.’

He had tried to end its life in one go, but it seemed it would take some time.

Lukas turned his eyes to watch Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson.

If the two escaped while he was dealing with the demonic beast, things would become troublesome.

‘It doesn’t seem like they’re thinking of escaping.’

Fortunately, the bastards were standing still in that spot.

At that moment, Lukas’s eyes narrowed.

‘Could that be…?’

Choi Hyun-seok’s condition was strange.

Demonic energy was flowing out of the body of the bastard who was supposed to be a hero, and his skin color was changing.

Lukas knew very well what kind of phenomenon that was.

‘Flomote.’

A demonic battle spirit. [A technique that burns life force for explosive power.]

It allowed one to burn their life force to unleash explosive power momentarily.

Lukas, who had fought many demons, knew its dangers well.

‘I have to stop him.’

He didn’t know why a human was using that technique, but he couldn’t let it go.

Lukas, who was about to step forward, suddenly stopped.

‘No, it’s already too late.’

Choi Hyun-seok’s body was completely dyed black.

‘A black body is proof that he has operated Flomote to Stage 3.’

He couldn’t help but be surprised.

Flomote Stage 3 was a high-level technique that even most high-ranking demons couldn’t use.

Even if they succeeded, they couldn’t guarantee their lives afterward.

That’s how dangerous and difficult Flomote was.

But for a human of that level to have done it.

It was a sight he couldn’t believe even while seeing it with his own eyes.

‘I have to prepare for an attack.’

Lukas watched Choi Hyun-seok as calmly as possible.

Stopping Flomote was out of the question, so all he could do was be as careful as possible and block the attack.

However, the movement was too fast to block the attack.

Crack, Kwaaaang!

‘He disappeared…!?’

With an explosion and the ground cracking, Choi Hyun-seok’s figure disappeared momentarily.

Lukas reflexively raised his sword.

Clang!

The sword that received the attack shook as if it would break.

Lukas stared at Choi Hyun-seok with sharp eyes.

‘Thinking calmly. It’s impossible to kill this bastard right now.’

It wouldn’t be easy even if Lukas was in a normal state.

But Lukas was exhausted right now.

Choi Hyun-seok, who was operating Flomote to the limit, was definitely a formidable opponent.

‘But there is a way.’

Lukas smiled inwardly.

‘The usage time of Flomote is not that long.’

Lukas had already fought demons using Flomote several times.

The operating time of Flomote varied greatly depending on proficiency.

Ranging from a few tens of seconds to as long as 10 minutes.

‘This bastard is operating Flomote to the limit. The operating time will be about 3 minutes at most.’

Judging from Choi Hyun-seok’s condition, the time he could maintain Flomote would not be long.

Perhaps it wouldn’t even be a minute.

It wouldn’t be difficult to endure that much time.

‘And when Flomote ends…’

The moment the bastard’s operation of Flomote ends, this battle will be over.

Choi Hyun-seok would have to pay the price for pushing his body to the limit.

‘He’s a bastard who will die on his own if left alone. Focus on defense as much as possible.’

A hero who sided with the demons used a demonic battle spirit and self-destructed.

It was truly a fitting end for a traitor.

‘Hehe… Just wait a little longer!’

Lukas had no doubt that he would win.