Episode 160 – Evolving Justice (10)
“We’ve been running to survive all this time. Enduring countless sacrifices. For this moment alone.”
The strong are justice. This was an absolute logic that ruled this world long before Takilas ever claimed it.
No matter how much the world develops, no matter how much life seems better, it is all just a façade. The desires and natures of the humans who make up society remained unchanged, which was simply the essence of nature.
“Are we the bad ones? Speak up. We’ve just tried our best to survive. Stronger weapons, more troops, more advanced equipment, nuclear bombs, and so on. What’s the difference between those and this?”
He tried to rationalize. He believed in his conviction as truth and put everything on the line. Like the emergence of nuclear bombs that turned the world order upside down, he sought to become the new order by teaming up with the monster Razak.
He learned through history that this was the way to become strong and the path to survival.
And he was actually on the verge of success. They had become capable of cloning SS-class magical girls who were unconditionally loyal to them, and with that alone, they could confidently claim to be the strongest in the world.
“…We only have one step left. If we defeat that girl, no one on this planet will be able to defeat us.”
Of course, they had not yet crossed that threshold.
One single being had initiated actions that could render all their efforts meaningless.
“Could you not beat one? No matter how strong you are, we have an army, no, ‘a nation.'”
“I can’t be sure. The opponent is a monster of that caliber.”
The high-ranking officials of the party saw the situation optimistically, but the chairperson, Zhao Zhirin, who was in charge of all projects, thought carefully.
They had suffered enough times already. They couldn’t afford to suffer again.
“Stop. Stop immediately, Takilas. This is not just a simple warning.”
“How amusing.”
“If you cross this line any further, it won’t just be a minor conflict between magical girls. If you attack first, our liberation army will officially declare war on you.”
The combat helicopters accompanying them continuously broadcast warnings as they swiftly traversed the sky.
It was shocking news. A nation warning a single opponent that they would declare war.
However, Takilas only scoffed.
“If you’re confident, then declare war. I guarantee you won’t last a few days, and another government will rise in this land. A normal government that doesn’t engage in dictatorship, human experimentation, or abducting foreigners.”
“How dare you…”
Her words pressed their buttons, causing them to erupt in outrage, and Zhao Zhirin struggled to calm her superiors.
“Think carefully! We will declare war on your country, Korea!”
“Go ahead. If you can handle it.”
They threatened her in various ways, but for Takilas, it was just business as usual. And she wouldn’t be swayed by the bravado of the weak.
Even if a war were to break out, she had already calculated which side would suffer the most.
“Quit the long talk and just come at me. Let me show you how insignificant the power you’ve steadily built amid all your nonsense really is.”
“Ugh…”
Smirking, she provoked them in return. Thanks to that, they found themselves on the back foot, and ultimately, a violent clash became unavoidable.
“Now it’s done! The conversation is over! War! It’s war! Fire the laser cannons right now!”
Zhao Zhirin, who had been grinding her teeth, finally received upper management’s approval and declared a full-scale war against Takilas, an insignificant magical girl, not even a nation or a faction.
“Shoot!”
From the base, massive and uniquely shaped devices aimed at the sky and unleashed colossal energy beams condensed through magical power.
These were new weapons, a kind of biological cannon infused with Razak’s essence, converting nuclear and other forms of energy into powerful energy beams using magical force.
Their destructive power and accuracy were beyond comparison with conventional weaponry.
“That insolent little girl is about to show this world what the great continent has truly produced!”
Since things had come this far, they revealed everything they had kept secret for a long time.
Thanks to that, news of their new weapons and the fact that they were going to war with Takilas reached not just their citizens but also the foreign press, drawing global attention in an instant.
“We will definitely win. This is an opportunity!”
Zhao Zhirin saw this as a chance. Just as the order of the world had solidified after two nuclear bombs were used to prove their might, she aimed to establish their strength in the world once more and achieve their objectives.
“It seems that this wasn’t even made to target small fries like us.”
Yet, Takilas sighed, intentionally slowing down against laser beams that couldn’t even seem to hit her directly.
At that moment, one of the energy beams—concentrated and heading directly for her.
“Whoa!”
“Ugh…”
As Takilas reached out towards it, a massive explosion erupted, sending Ren hanging on her head, as well as Shia and Aria who followed behind, struggling to withstand the aftermath.
“The mechanism of substituting different types of energy through a magical medium is usable, but ultimately, is this it?”
Takilas, who blocked the energy beam with her bare hands, chuckled. Despite the grand appearance and process, the beam couldn’t even leave a scratch on her.
“Chairperson!”
“Don’t panic. I never thought this one shot would take her down. For now, unleash all the attacks we can.”
Zhao Zhirin, sweating in cold fear as she watched the scene unfold, continued to issue commands. This time, conventional missiles were launched towards Takilas.
These missiles had enough power to turn an entire city into rubble. However, with shadowy tentacles like blades, Takilas shot down the incoming missiles before they even got close.
“Why? Did you think you could catch me with a direct hit?”
She went further and blocked one missile with her hand, then detonated it. A fierce firestorm erupted along with the shrapnel, but even this time, protected by her magical power, Takilas remained unscathed.
“Is it my turn now?”
“…Let’s send in those waiting.”
Finally, Takilas landed without stopping. It was far from the city center, where their secret facility was located—where their power gathered.
“You have made some truly strange things.”
“Th-These are…!”
As Takilas approached the new enemies, Shia recognized them. They were the black-armored monsters that had attacked her when she first set foot on this land. They were similar to those monsters.
Resembling armored figures, they emanated thick magical energy and their helmets glowed with a red light.
“Are they… humans?”
“No. They are not human. They’re merely something that was once human. I think I understand why they abducted people.”
Amidst Aria’s trembling voice, Takilas let out a chuckle. These monsters of varying sizes and shapes had certainly been based on humans.
At the same time, it was when the hidden power of Razak became clear.
“Code name Legion. Kill the enemies of the nation.”
With that solemn command, they surged towards Takilas.
The ultimate goal of the Awakener Project, which began on The One Road, was exactly this—a mindless machine that obeyed only the commands given, having neither reason nor emotion.
Utilizing 100% of the magical power within them, even the lowest-grade legion soldiers were stronger than the average awakened ones.
That was the power they currently held, able to command hundreds or thousands of them.
“Numbers mean nothing.”
But at that moment, a multitude of tentacle strikes surged from Takilas’s shadow, sweeping them away in an instant.
Some managed to conjure a magical barrier, only for it to shatter like glass. Thanks to being completely overwhelmed or suppressed, Takilas smirked as she walked over the remains of their poor corpses.
“Chairperson.”
“…We cannot give up. If we lose, we will die.”
Amid the panicked atmosphere, Zhao Zhirin muttered blankly.
As expected, Takilas was a monster. She easily shattered all the preparations made to face such a formidable foe.
Though they declared war and were said to be launching a full-scale offensive, it was impossible for a large military force to chase her down. Capturing her was already an uphill battle. There was no meaning in unleashing a total war powered by the people either. Her war against him would end in hours.
Unless reinforcements arrived quickly, this war would most likely end before the sun rose the next day.
“The last resort.”
He ultimately pulled out his final method. It was the one that had caused Takilas the most trouble among all records to date. It wasn’t a military force, nor a monster.
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