I Have Become a Death Worm

“We’re going to die…”
Nerme dryly responded to Tolga’s answer.
A brief statement that implied many meanings.
A concise and clear acknowledgment of reality.
‘Death.’
In truth, he had no lingering attachments to life.
The world itself is a struggle from birth.
Just like the situation each of them faces now.
Is there anyone who was born because they wanted to be?
‘Time really flies.’
The 23-year-old who awakened in October 1999 has now become a 48-year-old middle-aged man.
He had crossed the lines of countless battlefields.
When humanity’s first major counterattack ended successfully, he had officially announced his retirement.
Humans gained the power to resist, and he firmly believed they could move forward without him.
Let’s leave the fighting to the next generation and step back from the front lines.
Let’s enjoy the beauty of life that we couldn’t enjoy until now.
That was his modest thought at the time.
He had retired with peace of mind.
…Yet war invites him back again?
Was it true that while humans might not be interested in war, war has great interest in humans?
Nerme’s atmosphere became solemn and reversed.
“…No need to act as a tour guide anymore, right?”
“I suppose so.”
Hwaryuk-
Borhu, Nerme, and Tolga simultaneously released their mana.
The full power of the warriors who had been hiding their strength is revealed.
Kudddddd─────!
A blue explosion suddenly erupted somewhere in the Grabadra Sea of the Shahar Great Desert.
The entire desert trembled up to the vast horizon, and the ground shook violently.
Alert beasts nearby instinctively begin to escape.
“Kyurolorololot…!”
The White Sovereign in front of them tilts its head.
It seemed to lack the intelligence to understand the current situation.
Current mercenaries and tour guides from the Hohhot Mercenary Guild in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Former S-class First Hunters of the Mongolian Army’s Superhuman Corps.
The Three Battle Wolves, the origin of the Blue Wolves party name.
Beings that have become living legends of Mongolia.
They no longer hide their identities.
Their employer is dead.
According to the meticulously completed contract, the agreement has ended.
The contract with the true client behind their employer is no longer valid either.
Protagonists still talked about in Siberia.
As of this moment, legends have returned to the battlefield.
The revived Three Battle Wolves looked at each other meaningfully.
“…It’s been a long time since I’ve brought out my full power?”
“Kukk! I tested it occasionally!”
“Tch, you young ones are lazy.”
Once there were 3 great heroes in Mongolia.
They fought for humanity without sparing themselves.
No one doubted their intentions, and the three fought truthfully.
When humanity finally found hope.
The heroes suddenly announced their retirement.
It was a powerful shock that swept across Asia.
Because they had hope for the humanity they protected.
Because they loved the surviving humans and the revived civilization.
With such hearts, they wanted to leave the fight to the next generation.
The Mongolian government tried to persuade the 3 national power-level individuals, but the heroes were stubborn.
Unable to break their resolve, the Mongolian government had no choice but to permit it.
On the condition that they would return to the battlefield in times of national crisis.
The three were unofficially retired, militarily KIA (Killed in Action).
Externally, they were reported as having died during operations.
That was the courtesy shown to the great heroes who saved the nation.
To be forgotten so that no one would seek them out anymore.
To enjoy life as each of them wanted.
That’s how the 3 great heroes lived comfortably.
They believed their lives would never be endangered again.
Even retired, S-classes themselves are powerful strategic weapons.
That was their belief until meeting the White Reaper in front of them now.
The night before the reckless youngest executed his secret operation.
There was a reason Wang Shuran, the Vice Guild Master of Fantasy Paradise Guild, came first to earnestly bow to the Mongolians.
“Too bad for the dead young hoja bug. His sister was a truly decent person, and a great beauty…”
“The guild has a good reputation, but this guy must have been the odd one out. Wonder how we’ll face them now?”
“Forget about the dead and focus on figuring out how we can survive.”
Borhu grumbled, Nerme worried, and Tolga encouraged the two.
The three, aged 48, 55, and 68, were no different from their prime.
“If there’s a chance for one of us to survive?”
At Tolga’s question, they looked at each other.
“Brother Borhu, whose second child is about to be born…”
“Wouldn’t it be better for the old man to escape rather than us young ones?”
“You moronic crippled bastards. How many more days do I have left to live?”
Candid banter without pretense was exchanged among the warriors.
This is the relationship built through long years of trust.
“Kurrrrrr…”
Was the White Sovereign finally provoked?
The Albino Death Worm growled lowly and raised its sinuous massive body.
With the grandeur of a white building rising, it opened wide its previously closed circular teeth.
“Ku, hyaaaak─────!”
Kuuuuu-!
A terrifying metallic sound, as if torn by fear, flowed from the Reaper of the Desert.
An enormous sonic shockwave spreads in rings from its mouth.
The three were no longer affected by the White Sovereign’s roar.
Their bodies merely swayed as if in the center of a typhoon.
Tolga, leader of the Three Battle Wolves, posed a question.
“Who wants to go first?”
Determination filled the eyes of the veteran warriors.
They wanted to show their best efforts against the legend of Mongolia.
Fighting spirit and belligerence seemed like instincts flowing through Mongolian blood.
Could they possibly shatter the legend?
Or would they end up being devoured by the legend?
Each wanted to test their limits.
“I’ll go.”
“Huh? Your wife is about to give birth to your second child, if something happens…”
Borhu stepped forward confidently.
Nerme showed a concerned expression at his figure.
“If I catch this thing, it’ll be a medal for my family. My daughter might be proud too!”
“You really never change, brother.”
Nerme clicked his tongue bitterly and smiled.
Tolga spoke with a solemn face.
“Borhu, if something happens to you, don’t worry. We’ll take care of your wife and children.”
“That’s very reassuring. Kukk!”
The Three Battle Wolves put their hands together.
“Let’s fight and die without shame to anyone.”
“Fight honorably, die honorably.”
“For honor.”
Shurrruk-
Suddenly blue water droplets formed around Borhu.
The full power of an S-class Hydrokinetist begins to manifest.
Borhu’s expression became satisfied.
“…Actually. Ever since awakening this ability, I’ve been really curious about something?”
“What’s that?”
“Can a highly super-compressed water stream break even something known to be the hardest? That’s also the principle of cutting diamonds with water jets. Thinking about it, I’ve never tested this.”
“Hmm… why don’t you try it then?”
“That’s what I’m going to do.”
Borhu immediately stepped forward.
Pat. Kwarrrrr-!
Borhu’s figure shot out like a fierce lightning bolt.
Like Wang Junlin did, he attempts a frontal assault on the White Sovereign.
The White Sovereign’s mouth opened again.
“Kyi, hyaaaak─────!”
Kuuuuu-!
Snow-white ring-shaped shock waves scattered from the White Sovereign’s mouth.
It was an attack accompanied by wind pressure that could collapse even skyscrapers and scatter cars densely packed on highways like dust.
Enduring it, Borhu steadfastly attempted to break through.
Shushushushuk-
The blue water droplets around Borhu gradually gather.
The water spheres, initially spread out when created, eventually begin to overlap into one.
They were super-compressed into a water droplet the size of a decent house in front of Borhu.
The concentrated energy of S-class mana is about to be fired in the form of a hydro cannon.
Borhu let out a resounding battle cry.
“Eat this! You monster worm!”
Pyut! Puuuut─────!
An enormous ultra-dense water stream was immediately released.
The White Sovereign with its wide-open mouth also charged.
“Kyiiiiik-!”
The hydro cannon is fired toward the crown of the charging White Sovereign.
Borhu prayed desperately.
‘Please, pierce it. Pierce through! Pierce!’
Chuuuut─────!
The water jet, concentrated with S-class mana, focuses on the crown of the White Sovereign.
The amount of super-compressed water gradually decreases.
Suddenly the charging creature flinched.
“Kkigik?”
Jjeojjeok-
A clear crack appeared on the snow-white outer skin surface.
It was clearly bewildered.
‘It worked!’
Borhu smiled a splitting grin.
…But, sadly, that was all.
Just enough to make a faint scratch on the surface.
‘What?!’
Borhu’s eyes bulged as if they would pop out.
“Kuhyaaaak─────!”
Instead, the enraged White Sovereign immediately charged.
Its savagely arrayed teeth rushed in an instant.
As he was submerged in its mouth and darkness arrived.
Borhu harbored a brief regret.
‘Not seeing my second child, I really regret that after all…’
Kwachahaaak-!
As the Albino Death Worm’s mouth closed, a savage flesh-tearing sound echoed.
The White Sovereign chewed Borhu thoroughly, working its mouth.
Kwaduk, kwaduk-
Within the mouth pursed so tightly that the teeth couldn’t be seen, Borhu’s form was nowhere to be found.
Regrettably, no miracle of fatherhood occurred at all.
Something appeared again in the White Sovereign’s vision.
[Hostile Predation has been activated.]
[S-class Hostility: Hydrokinetist has been acquired.]
A warrior who fought together for nearly 15 years since the formation of the Three Battle Wolves.
The first comrade has now departed.
‘Namu Amitabul.’
Tolga briefly prayed in his heart.
After encountering the White Sovereign, he found himself seeking the Buddha he had forgotten about.
“…Now it’s my turn.”
“Good luck.”
Nerme murmured as he stepped forward.
Tolga encouraged Nerme with a heavy voice.
Both seemed indifferent despite having just lost a comrade they were talking with until moments ago.
“Wait.”
Tolga’s voice held back Nerme’s retreating figure.
“…The orphan support organization you’ve been sponsoring. I’ll manage it, so don’t worry. If I survive, that is.”
“How did you know that? Even Brother Borhu didn’t know…”
“Underestimating an old man’s wisdom and information network will cost you dearly.”
“Ah, really. A fox-like old man till the end.”
Nerme bitterly clicked his tongue.
There was a reason he lived as a penny-pincher after retirement.
He had great aspirations for supporting orphans worldwide.
As an orphan himself, he knew the sorrow of losing parents in the great cataclysm.
Supporting orphans was a kind of mission and great work in his mind.
…The problem was, he wanted to keep it a secret from everyone, but someone knew?
In the end, Nerme let it go.
‘Well, it will work out somehow. If only Brother’s soul goes to a good place…’
Nerme closed his eyes gently and shook both arms sacredly.
Shiiing…
Suddenly, golden crystal fragments shimmered softly in blue energy across Nerme’s entire body.
The most noble miracle symbolizing the power of healing.
It was the holy power of saints.
“Kyirililik…!”
The White Sovereign that devoured Borhu drips blood from its mouth.
The creature, whose eyes cannot even be seen, was watching here.
If it had a tongue, it would probably be licking its lips.
Nerme’s narrowed eyes drifted somewhere languidly.
‘Brother Borhu might have created an opportunity.’
Nerme looked at the part of the White Sovereign’s crown where Borhu had inflicted damage.
That area of the Albino Death Worm definitely seemed weakened on the surface.
From now on, he was about to commit an outrageous act.
Nerme raised the corners of his mouth and sneered.
“You enormous monster worm. Does the spot where my brother hit you hurt a lot?”
“Kyirrr…!”
“Shall I heal it? Despite how I look, I’m an S-class healing mage. The number of cases I’ve completely cured in my lifetime easily exceeds thousands.”
“Kyirililik…!”
The White Sovereign just tilted its head.
Nerme, with a transparent smile, raised his right hand toward the White Sovereign.
“Recovery.”
Shiririring-!
Instantly, holy power concentrated on the White Sovereign’s entire body.
“Kyi, iik…?”
The White Sovereign let out a deeply puzzled sound.
An exceptionally warm and gentle power begins to apply to it.
Bassssss-
The outer skin wounded by Borhu’s hydro cannon strike is healed.
Befitting an S-class healing mage’s ability, the broken outer skin was patched up in an instant.
Then the recovery is applied to the entire body, even where no wounds were inflicted.
The high-level recovery spell of holy magic, a healing spell that begins to cure all types of health deterioration and injuries, serious diseases, and poisoned states.
However, there was a separate intention.
Kwassssss-!
The healed crown outer skin of the White Sovereign crumbles again.
If you keep rubbing dirty skin with soapy water, eventually the skin becomes raw.
It’s the opposite effect of cleaning to remove bacteria.
Nerme was attempting to not just heal the White Sovereign’s injured area, but to completely necrotize its entire body.
“Kyu, aaaak-!”
The White Sovereign made a seemingly bewildered roar.
It realized that the warm light was actually causing it pain.
“Kyiiik…!”
Kudddddd-
The White Sovereign immediately buried its body under the sand.
It buried its body, leaving only its head exposed.
Looking closely, it was like a mole with just its head poking out.
Nerme continued to trudge toward the White Sovereign.
‘This brat is scared…’
Nerme smiled bitterly.
Let the creature escape like this for a strategic victory, or necrotize the entire surface starting from that spot for a tactical victory.
Desert worms are famous for their hard outer skin adapted to extreme environments.
The strong ones can withstand even direct hits from nuclear weapons or missiles.
With the Albino Death Worm’s defense, it’s practically supreme.
That being’s outer skin was gradually crumbling.
Breaking through that defense brought a strange sense of satisfaction.
“Kyi, iik……!”
Now the creature has only its head left above ground.
It no longer has the imposing presence it had when it first appeared.
Anyone could see it looked like a frightened monster worm.
‘Yes, either run away. Or dissolve in necrosis.’
Nerme firmly assured himself of his victory.
Then, he slowly approached the terrified creature.
The huge head protruding from the ground like a house looked cute.
“Kyurut, kyurut, kyurut.”
Was it an auditory hallucination that the White Sovereign’s roar sounded like laughter?
He actually suddenly thought the creature was laughing.
Tolga urgently raised his eyes and shouted.
“…Nerme! Run away immediately!”
“What? What does that…”
Rumblerumble-
Before he could understand the meaning, the ground suddenly rumbled.
The White Sovereign suddenly let out a roar.
“Kyi, hyaaak-!”
Kwaaaaaa─────!
Suddenly the ground beneath Nerme rose up.
A sand storm erupted as if the desert sky would be overturned.
Specifically, the White Sovereign had lifted the tail it had been hiding.
Nerme was approaching defenselessly and was already within the interval of the sovereign’s body.
Who would have thought it would slowly move its buried lower body underground to approach?
He never thought the White Sovereign would reversely lure him.
Wudddduk-!
“Kkeo, heok!”
With a savage bone-breaking sound, blood spurted from Nerme’s mouth.
Just like intelligent ocean miscreants, killer whales playing with seals.
Nerme’s figure was launched upward by the White Sovereign’s full-power tail strike.
‘…Oops.’
His internal organs were shattered, and bones throughout his body were crushed.
A state of incapacitation that couldn’t be recovered even with self-healing.
No joke, he didn’t even have the strength to move a finger.
It didn’t make sense to be unharmed after being hit by the tail of a 50-meter monster.
He was flying somewhere rapidly like a bullet.
The direction was, naturally, toward the White Sovereign.
Kurrrrrung-
“Kyu, aaaak-!”
The White Sovereign rose from the ground and opened its mouth wide.
Finally, the snow-white death reached him fairly too.
The mouth like a super-large tunnel gradually grows larger.
Nerme’s blurry eyes gently closed.
In truth, he had a concern.
‘…If I don’t return, the children will keep looking for me.’
The White Sovereign’s mouth closed on the flying biscuit.
Kwajak-!
With a savage flesh-tearing sound, Nerme’s figure was crushed.
The White Sovereign gained its third capability.
[Hostile Predation has been activated.]
[S-class Hostility: Healing Mage has been acquired.]