The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

16 – Bomb Ma (3)

A monster crafted from muscles.

There was no other way to describe it.

Bullet salvo rained down.

Yet, with unwavering confidence in the robust endurance of its muscles, the monster attempted a straight charge.

Standing idly like this would surely be crushed by its massive mass. Edanant skillfully dodged the barrage of flesh bullets, wielding Aldebaran’s blade like a matador facing a ferocious bull.

Shtaaak.

It sliced through the side.

However, compared to the colossal body, it seemed feeble.

The muscles are as hard as alloys.

Even bullets could be repelled; such toughness surpassed mere metal.

Moreover, approaching the monster with fists boasting the force of a battering ram was no easy feat.

“Not invincible, though. The cripple from Chapter 2 isn’t exactly invincible.”

The bomb-wielding giant, previously felled like a beehive, resurrected as a creature flaunting a hundred-to-one advantage. If unleashed on the battlefield, it would have become a slaughter machine, massacring countless soldiers.

However—

Unfortunately for it, the opposition was formidable.

This was evident from the continuous spewing of flames by over a hundred muskets.

Tadadang!!

Tadadadadadang──!!!

A relentless storm of bullets raining down without respite.

Gail, who had skillfully wielded the projectiles, quickly checked his now tattered body and desperately retreated. Although the ragged wounds were regenerating, the process was significantly slowing down as time passed.

Moments ago, his near-invulnerability, close to invincibility after being slashed by a blade, faced a hiccup in his regenerative abilities.

This can’t be happening.

I am undoubtedly invincible…!

Why is my body crumbling under such attacks?

Despite the bizarre regenerative powers eroding even the slightest trace of intellect, the fear of death persisted.

Dying like this is unacceptable.

Facing a colossal monster spanning five yards, Gail stealthily withdrew from Edantra.

“If ten shots don’t work, then shoot twenty… if twenty don’t work, shoot forty. If the firepower poured is insufficient to bring down the enemy, it means we lack the firepower to bring it down. Hmm, that makes sense.”

The ever-undulating dark aura, like a tiger’s, gradually expanded, enhancing the muskets’ military presence.

It doubled.

A cluster of over 200 muskets formed a majestic spectacle. Loading bullets into the muskets, Edantra, in sync with the conductor’s gestures, orchestrated a flawless shooting formation. The massive monster repeatedly staggered backward amidst the musket barrage surrounding it.

“Grr…!! Gaaaahhh!!!”

For some unknown reason, his regenerative abilities had noticeably weakened.

As a result, the muscled frame, filled with bullet wounds, was in a decrepit state.

Dying.

The noose of fear tightened around Gail’s neck.

As if showcasing him, hundreds of bullets pelted down, tearing through the flesh. Gail screamed and fled, but the muskets never missed their mark. No matter where he ran, they relentlessly aimed to sever the lifeblood of the flesh.

“I’ll kill you…! I’ll kill you, I swear!!”

Gael, who had been prioritizing escape for survival, suddenly changed direction and leaped into the ground assault.

He spread his fingers wide.

Then, while kicking the ground, he attempted a leap.

Ground-pound press.

It was a reckless attack aimed at overwhelming the opponent with the entire body.

Truly, it was absurdly ignorant.

If it were to fall directly onto Gael’s robust muscle mass, it would turn into a formless lump of flesh.

“What the…?!”

─────!!!

A tremendous mass targeted Endant.

However, for some reason, the giant who had been thrown into the air suddenly lost balance and fell.

A change occurred in Gael’s body.

The once iron-like solid muscles began to twist and collapse.

The muscles contorted and clumped together.

Each time, Gael writhed on the ground, emitting a desperate scream.

Unimaginable pain engulfed him.

It might be better to just die and be liberated from this merciless agony. However, the formidable regenerative power obtained through resurrection did not allow that.

With each repetition of agony, the crimson scars on Gael’s side became more vivid. It was the scar from Aldebaran, the sword that had cut him. Compared to the muscular body surrounding it, it was nothing more than a scratch, but it finally unraveled the dark magic that had deeply penetrated and strengthened the body.

“Under the protection of the Gunsa, even pulling out the Holy Sword Aldebaran… What kind of suffering is this? I’m not even a janitor.”

Watching Gael’s writhing figure in pain, Endant sighed.

Eventually, the collapsing and regenerating physique exploded.

Boom!

It was like a water balloon that had been expanding and contracting repeatedly, finally bursting into pieces. Blood and flesh exploded, turning the inside of the cathedral into a gruesome spectacle. And in the center of it all, Endant, naturally, had to overturn the putrid byproduct.

“Damn it….”

Thud!

He spat out curses while removing the massive, fleshy lump that had covered his face.

What part of the body could it be?

Chills began to creep over his entire body.

* * *

The remnants of the criminal organization that had attacked the past Saint’s Party unleashed a bomb terror in the Seventh District of the Hwangdo.

The city was engulfed in flames.

As a result, numerous casualties occurred.

In an attempt to maximize casualties, they targeted the heart of the residential area. The explosion, accompanied by the spreading azure flames, swiftly engulfed the city, creating a hellish scene. They even mobilized monsters to assault refugees, adding to the atrocities.

Over 400 dead or missing.

The number of injured swept away by the flames was a staggering tenfold.

If the Valtaria Imperial Family had not promptly dispatched forces for rescue and containment, the damage would have been incomprehensible. Fortunately, they averted the worst-case scenario, but the devastation was severe. The remnants of the city reduced to ashes painted a grim picture.

“Gael Doherr… the infamous Bombing Unit has reappeared. The last place the intelligence agency spotted the Bombing Unit must have been the Alond Kingdom.”

The fact that the heinous criminal organization briefly eluded the Empire’s intelligence agency sparked a sense of shame.

They had been too complacent.

The Empire paid a painful price for its arrogance.

If they had identified the Bombing Unit’s location and swiftly dealt with the intelligence agency, they could have prevented an unprecedented disaster. Countless citizens would not have been slaughtered.

The woman, scrutinizing documents intently, reproached herself, biting her plump lips.

“Dark sorcerers must be involved. There’s no other explanation.”

She spoke, looking at Rudmila, consumed by self-loathing.

The princess nodded.

“Dark sorcerers… they were said to be behind the attack on your family as well.”

“Yes.”

Gael, the Bombing Maestro, was nothing more than a fanatic driven by revenge.

His subordinates in the Bombing Unit were no different.

Someone was behind them.

Certainly, dark sorcerers must have supported the Bombing Unit.

The sudden and audacious attacks by the Bombing Unit revealed it. The marauding monsters that razed the city further confirmed it. In essence, it was safe to say they were the masterminds behind all these events.

“His Majesty received the report and is furious. Soon, there will be a massive crackdown on dark sorcerers. The Prosperous Kingdom, which has repeatedly subdued cult uprisings, will also take the field.”

“…”

It would be strange not to be furious.

Over 400 people had died.

And it happened in the capital of the Empire, under the jurisdiction of the Emperor and the high officials.

The dignified and composed Barbarosa couldn’t remain silent. He would gather the Empire’s top generals in the conference room and issue the decree for retribution. There would undoubtedly be strict orders not to show mercy.

Blood would be repaid with blood.

Gradually, a foreboding atmosphere began to shroud the Baltaian Empire, which had been enveloped in a serene stillness.

“I heard that you plunged into a sea of raging fire, confronting bombmas and subduing the hordes. On behalf of the Empire and its citizens, I would like to express our gratitude… if you could spare some time to arrange a formal meeting.”

“Oh, no, please, there’s no need for that.”

“You are always humble. To the extent that one would want to emulate your humility.”

“…”

He tried to conceal his identity.

As his fame grew, maintaining secrecy became increasingly challenging.

Upon vanquishing the bombma and exiting the cathedral,

Unfortunately, he found himself face to face with the knights deployed to the scene.

With the additional testimony of the knights he encountered after dealing with the mares, he became an unwitting hero, admired and popularized beyond his desires. It had escalated to the point of ‘forced’ admiration and popularity.

A situation he became an unwilling clown in.

Wherever he went, a level of fame recognizable to the public followed him.

“There is something that needs to be conveyed to you.”

“…Yes?”

Was he going to be presented with a commendation?

Or perhaps a medal or a badge honoring his contributions…

Rather than such things, it would be nice if they rewarded him with a prize. Or maybe even a pension.

“Lord Buhwang has invited the hero who saved the capital. Undoubtedly, he must hold you in high regard. He might even consider pardoning the Hoenberg family, taking into account your recent contributions.”

“…”

What Rudmila handed him was an invitation.

Stamped with the emblem of a golden lion.

It was the second royal notification he had received this month alone.

As he stared at Rudmila with a faint smile, he froze. He wanted to immediately reject the imperial invitation, but the fear of blasphemy held him back.

“Accept it.”

“…”

“I said, accept it.”

“…Yes.”

Rudmila’s red eyes sparkled.

There was no way he could refuse.