Chapter 357

Grenoid had revived far away from the tower, but that distance wasn't an obstacle for a Connector. However, Sungyoon felt like it would take him forever to reach the tower. He almost felt like he was covering more distance than what he had walked in his whole life.

Kwahng!

As he dodged the pillar of light once again, he looked at the tower. However, the tower still seemed far away.

‘Why does it look like a mirage!’

Lightning and wind fell from the sky as the ground shook.

Sungyoon unfurled his wings as he kept his shield up. He was using Hyunwoo’s shield, which automatically defended its owner. It barely allowed him to escape Grenoid’s attack. Even he was impressed by his own ability to dodge the attacks.

‘However, I can’t last long like this.’

He was barely hanging on; he had even failed to completely dodge Grenoid's attacks a couple of times. Even though his armor wouldn’t break from being hit several times, but his internal organs felt bruised from the force that he felt through his armor.

Moreover, the monsters were causing trouble for him too.

‘Move!’

He didn’t slow down as he cut down the monster charging toward him.

Grenoid couldn’t command the monsters in a skilled manner, but it didn’t matter. The large number of monsters rushing toward Sungyoon was enough to cause Sungyoon stress. He was being pushed to the edge, but in the end, he was able to lure Grenoid toward the tower.

‘It should be fine, right?’

Sungyoon looked up at the tower.

Grenoid’s attacks had inadvertently hit the tower several times.

Since Grenoid’s attacks were so powerful and large in scale, it was to be expected.

Sungyoon’s heart sank each time the tower was hit.

However, the tower was built to take some damage, so the tower looked intact when Sungyoon arrived in front of it.

Koo-oohng!

Grenoid jumped to land behind Sungyoon.

It was still a very creepy sight.

Zzuhhhhhhhk!

He once again opened his mouth.

Kwahhhhh!

It shot out the beam of light. It went in a straight line as it brushed past the tower. It destroyed everything in its path to fly into space.

Grenoid glared as it prepared its next attack.

『…….』

Grenoid went silent.

Did his attack finally land?

When the light disappeared, there was no one standing in front of Grenoid.

***

“Hoo-oooooooh!”

He let out a long sigh. Cold sweat ran down his cheeks to pool around his chin.

‘I was barely able to time it.’

If his speed in opening and closing the portal was a bit slower, Sungyoon would have been swept away by the violent energy of the light.

When his heart calmed down a little bit, Sungyoon stood straighter. A familiar sight greeted him.

It was the capital of Planote, and it was where the equipment was located within the palace.

Sungyoon manipulated the holographic screen in a practiced manner. He had fully awakened the Royal Gem already, so it wasn’t hard to use this device.

‘Everyone is ready.’

Tim’s Fortress city. Emily’s Holy city. Then there was Grace’s Mage city, which she had fully awakened not too long ago. All the lights indicating the other cities being fully operational were lit up.

While Sungyoon was luring Grenoid, his party members had made the preparation.

Sungyoon slowly injected his magical energy into the Royal Gem.

The Gem shook. It was as if it knew its own role, and it was urging Sungyoon to move forward.

Sungyoon placed a hand on the holographic screen.

Woooooooohng!

The device started to vibrate. The vibration spread across the palace, then it engulfed the whole city.

At that moment...

Grenoid looked a bit confused when Sungyoon had made himself scarce, but it once again roared into the sky.

It continued to hatch new monsters as it looked for things to destroy. His instinct was ordering him to destroy and kill everything.

This was why he was about to step toward the tower when it happened.

Kooooooooong!

Massive pressure suddenly pressed down against Grenoid.

“Keeeeeeeeeeek!”

“Kyahhhhhhhhk!”

The monsters, who had followed him, writhed on the ground.

Unlike Grenoid, the monsters died in an instant.

Hoo-oohng!

A blue portal opened, and Sungyoon appeared from within it.

“Ah. You are here, Mr. Sungyoon?”

Grace had come to the rendezvous point early, and she greeted Sungyoon. At that location, Sungyoon’s party members and other Connectors were gathered there.

“How was it?”

“It is as you can see.”

Sungyoon looked toward where Russell was pointing. Grenoid was struggling under some unseen pressure.

“Hweek! It is really effective!”

Bruce whistled. All the Connectors looked relieved.

“I understand why you feel that way, but we have to move right now. You won’t be able to keep Grenoid in the safety zone for too long.”

Plu-El rushed the others.

The unseen power, which was pressing down on Grenoid, was supposed to be used to protect Armstrong city. Originally, the safety zone would have formed around Armstrong city.

As expected, this power was effective. It killed all the monsters hatched by Grenoid, and Grenoid was having a hard time controlling his own body.

However, this didn’t mean Grenoid was completely defeated.

The safety zone couldn’t keep Grenoid at bay. Grenoid was already showing signs of resisting the formless energy.

“Let’s hurry and start our next plan.”

After saying those words, Sungyoon started moving once again, and the other Connectors followed after him.

As expected of a safety zone, the Connectors remained unaffected.

In fact, it felt as if the relaxed magical energy was flowing into their body to enhance their powers.

The magicians kept their distance as they started activating their Gems. The Connectors, who were going to fight up close, continued to charge toward Grenoid.

Puh-uh-uh-ung!

Large-scale magical energy flew past Sungyoon.

Most of the spells were fierce wind spells, or they sent rocks flying toward Grenoid.

Puh-uhk! Puh-uhk!

When the spells hit Grenoid, the immobilized Grenoid faltered backward.

The spells didn’t cause too much damage, but it didn’t matter.

The goal of the magicians wasn’t to cause damage right now. It was to push Grenoid toward a certain destination.

“It can heal its wound even in the safety zone.”

The wounds hadn’t been large, but some had formed on Grenoid’s body. Tim lamented when the small wounds healed in an instant.

The other Connectors looked very disappointed too.

If the regenerative ability became suppressed, they wouldn’t have to go through this complicated plan. They could just kill Grenoid.

However, Sungyoon disagreed with Tim’s opinion.

“No. If we kill it right now, we won’t be able to return the Moon to its original orbit.”

“You are right. I forgot about that.”

In some ways, the Moon falling toward Earth was a bigger problem than Grenoid.

『Royal…Family…!』

Grenoid’s eyes widened when he saw Sungyoon.

“I don’t get why the officers and the traitors thought they could rule the world under someone like that!”

“It really is baffling! Grenoid looks more likely to kill his underlings Instead of conquering the world!”

It was as Bruce and Russell had said. The word, ‘rule’, probably wasn’t in Grenoid's vocabulary.

“You never know. If the officers were still alive, they might have had some way to keep it sane.”

Unlike the mad Grenoid, the three officers were able to think clearly. Bruce snorted when he heard what Sungyoon had said.

“Do you really think that thing would have kept its sanity if those three were still alive?”

“I do not think that. It is clear that Grenoid is mad, but I do think they would have known of a way to control Grenoid to a certain extent.”

“The master would be controlled by the underlings. Do you think the officers used Grenoid for their own benefit?”

“I do nothing thing so. It was quite apparent that they felt a deep loyalty to Grenoid.”

The officers had referred to Grenoid as the great one every chance they had. Sungyoon didn’t think that had all been an act.

“However, I do think there was some form of a symbiotic relationship. The officers gave their undying loyalty to Grenoid, but in practical terms, the officers could take the initiative.”

“They are odd beings.”

While Sungyoon and Bruce conversed, the party arrived near Grenoid.

Puh-uh-uh-uhng!

Another round of spells arrived to hit Grenoid. Grenoid once again had to retreat a bit.

“Good! Let’s start!”

When Russell yelled out loud, the Connectors took up their weapons.

However, they didn’t take up offensive weapons. They raised their shields. If Connectors didn’t have a shield, they raised their fists.

“Hoo-ahhhht!”

It was unclear as to who had yelled out loud, but it acted as an opening bell. The Connectors started pushing Grenoid with their shields, and Grenoid started being pushed back little by little.

“Keep it up! We just have to push it toward the tower!”

Russell yelled out loud.

Puh-uhng! Puh-uhng!

The third wave of spells impacted Grenoid. He started retreating faster.

“Good! We just have to stay on course!”

Bruce was encouraged by the results, so he yelled out loud.

Zzaeng-gahng!

It was sharp. It sounded as if a piece of glass had broken against the ground.

They hadn’t heard it through their ears. They just felt it as the ambient magical energy reverberated.

Sungyoon’s heart sank when he felt it.

‘Shit!’

It was the sound of the safety zone being broken. It couldn’t withstand Grenoid’s indomitable power.

Sungyoon looked forward. The Great Labyrinth had shot up to make the base of the tower, and Grenoid was close to reaching it.

“Hurry! Keep pushing!”

He yelled out loud. The Connectors squeezed every ounce of strength from within their bodies.

However, they could no longer dictate how Grenoid moved now that the safety zone was gone.

Kwahhhng!

“Ooh-ahhhhhhk!”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhk!”

Grenoid swept his hand downwards toward the ground, and screams could be heard. Connectors, who were hit by the hand, were sent flying through the air.

Despite their comrades dying, the Connectors did their best to push Grenoid.

However, it wasn't enough.

Zzzuh-uhk!

To make matters worse, Grenoid opened his mouth once again, and he sucked the magical energy into his mouth.

“Bastard! He’s aiming for the magicians!”

Bruce yelled out loud as he punched Grenoid’s stomach.

Grenoid flinched, but his mouth, which was aiming toward the magicians, didn’t falter at all.

Pah-aht!

Sungyoon unfurled his wings. He flew toward Grenoid’s mouth. He had to stop the attack somehow, so he summoned his hammer.

“Shit! Dodge!”

Bruce yelled toward the magicians.

The magicians scrambled to get out of there.

At that moment, something fell from the sky.

Puhhhhhhhhk!

Something had flown towards Grenoid at high speed, and it accurately hit Grenoid’s stomach.

『Gwehhhhhhh!』

Kwahhhhng!

Grenoid let out an odd scream.

The magic cannon, which was shot by Grenoid, missed badly as it hit the ground.

‘What was it?’

Sungyoon had been about to attack Grenoid from above when something had flown past him. He checked the item. His back was wet with cold sweat when he realized he was almost hit alongside Grenoid.

‘Rocket?’

-Move away from Grenoid!

The mayor’s voice was transmitted to everyone.

Sungyoon didn’t think hard on it. He used his wings to change direction in midair. Then he landed far away from Grenoid.

Kwahng! Kwahng! Kwahng! Kwahng!

As soon as the Connectors ran away, things started to fall from the sky. It was as if someone had shot a shotgun from the sky.

They were all similar in shape to the item that stopped Grenoid from shooting his magic cannon toward the magicians.

Sungyoon looked closely at the items.

‘Are they rockets?’

They had a propulsion system, but they weren’t shaped like missiles or rockets.

- Mr. Sungyoon!

At that moment, he heard a female voice through the communication device. It was a familiar voice.

“Ms. Chelsea? Why are you on this channel?”

- I wanted an update on the situation! The cameras aren’t showing us a clear view of Grenoid! Is it working?

Sungyoon looked toward Grenoid, who was getting bombarded.

It seemed Grenoid was taken aback by what was going on, so he kept taking a beating without being able to do anything.

“It is working well. What are those?”

- We mimicked the fall of meteorites.