His body ached all over.
Beep—
A high-pitched ringing echoed in his ears.
His head throbbed, a wave of dizziness washing over him from the sudden impact.
-Khahaha! For a free world!
-Kyaaa—!
-Seong-hyeon! Run…!
-No!
Fragments of buried memories surfaced, flashing through his mind.
‘Damn it, what was that?!’But it only lasted for a moment.
His numb body quickly recovered, and his clouded mind cleared.
The scattered memories receded, sinking back into the depths of his subconscious.
His body, instantly restored to perfect condition.
The combined effects of his overwhelming stats, “Super Recovery”, and the passive enhancement from his unique skill.
‘What kind of madman would set off a bomb in a hospital…!’
But his personal safety wasn’t his priority.
He gritted his teeth and, pushing himself up from the corner of the hospital garden where he had been thrown, checked on the two people he had been shielding.
‘They seem to be alright.’
He had assessed the situation in that split second.
He had maximized the range of the protective magic tool he always wore and shielded them with his own body, minimizing the direct impact.
So, despite being thrown from the hospital entrance all the way to the garden, they hadn’t sustained any major injuries.
They were unconscious, though, from the shock.
‘Tae-san will be fine, but his grandmother is still weak. She just got discharged… This could be dangerous.’
He had reacted instinctively, but he wasn’t sure if it had been the best course of action.
Perhaps there had been a better way.
And more importantly…
“Ugh… It hurts… Help me…”
“Aaaagh—!”
“It’s a terrorist attack! Run! Everyone, run!”
In that brief moment,
The surroundings had turned into chaos.
People groaning in pain, citizens panicking.
Even though they were some distance from the epicenter, the magically charged explosion had a wider range than a normal bomb, causing widespread damage.
If this was the situation here, he couldn’t imagine what had happened to those closer to the blast.
“I-I need to call… What?! It’s not working!”
“My phone’s dead too!”
“W-we need to get out of here…!”
Some of the less injured tried to use their smartphones to call for help, but they quickly gave up, their faces filled with panic.
He knew why.
‘That bastard… he planned this from the beginning.’
It hadn't been an ordinary explosion.
Not only was it imbued with hostile magic, but it also emitted a wave that disabled electronic devices.
Like an EMP blast from a nuclear explosion.
‘…This is a hospital, filled with sensitive medical equipment!’
He gritted his teeth, trying to stay calm, and helped the two unconscious figures to their feet.
Their safety was his top priority.
But that didn’t mean he didn’t care about the others.
‘In my territory…’
How many had died in that single attack?
Those caught in the blast, those relying on life support…
And judging by the smaller explosions that continued to echo from within the hospital, it seemed the villain was now fighting the awakened security personnel.
He didn't think it would last long.
‘First, I need to secure the situation. Hans… is out. His aura would only make things worse for the injured. Then Heinz… No.’
He knew this was the reality of this world.
Even with Hahoe Mask and Phantom eliminating criminals, the Blood Alliance controlling the underworld, and him maintaining order in the shadows…
Such incidents would continue to occur as long as the world’s structure remained unchanged.
‘Dealing with the villain isn’t the problem. But…’
How should he handle this situation?
Countless thoughts raced through his mind.
“…”
And then, his gaze fell on the unconscious grandmother.
Her face was even paler than before, her weakened body unable to withstand the shock.
“Sigh, alright.”
That sight cleared his mind.
He turned and entered a nearby shopping mall, already deserted.
‘I was planning to heal her anyway.’
He didn’t have to worry about CCTV cameras.
None of the electronic devices in the vicinity were working.
He headed straight for the restroom.
And after settling the two unconscious figures in a stall,
He stepped back—.
And activated 「Individual Projection」 without hesitation.
His body transformed in an instant, as if changing filters.
His height changed.
The energy within him shifted.
His senses were altered.
And something connecting him to the world… twisted.
“Hmm.”
He looked at the mirror, examining his reflection.
Silver hair, escaping from beneath his helmet, scattered the light, and golden eyes shone brightly.
His sturdy physique had transformed into that of a seasoned warrior, clad in sleek, white armor.
Saaaa—
A gentle aura emanated from him, enveloping his surroundings.
Click—
He lowered the visor of his helmet.
“Now then…”
He had become Heinrich, the Saint of the Auterica’s Main God Church.
______________________
The incident occurred unexpectedly, on a clear and sunny day.
A massive shockwave ripped through the lobby of a large hospital, a place of healing and recovery,
Kaboom—!
…transforming it into a scene of chaos and carnage.
Blood splattered, screams echoed, and moans filled the air.
The powerful surprise attack had critically injured the unsuspecting awakened security personnel, and the resulting shockwave had plunged the entire hospital into chaos.
Crackle— Crackle!
Faint sparks flickered from the villain’s fingertips.
“Pfft… Khehehe… Serves you right… you pigs.”
The villain, a man in his fifties, let out a distorted chuckle as he watched the last of the security personnel collapse.
He surveyed the devastated lobby, a cruel smile twisting his lips.
“A hospital… so nice… Huh? Excellent! Even awakened guards… As expected of an expensive place… Haha.”
He muttered, his words disjointed and rambling, his mind seemingly unhinged.
The guards weren't particularly strong, just mercenaries… but that wasn’t important to him.
His priority was venting his pent-up rage.
“Hmm, I know… I’ve been here before. My Seyeon too… Huh? If only she had received treatment…”
Years of festering resentment, the pain of losing his child.
“I… I said I would bring the money… Couldn’t you wait a little longer…?”
He had been turned away because he couldn't afford the treatment, and having lost his only family, he had wandered aimlessly until he was transported to another world.
And then, consumed by his twisted desire for revenge, he had returned, seeking only power.
“Yes… Yes, I’ll come soon, Seyeon. But… wait a little longer… will you…?”
His eyes, once clouded, began to regain their focus.
A twisted smile appeared on the lips of the broken man, a murderer fueled by his distorted beliefs.
“Seyeon must be lonely… Daddy will bring you lots of friends.”
Crackle—!
His suppressed magic power surged, sparks growing larger and more intense.
The same technique he had used for his initial attack.
But now, there was no need for subtlety.
It manifested faster and stronger than before.
“Ugh… Help… me…”
“Kuh… Ugh…”
Those still clinging to life, their bodies mangled, writhed and moaned… but he ignored them.
Lost in his own world.
“Yes… These rich pigs… they’ll be enough. So…”
His power reached its peak.
A cruel smile, mirroring the image of his daughter’s laughter that flashed through his mind, appeared on his face, his eyes filled with madness.
“…Die, you pigs.”
Rumble—
And then, multiple bursts of energy, laced with sparks, erupted from him.
They spread outwards, threatening to engulf the entire building…
[“Main God, grant your grace upon this land.”]
…And then vanished, swept away by a wave of brilliant light, accompanied by a solemn voice.
An anticlimactic end.
“Huh?”
But that wasn’t the end of the unexpected events.
“…Armor?”
Where the light had been, a figure clad in armor now stood.
As the villain, startled, began to gather his power,
Saaaa—
An overwhelming energy, emanating from the armored figure, filled the space.
Engulfing the floor, walls, ceiling, and even the air itself.
“Main God, grant strength to those who suffer, that they may smile once more.”
An incredibly pure energy, unlike anything he had felt before, spread outwards, reaching not only those clinging to life in the devastated lobby, but also everyone in the building and the surrounding area.
It was an overwhelming display of power, far beyond the capabilities of a single individual.
And it was breathtakingly beautiful, awe-inspiring.
Like a miracle, performed by a god descended upon the earth.
“…Holy power.”
The villain, stunned, turned his gaze towards the armored figure.
It emanated a warm and benevolent aura… but at the same time, an oppressive pressure that made his lungs constrict.
The villain, a returnee who had survived countless trials in another world, instinctively knew.
This was the difference in their levels.
The being before him was a monster he could never hope to defeat.
“So… you’re here too.”
But he still managed to force out a defiant retort.
His twisted smile had vanished, his lips pressed into a thin line, but his eyes burned with rage as he glared at the armored figure.
He had also tried to seek the help of the clerics.
But they had been overwhelmed, their resources stretched thin, and he had been forced to give up after waiting in vain for his turn.
“Pfft… Khehehe… If only… if only I had this much holy power back then…!”
“Silence, criminal.”
But his desperate words were cut short by a solemn voice, like a divine judgment.
The armored figure, Heinrich, had no interest in his sob story.
He would judge him based on his own criteria, as always.
‘There’s no need to waste time.’
No matter the excuse, this level of carnage warranted only one punishment.
Death.
And despite his relatively impressive power, he was still far from mastery.
A small fry, unworthy of the Saint’s blade.
Swish—
But Heinrich still drew his holy sword.
Not to fight the villain, but to amplify his holy power, using the sword's inherent ability.
‘I can’t save those who are already gone… but those still clinging to life…’
Unlike the Saintess, whose power was focused on healing and protection, his power was specialized in eradicating evil and judging the wicked.
To maximize its effectiveness, he had to use everything at his disposal.
‘I also have “Dimensional Barrier Weakening”, so it should be quite effective.’
He no longer cared about the villain, his eyes bloodshot with rage.
“Sinner, repent in the afterlife.”
And then.
His ‘somewhat effective’ holy power…
Whoosh—
…Engulfed the hospital and the surrounding area in a blazing storm of light.
______________________
Seoul Southern Branch of the Korean Returnee Association.
“What… What is this?!”
Crash—!
Yoon Ji-yoon, the branch manager, who had been leisurely playing a mobile game, jumped to her feet.
Her chair, knocked over by her sudden movement, clattered to the floor, but she didn’t care. She closed her eyes, focusing her senses.
“…Holy power? On Earth… This much holy power…? Is this even possible?”
She muttered in disbelief, amplifying her energy perception.
Holy power was weakened on Earth, it was common knowledge.
But for it to be this strong… How powerful must it be in its original dimension?
“Ha… Haha… The Saint? The Saintess? No, is it some kind of divine bloodline?”
And she wasn’t the only one reacting this way.
Not just the powerful awakened individuals and clerics sensitive to holy power…
…But the Korean branch of Pantheon, the interdimensional religious alliance, which had been largely inactive due to internal conflicts, also began to stir.
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