Chapter 47. Stronger Together (2)

Exercise is beneficial.

Exercise is exhilarating.

Exercise is attractive.

No one used to believe that. Of course they didn't. What was so great about exercise anyway? What was the point of dancing in sync as a group? Everyone just lived thinking that way.

Exercise is boring.

Exercise is tedious.

Exercise is worthless.

Now, no one believes that anymore. And that, too, is only natural. How dare you belittle exercise? Do you know how thrilling and beneficial it is to move in perfect rhythm as a group? Everyone found themselves smashing the reservation button on that thought.

Right now, at this very moment, they were dodging the relentless onslaught of the Second Star Master, with movements so smooth even they couldn't believe it.

Kaboom!

Flower buds rained down.

At first glance, it was a beautiful sight.

But the hundreds of flower buds exploded the moment they touched the ground, scattering hallucinogenic pollen in every direction.

Yet no one was caught. All maintained exactly five steps of distance, retreating in perfect sync with offbeat steps and mirrored movements.

"One step hop!"

"Hop!"

"Two steps spin!"

"Hooop!"

"Three steps forward!"

"Hop! Hop!"

"In place! Groove groove!"

"Hup! Hoop! Hup! Hoop!"

Boom! Ba-boom! Kablam!

Explosions—truly murderous in nature—erupted all around.

And yet, each time, the members of the farming corps retreated in sync with Kim Jangcheol's calls, spinning clockwise, stepping forward, and wiggling their hips on the spot.

Thanks to that, no one got caught in the blast radius. The cloud of hallucinogenic powder, stirred up like a localized storm, barely grazed their shoulders and knees. It did no real damage at all.

The next attack from the Second Star Master was no different.

"Everyone, bend down!"

"Hop!"

Fwooooosh!

A massive root from the Second Star Master whipped through the air in a fit of rage. The fierce gust it caused barely brushed the bent backs of the farming corps.

Their backs felt a refreshing breeze.

Smiles bloomed on every face.

Ah, the sweat scattering in the breeze—it felt so good.

"No one here's gonna fail this, right?! On the rise, backflip!"

"Hoop!"

"Huip?"

Someone messed up that time.

One farming corps member, despite starving daily, had developed a potbelly.

The potbelly guy tried to do a backflip but failed. His jump height fell just a bit short. At that moment, a root shot up from the ground, flying straight toward him.

"...Huh?"

His face went pale.

Ah. So this is how I go. Should've taken care of my body when I had the chance. Regret came late, disaster came fast.

Or so it seemed—

Right up until Kim Jangcheol's hand reached out.

"Relax, idiot!"

Smack!

"...!"

Just in time, Kim Jangcheol's hand tapped the potbelly guy's waist.

Thanks to that small push, the lacking jump height was corrected. The guy's rotation gained momentum. The backflip was completed.

Whoosh!

The root that shot up from the ground narrowly missed him.

Kim Jangcheol's shout followed.

"Don't let your guard down! This time, quick step! Two steps left, cha-cha! Three steps right, dun-da-da!"

"Cha-cha! Dun-da-da!"

Thud! Kablam!

A curious and mysterious sequence of offbeat movements unfolded.

Hundreds of vines hanging from the central stem of the Second Star Master whipped like lashes, striking the ground. But again, they hit nothing but dirt.

Some members couldn't keep up with the offbeat rhythm and their steps got tangled. But each time, Kim Jangcheol stepped in to deflect the attack or gave a nudge to help them dodge.

"...!"

Each time, a big and clear heart thump! bloomed in the chest of every farming corps member.

Everyone thought—

Our Demon King.

How can he be like this?

Honestly, he could survive on his own just fine. That would be way easier for him. Definitely.

And yet, despite the hardship and hassle, he's choosing to endure this with them. Protecting everyone, making sure no one gets hurt or dies.

For everyone.

For us.

For me.

'That's why... even if just for him, who risks danger for our sake, I have to dodge properly!'

'I can't fail to dodge. If I get hurt, all his effort will be wasted. That's why I must survive. I must not get hurt!'

'I don't want to disappoint Lord Credos!'

Everyone grit their teeth.

Sharpened their focus.

They became one.

To Kim Jangcheol's commands.

To the movements of their comrades beside them.

They focused their entire minds.

Every step and motion was performed with utmost care.

Their hearts, their focus, their sweat brought forth a miraculous inevitability. The relentless barrage—they dodged it. Slipped past it. The time spent toiling in the potato fields unexpectedly proved to be a great help.

"Duck! Get up!"

"Back! Back! Forward!"

Until now, none of them had realized. But they had all grown remarkably skilled at synchronizing their movements to commands and rhythm.

The reason was simple.

That was exactly what they did every day while working in the potato fields.

"Punch the ground! Make a hole! Squat!"

"Hooah!"

"Short jump! Pull your knees in mid-air and hug them! Land on your butt!"

"Gah!"

"Roll to the right! Shake off your butt!"

"Hup hup!"

The farming corps became one.

Kim Jangcheol was possessed by the rhythm.

Everyone was immersed, as if riding a divine blade.

The thickening dust clouds—only made them rely more on their comrades' movements and calls, like lanterns, like lighthouses, guiding their paths, pulling each other forward.

They moved with every ounce of strength.

They shouted louder, voices hoarse from effort.

Thanks to that, the Second Star Master began to understand, little by little.

'What...?'

The obsession to kill Credos no matter what. The belief that it didn't matter if everyone here got swept up and died in the process.

The Second Star Master had been unleashing attacks like bombardments with that single-minded thought. The result was a massive cloud of dust engulfing the area.

And so they couldn't see—

What was happening within the dust, they couldn't imagine or predict.

But now, realization started to dawn.

'What is this...'

Still thick with dust.

Yet through it, powerful cries pierced up. United commands. Group shouts growing clearer and louder.

The Second Star Master felt chills without realizing.

'What... Credos, just what in the world are you...'

They finally grasped the situation.

They thought Credos was enduring the attacks alone. That the insignificant bugs with him would just die, and he would focus only on dodging and defending.

But that wasn't it.

He was leading everyone.

Doing things beyond belief.

Achieving results beyond comprehension.

Commanding so that not a single person would die or get hurt! Against someone as crazed and frenzied as themselves!

"......."

How should this be interpreted?

How should this be understood?

'Insane.'

Maybe Credos was far stronger than I had thought.

It certainly seemed that way.

He hadn't just dodged my attacks alone—he had taken them head-on while also protecting those worthless bugs.

And if I recall the power that struck me earlier, even more so...

'...No!'

The Second Star Master shook their head urgently.

That couldn't possibly be true.

They were in the most nourished state they had ever been. That's why they had become so massive, so powerful.

But Credos being stronger than them? That made no sense. This had to be the result of some underhanded trickery.

'True results are shown by power, not petty deceptions!'

Crunch!

The vascular system within the Second Star Master's main trunk tightened completely.

They gathered their strength.

A sudden surge of fury. A boiling wrath that refused to accept this outcome. All that emotion was gathered and detonated.

"...Kwaaaaaa!"

Boom—!

The roots of the Second Star Master shook the earth. At the same time, its leaves all turned red, as if fall had come.

And Kim Jangcheol, upon seeing it...

"Now! Everyone!"

Detected the change faster than anyone.

He was the first to identify the nature of the transformation.

'...Phase 2!'

Act two of the Second Star Master boss fight.

If you dodged its attacks consecutively, it would throw a fit and damage its own health in a tantrum.

Then would begin Phase 2. A hellish battle filled with vicious attack patterns, blistering speed, and wide-ranging area-of-effect skills that were incomparable to Phase 1.

But...

'Finally!'

Kim Jangcheol actually cheered.

Please, let it start already.

He had been waiting for this moment the whole time.

He had been anxiously pouring his full attention into Phase 1, worried that one of the farming corps might get hurt or die.

So he had prayed.

For Phase 2 to start quickly.

Because once it started, everyone could be saved.

"All units! Charge!"

He shouted.

So loud it embedded itself in everyone's eardrums.

Even if they didn't understand why, they would follow.

He shouted and ran.

With joy in his heart.

Phase 2—deadly and overwhelmingly powerful.

And yet, there was certainty that everyone would now be safer. That's because there was an unexpected weakness in its Phase 2.

"Run! As fast as you can! Get close to it!"

"...!"

At first, the farming corps thought they had misheard. But no—they hadn't. Their beloved Demon King, their dear farming corps leader, was charging at the front.

Straight toward the Second Star Master.

That massive and terrifying enemy.

He was the first to dash ahead, arms outstretched. He clung to the Second Star Master's enormous trunk. Like a cicada in midsummer. And he cried out—not with a chirp, but with a full-throated yell.

"What are you doing! Move your butts!"

"....!"

It was real.

He meant it.

Then there must be a reason.

The Demon King had always been like that. There was always a reason behind his seemingly insane actions. And in the end, he always turned out to be right. This time would be no different.

"Haaaah!"

Chop! Slap! Smack!

The farming corps scrambled to latch onto the main trunk of the Second Star Master. Before they knew it, Hartok and Sirgi—who had subtly joined the farming corps' group exercises—were there too. So was Baal, Asurat, Zephyros, and even the Third Star Master, now freed from the lightning rod.

And then, Phase 2 of the Second Star Master, Planus, began in earnest.

...Kuaaaaaah!

Its leaves now completely red.

The Second Star Master moved like the incarnation of destruction.

Those who were clinging to its trunk witnessed it firsthand—and realized. This was the safest place. If they hadn't latched onto it following the Demon King, their previous group exercises wouldn't have been enough to dodge this.

The moment they understood that fact in their heads and felt it with their bodies, Kim Jangcheol shouted.

"What are you waiting for! Hit it! Break it!"

"......."

A cry of absolute conviction drilled into their eardrums.

And then, a massive thud.

The Demon King was swinging a millstone.

He was beating down the Second Star Master.

Smack, crunch! The top of the Second Star Master's head burst open in real time. Seeing that, everyone's hearts thundered. They knew it instinctively. Yes. Now was the time for the counterattack.

"Everyone! Attaaaack—!"

Before anyone realized it, Hartok had remembered his identity as the senior squad leader of the farming corps and shouted. Baal roared. Sirgi drew six swords. Asurat swung his saw-bladed greatsword. The pincers of the Third Star Master gleamed.

And the members of the farming corps gripped their handmade farming tools tightly.

"Ooone—!"

"Hop!"

Boom—!

Exercise is beneficial.

"Twooo—!"

"Hup!"

Thwack—!

Exercise is exhilarating.

"Threeee!"

"Hap!"

Crunch—!

Exercise is attractive.

No one used to believe that. And for good reason. What was so great about exercise? That silly group dancing in sync—what was the point? Everyone used to think that way.

But now, no longer.

"Again, one!"

"Hop!"

Boom—!

Exercise is boring.

"Twooo—!"

"Hup!"

Thwak—!

Exercise is tedious.

"Threeee—!"

"Hap!"

Crack—!

Exercise is worthless.

Now, no one believes in those belittling words anymore. It was only natural.

Dare to mock our warm-up routine?

Ridicule us?

Moving in sync to rhythm is not only beneficial and exhilarating—it's got an incredibly satisfying crunch. The Second Star Master, big as the Demon King's castle, was falling in real time to our hands. So yeah, we're allowed to enjoy this a little.

"...!"

The Second Star Master's eyes widened in shock.

Drenched in the madness of Phase 2, he finally realized.

'I... I...!'

He had thought he'd become the most powerful being in the forsaken lands. He believed he had finally earned the right to rule over all.

But no.

It was a delusion.

He had only just now realized it.

'I am...!'

His entire body broke apart in real time.

A hunted beast, crushed by an ant swarm.

A pile of firewood—big enough to break in many places.

".....!"

The Second Star Master flailed wildly.

As if unable to let go of his final regrets. As if reaching for a dream he could never grasp. He flailed, struggled to seize it.

"....!"

And in the shade cast by the Tree of Plunder, at last—the irreversible cracks of collapse began to spread.

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