Chapter 357: 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. Although his armor was quite sturdy, it couldn't stop the force behind Grenoid's attacks from transferring to and bruising his internal organs.

On top of that, the monsters were also causing him trouble.

'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 that didn't matter. The large number of monsters rushing toward Sungyoon was enough to give Sungyoon stress. He had been pushed to the edge, but in the end, he successfully lured Grenoid to the tower.

'It should be fine, right?'

Sungyoon looked up at the tower. Grenoid's attacks had inadvertently hit the tower several times. Since the 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 it remained intact when Sungyoon arrived in front of it.

Koo-oohng!

Grenoid jumped to land behind Sungyoon. It was still a creepy sight.

Zzuhhhhhhhk!

He once again opened his mouth.

Kwahhhhh!

The beam of light shot forward. It traveled in a straight line, brushed past the tower, and flew into space, destroying everything in its path. Grenoid glared forward as he prepared his next attack.

『.......』

However, he suddenly went silent. Did his attack finally land? When the light disappeared, there was no one standing in front of Grenoid.

***

"Hoo-oooooooh!"

Sungyoon let out a long sigh. Cold sweat ran down his cheeks and pooled around his chin.

'I was barely able to time it.'

If he had been just a bit slower in opening and closing the portal, the violent energy of the light beam would've swept him away. When his heart calmed down a little, Sungyoon stood upright, and a familiar sight greeted him. He was standing in the capital of Planote, specifically in the room with the equipment.

Sungyoon manipulated the holographic screen in a practiced manner. He had fully awakened the Royal Gem, so he didn't find it hard to use this device.

'Everyone is ready.'

Tim's Fortress city, Emily's Holy city, and Grace's Mage city, which she had fully awakened not too long ago, all the lights in these cities lit up. While Sungyoon had been luring Grenoid, his party members were making the preparations.

Sungyoon slowly injected his magical energy into the Royal Gem. The Gem shook as if it knew its own role and was urging Sungyoon to move forward. Sungyoon placed his hand on the holographic screen.

Woooooooohng!

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

At that moment...

Grenoid looked a bit confused after Sungyoon had disappeared, but he once again roared toward the sky. He continued to hatch new monsters as he looked for things to destroy. His instinct was ordering him to destroy and kill everything, and he was about to step toward the tower when it happened.

Kooooooooong!

A massive pressure suddenly pressed down on Grenoid.

"Keeeeeeeeeeek!"

"Kyahhhhhhhhk!"

The monsters following him writhed on the ground. Unlike Grenoid, these monsters instantly died.

Hoo-oohng!

A blue portal opened, and Sungyoon reappeared.

"Ah. You're here, Mr. Sungyoon?"

Grace had come to the rendezvous point early. Sungyoon's other party members and the other Connectors were also gathered there.

"How was it?"

"It's as you can see."

Sungyoon followed Russell's finger and saw Grenoid struggling under some unseen pressure.

"Hweek! It's really effective!"

Bruce whistled, and 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 net for too long."

Plu-El rushed the others. The unseen power pressing down on Grenoid was supposed to be used to protect Armstrong city. Originally, the safety net would have appeared around Armstrong city.

Its power was indeed effective. It killed all the monsters Grenoid hatched, and even Grenoid had a hard time controlling his own body. However, this didn't mean that Grenoid had been defeated. The safety net 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. The other Connectors followed him.

As expected of a safety net, the Connectors remained unaffected even as they entered it. In fact, they felt as if the relaxed magical energy was flowing into their body and enhancing their powers.

The mages kept their distance as they started activating their Gems. The Connectors specializing in close-combat continued to charge toward Grenoid.

Puh-uh-uh-ung!

A large-scale magical energy wave flew past Sungyoon. Most of the spells flying toward Grenoid were fierce wind spells or waves of rocks.

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 mages' goal wasn't causing damage; it was to push Grenoid toward a certain destination.

"It can heal its wound even in the safety net."

The wounds hadn't been large, but Tim lamented when the small wounds on Grenoid's body healed in an instant. The other Connectors also became disappointed. If the regenerative ability could be suppressed, they wouldn't have to go through this complicated plan. They could just kill Grenoid.

However, Sungyoon disagreed with Tim.

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

"You're 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!"

As Bruce and Russell 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 had sane minds. Yet, Bruce snorted when he heard Sungyoon's words.

"Do you really think that thing would've kept its sanity if those three were still alive?"

"I don't. It's clear that Grenoid is mad, but I do think they would've known of a way to control it to a certain extent."

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

"No. It was quite apparent that they were devoted to Grenoid."

The officers had referred to Grenoid as "the great one" every chance they had gotten. 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 group arrived near Grenoid.

Puh-uh-uh-uhng!

Another round of spells hit Grenoid, and Grenoid again had to retreat a bit.

"Good! Let's start!"

At Russell's yell, the Connectors took up their weapons. However, they weren't wielding offensive weapons. They raised their shields. Those who didn't have shields raised their fists.

"Hoo-ahhhht!"

No one knew who had yelled, but the shout acted as an opening bell. The Connectors started pushing Grenoid with their shields, little by little.

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

Russell shouted.

Puh-uhng! Puh-uhng!

The third wave of spells landed on Grenoid, and he started retreating faster.

"Good! We just have to stay on course!"

The results encouraged Bruce, so he yelled out loud.

Zzaeng-gahng!

The sensation was sharp. It sounded as if a piece of glass had fallen on the ground. However, the Connectors hadn't heard it through their ears. They just felt it as the ambient magical energy reverberated.

Sungyoon's heart sank.

'Shit!'

It was the sound of the safety net breaking under Grenoid's indomitable power.

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

"Hurry! Keep pushing!"

He yelled. The Connectors squeezed out every ounce of strength within their bodies. However, now that the safety net was gone, they could no longer dictate Grenoid's movements.

Kwahhhng!

"Ooh-ahhhhhhk!"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhk!"

Grenoid swept his hand down toward the ground. Screams reverberated in the air; the Connectors hit by the hand were sent flying through the air. Despite their comrades' deaths, the remaining Connectors did their best to push back Grenoid.

However, it wasn't enough.

Zzzuh-uhk!

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

"Bastard! He's aiming for the mages!"

Bruce shouted as he punched Grenoid in the stomach. Grenoid flinched, but his mouth, which was aiming for the mages, didn't falter at all.

Pah-aht!

Sungyoon unfurled his wings and flew toward Grenoid's mouth. Since he had to stop the attack somehow, he summoned his hammer.

"Shit! Dodge!"

Bruce yelled at the mages, and the mages scrambled to get out of there. At that moment, something fell from the sky.

Puhhhhhhhhk!

The item flew toward Grenoid at high speed and accurately hit Grenoid's stomach.

『Gwehhhhhhh!』

Kwahhhhng!

Grenoid let out an odd scream.

The magic cannon that Grenoid had shot out missed its target and 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 became drenched in a cold sweat when he realized that he had almost been hit alongside Grenoid.

'Rocket?'

- Move away from Grenoid!

The Mayor's voice transmitted to everyone. Without even thinking, Sungyoon used his wings to change directions, then landed far away from Grenoid.

Kwahng! Kwahng! Kwahng! Kwahng!

As soon as the Connectors ran away, more items started to fall from the sky as if someone were shooting a shotgun from above.

These items were similar in shape to the one that had stopped Grenoid from shooting his magic cannon toward the mages.

Sungyoon observed the items.

'Are they rockets?'

The items had a propulsion system, but they weren't shaped like missiles or rockets.

- Mr. Sungyoon!

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

"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 at Grenoid, who was getting bombarded.

It seemed Grenoid was also surprised by the development, and he couldn't do anything as he took a beating.

"It's working well. What are those?"

- We mimicked the fall of meteorites.