I Became a Mad Scientist for the Foundation

Episode 216. The Last Martial Artist (4)

The Last Martial Artist. That’s my opponent.

He’s really strong, but being strong doesn’t mean you can win in a fight. It’s a matter of life and death, so nothing matters except the result.

First, let’s deal with those multiple swords he’s throwing.

I discarded the broken shield. I equipped the crab claw arm on my right hand. Dozens of swords he threw came flying back at me—

Telekinesis or whatever. Catching swords flying at bullet speed is unrealistic.

The thrown swords don’t slow down like bullets; they keep accelerating, getting stronger the longer their trajectory. The farther they go, the more dangerous they are.

Anyway.

I moved the crab claw arm and threw asphalt from the ground. Many of the flying swords fell to the ground. The rest bounced off my wings.

If you want to fight with magic from a distance.

I can do that too. Maybe even better. If you really want to beat me, come into arm’s reach.

“Stronger than you look.”

Sword energy.

The sword energy split the building fragments like the Red Sea. My opponent leisurely appeared amidst the concrete and asphalt debris.

From a distance, the enemy’s sword tip pointed at me.

“Surrender now.”

As if that’s possible.

I threw stones as best as I could. The opponent calmly walked towards me. A sword energy with a blue glow traced the sword’s path.

“My sword is made from the bones of a dragon that died a thousand years ago. It was forged to slay gods and heroes. You will die today.”

The building fragments I threw fell neatly sliced near my opponent.

“I am the last martial artist in the world, the strongest martial artist. Bullets can’t pierce my skin.”

If he keeps being this cocky, he’s going to die.

I took out the Popo Serum and injected it into my arm. One, two, three. Once again, I felt the power coursing through my veins.

I ran towards the coast.

Thud, thud. The martial artist shook off the concrete dust from his body and charged at me again.

Bullets can’t pierce his skin?

I dropped smoke bombs and hid in the confusion. Not that it mattered since the dust from the fight already made it impossible to see. Out of habit, I dropped smoke bombs and distanced myself as much as possible.

Shooting the gun would be pointless. Swinging a sword isn’t my preferred method either.

If I can’t pierce his skin, then I’ll use a method that doesn’t require piercing his skin.

The Foundation has a way to deal with guys like him. The Ultra-High-Temperature Flamethrower.

It’s a weapon that uses thermite and an oxygen spray.

It’s not commonly used because the barrel melts due to the ultra-high temperature, making it a one-time use, and there are more users than enemies killed.

Let’s see. I put the sword back into the Subspace Bag, took out the Ultra-High-Temperature Flamethrower, and put on heat-resistant gloves.

Click. But the problem is getting within range of the flamethrower.

Considering the range of the oxygen spray, even if I use this tool, the ultra-high temperature will only be effective within arm’s reach. The thermite powder might extend the effective range a bit.

Anyway. I successfully equipped the flamethrower and hid on a nearby structure.

The method to kill a god doesn’t have to be complicated. Just burn them with 6000-degree flames hotter than the surface of the sun.

I dropped a few flashbangs and looked down at the martial artist below.

The flashbang exploded near my opponent, but it had little effect. I wondered what to say to deceive the enemy. Staying still and pretending to be scared would be the most advantageous.

“Where do you think you’re hiding with wings bigger than an elephant?”

Ultra-High-Temperature Flamethrower, operational.

“Looks like you’re out of tricks.”

“You can’t stop me with that toy! Do you have any last words, Reverse Heaven?”

Boom!

The building beneath me collapsed.

Looks like he finally took the bait.

The martial artist charged at me, but since he was charging against gravity, he was slower than before. I looked down at him.

“Slow.”

He should’ve found a better attack angle. He should’ve charged at a speed I couldn’t react to even with my fingertips. Are all guns the same?

This is the end.

I pulled the flamethrower’s trigger, and a pure white flame engulfed my opponent. The martial artist tried to change direction or stop in that split second, but it was already too late.

I couldn’t see anything.

The white flames completely obscured his face, making it impossible to see anything. It seemed like he tried to run but tripped.

I kept spraying the fuel.

Even through the protective gear, I felt the heat like being in a sauna. The flames, hotter than the surface of the sun, engulfed my opponent for three seconds.

Flames that burned even screams.

By the time I released the trigger, there was no trace of a human form left. Only glassified concrete, asphalt, and a charred human shape remained.

Situation over. White thermite sparks still glowed brightly around.

Ugh.

There’s a reason unused items stay unused.

The Ultra-High-Temperature Flamethrower was ruined. The barrel-shaped spray device had melted. I threw away the fuel tank while I was at it.

My hands felt almost cooked. I injected three doses of Popo Serum, so my hands should heal soon, but it’s still excruciatingly painful.

Still, that martial artist seemed incredibly strong, but he died easier than expected. Burned to a crisp, so it’s over.

I briefly considered injecting Popo Serum into the enemy’s corpse, but it was completely charred… No way that’s getting healed.

Anyway.

Now, all that’s left is for the Administrator to show up.

[Dr. Kim. Something’s coming.]

Yeah.

“You fought well. You didn’t lose; you fought and died to win the war. I’ll handle the cleanup and revenge.”

Probably not talking to me.

Maybe comforting the martial artist who just died.

I looked over while hiding. A man in a black coat and suit, presumably Administrator Raven, walked slowly.

Raven bowed his head before the charred martial artist and lightly touched where the eyes would have been.

As if closing them.

“Last knight. I will remember your final moments. The Foundation will remember.”

Let’s get as far away as possible.

If I get caught up in that, I’m dead. We haven’t even fought yet… Feels similar to the Reality Adjuster I saw in the art museum.

“Come, Dr. Kim. Your opponent is me.”

Indescribable fear.

I sighed. There’s no way to hide. Raven held his staff, and red mana spread in all directions.

“Phase Dimension Expansion.”

Ah, f.

I flew into the sky, but I couldn’t avoid being caught in the Phase Dimension. There was no way to escape the Phase Dimension.

The only way left is to kill him.

*

Inside the Phase Dimension.

The sky above the Phase Dimension, and the boundaries of the Phase Dimension were misaligned like broken mirrors. I distanced myself from the enemy.

“Dr. Kim!”

“What’s the reason for going this far?”

What kind of nonsense is that?

I didn’t do anything. I just paid back those who wanted to kill me. I looked in Raven’s direction.

I don’t know what hiding from that monster in the Phase Dimension means. Probably nothing. He’s probably watching me right now.

Advantages. Think about the advantages.

This is the Phase Dimension Raven created to use magic freely. But if Raven is something resembling a human, there must be a way to counter him and clear weaknesses.

A semi-virtual space where the concentration of reality is thin, meaning physical laws are weakened.

The power of supernatural phenomena is amplified. Raven expects his magic to be stronger, but my supernatural abilities will also be stronger.

Let’s see.

If hiding is meaningless, it’s better to move to a position where I can see the enemy. I flew towards where Raven was visible.

Gravity disappeared inside the Phase Dimension.

The boundaries of the Phase Dimension, defined like broken mirrors in a cube shape. I flew towards the center of the Phase Dimension. Where did he go?

The buildings disassembled and started moving towards me. I moved between the buildings floating like whales.

What the hell.

No matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t make sense. Are the buildings really moving? Or is it just an illusion happening only inside the Phase Dimension?

Understanding the situation first.

This situation isn’t “real,” and the inside of the Phase Dimension isn’t reality. It’s a kind of virtual world where Raven can do anything.

Not exactly virtual, but a place where the concentration of reality is thin, allowing magic to be used freely.

“Flash of the Death Eye.”

Zap! A red beam appeared momentarily like lightning. Something like red lightning flashed along its trajectory.

It didn’t hit me… but it was close.

I shook off the static-like red lightning from my wings. It felt more like a probing attack than a serious one.

Since it’s the Phase Dimension, I don’t need to hold back either. I’ll go all out here.

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