Episode 173: Ruler of Explosive Flames
“Is that true? There was discussion about using a ‘Core’ against the Monsters, but we don’t know if it will actually work, do we?”
Iwaki glared suspiciously at Takakura.
“That is correct. However, the ‘Ancient Dragon’ is a Danger Level Double A Monster. If we consider the Red King to be even stronger, its Danger Level would be Triple A, making it eligible for the United Nations’ criteria for Monsters to be targeted with nuclear attacks.”
Danger Level Triple A was a standard created with the Chimera discovered in a Dungeon in Australia in mind.
Since the Chimera was analyzed to be a Liquid Metal Monster, it was thought that an ultra-high temperature heat attack, namely a “Core” explosion, would be effective even if it had Regeneration abilities.
However, it is completely unknown whether it would work on other Monsters.
“Well, Russia is a military superpower with about 6,000 nuclear warheads. No matter how powerful the Monster is, it shouldn’t be able to withstand that. When will we know the results?”
“It will take about two hours until the next time the satellite is in a position to communicate.”
“Two hours…”
Iwaki frowned at the time Takakura gave him. It was a longer time than he had expected. He wanted to know the movements of the Red King, who had appeared close to Japan, as soon as possible, but…
“Hmph, fine. I will hold an emergency expert meeting in the meantime. Summon them immediately.”
As Iwaki spoke, Hatano, his secretary who was standing behind him, bowed respectfully and left the conference room.
Iwaki leaned back deeply in his chair and folded his arms.
He was having days of worrying about the problems that were happening one after another. Iwaki smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking that he had become president at a terrible time. However, he somehow managed to win the party’s presidential election and finally became prime minister. He had no intention of giving up this position so soon.
If he could somehow manage to get through this situation, his approval rating would gradually increase.
If that happened, a long-term administration would be entirely possible.
Iwaki’s mind was only on future political affairs.
However, in the report given two hours later, he would hear content that was far from political affairs.
“What!? It’s still moving?”
Iwaki was shocked by Takakura’s report. He had thought that the Dragon horde had been annihilated by the nuclear attack.
“According to reports from the Kremlin, the Siberian Military District and the Far Eastern Military District units responded and fired hundreds of ‘Cores’.”
“And you couldn’t defeat it!?”
“Yes… unfortunately, that seems to be the case.”
“So, how many did you reduce?”
He had heard in a prior report that the Red King was leading over two hundred Dragons.
Even if they couldn’t completely annihilate the Dragon horde, it would be fine if they could significantly reduce the number of Monsters. That’s what Iwaki thought, but…
“Zero.”
“Huh?”
An idiotic voice leaked from Iwaki’s mouth. Takakura repeated himself.
“Zero Dragons died from the Core! All attacks were blocked by the Flame Barrier, and conversely, all of the Russian army’s fighter planes were destroyed by the flames emitted by the Dragons. Most of the ground forces were also lost. On top of that, the cities and towns around Krasnoyarsk were burned to the ground.”
“That’s impossible…”
Iwaki, who had been sitting and listening, felt like he was going to faint. This was a far more desperate situation than he had imagined.
And in a place not so far from Japan.
If it came to Japan… Just thinking about it made Iwaki’s stomach ache.
“There is also more serious information coming in.”
“There’s more!?”
Takakura continued to speak, facing Iwaki, who seemed to want to say that he was already fed up.
“This is still unconfirmed information, but there is a report that one of the nearby cities has disappeared due to the flames spewed out by the Red King.”
“Disappeared… what do you mean by disappeared?”
Takakura looked down with a serious expression. After a while, he raised his face and opened his mouth.
“According to estimates from Russian research institutions, an explosion of 10 Megatons to 20 Megatons may have occurred.”
Iwaki was confused by the unfamiliar numbers.
“20 Megatons… how much power is that?”
“It’s the same power as a nuclear bomb.”
“What!?”
The color drained from Iwaki’s face. A creature that can launch attacks equivalent to nuclear weapons? Is such a thing even possible?
As Iwaki was speechless at the unbelievable report, Takakura continued to speak.
“The urban areas were destroyed by the Red King’s attacks. After that, the Dragon horde moved south, passing through Mongolia and heading to China… That’s all we know now.”
“When will the next information come in?”
“It will be more than three hours before the satellite connection is restored.”
Iwaki slammed the table, looking irritated, “Aah!” He was frustrated and indignant.
“How is the summoning of experts going?”
When Iwaki turned around and asked, his secretary Hatano shook his head apologetically.
“I don’t think it will be possible today… Everyone will be here by tomorrow morning.”
“Everyone is so slow! Takakura, is there a possibility that that Monster will come to Japan!?”
Takakura looked serious at Iwaki’s question.
“Unfortunately, there is a possibility. Since Japan has the second largest ‘Red Dungeon’ in the world, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Red King came here.”
Iwaki was stunned to hear Takakura’s story. Monsters that even the Russian army couldn’t defeat, in Japan?
It was terrifying just to think about it. Japan doesn’t have the military strength to fight back.
As Iwaki held his head in his hands, Takakura spoke up.
“However, it may be a stroke of good fortune that it went to China.”
Iwaki raised his eyes and looked at Takakura.
“What do you mean?”
“China has the strongest Water Magic user, Hong Xiaoming. The Seeker Clan he leads is also full of Water Magic experts. They should be compatible with Flame Monsters.”
“Nonsense! How can humans defeat a Monster that launches nuclear attacks!!”
Takakura received the natural rebuttal, but shook his head and continued to speak.
“No, that’s not necessarily the case. A Magic with the power of a ‘Core’ cannot be used continuously. While the opponent cannot attack, the Seekers and the military should be able to cooperate to defeat it.”
Iwaki folded his arms and closed his eyes. Certainly, there might be a possibility. But there was no point in listing speculations.
“Anyway! Gather detailed information and bring it to tomorrow’s expert meeting. I will also attend, so be prepared!”
Iwaki stood up and left the conference room. Takakura also stood up and bowed to the Prime Minister as he left.
Takakura sat down again and let out a short breath. Events far beyond imagination were happening all over the world.
Takakura waited for the recovery of the communications satellite with the officials of the Ministry of Defense.
And when the line was connected, Takakura would realize his own naivety. The Chinese Northern Theater Command Air Force had carried out an attack with a “Hydrogen Bomb” against the Red King.
The first combat act using a hydrogen bomb in human history.
However, the result was desperate. The Red King was unharmed and was moving south without slowing down. Was it resistant to heat because it was a Fire Monster?
What surprised Takakura even more was the Red King’s Flame attack.
It launched over 300 Fireballs of 20 Megaton class, burning down cities and towns on its path.
And it was using such Magic with composure. Unpleasant sweat broke out on Takakura’s forehead.
It was as if… it had infinite Magical Power.