“Alright! Let’s stick the landin’!” Yeong-Un called out.

At the same time, when both were just meters away from the asphalt, they ducked and rolled into a harsh, but manageable landing while the mystically-feathered, giant bird continued on its path, flying by the man who summoned it.

“Here he comes,” Moon stated quietly, watching the sky, “You two hide somewhere–we’re entering phase two of the plan.”

“Phase two…? What plan?” He asked.

Yeong-Un grabbed his hood, forcing him to run alongside him, “Don’t ask questions! Just follow!”

“Wha–?!”

Before he knew it, he was being brought into a corner store a block away, which was an abandoned cafe.

“What’re we doing?! We should be helping!” He contested Yeong-Un’s decision.

“Huh?! Use yer’ damn head! This is helpin’! Just watch, ya’ idiot!” The abrasive friend of his assured him with a slap to the back.

Though he did find it weird–why was Moon standing alone in the street? Where were Korain and Eunji? And more importantly: where were Ma-Ri and Dae-Seong, who he was just told had arrived?_.

I’m totally lost…but it seems something happened while Radueriel was toying with me! He thought.

“Cast: Recovery.”

–He nearly jumped out of his skin as the inexplicable, feminine voice appeared from behind him, looking back to see the familiar, short-haired, skirt-wearing girl.

“…Eunji?” He let out.

The girl nodded, though looked surprised herself at his frightened reaction, using her staff to use the restorative magic on him.

Slowly, his health points began to crawl back towards their natural max.

“I see…No wonder you seem fine after being whalloped by that angel–you got healed too,” he commented, looking over at his spiky-haired friend who was tapping his foot impatiently.

“Huh–?! We all got our asses beat, fire-head!” Yeong-Un retorted.

“Maybe so, but at least I gave him a nick,” he smiled in satisfaction, knowing his friend couldn’t retort that.

Yeong-Un only clicked his tongue, continuing to tap his foot as he looked past the window towards the street where it was all coalescing to.

The unshaven, scruffy man left alone outside was posed alone against the cruel angel who descended with a smile, looking down at him.

“A single man. If you’re standing here to buy time for your allies, then I pity you: your death will hardly be of value,” Radueriel stated with a cruelty embedded in his holy irises.

“I don’t give a shit about what you have to say,” Moon replied stoically, slapping his hands together before pressing his palms against the asphalt, “Come, Gumiho!”

What rose from the summoner’s call was a colossal magical seal that caused the street to rumble, before a creature rose from its otherworldly depths: a gargantuan, snow-white fox with nine, swaying tails.

“A fox…?” Radueriel muttered, keeping his arms folded across his half-shown chest of his white robes.

Moon stroked the fur of the fox, standing alongside it as its colossal tails swayed in a melodic rhythm, “Sorry to ask this of you, but would you mind fighting for me, Gumi?”

The shaggy-haired, reclusive man asked this of the large, mythical creature as it looked back at him with its mystical, pale-blue eyes.

It slowly nodded its head before setting its sights back on the angel who hung in the sky.

“Thank you,” Moon nodded his head as well, whispering before allowing the mystical fox to face the angel.

“…I wonder–where did you get the idea that a human, such as yourself, lower than a heavenly being, could do anything with a creature subservient to your lowly self? I fail to see the reasoning here,” Radueriel stated, keeping his arms folded over his chest.

“You’re one conceited guy, aren’t you?” Moon responded without a care.

“What?” Radueriel narrowed his eyes, replying as the man’s words obviously struck a chord within him.

“I just mean, humans are pretty miserable sometimes, sure…but I’ve never met somebody with such skyhigh hubris like yourself, Mr. Angel,” Moon told him, “Are you sure you’re not jealous that we have all of the attention of your Father?”

Somehow, it was as if the scruffy man knew exactly what was needed to get beneath the divine being’s skin, who had a vein pressed against his forehead at such words.

“…What do you think you know? Why is it that you think I’m here?! I couldn’t witness you maggots crawl around and struggle any longer–wasting the gift given to you by Father! That’s all you humans amount to: maggots festering in a pile of mud! I’ll see to it myself none of you reach the Tower, with my own two hands!”

“Is that so? I’d worry more about what’s in front of you,” Moon casually responded, sliding his hands into his pockets.

“Wha–?” Radueriel raised an eyebrow.

Suddenly, an enormous shadow loomed over him, prompting the angel to look up in surprise as the large, white-furred fox bearing nine tails somehow was now above him without him noticing.

As he swiped his hand, the angel manifested an array of weapons forged out of golden light, pointing the assembly of swords, spears, and axes at the colossal fox that descended upon him.

“Fall, feral beast,” the angel spoke in quiet anger.

Dozens of the golden weapons shot towards the snow-white beast as if being fired from a cannon, though before they could pierce the body of the magnificent creature, its lengthy tails stretched around it.

“What–?” Radueriel let out in perplexion.

The mystical tails acted like a shield–the pale fur stiffening like an armor of spiky armor as the divine weapons forged from the angel’s will pelted against it rapidly.

“You…!” Radueriel let out as his words were interlaced with anger, witnessing his attack have nill effect on the beast.

Before he could do anything further, the nine-tailed beast spread its tails once more, descending upon as it roared out, slashing its massive claws towards him.

“Grgh–!”

Radueriel was knocked down into the street with a resounding boom, causing a spiral of dust to shroud his position as the gargantuan fox landed on the street once more, sending a tremor through its block.

“Keep going, Gumi!” Moon yelled out.

Following the command, the fox attempted to slam its snow-white paw down against the asphalt in which the angel was embedded.

“–!”

The large, car-sized paw that was brought down halted before it could fully descend, with the golden-brown angel being seen standing beneath it, holding the paw up with a single hand as he smiled.

“I underestimated you, but…it makes no difference!”

Radueriel pushed upwards with enough force to knock the fox’ arm up, causing the beast to stumble as the angel sprinted forward with blinding speed, using his fist to punch the mystical creature right in its torso.

Even though he was tens of times smaller than the mythical fox, the angel’s punch caused the beast to be flung against the wall of one of the stores, crashing into it as it came down beneath its weight.

“Come on! Don’t tell me you went down with just that–!” Radueriel called out in ecstasy driven by battle.