The situation was a bit difficult.
Charlotte swept her gaze across the army gathered before her kingdom and noticed that they were women... and JUST women.
Though the women were clearly fighting for the sake of that man who looked like a copycat of Jihu Oppa... and who appeared to be on the side of the Parasites.
Even though they were on that man's side, Charlotte could tell. They were just ordinary women, not Parasitized.
So...
Charlotte swept her hand out, causing golden lightning to cage the surroundings. As she did, she said, "Please be careful. Those women are captives."
Kazuki paused and swept his sharp gaze out at the women. "...I see." Then he flicked his eyes up to the man using the women as human meatshields. "Sung Shihyun... you have sunk this low, have you?"
"Shut up. Like you would know anything... But." Sung Shihyun shifted his gaze to Marika and licked his lips. "What a pity. I was looking forward to using you while Vulgar Chastity was around. But I switched over too late." He laughed. "I'm glad there's a chance-"
Silver streaks cut through the air. A dozen arrows fired unerringly at Sung Shihyun's head.
A few female warriors jumped up to intercept them, but the arrows split again and swerved to strike Sung Shihyun.
"W-What?!" Sung Shihyun's eyes widened and he leapt back, only to get pierced in his limbs by the attack.
"Hm." Ghio's eyes were cold as he stared at Sung Shihyun. "You're weaker than her. Good. This won't take long then." He drew his bow again, notching a dozen more arrows. "That woman's shields couldn't stop my arrows and she specialized in defense. You believe you can when you're a half-baked swordsman?"
"You bastard-"
Golden lightning flashed again, weak enough to not harm, but strong enough to stun.
Sung Shihyun growled and swung his sword.
For a brief moment, space twisted, the golden lightning distorting and wrapping around his sword.
Kazuki's raised an eyebrow. "Hm. He really is like our Emperor... a poor copy though."
Yui giggled. "That's right, Onii-chan! Look, he has to use divinity to get beautiful woman to look at him too! Isn't that sad? He's like a NEET!"
Sung Shihyun screamed and flared with ominous crimson light. "THAT'S IT! I'm going to-"
Before he could say anything else, a beam of pure white light blasted into his chest and sent him flying into the distance... and thus sending him crashing through the golden lightning on his way out, charring him black.
Everyone paused and looked over at the source of the attack.
Marika lowered her hand and said, "What? He talked too much. Now." She brushed her hands and looked at the group of dazed women blinking around in confusion. "Let us sort these women out. It appears they were not quite as far off as Vulgar Chastity's army had been, but there should still be some damage." She looked at Charlotte and said, "Your orders, Queen?"
"A-Ah!" Charlotte blinked, still processing the sudden turn in events. "Y-Yes. U-Um... Ahem! Good work, members of Elysium! This One is grateful for your efforts. Now, let us care for these unfortunate souls..."
===
Sung Shihyun... the Future Sung Shihyun that is. He crashed through palace walls after getting punched in the face by the Parasite Queen. "God, fucking, bitch!" He bounced on the floor a few times before rolling to his feet. "What the FUCK is that attack?"
Blackie swung Gae Bolg, using its fate reversal nature to deflect attacks that skipped causality before rushing over to grab Sung Shihyun. "Get up, you cocky bastard! I can't solo her, you know?!"
[You arrogant mongrels!]
The Parasite Queen roared and swept her arms out, revealing a dozen bony wings.
[You believe that you can defeat me?! You alone?!]
"Nah!" Blackie tossed Sung Shihyun back on his feet. Then Blackie swept his spear around to point at the Parasite Queen and said, "Beat you? No, I want to kill you."
A crimson flash.
Causality inverted.
In a single moment, Blackie reappeared in front of the Parasite Queen, Gae Bolg pierced in her chest.
A clear lethal blow.
And then the world seemed to skip and he was standing back where he was.
Sung Shihyun immediately swung his sword, distorting space for just a second.
In that second, a towering asura palm struck where Blackie was standing, missing by a hair.
Sung Shihyun looked up at the Parasite Queen, sweat drenching his body. Then he glanced at Blackie and said, "Did you seriously try to phase skip the boss with a cheat weapon?!"
Blackie shrugged, twirling his spear around. "Worth a shot."
[You...! How are you still standing?! And Sung Shihyun...! You traitor!]
Sung Shihyun stuck out his tongue. "Once a traitor, always a traitor~"
Blackie glanced at him and said, "Now you're just ragebaiting her-"
The Parasite Queen attacked again, myriad buddha palms striking down upon them both.
At least, that's what should have happened.
But the moment before they connected, Blackie and Sung Shihyun flickered out of phase and reappeared off to the side.
"...That worked?" Sung Shihyun blinked, surprised.
Blackie chuckled and said, "I told you. That bastard's abilities are just a composite of ours. Ethereal shift, this Gae Bolg, your harmony whatever skill... We're fiiine."
[HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS?!]
Sung Shihyun hummed. "So we can probably kill her then, right?"
"Yeah. But she'll keep respawning." Blackie sighed. "You saw it, right? She's cheating. Unless that crazy bastard's here, we don't get to make it stick."
"Dammit. So we don't get to steal the glory, huh?"
"Nope. Buuut." Blackie looked around the palace. "...Wanna start blowing this place up?"
The Parasite Queen froze. [You... What are you two thinking of doing?]
Blackie laughed. "Well... YOU might be immortal and indestructible. But your Army Commanders and forces certainly aren't. Raging Temperance, Twisted Kindness... all the other guys except for your Sung Shihyun are gone, you know?"
Sung Shihyun... the Future Sung Shihyun. He nodded, a cocky smile on his face. "Yep. While you were focused on that crazy bastard, we speedran it. Haven't you noticed? The only pieces left on your board are you, 'me', and whatever parasites you have left in hiding."
[...Y-You are bluffing. The gods would never be able to do such a thing!]
Blackie chuckled. "The gods might not. But you made a mistake, you see?"
Sung Shihyun nodded. "Yep, yep. You shouldn't have tried killing that crazy bastard. If you wanted him to lose, you should have sent a few concubines his way. That, or seduced him."
Blackie paused. "Huh. You know, that guy DOES have a strange habit of fixing crazy women in different ways. Think there's a timeline where he 'fixed' the Parasite Queen?"
"Dunno. Maybe?"
The Parasite Queen gnashed her teeth. [ENOUGH! To dare mock me, to dare stand against me, I will-!]
Blackie suddenly jumped into the air.
Sung Shihyun did as well.
The strange act confused the Parasite Queen. For just a split second.
But in that split second...
"Gae Bolg Mark 2. Anti-Fortress."
...Blackie spoke those cheeky words and then chucked his spear.
Crimson light blossomed as his spear splintered across infinity.
[YOUUUUUUU!]
Sung Shihyun laughed and then grabbed Blackie, swinging his sword. Space split and then he winked at the Parasite Queen. "Bye, Queenie~ It was fun!"
As the imperial palace collapsed around the Parasite Queen, the two extras who speedran the plot vanished.
===
Back on Earth. An alleyway by a PC Bang in Gangnam.
Blackie and Sung Shihyun tumbled onto the ground in a heap.
"Owowow..." Blackie groaned and stood up. "Warn me next time, asshole."
Sung Shihyun got up and said, "Hey! I saved our asses. And did you SERIOUSLY have to break your spear just to flex on her?"
"Worth it."
Sung Shihyun sighed and then clenched his hands. As he did, he felt a distinct lack of the blessing that Gula had granted him. "...Well. Guess we're out for the count."
Blackie cracked his neck, brushing off his armor. "...Yeah. I think we ran out of 'time' in that world for our shenanigans."
"...Totally worth it though."
"I hate to agree with a cocky bastard like you... but fuck yeah." Blackie held out his fist to Sung Shihyun.
Sung Shihyun chuckled and fistbumped him. Then he stood up and said, "Well... What now?"
Blackie stretched and said, "Now? Well, that crazy bastard will sort out the rest. But as for us... Wanna pick up some chicks? We're in full gear, so people will think we're cosplayers."
"Say less." Sung Shihyun chuckled and then said, "Got any money on you?"
"No. But I know that guy's accounts. He's 'me' after all."
"My maaaan."
"Ah, we gotta change your name though, Bro."
"What's wrong with my name, huh?"
"People might attack you on sight."
"...Oh yeah. Uh... Fuck, gimme something to work with."
"Whitey."
"..."
"..."
"...Fuck it. Blackie and Whitey. Let's go get some bitches."