Chapter 445

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[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 445: Princess of the Sun (2)

The Planetary System.

A planetary system is largely made up of two types of celestial bodies.

The first is the star—a celestial body that produces its own light through nuclear fusion.

A star serves as the central axis around which a planetary system orbits.

It not only holds its members in place but also determines their orbits.

Of course, a star itself is subject to orbiting the galactic center, but it still follows its own distinct path.

The second component of a planetary system is the planet.

Unlike stars, planets do not emit their own light.

Instead, they move along the orbit of a central star, continuously revolving around it.

In other words, a planetary system is essentially a collection of orbits.

Which means, ultimately, even a planetary system is bound by a predetermined path.

That’s why Yeongwoo’s decision to fire a cannon at the Sun was so significant.

"Please forgive my insolence! But it is imperative that your daughter is made clearly aware of this!"

When Yeongwoo shouted this, the Sun asked in confusion:

『Wha… What? What are you trying to say?』

“There are things in this universe that cannot be overcome simply by steadily accumulating power!”

By then, the high-powered laser from the Planet Hunter had already left the relay region.

It had essentially reached the Sun’s doorstep.

“Dodge it if you can, O mighty Sun!”

As Yeongwoo screamed like a madman, the Sun Moro opened her mouth wide from her throne.

This was a massive provocation—it revealed in an instant the Sun’s status as not the absolute ruler of her system, but merely a component of the galaxy.

Such an act could never be done by a mere planet.

Only a human—specifically, Jeong Yeongwoo07, who was closest to space—could dare to do such a thing.

『You…!』

The Sun suddenly sensed something.

Her eyes widened as she clasped her hands together, performing some sort of gesture.

Almost like forming a seal.

And then—

FWOOSH!

The chamber turned crimson, an enormous surge of heat erupting from the Sun.

Faced with a high-powered attack targeting her core—where her daughter resided—she had begun to use her might.

『Aaaargh!』

『L-Lord Sun!』

『Save us…!』

As the Sun unleashed her power in full, the planets in the chamber screamed and fled in all directions.

They couldn't withstand the overwhelming energy radiating from her.

And truthfully, neither could Yeongwoo.

‘Insane… So she plans to counter the blast with energy of equal magnitude?’

He was currently the closest to the Sun Moro, and his face was already starting to burn.

Even though he wasn’t directly in front of the real Sun, the indirect effect was still enough to make his body fall apart.

『If you stay there, you’ll really die. Step back!』

The Earth—already far away—shouted at Yeongwoo.

『This is the Planetary Domain! Taking even one step back here is like moving millions of kilometers away!』

“…What?”

Yeongwoo turned his head at this new information.

“Millions of kilometers with just one step? What are you talking about?”

『When planets gather here, planetary system compression is applied. You’re basically standing on a miniature version of a planetary system!』

“What the…”

In other words, the planets that had fled to the chamber's edge were, in effect, distancing themselves by hundreds of millions of kilometers from the Sun’s heat.

And just in time—Yeongwoo was about to lose his head—so he also stepped back.

Step.

Immediately, the searing heat that had nearly melted his bones began to subside noticeably.

“…Unbelievable.”

The mysteries of the universe.

And right then, the Planet Hunter’s shot finally reached the Sun.

BOOM!

A blue explosion erupted from the chest of the Sun, who had been radiating immense energy.

‘As expected! It couldn’t completely block it!’

Luckily—or unluckily—the Sun wasn’t critically injured.

『…Urgh!』

Clenching her teeth in frustration, there was no hole in the Sun’s chest—just a slight crack in her armor.

‘Still, for a mere being to crack the Sun’s armor? That’s something. And if the same spot is hit again…’

Then the Sun could really suffer meaningful damage.

Moreover, being bound to a set orbit, the Sun had no way to dodge a follow-up strike.

『…….』

And the Sun, fully aware of this, glared at Yeongwoo as if to say, “You wouldn’t dare fire again, would you?”

To this, Yeongwoo gave her a wicked grin and said:

“As expected, it’s not a Star Hunter, but a Planet Hunter, so it couldn’t inflict devastating damage.”

『You dare…! You’ve crossed the line!』

“And you, Lord Sun, should cross it too, don’t you think?”

As soon as he said this, the Sun’s furious expression twisted again—this time with shock.

Like something had just deeply unsettled her.

And Yeongwoo realized it instinctively.

‘Parina has left the training ground.’

The fated woman was now flying across the galaxy in search of the person who had fired at her.

FWOOSH!

Suddenly, above Yeongwoo’s head, the ceiling of Earth’s chamber turned a brilliant yellow.

“……!”

Yeongwoo looked up, and through the now golden ceiling, a dark shadow was rapidly growing.

“What?”

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Startled by the intense presence, Yeongwoo heard Earth—now even farther away—shout loudly:

『The Princess is descending… breathing fire!』

“…What did you say?”

And that was the end of their conversation.

The ceiling—recently repaired by Earth—was blasted apart once more, and yellow flames engulfed the chamber.

CRAAACK!

The trees Earth had planted outside the chamber were instantly incinerated, and the reeds swaying in the wind turned to ash in a heartbeat.

『Aaaaaargh!』

Earth screamed with her mouth covered, but even that was drowned out by the roar that followed.

『Who dares challenge the future of the Sun?!』

The future of the Sun.

That referred to Parina, who had been in seclusion for training.

Then, right after that—

KUUUUNG!

A dragon covered in dark, blood-colored scales as tough as scabs landed at Earth's office.

Well, "landed" might be too soft a word—it was more like a full-on assault.

The creature was so massive that it had to bend its body into a near semi-circle just to wedge itself into the office.

As a result, some planets that had evacuated to the outer perimeter were crushed under Parina's thick tail, and Yeongwoo could only gape as the dragon’s scales took up most of the visible space.

‘What the… She’s even bigger than my mom?’

Even his mother and uncle had the appearance of refined dragons.

They looked like the ones you’d see in games or movies—majestic and well-designed.

But this Parina who had stormed in…

‘Look at that mouth. It’s like a boulder.’

She was pure beast.

Wild, raw.

This might be what a true dragon really looked like.

With each breath she took, sparks flew from beneath her irregularly placed scales, and at times, crimson magma dripped down her body.

‘That can’t be normal. Does she have a skin condition?’

Even her two pairs of wings were emitting radiant red light—and they weren’t even fully spread yet.

If she extended them all at once, they might completely blot out the sky.

‘The dragons I saw before were just toys compared to this. Even Song Jiseon would lose in a contest of presence.’

Just as Yeongwoo was thinking that, Parina, who had conquered Earth's office with a single landing, raised her massive head.

DRRRRKK.

Then, staring down at the Solar Monarch, she said:

『Who was it? Who woke me up?』

The Sun stammered nervously.

『Rina, we’re at a very… very important crossroads.』

『A crossroads? That’s not what I asked. I asked—who—』

As Parina tilted her enormous head to ask again, her dark red scales twitched.

Despite power rivaling a celestial body, she realized there was someone present who wasn’t one.

『It’s you.』

Without moving her head, Parina rolled her bright yellow eyes toward Yeongwoo.

Her monstrous appearance was so terrifying that even Yeongwoo, who had seen all kinds of hell, felt his legs weaken.

‘Shit… We’ve made it to interstellar warfare now.’

And on top of that, this monster was his fated bride.

“Yes, it’s me! I’m the one who—!”

Yeongwoo was about to introduce himself boldly, but before he could finish—

Parina breathed fire.

『Waking me will be your first and last achievement in life!』

FWOOOOSH!

Yellow flames scorched the ground in an instant, and the Sun reeled back from the throne, covering his nose and mouth.

And at that moment, Yeongwoo—

“Are you kidding me?! At least let me say my name!”

—blocked Parina’s flames with the mythic shield, Aratubank.

‘Wait, this thing actually blocks it?’

It was the first breath of fire released by someone born from a star after 3,000 years of training.

And yet, Aratubank blocked it perfectly.

Truly, a piece of equipment steeped in the full history of the Red Foot tribe.

‘Wait… is she actually a pushover?’

Just as Yeongwoo thought that from behind the shield, a massive force struck both Aratubank and Yeongwoo at once.

BOOOOM!

Since her breath didn’t work, Parina had swiped at him with a forepaw.

『Hmm. This is better.』

Seeing Yeongwoo tumble away, Parina glanced down at her paw.

She noticed that some of her sharp claws had slightly worn down.

Then, the Sun quickly interjected.

『Don’t kill him! If you do, we’ll be in serious trouble.』

『Don’t kill him? Who is he?』

While Parina asked this, she saw the little creature she had flung away stand up, completely unharmed.

Then he pointed his fingers like a gun and made a silent threat.

『…….』

Was he asking if she wanted another hit from the main cannon?

Or maybe implying she’d never escape being bombarded by stellar fire?

Either way, the important thing was—

『You… want to marry that?』

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