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Chapter 525: Headbutt (1)

The Earthship’s all-out charge toward the star Golux.

All of humanity, witnessing this moment together, was screaming in terror, but Earth did not bother to mention it.

After all, knowing Yeongwoo, he’d brush it off with nothing more than a casual “hm.”

And just as he himself had said—if the stellar headbutt failed, there wouldn’t be any surviving humans left to lodge complaints anyway.

In other words, this was an all-or-nothing strategy.

『Yiaaaaaahhh!』

As Earth let out a mighty battle cry, Golux’s terrified voice rang out.

《W-wait! Just wait a moment! If we collide like this, you won’t come out unscathed either…!》

“We came fully prepared for that.”

When Yeongwoo replied, the fear in Golux’s voice deepened.

《P-prepared…?》

A stellar headbutt—no, a collision between stars—was something even a star might experience only once in its entire lifetime, if ever.

For two established stars to actually crash into each other, something on the scale of galaxies merging would have to occur.

Or, perhaps if a neighboring star exploded for some reason and drastically altered orbits, a stellar collision could take place.

But this—this was purely artificial.

《H-how can this be happening…?》

To be suddenly confronted with a collision threat in what should have been a natural environment…

It was only natural for Golux to be bewildered.

No, this went beyond bewilderment—this was pure terror.

He had never even experienced a stellar collision before, yet what was now charging toward him was not another star, but a planet-ship dragging along numerous celestial bodies.

《Y-you… you’re not even a real star, are you?》

At last, Golux realized that Earth’s composition resembled that of a planet.

Then he sensed that the “star” Moro was actually orbiting around the Earthship.

《What in the…?》

Fear of the unknown.

As a being born a star, Golux could not comprehend such a structure.

A star orbiting a planet?

How could that possibly make sense?

Both physically, and even within the celestial social order, such a thing was utterly impossible.

And then, at last—

『Collision in one minute!』

Earth announced to the bridge interior—and to all of humanity watching the broadcast—that impact was imminent.

『We’d better hold on tight as well.』

Moro spoke an ominous line.

By “we,” she was referring to the entirety of the Solar System’s planets.

And then—

Fwaaahhhh!

Earth’s eyes shone with a blue glare as he shouted in an alien voice:

《Collision with Lord Golux imminent! Everyone, hold your positions!》

“In the middle of all this, you’re still using honorifics? Who exactly are you telling this to?”

『To all of our celestial bodies.』

With that, the view outside the bridge’s window blazed bright yellow.

Fwaaaahhh!

The Earthship had really drawn right up to Golux’s face.

『Everyone, hold tight!』

Earth gave his final warning inside, then swung his arms wide, twisting the Earthship’s central axis sideways.

Whhheeaak!

This maneuver was to graze Golux’s surface rather than hit head-on.

The goal was to strike only Nevada’s central region, the area Yeongwoo had designated for creating the “collision scar.”

Kuuuuung…!

As the Earthship twisted, massive pressure bore down inside the bridge, throwing everyone’s bodies to one side.

And then—

Kaaaaaang!

A deafening crash resounded, and all that could be seen outside was golden light.

They were scraping past Golux’s side.

“D-did it work? Nobody died, right?”

After all, the people of Nevada would one day be paying taxes in the form of commemorative coins minted from the golden nebula.

With that in mind, Yeongwoo was genuinely worried about their safety.

『Well, Nevada is…』

Earth was about to answer Yeongwoo’s question when—

Tsshhhaaa!

Smoke began rising from Earth’s chest, and he let out a groan.

『Khh—! What is this?』

He quickly ripped off his shirt.

Whoosh!

And there, on his solar plexus, was a palm-sized silver-white scar.

“Huh? Don’t tell me…”

『Uh-oh.』

It was unmistakably a stellar collision scar.

Even a planet-born celestial could bear such a scar if it possessed power great enough to rival a star.

“But why the solar plexus? You can’t punch anyone with your chest, you know.”

Yeongwoo frowned in disappointment.

He admitted the scar looked pretty cool—but he didn’t like the placement.

Earth, on the other hand, was simply relieved to have survived and gained a collision scar at all.

『Now’s not the time to complain about placement! We should be glad the ship didn’t split apart!』

“True. Fair enough.”

Yeongwoo accepted that quickly, then drew Bastard from his waist and rose to his feet.

Shhhhhaaa!

Earth looked startled.

『Wh-what are you doing all of a sudden?』

“Making sure it’s a real collision scar.”

『What?』

Earth’s eyes went wide as Yeongwoo shot forward at blinding speed.

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, Bastard was thrust into Earth’s chest.

Kwuuaaang!

『Aaaagh!』

Earth screamed in shock.

Moro, Parina, Jiseon, and Jeonggu—all huddled behind the captain’s chair—gasped in horror.

—Wh-what are you doing?!

Jiseon demanded with a deep scowl, and Yeongwoo replied, gripping the sword’s hilt more firmly.

“This was a necessary test. If it’s a true collision scar, Bastard can’t pierce it.”

He pointed at the blade tip, which had failed to penetrate Earth’s chest.

“Don’t worry—I didn’t stab hard enough to run him through. Just a little jab.”

—Still, isn’t that too much…?

Yet Jiseon, too, was deeply impressed.

After all, Bastard was a mythical weapon.

And now Earth had become impervious to it—at least, as long as he turned his chest forward.

Which meant, as a ship, the same would apply: if under attack, they could present Nevada’s central region to block incoming fire.

Of course, in terms of Earth’s total surface, Nevada was a tiny area.

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But still.

Yeongwoo couldn’t help but say it:

“It’s too small.”

『What?』

“That collision scar. It’s cool, but way too small.”

『Come on, isn’t it enough that we even made one? What more do you want?』

“What I wanted was for about a third of Earth’s surface to be covered in collision scars.”

Yeongwoo was already revving up for some mad talk.

“So that when artillery shells come flying in, we can turn the collision scar to block them, and then charge forward to finish it off with a headbutt.”

『…….』

Earth was left speechless, unable to come up with anything to say, and Yeongwoo turned to the camera and made a planetary announcement.

“All regional representatives around the world, bring me your land survey results right now.”

『What the hell are you planning to do?』

“To make collision scars on your fists and forehead, which region do we need to headbutt into?”

『You lunatic.』

“Come on, otherwise how are we supposed to make use of collision scars properly?”

Then Yeongwoo pointed at Earth’s chest.

“What else can you even do with that? Guard your solar plexus at best?”

As insane as it sounded, there was some truth to it.

For all the effort put into making a collision scar, the location was rather underwhelming.

“If we’ve already gone so far as to offend a star, shouldn’t we at least get a platinum fist out of it to break even?”

『Don’t tell me… you’re planning to headbutt again?』

This time Earth’s face twisted with fear, and just then, something shot out from the yellow halo above the cockpit ceiling.

Fwaaash!

A giant, clad in golden armor, with a single massive eye.

It was none other than the star Golux.

『Kuhuk!』

The moment Golux appeared inside the cockpit, he spat out sulfur-colored blood and collapsed onto the floor.

Thud!

It seemed he had taken severe internal injuries from the recent “headbutt.”

After all, a star collision was the sort of violent act that left permanent scars.

The Earthship, having prepared for the headbutt from the start, took no damage, but Golux, who had been assaulted without warning, was in a very different state.

『A-are you alright, Elder?』

Even Parina, who was usually as rebellious as Yeongwoo, was flustered and rushed to Golux’s side.

It was obvious that Golux was quite old—his long beard was now drenched in sulfur-colored blood.

『Th-thank you… so there are those here who aren’t completely depraved.』

Supported by Parina, Golux rose and swept his gaze around the cockpit.

He was probably looking for the lunatics who had just spoken with him.

Yeongwoo stepped forward to meet him.

“How’s the injury? May I take a look myself?”

『Uh…….』

Thinking his concern was genuine, Golux extended his right arm.

Shhk.

The permanent scar left on him was on his right forearm.

Yeongwoo shook his head with a regretful expression.

“Ah… we should’ve gotten one like this too. A forearm scar could at least be used as a shield.”

『……?』

At that moment, sulfur-colored blood trickled down from the corner of Golux’s mouth, and he waved his arms in alarm.

『Why… why are you doing this to me?』

Yeongwoo clasped Golux’s scar and spoke in a grave tone.

“Elder, from now on, this arm of yours is blade-proof.”

『What……?』

“But because we mis-aimed, our scar ended up on the chest.”

Whip—

Yeongwoo pointed at Earth’s chest, and Golux’s face filled with confusion.

『…And why are you telling me this?』

“So, Elder, just once. Let’s do it one more time. How about it?”

At Yeongwoo’s mention of a second headbutt, a shadow fell across Golux’s face.

『I… I cannot. Do you not see the blood pouring from my mouth?』

“Is it enough to kill you?”

『Why, you little—!』

At last, Golux lost his composure and his single eye blazed red.

Fwaaah!

But then, the sun Moro, who had been sitting silently on her throne, flared with pure white light and shouted.

『How dare you flaunt your might in my domain?』

In stellar society, hierarchy was determined by sheer scale, and Moro was the unquestioned superior.

Shhhraaa!

As she made a move to rise from her throne, Golux immediately dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to the floor.

『F-forgive me!』

『So, is it difficult?』

『…What?』

Golux lifted his head, not even bothering to wipe the blood from his lips.

Moro jabbed her finger into her own right forearm.

『Another collision scar. Is it so hard to make one more?』

『If I attempt it again, I truly believe I will die. I mean it.』

『Hmph.』

Hearing him speak so earnestly, Moro couldn’t force another headbutt.

As fellow stars, there was still a sense of kinship between them.

But not everyone present was a star.

One particular lunatic crouched right by Golux’s side—Jung Yeongwoo.

“Then point one out.”

『P-point what out…?』

“Is there a nearby star of similar size to you? Point them out, and I’ll go headbutt them instead.”

『Th-that’s…….』

A torrent of emotions crossed Golux’s eye.

Wasn’t this basically asking him to pass the bomb—no, the headbutt—onto someone else?

“Elder. Marking another star isn’t cowardly or wrong. You’d just be giving them a chance to become stronger.”

As Yeongwoo gently covered Golux’s scar with his palm, the old star finally squeezed his eye shut.

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