The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Chapter 1165

The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Chapter 1165

Chapter 1165
Three hours before the Butterfly Empress was abducted by Davey.
Her castle stood on an island not far from Hawaii. The island, which had appeared out of nowhere, had such breathtaking scenery and architecture that people took to calling it Atlantis.
Naturally, the first country to jump into action regarding the mysterious island was the United States. Claiming territorial waters nearby in the Pacific Ocean as its own, the U.S. moved to block foreign interference and launched an independent investigation.
The Atlas quickly showed up to hold it down.
Recently upgraded using monster materials, the new American aircraft carrier was tens of meters longer and larger than an already enormous standard carrier. It was powerful enough to be considered the nation's most elite military force.
Practically encircling the island, they were preparing to deploy troops to investigate. Some units had already begun advancing toward the island using amphibious assault ships.
“
Phew.
I’ve seen some crazy things in my life, but this tops it all.” Captain Vista, the commanding officer of the Atlas, shook his head as he gazed at the massive and beautiful island.
Despite it being dark, the island glowed with a subtle light that made it surprisingly clear in view. It was a truly unbelievable sight.
The unknown always presented a new opportunity.
As long as the risks could be adequately managed, the U.S. could leave other nations in the dust with its exploration. With specialized troops, essential supplies, and even Awakened individuals aboard, they felt confident enough to handle whatever possibly emerged from the island.
“Captain, preparations are complete.”
Hearing the crisp , Vista, still staring at the glowing island from the command room, gave a solemn nod. “Commence Operation Atlantis.”
The surrounding officers saluted in unison and began moving to position.
In terms of pure military force, the United States had long proven its formidable strength. As of late, by investing heavily in securing large numbers of Awakened individuals, it had also positioned itself as a leading nation in powerful Awakened individuals.
In short, no matter what kind of enemies or unexpected variables emerged during the operation, the Americans would find no cause for concern.
“Captain!”
However, as indicated by a sudden shout, an abnormality began to unfold on the distant island.
The island, which had been completely silent without the slightest trace of life, suddenly changed as something began to rise from beyond the glowing light.
As the onlookers tensely watched it emerge, they soon realized that they were looking at some kind of living beings.
The first thing they saw were swarms of butterflies. They recalled that even during their preliminary observation, the island had an unusually high population of butterflies. Although there had been a temporary disruption in satellite scans due to sudden weather anomalies, the images had clearly shown flocks of butterflies covering the entire island.
“They might seem like butterflies, but we don't know what those things are capable of. Stay alert, just in case.”
One of the officers replied with confidence, “Our soldiers are the best of the best, sir. Something like those won’t pose a—”
Boom!!
The officer wasn’t able to finish their sentence as explosions suddenly rang out from several escort ships. Then, defying all belief and expectations, their gun turrets began to aim directly at the Atlas.
“Alpha Fleet, confirm turret alignment. Over.”
“Alpha Fleet! Redirect your turrets immediately! I repeat!”
“What the hell is going on?!”
Boom!!
Accompanied by a deafening roar, shells struck the flight deck of the Atlas. The escort fleet, which was supposed to intercept enemy threats, had instead turned their guns on the main ship.
Shocked by the absurdity of their predicament, Captain Vista clutched the trembling ship for balance and grabbed the microphone.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?!” he shouted, unable to contain his rage.
However, no messages came in from the escort fleet. The only response he got was even more incoming shells.
‘Bombing our own forces right before exploration? They must’ve lost their minds!’
Boom! Boom!!
The escort fleet had begun attacking each other.
It was complete chaos.
In the middle of the ocean, America’s proud fleet had started shooting itself apart! In the face of this absurd reality, Captain Vista ground his teeth in fury.
He had known the mission could be dangerous, but this defied all reason.
“Captain! There's a mutiny on board!”
‘Who the hell is trying to frag fellow officers at a time like this?’
“Who’s behind this?! For what damn reason?!”
“We're not sure yet, sir! But multiple units are exchanging gunfire on the ship!
Guh!
” An officer with exoskeleton armor collapsed, blood spurting from his head. A rifle round had pierced straight through his skull.
No matter how strong a fleet might be, if a mutiny broke out on a large enough scale, there would be no way to effectively contain it.
“Damn it!!”
Keeping watch for incoming rounds, he drew the pistol at his side and readied himself for combat.
Step. Step.
As the sound of approaching footsteps echoed, he stood upright. His eyes then flared at the sight of several men in U.S. Special Forces uniforms entering the room.
“You bastards!!”
Bang! Bang bang!
Gunshots rang out, each bullet slipping through the gaps in the intruders’ body armor. They were gunned down, but Vista could sense that they weren’t the only ones involved in the mutiny.
After all, the first ones to open fire were not those on the burning Atlas, but the escort fleet.
“Captain! Look out!”
A brutal gunfight erupted between loyal security forces and the mutineers.
Something was wrong—seriously wrong. None of it made any sense.
Even as he grappled with reality, Captain Vista could hardly believe what was happening. He was forced to shoot his own men in order to survive.
“
Argh!!
”
However, the number of mutineers was overwhelming. One by one, the loyal crew members fell. Finally, with only one guard by his side, Vista kept up his resistance until a bullet struck him and left a severe wound.
At that moment, he noticed the enemy soldiers, who had been fiercely exchanging fire, suddenly freezing in place.
“Hey... Smith. What are you...?”
Amid the gunfire, the man who had stood frozen turned his head.
Click.
Smith then raised his gun, cocked it, and aimed it directly at Vista.
“What the hell?!”
Captain Vista couldn’t understand why Smith had suddenly betrayed them out of nowhere. However, in the midst of the absurd situation, the captain realized something strange.
The mutineers, and even the officer now aiming a gun at him, all seemed off in some way. It was as if they were being controlled by something.
It didn’t take long for the personnel on the fleet to be slaughtered.
It made no sense to Captain Vista for so many traitors to exist within his own fleet.
That left only one possibility in his mind. They were all being controlled by something.
He had brought Awakened individuals as a precaution against a potential monster threat, but even the Awakened had started attacking each other like they’d lost their minds.
A large-scale frenzy had happened.
Surrounded by that horrific scene, Captain Vista fell into despair and called upon God.
“
A-Ah...
God, please...”
Click.
Just as the trigger of the officer’s pistol began to tighten with a faint metallic sound, a sudden, clear clapping sound snapped through the air like a bolt of lightning.
Whummm. Crack!!
Emerging from the depths of the ocean, a golden light surged upward. The enormous jaws of a creature made of light burst out from below, swallowing not only the carrier but the entire surrounding fleet.
The jaws of the beast looked so ferocious that if it bit down, nothing—not the carrier, the fleet, or even a swarm of people—would be left intact. Yet in reality, things proved different.
Captain Vista noticed the wounds on his body vanish.
“W-What is this?!”
It didn’t feel like healing. It was as if he had awakened from an illusion.
A calm voice rang in his ears, “Consider yourself lucky.”
It clearly hadn’t come from anyone nearby.
He looked around in disbelief as he saw those who had collapsed during the firefight slowly rise to their feet.
He then looked out the window and caught sight of something otherworldly, involuntarily gasping.
The most powerful hunter on Earth! It was a being from another world, one that had interacted with Earth for various reasons since long ago.
The one-man army. The monster man who singlehandedly tracked down and ended the Malicious Spirits that had shaken America to its core.
Davey O'Rowane had descended, standing atop a massive dragon's head as it slowly landed on the flight deck.
Captain Vista rushed out of the command room and onto the bridge, finally coming face to face with him.
“You’re—!”
“Withdraw the fleet. Numbers won’t make a difference against that enemy,” said a young man with black hair.
At a glance, he looked like someone who hadn't spent much time in the real world. However, no one could afford to take his words lightly.
At least, not if they knew who he was.
“The Saint of Tionis...? What is going on here?”
The fleet that had been consumed by chaos and fire moments before looked completely intact, as if everything that happened had been a dream.
“It was probably some sort of hallucinogenic powder. Looks like the ability of a Special One. You all got trapped in a mass illusion.”
That explained why they weren’t injured despite being shot at, and why the missiles hadn't left any damage once they'd come to their senses.
“Still, they seem to have shown a bit of mercy to you all. I suggest you retreat.”
“I-I can't do that! Atlantis is currently within the territorial waters of the United States of America...”
“Then don’t expect me to take responsibility when everyone dies,” Davey said flatly.
“W-When everyone dies?!”
“She hates humans. That’s part of her whole thing. But more importantly, I’m going to go on a rampage here. I’m just telling you to stay out of it.”
“T-This is sovereign U.S. territory! Even if you're the Saint of Tionis, that doesn’t give you the right—”
“If the woman who came from these territorial waters committed acts of terror in foreign nations like South Korea, then at the very least, we’ve got a right to intervene,” he said in a calm, faintly mocking tone.
Vista felt a chill run down his spine.
The fury and killing intent behind the man’s voice crushed him, despite his decades as a hardened soldier. He couldn’t believe a man barely in his twenties was letting out so much pressure.
Clenching his trembling hand to keep it steady, Vista whispered quietly, “T-Then... what do you intend to do?”
“You just have to stay at least a few dozen kilometers away. Honestly, I’d recommend retreating entirely. Up until now, it looks like she was only trying to neutralize you with illusions. Don’t expect to receive that kind of mercy next time.”
The entire fleet had been neutralized in an instant and pushed to the brink of annihilation.
Yet Davey called that mercy.
Vista wanted to be angry, but there was nothing he could really say.
“Oh, right.” Just as he was about to take off again, Davey asked casually, “Do butterflies have homing instincts?”
“
Hmm?
” Vista looked at him with a puzzled expression. However, before he could say more, Davey took to the sky. He soon understood why Davey told them to flee.
It wasn’t because the enemy would pose a threat to them—it was because once he started moving, they’d get caught in the crossfire.
Zing. Boom!!!
The crimson-black dragon let out a breath attack, with the blast being far beyond a simple laser. It came with a thunderous roar and explosions that churned the sea and rattled the surrounding waters.
Moments later, beams of light poured out from across the entire island, flying straight toward the black dragon Megalodria.
Zoom!!
The light beams tore through the air as if they’d burn the sky itself, then exploded in succession around its body.
“All ships!! Pull back!! Turn the fleet around!!”
It might’ve looked like Davey had just been hit, but Vista soon realized that it was only a warning shot. He issued immediate orders to minimize damage.
The fleet quickly turned and began retreating from the island at full speed, as if a single second of delay could lead to complete disaster.
While countless beams of light went after the black dragon, a faint glimmer flickered amidst the chaos.
Boom!!
A single flash of light split the sky, silencing every sound in an instant. A scar tore across the heavens above the island, as if the sky was coming apart. All the incoming beams halted at once, and a deep silence settled over the area.
However, that wasn’t the end. An enormous shockwave followed, unleashing a storm that rocked the entire fleet.
Captain Vista broke into a cold sweat, realizing that if they had delayed their retreat by even a single second more, the fleet would’ve suffered devastating damage.
‘What crazy kind of person causes this level of destruction alone?’
He had come to understand why the United States was so desperate to build strong relations with the Saint of Tionis.
‘Damn Drumper. I can’t stand the guy, but I’ve got to hand it to him for this one.’
Cursing his nation’s president, Vista shook his head.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
He didn’t know exactly what was happening out there, but one thing was clear.
The one currently going berserk was undeniably that man. His attacks looked impossibly powerful, beyond belief.
About thirty minutes passed.
Stationed at a distance, Captain Visa kept a careful watch over the island. He went pale when Davey suddenly appeared before him again.
“Saint of Tionis!”
The same monstrous man who had just shaken the entire region had now calmly made his way to the fleet. Yet this time, he was carrying a sack over his shoulder.
It clearly looked like there was a person inside.
“Mind if I borrow your ship for a bit?”
Vista nodded blankly. “But... What’s that on your shoulder...?”
“I just kidnapped the queen of the butterflies,” he said calmly, yet the weight of his words were heavy.
The butterflies had taken down entire Awakened squads and a naval fleet in under ten minutes.
Even so, that man had shattered their illusions, unleashed a massive shockwave, and now stood before the captain with their queen slung over his shoulder.
Captain Vista had a hard time comprehending everything.

Chapter 1165