Chapter 582. Eventually (3)

From a third party’s perspective, it somehow seemed as though Kim Giryeo had more than enough justification for his actions... Around the time the Awakened at the scene were unable to even open their mouths to speak.

“Ah! Grandfather. Please, go that way.”

In any case, it would do a non-awakened person no good to be mixed in among S-ranks. So, the newly appeared wind master immediately guided the elderly man he had been protecting to a nearby official.

“I take it all the civilians have been cleared out by now?”

Moritake Ito only continued speaking after confirming that the non-awakened man with the cane had safely moved to the secure zone.

“Mhm.”

As luck would have it, the place where the monster had stopped was a region with heavy snowfall, leaving cold snow piled high in the surroundings. Thus, the representative hunter of this nation attempted a conversation while clearing the ankle-deep snow with his ability. Even so, right now, A-rank Awakened in front of them were in the middle of preparing a giant trap to suppress the monster's movement.

At this point, the hunters exchanged a few words.

“By the way, Ranker Iori...”

“What?”

“I was very worried because you said you wanted to hide in a safe province and just pretend to work this time.”

The S-rank representative on the field finally expressed his gratitude to his colleague who had come to the dangerous battleground.

“You truly made a good choice.”

Moritake Ito nodded and spoke repeatedly.

“For now, you might feel like you’re suffering for nothing, but if you endure the discomfort for just a little while, good things will follow.”

Furthermore, this was not just empty talk brought up to flatter the other person.

“It’s a matter I’ve already sent once via email, but the information our guild collected is unmistakable!”

“You mean that news about the children of cabinet ministers starting to awaken super Abilities?”

“Yes. Exactly.”

Younger people. Or people in older age groups were beginning to be born as those who had awakened to mana. This was a trend that was numerically visible in the psychic statistics of various countries. In other words, it meant it was not unreasonable for a representative hunter of a nation to believe that ‘the world will change.’

“So let’s hang in there just a little longer. Ranker Iori.”

“...”

“If their own families end up awakening, even the most stubborn political circles will have no choice but to change their stance soon.”

One S-rank hunter at this spot was currently in a state where his anger toward non-awakened people had reached its peak. So, the representative fire master of Japan tried his best to lighten the atmosphere, worried that his combat power might desert him.

“I get what you’re saying. But you don’t have to always explain it so tediously. Guild Master Ito.”

However, such words soon came out of the atmospheric attribute Awakened's mouth.

“Just so you don’t misunderstand, I still hate non-awakened people even now.”

“Mmm.”

“I bowed my head and made an effort from my side first like that. But seeing as the surrounding atmosphere doesn’t seem to change easily, to be honest, I’m starting to get sick of it, you know?”

“E-everyone understands that part.”

“So for a moment, I thought about taking my family and emigrating altogether, but I realized I couldn’t do that.”

Clearly, as per the person’s own expression, it seemed no further persuasion was necessary.

“Because I love my homeland too much.”

Moritake Ito fell silent. Instead, the atmospheric attribute psychic filled that void. The Awakened named Iori, at this moment, quietly moved his legs and began to take up a suitable position.

“Anyway, enough with the small talk.”

The giant trap of the A-rank Awakened would soon be complete.

“First, let Moritake Ito, who has taken field command, say a word. How should I use my [Skill] from now on?”

As hunters, they made up their minds to handle the actual disaster that had appeared before them. What soon began was a coordinated attack by S-rank psychics who had gripped their weapons tightly. Furthermore, on the other side of this world, similar battles occurred regardless of origin, involving Chinese, Indians, and others...

*Flap, flap.*

The noise created by the beast’s numerous wings eventually echoed in all directions.

*—No, anyway, why are all the top-tier monsters appearing these days waterproof!*

The nation where a water-attribute S-rank stood as the representative suffered some disadvantages prior to the full-scale battle. However, individuals like Zhan also ultimately made a great contribution to the battle. Though it was something he never intended, the Awakened named Kim Giryeo had built up a very high level of recognition through his actions in the meantime.

Furthermore, because what was inside that apricot-colored skin was none other than the soul of a Great Archmage. The primitive mages of this planet looked at the ‘model answer’ from a much more advanced world and opened a new stage of their abilities even faster.

*Boom!*

Even with magic that looked soft, like water, they could load it with physical force as much as they wanted if they set their minds to it.

“Push them hard!”

“Don’t let them leave this area.”

“Our country has two of them stopped here, so we need to kill this thing quickly—”

“Wait a moment. It seems a large attack is coming soon!”

The hunters looked tense for a while in the face of the unfamiliar magical beast, but they eventually returned to their usual selves and swiftly held their weapons straight.

“Ugh!”

“What is this sound of glass breaking?”

“Could this be what that monster made…?”

But in fact, their work had only just reached the starting point.

[————!]

Just as they resolved to push through the disaster before them, a fatal problem entered their sight.

'Unbelievable! Just hearing the [Roar] made my eardrums burst completely.'

The monster that appeared this time had terrifying attack power. The hunters were in a situation where they weren't even fighting a virtual battle like one experienced in VR. Since the enemy appeared capable of easily crushing even an equipped S-rank...

'The hard ground is being ground up like tofu!'

Instinctively, danger warning lights turn on. Alertness rises naturally. Because of the destructive power that exceeded common sense, the hunters could not ignore even a single small action of the enemy. So, for a while, there were no casualties and things were peaceful, but...

Slither.

Gradually, moving carefully itself became difficult.

"Ugh!"

The swarms that had surged out from the sea were basically designed to inflict extreme stress on humanity. Though it possessed sufficient internal energy, the twisted Alphaurian-form magical beast did not perform actions that would devastate the surroundings all at once. It boasted its majesty by spreading wings that didn't even fully enter one's field of vision. Or it flew over the roads at a slow speed, only making humanity slightly nervous in the beginning.

Rumbleeeee!

However, once a certain amount of time had passed, the magical beast naturally changed its behavior pattern.

“I’ve been suspicious since a while ago, but that’s something—!”

“Its aggressiveness is increasing.”

If it threatened survival, it would be able to increase the target’s stress quickly and easily. It adopts violent methods to pressure living creatures.

Boom!

The giant eyeball monster, which had initially only flown around listlessly, actively pursues the hunters as time passes.

'Its movements seem to have gotten faster, too.'

In addition, the S-rank hunters who were fighting in other countries gradually noticed the subtle transformations the beast had undergone. The opponent was already exerting its influence with absolute attack power... And now, even perilous techniques were rapidly approaching.

'Should I accumulate damage somehow even now while I can still handle it?'

Impatience flared up.

'It might be effective if I start a fire inside the beast’s internal organs, just as Hunter Kim always told us.'

To melt the adhesive in the monster’s joints, it was essential to spend a lot of time on it. But looking at how the situation was turning out, it was clear that the longer that beast survived, the more immense the damage it would cause.

'Let’s just try it once.'

So, some of the hunters grew greedy. They tried to gain the upper hand by inflicting many wounds on the new monster even if it meant overexerting themselves, but several psychics who were acting with a focus on attack ended up getting seriously injured.

***

“...seong... Hunter...”

A whispering sound echoing in his ear.

“...Hunter Haseong...”

Someone opens their eyes, which had been closed, feeling a subtle dizziness. Then, the woman’s voice, which he thought had been echoing from far away, suddenly became vividly clear.

“Geez. Seriously! Just when is Hunter Jeong Haseong going to wake up?”

The black-haired Awakened opened his eyes wide as if he had been hit with cold water.

“If I slap the cheek of a fainted patient like they do in the media, it’ll only have a negative effect.”

“...Hunter Seo. I-I’m awake now.”

“Finally!”

Though his head was still heavy... Jeong Haseong, having regained his senses, belatedly scanned the surrounding situation. Then, the first thing he saw was the new-model magical beast pursuing them from behind, destroying all sorts of buildings. And as he turned his head a bit more, it quickly became clear how he had been moving in the meantime.

“I’ll run on my own legs now.”

“Will you be okay?”

“It seems Hunter Seo used some medicine in my stead; thanks to that, I’m perfectly fine.”

The number one hunter in the country had been being carried by the secretary of the [Korean Magic Tower] guild all this time. But let’s put aside the guilt for making someone else suffer for now.

Boom, boom.

Right now, the monster’s atmosphere had changed further, and the surroundings were a mess. Jeong Haseong ran alongside the nearby hunters, hurriedly reconstructing the situation just before.

‘I remember as far as getting caught in that monster’s area technique...’

Just as the idea came to mind, Korea’s rank 1 had collapsed after being hit by a blue light emitted by the monster.

‘Since it was an uncommon blue light, what I was hit by was probably a pure explosion of mana, right?’

He didn’t want to lose consciousness if possible, but...

Jeong Haseong is not an alien. Naturally, he cannot conveniently turn the [Pain Reduction] function on and off. For a normal person, a major injury usually carried the risk of loss of consciousness.

‘I was too complacent. I almost had my body split in two while I was distracted trying to feed the monster a technique that wouldn’t even work...’

Jeong Haseong fell into self-deprecating thoughts.

‘But there still seem to be no new radio transmissions; how are things going on the side where the boss entity is?’

As his body was currently under strain, at this point, the person he instinctively trusted and followed came to mind. But there was no way to confirm what kind of situation Korea’s 4th S-rank was in currently.

‘And why has my weapon suddenly become so hot since a while ago?’

[Legendary Grade Equipment]

[Name]

[Sunset Sword]

[Status]

[Since it is unclear whether the equipment owner is in a moribund state or not, a temperature anomaly has occurred in the blade.]

‘Don’t tell me what was repaired before has malfunctioned at this critical time!’

Right now, the situation was so urgent that someone’s primary weapon had almost put out its full power by mistake. So Jeong Haseong resolved to wrap up the given battle first, but...

Sizzle.

To make matters worse.

—Ah, announcing to hunters of B-rank and below. A Dungeon Break has occurred at a point 300m from XX Street where the new monster is currently rampant.

The situation worsened incessantly.

—Monsters emerging from the collapsed nest are moving in the direction of civilian evacuation. Please respond promptly.

"No, we're already having a headache because we can't catch this crazy clump of wings over here!"

"Didn't we put one psychic as a stake in every gate in the city? So why a sudden Break?"

The current radio transmission was not information for S-rank hunters.

However, Seo Esther and Jeong Haseong had good hearing, so they soon fell into confusion together.

"F-for now, excluding owners of skills like [Telekinesis] that hinder movement, hurry and deploy to the—"

A city that had become quiet as all the residents had fled. But in the sky, a beast so massive it could be mistaken for a snow cloud blocked the sunlight. And now, even amphibians with toxic saliva were said to be crawling all over the roads that humanity had diligently laid down.

"Hurry and deploy... them..."

A sudden chaos. The scene became hectic. The powerful monster grew its anger toward humanity and gradually revealed more troublesome power. As a result, Jeong Haseong was pressed by the pressure and was speechless for a few seconds.

*Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.*

Only the distinct hearing of a high-grade hunter had not died yet. Right now, the monster was causing all sorts of trouble in the air. But listening closely, from a certain moment, the noise unique to human culture was mixed in near the snow clouds in the air.

*'The sound of propellers turning.'*

This is definitely the flapping of wings created by a machine.

*'It's a bit strange. Right now, a powerful enemy that even Hunter Kim Giryeo warned about is flying in the sky.'*

Jeong Haseong, who was running to avoid the monster's attack, turned his gaze for a moment.

*'Just what kind of crazy person would fly a helicopter at such a dangerous time?'*

But elders often warned that words have seeds. Checking the direction of the helicopter, a very familiar appearance was discovered there.

*Whoosh.*

Age approximately in his 30s. However, separate from having time and wealth, an Awakened with long, violet-blue hair that was not maintained at all eventually jumps out of the helicopter.

*'Oh dear. He really was a crazy Awakened...'*

The identity of the one who intruded onto the scene was a physical enhancement type esper. And as if boasting such a psychic power, the opponent implemented a powerful physical attack as soon as he appeared.

*Crunch.*

*'Gasp! What the.'*

Since they had been applying heat diligently, it seemed the monster's joints had weakened at least a little bit now. As Kang Changho landed and gave a strong impact with the tips of his feet, one of the monster's giant wings shattered into pieces.

"What. Don't tell me the person who came there is 'that person'?"

Esther had an even stronger mage-like gut feeling, so she had already recognized the person who appeared through mana. However, she didn't want to mention the opponent's name, so she began a vague conversation. Jeong Haseong, of course, had no good feelings toward the person in question, so an action close to an interrogation soon popped out.

"Hmm."

Sizzle.

The black-haired Awakened raised the radio at his waist.

“Attention Disaster Headquarters. The personnel who should have been backing up Hunter Kim Giryeo near the uninhabited island was discovered at 17-gil, OO-ro. Please verify the relevant matters immediately.”

However, it seemed the person who just dropped from the sky had also set his radio to a specific frequency.

[I’ve set things up over there to run on their own, so mind your own business.]

Soon, a thick voice flowed from inside the radio.

[I made a U-turn over here because I had my reasons.]

Kang Changho, after eavesdropping on Jeong Haseong’s radio transmission, responded naturally to the sentence.

[By the way, does it feel too strange that a guy who should have been deployed far away has returned?]

Chapter 582. Eventually (3)

From a third party’s perspective, it somehow seemed as though Kim Giryeo had more than enough justification for his actions… Around the time the Awakened at the scene were unable to even open their mouths to speak.

“Ah! Grandfather. Please, go that way.”

In any case, it would do a non-awakened person no good to be mixed in among S-ranks. So, the newly appeared wind master immediately guided the elderly man he had been protecting to a nearby official.

“I take it all the civilians have been cleared out by now?”