Chapter 123
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Absolute Firepower - 3
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“Hehehe—what do you think? A total game-changer, right?”
After the test of the <Warbox> was complete, Kang Hee-seol asked, her face beaming with pride.
“Come on, tell me! You were totally shocked, admit it.”
Yes, on this point, Lee Hyun-wook had to admit it. No, he couldn't hide his admiration.
“Yes, it’s by far the best I’ve ever seen… No, it’s probably the greatest crafted item in history.”
At his words, Kang Hee-seol clenched her fists in triumph.
“Hah—I guess I really am a natural!”
For several months, Lee Hyun-wook had been investing nearly everything into the advancement of magitech.
But the speed of that development was far faster than he had expected.
He felt it keenly just now while testing the orbital drop device, <Warbox>, made from the core of a Sun Chariot.
‘…I never imagined they would have reached this level already.’
He never doubted the abilities of the two blacksmiths, Kang Jeong-du and Kang Hee-seol.
But with the generous resources Hyun-wook provided, they were growing by leaps and bounds.
And when the synergy of the ‘Laputa’ and ‘Gray Dwarf’ races was added to the mix…
‘At this rate, they look like they could replicate Laputa itself soon.’
That was an exaggeration, of course, but that was how excited Hyun-wook felt right now.
“Hey, uncles, be careful with that! It’s expensive!”
Where Kang Hee-seol’s shout landed, the blacksmiths were covering the landed <Warbox> with a waterproof tarp.
In truth, the ‘Sun Chariot’s Core’ that powered the massive machine was a perpetual motion device, so it could be kept floating in the sky indefinitely. However, as it was a ‘prototype,’ there was a risk of the other parts getting damaged.
‘I’ll need to bring over a large airship to carry that thing around.’
A rather large airship would be needed to store a 15m³ cube.
And that wasn't all the blacksmiths had prepared.
Kang Jeong-du brought over a metal box, a grim warning message plastered on its surface.
“President Lee, the ‘explosive metal spears’ you mentioned are also complete. Would you like to see them?”
- Explosives Warning (!)
“Yes, let’s test them right now.”
*Clank—*
Inside were iron rods about 50 cm long.
[Item Information]
- Name: Fire Spear (Normal)
- Effect: Causes a ‘Flame Explosion’ when mana is infused.
“Since this explosion effect essentially makes it a single-use item, we crafted it as a normal grade.”
With this area transformed into a ‘Sanctuary of Fire’ and the addition of the ‘Tower of Eternal Fire,’ enchanting items with flame magic had become much easier. In other words, they were now able to mass-produce this type of ‘explosive metal weapon.’
Hyun-wook slowly levitated one into the air, then threw it toward the open field they were using as a testing ground.
The moment it flew and embedded itself like a normal spear—Hyun-wook infused it with mana.
The entire shaft glowed crimson red, then flashed with a yellow light for an instant.
*Fwoom—!*
An explosion similar to a grenade going off erupted.
With just a single one, its destructive power looked merely decent.
‘But if hundreds, or thousands, were dropped… it would become what’s commonly known as carpet bombing.’
Lee Hyun-wook nodded in satisfaction.
“Excellent. Please produce as many of these as you can.”
“Yes, as of now, we should be able to produce about 50 a day.”
“And if you’re short on hands, don’t overwork yourselves. Hire more staff.”
“Yes, we’ll do that. Is there anything else you need?”
Hyun-wook nodded, took out an AD-1, and pulled out two items.
“Ah, and… can this orb be applied to this item?”
One of them was none other than ‘Mjolnir.’
“Whoa—th-this is! Isn’t this a legendary-grade item?”
At the appearance of a legendary-grade weapon, even the master blacksmith Kang Jeong-du couldn’t hide his surprise.
The other item was also legendary grade, and it was…
[Item Information]
- Name: Shard of the Sun (Legendary)
- Effect: Grants an item the ‘Power of Helios.’
“Hah—!”
Previously, he had applied the ‘Salamander’s Orb (Heroic)’ to Moglay and gained a powerful skill.
But if a legendary-grade orb were to be applied to the legendary-grade Mjolnir…
‘Even I have no idea what kind of monster will come out of this.’
***
War was coming. That much was certain.
But there was no way to avoid it.
Like knowing a storm is approaching, yet ultimately being swept away by it…
So, at this moment, who in the Republic of Korea carried the greatest burden of worry?
It would undoubtedly be Woo Seong-mun, the Director of the National Gate Response Strategy Office.
He was now in the back seat of a moving car, gazing at the Seoul skyline.
The skyscrapers that had overcome numerous crises and stood tall and brilliant…
The resilience of this nation seemed to emanate from the sturdiness of that concrete forest.
But…
‘A great wave will soon crash down. If we don’t face it properly, this country will be submerged like a rowboat.’
Right now, in the Black Orc Kingdom of Shanghai, legions of Black Orcs were gathering.
‘The number of Black Orcs measured this morning… already exceeds ten thousand.’
Moreover, the number of ‘Wyverns,’ likely meant to transport that massive army, had reached 391.
Had such a vast number of monsters ever gathered in one place in history?
There was no doubt that the Black Orc Kingdom had grown stronger than it was during the ‘Shanghai Recapture War.’
‘If they land on our soil, the Republic of Korea might face a second era of colonial rule.’
Meanwhile, this fact was visible via most satellites and had already been made public.
- [Breaking] Black Orc Kingdom in Shanghai Spotted Preparing for War (2nd Report)
- Black Orc Kingdom’s Military Movements Detected Two Months After Declaration of War. ‘Why Now?’
- Public Anxiety Deepens as War with Black Orc Kingdom, Undefeated by China, Becomes Imminent… What is the Response?
- Gate Response Experts: “<War Clouds Event> Has Not Occurred, We May Not Be the Target.”
The fear of war was once again descending upon the nation.
‘This will be a disaster greater than the 4th Wave. We must gather every ounce of strength we can.’
Woo Seong-mun had been busy even before this commotion began. He maintained contact with allied nations, requesting a joint response, and asked private guilds to give their all should the worst come to pass.
They all said they would do their best to help if war broke out… at least, those were their words.
But for some reason, he couldn't trust any of them.
‘They may be allies on paper, but every one of them has a hidden agenda…’
There was a time when humanity united under the shared mission of dealing with gates on a global scale.
But now, having fully adapted to this hellish era, humanity had… once again returned to selfish politics.
Every nation that offered to dispatch troops in the event of war mentioned ‘Laputa.’
To put it simply, it was a blatant scheme to gain access to Laputa in exchange for sending troops.
‘…I understand why, but it’s still infuriating.’
Laputa, a transcendent-grade object, was a presence capable of shaking the international order, so it was natural for them to covet it.
But the South Korean government had yet to make any decisions, and the war hadn't even started. Yet for them to gather and discuss things like ‘joint operation of Laputa’… it was insulting.
In other words, the moment they borrowed the strength of their allies, Laputa would be held hostage. Furthermore, if a war actually broke out and South Korea's national power weakened, they would try to extort much more.
‘And as for the private guilds, once the war starts, they’ll all be busy trying to save their own skins…’
That much had become clear during the 4th Wave. In an age where individuals wielded immense power, the sense of solidarity had faded dramatically. This was a new social problem.
As a last resort, Woo Seong-mun met with powerful and trustworthy Players one by one.
Among them was the nation’s Rank 1 Player—Lee Seong-yoon—who hadn’t set foot on the Korean peninsula in the past year.
The ‘Zmeun-narae Attack Team 1’ he commanded was considered to have the strength of a standard A.M.T. division, if not more.
So, on the day he met him, he had naturally asked for his help in the coming war.
But the answer he received was…
“Um… Director, I’m sorry, but I can’t stop this ‘quest’ right now.”
His voice was firm.
What quest could possibly be more important than the survival of one’s homeland…
But Woo Seong-mun couldn't blame Lee Seong-yoon for his indifferent attitude.
‘I know it too. How important the work Lee Seong-yoon and his group are doing is…’
For the past three years, he had been engrossed in a quest, clearing high-level gates around the world.
The grandiose reason was to prevent the worst possible ‘event’: the ‘end of humanity.’
“You’re well aware of it too, Director. The final event of this game will ultimately be the ‘apocalypse.’ And my team has just succeeded in finding a clue to one of the <Doomsday Scenarios>.”
He went on to say that even a moment’s distraction could determine the success or failure of the quest.
“Hmm, Titanomachy…”
“Pardon? Director, what did you say?”
As Woo Seong-mun muttered, Team Leader Lee Kyo-jun turned from the front passenger seat.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Titanomachy. The invasion of the giants. It would begin someday.
That was the final prophecy of the ‘Prophet’ Player who had died three years ago.
Lee Seong-yoon and a few other top-tier Players were secretly fighting to prevent that day.
But before that could happen, the nation was on the verge of being trampled by the Black Orc Kingdom.
“Hah…”
Woo Seong-mun felt an uncharacteristic sense of urgency.
No matter how he looked at it, their forces were severely lacking.
It was then.
“Director, we have news from Laputa. Lee Hyun-wook… has finally returned.”
Just hearing that news felt like a part of the knot in Woo Seong-mun’s chest had loosened.
Finally, the most reliable and powerful force at their disposal had returned.
“And he is urgently looking for you, Director.”
“Oh, why?”
“It seems he has something to discuss regarding the upcoming war.”
Woo Seong-mun felt a renewed sense of relief. As expected, Lee Hyun-wook had not forgotten about the war.
‘And he might have been preparing for it more thoroughly than anyone else.’
Woo Seong-mun unknowingly held onto a sliver of hope.
“Team Leader Lee, we’re heading to Laputa right now.”
***
From the moment Lee Hyun-wook returned, the situation began to change rapidly.
First, as if a prelude to the end, the sky started to turn a faint yellow.
It wasn't a familiar pollution phenomenon like yellow dust or fine particles.
It was similar to how Seoul’s sky had turned purple during the 4th Wave.
- [Breaking] Sky Across Korean Peninsula Turning Yellow, Presumed to be War Clouds Event (1st Report)
- The Start of the War Clouds Event… Is War Inevitable?
This phenomenon, commonly called the ‘War Clouds Event,’ was a prelude just before a war event.
During this time, the production capabilities of all crafting-class Players would improve, and an EXP boost event would begin. This could be interpreted as the system itself urging everyone to prepare for the coming war.
The Ministry of National Defense took the phenomenon seriously and issued a ‘Defensive Readiness Posture’ to all A.M.T. units. A Player mobilization order was also issued, and all private guilds halted their dungeon-clearing activities to begin war preparations.
A civilian evacuation order had not yet been issued, as the enemy had not yet made a move.
However, virtually all functions of the Republic of Korea had come to a complete halt.
Seoul, the great metropolis, once again fell into silence.
And now, a single helicopter cut through the space between its buildings.
*Thud-thud-thud-thud—*
“Team Leader Lee, how many Black Orcs have gathered now?”
Inside the helicopter, Woo Seong-mun asked. Team Leader Lee Kyo-jun handed him a tablet PC.
- 13,551
- 511
At present, there were 13,551 Black Orc soldiers and 511 Wyverns… and the numbers were still growing.
“And if you look at the next picture, it seems the bastards are preparing a large number of ‘totems’ as well.”
“…Hmm, I see. What are these?”
“It’s unlikely they’re for purely religious reasons; they’re bound to be imbued with sorcery. Black Orcs were often seen setting up similar totems during the Shanghai Recapture War.”
Most likely, the moment those things were slammed into the Korean peninsula, all sorts of bizarre spells would spread.
But then, another unsettling piece of news arrived.
“Uh… Director, you need to see this as well.”
Team Leader Lee Kyo-jun handed him another tablet PC. It was a video.
He pressed play—
- *Alright, subscribers, hello! Do you know where I am?*
“This man is Liu Yuan, a Chinese ranker. He’s also a famous internet streamer in China.”
Woo Seong-mun gave Lee Kyo-jun a look that asked why he was showing him something so frivolous.
“Ahem, but the location in that video… is the Black Orc staging ground in Shanghai.”
Only then did Woo Seong-mun’s eyes widen as he examined the background behind the man in the video.
Indeed, half-collapsed buildings and Wyverns flying between them were visible.
And from all around, the savage roars of orcs could be heard.
- *I’m sure you’re all surprised how I could possibly be here, right? So am I!*
“That man claims he was invited by the Orc Kingdom. He also said that a Chinese state broadcaster will be arriving soon to report on the Black Orcs’ position. The information hasn’t been confirmed, but… seeing him standing there, it doesn’t seem like he’s just talking nonsense.”
So, the Black Orc Kingdom had invited members of human society’s media.
- *Everyone, do you see that over there? Wow… there must be at least a hundred thousand orcs gathered here! And soon, one of the key figures of the Black Orc Kingdom will take that stage! Hahaha! If you ask me, this looks like it’s going to be the worst event in history. Honestly… it’ll be fun, right?*
“Hah, honestly…”
This was, in many ways, a ridiculous situation. On the eve of war, the monster side’s position was being broadcast through human media… When had the world become so bizarre?
“…The end of days has truly come.”
It was a scene he could not easily comprehend.
Just then, the helicopter arrived at its destination, Laputa.
They were greeted by a giant bronze golem, Talos.
*Thump— Thump—*
「(^_^) Welcome! The Master is waiting for you.」
Having such a monster greet guests… visitors to Laputa were unlikely to cause any trouble.
They were guided to the Order Tower, where they came face to face with Lee Hyun-wook.
“Director Woo, I was planning to visit you, but thank you for coming all this way.”
Lee Hyun-wook said, then turned his head to look at the sky outside the window.
“Things are moving faster than I thought. Now that the War Clouds Event has begun, the war will start soon, won’t it?”
Lee Kyo-jun answered his question.
“Satellite observations show their forces are still gathering, so we have at least four days.”
Lee Hyun-wook nodded, levitating a metal pen in the air.
“Four days…”
He seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking.
“…However, their invasion has likely already begun. In fact, it probably started a long time ago.”
“Do you remember the first attack? They used Polymorph to disguise themselves as humans and tried to assassinate me. As I recall, a large number of orcs were summoned then through some strange sorcery. In other words, by some means, they have already infiltrated various parts of the Korean peninsula… and are preparing for the start of the war.”
No matter how small a country surrounded by sea on three sides was, it was impossible to completely prevent illegal immigration.
So how could one possibly stop a large organization from infiltrating using strange magic?
“So this war… will begin after they’ve made all the advantageous moves they want.”
But this was all information that Woo Seong-mun was already aware of.
“Hmm… I doubt that’s the reason you wanted to see me about this war.”
Lee Hyun-wook nodded and placed the coffee cup he was holding on the table.
“This war is now unavoidable, and the enemy’s situation is far better. We can’t fight like this.”
That was an undeniable fact.
“That’s right… even if we win, we’ll suffer enormous damage, and our country will likely fall into decline.”
China’s national power had also weakened after its war with the Black Orcs. And that was even when they were only on the ‘offensive.’
“Yes, so we need to change the situation in our favor before the war begins, no matter what.”
At Lee Hyun-wook’s words, Woo Seong-mun and Lee Kyo-jun couldn't hide their puzzled expressions.
If such a thing were possible, they should try it immediately.
“What I mean is, as I mentioned before, we should launch a preemptive strike.”
“What? Don’t tell me… you’ve developed a magic missile?”
But only a few weeks had passed since that conversation, and the Black Orcs’ war preparations had been unexpectedly fast. Realistically, there was no time to develop something new like a missile.
As expected, Lee Hyun-wook shook his head.
“Unfortunately, no.”
Woo Seong-mun, who had held a glimmer of hope for a moment, smacked his lips.
Just then, Lee Hyun-wook shook his head and began to spin the pen rapidly above his palm.
*Swish—Swish—*
“But I do have overwhelming firepower capable of wiping out everything gathered at their staging ground.”
Lee Hyun-wook spoke with a confident, powerful tone. However, the two men couldn't think of any way to inflict a significant blow on the enemy’s main force after taking the risk of crossing the West Sea.
To wipe out such a massive army would be impossible even with ten of the ‘Archmage,’ General Choi Jeong-cheol.
And even if they had ten of him, the enemy wasn't stupid enough to allow them to infiltrate, were they?
“In conclusion, instead of the magic missile I mentioned before…”
Lee Hyun-wook said, releasing his metal control over the pen he had levitated above his head.
*Plink—*
The pen, a piece of metal in freefall, dropped into the stainless steel cup, splashing coffee everywhere.
“…I will fall on their heads myself.”
He himself was that absolute firepower.