Chapter 38: Hero (1)
Seo In-hyuk's workplace was the Awakener Management Division at the Gangwon Provincial Office.
Registered hunters were managed by the Hunter Association.
The Awakener Management Division handled everyone else—those who didn't fit into standard categories.
People like Baek Ryuk Geom, the returnee who had mastered martial arts, fell under their purview.
Hunters and awakeners in Korea were managed with systematic thoroughness, so incidents were rare.
Today, as always, Seo In-hyuk wrapped up quietly, stretching lightly as he addressed his staff.
"Alright, everyone head home. Good work today."
"Yes! You too, sir!"
One by one, the employees filed out of the office to clock out.
Seo In-hyuk was the last to leave, meticulously checking that all PCs and machines were off, extinguishing the lights before finally stepping out alone.
On the elevator ride down,
he checked his phone and smacked his lips.
"No word again today."
It had been several days since he'd met the C-rank hunter Kim Sun-woo at the elder's residence.
Kim had promised to get in touch once he came down for cleanup, but there was still radio silence. Was he still up there?
...Maybe I should swing by and check on him?
He was starting to worry a bit.
Those martial artists—once they dove into training, they swung their swords until they collapsed from starvation.
Deciding to drop in under the guise of a welfare check, Seo In-hyuk texted his wife that he'd be late, picked up some food from the mart, and headed for the mountains.
Cars couldn't go beyond a certain point on the mountain road, so he unpacked his haul into a backpack.
"Did I overdo it?"
The bag felt heavy, but hunters had bottomless stomachs by default.
A guy in his prime could polish this off easily.
It felt like repaying the elder's favor by looking after his disciple, Kim Sun-woo.
Still, he had to be careful not to interrupt...
Bzzzzt!
His smartphone vibrated violently.
At the same time, faint sirens began wailing from the city below.
"What the—?"
Sensing trouble, Seo In-hyuk immediately checked his messages.
Dungeon Break Occurred
Wi-yang Mountain, Pal-gok Mountain, and Deok-san areas affected.
All citizens: Evacuate immediately to bomb shelters or safe zones.
All hunters and officials: Report to Provincial Office for disaster response.
"...Dungeon break?"
A chill ran down his spine.
Lately, dungeons had been acting strange, and now it had finally happened.
The problem was that his current location was within the break zone.
Grinding his teeth, Seo In-hyuk hesitated briefly before calling his wife.
"Hey, Min-seo's mom. You saw the alert? Stay calm and head straight to the nearest shelter. Just grab Min-seo and go—no need for other stuff. We'll be in the shelter anyway. I'll be there soon. You stay safe too."
His wife was also a provincial office employee.
She knew emergency protocols better than he did.
Ending the call, Seo In-hyuk kicked off the ground.
Logically, he should turn back to the city by car.
At full speed, most monsters couldn't keep up.
But he couldn't abandon Kim Sun-woo.
And sticking with a C-rank hunter is safer anyway!
The issue was how quickly the break's aftermath had hit.
Tat-tat-tat!
Mid-climb up the mountain path, a massive wolf-like monster burst from the underbrush.
As it lunged, a startled Seo In-hyuk leaped aside, but its sharp claws shredded his backpack and raked his back viciously.
"...!"
Fire lanced across his waist.
But crying over this wouldn't make him a man.
With visions of his wife and daughter's faces before him, he pushed off desperately.
Yet his post-prime body quickly hit its limit, limbs creaking in protest.
"Huff... huff..."
His lungs burned to the scalp.
The wolf circled mockingly, toying with him—not hunting, just playing.
Thud.
Seo In-hyuk felt his knees buckle.
Was this really the end—?
Slash—!
A gleaming sword flash erupted from the thick gloom, cleaving the wolf in half.
Kim Sun-woo landed behind him, turning with a startled expression.
"Sir? What's going on?"
"Huff... huff..."
Seeing Kim Sun-woo's face, tears welled up as tension flooded out, and he collapsed to the ground.
Panting to catch his breath, he pulled out his phone and showed it to Kim Sun-woo.
"Dungeon... dungeon break..."
"..."
Kim Sun-woo's face hardened as he took it in.
No signal up here meant details were scarce, but it was clearly severe.
Not just partial—emergency over all of Gangwon?
Standard protocol sealed the zone plus three adjacent areas.
This scope meant high-rank dungeon or massive scale.
Tsking, Kim Sun-woo pulled a potion from his pouch and sprinkled it over Seo In-hyuk's bloodied back.
"It'll sting. Hang in there."
"...Gahhh!!!"
The sudden agony arched Seo In-hyuk's back like knives stabbing the wound.
Tears leaked for a different reason now.
"All done. You'll feel dizzy from blood loss, but the wounds are healed."
"Th-thank you..."
Minor gashes were low-grade potion territory.
Seo In-hyuk slumped in relief.
"No word, so I figured I'd bring food. Then the alert hit on the way up. What the hell's happening?"
"Family okay?"
"Evacuated to shelter. Hunters should've secured it right away—no issues."
"..."
Kim Sun-woo frowned.
Monsters would swarm the city first.
Instinct drew them to crowded shelters and safe zones.
"Got a map?"
"Can't upload here. But I know the way."
"Straight there."
"Everything up top done?"
"All finished. No worries."
Mixed Origin Pill fully absorbed, martial progress soaring.
Baek Ryuk Geom's notebook could wait for downtime.
"Hop on my back."
"...Uh, yeah. Sorry about this."
Seo In-hyuk awkwardly climbed on for speed—
"...Gyaaah!"
The instant they moved, crushing wind slammed him.
Neck nearly snapping, he screamed; Kim Sun-woo shouted ahead.
"Cling to my back! Hug my neck tight!"
"..."
He was already doing it desperately.
Huddled against the broad back, he finally breathed.
Then his eyes widened at the blurring scenery.
Humans can move this fast?
They rocketed down the path, past his car, to the city outskirts.
Monsters already swarmed there.
"...This is insane."
Seo In-hyuk inhaled sharply.
Less than 30 minutes since the wolf chase.
Alert barely an hour old, and monsters had breached the city?
Where are the hunters?
Kim Sun-woo scanned grimly.
Civilian corpses amid battle scars everywhere.
They'd tried holding the outskirts, but overwhelming numbers broke through.
Deeper in: wrecked tanks, dead soldiers, hunter bodies.
"Breached this fast?"
Seo In-hyuk's voice trembled.
Shelters weren't safe then.
If the city fell, packed bunkers were sitting ducks.
"Going faster! Hold tight!"
Whoosh!
Kim Sun-woo unleashed Flash Flow Step at full throttle, vaulting over the city.
Monster waves split three ways into the urban core.
Hasty forces could only plug one or two gaps.
Flanks breached, floodgates opened.
-Hold the line!
-We must hold here! Civilians behind us!
-Aaaagh!!
Artillery booms, spell impacts, screams filled downtown.
Infusing ki into his toes, Kim Sun-woo rebounded off air like a cannon toward the chaos.
"There—there!"
No need; bloodied hunters and soldiers desperately held the line—clearly the shelter.
BOOM!
Kim Sun-woo swung casually; clustered monsters exploded into mush.
One cycle's inner energy made Flying Thunder Flash a reality-warping barrage.
Yet endless hordes surged.
Leaping the barricade lightly, he set Seo In-hyuk down and nodded.
"Your choice saved everyone here today."
"...Please. I beg you."
Seo In-hyuk bowed deeply, dashing inside for his family.
Exhaling shortly, Kim Sun-woo drew Black Flow Sword from his waist, stepping slowly to the front.
"W-wait—!"
A soldier, machine-gunning nonstop, spotted him and grabbed his shoulder—
Whoosh.
Kim Sun-woo's form vanished mid-air.
Slash!
Monsters ramming the barricade split in twain.
Dozens felled at once; frontline hunters snapped heads up.
"Reinforcements!"
"Backup's here!!"
"Hold positions! Air support incoming!"
Hope flickered on blood-smeared faces.
They needed momentum reversal.
Thus, Kim Sun-woo kicked off the barricade skyward, sword tip razor-sharp.
Kiiing!
Black Flow Sword wailed; blinding white radiance bloomed along its dark blade.
Sunset city drowned in shadow, yellow horrors crawling everywhere.
Absolute Shadow Chaos Flow
Pure hope's blaze poured as white torrents over the city.