80
Chapter 80
The Bermuda Hive really looked exactly like a Gate blockade site.
Even the arrangement of the Barricade was identical to what is used on Earth today.
It was the tactic used in the 'Monster Gate Response Manual' created by Hunter Han Siwoo.
Since it was a part Parang had enjoyed reading, she remembered the details well.
First. Surround the Gate with a 1st Barricade made of thick Steel, and stack Reinforced Rubber Plates around it to serve as a supplementary material in emergencies.
Second. Build passages in all four directions for the Monsters to exit, and have the Outer Team, consisting of Low-Rank Hunters and Conventional Artillery, concentrate their attacks on the Monsters emerging through the narrow passages.
Third. Three to four High-Rank Hunters standby on top of the Barricade, ready to swiftly eliminate High-Risk Monsters that the Outer Team cannot handle and then pull back.
Fourth. Repeat the above process in three to four shifts until the Gate is closed.
It was definitely 'that arrangement' Parang had seen over and over again.
And the Viewers, who were dozens of times more accustomed to Gate suppression than Parang, also recognized this familiar arrangement.
However, they didn't have the presence of mind to care about it.
Faced with the sight of the Bermuda Hive, the Viewers couldn't even think to close their gaping mouths, their expressions filled with astonishment.
The 700-meter-diameter Gate was still constantly spewing out Monster Fishes of all sizes, and around it, large and small Gates repeatedly appeared and disappeared every few seconds.
Since most of Parang's Viewers were Hunters, they could grasp how insane the scene before them was faster than anyone else.
Actually, even if ordinary people rather than Hunters had seen this, the result wouldn't have been much different.
There was some information Parang had mentioned a few times during her broadcasts.
"I don't know how long these have been here. They were here when I first entered the sea, too."
Hives and Objets had existed for quite a long time.
"Hives are impossible to destroy. To be precise, physical intervention is impossible. It's impossible to chip off a piece, and you can't even stick a Needle into them."
Destruction was impossible. Parang had even shown this herself.
So, a thing like that.
A thing like that would exist eternally alongside humanity on Earth, unable to be destroyed.
An indestructible 700-meter Gate would persist forever, until this sea was completely filled with giant, unidentified Monsters, no, even if it were full, it would continue.
It would exist infinitely, endlessly spewing out evil.
Just as gravity exists, just as light reflects.
Like a natural phenomenon driven by an irresistible, massive law of the Universe.
In the face of this colossal disaster, what could a lowly Human possibly do?
The expressions of those watching the broadcast quickly hardened.
The sea is dangerous.
It wasn't the kind of danger often spoken of half-jokingly, half-seriously.
The sea is terrifying.
It was on a completely different level from the fear induced by some gross Monster Fish popping out of nowhere.
It's frightening and terrifying, but they could do nothing. They couldn't even dare to try.
Now, an indelible, solid image was etched into their minds.
From now on, whenever they looked at the sea, they would remember it vaguely, and sometimes vividly.
The inescapable disaster that clearly, certainly, and eternally exists in the depths.
It was suffocating. Their chests felt tight.
They felt like they couldn't just sit still. They felt like they had to do something, anything, to overcome this threat.
But what could they do?
How?
What were they even pondering? There was no answer.
They could do nothing.
From the very beginning, from the start.
Until the end of this world, they would be able to do nothing.
"Hmm..."
Watching the Chat Window slow down, Parang stroked her chin.
She had thought they would be somewhat prepared to accept it, considering they had been watching her broadcasts all this time.
It seemed it was still a bit early for the Viewers.
Parang knew very well how they must be feeling right now. She vividly remembered the emotions she felt when she first saw this, too.
It was true that she had somewhat guided the Viewers to feel that way.
However, leaving it at that was not something Parang wanted either.
Of course, making people fear the sea and stay alert was her intention, but ultimately, what she wanted was for people to be happy.
This was a conviction Parang had always held on to. It was also the reason why she had saved Shin Yuna without a moment's hesitation.
She had absolutely no desire to watch people flounder in indescribable terror.
So, rather than wanting them to think the sea would kill them, her intention was closer to making them realize they were safe on land.
It was a similar yet distinctly different stance.
Therefore, it was perhaps natural that Parang felt the need to reassure them.
If she hadn't thought of a way to do so, she wouldn't have even come here.
So, as for what method Parang came up with-
What else? A frontal assault.
The method to weaken the fear of something absolute and irresistible was simple.
She just needed to show them that Humans could do something to fight against it.
It would be even better if the visual effect was striking.
And as it happened, she had the perfect companion who met both of these conditions.
He even lived nearby!
Taking advantage of the chaotic atmosphere, Parang quickly texted Diego.
Parang: Come out now
Parang: .
Parang: .
Parang: .
Parang: .
Parang: .
Unfortunately, since Diego was currently covered in chunks of iron, he couldn't check his messages, so she decided to communicate by sending texts to his Cellphone at regular intervals.
Buzz, buzz buzz, buzz buzz buzz.
Two quick times, a short pause, and then three quick times again.
It was a prearranged signal.
Then, in less than ten seconds, a mysterious figure wearing a Deep Sea Full-Body Decompression Diving Suit appeared on Parang's broadcast Screen.
The Viewers, who had been feeling depressed by indescribable emotions, turned their attention this way as a new figure appeared.
- Who's that?
- What is it?
- Is it a Monster Fish??
"A Monster Fish, isn't that a bit too harsh?"
Hmm, maybe it's a bit easy to misunderstand.
Actually, Parang also tried to attack him when they first met. Of course she did. A Giant with a height of 500 meters appeared right in front of her. It was hard to think of it as a Human.
This time, they promised he would appear in his normal size to cushion the shock for the Viewers.
Let me introduce him. This is Diego Lopez Martin. He's my...... well, an acquaintance. You've met the other person before too, right?
- oh
- the vibe is insane Shiver
- it's been a while, I miss Gyosunni
'He definitely looks cool.'
A massive Gate buried in the Deep Sea, and a deep-sea Diver floating as he faced it.
It has a heavy, gloomy, and somehow mysterious yet nostalgic atmosphere that Parang, in her Full Bodysuit, could never dream of.
'Should I wear that next time I stream?'
Parang kept spouting utter nonsense.
Anyway, she had to do what she came to do. Having briefly finished Diego's introduction, Parang got straight to the point.
"Now, everyone. I know exactly how you must be feeling looking at that massive Gate right now. I'm a Hunter, and you are all probably Hunters too. If you recalled your own experiences facing Gates, you might feel a depressing sense of dread. But."
Parang's expression became serious.
"But I don't want you to just fear the sea and ruin your days dreading Monster Fishes and bizarre phenomena. I just want you to realize how safe the ground you're standing on is, and stay there."
Actually, her expression was always serious. She never wavered in what she set out to do.
"So, today, I just want you to see what we can do, and not tremble in too much fear."
Parang looked at Diego and nodded.
Diego also nodded back at Parang, and then started approaching the Hive alone.
"Let's watch from a bit further away."
Parang floated faaaaar back, moving to a position where Diego looked as tiny as a grain of millet.
- Man, we won't even be able to see anything
- The Streamer probably has something in mind
Eventually, as Diego got further away, even his millet-sized figure could no longer be seen.
Thinking this was far enough, Parang sent a signal via text,
Ruuuumble-
Along with the sound of the ground shaking from afar, Diego began his Gigantification.
10m, 20m, 50m.
- Wow what's up with that Gigantification
- He really is f*cking huge
- What's the highest record on land
- 67m 38cm in South Korea
- Why do you know it in such detail LOL
- It's me
- Whoa
60m, 67m 38cm, 100m.
- Uh
- Uhhhhh
- What the f*ck
150m, 200m, 300m...... 500m.
Gigantifying to his maximum size, Diego stood side-by-side next to the Gate and turned to look back at Parang. Thump, thump.
"Ta-da. How is it?"
- Ta-da my ass wtf
- How many meters is that???
- Looks to be about 500
- Where did the 67m 38cm from earlier go?
- yep I'll just die
The human brain is a truly cunning thing; no matter how massive something is, if there is an opponent to stand against it, you end up underestimating the original threat.
Even though, in reality, both the original and the opponent are massive and incredible.
That was exactly the case right now.
The 700-meter Gate was definitely terrifying, but with a 500-meter person standing next to it, it somehow...... looked manageable.
With this alone, Parang's original goal had been achieved.
But she had no intention of ending it here.
Whoosh-
Diego suddenly hunched his posture, as if gathering his strength.
Then the entire area vibrated, and an unidentifiable, bizarre roar echoed wildly,
- Huh??
- Eh???
- What???
The Monster Fishes of all sizes, numbering well into the thousands, that had been lingering around the Gate were simultaneously pulled towards Diego as if being sucked in.
"Now, you can rest easy with this much, right?"
Parang smiled confidently.
As if Gigantification was Diego's only ability. Of course, he had other tricks up his sleeve.
The Monster Fishes being sucked towards him with fierce momentum,
Smack!! Slam!! Whack!!
began to be crushed and burst in a gruesome manner all at once.
Blood, Pieces of Flesh, Magic Stones, and white light scattered everywhere.
Parang, for her part, swam hard so as not to get sucked in.
"Ugh, that would be a really great Skill if only it could distinguish friend from fooooe!!!!"
Still, a smile spread across her face.
It was probably because she instinctively felt it.
The fact that fear wasn't the only thing she had instilled in the people today.