Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Raid (1)
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GH Guild's guild members split into twenty teams and began subjugating the magic beasts in the dungeon.
Meanwhile, Kang-hyuk sat in his office, researching information on the Otherworld Races.
"...So each dimension has these things called rulers."
There were three dimensions cooperating with Earth's nations.
All three were dominated by humans, and reportedly, they didn't have the status system.
Each of those dimensions possessed two or three National Power-level powerhouses.
Plus, they had forces comparable to S-rank Hunters numbering in the hundreds or even thousands.
With their support, Earth's overall strength could be bolstered rapidly.
However, they didn't want Earth's Hunters to grow too quickly.
'They don't like the idea of us getting stronger than them, huh?'
Well, he could understand that.
He was the same way himself.
If all the humans worldwide had the status system...
He could train them into National Power-level Hunters in no time.
But he didn't, for a simple reason.
Those Hunters he raised might turn against him later.
That's why he only cultivated homunculi—beings he could trust 100%.
"The Otherworld Race dimensions also have multiple National Power-level forces..."
They didn't come to Earth recklessly.
The dimensions were wary of each other.
"If they invaded, the speed would multiply several times over. But..."
It would draw in National Power-level forces from the other dimensions.
Earth would become a bloodbath, and while they fought, someone would be waiting for an opening.
A third party might reap the benefits, so direct assaults on Earth were being held back.
Currently, Earth served as a relay dimension connecting the others.
A place where they could prevent enemies from crossing into their home dimensions.
"Hmm..."
He wanted to cross into the Otherworld Race-dominated dimensions and kill those so-called rulers...
But without knowing their abilities, he had to be cautious.
In a way, he was like a dimensional ruler himself.
'If they've reached the pinnacle of Supreme Grand Master, just like me...'
It would be a disadvantageous fight for him.
Apparently, they had multiple Grand Master-level forces too.
In other words, Kang-hyuk could only hope his GH Guild members hurried and became Grand Master-level powerhouses.
"At least we're holding out thanks to the support from those three cooperative dimensions."
The three dimensions had transferred advanced technology to nations worldwide.
Thanks to that, magic stone utilization improved, and new weaponry was developed to counter the Otherworld Races' invasions.
Of course, those dimensions were also suppressing Earth nations from getting too strong.
And the National Power-level Hunters were what kept that suppression in check.
"Sigh... For now, should I start by clearing the open dimensions in Jeju and Gyeongsang Provinces?"
The Spirit Race had taken over Jeju Island, along with parts of Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces.
The Spirit Race wasn't the same as pure spirits.
They resembled Elves in appearance but had translucent wings.
Think of them as beings mixed with Elf and spirit essence.
Of course, lower-realm Spirit Race members had small wings despite having them, so they couldn't fly.
However, those at Third Circle or higher could mostly fly, dominating the skies and ravaging South Korea's southern regions.
"The north is held by the Beastmen, right?"
The Beastmen controlled North Korea, Manchuria, and the Primorsky region.
Precisely, 70% by Beastmen, 30% by magic beasts.
The nation of South Korea was threatened from both above and below.
No, wait—the west, Japan, had demons rampaging, didn't it?
"Haa..."
30% of the entire world had fallen to the Otherworld Races.
Some nations with weak defenses had vanished entirely.
Kang-hyuk let out a small sigh as he gazed at the red markings on the world map.
"At least South Korea serves as a buffer zone between the Spirit Race and Beastmen."
Apparently, the Spirit Race was shifting their gaze toward China and Japan, close to Jeju and Gyeongsang.
"...Fuck."
Kang-hyuk let out a hollow laugh upon seeing the nuclear weapon-class armaments each dimension possessed.
Earth had plenty of nukes too.
But if they used them and then fled to another dimension...
"Without interception weapons from the cooperative dimensions, Earth would've been reduced to ruins."
Of course, environmental concerns probably played a role in avoiding nukes too.
Either way, it was a truly horrific situation.
Kang-hyuk squeezed his eyes shut and turned away from the monitor.
This current peace felt unbelievable.
Gates connected to cooperative dimensions were open in eight countries, including the US, UK, and China.
The US had linked its Asian allies—South Korea and Japan—to cooperative dimensions, allowing South Korea early access to aid and tech transfers.
If he revealed his full power and annihilated the Otherworld Races, he'd definitely draw fire from all dimensions.
"Haa, what a headache."
Kang-hyuk leaned back in his chair and immediately pulled up Etube to watch recent incidents worldwide.
Raid outbreaks in various countries.
A raid meant magic beasts pouring out from inside a dungeon.
Once they did, it was at least thousands, easily tens of thousands.
In the US, over 100,000 magic beasts were reportedly turning Colorado into a wasteland.
Similar situations were unfolding elsewhere.
After reducing some areas to ruins, the magic beasts would nest there, turning it into their territory.
When food ran low, they'd slowly expand into neighboring regions.
"I need to take Arbon into an S-rank dungeon."
The moment Kang-hyuk searched for reservable S-rank dungeons.
Weeeeng!
A call came in from the Association.
"Yes, Park Kang-hyuk speaking."
[This is Park Kyung-min, Captain of the Hunter Association Seoul Headquarters' 3rd Knight Order.]
"Yes, it's been a while, Captain."
[Around 11:37 AM today, a massive raid broke out near Songnisan in North Chungcheong Province. The problem is they're heading north... toward Gyeonggi-do, so we're contacting you. Could GH Guild provide support?]
"What's the dungeon rank?"
[Estimated A-rank. But the scale is unprecedented. Drone scans show nearly hundreds of thousands of magic beasts... and over hundreds of A-rank magic beasts confirmed as well.]
"We'll mobilize our guild members right away."
[Thank you. The Association has already deployed knight orders. Major guilds have also committed to support...]
Apparently, 20-30,000 C-rank and above Hunters were mobilizing.
Military forces were deployed too.
Tanks and helicopters with cutting-edge tech underscored the crisis's severity.
After hearing Kyung-min out, Kang-hyuk immediately summoned the guild members to headquarters.
The Association sent texts to all C-rank+ Hunters.
"Dungeon Gate burst between Goesan-gun and Jeungpyeong-gun, huh."
An unidentified gate.
Probably newly opened.
Kang-hyuk sighed softly and turned on the TV.
It was already breaking the news.
The reporter relaying from a broadcast helicopter trembled in his voice.
The dungeon boss could emerge through the gate too.
Subjugating it would naturally close the gate.
Was the orc chieftain not the dungeon boss?
A one-eyed giant over 100 meters tall swung a massive club, wrecking the village.
Cyclops was a magic beast even S2-rank Hunters couldn't fell easily.
To kill it, multiple S2-rank Hunters or an S1-rank would be needed.
"Cyclops, huh..."
Kang-hyuk eyed the 'Lowest Skeleton Summon' skill in his status skill list.
Even strengthening it would only summon low-grade skeletons.
Meaning higher undead were impossible.
But sheer numbers of low-grade skeletons could still help greatly.
As porters, or for rescue ops.
Hand them rifles, and they could handle decent combat.
Kang-hyuk chuckled softly and turned off the TV.
As he left the master suite, the secretaries stood up.
"Master, the Hunter Association just requested support for Goesan-gun..."
"We're heading out immediately. You two head home at a reasonable hour today."
At Vice Master's Arbon's summons, guild members rushed from breaks to the GH Guild HQ underground parking.
"Check your gear! Once done, board the buses!"
"You lot, confirm your potion counts first!"
"Yes, sir!"
The underground parking buzzed with Hunters' activity.
Some guild members stayed at HQ and Dongjak-gu on standby.
Just in case.
Teynen Guild was deploying C-rank+ Hunters too.
"Master, all guild members are aboard."
"Good."
Kang-hyuk nodded and boarded the lead vehicle.
The buses left the garage, heading straight for North Chungcheong Province.
Reporters waiting outside GH Guild HQ shoved cameras forward.
"GH Guild is now departing for the scene! National Power-level Hunter Park Kang-hyuk is expected to support subjugating the S-rank magic beast Cyclops in Goesan-gun!"
"GH Guild is deploying 900 members. The remaining 100 are stationed at HQ and Dongjak-gu to prepare for contingencies."
The reporters hurriedly broadcast GH Guild's involvement.
C-rank+ Hunters from the capital region, Chungnam, and Chungbuk all rushed to the scene.
(Note: Hwarang Guild, based in Busan, couldn't provide support.)