Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Ryu Han Empire (4)
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The South Korean government swiftly mobilized its troops to begin reclaiming Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces.
Tatatang! Tang!
"Kugh...!"
The soldiers pulled their triggers at the magic beasts.
With hunters joining the fray, they started retaking the cities and villages that the Spirit Race had seized.
The Ryu Han Empire had lost a staggering 300,000 soldiers in this war.
Once the news spread, the South Korean people offered their sincere condolences and even referred to the Ryu Han Empire as blood allies.
Kang-hyuk, who had plunged into the south, led the Ryu Han Empire's legion commanders into an S-grade Dungeon Gate.
Shwick-!
"Kill them!"
Ogres with their limbs severed.
At Kang-hyuk's command, the legion commanders unleashed slashing strikes, putting an end to the ogres' lives.
Next came a colossal beast 120 meters tall and 150 meters long... the Buffalo, commonly known as Buffalord, along with wyverns and gargoyles... As numerous S-rank magic beasts fell to the legion commanders, they swiftly ascended to the realm of Highest Sword Master.
Following that, division commanders, brigade commanders, and battalion commanders—along with other officers—advanced a step further under Kang-hyuk's lead.
Thus, as higher-grade dungeons were conquered one after another, South Korea's southern territories finally came under government control.
"Waaaaah-!"
The South Korean people poured into the streets, erupting in cheers.
And in this war, they chanted the name of Park Kang-hyuk, who had felled the Beastmen Grand General and annihilated the Spirit Race fleet.
"Long live South Korea! Long live Park Kang-hyuk!"
"He took down the Grand General—if it's just an S-grade gate, he'll clear it in an instant!"
The citizens showered Park Kang-hyuk with praise.
The Ryu Han Empire forces had seized weapons from the subjugated Spirit Race.
The rank-and-file Spirit Race soldiers were armed with rifles.
They even had armories stocked with firearms in Gyeongsang and Jeolla Provinces, allowing the Ryu Han Empire troops to secure large quantities of rifles and ammunition.
Reporters hurried to interview the Ryu Han Empire side.
"We've heard that the Spirit Race and magic beasts in Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces have been nearly wiped out. May we ask about your future plans?"
"First, to rebuild the Ryu Han Empire and fulfill our contract with the South Korean government, we plan to advance into North Korea. His Imperial Majesty is a being on par with what you call a National Power-level Hunter. With him at our side, even taking down the Beastmen Grand General should be entirely feasible."
"Ah...!"
The reporters jumped in shock.
The Ryu Han Empire's leader was on par with a National Power-level Hunter?!
"His Imperial Majesty hoped for friendly relations with South Korea. As an ally of South Korea, the Ryu Han Empire wishes to maintain good ties moving forward."
The South Korean people could scarcely hide their astonishment at the legion commander's interview.
After all, the Korean Peninsula now boasted two National Power-level forces.
Of course, the Ryu Han Empire side had no intention of revealing Park Kang-hyuk's existence just yet.
'Ascending the throne can wait until the Ryu Han Empire stabilizes.'
If he headed to the Ryu Han Empire now, it would spark massive backlash in South Korea.
Exchanges with South Korea were essential for rebuilding cities and villages.
'I'll have to deal with the Beastmen Grand General myself.'
Kang-hyuk donned a pristine white mask and an ornate knight's uniform he had prepared in advance.
Meanwhile, as the Ryu Han Empire forces passed through Chungcheong Province toward Incheon...
The Beastmen began attacking the South Korean border, crossing the Imjin River.
The South Korean people were startled by the Beastmen's preemptive strike.
The marching Ryu Han Empire forces picked up speed, rushing toward Paju.
Tatatang! Tang!
"Attack!"
Beastmen warriors had advanced near downtown Paju.
"Slaughter them all!"
Legion Commander Harian issued the order, unleashing slashing strikes at the Beastmen.
Shwaaaaak-!
The Beastmen countered with their own slashing strikes.
Kwaaang!
At that moment, as the two sides clashed...
Kang-hyuk, who had infiltrated the Ryu Han Empire ranks, scouted the enemy lines.
His gaze fixed on a massive Beastman male charging at the forefront.
"Insolent humans! I'll claim your lives!"
Mid Grand Master sword aura flickered along the greatsword in his grip.
Pang!
As he leaped high to swing his greatsword...
Kang-hyuk unfurled dragon wings and soared toward him.
"Wh... What...?!"
The Beastmen Grand General recoiled in shock.
Why was a dragonkin, who should be in Russia, here in South Korea?!
He hastily unleashed a slashing strike, but Kang-hyuk sliced it apart and severed the Grand General's head in one breath.
Sek-!
"Kuhuk...!"
The rank of Grand General was bestowed upon those who reached the Grand Master realm.
Those at Mid to Highest Sword Master received the title of General, while Lowest to Low Sword Master were called Great Warriors.
Kang-hyuk massacred three Grand Generals at Lowest to Low Grand Master and numerous Great Warriors at Mid to Highest Sword Master before flying straight to Kaesong.
Kaesong or Pyongyang—either way, the buildings would need rebuilding.
Kang-hyuk flew to Kaesong and unleashed hundreds of Lowest Grand Master slashing strikes at the advancing Beastmen, turning it into a massacre.
Kwang! Kwakwakwang-!
"Kwaaaak...!"
"Th... The enemy raid...!"
Numerous tanks deployed near Kaesong exploded.
He followed up by shooting down fighter jets and attack helicopters operated by the Beastmen, aiding the Ryu Han Empire forces' advance.
The Beastmen forces, pushing south across the border, fell into panic upon losing their Grand Generals, Generals, and Great Warriors.
The Ryu Han Empire's legion commanders seized the opportunity and pressed forward.
"Attack!"
Waaaaah-!
The Ryu Han Empire troops charged at the Beastmen.
At the same time, both sides raised rifles at each other.
Tatang! Tang!
"Fire! Shoot!"
The Beastmen's gunfire was swallowed by slashing strikes from the legion and division commanders.
Kwaang! Kwakwang-!
"Kwaaak!"
Terrified, the Beastmen began a hasty retreat.
"Advance! His Majesty fights with us!"
The legion commanders boosted allied morale and swiftly crossed the Imjin River into North Korean territory.
One Beastmen youth, gasping ragged breaths, raced toward Kaesong.
"Ka... Kaesong must have seen our forces move! We'll link up with them and...!"
The Beastmen who madly dashed to Kaesong stood dumbfounded before the burning city.
"H... How did this...?"
The hundreds of thousands of troops that had gathered in Kaesong to seize Seoul were gone.
It was the perfect time for fighter jets and attack helicopters to advance on Seoul.
What in the world had happened?
They slowly approached Kaesong.
Every building lay in ruins.
The ground was scarred everywhere.
"C... Could the Ryu Han Empire bastards have attacked Kaesong?"
"Maybe their legion commander flew in by helicopter, bypassing via the sea!"
"Even so, we had Generals here! And dozens of Great Warriors too...!"
Tang! Tatatatang!
The conversing Beastmen jumped at the gunfire from behind.
"F... For now, hurry and evacua...!"
"Damn it!"
The Beastmen fled north.
The Ryu Han Empire forces swiftly seized the area around Kaesong, took a brief rest, then advanced on Pyongyang.
Divided into 30 legions, the Ryu Han Empire troops began occupying surrounding cities and villages.
In the meantime, Kang-hyuk destroyed long-range missiles fired by the Beastmen, reducing cities to rubble.
Kwang!
"The... The Grand Generals have fallen?!"
"That's what the survivors say. The Ryu Han Empire forces have taken Kaesong and pushed on to Jangphung-gun, Geumcheon-gun, Pyeongsan-gun, and Yeonan-gun. And their special forces are destroying Songrim, Nampo, Gangseo, and even Pyongyang."
The newly appointed Supreme Commander for North Korea groaned.
Stationed in Sinuiju, he deployed all forces across North Korea southward.
Nearly 9,000 tanks alone.
Armored vehicles, towed artillery, multiple rocket launchers... the full might of the army mobilized.
Over 1,000 fighter jets, bombers, and attack helicopters from the air force joined, putting South Korea on high alert.
"The... The Beastmen have mobilized their full forces!"
"At this rate, they might even use nuclear missiles!"
South Korea plunged into extreme tension.
South Korea shared the Beastmen's movements with the Ryu Han Empire side.
The Ryu Han Empire promptly reported to Kang-hyuk, including estimated nuclear missile locations.
"Those mad bastards...!"
Kang-hyuk immediately scoured North Korea, unleashing Mid Grand Master slashing strikes—massive in scale—at suspected nuclear sites.
Each one powerful enough to obliterate a city in a single blow.
Kwakwakwakwang!
Piercing deep underground, the strikes finally engulfed the bunkers storing nuclear warheads.
Nuclear warheads don't detonate from external shock alone.
A precise sequence must be fulfilled to trigger the nuclear fission chain reaction.
The strikes devoured the underground facilities, the fissile material in the warheads, and the high-explosive chemical systems compressing it, shredding everything.
Kuwoong-!
"Phew..."
That should do it.
A massive chasm hundreds of meters deep scarred the surface.
"Next site..."
Kang-hyuk departed immediately, destroying more underground facilities before heading for the Beastmen's air and ground forces.
The Ryu Han Empire forces were just starting to take enemy air attacks.
Kang-hyuk dove south, unleashing 2-3 slashing strikes at visible Beastmen ground troops.
Kwaaaang-!
The South Korean military urgently scrambled its air force at the border battle reports.
The Beastmen had pushed their air units into South Korean airspace, forcing the South Korean forces into combat.
Kang-hyuk unleashed countless slashing strikes from near Kaesong, downing enemy air units.
Kwaang! Kwakwakwang-!
Kang-hyuk gritted his teeth.
The enemy air power was overwhelming.
Unlike ground forces, aircraft could be deployed to the front lines at high speed.
The swarming fighters left Kang-hyuk reeling.
Kwang! Kwakwang-!
"Fuck! Enough already...!"
Kang-hyuk vented his frustration and veered sharply.
If only he had dragonflight potions, he could have distributed them to allies to repel the enemy.
If he knew the recipe, he might have crossed into Russia for dragon blood.
'Fuck, I should have studied potion recipes!'
Why had he wasted that long time so leisurely?
Back then, he never imagined reincarnating into this modern fantasy world.
He had been indifferent to reincarnation altogether.
He had lived for 10,000 years.
That should have been enough—no need for reincarnation.
But now was different.
As Park Kang-hyuk, he wanted to savor this life to the fullest.
To do that, he had no choice but to push his body now.
Just stop calling already.
Kang-hyuk sighed and flapped his wings.
For hours, he darted around Kaesong, destroying hundreds of fighters, bombers, and attack helicopters, then assaulted enemy ground units swarming from all directions.
In the end, Kang-hyuk poured out every ounce of his stamina.