Chapter 135
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: EP.135 Imminent Crisis
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Team GGW, Han Minguk's raid team, had been tasked with clearing all dungeons rated 【B-1】 or lower in the northeastern sector of Hanoi.
And they had already demolished more than fifty such dungeons. Considering that the average number of temporary dungeons destroyed by raid teams stationed in Vietnam was around twenty, this was an impressive achievement.
Vietnam Gradually Stabilizing!
Heroes Risking Their Lives in Vietnam to Resolve the Expansion Phenomenon. They More Than Deserve the Title of Humanity's Guardians!
Thanks to the efforts of these heroes, the World Hero Association predicted that Vietnam's expansion crisis would resolve without major issues. In fact, the anxiety among Vietnamese citizens was already subsiding rapidly.
The problem was the emergence of the peculiar monster called "Garuda's Clone" and the anomalies at the Bird's Tower. In particular, world hero associations were on high alert about the tower—rumored to house one of the Twelve Disasters—beginning to stir.
If Garuda itself appeared, their nation's heroes stationed in Vietnam could vanish in an instant.
"So, you're saying one of the Twelve Disasters, Garuda, might reappear? Because the Bird's Tower is moving?"
Han Minguk said to the woman who had come to see him. She claimed to have been sent by Lee Si-yeon, president of the Korean Hero Association. At the mention of Garuda, one of the Twelve Disasters, his gathered teammates' faces tensed up as well.
"That's correct."
"Then when exactly will Garuda show up?"
"We can't know for sure. It could be tomorrow, or a month from now. The one certainty is that Vietnam is in extreme danger."
Though she phrased it that way, the nuance was clear: they should withdraw immediately. In fact, she mentioned planes were already waiting at the airport. That was when it happened.
"Hold on! So you're telling us to abandon all these people here and just evacuate ourselves? When monsters could show up any second?!"
Hyun-ah, her face fierce with anger, raised her voice at the woman from the Hero Association.
She had no personal ties to the Vietnamese people. No acquaintances among them. But a hero's duty was to protect lives. If they—and all the heroes—abandoned Vietnam, countless lives would surely fall to the monsters.
Even if word of Garuda's awakening spread now and people began fleeing to other countries, how many could survive? More than half—no, most—would die in Vietnam, without a doubt.
'Abandon all these people? No way!'
Hyun-ah's fists clenched tight, her hands trembling.
"I fully understand Hero Oh Hyun-ah's feelings. My heart is heavy too. But isn't this an unavoidable situation? If Garuda appears... who could stop it in the current circumstances?"
Even the middle-aged woman from the association struggled to say it. But Garuda wasn't a monster with a codename for nothing.
In past wars, the number of heroes slain by that terrifying beast exceeded four digits. Civilian casualties were too numerous to tally.
'What the hell is this all of a sudden...'
Han Minguk sighed inwardly at the sudden crisis, with no time to prepare.
He had just completed Ppuu's quest and acquired a legendary class. He had planned to steadily tackle 【B-1】 dungeons, farm mana crystals, and build up resources. And now this.
"What have the other clans decided?"
After a moment's deliberation, Han Minguk asked.
Logically, they should leave Vietnam before Garuda awakened. Facing it with their current power would be suicide.
But like Hyun-ah said, the countless faces of Hanoi's residents he had seen in passing weighed on his mind. Plus, fleeing Garuda's grasp didn't guarantee safety forever.
"Discussions are ongoing. The Strong Women Clan has accepted our withdrawal recommendation."
"What about teams from other countries?"
"Neighboring nations, including Vietnam, insist that resolving the expansion will quiet the Bird's Tower as well. But it's baseless speculation, and European and South American raid teams seem inclined to withdraw."
Han Minguk let out a low groan as he listened. At least they weren't scrambling onto planes yet, meaning everyone was still deliberating hard.
Tap tap.
Han Minguk tapped his Hero Pad, pulled up the World Hero Association app, and searched for updates on Hanoi's expansion.
The northern Hanoi area, spawned from the explosion of an 【A-1】 dungeon, produced approximately 3,260 temporary dungeons. With no new ones appearing lately, experts predict no more will emerge.
It was a bit fewer than expected. Excluding about five hundred left in the last month, everything else had been cleared. A shining achievement from raid teams dispatched by dozens of countries.
'Five hundred left...'
Of those, Team GGW could handle around two hundred at most. Han Minguk glanced at the association representative after pondering.
"Is withdrawal mandatory right now?"
If they had to pull out anyway, he wanted to smash a few more dungeons first. It wouldn't change the big picture... but with lives on the line, his heart was leaning that way.
"Not immediately, but Garuda could awaken anytime. Domestic media is already pushing articles demanding immediate evacuation for safety of dispatched raid teams."
Seeing Han Minguk hesitate, the woman urged him on.
Team GGW was Korea's future. Han Minguk especially was a hero expected to play a pivotal role in the coming war against the darkness monsters. That was why even President Lee Si-yeon had insisted on pulling him and GGW back to Korea immediately.
"You must prepare for the future, Raid Leader."
The woman repeated. But Han Minguk couldn't give a firm answer.
"Garuda hasn't shown up yet, right? We shouldn't withdraw until we've cleared all the temporary dungeons, at least."
"But what if Garuda does appear? One flap of its wings, and we're all ashes?"
"Then we evac when Garuda shows. If planes are grounded, we flee through China, no problem."
After the association rep left, opinions clashed among the team members.
Surprisingly, the one fiercely arguing to protect the Vietnamese was Hyun-ah.
Everyone knew her pride as a hero and her strong sense of justice, but her overflowing humanity caught even Han Minguk off guard.
And he was somewhat swayed by her stance.
'If heroes like me run away, who will protect my child? Vietnam now, but Korea could face this someday too.'
When he cautiously asked her reasoning, that's what she said. Mothers truly were strong.
"Are you an idiot? Do you wanna die that bad? Clearing temps doesn't change dying to Garuda. What can we even do here?"
The one insisting on leaving Vietnam immediately was Giselle.
An enemy they couldn't face anyway. Prepare for the future—that was her argument. The team wavered, caught between Hyun-ah and Giselle.
"What do you think, Raid Leader?"
As voices rose, Tanya turned to Han Minguk. All eyes followed. Naturally, the raid leader's word outweighed their bickering.
"Hmm..."
Seated, Han Minguk crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
If this were a game with save and load, he'd grind temps until death, then bail when unbeatable foes appeared. Reload if things went south.
But this world wasn't a game. Revival Stones existed, but they only revived heroes, and even that had limits—not infinite supply.
As he wrestled with the decision...
'Huh? Wait a sec.'
He realized two advisors were right there for this. Ppuu and its kin—quest aside, so low-presence he'd stupidly forgotten them.
'Hey, Ppuu. You there?'
Han Minguk called out. Something jelly-like squirmed before his eyes, forming a chat window.
《Yes. I am always by your side, Minguk.》
'Bullshit.'
The curse slipped out instinctively. When the class stone ticket dropped, he'd called repeatedly—no answer.
Seemed it only appeared on its own whim.
'You know our whole situation, right? This Garuda thing. Is it really waking up?'
《It might, or it might not. It all depends on your efforts and those of the heroes.》
'What do you mean?'
Surprised by the unexpected reply, Han Minguk stared gravely at the chat window. Unaware, his teammates stayed silent to not disturb his thinking.
《Command entities like Garuda, with their immense mana, require corrupted power to manifest their strength in this world. In short, it needs vast quantities of high-quality fuel to move that massive body.》
'That's why it stayed put in the Bird's Tower? To recover power?'
《Correct. And for Garuda to fully mobilize, it needs another five years or so.》
'Really? That's legit?'
Far more time than expected. Honestly, with that much leeway, no need to worry.
Five years was plenty to power up Team GGW enough to crush Garuda. No need to panic over the tower's slight movements.
《The issue is that corrupted power continues to gather at the Bird's Tower where Garuda resides. If this persists, Garuda could awaken much sooner. And it's all because of the 'Garuda's Clones.'》
'Garuda's Clones... Figures they didn't show up for no reason.'
Various hypotheses flashed through Han Minguk's mind at Ppuu's words. Seemed the clones in temporary dungeons were genuinely Garuda's minions.
《Yes. The more clones, the faster Garuda recovers its power.》
'What if we take down Garuda's Clones?'
《Garuda's recovery will slow. You might even damage the main body somewhat. Clones are still its creations, after all. Clear all the clones from temporary dungeons, and it won't emerge even in five years.》
'Got it.'
Han Minguk nodded. No worries then.
Clearing temporary dungeons faster meant keeping Garuda pinned in the tower longer. But Ppuu wasn't done.
《Be cautious, though. Every time a hero falls to a 'Garuda's Clone,' Garuda's mana recovers rapidly.》
That was no issue. He had the perfect strategy for Garuda's Clones memorized.
"We'll postpone withdrawal. We clear 【B-1】 dungeons and hunt down Garuda's Clones starting now."
Ending the chat with Ppuu, Han Minguk looked at his heroes and declared.
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