Chapter 160
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Chapter 160
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Omen
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China was a nation as populous as it was vast.
Even with countless lives lost to the endless war against monsters, the country still teemed with people.
That was why the dungeon break near Qingdao City in Hebei Province wrought such devastating casualties. In just half a day, the death toll approached 100,000.
It was because every prefecture-level city near Qingdao had been utterly wiped out by the sudden onslaught of the monster horde.
"Hurry up!!!"
"Set up the command post in Tianjin! Deploy the 27th, 38th, and 65th Army Groups! We have to hold the monsters back at Qingdao, Zhuozhou, and Qian'an Cities!"
The Chinese military and heroes didn't dawdle in their response.
But with such an enormous landmass and a break that struck without any warning, the human cost was staggering. It was unprecedented damage since the 12 Disasters had fallen into a lull.
And it dredged up nightmarish memories for so many. The all-out war against the darkness monsters, where soldiers died by the thousands every single day.
- Dungeon break erupts in China's Qingdao City!
- Casualties already surpassing 100,000!
The World Heroes Association convened an emergency video conference upon hearing the news. They quickly decided to dispatch heroes and raid teams to aid China.
"Is that nightmare of a time coming back?"
"The 12 Disasters are still quiet. Two Chinese raid teams are keeping eyes on the 'Tower of the Horse' as well. We can wrap this up smoothly, just like Vietnam."
The association's executives pored over real-time reports, sharing their thoughts.
Fortunately, there was no sign of full-scale action from the 12 Disasters. Neither Beacon in the Tower of the Horse nor the Black Demons—its elite guard—had shown themselves yet.
Of course, that didn't mean they could let their guard down. The war with the darkness monsters was far from over, and even a moment's lapse could spell massive loss of life.
"I've got a bad feeling about this. Second break in half a year already. Doesn't feel natural."
The American Heroes Association president shared his take.
"Could just be sloppy management."
"And if it's not? We stopped a [A-2] dungeon break in Vietnam. [A-7] is no sweat. Britain's sending our top talent too."
European association presidents, meanwhile, fretted over the potential escalation.
It had been over a decade since the all-out war against the darkness monsters ground into stalemate. People were just starting to settle into a fragile peace. They dreaded this break igniting the next full-scale conflict.
- Lee Si-yeon, Korean Heroes Association President! Summoning clan leaders on China's break crisis!
The Korean Heroes Association wasted no time summoning every clan leader upon news of the Hebei break.
Ranker clans like Memoria, yes—even mid-tier ones with barely thirty heroes—all rushed to association HQ.
Korea's border forces near China went on full combat alert too. They'd fight alongside heroes if monsters swarmed over.
Given the short distance between the two nations, it was the most obvious response imaginable.
Hebei Province encircled China's capital, Beijing. A break right on Korea's doorstep.
"We're heading out too, right?"
Hyun-ah said from her chair.
Every GGW member had gathered in their clan house conference room. News of China's break had drawn them like moths to flame.
It wasn't just GGW's room. Rose Shield's hero lounges buzzed with activity. The gravity of it all hung heavy.
"Probably. Word is, the range dwarfs Vietnam's..."
Yuna chimed in.
A [A-7] dungeon had blown, birthing the break. Smaller spread footprint than Vietnam's, for sure. But the darkness ruins it spawned would plague dungeon after dungeon.
'If the media's this hysterical... it must be bad. Real bad.'
Minguk's gaze drifted to the conference room TV.
The anchor, neck veins popping, hammered home the peril. Darkness ruins meant chain-reaction breaks—a done deal.
Come morning, with the spread hitting full stride, all-out war had erupted between Chinese forces and monsters. The hero and soldier body count? Unthinkable.
"Whew."
Minguk sighed, scanning his teammates.
This world's folks had battled darkness monsters for decades-plus. Maybe that's why their calm was eerie. Like they'd been waiting for it.
'Heaven for guys, but damn gloomy overall.'
Maleness meant power here. Pretty women yours on a whim. Paradise on paper.
But monsters lunged to shatter it anytime. Like the world demanding merits match your privileges.
"Raid Leader, any word from Clan Leader? Like, 'You did Vietnam expedition—sit this one out'?"
Shiranui Mai asked. Her dark eyes fixed on him.
'What're you thinking, Raid Leader?'
To her, Minguk was male yet fiercer in the fray than any heroine. Polar opposite of guys ducking into desk jobs or support.
That zeal worried her more. History chronicled how "humanity's guardians" met their ends.
"Not yet. But yeah, I figure we'll deploy to contain China's spread."
Unlike Vietnam.
Any escalation here would hit Korea straight on.
Why else summon ranker leaders—including Memoria's—inside an hour of the alert?
'In a pinch like this...'
They couldn't bench him.
Hero Han Minguk was the raid leader who'd starred in Vietnam's spread cleanup.
GGW raid team too. [A-5]+ with 7th-graders? No-go. But they'd cleared [A-9]s crawling with 6th-graders.
Meaning their gear scores unlocked sub-[A-5] clears. Looked like everyone figured the same.
"Me too. Won't waste our Vietnam stars at home."
"Expedition again. Revival team's gonna be slammed, though?"
The "miner" Revival team—clan's 2nd/3rd-string raids.
They farmed Revival Stones in [B-1] to [B-3]s. Doubled as dungeon timer keepers when mains shipped out on specials.
"Gotta keep domestic dungeons ticking during expeditions."
Chatter flowed among the team. Minguk listened, deep in thought.
'Clan Leader Oh Hyun-jung'll know post-meeting...'
China trip felt locked in.
At least everyone—including him—was 5-star now.
Unlocked higher gear scores. 600 GS gear—the 5-star cap—vs. their 450 average? Roughly 1.3x to 1.7x power boost.
Knock knock.
Someone rapped on GGW's door. Maknae Shin Na-yeon opened up; a heroine stepped in with a nod.
"Raid Leader Han Minguk, Clan Leader wants you."
Minguk rose. The hammer had dropped.
Minguk hustled to the clan leader's office, knocking once before entering.
"You made it?"
"Ah, quicker than expected. Have a seat."
Two familiar faces: Oh Hyun-jung and her secretary. Hyun-jung stayed glued to phone and tablet despite him.
How long? Finally...
"Sorry to keep you. Clan coordinations stacked sky-high."
"No worries."
Minguk waved it off. Barely a wait—and spread crisis raged.
"You know the gist, right?"
"Yeah. [A-7] blew, dungeon break, spread underway. Military-monster clashes this morning."
All from headlines. Minguk foresaw the rest.
Spread birthed temporary dungeons galore in darkness ruins. Vietnam redux.
"Spot on."
Hyun-jung nodded—but pressed on.
"That's public. Reality's way uglier."
"Huh?"
Heavy quiet rippled. Minguk's gaze demanded answers.
"Not just [A-7]. [A-9] went too. Point-blank dual blasts."
"...Problem?"
Seemed lucky—overlapping taint. But her tone screamed trouble.
"Density. Thousands of temp dungeons crammed in that speck. Monsters from the break swarming the turf above."
"......"
"Clear one, step out—raid team's boxed by mobs. Or suck into another fresh out. Latter rarer, sure."
"Er, uh..."
Nonstop grind, got it.
"That many monsters—Chinese military?"
"They'll grind what they can. Chain breaks here? Hebei's toast. Beijing too."
One hitch. Her finger stabbed north of Qingdao on the map.
"Tower of the Horse here, right? No carpet-bombing monsters. Beacon bolts? War 2.0. China dodges that bullet."
Throat dry? She chugged her cup.
"We'll block it too. Spread dies in China."
Done, she twitched a finger. Old smoke habit clawing back.
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