Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Gate Break
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“Seung-woo, someone has to do it. Trust me.”
“But...”
“We need to wrap this up quick so we can talk about the really important stuff, right?”
“Got it. Let's make it fast.”
Lee Ru-ri broke away from the rock wall with determination.
She sprinted full force toward the opposite wall, activating Stealth as she went, and Lindbrum shifted the direction of the wind.
In that moment, she nimbly scaled the wall, leaping toward Lindbrum's tail.
As the fierce winds swirling around the rock wall changed course, Han Seung-woo charged toward Lindbrum from the direction free of gusts.
The dealers held back, waiting for an opening to avoid drawing attention.
'Han Seung-woo's attack won't land properly yet. Favorability can't rise now. Focus on creating a big opening for him.'
Ru-ri repeatedly used Stealth, bounding from spot to spot to guide Lindbrum's wind attacks exactly where she wanted them.
Finally, through her relentless efforts, Lindbrum's back was left completely exposed.
Han Seung-woo seized the moment.
He surged up the tail at blinding speed, launched powerfully from the nape of the neck, and vaulted toward Lindbrum's head.
Then he crushed both of its eyes in one brutal strike.
The swordsmen poised against the rock wall unleashed their sword auras in unison the instant the gap appeared.
Blinded, Lindbrum began hurling balls of compressed wind in every direction like erratic cannon fire.
'Now's the time. Time to start building favorability.'
Ru-ri kept provoking the sightless Lindbrum with Stealth, supporting attacks only in truly dire moments after checking everyone's HP bars.
After a grueling battle, Han Seung-woo's strike hit true at the junction of Lindbrum's jaw and neck.
Lindbrum's HP had dropped to just under 12%.
'Everyone's exhausted. Favorability's nearly maxed out, so let's end it here.'
Confirming the favorability bar was almost full, Ru-ri steadied the ripple of her mana.
Then she intoned softly.
“Extinction.”
⟨ Extinction ⟩
A pitch-black orb vast enough to swallow the gate materialized, then savagely pulverized Lindbrum.
Smaller black spheres rained down in its wake. Lindbrum cried out in agony.
Everyone froze, stunned by Ru-ri's devastating assault.
She shouted.
“Finish it off now!”
She immediately used Stealth again to draw Lindbrum's attention.
Seizing the gap, Han Seung-woo smashed his knuckles down onto Lindbrum's crown.
The three Doom Knights, waiting for their chance, roared and unleashed sword auras that merged into a colossal blade, grazing Lindbrum.
Lindbrum's head separated from its body in an instant.
The beast's massive frame collapsed with a final guttural screech.
[Green Lindbrum's favorability has increased by 20,000. Current favorability: 102,000]
[Green Lindbrum's favorability has reached maximum.]
[(S) Hidden Skill Activated (Success): 1 condition completed. (Remaining conditions ― Total 2)]
[(SS) Hidden Skill Activated (Failure): Conditions not met.]
“Wooooaaahhh!!”
The guild members cheered in triumph at slaying the monster.
“Anyone hurt?”
“No!”
“Check the area for any more injured!”
They nodded at Ru-ri's command and scanned the gate interior.
Deeper in, they found five hunters who had met gruesome ends.
With grim faces, they recovered the bodies and headed for the gate exit.
Ru-ri quietly called to Han Seung-woo.
“Seung-woo.”
“Yes.”
“No alert that the gate's cleared.”
Han Seung-woo startled at her words, scanning around.
“Nothing here now, but... feels like we need to go deeper.”
“We can't waste more time, not with Han Guild casualties.”
“Just the two of us check it out?”
“Just checking, really?”
“Y-yeah!”
“Ru-ri, you're terrible at lying. Fine, for now.”
Han Seung-woo rushed to A-rank healer Kim Heung-min, relayed instructions for Yang Jeong-hyun and Choi Si-jin, then returned.
The rest of the guild, minus those two, busied themselves under Kim Heung-min's orders evacuating casualties outside.
“Let's go.”
Han Seung-woo took the lead.
Ru-ri stuck close behind, relentlessly firing poison needles without pause.
“Seung-woo.”
“Yes.”
“Remember that monster from the Japan gate?”
“Yes.”
“Saw it again today.”
“What?”
Han Seung-woo, struggling to stay composed, turned to her in shock.
“SS-rank monster. Its name's Keres. Everyone who died here fell to Keres.”
“This is...”
“Keres said it outright. It came to warn us.”
“Warn us?”
“Couldn't make heads or tails of it... didn't get more details.”
“That... Keres can really talk to you?”
“Somehow, yeah.”
Then it happened.
Rumble rumble rumble.
“This!”
“Ru-ri?”
The gate lights flashed wildly, sucking the two into darkness.
It felt just like when they'd gone to meet the Drayger and Vasilahan.
Han Seung-woo pinpointed Ru-ri flailing in the void and yanked her close.
Pressed tight, they held still and gently settled to the ground.
Fwoosh.
“Ah...”
Ru-ri let out a quiet sigh.
“What's wrong? Where are we?”
“Haa... Seung-woo.”
“Yes.”
“Don't get hurt.”
“Huh?”
“Here, you don't listen to me, you get punished. Got it?”
Clueless, Han Seung-woo just nodded.
“Why aren't those two out yet?”
“Yang Teacher.”
“Yeah, Heung-min. They still inside?”
“Director said monsters might still be in there. He's checking with Ru-ri and coming back.”
“Okay? Si-jin, gonna log the gate pattern.”
“Yes!”
Choi Si-jin kept coordinating with HQ, accelerating cleanup for Han Guild casualties.
Six dead, five unconscious.
Nine more with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Choi Si-jin sighed deeply.
“What the hell happened in there?”
Kim Heung-min, eyes fixed on the gate entrance, replied.
“When we arrived, Ru-ri was facing a monster like a drake.”
“Drake?”
“Yeah. First time I'd seen it too.”
“Even a high-rank specialist like you doesn't know it? Sounds serious.”
“Exactly. Reporting to Yang Teacher once she's done logging.”
Choi Si-jin and Kim Heung-min loaded the last injured into an ambulance, then approached Yang Jeong-hyun focused on gate pattern recording.
“Sis, looks wrapped up.”
“Good work. Si-jin, Heung-min, take the Light Guild folks for a meal. My treat, something nice. They rushed over on short notice.”
“What about you?”
“Waiting for those two.”
“We'll stay too.”
“No need. What could happen?”
“Nah. We'll move once it's cleared.”
The Light Guild members who'd come as support stayed put at the gate entrance.
After logging the gate's repeating waves for a while, Yang Jeong-hyun sighed heavily.
“Haa, this should do. But hasn't it been a while?”
“Yeah. Over two hours.”
“Go in?”
Kim Heung-min suggested.
“If it's bad, they might be waiting for backup. Didn't bring subjugation gear.”
“We got it covered.”
“Thanks then.”
Kim Heung-min briefed his guildmates and took point.
“Huh?”
“What?”
“Blocked.”
“Blocked?”
“No way.”
“Si-jin, check with HQ.”
Yang Jeong-hyun messaged Kwon Dong-nyeon and Lee Sang-chun while instructing Choi Si-jin.
“Sis, gate's not under control.”
“Already called the teachers for support.”
Yang Jeong-hyun pressed a hand to the entrance.
“It's really sealed. What the...”
“Sis!”
“Why the fuss.”
“The gate!”
“What about it.”
“Everyone, fall back now!”
“What?”
“Can't control it at all!”
“What?!”
Rumble rumble, boom. Boom. Bang!
―Grraaaaaahhh!
As Choi Si-jin yelled, monsters began pouring from the sealed gate entrance.
A massive ogre snatched up the nearest target—Yang Jeong-hyun—roaring ferociously.
“Sis!”
“Si-jin! Don't worry about me—evacuate civilians first! Call every hunter at HQ!”
Yang Jeong-hyun, bones shattering in the ogre's grip, fought the excruciating pain to stay calm and direct Choi Si-jin.
As consciousness slipped from the unbearable agony, Kwon Dong-nyeon's blessing washed over her.
“T-Teacher...”
“Jeong-hyun Yang! Stay with us!”
Kwon Dong-nyeon soared up, slamming his shield into the ogre's arm clutching her.
―Grraaaaaack!
The ogre howled in pain and flung Yang Jeong-hyun away.
“Sis!”
Choi Si-jin dashed in, supporting her as they retreated.
“Sang-chun! They're endless!”
“Time to stretch? Healers, keep heals flowing. Dong-nyeon, catch!”
Lee Sang-chun tossed his sword to Kwon Dong-nyeon, gripped his massive hammer two-handed, and braced.
Kwon Dong-nyeon infused his sword with mana and readied himself.
As the pair charged the giant ogres, healers poured support their way.
The remaining standby hunters blocked the gate's monster surge in unison.
Meanwhile, in America.
“What?”
“Gate break in Korea...”
“Out of nowhere why?”
“You've said gate energies have been off lately.”
“Why now of all times!”
“Not the time. Han Guild lost a bunch. If we don't hold it, civilian casualties too.”
“Haa.”
Han Ho slumped into his chair.
Han Gyeol watched silently, awaiting his word.
“Contact the VP. Wrap the agreement and head back.”
“Yes. I'll schedule ASAP and escort you.”
When Namsan Tower gate first opened, simultaneous breaks killed unimaginable numbers.
Bodies piled high around the tower.
Monsters scoured the area for the living.
To stop those horrors, Han Ho's group had to trudge over corpses.
Han Ho stared out at New York's glittering skyline, frozen.
Back then, pure righteous fire burned to lead and sacrifice for the fallen.
“Yeah, those were the days.”
Knock knock.
“Father, let's go now. But Korea might be off-limits.”
“What happened?”
“Gate break here too.”
“Damn it.”
Han Ho and Han Gyeol rushed to New York HQ.