Chapter 31
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: F급 힐러가 SS급 게이트를 공략하는 방법-31화
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Worldwide Gate Breaks
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"Where are they?"
"Gates within a 5km radius of each country's headquarters."
"That's insane."
"Everyone's just waiting for Father's orders."
"If we can't stop this break, the agreement's done for—no matter what. Forget the vice president for now. Call back every high-rank hunter dispatched to other countries."
"Yes, sir."
The moment Han Ho arrived at New York HQ, he kicked off a meeting with the S-rank hunters dispatched around the world.
As soon as the monitors lit up, Han Ho asked,
"What about Seung-woo?"
"He's trapped inside the first gate that broke—no way out."
"Damn it. Who's available in Korea to take charge instead of Seung-woo right now?"
"Right now, Teacher Kwon Dong-nyeon and Teacher Lee Sang-chun are leading things, so they couldn't join the meeting."
"If those two are on it, Korea's fine. Eun-woo, what's the situation in Japan?"
―Yes, Chairman. The damage isn't as bad as we feared.
"China?"
"Father, reports say China's taking massive damage. They're out there trying to hold it back, but it's not enough."
"No one we can relay to in China?"
"No, everyone's on-site."
"How about here?"
"Jo An headed out immediately and keeps requesting reinforcements."
"Worst spots?"
"China and the US."
"Figures with their size. Headaches all around. What about the other countries?"
"India and Vietnam desperately need support."
Han Ho paused thoughtfully, then addressed the hunters staring at him from the monitors.
"Each guild sends as many B-ranks and above as they can spare. We'll start by cleaning up New York. Report updates every minute, and whichever side wraps up first moves to reinforce whoever needs it. Hurry."
With Han Ho's orders given, the hunters scattered with disciplined precision.
Han Ho and Han Gyeol rushed toward the spot where monsters were pouring out.
Just beyond downtown New York, the cries of wounded civilians pleading for help rang in their ears.
Streets stained with blood.
S-rank hunter Jo An and five B-rank hunters were cutting down the surging monsters.
Behind them, C-rank hunters held formation, intercepting any monsters slipping past the higher ranks.
"Stay focused, everyone!"
Han Ho bellowed at the hunters, and under his blessing, their movements sharpened.
Han Ho maxed out his shield's defense and threw his massive frame into the fray, crushing a swarm of monsters spilling from the gate.
The weary hunters' morale soared.
"C-ranks, fall back and evacuate the civilians!"
At Han Ho's booming command, the C-rank hunters swiftly gathered the injured civilians and those hiding nearby, ferrying them to the blockade perimeter.
As Lee Ru-ri took a cautious step forward, a status window popped up automatically, just like before.
[Hidden Boss Gate]
[Gate Open Condition: Defeat the Gatekeeper]
[Clear Condition: Defeat the Hidden Boss]
[Penalty: All Stats -10]
[Success: Rewards acquired. Failure: Death.]
"A penalty...?"
Lee Ru-ri muttered to herself, prompting Han Seung-woo to ask,
"Pardon?"
"Oh, nothing. Seung-woo, do you see anything unusual?"
"Hm, just some torches that seem to guide the way. Nothing else."
The hidden gate status that had opened automatically in front of Lee Ru-ri was clearly visible only to her.
So he can't see it, which means I don't need to worry him... but since we're both here, that penalty kicked in. Gotta be careful.
Lee Ru-ri gathered her thoughts and took point cautiously.
Han Seung-woo followed obediently behind her.
"There might be traps."
"How do you know?"
"I've been here before."
"Before?"
"Yeah, last time I got wrecked so bad I had no choice but to hit the salon."
"Ah."
Thud thud thud thud.
"Something's coming."
"Yeah, Seung-woo. Stay sharp no matter what!"
Thud thud thud thud.
Clank.
Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble.
"Ru-ri! To the wall!"
Han Seung-woo pressed against the wall and pulled Lee Ru-ri along.
A barrage of small stones flew wildly toward them.
"What the hell?"
Tap.
Tap tap tap tap tap, clack clack!
Boom! Kaboom!
The stones made a few tapping sounds before exploding everywhere in an instant.
"Run forward!"
Han Seung-woo, grasping the situation first, shoved Lee Ru-ri ahead.
Using the momentum, they both sprinted full tilt, barely escaping the detonating stone bombs.
"Huff... my breath... Heugh. Gasp, puha ha ha ha ha."
"You okay?"
"Seung-woo, you look like total charcoal right now, ha ha ha ha ha!"
"Haa, haa. You're no different, Ru-ri."
Lee Ru-ri glanced down at herself and burst into even louder laughter.
Han Seung-woo couldn't help but chuckle too.
"My body's feeling a bit heavy, though."
"Me too. Must be the penalty."
"Penalty?"
"Last time I came alone, no such feeling. But today with you here, all my stats feel down across the board."
"Your instincts are incredible."
"N-no big deal! Ha, ha ha."
Thud thud thud thud.
"It's coming again."
"Someone's gotta be launching them directly, right?"
"Yeah. No point waiting around."
The moment Han Seung-woo finished speaking, he charged toward the approaching threats.
Lee Ru-ri followed right behind.
Thud, smack!
Rumble.
They soon encountered goblins clutching small slingshots.
The two dispatched them effortlessly.
"Sloppy for a trap."
"Right? Last time, stuff was flying everywhere—total chaos."
The pair whispered as they passed the monster corpses, heading deeper into the gate.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.
"Something ahead again."
At Han Seung-woo's words, Lee Ru-ri got a strange vibe and cautiously extended her hand.
A(H) ― Gravekeeper of the Withered Knights: Current Favorability <0>
"It's a monster. A-rank, but rivals S-rank."
"How do you know that so well?"
"I-I studied! Memorized the whole monster guide!"
"Ah, so you have talent there too."
Thud, thud, thud, thud, crunch!
The gravekeeper, hunched over in front of the door and rhythmically tapping the ground with its staff, suddenly sprang up with explosive force.
―Grraaaargh!
The gravekeeper let out an unearthly screech and charged straight at Lee Ru-ri.
It happened in less time than a blink.
Han Seung-woo instinctively blocked its path.
Furious at failing to one-shot Lee Ru-ri, the gravekeeper kept shrieking incoherently.
Protected by Han Seung-woo, Lee Ru-ri paused to think.
Gravekeeper of the Withered Knights... That face is obviously a skull. Pissed off about something, but I can't understand... Skull. Where have I seen a skull... Oh, Dead Man's Fang.
As the skill name from the skeleton surfaced, the gravekeeper's shrieks clarified into words.
―Insolent fools! Will you not show proper respect at once!
Sure enough, the gravekeeper was livid.
"No, you gotta explain first! What's with coming at us swinging like that?"
Lee Ru-ri snapped back at the gravekeeper.
Realizing communication was possible, it hesitated briefly.
As the gravekeeper's assault paused, Han Seung-woo observed the situation.
―Can you understand me?
"Obviously. Explain. Where are we?"
―Hmph.
The gravekeeper straightened up and slammed its staff into the ground.
In an instant, the empty space—save for the boss door—transformed into a vast cemetery dotted with countless graves.
"This is..."
―This is where the souls of the Twelve Lords slumber. No lowly vermin like you can defile it. Begone.
"Can you explain it so I get it? Who's the Twelve Lords?"
―No intent to leave quietly, I see. You've mocked me, guardian of this place for millennia. If you won't go willingly, I'll send you in death.
The gravekeeper, no different from a skeleton before, shifted into the dignified form of a knight—likely its living appearance.
Its staff morphed into a gleaming sharp sword.
"Knights every damn time, past and present. You got a horse too?"
Lee Ru-ri quipped, but the gravekeeper charged without reply.
"Danger!"
Han Seung-woo blocked the attack and shoved Lee Ru-ri back.
But he couldn't stop the follow-up charge.
Han Seung-woo was hurled into the opposite wall by the blow, vomiting blood.
"Seung-woo!"
Lee Ru-ri rushed to him and cast a heal.
"That bastard!"
"He's insanely strong. Never been pushed back like this in pure melee."
"Seung-woo, stay put. I'll thrash him good."
Han Seung-woo tried to stop her as she rose.
But she adjusted him comfortably against the wall and strode toward the gravekeeper.
"We can talk, but you gotta draw blood, huh?"
―Your impudence ends now.
Ignoring her completely, the gravekeeper accelerated toward her.
To read its charge pattern up close, Lee Ru-ri erected a rock wall right in front of its face and unleashed a volley of poison needles.
The gravekeeper swung its sword to scatter the poison everywhere, showing cunning, and cleaved the blocking rock wall in half with raw power.
Time to check if Stealth works too.
Thud!
Lee Ru-ri vanished into the wall with Stealth, but the gravekeeper didn't flinch.
It charged at Han Seung-woo instead.
"You crazy son of a—!"
She dropped Stealth in a hurry and fired Extinction at the gravekeeper lunging for Han Seung-woo.
Sensing something from her Extinction, the gravekeeper dodged and waited for it to fizzle out.
In that interval, Lee Ru-ri returned to Han Seung-woo, shielding him as she glared at the gravekeeper.
"We got a real psycho here. Seung-woo, you okay?"
"Yes. Feels like my organs are twisted, but I can hold."
"This is bad. And this guy's just the gatekeeper..."
"If the gatekeeper's this strong..."
"Anyway, Seung-woo, don't move a muscle. Got it?"
Lee Ru-ri patted his shoulder twice, then stood and taunted the gravekeeper.
"For a knight who's guarded this place unscathed for millennia, picking on the injured looks pretty cheap."
―Chivalry is a luxury against vermin disturbing their souls.
An eerie aura filled the air.
Despite its words, her taunt clearly provoked it.
Might as well test my new skills properly on this monster. No way it's sharing any goodwill. It hurt Seung-woo, so it'll pay.
As Lee Ru-ri assumed an attack stance, the gravekeeper assaulted fiercely, probing for openings.
"Division."
In that instant, another Lee Ru-ri split off from her and charged the gravekeeper.
While it parried the clone's strikes, its back lay completely exposed.
She wouldn't miss that window, barking commandingly,
"Sorrow Spear."
A blinding flash of icy brilliance erupted.
And through that flash, a massive spear materialized, brutally impaling the gravekeeper's chest.
Even more shocking: the clone facing it down hurled another Sorrow Spear point-blank.
The clone Lee Ru-ri and the gravekeeper were both engulfed in the flash simultaneously.
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