Chapter 234
Chapter 234
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 234
Chapter Title: Nuclear Explosion
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May 2023.
Flash! Fwoooosh!
Two bursts of light flashed in downtown Budapest.
As if tiny suns had manifested on Earth, an immense glow illuminated the world.
That eerie flash blanketed a 1,000 km radius in an instant.
At the same time.
Vegetation and the city vanished in a heartbeat.
They evaporated like moisture under the sun.
Pabababat!
Thousands of lightning bolts crackled across the sky.
Shuuuuu......
Two mushroom-shaped nuclear clouds rose from the ground toward the heavens.
Beneath the billowing mushroom clouds lay only dust from a scorched wasteland.
......
A brief silence followed.
It was so quiet that one might think no human could detect the decibels from such an explosion.
Then, after that serene moment.
Kwarung! Kwarurururung!
A colossal roar shook the earth wildly.
It vibrated madly, as if a giant were gripping and shaking the world.
Kuaaaaa!
Next.
The blast erupted from the center, rapidly expanding its reach.
It was a shockwave turning everything into rubble.
Pzzt, pzzzzzt!
Even the HNN broadcast camera sputtered with static before going pitch black.
The feed cut out.
└ ???
└ Real nuke? For real?
└ Fuck, I can feel the shaking here.
└ Sky just flashed here too.
└ This real? Actual nuke?
└ Of course it's a real nuke. What've you been listening to? US military confirmed it.
└ What about the reporter?
└ David? No idea...... Hope he made it? Doubt it at chopper speed to escape the blast zone......
└ Fuck this shit.
The nuclear warhead's power was truly horrifying.
Budapest's survivors vanished without even a scream.
People in neighboring cities screamed as the intense light burned through to the bones in their palms.
Kuwarururung!
Winds near the speed of sound swept dust from the city center outward.
Barely standing buildings collapsed under the shockwave.
Survivors vomiting blood and blinded screamed as they were mercilessly crushed beneath the debris.
Humanity's horrific inferno!
[Breaking: Nuke detonated!]
[Estimated 80%+ of Budapest citizens dead.]
[Gruesome Budapest scene: Survivors crawling with melting flesh.]
[The epicenter vaporized everything in 1 second!]
[Major nations: We will track the culprit behind this incident and make them pay!]
Countless articles were published and shared.
People condemned the unknown nuclear wielder as insane.
The biggest question rising was.
[What about the Skeleton Emperor...?]
[Research chopper arrived later: No traces of Skeleton Emperor. Hungary disaster monsters same.]
[World rankings unchanged. So where is he?]
The world sighed at the high ranker's disappearance.
Koreans, sharing his nationality, couldn't contain their rage.
"Which bastard? The one who nuked our ranker?"
"We must find them! Punish them! Or this tragedy repeats!"
"US military says fired from inside Hungary! I suspect border nations! Investigate them all!"
"Investigate my ass! Wipe out the border nations! Beat 'em till the culprit shows!"
The Skeleton Emperor was Korea's hero.
Even if his rank was below Hasera, Jang Dae-woong, or Ki Pa-rang.
His potential was recognized as world number one.
That hunter was attacked.
Then went missing.
Amid Korea's fury and silence.
"......"
Demir Workshop, conference room.
Kim Jin-ah sat at the table, staring blankly at the TV.
Her eyes were lifeless.
"Guild master......"
She'd been muttering endlessly.
Her voice was already hoarse.
[Kim Jin-ah: Guild master?]
[Kim Jin-ah: Where are you?]
[Kim Jin-ah: Rankings unchanged.]
[Kim Jin-ah: You're alive, right?]
The chat she'd sent moments ago remained unanswered.
No reply from Joo Dong-hoon, as always.
Normally, she'd brush it off.
But not now.
Thump thump!
Her heart pounded.
"......"
What emotion was this?
Sorrow? Rage?
She couldn't pin it down, placing a hand gently on her chest.
"Hnng."
Breathing was hard.
Her heart ached as if tearing.
It still didn't feel real.
[Kim Jin-ah: Everyone......]
[Kim Jin-ah: Gather up.]
No voice escaped her lips.
So she used the chat.
Honestly, she wanted to scream and pour it all out.
But she couldn't.
With the guild master gone.
As acting master, she was deputy.
[Kim Jin-ah: Star Heaven will find the culprit behind this no matter what.]
[Kim Jin-ah: And whoever it is.]
Even if world rank 1.
Even if an enemy Star Heaven couldn't handle.
Grit.
Kim Jin-ah ground her teeth.
[Kim Jin-ah: We'll find them and kill them. Absolutely.]
She deliberately fueled her anger.
To bury the sorrow.
And it wasn't just her.
[Dark Emperor: Agreed......]
Gi So-yul joined.
[Guide: Mobilizing all my abilities to investigate. Wait a bit.]
Kapu nodded.
[Dark Emperor: Whoever it is, just let me catch 'em.]
[Kim Jin-ah: Grit.]
[Dark Emperor: Won't kill 'em easy.]
[Asura: We'll join.]
[The Druid: Can't sit idle.]
[Iron Fist: Count me in.]
The chat's gloomy vibe poured out.
[Thunderclap: Fuck.]
Floa cursed.
[Thunderclap: You all mourning?]
[Thunderclap: Our master ain't dying that easy.]
[Thunderclap: Toughest bastard there is.]
[Thunderclap: I guarantee! No ranking change, right? See?]
Pzzt pzzt!
Electricity arced across her body.
Far denser and more intense than usual.
[Thunderclap: Don't whimper. Just tell me who. I'll fry 'em all.]
* * *
Star Heaven wasn't alone.
[Magic Tower tracking nuke owner with magic! Star Heaven allied closely with Tower! Culprit will pay dearly!]
[Berserker Jang Dae-woong: "Touching my brother is touching me."]
[Dungeon Maker Delaila mourns hero's disappearance. But no big worry. Not a hunter who dies easy.]
[Russian President reaches out to US military unprecedentedly. "Will cooperate fully."]
Rankers and nations joined Star Heaven's ranks.
[World Association: "Nuking Hungary is attacking our Association."]
Nine nations silent during Hungary's monsterfall now moved.
Attacking a Korean ranker gave ample justification.
Thus, chaos reigned in the border nations' summit room.
"......"
"......"
No wine or meat on the table.
Just silence over the empty desk.
Serbia's leader Buchić broke it first, unable to bear it.
"Haa, what now? Everyone suspects us...... World's gunning openly."
His face under glasses was grim.
"Handling the monsters was good, but nukes...... Anyway, can I speak my mind?"
Buchić lifted his glasses.
His gaze fixed on one.
Romania's President Klaus.
"One here kept pushing nukes in meetings......"
"What nonsense!"
Kwang!
Klaus slammed the table.
"You saying I fired it? Got proof?"
"......If not, no need to overreact......"
"You weasel-faced prick! Knew it since you demanded national treasures!"
"You just...... called me a weasel?"
Mood turned hostile instantly.
"Enough!"
"Times like these! Not the time. Careful with each other."
Other border presidents intervened.
Tremble.
Klaus clenched fists, lips quivering.
'Damn it.'
He'd fired the nuke, but anxiety gnawed.
Didn't expect such backlash.
Knew Korea would rage.
But Magic Tower, Russia, World Association too?
All for one hunter?
'It's fine.'
Slurp.
Klaus wet his lips with his tongue.
'It'll work out.'
Anyway.
Just don't get caught.
Just.
* * *
I awoke suddenly.
'Ugh.'
Groaning inwardly, I opened my eyes.
A normal village appeared.
Like a medieval countryside stable village, reeking of manure.
"Cough, cough."
I grimaced at the unfamiliar smell.
Guess.
I'd hold my breath till my nose adjusted.
'Anyway, where is this?'
The quaint village dotted with houses.
Neat brick homes, fences, surrounding trees.
'Well.'
Where else.
Inside a medium dungeon.
"You okay, kid?"
Looking up.
An old man sat cross-legged in midair, gazing at me.
'Better than okay, but......'
Haa.
I worried.
If this takes long, Kim Jin-ah'll really fret.
'Plus.'
I clenched my fist.
'Whoever nuked me.'
Won't let it slide.
Gonna half-kill 'em.
From the chat reactions then, they knew I was in Hungary.
Clear attack on me.
By my code, they're fair game.
Person, group, nation.
"Hoo."
Deep sigh from my lungs.
'Oh right.'
This time, entered with Demir summoned.
'Nuke probably canceled it.'
"Tsk tsk, kid. Worry about yourself."
'Still a waste. Shouldn't have summoned Demir?'
Necklace back with me.
Meaning, Wuling Peach Grove portal closing soon.
Kim Jin-ah'll evacuate everyone before limit......
Still regrettable.
Demir and Eldrin can't build the city meanwhile.
"Kid. Quit daydreaming, look around."
'Around?'
I turned.
A burly man appeared.
Muscles covered his entire body.
'What.'
Even deep in thought.
How'd he appear so stealthily?
Fwoosh!
I formed a spear, aiming at him, tensing.
"Who are you."
Why so tense?
Felt his battle lust, eager to fight me.
Swish.
He lowered into stance too.
Extended fist forward, martial pose.
"No need to know who I am."
The mysterious man's lips curled.
Different world's tongue, but system translated in my head as always.
Post-cataclysm system perk.
"We met, so fight!"
He charged straight at me.
"......"
Met, so fight?
No clue the logic.
But can't stand idle when attacked.
'Fuck.'
Yeah.
Dunno the world.
But let's clash.