Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Monster Wave
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I caught my breath as I stared at the message floating before my eyes. A Special Stage, what they called an event that kicked off out of nowhere.
Hunters usually chose to join these stages, which offered entirely different rewards from the hidden ones—generous payouts that poured out regardless.
Whether they were strong hunters or weak ones. Preparations were complete. To minimize casualties, I'd leaked info to Dangun Ji-hyeok, and even requested help from the S-rank Word Spirit Sorceress.
'I did open up info on the Ascension Tower, though.'
Was it really the work of the Black Market's master? No, the guild leader was just too competent; there was no hiding it. As a regressor, I'd known from prior knowledge and had no choice but to play it off.
Someone like the Word Spirit Sorceress could pull off SS-rank contributions, so she'd be a huge help.
'With Longinus on hand, there shouldn't be any issues.'
The wildcard was, of course, Misfortune... but there was nothing I could do about that. All I could do was bet on it not having fully recovered its power yet.
'Not after that absurd stunt of summoning Azazel...'
The odds of scraping by were higher. More than that, Fortune—recovering faster than it—had probably even built up reserves by now.
Without hesitation, I selected YES. My body was engulfed in light, the world warped, and the space around me shifted.
In the void of nothingness, a single message appeared.
Normally, the choice didn't matter much. Zones had slight difficulty differences, but elite hunters from each guild were distributed proportionally anyway.
If one side broke, the others couldn't cross over to cover it. Clustering in one spot could leave another undefended, letting monsters pour into South Korea.
'Sure, some would hold the secondary line even if one fell.'
Anyway, my destination was already set.
"Selecting Zone 35."
The zone where the Imoogi would appear—the one that suffered near-total annihilation in my previous life. I headed there.
Summmoned to Zone 35!
Time until First Monster Wave: 23:47:39
A full day—that was all the time we had. But hunters were already summoning in droves, claiming their positions.
An obvious anomaly. Only one reason for it. Me, the regressor, as the variable. A butterfly's wingbeat summoning a different future.
"Looks like all the guild-affiliated hunters are already here."
I could see groups in gear emblazoned with guild emblems pitching tents and stacking supplies toward the rear.
The wave hit ten times total. Clearing one usually took half a day to a full day, with a full day of rest between, so wrapping up all waves meant at least 18-20 days minimum.
Over half a month holed up here. Far from easy. But having committed, there was no backing out.
The terror of a Monster Wave went beyond that. The Imoogi's buffs, amplified by the demonic realm it spawned, made monsters stronger and fiercer.
Casualties were inevitable.
"But not this time."
The Imoogi itself would take the field—the cataclysmic monster that ruled this demonic realm, its origin and catalyst.
Kill it, and the waves ended. Just like that.
'If we take it down solo, North Korean land becomes South Korea's outright.'
That was the deal. An agreement before the world between South Korea, China, and Russia over this demonic realm: whichever nation slew the Imoogi claimed old North Korea.
That's why top hunters from all three nations had breached the barrier mid-wave to hunt it on Paektu—and gotten wiped out. Famous story.
I steadied my breath, taking in Zone 35. Passing hunters settling into positions, I headed rearward. I didn't need to frontline the waves for contribution points.
'Just land a fatal blow on the Imoogi, and I'll rack up more than 20 days of grinding out there.'
Plus Ascension Tower perks and shares. Probably split three ways: Dangun, me, Black Market.
'Other S-ranks and guilds will be in the mix.'
The Imoogi would fall easy. I'd make it so. Straight to the kill, no contributions for the rest.
'It shows on day 7 exactly. Dawn of day 8, start of the fifth wave.'
That gave me a full seven days to charge the spear. With constant time acceleration, maybe over 50%.
Full charge without speedup took about 18 days—two and a half weeks. With acceleration, 50% was doable.
Of course, charging nonstop for a week would be brutally simple yet exhausting. Minimum contributions per wave were mandatory, after all.
The issue: immobility while charging. I'd planned remote javelin throws... but the flat terrain killed that.
'Could use some backup.'
Only one option: Dangun Guild. Dangun Ji-hyeok. I'd already tipped him off to enter Zone 35.
Convinced I knew something, he'd complied—grudgingly(?). He suspected me as the culprit but leaned toward trusting me with Ki So-young's vouching.
'No way he digs deep on me anyway.'
Level 0 security. Impenetrable even to gods. Even Korea's top power, Dangun Ji-hyeok, couldn't peek.
'He'd figure the gist with a quick probe.'
Whatever. He'd know my past anyway, so showing Longinus was fine. Not so for others.
They couldn't know I wielded this power. Especially not the guilds serving my enemies!
'When the Imoogi appears, zones merge.'
Might even face my nemeses. They'd have hunters gunning for this shot.
'Can't hand them shares.'
I knew I couldn't shut them out entirely. Obvious—the Imoogi wouldn't just eat attacks from me, Dangun Ji-hyeok, and Seo Ye-rin. S-rankers wouldn't sit idle.
'Dangun Ji-hyeok might've leaked Imoogi intel, so they'd be prepped and hungry.'
So hunt it lightning-fast, before they could act. I slipped to a spot out of sight, donned my mask, swapped Manbyeon to armor, hiding my identity tight, then headed to Dangun Guild's sprawling tents.
Crowds of hunters already gathered. At the center, naturally, their leader: Dangun Ji-hyeok.
True to Korea's top guild, preparations were near-perfect; some drilled formations for combat.
"Halt."
Blocking my path to Dangun Ji-hyeok was predictable, from their view—a masked intruder breaching their zone.
Misunderstanding, easy fix. I explained my approach and sought permission.
"I'm here to see Dangun Cheonje. Mind stepping aside?"
No wrongdoing, so I stood tall. But the guild member eyed me suspiciously, brain already pegging me as terrorist or foe.
"Scram. The Guild Leader isn't for shady unknowns like you! You think Dangun Guild's that easy?!"
"Such a hassle. Just relay the message?"
His face twisted at my words. Just a perimeter guard, low-rank power—bottom-tier even for guild standards...
Couldn't control his emotions? Doubt he'd thrive in society.
No, it was guild high. Drunk on being Dangun members, mistaking the name for their own.
"Hah... just a bit..."
"Words won't cut it! You dare act this way against Dangun?!"
Fuming at my dismissal, he flared his aura, hand on sword hilt. Intent to draw and strike clear.
"Back off while I'm nice. One more step or move, and we treat you as Dangun's enemy—cut you down!"
I sighed. Truth was, it annoyed me. If I'd come as unknown Shin Juha, face unseen, he'd have sneered harder.
'Power around D~D+.'
Fitting rank 1 guild—even grunts had baseline strength. D-rank as floor, not F.
I clicked my tongue. Things got messy. I'd planned stealthy entry for Dangun Ji-hyeok's aid on charging.
'No time for this.'
Time was short. Needed every second for the spear.
I scanned around. Eyes gathering. Bad. Force my way past this guild-high punk, and spotlights glare. Escalates, might paint me true enemy.
Best fix: the man himself shows. I turned, locking eyes with Dangun Ji-hyeok seated inside.
Our gazes met. He smiled.
'Damn. What a pain.'
Silent exchange. He was saying: Prove it to the me who trusted you.
Chin on hand, he watched—like daring me to break through his guildie.
"Fine. No choice."
The needy side yields. I moved.
Planning fat payback for this test, I kicked off the ground.