Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: The Millennia Serpent Crawling in the Abyss - Imugi (2)
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-Rooooaaarrr!!!
A roar echoes from the distance. I quietly open my closed eyes.
"Oho."
The Imugi is coming. Fortunately, there were no curveballs like it not showing up. If it hadn't come, I really would've died of embarrassment.
Messages pop up simultaneously. The system relays the situation calmly yet urgently.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Special Hidden Stage: A Calamity-Class Monster Raid has occurred!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Special Hidden Boss - Ancient-Rank B-: Calamity-Class Monster - The Millennia Serpent Crawling in the Abyss - Imugi has appeared!
I stand up from my seat. I slip the mask back over my face and conceal my build with the golden armor.
So no one realizes it's me.
From outside, I hear hunters shouting in urgency, excitement, and rage. Voices disbelieving the situation, questioning why now of all times—but it's already too late.
There are only two ways out of this: die, or take down the Imugi.
Those who failed to meet the contribution threshold in the previous wave and got booted from the event would probably breathe a sigh of relief at this message, clutching their chests.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
From now on, the zone barriers suppressing players of the nation—Republic of Korea—will disappear!
The system restrictions dividing zones 31 through 40 vanish. Thousands of hunters across ten zones must now converge.
Because that's the best shot at survival. And their thoughts align. Calls ring out to gather around Dangun Ji-hyeok.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Monsters from the wave are surging!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
All monsters from the 5th Wave through the 10th Wave will pour out at once!
⚠️ PREPARE! ⚠️
⚠️ PREPARE! ⚠️
⚠️ PREPARE! ⚠️
Time until Wave: 00:27:51
All the monsters from the remaining waves pour forth, empowered by the Imugi's massive buffs. Nothing much different from my memories before the regression up to this point.
The monsters will flee in terror once the Imugi falls anyway, so all we have to do is hold the line.
Yeah, just hold. The problem is that it's far from easy. Heavy casualties are unavoidable.
"Now it's over."
The rest of the messages will start flooding in properly once it shows up, so from here on out...!
As that thought crosses my mind, another message appears in my vision.
⚠️ CURSE ACTIVATED ⚠️
Wrathful and arrogant Misfortune exceeds its limits, drawing forbidden power to curse you!
Misfortune bestows its power upon an arrogant worm, slightly twisting your thoughts!
It was Misfortune. Looks like the bastard planned to keep screwing with me without rest.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
If you overcome Misfortune's Curse, Misfortune will bear the cost! One shell protecting the Misfortune's Curse [Legendary] bestowed upon you shatters!
The first real explanation of Misfortune appears. That means it's pushing way too hard right now. Even after expending enough power to awaken Azazel, I didn't die—so it's gnashing its teeth, going berserk.
Daring to cross a line it absolutely shouldn't.
As the price, I shed one layer from this goddamn Misfortune's Curse!
My eyes blaze with hunger. I have to overcome this, no matter what.
I never planned to go down easy anyway—but now I'll thrash even harder.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Entity: The Millennia Serpent Crawling in the Abyss - Imugi has temporarily received power from Entity: ????!
Entity: ????. No clue who, but one thing's certain—that's the mastermind behind this mess.
'Was it that guy before the regression too?'
Probably. The only differences between then and now are whether I'm here or not, and whether Dangun Ji-hyeok got pulled in.
The butterfly effect. I grit my teeth and rise. Moments later, a knock at the tent flap—I hurriedly open it, and Dangun Ji-hyeok stares at me with a hardened expression.
"It really happened. The Imugi actually appeared."
"Can you feel it? A wildcard cropped up. Someone restored the Imugi's power."
He nods, as if he's checked the messages too, his face growing even grimmer.
"Sorry, but we got too cocky. We can't take that thing down with our current forces."
I click my tongue. I'd figured it wouldn't be a cakewalk, but for Dangun Cheonje to wear that look?
As expected of a calamity-class monster. I click my tongue again and start assessing the situation. What now? How do we turn this around?
No time left. Less than 25 minutes. Longinus is barely at 50% charge. Even if it's fully recovered, a Longinus strike would still be a critical hit.
'But what after?'
To finish it for sure, I need at least 10% more right here. That thing's ancient-grade. Even diminished, ancient means it was originally legendary-grade.
So minimum 60%. That's what it takes to hunt it.
But jacking it up another 10% in this situation? We'd need 3 to 5 more days. No one can hold out that long.
Not something a single SS-rank and a handful of S-ranks can handle to begin with.
Before the regression, even after SSS-ranks were born and SS-ranks multiplied, none of the five calamity-class monsters fell—except the already-weakened Imugi. Obvious, really.
"Clear out this tent for now. Gotta give it a shot. We can land one critical hit and buy some time. Worst case, hold out for reinforcements."
Mid-wave participation is allowed. That's how Dangun Cheonje and Cheonje—who skipped the waves before regression—took it down together.
Of course, that leeway's only for players from Korea, China, and Russia.
'Normally, Chinese players couldn't enter the Korean zone, but the system made an exception.'
The Imugi's emergence itself defies the system's rules, so it makes sense. The system's surprisingly fair that way.
At that moment, a new message appears before me.
📜 SYSTEM PROPOSAL 📜
The system proposes to Player: Shin Juha!
Become an Administrator under the System! You satisfy the conditions.
🎁 Benefit: We'll get you out of this situation. Please make a wise choice...
"What the...?"
The system could send something this direct?
I'd sensed it showing me odd favoritism since the Azazel incident, but straight-up offering salvation like this?
I flash a smile and table the proposal for now. No point agonizing over it—too soon to choose. Whatever happens, I'll try everything first and decide at the end.
'System administrator qualifications... and I've got 'em?'
What could make me qualify? The Authority, maybe?
I shake off my tangled thoughts with a deep sigh, then clap Dangun Ji-hyeok on the back with my free left arm—the one not gripping Longinus.
"Too late for regrets. Let's kick and scream anyway. Sorry. Got you dragged into this because of me."
All my fault. Damn Misfortune twists everything.
A crushing wave of guilt hits me, one I haven't felt in ages. Makes me want to curse my fate all over again.
Dangun Ji-hyeok chuckles at the sight, like it's the most absurd thing.
"What nonsense is that? I'm a hunter. A system-recognized player. This was my choice, my decision. If you think Dangun Cheonje's standing here just because some E- greenhorn said so, that's a mighty arrogant delusion. Well... even dressing it up cool doesn't change how bleak it is. Facing death does make a man feel lighter, though."
He pats my shoulder in return and turns away. Mana surges through him as he bellows at the top of his lungs.
"Listen up! All players, converge on Zone 35! We'll fight to the last! If we break here, those things march straight to your families! Your friends! Your lovers! Protect them! Fight! Dangun Cheonje and Dangun Guild stand with you!!!"
The great ranker's morale-boosting roar banishes fear and panic from the players' eyes, igniting their resolve and hunger for battle.
Dangun Cheonje takes to the skies. The heavens part, bathing him in light. Vast blue mana billows outward, carrying his iron will.
"We'll see this through right here! Slay that calamity and carve our names into history! We'll be the great heroes!"
"Assembling on the Guild Master's command!!!"
Team Leaders 4 and 5 lead the charge. Eyes steeled with resolve, voices still thick with guild loyalty, they rally their subordinates and prepare.
One by one, players follow suit, readying to meet the foe.
Guilds claim their positions, steeling themselves for desperate last stands.
Even so, fear spreads like a plague—but at least they stave off total frontline collapse and descent into chaotic bedlam.
The result of one man's charisma.
'That's Dangun Cheonje.'
I get why countless hunters sing his praises and call him great. And the difference between him and my parents.
'He's strong.'
Not physical might. Strength of spirit.
My parents were S+ hunters too. No SS-rank existed back then, so hard to gauge exactly, but they were Korea's finest—world-class, few could match. Called the genius couple with history's greatest talents.
But they were weak. Hearts too kind, too gentle. They balked at killing monsters, preferred walking in the shadows of leaders rather than taking the helm.
No presence. No charisma. Even as betrayal and abandonment rained down, they never truly raged.
Unlike the king-named Dangun Cheonje, they were heroes adored by all.
"Cool."
Thinking of Dangun Cheonje and my parents, the words slip out unbidden. Both sides have so much to teach—cool, admirable people.
There were surely days I dreamed watching them. Back when I was little, dreams shifting dozens of times a day.
That dream stirs again. The one I thought I'd erased amid days of torment and exhaustion.
"I want to save him."
I grit my teeth. Can't let him die. Laughable, coming from me—so pathetically weak by comparison—but I will save him.
I search for a way. Scrutinize everything I have, over and over.
I hunt for the card to overturn this. Search, search, search again.
Time slips away. The ground quakes, roars draw near—the enemy closes in.
At last, a single ray of hope gleams before my eyes.
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