Night Parade of a Hundred Demons (1)
I'm fucked. And not just a little fucked—properly, thoroughly fucked.
"Didn't see this coming."
Up until now, I'd only focused on physical protection, so mental attacks completely slipped my mind. But that little gap? Gung-gi nailed it perfectly.
The feedback said there was nothing wrong, but in reality, Yu-hwa was already as good as in Gung-gi's clutches.
"What do I do?"
I sat on the sofa in Yu-hwa's house, racking my brain for a plan. First things first, I had to find her... and for that, I needed to call in the one guy who's a wizard at tracking people down.
"Deep Sea's Observer, come here and become my eyes."
As soon as I cast the spell, the magic circle birthed the Observer. It waved its tentacles in greeting. I was happy to see it too, but there was no time for chit-chat right now.
"Find this person for me. As fast as you can."
[Nods.]
I pulled up a photo of Yu-hwa on my smartphone and showed it to the Observer. The more specific the info, the faster it could search.
[Rustle.]
The Observer scattered eyeball clones everywhere. I watched anxiously. I had no idea how the descent ritual worked, but they sure as hell wouldn't be worried about the sacrifice's safety. There were defensive spells up, but the sooner we found her, the better.
[Startle?!]
"What's up?"
I was waiting for the search to finish when suddenly the Observer flinched, looking flustered as it turned to me. Unease hit me, and when it pointed a tentacle at the window, I got up and looked outside.
"Holy shit."
The outside was pure chaos. The sky, which had been clear moments ago, was now shrouded in a black, ominous barrier. Yokai were rampaging through the city streets, attacking people everywhere.
Most anomalies couldn't affect the real world like this. That barrier was making it possible.
"..."
And that wasn't all. Even from this distance, three massive mana signatures stood out crystal clear. At least three Chaos-rank anomalies. One of them had to be Gung-gi; the other two, I had no clue.
"This is insane."
I'd jumped out the window, but I had no confidence I'd save everyone—or even get to Yu-hwa in time. But what choice did I have? I'd just have to make it happen.
"..."
I gritted my teeth and started running at top speed.
The streets were hell. The yokai summoned into reality attacked people indiscriminately, and civilians were swept away helplessly. Blood sprayed, lives snuffed out without mercy.
But it wasn't the absolute worst—thanks to the guardians holding the line.
"Civilians, get to the shelters now!"
"Injured! Call medical!"
"Damn yokai bastards! Back to the afterlife with you!"
The defenders were a motley crew: agents with pistols, martial artists from small sects, priests swinging crosses. Different affiliations, but all protecting people their own way.
And leading the charge? The shamans of the Daehan Mu-dang Association.
"Deploy the formation!"
"Talismans up! Don't let a single one through!"
"Fuck, what the hell is this over dinner?!"
They'd been guarding Korea's nights since Dangun's sword first touched this land and shrines were built. For thousands of years, they'd exterminated countless yokai. This should have been routine for them... routine, righ—
"Save the shamans!!"
"These fuckers are too strong!!"
Unfortunately, this was a special case. Most yokai couldn't wield full power in reality and didn't band together like this. But now? They were at full strength, moving like a damn army.
"Legend-rank incoming!"
"Call the team leader!"
And it got worse. Legend-ranks, rare as hen's teeth, were popping up everywhere—not swarming, but plenty. Low-level shamans who could just see ghosts and take a few hits stood no chance. No wonder they were called Legends—you beat one, you became a hero, etched into legend.
[Kieeeek!!]
"Team leader, we're dying here!!"
The anomaly that appeared was an Eodukseoni—born in sunless darkness, growing stronger the more people feared it. Normally dog-sized, but with all the terrified civilians around, it had ballooned to building proportions.
Shamans screamed and fled.
"A bit late!"
"Cheonggeomnosa-nim!"
Then the hero arrived. An old shaman sliced down from the sky, his sword cleaving the Eodukseoni in one stroke—no fear tainting the blade.
A Legend-rank felled in a single cut. The low-level shamans cheered wildly, but the old man scolded them.
"No time for cheers—move! Every second counts!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
The shamans scattered efficiently. The old man stood for a moment, eyeing dozens of approaching yokai.
[Grrr...]
[Kekeke!]
[Chiiiik!]
Beasts lunged, sinister blades flashed, heavy axes swung. The old man dodged everything, countering at whirlwind speed. Dozens of yokai repelled without a scratch—an epic feat, but his stern face didn't relax.
"This is trouble..."
He sensed immense mana in the distance: endless malice toward humans, the stench of death reaping lives. At least three Saga-rank anomalies. He'd take one, Seolho Munu would handle another, but the third was the problem. One alone could raze the city and slaughter thousands.
"What to do..."
Wait for backup through the barrier? Or push and take one out to support elsewhere?
As he pondered, his senses picked up something bizarre.
"What the—?"
He looked up urgently. A massive monster unfurled wings, crossing the sky. Easily over 20 meters, clad in steel-like armor. Never heard of anything like it.
As he drew his sword in alarm, a voice called from above.
"Hey, gramps! You a shaman?!"
"I am, but who the hell are you?!"
It seemed to come from atop the beast. Tamed it? Whoever it was, no ordinary guy.
"Doesn't matter! I'll take the boss, just give me a hand!"
"How can I trust you?!"
"Know Se-shin Munu? She knows about me!"
Se-shin Munu... the young shaman from the recent joint op? She'd warned about this terror attack too. Was this anonymous tipster her?
"What do you need?!"
"Just block one from interfering! That's enough!"
This guy didn't feel like an enemy. The old man mounted the beast with him, heading toward the fiercest mana source.
"Heh, what an encounter."
He'd met all sorts in life, but this was memorable. Curious about the stranger's identity, but civilians came first.
"I'll be counting on you."
If not just talk, this crisis might resolve smoother than expected.
I sprinted full tilt from Yu-hwa's place toward the mana source, killing every yokai in my path— even those that fled.
But nearing downtown, limits hit.
[Kieeeek!!]
[Die die dieeee!!!]
[Grrrrr!]
Folk-tale and tale-ranks were fine, but Legend-ranks were a burden even for me. Their hits were one-shots, so dodging everything drained me, and killing them required heavy spellcasting that burned stamina.
Time was critical—no dealing with them one by one.
"The sky too is His domain—Deep Sea mount, carry me there."
I slashed my wrist and summoned a rare sky-faring Deep Sea breed: the massive flying fish called Glider.
"Take me there."
[Chirrup!]
I hopped on its back quick, and it soared using its huge fins as wings. Speed matched running, but flying meant bypassing most fights. A few attacks came from below, but this "flying fish" was basically a dragon—tanked them no problem.
"Hold up a sec."
[Chirp?]
Mid-flight, a strong presence hit. I halted the Glider and looked down: a tough-looking old shaman battling yokai. Weaker than Chaos-rank, stronger than Oomukade—could help, so I hailed him.
"Hey, gramps! You a shaman?!"
"I am, but who the hell are you?!"
Born in the land of courtesy, and here I was bantering casually with gramps. Felt a twinge of guilt, but no time for politeness—had to spit it out fast and move.
"How can I trust you?!"
"Know Se-shin Munu? She knows about me!"
Luckily, I had a connection in the Mu-dang Association. Mentioning I Se-ah thawed his suspicion.
'That brat Se-ah! Thanks!'
Connections are everything. Having a big-corp niece smooths things out. I'd treat her soon to pay the debt.
"Let's go!"
[Chirrup!]
Anyway, talk went smooth. I ordered the Glider on, crossing the city skies again.
"That must be it."
How much time passed? We'd reached our destination: Hanseong Tower, the city's lone landmark amid blandness. Atop it pulsed Gung-gi's horrific, brutal mana.