Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Soaring Emergency
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While the cadets were locked in a desperate struggle for the citizens' lives.
At the harbor, the heroes were continuing their fierce battle against the odds.
Most of the monsters had been felled, but even heroes weren't invincible.
"Gah!!"
"No!!"
A hero who had just taken down one monster had his heart pierced straight through.
A comrade screamed and rushed over, but it was already too late.
Even for a hero, there was no surviving a shattered heart.
"Please! Please!!"
"He's already dead! Get a grip! If we stay, we'll all get surrounded!"
"Let go! Let me go! He's not dead, he's not dead!!"
"You'll die too if you keep this up!!"
Tragically, there was no time to mourn the fallen.
All they could do was pray the monsters left the body alone.
"Wait! According to these people, there's still one missing..."
"If we go save them, what about the civilians we just rescued?! Snap out of it! I know sacrificing the few for the many sucks, but we have to get these people to safety first!"
Heroes, above all, should know the weight of human life.
And ironically, heroes must be the most cold-hearted of all.
If they could be saved. If there was even a chance. They'd save them no matter what.
But if it caused greater losses, they had to give up.
It might be cruel, but the moment to choose always came.
"It's impossible now! The harbor area's already overrun!"
"Fall back!"
They shook off the clinging monsters and moved to a more defensible spot.
But the heroes gritted their teeth at the sight of the new arrivals.
Grrr!-
"Damn it..."
They'd hoped these ones wouldn't show. But here they were.
Their body hair stood on end. Muscles tensed tight.
Rampage-Class monsters. Far from easy opponents.
They didn't look at full strength, but neither were the heroes.
"Everyone. Looks like we've gotta fight or die right here."
"...Agreed."
"FUCK!"
Some knew each other. Others were meeting for the first time today.
But as heroes, a glance was enough to read each other's minds.
If they didn't stop these here, all of Ulleungdo would be laid to waste.
The other heroes fighting desperately. And the cadets.
They had to hold these back from reaching their backs.
A battle that might be their last unfolded.
No one hesitated. Fear blew away like the wind.
They had one wish. When this fight ended, may it be them left standing.
May they protect this glorious island of Ulleungdo!
"You bastard! How dare you!"
Keek!-
"Behind! It's coming from behind!"
"I'll take care of it! Leave it to me!"
Shouts and screams. The monsters' savage roars.
The brutal, wretched bloodbath raged on without respite.
Break through. Or be broken. Kill. Or be killed.
Simple, filthy, horrific questions.
In the midst of the prolonged fight, one hero suddenly froze in place.
"Wh-what's wrong with that guy?!"
"Hey! Hey!!"
Hit by a monster? No. It wasn't that.
The monster he'd been handling was also stock-still, staring at one spot.
It didn't fit the heat of battle at all.
What was wrong with that man? And why was the monster acting like that?
Soon, every living being gathered here would learn the reason.
KROOOAAAR!!-
"Guh?!"
Keek?!-
A chilling roar echoed from beyond the harbor, far out at sea.
The heroes collapsed to their knees. The monsters flattened themselves to the ground.
"Huff, huff."
"Wh-what the hell is that?!"
"Holy...!"
Goosebumps erupted across their skin. Muscles locked, refusing to move.
All these heroes were veterans hardened by battles with monsters.
They could tense up. But they didn't fear these beasts.
Yet now, even they couldn't budge or control their own bodies.
The monsters were much the same. They ignored the humans right in front of them.
No. They weren't ignoring. They couldn't attack.
Tails tucked, they began anxiously scanning their surroundings.
Something stronger than predatory instinct. Survival instinct.
It screamed that something terrifying was approaching from afar!
'This... this is... an Apocalypse-Class monster. No doubt. And not a fresh one—it's fully matured, able to wield its breath already...!'
The heroes trembled as they looked around at their comrades-in-arms.
No one said it, but they were all thinking the same.
The moment that beast arrived, it was over for everyone.
RUMBLE!-
The ground shook, the sea surged, and storm clouds gathered.
Apocalypse-Class monsters warped nature just by existing.
In the past, some had mistaken them for divine beasts.
But divine beasts didn't slaughter humans.
And that approaching monster slaughtered all life.
KROOOAAAR!!-
The roar sounded again. A massive body emerged beyond the horizon.
Like a sea monster from legend.
Scales radiating menace. Fangs the size of a man.
Its gleaming, murderous eyes hunted for prey.
Then, they locked precisely on Ulleungdo.
GRRRR!-
A low growl that clawed at the soul rode the sea wind.
The frozen monsters suddenly stirred.
Keek...!-
Something different from their earlier savagery took hold.
They eyed the heroes again, but their instincts rejected it.
One urge alone dominated their bodies now.
They had to offer tribute. Feed the monster to survive.
Grab the humans before them and drag them alive!
GRRRR!-
The monsters resumed their assault. The heroes met them head-on.
But the balance was shattered. With composure lost, their strength plummeted.
Several heroes fell in an instant, some losing their lives right away.
"Arrrgh!"
"Damn, damn! DAMN IT!"
Dozens of skilled B-Rank heroes coordinating their attacks.
Even if more than half steeled themselves for death and charged.
No matter how Rampage-Class they were, they could be taken down.
So even the A-Rank heroes unwittingly thought the same.
Could they handle an Apocalypse-Class monster?
If dozens charged with resolve to die?
It was impossible. They were in a whole different league from the real monster.
KRAAAK!-
From a good distance away, a single breath caused internal injuries.
That's when they truly understood why S-Rank heroes were so vital.
The nation's ultimate biological weapons, made to slay such beasts.
They could envy, covet, resent them.
But they could never replace them. That much was bone-deep clear.
And right now, no S-Rank hero was here.
Was this the end? Would they all really lose everything here?
FWIP!-
A flash of light streaked over the heads of those losing hope.
The monsters looked up, then unleashed eerie howls.
A beam of light was plummeting from the sky.
Straight toward them!
BOOM!!-
The monster about to kill a hero vanished without a trace.
The others were hurled away by the shockwave.
"Urk!"
The hero who'd barely survived staggered and collapsed.
From within the dust cloud, a golden glow flickered.
A hand shot out, steadying him before he fell.
"You all held out amazingly well."
"Ah... Y-you're..."
"Just a bit longer, please. Don't worry about that one."
I'll handle it.
Raising her golden spear and shield high.
The warrior from the heavens charged the monster.
S-Rank Hero, Valkyrie. Engaging.
Let's rewind a bit, to when Valkyrie was still in Japan.
She'd heard the news of monsters appearing near Ulleungdo waters.
"Come on, please! We've helped you guys out in Korea plenty of times!"
Valkyrie immediately demanded they drop her off via transport plane.
Other S-Rank heroes back home would be moving too, but they'd be slow.
Monsters were already landing all along the East Coast, battles raging.
They'd have to clear that first, so Ulleungdo rescue would take time.
She asked Japan, but they seemed troubled.
"It's not that we don't want to help, ma'am?!"
"That's not it, Valkyrie! We want to help Korea too! But your request doesn't make sense! Sending our transport into Ulleungdo without Korean government approval?! That's an airspace violation! It could spark a diplomatic disaster!"
To the deputy minister's worries, Valkyrie pulled out her phone.
She habitually went to call, then sighed.
Pathetic, how she instinctively turned to the Union for help.
But what could she do? She needed them now.
"...Yes! Branch Chief! It's Valkyrie. Right now..."
First, Valkyrie contacted the Union Korea Branch.
The Korea Branch connected with the Korean government and Japan Union Branch.
Japan Branch talked to the Japanese government, and soon both governments agreed.
In under 30 minutes, she had her answer.
"It's done, Deputy Minister!"
"What..."
"All sorted!"
"Al-already?!"
"That's what the Union does! Now, give me a transport plane. Quick!"
Entering another country's airspace just like that?!
The deputy minister panicked but lent her a Self-Defense Force transport used by Japanese heroes.
Under Valkyrie's urging, it made an emergency takeoff and raced at max speed to Ulleungdo waters.
The moment they reported arrival, Valkyrie thanked them and jumped without looking back.
"Wait! Valkyrie, your parachute?"
"Doesn't look like she took one."
"Is she insane?!"
"What's to worry? She's an S-Rank Hero! Now hurry back! The deputy minister warned not to linger and get caught up!"
That was how Valkyrie made it just in time.
The S-Rank Hero headed straight for her target.
Shhh!-
A golden streak skimmed across the waves.
The moment she faced the massive Apocalypse-Class monster.
"Welcome to Korea, you monster scum!"
Valkyrie's thunderbolt struck its flesh.