The Unexpected Witness
The messages appeared before her eyes.
A rift is erupting.
Various disasters can be collected from the rift eruption.
Defeat the disasters and dominate them. The disasters you dominate will strengthen your base as loyal servants.
The eruption will end in 6h.
B-class Awakened Seo Ye-rin stared at the status window and slapped both cheeks to psych herself up.
“Hoo. Seo Ye-rin, you can do this.”
This was her third eruption since the world had changed. During the first eruption, Seo Ye-rin had huddled inside her house, trembling with fear. In the second eruption, she had mustered the courage to leave home. Luckily, she had farmed two 2★ disasters and received a B-class Awakened certification along with a recruitment offer from the Awakened Management Bureau.
And now, the third eruption. Seo Ye-rin was a proper member of the Seoul Management Bureau. She held a weapon shaped like a bow and waited for the disasters that would soon pour forth.
[Team 7, can you hear me?]
“Yes. I can hear you clearly.”
[Contact this frequency if anything seems wrong.]
A report from the management bureau’s control tower came through the radio clipped to her chest. Seo Ye-rin’s current mission was to command and manage Team 7 of the Awakened. Since there were only about a dozen B-class Awakened in Seoul at the moment, Seo Ye-rin had been given the heavy responsibility of leading a team.
Team 7’s jurisdiction was Seongdong District. Though the area wasn’t large, it was a key transportation hub in Seoul, so it required careful defense. The burden on Seo Ye-rin’s shoulders was heavy, yet…
[Don’t worry. There shouldn’t be any major problems.]
“How can you be so sure?”
To Seo Ye-rin’s question, the bureau staff member on the other end of the radio replied in a relaxed voice.
[Because we have a guardian deity, don’t we?]
“…You’re right.”
Seo Ye-rin chuckled and agreed. She then turned her head to look at the management bureau building visible in the distance. A man stood on the rooftop. It was S-class Awakened Nam Juyeon, who had accompanied her not long ago to subjugate the Incheon Port nest. He stood alone on the rooftop, taking in the hundreds and thousands of disasters pouring from the rift above his head.
Immediately after, Nam Juyeon raised his hand into the air. Then something strange happened.
4★ Tempest Dragon Tempestra roars.
Before she knew it, a massive shadow had fallen over Nam Juyeon’s head. Its true form was a wyvern with blue scales. Tempest Dragon Tempestra spread its wings wide. The disasters that had just emerged from the rift seemed overwhelmed by the majestic sight of the Tempest Dragon and fled in panic, while the Awakened drove their weapons into the backs of the defenseless disasters.
[Defeated 2★ Crystal Spider.]
[Reward: 30Exp / 2★ Crystal Spider]
Seo Ye-rin also didn’t miss the chance and hunted the fleeing disasters. Stabbing a weapon into the back of the head of a disaster trying to run away was easier than lying down and eating rice cakes. It was almost too easy.
“…S-class really is different.”
Seo Ye-rin honestly admired it. She had seen it from the helicopter last time, but the power of an S-class Awakened was far greater. Once Nam Juyeon became the focal point, stopping the eruption became nothing more than a simple pastime. His influence was too immense to be attributed to just one person. Even now, the massive dragon flying through the sky and breathing onto the ground seemed like a god descended upon the mortal realm. A holder of a 4★ disaster. It truly felt like commanding a god.
[Defeated 2★ Rootback Tree Spirit.]
[Reward: 30Exp / 2★ Rootback Tree Spirit]
“Team 7, how’s the situation over there?”
[There are many of them, but they’re all fleeing in panic.]
Just then, reports came in over the radio from the Awakened in the same team, saying they were dealing with the disasters scattered throughout Seoul Forest. There was no difficulty. Listening to the intermittent reports from other teams over the radio, it seemed no major incidents had occurred. Everything was going smoothly. This could all be attributed to the newly ascended S-class Awakened Nam Juyeon.
“Ah, right. The video.”
Forgetting she was on a mission, Seo Ye-rin took out her phone and filmed Nam Juyeon commanding Tempestra. With dawn breaking, the image of Tempestra flying through the sky was captured clearly on screen. This video would surely surpass 100 million views.
“…He’s cool.”
Sincerely, Seo Ye-rin thought that ordinary-looking man was cool. Unlike herself, who had hidden at home during the first eruption because she was afraid of disasters, Nam Juyeon had achieved a miracle without showing any fear even when dozens of people were dying during the Tempest Dragon subjugation. That sight even inspired a kind of faith.
“Huu. This isn’t the time for that.”
Seo Ye-rin snapped back to attention and cleaned up the surrounding area by hunting disasters. After some time, the number of disasters roaming within the jurisdiction gradually decreased. Just as Seo Ye-rin, who had finished cleaning up, picked up the radio to report, she felt something was off. At some point, the radio had become excessively quiet.
“…Seoul Forest? Can you hear me? What’s the situation? Why aren’t you answering?”
[…]
Only cold silence flowed from the radio. Even after turning the dial, thinking she might have the wrong frequency, there was no response.
“…Huh?”
Seo Ye-rin felt a chill. The sudden silence on the radio. At the same time, the surroundings were excessively quiet. It was too suspicious to think the disasters had all fled out of fear. The leader of Team 7 was none other than Seo Ye-rin herself. She had to fulfill her responsibility.
“…Hup.”
Letting out a small groan, Seo Ye-rin hurriedly ran toward Seoul Forest. Since all roads were blocked off, it didn’t take long. After running along the walking path for a while, Seo Ye-rin soon saw it. Two women standing in the middle of the park. And above their heads, five clearly visible stars.
5★ Scorched Saint Selene
5★ Storm of the North Sea Mirien
“…”
There was no way she wouldn’t know their names. The four great disasters standing at the pinnacle of the new world’s system. They were part of that. At the same time, Seo Ye-rin realized why the nearby disasters had fled. With two great disasters possessing overwhelming power present, there were no disasters that would dare approach the vicinity.
She reflexively hid behind a nearby tree and covered her mouth.
‘What are they talking about? No, more importantly, what about the Awakened in my team?’
Could they have been killed by them? However, Seo Ye-rin soon noticed the subtle atmosphere flowing between the two disasters. Though she was too far to hear the content of their conversation, Scorched Saint Selene had one hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist, and Storm of the North Sea Mirien was also pointing her index finger in the other’s direction. At the same time, both their expressions were cold. Even Seo Ye-rin, who was only watching from afar, felt a chill run down her spine.
‘Are those two… fighting?’
Whatever it was, it was a major incident. Seo Ye-rin carefully raised her phone camera and began filming the two of them.
*
The feelings the Scorched Saint Selene held toward her lord Actor were simple loyalty. Simple, yet an abyss whose depth could not be measured. Therefore, Selene could not overlook the schemes Mirien was plotting.
“Ascension Sect. Have you grown tired of building sandcastles? Are you planning to play house now?”
“Play house? That’s a bit harsh. Everything will become the foundation for Actor’s grand plan.”
Mirien snorted and retorted to Selene’s sarcasm. Though ordinary conversation passed between them, the atmosphere lingering between the two was anything but ordinary. Though the two had been temporary comrades under the Ruler of the Rift Actor, their true nature was that of great disasters who had annihilated an entire world. When the two showed hostility, nothing in the surroundings could approach.
Even the Hellfire Watchdog that had accompanied Selene couldn’t dare to come close and only circled the outskirts of the basin. In the explosive, bomb-like atmosphere, the Scorched Saint Selene opened her mouth.
“What do you intend to do by collecting disasters?”
Selene asked with a frown. The organization Mirien had created was a gathering of Awakened. She was building an army through the disasters held by the Awakened under her command. Having disasters command disasters was only temporarily possible in nests. However, Mirien was an irregular existence. She was attempting the expedient of brainwashing groups of Awakened to command disasters.
“What do you plan to do by leading your followers and gathering disasters?”
“I told you. It’s the Ascension Sect. We will transcend the heavens. Just as Actor did.”
“Those followers don’t seem to be following you of their own volition. Did you brainwash them?”
“That’s right. For now.”
Mirien nodded. She raised her hand and placed it on the crown of an Awakened she had just brainwashed. The unfocused Awakened was merely a pawn following Mirien’s words.
“But later, they will all understand.”
“Did you say the same to the hundreds of thousands of lives you killed in the previous dimension?”
“Shut up.”
In an instant, the atmosphere reversed. Lightning flashed across Mirien’s face.
“You whore, that’s not something you should say.”
“I suppose you’re right. We’ve both become quite skilled at killing.”
Selene gave a bitter smile and agreed. Mirien withdrew her lightning and continued speaking.
“You don’t need to worry, whore. Everything will be used as fertilizer for Actor. A stepping stone to realize his plan.”
“That’s quite a pleasant thing to hear, but it seems our lord doesn’t particularly welcome your deviations, Mirien.”
“I know. You told me. Actor chose you instead of me.”
Selene’s brow furrowed. A desperate smile rose on Mirien’s lips.
“But as you know, I’m the ambitious type.”
Mirien raised her finger and pointed at Selene. After a moment, her finger curled inward and rested on her own chest.
“I’m more useful to Actor than you are. Actor needs to know that fact too. This is the process of proving it.”
“You’ve interpreted my previous advice quite freely.”
“Shut up. Asteria, Karne, and you, Selene—if you stand in my way, you’re my enemy.”
“Do you have the courage to say that directly to our lord?”
At Selene’s sharp remark, Mirien’s face twisted. But only for a moment. Mirien chuckled and withdrew her hand.
“Don’t worry. When the time comes, Actor will understand. Because I’m destined to be his companion.”
“…Such petty pride. How can one be so ignorant?”
“More importantly.”
Cutting off Selene’s words, Mirien turned her gaze. She was a thorough mage. It was her habit to always check her surroundings before carrying out a major task. Mirien’s eyes turned to a distant point.
“It seems a rat is spying on us.”
“Yes. I’ve confirmed it as well. Shall I deal with it?”
“We should.”
Selene did not stop Mirien. If the two clashed in the current situation, their lord would not be pleased. However, dealing with the spy was something their lord would want. Even so, she couldn’t just let Mirien run wild. Selene closed one eye and spoke casually.
“…Just so you know, our lord dislikes killing.”
“…”
Mirien glanced sideways at Selene and frowned.
“I know that too.”
5★ Storm of the North Sea Mirien casts the skill “Chain Lightning.”
At the same time, a bolt of lightning shot out from her outstretched hand. The blue chain struck Awakened Seo Ye-rin behind the tree in the blink of an eye.