Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Fall of Shin-Gangnam's Fortress
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The battle erupting in Shin-Gangnam drew intense scrutiny from not just the people of Korea, but the entire global hunter community as well. It featured the renowned Seoul Guild and their top elites, the Gangnam Aces.
Everyone was curious how they'd counter the golden demon knight's side, especially with a dragon in the mix. As a special forces unit with a worldwide reputation, people figured we'd get a real glimpse of their power.
But reality turned out to be a total, humiliating rout.
***
Incheon, Blue Dragon Guild's artificial island.
『Aaaagh! Save me!』
『Damn it! What the hell is this!』
『Folks, something unbelievable is happening right now. The bulwark of Shin-Gangnam, the Gangnam Aces, are collapsing in spectacular fashion.』
"Serves those bastards right. Always acting so high and mighty, and now look—getting wrecked from lack of real combat experience. Heh heh heh."
Even though they'd received a plea for backup, the Blue Dragon Guild was openly ignoring it, claiming they were "preparing."
They'd always resented Seoul Guild for thumbing their noses at subjugation orders and strutting around with their pride. Seeing them finally trip up and get smashed hard was deeply satisfying, just as hoped.
"But that golden demon knight is way stronger than we thought, isn't he? At this level, calling him SS-rank wouldn't even be an exaggeration."
"Where the hell did a monster like that come from?"
"If we knew that, we wouldn't be sitting here like this. More importantly, the crisis isn't over yet. Check that out—the barrier's starting to crumble."
On the screen, the gold dragon was blasting its breath, slicing through Shin-Gangnam's barrier like a laser cutter through steel.
Of course, the Hunter Association and military weren't just standing by, but since the dragon was working from inside the barrier, intervening was extremely difficult.
『...The Ministry of National Defense says the target is operating in a blind spot inside the 'barrier,' making missile strikes via fighter jets or helicopters far too risky. They're planning a special operation using hunters instead.』
『Seoul Guild has announced they're rapidly reorganizing hunter teams to defend 'Shin-Gangnam' and have officially told civilians to stay put in shelters without exception.』
『The section of the 'Shin-Gangnam' barrier the gold dragon is breaching faces south toward 'Constellation Mountain Fortress.' If it's destroyed, repairs will take a huge hit. Plus, if scavengers learn that 'Shin-Gangnam's' security is crumbling...』
『Right now, stocks for companies tied to 'Shin-Gangnam' and 'Seoul Guild' are plummeting in real time. Foreign investors who poured money in betting on strong defenses are pulling out en masse, and the slide is expected to continue. The government and Ministry of Economy and Finance are scrambling to contain the fallout from this shock...』
Just one battle, and evaluations of Seoul Guild and the Gangnam Aces had already tanked, with ripple effects hitting immediately.
If even the supposedly impregnable symbol of Shin-Gangnam—the barrier—fell, the fallout would balloon disastrously, dragging down all of Korea.
To prevent that, Seoul Guild was throwing everything they had, even begging the other three major guilds for aid. But it was too late, leading to this mess.
"But we can't just sit on our hands. Send out a few recon teams for intel gathering."
"Yes, understood."
"We have to uncover that golden demon knight's identity, no matter what."
Go Cheonsu, the guild master, figured they might not be targeted now, but who knew about later? He issued orders while keeping his eyes glued to the TV.
The already sliced-up section of Shin-Gangnam's barrier lost balance and came crashing down.
『Oh nooo! It's collapsing! The fortress of 'Shin-Gangnam'! The barrier's falling! The wall toward 'Constellation Mountain Fortress' is completely down—evacuations are done, but it's sweeping up the Hunter Management Office, and 'Shin-Gangnam's' perimeter is breached!』
"Heh, the scavengers and those bastards will love that."
"Guild Master, the fight's not over yet. Look at this."
Chae Ji-young showed him her phone screen, displaying two figures facing off in front of Seoul Guild's headquarters.
The golden demon knight—and another knight in dark blue armor standing opposite him.
It was Seoul Guild's guild master, Park Soonwon, appointed as the successor who bore the mission to protect Seoul after the inaugural guild master.
『There he is at last! Not the support-type S-rank hunter Oh Kyung-hoon, but a true frontline S-rank!』
『'Seoul's Guardian Knight' Park Soonwon Guild Master steps up himself. Head-on collision with the 'Golden Demon Knight' imminent! To reclaim their tarnished honor, he's just drawn his blade!』
"...Everywhere else is doom-and-gloom news, but here it's like a damn sports broadcast. Heh heh."
"Trash reporters are all the same."
"Record the footage, and tell the recon teams to split off and get on-site direct shots."
Go Cheonsu barked orders at his subordinates while watching the live coverage.
Clashes between S-rank hunters were rare, so this fight would yield valuable data. Collecting it was a must.
Meanwhile, Seoul Guild's guild master drew his sword, pointed it, and began speaking.
***
In front of Seoul Guild headquarters.
My original goal was just to buy time while Eldraen wrecked Shin-Gangnam's barrier, so holing up here was plenty.
But as I waited, this middle-aged guy in dark blue armor suddenly showed up, pointing his sword at me and taunting.
"Golden Demon Knight! I am Seoul Guild's guild master—and Seoul's Guardian Knight, Park Soonwon. To restore our guild's fallen honor and end needless sacrifices, I challenge you to a one-on-one duel. Judging by your form and how it reacts to my skills and traits, you're a 'knight class' too! Face me honorably!"
"...Nah, we've done our thing. No reason to accept..."
[Our captain's stooong! Of course we're accepting!]
[Hmm hah hah! Can't pass up a knightly duel.]
Why are you guys deciding for me?
Why's the duel set without my say?
But they just gave me thumbs-up silently, parting ways like they expected me to fight.
'Now that it's come to this, if I back out, the knightly traits will throw a fit again, right?'
I was used to it by now, so whatever—I stepped forward.
But it was a fight I had zero interest in.
This guy who'd let Shin-Gangnam turn into this shitshow talking about honor? It was so absurd I couldn't help sneering.
"Come on in, knight of the sewer. Happy to entertain you."
"Sewer...?"
"Anyone guarding rat bastards like Chairman Bae is a sewer knight, obviously. Duh~ And for Seoul's Guardian Knight, you sure spend less time patrolling the whole city and more ass-kissing Shin-Gangnam donors... Anal-Sucking Knight fits better."
My jabs hit so hard, I half-expected steam to rise from his armor.
As head of one of Korea's top three guilds—with a solid global rep—no way he could stomach that humiliation.
"To dare insult me, the pillar defending Seoul..."
"Pillar my ass. You're more like a rotten cockstem..."
"Golden Demon Knight! I won't let this insult slide. Take thiiiis!"
Unable to hold back, Park Soonwon Guild Master charged first, his body wreathed in blue light.
I met him head-on, swinging Titan's Pile Driver full-force to end it in one blow.
I had no desire to drag this filthy fight out, so I went all-in to insta-kill.
"Haat!"
"Oh?"
Crunch!
Our weapons clashed, the shockwave and recoil shattering the concrete floor.
I was genuinely surprised—never been pushed on raw strength by any awakener before. First real equal.
'Shouldn't be surprised, though! Damn it!'
"What? Impossible! Equal to me even with Oh Kyung-hoon's buffs? What the hell are you?"
'Sure enough, he got buffs from the guy leading the Gangnam Aces?'
An S-rank hunter buffed by a support-type S-rank could absolutely hit this stat potential.
Plus, as a top guild master, his gear was elite.
But close match or not, I wasn't scared.
Even if we were neck-and-neck enough not to get one-shot, prolonged fight meant my martial talent skill would edge me ahead.
'More importantly, nice sword. Clashed with Titan's Pile Driver and no damage. Hephaestus craftsmanship too?'
"Haaat! Nine Elders Slash!"
The moment he unleashed his first skill, I had to revise my assessment.
He rushed with it, but it was so predictable and telegraphed, it bored me.
'No martial talent XP even close to this guy's. How'd he even hit S-rank? You need to solo A-ranks or higher in droves for that spot—not Leghorn-tier.'
His skill-laced barrage wrecked the surroundings and shook the ground, but I barely budged.
Sure, solid S-rank hunter matching my stats, but... lacking substance?
'The Blue Dragon Guild clowns were better.'
"Urk! Hah... hah..."
Boom!
Blown back by my strike, Park Soonwon Guild Master gasped in exhaustion.
I could tell what was wrong.
His fight gaps were huge—he'd drifted too far from the frontlines, forgetting battle rhythm entirely.
'Can't even control breathing. Unbelievable.'
"Urk! Ngh! H-how..."
"You should've quit while you were ahead."
Fine against weaker foes, but against equals or better? The gap showed.
Decades of gained strength wasted by sloth and Seoul Guild politics, now getting outmatched.
"Damn it! How can this be!"
'Better finish him while I have the edge?'
Shin-Gangnam and I were beyond reconciliation now.
Killing him clean would eliminate future threats.
With stat gap closed, regaining his old form mid-fight would make him dangerous.
'Gotcha.'
Clang!
The moment I parried seriously, a huge opening appeared.
Weapons might match, but helmets transmit lethal shocks to the skull.
"Die."
"S-save me!"
Whoom!
I swung Titan's Pile Driver without reply—but no satisfying impact, just a faint light flicker.
Obviously teleported out with magic right before.
If you're gonna pussy out, why even challenge to a duel? Ridiculous.
'Well, I'd run too if losing...'
Still, leaving empty-handed felt off. Time for a parting gift.
I steadied my breath, channeling all remaining mana into Titan's Pile Driver.
Then, I activated the second skill of Overlord Knight Yuchan—the one I'd saved for the barrier.
"Boundary of earth and sky, the horizon! I swing this blade along your path to cleave sun and moon! Overlord Heavenly Sword Style, Chapter 3—Horizon Slash."
Zwing!
A massive diagonal slash. A golden line like the horizon traced its path.
Seoul Guild HQ crumbled along it, panicked screams echoing from inside.
"That'll do. Let's go."
Thus, the impregnable barrier gaped wide open southward. The arrogant top-three Seoul Guild and Gangnam Aces were thoroughly crushed.
Now Shin-Gangnam could never strut with that dogshit pride or flaunt its arrogance again.
Satisfied, I left via Eldraen's magic, heading straight through the collapsed southern wall.