S University Monster Outbreak and the Birth of the Prophet

The first appearance of the 1st-class monster known as the infinitely evolving lizard was in New York. At first, the American government assumed it was nothing special and casually dispatched three B-class Awakeners. That decision would later be called the worst mistake in U.S. history. The lizard's true power revealed itself the longer the battle dragged on. Its body regenerated no matter how fiercely it was attacked, growing steadily until it reached adult size—twice as large as the Statue of Liberty. Its ability to adapt to anything left it completely unharmed even by nuclear strikes. If left unchecked, it had the potential to claim the top spot among all 1st-class monsters.

In the end, the United States succeeded in killing it only after sacrificing ninety-six lives out of a combined force of one hundred eighty-five: twenty of their own S-class Awakeners, fifteen more S-class hunters who rushed over on request, and one hundred fifty additional personnel. That was the kind of power required for a monster to earn 1st-class designation—the strength to threaten the entire world.

Gulp.

I swallowed hard, throat tight with tension. I never imagined we'd run into that damn lizard here…! At a time like this, I couldn't help resenting my invisible older sister. The two of us watched the creature's movements from the rooftop. It wasn't smashing buildings; it seemed to be searching for people.

"I texted the guild master already."

"What did she say?"

"When I told her it was the lizard, she said she's heading straight here from Busan."

"That's insane."

"Just shows how big a deal that thing is."

The lizard's reputation was so fearsome ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that it was worth dropping everything and racing from Busan to Seoul. After all, the creature had once forced America to abandon New York, the world's premier economic hub.

"At least it's still a juvenile for now…."

An adult was twice the height of the Statue of Liberty, but this one looked only about a third that size. Can we actually bring it down…?

The reason the U.S. had struggled was because they'd allowed it to turn the fight into a war of attrition. Overwhelming firepower before it reached maturity was the key to victory.

"The problem is…"

"We have no idea how much firepower is enough…."

One wrong move and Seoul could end up like New York.

The scolding started the instant the call connected. She had to be watching from somewhere. All of this came from not understanding how dangerous the lizard truly was. I quickly explained its strength and adaptive abilities.

"Did you not hear me? Attacking that thing will turn Seoul into another New York!"

…

Her voice rang with absolute certainty, but Rona still felt uneasy. If Seoul really did end up like New York, the responsibility would fall on her shoulders.

Ha-im hung up and let out a long sigh.

"…Let's get ready."

"…!"

She pulled a black spear from the shadows. Her expression made it clear she was dead serious.

"Are you actually going through with this? If it turns out like New York…"

"…I believe her. She's always slacking off, glued to her games like some shut-in, but when it comes to her abilities, she's the real deal."

After all, she could always find the ice cream and snacks Ha-im tried to hide. There had to be a way this time too.

Ha-im leaped off the rooftop without another word. Watching her, Rona clutched her head.

"Argh! Forget it!"

Rona jumped down and landed beside her. Ha-im gave her a puzzled look.

"What? You're not transforming?"

"If we're not actually killing it, what's the point?"

Up close, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the lizard's size was overwhelming. It was hard to believe it was still a juvenile. Ha-im hurled her spear straight at its eye.

The lizard clutched its impaled eye and screamed in agony.

"For now, minimize direct attacks. Focus on luring it."

"Got it."

Before the creature could pursue, the pair sprinted away at full speed. The lizard immediately gave chase, moving far faster than its massive bulk suggested. As the gap closed, Ha-im paused, summoned more weapons from the surrounding shadows, and unleashed them at the monster.

Swords, spears, arrows—every weapon sank into its hide, drawing another agonized roar.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Rona panicked at Ha-im's aggression. She couldn't possibly have forgotten about the creature's adaptive ability.

"We'll have to face it properly later anyway. This much is fine."

"We'll talk about it later. Right now we need to keep luring it toward the field."

They raced toward the university playground. If a fight broke out there, at least there were no nearby buildings to worry about. The lizard hesitated briefly after the sudden barrage but kept pursuing. Ha-im summoned more shadow weapons to slow it down, but this time the attacks bounced off harmlessly.

"It adapted after just one hit? Are you kidding me?!"

"That's why I told you not to attack!"

It really was the same 1st-class monster that had devastated New York. Normal attacks were already useless.

"Tch, it's still coming. So damn annoying…!"

This time Rona whirled around and unleashed her breath attack. The hide—harder than steel—burned away completely. Yet the charred flesh regenerated in seconds, and the lizard grew even larger.

Its roar was noticeably louder than before. It had definitely grown stronger. Sensing the rising threat, the pair ran even faster. Rona fired another breath mid-stride, but the lizard had already adapted; this time the attack left no mark.

Before long they reached the natural-grass field. They paused, staring at the monster's colossal form. Just as the thought We're dead crossed their minds—

Ring ring~!

The phone rang again. Ha-im snatched it up immediately.

"What do we do now?! Tell me quick!"

The moment the words left the speaker, a gigantic array spread across the ground and blazed with golden light. Both girls felt their lives flash before their eyes. Rona unfurled her wings and shot skyward at full speed while Ha-im, too ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠far to fly, stabbed her spear into the earth and used it as a lever to fling herself outside the array's boundary.

Once safely clear, they turned to check on the lizard. A towering golden amber pillar now split the sky above the field, sealing the creature inside. It was completely immobilized, fused with the pillar itself. Yet somehow it still felt alive.

Footsteps approached.

"Took you long enough."

The irritating voice from behind made Ha-im scowl as she spun around.

"Why'd you wait until now?! You couldn't have just said to lure it to the field from the start?!"

"I don't know the university layout that well."

What if the spot I'd chosen wasn't suitable for the array? It was far easier to divine the direction they would flee and prepare in advance.

Meanwhile Rona stared at the lizard trapped within the pillar.

"By the way… how are we supposed to clean up a pillar this huge? The cost is going to be enormous…."

"Don't worry. The divination says this location has the best feng shui."

"Huh? What does that even mean?"

Vrrrrrr~

"…?"

"Here she comes."

The sudden thud of helicopter rotors filled the air. When they looked up, a sword-wielding woman leaped from the hovering craft. She sliced the massive pillar into a thousand pieces in an instant before landing gracefully.

Ha-im picked up one of the shattered amber fragments and examined it.

"…!"

A tiny piece of flesh inside the gem was still twitching. It was alive.

"Guild master!"

Rona waved enthusiastically.

The woman who had descended from the sky was none other than Kim Mi-hyang, guild master of the Hae-yeon Guild.

"Rona, what on earth happened? I heard a lizard hatchling appeared and called in every guild I could reach."

"Haha, well…"

Rona trailed off, glancing around. She'd hoped for backup, but both Ha-im and Seong-a had vanished. It looked like they were leaving the entire aftermath to her.

"I'll explain everything later…."

"…?"

Just thinking about the mountain of paperwork waiting back at the guild made her feel drained.

We strolled along the street, taking in the surroundings.

"Hmm. Lots of new shops have popped up."

"You came here eight years ago?"

"Yeah. The school picked a few students for a university preview tour."

I remembered visiting S University back then. Of course, that was before I got struck by lightning and ended up dropping out of middle school right before high school.

Ha-im stared at my face intently. What was with her?

"…Oppa, don't you want to try going to university?"

I frowned before she even finished speaking.

"University? Me?"

I was twenty-four. At this age I'd have no friends ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and end up eating every meal alone.

"You were a good student. Weren't you always in the top ten?"

"Was I? It's been so long I barely remember."

"We went to the same middle school. You know only the top ten got in, right?"

I shrugged.

"I just got lucky that year."

"Who gets into the top ten by luck?!"

Ha-im gave me an incredulous stare. She never let anything slide.

"Plus the school pulled all the top students for advanced high-school prep courses."

"I don't really remember. Maybe Mom and Dad made me?"

"I remember them telling you not to do it!"

Of course they had—out of worry. I'd already claimed top ranks at Seoul's best middle school through sheer willpower. Adding advanced coursework on top might have endangered my health.

"Sorry, but that was all thanks to the academy."

"That's ridiculous. Then every academy student would be top of the class. And you only went to the one closest to home!"

"The instructor must have been one of those secret top lecturers from Daechi-dong."

No matter what I said, my little sister refused to drop it.

"Come on! Just attend university with me!"

"Tsk. Stop it. I know you just want a convenient upperclassman to show off."

"…!"

Struck right in the sore spot, Ha-im pouted and fell silent. For some reason I found it funny.

"Pfft. Besides, it's been years. I wouldn't remember any of the material."

"You can just study it again!"

"Pass. Let's go. Food's getting cold."

"Ugh, always changing the subject… Fine, let's go! I give up."

We headed home in companionable silence, ate dinner, and went to bed. The next day, while searching for useful information for my stream, I stumbled across a strange article. The title alone was bizarre.