Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Thunder from the Clouds
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The emergence of the new species monster completely overturned what they thought was the end of the battle.
The lightning pouring down relentlessly without any chance to block it was nothing short of a disaster for the Hunters.
To escape this crisis, they needed to quickly subjugate the new monster, but right now, they couldn't even grasp its identity, let alone figure out how to deal with it.
Thanks to the thunderclouds, they couldn't even confirm its proper appearance, so all they could speculate on was its approximate size.
"The lightning rods are all set up!"
"Are they installed exactly where I instructed?"
"Yes! No doubt about it!"
Seo Sang-ho bit his lower lip while staring at the lightning that showed no signs of letting up.
He had thought setting up lightning rods would allow them to respond to some extent.
But perhaps because they were hastily made by people without specialized knowledge, they sadly had little effect.
"Damn it."
Without wasting a moment, Seo Sang-ho came up with the next plan.
Connecting communication with the mages, Seo Sang-ho immediately asked them.
"Can you snipe the monster hiding in those clouds?"
[It seems impossible.]
[It's too high up.]
The altitude of the clouds reached 34,200 feet.
The mages replied that even if their skills could reach it, the power would be greatly reduced.
In short, shooting it down with skills was impossible.
"Guess we'll have to get up close ourselves after all."
Though risky, the only feasible method right now was to use the helicopter the government had promised to provide.
"Good thing I requested it in advance."
It was far too dangerous for the Guild Master himself to approach a monster whose information was unknown.
But no other ideas came to mind immediately.
Seo Sang-ho steeled his resolve, overriding the objections of his executives, thinking this was exactly the time for him to step up.
"A helicopter is coming from over there!"
Looking up at the sky upon hearing a guild member's words, he saw a helicopter approaching from far away.
Seo Sang-ho witnessed the helicopter getting struck by a falling bolt of lightning right before his eyes.
Along with a flash of light, the lightning hit the helicopter dead-on, charring the people inside black.
"My God...."
The helicopter plummeted amid smoke, exploding massively upon impact with the ground.
Seo Sang-ho's face was filled only with desolation as he watched.
"How the hell did it hit the helicopter so precisely when it can't even distinguish friend from foe...?"
"It can't identify allies, but it seems it can detect targets' movements."
The one answering Seo Sang-ho's question wasn't a guild member—it was Kang Jin-hyuk.
Since it was a quite credible claim, Seo Sang-ho picked up the radio and issued new orders to the guild members.
"Send the drones we brought for filming toward the clouds one by one."
Shortly after the guild members began following the order, lightning struck from the sky several times.
The new species monster hit even drones less than 30cm in width and length with perfect accuracy, without a single miss.
They lost over ten expensive drones, but there was a harvest.
By varying the approach distances with each drone in experiments, they learned the new monster's detection range.
"Detection range over 1,000m radius. It hits with 100% accuracy if you approach beyond that?"
Hearing the guild member's report, Seo Sang-ho let out a hollow laugh without thinking.
At this rate, approaching by helicopter was nothing but suicide.
"How the hell are we supposed to take that thing down...."
While Seo Sang-ho grew despondent facing the impasse, Kang Jin-hyuk quietly glared at the clouds beside him.
* * *
Titan Guild members and most Hunters had taken shelter in the basement of a nearby building as a temporary evacuation site.
Only the minimum personnel remained on the surface to prevent monsters from breaking through the defensive line.
The Hunters gathered in the temporary shelter racked their brains together for a way to take down the new species monster.
Even veteran Hunters who had been through all sorts of battles pooled their heads, but no plausible solution emerged.
Time just flowed by meaninglessly. With no sharp ideas coming to mind, everyone grew increasingly anxious.
Finally, unable to endure it, a Titan executive asked Seo Sang-ho.
"Guild Master, is it really impossible for you to take down that monster?"
"My skill range is only about 300m at best. And you, an executive, don't even know that?"
"I'm asking even though I know."
If they could get within about 300m of the clouds somehow, Seo Sang-ho's skill could handle it.
The intent behind the executive's question was whether there was absolutely no way to achieve that approach.
In truth, there was one slim possibility.
It was for Seo Sang-ho alone to jump down from an even higher altitude that the new monster couldn't detect, reaching within range.
Hearing that plan from the executive, Seo Sang-ho furrowed his brow.
"You want me to dive?"
"An S-rank Hunter's body might endure it."
"Not your body, so you're spouting nonsense."
S-rank Hunters had superior physical abilities compared to others, but that didn't make them invincible.
If he failed to shoot it down from 34,000 feet and fell, even an S-rank Hunter wouldn't leave a single piece of corpse behind.
"Shut your mouth unless you're coming with me. I'm not staking my life on uncertain odds."
"...My apologies."
The retreated executive received glares from the other colleagues.
No matter how dire the situation, demanding sacrifice from the Guild Master was crossing the line.
As the mood sank heavily with Seo Sang-ho's cold expression, another executive spoke up.
"Then we'll have no choice but to wait for other S-rank Hunters."
"Right. Like the Getia Guild Master, for example...."
"Getia? You think those guys would help us?"
They were a guild that gathered only the top Hunters who had transferred to mages.
Not only did every member hold A-rank or higher, but like Titan, their Guild Master's rank reached S.
Their skills were guaranteed, but they lacked humanity.
Their sole purpose was investigation and analysis of monsters.
Even if someone was dying right next to them, they wouldn't lift a finger if it deviated from their objectives.
Recalling the arrogance the Getia Guild members had shown, Seo Sang-ho frowned.
"I'd have better luck praying to a glass of cold water than hoping those bastards help."
"Well, this time might be different, don't you think?"
"On what basis?"
"The monster that appeared in the sky is a 'new species' with no sighted information."
The Titan executive argued that Getia would actively cooperate to obtain info on the new monster.
Despite how plausible it sounded, Seo Sang-ho shook his head.
"That's exactly why it's a problem. What if they pull some scheme to preserve the monster's corpse as much as possible?"
"What's the issue with that? We just need to kill it."
"It's not that simple."
For the bewildered executive, Seo Sang-ho continued the explanation.
"Who can stop a 500m monster corpse crashing from over 30,000 feet?"
"Ah...."
Only then did the executive realize the problem he had overlooked.
Hunting this new species monster that appeared wouldn't be solved by just thinking of ways to kill it.
Since it emerged in the middle of the city, they also needed to minimize damage.
"Can't we lure it to a river or the sea?"
"With what?"
The Hunter who made the suggestion fell silent at Seo Sang-ho's question and backed off.
Everyone had vague plans, but none could think of concrete ways to execute them.
Such half-baked ideas couldn't resolve this incident.
1. Hunt a monster at 35,000ft altitude that snipes a 1km radius with lightning.
2. Prevent its 500m body from crashing into the city.
They had to solve these two dilemmas simultaneously to fully resolve the crisis.
"This is driving me mad."
Even as they pondered, wasting time, the attacks from the monster in the clouds continued.
The number of lightning strikes increased, as if mocking their flimsy lightning rods.
Already, serious injuries numbered 43, and deaths had reached 12.
Despite the rising casualties, Seo Sang-ho couldn't tell them to evacuate.
Monsters not fully cleared remained on the ground, so they needed to keep the defensive line manned.
Seo Sang-ho was forcing sacrifices on the Hunters using his position.
He was fully aware of how cruel that was.
"Damn it all...."
As anxiety piled up proportional to the passing time, an emergency line connected to Seo Sang-ho.
[Guild Master! The right flank defensive line has collapsed!]
One of the reports he didn't want to hear had finally come.
He had anticipated it would happen eventually.
It was just sooner than expected.
"I remember we had sufficient numbers there. It already collapsed?"
[Because more than half fled... we couldn't hold it anymore.]
Hearing the report, Seo Sang-ho let out a deep sigh onto the table.
Since he was just racking his brains from a safe spot, he couldn't blame them for fleeing to survive.
"Got it. We'll send support from here, so hold out for 5 minutes."
[Understood!]
Ending the call, Seo Sang-ho looked around at the Hunters in the shelter.
Seeing all the Titan executives gathered without fail, a wry smile escaped him.
'They want to save their own skins, huh.'
Seo Sang-ho didn't want to be treated the same as those people and wanted to head out as rescue immediately.
But if he, the core of Titan, abandoned the meeting for the battlefield, it would only cause a graver situation.
After biting his lip in thought for a moment, Seo Sang-ho made a request to the Hunters.
"I need people to support the right flank defensive line. Is there anyone willing to volunteer?"
It was a call to head to a battlefield with lightning falling and monsters rampaging, so not many stepped up right away.
Still, thanks to those with a sense of responsibility, they managed about 10 people.
Seo Sang-ho bowed his head to those who volunteered.
"I'll pay triple the promised amount."
"Can we even receive it if we're dead?"
At the joke from one of the Hunters, Seo Sang-ho showed a complicated expression.
Even though they weren't guild-affiliated Hunters, they were stepping up willingly—words of gratitude weren't enough.
The Hunters patted Seo Sang-ho's shoulder once each and headed out of the shelter.
Watching the scene quietly, Kang Jin-hyuk walked toward the table.
"I have a question."
As executives moved to say something to the unknown C-rank Hunter, Seo Sang-ho raised his hand to stop them.
"What do you want to know?"
"How much of that monster in the clouds do I need to shred for you to handle the remaining wreckage?"
"Even considering it just as a lump of meat by weight, one-third is the limit."
Given the fall height and weight, more than that and Seo Sang-ho's body couldn't take it.
"Then come out and get ready when I contact you."
At Kang Jin-hyuk's words, Seo Sang-ho and the Titan executives stared with blank expressions.
"Does that mean you can take down that monster?"
"Not sure, but I'll give it a try."
"Give it a try...."
While Seo Sang-ho trailed off in disbelief, Titan executive 'Han Young-seok' stepped forward beside him.
"Are you kidding right now? Who the hell are you to step up in this situation?"
"I have something I want to test out."
Han Young-seok scoffed at Kang Jin-hyuk, treating him dismissively.
He knew Kang Jin-hyuk's face well—the one who had knocked out Ahn Do-yoon with a baseball bat.
He had investigated to get revenge someday since the guy had tarnished the guild's reputation.
"A mere C-rank Hunter. What can you even do?"
"Better than just sitting here uselessly."
At that moment, Han Young-seok flushed red with rising anger.
Kang Jin-hyuk's words felt like mocking them for doing something useless.
"Fine, if you put it that way. If you take down that monster, I'll add extra rewards. But if you fail, all rewards from this battle are gone for you."
It was tantamount to coercion—promising rewards only if he succeeded where even S-rank Hunters failed.
But Kang Jin-hyuk didn't care at all about the unreasonable demand.
"Forget rewards. Just don't whine later about handing over the monster corpse."
"W-What did you say?!"
Han Young-seok couldn't tolerate a mere C-rank Hunter talking back to him, an executive of a major guild.
However, before Han Young-seok could press further, Seo Sang-ho reached out and stopped him.
"Why are you stopping me!"
As Han Young-seok vented in anger, Seo Sang-ho looked at him with pitiful eyes.
Then, without responding, he turned and began discussing countermeasures with the other Hunters.
Seeing Seo Sang-ho's attitude, Han Young-seok ground his teeth.
* * *
Over 30 minutes had passed since Kang Jin-hyuk left the temporary shelter.
At first, hearing he had passed the defensive line and gone outside, they had some expectation—maybe he really had a way.
But with no news since, it now felt suspicious.
'Was it just talk to escape?'
Even Seo Sang-ho, who had viewed Kang Jin-hyuk positively, couldn't help doubting this time.
He knew Kang Jin-hyuk's abilities were outstanding, but this situation stumped even him, an S-rank Hunter.
Swinging a baseball bat well wouldn't solve it.
'Either he was trying to run, or it was pure bravado. One or the other.'
While contacting other S-rank Hunters and seeking ways to break the crisis, Seo Sang-ho forgot about Kang Jin-hyuk and stopped minding his words.
Then, at a completely unexpected time, his smartphone on the table rang with a call from Kang Jin-hyuk.
[Get ready.]
The call ended after that short phrase.
Seo Sang-ho wondered what nonsense this was.
It was beyond half-belief—it held zero credibility.
'Get ready? No way?'
What trick could a C-rank Hunter have up his sleeve to say that?
Thinking it a waste of time and about to ignore it—
A roar penetrated the shelter walls, overpowering even the thunder.
"W-What's that?!"
Hearing the earth-shaking sound, Seo Sang-ho bolted from his seat and rushed outside.
Looking straight up at the sky, his eyes caught a streak of light just crossing the heavens.
And then.
The agonized scream of the new species monster that had tormented the Hunters until now echoed out.