Chapter 23
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: The Distorted Prophecy (1)
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Sejong City, Korea's premier administrative hub.
The usually bustling streets, filled with commuters, were now swarming not with residents but with soldiers, reporters, YouTubers, and Hunters.
Countless cameras focused on the reporters and the mountain looming behind them—Mount Wonsu Peak.
"Hello! This is Hunting TV, your go-to channel for Hunter news. Behind me, where the barricades are set up, is the site where what appears to be the world's highest-difficulty Gate yet—a C-rank Gate—is expected to emerge."
The people filming varied wildly, but their reports all centered on the Gate and the Hunters set to tackle it.
And among those reports, one introduction kept repeating.
"This C-rank Gate has drawn special attention because it was foretold by the enigmatic government-affiliated Awakener known as the 'Prophet'—right from the moment Awakeners first appeared in the world."
Footage played of the Prophet highlighting the prophecy: multiple Gates would appear worldwide, Awakeners would reshape society, and a formidable C-rank Gate would emerge.
Originally shown secretly during Awakener rank assessments, it had leaked from a covert recording.
"So far, the only confirmed C-rank Gate has been in the United States, cleared only after massive involvement from their S-rank and A-rank Hunters. Eyes are on whether Korea can clear this one with our own forces."
Director Han Sung-hoon of the National Crisis Management Center watched the reporters spouting their takes and let out a pitying sigh.
"What a bunch of bullshit artists."
Lieutenant Han Si-yeon, standing beside him, bowed her head awkwardly.
"I'm sorry. I tried my best to hold them back, but..."
She trailed off, and Han Sung-hoon scoffed.
"Hold them back? The moment the Prophet's existence leaked, this was inevitable. Besides, that footage didn't come from the testing center you oversaw."
In short, it wasn't her fault, so no need to worry—but she still hung her head under the weight of responsibility.
"More importantly, the real question is whether we can clear this Gate. Even America paid a heavy price for theirs. Can we really pull it off alone...?"
Han Sung-hoon trailed off, shooting a resentful glare at the foreigners lounging comfortably at a distance, watching the spectacle.
They looked like ordinary tourists, but prior intel confirmed they were Hunters from abroad. His disdain was inevitable.
"Sure, it's fun watching a fire across the river—but coming right up to spy like this?"
"Still, you never know. Unlikely, but if a Gate Break happens, they might help..."
"Nonsense. What kind of flowery fantasy is that?"
Han Sung-hoon let out a wry, self-mocking chuckle.
"If a Break starts, they'll bolt the second they sense it. Don't you know how Hunters are treated in their own countries right now? This could turn into an international incident."
As Lieutenant Han Si-yeon struggled for a response, a murmur rose, and camera crews surged toward one spot.
Han Sung-hoon glanced over, and she reported immediately.
"That's the guild slated to participate this time."
His eyebrow twitched at "guild."
Soon after Awakeners emerged, powerful Hunters had banded together into groups for survival.
Guilds weren't yet formally established, and Korea had fewer than ten—but as organizations of elite Hunters, their influence was massive.
"Strongest Guild? Is it the strongest, or just named that way?"
"...Just the name."
She answered softly, prompting a hollow laugh from him.
Undeterred, the Strongest Guild Hunters puffed out their chests proudly for the cameras, introducing themselves.
He sneered, but among the crowd, they were popular as a major guild boasting over a hundred members, including multiple A-ranks.
After the Strongest Guild arrived, other participating Hunters began gathering.
Lieutenant Han Si-yeon listed them off: Strongest Guild, Dragon Guild, Republic Guild. Han Sung-hoon checked his documents and sighed in relief.
"At least they're not scrubs. We set the bar at B-rank minimum, and the guilds mobilized eighty from their ranks."
"Yes, sir. With a hundred-person limit for this C-rank Gate, we've assembled only Korea's top elites."
She replied briskly, glad for a topic.
Even larger nations with more land and population would struggle to muster this many high-rankers. Filling a hundred B-ranks-plus eased his tense expression.
Watching guild Hunters give interviews, Han Sung-hoon spotted something and tilted his head.
"Who are those people?"
"Who do you... Oh!"
She spotted Kang Sa-hu's group and brightened.
"Remember the Hunter you granted EX-rank to?"
"EX-rank? Oh, the one where the Monolith glitched during measurement, so we made an exception."
He rubbed his temple wearily.
Awakeners had brought endless headaches, and Kang Sa-hu—with his unprecedented EX-rank—was one of them.
"Why call in that Hunter? EX means unconfirmed rank. Is their skill guaranteed?"
She swallowed hard at the sharp question.
"Yes, sir. I verified personally and recommended them."
"...Hm. If you say so."
Her rare self-endorsement piqued his interest; he eyed Kang Sa-hu curiously.
Unlike guilds that ran YouTube channels, appeared on TV for fame, Kang Sa-hu's group flew under the radar—no reporters swarmed them.
Soldiers even mistook them for non-participants, stopping them for ID checks and apologies.
"Quite the different treatment from the others."
Lee Yu-rim glanced around as she spoke; Kim Ho-myeong picked up.
"Other Hunters have hustled for recognition. Some guilds prioritize TV over Gates."
"Yeah, it's early days for Awakeners. Most prefer fame without risking their necks."
Bae Deok-ho nodded understandingly, but Kang Ji-ye grumbled.
"Damn, we've been grinding Gates non-stop... Oppa! After this, let's do other stuff too! Not just chasing Gates forever!"
"Sure, we'll do that."
No reason to refuse, so Kang Sa-hu agreed easily.
Of course, he had no intention of doing TV or YouTube himself—but they didn't need to know that.
Once all Hunters assembled, a soldier used a megaphone to gather them.
With prior briefings on Gate details, no further explanation was needed.
Han Sung-hoon took the makeshift podium as they gathered.
"Thank you all for risking your lives to join this hunt. The Gate forms in ten minutes—hunting begins then."
He scanned the Hunters, pausing to eye the cameras and drones behind them.
Opting for brevity, he concluded:
"Please return safely, having protected our nation. Thank you."
The short speech suited Hunters who'd already received intel via official channels.
Guild members gripped their gear, faces tense, staring at the spawn point.
Woooong...
The Gate formed thirty minutes early.
Usually precise, everyone chalked it up to C-rank variance amid the tension.
A humming filled the air as a blue ring appeared mid-air, solidifying into the Gate.
True to C-rank, it towered over ten meters high and wide.
As impatient Hunters moved to enter, soldiers lined the path.
"Unit, attention!"
They snapped straight at the command.
Hunters paused, and the next order rang out.
"Salute the Hunters deploying to defend our nation!"
"Sir! Yes, sir!"
The soldiers saluted sharply.
That single gesture straightened spines; even casual Hunters entered proudly.
"Whoa... so cool..."
Kang Ji-ye beamed at the saluting troops, awkwardly returning it with a stern face.
Soldiers' eyes widened at the young Hunter among them, mixing worry, expectation, pity, and pride.
Hunters filed in under those gazes.
Kang Sa-hu's group followed, with military Hunters last.
Woooong...
As the hundred entered, the Gate shifted yellow.
Foreign Hunters whipped out phones, calling or texting.
Han Sung-hoon stared grimly at the Gate Lieutenant Han Si-yeon had entered.
A soldier burst from the command tent.
"S-Sir! Reporting as ordered!"
Han Sung-hoon sighed, immersion broken.
But direct reports weren't routine; he nodded to accept the salute.
"What is it?"
"S-Sorry, sir! Hotline call—skipped protocol!"
His face hardened at "hotline."
Gate just formed, Hunters inside—now this?
Snatching the receiver, he barked his rank.
"Communications security! Director Han Sung-hoon. What—"
A shout cut him off.
[Hold operations! Keep everyone out—Gate's not formed yet, five minutes left! No one enters!]
"Communications? What do you—"
Screams erupted around him.
Everyone—Hunters, soldiers, reporters—pointed at the Gate, shrieking.
He whirled, eyes bulging in horror.
[The prophecy failed! Just got word from the Prophet!]
Explanations poured from the phone, but his gaze locked on the spinning, expanding Gate.
Trees uprooted around it; a military vehicle crumpled like paper on impact.
[This isn't C-rank! Do NOT let Hunters in! Korea can't handle it alone—we need global Hunters! This Gate is unprecedented...!]
As shouts continued, Han Sung-hoon lifted his horrified face.
His neck strained to see the end.
[It's B-rank!!]
At the end of his gaze loomed a Gate at least twenty meters tall and wide, glaring at the world like a baleful eye.