Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Undead Stampede at Chilseong Mountain
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'Way more than I expected.'
In his previous life, the number of magic beasts that had burst out from the failed raid on the raid dungeon had been around five hundred.
And they were all 5-star grade magic beasts, no less.
Five hundred 5-star magic beasts had been nothing short of a catastrophe.
Yet now, word was that countless 5-star magic beasts had appeared?
"What kind are they? Undead types?"
"Ah, yes. That's right. How did you know?"
Choi Jung-hoon looked stunned as he countered Shin Yu-hyun's question.
"Just a hunch."
Shin Yu-hyun brushed it off casually.
'So it's the same as my past life.'
In his previous life, the magic beasts emerging from the invasion gate were presumed to be the same undead types as those from the 5-star Monolith Dungeon.
With similar grades and types, it had taken even longer to realize what was happening.
If they hadn't spotted the slowly closing invasion gate, they might never have figured it out.
"What's the situation?"
"We've issued an evacuation alert for the residents. But with so many residential areas, I'm not sure we can get everyone out in time..."
Choi Jung-hoon trailed off.
Apartments and houses clustered at the base of Chilseong Mountain.
Protecting the residents from hundreds of magic beasts descending the mountain was no easy task.
"What about the clan's swordsmen?"
"All available warriors from each sword hall are being mobilized. They're preparing to depart now, and the Clan Leader himself is leading the charge."
"That's a relief, at least."
Shin Yu-hyun's expression eased slightly.
The Clan Leader Shin Sung-il and the elites from each sword hall had remained at the clan estate.
They usually went on frequent dungeon raids, so if the elites hadn't been home, it would have been a disaster.
"Alright. Then let's move out too."
"Pardon? Us as well?"
Choi Jung-hoon's eyes wavered at Shin Yu-hyun's words.
"The Black Tortoise Sword Division won't be able to handle 5-star magic beasts on their own..."
"I know. The other halls will probably send only their elites to hold them off too."
At 5-star level, even the sword halls needed elites to stand a chance.
At minimum, upper 4-star or higher.
But most of the Black Tortoise Hall members were upper 3-star, with very few low or mid 4-stars.
"Still, we'll need people to guide the residents to safety."
"That's true."
Choi Jung-hoon nodded at Shin Yu-hyun's point. Organized evacuation under direction beat chaotic fleeing any day.
"Understood. We'll prepare to move out then."
"Follow as soon as you're ready."
"Pardon? Hall Leader, you're...?"
"I'll head out first. We need to minimize the damage."
"Ah, got it. Then I'd better hurry too."
"Good luck."
"Yes. You stay safe as well, Hall Leader."
With that, Choi Jung-hoon left the office, and Shin Yu-hyun rose to prepare.
The foothills of Chilseong Mountain.
Wheeeeeen!
Sirens wailed alongside the evacuation broadcast.
[Residents! This is the Hunter Association Dungeon Countermeasure Safety Command Center! We are issuing an emergency dungeon evacuation alert!]
[An invasion gate has appeared at Chilseong Mountain. A dungeon stampede is expected, so please immediately stop what you're doing and evacuate swiftly!]
[Repeating: An invasion gate has appeared at Chilseong Mountain...]
"What the hell is going on?"
"Dungeon evacuation alert?"
"A stampede inside the city? No way..."
The sudden sirens and broadcast left most residents stunned and panicking.
Hunters and the clan's superhumans had always cleared dungeons in time, so stampedes were virtually unheard of.
Especially in a densely populated city.
But now, out of nowhere, a stampede announcement?
"What are the hunters and martial clans doing!"
"Did they fail the raid?"
"What's an invasion gate?"
Some vented frustration at the hunters and martial families, while others wondered about the term "invasion gate."
But the questions didn't last.
Magic beasts began emerging from Chilseong Mountain, red eyes glowing with murderous intent.
"Magic beasts!"
"Run!"
Even those dawdling despite the alert panicked at the sight of the descending horde.
Survival came first, complaints later.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Crash!
Dozens of magic beasts rampaged down the mountain, smashing buildings indiscriminately.
Grraaaargh!
"Aaaah!"
"S-save me!"
Those who couldn't flee in time fell into panic as the beasts closed in.
The first to emerge from the invasion gate were Chaos Ghouls.
Towering at nearly 1.8 meters, with pale, desaturated hair cascading to their backs.
Pointed ears marked these harbingers of death.
The living corpses moved with unbelievable speed, lunging at residents.
Shwick!
"Gasp! N-no!"
One fleeing man despaired.
All the magic beasts shared one trait: grotesque tentacles writhing from their backs or shoulders.
Eight such tentacles sprouted from the Chaos Ghoul's back, two shooting arrow-like at the man's back.
Pfshk!
"Gack!"
Sluuuurp!
The impaled tentacles began draining his life force and mana.
He was a superhuman, but not a hunter or clan warrior—helpless against them.
"Huuuugh..."
Impaled, the man withered and twisted.
Kiyaaaak!
Sated, the Chaos Ghoul screeched in satisfaction.
Thud.
Reduced to a skeletal mummy, the man collapsed lifelessly, never to rise again.
Such horrors unfolded everywhere.
The magic beasts sowed chaos and destruction, preying on humans.
Huuuugh!
In an alley of a residential neighborhood away from Chilseong Mountain.
A Chaos Ghoul bounded zigzag, kicking off building walls.
"Eek!"
Ahead, terrified people fled from the beast.
But it was faster.
Kiyaaaak!
As it slashed with razor claws—
Thwack!
A silver gauntlet flashed from the crowd.
It deflected the claw inward to outward, forcing the arm wide.
Kree?
The Chaos Ghoul chirped in confusion.
Then—
Clack!
The gauntlet's back shifted, loading with a metallic click.
It fired straight at the exposed face.
Boom!
The impact exploded on the ghoul's face, sending shockwaves.
The headless body flew dozens of meters back, without a scream.
"Whew."
The figure who dispatched it in a blink exhaled and swept back her side hair.
Astonishingly, the silver gauntlet's owner was a woman.
Late twenties, with long straight black hair to her waist and classic Korean beauty in her dark eyes.
Both hands bore cartridge device system silver gauntlets, clad in a black barrier coat.
"Unnie, that was awesome!"
Behind Lee Ji-young, the gauntlet wielder, a high school girl around late teens sparkled with admiration.
"Ji-hyun."
Lee Ji-young gave a wry smile at her sister Lee Ji-hyun's words.
Lee Ji-young and Lee Ji-hyun—sisters, and granddaughters of Fist King Lee Seo-jun of the Spiral Fist Clan, one of Korea's four great families.
'Heard there was a skilled blacksmith here...'
Lee Ji-young glanced at her gauntlets.
Officially, Cartridge-Type Prototype Device System Gauntlets.
A test weapon casually crafted by Namdu Group's genius artifact developer Nam Yeon-ah.
Lee Ji-young knew her well; the Spiral Fist Clan sourced most artifacts from Namdu Group.
So Nam Yeon-ah, an old acquaintance, had asked her to test the cartridge gauntlets.
For a fist fighter like Lee Ji-young, they were highly appealing.
But problematic: as prototypes, the new cartridge system was hard to control.
Even in her clan, only she with her exceptional energy control could handle them.
Still, she loved them—the immense power made up for the difficulty.
'Wish she could've maintained them too.'
Lee Ji-young looked regretful.
Unfortunately, Nam Yeon-ah was too busy.
So she'd been seeking a maintainer when Nam Yeon-ah tipped her off about a skilled blacksmith in Suwon.
That's why they were here today.
But as the saying goes, bad timing.
No sooner had they arrived than the evacuation alert blared and magic beasts appeared.
Thus, the sisters were aiding resident evacuations.
As members of one of the four great families, they couldn't ignore civilians in peril.
"Can everyone move again?"
Lee Ji-young addressed the group.
Amid the chaos from Chilseong Mountain, those she'd saved were mostly elderly and children.
"Y-yes."
"Thank you."
"We can still walk."
The ten or so survivors bowed in gratitude.
They owed their lives to the sisters.
"Then let's go."
Lee Ji-young led them onward.
The situation wasn't good.
Hunter Association reinforcements and Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan superhumans from Suwon held the line.
But struggling against the endless horde from Chilseong Mountain.
Manpower shortages, plus beasts scattering everywhere.
Hence the sisters' help in rescues.
"The shelter's just ahead—hang in there a bit longer!"
Lee Ji-hyun encouraged the survivors.
As the group moved—
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Crash! Boom!
The ground shook; a nearby house collapsed into the alley.
"Gasp!"
"No... impossible."
Even Lee Ji-young stared in shock at the beast emerging from the rubble.
"A 5-star boss?"
There loomed a colossal dragon of bone.