The Nuclear Launch and the Madman's Gambit

Nuclear missile launch sequence initiated! A nuke is falling on Pyongyang!

This news was enough to send the otherwise quiet city of Pyongyang into a boiling frenzy. Pyongyang Station was already packed to the brim with people desperate to board a train, and the bridges over the Taedong River, the only way out of the city, were completely gridlocked. The cacophony of car horns and the frantic shouting of people blended together, creating a scene reminiscent of a battlefield.

And there were those watching them from the mountainside. They were over a hundred hunters and agents from the Hunter Management Department, trembling with anxiety.

"Yushin, shouldn't we evacuate immediately?" Park Haesu opened the conversation.

It wasn't just them. Joo Jowoon’s face was as pale as a sheet of paper. Yoon Heewon was trying to act like she wasn't, but her face was etched with clear unease.

"Haa... that crazy bastard! Nuking his own country? Has he lost his mind? How can he drop a nuke on his own capital?"

But Cheon Yushin alone was looking somewhere else. It was the direction the Chinese hunters had pointed out. They had already fled to Beijing the moment they heard the news of the impending nuclear strike. Before a weapon like a nuke, any human is powerless. No matter how incredible their abilities might be.

However.

Yushin actually laughed. Nuclear weapons? He could just block that sort of thing.

In the Abyss, the attacks of the highest-ranking demons were powerful enough to destroy entire cities. There were even some lunatics who would lift a piece of land the size of a city and use it as a weapon. To Cheon Yushin, who had fought and won against such monsters, a nuclear weapon was just an ordinary piece of hardware.

However.

'The skills I need to block a nuclear weapon haven't been unlocked yet.'

He couldn't use his Dark Demon Armor, which boasted absolute defense by assimilating darkness and Magi, nor could he use Disintegrate, the single strongest magic capable of devouring a nuclear weapon. He was, quite literally, tied hand and foot.

'Still, there's a method worth trying.'

He wasn't certain, but one of the unlocked skills was there.

Abyss of Dark Magic.

It sucked in everything like a black hole. Yushin didn't even know what was inside it. Only that an almost infinite space was hidden within. And that once something was sucked in, nothing could ever come back out. Even if he couldn't perfectly control the power of a nuclear weapon, it would be more than possible if he could just control the abyss itself.

In fact, he didn't even have to block it. He could just leave the area included in the nuclear attack's radius. At the very least, the Hunter Management Department, including Cheon Yushin, had more than enough ability for that.

But.

'If I've been attacked, I have to pay it back.'

Yushin's eyes turned cold. There is a saying: forget the favors, but repay the grudges tenfold. A truly excellent quote. And Yushin intended to faithfully carry out that quote. Because a crazy country like North Korea would be nothing more than a powerless nation once you took away its nuclear weapons.

"Anyone who wants to run from North Korea, go ahead. That guy seems hell-bent on catching me anyway. Or rather, is it the Green Magic Stone?"

"...What? You mean you're not going, Yushin?" Park Haesu asked back.

"Of course not. I've been attacked, and you want me to just run away? The great Cheon Yushin? That's ridiculous."

"Yushin, it's not just anything, it's a nuke. A nuke! A human body can never withstand a nuclear blast." Joo Jowoon added to Team Leader Park Haesu's words. "B-brother. That's right. I'm telling you, we have to run away right now."

Whack!

Yushin smacked Joo Jowoon right on the back of the head.

"Aack!"

Watching Joo Jowoon scream, Yushin clicked his tongue. "You idiot, what are you running away for?"

"W-why, why not?"

"What do you mean why? Hey, man. If you run away once, you'll just get your tail caught forever. And we're doing all this shit because of the Green Magic Stone. Imagine I ran away and went back to Korea."

"...Yes?"

A blank, stupid expression. When Yushin looked around, curiosity was written on everyone's faces. This is why I can't have nice things...

Yushin let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth.

"Now, listen carefully. You said the Green Magic Stone is such a great item."

"Of course! It's a Green Magic Stone, something that never existed before. Everyone will be foaming at the mouth for it."

Yushin snapped his fingers. "Do you still not understand why that's the reason I'm not running away?"

"I see."

The one who picked up on Yushin's words was Baek Woohyun, who had been listening quietly from behind. "If we return to our country without making ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a huge impact here, not just North Korea, but the whole world won't just sit still. Even the Yellow Magic Stone is rare enough that its existence is a secret, but if it's a Green Magic Stone, everyone will be foaming at the mouth to get their hands on it."

Exclamations of admiration erupted here and there. Yushin nodded slightly. Baek Woohyun was right. There is a saying: when in Rome, do as the Romans do. This world runs within a massive order. And within that order, a concrete-like, solid establishment is already firmly in place. He didn't know what kind of schemes those people would use to steal the Green Magic Stone. To block even those schemes.

'I need something overwhelming.'

Of course, now that all his power wasn't unleashed, a nuclear weapon was a handful for Yushin too. But he had to overcome it. And he had to show the whole world. Just how powerful his strength was. And even what happens if you mess with him.

That's why he couldn't run away. He had to kill that guy.

Yushin checked his wristwatch. The needle pointed to 12:25.

"Anyone who wants to leave, leave now. It'll be dropping soon."

"......"

The group was plunged into silence. They had finally grasped Yushin's intent. It was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then.

"No. I will not go."

It was Baek Woohyun. All eyes focused on his words. Baek Woohyun turned his body to look at the 100+ hunters and agents of the Hunter Management Department. Why turn his body while talking? His eyes were filled with a resolute will.

"I might as well make a TV appearance while I'm at it. And let's show them. Just how strong the Republic of Korea's Hunter Management Department is."

Every word he spoke resonated with weight. Looks of admiration appeared in everyone's eyes. Soon after.

"Agh! I don't know! I'm joining in too!" Joo Jowoon said, thrusting his fist into the sky.

"If the Captain goes, the team members have to follow, what else can we do?!" Yoon Heewon frowned as if it were a bother, but a smile spread across her lips.

"Us too!"

"Of course we have to follow the path the Captain takes!" His team members as well.

'Ah, this guy. Seriously.'

Yushin frowned slightly. He was acting all cool by himself. He wondered if this was what a protagonist in a novel would be like if they existed in reality. A weighty tone, a handsome face, and even a fairly strong martial prowess, though it didn't reach his own toes. How annoying.

Anyway.

"Then, I'll assume you've all boarded the train to hell, let's go immediately. To the bunker where that guy is hiding."

There was still enough time that the guy had mentioned. The time remaining until the nuke dropped was 2 hours. Within that time, they would arrive at the bunker and catch him.

30 minutes later. The Blue House Situation Room.

Amidst the tension that filled the air, President Cha Insoo's voice rang out heavily.

"Is the hotline with the North still not connected?"

The Minister of Unification bowed his head. "Yes, Mr. President. We are mobilizing all channels to attempt it, but there is still no response."

"Haa..."

President Cha Insoo let out a deep sigh and turned his gaze toward the Minister of National Defense.

"Can't we shoot down that nuclear weapon with our missile defense system?"

"All systems, including PAC-3 and THAAD, are operational, but I cannot guarantee that we can intercept North Korea's nuclear missile 100%. And this is not a nuclear missile attacking our country. It is a nuclear missile being dropped on their own capital. The moment we intervene, this is war."

Bang!

President Cha Insoo slammed his fist onto the desk.

"It's already war! War! These are hunters sent to support them at North Korea's request. If dropping a nuclear bomb ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on their own capital to kill those hunters isn't war, then what is it?!"

But the Minister of National Defense shook his head. "There is nothing we can do. Under international law, unless they attack our territory, if our military officially steps in..."

President Cha Insoo scratched his head vigorously. He understood that too. The Minister of Foreign Affairs intervened.

"We have requested urgent mediation from the US and China, so if you wait just a little longer..."

"We don't have time. There are 20 minutes left until the time they mentioned. We have to change Kim Jeongyun's mind before then. How can we wait for mediation?"

The room was plunged into silence. And then.

A loud alarm rang out simultaneously from the speakers in the situation room. Clang! Secretaries and aides from each department burst through the doors. Their faces were deathly pale.

"B-big trouble! A nuclear missile launch has been detected from North Korea!"

"That son of a bitch, he really fired it?!"

Cha Insoo squeezed his eyes shut. They had carried out the launch an hour and a half earlier than the promised time. They had deceived the whole world just to catch Cheon Yushin.

Kim Jeongyun's eyes flashed. Those eyes, filled with madness. There wasn't a trace of hesitation to be found. Kim Jeongyun slowly stood up and walked toward the steel briefcase where the red button was waiting. Then, dozens of high-ranking officials focused their gazes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on him. Their faces were paralyzed with fear.

No matter how high-ranking they were within the Republic, this matter was different. Dropping a nuclear weapon on Pyongyang. If someone else had said it, it would be a crazy act worthy of immediate execution. But the supreme dignity of the Republic was doing that very act right now. They wanted to stop him, but they couldn't. The moment they even tried, a bullet would be lodged in their heads.

However, there was one person among them.

"You can't do this! Comrade Chairman! Are you in your right mind right now!"

It was Kim Seongryong. He was already covered in blood from all sorts of torture and violence. But his eyes were still fierce.

"You crazy bastard! You're going to kill the people you're supposed to protect! Stop it right now!"

Kim Jeongyun, who had already placed his hand on the red button, wore a cold smile. "Shut up! As long as I can kill Cheon Yushin, I don't care about Pyongyang. If I can just get the Green Magic Stone that guy left behind, I'll be holding something even greater, so why should I hesitate to burn Pyongyang? Watch closely. Watch how a South Korean brat dies."

At that moment, Kim Jeongyun's finger pressed the red button.

Click.

The sound of the button was exceptionally loud. Loud enough to be heard clearly by everyone's ears. At the same time, the entire underground bunker began to vibrate slightly, and a mechanical sound echoed through the speakers.

Everyone's faces turned pale.

"Stop it right now, you son of a bitch!"

The cold, emotionless voice continued to ring out.

People swallowed hard. There was no turning back now. The 10-second countdown finally pointed to 0, and the bunker shook violently for a moment.

"Hahahahaha! I'll show you! What happens to those who mess with the Republic!"

In the eyes of Kim Jeongyun, who was bursting into maniacal laughter, even the last spark of humanity was fading away.