North Korea, We’re Taking Over
White House, Washington D.C.
A massive screen installed in the White House clearly displayed the skies over Pyongyang. These were images captured from different angles than the ones on the video streaming platforms—these were American technologies. But it wasn't the technology that was worth marveling at.
U.S. President Kilmer stood up from his chair, eyes wide with disbelief. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were cramping.
"I-is that... is that even possible? Are you saying hunters can stop nuclear weapons?"
His voice trembled. Even before the existence of hunters, the strongest nation was the United States. Even after the appearance of hunters, the strongest nation remained the United States. But to think something like that was possible? Not using cutting-edge modern weaponry, but stopping a nuclear weapon with a single body?
Just then, National Security Advisor James approached him.
"Sir, only a very select few hunters are capable of something like that."
"What is the probability that the footage is manipulated?"
"The CIA, NSA, and our aerial satellites have all confirmed it as fact. Mr. Cheon actually intercepted the nuclear missile."
Kilmer let out a sigh and rubbed his temples.
"Cheon Yooshin..."
The President muttered. A brief silence followed.
"Is that the hunter from South Korea we reported on before?"
"Yes, that is correct. We have already dispatched our agents to Korea."
"Approach him with caution. We must ensure his abilities do not become a threat to us or our allies."
"Understood, Sir."
Kilmer’s gaze returned to the screen. Cheon Yooshin, who had just created a scene out of a miracle, was still floating in mid-air.
"The world is changing."
Into an era where power is respected more than ever before. Hunters who surpass modern weaponry... If so, the United States must change accordingly. What kind of existence is he? What kind of person is he?
'I need to grasp it accurately.'
It might be a matter upon which the future of the United States depends.
Blue House, Seoul.
Two emotions, pride and relief, crossed President Cha Insoo’s face.
'To think he would block a nuclear weapon directly.'
President Cha Insoo shook his head at the sight of Hunter Cheon Yooshin in the video. The ministers attending the emergency security meeting were all people who had been called geniuses back in their school days. Yet, none of them had anticipated this. That Cheon Yooshin would block a nuclear weapon.
The screen hanging on the wall was repeatedly playing the miraculous footage of him using magic to erase the nuclear weapon.
"To have such a hero in our country, as President, I am truly grateful."
President Cha Insoo opened his mouth, looking at the ministers. The gloomy atmosphere from just a moment ago had long since vanished. Everyone’s eyes were filled with joy.
"He is truly an amazing young man. To block a nuclear weapon!"
"Such talent should be managed by our Ministry of National Defense for the sake of self-reliant national defense..."
The Minister of National Defense spoke up.
"Ahem! What kind of nonsense is that! Have you forgotten the Kang Minho incident? Don’t you dare pull out an enlistment notice without thinking again. Do you understand?!"
Choi Jeongwon, the Minister of the Hunter Management Department, glared at him.
"Now, now, everyone calm down. First, our department will attempt to approach Hunter Cheon. Isn't the goal to get him out quickly?"
It was Na Bongwon, the Director of the National Intelligence Service.
"Hahaha, good. Since he’s even blocked a nuclear weapon, what can't he do? Let’s try everything we can!"
President Cha Insoo said with a hearty laugh. That was when it happened.
An aide to Minister Choi Jeongwon approached him and whispered in his ear. Choi Jeongwon’s eyes widened as he heard the news.
"W-what are you saying right now? Is that true?"
The aide nodded heavily.
"What is it, Minister Choi?"
At the President’s question, Choi Jeongwon stood up from his seat and spoke with a heavy expression.
"Please focus on the screen."
And with a hand gesture, Choi Jeongwon signaled. The screen switched. It was a standard mobile text message. The sender was listed as Team Leader Park Haesu of the Hunter Management Department.
[North Korea, we’re taking over. -Cheon Yooshin-]
"......!"
"W-what is this!"
All the ministers who checked the message content jumped up from their seats. Their faces were a mix of shock and terror. The atmosphere in the situation room froze in an instant.
"I-is that content true? Didn't you say communication was impossible due to the North's jammers?"
Cha Insoo’s voice trembled.
"We don't know the reason. However, it seems the jammer stopped working, and communication was briefly restored."
The reason they were so shocked. It was written on the screen like this.
Taking over? This isn't some schoolyard bully game where you take over a school! In the midst of this, NIS Director Na Bongwon spoke up.
"Mr. President, as of now, there is nothing we can do. We can only watch."
President Cha Insoo’s face turned pale, the Minister of National Defense couldn't close his mouth, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs held his forehead. Now, they were anxious. Because they couldn't even imagine what that Cheon Yooshin would do in North Korea.
"Wow, this is really steep."
Park Haesu said, gasping for air.
"That's why I told you to stay down there. Why did you have to follow me?"
Yooshin glanced at him.
"I can't stop after coming this far."
The reason Park Haesu was gasping for air. It was because they were standing in a rugged mountainous region. The red circle clearly marked on the map left behind by the Chinese hunters. And they were standing not far from that very spot.
Before long, they could see it. A massive, towering rocky mountain, and a fierce waterfall endlessly pouring water beside it.
"This is definitely the right place."
But there was nothing. No entrance for a person to enter. The only thing suspicious was the rocky mountain. Park Haesu felt around the rocky mountain. It could have been a camouflage screen. But Yooshin shook his head at his foolish behavior. He then passed Park Haesu, who was acting like an idiot at the rocky mountain. He arrived in front of the waterfall spewing a fierce stream of water.
"It's here, as expected."
Baek Woohyun stood beside him before he knew it. Yoon Hyewon and the other hunters were the same. They could see it. The space inside, visible beyond the waterfall. It seemed they had made it to hide, but the hunters were already superhuman. They couldn't deceive the eyes of such superhumans.
"Shall we go in then?"
Yooshin jumped into the waterfall without hesitation. Yooshin, soaked in water, looked around the darkness. A door disguised as stone. But Yooshin could feel it. The busy movements beyond the door.
'You're here. You little pig.'
Yooshin knocked on the stone door. Like he was playing a prank.
"Knock knock. Is anyone there? You little pig bastard."
Kuaaaaang!
In an instant, powerful Magi erupted from Yooshin’s hand. With a deafening roar, the door disguised as stone crumpled inward like foil. At the same time, an alarm blared loudly. From inside, chaotic sounds and shouts in North Korean could be heard.
Bingo. He had found the right place. Yooshin tilted his head and peered through the gap in the crumpled door. The interior view was revealed. Unlike this cave-like place, the inside was made of steel. Yooshin’s figure disappeared into the bunker.
As soon as Yooshin and the Hunter Management Department people entered, hunters with long-range attack skills attacked quickly. On the other side, soldiers aimed their guns and pulled the triggers in unison.
Kukwakwakwakwang! Tatatata-tang!
"Aaaaaaack!"
At the sudden attack, the Hunter Management Department hunters quickly took a defensive stance. The hunters in the tanker position lined up their large shields in front, minimizing damage to the hunters and agents. The moment the sounds of gunfire and skills harmonized to make the room noisy.
Black Magi manifested around Yooshin. The bullets and skills flying toward the people couldn't pierce the barrier of Magi and either vanished or fell to the floor.
"That’s quite the welcoming party."
Yooshin, having rendered all attacks useless, said to Park Haesu and the others.
"Stay there. Don't move for no reason."
In such a narrow place, it was better to fight alone. Even then, the bastards' attacks continued. However, Yooshin lightly ignored those attacks and instead walked slowly toward them.
"Ugh, you monster-like bastard."
Someone among them muttered in a voice filled with terror. Yooshin turned his gaze toward him.
"The monsters are bastards like you. To save your own skins, you launched a nuclear weapon? Abandoning all the citizens you were supposed to protect?"
Black light swirled in Yooshin’s eyes. Seeing that, the hunters and soldiers trembled in instinctive fear.
"Well, since I've watched your little performance, I should return the favor."
Yooshin slowly raised his palm toward the sky. Along with his words, an unbelievable sight unfolded. The countless bullets that had fallen in front of Yooshin began to rise slowly.
"C-crazy."
Someone muttered in a hushed voice, and "What is that!" another said in a voice filled with astonishment. There were hunters in the Republic with abilities similar to telekinesis. But the most they could do was one or two. And even that was just moving them; they were so pathetic they couldn't even be used for attacks. But what kind of sorcery was this?
Hundreds of bullets floated around Yooshin, ignoring the laws of gravity. The moment everyone stared with wide eyes at Cheon Yooshin’s bizarre feat, a voice like a grim reaper echoed in their ears.
"Then, goodbye."
And the bullets floating in front of Yooshin flew toward them all at once. The inside of the bunker was instantly filled with screams.
"Aaaack!"
"Save me!"
"Run away!"
The soldiers and hunters scattered in all directions. But their desperate struggles only ended in attempts. A bullet embedded itself in a soldier’s back. As he staggered, a comrade next to him tried to support him, but another bullet pierced his head. A hunter tried to use a skill to climb the wall of the crowded corridor to escape. But several bullets pierced his back. The bodies of the fallen lay scattered on the floor, and the walls and floor were stained with blood.
Yooshin observed the carnage around him with cold eyes.
Zzzzing.
Then, the sound of machinery turning was heard. When Yooshin turned his gaze there, he saw a CCTV camera hanging in the corner of the ceiling. He said with a sneer.
"You little pig bastard, are you watching? No matter how deep you hide, I will find you. And you, too, will meet the same fate as these people."
Black energy swirled in Yooshin’s hand.
"Wait for me, Kim Jeongyun. I’m coming soon."
As soon as his words ended, the Magi in Yooshin’s hand flew to the CCTV and smashed it. Just before the screen went black, Yooshin’s cold smile was the last thing reflected.
[Here is the next piece of news. The serial murder case that has recently plunged the whole country into fear—the investigative authorities have hit a wall. According to the National Police Agency, over 20 mysterious murder cases have occurred across the country in the past month, and strangely, it has been revealed that the causes of death for all victims are identical. Let’s listen to the interview with Chief Investigator Kim Inha.]
The screen switched, and a middle-aged man with a sharp face, Chief Investigator Kim Inha, appeared. His eyes were filled with deep exhaustion.
[Hello. I am Kim Inha, Chief Investigator of the Special Investigation Headquarters. I will explain. The cause of death for the victims is presumed to be excessive blood loss, but no clear external trauma was found on any of the bodies. However, we discovered a point of interest in the information sent by the National Forensic Service: all the deceased were in a state of extreme ecstasy, not fear, right before they died. As if they were enjoying intercourse and then ejaculating...]
Suddenly, the screen switched back to the studio. Cold sweat beaded on the announcer’s forehead.
[Yes, I see. Thank you for the interview, Chief Investigator.]
The announcer cleared her throat and continued speaking.
[Ahem. In particular, the biggest characteristic of this case is the widespread nature of the crimes. Incidents are occurring simultaneously in major cities across the country, including Seoul, Busan, Daegu, and Gwangju, so experts are of the opinion that it is difficult to see this as the work of a single criminal. The police have currently established a Special Investigation Headquarters to solve this mysterious case and are putting all their efforts into a wide-area investigation, but no clear clues have been found yet. The police ask citizens to refrain from going out at night for the time being, as the estimated time of the crimes is restricted to the night, and to avoid secluded areas.]
At the moment the news was being broadcast, a cold wind blew in a secluded alleyway of the city. Under the faint moonlight, a woman’s pale corpse lay alone. Behind it, a man was disappearing into the darkness. Thus, another night of terror was visiting the Republic of Korea.