Flame Giant's Last Stand at Deoksan Station
Deoksan Station.
Thud! The Flame Giant brings its fist crashing down. The building collapses, kicking up a massive cloud of dust across the surrounding area.
"Hey! Dodge first!"
"What's with this A-rank being so damn brute-force?!"
The hunters evade the Flame Giant's attacks, spreading out to surround it from various positions.
"Die, you shit-for-brains!"
Kim Seong-o fires a mana shell from the bazooka slung over his shoulder.
Gun ownership was still illegal in Korea, but ability users like Kim Seong-o, who had a talent for such weapons, were granted special licenses to prevent them from fleeing to other countries.
Magic Cannon. This ability, which shaped mana into shells and fired them, boasted exceptional firepower against massive monsters.
BOOM!!
The Flame Giant swings its fist at the shell hurtling toward its solar plexus.
"Wha-what?!"
Like swatting away a dodgeball, the Flame Giant bats the shell aside with its fist. The Magic Cannon shot grazes past the giant and slams into a bridge over the river, shattering it.
"Seong-o hyung."
"That wasn't on purpose!"
Seong-o gathers mana again, snapping at his fellow hunter's sarcasm.
"The idiot attacks like a moron but defends like a pro!"
The Flame Giant was so inept at offense that it almost seemed intentional. Even now, its kick only gouged empty air and demolished an innocent storefront. As the giant rolled on the ground, one hunter leaps from the rooftop of a 15-story apartment.
He grips an axe in both hands, aiming for the Flame Giant's head.
"This A-rank is mineeeee!!"
Mana coats the axe blade as it cleaves down toward the giant's skull.
Squelch!
"Huh?"
The mana-forged axe embeds into the Flame Giant's crown. But the giant snatches the man faster than it had moved all fight.
"Gah, urk!"
The hunter struggles desperately to escape the giant's grip. But azure flames were already roasting his body.
SPLASH!
The Flame Giant hurls the man—axe and all—into the river. Then it suddenly crouches and launches itself toward the main road.
"Urk?! Dodge! It's diving again!"
The Flame Giant flips backward, crashing onto the road in a spread-eagle position. Kim Seong-o swivels his bazooka toward the prone giant.
"Let's see if you can block it lying down."
A display etched beside the barrel flashes: mana fully charged. Seong-o pulls the trigger and fires the Magic Cannon.
"Gotcha!"
The shell arcs down toward the monster's solar plexus.
KABOOM!!
A massive mana explosion erupts from the Flame Giant's chest just as it starts to rise. Its head snaps back, slamming the back of its skull into the ground.
"Did we get it?"
"You totally did that on purpose, right?"
Seong-o grimaces at his fellow hunter's quip, who recites the classic line with a grin while checking his weapon.
"Hyung's Magic Cannon firepower is kinda weak anyway."
"Hey, I'm still B-rank, you know? My firepower rates A-grade."
"A bore that takes 15 seconds to reload—what's that?"
As the hunters banter, the dust settles.
Thud.
The Flame Giant lies motionless on the ground.
"Huh? For real? Hyung actually killed it?"
Seong-o feels unsatisfied even though his attack downed it.
"It actually died."
"Hyung, that was a lucky crit, right? Look at that."
A grayish rock peeks from the Flame Giant's solar plexus—clearly its core.
"See that core size? That's end-of-A-rank, bordering S. Thought it was S for sure."
"Jackpot, hyung. Even 10% of the shares from the finishing blow could get us out of Korea."
It was common talk among Seoul hunters: scrape together cash and emigrate to a country with Round Table heroes.
Seong-o swallows hard at the golden future unfolding before him.
"Dimension gates are the real jackpot. If they just kept spitting these out, I'd have no regrets."
"Wish more would pop, hehe."
The hunters chuckle as they approach the Flame Giant. Seong-o lazily salutes the woman heading his way.
"Sir! Hunter Kim Seong-o reporting to the Association hero!"
"...Why you, of all people."
The green-haired woman turns away in disgust at the sight of him. Seong-o grins slyly and sidles up.
"What's wrong, Storm Girl?"
"That's why I changed it to Tempest Lady!"
"Everyone still calls you Storm Girl, Chun-ja."
"Don't call me by my old name! It's Yang Seon-u!"
Yang Chun-ja—no, Storm Girl—no, Yang Seon-u shrieks. Seong-o waves it off, laughing till his sides hurt.
"Sorry, sorry. Been a while. Heh. But how'd you get here so fast? Dimension gate?"
"A-rank's handling the gate. I'm here for this thing. Lucky timing."
Yang Seon-u sighs in relief at the downed giant. The other heroes with her start corralling the gathering hunters and securing the giant to the ground.
"Oh, so the gate closes? Too bad. Thought we could hunt more."
"Not in Seoul—too risky unless it's near Shin Seoul or Busan. Plus, you landed an A-rank finisher. That's fixed 10% shares."
"How does our Chun-ja know hunter stuff so well? Side gig? Or full-time?"
"I'm living as a hero! And don't call me Chun-ja!"
Seon-u flushes red with anger. Seong-o pats her shoulder, chuckling. A fellow hunter approaches cautiously.
"Who is she, hyung?"
The hunter waggles his pinky. Seong-o smacks the back of his head with the bazooka.
"Watch your mouth, punk. Me and her? Pfft. Might as well say I'm marrying Snow Flower Princess Gwanggeom."
"......"
Wind whips up, tousling Seon-u's hair. Seong-o raises both hands as the gusts intensify around her.
"Chun-ja? Er, Seon-u? Can't we talk it out? We ended on good terms—don't wanna fight like this—"
"Outta the way, idiot!"
Seon-u thrusts both arms forward, unleashing a gale. Seong-o and his fellow hunter hit the dirt as scorching heat blasts from behind.
"Still not dead, huh?"
Seon-u's mana-charged gust blocks the Flame Giant's hand. It had reached out from its prone position to snatch Seong-o.
Snap, snap.
The mana restraints shatter easily as the giant rises to its upper body. Heroes activate their abilities, ready for battle. Hunters raise gear a step behind to support.
Thud.
The Flame Giant, propped on its torso, turns its gaze aside. Everyone follows its line of sight.
"......What the hell is that?"
Seong-o drops his bazooka at the sight atop Gwanak Mountain.
Crackle!
A colossal dimension gate hovers in the sky, large enough for the Flame Giant to pass through easily.
"Didn't the A-rank go there?!"
"......Emergency!"
Seon-u checks her smartwatch signal and scans the alert. Other heroes stiffen too.
- Dimension Gate Overload
- Confirmed Mana Reaction: S-rank 'Danger Species'
Overload? Why? Did Unsa fail?
Seon-u reads the follow-up and despairs.
"A-aaah!"
Hunters scream and flee. They knew all too well how the Dallas catastrophe started in America. And Seon-u had witnessed it firsthand.
Her resolve crumbles; her legs give out, and she drops to her knees.
"Ahh...."
"Snap out of it!"
Seong-o shakes her shoulders. When she won't come to, he slings her over his shoulder like his bazooka and yells at his fellow hunter.
"Start the truck! We're outta Seoul!"
"Wh-where to?!"
"Fuckin' Incheon, North Korea, anywhere—just go!"
As Seong-o shouts, the Flame Giant rises fully.
Thud...
In that brief moment, it seems fully recovered; the exposed core vanishes behind azure flames again.
Seong-o's mouth goes dry.
"They say bad days get worse. This is insane."
He should've suspected from the sudden A-rank appearance. Abandoning even his bazooka, he dumps Seon-u in the truck bed and climbs in.
Thud.
The giant takes a step. Seong-o swallows, thinking it's about to rampage.
Thud.
Another step. Seong-o tilts his head—the direction shifted.
Thud!
The giant stomps hard and leaps. Seong-o frowns; it resembles a body-enhancer charging.
"That's toward Gwanak Mountain?"
WHOOSH!!
Azure flames blaze fiercely across the Flame Giant's body. It charges straight, trampling buildings and smashing an apartment whole—heading for Gwanak Mountain.
"What the—ah."
Seong-o falls silent.
A massive purple-burning bird spreads its wings atop the peak.
SCREEECH!!
The violet monster bird roars with a chalkboard-scraping screech, asserting its presence. Seong-o covers Seon-u's ears against the eardrum-shattering mana wave.
"Urk!"
The brain-rattling shock dizzies him; he collapses in the truck bed.
"Grooo...."
Even as consciousness fades, the Flame Giant races toward the summit.
At that time, off the West Sea.
Ships stretch across the sea. Coast guard on patrol boats tremble at the centaur confronting them.
"This... is bad."
No ordinary bad. A dimension gate in Seoul. By international treaty, if the host nation can't close it within an hour, nearby countries' heroes can intervene without issue.
"Hey! What's happening in Seoul?!"
"S-rank danger species emerged."
"Fuck...."
The guards fear the S-rank rampaging in central Seoul. And whether sensing it or not, an S-rank hero appeared outside territorial waters right after the gate—filling them with awe.
"This is Republic of Korea territorial waters!"
"I know."
Her mana-infused voice booms louder than the mic. Dignity drips from her deep, low tone.
"If Korea can't close the gate, I'll sortie immediately."
Red Hare whinnies, treading waves. The rider urges it on like a casual stroll—the shortest path to Seoul.
"If only Unjang came alone."
The guard swallows at the radar dots.
"But deploying hundreds of landing craft?!"
Human wave tactics. Chinese heroes, linked with their military, grip weapons on assault ship decks, tensely awaiting the hour.
One hour post-gate. Past that, clear the path for the landing fleet.
"Damn... damn it!"
They could do nothing but pray the gate closed soon.
"Your Excellency."
The black-suited secretary cautiously addresses the man brooding on the sofa.
"The acting president wants to deploy Gwanggeom."
"......Why?"
The man snaps irritably while compiling incoming intel.
"Isn't it just a dimension gate? Let the Seoul folks handle it."
"...An S-rank monster emerged too...."
"Even better."
He adjusts his glasses, smirking.
"Isn't it Lee Seung-hyung's stage to shine?"
"...If I may, Unsa is merely A-rank—"
"He'll awaken in peril. Heroes always do."
The man sips tea leisurely, mocking.
"If he dies, we'll propagandize it suitably. 'Hero Lee Seung-hyung dies heroically defending Seoul.'"
"......Understood. Also, word from the West Sea."
The secretary shows another photo: Round Table hero Unjang poised on the sea, ready to charge Seoul.
"Damn bastards."
The man trembles, eyeing Chinese movements.
"Treaty says one hour, right?"
"Yes."
"Then close it at 59 minutes."
"......But Seoul in the meantime—"
"Problem?"
The man grins widely, jesting.
"A city already ruined—what's a bit more?"