Chapter 409
Chapter 409
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 409
Chapter Title: Breach in the Safe Zones
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Zones 7 and 8 were the areas that usually saw the fewest demon invasions.
They were close to what people commonly called safe zones. As such, surveillance and defenses were relatively lax compared to other areas.
But places like that often suffered exponentially greater damage when hit.
Kwajik-!
The barricade of sharpened stakes crumbled under the boulders launched from the demonic catapults in the forest. Then, demons poured through the breach in a massive wave.
Low-tier demons with bloodshot eyes charged forward, claws extended. Spears and swords clashed, demons spewing demonic energy collided with players, and the battlefield turned into a hellscape in an instant.
"What the hell? Why are there so many of them?"
"It's not just numbers—the demons' levels are higher too!"
"Damn it, did they know we had fewer people here?"
"Captain! We can't hold out much longer like this…"
Puhwaak-!
A demon's claw slashed through, spraying blood.
Behind the player, whose armor and body were torn to shreds, another demon appeared.
Pablo, captain of Zone 7's company, found the situation utterly chaotic.
'This many demons crossing over all at once? From where? And right at this moment?'
They had always been on guard. Even if demons rarely appeared here, they never let their vigilance slip.
A hundred successes in vigilance meant nothing if one failure cost lives instantly. That was the teaching of Woo Seo-hyun, supreme commander of the subjugation force.
But that morning, there had been a demon raid in another zone that seemed to end without issue, leading to a moment of complacency.
That brief lapse in defenses was all the demons needed to strike.
Kwajik!
Pablo swung his hammer, smashing the head of a charging demon. Ignoring the blood splattering his face, he shouted toward the rear.
"Vice Captain! Support request status?"
"The comms are dead!"
"Comms are down? At a time like this?"
"All channels! Looks like they're jamming us somehow!"
"What? Those bastards…"
He started to curse but swung his hammer instead. The situation was so dire that even a single word or breath felt burdensome.
This wasn't a blind charge. It was planned—they knew everything about this side's situation.
'At this rate, we're done for.'
Reinforcements would come eventually, but by then the zone would be overrun.
To make matters worse.
Kuung-.
Amid the swarming demons, a presence stood out.
It was a chimera, a demonic beast led by the demons.
Kieeeek-!
The chimera's roar shook the ground. The players fighting the demons flinched involuntarily.
The moment the chimera joined, Pablo faced a dilemma.
Retreat or fight?
Both outcomes were disastrous. Retreat would shatter the defensive line and amplify follow-up damage; fighting meant annihilation.
As he agonized over it.
Hwarararak-.
A warm blaze swept across the battlefield like a wave.
"...Huh?"
The flames engulfed the incoming demons. Their bodies charred black in seconds, demons screaming as they burned away.
The fire wasn't hot. No—it didn't even touch Pablo or the other players.
To wield magic of this scale with such precision?
"Coming at us like a swarm of ants."
A tongue-clicking voice came from nearby.
Hiles stood behind Pablo, her hat floating lightly. She must have arrived unnoticed.
"You okay?"
A face impossible to mistake.
Pablo wondered if this was a dream, even seeing it with his own eyes.
"Gr-... Gra... Grand... ma... mage..."
"That's me. Grand Mage. What am I doing here? Came with the guild leader bro."
"Guild leader?"
His stalled mind raced. Unlike Woo Seo-hyun, Pablo kept up with major world events.
Stunned, Pablo's face twisted in shock.
"L-Lee Soo-hyuk!"
"You know him?"
"How are both of you here?"
"Probably..."
Kiruk-.
The chimera recoiled from Hiles's flames.
"...related to those things."
Ttak-.
Peueong-!
With a finger snap, the chimera exploded.
Chunks flew everywhere, charred black instantly and rolling on the ground.
Watching Hiles resolve the crisis with mere finger flicks, Pablo felt awe.
'A grand mage indeed.'
But his awe was short-lived.
Snapping back, he shouted.
"The other zones might be in the same boat. We don't have time to—"
"When did we say only the two of us came?"
"Pardon?"
"The whole guild's on the move. And as you might know, everyone in our guild is a powerhouse."
Hiles shrugged nonchalantly, as if to say not to worry.
"It's probably all over by now."
Pushiii-.
Pure white frost bloomed into the sky. While Hiles had scorched the demons with heat, Si-woo did the opposite.
In fights against hordes, Si-woo matched Soo-hyuk's prowess. The forest turned into a white icy woodland alongside the demons.
"Are you alright?"
"Th-thank you."
"Sorry. We should've helped sooner."
"No! You saved our lives."
The captain of 8th Company marveled at the icy forest Si-woo had created.
He'd heard a single top-ranker outmatched dozens or hundreds of others, but seeing it firsthand was rare.
Soon, the captain watched Si-woo and Ye-ryeong bicker after finishing their work.
"I told you to hurry up."
"You're the one who took forever."
"When did I?!"
"Ask Hye-min. I was ready ages ago..."
Nothing special at first glance.
'The whole guild's like this?'
Just Kim Si-woo alone—if not for the ice, you'd mistake him for Lee Soo-hyuk.
Meanwhile, Si-woo and Ye-ryeong's bickering over who was faster quieted down.
"Feels like someone leaked this, doesn't it?"
"Yeah."
Si-woo agreed with Ye-ryeong.
"They knew this side was wide open. Too perfect to be coincidence."
"Rat among us?"
"Not necessarily that primitive. Demons have all sorts of abilities."
"More serious than I thought."
"It's been ramping up for a while. We've just been in denial."
"Why make it this hard? We slipped through fine back then too."
About a year ago, Si-woo and Ye-ryeong had crossed into the demon world to find Kyu-seong.
Risky, but they'd pulled it off. Even met the Demon King of Sloth and returned alive.
"Circumstances are different now."
"Lord's dead?"
"Per Hiles, he was probably alive back then. If they killed the Lord to start a war, we can't go in reckless like before."
"Still a hassle."
"It was risky then too. You know that."
"Y-yeah."
Si-woo and Ye-ryeong quickened their pace.
A hassle, but they'd gained something: confirmation that the war had already begun, unbeknownst to them.
Three more people gathered at Woo Seo-hyun's tent.
Hiles, Si-woo, and Ye-ryeong.
They'd suppressed the demons in Zones 7 and 8 and arrived.
Woo Seo-hyun bowed in greeting.
"Thank you for your help."
"No need. We're the ones grateful—you handle the dirty work."
Woo Seo-hyun smiled at Si-woo's words. The sincerity made it all the warmer.
How could words capture the nonstop toil of blocking unpredictable demons day and night? Yet thanks like this were rare.
But the pleasant exchange was brief.
Realizing it was time for her decision, Woo Seo-hyun guided the three to seats.
"Have a seat first."
Four people sat in a row before Woo Seo-hyun. She served simple tea and asked.
"Is the whole guild here?"
Soo-hyuk shook his head.
"Four are still out."
"The others don't need to come?"
"Should be fine. Same goal."
"...What I'm about to say must stay confidential."
She hesitated, as if it were hard to voice.
To ease her burden, Soo-hyuk spoke first.
"We need to overhaul defenses from scratch."
"..."
"All our intel's compromised. Weak points, forest paths—today happened because of that."
"...You noticed?"
"If there's a path for them to cross at once, the reverse exists too. Unlike us, they're always watching for openings."
"Then why not sooner?"
If they'd been that eager, the peace so far made no sense. Incidents like today should've happened dozens of times.
But there was a reason.
"The Dragon Lord blocking the middle realm is dead."
"What?"
Woo Seo-hyun was stunned—it was news to her.
She knew of the Dragon Lord preventing human-demon conflicts.
"The Lord's dead?"
"It's true. I confirmed it."
Hiles spoke with conviction.
"She taught me my magic."
Woo Seo-hyun was speechless at Hiles's blazing eyes.
The new grand mage risking the demon world? Now it made sense.
"That's why I'm going to find who killed her. Must be one of the Three Great Demons."
"You're really going after all Three Great Demons?"
"Yeah. Alone? Impossible."
Implying the guild made it feasible.
But could a small guild like Blue Eyes—only eight members—pull that off?
Events had spiraled beyond control.
"With the Lord gone... war might truly begin."
Full-scale war with demons.
The damage was unimaginable.
Before the Dragon Lord settled in the middle realm decades ago, thousands of players died daily in demon fights.
"There's a direct path to the demon world."
Her thoughts reached that point; she decided.
"It's undetected, rarely used—the most secure route, still safe."
"Thanks."
"No. We should be asking you. You're going to stop the war."
If Blue Eyes failed against the Three Great Demons, war was imminent.
Killing the Dragon Lord first meant demons were methodically preparing invasion.
Soo-hyuk beamed at her permission.
"Appreciate it. Just the route, and we'll head out."
"No. I'll guide you to the entrance myself."
"That's not necessary..."
"The path's complex—you need a guide. And it's top-secret; can't entrust just anyone."
Her resolve was firm.
Unyielding eyes, as if daring him to try convincing her otherwise. Soo-hyuk sighed deeply.
After a moment's hesitation, he introduced the worst member for this trip.
"...One of our group is more dangerous than any demon."