Rumble! Kaboom!
Rumble! Boom!Kaboom!
Earth-shaking thunderclaps tore through the sky. Was this what a demon's roar sounded like? A sudden dust cloud engulfed a radius of over 200 meters, swirling like an enormous sandstorm in the desert—an utterly unreal sight.
The result was a resounding success.
You have leveled up.
After a relentless barrage of alarms that made his eardrums ring, the level-up message finally chimed in. He'd leveled up once at the lab and now again, meaning he'd wiped out at least 500 monsters.
The dust was too thick to confirm visually, but he could sense it instinctively. Not a single one had survived.
It went without saying. Ten thousand incendiary rounds—ten thousand of them. And six of those monstrous blasts had rained down. For fodder numbering around 500, surviving that explosion would have been a miracle.
"E-everyone okay?"
"What the hell was that just now?"
"The shockwave reached all the way here..."
"Look over there."
One of the squad members pointed at the collapsed embankment. Black smoke and dust billowed up, blanketing the sky.
"What kind of skill was that?"
"W-wait. An explosion like that... the captain..."
It was an explosion of staggering scale at a glance. The embankment was gone, and a dust plume dozens of meters high stretched endlessly into the sky.
Most casters using AOE skills kept a safe distance, but this range defied common sense. Had the regional commander secured enough space? Naturally, worry set in.
They were just about to hail him via comms when Taejeong's voice came through.
"Is everyone all right?"
"We're fine. How about you, Captain?"
"I'm unscathed too. Since you're all safe, let's move out right away."
His assurance brightened the squad's faces. They shook their heads in disbelief all the same—a mix of awe and bafflement at his superhuman feats.
They'd heard rumors and formed some expectations, but nothing prepared them for this level of absurdity. If anything, the gossip had downplayed it.
And they weren't wrong. Even in the territory war, his most devastating weapon had been Cheonryong-1. This was the first deployment of a mega-scale AOE like this.
Of course it felt worlds apart from the hearsay.
"The embankment's gone."
"See? Told you the rumors were understated. They say he took on thousands solo... At this rate, even more seems possible. But are all the bastards dead?"
"No way anything survived that insane blast."
"You check your EXP? I lost 6 billion."
"Then..."
"At least 600 of them. Taking down 600 Pauls solo? Man, that'd be a hunter's dream. Should've awakened as Hidden myself."
"Like that's up to you. Anyway, we're the lucky ones. When else do you get to roll with a guy like this? Would've been even better up close. That firepower rivals Meteor Strike."
"Hey, the 3rd Platoon saw it firsthand. Said he blocked Meth solo. I thought it was hype, but now? It clicks."
"Enough chit-chat, move out. Don't embarrass us. And the other squads are still in danger."
Passing through the dust cloud, they emerged to spot Taejeong still hovering in the sky. Soon after reaching their destination, they beheld a massive battlefield.
Countless monsters clashing against desperately fighting hunters. Among them was the overall commander, showcasing his prowess as one of Jenix's strongest. A bluish aura enveloped his spear—the Spear Heaven Aura, unlockable past level 800.
Far more potent than standard auras, this famed close-range skill allowed remote attacks via personal control.
And its power was no joke.
Shwaaak! One spear thrust bisected a dozen Pauls at once.
The second formed a blade that arced like a crescent, vaporizing a cluster.
The third extended like a whip, whipping up a vortex that mulched incoming foes like a blender.
The legend held true.
The rest of the team was holding their own too. Taejeong's squad joined the fray, and around then, squads previously off B6-1's radar trickled in.
Reunited as a full unit, they swiftly cleared the area and regrouped around the commander.
"Any casualties?"
Overall Commander Lee Han-yeok's question prompted reports from squad and team leaders.
"All clear."
"3rd Squad, all present."
"7th Squad..."
"Everyone's safe."
No injuries across the board—his grim expression eased.
"Grab a bite and stock up on stamina first. We haven't rested once getting here. You're all tough, but recovering now seems wise while this sector's secure. What do you think?"
Chief of Staff Kim Hansu nodded at the suggestion. After assembling the troops for a break, Lee Han-yeok discussed next steps with Kim Hansu and Taejeong.
"How was your sector?"
"Ours was empty. All of 2nd Team's 6th Squad reported the same. Nothing to search—just one building that looked like barracks. You?"
"No real leads on our end either."
Taejeong was last.
"We searched the lab. Hit a snag, but it was manageable—no real danger."
"Was that thunderous boom from the south yours?"
"Yes."
"I see."
"And we spotted something odd."
"Something odd?"
"A pillar rising from the ground, covered in unknown script. The weird part? Monsters spawned right after it lit up."
"Huh. What'd you do?"
"The lab was too dilapidated to touch it inside. Didn't know what it was, so I planned to report after pulling out—but then the Pauls swarmed. Any ideas?"
"Hard to say from the description. We'll check it together later."
As their talk wrapped, Kim Hansu asked Lee Han-yeok,
"No word from the Special Forces Captain at the east beach or 3rd Air Platoon leader in the west?"
"Just heard from them. 3rd Air's sweeping the city; 4th Team under Special Forces hasn't found the ship yet. They'll report anything unusual. Let's eat something light for now."
"Sounds good."
The officers dispersed. Taejeong sat, pulling out his rationed lunchbox. Water pooled inside instantly from the downpour. No shelter in sight.
He could've used his suit for comfort, but he shoveled in the soggy food. With everyone else drenched, seeking personal ease felt off—and mismatched his character.
Somewhere on this island, dozens of guildmates might be locked in desperate struggles, teetering on death's edge. Compared to that, this wet lunch was luxury.
The brief rest ended. Before heading to the next zone, they detoured to the lab. Inside went Lee Han-yeok, Kim Hansu, Taejeong, and a dozen elite special forces. The rest stood guard outside.
The main room still held the pillar from before. Untouched by thousands of energy rounds—not a speck of damage. Bizarre.
"Never seen anything like this. You?"
Lee Han-yeok asked Kim Hansu, who shook his head.
"Dunno. Kinda like an ancient ruin."
"Maybe a seal stone?"
"Could be. But this is a field, not a dungeon. Never heard of seal stones in fields."
"That's the assumption, but Zero Ground might differ."
"Hmm. If it is a seal stone, then what?"
"Leave it be. No telling what pops out. You?"
"Same thought. Best not to touch unknowns."
Kreeee—!
Mid-discussion, a grating screech echoed.
"What’s that?"
"It's collapsing. Out."
"Everyone, withdraw."
As the building groaned, the hunters bolted. They'd just cleared the main gate when—
Rumble. Boom!
Thunderous collapse. Over in a blink.
"A second later and we'd be buried alive."
"The rot would've just dusted us. But... what's that?"
Kim Hansu muttered, staring at the ruins. All eyes followed.
A blue glow emanated from the dust. Cleared, it revealed the massive pillar from the main room—source of the light.
Taejeong spoke to Lee Han-yeok. "Same as before. Light shows, then monsters..."
Lee Han-yeok barked, "Battle stations."
Clink. Weapons drawn in perfect sync.
They watched warily. The script's glow faded. Silence fell. Nothing happened.
Lee Han-yeok sheathed his sword. "That pillar... gives me bad vibes. Move to the next point, double-time."
Orders given, the hunters departed the area. Taejeong followed, head tilted in puzzlement.
Just as they passed the lab gate—
He froze. "Huh?"
Trailing the group, his face twisted oddly. Blinking deliberately several times, shaking his head, scanning around. Then, with utter bewilderment, Taejeong muttered,
"What the hell? Where'd everyone go?"