Clear Blue Sky
Under a clear blue sky, the figure of a hunter speeding eastward while forming stylish trails of flight clouds came into view. His form receded at a speed that no Fly spell could even imitate.
His identity was none other than Taejeong.
He had rocketed past the River of Lamentation at maximum power and had just now breached the boundary line of the southeast region. The journey from the central midlands to here had taken a mere two hours. Anyone witnessing this would have been utterly astonished.
Of course, it wasn't entirely impossible for others. With speed-boosting items and ultra-high-speed movement skills like High Haste, it could be done. The issue was the level requirement. High Haste alone demanded the 700s. Unlike Hidden classes, standard classes had limited skill points, so investing in a speed skill meant sacrificing an attack skill. There were a few who pushed speed to the extreme, but they were rare.
"Gerard, how much farther?"
Continuing at this cruising speed, you will arrive within 30 minutes, sir.
"Thirty minutes, huh. What should I even say when I get there? 'I came to help out' might come off kinda random?"
There was no prior arrangement, so it felt awkwardly uninvited. Sure, there were no entry restrictions, but popping up out of nowhere was embarrassing. He'd even considered turning back midway, but he wanted more hands-on experience. Even if it was a virtual event with no real life on the line, combat was combat, and war was war. Guilds were all chummy now, but one tiny spark could ignite real trouble, making this the perfect training for actual combat readiness.
Moreover, Superhuman Club leader Seo Jin had warned that the world stage was rife with life-or-death scenarios. Experiences like this—observation and analysis—were essential, especially since you couldn't get them outside.
How much farther had he flown? In the distance, a massive castle loomed into view. Drawing closer, beneath swirling clouds of dust, an enormous army surged toward the fortress. Magic blasts fired haphazardly from all directions, alongside siege weapons he'd never seen before. This was the second large-scale battle he'd witnessed since entering.
"The scale here is no joke. Were there guilds this stacked around?"
The castle you are viewing is the Jenix main fortress.
"What? Our castle?"
His casual gaze sharpened instantly. He began assessing the overall flow. The defenders were at a severe disadvantage. For some reason, the wall's garrison was pathetically thin. Enemies swarmed up like ants, and the allies holding them off looked on the verge of collapse.
No time to waste—Taejeong rocketed straight for the castle.
Pa-pat!Pat!Sek-!
"Hold them! Self-destruct if you have to—hold that line!"
"That side's breached! Get over there, you idiots!"
"Archers, what the hell?! They're still clinging on—you blind!?"
"We told you cooldowns!"
"Then use magic or...!"
Desperate shouts echoed everywhere as Lee Tae-ho, the overall commander, realized they'd hit their limit. They'd squeezed out every last drop of strength, but the overwhelming numbers were impossible to repel. Half their forces were already gone. The siege shield over the gate was nearly depleted.
"So this is how it ends."
Even the staff hadn't anticipated this assault. A massive war had broken out up front, and they'd tracked the enemy retreats. The only nagging doubt was the eastern target, but unexpectedly, the Smith Alliance from the west had struck.
How could the Smith forces, supposed to be tied up fighting the Ironman Guild to the north, dispatch such a huge army here? Considering the ever-threatening east, it was a reckless gamble. Plus, the distance from Jenix to the Smith Alliance was far greater than to other foes. It made no sense.
But Jenix had overlooked one key fact: not everyone had to be an enemy. The western and eastern factions, who'd been at each other's throats until last season, had already cut a deal. Split the spoils: the northern Ironman Alliance for one, and the slightly distant southern Jenix Alliance for the other. That was their plan.
The smaller eastern force was a deliberate feint. Given the season's dynamics, they figured nearby Jenix might move this time, forcing an overextended attack that would leave the main fortress vulnerable. From the attackers' perspective, the east wouldn't strain their defenses, leaving only the western Smith Alliance—who no one expected to descend amid their northern war.
Jenix leadership had bought it. And the operation's biggest edge? A traitor in the northern alliance. That freed up all of Smith Alliance's northern garrison to swarm here.
But the troubles didn't end there. Jenix's main force, sent east, was struggling too. The east had colluded with the northern traitors and lost minimal troops, going all-in on defense. If they couldn't take the fortress now, Jenix risked losing their home base and demotion from General rank.
"It's over."
Staring at his crumbling allies in hopeless resignation—
"Director!"
Someone bellowed. Lee Tae-ho reflexively looked up, spotting something hovering in the sky.
"What the...?"
Unfamiliar at first, he squinted—then his face lit with shock as he recognized it.
"That guy's... why the hell is he here?"
What Lee Tae-ho saw was none other than Taejeong. The man landed lightly beside the baffled commander.
"Director, long time no see."
"Ah. Y-yeah... But Taejeong-ssi, how did you...?"
"How about we put out the fire first and talk?"
With that, Taejeong summoned his craft. A massive Protector frame materialized, followed by its arsenal unfolding in sequence. Coordinates locked, he unleashed multiple rocket launchers on the surging foes.
Shuuuaak!Shuuuaak!Kwa-kwa-kwang!Kwa-kwang!
Ear-shattering roars erupted as massive explosions bloomed everywhere. The insane firepower scattered the enemy vanguard like autumn leaves just short of the high ground.
"Support squads 2 gone."
"Attack squads 5, 6, 7 hit."
"Something flew in—argh! What the hell?!"
The near-dead Jenix forces counterattacked, leaving Smith Alliance reeling. The sheer scale of firepower and blast radius vaporized troops and siege engines alike. Billowing dust and smoke blinded them completely. Commanders could only scream.
"Charge! Full speed to the castle!"
"Fall back! Get out now!"
In the chaotic inferno of zero visibility, their verdict: hug the walls. No way that barrage could hit point-blank. Cling and survive—that was the plan.
But they didn't know who'd orchestrated this. As stragglers pierced the smoke toward the defense line—
Kwang!Kwa-kwang!Kwang!Kwa-kwang!Kwang!
Domino-like blasts chained off. The shockwaves swept clusters away; rear echelons charging blindly shattered like dogs in the air from mystery explosions.
Mines. Anti-personnel cluster mines, pre-laid for exactly this.
Some survived, clawing over comrades to reach the walls. But disaster didn't spare them.
Tatang!Tatang!Tang!Tatang!
Hundreds of energy bullets per minute rained like a storm, shredding hunters into chunks. Shields meant nothing against that fury.
"What is that magic!?"
"Hidden mage unit, maybe."
"You kidding?! What magic spams infinitely like that!?"
"W-we should retreat..."
"Idiot! Look behind—no way out."
"Then what?! Die here?"
"No, but why's this punk talking like that?"
"Not even direct subordinates."
"Yo, check this engineer's attitude toward brass."
Desperation bred infighting. As Smith Alliance crumbled helplessly, Lee Tae-ho watched in a dreamlike daze. The sudden hulking iron behemoth and bizarre weapons sparked mere curiosity at first.
But when they unleashed... he doubted his eyes. Overwhelming firepower dominated the field. The indestructible golem they'd hammered with archers and mages? Shattered in one shot. And it didn't stop—roughly thirty rounds, scattered wide. The result: a zone utterly obliterated.
Now, the mystery barrage from the iron monster's hands. No cooldown, firing faster than the eye could track. Could such a thing exist in reality?
He was deeply confused. So were the other hunters, pulled from the fray, now dazed spectators wandering a dream.
Unlike them, Taejeong—laying waste to the field—breathed inner relief. He'd stepped up boldly, but worried if it'd work. Fortunately, the enemies were underwhelming; nearly all his main weapons connected.
Yet a strange fear of this power crept in. It's just an event battlefield—no real sting. If this were outside...>
The thought chilled him. Who said it? Great power brings heavy responsibility. Those words suddenly clicked today.
"Of course. For now, time to enjoy it."
His guns blazed mercilessly.