What... Is This Place?
Ikuzo's words echoed from somewhere he had been summoned to.
"What... is this place?"
Massage-ma, snapping out of his daze at the mutter, turned to him.
"This isn't the same spot as before, right?"
"Can't you tell by looking? Where the hell is this? Why did we suddenly...?"
The ceiling stretched endlessly high, the space far vaster than the cavern they'd been in. This was definitely not the previous location.
And there stood a stranger. A man equipped with bizarre contraptions on his legs and back.
"Is that a person?"
"What kind of question is that? You can tell he's human just by his face."
As they tried to grasp the situation, Taejeong was equally baffled. The ground had shaken, light had erupted, and suddenly dozens of people had popped out.
What the hell is going on?
"Those people over there—they're human, right?"
Affirmative.
"Then why aren't monsters coming out? Why these people?"
It appears an array formation has activated.
"An array?"
I lack detailed information.
"Hmm."
If Gerard confirmed they were human, then they were. A faint, familiar voice further solidified it.
They look Japanese. The ones who planted that flag earlier?
As his doubts deepened, one of the Japanese men approached him.
"Hello. I'm Ikuzo, the team leader from Japan. May I ask your nationality?"
The question was delivered clearly and firmly, but Taejeong didn't understand Japanese. After a brief pause, he replied in English.
"I can't speak Japanese, okay?"
"I can what? Hey, what the hell is this guy saying? Japanese means he's Japanese, right?"
Seeing the confusion, Taejeong tried again.
"No English? I'm Korean. Okay?"
"Korean? Oh, Korean. Okay. Namsan. Gangnam."
"Yeah. Namsan. Gangnam."
"Uh... Osaka. Tokyo. Okay?"
"Yeah, I know you're Japanese. Why bring up Osaka and Tokyo?"
"Ooh. Osaka, my Osaka."
"This is awkward."
It was practically baby talk. No point continuing. Taejeong shut his mouth and looked away.
But the guy wouldn't stop chattering.
"Why are you alone? No one else? Where is this? How'd you get here?"
"I told you I don't understand. I'm Korean."
"Yeah, Korean. I know. But we're from Japan—where the hell is this?"
"Ha... no hope."
Frustration mounting from the failed communication, a deafening screech suddenly erupted from all directions. It was so loud everyone grimaced.
Taejeong shifted his gaze from the people, scanning left and right. Soon, he pinpointed the source.
An earthquake revealed five doors. Crimson shapes emerged from them.
The Japanese hunters stirred at the sight.
"It's them—find the exit first!"
At Ikuzo's command, they scanned frantically. No exit anywhere.
Of course not. The entrance Taejeong had used sealed shut when the seal broke.
"Doesn't seem to be one. What now?"
"What else? Fight. Everyone, prepare."
They drew weapons, forming ranks for battle.
Taejeong glanced at them while receiving intel from Gerard.
The entity is an Elisa, one of the ancient races.
"Level?"
Considering gate level, mid-600s.
"Mid-600s. Same as those earlier. Any special cautions?"
High speed, body mostly covered in magic armor—most attacks ineffective. Capable of ranged attacks. Weak point: head.
"Got it. Looks like I've got some solid backup(?). Let's do this."
The thirty suddenly summoned Japanese hunters were a welcome reinforcement. Their gear screamed elite—they could handle their share, easing his burden.
Taejeong jetted into the air with his Blaster, unleashing a barrage on the Elisa.
Tatata-tatang! Tatatang! Tatata-tatang!
Hundreds of energy rounds per minute lit up the area.
Ikuzo watching couldn't believe his eyes. No magic he'd heard of had such sustained fire.
"What magic is that?"
"No cooldown at all?"
"Is it even magic?"
Everyone thought the same. But it didn't last—the Elisa swarmed, attacking.
"Go!"
"Yes!"
As battle erupted, Taejeong, having struck first, drew heavy aggro.
Pfyoong! Ping! Ping!
Frog-like mouths spat countless spells—single-shot lasers flying relentlessly.
"Check the range. Eat this."
His shoulders now mounted direct-fire and arcing cannons. Shells rained down, exploding.
Kwaboom! Boom!
He activated Massive Minefield, turning the ground into a kill zone.
Papapop! Papapop! Papop!
Domino explosions flung Elisa screaming.
Massive Minefield
Elisa defeated.
6,500,000 EXP acquired.
Mini Magic Stone acquired.
Elisa defeated.
6,500,000 EXP acquired.
Mini Magic Stone acquired.
"Whoa. What? Why such good drops?"
Every kill filled his inventory with magic stones. 100% drop rate. Unbelievable—like a golden goose.
But as Gerard warned, their defense was insane. Only seven down despite the barrage. Hard to aim headshots amid counterfire.
The Japanese hunters fared better. Experienced and with Taejeong tanking aggro, they picked off stragglers.
"That guy's aggro control is insane."
"Yeah. If he holds, we can survive."
"Where'd he come from?"
"Who knows? Focus on killing more."
Taejeong noticed the imbalance. Far more Elisa on him.
Numbers weren't the issue—whoever killed them, as long as they died. But magic stones changed that. Letting others take kills meant lost loot.
Can't have that. Time to bring it out.
He'd held back for their sake, but no way he'd forfeit those stones. Landing, he stowed Blaster and summoned Protector.
A massive mech materialized. His right arm's Super Vulcan spewed hundreds of enhanced energy rounds.
Nearby Elisa—over a dozen—dropped instantly, stones flooding his inventory.
"This is Mechanic, you bastards."
Now his solo show began. Left howitzer, right Vulcan. Flames swept the ground, light rounds shredded bodies.
No need for armor-piercing against that firepower. Desperate ranged barrages from the Elisa were overwhelmed by his rate of fire.
Pure madness. Stones piled up with each kill notification—ka-ching with every one.
His face lit with the happiest smile lately.
Nice. I'm a chaebol now.
While Taejeong reveled in the loot, Ikuzo's team gaped in shock.
"What the hell is that?"
Another monster appeared—no, a machine, but unprecedented.
The firepower demolished armored Elisa effortlessly.
"That range? Beyond Fire Wall."
"Those energy balls—how many?"
"Am I dreaming...?"
"Must be level X."
Everything defied logic. Their individual attacks might hit harder with precision, but his insane DPS and AoE compensated.
Kill speed was absurd.
"That guy's top-class. Insane level."
"Hidden?"
"Likely. Korea's got a new hidden powerhouse. Their defense skyrockets."
"Global standing too. Why do we always lose?"
"Damn island nation bullshit. Emigrate or something. Hey! Stop gawking—hunt! Or we won't even cover ship fare."
Taejeong's dominance nearly cleared the field.
"Gerard, how many stones now?"
112 stones.
"112. At 10 billion each...?"
1,120 billion won.
"I know that much. Anyway, good. Let's round to 1,200 billion."
To finish, he turned the mech toward the Japanese hunters' zone.
Ikuzo and crew panicked, spamming skills.
"Hurry! It's coming!"
"Can't lose this one— we'd go negative!"
Their frantic movements met Taejeong's approaching mech. Just entering range—
Kuoooooh—!
"Ugh! What roar is that?"
The guttural roar and head-rattling resonance hit. Taejeong clamped hands over ears.
Ikuzo and the thirty hunters clutched heads, collapsing in agony.
"What? This skull-splitting noise."
The roar faded, silence returned. Then the ground quaked.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The mech shook violently.
Wondering what it was, he saw the hunters' faces drain white ahead.
Taejeong whipped around.
"What... the hell is that?"