D-Grade Before the Server Crashes
The colossal Great Wall, stretching 27,000 li across the border between the Central Plains and the North, stood as humanity's final cliff against the northern calamities—the massive dam guaranteeing the Central Plains' peace.
In its heyday, the three empires of Qin, Zhao, and Yan each stationed 500,000 elite troops in their sections, totaling 1.5 million to suppress the northern menace.
But those days of glory had passed.
Now, as the courier dispatched by Supreme General Ak Wi raced westward along the wall-top signal road, the Great Wall's landscape looked utterly different from the past.
The unprecedented catastrophe looming next year, the Three Calamities Union, was a dire warning: millions of demonic beasts, driven by unknown nomadic tribes versed in shamanic arts, were swarming from the northern depths.
The heart of the Zhao Empire's Great Wall forces in the central sector—the Grand Army Headquarters—plunged into chaos the moment the courier arrived.
Beyond the Zhao Empire's Great Wall stretched an endless great steppe, a vital stronghold bearing the full brunt of the nomads' fierce waves.
Yet the Zhao Empire's Wall Army currently numbered a pitiful 170,000—barely half of its peak strength.
In the command room of the Grand Army Headquarters, Imperial General Jo-seom read the dispatch stamped with Ak Wi's seal, his face draining of color.
"So the eastern old monster has finally broken through. A vicious chill is rolling in from the north of our central sector too. Wolves from the steppes beyond the Wall abandoning their herds, prostrating before the gates, howling for salvation... What the hell is coming up behind them?"
With trembling hands, Jo-seom penned his reply.
It was less a command than a desperate pledge for survival.
"Supreme General Ak Wi, your warning has staved off Zhao Empire's doom. From this day, we seal all central sector gates and bind our 170,000-strong army to the walls. Next year, when steppe riders charge alongside the beasts, we shall meet death atop the Great Wall."
At the same time, he sent an urgent missive to the capital, Handan.
Attaching three famed Zhao steeds to the Yan courier, he requested the empire's full resources and forces converge on the Great Wall.
Thick terror clouded Jo-seom's eyes as he contemplated facing millions of beasts with a mere 170,000.
Another courier pressed westward without pause, reaching the Great Wall's end—the Qin Empire's defensive sector.
Beyond the western sector lay a barren expanse of endless desert and rugged steppe.
Under the emperor's iron rule, the Qin Empire still wielded formidable might, maintaining 300,000 regular troops.
The western Wall's Grand General was Mong Gang, descendant of a legendary commander.
Mong Gang's eyes flashed coldly as he verified Ak Wi's dispatch.
The aura of millions of beasts writhing beneath the desert sands felt thicker than ever.
"Yan screams with 110,000, Zhao cowers behind gates with 170,000. Even our law-abiding Qin Empire senses the beasts stirring ominously below—how must they fare? I won't let those vermin defile the barrier our Mong clan founder erected."
Mong Gang bellowed to his 300,000 troops.
"Fully stock the watchtowers and ballista platforms with fire oil! Qin Empire does not flee. If unknown nomads wield beasts, we'll smash their skulls with law and iron arrows! Send 10,000 elite Qin arrowheads to Supreme General Ak Wi—a gesture of solidarity to defend humanity's bulwark!"
Mong Gang too dispatched an emergency wartime mobilization order to the capital, Xianyang.
A cold calculation: even 300,000—or perhaps 500,000—Wall troops might fall short against the unknown calamity.
Meanwhile, at the Survival Demons' hunting outpost near Ghost Cry Gorge—ground zero of the storm—a bizarre silence reigned.
> Loot Core Essence Absorption Complete
> Detected artificial qi-blood interference by external entity
> Body reconstruction logic altered - Balanced physique stabilized
> Settlement Results
> Imprint Grade: D (Upgraded Confirmed)
> Body Status: Reconstruction Complete (F- grade minimum physical capabilities secured)
> Penalty Incurred: Growth Efficiency -20% (Lasts 30 days)
> Possible intermittent neural paralysis due to system sync delay
"Ugh... Ow, fuck... No such thing as a free lunch in this damn world. Look at these penalties. Feels like my body's been through a meat grinder."
Jinhyuk spat out the mouthful of blood and propped himself up, rousing from his stupor.
Every joint clicked heavily into place as he moved.
Unlike his powerless NEET days, his body now thrummed with increasingly dense, resilient muscles.
Looking around, a pungent herbal stench assaulted his nose; beside him sat a grotesque bowl of blood porridge mixed from Dae-seol-woong's blood and essence.
The Survival Demons—Cheon-un, Do-gwi, Dok-an—had used their crude knowledge to temper the system's mechanical overhaul, anchoring it into a "human" form.
Jinhyuk flashed an obsequiously broad grin and cupped his fists in thanks.
"Elders, I owe you big time. I really died and came back, didn't I? I'll repay this with booze and meat, swear on my life."
Dok-an plopped down with a tsk.
"Look at this punk. Mouth running before his head clears—guess you're alive after all. What the hell are you made of? Took that venomous aura without a single bone out of place. Without Old Hwang, you'd be less man, more monster."
Hwang-yeonggam puffed his pipe, staring toward the Left Army sector far off.
Of Yan Empire's Wall Army—shrunken from 500,000 to 110,000—the Left Army's 30,000 swarmed like ants, fortifying wartime defenses atop the Wall.
"Left Army's in a frenzy. That's full-sector alert. Hope Han Noya's goods cross the steppe to the Outpost before the gates slam shut..."
At that moment, old broker Han Noya was wrapping a massive deal in a secret warehouse of the Jang clan's influential house near the Yan Left Army base.
Before him towered a pile: one Blue Ice Wolf pelt from Jinhyuk's first trade, dozens of white and blue wolf hides, beast byproducts and rare herbs hunted by 200 Survival Demons.
Warehouse owner Jang Un-hak frowned at the doubled guards at the Left Army outpost outside.
"Han, old timer—see that? Our Left Army captains are locking gates early, blades out before snow flies. No clue what the Central Army's Supreme General ordered, but the vibe's murderous."
Han Noya eyed the soldiers' bloodthirsty bustle while inspecting the goods.
This haul—Jinhyuk's loot plus Survival Demons' hunts—was seed money for future trades.
Carts brimmed: ingots for weapon repairs, thick fabrics for cold-weather clothes, tents, bandages, scale armor; wound salves, needles, threads; northern rarities like rice, grains, fresh veggies.
"Speaking of... dragging all these horses is kinda odd, no?"
Jang Un-hak queried the ledger; Han Noya shrugged casually.
"Left Army seized 'em from nomads, slated 'em as pack mules then for disposal. I handled the paperwork—don't sweat it."
At Han Noya's signal, dozens of armed low-rank Wall officers and conscripts emerged from shadows.
Left Army decimal officers and squad leaders, greased by Han Noya's kickbacks for backroom deals.
They escorted under guise of "discarded supplies transport and night patrol."
"Old Han, all set. Gate boys are our crew—path's clear."
Han Noya cracked his whip, leading the convoy—perfect reckoning of Jinhyuk and Survival Demons' hard-won gains.
Behind, Yan Left Army's massive iron gate boomed shut.
KA-BOOM!
Leaving the capitals' coming shock and turmoil, Han Noya raced across the snow-swept steppe toward the slave soldiers' Outpost, hauling their joint assets.
Some escorts saluted and peeled off before the Wall; the rest shadowed the caravan.
'Thanks to that Jinhyuk punk's Blue Ice Wolf pelt, iron and veggies are stocked solid. Survival Demon geezers'll be pleased. Hit the Outpost, deliver the message—trades might dry up awhile, so time to zip lips.'