White Miracle and Nationwide Extermination
A small miracle unfolded within the pure white glow.
The miracle occurred twice.
◈ Resets the cooldown of a unique skill once.
The effect is no joke.
Combined with the one from the last F-rank labyrinth clear, he now had three reset tickets in total.
That meant he could fire off Instant Death three times in a row.
The constellation 'White Dawn' marvels at your luck.
It was right then, as he picked up the tickets with satisfaction.
Crack!Shatter!
The white glass shattered, fragments scattering across the floor.
The lantern's durability had finally given out. It had cracks to begin with.
"...Shame. Guess it wasn't meant to last long anyway?"
The constellation 'White Dawn' displays the number 1.
So it was only good for once originally?
"Then we got lucky."
Either way, it had triggered twice in a row. Probably because so many souls had piled up at once.
Of course, it looked unusable now.
The frame's still intact, though.
Maybe it could be repaired and reused. Feeling a pointless pang of regret, he picked up the broken lantern.
"...Any chance this can be fixed later?"
Probably not. It'd be too much to expect. As he turned away, resigned—
A message appeared.
The constellation 'White Dawn' nods.
"Oh."
It really could be repaired.
As expected of a holy relic—something about it was just different.
He'd hold onto it for now.
He could ask about repair methods later.
More importantly, it was time to refocus on the death wave.
"Lucifer, what's the situation now?"
Ah, Master.
At his words, Lucifer shared his vision. The apostle was soaring over the heart of the city.
We can handle a few more fights with ease now. Those cup ramen at the convenience store were tasty, though. Nice and crunchy.
"...You pour hot water on those."
Damn, that explains it. They were staring weird. Why didn't anyone say anything?
Clearly, there were gaps in the modern knowledge Lucifer had absorbed.
Anyway, we're heading to shelter 10 now. Better to handle the shaky ones first.
From behind Lucifer's voice came Cheon Iryeong the hunter.
"Mumyeong Hunter, I'll support you at full power!"
"No need."
"No, I want to help! I'm Cheon Iryeong, rank 3 genius hunter!"
Cheon Iryeong shouted spiritedly as she chased after Lucifer's tail.
There was no real reason to shake her off.
Cheon Iryeong was strong.
She'd be useful.
Honestly, not really needed.
Lucifer's thoughts differed, however.
S-rank hunters aren't as strong as I thought. I figured out why: Sa Choiheon is overwhelmingly stronger than regular S-ranks.
Sa Choiheon was rank 1.
His skill was recognized internationally, sure.
But overwhelmingly so?
Compared to Sa Choiheon, all these humans are laughable. Let's clear the monsters that have shown up first.
Grrraaah!
Grrrrr!
Shelter 10 connected to a building's parking lot.
A horde of monsters was gathering there.
Their movements were systematic, like they'd received orders.
Boom!Booom!
Lucifer unleashed magic cannon blasts without hesitation, wiping them out. Cheon Iryeong, following behind, fired mana bullets wildly.
Rat-tat-tat!
Under their combined assault, the monster pack began to shred apart. Blood and flesh rained down like a storm.
Good.
He deliberately closed and opened his eyes.
A method he'd recently discovered to exit the shared vision.
Experience is definitely rising.
The system window he'd checked directly showed EXP climbing fast. At this rate, level 60 was imminent.
About ten minutes later.
Thanks to Lucifer and Cheon Iryeong's efforts, the nearby monsters were cleanly eradicated.
"Whoa... A-are you really Mumyeong?"
"Getting help from the hot topic hunter these days. Thanks."
"Real Mumyeong's different, I tell ya. I brought him."
The two S-rank hunters guarding shelter 10 expressed their gratitude. Cheon Iryeong stood beside them, puffing out her chest proudly for no reason.
Moving to the next one right away.
"N-no break?!"
There were a couple more urgent shelters from the radio reports. Lucifer grabbed a chocolate bar from his pocket and munched as he pressed on.
Shelter 7.
Booom!
"Y-you're really Mumyeong?! Crazy!"
"Whoa, firepower's insane. I'm a fan, Mumyeong!"
Shelter 3.
Boom! Booom!
"Huff... huff... We lived thanks to you."
"Bad matchup for us. Thanks."
The S-rank hunters were genuinely grateful. Meeting people he'd only seen on TV felt oddly fresh.
They'd bought some breathing room, at least.
But without addressing the root cause, the crisis wouldn't end.
"Ughhh... I really, really can't move anymore."
Cheon Iryeong, who'd been following Lucifer, collapsed to the ground. Lucifer paid her no mind, his focus elsewhere.
Munch, munch.
Lucifer sent a telepathic message while chewing an energy bar.
Master, check my view.
Lucifer's gaze fixed on the city center.
Towering skyscrapers.
One in particular stood out.
Whoa, what kind of monster is that...
An enormous swarm of monsters clung to it, like a mass of insects.
I figured it'd show up soon.
Lucifer explained calmly.
A monster nest that forms when their numbers swell. High chance the one controlling them is inside.
This crisis stemmed from monsters systematically assaulting shelters.
Take out their command tower, and the death wave would be much easier to handle.
He checked past messages.
Level up.
Level up.
Level up.
Lv.57 → Lv.60
Daily growth limit reached.
Max daily level cap already hit.
Weakling Extermination could now wipe most monsters. Of course, range limits meant he'd need to be on-site.
"Ughhh... I have something to say..."
Cheon Iryeong entered Lucifer's view.
She looked utterly spent, mumbling something inaudible.
Leaving her behind felt iffy.
"Lucifer, give Cheon Iryeong hunter something to eat at least."
Hmm... Understood.
Thud.
Lucifer tossed a chocolate bar to the ground like it was charity. Cheon Iryeong's eyes widened at the sight.
"Not like that—give it properly."
Gasp. Sorry, Master. Sh-should I give another?
Not mad because she was offended, right?
She was rank 3 genius hunter Cheon Iryeong.
Too late to take it back, maybe.
As he moved to order Lucifer—
Grab.
Cheon Iryeong snatched the chocolate bar.
"Thank you! I'll eat up and keep going!"
Her eyes sparkled.
Bright smile and all, with thanks.
That worked out?
Weird kid. Decent potential, though. More importantly, monsters are multiplying. Even as we speak.
Lucifer glanced toward the city center as he spoke.
The skyscraper crawling with monsters.
The monster nest.
The command tower was there.
Level was high enough.
No need to delay.
"Let's go."
He told Lucifer.
The rooftop of the building swarming with monsters.
Bzzzzt!
Bzzz!
The sky above was blackened by flying insect monsters.
The gathered horde looked like black mist.
"Hah, yes. This is power. Real power."
But the rooftop garden remained pristine. Insects circled orderly outside its bounds.
At the garden's center.
stood villain Han Jongu.
Scuttle!
Scuttle!
Dozens of centipede monsters crawled over Han Jongu's body. He ignored them.
"You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment."
Arms spread wide, he reveled in his power.
Monster Taming.
Han Jongu's unique ability to freely command earthly monsters.
Closing his eyes, he felt it vividly.
Every movement of monsters across the city. The endless spawn from the nest.
He'd waited for this day.
'Death wave—this is heaven for me.'
The ability to control monsters was incredibly useful.
At first, it was just fun to toy with hunters. But Monster Taming proved more versatile than expected.
Faking accidents to steal items was good. Using monsters to kill and claim insurance was good. Gaining edge over hunters was good.
And so he'd reached this point.
Where was a monster tamer most effective?
The death wave.
As endless monsters poured out, his power grew boundless.
"The Awakened Alliance idiots screwed up."
They'd meddled with the demon descent and paid the price. No need for that.
The world was collapsing on its own.
Law and morality crumbling, old powers realigning. In the ruined world, the king would be an Awakened.
"I'm one lucky bastard."
Han Jongu smirked slyly.
This secret wasn't self-discovered. A visitor had told the wanted fugitive in hiding.
—This world is collapsing. I'll leave a fragment of power. For you, king of the new era.
The power fragment's effect was tremendous.
His A-rank strength surged to S-rank. Maybe beyond.
Crackle, crackle!
Black demonic energy enveloped him. An indescribable omnipotence boiled within.
So-called Ma-in transformation.
He'd forsaken humanity for power.
"Perfect. Absolutely perfect."
The result was satisfying.
Humanity traded for control over the city's entire monster horde.
Surveying the city contentedly, Han Jongu gestured lightly.
Slither.
A mantis-like monster dragged in one civilian. Then thirty-odd insect monsters hauled more.
"P-please spare me..."
"Pl-please, I beg you."
"Mommy, Mommy..."
Han Jongu smiled at the sobbing hostages. He glanced at the death wave status board, then pulled one forward.
"Mumyeong showed up. Good for you, huh?"
"M-Mumyeong..."
The civilian's voice trembled.
"Impressive guy. Handled four shelters almost solo. Stronger than other hunters by far. Feel hopeful now?"
"Please, please..."
"Heh heh heh."
Han Jongu sneered and tossed the terrified civilian to the insects.
Crunch, munch.
The gruesome tearing sounds were soon drowned by the winged insects above.
Han Jongu addressed the remaining hostages magnanimously.
"Good news: Mumyeong's heading this way."
Through the insects' senses, he monitored the whole city.
Mumyeong was coming.
Good news, but no reaction from the hostages. They just trembled, heads bowed.
"Sadly, Mumyeong dies here. Even Sa Choiheon wouldn't change that. No one on Earth stops this horde."
Han Jongu climbed the railing.
"The horde spreads nationwide... World ends, more monsters join me."
Arms wide, he commanded the monsters to battle.
"Come, Mumyeong! I'll face you."
At his word, the countless insects shrouding the building surged.
Bzzzzt!
Their senses fed back to Han Jongu.
Mumyeong approached the rooftop through the air, inexplicable bread bag mask and all.
But Han Jongu didn't underestimate the appearance.
Rooooar...
The black flying insect swarm instantly surrounded Mumyeong. His vision blocked.
Not the end.
Scuttle!
At his chin's twitch, the centipedes on him clustered into a sphere.
A defensive barrier of centipedes formed.
"Mumyeong! Attack if you dare! Thirty hostages on the roof. Fine if they die in your assault!"
Han Jongu bellowed, mana-infused.
'This advantage is unbreakable.'
He trusted his scheme.
Human stamina wasn't infinite.
Even hunters.
S-ranks weren't absolute supermen.
Mana, stamina, vitality.
Exhaust limited resources, and even hunters became helpless humans.
The death wave spawned endless monsters.
Even S-rank shelter guards and rank 3 Cheon Iryeong collapsed before the horde.
A war of attrition with endless monsters guaranteed victory.
"No one stops me now!"
Han Jongu truly believed it.
A massive swarm of flying insects enveloped Lucifer in an instant.
Weeeeng!
Bzzzzt!
At the whirlwind's center.
"What now, Master?"
Lucifer awaited orders.
Rat-tat-tat...
The insects' needle-mouths pecked relentlessly at Lucifer. A sustained attack that would fell normal hunters.
Ting, ting, ting!
But it meant nothing to him. Black wings deflected the assaults.
Not painful, not even itchy.
By his account, he could endure a week.
That wasn't the issue.
He's got hostages, huh. Cowardly for all that bluster.
Lucifer sounded annoyed.
Hostages.
The villain's strategy was effective.
Lucifer couldn't freely unleash mana or beams.
The building might collapse.
Or injure hostages badly.
Breaking through was out for similar reasons. Han Jongu could harm them first.
"A villain, of all things..."
Criminals wielding Awakened powers.
Dubbed villains.
An elite monster would've ended quick. Being human made it trickier.
Hostages could die.
'No choice, then...'
Going himself was tough.
Didn't know the madman's full strength, and Lucifer would need to carry him up.
At his level, he'd just be baggage on-site.
Couldn't reach in time anyway.
One conclusion.
Monsters around Lucifer all level 65 or below.
His current level: 60.
Plenty high, but better to cull as many as possible.
"Lucifer, hold on. I'll handle it."
He pulled a potion from inventory.
◈ Grants a large amount of EXP.
◈ Ignores EXP limits.
A potion bottle with faintly glowing yellow liquid.
He'd saved it for a moment like this. Levels might fall short when needed.
'Question is how much "large amount" means...'
Reward from legendary-clearing a D-rank labyrinth. Had to be decent.
Pop.
He uncorked and downed it in one go.
Tasted like some soda.
Taste didn't matter.
Effects did.
'Please.'
A soft glow enveloped him. System messages scrolled rapidly.
Level up.
Level up.
Level up.
Level up.
Level up.
Level up.
Lv.60 → Lv.66
Six levels.
Now higher than every monster in the death wave.
'Perfect.'
He cheered inwardly. Weakling Extermination could wipe them all now.
"Hahaha! Mumyeong! Die in there!"
The villain's voice came through Lucifer's vision, mana making it crystal clear.
That worm...
'Not over yet.'
One issue remained.
Skill range.
Weakling Extermination covered 100m centered on him. Couldn't kill without going to the death wave.
'But...'
He pulled another item from inventory.
◈ Temporarily expands a skill's range to 'national' scale.
That changed everything.
Demon's Eye, reward from slaying demon Belial.
He gripped it tight. The orb's texture pressed into his palm.
The constellation 'White Dawn' anticipates your exploits.
The constellation 'Master of the Black Star' anticipates your peerless might.
No burning sense of justice.
Never planned to risk life battling villains.
No confidence to throw himself into saving people like other hunters.
But...
Not so indifferent as to ignore a solvable threat.
Crunch!
Demon's Eye used.
Instant Death: Weakling Extermination's range expands to 'national' scale.
Your skill now reaches the entire Republic of Korea.
Weakling Extermination's range now spanned the whole country. No place in Korea beyond his reach.
Bzzzzt!
The shared vision filled with insects.
To the ceaselessly fluttering horde, he uttered one word.
"Die."