Death Through the Monitors

Sa Choiheon recalled the past.

The world of his first regression.

Before he realized his ability to regress.

South Korea had failed to stop the death wave. Countless people died, and the cities ground to a halt.

The ma-in solidified their positions, and Korea began dancing to their tune.

There was no way Phase 1 could be cleared properly.

They hadn't found even a single gate.

The monstrous birds were unleashed, turning Seoul into a wasteland. Casualties mounted, and the city suffered irreparable damage.

The Star of Prophets hadn't appeared to Sa Choiheon back then. They hoarded their information, concealing their identities.

'The first button was fastened wrong from the start. Irrevocably so.'

A world once shattered doesn't mend easily.

The dead don't come back to life,

and the things they should have done go undone.

'In this regression, Korea is safe.'

Because he'd preemptively eliminated the ma-in.

But a catastrophe like that one was brewing in other countries.

'A monstrous bird stacked with four buffs—no one can take it down.'

There was a way to conquer it.

If they cleanly cleared the gates that had broken, it would count as a gate clear and strip the monstrous bird's buffs.

By then, though... how much of each city would be left in ruins?

'I failed to anticipate the ma-in's movements.'

Sa Choiheon blamed himself.

On one hand, it was unavoidable. Mumyeong had altered the future, and the ma-in's actions followed an unprecedented pattern.

'...Do I have to start over?'

Sa Choiheon's worries deepened.

But if he regressed again,

there was no guarantee Mumyeong would exist.

Despite countless regressions, Mumyeong's appearance was a first. It might have been an incredible stroke of luck.

But such concerns proved groundless.

Mumyeong said simply,

"If you want, I can kill every last monstrous bird. As long as it doesn't cause international issues, intervention is possible."

His tone brimmed with confidence bordering on certainty.

Sa Choiheon doubted his own ears.

"What?"

"Jeez, you deaf? Master here can handle it all."

Lucifer's eyes narrowed. His gaze held not a shred of doubt in Mumyeong's power.

Sa Choiheon's brow furrowed.

"I get that you're strong enough to take out the egg, but a monstrous bird's defenses are on another level entirely..."

Sa Choiheon didn't know the principle behind Mumyeong's power. He perceived it only as overwhelming strength that crushed enemies outright.

Because in all his regressions, no one had wielded a power like Mumyeong's.

"Can you get permissions from each country?"

Mumyeong acted as if he could erase them anytime. Caught up in that confidence, Sa Choiheon nodded despite himself.

"...It's possible."

Sa Choiheon had made extensive preparations even before the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tutorial ended.

His connections spanned the globe.

A regressor with foreknowledge could scratch just the right itches for them, turning each into a solid contact.

And the situation lent itself perfectly to it.

'Korea's egg hasn't hatched yet. If other countries request aid, Korea's the one to call.'

Of course, all this hinged on actually being able to slay the monstrous birds.

"No other preparations needed? I'll summon Yoo Jihun, the spatial mover, right away."

Traversing countries would be a race against time.

But Mumyeong shook his head.

"Multiple monitors to observe the monstrous birds in each country. Prepare those, and it's enough."

Mumyeong's words were shocking.

Monitors?

Could he really slay monstrous birds with just that?

Sa Choiheon asked again.

"You sure that's all?"

It wasn't disbelief.

It just defied common sense.

Even after witnessing Mumyeong's feats firsthand, he couldn't wrap his head around it.

What hunter demands a monitor to take down a boss?

Yet Mumyeong's voice was gravely serious, unlike ever before.

"It'll work."

Boooom—!

New York, USA.

A colossal monstrous bird rivaling the skyscrapers was blocked by a single human.

"Raaargh!"

America's Rank 1, Hero Derek.

Kr-booom—!

His terrifying strength halted the monstrous bird's advance. Tiny compared to the beast, but the raw power surging from his body was no joke.

Derek's constellation contract was with 'Heracles'.

The Greek mythological hero of monstrous strength.

That mythic power manifested through Derek.

Screeech—!

The impact sent the monstrous bird staggering. Its cry tore at eardrums.

Derek kicked off a building wall, charging the monstrous bird again.

Booom—!

A massive shockwave erupted. As the bird reeled, American hunters formed a encirclement.

"We can't deal damage! Just use skills to hold its movement!"

"Bind its legs with chains! Restrain it!"

"It's getting back up!"

The monstrous bird was stacked with four buffs.

99% reduction to physical & magic damage.

999% increase to attack & defense.

Inflicting damage was impossible.

But exerting physical force? That much they could manage.

"Hoo..."

"Derek, you okay?"

A fellow hunter voiced concern to Derek as he landed.

"Fine, fine. This is nothing!"

His body was already a wreck. Bruises mottled his prized physique.

His flesh hadn't fully adapted to the avatar contract's immense power.

No time to rest, though. Derek kicked off the ground, leaping skyward. Kaboom—! Cracks spiderwebbed the pavement, forming a crater.

In midair, Derek faced the monstrous bird.

'A real monster.'

Even at full power, not a scratch.

Derek knew it.

He couldn't defeat it, let alone dent it. All he could do was slow its advance, even a little.

Kaboom—!

A casual flap of the bird's wings birthed a fierce gale. Derek pierced it, landing on the beast's head.

"Nngh!"

Ignoring him, the monstrous bird shook violently. A mere twitch, but its destructive force was immense.

Rumble rumble!

Buildings grazed by its wings crumbled pitifully. Lucky the civilians had evacuated.

Derek hammered the bird's head with all his might.

Bam! Bam!

Physical force rocked its head. But that was it. The bird shook him off fiercely.

Whoosh, kaboom!

Derek flew into rubble. Amid rising smoke, he spat blood.

He looked up slowly.

The black monstrous bird, a calamity incarnate.

'...No idea how long I can hold it.'

Info said the buffs would vanish once gate breaks were cleared. But by then, 30% of New York would be rubble.

'No reinforcements coming, huh.'

The trial struck simultaneously worldwide.

But this wouldn't do.

Fine for him, but the other hunters? Questionable. He chugged potions and rose.

Static—crackle—.

Then, a hopeful voice from his comms.

Derek's eyebrow twitched.

Korea?

Didn't Korea have that Mumyeong hunter?

The one who'd shone in the SS-rank gate.

But Derek hadn't seen it himself. Just pieced it from videos.

"Can he take down a monster like that?"

Shaking off the thought, Derek assumed position. The bird was moving again.

His job hadn't changed.

Hold it back with everything he had.

For America.

For himself.

That was all.

"No hope left."

"Even our top rankers can only stall. And even that's about to break."

"Better to get support for clearing the gate breaks..."

All five countries were in chaos.

America, Japan, UK, Australia, India.

With domestic damage clear, their associations and agencies had no choice but to decide.

"Request aid from other countries."

"At least block the gate breaks."

Aid wasn't free.

It came with unfavorable negotiations between nations.

But the crisis demanded it, even at a loss.

A major city was on the brink of annihilation—no time for pickiness.

"Korea's our best shot."

"What about others?"

"Busy with their own gate clears—no spare capacity."

"Did those Russian bastards forget we helped them?"

The problem: five countries.

Hunters were finite.

Even aid might not yield results...

"We just watch?"

Japan's association head stared blankly out the window at flames rising over the distant cityscape.

Aid requested.

Now, wait for replies.

"Contact from Korea!"

"What'd they say?"

"Well..."

The hesitating secretary spoke.

"...They say they can take out the boss directly."

At the same time.

All five aid-requesting countries got the same message.

Slay it?

That monster?

Dubious, but they consented.

If the boss could be erased now, no room for quibbling. The damn thing was about to raze their cities.

"Japan first..."

"No, America!"

"Anyone connected to Korea?"

Every country teetered on the edge.

America's hunters were fully on the defensive.

Booom—!

"Gahk!"

Slammed to the ground, Derek vomited blood. His ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠limbs hung in tatters.

Healer hunters rushed to treat him desperately.

Kr-boom boom—!

The bird's beak toppled a skyscraper. Dust billowed skyward.

Derek gazed at it in daze.

Even chugging potions, getting heals and buffs—staying its movement was his best.

"Is this... the end?"

Even that had reached its limit.

For the first time, Derek felt defeat.

Not during his first S-rank gate, nor the SS-rank.

The System's power was immense.

Humanity was powerless before it.

Tutorial.

Until now, it truly had been just a tutorial.

Clear gates, claim rewards.

Level up, grow stronger.

He'd once thought the System a blessing. Humanity's chance to leap forward.

Now it was obvious.

The System had merely given time to adapt.

Even with constellation power, the gulf was insurmountable.

Screeech—!

As Derek ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slumped, vast mana gathered in the bird's maw.

That couldn't be blocked.

Try, and he'd vaporize.

"Has the Mumyeong hunter arrived...?"

Derek asked his comrades wearily.

They shook heads. Over five countries hit. Distance to America made priority unlikely.

Crack, pop.

Ignoring snapping joints' agony, Derek stood.

Exhausted, but unresigned.

"Derek, it's dangerous. Stop now..."

"No, I can still—"

"Derek!"

Derek crouched to leap. Leg muscles bulged grotesquely; blood surged through his veins.

Kaboom—!

Compressed mana and muscle rocketed him up. He aimed for the bird's jaw.

Strike before mana release, alter its path.

Derek gathered all his power.

Even if his body shattered...

That resolve firm, the moment of collision—

Splaaaat—!

The skyscraper-sized monstrous bird exploded.

No warning whatsoever.

"?!"

Derek twisted midair, landing on a building, and looked to where the bird had been.

Nothing.

An eerily silent city.

Only bloodstains and chunks painted the surroundings red.

The monstrous bird was dead?

No way.

That monster, slain so easily?

Frantic, Derek raised his comms.

"Where's the monstrous bird?"

Even the voice crackled with shock.

The unkillable-seeming fiend was gone.

Only then did Derek recall a video. The monsters there had died just like this.

"Mumyeong...?"

But this was Abraksas's monstrous bird.

A genuine monster immune to all attacks.

"Did he really take it down...?"

It didn't take long for Derek and the American hunters to learn the truth.

Mumyeong's name was etched clearly in the contribution message.

Japan too.

"M-Mumyeong..."

Clang.

Japan's Rank 1 Hayato sheathed his katana. Sweat drenched him. He collapsed in exhaustion.

UK, India, Australia.

"W-We lived!"

"Long live Mumyeong!"

"Haa... Thank god..."

The hunters of each country cheered.

Relieved to survive.

Overjoyed damage hadn't escalated.

The unstoppable disaster was over.

I scanned the surrounding monitors carefully. They had displayed the monstrous birds in each country.

A setup evoking a hacker's lair. Sa Choiheon's home naturally featured such a room.

'As long as I can see them, killing isn't hard.'

Even if through a screen.

Swish.

Shreds of the Ultimate Skill Reset Scroll fell from my hand.

Activating the ultimate skill and its special Overdrive sharpened the death aura further.

Enveloping the birds in aura was easy. Simpler than the egg.

'From here, straightforward.'

In Overdrive, Instant Death's cooldown resets for 10 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seconds. No need for reset scrolls.

Kill all birds on the monitors. Done.

I'd set a rough order just in case—good call. Korea at 1st. Satisfying.

I dusted my hands.

Now, only one Unique Skill Reset Scroll left.

Blue Dragon's gathering souls in Jeju Island, so that's fine. Even aim for another Ultimate Reset Scroll.

Might drop as reward.

Crackle, fizz—crackle!

Taking down so many at once, perhaps.

Settlement would take time again.

Sparks intensified.

"Then I'll head out."

Turning to leave Sa Choiheon's room—

"......"

"?"

Sa Choiheon's reaction was off. Mouth agape, staring at the monitors in disbelief.

"......"

Lips twitching,

he swallowed dryly.

With strained voice, he asked me,

"Mumyeong... What are you? Really human?"

Face like beholding a monster.

Not negative—awed, positively stunned.

...What am I?

Not questioning my humanity, surely.

I answered simply.

Borrowing Lucifer's words from before.

"On humanity's side."

More precisely, someone desperately hoping humanity doesn't perish.