All Scum Look Alike
Hunter Association. Not even a full decade old since its founding, yet it already boasted a storied history of achievements.
When awakeners were popping up left and right with no structure in place, Korea leveraged its renowned administrative prowess to handle things faster than any other nation, ultimately establishing the Hunter Association for them.
The man who claimed the presidency was Kim Cheon-su, the current association president. A first-generation hunter who awakened right as gates began appearing, he was only A-rank but racked up countless raid records on the front lines before retiring due to injury. A hunter with an ironclad sense of justice, he led the association with his unique instincts—which made him all the more paranoid and cautious.
Countless lives hung in the balance on his decisions. If it came down to national security versus his own life, he'd gladly lay down his neck. Unverified elements demanded constant suspicion and rigorous checks.
This incident was no different.
Cheon Ji-hoo was a powerful card. One that could upend the entire world. If he revealed his strength, every corner of the globe would revere and exalt him. Any organization would covet that power and elevate him to godhood.
But then came the fallen returners allying with villains. Monster hordes and villains emerging from the shadows. The suspicious circumstances piled up, forcing even greater caution with every step.
Would he even listen if Cheon Ji-hoo asked? The guy did whatever he wanted. So far, negotiations had barely succeeded out of necessity. What if they summoned him and he turned like the other returners? Every gathered hunter would die.
He had the power to make it happen. He was playing nice now, but that calm voice hid madness—not the wild blaze of villains, but a frigid, unyielding glacier of insanity. How could human eyes peer into such transcendence? That madness was likely just the tip of the iceberg. If he couldn't be controlled at will, better to exclude him from the equation entirely.
Steer clear of offending him as much as possible. They'd only need to mobilize him for something like the extinction of humanity.
Rifts had torn open before, spewing core monsters, though never on this scale. They'd handled them with fewer forces back then. Plenty of people could manage without him. Humanity's safety couldn't be entrusted to one individual.
So he took his stand.
HCU soldiers and hunters manning the defensive lines stared tensely into the distance. Some had experience repelling what were called monster waves, but others were green.
"Combat ready—!!"
Hong Ji-hwa bellowed from the vanguard. Dressed in full hunter gear, hellfire erupted from her body like an engine revving to life. Newbies gawked at Korea's unofficial S-rank, but she ignored them, radiating fighting spirit from every pore.
Three S-ranks were present. Numerous A-ranks. Followed by B- and C-rank hunters.
Two-do-two-doo—!!
The ground trembled. Beasts charging along the road from Pocheon to Uijeongbu kicked up dust clouds in their rush.
The mad spectacle terrified some, but no one fled. They knew they stood at humanity's forefront.
"First barrage—fire!"
A command-skill hunter at the rear shouted. Prepared mages unleashed their spells, while ranged hunters fired skills. A rainbow of attacks sliced through the air, slamming into the beasts' front lines.
Explosions mingled with dust, roars with screams. The acrid stench of burning flesh stung noses. Shattered road debris skittered across the ground. Fluids and flesh sprayed everywhere.
But the beasts didn't stop. They devoured and trampled their dead, charging again. Madness gripped them, harder to halt than mad humans—and beasts were far more ferocious.
"Second barrage—fire—!!"
As prepped, the next volley flew. Magic filled the sky. Hong Ji-hwa watched the falling spells, tail drooping, thinking how blunt and crude they seemed compared to Cheon Ji-hoo's exquisite magic.
Kuwoong.
The impacts warped, yielding little effect. Now it was time for close-range hunters to face the striding beasts.
Smaller than the monsters, the true heroes dashed forward, weapons gripped tight, leaving afterimages in their wakes. Hong Ji-hwa leaped highest from the front, igniting hellfire as she plunged into the melee's heart.
Baek Sung-jun followed, banging his shield and roaring to draw eyes.
Melee chaos. The swirling frenzy dazzled eyes. Casualties were minimal—rear healers kept the wounded patched up. Despite the beasts' numbers, hunters pressed the advantage.
The three S-ranks shone brightest, sowing chaos with overwhelming prowess and already slaying four A-rank core monsters.
Hong Ji-hwa's red gauntlets smashed a massive wolf's face, slamming it to the ground amid sizzling stench. Baek Sung-jun's shield and sword flashed, butchering foes. Blood and gore flew in the gruesome battlefield as human and beast screams intertwined.
Hunters swelled with pride. Protecting people was their calling. They trusted themselves and comrades, swinging weapons till palms tore. Mana drained relentlessly, yet mages kept casting.
"Push harder!"
Hong Ji-hwa's curt shout rang as she dove deeper—only to be blasted back by immense force. The chest impact stole her scream. She spun midair, landed steady.
"Fuck, what the hell?"
The strike was too sudden to sense. She spat blood, clenched her fists, and looked up. Amid the beasts, robed figures emerged.
Hunters recoiled; beasts halted too. Instinct screamed: these guys orchestrated this.
Their auras were ominous. At least S-rank, maybe more, Hong Ji-hwa thought.
They threw back their hoods. Their faces were all too familiar to her as an HCU member.
"S-rank villains 'Clown' and 'Bloodtrace'……."
"HCU lives up to the rep— you know us!"
The right one was a black longhair with red-painted nose, dual karambit knives in hand. Left: short ash-gray hair, massive red-glowing greatsword on back.
Hong Ji-hwa ground her teeth. She'd suspected villain involvement, but figured odds low. Seeing them strut out bold as brass pissed her off more.
Hellfire surged fiercer from her body, heat rising till the ground softened around her. Nearby hunters backed off, wary in the inferno.
"I'll burn you all to ash."
She slammed palms to ground, crouching low, transforming into a rippling beast of crimson flame. Flames wreathed her elongated forehead horns, swelling them huge. Even the villains sensed danger.
"Whoa, this is bad."
"Hmph. I'll handle it."
S-rank villain 'Bloodtrace' drew her greatsword and stepped up. Hong Ji-hwa exploded forward, paws shattering earth like bullets. Roiling flames carved a straight line through air, S-rank mana scorching atmosphere.
Bloodtrace gripped her blade two-handed, red aura flaring. Destructive energy poured from the sword. Veins bulged on her arms—then she swung.
Horizontal red slash met Hong Ji-hwa's thrusting gauntlet. A horrific rupture echoed.
Wood-crack. Mana clash boomed between them, ground crumbling like tofu. Hong Ji-hwa flew back, tumbling before recovering. Her hellfire snuffed out; blood streamed from her mouth.
"Kuhuk!"
She hacked up a mouthful, wiped it with her sleeve.
What the—?
Villain prowess was unreal. Bloodtrace took hits from hellfire up close but fared far better.
"Hmph, that all?"
Bloodtrace twirled her greatsword, grinning maniacally. Her stoic face twisted into madness. Newbie hunters narrowed eyes, lips twitching.
"You fucking bastards!"
Baek Sung-jun charged next, shield and sword ready. But the villains sidestepped, bowing aside.
What the—? Then someone strode between them.
The battlefield froze. Overwhelming mana poured from him, prickling skin and tingling brains.
He parted his robe slowly between villains and hunters. Amid flowing hair, a sinister tattoo gleamed: overlapping circles and crosses, evil at a glance.
Hong Ji-hwa's blurred vision locked on him, recalling Cheon Ji-hoo's warning: contact me if you spot weirdos.
She staggered, begging a nearby hunter for any phone.
Meanwhile, the tattooed man spoke.
"Ahh, delighted to meet you all. Such an honor. Thrilled so many joined the party."
"……Who the hell are you?"
Baek Sung-jun demanded. Unfamiliar face—not in villain dossiers.
The man bowed elegantly.
"I am Tol of the Dark Clouds, faithful servant of the Silence Demon King."
Straightening, his face twisted into a non-human smile, chills rippling through all.
Baek Sung-jun slashed sword aura desperately—but it dispersed harmlessly before him.
Impossible. Even for a non-attack specialist, that strike could've pressured an A-rank core monster. Blocking without moving?
Baek Sung-jun paled; the man smiled wider.
"What a fine day. So many sturdy souls—perfect harvest."
As he exuded domineering aura, his eyes curved, gazing skyward.
All followed his gaze.
Shuuuuk— wind whistled.
A massive whoosh cleaved the sky. Then: enormous black wings, a raven absorbing no sunlight. Its talons clutched something.
White armor. Gleaming ethereally in the sun. Nearing, the raven released it. The armor floated, drawing a sword of light, unfurling illusory wings of radiance.
Gliding on light wings, it dove into the monster horde, swinging. Light-slashed beasts scattered like autumn leaves.
Tol of the Dark Clouds stared in disbelief.
"How is the holy relic of the Goddess of Light and Salt here……?!"