Chapter 119: The Trap (5)
Chapter 119: The Trap (5)
The major Japanese clans were aghast. In their first clash with the demons, thirty percent of their total strength had been wiped out in a mere five minutes.
Their shock was inevitable. They hadn't charged into battle with a haphazardly assembled force; most of the major clans' core Awakeners had participated in the operation.
To see such a result was a devastating blow.
Naturally, high-ranking executives of the major clans had joined the fray to secure their share of the glory, but many returned wounded—and some didn't return at all.
An emergency meeting was convened.
A heavy, uncomfortable silence filled the room.
Of the seventeen people who usually gathered, only twelve were present. The empty seats belonged to those who were either severely injured or dead.
In truth, the casualties would have been even higher if more of these leaders had fought on the front lines. Most, like Wakatsuki Toshiki, had stayed back to command, allowing them to flee safely. The sacrifices had mostly come from the more aggressive Awakeners and the clans that had volunteered to lead the vanguard.
With such a disastrous outcome from a single encounter, external help was now a necessity.
The confidence and bravado they had displayed before the battle had vanished. Yet, a shred of wretched pride remained; even though they knew they had to ask for help, no one wanted to be the first to speak.
"…This situation is a global crisis. Let us join forces with other nations."
Wakatsuki Toshiki was a man who would bow his head or bend his waist whenever it served his interests. Even so, having taken pride in the recent growth of Japanese Awakeners, it was difficult for him to voice these words after such a pathetic defeat. Being flexible and pragmatic didn't mean he lacked pride entirely.
One by one, the others agreed. They immediately reached out to Korea and other countries they had cultivated through lobbying and diplomacy.
However, most expressed reluctance.
Despite Japan's attempts to suppress the news, information had already leaked. The world knew that Japan had been crushed in five minutes during the first battle and had retreated with its tail between its legs.
Other nations were wary. Just as Reinforcement Portals had appeared worldwide, they feared demons might manifest in their own territories at any moment. They couldn't justify deploying their main forces elsewhere. If demons were to run rampant in their own countries while their elites were away, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Still, because they had maintained good relations—and accepted a fair amount of money—they couldn't ignore the request entirely. Most countries sent a small number of C-Rank Awakeners or lower.
From Japan's perspective, it was infuriating.
Slam!
"Dammit! Those bastards took all that money, and now this?!"
An employee of the Japan Branch, who had just finished a direct phone call after sending an official request for support, was livid. As the man in charge of overseas communications, he slammed his hand on his desk and shouted.
The surrounding staff reacted similarly. They were enraged that the relationships they had carefully maintained with bribes were only yielding the bare minimum of support. Many countries had flatly refused, citing national policy.
Consequently, the Japanese Association felt immense gratitude toward Moon Shadow and Knight for arriving immediately. The resentment they once felt over the artifact excavation incident was buried under this wave of appreciation.
With the Association's assistance, Han Shin’s group crossed over to Japan and headed straight for Aokigahara without delay.
There, in the middle of the vast 'Sea of Trees,' they witnessed it: a fortress of black light that looked utterly out of place.
As the Proxy of Tiamat, Han Shin carried her holy power within him. The moment he saw the structure, he felt an instinctive sense of revulsion.
Meanwhile, the demons were systematically destroying and killing anything that attempted to monitor them. The reconnaissance teams sent to observe from all directions had either been chased away or caught and killed. They could no longer operate.
Now, the Japanese could only catch glimpses of the fortress's exterior using long-range observation equipment. Getting close enough to peer inside was out of the question.
"We are truly grateful that you came."
In a situation like this, the arrival of Moon Shadow and Knight was a massive boon for Japan. Though they hated to admit it, it was a stark fact that Japan lacked a sufficient number of top-tier Awakeners.
They had felt that deficiency keenly during the first battle. Thus, the arrival of the S-Rank psychokinetic Wolyeong and Knight—who was presumed to be equally powerful—was a significant boost to their combat strength. The fact that other countries were being so passive only made their presence more meaningful.
The executives of the major clans and the Association, who had once looked down on Wolyeong, were now lined up at the airport to greet them, much like a subordinate unit welcoming a visiting division commander. Han Shin found the sight pathetic.
Clearly, these people had let their greed get the better of them, gotten their asses kicked, and were now acting this way only because the situation had turned dire.
Part of him wanted to just stand back and watch the fallout without helping, but Han Shin knew he couldn't do that. If these demons weren't eliminated quickly, it was only a matter of time before even greater and more powerful enemies appeared.
Kang Yujin spoke, following the plan she had discussed with Han Shin, Grace, and Laysia.
"First, we'll go on a scouting mission."
"Ah! If you would do that, we would be most grateful!"
They needed more information before launching another attack, but since they were currently unable to conduct proper reconnaissance, Wolyeong’s voluntary offer was a godsend. Their gratitude was genuine and heartfelt.
Dressed in black robes, Kang Yujin and Han Shin left the forward base where the Awakeners were gathered.
First, they needed to gauge the demons' strength.
Grace and Laysia had already warned them that while the demons' levels varied wildly, even the weakest among them was stronger than a D-Rank Awakener.
Since this was his first encounter with demons, Han Shin felt a bit of tension.
He and Kang Yujin moved without bothering to hide their presence. They had heard that the demons came out to intercept scouts, so they were intentionally acting as bait.
Thick grass and trees blocked their path, but Han Shin drew his sword and cleared the way as they advanced.
The demons, who were using familiars to monitor anyone approaching the fortress, immediately spotted Han Shin and Kang Yujin and dispatched a force to eliminate them.
Demons about two meters tall, with black skin and leathery wings, rose from the fortress and flew straight toward them.
Both Han Shin and Kang Yujin sensed the demons approaching, their wings flapping with blatant murderous intent. They had been keeping a close eye on the black fortress, and they could see the demons rising through the gaps in the branches and leaves.
Han Shin readied his sword and shield.
Soon, the demons descended upon them.
Crack! Snap!
The demons dove through the canopy, snapping branches with their bodies as they plummeted toward the two humans. They intended to tear the pair to shreds with their momentum.
However, the demons soon realized their bodies were being compressed and restrained by an invisible force.
Kang Yujin’s psychokinesis had completely bound them. They struggled like moths caught in a spider's web.
Crunch!
"Krrraaaagh!"
In the next instant, Kang Yujin used her psychokinesis to shatter the demons' limbs.
For her, this was a sort of experiment. She broke different parts of each demon to observe the results. Her eyes were cold and clinical as she carefully studied them, looking for the most efficient way to kill these creatures threatening Han Shin.
She didn't forget to leave one demon unharmed for Han Shin.
If Han Shin hadn't been so focused on the battle, he might have been startled by the coldness in her eyes, but he was too preoccupied to notice.
While its kin were dying or screaming in agony, the black demon was bewildered to find itself released unscathed.
Before it stood Han Shin, clad in silver armor, wielding his sword and shield.
Whoosh!
A low hum resonated from the sword Han Shin swung, bolstered by the power of the dragon. It was a fast, powerful strike. The demon tried to block it with its arm.
Slice!
"Krrraagh!"
The demon's left arm was severed cleanly. Red blood sprayed as it shrieked in pain.
'Wait. They're weaker than I thought.'
Han Shin had been incredibly tense, but he was taken aback by a demon that couldn't even dodge or block a straightforward attack.
Over the past month, Han Shin had hunted diligently in Nepal, reaching Level 35. He had grown significantly stronger, but because the monsters he had been facing were so weak, he hadn't fully realized the extent of his own growth.
He still lacked a proper sense of his own power, and the demon he was currently facing was a Lesser Demon—the lowest of their kind, roughly equivalent to a D-Rank Awakener.
'What is this...? How could they have suffered such a total defeat against things this weak?'
Han Shin knew there must be stronger demons, but he had heard that these black demons moved in massive swarms. He couldn't understand how the Japanese forces had failed to deal any significant damage to them.