Shattering the Fortress

Done.

Dispel bullet loaded.

A bullet that nullifies all spells, including buffs. Its effect scales with attack power, and just as described, it was reliable.

- Zzzt zzzzt zzzzt.

I could see the barrier crumbling with my own eyes.

Alright, then.

Time to run.

"One more shot."

Aim right at the center of the fortress.

No doubt that's where Creper's holed up, behind the thickest part.

Aim. Breathe. And

- Fwsh...

Fire.

- Kwooooom!

My familiarity with the distance had boosted my accuracy, but maybe I was a bit tense—it hit slightly off-center on the fortress core.

With Penetration applied, the side of the fortress was obliterated without a trace. Good enough, but

"No. One more."

- Fwsh...

- Kwooooom!

This one struck upper-left from the core.

- Kurrrung. Kurrrung.

The fortress began to collapse.

"Not done yet."

One more.

- Kwoooom!

This hit a bit below the center. Black blood sprayed—must've been monsters inside.

15 seconds left.

One final shot.

- Kwoooom!

Direct hit. Dead center.

- Kurrrung. Kurrrrung...

The fortress was definitely down now.

'Finished.'

- Shoooo...

Back in the room.

"Huuu."

Without the Dispel bullet, I'd have just sniped the surrounding mobs and called it a day. Thanks to it, I demolished the fortress quick.

"Whatever now."

I've done plenty. Plenty of people on the battlefield anyway.

Korea's strongest hunter, the true hero Cheon Seung-hyuk, is there.

And the goblin with dropping subscribers too.

No way they fail. I'll just chill safe in my shelter.

Finally, time to watch Hae-dong TV.

Gets me a live view of the scene. I'll watch this much then unsubscribe.

"What the hell. Can't see shit through all the dust."

Thanks to me wrecking the fortress, visibility's zero.

Fast-forward. From when I broke the barrier.

"......"

I usually ignore public opinion to keep my head clear, but this one's got my eyes glued.

Dispel was pure luck, though.

Unless I get a special ammo skill later...

"Yeah. Fuckin' right. No chance."

Never, not ever.

Setting aside penalties, no sniper reveals themselves to the world.

"......"

Hae-dong's face looked seriously pissed. "Hahat. Hahat." Forcing the laugh, but his eyes weren't smiling.

- "We've teamed up with Unregistered, right! Hahat hahat. You know? Even Kim Chi-gon did! I'll aim for a collab stream next time too!"

Crazy bastard.

I was just gonna check the fortress damage on-site then close it,

- Kwooooooom!

- Chijik. Chijik...

"!!!"

The moment I started properly demolishing the fortress.

The on-site audio glitched from the roar, then massive dust and explosions.

After that, screen's dust-blocked, Hae-dong's commentary cuts out,

"Huuuuw."

I sat on the bed for a bit, catching my breath.

Tension + focus + judgment.

Sniping ain't easy, doing all three at once.

Cheon Seung-hyuk couldn't make sense of the situation.

- Kugugugung.

The barrier released in one go.

'Unregistered. What the hell are you?'

To shatter a barrier like that in one hit, even Yoon So-i would've burned serious holy power.

'No clue.'

What's key is wiping out Creper now. Advance.

"I'll head in first."

A quick heads-up to dazed Hae-dong, about to enter the fortress,

- Kwoooooom!

"!!!"

Then the fortress kept getting wrecked multiple times after.

'Unregistered.'

So mercilessly destructive, everyone fell back to watch, entering only after total collapse. Cheon Seung-hyuk too.

Inside, 'King Gargoyle'-level monster corpses littered everywhere. Lake of dark red blood. All massacred by Unregistered.

'Creper.'

A coffin sat alone deeper in.

Creper peeked out the lid, trembling, glancing timidly this way.

'All dead but a few monsters... just you left.'

Elementary school kid-sized skeleton.

Purple gem sparkling on its head. That's Creper.

『......』

'Zero combat power. As expected.'

『......!!!』

- Dadadada.

Creper met Cheon Seung-hyuk's eyes, flung open the coffin, tried to flee.

Hole deeper in. Annoying if it escapes.

- Kuuuung!

- Shrieeek!

Aerial footwork slammed to the ground, charging at terrifying speed.

Snap. Grabbed Creper in one hand.

『!!! !!! !!!』

Expected some resistance. Just flailing.

"Can't even speak? They've bet everything on the fortress lately. Pitiful."

Sword swing shatters the gem on Creper's forehead.

"See you in the holy war, Bone Apostle."

- Spluuurt.

Creper eliminated message popped up,

"......"

MVP: Unregistered.

Means fortress destruction was basically the whole fight.

"Huuu."

Reported subjugation results to Kim Chun-gyu.

'Kill all outer wall monsters, head straight to Seoul World Tower.'

Rushed to the outer wall fast.

Even mid-battle, gut churning.

'Unregistered. Dismantled the barrier yourself to wreck the fortress.'

Zero interest in the main body.

What kind of guy is he?

'Surprised me good this time. Big help. But Unregistered, playing it cool's kinda funny. That Dispel must've been a huge burden even for you.'

Probably training like mad right now, restoring power. Rank 1 instinct says so.

'Hope we meet soon. Unregistered. Could be a great rival.'

After wiping outer wall monsters, Cheon Seung-hyuk headed to Seoul World Tower.

《Management Bureau》

"Hold it!"

Kim Chun-gyu scolded the staff already cheering and sighing in relief.

"Situation over? Why so hyped?"

Atmosphere treating Unregistered's cooperation as tacit approval.

'Of course I'm relieved too. Felt ten years younger.'

For big gates, video/info/scout hunters spread out for best footage and data.

Confirmed: Unregistered harmed no humans again, focused purely on apostle assault.

His showing in Creper fight? Strategic weapon. Everyone in ops room saw live.

Dispel'd the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠barrier, then pulverized the fortress—that scene was...

'But too early for 100% certainty.'

Kim Chun-gyu reined in excitement.

But nationally, expectations for incorporating Unregistered as national power were rising.

YouTube vids, blogs, cafes, SNS all ablaze with Unregistered talk.

"What a shitstorm."

Mystery aura from hiding identity while clearing gates made Unregistered a faceless celeb.

Even rumors Bureau's in close contact gaining traction.

'I'd think so too. Wish it were true... misunderstanding.'

Sure enough, world nations starting Unregistered talk. Not just YouTube buzz.

Not official, but foreign private guilds sending conditional coop requests.

If close talks possible someday, could contribute beyond Korea—like Cheon Seung-hyuk.

'But we still...'

Just strong signs of cooperation.

Can't act on his behalf yet, so politely declined foreign guilds.

"Pre-approved rewards paid exact?"

"Yes! Sent already!"

"Hoo. Good."

Kim Chun-gyu shelved the unknown card (Unregistered) for now.

Next: Cartibes. Focus.

'One apostle left. War's on.'

Monitored combat footage from ops room.

Yoon So-i isolated one-on-one with Soul Apostle ‘Etheron’.

- ......

Footage eerily silent.

Just dome of light and elegant script. Yoon So-i's barrier for Etheron fight.

Probably battling inside.

'Cartibes hatching decided around fight's end.'

Then, high-rankers holographed in.

- Shoosh. Shoosh.

Cheon Seung-hyuk, Kim Chi-gon, Seol (absent), Hae-dong. Top 10 others.

Scattered across erosion zones/battlefields, couldn't physically gather.

Cheon Seung-hyuk, entering World Tower, spoke.

"Nothing visible."

"?"

"Before gauging barrier weaken, whole holy war's darkness. Light magic fails, enchant ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lights too."

Calm voice, but visibly troubled.

"Can't check egg status?"

"Difficult. Yoon So-i might, but unexpected. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seems dark mana from Cartibes egg."

"Other anomalies?"

"Yes. Nothing but no visibility. Sensing max, but dragon-level dense mana hard to pierce."

"......"

Trouble.

Holy war all dark.

Hard to track egg hatching, but

what's that mana mean?

MVP again.

Gate level-up cap message with it, hit 51.

"Jenny. Thanks to you, growth's way faster."

Won't jump 10 later at high levels, but saved exp gives leeway now.

"G-G-Glad... I'm helpful... so happy...!"

Problem. Jenny near collapse.

Pretending fine, but can't task more.

"Jenny. You worked too hard."

"No! I can do more!"

"In."

Sent Jenny to agent quarters.

"Ooh. Nice. Not bad."

First time in, huh.

Separate owner set.

Cozy vibe.

Mage Jenny's touch: medieval elegance.

Soft candlelight everywhere, king-sized bed with brown log-embroidered bedding.

'At least 100 sq ft? Worried it'd be cramped. This is fine, no guilt.'

Glanced at Jenny to praise,

"?????????"

Jenny's face weird. Shocked.

Her shocked reaction—tucked her in quarters, back to shelter alone.

"Huuu."

- Paaang...

Chaotic corner quieted a bit.

City noise outside, twinkling building lights fading one by one.

Wanna rest, but work left today.

Prep fast for next fight.

'Focus.'

'Oh.'

No need to test in training—clear utility skill.

Means way stronger firepower in fights.

'Good. Next.'

Other shelter [Function Upgrades]

"Too good. Always top-tier."

Shelter gonna smell nice? Laundry/dry worries gone.

Embracing perks now, happily clicked laundry/dry.

- Shoooo...

Suddenly appliance appeared in spacious room—next to bathroom.

Sleek black washer-dryer combo.

Tossed in grimy pile,

Done in 1 min—clean clothes out, no water drain mess.

'Ooh damn good.'

Yeah, enjoy the welfare.

Next. [Add Facility].

Hottest lately, clicked expecting good.

"NBC huh."

NBC shelter meh.

Lab sounds beneficial. Clicked,

"Ooh. Solid."

Enhance my go-to [Steady Shooter], research ammo—tempting.

Install. 100M gold.

Lab felt like separate furniture.

Rusty iron door by closet.

Opened: tables, gear everywhere.

Messing to enhance guns etc.,

"?"

Ah. Not simple self-upgrade.

Try Jenny later.

Then,

Gold in.

'500 million per apostle, straight deposit?'

Coop relation nice. Good for me, good for Bureau.

If I overcome HP later and survive, meet face-to-face then. Contract maybe.

'Deposit confirmed.'

Wallet fat now. Means

Wishlisted ‘Chameleon Gillie Suit’.

'Hm. Rethink—kinda meh.'

Planned to buy for stealth boost.

1.3 billion gold now. Can afford, good item but

'Longer stealth uptime makes it less necessary.'

Value drops over time. Bad cost-perform.

Better sniper-stabilizing sure things.

'Stay wishlisted.'

Still like it, keep considering.

Checked sniper shop next.

'Found it.'

Items boosting sniping stability big time.

One more.

'This good.'

Day/night gate world.

Necessary, right?

End