Battle Strategies from the Bedroom Corner
I devised our combat strategies from the corner of my room.
One high-grade gate in Seoul.
Two top-grade gates in Fukuoka.
Cheon Seung-hyuk has been stationed domestically, smashing even high-grade gates like mad lately. The problem is Japan.
'My personal Power Fragment mine is about to go bust.'
According to the agreement, all Power Fragments from Japan come to Korea. The Management Bureau has a mechanism to hand them over to me.
Japan has two Holy Relics and even ♠. If gate erosion happens and the area turns into a field, even I'd be in a bind.
"Let's just clear them in the order they open, regardless of country. If they open simultaneously, Korea first."
"Yes!" "ROGER!"
While I was checking my sniper rifle [Massacre],
Ollie, monitoring the Japanese side per my orders, reported from the operations room.
From the looks of it, Japan had made full preparations this time.
This is how it should be.
The best outcome is them handling it themselves.
The issue with two simultaneous top-grade gates is that no country can avoid the area turning into a wasteland.
"How's Seoul, Ollie?"
"At least an hour away, yo!"
We finalized prioritizing the Japanese gate clearance.
Korea's high-rankers are currently dispatched worldwide. In Japan, we have Yoon So-i, MARK-67, and Baek Yeon? Plus several others in the 10-20 rank range deployed.
Seems like the Management Bureau's call to focus strength there since Japan is the most critical for now.
"I'll just end it quick myself."
- Woooong...
I grabbed [Massacre] and entered Jenny's warp point.
《Japan》
RANK 5 - [Hunter Management Bureau] Yoon So-i
"I'll analyze a bit more before going. Don't worry about safety. This isn't for Japan—it's for Korea."
To: Yoon So-i
"A lead has been found?!"
"......"
Yoon So-i didn't answer the Bureau's question, lost in thought.
1. Fake Holy Relic: Soul Extractor (Gate Flow Amplifier)
2. Real Holy Relic: Soul Absorber (Hell Gate Sacrifice)
This much was certain.
Next, reorganizing the altar inscriptions her way:
• Gold: Golden Jewel
• Mirage: Fake Holy Relic
• Cave: Gate
• Essence: Real Holy Relic
• Truth: ■■
The altar inscription could be reinterpreted like this:
"Even if you grasp the golden jewel, you shall obtain only the fake Holy Relic. Only when you face the real Holy Relic within the Gate do you touch upon ■■."
She couldn't identify the truth. Just inference that it was deeply tied to the Hell Gate.
For now, the key point: meaningless gates repeat until the [Real Holy Relic] is obtained.
"I think I've figured it out."
Yoon So-i, hurrying back to Korea, relayed this to the Bureau.
Until then, the basic combat pattern had been defending against monsters emerging from the gates.
To: Bureau Director
"......We need to go inside the Gate to resolve it."
Then which gate?
When the fake Jackal Mask was in Jeju,
She recalled the gates that opened in Korea.
Gangneung, Jeju, Yecheon, Gimhae.
No new gates opened in the same spots right after a Holy Relic was transferred to Japan.
In Korea, only 'Seoul' keeps spawning the same gate.
So the Jackal Mask candidates: three options.
【Seoul】 【Fukuoka (1)】 【Fukuoka (2)】
The Reverse Cross is probably among these too.
'Then what's the last one?'
Her brow furrowed as she pondered, when two Korean high-rankers approached.
RANK 6 - [Mechanical Legion] MARK-67
"Yoon So-i Hunter protection. Top priority."
The hefty mechanical voice of MARK-67 erected a metal barrier around her—the same one used against the nameless.
"Focus on investigation and erosion mitigation. We'll handle the rest."
"Understood."
The metal barrier layered ever more complexly, soon protecting the entire research facility.
Watching, Yoon So-i suddenly went "Ah!" and proposed a method to MARK-67.
"Feasible. One sub-model expected to be fully destroyed."
Listening quietly, he summoned one sub-model from Korea. It would arrive soon.
"Please."
A request impossible without someone of Yoon So-i's caliber.
Executing this plan would instantly scrap one of MARK-67's astronomically expensive sub-models.
RANK 8 - [Hunter Management Bureau] Baek Yeon
Baek Yeon bowed to Yoon So-i and joined the Japanese high-rankers' front lines.
'Grrrr...' The wolf she rode bared its teeth at the Japanese hunters.
The other Korean high-rankers prepared for battle too.
"......Damn it."
Japan's No. 1, Sato Kenji, had to thank the Korean high-rankers at the vanguard.
'No choice.'
He'd sensed Fukuoka's fall, Kyushu's ruin, even Japan's end from the previous two top-grade gates. Conditional aid or not, without Korea's help, it would've been over.
Blocking the erosion back then was barely manageable, and now two top-grades again.
The difference: massive Japanese high-ranker turnout.
Still, pride made it hard. He'd already informed the others.
"Do not reject Korean aid or act rudely. We need their help."
Not just that—post-battle, Sato Kenji had staked his life to elevate his [Yamata no Orochi] awakening to new heights.
Normally a slow, safe process, but for Japan's defense.
His index finger now took a grotesque, snake-skin form.
'Fine. Watch closely.'
A realm reached by necrotizing part of his body. With slight overexertion, reaching four heads to block the top-grade gate.
Then,
- "Damn! They opened after all!"
- "Prevent annihilation! We can do it!"
The wails of Japanese high-rankers echoed over the radio. Top-grade bosses emerged one by one from the massive gates.
- Ku-gu-gu-gu...
Overwhelming size and pressure just from sight.
Elder Drake and Medusa appeared in Fukuoka.
"Don't meet Medusa's eyes! All personnel, focus fire on Elder Drake!!!"
Sato Kenji charged at Medusa from the forefront.
Attack-Type
[Yamata no Orochi - Four Tails, Dark]
- Pazzzzt!
A dark abyss-like aura erupted from Sato Kenji's katana,
- Shwaaak!
instantly covering Medusa's face. Yamata no Orochi's dark energy devours all abilities, including mana.
'Lucky. Medusa's a good matchup.'
This first defense prevents petrification from eye contact.
- ......
Medusa raised her gray-skinned hand to peel off the darkness.
"Not a chance!"
Ignoring the excruciating pain in his necrotized area, Sato Kenji drew more four-tail power.
The dark energy thickened, sharply dropping Medusa's defense/resistance.
'Now.'
Attack-Type
[Yamata no Orochi - Three Tails, Thunder]
"Die."
- Kwaaaaang!
A yellow glow flashed from his katana, unleashing a thunderous strike at lightning speed,
- Sslash!
severing Medusa's head instantly.
"!!!"
A top-grade boss felled in one blow.
Thanks to the power gained through sacrifice.
But Medusa wasn't cleared yet. The snakes in her hair scattered into the air—shhh...
"Kuh!"
Sato Kenji, on the verge of blackout from the power burst.
Quick-witted Korean high-ranker Baek Yeon rode past on her silver-maned wolf.
[Hunt]
- Awoooo...
The wolf howled, summoning dozens of blue wolf spirits to systematically eliminate Medusa's hair snakes.
Japanese high-rankers joined, culling the proliferating snakes.
"You all take Elder Drake! I can handle this!"
Sato Kenji shouted in alarm, but Baek Yeon replied.
"It's already done there. Idiot."
"!!!"
Unbelievable. Even focused fire from high-rankers takes time on a top-grade boss.
Glancing reflexively at Elder Drake,
- Psssh...
Drake's flesh pixelated, scattering like an explosion.
'I've seen this scene before.'
■ MVP = Unregistered
The unidentified Korean hunter had intervened.
By the time high-rankers cleared all of Medusa's snakes and MVP went to Sato Kenji,
The Korean high-rankers, not overly tense, packed gear and headed home en masse.
Sato Kenji, watching, grabbed a passing Korean high-ranker in disbelief.
"I-is this familiar to you?"
The high-ranker shook his head.
"How could it be? When the unregistered helps, we leave quick. It's our unspoken rule among us. 'Don't get in their way' kinda thing."
"......!!"
Just as Japan's two top-grades wrapped up swiftly,
The gates began swirling shut. Then,
MARK-67 flew toward one gate, as if unfinished.
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
Sato Kenji tried to stop him, but a small machine zipped to MARK-67 like a bullet.
[Recon Model, MARK-96]
The machine plunged into the gate with a Paak!
"......What is this?"
"Regroup. Japan incident responsibility on Japan."
MARK-67 began analysis, as if no need to explain.
.
.
.
The recon drone inside the gate.
- Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu...
Nothing visible. Cosmic roar around.
But total darkness.
"Recon impossible. Link severance imminent."
Link to recon drone rapidly severing. Then,
- Kiririk! Kaak!
"......"
Roar faded; monster voices seemed audible. Darkness slowly lifted.
"Detailed identification in progress."
Screen filled with red mist-like fog.
Visibility too poor to identify monsters.
[WARNING] volume rose, signaling imminent destruction.
Aware of time shortage, MARK-67 piloted the drone to blast energy forward, attempting to clear the red mist,
- Tssst!
"......"
One scene glimpsed through the mist before the drone exploded.
What MARK-67 confirmed:
"[Reverse Cross] identified. Complete."
The real Holy Relic.
After swiftly resolving Japan's gates,
- Drrrk.
I cracked open the one-room window.
Seoul gate's within my shelter's range anyway.
Mounted the bipod. Adjusted 32x zoom scope. With time earned lately, training intensified.
Space tore as the gate prepared to open.
Message appeared.
"......?"
The first boss I sniped post-awakening.
No, even blatant, this is too much.
"This is seriously problematic."
Like a silent message: repeat this farce forever until their petty goal's met.
Need to uproot it to break the cycle. Question is how.
I'll pressure the Bureau; gotta act myself too.
First, erase the Minotaur.
'Been a while.'
That time's me vs. now: worlds apart.
Plan: snipe it right at the entrance as it emerges.
Then,
- Ding!
An [Emergency] marked email from the Bureau arrived.
Minotaur due any moment, no time for details, but first Emergency tag warranted a skim.
The content was mind-blowing.
'......This possible?'
Like I'd pondered, Bureau slaved over investigation, produced a solution.
"Are they insane? That workable?"
"What happened, Captain?!"
Jenny came over, read the email. "Eh?" and backed away.
That instant, Cheon Seung-hyuk's figure appeared far off.
"What. You really gonna do it?"
If he's serious, I'll help.
Relic recovery ties to Power Fragments; Cheon dying unacceptable as Korean.
[Title, 'Savior' Activated]
Sent him ally join message. Unregistered offering aid. But,
No response yet—maybe no time or tense.
"Guess no choice. Just snipe."
Confident no misfire at this range anyway.
- Kuooooh!
Black Minotaur emerged identical to before,
I fired before Cheon even arrived.
- Pewwwwng!
■ MVP = Unregistered
No EXP as expected.
Meanwhile,
"......"
Cheon Seung-hyuk arrived to find the gate cleared by unregistered.
Decided to execute Yoon So-i's relayed mission immediately.
"Entering Seoul gate now. Personally."
Humanity's first such declaration.
Yoon So-i and Bureau execs urged restraint.
- "Enter with other tanks, Cheon Hunter!"
- "You could die. For real?!"
Despite pleas, no more pointless casualties. Soul-absorbing nature means time-sensitive.
'Fear? Left that behind long ago.'
Cheon, died thousands upon thousands of times already. Death no longer scares.
"Entering. No worries."
Thus, Cheon threw himself into the real-time closing gate.
"......For real?"
Cheon Seung-hyuk actually entered the Minotaur gate.
"......"
Right before entering, he joined as my ally.