Chapter 500: The 6th Great Disaster (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 500: The 6th Great Disaster (1)
Los Angeles, USA.
It was a peaceful afternoon. People went about their daily routines, walking in small groups, when a child holding his mother's hand suddenly looked up at the sky.
"Mom, look up there."
"Hmm?"
She raised her head. The moment her eyes followed the child's pointing finger, the blood drained from her face.
"R-run— Ahhh!"
Swoosh!
A dark shadow snatched the mother away.
The moment she was yanked into the air, her fragile body was torn to shreds. That was the trigger. The sun-drenched city was instantly plunged into darkness. Hundreds, then thousands of monsters blotted out the sky. These humanoid creatures violently flapped their wings, indiscriminately slaughtering people and instantly shattering the peaceful atmosphere of LA.
Wreeeeeeeeeng!
Emergency sirens wailed across the city.
The United States. As the world's greatest superpower, they had established dedicated response teams in every major city, allowing them to react the very moment news of a monster outbreak broke.
Steven, the leader of LA Response Team 2, looked up at the blackened sky and grabbed his radio.
"A swarm of C-Rank monsters, Harpies, has attacked the city. Judging by the thousands visible to the naked eye, this is presumed to be an omen. LA Response Team 2 will mobilize to handle the immediate situation. Central Headquarters, please identify the source of this omen and dispatch reinforcements. Marlin."
"Yes, sir."
Right beside him stood a member of his response team named Marlin.
Steven ended the transmission, drew his sword, and walked past his subordinate.
"Watch my back. Secure the civilians while taking down the monsters."
"Understood."
Whoosh!
Steven dashed forward. In an instant, he plunged into the thick of the Harpy swarm, slaughtering them without hesitation.
Slash!
Screeech!
A-Rank Hunter Steven. He was considered one of the elite in the United States, highly regarded enough that rumors said he would be promoted to S-Rank within the next two or three years. His combat prowess was truly outstanding. He didn't slow down even after carving through dozens of Harpies. Soon, hundreds of his team members, including Marlin, joined the fray to secure the citizens' safety.
This swift initial suppression was precisely why the United States was hailed as a superpower. Even when a sudden crisis struck, their ability to respond instantaneously was nothing short of remarkable.
But then—
Just as Steven decapitated a Harpy and scanned the area for his next target, he felt a massive surge of energy radiating from the sky.
Flash!
Rumble!
"Ugh!"
A devastating beam of light obliterated the ground where he stood.
Steven dodged it by a hair's breadth. He looked up, the blood draining from his face.
A colossal entity hovered above. It was a monster so massive it defied comparison to the Harpies he had just been fighting. It looked down at Steven, slowly flapping wings as large as skyscrapers.
"...A Harpy Queen."
Goosebumps erupted across his skin. Only then did the horrifying reality set in. An S-Rank monster, the Harpy Queen, had appeared.
Steven desperately raised his radio.
"An S-Rank monster has appeared! There is a very high probability that this is not just an omen, but the start of a Great Disaster! I repeat: an S-Rank monster, the Harpy Queen, has appeared! Send reinforcements immediately—"
At that exact moment.
Boom!
Crash! Rumble!
A destructive force slammed into the ground once more. Steven could no longer continue his report.
His death marked the true beginning of the 6th Great Disaster.
* * *
Upon hearing the news from the United States, South Korea immediately declared an emergency mobilization.
Led by President Kim Jeong-tae, the members of the Central Government gathered to quickly assess the incoming intelligence.
"Mr. President. An S-Rank monster, the Harpy Queen, has appeared in Los Angeles, USA. Furthermore, with monsters simultaneously appearing in Chicago, New York, Houston, and other major cities, it is clear that the 6th Great Disaster has officially begun."
"That isn't all. Another S-Rank monster, an Elemental Golem, has appeared in Madrid, Spain. This is completely different from any Great Disaster we’ve experienced. No matter how severe past disasters were, we have never seen multiple S-Rank monsters appear right at the onset. Yet this time, two have already emerged. Considering we are entering the Red Time, there is no telling how many more S-Rank monsters will spawn."
"For now, we have mobilized the capital's forces and entered a strict defensive posture. We await your orders."
Amidst the frantic barrage of reports, Kim Jeong-tae remained perfectly calm. The global situation was desperate, but that didn't mean South Korea was on the brink of immediate destruction.
"Intelligence Chief."
"Yes, Mr. President."
"What is the current situation within South Korea?"
To him, the only thing that mattered was South Korea. No matter what apocalyptic problems arose around the rest of the world, they weren't immediate fires burning at his feet.
The Intelligence Chief quickly replied.
"Currently, there are no unusual signs within our borders. It seems we have avoided being designated as the Red Point for this Great Disaster. Judging by the concentrated attacks on American cities, we suspect the Red Point is either the United States or Spain, where the S-Rank monsters first appeared."
The Red Point.
This was a crucial piece of information humanity had learned through repeated Great Disasters: there was always one specific country that suffered an exceptionally intense, concentrated level of attack. People called this ground zero the Red Point. The Red Point would face relentless, overwhelming assaults from the very beginning of the Great Disaster until its end, and the 'boss monster' that signaled the conclusion of the disaster would inevitably spawn there.
Therefore, this report was deeply reassuring. If South Korea had been designated as the Red Point, the nation's relatively weak military power wouldn't have lasted more than a few days.
Kim Jeong-tae spoke with authority.
"Even if South Korea is not the Red Point, it is far too early to let our guard down. At this moment, we cannot know when, where, or what kind of problem might arise. The Intelligence Bureau and all assemblymen must closely monitor the domestic situation. If even the slightest anomaly occurs, respond immediately and nip it in the bud. Keep this in mind: over the course of the past five Great Disasters, several countries that responded complacently met the worst possible end—utter destruction. To ensure South Korea does not suffer the same fate, we must be more cautious than ever."
"We will keep that in mind."
"We will follow your orders."
His voice was absolute. Captivated by the sheer charisma that commanded the room, the assemblymen bowed in unwavering loyalty to Kim Jeong-tae.
But then—
Just as they were about to wrap up the emergency meeting, an intelligence officer burst into the conference room, delivering a devastating piece of news.
"Urgent report! A Monster Wave has erupted in Incheon!"
A Monster Wave.
It meant that South Korea was now directly facing the apocalyptic threat of the Great Disaster.
* * *
The atmosphere in the room froze instantly.
A sudden, massive outbreak of monsters. That was the definition of a Monster Wave. Knowing it meant monsters would pour in endlessly like a tidal wave, several assemblymen spoke up in panicked voices.
"A Monster Wave... South Korea is no longer safe."
"Incheon is right next to the capital! The moment they fall, Seoul will be attacked. We must dispatch troops immediately. Blocking the Monster Wave at Incheon is the only way to minimize our overall losses."
It was a completely rational solution. They needed to resolve the primary threat first, then prepare for what came next.
However, Kim Jeong-tae simply glared at the panicked assemblymen with cold, unforgiving eyes.
"Do you even hear yourselves right now?"
"W-what do you mean...?"
"As always, to protect South Korea, we must act strictly according to protocol. The Red Time. For the first three days following the onset of the Great Disaster, monsters will spawn relentlessly all over the world. Only after we survive that window and eliminate the boss monster can we say we have warded off the threat. Yet, before the first day of the Red Time has even passed, you want us to throw open the gates of the capital to help Incheon? Incheon is merely near the capital; it is not the capital. That means it is not a problem we need to solve right now."
It was a chillingly cold-hearted response.
The people of the capital called Kim Jeong-tae a wise president. It was solely because of his ruthless pragmatism that those residing in Seoul could remain safe even when a Great Disaster struck.
However, the people in the provinces felt very differently.
Because of the impenetrable wall dividing the capital from the rest of the country, provincial citizens were left completely exposed to the slaughter. To them, he was a monster with neither blood nor tears.
That was President Kim Jeong-tae.
Kim Jeong-tae averted his gaze from the bewildered assemblymen and spoke firmly to the loyal majority.
"If the capital falls, South Korea is finished. Until the Red Time ends, we will focus solely on securing the safety of Seoul. In fact, this works out perfectly. The Incheon government and Roman Dmitry... I heard they opposed the Central Government and rebelled. Their destruction will serve as an excellent example for the future of South Korea."
A dark smile crept onto his face. Leaning deep into his chair, he fully revealed his cruel nature.
"You had all better rest well while you can. Such leisure will be rare before this Great Disaster is over."
* * *
At that same hour, in Incheon.
Kim Jun-hyeok had also grasped the severity of the situation.
"A Monster Wave has occurred. According to the scouts' reports, the monsters will breach Incheon within the next thirty minutes. Their numbers are so massive that it's impossible to estimate."
His secretary's words carried nothing but despair.
Yet, Kim Jun-hyeok accepted the report calmly. He had prayed the Great Disaster would bypass them, but he hadn't failed to prepare for a worst-case scenario like this.
Click.
He turned on the microphone. Through this city-wide broadcast, every single citizen of Incheon would hear his voice.
[This is Kim Jun-hyeok, the Mayor of Incheon. Just moments ago, I received a report that a Monster Wave has spawned just outside our city limits. The Great Disaster has begun. This is the 6th Great Disaster to drive humanity to the brink of ruin, and we must fight once again to survive, just as we have done repeatedly over the past twenty years. Do not panic. Respond calmly. We have spent months preparing for this exact moment. Giving in to fear will solve nothing.]
His voice was remarkably serene. Making the apocalyptic crisis sound manageable, Kim Jun-hyeok continued speaking in a peaceful, composed tone.
[From this moment on, all citizens of Incheon are ordered to move to your designated locations. Civilians not participating in combat, please head directly to the underground shelters. The Vigilante Corps will protect you and ensure that every single person arrives safely. Keep this in mind: no matter what you hear happening outside, do not leave the shelters under any circumstances. Typically, we can secure a minimum level of safety fifteen days after the Red Time ends. Until then, no matter how anxious you feel, please trust your mayor and prioritize your own survival. Stay in control and endure. I promise you, citizens of Incheon, I will never abandon you. I will not run away. So...]
He gripped the microphone tightly. With his finger resting on the power button, he uttered his final words.
[I will see you all in fifteen days.]
Click.
He cut the feed.
Kim Jun-hyeok stared at the microphone in heavy silence.
This Great Disaster was unprecedented. Two S-Rank monsters had appeared right from the start, and the first Monster Wave in South Korea had struck Incheon. The self-centered Central Government and the other provincial leaders would be too busy saving their own skins to offer even a shred of help.
Could they really survive relying solely on Incheon's own strength?
By the world's common sense, it was absolutely impossible. Yet, for once, Kim Jun-hyeok wanted to shatter that common sense.
For the past three months, we have prepared fiercely for this.
Roman Dmitry.
He believed in that man. Through the time they had spent working together, the flames of hope had slowly spread throughout all of Incheon.
At first, I had my doubts. Even after witnessing that devastating strike that obliterated hundreds of monsters at once, and even knowing he was an S-Rank Hunter, I wondered if it was truly right to place the fate of the city on a single man. I wondered if defying the Central Government to face the Great Disaster independently was suicide. But now, it's different. The more I watch Roman Dmitry, the more certain I am. The one who will protect Incheon is not the Central Government—it’s him. Without him, no one could guarantee our survival.
"Whew."
He let out a long breath. His heart pounded against his ribs. Even as his blood boiled with adrenaline, his expression grew so calm it felt almost cold.
"If we survive this, the entire power dynamic of South Korea will be completely overturned."
He pulled a pistol from his inner breast pocket. After checking the loaded magazine, he stood up and strode out the door.
Creak.
Outside his office, the Directly Controlled Units had already assembled in full force.
Kim Jun-hyeok walked calmly through their ranks and looked at Park Cheol-min, who was keeping pace right beside him.
"Where is Lord Roman Dmitry?"
"He is stationed at the 1st Defense Line with Commander Lee Tae-seong."
"I see."
There was nothing more that needed to be said. Over the past three months, they had run countless simulation drills preparing for the exact moment the Great Disaster struck.
Therefore, everyone knew their place.
"We are heading to the 2nd Defense Line."
"Understood."
The 6th Great Disaster had officially begun.
If he could not secure Incheon's safety, then as its Mayor, he would never return to this office alive.