Chapter 531: Traces of a Past Life (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 531: Traces of a Past Life (1)
Even the Great Disasters eventually came to an end.
With the death of the boss monster, the monster hordes retreated. After a fierce, grueling battle, the United States had finally succeeded in eliminating the Death Magician. From that point on, the cleanup was straightforward. Nations around the globe systematically dealt with the aftermath, prompting the World Government to officially downgrade the global threat level from Red Alert to the Safe Stage.
The 10 Great Disasters.
The moment humanity finally crossed the halfway mark, the entire world erupted in wild cheers.
The end was finally in sight.
When the Great Disasters first began, humanity had despaired, wondering how they could possibly survive ten rounds of absolute hell. But now, the number of trials they had overcome finally outnumbered the ones that remained. Of course, the road ahead wouldn't be easy. Due to its prolonged cycle, the 6th Great Disaster had struck with such devastating force that even the mighty United States had tottered on the brink of collapse. Yet, regardless of the brutal process, the only fact that mattered was this: humanity had survived.
Meanwhile, media outlets across the globe were frantically reporting on a single, unprecedented event.
Following an official announcement by the United States government, the Korean Empire's recapture of LA had become the absolute center of global attention.
[British Broadcasting Station]
“The 6th Great Disaster struck humanity with unprecedented ferocity. More than double the usual number of S-rank monsters appeared, and the emergence of monsters presumed to be SS-rank put even the military powerhouse of the United States in grave danger. The shocking news lies in how the United States resolved this crisis. LA was on the verge of total collapse due to the boss monster, but Emperor Roman Dmitry of the Korean Empire appeared and reportedly eliminated the SS-rank boss monster in a single blow.”
“Do you really think that's possible?”
“From a logical standpoint, it's impossible. The British government is currently verifying the facts, but given the circumstances, we have no reason to doubt the official announcement from the United States. The US gains absolutely nothing by handing all the glory to the Korean Empire. The only way to make sense of this absurd situation is to accept that it is entirely true.”
Roman Dmitry.
His feats were nothing short of world-shattering.
At the news that he had defeated an SS-rank monster—a calamity that even the United States could not handle—in a single strike, people all over the world raised their voices in sheer astonishment.
[Spanish Broadcasting Station]
“Even though this is an official announcement from the US government, it's simply unbelievable. Just look at the immense sacrifices we had to make to bring down a single S-rank Elemental Golem. Yet, the US claims that one man killed an SS-rank monster in a single blow? Our own experiences and the horrors we've witnessed make it impossible to accept this announcement.”
[Russian Broadcasting Station]
“We refuse to believe the American announcement. South Korea deserves severe punishment for violating international law, and we suspect the US government is playing political tricks to protect its ally. Until an international organization releases an official verification, Russia will maintain a wait-and-see approach.”
Broadcasters from every nation voiced their unfiltered opinions.
While some trusted the US government, others outright rejected the news, calling it impossible by any standard of common sense. In truth, neither side could be blamed. It was only natural to believe an official announcement from the world's greatest superpower, yet it was equally understandable to doubt it because Roman Dmitry's actions defied reality itself. Even as they mourned the millions who had died in the Great Disaster, the name Roman Dmitry was the only word on the lips of people all over the world.
Public consensus dictated that until the International Hunter Association—the global organization established to handle neutral tasks like rank assignments—officially verified the incident, no one could jump to conclusions.
Time passed quickly.
As the chaos began to settle, the eyes of the world turned to the International Hunter Association.
* * *
In the immediate aftermath of the Great Disaster, the undisputed busiest organization on Earth was the International Hunter Association.
It was only natural.
Every Great Disaster introduced new threats, and it was the Association's duty to quell public panic by systematically categorizing and ranking the monsters. This time, however, two entities presumed to be SS-rank had emerged. The Association had immediately dispatched their top personnel to the United States. While the rest of the world buzzed with rumors of Roman Dmitry, these researchers were agonizing over the hard evidence.
After numerous exhaustive meetings, the researchers presented their conclusions to the Association President, a man of Italian descent.
“Through the course of the past five Great Disasters, the Association has firmly established the criteria for S-rank. However, the Death Magician and the Vampire Lord that appeared in the United States clearly and undeniably exceeded those standards. Not only did their individual combat power utterly overwhelm S-rank hunters, but they also utilized special skills that gave them a massive numerical advantage. I believe it is best to officially classify them as SS-rank and use them as the benchmark for categorizing unknown entities that may appear in the future.”
“I agree. No monster that has appeared thus far has shown such devastating destructive power as the Death Magician and the Vampire Lord. This means the intensity of the Great Disasters will only continue to escalate. We must prepare for not only SS-rank, but entities far beyond that.”
The results of the investigation forced the researchers to face a grim reality.
The SS-rank monsters had slaughtered countless people, and their threat could only be evaluated by an entirely new standard.
The Association President spoke up.
“In truth, the results of this monster ranking assessment are already clear. The actions of those two entities have proven they belong to a new rank. The real issue is why the entire world is watching our next move. We have recognized the 'Vampire Lord' as an out-of-spec entity and officially declared him the boss monster of the 6th Great Disaster. If Roman Dmitry truly eliminated such a monster in a single blow, then SS-rank alone cannot possibly define his current standing.”
This was the true dilemma paralyzing the researchers.
Roman Dmitry.
Evaluating his rank had hit an absolute brick wall.
The Association's mandate required them to classify both monsters and humans. Naturally, Roman Dmitry had become the primary subject of their investigation. But the deeper they dug, the more baffled they became.
The Death Magician and the Vampire Lord had practically laid waste to the United States. Even when the world's greatest superpower mobilized its absolute elite to repel them, the monsters had casually decapitated S-rank hunters instead. They were overwhelmingly powerful. Their destructive capabilities forced the creation of a new rank, yet Roman Dmitry had produced a result that shattered even that new scale.
People doubted the truth, claiming it made no sense. However, after verifying the scene and the footage multiple times, the International Hunter Association had no choice but to accept reality.
One researcher finally spoke up.
“From the moment our first meeting began until now, we haven't made a single step of progress regarding Roman Dmitry. To be completely honest, I just don't know. From the moment he killed the Vampire Lord in a single blow, Roman Dmitry's combat power could no longer be categorized by our standard ranks. We need more data, but if we must make an announcement right now, there is only one way.”
At that moment, everyone in the room shared the exact same thought.
To the researchers who handled vast amounts of global data, Roman Dmitry was an absolute, terrifying mystery.
“An unranked existence. Since it is currently impossible to evaluate Roman Dmitry's level, I believe our best course of action is to designate him as 'Transcendent Rank.' We must treat him as an absolute outlier until we can clearly grasp the depths of his power.”
* * *
The announcement from the International Hunter Association threw the entire world into an uproar.
While confirming that Roman Dmitry's actions were indeed true, the Association President made a public statement that shocked everyone.
“In truth, if we were to classify Roman Dmitry as SSS-rank, it would be easy for the Association to explain his current standing to the public. However, according to our rigorous investigation, Roman Dmitry is not an existence that can be defined so simply. We cannot even begin to determine how many levels of difference lie between the SS-rank Vampire Lord and Roman Dmitry. Therefore, the Association will designate Roman Dmitry as an unranked existence—a Transcendent Rank hunter.”
Absolute chaos erupted.
The Korean Empire had become the eye of a global storm.
Had Roman Dmitry been an ordinary hunter, nations around the world would have waged shadow wars to recruit him. But Roman Dmitry was a sovereign leader carrying an entire nation on his shoulders. Dealing with him was now a delicate matter of international diplomacy.
The global public was deeply conflicted. Unilaterally renaming their nation to the 'Korean Empire' and blatantly violating international law were serious offenses that had to be addressed, regardless of his newfound, godlike fame.
Roman Dmitry was a political landmine. Everyone was talking about him, and the entire world watched with bated breath to see how the World Government would dare punish the Korean Empire.
Around that same time, within the hidden depths of the Maron Sect in the United States.
Captain Carter bowed his head, his face deathly pale.
“……I apologize. I failed to carry out the mission as planned.”
“I understand. If Roman Dmitry is truly such a monster, no amount of interference on our part could have stopped him.”
Inside the grand temple of the Maron Sect, zealots lined both sides of the wide, dimly lit corridor. Their robes were pulled low to conceal their identities. The leader of the Maron Sect swept his gaze over them as he spoke.
“However, we cannot accept Roman Dmitry's existence. As written in the Scripture, the one we so desperately yearn for does not tolerate any other existence besides Himself. If we accept and serve Him with all our hearts, He will show us His sincerity in return. But the moment even a shred of hostility is shown, He will plunge humanity into ruin. The contents of the Scripture prove this. Humans, monsters, demons—countless existences showed hostility toward Him, and without a single exception, they were all slaughtered.”
“Ah...”
“The Leader speaks the truth.”
The believers bowed their heads in reverence.
Him.
The transcendent being from beyond the dimensions who served as the absolute foundation of the Maron Sect.
The leader's eyes flashed with fanatic intensity.
“Lord Maron will surely descend upon this world! If we leave foolish existences who call themselves emperors, like Roman Dmitry, unchecked, Lord Maron's wrath will show no mercy to humanity. Face the truth. Do not be deceived by the voice of Satan. Lord Maron is the only hope to save this world, and His descent alone will resolve all our problems!”
“Oh, Lord Maron!”
“We believe! Please, show us the way forward!”
The individuals gathered in this hall were not ordinary cultists; they were prominent, highly influential figures from various nations. Over the past few decades, the Maron Sect had subtly proven its authenticity, sinking its roots deep across the globe to form a massive, shadow faction.
“Roman Dmitry is strong. There are believers of the Maron Sect even within the International Hunter Association, and they have personally verified that all the rumors about Roman Dmitry are true. I believe this is a trial from God. Why do you think an existence like Roman Dmitry appeared at this exact moment? Just as demons appeared in the world where Lord Maron lived, this is merely another trial humanity must experience before His descent. Our individual strength may not be enough to handle that monster. However, because we have brothers who share our holy cause in countries all over the world, we will bring Roman Dmitry down through the sheer power of our collective.”
Humans were social creatures; they could not survive entirely alone. No matter how monstrously strong Roman Dmitry was, the leader of the Maron Sect firmly believed there was a political way to crush him.
“An international conference will be held soon. Spread the word to our believers worldwide. At that meeting, where Roman Dmitry's violation of international law and the issue of the Korean Empire's name will be fiercely debated, we will drag Roman Dmitry down from the throne he so arrogantly claimed for himself.”
* * *
After the congregation dispersed, the leader walked alone.
Deep inside the temple, far past the grand halls where the believers gathered for daily worship, lay a secret sanctuary. It was a sacred space where no one but the leader was permitted to enter.
Creak.
He pushed the heavy doors open.
Stepping into the hallowed sanctuary, the leader's thoughts drifted back to the meeting.
‘Roman Dmitry. The timing of his appearance is highly suspicious. Just as we are finalizing our preparations to welcome Lord Maron, an existence calling himself an emperor appears. This is undoubtedly the work of Satan. The moment humanity is blinded and deafened by his deception, they will fall into the path of ruin.’
The Maron Sect had spent decades meticulously preparing for His descent. Although their ultimate goal was finally within arm's reach, the sudden emergence of a destructive anomaly like Roman Dmitry filled the leader with an ominous sense of dread.
Roman Dmitry hadn't actually done anything against them yet. In fact, he had actively aided the United States and essentially saved humanity.
However, considering His divine personality as meticulously described in the Scripture, the leader couldn't help but fear this was a celestial test—a trick of God designed to provoke His holy wrath in the future. If Roman Dmitry were officially recognized by the world as the Emperor of the Korean Empire... He would never tolerate it. He would never permit another emperor to exist under the same sky as Himself.
The leader stopped dead in his tracks.
Resting on an altar before his eyes lay the sacred Scripture—the absolute foundation of the Maron Sect.
He gazed at the cover with eyes brimming with absolute devotion. There, inscribed in the ancient language of another dimension, were the words:
`[In Honor of the Great Hero's Achievements.]`
It was the title of the Scripture.
And just beneath it:
`[Author: Henry Albert]`
The one who had recorded the holy texts.
The name of the great prophet who had gifted the Maron Sect to this world was immortalized right alongside it.