The Heavenly Demon's Inner Elixir
**Hunter Total Mobilization Order.**
One of the emergency manuals issued by the Central Hunter Association of the Republic of Korea in preparation for catastrophic situations.
But since the Great Calamity a hundred years ago, when the hunter system took root, this manual had never once been activated.
If a total mobilization order were to be declared, there was only one possible scenario.
"The revival of the Ancient Species...!"
Tatatat!
In Kim Na-yeon's mind, racing far beyond the northern city barrier, a thousand and one worries flashed through her thoughts and vanished.
An Ancient Species in the north?
Was it the creature from the region where Ji-yeon had been discovered?
Kim Na-yeon had visited that place once before.
It had been during the Gate Break monster extermination operation, together with her older brother Kim Do-yoon.
There, they had discovered an underground laboratory and rescued a little girl named Wiji Yeon who had been locked inside an experimental tank.
She was an individual who could defy the inevitable currents of a rapidly changing era.
At the very center of that upheaval stood Wiji Yeon.
Tap! Chwaaak!
Upon reaching the first objective point, Na-yeon steadied her surging mana and surveyed her surroundings.
The open plaza ahead was already packed with dozens of hunters.
These were the personnel who had arrived here at breakneck speed after receiving the mobilization alert, just like Na-yeon herself.
Although the total mobilization order had never been executed before, all graduates of the Academy—the nation's premier hunter training institution—had undergone basic emergency preparedness training.
In principle, a B-class hunter would lead squads of A-class hunters.
And here, the B-class hunter of the nation's top guild, Jeokpung, was present.
"I am the thirteenth Grandmaster of Jeokpung Guild, Lee Ho-yeon. Under the Total Mobilization Order, I will command the hunters in this sector as the A-class hunter in charge."
Yet the hunters gathered around him did not appear satisfied in the slightest.
For some reason, every face seemed filled with discontent.
Soon, one of the male hunters among the crowd stepped forward and shouted angrily at Grandmaster Lee Ho-yeon.
"You're calling yourself the Grandmaster of Jeokpung? How arrogant."
"Everyone knows, right? This crisis exists solely because the Jeokpung bastards kept poking at the ancient species' refuge!"
Starting with the first hunter, chaos erupted among the surrounding crowds.
But Grandmaster Lee Ho-yeon answered without the slightest emotion.
"Regarding that matter, you will have to raise a formal objection through the Hunter Association later. Right now, we are in a state of emergency. I am sure you know that open defiance against superiors during an emergency will result in immediate disposal under the manual."
"Ugh...!"
Lee Ho-yeon's eyes flashed with a cold, predatory light, causing the furious male hunter to retreat a step.
At that moment, a female hunter stepped out from the crowd.
"Grandmaster Lee Ho-yeon, I will command the hunters here. Please withdraw from this area."
"...Master Han So-rim."
The master of the Sorim Guild, A-class hunter Han So-rim.
Even among A-class hunters, a guild master of any substantial Seoul-level organization would naturally command more authority than Lee Ho-yeon.
"Very well. I shall see how you perform."
With Lee Ho-yeon vanishing, a female hunter charged straight toward Han So-rim.
"Sorim unnie!"
"Oh my, Na-yeon-ah! You were here too?"
Kim Na-yeon and Han So-rim greeted each other with bright smiles and clasped hands.
"How is that kid doing? The cute little black-haired brat we owe the guild's medical center."
"Ji-yeon? Hehe, thanks to unnie, she's been super healthy lately."
"I'm glad to hear it."
Word soon arrived that a swarm of southward-bound monsters would be arriving here any moment.
The two women enjoyed their reunion for only a brief instant before Han So-rim began assigning missions to the on-site hunters under her command.
Hunters of B-class and above were to form the frontline as tankers, while C-class and lower hunters would provide rear support.
Whoosh, whoaak!
The mana radiating from the hunters preparing for battle erupted across the field.
Observing them, Han So-rim approached Na-yeon.
"You should also join as a rear support since you're C-class, Na-yeon."
"Yeah."
Na-yeon nodded and activated her own ability.
Whoaak!
A burst of golden light appeared as a shield materialized in her hand and golden armor encased her body.
For a moment, Han So-rim's eyes widened in shock.
"Na-yeon! You!"
"Why?"
"...Weren't you C-class?"
"Correct."
"The mana reaction I feel... is at least B-class."
"What!?"
It was Na-yeon's turn to be stunned.
Han So-rim was the hunter among A-class with the most exceptional mana detection ability.
If she declared B-class, it would indeed be B-class.
"You, what exactly happened to you all this time?"
"Uh, hehe... I ate some Level Uppers, maybe?"
"Level Uppers...! So those rumors were true."
"What rumors?"
"You graduates of the 71st class caused quite a stir when you successfully cleared a variable gate last time. Not a single casualty, they say. Besides the legendary magic stone, you even obtained some excellent items."
"Uh, yeah."
"Congratulations, dear."
While still wearing a dazed expression, Na-yeon accepted Han So-rim's congratulations.
She then quietly muttered to herself.
"I just ate the soup and broth."
Of course, if she had consumed two Level Uppers, she would naturally have reached B-class.
But all she had drunk was the soup from a samgyetang containing Level Uppers. The effect would have been minimal.
Yet the fact that she had reached B-class suggested that the method taught by Wiji Yeon had played a part in this situation.
"...Me, a B-class hunter? Because of our bond?"
Suppressing the overwhelming joy that could not be hidden, Na-yeon turned and broke into a quiet, happy laugh.
Kiiik!!
From beyond the distant mountain ridge came the first cry of the day.
It was the distinctive howl of a wyvern, the B-class monster that had been reported as having mass-produced in this ancient species incident.
Kim Na-yeon tensed her body upon hearing that sound.
As a B-class hunter, she had taken her place as one of the primary axes of defense in the frontline vanguard.
Because it was an emergency, the city barrier was operating at maximum output, yet they would not be able to stop every high-tier monster that appeared.
Therefore, the hunters' immediate response was the most crucial factor.
Hunters always lived with death hovering nearby.
And the hunters gathered here were all individuals who had prepared to sacrifice their lives if necessary to protect their homes.
That was true for Na-yeon as well.
In Na-yeon's mind, the images of two little girls flashed past.
The black-haired Ji-yeon, who only meowed like a cat that had never known human hands, yet was even cuter because of it.
Lee Da-yeon, who had grown more cheerful and often smiled these days thanks to their new family bond, even though her recent experiences at a young age had left her gentle and timid.
"Our little ones, this unnie will protect you."
Kiiik, kiiik.
Kaaaaak!!
In an instant, the sun seemed to disappear.
Moments later, the sky was completely covered by the silhouettes of countless dragons.
***
"Eh, let go of that!"
"Hee, heeik... No way! Ji-yeon-ah...! I told you to stay quietly...!"
Lee Da-yeon's face was a mess of tears and snot.
Even in that state, she clung tightly to the hem of Na-yeon's trousers.
"Heek, heek. What did you do to Aunt Deok-ja? Did you do something bad? Aunt is fine, right?"
"I only gave her a blood transfusion!"
"Woo... Ji-yeon-ah, no!"
The world spun with dizziness.
Right after realizing how the current situation was unfolding through the 'Gallery' section of her smartphone, Na-yeon immediately began changing into her martial robe.
The building manager, Aunt Yoon Deok-ja, who tried to stop her from going out, had only given her a blood transfusion before she left.
Young Cult Leader Lee Da-yeon had tried to avoid the pain of acupressure because she was still so young.
But she glared with blazing eyes and growled.
"Do you want me to put you to sleep like Aunt Deok-ja?"
"Woo...!"
Lee Da-yeon was terrified by the threat but refused to let go of the hem of the trousers even while crying.
"W-we should listen to unnie, okay?"
"Haa."
Na-yeon shook her head left and right, then squatted down to meet Da-yeon's eyes.
"Da-yeon-ah, listen carefully. Did Na-yeon unnie teach you about noble obligation?"
"Uh, yes."
"What was the meaning?"
"...People with power must help the weak."
"That's right. I'm only trying to follow unnie's teachings. I have power, after all."
"Woo, but if something happens to Ji-yeon..."
"Young Cult Leader."
"..."
Da-yeon trembled.
The moment her arrogant aura began to rise and gently wrapped around the girl's body.
Flutter.
While that was happening, she completed wrapping the long robe she had been hanging on the wall.
Now she was fully dressed in her martial robe.
"I told you about the story of the Heavenly Demon, didn't I?"
"Yeah."
"In that story, did the Heavenly Demon ever once retreat?"
"......"
"Bonjwa is the supreme being of the newly established Heavenly Demon Holy Sect, Heavenly Demon Wiji Yeon. And you are..."
"The young cult leader of the Heavenly Demon Holy Sect, Lee Da-yeon."
While swallowing her tears with teary eyes, Da-yeon closed her mouth tightly.
Seeing that, Na-yeon smiled faintly.
"Well done. A young cult leader of the Heavenly Demon Holy Sect must not show tears."
"...Yeah."
"Then I'll be going."
"Ji-yeon, do your best."
It seemed her persuasion had worked.
She opened the window.
Tap.
And with her long robe fluttering in the wind, she leaped into the city.
The one that had appeared this time was said to be an 'Ancient Species.'
From what she had seen on the internet, it was said to resemble the form of a dragon.
A mere worm that could not become a dragon.
In the past, Heavenly Demon Wiji Yeon had once defeated it.
And the reason she had to defeat it now was clear.
She crossed the downtown district at high speed, the corners of her mouth lifted in a smile.
"Hehehe, the inner elixir of the spiritual beast. It will boost my inner energy."
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