Great Victory
[Day 00 06:00]
Day 00 06:00
Crimson-black fissures tore open in the skies above the capitals of nations worldwide. Their sizes varied according to the system-recognized area of each capital.
In the midst of the chaos gripping most countries, overwhelmed by scales far beyond expectations—
Korea, having endured the earlier Bask incident, prepared for the wave with relative calm.
Even as A-rank flying monsters emerged, the hunters avoided panic and held their assigned zones.
[Day 00 00:00]
Day 00 00:00
The moment the countdown ended.
Ziiing.
Seo Ji-ah's barrier field enveloped all of Seoul. It focused mana on area rather than durability.
At the same time, the Association President infused mana into his scroll.
Kieeeek—!
A blue grid formed across Seoul's sky, now swarming with monsters spilling from the fissure.
The function of asd123's Detection scroll was simple.
It scanned Seoul's skies, sending waves to locations with objects.
The waves' purpose: identification. Amid the horde, it distinguished the 'Garuda'.
But its purpose was mere 'identification'—the waves carried water#wind fusion attributes.
Monsters touched by the waves lost balance and plummeted like falling leaves.
Thud... Boom...
The massive bird monsters collided with Seo Ji-ah's barrier.
They shook off the chill and tried to fly again, but—
More falling monsters piled atop them.
Moreover, special-ability individuals resisting the waves only disrupted their surroundings further.
Splat. Crunch. Rip.
The sky beyond the barrier was utter pandemonium.
The Association President watched with narrowed eyes.
...As expected, no Garuda appeared over Korea.
No divine beings were detected, not even by asd123's Detection scroll's visibility range.
Relieved inwardly, he addressed Seo Ji-ah.
"I'll drop the barrier now."
She startled at the abrupt words.
"What?"
But without explanation, he activated Lightning Strike. He wouldn't give them time to recover.
Crackle.
Dozens of lightning bolts hammered the barrier—precisely the piled-up flying monsters atop it.
Direct hits killed some outright; currents flowing along the barrier paralyzed the rest en masse.
The barrier crumbled under the lightning's impact.
Monsters tumbled powerlessly to the ground alongside it.
Of course, some still flapped wings in the sky above.
The fissure spat monsters sharing only the trait 'bird'—in myriad forms.
Some had strong attribute resistance.
But they were few.
The Association President spoke into his amplification item.
⊳ "We'll hold off on the planned wind magic for now. All hunters, focus on annihilation from here on."
They couldn't waste asd123's opening. Reducing numbers now would ease the fight.
Thus, the hunters' subjugation began. Thanks to asd123's water#wind damage, most monsters were severely slowed.
"...What is this? It's easy?"
Hunters, initially cautious and slow, grew bolder in slaying monsters.
The monsters from the fissure averaged A-rank.
Of course, their 'flight' specialty meant physical prowess far below standard A-ranks.
Even so, only veterans could wound them easily.
Yet this plan required even C-rank and below—manpower shortages.
Though conscripted, victory's likelihood kept them from fleeing rashly.
What backlash after the wave?
They were assigned low-priority zones.
One such: the Association's E-rank subjugation team, participating half-heartedly.
Their role: hold monsters loosely, preventing concentration on key areas.
But ready to bolt if lives threatened. Obviously.
No point dying pointlessly against A-ranks.
Yet.
"Sorry... labor pains hit so hard I couldn't make it to the shelter in time..."
As Seo Ji-ah's barrier fell—
A heavily pregnant woman, drenched in cold sweat, entered their zone. Delayed by pains.
The shelter was too far for her. Couldn't just carry her recklessly.
Fortunately, no monsters nearby—but en route, likely.
The hunter swallowed hard, reassuring her first.
"...It's fine. Don't worry too much. Just wait a moment."
Then, masking despair, consulted.
"Which team has the nearby shelter zone? Association?"
"Ours. Heard it's B-rank."
"B-rank... Think they have spare?"
Nodding grimly, he radioed for support.
Instead: they'd pinned shelter-area monsters, so just watch the path.
"..."
Hunters exchanged glances. The woman, sensing ill omens, forced a smile.
"I-I'm sorry... I'll just hide in a nearby building."
The team leader shook his head.
"No. Come with us to the shelter. This low-priority zone—who knows when support arrives."
Alone, she'd struggle.
"R-Really okay?"
"Yes, no need to worry. They say shelter monsters are all pinned. Even if we meet one or two en route, we can handle easy. Haha."
Beyond their skill. But feigning calm brightened her face.
"Thank you...!"
"Let's go."
Supporting her toward the shelter, the leader eyed a trailing hunter.
The hunter nodded, pulling three scrolls from his pack.
◈ Base Destructive Power: 1.3
◈ Mana Cost: 50
◈ Attribute: Fire
asd123 had auctioned about 1,400 scrolls recently.
The Association bought some, distributing to low-rank teams.
They got three. Unsure if enough for A-rank.
Neither asd123 scrolls nor A-ranks experienced before.
So the leader supporting her prayed inwardly.
...Please, no encounters. Please.
Hoping heaven helped just this once.
But alas, heaven sided against them.
Not content with trash awakenings, tormenting to the end.
Kieeeek—!
They met a monster. Chilled, sluggish—but beyond them. Couldn't flee with her.
Leader's hand trembled faintly. Briefly imagined ditching her.
But feet wouldn't move.
Damn...
Overcoming cowardice, he urged urgently.
"Q-Quick, use it."
"Uh, uh... Hold on..."
The E-rank infusing mana into the scroll—
Whiiish. Crunch!
Fire-attribute mana arrow pierced the monster. Instant death.
Insane... One scroll kills an A-rank?
Leader's eyes widened in shock, but feigned calm.
"Keep... going."
"Wow... Yeah...!"
They escorted her safely to the shelter. Marveling inwardly: no wonder hunters rave about asd123.
But.
"Thank you... Truly, thank you..."
To her, ignorant of their plight, the E-rank team seemed heroic.
Tears bursting as she bowed repeatedly.
They felt a new emotion. Why top hunters risked lives even now.
Something beyond pride wet their hearts.
Until now, F/E-gate clears mere money-making.
But asd123's scrolls instilled a sense of duty in their hunter vocation.
Such feelings strengthened hunters.
"...No, just doing our duty."
Leaving the shelter, the team returned to their zone with fiercer resolve.
The E-rank team's small win was but a fragment of the grand war.
Big and small battles raged across Seoul.
Yeonhee University couldn't escape.
Millions-strong flying monster legion.
Plenty crashed onto campus or hovered overhead.
Magic department professors/students and other awakener majors fought united across grounds.
Kang Eun-ho among them—math researchers fretted endlessly.
"...Is Eun-ho okay?"
"Yeah... Third-year, fighting in this?"
...
Kim Ah-hyun reassured the worriers.
"...No need to worry about him. Maybe back then, but now he's stronger than most professors."
"That much?"
"Yeah... Thanks to who?"
Kim Ah-hyun glanced at Park Ha-jun.
...Making scrolls—what's the plan?
But she curbed idle curiosity.
Just sat by researchers, drawing her circuits for cheap auction uploads.
Professor's working too. Can't slack with my lacking talent.
Emulating Park Ha-jun, burning with resolve.
...
After sending Detection scrolls to the Association, Park Ha-jun returned to the lab.
Initially, he'd planned to weather the wave with researchers, soothing them.
Sending scrolls and auctioning masses—he thought his role done.
But seeing the wave skies, unease stirred.
Association plan smooth, yet casualties inevitable somewhere.
Even here, young students short on skill fought A-ranks.
...Like them striving, I must give my all to the end.
Right thing.
Thus, Park Ha-jun auctioned 10 emergency Barrier scrolls pre-made.
Output Form: Area Deployment
Duration: 02:00:00
Impact Absorption: 1
Defense: 1
Mana Cost: 300
Then emailed Lee Dong-gyu.
Park Ha-jun's request: if needed, deploy barriers.
Confirmed reply, Park Ha-jun drew new Barrier scroll.
This one: encircling Yeonhee University. Lee Dong-gyu deploying elsewhere avoided suspicion.
Note: not intercept-type. No one here could handle that mana.
...Same reason sent Detection for Seoul-wide—not feasible.
Mana cost issue. Beyond efficiency tweaks—needs aggressive improvements.
Drawing barrier, another email from Lee Dong-gyu.
Big help, he said. Reading eased worries.
Closed email, accelerated drawing. Acceleration implementation quickened it.
Output Form: Area Deployment
Duration: 02:00:00
Impact Absorption: 1
Defense: 1
Mana Cost: 500
Barrier performance unchanged. Just university-wide scope.
Used without delay. Even Park Ha-jun handled 500 mana.
Whoooong—
Hemispherical barrier enveloped campus.
"What the—!"
Kang Eun-ho's startled voice guarding science building reached the lab.
Unknown he'd been nearby.
Researchers rushed to windows at his voice.
But captivated by Park Ha-jun's—asd123's—barrier.
"...Whoa, what's that?"
Beyond barrier: monster wing-flaps' attacks all blocked.
Bang bang bang—!
Fearsome booms made them gulp.
"...Awakeners' powers are insane."
"Studying that must be fun. Sense of accomplishment too..."
Finances improved lately, but math perceptions unchanged.
Awakener powers inherently mysterious.
One researcher blurted unwittingly.
Realizing slip, eyed Park Ha-jun.
He brushed off. Just asked if Kang Eun-ho okay.
As Eun-ho replied fine—
Sudden massive vortex swirled skies. Likely Association's monster-drop plan.
Monsters surviving Park Ha-jun's water#wind lost center, plummeted.
"Whoa... What's that."
"Cool..."
Dozens of mages' feat. Those achieving via Park's attribute papers/lectures.
Park knew via Lee Dong-gyu's reports on mages.
Satisfied smile to researchers.
"...Cool, right? Heard our lab shares credit for that paper."
"Huh?"
"Investor said. Not us causing the magic, but that wind dropping monsters? Our doing."
Researchers blinked uncomprehending.
Park smiled enigmatically.
"How's that—feel accomplished?"
Next day.
Korea repelled wave smoothly.
Association President, post-wrap-up, asked staff.
"Casualties?"
"Confirmed so far: around 10. Mostly inexperienced low-ranks."
"...Top hunters' condition?"
"Day's rest, fine."
"Got it."
Nodding, faint smile as he joined video conference. International Hunter Alliance.
Time to earn foreign gold.