Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: The Supreme One Has Returned
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How on earth was anyone supposed to believe what had just happened?
While assessing the damage after the battle, they had discovered 23 demon corpses.
These were presumed to be rank-and-file demons without titles, but even so, the absurd number of 23 had left hunters from every major power utterly dumbfounded.
Demons without titles.
Gates ruled by those guys were estimated at minimum A-Rank.
In other words, the current situation boiled down to one thing: they had wiped out 23 A-Rank Gates.
"No major injuries here. Everyone's fit to continue the operation."
"Same on our end. We've got a few with minor cuts or scrapes, but nothing that hampers the mission."
"We're good too—no stragglers, all ready for action."
"Us as well..."
"Our team too..."
It was astonishing.
With every report that came in, the expressions of the leaders from each nation shifted more and more.
Even the overall commander, the War God, who stood there with arms crossed, slowly lifted his head.
And finally.
The top contributor to holding off the demon wave single-handedly for so long.
"Everyone's operational except for two with light injuries."
At the words from South Korea's representative team, all eyes turned their way.
"Is this... even possible?"
One hunter voiced what everyone was thinking.
His tone dripped with disbelief.
They'd just joined the ranks of the major powers, but it felt like a complete monster had emerged out of nowhere.
What the hell had happened in South Korea over the past year or so?
Hunters from the other major powers clicked their tongues in envy.
The War God, arms still crossed amid the growing murmurs, finally uncrossed them.
Then he bellowed to the crowd.
"There are plenty of reasons why we're all here, but most of you probably joined for the same one as me."
The War God glanced at Yong-un, the leader of South Korea's representative team.
Then, in a firm, commanding voice brimming with presence, he shouted,
"Everyone, stay sharp. These are new powerhouses on the scene."
A smile tugged at the War God's lips as he finished.
In truth, he had anticipated something like this.
It wasn't just anyone—it was that monster who had completely captivated him from their first encounter.
Yong-un's team, the one Yong-un himself had forged.
As the hunters' murmurs grew louder, the War God took the lead and stepped forward.
Yong-un then brought the entire South Korean team to stand beside the Spanish team, who had been holding the solo lead, and next to the War God.
"So, you're showing your hand openly now, huh?"
The War God grinned.
This wasn't about checking or probing.
No, it was anticipation.
Yes, a manly smile laced with eager expectation.
Yong-un looked the War God up and down and let out a scoffing laugh.
"Don't get the wrong idea. We never meant to hide. We just took the initiative because you lot didn't give us the chance."
From the start, South Korea's representative team had been naturally assigned to the rear.
It was a seating arrangement decided among the major powers, regardless of Yong-un or his team's wishes.
They probably thought, as a newbie major power, South Korea needed "protection" or some such nonsense by being placed at the back.
But Yong-un hadn't appreciated it.
Now, though?
The team they'd shoved to the rear had overtaken every other major power's squad and was now level with the Spanish team at the front.
And yet, not a single soul raised an objection.
It was tacit acknowledgment that South Korea's display of power in the battle surpassed their own.
"Kahahahaha!"
Unable to hold back any longer, the War God burst into laughter at Yong-un and his team's bold move.
"Exactly! Do you know why I like you so much?"
"You like me? Sorry, but I'm not interested."
"You know yourself too damn well. You don't grovel or put on airs like the others."
"Why would I need to?"
"Exactly! You wouldn't! And you're thinking the same right now."
A glint sparked in the War God's eyes.
"That a guy like me isn't even worth competing with."
With his naturally booming voice, no hunter present could have missed his words.
The ripple effect of that single statement was enough to shock the entire group.
Who was he?
The number one S-Rank in the world, hailed as the strongest hunter outside the Royal Class—the War God.
One move from him could mobilize an entire nation.
One word from him could set global media ablaze.
His every step shook the hearts of hunters worldwide via the GHO.
And here he was, boldly speaking out amid the elite hunters of the major powers.
To the leader of the upstart powerhouse South Korea—a man who hadn't even been in the S-Rank rankings for two full years.
"That's why I like you. I want to clash with you head-on, no labels, no bullshit."
He was acknowledging him.
Saying he wanted to fight.
"In my eyes, you look stronger than anyone I've ever seen."
Declaring him the supreme.
The War God's smile deepened.
In contrast, the Spanish team and hunters from other nations wore expressions shifting from surprise to grave concern.
But the War God's gaze remained locked on Yong-un.
Everything else faded from view.
Only the powerhouse before him mattered—his battle lust, befitting the name War God, poured entirely toward Yong-un.
"Shame, but with all these eyes on us, I'll hold back for now. Push it further, and that old man would hate it."
His surging battle aura was fierce enough for every high-rank hunter to feel it.
But just as suddenly, it vanished like mist, and he tore his gaze from Yong-un.
Sheer willpower and reason had triumphed over the primal instinct boiling deep within.
"What're you staring at? Go back to your teams and gossip if you want. You all knew what you were getting into."
The War God shrugged nonchalantly.
He knew full well.
One word or action from him could reshape the global hunter world.
Yet he couldn't hold back.
He had to vent this burning thrill from Yong-un—the monster—and the supreme team he'd built, or he'd never sleep soundly again.
"Feels better getting it out. What're you waiting for?"
Back to his stern expression, the War God addressed the crowd.
"Time to move. Don't forget—the Demonus weakening op is just getting started. We've only taken the first step."
At his words, the hunters' faces darkened slightly.
But what could they do?
They'd committed to the op; no backing out now.
"All set? Let's go!"
The War God, as overall commander, bellowed the order.
His massive voice echoed across the blood-soaked plain littered with demon corpses and monster gore.
And so, the heroes bearing the torch of hope against the Demonus catastrophe followed in his wake.
Was that massive monster wave and demon wave at the initial clash the flashy opening act and finale they'd prepared?
Four hours after the first battle ended.
They arrived at the joint spot without a single skirmish.
"Sort your own formations and handle your ops."
Atop the joint spot where the ten major powers' hunters had gathered and now dispersed.
To shake off the fatigue from the four-hour march, each representative team huddled for their own briefings.
In truth, the joint spot marked the true start of the Demonus weakening operation.
Everything before was just the prologue to kick things off.
But perhaps the prologue had been too spectacular.
Without exception, every team dragged out lengthy meetings instead of pushing on immediately.
Even the War God's Spanish team.
"My Lord, everyone's here."
South Korea's representative team was no exception.
Gathered before Yong-un, they sat cross-legged on the ground with solemn expressions.
All eyes fixed on him in unison.
"We dragged this meeting out for nothing. At this rate, we didn't need to plan for any alternatives."
Yong-un's long-awaited words rang out.
Suddenly, his grim-faced subordinates burst into stifled laughter one by one.
"You're right. As expected of the Supreme One."
Truth be told, before deployment.
They'd held extensive strategy sessions with his subordinates.
Devising contingencies for every possible scenario, complete with drills and protocols.
And right at the start of that meeting, Yong-un's intel and plan went like this:
「The monsters and demons inside Demonus seem controlled by what looks like its boss. If battle breaks out, they won't nibble away in small groups like before—they'll mass everything and hit us all at once.」
「If that happens, what do we do?」
「Charge the front and wipe them all out.」
Charge ahead and annihilate at the sight of a massive enemy force.
It was a comically simplistic, brainless plan with zero nuance.
Though his subordinates nodded along because it was Yong-un speaking, they'd all thought the same at first.
'No way that's happening.'
Yong-un's crew were all hunters.
Veterans who'd felled hundreds or thousands of monsters alongside him.
So naturally, a certain common sense had taken root in their minds.
Monsters and demons didn't band together to fight unless they were kin or the same species.
Let alone launching organized, army-like assaults on a massive scale, as Yong-un suggested.
That was their nature.
When scared, they'd flee or fight solo rather than submit to another's power.
They were beasts, exemplars of the food chain.
But seeing monsters and demons move inside Demonus just as Yong-un predicted left his subordinates stunned.
A wave of monsters and demons marching in perfect unison like an army.
Irregular movements that still screamed orders from above.
An all-out war hurling every last one at them.
The moment it all unfolded exactly as Yong-un said.
His subordinates turned to him.
And they executed.
A laughably simple, brutally effective method not worthy of the name "plan"—the pinnacle of combat that only Yong-un could pull off.
"With you here, Supreme One, we fear nothing."
"Give the order anytime. We'll stake our lives on it."
Guilt gnawed at them—they'd doubted him inwardly.
But his mere presence and command had them throwing their lives into the impossible.
And they won.
His subordinates bowed deeply to Yong-un in unison.
A gesture of apology for their fleeting doubt.
"Don't forget—Demonus is just beginning. It could be anywhere, but that thing will start moving soon."
At Yong-un's words, his subordinates steeled their resolve.
They knew exactly who "that thing" was.
The root of all this—the boss.
The reason ten major powers had gathered, though not the op's primary target.
As Yong-un mentioned the boss, a ripple of intensity crossed his calm face.
"I've said it before: don't die. Retreat if you must. Fear is fine. Despair too... I permit it all."
Retreat?
Words that could never pass the Supreme One's lips had.
In this already perilous situation, it could sap morale—but Yong-un was dead serious, more than ever.
"Just don't die."
His earnest voice hung in the air.
His subordinates exchanged glances, masking their shock, then roared in response.
"We obey!"
Thud! Thud!
With his kneeling subordinates acknowledging the order behind him, Yong-un turned his head.
'Eerie. Is that what the unknown entity meant?'
Thud! Thud!
Apparently, neither his crew nor the hundreds of high-rank hunters around could hear it.
When had it started?
That faint drumming echoing from afar, lingering in Yong-un's ears.
Riding the sound waves of the drum, a strange energy spread across all of Demonus.
And it drifted down from the sky like snowflakes, like volcanic ash.
Gently swaying toward every hunter.
Ever so slowly, atop heads oblivious to the gathering dark clouds.
'I can only hope it's bullshit.'