Jirisan Monster Subjugation Operation (1)
The subjugation operation was imminent.
Kim Taeju headed to Sancheong to attend the final briefing.
Sancheong Division, Hamyang Division, Namwon Division—the three main forces.
Plus four special raid teams.
The plans were already set.
This was just the final check: nothing overlooked, supplies perfect.
Taeju would form one special raid team with Major General Oh Jinhyeong and enter Jirisan via the Gurye route.
"By the way, Major General."
"Yeah? What's up, Chairman Kim?"
"Didn't the imperial family say a VIP was coming? You should join them."
"You think I've got time to play host? That's a hassle. Junyoung's handling it."
"...Ah!"
"And the cadet brats will be with Pilseong."
Come to think of it, Division Commanders Gu Junyoung of Sancheong and Park Pilseong of Hamyang looked off-color from earlier.
Meanwhile, Namwon Division Commander Hong Juntak seemed relaxed.
Probably because Hong had the most seniority among the three.
This is why the military runs on tenure.
"Heh heh, you and I can take it slow entering the Gurye jungle, then rush wherever support's requested."
He added with a sly glint in his eye.
"We're the strongest here, so no point wasting energy upfront. Conserve our strength."
"Pardon? Well, you're the strongest, sure, but I'm not quite at the division commanders' level yet..."
"Hey now, who're you fooling? You powered up again right after that mine subjugation, didn't you?"
"..."
This guy's sharp...
"You're my equal now... no, if you use poison, even I might not stand a chance."
His instincts were spot-on.
Taeju swiftly changed the subject.
"Anyway, what happens to the elite monster mana crystals we acquire during the op?"
"Hmm, crystals from military kills go to the army, naturally. Yours are yours."
"Got it?"
"Why? Need one? I could hook you up."
"I'll take my share."
Just one? No thanks.
He had plans for them.
Elixirs?
No point in something I can't consume.
He already knew their use.
The more, the better—spreading the benefits wide.
The day of the Jirisan monster subjugation operation arrived at last.
All preparations complete.
Taeju met Oh Jinhyeong's special raid team at the Gurye Jirisan entrance.
Imperial broadcasters and press swarmed, but access was barred. Civilian awakener raid teams halted hunts during the op.
Military took priority.
Oh Jinhyeong issued the start order via radio.
Crackle.
"Keeping it simple: anyone who dies on this op, I'll kill you myself. Run if it's risky! Don't skimp on recovery potions—no repercussions."
Taeju eyed Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol.
"Got it? Bail if it gets dicey."
"Yes, sir!"
"I'm great at running away."
Oh Jinhyeong pulled a small vial from his pocket.
"Everyone, take the mosquito poison antidote. Experts too—no exceptions! Even this master drinks it. Don't get cocky with tough skin; variant three-stripe mosquitoes aren't all the same. Some pack nasty venom. Remember that."
Gulp!
Downing the antidote.
"Unit! Full advance!"
Thus began the Jirisan monster subjugation operation.
Advance order given.
Imperial forces pushed slowly toward the jungle.
No rushing.
Basic tactic: positional warfare.
Main force seizes an area, clears surrounding monsters.
Once sorted, move and seize next.
Special raid teams were key here.
They scouted paths for main forces, detected elite monsters.
Usually top soldiers per unit.
Sancheong's Gu Junyoung led his team into the jungle.
But he felt uneasy.
Anxious.
"Sir, no need to worry. I can handle myself."
A soft-faced young lieutenant with second lieutenant insignia spoke reassuringly.
"Sigh, no... er, right. Never underestimate the jungle. Follow my orders to the letter."
"Yes, sir!"
The imperial VIP Gu Junyoung escorted wasn't ordinary.
The emperor's youngest: Fifth Imperial Prince Ryu Jincheol.
Incognito with lieutenant bars, but everyone knew.
A heavy burden.
If the prince got hurt, it wouldn't end with stripping rank.
But the palace had reasons for putting the late-teens youth in the vanguard.
Awakener rank: superior expert.
Master certain within 1-2 years. Talent incarnate.
Lacked combat experience, but still boosted firepower.
The imperial bloodline's monstrous DNA.
Traced to Samhan's founding emperor—current one.
Never called by name, but pre-coronation: Ryu Taehyeon.
Age unknown.
Appearance unchanged since founding.
Sixty years since Samhan; over a century since precursor Daejin.
Daejin's founder: Ryu Taehyeon too.
At least 100+.
Undeniably Korean stock.
Rumors of early awakener.
Emperor Ryu Taehyeon was celibate once.
Married, sired kids 30 years ago—courtiers' relentless pleas for heirs.
Princes and princesses under 30.
Fifth Prince Ryu Jincheol: just 21.
Then, a pair of red-furred wolves appeared ahead.
Ryu Jincheol's eyes gleamed.
"Division Commander, may I handle them?"
Gu read the deep yearning there.
Poised and gentle, but young—itching to test his power.
"Go for it. I'll back you."
No backup needed, really.
Permission granted—
Whoosh!
Swift to the wolves—
Tsssh! Slash!
"Kek!"
One dead instantly.
Slashslashslash!
The other followed.
Both down in a blink.
No rage mode, no chance.
Insane talent.
Meanwhile, Hamyang Division main force advanced via Hamyang entrance.
Cleared encountered monsters, reached target.
"Fortify here."
Scout radio-designated spot.
Jungle heart, but ample for temp base.
Sun dipping.
Plan: camp 1-2 days, hunt surroundings.
"Move it! Tents up, prep camp."
Over 500 in main force.
Mix of supply grunts, combat support compatibles, awakeners.
Soldiers spaced out, clearing ground, pitching tents.
Some cadets got assigned spots.
But—
"Fuck off! Why pitch next to us, you shits?!"
Kim Taepyeong and Kim Taecheon flinched at a fellow cadet's sharp bark.
"...No spots elsewhere."
"Bullshit! There's one over there."
"Th-that's next to the latrine."
"Sigh, just scram!"
Kim Taepyeong seethed.
Wanna flip the table? But couldn't.
Most cadets stronger than them.
Brothers barely user rank.
Privileged ones popped elixirs, leveled up.
Branded boot camp losers.
Cadets shunned them.
Especially Baekdu Auto heiress Jeong Yeonhui—treated them like bugs.
How'd it come to this?
Blame Lieutenant Colonel Do Minsu.
Nitpicked everything.
Slight slip? Whole platoon punished.
Not once or twice.
Hence the cold shoulder.
And supply troops hated them too.
Tents: outdated, torn. Canteens: 30-year relics. Boots: nails jabbing feet.
Even personal gear sucked.
Brothers got swords: rusted blades, chipped edges.
"Sigh, can't take it. Write a complaint?"
"Reach command? Just endure a month."
"I'll never piss seeing Jirisan again."
First time bullied.
In Paju youth? They were kings.
Teachers kowtowed.
Dislike someone? One word.
'You're pissing me off lately?'
Handled via bully kids.
Now reversed—shunned post-awakening, prime time.
But endure.
One month. Commissioned to northwest or northeast, Jirisan forgotten.
They didn't know.
Military gossip spread like wildfire.
Gurye-side Jirisan jungle.
Oh Jinhyeong formed elite special raid: 50 awakener officers.
Legion HQ experts and up: field-grade.
Porters: minimum beginner company-grade awakeners.
Taeju strode beside Oh, shoulder-to-shoulder.
Oh's weapon: serrated greatsword, slung diagonally—impressive.
"Whaddya think of my blade?"
"Cool."
"Right? Gift from His Majesty. Stars get fiefs and arms from the emperor..."
"Not interested."
This guy's persistent.
Oh surname, or Jeong?
Oh boasted nonstop.
Hunting?
Grunts handled regular monsters.
Pa-pa-pak! Pak!
Giants like half-moon bears, steel-feather owls: field-grades joined in.
Three days in jungle.
Soldiers camped rough; Taeju commuted—nights in Gurye brewing potions, sleeping, predawn rejoin.
Civilian perks.
Baek Changhoon, Jang Suncheol stuck with team.
Gaining experience.
"Those two youths you brought—always that strong?"
"...Talent shines through."
Baek Changhoon, Jang Suncheol.
They stood out.
Tssring!
Sword auras drawn, swift moves, precise thrusts, sharp vertical/horizontal cuts—disciplined, not wild swings.
"One's familiar. Might not remember, but..."
Baek Changhoon.
Right—day of clash with Lee Jeonghak, Oh helicoptered in; Changhoon there.
Keen eye, quick wit...
"Back then, regular—barely beginner. Even with talent..."
"..."
So nosy.
"Skills look advanced too. Elixirs?"
"Yeah, bought top-grade from Mirinae Pharma."
"Really?"
"All my earnings went to them."
"...Jealous."
Dodged that.
Else endless questions.
Progress too slow.
Taeju's specialty: speed.
"Scouting ahead."
"Solo?"
"Don't worry. Run if risky."
"Do as you like. But! Radio always on."
Snap!
Taeju vanished.
'What?'
So fast?
Oh confirmed.
'Trained in martial arts, no doubt.'
Martial arts, or kung fu.
300 years since mana flooded Earth.
Civilizations collapsed, billions dead.
Population rebound: restored, reinvented civs.
Eastern martial arts, Western magic.
300 years ago, dantian breathing? Scam.
Now? Worked.
Proper breaths gathered qi in dantian.
Intangible mana made real.
Not just that.
Family secrets: breathing amassed qi aplenty.
Taekwondo evolved—lethal killer art.
Diligent training registered skills.
'What arts did Chairman Kim Taeju learn? Poison use too...'
His two youths trained similarly.
'Wish I could snag some training.'
Taeju dashed through jungle with Pyoholjilpungbo.
Monsters lunged—dodged, no kills.
Even giant half-moon bears evaded.
Target: elites only.
Catchable?
They wielded gang qi.
Levels varied.
Ancient elites surpassed masters.
Superior mana crystals, naturally.
'If Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong hit 7th stage, easy.'
Gang qi access then.
But 6th stage now.
Still confident.
Poison humans' forte: poison arts via poison core.
Pa-pa-pat!
Deep in—first time this far.
Then.
"Grrrrrrr..."
Gut-piercing bass growl.
Taeju turned toward it.
'Elite.'
Vast marten, sleek glossy fur, crimson eyes, mana churning idly.
Elite blade-tooth marten.
Thick killing intent.
Fear.
Fear? What?
He was the Absolute Poison Demon.
A mere beast dare!
Wooong!
His dormant poison core awoke in the dantian.
End of Jirisan Monster Subjugation Operation (1)