Chosen
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Chosen
The high-speed train from New Seoul to Gurye.
Finally, heading home.
Taeju lay comfortably in the VIP compartment, taking a rest.
Right next to him sat Baek Seoyeonn.
"We really nailed it, didn't we?"
"Yes, beyond expectations. You carried the whole thing yourself, Chairman."
"Nah, couldn't have done it without you and the escorts pushing from behind and pulling from the front."
"Not at all. Without you, we might not have gotten the patent at all. Leaders Club diamond tier, and even the Fifth Prince..."
"Ahh! Enough. No more humility contest—let's just say we all did great! Got it?"
"...Yes."
"Then get some shut-eye."
Taeju closed his eyes too.
Taehong Bio's push into New Seoul pharmaceuticals.
Sure, there was still a long way to go, but it was safe to call it a success.
Baek Seoyeonn soon dozed off as well.
She must've been exhausted.
'Guess I should catch some sleep too.'
Just as his eyes grew heavy!
Bzzzzt.
A signal ringing in his head.
'Oh!'
This familiar, pleasant sensation.
The shared warehouse had opened.
'It's here.'
Pretending to sleep, Taeju opened his infinite storage space.
He calmly pulled out the items from the shared warehouse first, then methodically packed in the prepared goods.
Over half of Taeju's infinite space was filled with items for Poison Immortal Dang Gunak.
'It's grown again?'
Already twice the original size.
A most welcome development.
Swish.
Taeju took out the letter first and read it.
'Hmm... he likes it.'
Exposing the bored immortals of the heavenly realm to stimulating content like movies or dramas might even aid their cultivation.
Should send a gaming console too.
He quickly removed a few items from the shared warehouse, slotted the pre-purchased gaming console into the space,
and pulled out a fountain pen and paper to write a letter to Dang Gunak.
This fountain pen was bought to send to him too—a set of ten identical ones already packed in the shared warehouse.
With the letter tucked in,
Pop.
the shared warehouse's glow faded.
Now, inventory check.
Mountain peaches from the immortals—tons of them.
'How many is this?'
Even a rough count exceeded thirty.
And a suspicious bundle of papers.
As noted in Poison Immortal Dang Gunak's letter.
Immortal-Made Talismans
Talismans crafted by immortals.
Just looking at them, celestial energy poured forth.
'...Can I really just accept these?'
Precious treasures from the immortals.
Their value was beyond measure.
Out of a hundred sheets: fifty Protective Talismans—one use per day, affix to the body to block lethal attacks and grant 30 seconds of invincibility.
Ten Ward Evil Talismans—suppress demons with celestial energy, weakening their power.
Another ten Invisibility Talismans—render the body invisible for about an hour.
Ten Tracking Talismans to locate specific targets, ten Binding Talismans to immobilize enemies in place, and ten Swiftness Talismans to boost speed when affixed to the body.
'Gotta use 'em sparingly.'
The letter said to request more by type if they ran out, but wasting these rarities? No way.
And one more.
Divine Spirit Flying Dagger.
A treasure weapon forged by immortal artisans.
'...Insane.'
Best to give up trying to match the value—it's good for mental health.
Balancing exchanges was impossible.
How could Earth mass-produced junk compare to heavenly treasures?
Follow the stork and the magpie's legs get torn—that's the saying.
Just accept graciously and use them well.
Taeju drew the Divine Spirit Flying Dagger.
Like all famed swords or daggers, it recognized its master—requiring blood.
Slice.
A cut across his palm with the dagger, and crimson blood flowed, absorbed into the blade.
Vmmm!
The slender Divine Spirit Flying Dagger vibrated faintly.
Taeju pulled out the elite crescent daggers from the emperor.
One hand the imperial artisan's weapon, the other the Divine Spirit Flying Dagger.
'Ahhh.'
Sorry, but honestly, the imperial ones looked shabby now.
Still, no need to show it—use both well.
More hidden weapons, the better.
Couldn't wait to test in real combat.
Soon as they hit Gurye, head to Jirisan and bag a few elites.
His hips fidgeted in excitement.
Meeting a fine weapon and just stashing it? Rude.
'When do we arrive?'
New Seoul to Gurye: twelve hours.
Boarded around 11 a.m., so due in at 11 p.m.
Soon, the train pulled into Gurye.
Stepping off, the sticky heat hit immediately.
Definitely different air from New Seoul.
Bade farewell to the awakener officers and escorts.
"Everyone, great job."
"It was a blast. Call us next time something like this comes up."
"Don't head back to base tonight—tomorrow's fine. Afterparty time."
"We'd love to, but orders came to return ASAP."
"Huh? This late? Something happen?"
"Gotta check in to find out."
The awakener officers returned to base.
"Seoyeonn, head home and rest. See you at the office around lunch tomorrow."
"Yes."
Sent Baek Seoyeonn off.
Taeju bolted from the station straight into the Jirisan jungle.
If Taeju had to pick his most-used hidden weapon technique, it'd be Flying Waterfall Flash.
Simple, adaptable to the user's will, switch between single-target or wide-area at whim.
What would a single flash with the Divine Spirit Flying Dagger look like?
Tzzt!
The dagger shot out.
Dark night, moonlight tracing a silver line in the air.
Then—the line bent sharply at ninety degrees.
Swish, tzzt!
Piercing a thick tree trunk nearby, then
Whip!
Pfft!
Looping back for another pass.
Whip! Pfft! Whip! Pfft! Whip! Pfft...
Like a sewing machine stitching back and forth through the trunk.
'Stop.'
Instantly!
It halted, hovering motionless in midair.
'Jackpot.'
What else but an auto-tracking sword?
Sure, reliant on divine power rather than martial mastery.
'Return.'
Whir!
No extra energy needed to maneuver.
Time to get familiar—hunt some Giant Half-Moon Bears for their gallbladders.
Suddenly, Jirisan's Cheonwangbong Peak came into view.
Was the Elite Three-Headed White Tiger still there?
Curiosity struck.
'Let's check in.'
Snap!
Taeju dashed toward the peak with Leaping Gale Step.
Papapapap!
Definitely faster now at 8th stage—nimbler movements.
Atop Cheonwangbong Peak.
Under moonlight, a massive lifeform loomed.
"Grrow?"
The Elite Three-Headed White Tiger was still there.
This summit its territory, apparently.
"Grrrowl, grrrk, grk."
Suddenly wary, it crouched low, body tense.
"Hmm..."
At Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong 7th stage, he'd been unsure.
Could win, but not unscathed.
Now?
'Maneuverable.'
Could subdue it handily.
Plus the Divine Spirit Flying Dagger.
That huge frame even looked cute now.
Taeju strode forward boldly.
"Karrng! Kyao! Kyaak!"
The Three-Headed White Tiger roared threats but didn't charge.
This human... I remember him.
Back then, evenly matched.
A little push, could've eaten him.
But now? No.
Eaten? He'd be the meal.
And that divine aura emanating from the human.
Couldn't budge even as he approached.
Just slammed its head to the ground.
Up close, Taeju tapped the tiger's snout.
Tap, tap, tap.
Once per head—three taps total.
It flinched but didn't reject his touch.
"Hey, buddy! Been good?"
"Grrow, grrow? Grrrow."
"No messing with humans while I was gone?"
"Grrrowl..."
Seemed to understand?
Definitely beyond mere beast— a true spirit beast.
'Cuter the more I look.'
Wanna give it something.
A treat, maybe.
Taeju opened his infinite space.
'Hmm.'
Nothing fitting.
Something spirit-beast worthy...
"Eh, whatever—generous host mode."
Taeju pulled out an immortal peach.
"This was for no one else originally. Was gonna give to Director Baek first, but you're getting it—eat up gratefully."
Plenty more than thirty, one wouldn't hurt.
Tossed a peach; it snapped it up.
"Grrow?"
Eyes wide in surprise.
Kid knows quality.
But problem.
"Grk? Grrk?"
The other two heads staring—What about my mouth?
Forgot.
'...Right, three heads.'
Three distinct faces on one body.
Three independent entities.
No choice—give 'em all.
Pulled two more, one per mouth.
"Grk, grrrk."
Chewing contentedly.
Taeju stroked its scruff.
"Wanna kidnap and raise you, but you're too damn big. Three heads, three mouths—feed bill's no joke."
"Grrow, kyarrng? Kyarrng..."
"No harassing humans from now on—hunt monsters. Got it?"
Minds linked, the Elite—no, spirit beast Three-Headed White Tiger licked his hand eagerly.
"Catch you later—I'm out."
Now bag some Giant Half-Moon Bears and head home.
Joint Forces Chiefs of Staff.
Under 4-star General Kim Songgyeom's lead, all branch chiefs gathered.
Mostly army veterans.
Navy and air force? Bare handful.
Navy and air relied on modern weapons sans awakeners, supporting army rather than direct strikes.
Navy ops limited; oceans crawling with colossal sea beasts.
Near seas safe-ish, far ones deadly.
Pacific push? Dream on.
Air force same—fighters and bombers ever at risk from flying beasts.
Invade their turf, swarms beyond number attack.
So, evade zones for safe supply runs.
Army main force.
All empire compatibles and awakeners army-bound.
Identification: BEM-C04, aka Black Evil Earth Dragon
Crocodile-like beast.
Colossal, pitch-black body, steel spines on back—but stubby tail. Instead, long tongue flicking endlessly.
"Why's the Black Evil Earth Dragon heading north? Figured out?"
"One reason: lost a turf war. Seeking new nest."
"Damn it! Why north of all places."
National disaster-class.
China fell to a few Beyond Elite Monsters.
"Still northbound?"
"Paused for now. Catching breath maybe..."
"Lucky."
"Pray it stays..."
One staffer raised a hand.
"If it pushes to Beijing, ETA?"
"Slow, but roughly three months."
"Whew."
"Ugh."
"Tricky."
Always plan for worst.
Three months—not short, not long.
"Preemptive strike? Bombing?"
"Bombable, but... not recommended. Monster evolutions unpredictable."
Even elites shrug off a shell or two.
Missiles, arty, rockets for precision barrage to down one.
Fail to kill quick? They evolve.
Superbug immune to antibiotics.
Why Beyond Elites? Survived nukes.
Nukes useless now—unless dozens at once.
Survives? Could birth Earth-ender super-beast.
"Prepare full empire mobilization. Reserves, even civilian awakeners if needed."
"Awakeners alone? Massive casualties."
"Better than failing..."
"Current threats first."
Beyond Elite far off.
Issue: swarms from migration reaching Great Wall.
"Recall all expedition legions."
"Territory expansion irrelevant now."
"Yeah. Wall breach..."
Then—
"Recon center reports: BEM-C04 Black Evil Earth Dragon moving again."
"Direction?"
"...Still, n-north."
"Shit!"
How far it planning?
Movement ramps pressure on Wall.
Kim Songgyeom decided.
"Full army alert, two-leg dog protocol. Contact palace—entering now."
"Yes, sir."
After Kim Songgyeom entered palace, imperial edict dropped.
All active-duty Imperial Army, including territorial forces, assemble at Beijing outpost.
War clouds over the empire.
Arrived Gurye 11 p.m., straight to Jirisan for tiger meet, then Giant Half-Moon Bear hunt.
Hunting with Divine Spirit Flying Dagger? Too easy, too fun.
Dried up the bear population.
Processing gallbladders took ages.
Now dawn.
Lunch at office...
'Home first...'
Long-overdue homecoming.
Keyed the gate lock.
"Ah! Chairman! Finally home. Heard you arrived last night—been waiting."
The groundskeeper rushed out.
"Haha, business detained me—my bad. Should've called."
"Aigoo! No apologies! Hungry? Prepare meal?"
"Nah, heading out soon."
"...Did you adopt a pet in New Seoul? Haha, cute lil' thing."
"Huh? Pet?"
"There, by your feet."
Taeju looked down.
"Meow?"
"Ah! Fuck, startled me!"
What the—?
When'd it follow?
Ordinary cat.
Striking white fur, though.
But familiar somehow.
Celestial energy too.
...Wait!
"You Ilbaek by any chance?"
"Meow!"
The shrunken spirit beast Three-Headed White Tiger.
Chosen End
ⓒ Kkucchi Kkucchi