The Red Sea (1)

“Why does no one know about us?”

The live video of the demon worshiper corrupting the Red Sea received zero attention from the world.

Even after his comrades reposted the video on WorldTube, it still drew no interest.

And that made sense...

Because a massive issue had already exploded across South Korea.

Various analysts dissected the Yeouido footage down to the bone. And with 45 million South Korean Worldnet users piling on...

The terrorist's identity was naturally revealed.

Even the government cover-up came to light.

The people learned all this thanks to the Patriot's Information Disclosure Act.

Thus, the new Transcendent's identity was exposed.

Sensational news grounded in facts poured in. All titles toed the line of the Patriot Scum Journalist Special Act without crossing it.

“Hah... To think it blows up like this in just one day.”

Not just the public was watching. Chief Prosecutor Kang Mu-jin, in his office, let out a heavy sigh.

“I hoped the demon worshiper issue would stay under wraps...”

Whether B-Class or C-Class, corruption turns them into Transcendents. Meaning the entire nation lived under terror threats all day.

A moment of deep concern all around.

Beep—beep—beep—.

An alarm blared in Kang Mu-jin's office. Followed by the report.

News of an anomaly in the red sea engulfing Goyang City. A crisis that could dwarf even the Yeouido incident.

'Enough to bury news of Transcendent Shin Si-woo?'

Kang Mu-jin pondered as he watched the government's response.

Code Red.

A national disaster was underway.

The presidential office stepped in.

“Declare martial law!!!”

Weee-ooo—wee-ooo—.

The Red Sea endlessly spawned child gates. But Hunters kept it manageable.

Until...

Shwaaaaa—.

The Red Sea surged up in central Goyang City. A wave towering so high it was visible from Seoul.

The Red Sea was rampaging, spilling its power beyond the gate.

Shwaaaaa———!!!

A wave piercing the heavens.

The correspondent's words cut off.

Kiiiiiiii—————!!!

Everyone plugged their ears against the noise spewing from the Red Sea.

Gate Break.

It was happening for real.

Amid the chaos, a Worldnet video started gaining traction.

Presumed footage from an unidentified Hunter inside the gate, it rocketed up the trending videos as the Red Sea overflowed.

A problem rippling beyond South Korea to the world.

Flash!

I returned home.

'In the end, I didn't get a word in with Iris.'

【For me, such a vast world... Ahh, countless lives!!!】

I had nothing to say to 5th Sword, Iris Luzvela, drooling over Earth.

【Ahh...!! And a sea of blood too!!!】

It might've dragged on, but thankfully, I grasped the Communication Ability usage, solving it.

Communication Ability applies only to swords I designate. Another control method.

【My liege, this one shall guard the sword's world with utmost diligence.】

For now, I left Iris in Reinhardt's hands.

'But soon enough...'

I'd need her power before long. Due to her build.

'Reinhardt was a training monster.'

He'd hole up for 10 or 30 years on command, nothing but training. A monster.

Iris was different.

'Grew strong via Sama Outer Path.'

Easy, fast, convenient growth.

In some ways, exactly what I and the baby swords needed most: 5th Sword, Iris Luzvela.

'I'll think on that later...'

I opened Worldnet to check the time.

'Another day gone.'

Time flows oddly in the Tower.

My time inside was just over an hour, but a day passed outside.

'Tower 1 hour = Outside 1 day.'

Conversely, 100 years in the Tower is 1 hour outside. Roughly. Not always exact.

Experts can't explain it.

'Basis for the Sword Emperor death rumor too.'

Sword Emperor Kim Hong-sik, trapped in the 1000-year training room, likely died in the Tower.

If a '1 million-year training room' like rumors say existed, outside time should've been a blink.

Lost in thought, I spotted something odd.

A flood of texts and messages.

And...

'Martial law?'

First in 5 years. First since North Korea's fall.

As a Hunter, I was obligated to head to the assembly point upon activation.

I quickly checked Talk.

My place was near work in Yeouido. I headed straight to the Awakener Management Agency.

Amid chaotic civilian evacuations, I pushed against the flow to the Yeouido branch.

“Whoa, you see Worldnet?”

Kang Seol-ah, waiting for me, asked with a panicked face.

“Martial law?”

“No, the other stuff.”

“Martial law hits right as I exit the Tower—think I had headspace for that?”

“Not even the news?”

“With martial law breaking, you think I checked?”

Her expression was off. I asked for details.

She dropped a bombshell.

“So my identity's fully exposed, and right then the Red Sea overflows, triggering martial law?”

“Yeah. All in one day. Wild, right?”

A bad premonition hit.

I tackled the gate when the Red Sea stirred. Back from the Tower, and now it's bursting blood everywhere.

'Is this my fault?'

The ominous feeling struck, but the truth differed.

Her explanation continued.

“While you were in the Tower...”

Demon worshipers rose, publicly corrupting a gate in a mad stunt.

“They even live-streamed—why didn't you see it sooner?”

“All eyes were on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠SSS-Class Transcendent Shin Si-woo.”

“Ah...”

“Anyway, first time a gate's forcibly burst. You're off-spec power—handle separately.”

Shocking, sure.

But I stayed ice-cold.

'Like in Raise a Sword.'

Demon worshipers there often corrupted the Abyss.

Harsh conditions, though.

'Requires human sacrifice.'

Thousands at least for a shot.

No such massacres by Earth demon worshipers yet.

【Perhaps... that sea of blood met the condition.】

Reinhardt chimed in.

The Red Sea was a sea of human blood.

'Condition fulfilled on its own?'

As that thought crystallized, a vicious-looking man appeared behind noona. Wielding a gleaming axe.

“Unofficial SSS-Class Hunter and Transcendent, Shin Si-woo. Long time.”

Chief Prosecutor Kang Mu-jin. Kang Seol-ah's father.

'Fully suited up...'

Regretting missing it from her outfit, I greeted him.

“Long time no see, sir.”

“Talk en route. Seol-ah, to the shelter.”

“Dad?”

“I'll drop this one off then follow.”

He shoved her out and led me to the Agency basement.

Rumble—.

A massive ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠iron gate rose in the Agency basement.

The Special Team Black Tortoise dimensional gate. Space-transfer Transcendent power.

“We'll move via this.”

I caught the oddity in his words.

We?

“Sir... aren't you unawakened?”

“Correct.”

Normals touching the Red Sea necrotize and die horribly.

Even with Hunter guards, suicide.

“Then... why?”

“Overheard you and Seol-ah. You really didn't check Worldnet?”

Chief Prosecutor Kang Mu-jin dropped a bomb.

“Truth is, we can't afford to worry about the Red Sea.”

“Pardon?”

“We might get branded traitors.”

Traitors out of nowhere?

“With the Patriot around, what treason?”

“Your identity's out. And that I hid you—everyone knows.”

I tilted my head.

With the Red Sea overflowing, would people care?

“Bury one issue with another. Prosecutors' favorite, no?”

“Khuh... Shin Si-woo. You're SSS-Class Transcendent. Far beyond some Red Sea.”

At SSS-Class Transcendent, they're quasi-state powers. Like the Patriot.

“You're the new god. And I hid you.”

“And... you're close to the Patriot, sir?”

It clicked.

How central politicos survived near him.

“Only being who can rival Korea's sole SSS-Class Transcendent. That's your spot.”

Some serious scheming.

“The Patriot's a good guy, though?”

“Not always. Kinda petty... Ahem. Anyway, he might see you as a thorn.”

Then I grasped the gravity.

Saying 'I can only Transcend for 4 seconds!' here would backfire. Got it.

So I listened quietly.

“Need to sway opinion. People must buy why I hid you.”

I summed it neatly.

“Show power so immense even the Patriot can't complain when he returns?”

“Exactly!”

Seems he wants a flashy show.

Sooner than expected...

Time to test 5th Sword, Iris Luzvela's power.

Screech—thud!

Crossing Black Tortoise's gate revealed a red world.

A sea surging to the sky filled vision; red waves churned everywhere.

This was a warzone.

“Second volley!!! Target monsters rising from the waves!!!”

Long-range Hunters lined up on massive tiles.

Mages, archers, or bizarre DPS forms.

Boom————!!!

Hunters on black tiles assaulting the red sea—spectacular.

'That many platforms?'

Black tiles—footholds—were the pinnacle of modern military industry: Mobile Pseudo-Gates.

'Lets all Awakeners use power.'

Save rare Transcendents, power only works inside gates.

Like when I registered, using gate Mystery creates pseudo-gates—

“Mage Corps firepower ready!!!”

These massive tile Mobile Pseudo-Gates were top-tier.

Though they guzzled Mystery...

“Gov reserves released—can hold ~7 days.”

“Patriot back by then?”

“...Can't say.”

Overheard talk—all brass types.

'Noona's dad's got pull.'

Yet clueless on severity.

I approached Chief Kang.

“That massive wave crashes soon.”

“It... crashes?”

The mother wave from the Red Sea core towered endlessly.

I felt it.

The Red Sea's blood-borne will.

Pure murderous intent.

At its peak.

“Uh?”

“I-it's crashing!!!”

No sooner said, the wave tilted.

Shwaaaaaaaa————.

Overwhelming red tsunami.

So vast it seemed slow, but closing at dozens of meters per second.

Hunters scrambled to retreat.

“Tch, stay calm.”

The unawakened brass here stared coolly.

“This... the Transcendent you hid, Prosecutor Kang?”

An unknown officer eyed me.

“Shin Si-woo, any plan? If not, retreat—”

Seol-ah's dad spoke.

But his voice faded in my ears.

'Iris calls me.'

Instinctively, I reached into empty air.

Grabbed the small, precious baby sword's hilt.

Click—.

Sword wouldn't draw.

I linked consciousness to Iris anyway.

'Might refuse after ignoring her...'

Worried inwardly.

But unfounded.

【Ahh, as expected! Master didn't ignore this girl!!!】

A bright voice with a distant moan.

【Preparing such a feast for me... Such thick, red blood! Join me for reunion dinner!!!】

Flash!

In response to her joy, I drew the sword.

My 5th sword surged, cleaving air.

A red, ornate greatsword.

Thud————.

The world stilled.

As if everything froze.

In it, I became transcendent.

The Red Sea was nothing.

So it felt.

Shhh—.

Hilt exuding red allure.

Blade of gleaming purple, reforged from blood.

And the insight flooding in.

Flash!

The 5th sword, Iris, who slew all the world.

She whispered to me.

I could slay all this world too.