141. I Will Issue a New Order.
‘Xiao Zan. A+ rank. Shaman.’
Joo Se-ah recalled Kang Moo-hyuk’s orders.
She mustn’t let on that she was S-rank. And she mustn’t kill anyone.
Because the Chinese guilds backing these guys weren’t a single unified force—they were a coalition. For Kang Moo-hyuk, who already had to worry about Sinuiju and now Makyung too, he didn’t want to give them any pretext for escalation.
He wanted any fight to wait until they’d made at least minimal preparations.
‘Tough orders. But he said it’s fine to cripple them.’
As she pondered her response level, Joo Se-ah’s body reacted.
Invisible to the eye, her skin tightened from the tissue level. Her muscles clustered densely for optimization, blood accelerated through her veins, and her bones condensed like dragon bone. Every cell realigned for one purpose: combat.
Ever since realizing she was S-rank, Joo Se-ah could peer into every change in her body.
She’d gained full insight into how her peerless physical and magical resistances worked as the undisputed top tank, letting her control them with total freedom.
“Witch. We all know your rep. They say your body’s tough as nails. I’m curious just how tough.”
Xiao Zan stretched his hands left and right.
Water Dragon
Two pillars of water erupted from the Yalu River’s blue channel.
Water streams shaped like dragons—two water dragons hurtled toward Joo Se-ah, smashing through a section of the bridge supports en route and slamming straight into her.
The water dragons didn’t stop there. They coiled around her, squeezing tight to pin her in place.
‘High-speed, high-pressure jets. Suffocation’s a bonus. How long can she last?’
Xiao Zan grinned, baring his teeth like a kid with a new toy.
Then Joo Se-ah moved from within the dragons’ embrace. Her hand went to the sword at her waist. The pressure slowed her, making every motion sluggish.
“Haha, gonna slice it with a sword? Water?”
High-Speed Slash
The first draw from the sheath.
For a split second, a water dragon seemed to tear—but it reformed instantly.
“What’re you gonna do with a basic skill even kids don’t use anymore?”
Xiao Zan sneered at Joo Se-ah’s desperate flailing.
High-Speed Slash
The water dragon shuddered under the follow-up slash.
“Tsk tsk. Use something real, Joo Se-ah. That weak shit won’t……”
High-Speed Slash x12
Splat!
Dozens of slashes cleaved the water, again and again. One water dragon couldn’t hold and vanished. The other trembled, on the verge of dispersal.
‘Impossible…. It’s just a basic sword skill. Single-target power focus, but no delay?!’
Xiao Zan gritted his teeth and thrust out his hand.
“Not bad, but this is over a river!”
A fresh water pillar surged, crushing down on Joo Se-ah. The shredded water dragons revived.
But that split-second release from the dragons’ grip was Joo Se-ah’s opening.
The brief freedom before new dragons struck—she spun into motion.
Spinning Slash
Her sword traced a 360-degree arc. A single sweep slashed all directions as she leaped skyward.
The water dragons whirled after her blade’s path, soaring upward like dragons ascending to heaven.
‘Ridiculous. Chaining single skills is wild enough, but linking from high-speed slashes into a spinning combo with a jump? Forcing skill paths like that—even hunters’ bodies can’t handle the strain……’
Suddenly, Xiao Zan recalled Joo Se-ah’s trait.
Not fully known, but confirmed: extreme resistance to all forces, hyper body reinforcement.
Now he got it. Why she was Korea’s strongest hunter. Why China, Japan, and neighbors feared her. Why Western powers watched closely.
‘Not just a tough tank.’
A hunter who transcended basic skill activation laws.
Simple in theory, near-impossible in practice—embodying unknown potential.
“That all you got?”
The sword-spawned whirlwind sent the water dragons ascending. Scattered droplets sparkled in the sun, a rainbow flickering behind her.
Joo Se-ah closed in on him.
“Wind ain’t your exclusive toy!”
Xiao Zan barked hysterically, drawing his waist weapon. A metal baton-like rod topped with an amber gem from the Baltic Sea gate. Inside the yellow crystal: a tiny skull—not mere decor.
A shamanic symbol from specially processed black fairy monster skull, the magic-wielding pest.
“Nice toy.”
Joo Se-ah clocked it and prepped: maxed all elemental resistances.
Spotting her guard-up, Xiao Zan yelled.
“Who you calling dumb?!”
He knew her “magic killer” moniker well.
Shamanism was broad magic. Direct hits would fizzle.
So, tactical superiority over offense.
Wind Dragon
Whirling winds shoved Joo Se-ah back.
The mini-storm hit; she planted her feet in the bridge concrete to hold.
Unmoved, Xiao Zan slammed his staff’s tip down. Ripples spread, shaking the bridge. Waves hit her spot—the deck buckled, ripping out her concrete anchor.
Wind dragon seized the moment, blasting her across the Yalu River Bridge to the riverbank.
Landing on the golden sandbar, Joo Se-ah eyed Xiao Zan from afar with a nod of “not bad.”
“Go! Kids!”
His shout sent the assault team charging max speed over the bridge.
Joo Se-ah waited till they settled. He mocked her leisure.
“Overconfident much? Nice of you to wait.”
“You crossed the border. Illegal entry. Wreck shit in our country, even China won’t back you.”
“So you backed off on purpose? For that lame excuse? Whatever. No witnesses, no problem.”
“Up to now was our boss’s plan. From here, it’s my turn.”
“Your turn?”
“They say your best shaman skill’s Earth Shamanism? Gave you land to stand on—show me what you got. Otherwise, you’ll just whine about losing to me on water.”
“Hmph! Tank-and-spank your specialty, right?”
Mana gathered at Xiao Zan’s staff. Joo Se-ah focused hers too.
‘Giving a shaman time’s idiotic.’
Pre-rank-up, she might’ve hesitated against a shaman with full assault backup.
No matchup more annoying than a geared shaman.
But.
‘Perfect sparring dummy to test rank-up tweaks.’
Armor of the Earth
Sand crawled up dozens of hunters’ legs with his chant. It encased their bodies, hardening into glossy armor—unthinkable for sand.
“Not bad. But beating me with sandcastles?”
“Not done.”
Red Sand Horses
Sand piled into dozens of warhorses.
“Complete. Cavalry ready.”
Armored hunters mounted. Their aura shifted—several times stronger united.
“Oho! Combo skill.”
Advanced tech merging two skills for boost.
Joo Se-ah saw why he shone in Makyung.
‘Shamans are tricky. They design skills to their vision on acquisition. Wish Korea had one.’
Full-buffed, they were a mounted legion of destruction. Yet Joo Se-ah felt only regret facing them.
Sensing zero tension, Xiao Zan ground his teeth.
“Wonder how long that smug lasts.”
“Wonder when you’ll realize you’re small fry.”
“Grah! Charge!”
His roar launched the cavalry thunder.
Jang Jung-shin repelled the Gaeryeo Alliance hunters and headed to a secret spot known only to key execs.
He walked without hiding his irritation. His stomps echoed thunderously in the underground passage.
Won Ha-o, trailing, cautiously probed his boss’s mood.
“Releasing the real ones? Dandong’s assault team’s still out there. Merge with Xiao Zan, and our force multiplies. Even Slayer can’t handle that with their numbers.”
“Don’t count on Xiao Zan.”
“Sir?”
“Too self-serving. Plays big shot but bails at crunch time. Temper flares narrow his vision. Stronger than me, but the bosses don’t trust him for reason.”
“Still, he and his team are powerhouse. Especially large-scale battles.”
Jang burst into booming laughter echoing through the passage—cathartic yet hollow.
“Kang Moo-hyuk. He knew about Dandong. Think he left it undefended?”
“No way. Even with his depths, no spare attention for Dandong.”
“Hope it’s just paranoia…. Hate admitting from the loser’s side, but feels like we danced in his palm. Maybe scheming since Sinuiju. Should’ve killed him then.”
Won felt the same unease.
Winning fight, obvious. Yet retreat. Victory in battle, defeat in war. Worst kind.
Why?
Slayer’s intervention?
‘No. Could’ve ended before.’
That woman hunter blasting allies outside village?
‘Impressive, but paper-thin timing. Not game-changer.’
Real cause: prison village hunters united.
And sniffing their scheme.
‘All orchestrated by Kang Moo-hyuk. Yeah, him.’
Powerless civilian wrecked hundreds of hunters, top Chinese guilds’ plans, Sinuiju war.
Realization turned Won’s dread concrete.
“Then, message Xiao Zan for……”
“Leave him. Let him learn. Distraction’s enough.”
Jang paused. They’d arrived.
Vast underground cavern. Shadows writhed below. Irritating cries ricocheted off walls.
He raised his voice.
“Sinuiju takeover failed. Hope stalemate, but Slayer means no. Gotta deliver upper’s minimum result, right?”
“Grew fond of this city. Didn’t wanna use this.”
“Don’t waste pity. While Xiao distracts, we finish ours.”
Won swallowed dryly at Jang’s words.
High-reward, high-risk op. Last resort.
‘If other countries learn…. Exposed, international backlash. Worst case……’
But their whole plan ignored eyes. This was tame.
“Tell tamers: target prison village. Destroy, then release control. Final order, return mainland. Erase all evidence.”
“Yes.”
Won left to execute.
Jang muttered at his feet.
“What we can’t have, better destroy. Sinuiju’s just a tool.”
Kang Moo-hyuk dispatched Mr. Jo and all able-bodied swift hunters into Sinuiju proper.
“They fully dropped the encirclement?”
“Retreating to Yalu side, they say. No clue why. Giving up Sinuiju?”
No Song-rin, compiling incoming messages, tilted his head puzzled.
Beside him, Seong Seon-je’s eyes gleamed suspiciously.
“Even with our meddle, too easy a yield. Doesn’t sit right abandoning a hard-prepped plan without a real clash. Even with Dandong’s team.”
“Like Team Leader Seong says, Jang Jung-shin ain’t that soft. Long-time Sinuiju manager, biding time. Retreating means bad look for him too.”
Seong nodded agreement.
“Yeah, Chinese top guilds ain’t forgiving to failures.”
“So, what’s their next play? Think they’re really pulling out?”
“Dunno. Per your intel, Leader Kang, Sinuiju’s a bridgehead. Perfect to stir Korean hunter chaos, exploit gaps. Better fight here than retreat-reinvade.”
“Then one option……”
“Yeah, only that.”
Kang and Seong frowned in sync; No grumbled clueless.
“Hey, don’t hog it. What’re you on about? One option?”
Kang turned to No.
“If I were Jang, I’d raze Sinuiju. Method unknown.”
“Wipe a city?”
“Forward base from Peninsula view, defensive from theirs. Invaders prefer destroy.”
Seong added; No got it.
“Makes sense. Smash the door, easy re-entry.”
“Yep. Rebuild’s simple. Resources aplenty.”
No’s new message cut Kang short.
“Leader, Mr. Jo says……”
“……”
“Massive monster horde incoming. From all sides…. Here.”
No panicked; Kang stayed cool.
Seong grinned, turning.
“Thought we’d snag this easy without sweat. Guess no rest for us.”
“Command? Your call?”
“Monster hunt? Expedition here suffices.”
“But low hunter count. Priority: people safe. Many wounded hunters, village elders/kids. Too wide for expedition alone.”
“Not dumb enough to squabble command in crisis. Don’t know terrain. You issue orders, Leader Kang? I’ll follow no bitch.”
“Swift decision, thanks.”
Kang bowed genuine thanks, then said,
“Then, I will issue a new order.”