197. This Wasn't the Plan
Do Dae-cheol wandered through the "Graveyard" following the guide.
They encountered monsters frequently during the search, fighting no fewer than six times while advancing just 500 meters.
"These bastards ain't weaklings, but why the hell are the strong ones popping up so damn often?"
The attacking monsters were mostly powerful ones like three-tailed scorpions, spoonbill birds, and armored monkeys—creatures typically seen only at the entrance of high-rank gates.
Fortunately, Do Dae-cheol and his subordinates were expedition forces from a major guild. They'd come prepared for the hunt, so they weren't about to get taken down easily.
That didn't make the Graveyard a comfortable stroll, though.
"No wonder hunters hate this place. Can't even set up camp 'cause you're always on the move. Way trickier than a regular gate."
One of his subordinates grumbled. Do Dae-cheol didn't say it aloud, but he agreed.
No base to fall back on, so we tire out fast and recovery's slow. Constant tension racks up fatigue. Makes sense why they call it the Graveyard, ya see.
The hunters grew wearier as they pressed on, and at some point, the encounters thinned out—but the monsters that did appear were even stronger.
The fights became fewer, but the difficulty spiked. They almost missed the early Graveyard, where monsters hit every 100 meters.
Still, they pushed through the grueling battles without retreating. They lost a few comrades, but didn't waver.
Even hunters had limits, though. Eventually, they were so exhausted they couldn't tell who was alive and who was dead.
If they fought much longer, Do Dae-cheol included, they might all end up laying their necks on the line here.
Everyone regretted coming. They feared they'd die pointless deaths without achieving their grand scheme.
Of course, the one regretting it most was the guide.
Got blinded by that treasured sword...
He'd taken the job for a magic-grade sword that money couldn't buy. Now he might die before even swinging it.
He was protected while guiding, but once they didn't need him for directions anymore, he doubted they'd keep him safe like before.
"Guide. This really the spot?"
"Just over that ridge."
"Good. But why didn't ya say there'd be monsters this tough?"
"You think I knew it'd be like this? It wasn't this bad before, I swear. If it was, I'd be dead already. Somethin's changed."
Do Dae-cheol didn't think the guide was lying. No one would lead themselves to their own grave.
So, like the guide said, something had changed recently. And he had a hunch what.
The Gatekeeper of the Demonic Gate. Don't know who it is, but that bastard settlin' in here's gotta be it, ya see.
After a few more battles, the group finally crested the ridge.
Once over it, the monsters stopped charging like magic. They sensed the end of their journey was near.
The guide moved to an open area to confirm the terrain, leaving the dense forest behind.
"We're here. This is the site of the final showdown."
In the middle of the thickly wooded forest yawned massive open holes.
Sinkholes ranging from dozens to hundreds of meters across dotted the area.
"This is... the place where they took down the Nine Dragons...?"
Before them lay the site of the legendary "Nine Dragons Mausoleum Raid"—one of the handful always mentioned in histories of the monster wars.
Do Dae-cheol gestured toward the rear.
"Kim Bok-rye!"
"Yes."
The woman called Kim Bok-rye scurried over and stood beside Do Dae-cheol.
"You sense it?"
"Yes. Feels like it's at the far end, the biggest hole."
"Big fella, huh. Think you can handle it?"
"My power ain't hostile. It's about gettin' close and friendly, so even the Demonic Gate's boss should work."
"Good. Ya got us here somehow. Get ready."
Do Dae-cheol's group moved to the hole Kim Bok-rye indicated.
The sinkhole was over 300 meters across, easy. Its depth was so profound the bottom was invisible. A hunter with detection skills tried measuring, but an unidentified aura blocked it, canceling the skill.
"Bok-rye. It reach?"
"Not connected yet."
"No choice then, ya see. Gotta go down. Minimal crew. Rest of ya hold defensive formation up top. First squad, with me."
Do Dae-cheol led Kim Bok-rye and five first squad members down into the sinkhole.
Two hours in, using special climbing gear—"rock wall spikes"—driven into the walls, the surface light vanished.
Devoured by darkness, even the hunter with night vision couldn't see his own hands or feet. Comrades' breaths sounded fragmented amid the cavern winds.
Do Dae-cheol's encouragements had stopped sometime ago. Everyone sensed it. Something was here.
The chilling wind down their spines suddenly halted. The sinkhole grew hot. Hunters soaked through with sweat—more than from the descent itself.
Sweatin' this much?
Do Dae-cheol caught the bad vibe. No mere heat could make hunters feel this way.
"Bok-rye. It's close!"
The hunters whipped around.
In the empty void floated two gleaming orbs.
Vertical slits in yellow irises swayed side to side.
A massive monster's eyes.
"!!"
Red light gathered beneath the eyes. Below it, part of the beast emerged—scales-covered flesh, light seeping from within. Heat poured out too.
"Hold tight!"
With Do Dae-cheol's shout, flames erupted toward the surface. Destructive heat melted the walls. The exit hole widened massively.
The roar echoed, shaking everything. Hunters screamed, clinging to the walls. The beast stretched, crumbling part of the wall—a hunter there plummeted.
The monster shut its maw after spewing fire. Do Dae-cheol looked up. Dim outer light now filtered in—the hole had grown.
Walls sizzled with residual heat. Molten rock dripped like liquid.
"Boss... the guys up top..."
"Don't say it. Focus on Rimmu."
He spoke firmly, but even Do Dae-cheol's resolve wavered.
How could it not?
A dragon... why the hell here?
The Jilin Gate boss was a dragon—the Western kind they called a drake.
The only difference: not Western-styled, but an Eastern dragon.
And its majesty was beyond a mere gate boss—terrifying.
Before shaking off the shock, the dragon gathered heat for another blast.
Do Dae-cheol yelled.
"Kim Bok-rye! Hurry!"
"I-I'm tryin'!"
He knew she was already using her power. Blood streamed from her nose. Tears turned to blood, streaks down her mouth.
Opponent's a dragon—ain't easy, ya see.
Next instant, Kim Bok-rye vomited blood like a fountain. Her limbs went limp. As she fell, Do Dae-cheol lunged, grabbing her. Holding her, he drove a spike into the wall.
The softened wall from prior heat gave way. Falling, stabbing repeatedly, Do Dae-cheol ditched the spikes, channeling mana into his arm and gouging deep. His arm jolted, shoulder screaming, but he survived the drop.
"Boss! You okay?!"
The first squad leader called from above. But Do Dae-cheol couldn't reply. Below stretched the dragon's long body.
Four small limbs protruded from what seemed its chest. "Small" relative to its bulk—each building-sized.
Soon, Do Dae-cheol spotted something in its claws. A bizarre skull.
Seeing it, he understood why the gate boss was here.
"Dragon bone..."
The gate boss had come for the Nine Dragons' unrecovered remains.
Young dragons inherit power by devouring elder kin.
Why dragons were invincible.
The Yellow Dragons fucked up, ya see. This one's evolved here on the old dragon's scraps. Can't handle this.
As Do Dae-cheol stiffened in despair, Kim Bok-rye stirred.
"B-Boss..."
"You're up?"
"R-Run..."
"What ya sayin'?"
"Failed..."
"Rimmu failed?"
"Halfway..."
"What the...?"
The dragon moved. It ascended the sinkhole.
Its thrashing sent first squad hunters tumbling. The leader was crushed against its body, a bloody mess brushing past Do Dae-cheol into the dark. Too late to grab—the dead man vanished.
"Th-the dragon... it's flyin'... moved, but... can't control..."
"Bok-rye! Snap out of it! Speak clear!"
"Ahh, the dragon's goin'... hehe... gonna burn everything."
In her final moments, staring at the dragon's tail, Kim Bok-rye spat blood and died.
The empath couldn't withstand the backlash of failing to tame an overwhelming being.
Finally alone, Do Dae-cheol muttered blankly.
"This wasn't the plan. Didn't know it'd be a monster like that. What the hell have I... done?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Kang Moo-hyuk looked down at the two hunters lying in beds at Chongjin City General Hospital.
They were expedition hunters from the Yellow Dragon Guild, rescued from Jilin.
Seong Seon-je, who'd brought them, asked.
"Kamenisky's doing?"
"Probably the Tyrant."
"Tyrant?"
"Yes."
They'd survived due to Kang Moo-hyuk's orders. He'd told Joo Se-ah and Igor no need to pursue and wipe out everyone except Sim Wol. Better to let some live and send them back, he'd said.
Tried to snag some of those survivors for the joint assault force...
Igor's moniker wasn't for show. True to the Tyrant's infamy, he'd nearly wiped them all—no witnesses.
That would've delayed Yellow Dragon learning of the Jilin Gate op's failure. A wrench in Kang Moo-hyuk's plans.
At least saved two. Lucky.
Maybe Igor's whim spared them. Or haste to catch Sim Wol left them behind.
Either fit Igor.
"How'd you know it was the Tyrant, Director Kang?"
"Had a rapport. Dealt with his brother Darden."
Kang Moo-hyuk brushed off Seong Seon-je's suspicion lightly. His orders, but not a false excuse.
He'd planned the op, Darden agreed.
Even temporary command over the Tyrant in Makyung secured. Thanks to C Warehouse's satellite phones.
Comms worked in Makyung, so Darden had to comply despite displeasure.
"So, what're you planning with these two?"
"Yellow Dragon abandoned them. Look at 'em—not Han Chinese."
"Non-Han expedition... Yellow Dragon's Uyghur unit."
"Right. Officially Third Expedition Team. Unofficially, the 'Hunter Squad'—minority hunters. Yellow Dragon fed them to the S-rank. As good as a death sentence."
Seong Seon-je caught on.
"Don't tell me securing witnesses means flipping them?"
"Great War. Little Wars too. Big crises, China snatched loads of Korean hunters, right? No law says we can't snag theirs."
