Chapter 68. Prepare the Seal.
Countless orcs stood in orderly ranks beneath the Gate. They didn't look like monsters that knew nothing of discipline.
The lines weren't perfectly straight, but they gave off a remarkably organized impression.
It was like an army.
Scattered around them were totems crafted from all sorts of materials, as one might expect from orcs.
They were made by dismantling monster corpses beyond recognition and weaving them with wildflowers and twigs—impossible to identify at a glance.
What a sense of style. Only orcs could pull this off.
Joo Se-ah wrinkled her nose. The stench of rotting totems wafted from every direction.
She knew that the more totems made from corpses, the more warlike the orc tribe. She suspected those bastards were behind the monsters in Cheorwon being wiped out.
But totems weren't the real issue.
They're coming and going through the Gate freely. They've built a village right in front of it. This isn't just an outbreaking. They're turning the Gate into a base and building up power.
Joo Se-ah crouched low and hid in the underbrush. She crept as close to the Gate as possible without making a sound. She needed a closer look.
She wasn't a specialized ranger, but she'd handled similar missions plenty of times and approached with practiced skill. No matter how evolved the orcs were, they wouldn't spot her movements.
Besides, with so many orcs gathered, the area was noisy enough that a little sound wouldn't give her away.
No Gatekeeper. Has it been open so long it's moved on? Or did the orcs clash with it and take it out?
Either was possible. Monsters from the same Gate didn't always get along. Even same-species tribes could be hostile.
This time, she focused on the orcs.
Spears, swords, armor, shields. The quality's crap, but they're well-equipped. They've developed blacksmithing skills to that level? Cheorwon doesn't have any notable iron mines, though. Don't tell me there's a mine inside the Gate?
If their weapons were forged from minerals mined inside the Gate, they'd be incredibly durable regardless of their blacksmithing prowess.
Gate-sourced minerals, infused with mana, boasted hardness superior to any metal on Earth.
That was why some deliberately triggered Gates to claim mines permanently.
In the Great War era, Gates were seen as unmitigated disasters to be closed at all costs. But now, with guilds corporatized, nations sometimes stepped in to claim strategic assets like mines or herb fields discovered inside.
And if an evolved orc mega-tribe was exploiting one?
That's... a war-level mission. How the hell have they kept this open Gate hidden this long?
She couldn't scout inside, but the external setup alone showed this wasn't some minor tribe—it was practically an orc kingdom.
A war-level mission was beyond one or two strong hunters. Even decent guilds would struggle.
War required supply lines and rest even mid-battle.
Hunters were called superhumans, but they were still humans who transcended human limits.
Humans got tired eventually.
Even S-rank hunters. Mana and stamina weren't infinite. They could fight far longer than others, but limits existed.
As Joo Se-ah observed the orcs, her thoughts drifted to the ones that had infiltrated Nampocheon.
Then it hit her what this gathered orc host was up to.
They're heading down to Pocheon!
War.
These bastards were preparing for real war.
The ones that reached Nampocheon were just scouts.
I need to contact the guild fast.
Joo Se-ah remembered the C Warehouse gear included in the recent search kits.
The satellite phone Do Kyung-hoon had used to contact Titan Guild was in her backpack.
She slipped away from the Gate and pulled it out.
Static—static—
"What the hell? It's busted... Oh, right! Mana density!"
She recalled Equipment Team Leader An Ji-il's warning when she received the search kit.
"This satellite phone works in mana-interference zones for long-range comms. But in super-dense mana areas like an open Gate, it might cut out. North Pocheon should connect fine, though."
Kang Moo-hyuk had tried improving it at Titan, but the guild scrapped the project, leaving it unfinished.
Need to get farther from the Gate.
Keeping watch ahead, she backed away carefully—then sensed footsteps approaching her position.
"Qua! Qua! Qua!"
Rough orc breathing was right upon her. She ducked into cover.
She could've taken on a hundred orcs without flinching, but she wasn't reckless enough to fight blindly in front of an open Gate with zero intel.
Besides, getting spotted would tip them off. To exploit tactics against a massive monster army, they had to believe Iron Will was unaware of their force.
Need their complacency. Can't get caught now if I want to hit their weak spots.
Good plan to sneak out, bad spot to hide.
The familiar sensation from prior Cheorwon trips hit her sole.
Landmine!
Joo Se-ah reacted with superhuman speed.
As it detonated, she wrapped her feet in a spherical mana barrier, hardened tight.
Flames and blast raged wildly inside.
Light escaped, but the barrier sealed heat and sound completely.
Gritting her teeth, she cupped the explosion between her hands, compressing it.
"Nngh...!"
Containing the full blast—not just blocking—demanded expert mana control. Far tougher than smashing, exploding, or shielding.
She crushed it with full power, tightening the barrier.
Sweat poured before it finally subsided.
But by then, two nearby orcs had spotted her.
"!!"
As they reached for weapons on their backs and yelled for comrades, Joo Se-ah charged.
She closed the gap in a blink, like flying, wedged between them, and seized both throats.
To leave no blood or fluids, she strangled them bare-handed.
They gurgled, foamed, necks snapped—done.
Hoisting the limp corpses, she expanded her senses. A few orcs still patrolled nearby.
Clutching them, she leaped into a tree. Moments later, another orc pack passed below.
Once clear, she dropped down, hid the bodies in a nearby ruin, and sought an escape gap.
She evaded their eyes, exited via the reservoir, and sprinted back to comms range.
Wind-like speed, yet it felt agonizingly slow.
Joo Se-ah grew anxious.
Guild's not ready for a war raid. These guys are coming now. Hurry—need countermeasures.
* * *
Kang Moo-hyuk swiftly dismantled the command post once the op wrapped.
Media hounds were circling post-mission. A leaked unofficial word could spawn twisted headlines.
Iron Will, freshly born, was immature inside and out. He had to shield members from draining squabbles.
Even top guilds can't fully control this. Hunters are wildcards. Media stirs rumors, erodes discipline.
Iron Will drew outsized attention for its level.
Many enemies, star hunter Joo Se-ah—gossip sold well.
Tabloids even spun rumors of him and her. Better to give no opening.
"Couldn't block it all. Not that I tried."
World didn't always bend to will.
Pyo Beom-hee tsked at Kang Moo-hyuk, just back at HQ, face sour.
"Look at these headlines. Blatant. Councilors' doing? All local rags like Pocheon Times, Voice of Pocheon. Net media reposting."
Former management, now comms team head— she'd traced sources already.
No response planned. Intentions obvious.
"They'll frenzy harder if we bite. Some'll fabricate crimes. We'll stay mum till heat dies, then official statement."
"They wanna harass me? Lucky only hotline works."
"Yeah. Backwater perks. Phones should've blown up. Reporters need contacts to pester. Even if they got 'em, no signal. Won't risk monster-infested North Pocheon."
Realizing afresh, Pyo Beom-hee giggled nonstop, trailing him to his office with chit-chat.
"So that's why you rushed back? Dodging press. City hall's probably getting hammered. Kinda sorry."
"Not the press."
"Then?"
"One orc escaped alive. Bad feeling. Need precautions."
"Dramatic. One orc?"
"Evolved one. Takes big tribe, long time. Orcs famous for reckless charges—fled using minions as bait? Means something."
"Don't explain so straight-faced, Leader. Spells trouble when you do."
"Call Equipment and Support Team Leaders to conference room. No Song-rin and Lee Jin-joo too. You join, Team Leader Pyo."
"Your face says it's big. Those four enough?"
Kang Moo-hyuk paused mid-stride.
"Add Baek Hyeong-gyu and Na Dong-pa."
Pyo Beom-hee's eyes widened. Unexpected names.
Baek Hyeong-gyu and Na Dong-pa epitomized neutral hunters—barely there during old Taeseong power struggles.
Skills top-tier for Taeseong, but low profile: took jobs, no politics.
Kang Moo-hyuk left them be through Taeseong rename, North Pocheon raid, Do Kyung-hoon's poaching.
Not dead weight—cooperated quietly on assignments.
Arm's-length ties. Calling neutrals now?
Guild-wide mobilization incoming?
He'd called them prime assets to integrate someday—endorsing skill.
Summoning meant it warranted.
Pyo Beom-hee tensed.
"Fight? More left?"
Shadow crossed his calm face.
"Probably. Hope it's nothing."
Desk phone rang.
"Internal lines back?"
"During orc beatdown. Just main building and gear room. Others pending."
He picked up the unfamiliar receiver awkwardly.
"Yes, Kang Moo-hyuk. Ah? Team Leader An. Was about to call for meeting... Guild Master on satellite? ...And?"
He listened long, then one word before hanging.
"Team Leader An, prepare the C Warehouse seal."