Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Global Chaos
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It was, quite literally, chaos.
Over 200 monsters had suddenly invaded major cities across the globe.
Faced with the terrifying might of the monsters, which destroyed everything in their path, civilians didn't even have time to evacuate properly.
Shouts echoed from those who got tangled up and fell, followed by even more horrific screams.
Moreover, these weren't just any boss monsters.
They were creatures enhanced by magic, their reason destroyed, leaving only instinct.
Casualties mounted rapidly.
Every government declared a state of emergency and responded, but the locations where the boss monsters appeared were cunningly chosen.
They had deliberately avoided areas with the strongest response forces.
With at least an hour's distance to cover, civilians were left helpless in the meantime.
Developed nations managed to buy time by mobilizing their well-established systems and even their militaries, but it was questionable whether less-developed countries could handle the monsters at all.
Still, there was hope.
—The help of the Royal Club is desperately needed.
The multinational guilds under the Royal Club, spread across the world, were the only hope for weaker nations.
The problem was the sheer number.
With monsters appearing in 120 countries, it was impossible to cover every region.
The multinational guilds ultimately had to make a choice.
* * *
At the same time.
Wang-sik and Sa Seon-gi moved to the Egypt Gate.
—We move out separately.
This was the decision made at Mad Castle.
Min Ha-na and Gong Yeong-ji went to handle Busan, and their next destination would be decided after they finished there.
“Welcome.”
Since all the gates were constructed under the guise of Guseong Exchange research labs, an exchange employee was waiting for them when they came out.
“What's the situation in Egypt?”
“The damage is extensive, but a response is possible.”
“We'll head to the areas where reinforcements can't reach first.”
“The Dongola region in Sudan is the closest. Egypt has decided to support Libya and Algeria, leaving Sudan vulnerable.”
Sudan is south of Egypt.
Egypt couldn't support every country, so they chose to prioritize the nations to their west. Since all of them, excluding Egypt, were weaker nations, Mad Castle had designated this area for support.
“What about the Royal Club?”
“They're delaying their deployment, citing the high risk of the monsters and a lack of support troops.”
Just as expected, a problem arose.
The multinational guilds had always fought only battles they were sure to win.
Now that they were in a situation that required them to risk their lives, they were starting to hold back.
“Have we been cleared for entry?”
“We're in contact with them now.”
“We're heading out now.”
Wang-sik and Sa Seon-gi immediately boarded the helicopter.
When they arrived, the city center of Dongola, Sudan, was a vision of hell.
The A-rank boss monster, Hell Tiger.
Amid the chaotic tangle of cars on the road, torn bodies were strewn everywhere.
“Damn it.”
Looking down from the helicopter, Wang-sik gritted his teeth.
‘Cowardly bastards.’
There was definitely a detachment of a multinational guild in Sudan's capital.
Even for an A-rank boss monster, a combined force of A-rank and B-rank Awakeners should be enough to handle it.
However, they would have to accept heavy losses.
But they had abandoned it.
They were probably delaying deployment, making all sorts of excuses.
“There it is.”
Sa Seon-gi spotted the Hell Tiger.
“Someone's fighting it. Five of them.”
At least there were people tying down the Hell Tiger.
Wang-sik and Sa Seon-gi immediately leaped from the helicopter, using their chains to move toward their target.
Kuaaaang!
The moment the Hell Tiger's roar echoed in his ears, Wang-sik descended with his shield raised.
Boom!
As the Hell Tiger sensed danger and retreated, Wang-sik got a clear view of his surroundings.
Grit!
Seeing the scene, Wang-sik clenched his jaw.
Over a hundred bodies.
Every one of them was holding a weapon.
Just by the grade of their weapons, he could tell who they were.
D-rank at best.
There were even some F-ranks mixed in—those who wouldn't even meet the standards for combat personnel in Korea.
‘Did they step forward knowing they would die?’
He didn't know what it was for, but there must have been a cause greater than death.
“Stand back. I'll take it from here.”
“We will defend this land.”
Wang-sik now saw the man standing on his own two feet, his body battered and bruised.
A man with dark skin and not even a proper set of armor.
Was he in his late teens? He was a gaunt figure, just shedding the last of his boyish features.
Those protecting him were no different.
“Fall back. Your lives are too precious to waste.”
With those words, Wang-sik charged at the Hell Tiger.
Clang!
As he blocked the Hell Tiger's foreleg with his shield, gasps came from behind. Wang-sik hadn't been pushed back; instead, he had bound its leg with his chain.
That single move was enough for them to realize he was on a completely different level.
“Ma-Mad Castle!”
Someone recognized Wang-sik and shouted.
“Ah.”
Finally noticing the Mad Castle emblem engraved on his armor, their expressions filled with emotion.
Then, a black shadow rose from behind the Hell Tiger's neck.
It was Sa Seon-gi.
He instantly shredded the Hell Tiger's neck and moved under its belly as it reared up in pain.
Thwack!
As a long awl pierced the Hell Tiger's body, Wang-sik extended his chains and bound all four of its legs.
Thud!
While Wang-sik and the Hell Tiger were locked in a struggle of strength, Sa Seon-gi began to sever its vital points one by one.
Gradually losing strength, the Hell Tiger let out a final roar, mustering its remaining power, but when Wang-sik released his chains and raised his shield, even that attack was nullified.
And then, Sa Seon-gi's awl completely pierced the Hell Tiger's neck.
Guhh.
Letting out a choked groan, the Hell Tiger could no longer hold on and collapsed, its movements slowly ceasing.
Even so, Sa Seon-gi didn't stop attacking until the Hell Tiger was completely dead.
Only when its faint breathing had completely stopped did Sa Seon-gi finally retrieve his weapon.
The Hell Tiger, which had killed over 3,000 people in this city alone, was dealt with by just the two of them in five minutes.
The five Sudanese warriors who had witnessed their fight could only stare blankly at the scene.
Wang-sik offered them the highest-grade potions from his inventory.
“You saved this country.”
Without them, there could have been over 10,000 casualties. Such things were probably happening in other weaker nations.
“Thank you. We will never forget this kindness.”
“We're moving to the next area, so just focus on healing.”
Wang-sik shot a chain toward the descending helicopter, grabbed Sa Seon-gi's hand, and soared into the sky.
The Sudanese warriors shouted their thanks after them until their throats were raw.
After Sudan, while on his way to Ethiopia, Wang-sik received an urgent report.
—Where are you now?
It was Kang Il-seop.
“Near the Sudan-Ethiopia border.”
—An urgent request for support came in from the United States.
“From the US?”
The United States was the country with the most well-established system.
Given the nature of this gate invasion, high casualties were possible, but a request for support was strange.
It made sense, as countries affiliated with the Royal Club were top-priority defense targets.
—A Blood Basilisk has appeared in New York.
The S-rank boss monster, the Blood Basilisk.
The most powerful creature from this gate invasion had appeared late.
—It seems they lured forces to LA to create an opening to strike New York.
An S-rank boss monster had descended upon the heart of the American economy.
He didn't need to see the news to guess that tens of thousands of casualties had already occurred.
“It's too late to return now.”
—Understood. Min Ha-na and Gong Yeong-ji will be dispatched first.
The Giam Island base and New York are connected by a gate, so they can get there immediately.
“What are you going to do?”
Sa Seon-gi asked.
“We can't abandon this place too. We stick to the plan.”
Wang-sik decided to trust Min Ha-na and Gong Yeong-ji.
* * *
Downtown New York.
The Blood Basilisk was summoned in the basement of a 20-story building.
As it emerged, the 20-story building collapsed like a tower of matchsticks, and the monster annihilated its surroundings by spewing a noxious, poisonous mist.
Over 3,000 people died from that appearance alone.
But compared to what would follow, this number was nothing.
The colossal lizard, moving while spewing a red poisonous mist, was a literal disaster.
The skin of anyone who touched the mist melted instantly, and those who inhaled it died on the spot.
Due to the deadly mist, the death toll surpassed 10,000 in less than five minutes, and the rate was increasing exponentially.
Thump!
There was nothing that could stop the giant lizard, which stood as tall as a seven-story building even when crouching.
Kuaaaaah!
Left with only the instinct for destruction, the creature shrieked, excited by its newfound freedom, and with each cry, the poisonous mist spread even faster.
Furthermore, a red liquid spewed from the basilisk's mouth, creating a pungent smoke and oxidizing everything it touched.
Crash! Crash!
Buildings crumbled under the sweep of its long tail, and the sound excited the basilisk even more, causing it to chase after the screams.
It was utter pandemonium.
In just thirty minutes, the number of casualties exceeded 30,000.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Combat helicopters were dispatched, firing missiles and miniguns, which made the basilisk flinch for a moment. But even the missiles only managed to tear its thick hide slightly, failing to inflict any critical damage.
Instead, the basilisk raised its head and spat the red liquid into the air.
The acid breath engulfed a helicopter, which soon crashed with a loud explosion.
Since the battle was taking place in the city center, the use of heavy firepower was limited, making it impossible to stop it even with helicopters.
Defense forces were arriving, but there was nothing they could do.
“What in the world are we supposed to do about this?”
The hunters from the New York Hunter Management Bureau were the first to arrive, but there was nothing they could do.
“Team Leader Morris, please give us your orders.”
All eyes naturally turned to the Hunter Management Bureau's team leader.
“For now, we fall back and hold out until Lord Decan arrives. Our primary objective is to buy time for the civilians to evacuate.”
Morris chose the most rational option available. However, it was unlikely to be enough to stop this disaster.
‘So LA was a decoy.’
Half of the hunters near New York had moved to LA.
Even with half the forces remaining, it was impossible to deal with an S-rank boss monster.
“What about Lord Decan?”
Decan, America's S-rank hunter, had not participated in the LA expedition. That's why all the hunters were waiting for him to join.
They believed he would arrive soon, as it was less than a thirty-minute helicopter ride from his mansion.
Just then, an urgent message came through Morris's earpiece.
—Hunter Decan is unable to participate. Focus on buying time until the elite team arrives.
“What? Why can't he come?”
Morris asked back without thinking.
—He's injured. It's said to be serious.
“Damn it! Why is he always injured whenever a dangerous monster appears!”
The person on the other end of the radio remained silent after hearing Morris's words.
It was no secret that Decan had also made excuses to avoid participating in the Las Vegas invasion and had been protected by his personal guard in S-rank dungeons.
The cowardly S-rank hunter.
It was a moment that brought that nickname to mind once again.
“Everyone, retreat….”
Just as Morris was about to pull the front line back even further.
Woooong!
A red energy began to gather in the sky. It soon transformed into a giant spear of flame.
Seeing this, all the hunters thought of one name.
Min Ha-na.
The spear of flame descended toward the basilisk.