Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Humanity Reduction Scenario (3)
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The white smoke rising around the Yellowstone caldera began to settle slowly.
The ground tremors originating from underground subsided. The fuse of this planet's largest bomb had not been triggered by Mimir's magic.
Mimir let out a sigh of relief. The catastrophes that could have arisen from the volcano's eruption would no longer occur.
But Mimir's task wasn't fully complete. Down on the surface, Yubyeol-ha and the monstrosities were still locked in fierce combat.
The monstrosities had received reinforcements. Sensing the anomaly, more of them were converging on Yellowstone at high speed to eliminate the obstacles in their scenario.
"Argh, no end in sight..."
They had somehow prevented the Yellowstone eruption, but if the monstrosities retook this place, it would all be for nothing.
Mimir raised her staff high. Her throat was parched. Her head throbbed, and fever coursed through her body, leaving her drenched in sweat.
The clammy feel of her robe was utterly repulsive, but she had no time for a shower or rest.
"V-Very well, I'll help too!"
Mimir swiftly joined the raging battlefield.
"Don't worry about this place!"
"I-It just wrapped up completely!"
"Already!? That's quick!"
They quickly sized up the situation and unleashed their abilities.
Mimir's magic twisted the monstrosities, while Yubyeol-ha's flashes incinerated them.
For people syncing up for the first time, their teamwork was surprisingly seamless.
So engrossed in battling the monstrosities, Yubyeol-ha and Mimir overlooked one crucial fact.
That from the moment Mimir summoned the tsunami until now, every moment had been captured by high-magnification broadcast cameras.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Guys, check this out."
Goat stared at his phone while kicking a monstrosity corpse at his feet like an empty can.
Around Goat, countless bodies lay scattered like refuse in an incinerator.
The demise of so many monstrosities couldn't be solely attributed to Goat, who had amassed centuries of hard-earned wisdom.
Kang Chang-su and Ichika approached Goat, wiping blood from their hands.
They had been in China, where the damage from monstrosities and undead was the heaviest.
Zero One's undead resurrection endlessly raised skeletons, but those soulless, skill-less bone puppets were no match for ability users like them.
Of course, the hunters capable of slaying skeletons and monstrosities were limited in number, making the situation unfavorable.
After concluding the half-day battle, the weary group peered at Goat's phone.
"Big-tits photobook?"
"Big tits do appear, but no."
"Shame."
"Cut the pervert crap."
📰 Breaking News Miracle has occurred! The Yellowstone caldera, which had begun erupting vigorously, has been silenced by a girl in witch garb! Just who is this witch...! The camera angle was from overhead. Likely shot from a helicopter, the feed shook unsteadily with every moment.
The one battling alongside the witch... appears to be none other than the famed Academy City cadet, Yubyeol-ha! Just who are they fighting? Could it be those 'monstrosities' that have been in the news lately!? One thing is certain: Yubyeol-ha the cadet and the witch have stopped the Yellowstone eruption!! Kang Chang-su stroked his chin.
As a fellow Arcana cadet, he believed he knew Yubyeol-ha's power well.
But the Yubyeol-ha on screen was several times stronger than he'd imagined.
Her angel's wings, reaper's scythe, wielding the psychic virus like an extension of her body—it was more than enough to earn his awe.
"Hiding her strength, huh. No... she's grown astonishingly in such a short time."
"Mimir's got skills too. That disaster spell was handcrafted by Zero One himself... and she unraveled it completely."
While the two men marveled at the smartphone, Ichika gazed into the distance.
An ill omen approached. The sound came from innumerable footsteps—like an army on the march.
"This ain't the time to chill. No sleep tonight, looks like."
"Got it. Prep up."
"We fight like dogs but get no TV spotlight? Fucking unfair..."
They couldn't conceal their exhaustion, but they fixed the enemies ahead with the same fierce glare as before.
As long as their limbs could move, rest was unnecessary.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Everyone was giving their all from their respective posts.
To thwart the Society, to achieve their own goals, they fought desperately as one united front.
Those clashing with the Society weren't limited to AOD affiliates.
Life in this world doesn't flicker out so easily.
The reason people choose survival over death, endurance over tears, must be the primal instinct etched deep in their souls.
Humanity doesn't diminish so readily. To protect family and home, they took up arms against undead and monstrosities.
Tales of valiant souls flooded news and the internet.
"Hoo..."
On the rooftop of a high-rise, I checked my phone. The clock read 3 PM.
The city around me stood empty. Roads cluttered with ownerless cars.
No sign of life in what should have been teeming streets.
This was Seoul, South Korea. No destruction in sight, yet its inhabitants were gone.
"Eerily quiet. It was buzzing even at dawn..."
Han Cheong-ah echoed my thoughts.
An intact city, utterly vacant. The dissonance was unsettling.
"Probably Zero One's magic at work~ Ah, could use some chatty, dull wizards right now... but even crap's nowhere when you need it."
Lee Gyeo-ul quipped while inspecting her hunter gear.
I had no clue where Seoul's masses had vanished to.
As she said, perhaps swept away by Zero One's spell, or fled at the first whiff of trouble.
But we lacked the time and bandwidth to fret over the missing.
The monstrosities' scenario appeared to be progressing smoothly, but reality was different.
As long as Zero One lived, the supervolcano Mimir had quelled could erupt anew at any moment.
The dead would keep clawing from their graves.
The outlook was far from rosy. Victory demanded settling things with Zero One.
"Zero One's in that building."
The purebloods and werebeasts' sharpened senses all pointed to the skyscraper. Aria let out a low, venomous growl.
Seoul's tallest tower—its pinnacle housed Zero One.
"Final showdown. Everyone set?"
"In peak form."
Han Cheong-ah led the nods of agreement. For my comrades, this was the last battle. For me, who knew?
The moment to slay the final boss and drop the curtain had arrived.
We advanced. Slowly into the tiger's den where Zero One and his shadow lurked.
The skyscraper was the headquarters of a globally renowned Korean megacorp, valued in the tens of billions.
No souls stirred within its lavish halls.
As we crossed the dust-caked lobby entrance, a greeter awaited.
He appeared pitch-black, as if submerged in a tub brimming with black paint.
Zero One's shadow-dweller minion, he'd called it.
Likely one of the past monstrosities revived via necromancy.
A mere magical remnant, yet it exuded formidable presence.
"Not planning to let us through easy, huh. Do-hyun. Puppy. Cheong-ah. Leave this to me. I'll tidy up quick and head up."
"Count on you."
With a wink, Lee Gyeo-ul drew Ganggangdo from its sheath and strode forward.
The shadow-shrouded remnant seemed to sense her aura.
"First puppet hunt. Hey, can it make noise? Best if it screams like a dimensional beast or monstrosity. Heh."
Don't disappoint me, now.
The finest hunter of this era, Lee Gyeo-ul twisted a grin and unleashed her power.
A gale tore through the lobby, clearing the path with brisk efficiency.
We seized the opening—while she pinned the foe—and bolted for the top floor where Zero One awaited.