The Real Reason They Called Earth's Strongest
Kansai International Airport, Japan. The moment they stepped off the private jet onto the tarmac, a blinding barrage of camera flashes erupted from all sides. High-ranking Japanese government officials lined up along the runway bowed in unison at a sharp ninety degrees.
"Thank you so much for coming! Heroes of Korea!"
A desperate voice filtered through the interpreter's mechanical tone. Tae-ho tugged his cap low over his eyes out of sheer annoyance, staring at the ground. Park Jin-cheol, the Hunter Association president, handled the weary political smiles and handshakes from the adults.
"Alright, that's enough with the welcome. Let's move, everyone. You're all tired."
The president shoved through the officials like a sly fox, clearing a path. Escorted by ranks of soldiers, they boarded a top-of-the-line armored limousine waiting nearby. The wide leather seats swallowed Tae-ho's petite frame in plush comfort. Outside the window, Osaka's desolate cityscape—stripped bare of evacuees—whizzed by.
"They're grasping at straws, alright. Three cabinet-level ministers to greet us at the airport?"
Seo Ji-hoon, seated across from him, snapped his gum and snorted. Baek Ho-young, peering out the window, yanked at his tie with a frustrated growl.
"This suit's choking me to death. What the hell is this crap?"
"We're here as national representatives, so suck it up. Anyway, we need to dig into the real meat beyond the paperwork."
Tae-ho mentally reviewed the briefing from the Blue House underground bunker. Elves. Human residents from Earth. Peace treaty. And the summons for Earth's strongest.
The limousine threaded through the skyscrapers and pulled up to an underground bunker converted into a temporary shelter.
The instant they stepped out, grim-faced Japanese agents approached with metal detectors, clearly angling for a body search under the guise of security.
"Where do you get off shoving that junk at us?"
Baek Ho-young stepped forward with beastly eyes flashing, freezing the nearest agent in place with a sharp gasp. Annoyed at the prospect of a standoff, Tae-ho lazily raised both arms.
"Just skim us and let's go. I don't wanna waste time."
The agents gawked at his silver hair and crimson eyes, panicked, and swung their detectors wildly in the air before hurriedly stepping aside. Metal detectors on S-rank hunters? Pure comedy.
The heavy steel door slid open with a chill, leading into a visitation room partitioned by thick bulletproof glass. Beyond it sat a returned hunter—a Japanese man in patient garb—staring blankly.
"Ji-hoon hyung, check him first."
With a nod from Tae-ho, Seo Ji-hoon pushed up his glasses from behind. Blue mana flickered behind the lenses as his appraisal eye scanned the man's body like an X-ray.
"No signs of mental interference or magical brainwashing. Clean as can be. Not drugged either."
With confirmation, Tae-ho pulled out the opposite chair, sat, and propped his chin on his hand. The waiting interpreter gripped the mic tensely.
"We've heard the basics from your government. Forest, elves, friendly. Spare us the obvious paperwork and give us the details."
The survivor slowly lifted his head at the question.
"I saw the bodycam footage. Your shield got shredded like paper, total wipeout, dragged off. But you're sitting here without a scratch. What the hell happened in there?"
Terror and awe mingled in the man's voice, relayed through the interpreter.
"It... it wasn't even a fight. Just one-sided slaughter."
The survivor swallowed dryly.
"The second we crossed the gate, there was this massive forest. No time to catch our breath—ambushed by elf archers. Just like the footage. Our top tank's barrier tore like tissue from a single arrow. The pure mana pressure on the arrowhead alone choked us. No chance to counter; everyone was critically wounded and out cold in seconds."
Seo Ji-hoon jotted notes and cut in.
"But you came back without a mark? Doesn't add up."
"I thought I'd woken up in hell. But no—it was a comfy facility near the World Tree. Our squad's wounds—impaled by arrows, flesh burned away—were perfectly healed, not even scars."
The survivor rubbed his face with both hands.
"They just neutralized armed intruders trespassing on their turf. Never meant to kill us from the start. When we woke, Earthlings with the elves explained everything."
"Earthlings?"
Park So-jin arched a brow.
"People missing since the Gate Shock three years ago. Thought they were dead, but they're under elf protection, living in a village on the forest outskirts. The elves used those Earthling interpreters to confirm we weren't monsters but intelligent beings from another dimension. Cleared up the misunderstanding."
Tae-ho's mind raced. Gate Shock survivors from three years back, adapted and serving as interpreters.
"The elves didn't know Earth's situation?"
"The interpreters only knew up to three years ago, so they thought Earth was gone. When I explained about the hunter system and that humanity's still kicking, the elves finally got it and sent me back as an envoy to start talks."
The story's skeleton clicked into place. The elves crushed the intruders with overwhelming force but healed them the moment dialogue proved possible.
Park So-jin crossed her arms and pressed sharply.
"Report said it's not a dungeon but another world's dimension. How big we talking?"
"I only saw the forest, but the interpreters said beyond it lies a massive human empire territory. Full isekai setup—elves, beastkin, dwarves."
Calm testimony, vouched true by Seo Ji-hoon's appraisal eye. But one key question lingered in Tae-ho's mind. He leaned back against the chair, narrowing his eyes.
"Fine. Peaceful fantasy world, got it. If they're that strong and peaceful, why call Earth's representative? They could just come over themselves. Why specifically summon me? What's the real reason?"
The man's face darkened at the piercing question. He glanced at the Japanese agents around, then leaned into the mic.
"Because... their world is heading for destruction too."
The room's air froze.
"Elves said mysterious gates are opening across their continent. But what pours out isn't like our monsters—far more grotesque, alien things devouring the land."
Terror flickered in the survivor's eyes.
"Elves know gates and mana far better than us. They see linking to Earth as a chance. Combine their knowledge with Earth's strongest's power to stop their dimension's collapse."
The peace treaty was just wrapping. Reality: a desperate cry for help from another world's beings to avert doom.
They filed out of the visitation room into an empty conference room in the bunker. Heavy steel door locked, soundproofed with mana. Tae-ho cracked open a lukewarm canned coffee from the vending machine and spoke.
"What do you think?"
Park So-jin led off.
"Another dimension suffering the same gate disaster as us. And different monster types? Situation just got way more complicated."
Baek Ho-young cracked his thick neck and grumbled.
"What's complicated? If they're not enemies, great. Those long-ears know more about gates than us? Then go squeeze 'em for info. Block those weird monsters from spilling into our backyard first."
"Agreed. Prime chance to monopolize intel too."
Seo Ji-hoon polished his glasses, backing him up. Park Jin-cheol tapped the table lightly, drawing eyes.
"Ho-young's right. They specified Earth's rep, so we can't ignore this permanent gate. Get in before their disaster hits us, seize the initiative, sit at the negotiation table."
Consensus narrowed to one path. Only the named rep's—his—say remained. All eyes turned naturally to Tae-ho. He downed the coffee in one go and stood. The click of small, dainty heels echoed lightly on the floor.
"We're going."
Park Jin-cheol's eyes widened at the curt reply.
"Not like you to go quietly. Weren't you throwing a fit about wanting penthouse rest?"
"I want rest, so I'm stomping this spark out fast. If their world problems spill to our doorstep, my peaceful days get ruined."
"But no multi-day camping. In and out quick—talk to the top brass and bail. Gear up tight, everyone."
Meeting over. Beyond Korea, the world's top six powerhouses aligned as one.
Hours later, central Osaka. The once-bustling street was fully engulfed by a massive blue curtain. The ticking time bomb of a gate now rippled calmly like a still pond. Japanese Self-Defense Forces ringed it multilayered; global press cameras zeroed in on them.
Armored Japanese agents in tactical gear tensely cleared a path. No fancy gear—just the usual baggy hoodie—Tae-ho strolled indifferently.
"Heading in."
The president and guild masters nodded silently behind. The dimensional door, stagnant like a mana pool. He pressed a hand to the blue surface. No rejection. Instead, it resonated with his pure mana body, pulling softly,ily.
Deep breath. He stepped into the rippling veil.
Vision flickered blue. City smog and chopper roar cut off instantly. Instead, thick, damp earth and explosive mana concentrations assaulted his nose.
"Huh."
A chuckle escaped at the sight. Towering ancient trees pierced the clouds, forming endless forest. Pure mana particles shimmered visibly like heat haze in the air.
Seo Ji-hoon, Park So-jin, Baek Ho-young followed one by one. All froze, mouths agape at the otherworld vista.
The World Tree's forest, brimming with overwhelming mana. They'd set foot in the heart of a true isekai.