The Worst Timing in the World
Rumble—.
The building shook violently. Windows shattered like they were exploding from the sonic boom, and in an instant, the PC bang filled with screams.
"Wh-what…!"
"A Gate? It's a Gate!"
A man peering out the window shouted. Gates and Hunters had become part of everyday life, something familiar, but civilians sure as hell weren't keeping their cool in a situation like this.
"E-everyone, stay calm and head to the basement shelter! I've reported it, so Hunters will be here soon… Y-Yul!"
The owner yelled from the counter, then freaked out. Yul had stumbled from the earlier tremor and was crouched under her chair.
This fucking…
Yul ground her teeth. Talk about shitty timing.
Thud—!
"Aaack!"
"Uwaaack!"
The building rocked again. Several lights burst with pops. People rushing to evacuate clutched their heads and dropped to the floor.
"Yul, come on out!"
The owner shouted from the doorway. Yul glanced back and forth between the hand reaching for her, the glitching monitor clock, and the Gate outside the window. The rift hovering in the air was expanding at a terrifying speed. An enlargement type—and a high-speed one at that. No time to wait for Hunters. Especially not when monsters might come pouring out any second.
What kind of sudden Gate is this aggressive…
And on top of that, a third day in a row. Something felt off.
After a brief internal struggle, Yul bit her lip.
"…Fuck it, seriously."
She gripped the desk and stood. Her status window went nuts, dinging like crazy as it picked up on her decision.
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' is thrilled, asking if our Yul is heading out!
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' is preparing to hand you hellfire in your grasp.
Nothing's gone right since yesterday.
Crack! Yul stepped on shattered glass and planted a foot on the windowsill. The owner yelled urgently, like what the hell are you doing?
"Yul!"
"A-Are you a Hunter?"
"Save us! Please, hurry!"
Hearing their desperate pleas, Yul pulled up her hood. Back in the day, maybe, but these days, a Gate opening didn't mean the internet cut out or servers crashed. Still, this PC bang was done for, and factoring in time to find another one…
I've still got time.
Yeah, there was time. It really seemed like the whole damn world was dying to ruin her fangirling.
I have to ticket!!
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' says it's time for our Yul to show her skills and loosens up.
Fine, let's wrap this in 10 minutes.
The submerge that began for fangirling would end for fangirling too.
* * *
Tap—!
By the time her foot lightly hit the asphalt, the area was already chaos.
"Over here! The basement shelter's this way!"
"Hurry that side… Kyaaak!"
"Watch out there!"
"Damn it, when are the Hunters coming?!"
Ever since Gates activated worldwide, every building had evacuation spots. Korea already had them thanks to North Korea, but those once-nominal bunkers were now essential.
They're evacuating better than before, at least.
Amid the panicked crowd shuffling toward shelters, Yul strolled leisurely alone.
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' asks if you're ready to stretch after so long.
Of course. Let's handle it quick and quiet, no attention.
The constellation sulked, wanting flashiness, but Yul ignored it like always.
A black-hole-like void in the middle of the road.
Not B… maybe A-rank?
Yul approached slowly, gauging the rank. The constellation craved spectacle, but Yul didn't do flashy entrances or exits. Not even at her debut four years ago. No one had noticed her slip into that Gate. Sure, the country was on the brink, forcing in every Hunter from F-grade up, but Yul blending in quietly was the real key. Her feats later overshadowed it all anyway.
Slip in, close it fast, slip out…
She pulled her hood lower—and the Gate area vibrated. Something began emerging slowly.
A wave?
Monsters pouring out from the dungeon. One of the top killers of civilians in the early Gate days.
Sudden outbreak plus a wave… Talk about a Daehwanjang gift set.
Soon, a massive head poked from the now-gigantic Gate.
Kieeeek!
Yul winced at the ear-splitting screech. Not your average monster. Boss-class right out the gate.
…That thing on wave one?
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' delights that a perfect episode boss has appeared for our Yul.
An A- rank monster. Hellbird. It fully emerged, looking like a corrupted Cretaceous pterosaur.
Yul stepped forward again. Then a frantic voice from behind:
"H-Hey! It's dangerous over there!"
A woman at the building entrance waved desperately at Yul.
"Hurry over here! We have to evac…!"
"It's fi—"
Flaaash—!
A brilliant white light flashed overhead, slamming into the shattered asphalt. Not sunlight—pure, radiant brilliance.
"…That."
"Hunter! It's a Hunter!"
"It's Lee Sun-joo!"
"What?! The real Lee Sun-joo!"
The crowd cheered at the figure emerging from the light. Yul halted, staring at the one blocking the Hellbird. The outfit she favored, similar hairstyle at a glance. Even the bat in hand.
…Seeing my impersonator up close feels weird.
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' urges you to judge that fool before he tarnishes our Yul's reputation.
No, let's watch for a bit.
Yul backed into the building's shadow. She wanted to see how that guild handled it.
Click. The impersonator raised his baseball bat. The white light from his entrance wrapped around it, gathering power. Onlookers on the rooftops cheered him on.
Kieeeek!
As the Hellbird lunged with its beak—
Bam!
The full-force swing clashed with the beak. Shockwave swept the asphalt. Wind rippled outward in circles, hitting Yul's face, but she didn't flinch.
…No way they'd let someone that skilled go solo.
Yul thought calmly. B or C-grade. Not simple illusion—solid enough to fool machines. Decent, but…
Shwaaack!
"Ugh…!"
The Hellbird's wings slammed him. Yul clearly heard the reflexive grunt.
His base combat power isn't enough to hold solo long.
He needed backup. The Hellbird flapped again, battering him. Pushed back powerlessly against the building.
"Go, Lee Sun-joo!"
"Fighting!! What are you doing—blow it away!"
As if. Yul scratched her head indifferently. Daehwanjang Guild seemed delayed.
The exchange continued. Not purely defensive, but far from world #1 level. And if this was illusion, his real skill was even less certain. B-grade vs. that monster? Insufficient.
Surviving that long without one-shot is decent.
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' clicks its tongue, saying that wretch won't do.
If we leave him… Oh.
Yul let out a dry exclamation. Crimson light gathered slowly at the Hellbird's beak.
Can't block that.
Tsk. She stepped onto the road.
"Kuh…!"
"Lee Sun-joo!!"
"What's wrong—hurry…! Huh?!"
"It's okay, he can block it!"
The impersonator slumped, groaning. He'd lasted impressively. Civilians cheered in confusion and urgency, but nothing would change.
Boom! Crash!
Yul dodged incoming debris effortlessly, approaching the Gate.
"H-Hey there!"
The same woman from before. Shelter full? She stood by the glass door still.
"Are you insane?! Get in here! Even with that Hunter, it's dangerous!"
"B-But there's someone…!"
A man inside yanked her back. She glanced at Yul in terror.
Rare breed.
Yul checked her phone time and smiled faintly.
"Close the door."
The woman dazed at the smile under the hood—
Kieeeek!
Hellbird's screech and beam fired.
Whoosh.
Yul grabbed the impersonator's collar from behind.