Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Dimensional Rift
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C-Rank Dimensional Rift.
Among the currently existing rift ranks, it's the highest grade.
Gates have produced up to A-Rank monsters,
though there are rumors of S-Rank monsters in American gates, but no official announcement.
Even so, the area outside gates is stabilized with well-established manuals.
It wasn't that hard to handle.
Suni marked the controlled zone on the navigation.
"It's far."
To get to Hero Mall, we'd have to take a long detour.
No need to go around; we took the convenient route.
I drove the pickup truck into an empty alley with no people around.
"How's it look?"
Hearing Suni, I stored the pickup truck in my Inventory.
Then black mana enveloped my body, forming a sleek suit.
And my figure gradually turned transparent before vanishing.
According to Suni, it's a stealth technique applying optical tech and mana engineering to my mana conversion skill...
Of course, it was beyond my comprehension.
Seeing stuff like this, I couldn't even grasp how far Suni had advanced or what kind of existence she'd become.
Most of my various mana manifestation techniques were expressed through Suni.
All I did was swing weapons around like a brute.
'Or touch women, maybe.'
Maybe with Suni's training, I could handle these complex mana applications.
But I vaguely felt it was in the realm of talent.
No need to strain my brain when I had Suni.
'A C-Rank rift, huh...'
I'd never faced a C-Rank from this world before.
Curiosity piqued.
Stopping by for a peek didn't seem bad.
Maintaining invisibility, I climbed the building to the rooftop and headed toward the rift site.
Heroes in colorful Hero suits and broadcast cameras.
An 8-lane road cordoned off one spot—it was obvious at a glance where the Dimensional Rift would open.
The rift hadn't burst yet, but already 8 heroes were in position.
One was B-Rank.
The rest C-Rank.
The difference between Heroes and Hunters: back in the early chaotic days, there was no distinction,
but now it's simple—Heroes handle monsters and villains outside gates,
Hunters handle inside gates.
"What? From our company?"
I knew Hero Friends had only a few B-Ranks.
Not long since founded, and B-Rank Awakeners are pretty rare anyway.
Choi Dong-sik wore sleek, handsome knight armor with sword and shield.
Heroes need popularity to thrive.
So they have to look unique and cool—that's where the Hero suit plays a big role.
"What the hell? Why's it opening later than expected?"
The heroes were grumbling.
"That's the Countermeasure Headquarters for you."
"Maintain formation with your party members."
Higher-ranked Choi Dong-sik had naturally become the leader.
Including him, 3 were grouped together—one party.
The other 5 another party.
C-Rank rifts usually spit out one or two monsters right away.
So they'd split into two parties.
Time was near; space began to ripple.
-Creeeeak!
It started as a black dot in midair.
Then the black dot expanded.
In an instant, a massive black sphere formed.
Looked like a hole or a sphere—always weird to see.
'Bigger than I thought... way too big.'
First time seeing a Dimensional Rift that huge.
Easily over 10 meters just by eye.
"Huh?? Why's the rift so huge?"
Heroes and onlookers stirred.
"N-No way..."
"Fuck! Chip away at the rift barrier first!"
Choi Dong-sik sensed something off and yelled.
Flashy ranged mana attacks and enhancers wrapped weapons in blue mana, charging in.
They poured attacks on the massive rift, but it was a high-rank Dimensional Rift.
Of course, the barrier didn't break.
Normally, you'd leisurely take out the first monsters and then handle the rift.
But they were pre-damaging the barrier before monsters emerged.
B-Rank Hero Choi Dong-sik's judgment, sensing the dire situation.
Then a massive monster burst out from within.
"T-Tyranno?"
Shape vaguely like a T-Rex, but way more vicious.
"Insane! How's that C-Rank?! Fuck! Countermeasure Headquarters bastards!"
Just its height was 9-10 meters; size alone screamed B-Rank.
Korea might snag the world's first B-Rank Dimensional Rift title today.
Glistening dark red skin.
Thick tail and sturdy pair of legs.
Mouth split like a flower bud into multiples.
Sharp teeth visible in the gaps.
Odd thing: no eyes.
-Roooaaar!
The giant dinosaur monster reared its head and roared.
-Crash!
The monstrous cry unleashed a massive shockwave, shattering nearby building windows.
"Kyaaak!"
Civilians waiting for footage bled from ears and collapsed.
Even heroes clutched ears and staggered from the roar.
Nearly a mana-based sonic attack.
"Fuck. Request backup now! No, call an A-Rank!!! I can't handle it alone! Enhancers fall back, ranged attack from max distance!"
Choi Dong-sik wrapped his sword in blue mana, charged, and shouted.
The monster swung its massive tail.
Enhancers barely dodged, but a rear flame Awakener got hit and exploded.
-Splurt!
Blood mist sprayed.
'Tch. Valuable Awakeners dying because of Countermeasure Headquarters idiots.'
Something was off with that level...
They'd judged it C-Rank assuming no B-Rank rifts ever happened.
Too much for C-Rank Heroes.
For now just one, but rifts spawn monsters.
Another and it'd be a disaster.
Needed to kill it quick and close the rift.
Didn't know how fast A-Ranks would come.
'Might not come at all.'
Korea's peak A-Ranks were slow to move.
Only 4 in the country, each with their own factions.
By the time they arrived, who knew how many it'd spawn.
Fail now, and the area gets razed.
Our house was far enough to be safe, I thought.
But were our people that incompetent?
"........."
Maybe they were...
B-Rank after all.
If those poured out...
Can't predict people.
Only Jae-eun to worry about at home.
House prices rose since Songdo Gate stabilized...
B-Rank Hero Choi Dong-sik was nimbly tanking hard.
Objectively, just holding on.
Two C-Ranks blasting flames and lightning, but minimal damage.
For its size, surprisingly agile.
No eyes, yet chased Choi Dong-sik like it could see.
-Thud.
Its huge body rammed Choi Dong-sik.
Like a building shoving sideways.
Dino with tank skills, huh.
Range immense; Choi couldn't avoid.
-Boom!
"Kragh!"
Choi flew from the body slam, crashed into a building.
Seemed to block with shield on impact, so probably alive.
Then mana gathered in its flower-bud split mouth.
"F-Fuck! What?!"
A panicked hero yelled.
-Kwaaa!
It fired breath toward Choi's crashed building.
A hero in the path got erased.
-Kwang!
Choi's wrecked building collapsed fully.
'Ridiculous. Breath too?'
Dead?
"Cough. Cough."
Staggering from the dust, Choi emerged.
Unclear if breath hit, but B-Rank vitality was something else.
But battered.
Stumbling, dazed eyes, blood streaming from mouth.
Dragging longer would be dangerous.
B-Rank's valuable to the company.
Maybe Hanna's perks taught me to worry.
Not why I'd hunt it though...
Honestly, confident.
Disaster for them below.
For me, perfect situation.
No telling when another chance.
Escape easy if needed.
Suni asked.
Invisibility helped, but EMP ensured identity hidden.
Disable electronics, only eyewitnesses left.
But mana-heavy.
Consumption exponential with radius.
"Beat that thing first, then if there's leeway."
Confident, but can't predict everything.
Minor slip could drain mana post-fight, dropping invisibility.
Pulled giant hammer Mjolnir from Inventory, infused mana.
Running invisibility too took more mana than expected.
I leapt straight toward the split-mouthed monster dinosaur.