75
075 ― Without Leaving a Single One
It wasn't only Jin-woo who was caught up in that bastard's Erosion. Ma Du-sik, Shin Do-ung, Shartia, and the military police, as well as the Management Bureau's staff. Simply put, everyone who was in the abandoned factory was swept up in it.
Among them, the ordinary people had lost consciousness as if they had fainted and were all collapsed. Only the three S-rank Hunters and Jin-woo remained standing.
"We need to protect the people!"
"I'll help."
"I can move them by myself, so keep watch around the perimeter."
Shartia bent down and placed both hands on the ground. Green light shimmered from her arms and seeped into the earth.
Kuruung―
The ground swelled up, and tree trunks sprouted. The trees that grew this way gathered the fallen people together and created a dome-shaped cage.
At a glance, it looked like a round prison made of wood, but it was a measure to protect the inside from outside threats.
"The guns... Naturally, they're broken."
Meanwhile, Shin Do-ung took a rifle from a fallen military policeman's shoulder and tried pulling the trigger. However, not only the trigger, but even clicking off the safety was impossible.
Objects consumed by the black Erosion lose all their properties and characteristics and become fixed in that form. Even physical wheel-operated glass windows wouldn't open properly, so there was no way guns would be intact.
He roughly threw the broken rifle away. Then he took out a blue spear from his inventory.
Shin Do-ung. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, perhaps. For a vanguard who handled a spear, his build was rather slender. He had the impression of being thin like a doll made from twisted wire.
"Hunter Kang Jin-woo. What do you see?"
Ma Du-sik asked Jin-woo. Jin-woo, who had been looking at the distant scenery and the earth where numerous pillars had fallen, spoke to Ma Du-sik.
"They're coming."
"Coming? Heup!"
No sooner had Jin-woo's words fallen than the horizon beyond turned completely black. It was a disgusting sight, like watching bugs swarming.
All of them were monsters. There were forms like wolves and bears, as well as humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs. Medium-sized monsters like ogres and trolls were visible, and there were also large dragon-type monsters like drakes that made the ground rumble with their thump thump steps.
Perhaps the fortunate point was that there were no real dragons. Each one individually wasn't much of a threat to them who were S-rank, but the numbers were tremendous.
Not just the horizon right before their eyes, but waves of monsters were sweeping in from all directions, 360 degrees around them.
Their speeds were all different, so the ones behind stepped on, pushed, and created complete chaos with the ones in front. However, the monsters that were swept away and flattened didn't die. They seeped back into the Erosion.
Perhaps those that seeped in like that would regenerate again from behind.
'Once bound by Erosion, they become forcibly immortal beings.'
He was seeing the end of that with his own eyes. Their most miserable conclusion.
'So that's why Grisella asked to be killed because she hated being used like that.'
Her wish became understandable. He felt sympathy for her, too.
However, contemplation was for later.
"I'll guard the fallen ones while providing cover, so please take care of the front!"
With Shartia's words, the three people scattered in three directions with good timing. Setting up positions and preparing without needing a single word was truly befitting S-rank Hunters who had experienced all kinds of battles.
Though Jin-woo was still a reserve.
***
A defensive battle was continuing to protect Shartia's castle against the incoming monster wave.
The number of monsters was overwhelming to a degree that even they, who were S-rank, had never seen before. Black monsters occupied the entire visible field of view.
"Well now, even when I accidentally got caught while passing through a dragon lair 20 years ago, it wasn't this much."
Ma Du-sik, who had long since retired from active duty and entered politics. Despite this being actual combat after a long time, he was admiring his own body, which moved better than expected.
Ma Du-sik had unfamiliar leather gloves on both hands, and faint Magi was radiating from the gloves. That and his own trained body were his weapons.
Whether he hadn't neglected training even after retirement, he was fighting so well that one might mistake him for an active Hunter. He quickly grabbed the nape of a charging wolf as if grabbing someone by the collar and threw it toward an ogre.
Simultaneously, wind pressure flew through both the thrown wolf and ogre, drilling large holes. The wolf had half its body blown away, and the ogre died instantly with a large hole drilled through its upper body.
Pajijijik―!
Shin Do-ung's blue spear was wreathed in lightning. Rather than actual lightning, it was a mass of Magi with such properties and his aura.
Contrary to Ma Du-sik, he had a thin body, but his fighting style was even more vigorous. Unlike the unexpectedly steady Ma Du-sik, he dove into enemy groups himself and ran wild, swinging his lightning spear.
In the process, he suffered some wounds, but the next moment, the minor injuries disappeared without a trace.
"The back is no problem, so don't worry!"
Shartia was also blocking enemies well. No matter how S-rank they were, they couldn't block ten hands with one, so there were monsters that slipped through. Such monsters hammered at Shartia's castle made of tree trunks, but all that came back was the trunks' counterattack.
Not simply striking and throwing, each one was like a living snake. They pierced and cut through enemies' hearts, necks, and brains, protecting their master's castle.
And Jin-woo was.
'No problem for now.'
He, too, was cutting down monsters and blocking them with ease. The ability to shoot sword energy obtained from cutting down the Black Knight was being used effectively even now. Every time he swung his sword, monsters caught in the range fell away in droves.
Then, when medium-sized monsters approached.
Kwaruung―!
He solved it by dropping lightning with Kanok's God Greeting Sorcery. The intense Magi aftermath was enough to make the other S-ranks reflexively turn to look this way.
Especially Shin Do-ung, who used similar properties of Magi, observed Jin-woo's presence with a more interested expression.
While blocking monsters this way, Jin-woo didn't forget to examine the Erosion.
'The path is visible.'
It was the same type of Erosion as the barrier he had experienced in the Temple of Sky before. Therefore, he could figure out the knack for finding the path more easily.
However, there were quite a few differences from that time. Did it come after improving and supplementing the parts it thought were weaknesses, saying it would repay the humiliation?
'In the end, it's Erosion. Just find the core and destroy it.'
And the core was probably.
'Close by.'
If it was the same type of Erosion as what was in the Temple of Sky, the core should also be nearby. The size of one room, or at most it shouldn't exceed the factory site.
But.
'......It's quite far?'
The detected location of the core was quite distant. It wasn't impossible to reach, but it was much farther than Jin-woo's guess.
This was evidence that this Erosion was a considerably improved version. Well, just looking at those pillars, they weren't there before, so it was better not to think of it as the same barrier as before.
'It doesn't matter.'
Since he found the core, distance didn't matter. Just break through to that place and cut the core, that's all.
Jin-woo quickly assessed the battle situation.
Shartia was protecting the unconscious military police and Management Bureau staff as she had said. Meanwhile, as she had spare capacity, she was providing cover for Ma Du-sik, Shin Do-ung, and Jin-woo.
Clearly speaking, she was the most active one in this place. Without her, the situation would have become much more complicated.
'Ma Du-sik is also staying close to Shartia's side.'
Ma Du-sik also showed a more defensive appearance than expected. The fiery temperament one would associate with his bear-like build wasn't visible. To the end, he was coolly holding his position and doing his best to save the people behind him.
Whether this was his original disposition or because, as mayor, he couldn't let civilians die was unknown. Either way, he was currently focused on defense.
'Shin Do-ung is.'
Shin Do-ung was completely opposite. He paid no attention to the back and was diving into enemy groups and running wild.
If Ma Du-sik prioritized protecting, then he emphasized killing as many monsters as possible anyway. For that, he didn't even care for his own body, so his wounds increased, but mysteriously, those wounds quickly healed.
He wasn't simply a spearman but seemed to have some healing arts or self-regeneration ability. That's probably why he could fight like that.
He was a perfect talent for breaking through monster groups.
'I should go with Shin Do-ung.'
Rather than staying here forever fighting monsters endlessly, they needed to find and destroy the core. In Jin-woo's view, he seemed suitable.
***
Jin-woo approached Shin Do-ung. Shin Do-ung, who had been fighting intensely, was startled by the presence that suddenly entered his own spacing.
He reflexively swung his spear, but seeing it was Jin-woo and not a monster, he hurriedly stopped his spear.
"Wha, what's this all of a sudden?"
"We need to find the core between us."
He was also an S-rank Hunter. He was aware of the situation, but he had no way to find the core.
However, he knew very well the rumors about Jin-woo's abilities.
"Come to think of it, you have the ability to find cores, right? Can you find it here, too?"
"I've already identified it. We just need to break through to that place."
Shin Do-ung showed a genuinely surprised expression. He had thought they would struggle for a long time, caught up in this unidentifiable Erosion, but they had already found a solution.
'It wasn't for nothing that Mayor Ma Du-sik clicked his tongue in admiration.'
He had heard many rumors about Jin-woo and had also heard many stories directly from Ma Du-sik in private. He had bragged that he would become an S-rank scout. He said that in just 5 years, he would become a pillar of Seoul.
As mayor, he was a man generous with praise and lip service, but it was the first time seeing him genuinely admire someone to that degree. So he had been curious about his skills, and seeing now, it seemed Ma Du-sik indeed had an eye for people.
"If we found the core, then everyone should gather together... That won't work."
"At least two people need to guard this place."
Even though Shartia was blocking well, it wasn't a number that she alone could block. Even with Ma Du-sik, it would be somewhat anxious with just the two of them.
But they could buy enough time. Within that time, Jin-woo and Shin Do-ung finding and destroying the core was the best strategy.
"Go and come back quickly. Leave this place to me and Hunter Shartia."
The discussion was also conveyed to Ma Du-sik and Shartia, and they agreed to the personnel distribution. The burden on the remaining two people would become much heavier, but they weren't two who couldn't endure that much.
"Let's go! Lead the way, little brother Jin-woo!"
Suddenly calling him little brother, Shin Do-ung shot forward. Contrary to his words to lead the way, he always charged with his body first.
Having outstanding initiative was a good thing. It also fit well with this task, which required a breakthrough.
"I'll be back."
Briefly speaking to those remaining, Jin-woo also ran. Without taking many steps, Jin-woo caught up to Shin Do-ung, and Shin Do-ung looked at that with interest in his eyes.
'Certainly impressive. Worthy of being designated as the next S-rank.'
He wasn't talking about just the current fast feet. Earlier, when Jin-woo first entered his space.
Shin Do-ung had been genuinely surprised. Since he handled a spear, he was that sensitive to spacing. He took pride in being a true spearman only if he had near-absolute control within his own spacing.
But Jin-woo had entered his spacing far too easily. It wasn't simply barging in because they were allies. Jin-woo had definitely squeezed through gaps in his spacing and closed the distance.
'......This guy, who awakened less than 2 years ago.'
It was a growth rate that made him feel a wall anew. Did that mean he was that great in his previous life, and was quickly recovering his previous life's memories?
Well, whatever the case, it was fine. The point that he was flawless as a partner to back-to-back with was sufficient.
Kwagwagwang―!
Jin-woo's God Greeting Sorcery fell. Yes, this lightning was also one of the elements that caught Shin Do-ung's attention.
Comprehensively speaking.......
'I like him!'
He was a considerably promising newcomer. Though calling him a newcomer was a bit much since he was already quite famous and already had S-rank within sight.
Meanwhile, Jin-woo was running toward the core half a step ahead of Shin Do-ung. His sword and Shin Do-ung's spear flying from behind tore through the monster groups before their eyes, creating a path.
Running through the bloody path created this way, he continuously confirmed the core's location.
Fortunately, it wasn't moving.
'Just go there and cut it and it's over.'
It might end surprisingly simply. But precisely because of that, Jin-woo's intuition was ringing even more alarm bells.
The God of Sky. The Lord of Oppression and Ceiling. A divine being who spread divine territory in the Spirit Realm and a transcendent who harbored the seed of Erosion.
Such a bastard had even said he would repay the humiliation from last time. But was it this easy?
[ The God of Moonlit Forest urges you. ]
The God of Moonlit Forest was watching over him. At the same time, the power of blessing flowed through the divine artifact glass bead. What was she thinking while sending this power?
'Seeing that she urges me, does she mean to be careful and not let my guard down?'
The God of Moonlit Forest shook her head at Jin-woo's guess.
[ Devour them all. Without leaving a single one. ]
It was an unexpected statement. Speaking like that in a faint and thin voice created a sense of discord. Though it didn't show in that voice, subtle anger was contained within it.
Still, it was right. Jin-woo smiled secretly.
'Yes, I understand.'
He responded to her urging.