Chapter 409

An unannounced visitor arrived before dawn had fully broken.

He stepped carefully into the tent and met my eyes as I sat cross-legged.

“You were already awake.”

“As you can see.”

I shrugged at Team Leader Choi.

“I haven’t been sleeping much lately.”

More accurately, I needed less sleep.

With stamina that had surpassed human limits and formidable internal energy amounting to three jiazi,¹ I could blow away most fatigue by circulating my qi.

“Were you practicing the Mana Cultivation Method—or rather, the Jin Family’s Cultivation Technique?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

To be exact, I was practicing the Fire Gate Divine Technique, the secret cultivation technique of the Fire Gate Clan. But I couldn’t tell him every last detail.

“I should have come later.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Didn’t you say that cultivation must never be interrupted? That stopping midway could cause qi deviation…”

“Oh, that applies to you, Team Leader Choi. I’m fine. We’re on different levels.”

“…”

Warning: your fact attack may hurt someone.

For a moment, I could practically see the public-service announcement flashing across Team Leader Choi’s face.

He gave me a sour look, then slowly shook his head.

“I can’t argue with the truth.”

“Still, you’re learning incredibly fast. I mean that sincerely, so have a little more confidence.”

I did mean it. As befitted a descendant of Cheon Taemin, the hero who had achieved an indomitable feat in human history, Team Leader Choi possessed extraordinary natural martial talent.

For some reason, he also had a considerable amount of qi stored within his body, so his progress in martial arts was astonishingly fast.

In short, he was a talent with all the groundwork already laid.

If he’d learned martial arts from childhood like Wu Heixing… he’d probably be an S-rank Hunter by now.

Team Leader Choi’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded.

“How do I compare to Jin Taekyung?”

“Are you kidding? Of course I learned faster.”

“…”

Who are you trying to compare yourself to?

Team Leader Choi might have grown up under Lee Jungryong’s watchful eye, constantly held in check, but our lives had been fundamentally different.

Even after obtaining the System, I’d nearly died several times. Damn it, I’d been through hell.

“Anyway, what brings you here this early?”

“Something has been troubling me, so I came despite the imposition.”

“Something troubling you?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Did Johnson confess his love to you?”

“That doesn’t concern me. I know it’s simply Mr. Johnson’s way of showing affection. This is about Guild business.”

“Guild business… Did bad news come from Korea?”

At my worried question, Team Leader Choi shook his head.

“No. I’m worried because one of our Guild members seems to be heading into danger.”

“Oh.”

So that was what he meant. Once I caught on, I let out a quiet laugh.

“I know who you mean. Tall and handsome, right? With an absolutely wonderful personality.”

“I can’t speak to the first two, but his personality certainly is something else. In several ways.”

“Hmm. Then I don’t think we’re talking about the same person.”

“Mr. Jin Taekyung.”

Team Leader Choi, who had been trading jokes with me until then, lowered his voice.

“You know what I mean.”

“Do I?”

“This operation is dangerous.”

“Team Leader Choi, don’t you trust me?”

“How could I not? You’re one of the people I trust most in this world.”

Team Leader Choi fixed me with a grave stare.

“And you’re about to carry out a dangerous operation with some of the people I trust least.”

Two names immediately came to mind.

Lee Jungryong and Wu Heixing. Men bound to me by bitter history—and comrades who would soon have to entrust their backs to one another.

I scratched my chin and answered.

“‘People I can’t trust.’ I can’t think of a more fitting description.”

“Mr. Jin Taekyung…”

“Team Leader Choi?”

He closed his mouth before he could continue. I quietly raised a hand and pointed toward the tent flap.

“As you know, I haven’t finished cultivating yet.”

“……!”

“The battle will begin before the day is over. Clear your mind and prepare for the fight ahead.”

Team Leader Choi stared at me, conflicted and unable to speak. At last, he heaved a deep sigh and rose from his seat.

“I’ll see you shortly.”

“Sure. I won’t see you out.”

I felt his presence gradually fade as he left the tent.

The Skeleton Warlord, who had been moping ever since his wish coupon was refunded, immediately spoke in a hopeful voice.

—A very intelligent human. It is not too late. Why not heed that human’s advice?

“You’re really working hard at this.”

—If you insist on going, go alone! Why must you take this commander with you?

“Dying alone would be lonely.”

—Whaaaaaat?!

“I’m joking. It’s just our best option.”

—You call breaking through a massive monster army to confront the Arch Lich our best option? Are you an evil human, or simply insane?

Listen to the way this undead bastard talks.

I considered punishing him, then unfolded my legs and reclined diagonally across the bed.

“It’s a dangerous operation, sure, but we’ve got a good chance. Stop complaining.”

—And what if we get there and it does not work?

“Then we fight with everything we’ve got. That’ll give us a chance.”

The Skeleton Warlord muttered with the voice of one who had attained enlightenment.

—Miraculous logic indeed. To think this commander is stuck with such a madman.

“And yet you’re still here.”

—Still here? You mean I cannot leave!

“You’re hilarious. When was it that you came back on your own feet? Ah, never mind. Not feet—your skull.”

—Vicious humans seeking this commander’s life are everywhere! What else was I supposed to do?

I let out a quiet laugh at the Skeleton Warlord’s aggrieved protest.

Don’t be such a coward.

I had plenty to say, but decided to save it for later. That was something he needed to realize on his own.

—You laughed! You just laughed!

“When?”

I played dumb and changed the subject.

“Anyway, the key is taking down the Arch Lich. Once the head is gone, the body can’t move.”

—Dullahans can.

“…”

That was true.

For a moment, the answer made perfect sense. Then I realized how ridiculous it was and pulled the Skeleton Warlord from my Inventory.

“No, seriously. This bastard has been asking for it.”

—C-Calm down, human. I said nothing untrue.

“Right. Dullahans can move without their heads. Let’s see what happens to the Skeleton Warlord.”

Crack!

I flicked his forehead with lightning speed, and the Skeleton Warlord shrieked.

—Agh! A crack! There’s a crack between my brows! I’m telling you, there’s really a crack!

“I held back, so what the hell are you talking about… Oh. There really is one.”

Maybe I should have hit him more gently. A tiny crack had appeared in the glossy black skull, its surface gleaming smoothly.

When I lightly touched the sliver of bone raised by the impact, the Skeleton Warlord screamed.

—My bone! My bone!

“Fine, I get it. Stop screaming.”

—My bones have been getting increasingly itchy and sensitive lately, and I was already worried, but this madman went and… Sob.

“…”

What, does he have dry skin?

At this rate, he would start an iTube channel and rack up a million subscribers as an undead beauty streamer.

This bastard might not even be a monster…

The more I saw of him, the stranger he seemed.

I stared at the Skeleton Warlord in disbelief, then suddenly threw open one side of the tent. The sun was slowly lifting its head in the east.

It signaled the beginning of a new day—and the battle soon to come.

Located in the central Sichuan Basin, Suining City encompassed two urban districts, three counties, and more than five thousand square kilometers² of land.

Since ancient times, it had been known as the heart of central Sichuan Province, renowned for its refined culture, tranquil scenery, and thriving agriculture, industry, and commerce.

But all of that was now a thing of the past.

Caw! Cawww!

Countless crows wheeled through the overcast sky before descending upon the corpses strewn across the ground. There were no squabbles between the flocks over their prey.

Hundreds of bodies lay scattered across the land, and the crows filled their bellies by pecking at the rotting flesh of what had once been human beings.

For humanity, it was a calamity beyond compare.

For the crows, it was an age of peace and plenty.

Their peaceful feast did not last long.

Rumble. Rrrrumble.

A deafening roar and tremors rose from the ground. The crows cried out irritably and took flight as one.

Several black feathers drifted through the air, caught the wind, and sailed across the vast basin.

Countless marching feet and the metal wheels of tanks crushed the feathers as they fluttered down.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

A human army filled the horizon.

The tower shields held by the tank-class Hunters at the forefront scraped against the ground. Behind them, thousands of Hunters advanced in ordered ranks.

A pair of tightly pressed lips showed beneath a helmet pulled low.

Thousands of people, gripped by the invisible specter of war, marched onward in silence.

Toward the distant city shrouded in pale mist.

Toward the battle that awaited them, and the glorious victory beyond it.

Then a man at the center of the formation suddenly spoke.

“Fuck, look at that fog. Doesn’t it look like something out of one of those disaster movies where monsters show up? Anyone seen that one?”

Jin Taekyung’s colorful profanity came out of nowhere amid the solemn atmosphere, drawing snorts of laughter from all around him.

“Pfft.”

“Kff.”

“What? Am I the only one who’s seen it? That masterpiece?”

As Jin Taekyung shrugged, a voice answered from his right.

“I’ve seen it.”

“Really? That’s unexpected, Team Leader Choi.”

“What is?”

“You seem like the type who’d only watch musicals or orchestral performances. Things like that.”

The Hunters who glanced at Choi Minwoo bit their lips to hold back their laughter.

Before they knew it, their rigid bodies had relaxed and their breathing had steadied. The tension weighing on them eased considerably.

All the while, the two men continued their conversation.

“I occasionally watch movies to unwind. I enjoyed the one you mentioned too, Mr. Jin.”

“Oh, then you know the final twist.”

“Of course. Personally, I found it quite unfortunate.”

“Exactly. I had the same thought while I was watching.”

Jin Taekyung continued slowly.

“They could’ve survived if they hadn’t given up at the very end. They should’ve kept fighting with everything they had, no matter what it took. That sort of thing.”

His voice was low, but it carried unmistakable strength.

Infused with profound internal energy, it reverberated through the air and reached every ear.

And the thousands of Hunters and soldiers of the Western Front realized something.

Perhaps Jin Taekyung’s words had been meant for them.

“By now, the other fronts are probably surrounding Suining City just like we are, right?”

“They’ll have it completely encircled.”

“And the battle will begin soon.”

“We will win.”

Jin Taekyung laughed aloud at Xiao Shen’s resolute answer.

“Yeah. We have to. But…”

Jin Taekyung’s laughter abruptly stopped. The next moment, the playful light in his eyes vanished, replaced by a deeply sunken gaze.

The vast basin was reflected in his icy gaze.

“Looks like they have other ideas.”

Tap. Tap-tap-tap.

Grrrk…

Corpses slowly rose to their feet.

Skeletons.

Mist slid across the basin, carrying with it the growls of the monsters lurking within.

“Starting now…”

Jin Taekyung drew a deep breath.

“It begins.”