Chapter 281: Episode 281

Blackjack, who had been the head of the Enforcement Division during Frost’s tenure as Association President, approached Hong Yeon with a face red with rage. “When I asked about Sir Frost’s well-being, didn’t you say you didn’t know?”

“I did.”

“Then what the hell is this!”

Frost, with only his head sticking out of the metal box, had his tongue lolling out, his eyes rolling around as he became a machine that did nothing but use his ability on command. Blackjack couldn’t bear to look at his former superior’s pathetic state and turned his head away. His body trembled with rage, tears welling in his eyes.

“Is this… something a human being would do?”

“I have no personal feelings for him,” Hong Yeon replied coldly. “Due to his long imprisonment, Frost’s mind was broken, and his abilities were deteriorating. But I couldn’t let a certified rank-2 hunter rot away. This is the best state for him to utilize his powers.”

“Shut your mouth, you witch!” Blackjack slapped Hong Yeon across the face. The murmuring crowd grew louder. “So, I’ve committed treason. Am I next for the box? Huh? Go on, try it, you crazy bitch!”

Hong Yeon remained silent.

Blackjack looked around and shouted, “Fuck, everyone, snap out of it! This woman is insane! What Association President? What great hero’s sister? You’re all just playing into her madness! We need to get out of here now! We’re all going to be annihilated!”

Hong Yeon slowly raised her head and glared at Blackjack. Meeting her chilling golden eyes, he felt a cold sweat trickle down the back of his neck.

“You’re mistaken,” she said. “I don’t put people in boxes for a single slap. However…” Her body moved like the wind, flashing past Blackjack. “I cannot forgive you for violating military law and inciting the soldiers.”

A red gleam of light flashed, and Blackjack’s head went flying high into the air.

The crowd swallowed hard as they watched Blackjack’s head roll on the ground. Sheathing her sword, she turned on her earpiece.

“Let me make this clear. We are not retreating.” Her voice echoed to every hunter. “Fight with the resolve to die. I, too, will die here with all of you. If there is anyone whose will breaks, who abandons their comrades and flees…” She grabbed Blackjack’s severed head and threw it with all her might. The chunk of flesh flew hundreds of meters. Monsters, seeing the meat, began to drool and run toward it. “I will personally come find you.”

* * *

“A-1, Suncheon clear.”

“A-1, Jinju clear.”

“A-1, Ulsan clear.”

Each time Yusin reported a clear, cheers erupted from the command channel. Clearing a Cataclysm required an immense amount of manpower and time. Yet, the team with the code A-1, leading the Sky Castle, was conquering them in a matter of minutes upon arrival.

“This is A-1, ascending from Ulsan. Requesting support assignments for the Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk lines.”

“P-Please, we implore you to come to Pohang! The hunters are struggling with the assault!”

“The Andong front is in danger too!”

“Yeongcheon first!”

It had reached the point where they were fighting amongst themselves. The Sky Castle’s tour was rapidly liberating the Republic of Korea. The media, which had provided disaster information to citizens, was in uproar.

[‘The Sky Castle Has Appeared in Korea!’ Eight Cataclysms Destroyed in a Solo Operation.]

[<Exclusive> Suncheon, Jinju, Ulsan, Pohang, Yeongcheon, Andong Cataclysms Announced Completely Cleared. Citizens Cheer, “A Savior Has Appeared.”]

[The Twist of the Sky Castle That Took Kim Yusin Five Years Ago… The Beginning of Korea’s Counterattack.]

[A New Sky Castle Lord? Who Exactly is Piloting the Sky Castle?]

Every news outlet was running front-page stories about the Sky Castle, and citizens living in shelters were debating who could be controlling it.

[The Sky Castle is heading to Gangneung now! People of Gangneung, make some noise!]

—Thank you so much ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

—We’re saved, we’re saved, we’re saved!

[Who’s piloting the Sky Castle?]

—Nobody knows.

[They’ll come to Yangyang after Gangneung, right? Please, I’m begging.]

[Anyone have a house in Wonju! Will they come to Wonju too?]

[What a mess. Did everyone forget the Sky Castle Lord killed Kim Yusin?]

—Seconded.

—That was Albert’s doing. The current Lord could be different.

—Yup. My house, my land, my property are about to be destroyed. Let’s just focus on surviving for now.

[Calling it now. The one moving the Sky Castle is Kim Yusin’s ghost.]

—Bullshit.

—A ghost, my ass lololol.

The entire nation was waiting with bated breath for the Sky Castle to appear, and Yusin and Ha Yerin answered their hopes. After clearing the Honam and Gyeongsang provinces, they were now destroying every Cataclysm in Gangwon province as well.

“Alright, next up is… huh?”

Yusin looked up. A massive swarm of monsters was approaching, blackening the sky.

“-This is strange, Tower Master,” Ea’s voice came through. “-Monsters from within a Cataclysm do not leave their territory.”

“It’s too unnatural to be a simple rift outbreak. This is the work of demonkins.”

The fact that demonkins had attacked as soon as he arrived in Korea suggested they were taking this situation very seriously.

“-The enemy’s main force consists of rank-6 Stone Gargoyles, with rank-7 Gargoyle Lords among them.”

Rank-6 monsters were the elite of the elite. Each one was a creature that only certified rank-4 hunters could hunt. Ha Yerin must have spotted the monsters too, as her voice came over the comms.

“Mister! What should we do? Should I fire on them?”

“No. We can’t afford to expend the Sky Castle’s firepower. It’ll cause problems for clearing the Cataclysms.” Yusin gathered his mana and walked forward. He would have to resign himself to a considerable drain on his mana and mental energy, but there was no other choice. “I’ll take care of them.”

The gargoyles were closing in fast. Just as Yusin raised his right arm—

WHOOOOSH!

A fighter jet burst through the clouds, trailing a fierce gale. The jet’s fuselage opened, and missiles shot out, embedding themselves in the gargoyles’ bodies and exploding.

BOOM! KABOOM!

While the gargoyles faltered from the sudden bombardment, the jet smoothly turned and descended toward the Sky Castle. Legs extended from its body to touch down, and its wings transformed into arms. The jet, now in the form of an Iron Golem, landed with a cloud of dust.

’That’s definitely…’

“Oppa! I’m here to help!” The golem’s chest cockpit opened, revealing Eunsol waving her hand.

“Sol! How did you get here…?”

“Catch, Sunbae!”

This time, blue elixirs were flying through the air. Yusin reflexively reached out, and the elixirs landed neatly in his hands.

“Wow! That’s amazing, just as I’d expect from you.”

Behind the golem, Jin Bora walked over, waving her hand like a graceful lady. “I never imagined you’d bring the Sky Castle with you!” Even as she spoke to Yusin, she expertly flicked her wrist, throwing a potion.

SWOOOSH!

The explosive potion soared through the air and detonated amidst the ascending gargoyles. Shredded pieces of flesh rained down.

“Ah, Sunbae! A few are heading your way!”

Yusin turned his head to see several gargoyles flanking them. Among them was a particularly large rank-7 Gargoyle Lord. Yusin stood still with his arms crossed as the Gargoyle Lord dove, extending its hook-like claws.

CRUNCH!

A fist, flying like a bolt of lightning, slammed into the monster’s face. It was Jeong Seojin. As the Gargoyle Lord tried to flee, he cast a spell.

<Scadi>

An ice dragon shot from his palm, freezing the Gargoyle Lord’s body and wings solid and sending it crashing to the ground.

“My apologies for the delay,” Jeong Seojin said with a smile, dressed in a hunter suit.

Jin Bora approached with light steps and clung to Yusin’s arm, laughing. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it? The four of us fighting together like this.”

“It has.”

“Mister! More gargoyles are coming!” Ha Yerin’s voice cut in.

Yusin nodded. “Alright, let’s fight together.”

“Yes!”

Eunsol operated a switch, and the Iron Golem’s back opened, launching a flight unit. It took root on the Sky Castle’s surface, transformed into a turret, and began showering the approaching gargoyles with projectiles. Soon, the Iron Golem piloted by Eunsol leaped into the air, wielding sword devices in both hands and cutting a swath through the enemy ranks. The monsters were torn to shreds.

“Hah!”

Just then, the golem’s back opened again, and Eunsol shot out. She spun in mid-air, landing on a floating platform equipped with boosters. When she pointed a finger at the monsters, identical Iron Golems flew out in droves and began to cut them down.

“Woooow!” Ha Yerin’s gasp of admiration came through the earpiece.

Yusin was just as surprised. Even without the dreamscape’s effects putting her to sleep, she could now perfectly control over ten Iron Golems, a notoriously difficult feat.

“Sunbae! Watch out in front!” Jin Bora, who had her hand in her subspace pocket, swung her arm forcefully. A hundred potions, connected by invisible strings, scattered into the sky. The gargoyles, seeing the incoming projectiles, tried to disperse, but the strings connecting the potions snapped one by one, changing their trajectories. The potions collided and ricocheted off each other in mid-air, their paths altering unpredictably. It was a perfect net of fire, disguised as a series of incredible coincidences, but in fact a highly calculated attack that accounted for the targets’ future positions.

KABOOOOOM!

The explosion of one potion triggered a chain reaction, detonating all one hundred. A field of fire materialized in the sky, and the burning flesh of monsters rained down.

“Haaaah.”

Jeong Seojin stood with a serious expression, his eyes closed as he controlled his breathing. In an instant, his eyes snapped open. He stepped forward with his left leg and threw a powerful punch. A rough shockwave shot out, reaching Jin Bora’s fire net and spreading the flames even further back. The fire and burning debris fell upon the group of gargoyles that had been trying to circle around.

Having sent the fire net flying, Jeong Seojin immediately launched himself into the sky. Using Eunsol’s fighting Iron Golems as stepping stones, he leaped up, found another Gargoyle Lord, grabbed it, and snapped its neck.

’Piece of cake,’ Yusin thought, lowering his arms. Against his current administrators, ten minutes was more than enough to melt away all the gargoyles.

* * *

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