Chapter 238 – The Strongest Reinforcements (3)

On the first day of the European Union’s 6-star subjugation operation.

Fenrir’s legion was annihilated in that day’s battle.

However, due to Fenrir’s new, evolved skill, the allied forces suffered 12,000 casualties.

Among them, the number of deceased Awakened Hunters reached one thousand.

This was the toll from just the first day, before a proper engagement had even begun.

If not for the high command’s swift decision to retreat, it would not have been strange if everyone present had been wiped out.

But just because the enemy was strong didn’t mean they could halt the battle.

The Awakened Hunters evacuated to bunkers, while automated armored divisions tested effective strike methods against Fenrir.

The result was the silencing of every tank and every fighter jet.

Furthermore, Fenrir began bombarding the surrounding nations.

As if MOABs weren’t enough, Fenrir, having now acquired the ability to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles, returned the favor to the military bases that had fired missiles at it.

Of course, the military bases were dumbfounded, but they didn’t just stand by and watch.

A ballistic missile launched by a monster.

They attempted to intercept it and alter its course with guided missiles.

But absurdly, it defied all modern conventions and simply blew the military bases to smithereens.

In the first place, monsters don’t manufacture ballistic missiles.

This was merely a ‘skill’ used by the monster.

What was inside wasn’t a chemical reaction but a concentration of mana, a fundamentally different concept.

Ultimately, on the second day, the surrounding European nations were left in tatters by Fenrir, which fired missiles for a full 24 hours as if its mana were endless.

The only hopes they had left were tactical nukes and the Union’s elite.

In this moment of crisis, the President of France was meeting with the superhero, Ian Kruger.

He broke out in a cold sweat as he reviewed the contents Ian Kruger had presented.

According to this contract, they were by no means heroes.

“Hunter Ian. The terms of this contract are…”

“You think they’re predatory?”

Ian cut him off with a bright laugh.

Meeting his gaze, the President fell silent. It felt like facing a wild beast.

“It’s better than your country falling to ruin. Wouldn’t you rather be remembered as the leader who ensured France’s survival than the one who destroyed it?”

With a contract like this, France would become nothing more than a vassal state under the Union’s control.

No, it would be more accurate to call it a subsidiary.

“We have plenty of time. You can think of this as us just taking a stroll.”

“You people are insane.”

“But we’re the capable kind of crazy. Mr. President, I’m only giving you a coffee break. Your time is running out.”

Ian Kruger drank the coffee placed before him.

The coffee level dropped in an instant.

He was threatening to just get up and leave once he finished it.

“I feel sorry for the French citizens who looked at me and dreamed of hope. I suppose I’ll have to answer their questions. ‘Regrettably,’ I’ll say. France isn’t the only nation that wants salvation.”

Ian spoke with a hint of a smile, then took another sip.

The coffee, now nearly gone, was a stark reminder that time was short.

“What do you gain by controlling France?”

“Not just France.”

As he spoke, Ian lifted his coffee cup again.

“Every nation that desires our help will join us. We’ll literally become one.”

Ian brought the cup to his lips. Finally, the French President answered him.

“Very well. I’ll sign.”

Ian set the coffee cup down.

“Excellent. We’re partners now. Shall we talk business?”

“You must defeat that goddamned monster.”

At the President’s words, Ian Kruger flashed a brilliant, toothy smile.

“No problem.”

It was the very smile of the hero beloved by the masses.

***

Ian Kruger is coming.

The news displeased the allied Hunters.

Soon, cheers began to erupt from all corners.

The allied military forces, unaware of the circumstances, welcomed the superhero Ian Kruger and his entourage.

The allied Hunters, however, looked upon Ian Kruger’s Union crew with indifference.

“You all look like a mess.”

“Now that his lordship the hero has arrived, our suffering is over. Can we go home now?”

As a Black hunter spoke with biting sarcasm, Ian’s personal guard narrowed their eyes.

“What? You want a piece of this?”

The Black hunter, who was extremely hostile toward the Union, looked ready to throw down at any moment.

Seeing him, Ian approached with a smile.

A brief silence fell.

The Black hunter, Justin Jackson, felt an overwhelming aura emanating from Ian Kruger and swallowed hard.

The Union was full of bastards he hated. But Ian possessed the presence of a monster who had transcended the S-rank.

Ian placed a hand on the Black hunter’s shoulder. Then he let out a hearty laugh.

“Jackson, we’re comrades who will be fighting together from now on. Lighten up.”

“Together? With you?”

“That’s right. I may be the piece of trash who stole your woman in the past, but right now, don’t we share a common enemy?”

If they were to fight together, Ian Kruger’s presence would be immense. He would be a definite asset. That much was true.

“Didn’t you see the footage of that crazy beast running wild on your way here? It’s been all over the international news; even civilians must have seen it.”

“I saw it.”

“And you still feel like hunting that thing?”

At Jackson’s question, Ian leisurely crossed his arms.

“Of course. I came to hunt it. That’s all.”

“…!”

Murmurs began to spread at Ian’s declaration.

Many of the European hunters gathered here were quite skilled. But against Fenrir, which fired off skills like modern artillery, there was little they could do.

“Does anyone have a strategy?”

There was none.

Seeing the commander, Yann Michael, remain silent, Ian grinned, baring his teeth.

“I thought of a method on my way here.”

“Are you hoping we’ll be your meat shields?”

Jackson scoffed, thinking it was obvious.

He was going to use all the hunters here as sacrifices to find a key to victory.

“No, the opposite.”

But words that defied everyone’s expectations came out.

“I will be the bait.”

“…!”

“I think I must have misheard you…”

“No, you heard me correctly.”

Ian Kruger repeated himself in front of everyone.

“Analyzing its behavior patterns, attacking with large numbers will only increase our casualties.”

No one could deny it, as they had already experienced it several times.

“I will create an opening. When I have it pinned down, all hunters will focus their firepower at once and take its head.”

“Sounds great. Humanity’s Strongest is volunteering to be the meat shield.”

At Jackson’s sarcastic remark, one of Ian’s aides immediately stood up. But Ian stopped his man with a smile.

“If it fails, I’m the only one who dies. Isn’t that right?”

“Are you confident?”

“To bear the name of Humanity’s Strongest, Number One, I’d have to be.”

Yann, the French representative, nodded.

As did Emily, the representative of the alliance.

“Alright. Let’s hear the detailed plan.”

“You will all become the saviors of France.”

Ian said with a relaxed smile.

He was a detestable bastard, but no one could deny that Ian Kruger was the strongest.

Besides, they had nothing to lose. If he failed, only Ian Kruger would die.

However, the Asia Branch Chief, Danny McGuire, and David Henry did not trust him in the slightest.

He never did anything that didn’t benefit him.

***

The operation was simple, so it didn’t take long to plan.

They would pour all available firepower into Fenrir’s newly formed army to clear a path.

*KABOOM! BAAANG!*

Puddles filled with monster blood were struck by a barrage of bombs, sending chunks of flesh flying into the air once more.

As expected, the mid- and low-level monsters, excluding the ogres, were turned into slabs of meat before humanity’s overwhelming firepower.

“Well, it’s about showtime.”

Ian casually slung his greatsword over his shoulder and walked forward.

Following at his side were the one hundred members of his personal guard, whom he had trained himself.

“Let’s go.”

Ian shot forward as if propelled by a spring.

The lesser monsters were melted away by the barrage.

The ogres attacked, as if to pulverize the recklessly charging Ian.

The thick arm of an ogre holding a club was sent flying, spraying blood.

Ian Kruger’s broad greatsword, radiating a dark red aura, butchered the ogre’s body.

Without stopping, he used the ogre’s severed body as a springboard and leaped.

Seeing Ian falling upon it from above, another ogre swung its club menacingly.

*CRACK!*

But once again, the descending greatsword tore through the ogre’s torso.

Ian was breaking through the thicket of ogres in a straight line.

The allied hunters witnessed the overwhelming sight of Ian cutting down ogres, one of the highest-grade monsters, as if they were goblins.

“…!”

They were wrong. About Ian Kruger.

In that moment, every hunter felt it.

“Let me show you the difference in our power!”

Ian charged forward as if there were no obstacles.

The ogres couldn’t stop him. Ian broke through the enemy ranks as if running a 100-meter dash.

“Over there…!”

Just then, a fog rolled in, obscuring their vision.

It was the shroud that formed whenever Fenrir began to fight.

Ian entered the fog as if completely unconcerned.

The battle between humanity’s strongest and the monster’s strongest had begun.

The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck, and they could feel the air ripple with shockwaves against their skin.

The fog hid the battle from sight. But the continuous sounds of combat alone allowed them to guess what was happening.

“I guess Number One is Number One for a reason,” Yann, the French commander, muttered. Jackson spat on the ground in displeasure.

“Now.”

At that moment, Ian’s personal guard spoke. They were already activating their buff skills for battle.

They had been tasked with signaling when the chance Ian spoke of arrived.

“Are you sure?”

“It would be a problem if rumors spread that the French commander is a coward.”

When a mere hunter, not even a global ranker, said so with a straight face, Yann’s brow furrowed.

“I am the one in command, not you. If you have a problem with that, go by yourselves.”

At Yann’s words, the personal guard fell silent for a moment.

“My apologies. But it is true that now is the time. If you won’t go, we will go alone.”

The guard’s tone remained provocative. But there were hundreds of ogres swarming toward them.

“All units, battle stations!”

The allied hunters had already drawn their weapons to face the ogres closing in on them.

“Front line, advance!”

“Prepare buffs!”

“Wipe them all out!”

Long-range dealers drew their bowstrings and fired their guns.

The bodies of the heavily buffed tankers shimmered with lights of various colors. They raised their massive shields to block the attacks of the charging ogres.

While the shield tankers held the line, the dealers who were on standby swarmed, one team per ogre, and efficiently dispatched them.

Having fought together several times already, the allied hunters’ combat flowed like water.

The number of ogres was rapidly decreasing.

But the allied hunters were also being beaten to a pulp by the ogres’ swinging clubs.

A tanker who took three consecutive hits had his shield shatter and embed itself in his body.

A supporter desperately used a shield skill to protect his allies.

The green, man-eating giants swarmed in like a tidal wave. The spiral of death, of hunters clashing head-on with that wave, killing and being killed, continued as if it would never end.