Chapter 246 – Demon King Raid (2)

“We’ve arrived at the operation area. Good luck!”

Four S-rank hunters gathered at a location far from where the all-out war was currently unfolding.

“Welcome.”

The person waiting for them on-site was Kim Min-ah. She and twenty other A-rank hunters were on standby.

“Hey, Hyun-ji!”

Kim Tae-yang, who had been waiting there, saw Seo Hyun-ji and waved happily.

Despite the fact that people were dying in droves, his face was remarkably peaceful.

No, all the A-rank hunters gathered here were relaxed.

It meant the unit was composed entirely of veterans. For them, life-or-death battles were not a one-day affair.

“Man, shouldn’t that kid be on our team? When it comes to a straight-up fight, I doubt anyone here is better than him.”

Kaldoma, who had fought Kim Tae-yang before, exaggerated with a groan.

“No, that’s not the case. As I explained during the briefing, you just need to fulfill your respective roles.”

Kim Min-ah immediately refuted Kaldoma’s words. Then, she continued calmly.

“We’re short on time, so we’ll begin the operation immediately.”

Kim Min-ah was a familiar face to those from the Hanul Guild, but not to the others.

No one knew why she was the one giving orders.

They just assumed there was a good reason for it.

“Sir, preparations are complete.”

-Alright.

Starting with the Hunter Management Bureau, then the military, and even other guilds.

Kim Min-ah was the one put forward by Im Jae-joon, who had come to exert his influence everywhere.

-Do you have any regrets?

At Im Jae-joon’s sudden question, Kim Min-ah was momentarily at a loss for words.

She wasn’t ignorant of what he was talking about.

It was the last time Hyunbin was here. When he helped the European hunters in France and took down Union and Quasar.

Hyunbin had asked Olivier if she would go with him.

Hearing those words, Olivier felt her heart tremble.

He needed her. Perhaps she could have truly become someone special to him. But in the end, she refused.

The reason was simple.

She couldn’t leave the master she served.

Hyunbin didn’t ask a second time.

He left this dimension, and it was unlikely he would ever return.

In other words, they would never see each other again.

“I have no regrets.”

-Good. Begin.

Im Jae-joon gave the order to start the operation.

The war with the East could not be won. Fighting against those who had grown powerful by conquering multiple dimensions was like throwing an egg against a rock.

You don’t face a storm head-on. Instead, you become part of that storm and build your strength for the time being.

And to become that ‘strength,’ they had to show their potential.

Because no one would have any use for something completely worthless.

-Take the head of the Demon King Crosell.

“Yes, sir.”

To survive, they had to struggle. And in this fight, they couldn’t rely on Hyunbin.

Kim Min-ah sent a transmission to all the hunters.

“Operation Team. Clear the way.”

The Operation Team consisted of twenty A-rank hunters, including Kim Tae-yang.

They were all veterans who wouldn’t bat an eye at most monsters.

Demon King Crosell had sent all her troops to the front, but that didn’t mean she was without guards.

“Knights are coming.”

Knights.

Half-human, half-demon beasts. The mythical creatures known as centaurs reacted upon seeing the A-rank hunters.

“Those things really exist?”

Kim Tae-yang said, pouring a large amount of mana into his kukri.

The Knights fired arrows at the approaching enemies.

*Fwish, fwoosh!*

The incoming arrows ricocheted off a shield cast by an A-rank healer.

The supporters cast buffs on their comrades. The hunters, filled with surging power and in peak condition, shattered the rain of arrows and broke through.

Seeing this, the Knights dropped their bows and took up spears.

They immediately performed a lance charge to punish the hunters.

*Bzzzzzt!*

A lance charge that crackled like lightning flew toward Kim Tae-yang.

But Kim Tae-yang swiftly sidestepped, evading the attack while simultaneously slashing the Knight’s belly.

*Pow!*

Before he could be struck by its hind legs, Kim Tae-yang sidestepped again and dove into the enemy’s formation.

‘This hurts, damn it.’

He could feel the sensation of the Knights’ spears grazing his skin. But he didn’t have time to register every pang of pain.

His role was to disrupt the enemy formation.

“S-rank hunters, Hunting Team, conserve your strength. Operation Team, proceed to eliminate all the Knights.”

Thanks to Kim Tae-yang’s outstanding performance, the Operation Team slaughtered dozens of Knights without taking much damage.

Watching this, Kaldoma whistled.

“Isn’t that kid already S-rank?”

At Kaldoma’s praise, Yeomje simply crossed his arms without a word.

As expected of Lee Hyunbin’s student, he was fighting with a huge grin on his face.

You’d be right to call him a madman.

‘But that other kid isn’t here.’

He knew Kim Tae-yang was exceptionally talented. So it wasn’t surprising that he was a prospect who would one day aim for S-rank. However, there was someone else from the Hanul Guild that Yeomje had been keeping an eye on.

‘Kim In-ho, was it?’

A person who was rated lower than Kim Tae-yang due to his ambiguous ‘All-Rounder’ class.

But his command in a previous large-scale battle had been excellent. And his ability to deploy people in the right place at the right time was also impressive.

In a time of war like this, a hunter like him was an invaluable asset.

“There are five more Knights 15 meters ahead. Hunter Kim Tae-yang, ignore them and take out the magician first.”

“Magician? Who’s the magician… Ah, that one!”

Kim Tae-yang charged like a tempest toward the centaur holding a staff in the safest location.

The other Knights tried to stop Kim Tae-yang, but it was too late.

In an instant, Kim Tae-yang sprinted forward, sparks flying from the ground, dodged an attack, and leaped onto the magician’s back. Then he mercilessly punched a hole in the magician centaur’s neck.

“Enemy reinforcements will arrive in one minute and thirty seconds.”

Kim Min-ah watched as the A-rank hunters expertly carried out their roles.

It was only because Kim Tae-yang was fighting so well; the centaurs were powerful elites.

If Kim Tae-yang grew tired and failed to hold the line, they could be wiped out in an instant.

Kim Tae-yang knew this as well. That’s why he was pacing himself even while fighting.

“Moving to Point L.”

While taking down enemies, they moved to the pre-designated building.

The enemies were now spotting those approaching their king and sounding the alarm.

The A-rank hunters had to hold out by luring the enemy and fighting a defensive battle.

“Hunting Team. Move to Point X!”

Finally, the S-rank hunters began to move.

Seo Hyun-ji, who had only been observing the battle, heard the sounds of Kim Tae-yang and the other hunters fighting the enemy.

Her heart was heavy, but right now, defeating the Demon King was the priority.

Above all, she had the most important role to play in this raid.

“Move along the outer wall of the building. Hold for thirty seconds. Okay, move again!”

Kim Min-ah acted as their navigator, monitoring the battle situation.

Injuries began to appear among the A-rank hunters.

“You have to hold on longer. The line is breaking too fast, fill the gap.”

Kim Min-ah had no choice but to speak harshly to them.

If they collapsed now, they wouldn’t be able to get the Demon King.

If they couldn’t hold out against the royal guards for as long as possible, this operation was impossible.

The Hunting Team, the four S-rank hunters, were able to encounter the Demon King floating in the sky above Seoul Station, thanks to the A-rank hunters drawing the enemy’s attention.

The Demon King was asleep in mid-air, her face buried in her knees.

“Hunter Seol Ji-hoon. Please defend against the Demon King’s attacks. Hunter Seo Hyun-ji, please begin.”

Upon hearing her name, Seo Hyun-ji began to activate her ability.

“Hunter Seo Hyun-ji is the key.”

As Kim Min-ah piled on the pressure, Seo Hyun-ji bit her lip.

The Demon King was currently in the air. The only ones who could land an effective blow were Seo Hyun-ji and Yeomje.

Of the two, Seo Hyun-ji would use the four great spirits to drag the Demon King down.

That was her role.

“Ventus.”

Seo Hyun-ji’s clothes fluttered as a green giant appeared.

The bow-wielding giant aimed its bowstring according to its summoner’s will.

*Thrum, craack!*

The arrow flew with a sound that tore through the air, aimed at the sleeping Demon King.

*KABOOOOOM!*

Green sparks scattered in all directions.

Amidst what looked like a spectacular fireworks display, a visibly powerful and thick force field spread out in all directions.

-Hunter Hwang Jae-yeon.

At Kim Min-ah’s signal, Yeomje forged the flames he had prepared into the shape of a long spear.

He threw it straight at the Demon King.

*Fwoosh!*

The spearhead flew, leaving a trail of fire, and struck the Demon King’s shield.

*KRAKOOM!*

The flames exploded, but they still couldn’t break the shield.

However, the fire wrapped around the shield, which was made of solid ice.

The Demon King, who hadn’t woken even under the bombardment of the Korean army, opened her eyes and looked around.

A black ring appeared above her head, and black wings unfurled.

Demon King Crosell blinked her long eyelashes and gazed at the humans.

Beautiful and mesmerizing. Her face, exuding pure innocence, carried an oppressive aura so powerful it felt like one would be forced to their knees just by looking at her.

“…Terra.”

Seo Hyun-ji barely managed to activate her ability under the Demon King’s pressure.

The earth spirit raised a pillar of soil, which then coalesced on Ventus’s bow.

*Pshooo!*

Once again, the wind giant’s arrow tore through the air as it flew toward the Demon King.

*Thwack!*

The Demon King’s shield blocked the raging wind. The earth within the spectacularly shattered wind arrow instantly covered the shield.

*Crack…!*

Grains of earth embedded themselves in the Demon King’s ice barrier, and cracks began to form.

‘It’s working.’

Seo Hyun-ji poured all her mana into the earth spirit, unleashing a waterfall of soil upon her opponent.

Wind mixed with stone fragments.

A sandstorm obscured the Demon King’s vision, began to break her barrier, and was forcing her downward.

“Oh, it worked! It worked!”

Kaldoma shouted excitedly.

The barrier that hadn’t even been scratched by the full might of the military’s firepower was being brought down by the S-rank Seo Hyun-ji alone.

“…!”

Just then, Seo Hyun-ji’s pupils dilated.

*Fwoooosh!*

Fragments shaped like snow crystals rose up everywhere, creating a blizzard.

The powerful snowstorm scattered the sandstorm to pieces.

Demon King Crosell was completely unharmed.

Her barrier was also intact.

In other words, they had failed to bring her down.

“Damn it, if only we could’ve dragged the Demon King down…!”

Kaldoma muttered in frustration.

The situation was not good.

The Demon King was spreading her mana in all directions, and they could feel the clear, painful difference in power.

To think that just four S-rank hunters had tried to face such a being. It was absurd.

“What were you trying to do by pulling Cro down…?”

the Demon King asked, blinking her innocent-looking dark eyes.

“Did you perhaps… think you could do something if you brought Cro down…?”

The Demon King lowered her long eyelashes and let out a sigh-like murmur.

“How arrogant…”

“…!”

“…!”

Demon King Crosell folded her wings. Then she slowly landed on the ground.

With her wings folded, she leisurely opened her lips.

“If you make me come down, you think you can do something…?”

This was not a situation where they could do something.

Just facing her was enough to feel an overwhelming sense of pressure.

“Commander lady… I think something’s gone wrong here…? Are you really telling us to hunt *that*?”

Kaldoma whined.

-Yes, you are to engage.

“This is insane.”

Kaldoma cursed at Kim Min-ah’s words.

S-rank was an indicator of those who stood at the pinnacle of human combat power.

Therefore, they could tell.

The being before them, despite her pretty face, was a being at the apex.

“Weren’t you trying to do something…?”

Demon King Crosell murmured again with a blank expression.

-Destruction 39 / 100%

The destruction gauge was rising.

And yet, no one could move. Just the powerful mana barrier she emitted made it hard to breathe.

Meanwhile, the A-rank hunters were surrounded by the Demon King’s royal guard and facing a desperate crisis.

As Kim Tae-yang’s stamina dwindled, his breathing grew ragged, and his movements worsened, causing the other hunters to start taking damage.

“Aaargh!”

Finally, one of the hunters suffered a serious injury.

He gasped for breath as if he might die at any moment from the spearhead lodged in his abdomen.

“Shit, just hold on a little longer!”

Kim Tae-yang shouted as he gripped his kukri, but even his weapon was at its limit.

“H-Hunter Kim Tae-yang! Behind you!”

Hearing his comrade’s shout, Kim Tae-yang tried to dodge. But the attack was already coming in too deep.

‘Ah, shit!’

Kim Tae-yang had a premonition that the enemy’s spear would undoubtedly tear through his stomach.

Even for a regenerator, there was a limit to how much he could heal.

Just as he was wondering if he would survive, the enemy’s spearhead was deflected by something.

Kim Tae-yang quickly turned his head to see what it was.

And then he grinned, showing his gums.

“Whoa, that was awesome, Kim In-ho! You bastard!”

It was Kim In-ho, who hadn’t been seen for a while, ever since Lee Hyunbin had vanished.

-Hunter Kim In-ho. Please take command of the Operation Team.

“Understood.”

Kim In-ho replied to Kim Min-ah, then took Kim Tae-yang’s exclusive weapon from his inventory and tossed it to him.

Gripping the new kukri, Kim Tae-yang smiled. It was new, but it felt as familiar as if he’d been using it for a long time.

“Tae-yang, you can still fight, right?”

“Hah! Me, Kim Tae-yang? I’m just getting started!”

“I know.”

Kim In-ho said with a smile. He channeled a large amount of mana into his sabokchang and spoke again.

“I’ll break the encirclement.”

For the past few months, he had been training fiercely with Gangcheol.

Kim In-ho was confident that he was much stronger than before.

With Kim In-ho’s support, the A-rank hunters were able to buy more time. And for the most important front, against the Demon King, they were finally able to play their trump card.

-Hunter Gangcheol.

Gangcheol, who had been a Hero in another world, walked forward, drawing his longsword from his inventory.

The S-rank hunters alone couldn’t bring down the Demon King. Kim Min-ah was aware of this.

So, they would provoke the Demon King’s pride. Make her come down on her own.

The Demon King, who perceived her opponents as far weaker than herself.

There is no Demon King who doesn’t like to show off their power.

“…A Hero!”

Demon King Crosell sensed Gangcheol’s presence and became extremely wary.

-Please take the Demon King’s head.

Heavily buffed by Lee Hyun-ah, Gangcheol charged straight toward the Demon King.