Chapter 237

Honestly, I was curious too.

Just how much combat power do I currently possess, and to what extent can I push my strength?

And the result, I must say, was astonishing.

[Kyaaak!]

[Kieeek!]

[Shiiiiik!]

Kwaaaang!

Kwadeuk!

Puhwaak!

Like a tidal wave crashing forth, my Shikigami surged from the shadows and began mercilessly pulverizing the Specters.

Starting with the ones closest, all the way to those swarming the shelter entrance and blocking the way.

They were quite powerful, but my Shikigami were even mightier.

“…Burn them.”

Puhwaak!

Hwarureureuk!

“Hmph, these are far too low-quality to be worthy of this lady’s company.”

Kwajajajak!

Hududuk!

Every time Kongsami shot out flames, the Specters writhed in agony, and the vines summoned by Hwabaek seized and twisted their bodies.

The other Shikigami were also dealing with Specters of appropriate levels one after another.

“H-how many are there…?”

“Is what I’m seeing right now real?”

The Exorcists with me were left speechless, their expressions dumbfounded by the spectacle.

And perhaps sensing that the situation was taking a strange turn, the high-ranking Specter in the distance also began to move.

[Boooooo─!]

It was trying to gather the surrounding Specters again to reinforce its forces.

But of course, I wasn’t about to let that happen.

“Suppress it.”

[Grooooh!]

Kung! Kung! Kuoong!

As I gave the command, Keuseundae, which had been smashing nearby Specters, erupted with a fierce momentum and began charging toward it.

Sensing the difference in their levels, the Specter panicked and tried to flee, but that too was impossible.

Keuseundae, having shattered the ground and leaped high into the air, grabbed the nape of its neck and slammed it into the floor.

Wooddeuk!

Kwaaaang─!

That was the end.

The impact was so intense that it could no longer get up.

After pounding it with its fists a few more times, Keuseundae, as if annoyed, left the corpse behind and began moving again to find new targets.

Looking at the roughly cleared situation, I spoke to the citizens who were staring wide-eyed.

“Let’s move.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

No one argued or doubted anymore. They all simply followed behind me with respectful attitudes.

‘I didn’t particularly mean to intimidate them.’

Well, given how intense the power I just displayed was, it might not be that strange.

And more than that, there was one thing bothering me.

‘The number of Specters is too high.’

From what I originally knew, the number of ordinary Specters in the 3rd Night Parade of One Hundred Specters wasn’t that great.

When you think about it, they were just side branches, mere precursors heralding a massive typhoon.

Therefore, the core forces were mostly A-Rank and above Specters, each possessing formidable power.

‘Of course, that meant Specter appearances were sporadic…’

A calamity with an incomparable level of danger to before—that was the final Night Parade.

‘But.’

Now, something is off. It’s clearly different from the flow I knew.

Unlike the original work where mediocre Specters were hardly seen, aren’t Specters already visible everywhere?

‘This is troublesome.’

In a way, it was a kind of balance adjustment.

Instead of powerful entities appearing one after another, the overall numbers were reduced to allow for more concentrated force and response.

However, if trivial Specters become numerous like now, the difficulty inevitably becomes much harder.

This wasn’t simply a one-on-one fight but akin to a kind of war.

It meant precious combat power could be wasted dealing with them.

“……”

As expected, but facing an even more arduous situation, I clicked my tongue softly and moved forward again.

In my mind, I continuously pondered the variables that would arise from this.

“What in the world is this…?”

The Exorcists who were initially escorting the citizens, upon entering the shelter, immediately tried to find the person in charge with hardened, angry expressions.

It was only natural they were angry, as it was essentially an attempt to abandon them and the citizens.

However, the moment they saw the scene inside, even they couldn’t help but let out a bewildered groan.

“I am Ji Young-min, the person in charge here. I have nothing to say in defense of my cold-hearted actions toward you.”

“N-no, what on earth happened here?”

Patients constantly groaning in pain, corpses already cold and left in a corner, and a few Exorcists looking haggard as if their spirits had left them.

The situation in the shelter was miserable. It certainly wasn’t a level where they could afford to worry about the outside, as Ji Young-min had judged.

“Is the situation this serious?”

“This Night Parade is fundamentally different. Even though we prepared sufficient personnel, almost every team suffered casualties while escorting citizens.”

Certainly, Joo Yong-taek and his group would have also suffered significant damage in the earlier situation without Han Kangyoon’s help.

Thinking of that, their miserable state became understandable.

‘Wait, does that mean Specters of that level are appearing in almost every location?’

Joo Yong-taek initially thought he was unlucky, but seeing their condition, that didn’t seem to be the case.

And if that were true, it would be consistent with a massive calamity currently unfolding in Korea.

‘They were definitely strong! Not a level a single team of Exorcists could handle.’

To fully protect the citizens in the earlier incident, they would need to have all personnel at 2nd-Rank or above, or bring along a 1st-Rank or higher Exorcist.

But there couldn’t possibly be that many personnel to spare for dispatch all over the country.

In short, there was no solution.

‘Is this the extent of it?’

He had heard warnings that this Night Parade would be different.

He himself had also been on guard.

After all, all sorts of bizarre events had occurred even before the situation erupted, and sinister energies had been swirling everywhere.

Now, seeing this, it was clear this wasn’t a problem that could be handled with such trivial preparedness.

“Then, the situation at other shelters…”

“Except for areas where High-Ranking Exorcists were dispatched, it probably isn’t much different.”

“A complete mess.”

Of course, now they had a High-Ranking Exorcist here too.

Joo Yong-taek subtly shifted his gaze to look at Han Kangyoon, who was listening to the conversation.

The divine authority he witnessed earlier was at a level that made even the rumored exaggerations seem shabby in comparison.

But perhaps reading something in his expression, Han Kangyoon slightly bowed his head and spoke.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot stay here.”

“Wh-why?”

“The situation is severe. Specters that even 3rd-Rank Exorcists cannot guarantee victory against are roaming everywhere, and among them are rare high-ranking ones mixed in. Having you here would be a great help at a time like this.”

At Ji Young-min’s words, Joo Yong-taek nodded unconsciously.

This place definitely needed help. In such a situation, they couldn’t let go of a talent like Han Kangyoon.

However, the words Han Kangyoon uttered next completely defied Joo Yong-taek and Ji Young-min’s expectations.

“If that were the case, it would actually be fortunate.”

“Wh-what do you mean by that?”

“Can’t you feel it?”

Han Kangyoon raised a finger and pointed in two directions beyond the door. Then he continued.

“Northwest and southeast, at least A+-Rank.”

“Wha…?”

At least A+-Rank. Joo Yong-taek and Ji Young-min weren’t unaware of the meaning hidden in those words.

“Y-you, what are you saying right now?”

“That’s right. No matter what, that can’t be…”

The reason the two were so flustered and at a loss was simple.

No matter how much Han Kangyoon’s abilities surpassed theirs, his range for sensing Spectral Energy shouldn’t be absolute.

That meant, just around here, there were two Specters approaching S-Rank, and if the range was expanded nationwide, far more monsters than that were roaming the world.

“It’s hard to accept, but it’s all true.”

“Th-then, that means… it’s no longer something we can handle with our strength alone?”

Han Kangyoon nodded quietly. And Joo Yong-taek could intuitively grasp the true meaning hidden within.

‘So, saying he can’t stay here means he’s going to hunt those things himself.’

A truly terrifying thought.

Joo Yong-taek had also keenly felt the transcendent power possessed by high-ranking Specters during the previous incident.

If even an entity that barely remained in the lower A-Rank was like that, he couldn’t even imagine how frightening a Specter above that would be.

‘…He’s on a different level.’

Frankly, Joo Yong-taek felt a slight envy.

What if he had talent like Han Kangyoon? What if he had that much power?

But now he saw it wasn’t so. Han Kangyoon was fully qualified to possess such power.

For some reason, Joo Yong-taek felt a nostalgia for the distant past when he obtained his Exorcist qualification.

The mindset of that time, the original purpose he aimed for as an Exorcist, was being engraved in his mind once again.

“I-I don’t know if I can help, but I also…”

Just as Joo Yong-taek was about to voice his own resolve, Han Kangyoon frowned and made a gesture to stop for a moment.

Then, with a serious face, he began concentrating on sensing something.

“What’s the matter all of a sudden?”

“……”

After a long silence, Han Kangyoon, as if something wasn’t going as planned, clicked his tongue softly and soon conveyed the information to everyone.

“The Specter in the southeast I mentioned earlier. It’s heading this way.”

“What!”

If that were true, it would be a disaster. An A+-Rank Specter. If it targeted the shelter, the lives of the citizens couldn’t be guaranteed either.

“Is there no possibility it’s simply passing through on its route?”

“I initially predicted that as well.”

Multiple layers of Barriers were erected inside this shelter.

Even the earlier Specters had only followed the traces of the escort teams; recognizing people gathered inside the shelter from a distance was nearly impossible.

However, even after a few minutes passed, Han Kangyoon’s expression showed no sign of easing.

“…Something seems off. It’s heading precisely toward the direction of the shelter’s location without a hint of hesitation.”

“N-no way.”

From Han Kangyoon, who had quietly closed his eyes, an indescribably calm Spiritual Power spread out.

Then, opening his eyes, Han Kangyoon walked briskly with a look of disbelief and grabbed the wrist of someone among the citizens.

“You, what exactly are you carrying?”

“H-huh?”

On his wrist, which gave a sickly impression, was a reddish-black prayer bead bracelet emitting a strange light.

“Where did you get this?”

“At, at an antique shop… they said it was good for health…”

Han Kangyoon snatched it away and crushed it in one swift motion, then turned back to Joo Yong-taek and Ji Young-min and said.

“There was a Cursed Tool related to a Forbidden Art. It caught the lingering scent.”

“Then that means…”

“Yes. It will come here.”

It was the moment Joo Yong-taek and Ji Young-min’s faces turned utterly pale.