Chapter 159

[Did you guys see the text?]

[Yeah;; what is this? A summons for all Awakeners Level 3 and above]

[This is basically martial law, isn’t it? I thought the national average was Level 3.]

[Fuck, is a war breaking out? No way. How dare they, when Choi Gi-woong is still alive?]

[Checked Reddit, looks like the US, UK, France… pretty much every major country has declared martial law. What the hell is going on?]

[Foreign correspondent in Seoul says there’s an embargo on Monster-related news. Is a Gate opening or something?]

[So suddenly? Didn’t Choi Gi-woong block them all?]

[Oh, a video just dropped. Official video from the International Association. Link.]

[It says Monsters… are going to flock here? In massive numbers.]

[Shit, this is scarier than a war. Just how many are coming?]

[So, are you going?]

A brief silence fell over the community.

A massive war had been announced.

There was no telling how many would die.

But the answer came quickly.

[Of course I have to go. I’ll die anyway if I don’t.]

[They say this is the last battle, so I have to go.]

[Are you watching, my grandson? Grandpa used to do this back in the day~]

[I would’ve run away if I were still a Civilian, but I’m an Awakener now, lol]

[Better to die fighting than to die for nothing. For real, I’m just going to go out thinking this is the end.]

[Considering what Choi Gi-woong has done for us, we should bow our heads and go.]

[Breaking news. S-Rank Skill Books and S-Rank Elixirs will be provided to early volunteers.]

That day, the PR Team leader, who had been biting his nails worrying about how many volunteers there would be, realized his fears were unfounded.

“T-Team leader.”

“I see it too.”

The number clearly displayed on the monitor showed that the volunteer rate had exceeded 700%.

Day 1 of the battle.

Volunteers assembled. An S-Rank Gate appeared in the middle of Gangnam, Seoul. Following this, the same phenomenon was observed in 30 major cities worldwide.

After initial measures, all 30 Gates were raided within three hours.

Day 2 of the battle.

Volunteer rate surged.

50 S-Rank Gates appeared.

Over 50,000 casualties worldwide.

Day 3 of the battle.

An SS-Rank Gate appeared.

A 12-person raid party was formed, including Yeo Ju-kyung.

Raid time: seven hours and thirty minutes. S-Rank Awakener Kyle Hunter died, Hwang Mu-yeol critically injured.

Day 4 of the battle.

Fatality rate increased by 20%.

Increase in attacks from intelligent enemies. 20% of supply factories destroyed, death toll incalculable.

Day 5 of the battle.

Searching for Choi Gi-woong.

Nowhere to be seen. The front line is being pushed back endlessly. Over 30% of S-Rank Awakeners and above are suffering from severe injuries.

Death toll count suspended.

Day 6 since the war began.

Krrrrunch-!

Kim Soo-gyeom’s sword beheaded a winged angel. He watched it collapse.

What was its name again? A Seraphim, was it? It was a Monster he had never seen before.

Of course. It was a new type of Monster created by the System.

“Hoo. Look at this air.”

Kim Soo-gyeom looked ahead.

Unlike the clear autumn sky, there was a damp, foul smell.

The smell of burning flesh, the smell of evaporating poison, the groans of dying Awakeners.

It was a familiar sight.

He had gotten used to it in less than a week.

That was how fierce the time had been.

Kim Soo-gyeom clicked his tongue and gestured with his chin.

“The Demonic Energy has already encroached this far.”

“We’ve decided to push the front line back to Daegu.”

“If it’s already Daegu…”

Kim Soo-gyeom shook his head, warding off a terrible thought.

“Still… no news, right?”

Choi Soo-jung gave a bitter smile and shook her head.

“None. Of course there isn’t. He said he’d be here tomorrow.”

It had been over six days since Choi Gi-woong disappeared.

Tomorrow.

That was the day Choi Gi-woong was supposed to return.

They just had to hold out until then.

That was the sole hope on the battlefield.

“If he doesn’t come back tomorrow either…”

“You crazy bastard. Shut up. Don’t say such unlucky things.”

All sorts of rumors and horror stories were circulating about Choi Gi-woong.

That he had fled to another dimension, that he was already dead, that he had sided with the Demon God and the System, and so on.

“But there’s always a ‘what if’.”

“There are no ‘what ifs’ and no ‘maybes’. If he said he’s coming, he’s coming.”

“I suppose so?”

“So you just believe and fight.”

The battlefield was filled with nothing but bad news.

It was no longer a secret that the being called the System and the Demon God called Chaos had joined forces.

And these past few days had allowed Kim Soo-gyeom to feel to his very bones just how much effort they were putting in.

“Choi Gi-woong has been fighting things like this?”

It was a voice from behind.

Head of department Kim Yoon-joong trudged over, his voice sounding like he was on the verge of death.

They were amidst collapsing buildings and a devastated city.

“Head of department. Are you okay?”

“No, I feel like I’m about to die. It was a really close call this time.”

He said it like a joke, but there was no hint of a smile.

It was true. His internal organs were rotting from enduring the Lizard’s poison.

If the Healer’s support had been even a little late…

“Let’s head back to headquarters for now.”

The second headquarters, hastily set up in Daejeon, was filled with tents.

The atmosphere was chaotic.

An Awakener begging for death, a Healer with sunken eyes, an Awakener preparing for the next battle, an avenger who had lost their family.

All sorts of people were gathered there.

“Feels like it’s been about three years.”

“It feels that long, doesn’t it? You’re alive? Both of you.”

Im Han-na said jokingly, gesturing to Choi Soo-jung and Kim Soo-gyeom with her chin.

“I really thought I was going to die this time. It was an S-Rank.”

“Of course I have to stay alive. There’s still so much I haven’t done.”

Kim Soo-gyeom, forcing a bright greeting, rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“How’s it going? What’s the situation like? If we get pushed back this time, are we going all the way to Jeju Island?”

“One question at a time.”

Im Han-na sighed deeply and shrugged.

“It’s not good.”

“So, how bad is it?”

“Bad enough to crush your morale if you hear it.”

It meant everything was at its worst.

It showed just how hard Chaos and the System were trying, determined to destroy a dimension.

“The fact that we’re holding on is a miracle, a miracle.”

“What if the Civilians hadn’t become Awakeners?”

“It would’ve been game over long ago.”

It was the legacy Choi Gi-woong had left behind.

Turning all Civilians into Awakeners. If not for that, humanity would have been annihilated long ago.

“He was a crazy bastard, that guy.”

“Who?”

“Who else? Choi Gi-woong.”

“Why are you suddenly calling Gi-woong-oppa a crazy bastard?”

“He’s a crazy bastard for handling all this by himself.”

A self-deprecating smile appeared on Head of department Kim Yoon-joong’s face.

“Crazy bastard, crazy bastard. How did he block all this? An amazing guy. An amazingly crazy guy.”

Muttering, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong asked again.

“How many hours are left?”

“Five hours and five minutes.”

“It’s going to be a damn long wait. They’ll know too, on their side.”

“They probably do. They’re already struggling desperately.”

The S-Rank Gates, which usually appeared dozens of times a day, were particularly relentless today.

Kim Soo-gyeom looked forward again.

The sky, which had been clear just a moment ago, had grown dark.

It had been consumed by the Demonic Energy.

The parts of the city where the battle had just taken place could only be described as devastated.

Scars left by giant Monsters, blood, contaminated poison, and new life forms created by the System.

But more than things like that.

Kwoong!

“…Something’s coming.”

A faint vibration was detected from the ground.

It was still just a small tremor.

At the same time.

A strange siren blared from the hastily set up headquarters tents.

A siren that only went off when five or more S-Rank or higher Gates appeared.

“What is this.”

“Get ready again.”

Im Han-na scoffed.

“It’s time for their last-ditch effort.”

“Five hours…”

“Right. We just have to hold out for five hours. Then everything will be cleaned up. The System, Chaos, whatever.”

Researchers rushing out of the tents shouted at Kim Yoon-joong.

“H-Head of department!”

“How many.”

“At l-least twenty S-Rank Gates. At least!”

Groans erupted from all around.

Awakeners who had been putting on their Items slumped down with drained faces. Seeing this, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong grew anxious.

What if they run away? he wondered.

It was an unfounded fear.

“Damn it all. Choi Gi-woong or not, it looks like I’m going to die first.”

“You trying to run now?”

“If I run now, I won’t be able to tell my grandson about this.”

The Awakeners who had somehow managed to survive all had fire in their eyes.

They had lost family and comrades to the System and the Demons.

It wasn’t something that had happened yesterday or today.

The single-minded desire for revenge was what moved them.

“…Should I leave a will in advance?”

“Shut up and everyone get ready. This is the real last stand.”

“Even if I die, I won’t go down easy.”

Having confirmed that much, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong asked Im Han-na.

“How many troops are left?”

“I’ve ordered all agents across the country to come here. The number is probably…”

Im Han-na’s eyes darted around before she clicked her tongue.

“300,000?”

“You’re saying we have to stop them with that number.”

Normally, the number 300,000 Awakeners would have been reassuring.

But a whopping thirty S-Rank Gates were bursting open.

As the time of Choi Gi-woong’s return drew closer, their desperate struggle would only intensify.

“Is our death a sure thing?”

“What are you asking for?”

“Damn it. It’s a sure thing. That bastard Han Seung-hoon should die with me, if I’m going to die.”

Smirking, Im Han-na patted Head of department Kim Yoon-joong’s shoulder.

“Ah. If I knew it would be like this, I would’ve submitted my resignation sooner.”

“Resignation? What resignation?”

“It’s a long story.”

Sighing, Im Han-na finished her battle preparations.

Squad-based combat by trained agents? A perfect strategy? None of that was needed now.

A dogfight for survival was all that mattered.

Kwoong!

Slowly, they began to reveal themselves.

It had to be described as a massive legion.

“Half angels, half Monsters. It’s like a game.”

“Let’s just think of it as a game.”

“Isn’t the difficulty a bit too hard?”

Kim Soo-gyeom grinned and chugged a Potion.

“Hey, is it okay to drink it like that?”

“Who cares.”

Time to recover stamina was a luxury.

He stuffed his mouth with all the S-Rank Elixirs that had just arrived from the supply depot.

Side effects?

There was no room to think about such luxuries.

His ears were ringing.

It was proof that they were close.

The mixed energy of Demonic Energy and Mana felt like it was crushing his body.

Kim Soo-gyeom looked back at Choi Soo-jung.

“Your gear?”

“Got it.”

“Stay behind me.”

“You should be careful yourself.”

“I’m always careful. As befits the first Awakener to reach S-Rank.”

“All talk, as usual.”

Kwoong!

The beings, who had been walking slowly, began to pick up speed.

It was the first time since he reached S-Rank.

This kind of tension, the feeling that he might actually die, was also a first.

Kwaaaaaang!

It came with a roar that shook the heavens and the earth.

Several Awakeners landed on the ground.

From Yeo Ju-kyung, the first to be seen, to Hwang Mu-yeol, Lee Jeong-hwan, and even Executive Director Bae of Ilseong.

They were all exhausted, but they didn’t care.

“How many hours left.”

At Yeo Ju-kyung’s question, Head of department Kim Yoon-joong’s mouth opened automatically.

“A little less than five hours.”

“Not much time left. We can hold out until then, right?”

Yeo Ju-kyung closed her eyes.

There was a secret art Choi Gi-woong had taught her before he left.

Ddu-du-duk- Tu-duk-*

A Skill that temporarily boosted one’s power by exploding all the vital energy in one’s body.

The price was one’s lifespan.

“Hoo.”

Yeo Ju-kyung let out a breath.

Her aura had changed. She had finally reached the realm known as SSS-Rank.

And because of that, she could see something more clearly.

Just how strong those approaching were.

Did Choi Gi-woong really fight things like this alone?

Since when?

No. Now was not the time to think about such things.

Her heart pounded.

Yeo Ju-kyung rushed forward and said.

“Hold on. Until Choi Gi-woong arrives.”