Chapter 59 – Beache (１)

Jun and Woo Jimin left the training ground shortly after.

After they departed, Emily was burning with resolve.

Bundled up in a single-minded obsession to grow faster than the genius named Baek Gijun.

‘…I got more than I expected out of this.’

White Wood smiled, watching Emily.

‘I thought it would provide some stimulation, but…’

From the start, White Wood had planned to push for the duel between Jun and Emily.

Emily had needed fresh stimulus.

And in the process, he could also check the potential of a Superhuman named Baek Gijun.

The result far exceeded even his own wildest imagination.

Emily received an immense shock that shattered the listless boredom she had unconsciously been feeling.

At this rate, Emily would grow even faster.

With a clear goal now in sight, her talent would only spread its wings further.

‘Emily and that young man Baek Gijun—they’re bound to become people who’ll push humanity forward in the near future.’

Humanity has always been under threat.

Most people don’t feel it, but Superhumans fighting on the front lines every day know the truth.

This world is a ticking time bomb.

A bomb held in check only by the blood of Superhumans, always threatening to go off at any moment.

For that, strong and talented Superhumans were needed.

He needed someone who could fill his place when the time came for his own retirement.

That was why he had discovered and nurtured a talent like Emily.

But today, he had discovered another talent entirely.

A talent that might just fill his empty spot even faster than Emily could.

‘What a good day.’

White Wood felt genuine gratitude for this encounter.

*

“Mr. Gijun, as much as I want to give you a million kisses and buy you delicious food, I have to go pick someone up.”

Those were the words Woo Jimin had left him with a little while ago.

And just as she’d said, she had left the guild to go meet them.

To pick up Hwarang’s official Raid Team 1, that was.

The Level-8 Dungeon raid that had been ongoing for several weeks was finally nearing its end.

It was expected that they’d complete the clear and return to Earth today.

The media was already pouring intense interest into the matter.

And it was only natural.

The Dungeon Gijun had cleared wasn’t the only one affected by the Level-9 Dungeon’s influence.

The Level-8 Dungeon, led by Ha Taehyeong, had seen a sharp difficulty spike as well.

And Hwarang had been deeply worried about it, too.

But they were stubbornly racing toward the finish.

And just moments ago, word had come in that they’d begun the final phase against the Boss Monster.

‘They said everyone was safe….’

According to Ha Taehyeong’s report, there were injuries, but not a single death.

It was an achievement great enough to stun the world.

The first-ever conquest of a Level-8 Dungeon affected by a Level-9 Dungeon’s influence.

The value of the data and byproducts they could pull from it was beyond measure in words.

‘Huuuh….’

Today had been full of stimulation in so many ways.

A genius like Emily.

An idol like White Wood.

And even the exploits of veterans as lofty as distant stars….

‘Let me try harder, too.’

It was a moment where he realized, once again, that now wasn’t the time to be racking his brains over mere numbers of the Underworld’s warriors.

‘If the numbers are lacking, I just have to run more.’

If my firepower is lacking, I just have to get stronger.

Because he had the ability to do exactly that.

‘Let’s go.’

With that, Gijun lay himself back down on the connector.

*

“You’re here.”

“How’s the situation?”

“The same. Even approaching Beache’s fortress is a difficult task.”

As Gijun logged in, Amalta briefed him on the current situation.

“Beache.”

That was the name of the third General.

“This one’s different from the last two. Make no mistake.”

“I figured.”

The First Monarch had five Generals under his command.

Still, if they took down Beache, that would mean eliminating over half of them.

Of course, there was no guarantee the First Monarch would stay idle forever.

At some point, he might launch a full-scale assault of his own.

‘But one thing’s certain — the First Monarch is the only one who’s awakened so far.’

The other Monarchs of the Underworld were said to still be sleeping.

‘Well, even if they woke up, they probably wouldn’t all come at once.’

Just like Libre and Hamal.

The other Monarchs of the Underworld were reportedly locked in mutual suspicion.

No — if anything, it was said to be far worse.

They genuinely hated each other, each wishing for the other’s ruin…

“Alright. Let’s move out, then.”

“Yeah.”

Amalta and Gijun set off again.

Headed for the fortress of the third General.

‘The third Heart isn’t far now.’

Just three more Generals to take down, and he’d get his hands on it.

*

“It never ends, does it?”

“Tell me about it.”

Hours of nonstop fighting against the Underworld warriors, and still they poured out without end.

‘At least my level is climbing nicely…’

[Name: Jun]

[Class: Flame Seeker]

[Title]

-Dragon Slayer

>Grade: Legendary

>Attack Power +100%

>Magic Attack Power +100%

>HP Recovery Rate +50%

>MP Recovery Rate +50%

>Max HP +300%

>Max MP +300%

>All Stats +20

[Level: 130]

[Strength: 1+156]

[Agility: 1+156]

[Stamina: 1+166]

[Magic Power: 374+370]

[Special Stats]

-Fire Affinity: 121

His level had already reached 130.

Naturally, the Underworld warriors couldn’t even withstand Jun’s Fireball anymore; they burst apart at the touch.

[You have achieved an Impossible Achievement!]

[First to hunt 10,000 Underworld Warriors!]

‘Huh?’

An achievement message flashed before his eyes.

First to hunt ten thousand Underworld Warriors.

‘Ten thousand?’

At that number, Gijun’s jaw dropped.

He’d already killed ten thousand of them.

It was almost absurd.

Then another message appeared.

[Hidden Quest triggered!]

[Destroy the Summoning Stone!]

-Grade: Hidden

-Destroy the Summoning Stone (0/1)

-Reward: Underworld Warrior spawn suppression / Experience

‘What the—’

A Summoning Stone.

‘This existed?’

He’d never imagined it.

That the Underworld’s warriors were generated through something called a Summoning Stone.

‘So they weren’t just respawning.’

If that was the case, destroying this stone would make conquering the fortress far easier.

‘Perfect.’

Gijun clenched his fist.

‘Guess there’s always a way if you don’t give up.’

After all, this Hidden Quest was the reward for hunting ten thousand of them.

And now…

‘This is it.’

The moment the Quest activated, he began to see the scattered fragments of dying Underworld warriors—

Shapes he hadn’t noticed before.

And now, those fragments were drifting toward a single spot.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“Just follow me for now.”

“…Damn it. Fine.”

Amalta followed without another word.

*

“What… is that?”

Where the fragments led them, a huge crystal was embedded in the ground.

A black crystal, easily over three meters tall.

“It’s a Summoning Stone.”

“A Summoning… Stone?”

“Yeah.”

Living up to its name, countless Underworld warriors were already gathered around it.

Hundreds at the very least.

The path to the stone was completely blocked.

And even now, more warrior fragments were streaming toward it.

It seemed the stone was endlessly regenerating them.

‘No wonder they never run out.’

No matter how fast he killed them, the Summoning Stone kept pouring out more—like pouring water into a bottomless jar.

“If we destroy that, the Underworld warriors won’t spawn anymore. Probably not permanently, though.”

“I see. But… destroying it won’t be easy either. With these bastards surrounding it…”

Amalta nodded and adjusted his grip on his spear.

“As expected, you’re worthy of my recognition.”

“…”

Not that Gijun was the one who’d figured it out.

Still, without bothering to respond, he also rose to his feet.

“So, I’ll draw their attention. You destroy that thing.”

“You sure?”

“Of course.”

With that, Amalta charged forward.

He swung his spear in a wide arc toward the Underworld warriors.

Crack—Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Amalta, empowered by the General’s Equipment far beyond before.

A single spear strike sent over a dozen Underworld warriors flying into the air.

“You bastards! Come at me!”

Amalta shouted again.

One of his unique abilities—a skill that drew enemies toward him.

In simple terms, an Aggro skill.

In that instant, the Underworld warriors charged at Amalta,

[Now.]

“Yeah.”

The path to the Summoning Stone lay open.

Gijun cast Strong Wind and Orca’s Footsteps simultaneously, hurling himself forward.

A deep thrum filled the air.

Even as he launched himself, the Fireball he’d finished casting slammed into the Summoning Stone.

Crack!

A barrier of Magi encased the Summoning Stone.

Despite a volley of Fireballs, they hadn’t managed to strike the stone itself.

But Gijun was already casting another.

The moment the second Fireball struck the Summoning Stone, a fissure split the Magi barrier.

‘Again!’

He loosed another cluster of five Fireballs.

Crrrack—!

The barrier fractured at last.

‘Now, for real…’

As his fourth cast completed and he poured out the Fireballs,

Shing!

the Magi barrier shattered.

In that instant, the Underworld warriors charged toward Gijun.

‘Where do you think you’re going!’

Gijun whipped Strong Wind into a fury.

The gale tore through the Underworld warriors, ripping their bodies apart and flinging them into the air.

‘Time to finish this.’

He sent another Fireball streaking toward the Summoning Stone.

Boom-boom-boom-boom-BLAM!

This time the Fireball struck the Summoning Stone with no resistance.

The stone exploded into countless fragments, showering the air.

‘Done.’

A message flashed before him.

[You have destroyed the Summoning Stone!]

[Quest completed!]

[Underworld warriors will not respawn for 48 hours!]

‘Forty-eight hours.’

So it wasn’t a permanent shutdown.

But that was fine.

Forty-eight hours was enough time to capture the fortress and take down the General.

[I think we need to help that guy.]

Libre spoke.

Gijun nodded.

“Of course.”

It was thanks to Amalta that he’d destroyed the Summoning Stone so easily.

Now it was time to help Amalta clean up the remaining Underworld warriors.

“Let’s go!”

“Hurry and help me!”

*

“It’s been destroyed.”

Beache.

The third General of the First Monarch.

She had just realized the Summoning Stone was gone.

“Then they’ll come flooding here.”

Beache was smiling.

“Insolent brats.”

They’d already killed two of her fellow Generals.

“They’re probably full of themselves right now.”

But that was a delusion.

“The Monarch gave me this.”

It meant she had been granted the authority to borrow the Monarch’s power directly.

And now….

Rumble!

The General’s fortress began to tremble.

That meant the bastards had started their assault.

‘Not knowing this will be their grave. How arrogant.’

A chilling smirk curled at the corner of Beache’s mouth.

“Deploy.”