Chapter 111

KABOOM!

Along with a tremendous explosion, a shockwave, as if the world itself was turning upside down, swept over them.

Shhhhhh!

“Ugh!”

Kang Yuseong quickly deployed his Iron Armor to protect himself from the immense destructive power, but the might of the Mega Explosion was still overwhelming.

“Kieeeek!”

King Arachne, too, couldn’t withstand the fierce explosion and began thrashing wildly.

Hot flames surged across its body, and countless scorched wounds, as if it had been severely burned, appeared all over it.

But King Arachne was no easy foe.

Even engulfed in such intense heat, it stubbornly held its ground, refusing to fall.

Kang Yuseong gritted his teeth and stood up.

The surroundings were still filled with the terrifying heat left by the Mega Explosion, but he paid it no mind. This dreadful attack, which had nearly blown Kang Yuseong away as well, was the opportunity Kim Do-jin had created.

Seizing it was now Kang Yuseong’s task.

Thud!

He pushed off King Arachne’s back and dashed forward.

The sword in his right hand gleamed, dazzlingly reflecting the crimson firelight.

Approaching King Arachne’s head, Kang Yuseong leaped into the air once more.

Whoosh!

Soaring high into the sky, Kang Yuseong gripped the sword hilt with both hands and plunged down.

CRACK!

His sword pierced King Arachne’s hard head carapace.

CRACKLE!

The incredibly tough carapace split open as if a radish had been cleaved, and the sharp sword tip was sucked deep inside.

Kim Do-jin’s target had been King Arachne’s head.

Since it had already taken a direct hit from the Mega Explosion, its defenses were significantly weakened, and Kang Yuseong had exploited that opening.

CRUNCH!

Beneath the head carapace, there was another skull.

It was a double protective layer for its brain. Because of that, it had been able to withstand Kim Do-jin’s Mega Explosion, even with a direct hit to the head.

But that was the end of it.

Kang Yuseong’s sword, imbued with scorching flames, shattered the skull and burrowed deep within.

“Kieeeek!”

King Arachne, its head instantly pierced, reared back and let out a monstrous shriek.

Sizzle—

The superheated sword, after breaking its skull, mercilessly tore through the brain inside.

Its brain melted and shriveled from the flames, and the gooey brain tissue was churned violently, causing King Arachne to finally start thrashing and rampaging in all directions.

Black blood spewed violently from its mouth, and the fur all over its body stood on end.

‘Not deep enough!’

Realizing that this single strike hadn’t completely finished the creature, Kang Yuseong raised his right hand high.

Whoooosh!

Crimson flames erupted from his hand.

“With this!”

Kang Yuseong’s eyes blazed.

“It’s over!”

At the same moment, his right hand plunged into King Arachne’s head as if being sucked in.

KABOOM!

Instantly, a deafening explosion roared, and a torrent of flames burst forth violently.

King Arachne’s head recoiled violently as if struck by a massive hammer, and its brain matter and tissues scattered into the air, creating a horrifying spectacle.

“Gurgle, gurgle!”

Its brain destroyed, the creature couldn’t even shriek; it simply twitched all over before collapsing.

Whoooosh—

THUD—

Since it was a truly massive creature, the impact of its fall was considerable.

Numerous monsters were crushed to death by its fallen body, and the tank battalion in that area had to hastily turn around and retreat.

“Kiiiiek—”

With King Arachne’s fall, the Dark Arachne, who had been fiercely battling the Hunters and soldiers until then, began exhibiting strange behavior.

They writhed and twisted violently, then spewed black foam from their mouths.

The Hunters and soldiers were momentarily bewildered by the sudden sight, but quickly launched a counterattack.

“Kill them all!”

“Wipe them out!”

RATATATATATA!

BAMBAMBAM!

The machine guns mounted on the tanks spewed fierce flames, and the Dark Arachne’s bodies instantly exploded, turning into tattered rags.

At the same time, soldiers unleashed a volley of gunfire, and Hunters dove into the fray, slaughtering the Dark Arachne.

The Dark Arachne, having lost their king, attempted a final desperate counterattack, but their offensive power had drastically decreased, and they were quickly dispatched.

Kang Yuseong quietly observed the scene.

At that moment, a radio message came through to all Hunters.

It was a voice mixed with tremor and relief.

“VIP rescue successful! Repeat! VIP rescue successful! All attack units are ordered to do their best to strike at the enemy’s strongholds and annihilate them!”

Kang Yuseong smiled.

It seemed the attack unit had successfully completed their mission.

Of course, that’s why Kim Do-jin had appeared here.

Kang Yuseong sent a low-voiced radio message.

“Attack unit.”

He looked at the battlefield, where allies and enemies were intertwined, and spoke again.

“Do your best, annihilate the enemy.”

His unit members immediately replied.

“Yes, Captain!”

Their voices were filled with more morale and confidence than ever before.

Thump—

Kang Yuseong nodded, then dashed forward.

Before him stretched a vast sea of monsters.

And that sea…

…began to crumble under the enormous lightning bolts fiercely striking down upon it.

* * * * *

Whoosh!

The acrid smell of gunpowder hung in the air over the battlefield.

The lingering flames, the metallic scent of sweat, and the coppery smell of blood mingled, creating the distinct odor of a battleground.

As the adrenaline that had surged incessantly during the fierce battle slowly receded, people gradually began to look around.

There were bodies of people with severed limbs, corpses of monsters with heads torn off. Sometimes, Hunters had died with their weapons still embedded in an enemy’s heart, and conversely, monsters had met their end with their fangs still buried in a Hunter’s shoulder.

These countless deaths, amassed together, had forged this present moment.

The President.

A tremendous, bloody battle to rescue that one individual, known as the VIP.

But their sacrifices were not in vain.

In this era of great chaos, the President was akin to a faint lighthouse beam in a raging storm. Had he died, it was clear that the nation would have plunged into considerable turmoil.

‘…’

Kang Yuseong flicked his blood-soaked sword once in the air, then sheathed it.

Countless sacrifices.

Such sacrifices would likely continue in the future.

Having witnessed countless such sacrifices, Kang Yuseong knew all too well what that meant.

Hellish situations he would have to face even if he didn’t want to, and endure again even if he wished not to.

“Captain Kang Yuseong.”

Just then, someone approached him.

Kang Yuseong turned around to see President Kang Tae-seok standing there, looking at him with a pale face.

Behind him, key government officials and armed personnel stood in a circle.

“Mr. President.”

Kang Yuseong met his gaze.

Kang Tae-seok slowly nodded.

Then he stepped forward and took Kang Yuseong’s hand.

“Thank you.”

Kang Yuseong’s eyes focused on him.

President Kang Tae-seok offered him a faint smile.

“It seems heaven has not yet abandoned the Republic of Korea. Just now, I thought to myself, ‘I still have so much to do, I cannot die like this. There are citizens who look only to me; I cannot close my eyes alone.’ I repeated those words countless times. It seems heaven has answered my prayers.”

Kang Yuseong calmly met the President’s eyes as he spoke.

Sincerity shone in those eyes.

He wasn’t merely expressing gratitude because his own life was precious. This man truly regretted, as he said, dying before he could complete his duties.

Because he knew that only by staying alive could he properly rescue the countless citizens awaiting salvation.

Just then, someone approached and urgently whispered something to the President.

The President, whose expression had been gentle, changed countenance at the words, then looked at Kang Yuseong again and said,

“Captain Kang Yuseong, I would like to speak with you further, but there are many urgent matters to attend to, so I must depart for today. Let us have a more in-depth conversation later. I will arrange a meeting soon.”

“Understood.”

At this very moment, the President was undoubtedly the busiest person.

Surrounded by his security detail, the President moved to the temporary command post, leaving only the Hunters who had endured the extreme battle.

The Prime Minister was also seen personally visiting the attack units of the Immortal, Taebaek, and Hwarang Guilds to commend their efforts, but given the critical situation, he too quickly departed.

With the immediate crisis averted, Kang Yuseong intended to return with his attack unit.

“Mr. Kang Yuseong.”

Just then, someone called out to him, stopping him.

Kang Yuseong looked and saw Captain Park Jong-han of the Immortal Eternity Attack Unit standing there.

Kang Yuseong replied, looking at him.

“Yes?”

Park Jong-han grinned and extended his hand.

“Park Jong-han, from the Immortal Eternity Attack Unit.”

Kang Yuseong took his hand and nodded.

“Kang Yuseong, Phoenix of the Stardust Attack Unit.”

Park Jong-han also nodded and said,

“Today, you were truly incredible. I wanted to tell you that.”

Kang Yuseong looked at Park Jong-han.

Park Jong-han of Immortal, Eternity.

A remarkable man.

Yet, that very greatness would become his bane, leading to an early demise. He would fall in battle, at the forefront of a raid against the Great Dragon Guav, one of history’s most perilous encounters.

As part of the Immortal Guild, he took his inescapable place at the vanguard and, true to his name, fought with supreme valor before dying a glorious death—an immortal Hunter.

A tremendous loss.

As Kang Yuseong could see, he possessed excellent character, outstanding skill, and exceptional leadership. He was one of South Korea’s finest Hunters, perfectly embodying the term “complete Hunter.”

However, Kang Yuseong had never even considered recruiting him, as his loyalty to the Immortal Guild was simply too strong.

Kang Yuseong offered a faint smile at Park Jong-han’s words and said,

“The Immortal Guild’s fight was also remarkable. I learned a great deal.”

“Then, I hope we meet again soon.”

Kang Yuseong sensed a peculiar competitive spirit in Park Jong-han’s eyes as he spoke, and he inwardly offered a wry smile.

That trait made him seem all the more human and endearing.

“I, too, look forward to it.”

With their greetings exchanged, the two men turned their backs to each other.

The Stardust Attack Unit members, who had been watching, widened their eyes in surprise and spoke to each other.

“Wow, did you see that? The Immortal Guild called us amazing!”

“Our Captain is seriously incredible, huh? Haha, this is no joke!”

“Of course! We saved the President and caught that giant spider!”

Deliberately ignoring the buzz among the Hunters, Kang Yuseong walked among them.

Today’s battle.

It was a battle of great significance, not only for them but also for Kang Yuseong.

A significance that might require him to completely revise his plans.

‘Kang Tae-seok…’

The greatest harvest was the fact that President Kang Tae-seok had recognized Kang Yuseong.

From now on, it wouldn’t be a battle between individual factions.

Nation against nation.

Or allied nations against a single nation.

This was a time when such conflicts could erupt.

And the Republic of Korea was a nation at the very heart of it all.

From ancient times until now.

Because of that tiresome phrase: its geopolitical location.

Therefore, the time had come when the government’s power was needed.

Kang Yuseong’s mind began to churn with complex thoughts.