Chapter 163

Swoosh—

A colossal missile streaked through the air.

This was the X-Trident, the spear of death hurled by the Sea God Neptune.

The Earth’s ultimate weapon, carrying a powerful nuclear warhead capable of bringing about humanity’s end.

It was the strongest killing machine, known to be so devastating that even the U.S. had severely restricted its use due to the unimaginable fallout. Now, it was flying not towards Beijing or Pyongyang, but towards Seoul, the capital of a long-standing ally.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

However, numerous points began to converge on the X-Trident.

These were Hongqi missiles, anti-ballistic missile interceptors launched by China.

Dozens of Hongqi missiles crisscrossed the sky to stop a single nuclear missile, and the X-Trident automatically detected them, initiating evasive maneuvers.

Given the nature of ballistic missiles, which ascend into the atmosphere before plunging towards their target, the X-Trident flew at an incredible speed. However, anti-ballistic missile interceptors had also advanced significantly since the Mega Shock, so the X-Trident missile was equipped with an automatic evasion system.

Its capabilities were considerable; most interceptor missiles couldn’t even graze it.

But the Hongqi was an interceptor designed with that very fact in mind.

A spectacular scene unfolded in the sky, as if dozens of assassins were charging at a single general on a battlefield.

And in the command centers of both South Korea and the U.S., observing the scene via satellite, a heavy silence hung in the air.

What would happen?

The silence was broken by a single Hongqi missile.

Fwoosh!

One Hongqi missile suddenly accelerated, surging towards the X-Trident. The Hongqi’s exceptional accuracy was on full display.

Whizz!

In the situation room within the U.S. White House bunker, not even the sound of someone swallowing dryly could be heard as the Hongqi missile dared to rush at the X-Trident.

In extreme tension, the two missiles began their deadly hide-and-seek.

Beep!

The X-Trident detected the Hongqi rapidly approaching it and altered its trajectory.

Fwoosh!

It was an incredible feat for a missile plunging at speeds far exceeding Mach to perform such an evasive maneuver, yet the U.S. White House situation room remained on edge.

This single strike, launched by an Ohio-class nuclear submarine making strategic movements deep in the Pacific, was a critical blow for them.

U.S. carrier strike groups had been shattered and scattered by enemy nuclear attacks, missile defense bases in Alaska were laid to waste, and, even more critically, the Pentagon on the mainland was under sudden assault.

In this situation, if they failed to deliver a decisive blow to South Korea, the opportunity for a counterattack might be lost forever.

With a significant number of Delta-Strike agents now reduced to dust along with the carrier groups, there was no one left to land in the Korean Peninsula, or Japan, which had been subjugated by Korea, to fight. If the strategic command centers and various government departments concentrated in the capital, Seoul, were wiped out by a single nuclear missile…

If numerous guild headquarters and their affiliated Hunters were annihilated in an instant, there might still be a glimmer of hope. But if the nuclear missile were intercepted…

“Don’t worry, Mr. President. The X-Trident’s accuracy rate, even against numerous interceptor missiles, far exceeds ninety-nine percent.”

“It simply cannot be intercepted.”

President Herald clenched his fist.

The National Guard had already been mobilized to eliminate those who had invaded the Pentagon.

Numerous tanks, infantry, and even attack helicopters were on their way to the Pentagon to lend their strength.

Delta-Strike agents and Delta-Shield agents remaining on the mainland were also heading to the Pentagon as fast as possible.

But he was uneasy.

No one had ever imagined that anyone would boldly attack the Pentagon on U.S. soil, nor did anyone believe it was possible.

Yet, they had done it with casual ease.

And among them, ‘he’ was present.

Kang Yuseong, the top Hunter who had crushed Japan and brought down China.

He wasn’t just skilled in combat.

According to intelligence acquired by U.S. intelligence agencies, his leadership and battlefield command were of the highest caliber, and his audacious strategies and execution capabilities were also top-tier.

How he could so boldly penetrate enemy lines, and how he could so effectively exploit gaps to defeat the enemy, was so exceptional that even now, renowned American commanders debated it.

This sudden assault on the U.S. was likely his strategy.

Two nuclear missiles to simultaneously shatter America’s strongest spear and best shield, followed by a bold penetration and ravaging of the core—an extraordinary tactical execution.

Only Kang Yuseong could have pulled it off.

Therefore, as frustrating as it was, they had no choice but to stake America’s fate on this missile.

If it missed…

Or if it was intercepted…

Then hell would break loose across the entire United States.

Beep, beep, beep, beep!

At that moment, a frantic beeping sound rang out.

“It evaded!”

The situation officer clenched his fist, shouting with an excited face.

The X-Trident had successfully changed direction even at its terrifying speed, and the Hongqi that had targeted it flew past harmlessly.

“Distance to target!”

“Not much left!”

Even a glance at the map on the monitor confirmed that the X-Trident had little time left before it exploded over the Korean Peninsula.

Neither distance nor time.

‘Evade! Evade it, and smash their heads in!’

Herald gritted his teeth.

The X-Trident, a seasoned master of combat, attempted to slip smoothly through the Chinese Hongqi missiles.

Fwoosh!

Whizz!

But then, the trajectories of the Hongqi missiles suddenly corrected, and they surged towards the X-Trident missile again at top speed.

Thirty-odd missiles against one.

It was an impossible numbers game, but the X-Trident was much faster, while the Hongqi was slower but tenacious. The Hongqi persistently blocked the X-Trident’s path, weaving tightly in the air as if forming a barrage.

This was China’s proud “Hundred Flowers Blooming” interception system.

A system where countless missiles elegantly adorned the sky to intercept a nuclear missile.

But they weren’t just wildly circling.

A supercomputer instantly calculated and altered their trajectories based on data sent from their internal radar.

Meaning, the Hongqi’s movements were being executed with incredibly precise calculations.

Fwoosh!

The Hongqi continuously adjusted its speed and direction, targeting the X-Trident’s head, chest, and back.

If even one struck the X-Trident, a nuclear explosion would occur instantly.

However, an explosion over international waters would have no impact on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea would then launch a massive counterattack, and the moment the next nuclear missile was loaded and fired, the U.S. was highly likely to be laid to waste first.

If the Pentagon was seized and nuclear missiles flew from mainland China…

Even if Ohio-class nuclear submarines, independently submerged in the Pacific or Arctic, retaliated, the U.S. would gain nothing.

On the contrary, they would only suffer immense losses and be forced to sink.

That was why this one shot was so crucial.

Whizz—

At that moment, one Hongqi, which had been continuously targeting the X-Trident, narrowly grazed past its side.

The assassin’s sharp blade had been evaded once again.

Beep-beep-beep!

“Target strike countdown initiated!”

The speed at which a nuclear missile, having penetrated the atmosphere and ascended into exosphere, falls is incredibly fast. It is said to drop 10 kilometers per second, a truly formidable speed.

Intercepting such a nuclear missile is realistically very difficult.

This is because overcoming the speed difference is hard.

However, China had changed its system by improving the Hongqi to densely block the nuclear missile’s estimated trajectory and detonate it.

And the upgraded Hongqi was equipped with its own rapid acceleration rocket, designed and improved to allow a single burst of acceleration before intercepting the nuclear missile.

Even so, catching up to the nuclear missile’s immense descent speed remained a distant prospect.

The fact that the X-Trident had penetrated numerous interception systems and boasted a strike rate exceeding 99% proved this. And now, the countdown to death had begun.

Once the countdown ended, no interception system could stop the X-Trident.

A grim reaper of death was truly descending upon the Korean Peninsula.

“Ten!”

The X-Trident plunged at a terrifying speed.

A Hongqi missile helplessly whizzed past its side.

“Nine!”

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep!

A furious beeping blared in the Blue House bunker’s situation room.

The President and all the high-ranking officials held their breath, clenching their fists.

Of the forty-odd Hongqi missiles, ten had already missed.

“Eight!”

Tension also filled the White House.

Seoul.

A battle of whether an irreversible dagger would pierce the enemy’s heart or not.

The outcome was imminent.

“Seven!”

Whizz!

The X-Trident bared its sharp teeth at its prey.

Numerous assassins flickered around it, but none managed to plunge their daggers into it effectively.

China’s pride soared through the air, and the X-Trident continued its descent with a majestic presence. In just a little while, Seoul would become an inferno.

“Six!”

The number of Hongqis rapidly dwindled.

Only ten missiles remained, forming the final defensive line, but it seemed unlikely they would stop the X-Trident.

If they did, it would truly be called a miracle.

“Five!”

The target was drawing near.

The Hongqis further decreased to five remaining.

Whizz!

At that moment, one Hongqi missile fiercely surged upward, grazing the X-Trident’s tail section. The X-Trident’s main body slightly trembled.

“Four!”

Despite that, the X-Trident continued to plunge.

Now was the time to seek divine intervention.

“Three, two…!”

The White House, the Blue House.

Silence filled both locations.

Faces in the White House lit up with relief, while a somber solemnity hung heavy in the Blue House.

Only two Hongqis remained.

The President and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff looked at each other.

There was nothing left to stop the grim reaper of death.

“One…!”

The situation officer in the White House clenched his fist.

And President Herald, bloodshot eyes fixed on the monitor, watched.

Soon, Seoul would be an inferno.

It was nothing less than the signal for America’s comeback.

Flash—

It exploded.

Everything turned stark white, and silence fell.

“…”

Tremble—

His fist trembled.

He had gripped the armrest of his chair so tightly that his knuckles had turned stark white.

President Park Taesung buried his face in his hands, as if collapsing.

The same was true for everyone else in the room.

All their faces were pale, and extreme terror was etched upon them.

“The interception… was successful!”

It was an act of divine grace.

The last remaining Hongqi had plunged its blade into the chest of the momentarily unbalanced X-Trident, exploding gloriously.

Intercepted over international waters with only one second to spare, the X-Trident returned to Neptune’s grasp.

“H-huh…”

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff slumped into his seat, cold sweat pouring down his face.

The President, who had been gritting his teeth, slowly raised his head.

His eyes gleamed fiercely.

“Mr. Chairman.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“How many ICBMs do we have without nuclear warheads?”

“Including North Korea’s… probably several hundred.”

The President’s eyes blazed with a chilling intensity.

“Unleash them all on the United States. Level Washington D.C., New York, everything. We will never retreat from this war!”

Even without nuclear warheads, ballistic missiles themselves possessed immense destructive power.

The President had just ordered all those missiles to be rained down on the U.S. mainland.

That was the judgment South Korea could deliver upon the United States.

“Yes, understood.”

A resolute light shone in the eyes of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as he replied.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Whizz!

And soon after, several hundred ICBMs soared high into the sky.