Chapter 168

Moscow was incredibly far.

It wasn’t far from the Eastern European border, so Kang Yuseong and Kim Do-jin had to traverse Russian territory at maximum speed.

“Are you alright?”

Moving through Russia’s murderous cold, the two had already passed Lake Baikal and were heading west.

By now, the Republic of Korea’s defense forces would also be moving through Chinese territory.

“Oh, this is nothing.”

Kim Do-jin let out a short laugh.

Kang Yuseong noticed a warm heat rising from Kim Do-jin’s entire body and gave a wry smile.

“I forgot what kind of ability user you are.”

Kim Do-jin wielded fire.

Russia’s cold was formidable, but the flames igniting near Kim Do-jin’s skin formed a perfect defensive barrier for him.

The same was true for Kang Yuseong.

For them, the biggest problem wasn’t Russia’s cold.

For the two who had already surpassed human limits, the most significant issue was distance.

Although they possessed superhuman physical abilities, the distance they could cover in a day was limited, so there was nothing they could do about it.

But with their incredibly fast legs, they quickly passed the vicinity of Lake Baikal and continued westward.

As they continued west, Kang Yuseong meticulously observed the atmosphere in Russia.

As a result, he discovered one fact.

‘It’s peaceful. Strangely so.’

Russia was known for being belligerent and hot-blooded, but the villages and military bases they passed showed no significant activity.

It was extremely tranquil, to the point where it felt unsettling.

‘Hmm…’

Before long, he realized why.

‘These bastards… they were terrifying after all!’

There was only one reason for their tranquility.

They were hiding an equally formidable power.

Conventional weapons, along with well-trained Hunters, were widely deployed in every region and village. They had already surpassed the stage of outwardly displaying their power and were accustomed to concealing it so well that they appeared ordinary.

Russia was often called the ‘Brown Bear Nation’, and Kang Yuseong noted that not a single brown bear was visible.

In truth, brown bears were nothing compared to the monsters in dungeons, but it was extremely strange that they weren’t seen even near villages populated only by children and the elderly.

Feeling something was amiss, Kang Yuseong infiltrated a nearby village house.

Kim Do-jin wore a puzzled expression but silently followed Kang Yuseong.

“What’s going on?”

Kim Do-jin, hidden in the bushes, asked in a low voice.

“Isn’t it strange? Those children… and the elderly.”

At his words, Kim Do-jin looked at the children and the elderly.

And his expression also stiffened slightly.

“That’s…”

Kang Yuseong slowly nodded.

Their eyes.

The children’s eyes, and the eyes of the elderly whose backs were bent with age… were eerily sharp.

“Do you think that makes sense? In a backwater like this.”

“No… it doesn’t make sense.”

Kim Do-jin furrowed his brows.

“Only one thing could make that possible.”

A cold aura emanated from Kang Yuseong’s eyes.

“They’ve taken Star Pharmaceuticals’ enhancers. Not the original, of course. They wouldn’t have exported enough for even ordinary people in Russia to take them like this.”

Star Pharmaceuticals undergoes rigorous inspections when exporting enhancers or Healing Potions to other countries.

This includes basic efficacy checks, but a greater emphasis is placed on controlling the quantity.

There would be no benefit in supplying large quantities of enhancers or Healing Potions to hostile nations.

“It’s a copycat drug.”

However, in Russia, it seemed that enhancers were widely available, to the point where even ordinary people were remarkably healthy. This meant that even without Hunters, ordinary citizens could combine their strength to take down a bear.

“Fools!”

Kang Yuseong gritted his teeth, seeing this.

The efficacy of enhancers was, of course, incredible.

But that was only for Hunters.

Hunters could wield special energies, and enhancers boosted those energies. Ordinary people could also take them, but that was only in small doses.

If the dosage was enough to change their bodies like that…

‘As a side effect, those people will soon die.’

Nothing in the world was perfect.

If one gained more than their vessel could hold, they would inevitably pay the price.

That was the law of this world.

Those who gained uncontrollable power would pay with their lifespans.

This was the current reality of Russia.

President Fyodor had probably ordered the organized copying of enhancers, leading to all citizens overdosing on them, unaware of the fatal side effects.

‘They brought it upon themselves. It’s not my concern.’

Regardless, that sight was something they had brought upon themselves.

If they coveted what belonged to others, they would have to pay the price themselves to learn what happened.

“Let’s go.”

Now understanding the source of the strange unease he had felt earlier, Kang Yuseong spoke softly to Kim Do-jin.

If ordinary people were enhanced to that extent, there was no need to even mention Hunters.

The Russian expedition would likely be a more challenging journey than expected.

* * * * *

Moscow.

A city where Russia’s long history breathed.

Here lay the Kremlin, the pinnacle and core of Russian power, and President Fyodor would be within it.

Moscow wasn’t as heavily guarded as one might expect.

But it was the heart of Russia, a nation that once rivaled the United States as a leading superpower.

A place where one should never let down their guard.

“Well, shall we begin?”

Kang Yuseong gazed at the Moscow cityscape and gave a chilling smile.

There were certain things that every city like this inevitably had.

One of them was rats.

In this enormous city, countless rat carcasses would be scattered.

A wave of dark energy—

Instantly, a black aura flowed from Kang Yuseong’s entire body.

The aura spread in all directions, forming new tendrils.

The potent energy of Necromancy.

Kang Yuseong’s Necromancy ability was greatly enhanced, allowing its influence to reach a considerable area.

Twitch—

As the stiff, rigid rat carcasses came into contact with the aura, they twitched and slowly began to open their eyes. Crimson blood-light emanated from their eyes, and their hardened bodies gradually loosened.

Squeak, squeak, squeak—

And they began to roam the shadowed corners of Moscow.

Hundreds, even thousands of rats, hid in Moscow’s dark places, and it didn’t take long for them to gather information.

“Interesting.”

Kang Yuseong received the information and gave a dry smile.

Moscow.

Indeed, it wasn’t a place to be underestimated.

Here, countless heavily armed soldiers were stationed, and Hunter units were scattered everywhere.

He had only gathered about half of Moscow’s information, not even fully scouting it, yet the numbers were already so high…

Kang Yuseong used the rats to perfectly map out a path to infiltrate the Kremlin, but even in that process, the likelihood of encountering numerous enemy soldiers seemed high.

Just because there was no sound didn’t mean there were no predators.

The predator that was Russia had been lying low like that.

“Kim Do-jin.”

“Yes.”

“It seems this journey will be tougher than I thought. What do you think?”

Kim Do-jin slowly pulled down his fedora and let out a short laugh.

“What do you mean, ‘what do I think’? We’ve come all this way…”

A chilling light emanated from his eyes.

“We should at least put on a fireworks show.”

“Oh? I was thinking of turning back. To be honest, I was scared.”

“Just lead the way. I’m freezing to death.”

Kang Yuseong smiled faintly, then spoke again.

“Blood.”

At his word, a being emanating a strange aura slowly materialized behind them.

It was Blood, prostrating himself and emitting an entirely different aura than before.

Even he had followed them this far.

“Well, are you ready to dance with swords?”

Crimson blood-light poured fiercely from Blood’s eyes.

“As my Master wills.”

Kang Yuseong let out a short laugh as he watched the killing intent drip from Blood’s eyes.

“Well now, not a single one wants to turn back. Then…”

Thud.

Kang Yuseong took a step forward.

“There’s no choice but to go.”

Just two people.

No, three including Blood, but compared to the vastness of Moscow, those three, so paltry in number, were boldly walking into the city.

But Kang Yuseong’s attitude was strange.

Until now, he had done his best to remain hidden, but now he was striding confidently, shoulders back, towards the entrance of Moscow. Given the situation, the guards blocking Moscow’s entrance were clearly watching him intently.

Kim Do-jin frowned slightly, looking at his back.

“Boss.”

“Hm?”

“Are you really just going to walk in like that?”

“Well, it’s not like we’ve committed a crime.”

“Still, isn’t this too reckless? There are only three of us.”

Kang Yuseong’s demeanor was so nonchalant that even Kim Do-jin felt tense.

At his words, Kang Yuseong turned to Kim Do-jin.

An expression that said, “What are you talking about?” was on his face.

“Three? Who said three?”

“No, right now…”

At that moment, Kang Yuseong grinned.

Instantly, Kim Do-jin felt a chill.

Shuffling-shuffling—

Crraaaack!

They were approaching.

Tearing through the earth, opening buried graves, and reaching out to rise from where they had fallen dead.

Kang Yuseong looked at Kim Do-jin with a smile.

“Is this enough?”

Hundreds, no, thousands of corpses and skeletons were gathering.

And that number would only grow.

And at the very front of them all, stood Kang Yuseong.

“Blood.”

Clang—

Reading Kang Yuseong’s thoughts, Blood tightened his grip on his iron sword instead of answering.

Kang Yuseong grinned.

“Lead them well.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Kim Do-jin, let’s go.”

Kim Do-jin adjusted his fedora and let out a long sigh.

“Hmph, well, if that’s the case.”

“Who goes there!”

At that moment, the Russian soldiers guarding the entrance shouted.

It seemed they had only just noticed the countless corpses swarming towards them.

“It’s the enemy!”

WEEEEEEEENG—

Sirens blared loudly across Moscow, signaling a Level 1 emergency.

Rat-a-tat-a-tat!

And the guards, grouped in threes and fours, opened fire on the corpses and Kang Yuseong’s party.

The moment the hazy curtain of bullets cleared, they swallowed dryly.

Thud-thud-thud—

And then, someone appeared before their eyes.

He opened the hand he had clenched tightly.

The objects he had held in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

They were countless bullets.

Astonishingly, he had caught the bullets with his bare hands.

And he gave a chilling smile.

“It’s already too late.”

Kang Yuseong.

His will manifested.

KWOOOOOOH!

“KIEEEEK!”

“KEEEK!”

And the dead began to charge.

Shwaaaak!

At their forefront stood the Reaper of Death, Blood.