“Release your hand and step back slowly. Otherwise, I will take immediate action. I warn you once again. Release your hand and step back slowly.”
The warning remarks were repeated.
‘They truly are a blind bunch’
Jong-sik had no intention of following their words.
‘Then? Let’s show them for now.’
‘I think I know what this kid is drawing.’
Even if they act like blind gentlemen.
‘Since reinforcements are coming later, Deputy Director will handle the aftermath. Or maybe use the non-arrest privilege or something like that.’
Thus, Jong-sik did not release the hand holding the man’s head.
He just muttered a trigger word.
Then he moved the summoned intangible sword.
“Aaargh!”
The intangible sword, which had been evaded with animalistic senses until now.
But now, trapped in the aura, he couldn’t discern the sword’s movements. Moreover, he was currently in Jong-sik’s grasp.
Gradually, blood seeped from Bae Takcheon’s entire body.
“Deploy. Forward with the shock-type.”
As a result, the government hunters began to move.
The standoff was broken like that.
As soon as the team leader gave the order, long-range dealers assumed attack positions. In a moment, the signal for the attack was given.
It was an instant occurrence. And it was also the moment Bae Takcheon had been waiting for. He aimed to deceive.
“Aaargh. You, you bastard-!”
With his head held, Bae Takcheon suddenly created arms infused with magic. He exerted all the remaining strength he had.
“Just once, just one effective hit.”
The moment the attack landed.
With the effect of magic, the bleeding would double.
And if he received the saturation attack from the government hunters.
No matter how skilled he was in flying and jumping, he wouldn’t escape unscathed.
“I won’t die like this alone. No, I won’t die! I’m a phoenix. Keke.”
‘I don’t know what will happen after I killing Dok Jong-sik.’
‘I just had a single-minded determination to kill him right now. Because even my marrow was invaded by magic.’
So, Bae Takcheon swung his fist.
*Kwaah-!*
At the same time, the government hunters’ attacks surged towards Jong-sik. However, they encountered an unexpected situation.
“…?”
“The shield is up!”
“Oh no, commence full attack!”
“Pour all our power into strong skills. Break through immediately!”
Their attacks were blocked by the barrier created by Dok Jong-sik. Ultimately, Bae Takcheon’s wish collapsed like that. Just a very, very small opening would have sufficed! Of course, even if an opening had been provided, he wouldn’t have posed any threat to Jong-sik.
“Aaargh! Die, die!”
In contrast, Jong-sik casually brushed off the man’s wildly swinging fist and spoke indifferently.
“Why would there be such talk? Anyone could have come up with a plausible plan. It was probably a plan to distract me and somehow get a shot in, right?”
“Aaargh!”
“But what now? That plan is no longer usable. You should have thought about escaping from my grip before throwing a punch. Of course, it’s too late now.”
So, it’s time for you to take a hit now. That’s it. With those words, Jong-sik forcefully slammed the man’s head onto the ground.
Then, he swung his right hand like an axe, shattering the man’s neck in one blow.
*Pak!*
“Cough… Hahaha.”
Yet the man was still alive. Even while emitting painful groans, he chuckled. As mentioned earlier, he had the ability to regenerate his body.
“Amusing. It’s not over yet. You bastard.”
With that, Jong-sik grabbed the man’s floundering neck and tossed him towards the barrier without hesitation.
*Kwaah!*
Soon, a thunderous collision was heard.
It was the sound of impact against the barrier, which was harder than mithril. Bae Takcheon’s body was grotesquely contorted. He fell to the ground in a pitiful heap.
Approaching him with steady steps, Dok Jong-sik said,
“Don’t know where to start fixing you up, huh? Huh? Stop wasting your energy and just go now.”
If it hadn’t been for his main skill, “Body Enhancement: Steelization,” he wouldn’t have bothered with such a cumbersome task.
Anyway, at this point, he seemed to have no strength left to maintain the skill. Seeing this, Jong-sik chuckled and finally delivered the decisive blow.
“Kuh, heh. You… can’t… kill… me. Kekeke.”
“No. You’re wrong.”
*Flame Discharge*
In an instant, condensed flames engulfed Bae Takcheon.
Meanwhile, behind the shield, the government hunters.
A suffocating silence fell among them.
It was understandable, as they were encountering such a gruesome scene for the first time. Even experienced hunters couldn’t bring themselves to say anything.
In the midst of this, the flames that engulfed Bae Takcheon showed no signs of extinguishing.
“We won’t leave a single bone fragment behind.”
“Huh…”
At the same time, they sensed it.
That they couldn’t handle the unidentified man alone.
Perhaps that’s why.
The bombardment towards the barrier had suddenly stopped.
In fact, they had to consider retreating.
However, there were still people behind the shield who hadn’t been rescued. They couldn’t just leave them behind.
But they hesitated, being human.
“We can’t. We can’t handle him alone. Let’s not act rashly. Let’s hold out until reinforcements arrive. Do you all understand?”
“Yes!”
“…But, Team Leader. Is that person really a terrorist?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, wasn’t the receptionist Bae Takcheon acting more suspiciously than that man? And I heard he lost both arms during the Hangang Gate Incident, but the arms I saw earlier were definitely not prosthetic. And Bae Takcheon’s reaction was also very strange.”
“So, are you saying our colleague could be the terrorist?”
“It’s not necessarily that, but it’s strange, isn’t it? And that man too. With his skill level, he could easily wipe us out right now, but he’s only focusing on Bae Takcheon.”
“Yeah. That’s something we can be grateful for. So, let’s quickly request reinforcements. Call in everyone to evacuate the injured. Right now!”
The seasoned government hunter had classified Jong-sik as a villain. So, disregarding the junior’s words, he shouted for reinforcements.
A moment later.
As per his instructions, the government hunters began to evacuate the wounded and return one by one.
However, the belatedly arriving government hunters began to say unexpected things.
“Team Leader! One of the survivors evacuated outside says that the terrorist attack was the work of a receptionist. The description matches that of Receptionist Bae Takcheon.”
“I heard the same thing.”
“Us too. But it’s not just Bae Takcheon alone; Receptionist at Counter 3 is also implicated as a terrorist.”
“Damn it. What the hell is going on? Then who are those hunters over there? Are they fighting amongst themselves?”
At that moment, Jong-sik’s gaze fell upon the government hunters. They, who had been quietly debating amongst themselves, unconsciously began to step back.
“Is everything settled yet, Deputy Director?”
In that instant, the demon-like man, Jong-sik, sought out the Deputy Director. They were confused. Someone had to step forward. Eventually, a team leader-level government hunter shouted, his voice trembling.
“I’ll ask again. Who… are you? Friend or foe?”
And just then, someone arrived to answer the question. Pushing through the crowded hunters, a man revealed himself. Jong-sik waved at him.
“He’s Jong-sik, a hunter sent by the Association Chairman. Stand down, everyone. He’s a friend.”
Finally, armed reinforcements led by the Deputy Director entered Building A.
***
At that moment.
A few individuals, including Park Won of the Iron Blood Guild, were having a secretive meeting.
“Has the operation been communicated?”
“By now, everyone should be moving.”
“Hmm. It’s a shame we can’t see it ourselves. I wonder how entertaining it will be.”
There were six gathered individuals. They differed in affiliation, rank, temperament, and gender, but they had one thing in common.
They had all contracted with the Barony of Baefum and its commanders were superior demons, not lesser ones.
If the lesser demon contractees were pawns, then the superior demon contractees were the players moving them. Of course, broadly speaking, they were all pawns of the demons.
Anyway, the gathered superior demon contractees were the masterminds behind the plot to orchestrate the terrorist attack on the Hunter Association.
“Was there any interference during the transmission?”
“Well, of course not. Such matters are our specialty.”
“You seem quite confident.”
“Heh. Even if the plan were to fail for once, your names wouldn’t be mentioned, so don’t worry.”
“Are you sure?”
“Wow, you’re overly suspicious. Even if something goes wrong, your names won’t be implicated, so don’t worry.”
“But this guy right now…!”
“We selected people with no connection to each other and instructed them in a covert hierarchical structure. How can you still worry?”
Someone grumbled, and someone retorted sharply.
“Hmph. A hierarchical structure? Keeping the core hidden while using subordinates as shields. Typical villain tactics.”
“Villain? And you’re lending your hands to such villainous scum?”
“Scum? Did I just hear ‘scum’?”
“Sigh. Are you two going to fight again? Aren’t you tired of it?”
It was a combination of a highly esteemed ranker hunter and a notorious villain. Park Won, known as the Sage, spoke as he rubbed his temples.
“All this bickering. How about both of you just quiet down? If it’s hard to control just one throat, how about I help?”
The two opposing figures, who had been at each other’s throats moments ago, glanced at each other sheepishly as they coughed.
“Ahem.”
“…”
Among the gathered six, was it because he inherited the most powerful and dominant force? Or was it because of Park Won’s display of invincibility moments ago?
Whatever the reason, he had now firmly established himself as the leader of the meeting. The two adversaries heeded his word.
Park Won scanned those seated around the table before speaking.
“Thankfully, it seems you’ve understood. I thought I might have to step in again.”
Just a while ago, he had executed someone.
Just because they expressed an opinion opposing his own. And everyone present had witnessed it.
“I’ll say it again, let’s not waste time on trivial matters. You know what I mean, right? Whether villain or hero, we’re now brothers. We share the same parents. Isn’t that right?”
“…”
“Answer me if you’ve understood. You guys.”
“That’s right. We’re brothers, and our desires are the same.”
“Yeah. Regardless of the past, we’re walking the same path. Well said, Brother Park Won!”
It heralded the arrival of a world where survival of the fittest was the norm. The extinction of weak individuals, with the strong living as they pleased.
That was the world desired by Park Won and the other five.
Their reasons for desiring such a world varied, but for Park Won, it was like this:
Six months ago, Park Won was disgracefully struck by Jong-sik and abandoned by his father, who was as formidable as a mountain.
And what’s more, even his father bowed his head to that bastard. Because Jong-sik was strong.
So Park Won made up his mind. He would become strong. He would become strong and swallow up all the weak. How exhilarating would that be?
The contract with the demons was worth it for that reason alone. He wanted to become a harbinger of darkness in this land.
For that purpose, they began to devise dark plans.
“The biggest obstacle to their arrival is the dimensional beings. The information they emit makes the hunters stronger. So, we need to eliminate them. We’ll start with the Association, but gradually expand our scope. Oh, and we need some sacrifices to offer at the altar.…”
“I’ll take care of that. Sacrifices are scattered far and wide on the streets.”
“Then I’ll take the ones who have escaped from the Association and head to North Korea first.”
“No. Wait a moment before going in. There’s something we need to do first.”
Unaware that their first plan, the terrorist operation against the Hunter Association, was being thwarted by Jong-sik.
