On the screen, a rift was beginning to tear open. It was occurring at Mount Bukkhansan, right where his parents’ memorial monument stood.
He held his breath and glared at the TV screen.
— We are currently tracking the movement of the monsters. A massive number of monsters are emerging from the rift.
Drone footage appeared. A horde of giant, red-skinned monsters was pouring out of the rift.
— The monsters appearing on screen are Red Orcs! They are known to be a far more dangerous species than regular orcs!
“Red Orcs…”
— Currently, over 250 individuals have been confirmed! Red Orcs are known to be more aggressive and cruel than regular orcs, leading to concerns over human casualties. However, their intelligence is relatively lower than that of regular orcs, so the situation could change drastically depending on how they are handled.
The drone tracked their descent, showing the leader of the Red Orcs and the path they were taking.
— The orcs are currently descending toward Dobong-gu along the hiking trails. Residents living in the affected areas are urged to evacuate to safe shelters immediately. I repeat…
The screen changed again.
— Wait, we have breaking news. Additional monsters are emerging from the rift the Red Orcs came out of.
Giant wolves with horns appeared from the rift.
— Horn Wolves! A pack of Horn Wolves has been confirmed!
“Even Horn Wolves…”
— Currently, the number of Horn Wolves is estimated to be around 150. However, unlike the Red Orcs, the Horn Wolves are taking positions on the peaks near the rift and are barely moving. The reason why they aren’t attacking, unlike the Red Orcs, is unknown.
“The Association won’t be able to handle this alone.”
— Association hunters and police mobile strike teams have rushed to the scene, but the number of monsters is too high for the initial response to be sufficient!
The screen showed hunters desperately building a defensive line. However, they were being pushed back by the wave of Red Orcs.
— The Association has announced it will do its best, concentrating all its capabilities on preventing human casualties.
His heart sank. It couldn’t be helped since human lives were the priority, but it meant the memorial monument could be destroyed if they weren’t careful.
As he stood up abruptly, Mago, startled by his sudden movement, looked up at him. But he didn’t have the luxury of worrying about that.
*Gao.*
Mago seemed to be asking if he was okay. Sensing his tension, which was higher than usual, the creature let out a small cry.
“Kyu—kyu.”
Mago rubbed against his hand as if to comfort him.
“Thanks, Mago.”
He patted Mago and stood tall.
“The Association alone won’t be enough. I have to move.”
He couldn’t step out personally, but there was a way to protect it. He had the Rocket Store.
‘I should issue an emergency quest to the Rocket Store members.’
He moved his hands quickly to open the system window. Having used it a few times before, it wasn’t difficult. Target range, quest details, and reward settings. Furthermore, the system handled the finer details automatically.
[A time-limited quest has been generated!]
**[Bukhansan Dungeon Break Emergency Response]**
**Target: Rocket Store Members (All)**
**Contents: An A-rank dungeon break has occurred in the Bukhansan area of Gyeonggi-do. The Association’s mobile strike team is responding, but the number of monsters has exceeded expectations. Specifically, a horde of monsters is moving toward the Bukhansan Tragedy Memorial Monument, necessitating emergency support. You must repel all monsters and defend the memorial monument.**
**Requirements: Repel the dungeon break monsters and defend the Bukhansan Tragedy Memorial Monument.**
**Basic Rewards:**
**- Participation Reward: 1,000 Rocket Store member points**
**- Success Reward: 1,500 Rocket Store member points**
**- Unlimited support of supplies during combat (Free)**
**Special Rewards:**
**- Upon perfect defense of the memorial monument: An additional 2,000 member points for participating members**
**- Top three members: 1 Adaptation Crystal + 1 Hero-grade material selection (Choice of Traces of Reminiscence, Berias’s Horn Fragment, or Devil’s Obsidian Fragment) + Immediate promotion upon the establishment of the Gold grade**
***1st Place: 1,000,000 coins**
***2nd Place: 700,000 coins**
***3rd Place: 500,000 coins**
“Isn’t this a bit too much of a loss?”
‘It’s fine because business has been picking up lately. Besides, I have to protect the memorial.’
And the quest wasn’t necessarily a total loss. Based on his previous experience, the rewards he offered would be converted into experience points for the Rocket Store. He didn’t know for sure, but reaching Level 5 seemed possible through this incident.
‘I don’t care about the expenses. I just hope many hunters participate and protect the monument.’
‘I’m sure they will! Don’t worry too much.’
***
“Abnormal mana levels are skyrocketing at the mana alarms installed in Gangbuk! The location is the Bukhansan area!”
Just before the news report aired, a disaster response team was urgently formed at the Association’s situation room, centered around Yun Tae-seong.
“The rift is already open!”
Drone footage was displayed on a large screen.
“We will approach to identify the monster types!”
“They’re Red Orcs! At least 250 individuals!”
“250??”
Yun Tae-seong’s face hardened.
“The Red Orc horde began descending as soon as they emerged. At this rate, civilian casualties in the surrounding areas are inevitable! What should we do?”
“First, contact the police mobile strike team at the scene and have them provide real-time updates on barricade installations and road closures.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Let me know when the hunters arrive, too.”
“Yes. They are ten minutes away.”
“Team Leader! Additional monsters have appeared from the rift! A pack of about 150 Horn Wolves!”
Giant wolves with horns appeared on the screen.
“Even Horn Wolves?”
“But it’s strange. Unlike the Red Orcs who descended immediately, they are staying put on the peaks near the rift!”
“What?”
The Horn Wolves captured on another screen were merely prowling near the rift, showing no intention of moving. It was as if they were waiting for something.
“Why aren’t they moving? Are they avoiding a fight with the Red Orcs? Or is there another reason?”
“It’s currently a mystery!”
They couldn’t know the reason right now. But one thing was certain.
“The Red Orcs are the immediate problem.”
On the screen, the Red Orcs were already making their way down the mountain.
“Did you get a report on the field situation?”
“Yes! The police mobile strike team has set up barricades on the hiking trails and nearby roads to create blocks. The problem is that the frequency of abnormal rifts has been high lately, so the hunters currently deployed are exhausted. It will be difficult to respond effectively to 250 Red Orcs.”
“They haven’t had enough rest. I suppose that’s expected.”
“What should we do? With the number of hunters deployed, it’s a struggle even to perform a simple delay tactic, let alone a long-term battle.”
“What about the request for cooperation from the Biho Guild?”
“Since it’s evening, they say it will take time to gather the hunters again…”
“Then send official notices to other nearby guilds, not just Biho. For now, we need to devise a plan to hold out as long as possible with our current strength until reinforcements arrive.”
The screen showed hunters desperately building a defensive line. But they looked far too meager to stop a horde of over 250 Red Orcs.
“What’s the current direction of the Red Orcs?”
The screen changed to show thermal imaging.
“Fortunately, they are moving in a single column behind the boss. The predicted location is the Dobong-gu area.”
“Inform the press and request cooperation to issue another evacuation order. Are the installed barricades effective?”
“There are many other paths, so the Red Orcs aren’t intentionally trying to bypass the barricades. However, we can’t be sure if they will continue along the hiking trails, and we can’t entirely rule out the possibility of them taking detours through unpaved terrain!”
“Then we must pin them down in one location.”
Yun Tae-seong spread out a map of Mount Bukkhansan. If those things escaped now, civilian casualties were a certainty. He searched for a relatively wide space within Bukhansan where they could be contained.
“Bukhansan National Park. We’ll lure them here. We have to keep them in a wide space to minimize damage.”
“Yes. We will lure them that way as much as possible. The problem is that we have no means of immediate response if the orcs change their minds.”
“…We’ll have to figure that out too.”
It was then.
— *Ding!*
A Rocket Store notification rang for Yun Tae-seong, who was a member.
[Emergency Quest Arrived]
Bukhansan Dungeon Break Response
“The Rocket Store has issued a mission, just like during the Yeoncheon-gun incident.”
As soon as Yun Tae-seong checked the quest details, he immediately contacted the field commander.
“If you hold out just a little longer, Rocket Store members will arrive at the scene!”
[What? Civilian hunters?]
“An emergency quest was posted as a global notice on the Rocket Store. Members seeking rewards will flock there. Please coordinate them well and establish a cooperation system!”
[Understood.]
After hanging up, Yun Tae-seong sent a message to the Rocket Store.
[Yun Tae-seong: Thank you for posting the quest in this emergency. However, we need to lure the monsters to Bukhansan National Park. It’s difficult with conventional methods. Could you possibly help us?]
A reply came after a moment, but the content was puzzling.
— Is there no other place besides the national park?
[Is there a problem? We couldn’t find any other suitable location besides the national park. Other places are too narrow, and some Red Orcs might escape.]
— …It can’t be helped, then. We can’t have civilian casualties. What do you need?
[Yun Tae-seong: We need bait that the Red Orcs will definitely react to. If possible, for the Horn Wolves too.]
— Understood. I will prepare it.
Yun Tae-seong breathed a sigh of relief.
Not long after, Rocket Delivery supplies began arriving at the locations where the Association hunters were positioned near Bukhansan. Inside were heaps of food that Red Orcs would likely love.
“Notifying all units. A large number of civilian hunters from the Rocket Store are expected to arrive. Establish a cooperative system and commence the operation to lure the monsters to Bukhansan National Park!”
***
At a lodging for overseas hunters provided by the Association in downtown Seoul, Erica, an American hunter, was watching the Korean news on her laptop. Having come to Korea to participate in the Beast Warrior selection match, she was assessing the local situation.
The screen was showing breaking news about the Bukhansan dungeon break.
— Currently, the Association’s mobile strike team and numerous hunters are rushing to the scene.
“I know it’s a dungeon break, but I don’t know the specifics since it’s in a foreign language.”
Being a third party, Erica was watching the screen nonchalantly when her eyes suddenly widened.
— Over 100 hunters have already gathered at the scene.
“Is my interpretation correct? 100 people? In such a short time?”
She checked the screen again. She didn’t know Korean, but she could clearly see the Arabic numerals. Seeing hunters arriving one after another in the drone footage, she was certain that the number referred to the count of hunters.
And the rockets were constantly falling from the sky.
“Is that the ability of the Rocket Store?”
Erica stared at the screen with an expression of disbelief.
“To gather this many hunters for a dungeon break in such a short amount of time.”
Compared to Korea, American territory was vast, but even considering that, the number of people and the speed were incredible.
“Jimmy! Jimmy, where are you?”
She shouted as she ran into the hallway. After a moment, Jimmy, a hunter who had been resting in his room, came out. He had a typical East Asian face.
“What’s wrong, Erica?”
“Translate this for me. I’m curious about the news.”
“Hmm? what news?”
“A dungeon break happened in your hometown. Aren’t you even interested?”
As the two entered the room, Jimmy was surprised by what he saw on the screen.
“I was listening to music. And my country is America. Korea is where my grandparents are from. So, what are you curious about?”
“I was surprised that so many hunters gathered in such a short time. Does Korea have such a well-equipped response system?”
Jimmy focused on the screen and spoke.
“Wait a second. Ah… it seems the Rocket Store posted an emergency quest. There are hunters dispatched by the Association, but it looks like the majority are civilians.”
“The Rocket Store?”
“Yeah. Want me to explain?”
“I’ve read the reports, so I know about the missions. So, what are the rewards?”
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Jimmy.”
“Fine, fine. Don’t nag.”
Jimmy checked the screen further.
“They’re giving member points needed to raise your Rocket Store grade, and the top three get Adaptation Crystals and a rare item selection. Oh, and coins too.”
“What’s an Adaptation Crystal?”
“The news describes it as a body enhancement item.”
“Is it different from buffs or stat increases?”
“Seems like it. They say it’s an item that permanently strengthens a specific body part. There’s no comparable item, so I don’t really get it even after hearing the explanation.”
Erica stood up abruptly.
“Prepare to head out!”
“Hmm? Now?”
“Of course! I can’t miss an opportunity like this!”
“Erica, what’s going on?”
Just then, their colleague Asher joined them, drawn by the commotion. Erica briefly explained the situation to Asher. After hearing the explanation, Asher tilted his head.
“We aren’t even Rocket Store members, so how are we going to participate in the quest?”
“If you join the party of someone who is a Rocket Store member, you can share the quest. Didn’t you read the report? it was in there.”
“Ah… right… yeah… I remember now. Right… I think there was something like that.”
“Liar.”
“So, have you found a Korean who is a Rocket Store member and willing to share the quest with us?”
“No. But our guild has a cooperative relationship with the Black Horn Guild. If we contact them, they’ll cooperate.”
“Right. Let’s say that’s the case. But will the Korean Hunter Association just let us act as we please?”
“There’s an international treaty for situations like this. Article 8 of the International Hunter Treaty. In case of emergencies like a dungeon break, hunters from adjacent or allied nations can be urgently dispatched under the condition of following the local Association’s command after prior notification.”
“Aha. But even if we head out now, wouldn’t it be hard to make the rankings? I bet other overseas teams are thinking the same thing as you, Erica, not to mention the Korean hunters.”
“…Are you not confident?”
“What?”
“Coward.”
“That’s…”
Determination flared in Asher’s eyes.
“No, it’s not! Fine! Let’s go!”
“Jimmy, please notify the Korean Association. And get in touch with the Black Horn Guild too.”
“Got it.”
Jimmy quickly began making calls. She looked at her colleagues and shouted.
“Every second counts! Let’s talk while we move!”