A secret laboratory under the Ministry of National Defense.
The lab director stared at one of the researchers with an expressionless face.
“The Yeonpyeongdo facility has been neatly tidied up, I assume?”
The researcher bowed his head and replied, “Yes, all test subjects have been disposed of. The data was transferred to a USB, and all physical records have been incinerated.”
The director’s expression turned skeptical.
“A USB?”
The researcher pulled a USB from his pocket and handed it to the director.
“This is it. It’s the only record containing everything from the experiments conducted on Yeonpyeongdo. With this, the experiments can be resumed anywhere, at any time.”
The lab director took the USB and asked in a flat tone, “I believe I ordered all materials to be destroyed. Why did you keep this?”
The researcher replied with a bitter expression, “Isn’t it such a waste? We were finally on the verge of success after so many failures. Especially in the case of M-075, the last test subject—it was practically a success. Although it couldn’t fully manifest the abilities of an A-rank monster, its power far exceeded the B-rank. With just a little more research, we could definitely create a perfect chimera.”
Chimera?
What on earth was he talking about?
At the researcher’s words, the director’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Listen. Did I not make myself clear? This project wasn’t just temporarily suspended; it was scrapped entirely. We need to make it as if this project never existed in the first place. So, what were you thinking, leaving something like this behind? Surely you know why the higher-ups want this project buried. If this leaks out, it won’t just end with us.”
“Of course, I know. Is that not why we are destroying everything—because the United States, Japan, and China seem to have caught wind of it? But once time passes and they realize there’s nothing left, their interest will surely fade. We will need that data to start over then.”
The researcher preached the importance of the data, trying to convince the director.
However, the lab director’s face remained a mask of indifference.
“Tsk. You still don’t understand.”
Saying that, the director opened a drawer and took something out.
It was a small box with a transparent lid.
*Click!*
The director opened the lid, placed the USB inside, and closed it again.
*Click!*
The researcher looked on in shock.
“Wait! Ah, no! That’s the only copy of the data!”
Despite the researcher’s urgent plea, the lab director pressed a button on the side of the box.
*Tick!*
Immediately, sparks began to fly inside the box.
*Zap! Crackle! Sizzle!*
The sparks tore through the USB.
Unable to withstand the surge, the device was scorched black.
Having completely destroyed the USB, the lab director looked at the researcher with a cold gaze.
“The decision from above is that we must not leave even the smallest shred of evidence for those bastards to find. You said it’s needed for a restart? That doesn’t seem to be a problem you need to worry about.”
He then pulled a pistol from the drawer and aimed it at the researcher.
*Click!*
The researcher’s face twisted in panic.
“Wh—what are you doing?”
Seeing the panicked man, the lab director flashed a thin, cruel smile.
“What does it look like? Do you think getting rid of the evidence is enough? We have to get rid of the witnesses, too. Only then is the disposal complete.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, the director pulled the trigger.
*Bang!*
“Urgh!”
The bullet pierced the researcher’s chest.
He glared at the director with bloodshot eyes as if he couldn’t believe it, before slowly collapsing.
*Thud!*
Once the researcher was dead, the director called out in a quiet voice.
“Come in.”
The office door opened, and a burly man in a military uniform entered.
“Is it finished?”
“Yes. Clean this up and take care of the rest of them.”
“Understood.”
The soldier dragged the dead researcher out.
Left alone, a bitter smile played on the director’s lips.
“It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. One person is enough to know about this project.”
From the moment the decision to scrap the project was made, this ending was inevitable.
Even if the test subjects and data were destroyed, the researchers who conducted those experiments still knew of the project’s existence.
If even one of them defected to the United States, Japan, or China, it would cause a catastrophic problem.
In a way, this was the natural conclusion.
***
The distance between the group and the boss’s pack had closed significantly.
Seong-jun immediately cast Dark Attribute Infusion.
‘Dark Attribute Infusion! Wide Area Mode! Target: Crimson Tigers only!’
*Whoosh!*
After casting the infusion specifically on the Crimson Tigers, Seong-jun immediately spoke to the archers.
“Anyone with sniping skills, target the boss right now!”
As soon as he spoke, Yuseon acted first.
*Swish!*
An arrow of wind shot out at incredible speed.
*Boom!*
“Roaaaaar!”
Simultaneously, the Sniper-class archers from each guild unleashed their own skills.
*Whoosh! Zip! Whiz!*
*Bang! Thud! Boom! Crash!*
Injured by the snipers, the Bloody Crimson Tiger let out a frenzied roar and charged forward.
‘This is it! Just a little more!’
Watching the boss charge, Seong-jun waited for the perfect timing to cast God’s Wrath.
He decided it would be best to land a direct hit on the boss if possible.
“Roar!”
“Grrr!”
“Awoooo!”
Before long, the Crimson Tigers were within melee range.
“Everyone, get ready!”
“They’re coming!”
The hunters, who were significantly outnumbered, looked visibly tense.
And at that moment…
‘It’s time! Now!’
The boss finally entered the range of God’s Wrath.
“God’s Wrath!”
As the skill was cast, an intense pillar of light struck the Bloody Crimson Tiger.
*Rumble!*
*K-boom!*
At the same time, a wave of light spread in all directions, sweeping through the nearly 1,000 Crimson Tigers.
*Cr-crash!*
“Skreeee!”
“Yelp!”
“Whimper!”
Since God’s Wrath was cast with Holy Weapon Enchant while switched to the Dark Attribute, the damage dealt to the Crimson Tigers was truly astronomical.
However, since Sanctuary was not active, they weren’t wiped out in a single hit.
Had Sanctuary been active, the resulting debuffs might have allowed God’s Wrath to clear them all at once.
“Unleash your area-of-effect skills!”
At Seong-jun’s command, the long-range attackers of each guild quickly unleashed their AOE skills.
*Whoosh! Flare! Crackle!*
*Boom! Crash! Rumble!*
Amidst the festival of area skills unfolding everywhere, the Crimson Tigers melted away rapidly.
Their health was already nearly depleted from the enchanted God’s Wrath, and they couldn’t endure the subsequent barrage.
Ju So-jeong’s performance was particularly overwhelming.
*Roar!*
As if proving her Sorcerer class, she rained fire everywhere, incinerating the monsters.
“Hohoho! Die! All of you, die!”
With a gleam of madness in her eyes, Ju So-jeong unleashed skill after skill, exuding a bizarre aura that made her look like a villain lost in insanity.
Meanwhile, Seong-jun was looking for the right moment to push forward.
The monsters, whose health had plummeted due to God’s Wrath, were being cleared out by the hunters’ area skills, and their numbers were dwindling fast.
Once the monsters in the front were mostly gone…
‘Now!’
“Let’s go!”
Seong-jun charged forward immediately.
Gwang-taek, Yuseon, and Chang-su also ran toward the boss at full speed.
Seeing this, Choi Gang-hyeok, Ju So-jeong, and the S-rank hunters of Holy Emperor began to move as well.
“We can’t just let him have it as easily as he did in Seoul. We’re going too!”
“I’m going for the boss, so handle the small fry yourselves!”
“Hmph, we were caught off guard in Seoul, but that won’t happen again. Karl! Let’s go!”
They couldn’t afford to lose the boss kill reward to Seong-jun in Jeju Island as they had in Seoul.
Thus, the moment they saw Seong-jun’s party rush out, they moved toward the boss as well.
‘It might be difficult this time.’
No matter how powerful Seong-jun’s damage was, his opponents were S-rank hunters.
In Ju So-jeong’s case, he had even given her an Enchant Buff because they were in a party together for her area skills.
Her damage would undoubtedly be even stronger than his.
“Well, I should still try my best. Gwang-taek!”
“Yeah! I got it! Chain of Light!”
*Cling-clank!*
As Gwang-taek pulled the boss toward them with the Chain of Light, Seong-jun immediately circled behind it and cast Furious Strike.
‘Furious Strike!’
*Wham!*
After lowering the boss’s defense with Furious Strike, Seong-jun checked behind him.
“Roaaaaar!”
The tankers and melee damage dealers of Holy Emperor, Changcheon, and Genesis were finishing off the few remaining monsters in the front, while the ranged attackers were using various skills to deal with the monsters in the back.
Unlike the front, which was nearly cleared, there were still about 100 to 200 monsters remaining in the rear.
However, Seong-jun decided it wasn’t necessary to use Holy Barrier to block them off and focused on the boss.
‘Those will be cleared soon. I don’t need to waste Holy Barrier; I can just focus on the boss.’
Having made his decision, Seong-jun turned his gaze back to the boss and began his full-scale assault.
Unlike in Seoul, Holy Emperor, Changcheon, and Genesis had reached the boss at almost the same time as him.
If he didn’t attack relentlessly, the boss reward might be stolen.
***
A hotel in Yeon-dong.
The survivors gathered in the first-floor lobby were looking uneasy now that the entrance had been smashed, leaving them exposed to the outside.
“Let’s not stay here; let’s go up to the third floor instead. There are meeting rooms and a fitness center on the third floor, so it should be a good place for everyone to hide together.”
The third floor of this hotel consisted of guest rooms, meeting rooms, and a fitness center.
While the guest rooms were difficult to enter since the keys were gone, the meeting rooms and fitness center were bound to be open.
Moreover, since the space was large, they figured it could accommodate everyone.
“It would be trouble if we were spotted by passing monsters while staying here, so let’s do that. Besides, if we’re on the third floor, even if the baby cries, the sound might not reach down here.”
Since staying on the first floor felt unsafe, most people agreed with the idea of moving to the third floor.
However, they seemed hesitant to make a final decision, glancing at one woman.
“Excuse me… what should we call you…?”
Someone asked the woman cautiously.
She replied nonchalantly, “Lee Seon-hwa. Just call me Seon-hwa.”
When she introduced herself as Seon-hwa and told them to be comfortable, the woman who had asked her name smiled and spoke.
“Ah! I see. Well, Seon-hwa, what do you plan to do? Will you stay here, or will you come up to the third floor with us…?”
Lee Seon-hwa replied in a blunt voice, “It’s not like I enjoy fighting monsters. Since everyone wants to go up to the third floor, I’ll do the same.”
Lee Seon-hwa also agreed to move.
No matter how strong she was, she didn’t enjoy fighting monsters.
More than anything, her clothes would rip again if she transformed.
Although she had stolen it, the dress was quite to her liking.
She didn’t want to lose it.
“Haha, is that so? Then let’s move right away.”
Just as they were about to head to the third floor via the stairs…
“Oh! It looks like the Jeju situation might be over sooner than expected!”
Someone said excitedly while looking at their phone.
“What? What do you mean?”
“I just got a message from an acquaintance who evacuated to Jeju Airport. They say Holy Emperor, one of the world’s strongest guilds, and Korea’s top guilds, Changcheon and Genesis, have arrived in Jeju. Even Kim Seong-jun, the healer they call a Saint, is here! They’ve headed to Aewol to deal with the boss pack. If they handle that, they’ll start a large-scale cleanup of the remaining monsters!”
Changcheon and Genesis were the strongest guilds in the country, but adding Holy Emperor—a world-class top guild—changed everything.
Furthermore, since Saint Kim Seong-jun, who had shown incredible performance during the B-rank Dungeon Break in Seoul following the Taean incident, was also in Jeju, it felt like the situation would be resolved in no time.
“Oh! Now I can finally breathe! Does this mean we just have to wait here? That’s great news. Truly great! Hahaha.”
Listening to their conversation, Lee Seon-hwa fell into thought.
‘Kim Seong-jun. I think I heard that name mentioned by the lab researchers in passing. Is he that impressive? I’m curious. By the way, I hope they haven’t found out I escaped yet. I disguised it to look like I died, but who knows.’
Laboratory?
Researchers?
Actually, Lee Seon-hwa was M-075, the very last test subject of the Yeonpyeongdo secret laboratory and the only one to achieve results that were practically a success.
She had been looking for a chance to escape the lab, and when the project was scrapped and the researchers began incinerating the facility, she seized that opportunity.
She had secretly kidnapped a female researcher of a similar build, knocked her unconscious, swapped clothes, and escaped the lab pretending to be a researcher.
Naturally, the unconscious researcher was mistaken for her and met her end.
After slipping away from Yeonpyeongdo among the researchers, she had immediately hidden herself and come to Jeju.
‘That aside, what do I do now? The guy who was supposed to make me a fake passport was killed by a monster, so it’s hard to go abroad right now. I can’t keep using that researcher’s ID forever, either. And obviously, I can’t reveal my true identity. Once this is over, I’ll have to head back to the mainland and look for another expert who can make me a fake ID and passport.’
Originally, her plan was to use the identity of the dead researcher to get a fake passport and leave Korea.
However, due to the sudden Dungeon Break, the person who was supposed to make the passport had died.
Moreover, using the dead researcher’s identity long-term was risky.
If the trail was too long, someone would eventually catch her.
She had only planned to use it briefly until she left the country.
Furthermore, she couldn’t use her own original identity.
Her ID had been taken when she became a test subject.
To restore it, she would have to go to a community center for identity verification, which would likely alert the people who had conducted the experiments that she was still alive.
In the end, her only choice was to cross back to the mainland as soon as this incident ended and find a new forgery expert.
But there was one thing bothering her.
‘The problem is these people. Will they keep quiet about me? Or should I just kill them all and shut their mouths?’
Right now, they were walking on eggshells because she was the only one who could protect them from the monsters.
But if they were rescued by hunters, they could reveal her identity at any time.
While some might stay loyal, others would surely view her with suspicion.
Thus, she was seriously considering whether she should kill them all to silence them.
Just then…
“Seon-hwa! What are you doing? Let’s get up to the third floor.”
Perhaps because he felt the situation would end if they just held out a bit longer, the expression of the man calling her was much brighter than before.
At the call to head up, Lee Seon-hwa spoke with a smile.
“Oh, right. Let’s do that.”
Although she showed a bright smile on the outside, she was internally debating whether she should kill them all to keep them quiet.
She didn’t know how she would conclude her thoughts, but one thing was certain: she had to make a decision before the hunters arrived.
However, since killing humans was a different matter from killing monsters, it didn’t seem like an easy decision to make.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.