Chapter 40: What’s Needed to Prevent the War (2)

Flap.  

With a powerful beat of wings.  

“Shiiiik— ” 

A monstrous creature soared at incredible speed.  

“Kyaaaa—”  

Roaring as if it owned the sky, it was a Wyvern, known as a small dragon.  

Its sturdy scales repelled all physical and magical attacks.  

Claws and fangs that could tear steel like paper.  

And a fierce flame capable of incinerating any substance.  

On the back of that Wyvern, the top predator reigning supreme on the Gritia Continent, there was a figure clad in jet-black armor exuding a chilling frost that froze the air itself.  

Unfazed by the sharp wind, he scanned the surroundings.  

Leading the formation of flying monsters arranged in a wedge shape were the Wyvern, Manticores, Griffins, and others.  

On the ground, Basilisks, Gorgons, Cockatrices, and other terrestrial monsters moved as commanded, gripping firmly with their powerful legs.  

‘Thanks to this, I received a fine gift.’  

A Named Summon Ticket—my carefully planned strategy.  

But Japan’s prepared tactic only brought this gift into my hands.  

Demons and monsters.  

They are inseparable.  

In fact, demons are essentially a mutated form of monsters, a kind of evolved species.  

Because of this, monsters obey demons.  

Of course, lower or weakest demons sometimes obey monsters depending on their strength, and sometimes they don’t.  

But if it’s someone at the legion commander level, there’s no chance they’d disobey.  

The mark of obedience etched into their DNA awakened in my energy, and in the power of Undead Legion Commander Valdevron Brocia.  

That power exceeded the authority granted by the Summon Ticket.  

Of course,  

‘This wouldn’t have been possible without restoring strength through the Demon Transformation Potion.’  

The timing was perfect.  

Having recovered 12% of my demonic energy by consuming the potion, I was able to subdue and command this massive monster.  

Thanks to that, my forces were strengthened.  

This enhanced power would be deployed in Busan.  

“Kwang!”  

A distant roar echoed—a battlefield where fierce clashes between the two nations were unfolding.  

“Fire!”  

My voice cracked as if my throat was about to break.  

“Bang, boom!”  

Cruise missiles and anti-submarine missiles fired from the destroyer sped toward the enemy vessel.  

The strike was calculated to the last detail, an attack powerful enough to sink the enemy ship in a single blow.  

“Vroooom!”  

But the semi-circular shield protecting the enemy ship blocked it.  

“Kwang!”  

The missiles exploded harmlessly without leaving a scratch.  

An almost unbelievable sight.  

***

“Damn it!”  

Colonel Kim Sun-ho, captain of the destroyer currently in operation, cursed bitterly.  

‘I never imagined the gap between us would be this wide.’  

Japan.  

A great power.  

Having gone through upheaval to become one of the four strongest powers, he had expected they wouldn’t be an easy opponent.  

But to think the difference was this drastic.  

Around the Republic of Korea Navy destroyer cutting through the waves, wreckage and black oil floated on the surface.  

Half of the South Korean naval forces—including fast attack craft, patrol ships, and destroyers—had been destroyed.  

There is no one-sidedness in war.  

If his side had taken such losses, what about the Japanese?  

None.  

Large vessels including destroyers still displayed their formidable presence.  

The Republic of Korea Navy had not managed to destroy a single Japanese ship.  

The reason became clear from the scene just witnessed.  

Shields that deflected every missile and bullet.  

Still, he thought the war might be different.  

That was because of the Awakeners.  

Surprisingly, the Japanese ships included Awakeners with the Shield Trait that deployed protective barriers to absorb damage.  

South Korea—and Colonel Kim Sun-ho—had not predicted this.  

And there was a reason.  

South Korean Awakeners were not cooperative with the government or military.  

Most had joined guilds or corporations pursuing personal gain.  

This was only natural, since the South Korean Awakened Bureau had lost control over its own Awakeners.  

Japan was different.  

They worked closely with their Awakeners to develop various means of winning the war.  

One such measure was deploying Awakeners with the Shield Trait aboard each ship to protect against enemy fire.  

Moreover.  

“Bang, ka-kang!”

Missiles ignored trajectory and smashed the deck.  

No matter how advanced technology had become, guided missiles of this caliber?  

Of course, this was not due to technology alone.  

Hit.  

Guidance.  

Because the missiles carried the Hit and Guidance Traits.  

Japan’s military had a large number of Awakeners capable of overriding ballistics.  

Nullifying enemy attacks, ensuring friendly fire always hit the mark.  

This explained why the Republic of Korea Navy was suffering such a one-sided defeat.  

“Colonel! The ship is severely damaged! If this continues…”  

Hearing his subordinate’s words,  Colonel Kim fell into deep thought.  

Because he knew what his subordinate meant.  

Retreat.  

Retreating now was clearly the only way to avoid pointless sacrifice.  

But.  

“What if we retreat?” He countered instead.  

“This sudden attack by Japan is meant to buy time for our country to prepare, isn’t it our role to allow that?”  

The standoff continued for a while.  

Most assumed it would just remain a threat.  

It had to be that way—war was a fight that left wounds on both sides.  

Unless it was about complete domination like colonization, it was a meaningless fight.  

In reality, the standoff dragged on, and it seemed that the government would call off the combat posture.  

But that was a misjudgment.  

Japan used a Summon Ticket to bring monsters into the heart of Seoul, and amid the chaos, moved their navy to seize Busan.  

If Japan were to establish a foothold in Busan, Seoul—and the entire Korean Peninsula—would quickly turn into a sea of flames.  

Even if they couldn’t stop it, delaying it so the country could prepare defenses was their duty here—the duty of the soldiers present.  

“If I don’t go to hell…”  

Muttering Colonel Kim Sun-ho’s words.  

“…then who will?”  

Lieutenant Colonel Jung Ho-yeon, the executive officer, responded.  

If I don’t go to hell, then who?  

This was a phrase Colonel Kim, a devout Buddhist, often said.  

And now, it fits this situation perfectly.  

Soldiers resolved to leap into that fire, knowing death awaited them, to protect their homeland.  

“Everyone, listen!”  

Colonel Kim’s hoarse, cracked voice echoed throughout the ship.  

“I’m sorry.”  

He bowed at a 90-degree angle.  

The captain of the ship—who never bowed to anyone inside—lowered his heavy head.  

“As your superior officer and as the father responsible for this ship, I fear I must lead you to death.”  

With his head bowed, he spoke with sincerity.  

“But if our sacrifice can buy even a little time, allowing our country to prepare defenses against this ruthless Japan, then that is the path we must choose.”  

Perhaps even that sacrifice and that time would be of no use.  

But for now, this was all they could do.  

“I’m sorry, truly sorry…”  

Tears fell from his bowed head.  

A superior leading his subordinates to certain death.  

What a powerless, irresponsible, and cowardly act.  

Colonel Kim, who had served his entire life protecting his country and took pride in his duty, could only shed tears of anguish.  

And those tears.  

Ignited the hearts of everyone present.  

Death.  

Of course, it was terrifying.  

Especially since most on the ship were young men forcibly conscripted.  

But.  

“Raise your heads.”  

No one blamed Colonel Kim Sun-ho.  

“We will obey your orders, Captain.”  

A soldier must obey his superior’s orders.  

Seeing the resolute faces of the soldiers and subordinates, Kim wiped his eyes with his sleeve.  

Then.  

“Everyone…”  

His expression hardened.  

With a gaze full of determination, he issued a single order to all.  

“…Charge the enemy ship!”  

“Shwaaaak!”  

The Republic of Korea destroyer surged fiercely toward the enemy ship.  

Straight and unstoppable, the vessel had abandoned all control.  

“Bang, ka-kwa-kang!”

Continuous bombardment rained down.  

The impact shattered the ship into a wreck.  

Half destroyed.  

But the iron will of Colonel Kim Sun-ho and his men, already prepared to die, was on the brink of crashing the crippled ship into the enemy vessel.    

Yet despite their efforts, the Awakeners aboard the Japanese ship were ready to nullify even this final assault.  

This moment spelled their sacrifice and effort turning to dust.  

“…Our homeland will remember your devotion.”  

Through the sounds of explosions, roar, and crashing waves, a calm voice reached them.  

In the narrow gap between the two ships about to collide,  there stood a man alone on the sea.  

Dressed in armor as black as pitch, he took a step forward.  

“Jjeojeojeojeojuk!”

A freezing chill radiated from him, encasing the surrounding sea and all ships within that domain in ice.  

[Fimbulvet]

With the sudden onset of a harsh winter, the sea froze solid, and all the ships that should have surged forward came to a halt.  

It was as if time itself had stopped inside the chamber.   

Though immobilized, the ships still had means to attack.  

“Bang, pa-pa-pa-pang!”  

Missiles and shells fired from the Japanese ships flew toward the half-destroyed South Korean destroyer and the jet-black armored figure guarding it.  

But not a flicker of movement.  

As if uninterested, he simply watched the incoming attacks.  

Then, in the next moment.  

“Hwarrururuk!”  

A fierce blaze erupted in midair.  

“Kwak-kwak-kang!”  

The flying attacks exploded, turning into fireworks as missile debris scattered in all directions, leaving trails of light.  

And beyond the debris,  the flying monsters circling above revealed themselves.  

“Kyaaak!”  

“Kiiik!”  

No, it was not just flying monsters.  

“Thud, ku-ung!”  

Landing on the ice were large terrestrial monsters like Basilisks, Gorgons, and Cockatrices.  

“W-what…?”  

“Why are these monsters…?”  

The Japanese troops who saw the enemy forces were dumbfounded.  

Because these were the monsters summoned through Japan’s Summon Ticket to attack Seoul.  

Yet now, those monsters glared at the Japanese army with fierce eyes.  

“Click.”  

At the snap of the jet-black armored figure’s fingers, they charged.  

Attacking the frozen, defenseless ships.  

“Wh-what the hell!”  

Inside the half-destroyed destroyer, Colonel Kim Sun-ho and the few survivors could barely contain their shock.  

The invincible army that had mercilessly ravaged the Republic of Korea Navy, with not a single loss on their side, was now being utterly destroyed.  

“Bang-bang-bang-kang!”