Chapter 72: The movement of the fourth apostle

The fallen Japanese Hunters lay sprawled across the ground.

‘At least 500,000.’

Double the points I had.

That meant double the strength as well.

“Trying to challenge me? Hahaha, you think you’re some kind of joke after taking down the Apostle of the Thunder Dragon God?”

“Are you going to fight with words?”

“Unfortunately for you, there’s no one in this world who can defeat me.”

The Apostle of the Earth Dragon God raised his momentum.

It seemed he had invested all his points.

The aura emanating from him was no longer ordinary. I could feel his power had increased exactly by the amount of points difference between us.

The Apostle of the Earth Dragon God clenched both fists and curled his lips into a smile as he moved his body.

Wham.

He kicked off the ground and lunged forward with a punch.

Paang!

With a sharp crack of air, the shockwave flew toward me. Just before the attack reached me, I teleported to put some distance between us.

‘Absolute Barrier is a waste of mana.’

To counter his power, I would have to invest a huge amount of mana.

Since I couldn’t use unlimited mana, dodging was the best option.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

The Apostle of the Earth Dragon God spun his body swiftly and launched two fists at me.

Paang!

Paang!

Two shockwaves followed in quick succession.

‘Just as expected, he’s moving right into my trap.’

I extended my hand to the ground, infusing mana, and teleported away.

The Earth Dragon God laughed as he lunged after me.

With the points boosting his strength, he closed in at incredible speed.

I had no choice but to use the Barrier magic to block his punch.

Kwaaaang!

The Absolute Barrier cracked from the overwhelming blow.

A spinning kick shattered the barrier entirely.

“Hahaha! Come on, try provoking me some more!”

As the Earth Dragon God, beaming with confidence, threw a third strike—

I infused mana into the ground.

And teleported a third time.

Watching the mad dog chase after me, I continued infusing mana into the floor.

‘He’s quite a nuisance.’

Still, if I could just work on one more spot, I could finally take down the Earth Dragon God’s Apostle.

“Is that really how you plan to defeat me? Try throwing a proper attack, brute.”

“Hahaha. Whatever tricks you’re trying, none of them will work here.”

The Apostle’s eyes flashed as he leapt into the air.

Jumping up, he clenched his fists behind his head and swung a punch downward toward the ground from midair.

A mana-formed fist materialized and fell.

‘Teleport.’

I hastily put distance between us again.

Kwaaaaang!

The fist the Earth Dragon God’s Apostle created slammed into the earth.

The ground caved in, scattering dirt and stones everywhere.

A tree was uprooted and toppled over.

The area where I had been standing was utterly distorted.

The Apostle, descending from the air, cracked his neck.

“I’ve already figured out all your weird magic circles.”

“…Quite clever.”

“You’re an idiot if you think I wouldn’t notice you blatantly planting mana. Your arrogance is why you’re going to die.”

The Apostle of the Earth Dragon God smiled widely and unleashed his overwhelming power.

Mana rippled around both his fists.

Watching this, I infused my last mana into the ground.

“It’s pointless.”

“That’s why you’re going to die. You’ve underestimated me.”

“What?”

“Mass Teleport.”

A large-scale instantaneous teleportation spell.

A method that lets me move the Apostle of the Earth Dragon God without touching him.

The dispersed mana reacted to my incantation.

Flash!

Before the Apostle could react, he was ripped through space.

We stood in the middle of an empty, vast plain.

I looked at the Earth Dragon God’s Apostle with a smile.

“Destruction Blood Heaven Demon Array.”

I activated the formation I had set up in advance.

Whoosh!

A gigantic magic circle spread around us.

This formation steals life force and mana from the one who wields the power of the earth and transforms it to belong to me.

The power flowing from the Apostle of the Earth Dragon God was drawn into me through the formation.

The mana spent on the Mass Teleport quickly refilled.

“…It’s useless. This formation won’t work against overwhelming power.”

“Well then, why don’t you try?”

“Huaaaah!”

The Apostle of the Earth Dragon God roared, his eyes flashing fiercely.

He entered his Incarnation mode.

His power radiated about three times stronger than before as he swung his fists.

Shockwaves of mana fists scattered everywhere.

Kwaaaaang!

Kwaaaang!

Heavy blows exploded, obliterating the surroundings.

It was obvious what the Apostle intended.

He was putting all his strength into breaking the formation.

But I had already anticipated this and installed a defensive formation as well.

Unless I fell, this magic circle would never disappear.

“Keep trying.”

“Guaaah!”

I calmly withstood the onslaught of attacks from the Apostle.

The more he lost consciousness and moved less, the more the Destruction Blood Heaven Demon Array absorbed his life force and mana faster and in greater amounts.

‘Time to wrap this up.’

I gave up on breaking the formation and clenched my fist at the Apostle charging toward me.

I infused mana and ignited a flame.

Holding a blazing fist, I thrust it forward simultaneously with the Apostle.

“Burning Effect.”

The moment our fists collided—

Flames erupted, causing a massive explosion.

Kwaaaang!

The earth trembled, and the ground shook violently.

The raging fire engulfed everything.

I watched the Earth Dragon God’s Apostle burn to a crisp, then finished it off with the Incarnation Instant Kill Spell.

Thunk!

A stone axe cleaved the Apostle in two.

[You have acquired the points held by the player.]

[You have defeated the second Apostle.]

[Special rewards will be given. Rewards can be claimed after the Hall of Glory concludes.]

Whew.

I exhaled deeply and dissolved the formation.

“One big mountain crossed.”

If I could handle the remaining Hunters, would Korea win?

The live broadcast of the third round unfolded in real time.

China deployed an overwhelming number of Hunters, monopolizing monsters and subduing Hunters from other countries.

• They’re all surrendering and leaving.
• At least they’re not killing everyone like madmen.
• That’s uncharacteristic of China.
• That’s kinda cool.

The unstoppable Chinese force halted before a massive spider.

A giant spider the size of a whole shop.

• Wow… Is China going to win?
• I heard killing that thing gives a buff?
• What kind of buff?
• I’m hearing now—if you kill it, your HP and mana regeneration triple.
• Damn, if they kill that, the win’s basically guaranteed, right?

All eyes were on China, and someone forgot a critical presence.

• Wait, where are the Dokkaebi and Japan?
• Yeah, after taking a few shots early on, they haven’t shown up.
• Are they both dead?
• Japan? The only ones who could stop Japan were basically China.
• Maybe the Dokkaebi self-destructed?
• Even for the Dokkaebi, fighting all of Japan is brutal. Inside, everyone’s stats are equal, and points make the difference.
• Given neither’s appeared so far, that’s a real possibility.
• Why is Korea missing everyone but the Dokkaebi? If they’d all worked together, wouldn’t they be first?
• Not really. The Dokkaebi must have hoarded all the points, leaving the rest useless.

Meanwhile, China began assaulting the buff monster.

Then, another screen appeared.

Japanese Hunters lay all over the floor, and a Dokkaebi passed by them.

• Whoa… The Dokkaebi wiped out all the Japanese?
• Kenji… he’s dead?
• Crazy.
• Took on everyone alone? His skill must be insane.
• Definitely Twelve Constellations rank. No way otherwise.
• Does this mean the Dokkaebi will win? Even pushing against China, I feel like we’d win. Is this all just overhype?
• Let’s be the first from Korea to get our names in the Hall of Glory!

The community ignited with excitement, and someone posted.

• But if they surrendered, couldn’t they have been spared? Was killing them really necessary?
• Yeah. Just killing them seems a bit…
• Too cruel. Does winning mean anything if you do that?
• Not accepting surrenders and killing is kinda lame.
• Borderline psychotic, isn’t it?

Negative posts about the Dokkaebi flooded in.

• Lame? They were told to expect death if they fought and still chose to participate.
• Why are you changing the mood all of a sudden?
• Your country’s down and out, so stop ruining the vibe and leave. If the roles were reversed, do you think Kenji would’ve just stood there?
• The Dokkaebi is kinda brutal.
• Won’t he start doing the same stuff as the Blood Fiend once he hits Twelve Constellations?
• That’s scary.
• Where did all these people come from? Creepy.

The intentional Dokkaebi bashing had begun.

Watching all this, Japanese Hunter Association President Yoosaki curled his lips.

‘It’s begun.’

Showing that footage was deliberate.

A move only possible with Apostle authority.

He had anticipated the second Apostle’s failure.

He intended to use that failure to frame the Dokkaebi as a murderer.

It was unfortunate that Kenji, the Japanese Association’s promising S-rank Hunter, had died during this process.

But such prospects could be created again, so it wasn’t a big problem.

“You’ve started working on the Dokkaebi like you said. Positive sentiment will form in Korea, but other countries won’t look kindly on it.”

From the shadows, someone spoke.

“Keep this going well. Make everyone see the Dokkaebi as the enemy.”

“As you wish.”

“Have the Chinese side committed fully as well?”

“I’ve made sure they understood by stressing it.”

Yoosaki watched the video of the Chinese Hunters taking down the buff monster.

Buff-giving monsters.

Killing them grants buffs, but also a corresponding debuff.

Berserk.

A state where Hunters kill anything in sight without discrimination.

“They listen well.”

As the shadow spoke, the Chinese Hunters on screen succeeded in taking down the buff monster.

At the same time, the Dokkaebi appeared.

The Chinese Hunters drew their weapons facing the Dokkaebi.

Though berserk, there were no other changes.

“This looks like ordinary berserk… If this is possible, couldn’t we just kill the Dokkaebi directly?”

“With the dimensional power assigned to me, it’s impossible. This is the best we can do.”

Yoosaki clicked his tongue regretfully, watching the fight between the Chinese Hunters and the Dokkaebi.

Only one outcome remained:

The Dokkaebi mercilessly slaughtering the berserk Chinese Hunters.

True to expectations, the Dokkaebi crushed the Chinese Hunters.

The battle ended in less than 30 minutes.

“So? Do you think it’s possible to catch the Dokkaebi?”

“That depends on you. If you paint the Dokkaebi as a villain and make every nation target him…”

The Apostle in the shadows chuckled softly.

“I could kill him as soon as tomorrow.”

“You’d better move quickly.”

“Do your best. I’ll be busy crafting the S-rank Talent Stone you asked for.”

[Victory in the Hall of Glory.]

[Acquired an SSS-class random Skillbook.]

[Acquired an SSS-class random item box.]

[Acquired a Level Stone.]

[All Dungeon Rewards in Korea are doubled for one year.]

Reading the messages floating before my eyes, I looked at the fallen Chinese Hunters.

‘Something feels off.’

I hadn’t noticed it during the fight, but now, some things stuck out.

It felt like I had been fighting puppets.

Their reckless charging looked like they had been mind-controlled.

“…Hmm.”

That wasn’t the only strange thing.

‘Kim Muhyeok is gone.’

When I arrived here, I had seen Kim Muhyeok, but now he was missing.

The Hall of Glory had ended.

That meant he must have died somewhere.

“Did he run away and then get killed?”

Lingering doubts unsettled me as I returned to reality.

Then the mystery was instantly solved.

Breaking news flashed on a giant billboard near the Association headquarters.

[Shock… Dokkaebi. Intentional murders?]

Alongside the headline was footage of the missing Kim Muhyeok.

His face pale with fear.

• He clearly surrendered… but the Dokkaebi mercilessly slaughtered the Chinese Hunters. Saying China should disappear from this world… my comrades had no choice but to fight.
• That man… is dangerous.

Seeing this, I recalled what Association President Lee Changgeon had told me.

How Japan tried to brand me as a dangerous individual.

‘The Fourth Apostle.’

He was definitely moving.

“This is getting interesting.”

If it came to this, I couldn’t just stand by.