“I’ll go out.”
Han Junghwa said.
Guild Master Kang Sungpyo shook his head.
“That’s suicide.”
Even Kang Sungpyo, an S-class Hunter, found it difficult to go outside in this situation.
How long could Han Junghwa, an A-class Hunter, possibly last?
“It’s better than just sitting here waiting to die.”
There was a Gate connected to Earth and Marsala, so they could technically escape.
But after the bombardment, the unstable Gate had been closed.
Although it could be reopened easily from this side since the other side was open, the process took longer than just passing through an open Gate.
Senjo Count wouldn’t just sit back and watch, so only a few would be able to flee through the Gate.
And Han Junghwa had no intention of escaping first.
“Wait. The Princess will be here soon. Just hold out until then.”
“How long do you think we can last under those things?”
Over three hundred Dimension Ships still floated in the sky.
The largest, Senjo Count’s Flagship, was especially threatening.
“It’s better than charging out there without a plan. They’re not attacking yet, so let’s wait.”
Han Junghwa only glared at Senjo Count’s Flagship.
She only wanted to charge out because of her hot blood, not because she had a clever plan.
“I felt lucky this weekend. Thought I’d live a long time.”
“You had fun with Yoonseo?”
“Well, yes, but do you know how handsome Yoonseo’s brother is?”
“Yoonseo never says things like that.”
“We’re siblings. Hurry up and recruit him for our guild. I bet he’d be even more popular than Yoonseo.”
“I’ll think about it if we get through this.”
As they half-joked and half-complained, Senjo Count stepped out from his Flagship.
Demons of Chaos followed him, carrying cameras.
The scenes they filmed were broadcast live on Ditube.
“Make sure to film every corner. So the humans and Elves can witness the fall of the 6th Dimension Fortress properly.”
Once the camera arrangement was complete, Senjo Count stood before the Main Camera.
“Greetings, humans and Elves. You know where this is, right?”
The main screen shifted to a bird’s-eye view of the 6th Dimension Fortress.
-What is this?
-It’s the 6th Dimension Fortress.
-The demons are broadcasting?
-Why are there so many Dimension Ships?
-Is it war?
-It’s always war with those damned demons.
-Is the Dawn Guild wiped out?
-They seem alive.
-But aren’t they doomed?
-Isn’t that Choi Yunseo and Han Junghwa there?
As viewers rapidly increased, Senjo Count was delighted.
“As you can see, it’s the 6th Dimension Fortress. What do you think the situation is here?”
The camera panned over the fleet and the nearly 300,000-strong army.
Even now, twisted monsters like Bluespawn and Manticores poured out of the Dimension Ships.
There were even things that looked like three-headed Brachiosaurus.
-There’s even a Hydra.
-They came prepared.
There were four Hydras, notorious A-class monsters known for their Acid Breath and incredible regeneration.
“Those who are shocked by this will try to come help, I’m sure. But how long will it take to gather troops and get here? Hours, at least. By then, this place will be utterly destroyed.”
Senjo Count, convinced he already had the Fortress in his grasp, boasted at length.
Dimension Ships that had deployed their troops floated on the Sea of Dimensions.
The army of Demons of Chaos and monsters split into groups of 100,000 and surrounded the fortress from four sides.
“Preparations are complete. Then, everyone, say your goodbyes. It’s time to part.”
Suddenly, a Gate opened and Elves crossed through.
Senjo Count’s eyes widened when he saw one particular Elf.
“Iselin?”
The Elf leading the knights was unmistakably Iselin.
Beside her was Dielka as well.
“What brings you here? Is suicide in vogue at the fortress these days?”
No matter how he thought about it, Senjo Count couldn’t figure out Iselin’s intentions.
Elves like her would never step into such a disadvantageous situation.
Knights would have thrown themselves to stop her.
“This is perfect. If I kill Iselin here, becoming a Duke is no longer just a dream. Welcome to hell, Iselin.”
Senjo Count’s lips curled so high he looked deranged.
“Attack.”
Hell Cannons roared, and demons and monsters charged.
Choi Kangjoong headed for the Ogres rather than the Earthworms.
Earthworms lived underground and were hard to find, plus only a few existed per dimension, so he planned to hunt them later.
Hunting Ogres was simple.
They were C-class, brute-force monsters, so he just had to use Stealth Blink to approach and finish them off with Death Blade.
He deployed Apocalid Field to subdue them and fired Mana Cannons as well.
[Ogre Evolution Code Decipher Rate: 21%]
“I’ll be home in under an hour at this rate.”
After wiping out the Ogres, Choi Kangjoong used Stealth Blink to move to another area.
He used all his senses to find more Ogres, when he sensed a faint demonic energy.
“What’s this? Did a demon pass by?”
Choi Kangjoong summoned Kai.
“Do you sense the demonic energy?”
“Kiiik!”
“Track it.”
Kai circled around Choi Kangjoong and disappeared in the direction where the energy thickened.
Even watching with his own eyes, it was hard to spot—truly stealthy.
“He’ll find it soon. But it’s inconvenient only having one Kai.”
Until now, the battlefield hadn’t been that wide, and the enemy factions were few, so one Kai was enough.
But now, with many battlefields and numerous enemies, it would be better to have more scout Apocalids.
“I should get the Camouflage Evolution Code and make some Stealth Scouts to spread around. Maybe grab more Blink while I’m at it.”
Having decided on his next Evolution Code, Choi Kangjoong returned to hunting Ogres.
After he’d hunted thirty Ogres and the Evolution Code decipher rate had surpassed 50%, a report came in from Kai.
“Demons of Chaos, huh. What are they up to?”
The demonic energy Choi Kangjoong had sensed belonged to a Demon of Chaos.
They clustered in twos or threes, scattering something, and the Ogres, as if hypnotized, followed them.
As skilled magic users and monster tamers, demons excelled at controlling monsters.
Among them was one called Baron Plasse, who led around a Twinhead Ogre.
“That guy looks like the boss.”
Kai attached himself to Baron Plasse, allowing Choi Kangjoong to overhear all conversations with his subordinates.
-How many Ogres have we gathered?
-Ninety, sir.
-Once you hit a hundred, send them all at that guy at once.
-Understood. If we fire a grand spell while he’s fighting Ogres, he won’t walk away unscathed.
-He needs to pay for meddling with Disorder.
“Disorder scum. So, they plan to attack me.”
Choi Kangjoong thought this was perfect.
“I’m not killing Baron Plasse on purpose, so stick close and follow him. Let’s find their base and smash Disorder for good.”
“Kiiik!”
Kai trailed thirty centimeters behind Baron Plasse.
Before long, a hundred Ogres had gathered.
“Send in the Ogres!”
The now-aware Ogres charged in the direction of Choi Kangjoong.
A stampede of hulking green bodies, even bigger than an Orc Great Boss, ripped through the forest.
Demons of Chaos began casting a grand spell.
They were preparing to unleash Chaos Hellfire.
A destructive spell, Chaos Hellfire was comparable to a small nuclear bomb.
Mana and willpower concentrated, and above their heads, crimson-black flames formed.
The fireball grew until it was the size of a human head.
“Die!”
Baron Plasse swung his hand.
Chaos Hellfire shot forth like a laser, slamming into the writhing mass of Ogres.
KUAANG!
The explosion obliterated the Ogres.
Hellfire, spreading in all directions, fed on the Ogres’ souls.
Their screams echoed everywhere.
“Did we get him?”
Between the shockwaves and rampaging Ogres, it was hard to know what had happened.
Slice.
A demon fell, slain by Death Blade.
Baron Plasse turned his head in alarm.
Choi Kangjoong was already gone.
Slice.
Using Stealth Blink, he appeared behind another demon and cut its throat.
“Damn it!”
Baron Plasse fled first.
He didn’t even remember to throw his underlings at Choi Kangjoong.
As he’d said, Choi Kangjoong deliberately only hunted other demons.
Kai secretly followed Baron Plasse.
He summoned Lutal and Walker to finish off the remaining Ogres and tossed them into the Soil Pit.
[Ogre Evolution Code Decipher Rate: 100%]
“Got the Evolution Code. Maybe I’ll mess with him a bit.”
Choi Kangjoong sent Giants to circle around Baron Plasse.
Hiding underground, Baron Plasse felt the terror of death with every tremor in the earth.
After enough time had passed, Choi Kangjoong went home, where his Dawnphone on the desk was flashing and ringing loudly.
“Huh. Even when Han Junghwa sends a message, it doesn’t act like this… Must be urgent.”
Guild Master Kang Sungpyo had sent an emergency text to all guild members.
Choi Kangjoong turned on his phone and searched for the 6th Dimension Fortress.
Senjo Count’s broadcast was at the very top.
The attack had just begun.
Hell Cannons fell like rain, and 400,000 monsters swarmed the walls.
Now and then, Choi Yunseo or Han Junghwa appeared on screen.
Seeing his younger sister and friend in danger, blood rushed to his head.
He understood, for the first time, what it meant for his head to feel dizzy.
Any thought of resting in bed vanished instantly.
“So that’s where you were, huh?”
Choi Kangjoong exploded with cold fury and opened the Gate.
“Hahahahahaha!”
Senjo Count, having returned to his Flagship, was almost dying of delight at the chaos he had unleashed.
The roars of monsters and the terrified moans of humans were the best music imaginable.
“Congratulations, Count!”
“Victory is certain!”
“Shall we call you Duke in advance?”
Senjo Count was further lifted by his subordinates’ flattery.
“Just trust me. Your places will be secure too.”
“Thank you!”
“You have our utmost loyalty!”
A convivial atmosphere.
The Elven Knights’ Shield still held, and no monster had breached the walls.
But stamina and mana weren’t infinite, so it was only a matter of time.
“We can enjoy the show for now.”
Senjo Count drank wine made from blood.
Wine steeped in the fear and pain of life always tasted good, but today it was especially rich.
“What’s that?”
A large Dimension Ship was approaching.
Its opulence was clear even from afar.
“Olextercy? What’s Duke Akirif doing here?”
“Maybe trying to grab a share of the glory.”
“Ha! This was all planned and executed by me alone. I’m not sharing the credit. Fire a warning shot.”
Had he failed, Senjo Count would have faced not just ruin, but endless torment at the hands of his investors.
An explosion occurred near Olextercy, which then stopped its approach.
Satisfied, Senjo Count looked down again.
Something unfamiliar blocked his view.
“When did that get there? Get rid of it immediately!”
Senjo Count burst into fury.
“It just appeared out of nowhere!”
“Something that big just appearing… were you all neglecting your watch?”
Senjo Count executed the sentries as an example.
Still unsatisfied, he went out onto the deck to deal with it himself.
Only then could he see its full form.
“A Dimension Monster? No… that’s something much more…”
Senjo Count locked eyes with the creature.
His blazing rage vanished instantly.
A terror as if he could be devoured at any moment wrapped around him.
“Attack that thing first!”
The Dimension Ships and demons shifted targets.
Hell Cannons and chaos magic rained down.
The Shield was breached and the armor was dented, but it still did no meaningful damage.
“Kueong.”
Ku-eong, who had pierced into the heart of Senjo Count’s fleet, lined up its Mana Cannons.
Ku-eong’s flank flashed, and a massive mana storm erupted, swallowing the fleet whole.