A long list of Special Entities appeared next to the classes.
Choi Kangjoong could now choose to produce Special Entities from any of the classes he had unlocked, starting from the Walker class.
“This is amazing. Should I produce one more Lutal for now?”
The Brutal Lord was listed clearly under the Warrior class. Just seeing that made Choi Kangjoong feel good.
“But it costs 1,000,000,000 Evolution Points to produce just one.”
It was the same amount of Evolution Points required for a Rank 7 Species Evolution.
‘I knew I wouldn’t be able to just churn them out. But even so, this is practically cheating.’
Choi Kangjoong imagined what it would be like to have ten Lutals equipped with boosters. If he had that many, he didn’t think they would be hopelessly overwhelmed even if Ladespina brought out every single Dragon of her clan.
It would require a massive 18,000,000,000 points, but it was a score he could eventually reach as long as he kept fighting.
“How many Evolution Points do I have left?”
**[Evolution Points: 981,871,123]**
“I’m right on the verge of one billion. Should I do the Species Evolution first, or produce a Special Entity?”
Choi Kangjoong fell into a happy dilemma. He couldn’t come up with an immediate answer. Species Evolution was better for dealing with quantity-based species like the IANTs or Orcs, while Special Entities were better against species like Demons or Elves.
‘Kuongi is about to fight the demons, so should I produce a Special Entity in advance?’
After taking down Meneta and returning to the vicinity of the Akirif Duchy, Kuongi was leading the Apocalid legion forward. Soon, they would encounter the troops Duke Akirif had scraped together by throwing money around.
“The Swarm Lord is tempting, though…”
The Swarm Lord was a Titan-class Apocalid that housed small Apocalids inside its body and fired them at high speeds. It could compensate for the weakness of having mostly ground forces and could quickly board and destroy enemy Dimension Ships from the inside by rapidly deploying a massive number of troops.
‘But it might be better to produce another Lutal or a Chitin Mace.’
Since the demons would likely charge in while unfolding Great Magic again, it was also a good idea to have an Apocalid capable of crushing that. The Chitin Mace was a Giant-based Special Entity that had large, heavy weights attached to its feet instead of Abyssal Claws, allowing it to crush everything in its path.
“I can’t decide. Kai.”
“Kieek!”
“Go and scout Duke Akirif’s troops.”
“Kieek!”
Kai rode a Fighter Giant and moved to infiltrate Duke Akirif’s fleet. The fleet commander was a Demon of Greed named Halidon, whose combat power was pathetic. However, there were Count-class Demons of Ruin and Demons of Chaos scattered throughout. A Count-class demon had combat power similar to an A-rank hunter, but when they unleashed Great Magic, they could even be compared to S-rank hunters.
“Duke Akirif really spent a lot of money.”
Choi Kangjoong rolled around on his bed, agonizing over the choice, but an answer didn’t come easily.
“I want to produce them all right now! Ah, whatever. I’ll just wait until I have 1,000,000,000. I only need 20,000,000 more.”
As Choi Kangjoong postponed his decision, his phone rang. It was a text message from the Hunter Association.
“A Gate Incident occurred?”
Choi Kangjoong sat up from his bed.
—
“A change, huh…”
Joo Eun-jong was lost in thought in the car driven by Manager Son Myung-gyu.
“Is something bothering you?”
“I have a lot on my mind.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you looking so contemplative, Director. What is it?”
“My image change.”
“Your image…?”
“You know what I’m talking about. My image as a spoiled scoundrel!”
“You’re going to change that?”
Manager Son Myung-gyu looked dumbfounded. Joo Eun-jong could clearly read the man’s feelings through his eyes reflected in the rearview mirror.
“Don’t give me that look and just give me some ideas!”
“Can I speak honestly?”
“Yeah.”
“You won’t fire me, right?”
“Why would I fire you?”
“Ahem… Then, how about starting with an attitude of respecting others?”
“Respect? I’m already respecting people.”
“I mean, starting with how you just bark informally at everyone… No, how you speak informally to people. It might be good to start with those closest to you.”
“If it’s someone close to me, are you saying I should start with you, Manager Son?”
“That’s just an example.”
Joo Eun-jong stared out the window for no reason before hesitatingly opening his mouth.
“Manager… Son… sir…?”
“Yes, Director.”
Manager Son Myung-gyu did his best to hide his joy while watching Joo Eun-jong’s reaction.
“Damn it, I can’t do this! Manager Son!”
“Yes, Director!”
“Go faster.”
“If I go any faster, I’ll be speeding.”
“Ugh.”
In the past, he would have told him to just go faster anyway, but he didn’t do that now. That alone was a major change.
The car, which had been cruising smoothly, suddenly came to a halt after turning a corner at an intersection. Joo Eun-jong, who almost slammed his head against the seat in front of him, snapped irritably.
“What now?”
“It’s… it’s a Gate!”
“A Gate in the middle of the road?”
Joo Eun-jong looked ahead. There really was a Gate. It was larger than others, and the road and buildings had been cleanly severed.
“It’s a Gate Incident.”
An accident where a Gate suddenly opened, causing people to fall in or monsters to come out, was called a Gate Incident. Choi Kangjoong had suffered through one himself and had struggled mentally because of it.
“Stop the car.”
Manager Son Myung-gyu stepped on the brake. Joo Eun-jong got out, opened the trunk, and equipped his gear. It consisted of a robe that was waterproof and stab-proof, and a staff that acted as his sight, as expected of a mage.
“Are you going in?”
“Of course.”
“We don’t know what’s on the other side of that Gate. We don’t even know where it is. If the Gate disappears, you’ll be a stray in the Dimensional Sea! Even the Outer Mind won’t be able to find you then!”
Joo Eun-jong didn’t answer and walked forward. The police, who had arrived after receiving the report, were controlling the area around the Gate.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Joo Eun-jong greeted them first. Manager Son Myung-gyu couldn’t believe his ears. The scoundrel Joo Eun-jong was the first to greet someone, and in polite speech at that.
‘Is he really serious about changing his image?’
Manager Son thought he would have to step in to prevent trouble with the police, but that was no longer necessary.
“Are you a hunter?”
“I am. B-rank.”
Joo Eun-jong showed his hunter license.
“Thank you for your cooperation. Did you come from the Dawn Guild?”
“No. I stopped because of the Gate Incident while I was driving by.”
“You must be trying to stop any monsters that might come out. Thank you.”
the police officer said warmly. Joo Eun-jong had no choice but to admit that stopping the informal speech was the right move. It was more comfortable than trading sharp words. It felt like he had taken off a mask he had been forced to wear.
“I’m not just here to stop the monsters.”
“Then…?”
“I have to go in and help the people.”
“It’s… it’s dangerous! Please wait until the Dawn Guild forms a response team.”
“By then, it might be far too late.”
Joo Eun-jong took flight.
“Sir! You can’t!”
The officer wasn’t saying it because of protocol, but out of genuine concern that a noble hunter might die. The looks from the other police officers and citizens also held favor and respect rather than hostility. Joo Eun-jong smiled at the people’s reactions, which were different from usual, and crossed through the Gate.
“Blegh!”
Joo Eun-jong’s stomach churned from the sudden environmental change, making him gag.
‘This isn’t good…’
Joo Eun-jong quickly took a sip of water to calm his stomach. For a hunter to feel this much of a shock, the environment here had to be vastly different from Earth. Civilians definitely wouldn’t be able to hold out for long.
“The mana concentration is incredible.”
He felt resistance just moving his limbs.
“Where are the people?”
There was no one near the Gate. It wasn’t likely that the people had moved on their own, so something must have moved them. If that “something” was a demon or a monster, the people would find it hard to escape death.
Joo Eun-jong examined the ground. There were traces of people being dragged. There were also many footprints.
“They’re wearing shoes. It’s not monsters. That’s a relief, at least.”
Joo Eun-jong followed the tracks. Before long, he found the unconscious people and those who had taken them. The people were sprawled messily on the ground, and Dark Elves were standing near them.
The Dark Elves, lined up in a square formation, were each as strong as or stronger than Joo Eun-jong. The Dark Elves wearing armor beautifully engraved with complex patterns possessed a fierce aura that made Joo Eun-jong tighten up with tension just by standing there.
“Ho. Instead of the Outer Mind, some weakling showed up. Who are you?”
“Identify yourself first.”
“You’ve lost your sense of fear. I like that. But you have to pay the price for it, don’t you?”
The Dark Elf smirked and pointed at another Dark Elf.
“If you can win against this one, I’ll let you live.”
The designated Dark Elf stepped forward and drew his sword. He was someone so strong that Joo Eun-jong would find it hard to win even if he were born again. He wore a bloodthirsty smile, anticipating the blood and screams that would soon break out.
‘Was coming here a mistake?’
Joo Eun-jong quietly cast acceleration magic on himself.
‘No. If I hadn’t come, who knows what would have happened to those people.’
Joo Eun-jong’s mouth felt dry. He couldn’t take his eyes off the Dark Elf.
‘Should I attack first?’
He aimed at the Dark Elf and cast Wind Cutter. The Dark Elf lunged forward like lightning and scattered the Wind Cutter with his sword.
“How are you so fast!”
Joo Eun-jong barked in frustration and took to the air. In response, the Dark Elf pulled out a bow.
“A bow is cheating!”
Joo Eun-jong hastily dropped back down. An arrow grazed past his hair. Joo Eun-jong’s heart pounded wildly. His head felt like it would explode from the overflowing adrenaline.
“Die!”
Joo Eun-jong cast Blade Vortex. It was the most powerful area-of-effect magic he could use, and thanks to his survival instincts, he completed it faster than ever before.
*Whoooooosh!*
Over ten Wind Cutters randomly stormed toward the Dark Elf. The Dark Elf swatted them all away with ease, then slashed his sword vertically to collapse one side of the Blade Vortex and escaped.
*Zip! Zip!*
The Dark Elf approached Joo Eun-jong while firing arrows. Joo Eun-jong performed desperate evasive maneuvers, but he ended up taking a hit in the stomach. His mind went white from the intense pain, and it became difficult to maintain his flight magic.
*Thud.*
Joo Eun-jong fell as if he were crashing. The Dark Elf lunged at him instantly.
“Get lost!”
Joo Eun-jong pushed the Dark Elf away while flinging himself backward. Having opened up some distance, the Dark Elf twirled his sword and skipped toward him lightheartedly. He had the expression of a cat playing with a mouse.
“Aaaaaah!”
Even so, Joo Eun-jong didn’t just take it. Utilizing the characteristics of Gale Magic, which specialized in pushing and cutting, he desperately blocked the Dark Elf’s approach.
“Finish it now,” the female Dark Elf said.
The Dark Elf facing Joo Eun-jong lowered his body as much as possible and then launched himself elastically. He approached Joo Eun-jong as if he had used Blink.
Joo Eun-jong deployed his Shield. The Dark Elf’s sword, which filled his entire field of vision, drew closer and closer. Sensing his impending death, Joo Eun-jong could strangely see it unfolding in slow motion.
‘Is this how I die… I shouldn’t have lived as such a scoundrel.’
His life up to that point flashed before his eyes like a panorama. The feelings Joo Eun-jong had as he watched his past were regret and repentance.
‘I really lived like such a piece of trash! If I had lived seriously, I could have taken out a guy like this in one shot!’
Joo Eun-jong vowed that if there was a next life, he would definitely live it seriously. At that moment, a pitch-black blade cut into his vision.
*Clang!*
The Dark Elf, whose sword was blocked, quickly threw himself backward to gain distance.
“You’ve finally come. You’re the Outer Mind, right?”
the female Dark Elf said as she walked over.
“And if I am?”
“I am Silvius. I serve the Prince.”