Thump!
Crash!
The tree stump acted as the main body, moving as if it had multiple arms. It lifted its severed top and swung it like a club.
This was the creature turning Arizona into a wasteland.
It was the first special monster sent to this world by the High Apostle, who had felt threatened after I had accumulated so many achievements.
[Golden Dragon Eye is being used.]
[Modified Mega Grotone (SS+ Rank)]
– A monster created by a certain being who modified the World Tree.
– Destroys everything.
– Total Stats: SS Rank
– Potential: SSS Rank
– Items: None
– Skills: Fire Resistance Shell (SS), Parasitic Branches (SS), Rapid Regeneration (SS)… Power of Corruption (SS).
It wasn’t an SSS Rank, so it wasn’t a particularly difficult opponent to handle. If only permission had been granted sooner, I could have dealt with it long before things got this bad. However, several complicated relationships were intertwined.
“You must… get permission from the United States.”
Following Association President Lee Changgeon’s request, I visited the US Hunter Association first. When I met with the Association President and told him I would take care of it, the people beside him, who called themselves the standing committee, began to interfere.
“Ahem, even if you are the Dokkaebi, we cannot grant you the subjugation rights.”
“We also have two of the Twelve Constellations. There is no way we can’t catch it ourselves.”
“Taking all the rewards for yourself is a bit…”
“Even for the Dokkaebi, is it right to break in here and act so unruly?”
Even though they had already heard over the radio that Arizona was being reduced to rubble, those committee members were only blinded by the rewards. Since it was such a powerful monster, there would surely be a powerful reward. They felt they couldn’t let such a prize be taken from them.
The United States is the strongest. It was plain to see that these were the only thoughts in their heads.
‘It’s not that I don’t understand.’
The logic itself was understandable, but it was pathetic that they were so consumed by it that they couldn’t see the reality before them. So, I teleported everyone in that room.
Right into the middle of the Arizona battlefield.
To the scene where the Mega Grotone was laying waste to the land, where Hunters lay fallen, and where ordinary people were dying. After showing them all of this without any filter, the committee members finally realized the reality and handed the subjugation rights over to me.
“I’m counting on you.”
The Association President, who had been unable to give permission because he was blocked by the committee, looked much more relieved.
“I’ll clean this up before any more damage is done.”
I turned around and walked toward the Mega Grotone. Colonel Lord, who had recovered after drinking a potion, and Jessica joined my side.
“You crazy bastard. You brought the standing committee members here just to get permission?”
“It was cool. I should try that next time.”
“You’re just as crazy. People need to know what’s happening here.”
Colonel Lord chuckled at Jessica’s words and looked at me. “Is there anything we can do to help?”
“No. Just watch. It’ll be over soon.”
I prepared a spell using the mana stored in the Dragon Heart. The Mega Grotone’s strength was its fire resistance. The bark that originally only existed on the trunk had now covered everything down to the stump.
If I had to attack it through conventional means, I would have to break that bark and scorch the exposed flesh with fire, just as Colonel Lord and Jessica had done. However, I could simply overwhelm an SS Rank monster with pure firepower.
Whoosh!
Using the vast mana in the Dragon Heart, I created a powerful fire spear that contained the principles of nature magic. It was a spear imbued with immense destructive power. Though it might look ordinary on the outside, the power contained within was stronger than any other flame.
“Fire Spear? You’re going to catch that thing with that?”
I smirked at Jessica. Then, I flicked my finger and launched the fire spear at the Mega Grotone.
The spear flew through the air, visible to the naked eye. When the Mega Grotone swung its roots to block the spear —
Sizzle!
The part that touched the spear melted instantly. The severed section burst into flames and vanished into black ash.
“Kieeeeeek!”
The Mega Grotone used its roots to swing its upper body violently. It was the part with the highest resistance due to the fire resistance shell. But even that was useless.
The spear I sent burned through everything as it flew toward the Mega Grotone.
Fwoom!
The moment the spear touched its body, it turned into fire and spread rapidly. The flames swallowed the massive monster whole. Then, the fire that had consumed everything vanished just as quickly.
[You have successfully subjugated a special monster.]
[Rewards will be distributed according to contribution.]
[1st: Cheon Yongje]
[2nd: Lord Beriam]
[3rd: Jessica Lara]
My name appeared in the message window.
‘What is the play here?’
Until now, whether I was clearing Labyrinth achievements or winning the Stair War, my anonymity had been guaranteed. I shifted my gaze toward Colonel Lord and Jessica.
“Did you happen to see my name?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s a cool name. Dragon Lord.”
Assuming these two saw it because of their high contribution, I was about to check if it appeared for those with low or no contribution when —
Buzz!
Buzz!
I checked the vibrating cellphone. It wasn’t the phone given to me by the Association President, but my original phone. The screen showed the name I used for my mother.
“Hello?”
— Son? Your name suddenly appeared. It’s not you, is it?
There was no reason to hide it anymore. I now had the strength to protect my family regardless of whatever danger might come.
“It’s me.”
— …
“Mom, I’ll call you back later.”
I checked the reward first to wrap things up here.
[Heart of Mother Nature (SS Rank)]
– Allows the user to handle powerful natural forces.
– Can only be used on plants.
– Allows for immense growth.
I could give this to Fryra. She would become much stronger than she was now. From now on, every monster that appeared would likely give a reward like this.
‘The Law of Equivalent Exchange.’
It was the law of the Labyrinth Administrator: as much as powerful monsters were released into the world, powerful rewards had to be given. The High Apostle probably knew this too. They knew I would catch these things and grow.
Even so, why did they choose this method?
‘Does it have to do with revealing my name?’
It was highly likely. I had to figure out what they were planning as quickly as possible to stop the High Apostle without any casualties. Since I still had time, I decided to think about it later.
Wrum!
I opened a portal and connected a door to the Golden Magic Tower. Mages wearing golden cloaks walked out from beyond the door. Yoo Seolha, who was at the front, narrowed her eyes as she looked at me.
She must have realized my identity. We had lived in the same neighborhood, and her father was the savior who had rescued me.
“Start with the recovery work first.”
“…We definitely need to talk.”
Yoo Seolha walked into the middle of the chaotic battlefield and gave orders to the mages of the Magic Tower.
“Start by rescuing survivors. If they are still breathing, save them even if you have to use an Elixir. Recovery work comes after that.”
“Yes!”
“Understood!”
The mages, who had already performed these tasks many times, moved skillfully. If someone was trapped between collapsed buildings, they used magic to lift the debris and rescue them. They used potions to save lives.
I made sure the US Hunter Association saw this entire process. Since I had pushed through to conduct the subjugation, I had to leave a good impression on the United States. I walked toward the standing committee members, who were wearing complex expressions.
“I hope for your quick cooperation next time. If you’re late, the damage only grows.”
The Republic of Korea was in an uproar.
The subjugation of the special monster in the United States. First place in contribution. The recovery work of the Golden Magic Tower. Many articles were poured out, but the thing that drew the most attention was the identity of the Dokkaebi.
– I was classmates with the Dokkaebi.
– What was he like in school?
– He used to beat kids up. He was a bully.
– Don’t make things up. He was the one who got hit instead of others.
– Agreed. His nickname was Sandbag. He said he had to build up his durability to be a Hunter. He told people to hit him instead.
As everyone began to take interest and dug into the Dokkaebi’s past actions, there was nothing that could be spun maliciously. Instead, there were many more stories of his good deeds. How much he had helped others, and even his work as a Dungeon Worker.
– He was just a quiet, hard-working friend.
– He came to our convenience store every morning to buy breakfast. He was so incredibly diligent. I knew he would succeed.
Even the owner of the convenience store in front of the house where Cheon Yongje used to live was interviewed. Eventually, anecdotes from Cheon Yongje’s childhood were revealed.
– Is it true that Hunter Yoo Baekjun saved Cheon Yongje when he was about to die?
– My mom is friends with Cheon Yongje’s mom. It’s true.
– How many people has Yoo Baekjun saved? Aren’t they just making it up? Trying to link them somehow?
– Agreed. Sounds like they’re writing a novel about a boy saved by a hero who becomes a hero himself.
These facts became established truths as the Golden Tower Master, Yoo Seolha, stepped forward.
– Whoa, seriously?
– What is his relationship with Yoo Seolha?
– I heard they were promised to each other before they were even born.
– You crazy bastard, what is this, the Joseon Dynasty? And they met for the first time when they were in elementary school. Promised before birth, my foot.
Every media outlet began to camp out at the Korean Hunter Association to get an interview with Cheon Yongje. Also, some headed to the house where his parents lived, but they were already gone.
The Dokkaebi, whose whereabouts had been unknown, reappeared in Canada. It was the appearance of the second special monster. Canada, having seen the subjugation process in the United States and lacking any of the Twelve Constellations, immediately requested help from the Dokkaebi.
Without even a minor amount of damage, the disaster that had appeared in Canada vanished as he cleanly handled the special monster. Since the entire process was broadcast live, many people watched the Dokkaebi’s performance.
– He catches them too easily. Aren’t those things weak?
– Right. The US only failed because they dragged their feet. If Colonel Lord and Jessica had poured on the firepower from the start, they would have caught it.
– It looks like something worth trying.
Because special monsters died easily under the Dokkaebi’s overwhelming power, this kind of public opinion was formed, and it was reflected when the next special monster appeared.
A special monster appeared in the United Kingdom. To catch the monster that appeared in the capital, London, Benjamin of the Twelve Constellations stepped forward, but it was an impossible task. Under the overwhelming power of the monster, the S-rank Hunters of the UK, including Benjamin, were defeated. Ultimately, only after suffering damage close to total annihilation could the Dokkaebi step in.
– Benjamin is a buffer. The UK was just being greedy.
– Agreed. That was pushing it too far.
– Australia will be impossible too. Since she’s a Saintess. At least people won’t die.
– Isn’t France totally possible?
Amidst various opinions, special monsters appeared in most major countries. The Dokkaebi appeared only at those times to subjugate the monsters before disappearing again.
Once he had monopolized all the boss monster rewards, a new public opinion emerged.
– But if the Dokkaebi hadn’t gathered those achievements, places like the US, UK, and India wouldn’t have suffered.
– Didn’t the Dokkaebi trigger a worldwide disaster because he was greedy for achievements?
– Oh, so that’s why he’s going around cleaning up the mess?
Someone intentionally tried to incite negative public opinion, but they were quickly suppressed.
– Didn’t you see them pouring in incredibly expensive potions from the Golden Magic Tower?
– Do you even know how much one of those costs?
– And in the first place, when a Dungeon Break happens, there are victims. Are you going to nail Hunters to a cross every time that happens?
– It’s because of the Dokkaebi that we’re getting through this without more damage, you idiots.
As the event where special monsters appeared was coming to an end, a certain place drew attention.
It was the prison where the Association Presidents of China and Japan were being held, alongside powerful criminal Hunters from around the world. Someone appeared there. He smirked as he looked at the two Association Presidents, who had half-lost their minds.
“Don’t you want to get revenge?”