Chapter 23: Apocalid Assembly Line

The Biotube spread out, absorbing all the remaining nutrients in the Dimension.

It felt a bit like sticking a straw into a cup with some leftover drink and slurping it up.

[Dimensional Devouring has been completed.]

[Current Evolution Points: 5,332,862]

“Five point three million!”

He had only devoured two Dimensions, but had already collected nearly half the Evolution Points required to unlock the Supertitan Class.

“If I clear out the Hydra Sea, I could even achieve Species Evolution.”

Choi Kangjoong briefly considered jumping to another Dimension to gather another five million points and proceed with Species Evolution, but changed his mind.

After watching Lutal’s fierce battle, he realized what needed to be supplemented with the Evolution Code.

“If I strengthen the muscles and add a regeneration-related code, it’ll get even stronger.”

Choi Kangjoong sat down at his computer and logged into the Dimension Net.

“What would be good?”

He scrolled down the monster list.

For muscle-related Evolution Codes, there were Ogres and Minotaurs.

For regeneration-related codes, there were Trolls, Lycanthropes, and Hydras.

“Hydra is an A-class risk, so I’ll skip that. No matter how good the Evolution Code is, I’d lose all my Apocalids if I tried to hunt it.”

Choi Kangjoong set the filters to only show Dimensions with Ogres, Minotaurs, Trolls, or Lycanthropes, excluding Hydras.

“Is there any Dimension where monsters with muscle and regeneration abilities coexist? It’d be nice to get it all in one go.”

He wanted to reduce the time he spent away from his room, even just a little.

“No place has both Ogre and Troll or Lycanthrope together. Maybe it’s because Ogres hunt them all… Huh?”

One Dimension caught his eye.

It was a Dimension with both Trolls and Minotaurs.

Since Trolls lived in the forest and Minotaurs in the underground labyrinth, they could coexist.

“If Minotaurs lived above ground, the Trolls would’ve devoured them all by now.”

He checked the location of the Gate.

It wasn’t far from Choi Kangjoong’s House.

He could reach it in twenty minutes by flying.

“I’ll produce some Apocalids before I go.”

Even with the tremendous production capacity of the Apocalid, it was difficult to instantly convert enough nutrients for five Titan Class units directly into Apocalids.

“I’ll produce one Titan, twenty Giants, a hundred Warriors, and a thousand Scouts.”

With over four thousand Walkers already, he decided to produce more high-class Apocalids.

Unlike Walkers, which could be increased by thousands at a time, these were far sturdier in quality.

“Once they’re all made, it should be around 6,500 in total. I’ll give the remaining nutrients to Kuongi.”

Kuongi was delighted.

The Biotube extended from the Apocalid Dimension and connected with Kuongi.

Nutrients flowed, and Kuongi grew little by little.

“Grow up nice and strong.”

“Kuong.”

Despite Kuongi’s massive size, to Choi Kangjoong, it still felt like feeding a baby a bottle.

“Rather than opening Supertitan Class, it might be better to raise Kuongi and put him to use.”

He could feed nutrients to the Titan Class and evolve them into Supertitan Class.

It did consume more nutrients than producing a new Supertitan Class, but the long-serving Titan Class could pass on its experience, so it was a commonly used method.

As a Special Entity, Kuongi was even more useful than a simple Supertitan Class.

[Apocalid mass production will be completed in 4:00:00.]

Choi Kangjoong took off his clothes and went outside.

The most convenient thing about living alone was wearing Chitin Armor.

Just being able to put it on and take it off anytime brought immense freedom.

Clack.

The Chitin Armor enveloped Choi Kangjoong.

He felt a completely different sense of security compared to wearing ordinary clothes.

“Let’s go.”

Choi Kangjoong used Blink to ascend, then flew toward the Gate.

Joo Eun-jong, twenty years old, D-rank Hunter.

Just looking at his age and rank, he could be found in any guild.

One would think even a high-ranking Hunter could stomp him without a word of protest.

But he was different.

No one in the Hunter world dared to look down on him.

He was the Guild Leader of Carrier Guild and the only son and third-generation heir of South Korea’s sole S-class Mage, Joo Gun-hak.

Buaaaang!

A bright red sports car roared into the parking lot.

Without slowing down, it drifted acrobatically into a parking spot.

The car took up three spaces in a twisted, selfish position, and the engine finally died as a man got out.

His attendants, who had arrived earlier, bowed deeply.

“This is the place for today?”

“Yes, Director.”

Manager Son Myung-gyu answered.

Originally, he had a sharp look, but cleaning up after Joo Eun-jong’s messes had cost him his hair and added ten kilograms, making him almost unrecognizable.

“Trolls and Minotaurs, huh? This’ll make for great Ditube content.”

With the powerful background of being Joo Gun-hak’s son, Joo Eun-jong had become a notorious Dytuber, obsessed with his own channel.

He forced guild members to act out cool scenes for his videos, then showed off as if he were a great Hunter.

Many people fell for it, so his fan base was quite substantial.

“But why are people still coming out of the Gate? Didn’t you clear it out yet?”

“We did announce early, but Trolls are such valuable monsters…”

“Manager Son, you know I hate excuses. If Trolls are that valuable, you should have come an hour early.”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“Move. I’ll handle this myself.”

“Director, you should stay back…”

“Manager Son, don’t tell me you don’t trust me right now?”

“N-no, that’s not it…”

Joo Eun-jong shot daggers with his eyes and crossed the Gate.

After checking his amplification spell, he shouted,

“Get moving, you slugs! Why aren’t you out yet!”

The other Hunters glared at Joo Eun-jong.

They were all seasoned fighters.

If provoked, they wouldn’t back down.

“Gentlemen, the Carrier Guild’s reserved time is about to begin, so please leave the Dimension. We apologize.”

Manager Son Myung-gyu bowed so deeply his head nearly touched the ground.

The Hunters realized the situation.

“So it’s that brat.”

“That poor guy.”

“What a shame.”

With faces like they’d just stepped in something foul, the Hunters exited the Gate.

Joo Eun-jong’s Carrier Guild members, who doubled as bodyguards, also kept others from touching him.

“Why can’t you handle something this simple?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Where’s the filming crew?”

“They’re almost ready…”

“Did I come an hour early? I only came ten minutes early. Why isn’t anything ready!”

Manager Son Myung-gyu limped after being kicked in the shin.

‘It’s because you’re always at least an hour late!’

He wanted to shout it, but swallowed the words.

“I-I’ll have it ready right away!”

“Hurry up!”

Joo Eun-jong snapped, crossing the Gate again.

Manager Son Myung-gyu clung to his phone.

A few strands of hair fell as he passed by.

“Mat.”

He spread out a mat.

Joo Eun-jong plopped down.

Even though it was a warm midday, the atmosphere was icy.

Something approached from above.

There was a sound unique to an object flying with mana.

Carrier Guild members formed a triple Shield around Joo Eun-jong.

“What is that?”

“An object is approaching.”

“Damn.”

Even if he was Joo Gun-hak’s son, there was always a chance.

Joo Eun-jong sat quietly inside the Shield.

Boom.

Choi Kangjoong landed heavily.

A cloud of dust billowed.

‘No! The thing this brat hates most is Hunters landing right in front of him!’

Joo Eun-jong had an inferiority complex toward flying Hunters and would never let this slide.

Sure enough, Joo Eun-jong began to walk over.

‘Who is that Hunter? Wait—Outer Mind!’

Manager Son Myung-gyu was horrified.

Who was Outer Mind?

A monster who had single-handedly held off fifty thousand Orcs.

On top of that, he exuded a distinctly inhuman aura—would he tolerate Joo Eun-jong’s bratty antics?

In Son Myung-gyu’s mind, he saw Joo Eun-jong in pieces.

It would be satisfying, but absolutely should not happen in reality.

‘I have to stop him!’

Manager Son Myung-gyu ran.

Unfortunately, he was still far from Joo Eun-jong.

Before he could intervene, Joo Eun-jong stopped.

‘You idiots! Stop the Director!’

Carrier Guild members only stayed by Joo Eun-jong’s side.

The situation was on a knife’s edge.

Son Myung-gyu’s face turned pale.

“I’m a fan!”

Joo Eun-jong said the unthinkable.

Crash!

Son Myung-gyu, his legs tangled, crashed spectacularly to the ground.

Joo Eun-jong frowned, then handed him over to a mage who could use healing spells.

Son Myung-gyu watched their conversation as he received treatment.

“TH?”

“A fan is someone who passionately admires a certain person. That means I think you’re amazing, Outer.”

Son Myung-gyu couldn’t believe his ears.

Since when could Joo Eun-jong say such things?

Even when courting beauties, he never sounded so sincere.

‘Has the beast submitted to the monster?’

It was the only way Son Myung-gyu could process this absurd situation.

At least Joo Eun-jong wasn’t provoking Outer Mind—what a relief.

‘Phew. That shaved ten years off my life.’

Son Myung-gyu wiped cold sweat from his bloody hand.

“You’re my fan?”

“Yes! I’m Outer’s fan. Your shocking entrance! Your mysterious, curiosity-arousing vibe! And skills worthy of a top Dituber! If you opened a Ditube channel, you’d have over a million subscribers already!”

Joo Eun-jong rattled on like a machine gun.

Choi Kangjoong’s head spun.

“Slow down.”

“Sorry, I got too excited and talked too much.”

Son Myung-gyu was appalled.

‘That brat just admitted fault and apologized!’

He looked up to see if the sun was rising in the west.

It was still shining in the east.

“And you are?”

“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Joo Eun-jong, and I run the Silver Bell channel—a Dituber with a million subscribers.”

“I see.”

“Heh, I figured you wouldn’t care about things like that. So, what brings you here?”

“I’m here to hunt Trolls and Minotaurs.”

“Trolls and Minotaurs! I’m actually here to hunt them, too. Would you mind if I join your hunt and film it?”

“OF SH.”

Choi Kangjoong felt that just being with this talkative man would drain his mental energy dry.

“How about just going together? I promise not to film at all! I won’t interfere with your hunt! I’ll just watch!”

“No.”

“I see… May I ask why?”

“You’re too noisy.”

“I’ll keep my mouth shut! Actually, that Gate is reserved by the Carrier Guild, so technically, you shouldn’t enter now. A reservation means…”

Joo Eun-jong launched into a long-winded explanation about the contract between guilds, Gates, and human society.

“Of course, if it’s you, Outer, you can go through without conditions! But my permission—no, there’s a better word…”

“Consent!”

Son Myung-gyu interjected.

“Yes! Consent. I just wanted to explain that you need my consent to go in. Maybe you won’t understand, but this is a promise members of society keep with each other.”

Choi Kangjoong understood perfectly.

And Joo Eun-jong knew it.

He had once envied the rich brat, too.

“So, if you’d just give me one interview, I’ll quietly film only what’s far away while you hunt, so I won’t bother you.”

Choi Kangjoong was suspicious of his intentions.

He might be saying all this but planning to stab him in the back later.

But Joo Eun-jong’s physical response was nowhere near a lie.

The goodwill and passion were genuine.

With the eyes of an Apocalid, which could detect body temperature and mana, he could see it clearly.

‘An interview should be fine. Even if he tries anything later, I can just drop him in the digestion pit.’

When Choi Kangjoong nodded, Joo Eun-jong shouted, “Nice!” and rushed Son Myung-gyu.

Even the inscrutable Choi Kangjoong could feel the overflowing fan spirit from him.