Chapter 113

〈 Chapter 113 〉 Part 1, Chapter 6 (19)

<5:09 AM, Above Hwanghae Province>

“So, let’s confirm again. The battlefield is Chinese territory. The Maginot Line is the Yalu River. We’ll scatter monsters using the Cube from the air, and monster hunters will intercept the heroes. Got it?”

As I spoke, Ji Hwa clutched his scales while trembling violently but still nodded his head. The other officers didn’t look too great either.

“What’s wrong? You all look like you’re suffering from seasickness.”

“R-right now, h-here, s-speaking properly, aaargh?!”

Deokbae lost his grip on the scales with one hand. The other officers already looked like they’d given up, clutching onto the dragon for dear life and praying we’d arrive soon.

“Think positively! If I had used my true form, we would’ve been three times faster than this.”

I leaped off the head of the giant Black Flame Dragon in monster form. Deokbae, who slipped off its wing, was plummeting straight toward the ground.

“If only we weren’t so close to Pyongyang, I’d just kill him and retrieve the core.”

I grabbed Deokbae by the hood and spun around. With my magic power cut off momentarily, the speed of the Black Flame Dragon began to gradually decrease.

“Haa… haa… haa…”

Deokbae gasped for breath, dangling mid-air by the back of his hood, though he seemed to be trying to calm himself down despite the situation.

“Push yourself harder, C-Rank. The other officers are holding on fine.”

“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have spoken then?”

“I thought there’d be at least one person who could respond.”

I landed back on the Black Flame Dragon’s back. Deokbae clung tightly to its scales and pressed his body flat against it. The other monster hunters were in similar straits. A-Rank special ability users managed to endure the flight using their powers, while B-Ranks were being held securely by Phantom’s tentacles around their waists.

When asked why no one was helping poor Deokbae, they said it was because they were still sore about having their booze taken away. I briefly wondered if Cheon Gaeul even liked drinking before deciding it was probably just a moment where even he needed a drink, so I chose to ignore it.

Grrrrr…

The Black Flame Dragon roared. Though it had lost its language function after reaching S-Rank, it still retained some intelligence. And that beast’s roar can only be heard by me.

[Shall I increase speed again?]

Thanks to me, it flew faster than the speed of sound until Deokbae fell, forcing us to slow down. Now it seems restless.

“Nope. Let’s go a little slower. We’ll be passing over Pyongyang soon.”

Though I’d rather take a detour through the Yellow Sea, time doesn’t permit it, so we must cross Pyongyang. At least we’re flying as high as possible right now.

“We’re going through all this trouble not to wake that thing up. If we do, everything will go to waste. What if we try waking it anyway? It’s not China we should worry about—”

[Understood. Slowing down.]

To the other officers, this will sound like an ordinary roar from a beast, but the Black Flame Dragon has slowed down significantly compared to before. The officers’ faces started to relax slightly.

“How’s that? Feeling better now?”

“Ah, but at this rate, we won’t make it in time.”

Lighthouse, who was hanging by Phantom’s tentacle, muttered under his breath. Though unable to check the live stream directly, we managed to gather some intel. People broadcasting early morning shows were capturing and relaying the movement of the advancing heroes with their equipment.

“According to the streaming site’s relay room, the rear guard of the heroes has just entered Fengqing.”

“Exact distance?”

“Approximately 300 km to Pyongyang, and about 100 km to the Maginot Line, the Yalu River.”

“What? Why are they moving so fast?”

“Red Earth leads the vanguard, followed by the rearguard. They seem to be eliminating monsters while charging ahead.”

“Does he plan to enter Pyongyang alone? In this case, we might need to shift the Maginot Line closer to Pyongyang.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

I pointed at Deokbae and Phantom. Phantom released the hunters he’d been holding with his tentacles, shrinking them and coiling them around his legs, while Deokbae struggled to rise from the scales.

“It might be too late for all twenty of us to arrive, but if the opponent consists of elite forces led by Unjang or lower, the three of us should suffice.”

As I dragged Deokbae by the collar, Phantom turned pale and shook his head vigorously.

“Ah, no way! If we go like this, I’d rather—”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

I transformed into a monster-type. While still gripping Deokbae’s nape with gauntlets, I wrapped my right arm around Phantom’s waist.

[Will this work?]

“……”

Phantom silently nodded. Honestly, even I wouldn’t want to be carried around like a plastic bag from the supermarket. As Phantom clung tightly to my body with his tentacles, I pointed at the Black Flame Dragon below while looking at Lighthouse.

[We’ll go ahead and buy some time. Once you’re out of Pyongyang, accelerate and come here.]

“Yes!”

[Let’s move.]

I kicked off from the Black Flame Dragon’s back and soared upward. My wings, far larger than those of my human form, spread wide across my back. Before engaging in actual combat, I double-checked the cube in my possession.

[Then—]

With full speed, I took off.

* * *

<5:10 AM, Phoenix Station, Fengqing City>

“…!”

Unjang gripped Red Earth’s reins. The foreign mana flowing through the crisp morning air was unmistakably familiar; it was the same mana signature he had encountered before.

“Whoa, whoa.”

Red Earth paused momentarily. Since the heroes following behind hadn’t caught up yet, the horse opened its mouth slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Quiet for a moment.”

Unjang closed his eyes and focused on the flow of mana. Was the distant mana coming from the monstrous creature slumbering in Pyongyang? No, if that monster were active, he would’ve sensed its presence much earlier. Then, could it be the other S-Rank entity that appeared in Seoul? That wasn’t it either. This mana was far too ferocious and coarse to belong to an S-Rank.

It reminded him of that monster from that day—

“…!”

Unjang bit his lip. His hand gripping the reins trembled uncontrollably. Even Red Earth tensed upon sensing Unjang’s rare unease.

“What—”

“General!”

Heroes began appearing one by one from behind along the railway tracks. Red Earth neighed and pulled its reins as the heroes gathered beside Unjang, bowing respectfully.

“Apologies!”

“…It’s nothing.”

The gender-neutral voice beneath Unjang’s mask quivered faintly.

The heroes arriving behind Unjang all wore grim expressions. Despite their best efforts, none of them could keep up with the speed of Red Earth. Had Unjang not stopped, the gap would’ve widened further.

Unjang didn’t think so, but the heroes swallowed nervously, considering the burden on his back. A man with a yellow sash tied around his head approached Unjang respectfully.

“General Unjang. Though it may be unpleasant for you to see the heroes lagging behind—”

“That’s not the issue.”

Unjang grasped the spear of the crescent blade on his back. The heroes flinched, thinking he might execute the tardy soldiers.

“…Contact the Dongchang. Conduct a sweep from our current position to Pyongyang.”

“Yes.”

While the man hurriedly communicated with the Dongchang, Central Party’s secret intelligence organization, Unjang discreetly lowered his coat and projected a screen.

‘Already 29 calls from Gale Guest.’

Gawein and Oracle had also called Unjang several times through the Round Table’s exclusive channel, but he could only follow Mo Taegyeong’s orders and reject the Round Table’s requests.

‘Sorry, Gale Guest, but there’s nothing I can do.’

No matter how urgent the appearance of an S-Rank monster near Japan might be, he was obligated to follow Central Party’s directives. Unless it was a situation like the Daeho Gate incident, where multiple S-Rank dragons emerged requiring Round Table reinforcements, Unjang prioritized his father’s commands over the Round Table.

After all, it was Mo Taegyeong who made Unjang—Xiao Lin—a member of the Round Table. After the death of the first generation Round Table member Jeon Gui (War Ghost), Mo Taegyeong swiftly placed Unjang in the second-generation Round Table seat. Even Gawein, who knew the secrets, acknowledged Unjang’s talent and offered him a spot on the Round Table, albeit under the condition that he prioritize China’s government.

‘In exchange, eliminate the threat in Pyongyang.’

Thus, Unjang decided to focus on the Pyongyang operation. He believed that by eradicating the monster in Pyongyang and reclaiming North Korea, both China and South Korea would significantly reduce the risk of monster threats. It wasn’t just Unjang who thought this way.

‘Even border heroes have risen up.’

The heroes prepared by Mo Taegyeong in Shenyang unfurled their banners and marched south alongside Unjang. Whether intentionally orchestrated by Mo Taegyeong or not, word came that hunters near the border regions also joined this uprising.

Dandong City.

This city, facing North Korea across the Yalu River, served as a forward base for heroes and hunters. Monsters created in Pyongyang occasionally crossed over northward, and Dandong acted as a hub for hunting these creatures, supplying cores and byproducts to Beijing.

Inspired by Unjang’s march from Shenyang, they began crossing the Yalu River prematurely. Unjang felt an uneasy premonition.

‘The mana carried by the wind is too ferocious.’

His grip tightened instinctively on the crescent blade in his hands. As more B-Rank heroes arrived gradually, a hero assisting Unjang cautiously spoke.

“The S-Rank monster that appeared in Seoul is advancing north. It has just passed over Pyongyang.”

“…!”

Unjang sucked in a breath upon seeing the monster. Since the dimensional gate incident in Seoul, the eerie blue flame phenomena kept triggering Unjang’s trauma. For the first time in his life, he experienced humiliation by fleeing in fear from an enemy.

He woke up countless times in the middle of the night. Every time he reviewed Seoul’s data screens, his body would shake, sweat would pour from his hands, and his mana would surge like an active volcano.

“…Huff.”

Unjang took a deep breath beneath his mask. When most of the B-Rank heroes had arrived at the station, Unjang sharply tugged on Red Earth’s reins and shouted.

“I’m heading out first! Follow as you can!”

“Wha?! Suddenly what—”

Before the hero could stop him, Red Earth burst forth, emitting red mana from its body as it galloped along the railway tracks. The sound of hooves echoed across the morning plains, and the heroes left behind at the station watched as Unjang disappeared beyond the horizon.

“Huff, huff.”

Exhaling his tense breaths, Red Earth subtly loosened his bit and spoke.

“You alright? Maybe it’d be better if I came along?”

“You’d only get in the way.”

As they moved further south, the mana in the air grew hotter. Instinctively, Unjang—Xiao Lin—could sense the presence of the enemy.

“Definitely, it’s there.”

The nemesis that triggered his trauma, the monster responsible for his disgrace two months ago, whose mana he could feel growing stronger in the south. And that mana was heading north at an alarming speed, as if welcoming him.

“I will definitely win.”

He would defeat the monster, conquer Pyongyang, and break free to find freedom.

* * *

<5:14 AM, Over the Yalu River>

“This is bad. They’re already starting to cross over.”

I stopped mid-air and set Deokbae down on the ground. Transforming back into human form reduced my size, causing Ga-eul to gently detach herself from me and land smoothly.

Kung! Deokbae hit the ground heavily with his bulky frame. Far in the distance, heroes crossing the river came into view.

“Unjang hasn’t arrived yet. Who are these guys?”

“They seem to be random heroes acting on their own. Doesn’t look like they’re following anyone’s specific orders.”

“That does seem to be the case. Phantom, your observation skills are truly remarkable.”

“Praise me all you want, but it won’t get you anything.”

Phantom nonchalantly flicked her hair back. But I noticed something—I saw one of her tentacles shyly wriggling. Just as I was about to tease her and ignite flames, Deokbae leaned in and whispered into my ear.

“Hey, what am I supposed to do? I gave the spirit stone to the Black Flame Dragon, remember?”

“Can’t you fight without the Flame Giant?”

“I’m C-Rank. One-on-one, I’d lose even to Lighthouse.”

“…You always act like you can beat everyone up normally, but now you bring this up? What am I supposed to do?”

“Just give me one of your spirit stones.”

Deokbae angrily extended his hand toward me. I gave him a disdainful glare, but Deokbae stood firm, extending both hands toward me.

Bang! Bang, bang!

While Deokbae and I bickered, Ga-eul stretched out her tentacles and tapped the water below—well, actually people. Heroes crossing the river from China.

“…Are you playing mole whacking with your tentacles?”

“Hey. Stop changing the subject. Give me the spirit stone.”

“Tch.”

Man, you sure notice things quickly. I pulled out a spirit stone from my pocket. Deokbae lit up.

“As expected. There’s no way you only made one. How many do you have? Enough for all the officers?”

“…I gave all the A-Ranks to Yu-sung last time, so now I only have one left.”

“So if I use this, will I reach SS-Rank?”

Phantom, who had just knocked out a hero flying over the water with a tentacle strike, casually approached and asked. I nodded and tossed the spirit stone to Deokbae.

“It might work, but Phantom, you could be affected by the original core. You might end up as some weird tentacle toad monster—”

“That’s enough. Then I won’t do it.”

Phantom quickly backed out and returned her attention to the river. Deokbae inserted the spirit stone into his chest, visibly relaxing and smiling contentedly.

“As expected, this feels right. Hey, what are you planning to do with the remaining one?”

“…Something like this.”

I clasped my hands together and struck the spirit stone against the cube. Soon, the cube’s mana began flowing into the spirit stone, and purified mana surged skyward, transforming into a blue flame.

♪♪

A mini phoenix perched on a tree branch. Unlike the small canary-like messenger birds, this one resembled a hawk, exuding a strong aggressive aura.

“What’s with the sudden bird?”

“We agreed to scatter monsters, right?”

Swiftly gripping the cube and spirit stone that generated mini phoenixes, I extended my hand toward the sky. Soon, the cube and spirit stone reacted, merging as the cube became the core within the spirit stone, which then transformed into a towering blue tree.

“Ta-da! Here’s your ‘nest’ completed!”

Deokbae and Phantom’s expressions turned somewhat awkward. I felt a bit embarrassed and lightly tapped the tree trunk.

Pitter-patter! A mini phoenix darted out from between the leaves. More mini phoenixes soon followed, filling the branches.

“Since we’re letting the monsters run rampant anyway, might as well block the heroes while we’re at it…”

Manchuria’s land is vast. Naturally, so are the monsters. I brought my index and thumb together with a smirk.

“How about you guys go around and kill some monsters, collecting cores along the way?”

The mini phoenixes scattered across the dawn sky over Dandong.