Chapter 719

〈 Chapter 719 〉 Part 2, Chapter 5, 13

The heavens had split open.

There was no other way to describe it. A gargantuan dimensional gate had opened above Big Ben, the iconic symbol of London, and its size dwarfed any other gates seen before.

Its diameter had to exceed several dozen meters at the very least. Heroes trembled with tension as they faced this enormous gate, far too massive for even an SS-Rank Monster to casually approach.

To the British citizens, these gates were nightmarish reminders of past tragedies.

After the catastrophic ‘Manchester Gate’ incident, which claimed tens of thousands of lives, Britain had developed an almost obsessive response protocol to gate appearances, immediately dispatching their heroes without hesitation.

And now, one such gate had appeared directly above London’s skyline, hovering ominously over Big Ben.

What could possibly emerge from this gate? Everyone already knew the answer.

Zzzt!

A storm of crackling lightning erupted from the gate’s entrance. The people quickly realized what – or rather, who – would soon claim ownership of this gate.

The Wind Dragon.

This monstrous beast resembling a legendary black dragon stretched an awe-inspiring fifty meters in length. The title “SS-Rank Monster” was not given lightly.

The Wind Dragon was about to emerge.

And the special ability users had but one task: stop it. Only by defeating this creature could they protect London, Britain, and indeed the entire Earth.

“Damn it… At least we’ve got a commander this time around.”

The heroes steadied their magic power. Though slightly drained from previous encounters with monsters, they recovered just enough to maintain their composure as usual.

“What time is it?”

“4:11.”

“Well then, it’ll close up by 5:10.”

Joking amongst themselves, the heroes began counting down the minutes. According to international law, foreign nations couldn’t interfere within an hour of a gate opening unless formally requested.

For that hour, any cores emerging from the Wind Gate would belong exclusively to Britain. The heroes eagerly anticipated hunting the monsters that would spill forth.

However…

“…Commander code? Full battle readiness? Why?”

Confusion rippled through the ranks as Code BWP issued a Level 1 combat alert. Though unsure why they needed to prepare for all-out battle, the heroes obeyed orders nonetheless.

Then came the chilling realization.

Boom, Boom.

From the rift in the sky, black winds howled. Carrying a tempest of darkness, the Black Dragon emerged, wrapping itself around Big Ben as it crossed through the dimensional gate.

Creeeak.

The gate closed. As if its purpose of delivering the monster was complete, the gate began shrinking the moment the Black Dragon fully materialized.

Ki-ki-gik.

Lifting its own claw, the Black Dragon began sealing the gate shut. This unprecedented event – a wind dragon voluntarily closing the dimensional gate – left the heroes on edge.

“Is… is it intelligent?”

KyaooOOO!!

With a mighty roar echoing across all of London, the Wind Dragon scanned the cityscape below, its gaze seemingly searching for something specific. Citizens quaked in terror under its imposing stare.

[Do not fear. I am here.]

Yet strangely, amidst the dread, a sense of confidence began to rise among the heroes.

[First priority: draw it away from the city center. From A1 to K7, everyone push the Wind Dragon away from Big Ben. If aggro pulls into the city, handle cleanup accordingly.]

Without question, the heroes trusted their commander’s judgment. Their only task now was to execute their assigned roles.

[Ah, ah! Knights, are you ready?]

With a playful tone, the commander rallied the troops, sending them sprinting toward Big Ben.

[Wind Dragon Raid… Commence.]

Thus began the opening act of the S-Rank Monster hunt.

* * *

“Look at these guys. Trying to hog all the good loot during core time, huh?”

I swiftly issued emergency orders to the heroes who had been relaxing too casually.

“Guess I’ll have to show them how to deal with dragons properly.”

As soon as the gate opened, the Wind Dragon revealed itself. With its long limbs, serpentine neck, and majestic wings, the Wind Dragon presented a singular challenge for the heroes.

Their job was simple: lure it away from populated areas.

“Penril, know what’s most annoying after fighting monsters in the city?”

“Hmm?”

“Incident cleanup.”

While the monsters may simply rampage and vanish, the aftermath remains. Beyond casualties, property damage can be devastating.

Considering the Wind Dragon’s presence near Big Ben – close to a major hospital and Buckingham Palace, no less – it became clear that drawing the beast towards the park instead of the downtown area was essential.

“Know what happens when civilians demand compensation for monster damages?”

“They usually get some payment, right?”

“Not really. Most claims get denied.”

As Pluto approaches, the influence of interdimensional spirits amplifies humanity’s violent tendencies. Amidst the rubble, more people become displaced, poverty increases, and desperation breeds monstrosities.

“Fighting in the city always leads to bad outcomes. No exceptions.”

Even early skirmishes can trigger butterfly effects, drastically increasing game difficulty later on. Thus, minimizing London’s damage was crucial.

“Let’s see how well they follow orders, shall we?”

Tuduuduudu!

The heroes worked hard to pull aggro, attempting to lure the Wind Dragon away from Big Ben. Yet the beast remained stubbornly perched atop the clock tower, its gaze fixed intently inside.

“It thinks we’re still in there, maybe.”

“…Could it be targeting me too?”

Penril emitted a faint killing intent, her instincts as a hunter kicking in.

“Huh? How dare it…”

“Calm down.”

“Wha–?!”

I grabbed Penril’s tail to steady her. Though her hostility shifted from the dragon to me, I reassured her while issuing commands.

“Wanna die in bed?”

“No way.”

Fortunately, her murderous intent faded instantly. With her calmed, I turned my attention back to the battle.

“How about redirecting that killing intent towards it?”

Pointing at the Wind Dragon, I earned a fanged grin from Penril.

“You want me to kill that thing?”

“Exactly. Consider it your official debut.”

I presented her with proper attire – not the revealing skin she currently wore, but the initial outfit designed for Kim Penril, suitable for a fellow hero.

“Hmph.”

Like a perfect fit for her base body akin to Park Ra-on, the white suit complemented her figure beautifully.

“Aren’t you going to make a grand entrance?”

“Sure. SS-Rank, wind attribute hero, protector of the commander.”

Not the Penril of Gale from Dark Legion, but rather her alternate title when joining our side.

“Go get ’em, <Banargande>.”

“One last thing…”

Penril produced an A-Rank core, crafting something unique that didn’t exist in her basic skin. Handing me the magical object, she playfully requested I personally adorn her with it.

“Of course. But wouldn’t this color work better?”

“…Reminds me of something unpleasant.”

“It’ll keep him from rushing over. Flying from America to England isn’t as quick as he might think.”

Despite her pout, Penril complied. I fitted her with the blue-and-mint collar she’d created.

“I’ll wait at the hotel. And when you defeat the Wind Dragon…you know what to do, right?”

“Obviously. Commander, the victory spell?”

“If you win, I’ll fill you up with mint chocolate.”

Peck.

With a light kiss, Penril darted off. Enjoying the refreshing breeze she left behind, I gave final instructions to the heroes.

“Our ace is on the move. Clear the path.”

The main character always arrives last.

* * *

“Gah! Damn it, it won’t budge!”

The heroes struggled, clueless on how to handle the Wind Dragon perched atop Big Ben.

Following the commander’s orders, they formed a siege perimeter and unleashed waves of attacks, yet the Wind Dragon remained unfazed, its attention focused solely within Big Ben.

“Damn it! Is the commander still inside?!”

“No way! Waste no more time – get that thing off Big Ben NOW!!”

Panic spread among the heroes. While the Wind Dragon rested on the tower, it wasn’t idle.

Swoosh.

Black objects began falling between its scales. Three-meter-wide eggs crashed onto the ground around Big Ben, forcing the ground-based heroes to scramble.

“Destroy them before they hatch!”

Kiaaaang!

The eggs burst mid-fall, releasing wolf-like C-Rank monsters. Each beast gleamed with sharp fangs, hungrily seeking prey.

“Damn it, we can’t keep this up–”

■■■■■■!!

Suddenly, the Wind Dragon roared into the sky. Spreading its massive wings, it took flight from Big Ben, circling as if searching for something.

Flap, Flap.

It had locked onto someone. All eyes followed the Wind Dragon’s gaze.

“…Hmph.”

A woman in a white suit, her mint-colored hair flowing freely, stood poised. Her face masked by a black wolf-shaped visor, she flicked her fingers casually at the Wind Dragon.

“Just one thing.”

GoooOOO—-

A swirling green wind erupted around her.

“I’m the hunter here.”

■■■■■■■!!

In an instant, the woman dashed across the sky, faster than the Wind Dragon itself. The heroes watched in awe as she effortlessly outpaced the beast.

[To all special ability users. Designating the battlefield.]

Pointing to the location chosen by the commander, the woman codenamed <Banargande> drew the Wind Dragon toward its destination.

Manchester.

Already devastated by previous gate incidents, the desolate wasteland awaited.