Chapter 952

EP.952 Part 2 Chapter 9 Section 09 Key Grab

S-Rank Monsters are basically giant beasts.

With the exception of a very special one, their body lengths range from a minimum of 10 meters to a maximum of 70 meters – quite diverse indeed.

And the size of the serpent at City Hall varies depending on the game’s difficulty level, but in most cases, it averages around 50 meters.

KYAOOOO!

Breaking through the remains of Seoul City Hall, the monster finally revealed itself.

This black beast resembling an Eastern dragon held what looked like a magical pearl and glared at us.

The serpent of City Hall.

While users call it “Great Hidden Dragon,” its official in-game name is different.

“Yumir.”

It doesn’t have any other meaning.

It simply refers to someone named Mir with the surname Yu.

Though it’s a name with strong Korean characteristics for something designated by the International Hero Association, the problem is that this “Mir” evokes unpleasant connotations for Koreans.

“No way! Why is a communist monster occupying Seoul called a dragon?!”

Many people didn’t want to associate such a creature, responsible for numerous deaths, with the name “dragon.”

This sentiment was shared by players too.

Thus, people referred to this monster as “City Hall Serpent,” while players called it “Great Hidden Dragon.”

But now it’s official raid time.

“Be careful. Yumir’s going to shoot snot.”

Respecting the in-game official name is the destiny of a commander.

“Watch out for the Breath.”

KYAOOOOOO!!

As soon as the words ended, Yumir opened its maw and began spewing black Breath.

Though it felt like my heart sank seeing it unleash Breath akin to various mythic dragons, this was a technique Yumir learned by devouring actual dragons in Seoul.

In short, it’s a learning monster.

“Not a dragon, yet knows dragon techniques.”

“Ground Wall.”

Hydra lightly tapped the ground with her foot, causing a building to tilt and block the Breath where we stood.

KUUUUUAAAANG!!

The building collapsed.

Not a single fragment reached us; Hydra’s wall completely blocked everything.

“Hydra, can you knock down that building over there? To the side.”

“Aha. Piece of cake.”

Hydra flicked her finger toward the building I indicated.

The building started tilting and then raced toward the ground.

“My turn?”

As soon as Azidahaka caught my gaze, she vanished.

Soon, a massive shadow enveloped the collapsing building.

KYAOOO!

Yumir thrashed its head wildly, preoccupied with dealing with the two clinging to its head.

“Raon, Nuri. Bomb incoming in 7 seconds.”

“Understood!”

“Deal max damage for 7 seconds and retreat!”

Raon threw a wind-made spear at Yumir and retreated, while Nuri slashed at Yumir’s scales with a sword surrounded by dark aura before retreating toward its tail.

And after 7 seconds…

WHOOSH!!

A massive crack opened in the sky, and the building Hydra had toppled fell from the heavens.

Like a shimmering portal, Azidahaka waved at Yumir through the glowing fissure.

“Instead of greetings.”

KUUUUUAAAANG!!

The high-rise building crashed onto Yumir.

Even if it didn’t pierce straight through, being flattened by a falling skyscraper would crush bones and flesh alike.

No S-Rank monster could withstand that.

And the attack wasn’t over yet.

“Shuri and Gaon, try combining your powers. Maybe create some kind of fusion move?”

“Fusion move? Can we change the wording a bit?”

“Combine with that thing? Ew, gross.”

“Who’s talking.”

Despite their obvious distaste, Shuri and Gaon obediently summoned their magic power.

“Explosion, condensation.”

Shuri’s flames began concentrating into a single point.

Around the fiery orb that seemed ready to explode at any moment, streams of water shot from Gaon’s hands, swirling like a net.

“One, two, three–!”

They hurled the orb with perfect timing.

Yumir, barely raising its head from the rubble, shot Breath at the orb.

“Yuna!”

“Light!”

Yuna detonated a light grenade at Yumir’s eyes.

While momentarily blinding its vision, the violently spinning water stream deflected the Breath.

All that remained was for the orb hidden within the water stream to enter Yumir’s mouth.

“Bang.”

At my snap, the fiery orb inside Yumir’s mouth exploded.

KEEEEEK….

Yumir lowered its head deeply.

Clearly, the beast was close to falling, and the magical girls gathered together.

“Architect, did you get good footage?”

“Of course, Commander!”

Our efforts will be broadcast via Architect’s magical gear.

Although there’ll be about a 20-second delay for live coverage – Information Control by Yun Yuhwa is diligently preventing any unforeseen variables – the sight of an S-Rank monster being defeated will surely give hope to many.

“Seems we’re handling S-Ranks easily these days.”

But.

When hope rises, despair often follows.

“If we’re going to kill it, might as well raise it for food.”

Shouldn’t we see the full effects of the DLC?

“Architect, can you pause the broadcast for a moment?”

“What are you planning?”

“Magic.”

A special feature of the DLC.

The ability to enter Hard Mode at will.

“Trolling is essentially a heroine’s basic attribute.”

Where else can you find trolling this thrilling?

I suppressed the urge to smile and declared clearly.

“Did we defeat it?”

DLC: “I’m raising it for food.”

[Commander!! Yumir’s reaction is strange! It’s almost like…]

“Is it evolving?”

WEEEEEEE!!

Above Yumir’s head, black steps resembling a barcode began ascending into the sky.

* * *

Thud thud thud.

Helicopters fly above Seoul.

Previously, helicopters wouldn’t even dare approach Seoul airspace due to fears of interception by monsters or getting hit by venomous stingers upon landing. But things are different now.

“Do you see them!? Citizens appear to be defending Mapo Bridge!”

The reporter pointed below with her voice raised.

The camera captured the smoke from K-2 magical rifles, the corpses of monsters, and more monsters stepping over their fallen comrades – far beyond the 19+ rating.

This was real war.

For the past 25 years, humanity has waged war against monsters across the globe, and now that battle rages on Mapo Bridge.

“All monsters south of the Han River have been eliminated. However, those crossing from the north are stronger and more numerous. Can they possibly defend Yeouido…?”

Though it was inappropriate for the reporter to say, she couldn’t help but continue with her trembling voice.

“Can the defense line of Yeouido hold until all scattered cores are collected south of the Han River?”

Because even she, holding the microphone, didn’t believe Seoul could be reclaimed.

Despite company guidelines, given the failure to retake Seoul in the last 13 years, she couldn’t trust that it would happen again, even if her home lay north of the river.

“Ah! As I speak, the monsters have breached the final defensive line!!”

KKIIIIEEEK!!

One monster finally crossed over the barriers at the end of Mapo Bridge.

Though riddled with bullets and hanging limply over the barrier, its head required immediate mosaic censorship.

A brief laugh escaped at the sight of its twisted corpse, but despair overwhelmed everyone watching as more monsters followed.

However.

“Ah, those people…!”

Through the crowd of citizens emerged another group.

Better equipped than the citizens, they stood at the frontlines of the barriers, buying time for the citizens to reload.

“They’re heroes and hunters responding to the call to reclaim Seoul!”

Only a few.

Despite government statements, these individuals gathered in Yeouido, coming to Seoul.

Even without collecting or freezing cores, they stood before the citizens to fight the monsters.

Though outnumbered, their united fight was truly moving.

“Ah, can they possibly prevail against these countless…”

GUGUGU.

Suddenly, the air began to tremble.

The entire helicopter shook from the immense impact, and the reporter barely managed to grab her safety belt to avoid falling.

“What, what is this?!”

KKIIIEEEEEEEK!!

From the northern side of the Han River, something massive rose into the sky near Jongno.

Black fog surged upward like a rising dragon, covering everything in darkness. Purple lightning struck the darkened clouds.

KEEIIIIT….

All monsters stopped their actions.

Turning toward the great rising phenomenon, they bowed their heads to the ground.

“Could that… Could that be Seoul’s S-Rank monster…?”

It wasn’t just S-Rank power.

It surpassed S-Rank.

So overwhelming that it made every monster tremble in fear, so commanding that even Seoul citizens turned their guns away to bow before the massive creature.

KEEEEET!!

The black rising fog soared skyward before leaping southward.

Its flight resembled a dragon gracefully soaring through the heavens, and the camera captured it all.

A snake over 100 meters long.

It resembled a legendary dragon.

“Aaah…”

After flying leisurely for nearly 2 kilometers, the monster coiled around the barely standing南山 Tower.

Like a snake settling on a pillar, the massive dragon perched atop南山 Tower and opened its massive jaws.

ROOOOOOOAR!!

Everyone protecting Seoul bowed their heads in tension.

The primal roar of the massive monster,

An S-Rank, no, SS-Rank monster echoed throughout.

“DLC forever.”

Now the SS-Rank core is mine.