The next day, before the sun had even risen, the League called us.
When we hastily headed to the League headquarters, it was unlike the quiet atmosphere of yesterday; there were many Awakened Ones and staff members present. Even those on leave appeared to have come in. They were frantically moving things around, their expressions heavy with tension.
I approached Lei Hu, the leader of the League, who was standing at the center of the scene, issuing precise instructions.
“What’s happened?”
“The Second Detention Center has been overrun this early morning.”
“Detention center?”
“…Refugee detention center.”
Lei Hu explained with a grim expression, and Lao Ying, who seemed to understand the general situation, smiled bitterly as he translated.
I, too, had learned most of the insides from Mirien last night. Only Yoo Jun-seo frowned, tilting his head in confusion.
“For a refugee detention center to be overrun, by whom?”
“By whom else? A Calamity.”
“…Isn’t that dangerous?”
Of course, it was dangerous.
The fall of the Second Refugee Camp, in simpler terms, the human bait-tower, signified that the Calamities have started their mass migration.
Calamities never move by their own will. Unless provoked, they stayed where they were, growing their forces, creating dungeons. Dungeons released Calamities, but the numbers were never significant.
Cases like today’s, where numerous Calamities migrate en masse, were almost non-existent.
Indeed, they were almost non-existent but still did happen.
[5★ Storm Mirien of the North Sea is casting the skill 「Eye of the Storm」!]
Ding!
[5★ Storm Mirien of the North Sea is keeping watch on 5★ Mother of Omens Karne!]
[5★ Storm Mirien of the North Sea has detected the skill 「Mother’s Call」!]
As expected, the status windows popped up one after another.
Sure enough, the Mother of Omens Karne began her full-scale invasion.
As Selene had said, Karne was capable of overwhelming Beijing if she so desired. But just as I arrived in China, she decided to act.
That meant…
‘I was what she was waiting for.’
I didn’t think it was just a coincidence.
Karne, a Calamity with a more exceptional tracking skill propensity than Mirien, had probably been following my trail from the moment I set foot on Chinese soil.
‘I inadvertently expedited the fall of China…’
Upon hearing the circumstances, it was true that even without Karne, the country was destined to fall to calamities. But my actions undeniably hastened it. I could not escape responsibility.
Conscience pricked at me.
But this was not the time.
I forcibly set aside my thoughts and tapped Lao Ying on the back.
“Ask Lei Hu what we’re doing from now.”
Lao Ying asked Lei Hu, who instead of answering, turned west with a determined look. Lao Ying shrugged.
“That’s what he said.”
It means they’ll put their full force into resisting.
“All Awakened Ones within the League will now proceed to the First Refugee Camp. The Calamities will surely head straight there. Defending here in Beijing would be far less efficient than setting up defense lines at the camp.”
Lao Ying then explained the outline of the operation.
Lei Hu glanced at me and Yoo Jun-seo with some hint of expectation in his eyes.
Different in nationality, but the same as Awakened Ones, and even S-Rank at that.
It seemed Lei Hu required our assistance.
“…There’s nothing else we can do.”
Actually, whether Lei Hu advised so or not, I was planning to head west with the League.
Mother of Omens Karne. Since I was the one who released this major Calamity, it was my responsibility to clean up after it.
“I will also go along.”
“What?”
Startled by my interjection, Lao Ying’s eyes widened. He had obviously thought I would give up the Actor’s pursuit and return home.
Yoo Jun-seo was equally astonished.
“Nam, Mr. Joo-yeon… this isn’t our problem. Let the Chinese deal with what happens to them. The Calamities won’t cross the sea anyway. Even if they do, our country is small, so it’ll be easier to defend…”
“…It’s not an incorrect statement.”
The issue was that I am partially responsible for these people dying.
Karne started moving to find me, and curiously, her position is here, in Beijing.
But telling the truth wasn’t an option. I made up a reasonable excuse.
“I cannot turn a blind eye to the crisis that will cause countless deaths. Let’s do what we can.”
Lao Ying didn’t translate my words, but the mood conveyed the meaning well enough. All the Awakened Ones inside the League headquarters turned their gazes towards me.
Even those who had looked down on the Korean Awakened Ones until yesterday now looked at me with an admiring expression, as if toward a hero.
“…”
It would have been better if they hadn’t looked at me like that.
It made me feel like the bad kid.
—
“Shit, damn shit.”
Seated silently in the backseat of the van, Yoo Jun-seo quietly swore.
How did it come to this?
Nothing went according to plan.
The very trip to China was something Nam Joo-yeon had decided offhandedly. Initially thrilled that Nam was treating him as an equal S-Rank Awakened One, Yoo Jun-seo had followed along willingly.
But now, what was going on?
“We’ll be there soon. The crow army is about 70 kilometers away from the refugee camp.”
A Chinese Awakened One, seemingly of Chinese descent, briefed Yoo Jun-seo.
He didn’t want to listen.
To the reality facing him.
Defending the outpouring in Korea hadn’t been difficult. But the situation in China was on an entirely different level from Seoul. Counted Calamities amounted to tens of thousands. Worse, there were reportedly three 4-Star Calamities mixed among them.
On the other hand, the Chinese Awakened League, even when all forces were gathered, numbered fewer than a thousand. The calculation was that they each would have to handle at least ten calamities, which was essentially a suicide mission.
“Nam Joo-yeon, that bastard…”
Yoo Jun-seo frowned, cursing Nam Joo-yeon who was riding in the vehicle just behind him. He couldn’t understand this person at all.
During the tower invasion, Nam had exhibited heroic behavior. However, a few weeks later, he started pressuring and bullying the government to his whims.
One moment, he seemed like a hero, and the next, like a villain. To Jun-seo, Nam Joo-yeon was someone who couldn’t be figured out.
But there was one thing certain.
“Still, whatever he does has a good result every time.”
Nam’s actions, which at first glance might appear reckless, always yielded the finest outcomes in the end. Could his current assistance to the Chinese League also carry a deeper plan?
“Never mind. For now, I need to stick closely to him.”
There was only one strategy. Yoo Jun-seo intended to latch onto Nam Joo-yeon like a leech.
Better to be a full mosquito than a hungry butterfly.
Just as Yoo Jun-seo was reinforcing his resolve,
Gruuu.
The road trembled. An Awakened One in the passenger seat conversed through the radio, then showed an expression of shock.
“Um, what’s the situation over there?”
“Well… the S-Rank Awakened One accompanying us got out of the moving car, mounted a dragon, and flew away…”
“…What?”
Hearing that, Yoo Jun-seo hurriedly stuck his head out the car window.
The Storm Dragon Tempestra was flying away with its enormous wings spread broadly.
“Could that… bastard… really be…”
Is he fleeing?
Without me?
“…!”
Yoo Jun-seo felt his old ailment flare up.
[4★ Storm Dragon Tempestra is casting the skill 「Flight」.]
Flying through the smog-filled sky was unpleasant.
At least, the saving grace here was that I had prior experience riding on the back of a Storm Dragon during Mirien’s previous rampage. Rather than panicking, I firmly grabbed Tempestra’s scales with my left hand and manipulated the status window with the other hand.
[5★ The Blackened Saint Selene is being summoned.]
“Lord, did you call?”
“You see the situation, right? I’m heading towards Karne at full speed now. If the Calamities treat us as enemies and attack, can you intercept them?”
“…Isn’t entering the enemy lines alone still dangerous?”
“Of course it’s dangerous.”
But I couldn’t afford to waste time with the League Awakened Ones enjoying leisurely drives.
As we speak, Karne’s subjects are marching towards the human bait tower every moment.
We must go ahead and clear the situation to reduce unnecessary casualties.
However, my altruistic actions didn’t sit well with Selene.
“To this humble one, it is incomprehensible how my Lord values such inferior beings. But since it is your order… I will serve with my life.”
Selene lifted her wedge spear of purifying flames, the fire on it burning golden, intertwined with sanctified embers.
Not long after, the crow army, which darkened the sky, appeared in sight.
[5★ Storm Mirien of the North Sea is watching you.]
Several kilometers above, Mirien was scouting the scene with magic.
If this crow army attacks, unless Karne herself arrives, it won’t be dangerous.
[2★ The Remnants of the Omens are dispersing.]
However, in contrast to my thorough preparation, Karne’s army showed no signs of attacking us.
Instead, the calamities parted to the sides, making a path for Tempestra, as if recalling Moses’s miracle.
It seemed exactly like a dark sea opening.
“Looks like Karne wants to meet me too.”
“…Lord, you must not leave my side.”
The Storm Dragon Tempestra slowed down further, and Selene remained ready with her drawn spear.
After riding through the path made by crows for how long,
[5★ The Mother of Omens Karne is watching you!]
“Actor.”
“…”
“Thank you for the long journey.”
I finally came face to face with my third abandoned 5★ Calamity, the Mother of Omens, Karne.
She hovered silently, her wings flapping soundlessly, a bitter smirk on her lips.
“…Dear, this humble and lowly mother has many things to say to you.”
At the very least, the emotions Karne currently harbored towards me were not friendly.
[5★ The Mother of Omens Karne is casting the skill 「Colony of Darkness」.]
A pair of wings at her waist began to shine even darker.
