Chapter 21

Just when everyone thought that the battle was dying down, the appearance of a new monster turned the tables.

It was a disaster for every hunter. 

Thunderstorm poured down on the ground with no means to block it.

In order to get out of this crisis, they have to quickly subdue the new monster.

However, they currently do not have a grasp on what kind of monster it is, let alone how to deal with it.

Because of the dark clouds, they haven’t caught a proper glimpse of the monster yet. 

They can only guess how huge this new monster is.

“The lightning rod is installed!”

“Did you install them in all the places I ordered you to?”

“Yes! We’re sure of it!”

Seo Sangho bit his lower lip at the sight of the thunderbolts. The attacks haven’t subsided at all.

He thought that the lightning rods would help minimize it to some extent.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t very effective.

“F**k.”

Seo Sangho quickly came up with the next plan. 

He immediately asked the magicians that he ordered to be contacted.

“Can you shoot the monster hidden in that cloud?”

{I think it’s too much for us to handle.}

{It’s too far high up.}

The cloud was around 34,200 ft. from the ground.

The magicians said that even if their skills can reach that far up, the damage from their power would be decreased significantly.

In short, it’s impossible to shoot the monster down with skills.

“I see. We have no choice but to get closer to it.”

Although the risk was high, there’s no other choice now but to try using the helicopters that the government sent for support. 

“It’s a good thing that they sent it in advance.”

It was too dangerous for the guild leader to personally approach the monster that they knew nothing about.

But there was no other way that came to his mind.

Seo Sangho thought that this was the time for him to step up. 

He made up his mind against the objection of the executives.

“There’s a helicopter coming!”

As they looked to where the guild member pointed, they saw a helicopter approaching from afar.

However…

Seo Sangho witnessed the helicopter fall from the sky with his own eyes.

The lightning struck the helicopter accurately, burning the people inside.

“My goodness…”

The helicopter that crashed to the ground caused a huge explosion. 

Smokes emerged from the burning helicopter.

Seo Sangho’s expression looked dejected at the sight of it.

“How is it possible for a guy who can’t distinguish enemy from allies to accurately hit that helicopter….?”

“It can’t distinguish enemies from allies, of course. It just detects movement and shoots it accurately.”

It was Kang Jinhyuk who answered the guild member’s question.

Seo Sangho picked up his walkie-talkie and gave new instructions to the guild members.

“Try approaching the cloud one by one with the drones you brought for filming.”

Shortly after the guild members followed the captain’s orders, thunderstorms began to fall from the sky one after another.

The drone, which was less than 30 centimeters in width, was accurately shot and hit with no error.

More than 10 expensive drones were burned down, but there was something that they can reap from it.

As they experimented with different approaching distances for each drown, they began to figure out the detection range of the new monster.

“The range of detection is more than 1,000 m in radius. Approaching more than that will 100% result in being hit by lightning accurately.”

Upon receiving the report from the guild member, Seo Sangho unconsciously smiled in vain.

Only then did he realize that approaching with a helicopter is a suicide mission. 

“How in the hell are we supposed to catch it then…”

Next to the depressed Sangho was Kang Jinhyuk, who quietly stared at the clouds.

* * *

The guild members and other hunters used the basement of a nearby building as a temporary shelter.

On the ground, only a minimum number of people remained to prevent the monsters from going outside the defense line.

Hunters gathered at the temporary shelter all contemplated about how to kill the new monster.

The veteran hunters, who had been through all sorts of hardships, put their heads together, but they couldn’t come up with a plausible solution.

Time passed meaninglessly. Everyone felt nervous as they couldn’t think of a good solution.

In the end, a Titan executive couldn’t stand it and began to ask Seo Sangho a question.

“Is it too much for Guild Leader to shoot down that monster?”

“The range that my skill can reach is 300m at most. You’re an executive. Don’t you know this already?”

“I asked even though I knew.”

If they could somehow approach the cloud by nearly 300m, Seo Sangho could inflict damage with his skills.

The intention of the executive who asked the question was to make a point. To make them realize that there’s no solution to this at all.

But in fact, one small possibility existed.

It’s for Seo Sangho to jump alone, to a higher altitude that the new monster cannot detect and reach.

Seo Sangho, who heard the plan from the executive, grabbed and massaged the wrinkles that formed in his forehead.

“You want me to play dive?”

“I think you can endure it. As an S-rank hunter.”

“You’re talking nonsense because it’s not your body.”

Just because S-rank hunters have superior physical abilities over others, doesn’t mean that they’re invincible or immortal.

If he fails to shoot down at an altitude of 34,000 feet and fall, it won’t matter at all that he’s an S-rank hunter. Falling from that height would surely destroy his body.

“If you’re not coming with me, better to just shut your mouth. I have no intention of putting myself in such uncertain probabilities.”

“…I apologize.”

The other executives eyed their colleague.

No matter how bad the situation is, they can’t believe that he just asked the Guild Leader to sacrifice himself. He certainly crossed the line.

As the atmosphere subsided severely with Seo Sangho’s cold expression, another executive stepped up and gave an idea.

“Then, I think we have no other choice but to wait for another S-rank hunter.”

“That’s right. For example, Getia’s guild leader.”

“Getia? Do you think those bastards will help us?”

The Getia was a guild that handpicked among hunters whose specialty is a magician. 

Everyone in the guild is at least A-rank, and like the Titans, their guild leader is an S-rank hunter.

As much as their skill is unquestionable, they lacked character.

They only move to investigate and analyze monsters.

No matter who died right next to them, they never tried to help if it’s beyond their purpose or goals.

Seo Sangho frowned at the thought of the arrogance of the Getia guild members.

“If you want help from those waters, you better pray to the right gods.”

“Hmm, wouldn’t be a bit different this time?”

“What is?”

“The monster up there in the sky is a new type of monster. We have absolutely no information about it.”

The Titans executive suggested that the Getia would actively cooperate, given that they could gain information from the new monster.

Even though it’s a fairly plausible solution, Seo Sangho shook his head.

“That’s exactly the problem. What if they try to preserve the monster’s corpse as much as possible?”

“What’s the problem with that? All we have to do is kill it.”

“It’s not that simple.”

Seo Sangho continued to explain for the confused executives.

“Who will stop a monster’s body, with a size of more than 500 meters, from falling from over 30,000 feet altitude?”

“Ah…”

Only then did the executives realize their mistake.

The new monster that appeared this time…

It’s not enough to only solve the problem by thinking of ways on how to hunt it.

As long as it’s near the middle of the city, they also have to think of ways to reduce damage as much as possible.

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“Can’t we lure that monster to the river or the sea?”

“How?”

The hunter, who brought up the suggestion, backed down at Seo Sangho’s question.

Everyone tried to think of a specific way to lure the monster.

It was impossible to solve this problem with such a clumsy half-plan.

Only when these two challenges were solved at the same time could the situation be fully resolved.

“This is crazy.”

While time is ticking, the monster’s attacks continue outside.

The number of thunderstorms falling increased, as if it was laughing at the poor lightning rods installed.

The number of seriously injured people is at 43, and the number of deaths has reached 12.

Despite the increasing number of victims, Seo Sangho could not tell them to evacuate.

Monsters that have yet to be defeated are still on the ground, so a number of defenders need to remain here.

Seo Sangho was using his position to force the hunters to sacrifice themselves.

He was aware of how cruel it was.

“Goddamn it…”

As everyone grew more in more anxious over time, a call was connected to Seo Sangho through an emergency line.

{Guild Leader! The right line of defense has collapsed!}

A report that he dreaded from hearing eventually came.

He was expecting this situation to come.

However, it came too early than he thought.

“I remember assigning enough people on that side. You’re telling me it’s already collapsed?”

{About that… More than half of them fled so the ones that remained could no longer maintain it.}

Upon hearing the report, Seo Sangho let out a deep sigh.

He was in a position where he could think in a safe place, so he couldn’t blame the others for running away to save their lives.

“Alright. I’ll send support from this side, so just hang on for five minutes.”

{Understood!}

Seo Sangho ended the call and looked around the hunters gathered at the shelter.

When he saw the Titans executives gathered in one corner, Seo Sangho internally laughed.

‘Looks like they’re all thinking about their own lives.’

Seo Sangho didn’t want to be like those people. He wants to act as the one who will relieve the situation.

However, as the Guild Leader of Titans, giving up on planning and just recklessly going into the battlefield would lead to a more serious situation.

Seo Sangho bit his lips for a while as he was lost in thought. After a few moments, he asked the hunters.

“We need people to support the right defense line. Is there anyone who can go voluntarily?”

As it was a request to return to the battlefield where lightning continues to fall and monsters run wild, not many people responded immediately.

Still, thanks to those who took on the responsibility, at least 10 people volunteered.

Seo Sangho bowed deeply to them and gave his support.

“I promise to provide at least three fold compensation.”

“Can we receive that even if we die?”

At the joke given by one of the hunters, Seo Sangho made a complicated expression.

Even though he was not a hunter in their guild, no amount of words could be enough to thank these hunters.

The hunters tapped Seo Sangho’s shoulder once as they headed out from the shelter.

Kang Jinhyuk, who was watching the scene unfold quietly, walked toward the table.

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

When the executives tried to protest at the sight of the C-rank hunter approaching their guild leader, Seo Sangho raised his hands to stop them.

“What is it?”

“Just how much do we need to smash that monster up in the clouds to get rid of its debris?”

“I think a third of its weight is the limit to what we can divide it.”

Considering the height from where the body would fall, that’s the best that Seo Sangho could do.

“Then please come out and get ready when I contact you.”

Seo Sangho and the Titans executives all looked shocked at Kang Jinhyuk’s words.

“Does that mean that you can catch the monster?”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll go ahead and give it a shot first.”

“You’ll ‘give it a shot’…”

While Seo Sangho was speechless, the Titan executive, Han Youngseok, stood up.

“Are you kidding me? Who are you to come forward in this situation?”

“There’s something that I want to test.”

Han Youngseok snickered as if ignoring what Kang Jinhyuk said.

He was well aware of Kang Jinhyuk’s identity as the guy who knocked down Ahn Doyoon with a baseball bat.

He was the person who tarnished the guild’s reputation, so he investigated Jinhuyk in hopes of retaliating someday.

“You’re a C-rank hunter at best. You think you’re worth something? You think you can do something?”

“I’d rather do something useful than sitting around in here. Don’t you think?”

Han Youngseok turned red at Kang Jinhyuk’s words.

His words made him angry because it seemed like Kang Jinhyuk was implying that the executives were being useless at the moment.

“Alright then. If you catch that monster, I’ll give you a separate reward. But if you fail, you will not receive anything. Not one penny. Even from the other monsters that you caught earlier in the battle.”

He’s promising a reward for catching a monster that even S-rank hunters need help in hunting.

Han Youngseok’s proposal was ridiculous.

However, Jinhyuk didn’t care for it at all.

“It doesn’t matter what the reward is. Don’t whine at me later when I bring in the monster’s corpse.”

“W-what did you say?!”

Han Youngseok couldn’t stand the C-rank hunter confronting him, an executive of one of Korea’s largest guilds.

However, before Han Youngseok could step forwards, Seo Sangho stretched out his arms to restrain him.

While Seo Sangho was restraining Han Youngseok, Jinhyuk left the shelter after showing a meaningful smile.

“Why are you holding me back?!”

When Han Youngseok angrily shouted, Seo Sangho looked at him with a pathetic look.

He then turned his back on him without answering and began to discuss countermeasures with the other hunters.

Han Youngseok gritted his teeth angrily at Seo Sangho’s attitude. 

* * *

More than 30 minutes have passed since Kang Jinhyuk left the temporary shelter.

At first, when they heard that he had passed the defensive line and went outside, the other hunters had a spark of hope.

They haven’t heard from him since then, which made them suspicious of Jinhyuk.

‘Don’t tell me he ran away…’

Seo Sangho, who was positively cheering on Kang Jinhyuk, also felt a little doubt this time.

He knows that Jinhyuk’s abilities are excellent, but in this case, even an S-rank hunter like himself isn’t confident about killing the monster.

Swing the bat well wasn’t the solution to their problem.

‘If he didn’t run away, then I guess he was just bluffing. It’s either of the two.’

While contacting other S-ran hunters and looking for other solutions, Seo Sangho tried to forget about Kang Jinhyuk.

And then, right at an unexpected moment, a call from Kang Jinhyuk was received by his smartphone. He saw the caller ID as the phone was placed at the center of the table.

{Alright, start getting ready.}

The call was cut off after Jinhyuk said a short phrase.

Seo Sangho wondered what nonsense this was.

Jinhyuk’s words went beyond his mind as he had suspicions about him.

‘He’s telling me to get ready? It can’t be…’

What could the C-rank hunter mean by that?

Sangho thought that Jinhyuk was just buying time, so he tried to ignore what he said.

Just then…

A roar came over the wall of the shelter.

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‘W-what the…?!’

When Seo Sangho heard the roaring sound that shook the ground, he immediately jumped from his seat and ran outside.

He looked straight up at the sky and saw a ray of light just across the clouds.

And then…

A loud, sad scream of the new monster, that caused all the hunters to suffer so far, resonated throughout the area.