Chapter 226. The Goddess of The Battlefield

The United States had been a superpower, and it was a land of opportunity where countless people lived. However, at this point, fewer than a million people were living there as the rest had all died in the cataclysm.

Of course, that was only the confirmed number that had gathered in the city of survivors. There most likely were many people who weren’t included and were hiding around the country, living while holding their breath.

Currently, what could be said to be the best among the remaining Hunters in the United States were gathered behind the party.

They were the best of the best.

“They’re useless.”

However, Zeus’ assessment of them was quite blunt.

They were Hunters who had just barely survived. Although it made sense to call them the best of the best, considering they were those who were left after trying so hard to survive, this…

“If we take them to where the Rulers are fighting, they’ll just die useless deaths.”

Lee Jun-Kyeong had been the one to ask them to come. They had gathered, wondering if he was thinking of taking them on the mission to rescue Athena.

Zeus knew that it wasn’t the case, but he still made that comment, wondering just in case. But, as Zeus had thought, Lee Jun-Kyeong had no intention of taking them to the battlefield.

“I mean, you already know we won’t be taking them anyway.”

A loud clamor stirred as those who had heard the conversation between Lee Jun-Kyeong and Zeus began to protest.

The United States had become a land of hell, and they were the ones who had barely survived the battles that dotted the hellscape.

While they had been waiting for their deaths in despair, Athena had come.

“Lady Athena saved us.”

“We cannot stay still when she needs help.”

“Let us at least be your human shields.”

Athena had saved them, so many of them had gathered in order to repay that favor. From a certain perspective, it really was impressive.

‘What all these people couldn’t do…just a single person accomplished.’

Athena had restored their hope.

Lee Jun-Kyeong said, “That was Athena’s mission. To gather you all to safety and have you join the fight to follow.”

They all immediately quieted down.

He continued, “Do you want Athena’s mission to be a failure?”

“But…”

“You all are alive now, thanks to Athena,” Lee Jun-Kyeong said, his words heavy with meaning. “If you have energy left to spare, use it in a more meaningful place.”

“Then what is it that we should do?” one person asked.

Even though they were sure to be upset by what he was saying, they didn’t display any dissatisfaction.

They knew it too. Their lives—no, the very survival of mankind now depended on the man before them.

‘It seems Athena told them in advance.’

These Hunters seemed ready to jump into the fray even at this very moment, and they were standing here waiting and listening to Lee Jun-Kyeong and Zeus because of the information that Athena had given in advance.

“Gather the survivors. You said they were in bunkers, right?”

Even in this miserable hellscape, there was a reason that so many people had been able to survive. In the past, the United States had built bunkers all over the place in preparation for nuclear war, so the survivors had repurposed them to survive a different kind of apocalypse.

The gathered Hunters nodded.

He ordered, “Gather them all in one place.”

“...?”

“You will take the survivors to safety.”

“Safety…?”

“Is there even a place that can be called safe in the midst of this chaos?”

Everyone gathered knew that the entire world had already begun to be destroyed in the cataclysm.

They questioned him and were doubtful. Then, a glimmer of hope appeared. A strange feeling enveloped them in the end.

“Yes, we’ve prepared a safe place. Please take the survivors and set up camp there. Just focus on surviving until it’s all over.”

That was the end of Lee Jun-Kyeong's speech. As he stepped on the rubble of the destroyed buildings, he moved forward. Glancing over at the gathered Hunters, Jeong In-Chang and Won-Hwa followed behind him.

Heracles stood, smiling as if to buck up to the Hunters as Odysseus smiled bitterly and walked forward.

Lee Jun-Kyeong spoke once again to the gathered Hunters.

“We have others who are going to fight.”

Zzt!

When the Hunters panicked and retreated at the sudden sound of a gate opening, the sound of massive footsteps began to emerge from the gate.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

***

“What is your name?”

“Hans Kim.”

“Are you Korean?” asked Zeus.

"Yes,” Hans said.

While almost all of the Hunters that had been gathered were sent to take the survivors to Japan, there were a few among them who traveled with the party. One of whom was the Hero-Grade Hunter, who had introduced himself as Hans Kim.

“Guild leader! Don’t you know about Hans Kim?” Heracles said as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Well, I mean, as if you would have any interest in the world…”

Zeus was someone who had only focused on becoming stronger, turning away from the world and only focusing on the gates he had to clear. Olympus hadn’t been created intentionally. In fact, as he pursued strength, those who had followed him seemed to have grown into a guild that was at the level of a secret organization.

Zeus tilted his head.

“Are you famous?” he asked, simply curious to see someone who was stronger than he had been expecting.

Hans Kim scratched his head sheepishly. “It’s a little embarrassing to say in front of you, Zeus, but…I guess I was somewhat famous, to be fair.”

“You traitor!”

“Traitor…?”

“Heracles! How can you just outright call him a traitor? You idiot,” Odysseus scolded Heracles.

“He was a Hero from Korea, but he was scouted to the US for a lot of money. He was well known back then for his ability and having a growth potential that was comparable to Zeus,” Jeong In-Chang said as he took over.

“Ah… That…that’s a little far…what I had wanted to say was…”

Hans Kim waved his hands in embarrassment, but Jeong In-Chang wasn't wrong.

Kim Yun-Soo, whom the Association had seen potential in and raised painstakingly, had changed his nationality to the United States after receiving a huge amount of money. It shouldn’t have been an easy decision as that near-limitless fortune wasn’t able to protect a Hunter’s life.

Moreover, Korea was a Hunter powerhouse while the United States was a collapsed empire that had lost its stronghold. The United States had thrown scouting offers to Hunters from many countries around the world, and only a few had responded.

Needless to say, as Hunters, money was overflowing. What mattered to them was faster growth and safety, leading to many Hunters wanting to belong to a strong country.

Edward stepped out and said, “That’s a misunderstanding. Hans didn’t come to the United States for money,”

Edward held a high position in the American Association.

“Hans’ parents had been detained by the United States.”

“What…?”

“Well, rather than detention, it would be better to say that we succeeded in naturalizing his parents.”

The United States had tried to buy Hunters with money, but once they discovered that the results were lacking, they quickly shifted their methods. Rather than persuading Hunters, who already had incredible strength and massive wealth, they decided to go a different route to convince them to join the United States.

‘Did they target Hunters’ families?’

In particular, in East Asia, where the culture was one that emphasized filial piety, the strategy should have been very effective.

“When Hans’ parents came to the United States, Hans had no choice but to accept an offer from us. Externally, it just looked like he had been bought…” Edward said shamefully.

It would have been an embarrassing fiasco if it had been leaked to the international community.

However, Edward just spoke about it casually.

Seeing Heracles’ surprised gaze, Edward continued, “What impact would this have? The United States is already ruined, and I have to find my own way to survive.”

He himself was also an immigrant, but it seemed that there wasn’t much love lost for his country, the United States.

“Well, regardless of what happened, Hans, I’m sorry for calling you a traitor. Let’s do our best.”

“Ah…thank you…”

A total of six Hunters had joined the party: Hans, Edward, and four other Heroes. They were all Hunters that had reached a level the party could at least use, at least able to serve as guides to take them to where the Rulers and Athena were.

Staying behind as the others chattered and set out, Zeus asked Lee Jun-Kyeong a question, “Do you have something to say?”

He paused as he could see Lee Jun-Kyeong continuing to follow behind him and hesitate.

“So it’s about Athena, then.”

Catching on quickly, Zeus asked once more as Lee Jun-Kyeong nodded in response.

‘I’m curious about her.’

They didn’t have much of a relationship, but it was still a relationship that had been impactful enough to leave a mark on his life, whether it was a good mark or bad.

“She’s a loyal little brat. And…well, she’s a little delicate, too.”

“Delicate?”

Lee Jun-Kyeong recalled the image of Athena that he remembered. Delicate was a word that didn’t seem applicable in any way.

“That hurt little brat just tried to get stronger somehow in order to survive. You could call that being delicate.”

“...”

“That pain she feels is because of Heimdall. That’s what you were curious about, right?”

Everyone in the world knew that Lee Jun-Kyeong and Heimdall had a special relationship. It made sense that he was curious about her.

While some of it was just a personal curiosity, part of it was also curiosity regarding her relationship with Heimdall, Yeo Seong-Gu.

“I don’t know the specifics. For me, I just hate Heimdall. The wounds Athena got from him aren’t ones easily erased. That’s why she went so far and became immersed in all her missions.”

Lee Jun-Kyeong was flustered. That was really the reason she could become so strong?

"If you really are curious...” Zeus grinned and continued.

It was the first mischievous smile he displayed since he had absorbed Chi-Woo’s strength.

“Go save him and ask him yourself.

Rumble.

The mana around them was gathering and swirling toward one location.

“Looks like we’re not far.”

With this much mana, it was more than enough to make the entire world tremble.

“A fight is about to begin.”

Lee Jun-Kyeong and Zeus’s eyes met. Simultaneously, they spoke to each other.

“I’ll go first.”

“I’ll be off first, then.”

With hardened expressions, they both nodded at each other.

They both had their own roles in this battle as they were each charged with a Ruler.

“Chwiiik!!”

However, before that, all of the monsters before them had to be taken care of.

***

Everything, in the end, was just an instant in time. Even when her life, which had lacked nothing, had been ruined. Even when her father, who had been her strongest supporter, had passed away. Even when her mother, who had always treated her with love, or her older brother, who had supported her in every way, quietly from the background, had disappeared instantly.

‘The gates.’

They had all left her when those damn things had appeared. Those damned things spewed out monsters and sucked away everything she had. They had trampled and crushed her, and when she had come to her senses, she was there.

Amid all the monsters, she was watching her mother who had a kitchen knife in her hand trying to defend her, get torn apart and eaten. Seeing their mother die so gruesomely, her brother, running away, was kicked to death by another monster.

At that time, her father had cried as if he had gone insane. The president of a company, her father, who was always dependable, was crying like a child.

‘At that moment, he saw me.’

To divert the attention of the monsters, he ran and ran to save his only remaining daughter even though his wife and son were dead. He sobbed the entire time.

‘Chwwiik…’

The disgusting cries of the monsters faded away as she sat there, unable to do anything. She just collapsed helplessly, crying out for her father, who was running away from her.

Her father cried even more until it turned to a scream, a harrowing scream, calling for the monsters that had taken everything from him. He was screaming to save the life of his only remaining daughter.

When she couldn’t see her father running any further when she couldn’t hear even a hint of his cries, she still found herself sitting in the same place, lying alone, surrounded by carnage in a wilderness she had never seen before.

All she saw when she came to her senses was the kitchen knife that her mother, who had been completely devoured, had held, abandoned by the monsters. She picked it up and began to move.

‘...’

Maybe her father was still alive. He might have been able to run away from that chaos. Even if it was late, she had to save him now.

So she approached the direction her father had run to while crying. He must have wanted to save her, wanted her to survive.

‘But I didn’t want to live.’

She was terribly afraid, frightened beyond belief, to have everything she knew taken away instantly, left alone in an unknown land.

She just wanted to see her family. She just wanted to go with them. If, by chance, her father was still alive…

‘It was a useless hope.’

As she followed her father’s trail, the only thing she saw was a man’s arm, haphazardly left lying there. Her father’s favorite shirt was torn off and left on the arm.

She saw it and looked around. There was nothing else there.

For a while, she stood there, unmoving. There were no cries or sobs as she stood there blankly in place.

Then, that was when she had clenched the handle of the kitchen knife.

Clench.

'Kill.'

That thought was the only thing that filled her head. Thus, she began to move once more.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

‘Chwiiik.’

She walked towards where the monsters’ cries continued.

‘Chwiiik!’

Then, when facing one of those monsters, she froze utterly, like a car whose engine had died.

Tremble.

She hated herself for thinking she could fight something like that.

Her father had tried to save her. She should have at least tried to run away in order to survive. She shouldn’t have tried to confront the monster that had jumped out as if from an unbelievable movie.

‘Chwiiik!’

Like that, when the monster approached to eat the last member of her family, she heard a faint grinding sound.

Squelch.

She thought that it was a sound that was coming from her own body, just not feeling any pain from it because she was already dead.

‘Are you okay?’

But then, hearing a voice that followed that terrifying sound, she couldn't help but to sit down and weep.