Chapter 188: Reinforcements (2)

The huge chunks of metal, giant arrows, and spears hurled by the siege weapons created thunderous noises as they pounded into the massive city walls. Some projectiles even flew into the city, destroying buildings. It was a peculiar siege with one side only defending and the other only attacking, and it all ended in less than thirty seconds.

With a creak, the city gates opened, releasing hordes of Animaloid and Humanoid Mechanical Monsters. The Hunters gathered in front of the siege weapons, watching the approaching mechanical monsters with anxiety and tension.

—"Fire!"

The Hunters stationed near the smaller weapons flanking the massive siege engines sprang into action. Projectiles rained down on the horde of machines, triggering explosions and sandstorms even larger than those caused by the monsters' charge.

Could they really annihilate thousands of them with firepower alone? It seemed all but impossible as the machines relentlessly charged out from the raging storm. Some had lost legs while others had parts of their bodies destroyed, but none of them felt any pain. Instead of slowing down, they continued barrelling toward the Hunters like gears that never missed a beat.

At someone's shout to protect the siege weapons, the Hunters let out a battle cry and charged. A thunderous boom split the air, and another massive sandstorm erupted as the two sides collided.

"How many cameras did they use to shoot this?"

A viewer, taking a bite of chicken, returned his attention to the video.

It seemed a camera had been attached to a Hunter. First-person footage filled the screen, showing a massive Animaloid Mechanical Monster and the gleam of a sword raised to strike. The view then zoomed out, as if from a drone or an aerial camera, now capturing the scene from a tight third-person angle. The monster and the Hunter were locked in close combat, every movement sharp and vivid.

The Animaloid moved exactly like the creature it resembled, attacking the Hunter, who swung his weapon without relying on magic or abilities. There were no scenes of Hunters using magic or powers, but the video was far from boring. On the contrary, the scene made the audience clutch their sweat-slick hands—or rather, their chicken drumsticks—even tighter as they stared at the screen.

This wasn't a movie. This was a real battle where each figure on screen was fighting to end the other, and there were no second takes.

The Hunter on screen dropped to one knee, narrowly dodging the razor-sharp tail whipping toward him, then swung his sword in a clean, practiced arc. Everyone knew mechanical monsters were built tough, with high mana resistance. Those who hadn't known were recently educated by a prime time special on the S-Class Gate.

The sound of metal scraping on metal as the sword struck the monster's skin proved that these creatures were indeed made of metal, just as explained in the TV program. The chicken-holding viewer knew this and had been shocked to see an ordinary sword, without Aura, cutting through the hard outer layer of the machine.

Scenes flashed by, some lasting barely ten seconds, others stretching to twenty. It showed Hunters from the United States, Japan, France, India, the African Union, and beyond locked in battle against the Mechanical Monsters.

What on earth were they trying to do?

The video shifted to scenes of wounded Hunters receiving treatment. Footage of Hunters in action drew cheers or quiet relief, but the shots of injured ones made viewers frown or skip ahead. Then came the final scene in which a mechanical monster, neither animal nor human, emerging slowly from the wide-open castle gate.

The viewer swallowed hard and stared blankly at the advertisement that played after the video.

"Seriously..."

Why would they publicly release a video that not only captured Hunters in action but also showed injured Hunters receiving treatment?

He naturally reached for another chicken leg, wiped off the grease with a tissue he'd placed next to the container, and picked up his smartphone. Logging onto the internet to look up the reason, his eyes sparkled when he saw an advertisement on the main banner of the portal site.

"Recruiting Hunters?" he read aloud.

***

The video was broadcast simultaneously on all networks, and orders were given in all barracks of South Korea's elite countermeasure unit, the Geumgang Squad, to watch it. Everyone, even those in the middle of cleaning, dropped what they were doing to pay attention to the video playing on TV.

Inside one of the barracks, the soldiers turned their heads at the sound of someone entering.

Unlike the others who watched while cleaning, Corporal Kim Taek-Soo, who was sitting on his bed watching TV, stood up and saluted the platoon leader. "Sir."

The platoon leader nodded. "Attention."

"Attention!" the soldiers responded in unison.

The platoon leader eyed the soldiers still holding cleaning tools or crawling out of bed.

"We've received a support request from the Gate clear team," he said.

Hunters usually called for military backup at the first signs of a Break, which made the soldiers tense. Regardless of rank—Sergeant, Corporal, Private First Class, or Private—every one of them in the monster countermeasure unit had volunteered. Some did it for the money, others for revenge.

The platoon leader glanced at the soldier who'd saluted him first. He couldn't speak for the others, but he knew for sure that Corporal Kim Taek-Soo would accept the mission.

"The location is Osaka, Japan," he said.

"Sir?"

Not South Korea, but Japan?

Some quick-witted soldiers' eyes lit up, recalling the "truthful video" they had just watched.

"The Gate's name is The Last City of the Patera Dimension," the platoon leader continued.

Kim Taek-Soo smiled faintly, listening in silence.

"We've received a support request from the clear team, and they have strongly requested that only volunteers participate. So, I'll be taking volunteers."

It was a very dangerous S-Class Gate, and even the weakest monster there was at Level 101. Therefore, it wasn't surprising to see only Kim Taek-Soo raising his hand. The platoon leader knew that, although most of the soldiers had joined the military and volunteered for the countermeasure unit out of a desire for revenge, this request was simply too dangerous.

"Ah, the Guildmaster of the DG Guild, Kim Ki-Rok, asked me to relay this message," he added.

The soldiers paid close attention at the mention of Kim Ki-Rok.

"He said they have weapons that even non-Awakened can use to fight Mechanical Monsters."

***

D-Class Hunter Kang Seung-Hoon got off the bus and looked around. "There it is."

Coming into view was the building he had been looking for, belonging to a very famous Hunter guild. At first, he hadn't intended to come here. He had only just awakened and needed to focus on his own growth. Besides, a top guild like the DG Guild had always felt like a world apart from someone like him. He had been content just watching the videos on their MeTube channel.

However, after seeing last night's broadcasts airing on every station, along with articles across the internet, updates from the Hunters Association website, and even the DG Guild's official site, he had packed his things without hesitation.

"

Haa... phew!

" Standing in place, Kang Seung-Hoon took a deep breath and moved forward with a serious expression. He was on his way to make an unreasonable request.

The announcement had been made on the official websites of both the Hunters Association and the DG Guild. More precisely, the video had been posted on the homepages of every guild the participating Hunters belonged to, but most of the reporters had gathered at the DG Guild. Judging by the editing and the use of slightly outdated CG effects in the highlighted clips, Kang Seung-Hoon guessed it was Kim Ki-Rok's work.

As he walked toward the building, a reporter waiting near the entrance stepped up to him. "Are you a member of the DG Guild?" the reporter asked.

Kang Seung-Hoon shook his head. "No."

"I see."

"Yup."

The reporter didn't immediately back off, instead quickly scanning Kang Seung-Hoon from top to bottom. He wore a sword at his waist, marking him as a Hunter. Judging by the material and the mark on his left chest, his clothes were from a workshop that made armor for E-Class or D-Class Hunters. His tense expression and worn-out backpack suggested he was visiting the DG Guild for a reason, even though he wasn't a member.

If not, then that meant...

a Hunter discovered by Kim Ki-Rok,

the reporter thought.

By now, Kim Ki-Rok's Discernment was widely known. Everyone understood it allowed him to identify the talents of monsters, Gates, and even humans.

I can't be sure, but it's certainly possible.

The journalist for the internet newspaper Hunter World, extended his business card to that Hunter with a gentle smile and sparkling eyes.

"I'm Kang Seok-Hyun from Hunter World," he introduced himself.

"Ah, um... I'm D-Class Hunter, Kang Seung-Hoon."

Even after hearing the rank, Kang Seok-Hyun's smile didn't waver. He offered his card like he was greeting any top-tier Hunter. "Nice to meet you."

After his card was received, Kang Seok-Hyun stepped back and said, "Please contact me if you ever need help from a journalist."

"Ah, yes. I understand."

"Then, I'll be going."

The reporter bowed slightly and returned to the entrance as Kang Seung-Hoon stared blankly after him. He then looked down at the business card in his hand.

"Hunter World," he murmured.

Hunter World was not to be underestimated just because it was an internet newspaper. The same went for Kang Seok-Hyun, who was well known for writing articles based on his own investigations.

"What in the world just happened..."

Kang Seung-Hoon stared at the unexpected business card, took out his wallet, put the card away, and started walking again. As he neared the crowd, the journalists' gazes focused on him, but he didn't stop.

"Just a moment." A Hunter from the DG Guild guarding the entrance raised his hand slightly to stop him. "Oh, you're a Hunter?"

"Ah, yes. I'm D-Class Hunter, Kang Seung-Hoon."

"D-Class Hunter... Did you come here with a recommendation from our Guildmaster?" the guard asked, eyes bright with curiosity.

Would this Hunter also grow at an incredible speed? Did he possess a truly unique skill like the others?

Faced with another wave of enthusiasm, Kang Seung-Hoon clenched his fist and said, "No."

"Hmm? Then did you get a recommendation from another guild?"

"That's not it either."

Was he here for a regular membership application?

The guard considered for a moment, then asked, "Are you here to meet a friend?"

"That's not it either."

"Then what for?"

Kang Seung-Hoon took a deep breath, his expression hardening as he looked the Hunter in the eye.

"I'm a victim of the Patera Gate!"

"What?"

"I came to the DG Guild for help... to get revenge! Please help me!" he shouted, his voice cracking as the words tumbled out.