Chapter 225: Salvation (1)

A battlefield stretched across the wilderness, scorched and blackened from the fierce fighting that had just taken place. Hunters stood around the corpse of the Greater Demon, Mammon, their eyes fixed in stunned silence until Kim Ki-Rok clapped his hands together with a sharp crack.

"You all have two choices ahead of you," he announced.

Yoo Seh-Eun snorted. "Wow, what a surprise. Another choice."

Still recovering from serving as Kim Ki-Rok's shield to absorb Mammon's mana, she now restored her health and mana with orange-flavored potions and sandwiches made with the Cooking Skill.

Kim Ki-Rok paid her no attention and moved on. "All of the Black Wizards who called themselves Archwizards are dead. The same goes for the Greater Demons. However, we're still facing plenty of Lesser and Intermediate Demons, as well as a number of High-Circle Black Wizards."

Yoo Seh-Eun nodded, and the rest of the Hunters watched Kim Ki-Rok intently, following every word.

"That's why we sent a special task force to the capital of the Black Kingdom," he revealed.

This mission was unlike a typical Hunter operation. Instead of the usual fifty-three member team comprised solely of Hunters, this task required an infiltration group. It was a blend of Hunters, knights, and wizards from the Continental Alliance—a true collaboration between Earth and the Yuashiel Dimension.

Lee Ji-Yeon was the first to catch on. "Ah! So you're suggesting we could go support them?"

Kim Ki-Rok nodded at her, then stared for a second. She was seated beside Yoo Seh-Eun, sipping a strawberry-milk potion and nibbling an enhanced cookie.

"Exactly. Within the hour, the Intermediate and Lesser Demons, along with the High-Circle Black Wizards who were fighting the Continental Alliance, should return to the capital. And when they do..." Kim Ki-Rok trailed off, considering his words.

"Well, here's what's likely to happen. The Intermediate Demons will be the first to sense the deaths of the Greater Demons and will immediately inform the Black Wizards. Once the Black Wizards receive this news, they'll realize the danger and try to contact the Archwizards."

"But all the Black Archwizards are dead," Nam Dong-Wook said, munching on Kim Ki-Rok's homemade potato chips.

"That's right. With no one answering, they'll quickly realize things have gone terribly wrong. They'll understand that the victors over the Greater Demons are now a threat to them. So, they'll leave the Fifth-Circle and lower Black Wizards to hold the battlefield, while the High-Circle Black Wizards teleport back to the capital for safety."

One of the Hunters sensed this would be a lengthy discussion and hurried over to ask, "Will they take the Lesser and Intermediate Demons with them?"

"Yes. An Intermediate Demon among them will likely issue similar orders. Some Lesser Demons will remain to keep the enemy occupied, while the Intermediate Demons and High-Circle Black Wizards withdraw to the capital to assess the situation. That's when they'll run into our friends."

The retreating demons and wizards would be in for a shock when they encountered the special task force raiding the Black Kingdom's capital.

"So our first choice is to go support the assault?" Yoo Seh-Eun asked.

Kim Ki-Rok nodded. "That's right."

"And our second choice?"

"To rest."

The Hunters blinked in confusion, tilting their heads.

"The special task force is formidable," Kim Ki-Rok explained. "They have Aura Masters, an Archwizard, and five Hunters who, like us, have received short-term stat boosts from their Gate rewards. Even if the Intermediate Demons and High-Circle Black Wizards return, the special task force should still complete their mission and withdraw without significant losses."

"In other words, even if we go, all we'll really do is speed up the operation?" one of them asked.

"Exactly. The special task force is unlikely to suffer any casualties. Each member is highly skilled and equipped with the same Pastera weapons we've been using."

The Pastera weapons offered remarkable mana resistance, almost completely negating mana-based defenses. Their true power would come as a surprise to the Black Kingdom's defenders, leaving the remaining demons and Black Wizards unprepared.

Some observers might have reported on these weapons, since the Hunters had used them in their duels. However, the Greater Demons and Black Archwizards who saw them firsthand were all dead, so these weapons' full capabilities remained a mystery to this world.

"Honestly, we've already done more than enough," Kim Ki-Rok said, expressing what everyone felt.

The Hunters nodded in agreement.

"We've fought monsters, the Undead, the Black Archwizards, Dullahans, Death Knights, and demons. We've faced far too many enemies today. No one could fault us for taking a rest."

If the special task force had a stroke of bad luck, someone might grumble about their inaction. Realistically, though, the Hunters had more than earned a break. As memories of the endless battles flashed through their minds, they discussed their options among themselves, then turned back to the main figure.

"Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok."

"Yes?"

"Let's just rest."

"Understood. We'll stay here and rest while we wait for the special task force to finish their mission. Once they do, we'll regroup and return to the Continental Alliance together."

Content with the plan, the Hunters settled into their own routines. Some pulled folding chairs from their subspace pockets to sit and chat, while others dug into hearty meals.

Kim Ki-Rok took a well-earned break as well. The only difference was that, alongside his meal, he pulled out a communication device to give a post-battle report. Channeling mana into it, he waited while a soft light indicated a link to the Continental Alliance's network.

"This is the team of fifty-three, reporting in."

—Ple-please begin your report.

"We have successfully subdued the Greater Demons and the Black Wizards who claimed to be Archwizards."

***

In a command room, a young blond man stood before a large map of the continent. He stared at the communication device, his eyes wide and jaw slack, momentarily lost for words.

"Ah, um..."

A prodigy who had joined the Continental Alliance's Strategy Department at thirteen, the young man had already spent a decade on the battlefield. Now, he raised both hands to wipe at his cheeks, stunned to find them wet.

"What the... W-why am I reacting like this? This is everything I've wished for," he mumbled, brushing away the tears that wouldn't stop.

Across the room, a middle-aged man in a wheelchair suddenly burst into laughter. Despite having lost a leg in the war with the Black Kingdom, he had transferred to the strategy department rather than retire.

"

Ha, hahaha!

"

The room remained silent except for his growing laughter.

"T-the war isn't over yet," the younger man said, struggling to regain composure and address the control room. "The Greater Demons and Black Archwizards are dead, but the High-Circle Black Wizards and Intermediate Demons are still out there..."

His throat closed up as the realization struck him. The Alliance had the means to deal with the remaining enemies. With the Greater Demons and the empowered Black Archwizards out of the way, true liberation was finally within reach. The thought nearly took his breath away.

—Our team will rest here, and after the special task force completes their mission, we'll regroup before returning to the Continental Alliance.

As Kim Ki-Rok's words continued flowing from the device, the young man snapped back to attention. Clearing his throat, he stepped forward to respond.

"Affirmative. Please contact us when you've reunited with the special task force."

—Alright.

"Ah, also..."

—Yes?

He paused, unsure what to say. Congratulations? Please return safely for the mission's success? Thank you for your hard work?

Clenching his fist, the young man stared at the device carrying Kim Ki-Rok's words. His voice was thick with emotion as he said, "Thank you. Thank you so much."

***

Kim Ki-Rok laughed heartily at the gratitude coming through the device. After his laughter died down, he replied with a warm smile, "I'll look forward to hearing your thanks in person when we return."

—Of course. Please let us know if there are any issues, or once you've rejoined the special task force.

"Understood. I'll contact you as soon as we regroup."

With that, Kim Ki-Rok cut the mana flow, and the device's light faded as the connection ended. Setting it on his lap, he tilted his head back to gaze at the sky.

"I'd say the big shots must have noticed us by now, either the one from our world or the one from Yuashiel," he mused.

No sooner had he spoken than a translucent message window materialized before him and all the other Hunters resting in the wilderness.

[Administrator of the Yuashiel Dimension, Yuashiel (Creator God), has contacted you via the Earth System.]

[Yuashiel: Thank you very much.]

"Oh! They've added a message function," Kim Ki-Rok marveled.

Several Hunters stared at him in disbelief, finding it hard to accept that those could be a human's first words upon speaking directly to a dimension's administrator.

Kim Ki-Rok quickly shifted to a polite expression and replied, "Oh my, I'm truly honored that you would appear to thank us personally. We're already being compensated for our efforts. There's really no need to go so far, is there?"

[Yuashiel: Without the heroes of Earth, without you Hunters, the Material Realm would have fallen to the demons and Black Wizards wielding the corruptive mana of the Demon Realm. In time, the Material Realm and Demon Realm would have fused, and with that power, they could have even targeted the Celestial Realm.]

Several Hunters flinched at Creator God Yuashiel's words, realizing just how far-reaching the consequences of their victory were.

"Wow! Did we really do something that incredible?"

"If he's telling the truth, then one day Earth could have been attacked by a Yuashiel Dimension completely overtaken and fused with the Demon Realm."

"True. I guess the World System would have detected and stopped it before then, but..."

Having faced the demons themselves, the Hunters understood their true power better than anyone. The prospect of Earth being attacked by a combined Demon Realm and Yuashiel Dimension sent shudders and sighs of relief through the group.

[Yuashiel: What's more, even though you had ample time to prepare, you advanced the confrontation to minimize damage to the continent. That doesn't diminish how risky or valuable your actions were for all its people.]

"You've been watching us this whole time?"

[Yuashiel: That's right.]

"In that case, you know we had another motive for moving up the duels."

[Yuashiel: Yes, I understand. Just as Earth aided Yuashiel, Yuashiel will also aid Earth.]

"Thank you. In that case, may I share news of our alliance with Earth's people?"

[Yuashiel: Of course.]

Kim Ki-Rok clenched his fists in excitement. Although he had already managed this alliance in previous Attempts, every successful connection between dimensions filled him with joy.

***

Thirty days after the deaths of the Greater Demons and Black Archwizards.

"

Phew!

" Kim Ki-Rok let out a long sigh as the thick, towering walls finally came into view. "That was an exhausting journey."

The return trip had been brutal. Remaining Intermediate Demons and High-Circle Black Wizards had hounded the fifty-three member team and the special task force, sending wave after wave of monsters and Undead to harass them day and night. They barely had a chance to set up camp, often forced to rest in the midst of battle.

"

Fuuuh!

No argument here," the royal Aura Master agreed, letting out a deep breath. "But we finally made it."

"The end..." Kim Ki-Rok echoed softly.

Technically, the Black Kingdom was not yet finished. Intermediate Demons and High-Circle Black Wizards still remained, along with many Undead and monsters empowered by the Demon Realm's mana. Nevertheless, the other Aura Masters and the people of the Yuashiel Dimension felt relief and smiled, knowing that, for them, the end was finally in sight.