Chapter 178. Where Is It?

—

Hmm.

With a cryptic and unreadable expression, Archlich Talos gazed down at the amassed forces near the airport.

Why do we need such a large force here?

Archlich Talos’ primary mission was simple: activate the "Flower" in this city called Seoul. More precisely, he was to activate the magic his master had imbued in it. Afterward, he was to wreak havoc as per his master's desires.

However, things took an unexpected turn. As soon as he was finished with the primary mission, he was ordered to occupy the airport with all available forces.

But why? Is there something about this particular target?

Sure, the airport was a significant facility, as it served as a hub for human transportation. Destroying it made sense, but fully garrisoning it was peculiar.

It almost seems as if the master fears something...

Archlich Talos’ eyes narrowed at the thought. He immediately sliced off one of his arm.

No! Such irreverent thoughts cannot be allowed.

It was an act of self-punishment, albeit purely symbolic. As an undead being, pain and injury were meaningless. He simply reattached his limb with a clatter, then picked up his grimoire.

Throughout his journey to the airport, Archlich Talos had absorbed every undead he encountered, exponentially growing his army. What had started as a trickle became an unrelenting flood, resulting in a sea of undead so dense that many were crushed under their own numbers.

—

Hmm...

Even for an Archlich of his caliber, commanding such a vast army was a first. He felt a strange mix of exhilaration and unease. His master never issued commands without reason, which meant something significant was about to happen.

Suddenly, the air was filled with the rhythmic, mechanical sound of blades slicing through the wind.

—Ah,

they must’ve arrived.

Despite being unfamiliar with the sound of a helicopter, Archlich Talos instinctively knew.

The next moment, a figure emerged from the hovering craft, descending gracefully to the ground. Archlich Talos squinted, his bony face contorting in disbelief.

—Seriously? Just one?

One human had stepped forward to face his massive undead army. The absurdity of the sight almost made him laugh. Scoffing, he raised his grimoire high. Though there was no breeze, its pages began to turn, emanating a dark, ominous aura.

Swish.

Then, behind the lone human, a portal opened, rippling with shadowy energy. From it, a soldier clad in black armor plummeted to the ground.

Archlich Talos instinctively took a step back.

Boom!

The soldier landed with such force that the ground cratered beneath him, crushing unlucky ghouls and skeletons.

—What is going on...?

Archlich Talos was bewildered. He looked up to the sky and froze. Soon, dark rain began to fall—no, those were soldiers.

Kieeek—!

Kyaaa—!

Thousands of armored figures rained down from the portal, their deadly weapons gleaming. The undead army stood no chance. Each impact left swathes of destruction in their wake, scattering bones and decaying flesh like debris.

The undead were being obliterated. The shadows moved with terrifying precision, cutting down anything in their path. Some undead survived the initial onslaught but soon met the same fate.

Swoosh—!

The soldiers recovered from their falls and immediately set about slashing through the survivors.

—This is ridiculous!

In all his centuries of existence, Archlich Talos had never seen such a strategy! What kind of commander dropped their soldiers amid the enemy?!

Then, realization struck him.

Ah... It must be him! The human!

This must be why his master had sent him here. Archlich Talos gritted his teeth and raised his grimoire toward the human. The first strike had been unexpected, but he wouldn’t allow the situation to spiral further!

Before he could act, a hand seized his wrist. He turned to see a figure draped in black robes—a mage.

—Who are yo—

Keuk.

Boom!

Too focused on Kim Do-Joon, the sudden ambush caught Archlich Talos off-guard. He, who was only an Archlich, couldn’t withstand Number One’s strike.

Overhead, Kim Do-Joon observed the battlefield with a cold, calculating gaze.

Okay, the Archlich is dealt with.

The first soldier wasn’t dropped randomly. Kim Do-Joon had specifically targeted the Archlich, knowing that the undead army was nothing more than a disorganized rabble without their leader.

The remaining undead were no match for the shadow soldiers. The shadow soldiers swept through them like a wave, washing them away. What was once a suffocating sea of death was now a clear, open path. Kim Do-Joon descended, landing with a soft thud.

As he did, a dark figure soared toward him. It wasn’t Number One, but the newest addition—Number Ten.

“What?” Kim Do-Joon asked calmly.

Number Ten knelt before Kim Do-Joon, trembling slightly as he prostrated himself. Behind him floated the mangled remains of Archlich Talos, dangling like a broken marionette.

“What’s this? You don’t want to play the rookie anymore?” Kim Do-Joon teased with a sly grin.

Number Ten flinched at the remark, lowering his head even further as though begging forgiveness. Kim Do-Joon couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.

“What an endearing one”

, he thought.

Wasting no time, Kim Do-Joon extended his shadow, enveloping Archlich Talos’ bones. Moments later, a new black mage was born—Number Eleven.

With gleaming eyes, Number Ten immediately grabbed Number Eleven. Then, they vanished into the dwindling crowd of undead, perhaps eager to continue the purge. Kim Do-Joon chuckled again, then turned his attention toward the airport entrance.

The area was eerily clean, save for the occasional undead corpse scattered here and there.

The roar of helicopter blades grew louder as a chopper descended onto the open field near the entrance. The pilot and Siwelin emerged, the former visibly shaken as he cowered behind Siwelin, eyeing the scattered corpses with fear and revulsion.

Thud.

“

Eek!

”

The pilot yelped as an undead’s severed head rolled toward him. He stumbled back, tripping over his own feet.

Without much fanfare, Kim Do-Joon gestured for the two to follow. They entered the airport, stepping over scattered remains, while shadow soldiers diligently eliminated any lingering threats.

Kaak!

Inside, the building still teemed with undead. A handful of ghouls spotted Kim Do-Joon and charged at him.

However, before they could get close, a tide of shadow soldiers poured in, cutting them down with ruthless efficiency. Kim Do-Joon, flanked by his soldiers, led Siwelin and the pilot deeper into the airport, heading toward the underground shelter.

As they passed through a corridor, Kim Do-Joon’s gaze drifted beyond the shattered glass windows to the runway outside. It was still overrun with undead, their numbers too great to ignore.

“If we don’t clear that area, the plane won’t be able to take off, will it?” Kim Do-Joon asked, his tone casual but firm.

“Uh, I-I think so?” the pilot stammered, still visibly tense as he scanned their surroundings for danger.

Kim Do-Joon nodded. He then instructed Siwelin and the pilot to head to the shelter and have the plane prepared for immediate departure.

The pilot hesitated, his brows furrowing in confusion.

“What about you, Hunter Kim Do-Joon?”

“I’ll take care of the runway.” Kim Do-Joon smiled faintly, before leaping out of sight.

The pilot instinctively reached out to stop him, but it was too late—only the fading echo of his words remained.

The pilot’s expression twisted with unease, but he forced himself to focus. He told himself everything would be fine. After all, S-rank Hunter Yoon Si-Ah was still here, and Kim Do-Joon had left behind an army of shadow soldiers to guard them.

“T-this way,” the pilot stuttered, leading Siwelin toward the underground shelter.

Around them, the shadow soldiers silently continued their methodical slaughter of the remaining undead.

Minutes later, the pilot emerged from the shelter with the essential personnel needed to prepare the plane. With more people, his anxiety had eased somewhat, replaced by a determined focus on the task at hand.

“Are you sure Hunter Kim Do-Joon asked the Association President for this?” the pilot incredulously asked one of the crew members.

“That’s what I heard. It’s supposed to be something critical,” the crew member replied, somewhat uncertain.

The pilot frowned. Honestly, when he first received the urgent call, he was puzzled. The situation in Korea was in chaos. The Roots they had once conquered were reappearing, and an unprecedented number of undead monsters were pouring out, flooding the country.

At a time when every Hunter was desperately needed, it was difficult to believe that a top-tier Hunter like Kim Do-Joon would request a plane to the United States.

The pilot flinched and shrank back as he spoke, wary of accidentally touching the fearsome soldier next to him.

“Some people are saying he’s just trying to escape,” the crew member whispered.

“Well... That’s...”

The pilot fell silent. He wanted to dismiss the idea, but it wasn’t entirely implausible.

However, before either could say more, they felt a sharp gaze boring into them. Both men turned to see Yoon Si-Ah standing nearby, her lips pursed in displeasure as she stared them down.

The pilot quickly averted his gaze, stuttering, “B-but there are other theories too! Some say he’s going to America to deal with the source of this crisis. After all, he’s a hero! Kim Do-Joon wouldn’t run away!”

As he spoke, he kept stealing a glance at Hunter Yoon Si-Ah, aware of her gaze. They didn’t have the guts to challenge an S-rank Hunter.

Yoon Si-Ah’s expression softened as she smiled faintly. Satisfied, she turned her attention elsewhere, leaving the two men to let out relieved sighs.

What were we thinking, gossiping in the middle of a battlefield?

When they finally reached the runway, the sight that greeted them was staggering.

“What... is this?” the pilot whispered, his voice trembling.

“Hunter Kim Do-Joon said that he will clear the runway...” one of the crew members murmured.

The two nodded slowly. There was no longer any doubt in their minds. This man was not trying to run away. He was doing exactly what he said he would—clearing the way, one battlefield at a time.

The entire runway was engulfed in a sea of blazing inferno that consumed everything in its path. The undead were reduced to ash, swallowed by the firestorm.

Moments later, a small plane took off from the now-cleared runway. As it soared into the sky, the flames below continued to dance, marking the battlefield that Kim Do-Joon had conquered.

***

New York was also a disaster zone, perhaps even worse than Seoul. Amid the chaos, Ko Cheong-Cheon threw a powerful punch, obliterating a ghoul’s skull with a sickening crunch

.

Thwack!

He had been attending a university event on the outskirts of the city when the catastrophe struck. For the first twenty-four hours, he focused on securing the area, protecting the students and civilians nearby. Only after ensuring their safety did he make his way toward the guild headquarters in the heart of the city.

However, when Ko Cheong-Cheon and his team finally reached the headquarters, the sight that greeted them was grim. The building was eerily silent. Bloodstains covered the floors and walls, yet there was not a single dead body to be found.

What the...?

An ominous chill crept down his spine. The entire structure felt cold—unnaturally so.

Beep.

One of his companions, a bald-headed Hunter wearing an earpiece, suddenly froze. He pressed a finger to his ear and frowned deeply as he listened to the transmission.

“What’s wrong? What’s happening?” Ko Cheong-Cheon sharply demanded.

The bald Hunter hesitated before speaking, “We’ve got a witness report. Apparently, it was our guild’s Hunters—Mercenary Hunters—who attacked the Gale Guild outside.”

“What?” Ko Cheong-Cheon replied with disbelief. “That’s impossible! Why would we attack another guild?”

“I know it doesn’t make sense,” the bald Hunter replied grimly. “But the reports are consistent. They’re saying it really happened.”

“That’s absurd! Where’s the Guild Leader? Where’s Drake?” Ko Cheong-Cheon snapped, his frustration mounting.

“We’ve lost contact with him,” the Hunter admitted.

“Damn it!”

Ko Cheong-Cheon slammed his fist against the crumbling wall beside him, reducing it to rubble. His mind raced.

Nothing was adding up. The world was descending into chaos—New York, Korea, everywhere. Communication with their guild members had been severed, their headquarters was in ruins, and now Mercenary Hunters were attacking Gale Guild. As if that wasn’t enough, their leader, Drake, went missing without a trace.

Anyone with half a brain could see that something was terribly, deeply wrong.

“We need to check this out,” the bald Hunter said finally.

“Check what out?”

“The park. They said one of the Mercenary Hunters who attacked Gale is nearby,”

“...Okay, let’s go,” Ko Cheong-Cheon ordered, narrowing his eyes.

Whatever was happening, they couldn’t afford to waste time. Even if to verify the truth of the incident, it was essential to join first. The direr the situation, the more the guild members needed to unite—hence why guild existed.

Thus, they arrived at the airport. When they arrived, they were met with an overwhelming sight. Hordes of undead stretched as far as the eye could see.

“Damn it! Why are there so many of them here?” a Hunter cursed.

“Focus on taking them down!” Ko Cheong-Cheon shouted.

Without hesitation, the Mercenary Hunters, including Ko Cheong-Cheon, charged into the fray. True to their guild’s reputation, they cut through the undead like a scythe through wheat, their combat prowess unmatched.

The problem, however, was stamina. Dealing with dozens or hundreds of undead wasn’t an issue for them, but the enemy numbered in the thousands, even tens of thousands.

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

This won’t do.

Though the battle had just begun, Ko Cheong-Cheon could already tell that they wouldn’t last if it became a war of attrition.

It was a moment that required a quick and cold decision. Ko Cheong-Cheon realized that as he was the highest-ranking officer in this situation. Therefore, he had to make a judgment.

We’ll need to pull back for now.

The conclusion he reached was that they needed to prepare for a prolonged battle. Having made up his mind, he was just about to call for a retreat when a voice rang out.

"Look over there!"

One of his comrades pointed skyward, and Ko Cheong-Cheon followed the gesture. A small plane was approaching, its silhouette barely visible against the smoke-filled sky.

“What the hell?” someone muttered.

“Is that a plane? Who’s insane enough to still be flying?”

“It’s been over a day since this chaos started! How is that thing still in the air?” another Hunter spat, his disbelief giving way to curses.

The first Hunter turned to Ko Cheong-Cheon. “What do we do?”

Ko Cheong-Cheon did not hesitate.

“What do you mean, ‘What do we do?’ We help them land!”

Pushing through the undead horde, Ko Cheong-Cheon led his team toward the runway, determined to carve a path for the incoming aircraft.

By the time they reached it, the plane was already skidding onto the runway, crushing the undead with a screeching noise that tore through the air.

“What a crazy bastard!”

Even the usually composed Ko Cheong-Cheon was left gaping alongside the other Hunters. The pilot had thrown caution aside, hurtling forward without hesitation—a bold, perhaps necessary, decision.

However, there was one problem.

“At this rate, it’s going to crash!” someone shouted.

At the center of the runway stood a towering Root of the World Tree, an indestructible remnant from the early days of dungeons and monsters. The plane was racing directly toward it.

Ko Cheong-Cheon and the hunters scrambled for solutions, their minds working at lightning speed. However, no matter how hard they thought, no answer emerged.

It was too late to change the plane’s direction, and the World Tree’s Root was impervious to external force. They had learned that the hard way years ago when even the fiercest bombardments had failed to leave so much as a scratch.

Suddenly, the door of the plane swung open, and a man leapt out, landing nimbly on the nose of the aircraft.

***

—W-we’re going to crash! At this speed, we’ll collide for sure!

A panicked voice could be heard over the radio.

“Stay calm and keep flying,” Kim Do-Joon replied, drawing his spear. Standing atop the plane’s nose, he watched the scenery blur past.

Whoosh—

With a single swing of his spear, flames erupted along its path. They were the very fire the White Elves had long sought to extinguish—the Heart of Flame. Even the World Tree feared its destructive power. Kim Do-Joon also had the divine power he’d reclaimed from Mel Sior.

Whoosh—!

He spun on his heel, swinging the spear in a wide arc. The flames coiled and twisted, forming a blazing tornado that surged toward the massive Root blocking the runway.

As expected, the flames struck true, consuming the root entirely. In mere moments, what had once been an indestructible obstacle was reduced to ashes. It burned so efficiently that it seemed almost eager to be destroyed. The undead beneath it weren’t spared either.

Screeeech!

The plane roared through the dissipating flames, finally slowing to a safe stop. Kim Do-Joon leapt down from the plane in one fluid motion. Then, he felt a gaze.

Turning around, he saw Ko Cheong-Cheon and a group of Hunters staring at him, their jaws practically hitting the ground. One thought raced through Kim Do-Joon’s mind as he took them in.

Ko Cheong-Cheon... works for the Mercenary Guild.

In an instant, he lunged toward the man.

“W-what?!”

Ko Cheong-Cheon barely managed to yelp as Kim Do-Joon instantly appeared before him, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him off the ground.

“Where is your guild master?” Kim Do-Joon growled, his voice icy and menacing.