Chapter 182. Why Should I?

Even here in Toronto, Canada, the towering Stem and blossoming bud loomed ominously. According to information from a Korean Hunter circulating in the U.S., the culprit behind this calamity was parasites on the flowers.

Upon hearing this, several of Canada’s top Hunters rushed to investigate. They soon discovered a bizarre insect radiating a sinister aura, confirming the rumors were true.

However, there was a problem.

“Damn it! How are we supposed to kill that thing?”

“Wasn’t there any intel on how to deal with it?”

“No, there wasn’t! All we know is that sustained attacks can suppress its activity.”

Besides, so far, it had proven accurate. The insect had been found, and attacking it had indeed diminished the intensity of the undead’s presence. This gave the Hunters a brief respite.

However, the lack of a definitive way to eradicate the insect left them on edge. Countless civilizations had already been destroyed. Society was barely functioning, and millions of people around the globe were confined to shelters, holding their breaths in fear.

If this situation persisted for a year or even a few more months, the entire world would suffer irreparable damage.

Suddenly, a massive shadow swept across the ground, momentarily blotting out the sun above their heads.

“Huh? What the...?”

“What’s that?”

It was not an airplane, but a creature flying through the sky. To be more precise, it was a black dragon gliding effortlessly through the air.

“It’s a monster! Get ready for a batt—”

“Wait, hold on! There was something about that in the intel”

One Hunter stopped their comrade, who had instinctively reached for their weapon. Then, that Hunter mentioned something about a Hunter riding a black dragon and warned others against attacking him.

“What?”

The others looked closer. Sure enough, there were figures on the dragon’s back. In fact, there were two of them, a man and a woman.

“Who are they? An American S-rank Hunter? But I’ve never heard of an American Hunter with a summoned creature like that.”

“No, I think... I heard they’re...”

Before the Hunter could finish their sentence, the dragon had already reached the massive flower. It circled the flower several times, as though searching for something.

Then, as it flew past, the man riding the dragon swung his spear in a wide arc.

What’s he doing?

The Hunters watched in confusion, their eyes following the man’s movements.

Suddenly, the base’s speakers blared to life, and an urgent broadcast echoed throughout the area.

Beep—

—The insect! The insect has been destroyed! The insect has been destroyed!

The announcement sent waves of disbelief through the Hunters. That loathsome insect, the root cause of their nightmares, was finally gone.

One Hunter turned to his stunned comrade, a similar look of astonishment on his face.

“I heard he’s the Korean Hunter who first discovered the insect.”

Without landing or stopping for any thanks or explanations, the black dragon flew off into the distance. All the Canadian Hunters could do was watch it disappear, leaving their questions unspoken.

From that day onward, a massive extermination campaign against the undead was launched around Toronto. The Root of the undead’s resurgence in this region was never seen again.

***

“

Ha...

”

Kim Do-Joon let out a heavy sigh atop the shadow dragon as it glided toward the next region. From behind, he felt a gentle tug on his sleeve.

Turning around, Kim Do-Joon saw Siwelin holding up a card with these words written on it.

— Are you alright?

He smiled reassuringly and replied, “I’m fine.”

He had not slept for days, flying nonstop and eliminating dozens of the parasitic insects along the way. These were not just ordinary bugs either; they were carefully crafted weapons of the Death Spirit Lord, designed to sap strength and morale. While the mental strain was real, he was not the type to tire so easily.

What wore on him was something else entirely—it was anxiety. The knowledge that Ushas was still hiding somewhere on Earth gnawed at him.

There’s no way that creature is just sitting still.

If it had been Mel Sior, the creature would have fled in blind panic, trembling at the thought of being hunted down by the old man. However, Ushas was different. The Death Spirit King wasn’t the type to shy away from his fear. Otherwise, he would never have taken his first steps into the dark and treacherous path of necromancy.

Thus, if something scared him, he would stop at nothing to eliminate it. Even now, Ushas was undoubtedly scheming in the shadows.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

And yet, I can’t find him.

That was the source of Kim Do-Joon’s frustration.

He had been scouring the world’s flowers in hopes of finding any trace of Ushas. There were no traps left behind, no lingering Liches to track. Even with the aid of Information Management Bureaus from the U.S. and other countries, Ushas’ trail had gone cold.

President Logan of the United States was practically convinced that Drake was behind the undead outbreak, pressuring other nations to join in the search. However, even with that leverage, nothing had surfaced.

Part of the problem was that the world’s Information Management Bureaus were still crippled by the ongoing undead crisis.

Swish, swish.

—Don’t worry too much. You’re doing great. If we keep moving like this, he’ll eventually make the first move.

Siwelin held up another encouraging message. Her words brought a faint smile to Kim Do-Joon’s face.

She was right. There was no point in letting impatience get the better of him. So far, the operation had been progressing smoothly—meticulously purging pests clinging to the flowers and restoring order to city after city.

If they kept up the restoration efforts, the enemy was bound to slip up somewhere, leaving a trace behind.

When that moment comes, I just have to make sure not to miss it.

Kim Do-Joon’s eyes flashing with resolve.

He decided that the instant the enemy revealed himself, he would seize that moment and ensnare them without fail.

***

Kim Do-Joon had continued his relentless mission for ten days, eliminating more insects without pause. His only rest was brief naps on the shadow dragon's back during flights.

However, stopping wasn’t an option because the faster he acted, the fewer lives would be lost.

Then, a message came through his phone, sent by Son Chang-Il.

—Things are under control here. Thanks to Hunter Jecheon Seong, all the insects in our country have been dealt with. Also, he said he’s planning to move on to Japan next.

The Elder took care of things there, huh.

Hunter Jecheon Seong was a capable ally. Eliminating the insects was well within his abilities. The only drawback was the lack of a fast mount like Kim Do-Joon’s Shadow dragon, which slowed his progress.

Even so, Kim Do-Joon felt relieved to know he was not the only one fighting this battle. However, as that thought brought a moment of peace, something changed.

Kim Do-Joon’s eyes narrowed as he tensed up all over. He tapped the dragon’s neck. The dragon halted mid-air, its wings beating rhythmically to maintain its position.

From ahead, a figure emerged, seemingly walking on the wind.

“Hello, Father.”

A man clad in long, flowing robes, with an ethereal, otherworldly beauty greeted Kim Do-Joon.

The sight stirred the old man’s memories within Kim Do-Joon.

“...Alcyone,” Kim Do-Joon muttered.

Hearing his name, the man’s eyes narrowed slightly, a bitter smile curling his lips.

So, Ushas’ report is true. Father had really returned.

He had assumed Ushas was mistaken, but he clearly wasn’t. Not only did this man know his name, his energy was definitely reminiscent of Father’s.

With that bitter smile still etched on his face, the man slowly raised his hand.

Then, with a snap of his fingers, he spoke, “Hylasa.”

Between them, a fierce gust of wind erupted, swirling with raw, chaotic energy.

***

Alcyone once ignored the struggle between his siblings and their father—if it could even be called a struggle. It was merely a one-sided attempt to overthrow him.

Since it didn’t matter to him, all he did was watch and record.

The chronicler of history must not interfere with its flow. This was a rule drilled into him since childhood, so often that it had become second nature. Whether in the past or now as one of the father's children, the principle remained unchanged.

Therefore, he watched in silence. He watched Mel Sior, Ushas, and several others band together to attack Father.

He witnessed it all—how Father did not resist, how Father allowed himself to be torn apart by his children. While Father’s expression grew heavy with grief, offering no real resistance, his siblings became elated.

They believed the world was now theirs for the taking. They celebrated as if they truly owned the entire world.

In that moment of ecstasy, Alcyone was the only one who stood still, watching quietly from afar. And because he alone remained calm, he saw it.

In Father’s final moments, at the very last second, a fleeting expression passed over his face. It was a chilling look, like someone cutting away something vital.

***

A sudden gust swept through, and Kim Do-Joon’s expression hardened.

Unlike Mel Sior or Ushas, the Spirit Lord Alcyone was different. He had not directly participated in the Old Man’s death, but that did not absolve him of guilt. He had known about the rebellion, and yet he had stood silent even as the old man met his end.

And now, here he was, standing right in front of Kim Do-Joon.

This is an opportunity.

Having the divine power of the Spirit Lord would undoubtedly make the battle against Ushas much easier. Kim Do-Joon’s eyes narrowed, his hand twitching slightly. If even the smallest opening presented itself, he was ready to extract every ounce of Alcyone’s power.

At that moment, the swirling wind between them brought with it a cascade of black dust. It was an immense quantity, large enough to catch Kim Do-Joon’s attention.

He stared at it, wary, then his eyes widened in recognition.

Bug remains?

The black dust was all too familiar—a telltale sign of Ushas’ parasites after they had been killed. While their forms had disintegrated, the traces of Death Spirit Lord’s energy and magic inscriptions made their origin clear.

Kim Do-Joon blinked. There was a staggering amount of remains, far more than he had eliminated on his own.

Then, Alcyone solemnly spoke, “Please, forgive me!”

What?

Kim Do-Joon let out a dry laugh. Alcyone, who had seemed prepared for a fight mere moments ago, was now bowing his head, pleading for forgiveness.

The absurdity of it all left Kim Do-Joon feeling strangely empty, though his aura remained as fierce as ever. His hand continued to twitch, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

Through narrowed eyes, he asked coldly, “Why should I?”

A single bead of sweat rolled down Alcyone’s temple.