Chapter 300: Chapter 298

Meanwhile, deep within a lush jungle. In a massive greenhouse hidden in the depths of the dark forest. The one who was quietly curled up there opened his eyes.

[...It seems he's dead.]

He instinctively felt it. The perception-impairing magic that had been concealing his hiding place suddenly disappeared. But it didn't matter.

[...I've already bought enough time.]

Whoosh—

He extended his curled wings fully, and the enormous wings, fluttering like a butterfly's, took up the entire ceiling of the greenhouse. He looked ahead. Thousands of pupae were hanging in this nursery. And the identity of the giant tree they were hanging from... was none other than the 'Elvenwood' obtained through a deal with the Apostle of Paradise. But now, with his death, that tree had lost its purpose. So now...

[There's no reason for me to hide anymore.]

He flapped his wings towards the ceiling of the greenhouse. And the powder of light scattered, absorbed by the thousands of pupae.

Rumble—!

The ceiling shattered. It was the moment when the giant greenhouse, which had been quietly hidden, was revealed to the world.

* * *

At that time.

Somewhere in a deep valley covered in snow. In a giant laboratory located in a deep, dark cave.

[That fool finally died.]

Thousands of test tubes were buzzing with a red light.

[Tsk.]

The owner and sole resident of this place clicked his tongue with a dissatisfied expression and muttered,

[I knew he would eventually die because he was so foolish, but...]

It didn't matter to him whether the Apostle of Paradise died or not. What he was truly dissatisfied with was something else. The 'achievements' he left behind before dying.

[That sneaky bastard. How did he expand his territory this much in secret?]

He glared at the numerous monitors installed before him, showing news broadcasts from around the world. All the reports, regardless of the country, were showing the achievements the Apostle of Paradise left behind before dying. From the perspective of an invader of Earth, That absurd amount of Elvenwood was truly an achievement. That was why he was even more displeased.

[Was I falling behind without knowing? To that kind of guy.]

His pride was greatly hurt.

[...Did he have a helper?]

'A helper...' Considering the insignificant abilities of the Apostle of Paradise, it was certainly possible. But what was the point of finding out? The Apostle of Paradise was already dead, and there was no way to confirm it now. There was no value in confirming it. His only interest here was one thing. The legacy he left behind. To quickly recover the nutrients gathered in those numerous masterless flowerpots.

[Annoying.]

His mouth watered. Contrary to his furrowed brows, his lips were sincerely curling up. It was truly a blow to his pride that the legacy left by the guy he usually ignored was greater than expected. But at the same time, it was obvious that his power would grow if he inherited that vast legacy. And he had to hurry before others snatched it away. If he knew about this, it meant others did too.

[I should get a little more before that.]

He got up with sinister eyes.

* * *

A black wave.

A giant black wave was swelling along the mountain range. That surge toppled the Elvenwoods it encountered one by one, swallowing them whole, and continued to advance. It was as if countless black ants were devouring everything in their path. But its true identity was the Shadow Army led by Suho.

[My liege! I see the Association's flag!] Beru shouted from the sky.

The flag of the Korean Hunter Association was fluttering in the distance. Suho stopped and looked at the Association's camp. He could feel Association President Woo Jinchul's gaze as he stood in the center, looking in this direction. They were finally meeting.

"Let's go." Beru's eyes instantly changed at Suho's single word. The dignity of a Unit Commander enveloped his small body.

[Follow me!]

The Shadow Army moved in unison. The black wave flowed along the mountain range. It was an overwhelming sight.

"Finally..."

Woo Jinchul was lost in thought as he watched the Shadow Army approaching from afar. An old memory surfaced.

'It was like this back then.' The moment when the world almost ended. The day of the apocalypse when he thought everything was over.

'He' was there that day. Leading thousands of shadow soldiers just like this. And powerful enemies were forced to kneel before 'him'. Even powerful beings from other dimensions were nothing but prey before his shadow. Looking back, it was the most despairing yet hopeful moment. The war against the Monarchs. A miracle brought about by one man in a war that seemed impossible to win.

"Association President."

Pause.

Suho had arrived before Woo Jinchul. But he couldn't break free from his thoughts for a while. He couldn't help it. The young man standing before him resembled 'him' too much.

His gait.

His gaze.

Even the way he led the Shadow Army.

Suho greeted him politely.

"Nice to meet you."

"...I feel like it's not the first time." Woo Jinchul's voice was filled with emotion.

"And..."

His gaze subtly shifted to Beru, who was beside Suho. And he bowed deeply to him.

"Mr. Beru, it's been a while."

[Hmm!]

"...Beru?" Suho looked up at Beru in confusion.

Beru had swelled up and become huge beside Suho. Black steam blazing from his entire body. Sung Jinwoo's closest aide, in the form of an ant, was looking down at Woo Jinchul with narrowed eyes.

"...Gulp"

Seeing that, Woo Jinchul couldn't help but swallow dryly. And he instinctively remembered. The Jeju Island disaster that he could never forget, even after all this time. The disaster-class magical beast that mercilessly slaughtered the outstanding S-rank Hunters gathered there... was standing before him now. Unfortunately, Sung Jinwoo wasn't here, but with Beru alone, this Earth was safe...

"Beru."

[Kieek?]

"You said you had to conserve magic power."

[Understood.]

"...?!"

Mini Beru suddenly appeared at Suho's single word. Woo Jinchul's eyes widened. He wasn't a fool. Rather, he was too smart for his own good. Smart enough to glean a considerable amount of information from that short conversation.

"Don't tell me... Beru's power...?"

[What a disrespectful gaze.]

"..."

A brief silence fell. At this moment, One hope for Earth disappeared. At least in Woo Jinchul's mind.

'...Then it's Plan B. The only hope left is Hunter Sung Suho himself.' Woo Jinchul immediately shook off his disappointment and introduced his companion to Suho,

"This is Hunter Choi Jong-In."

Brief greetings were exchanged. And Woo Jinchul immediately brought up the thing he asked Suho to do through the walkie-talkie.

"First of all, could you restore Hunter Choi Jong-In's memories? It seems like we need to do that before we can continue our conversation."

"Alright."

As Suho took out the Shadow Key without a word, Choi Jong-In looked at Woo Jinchul in confusion.

"Did I get amnesia or something?"

He couldn't help but be bewildered. But at Woo Jinchul's unwavering gaze, Choi Jong-In shrugged and approached Suho.

The Shadow Key touched his forehead. And at that moment...

"...!"

Choi Jong-In's expression began to change rapidly. Memories flooded in like a torrent.

Gates.

Hunters.

The confusion when the first Awakened appeared.

The moment he established the Hunters Guild.

The days when he struggled to survive the competition with large guilds.

The moment when the Hunters Guild rose to become the best guild in South Korea.

Battles in S-rank dungeons.

Struggles against unknown beings in the Gates.

Countless moments with his colleagues.

All of that was revived in an instant.

'Wh-what are these memories?!' Choi Jong-In had a shocked expression as if he had been hit on the back of his head. Numerous memories, unfamiliar yet familiar, flashed through his mind like a movie, a panorama.

Two lives.

Two awakenings.

The lives of the two 'Choi Jong-In' overlapped and merged into one in an instant.

"...Haa."

Choi Jong-In's eyes were different now. A depth he didn't have before was added to his gaze. There was no need for further explanation. All his questions were answered at once. Even the fact that his meeting with Woo Jinchul before awakening wasn't a coincidence was confirmed. Choi Jong-In's serious gaze fell on Woo Jinchul.

"Association President... did you remember all this?" Woo Jinchul silently nodded.

"Since when..."

"Long before I went to see you, Hunter Choi Jong-In."

"Ah, so that's why..." Only then did he understand everything. And sighed.

"That heavy burden, all alone..."

"You're not alone anymore." Choi Jong-In clenched his fist with a determined expression at Woo Jinchul's words. Now he knew what he had to do.

"It seems like there's no need for the Hunters Guild in this world. The Association is taking its place."

"The goal is the same, no matter who builds what."

In the past, the Hunters Guild was the best large guild in South Korea. And Choi Jong-In was its leader. But this time, it would be different. They needed a force to protect the world, not just a for-profit organization. And since Choi Jong-In knew everything Woo Jinchul had done since the beginning of the Association, He realized that Woo Jinchul had already thoroughly prepared everything that could be done with human strength. Even at this moment.

"In that sense..." Woo Jinchul spoke to Suho,

"I'll tell you about the things we've been doing."