The worst gate crisis to hit humanity came from three black gates.
The first was the Shanghai Incident.
The appearance of the Archdemon Skazakari, the ever-resurrecting demon tore China apart into 53 countries, losing its largest economic city and wiping out the central government's influence.
Second, the London disaster.
An Epic-level item, the Wandering Demon Sword, dropped after the European Union's assault on the Black Gate, took control of its host and ravaged not only London, but the entire world.
Finally, the Frost Queen Dungeon Break in the Siberian Snowlands.
As with the previous two Black Gates, the Russian government mobilized the full might of its military to deal with a Black Gate that appeared in the middle of their country.
However, they were unable to capture the gate, resulting in the creation of a black gate dungeon break in the middle of Siberia.
This monstrous boss, dubbed the Frost Queen, quickly took control of the snowy landscape. She created a massive ice castle, and at the same time, the snowfield gradually expanded.
Compared to before and after 2016, the snowfield had expanded by more than 20 percent, and Russia had to mobilize its hunters and army to finally defeat the Frost Queen.
"Damn, we should have taken care of it then."
A soldier in the Siberian Snow Patrol gritted his teeth as the blizzard raged in the middle of summer.
It's 2017, and the Russian assault on the Frost Queen is a half-hearted success.
"Ugh, what can we do, the Yeti is already out!"
The heart of the Frost Queen and the Ice Castle, both indestructible objects, still remain in Siberia and are harassing Russia.
The anomaly, which causes hunters to freeze to death at the mere thought of approaching it, has expanded a little further into Siberia each year, and the ice castle has given birth to an endless stream of monsters.
The Yeti is the queen's highest ranking field boss, an S-class field boss, and the birth of this one means the queen's resurrection is complete.
"Report to the higher-ups------!"
The soldier looked up as his superior's face turned an earthy color. But a cold sweat broke out on the nape of his neck at the huge shadow that soon fell.
"Ah------"
Turning around, he was confronted by a giant, a creature of pure white fur and monstrous size.
-Krrr---!
"Yes, Yeti---!"
Three of the Frost Queen's highest ranking Yetis stood in front of them.
"Call for backup------"
The subordinate soldier called for backup from his superior, even if he knew it meant nothing to his immediate life and death.
"Sergeant?"
The soldier searched for his superior, but there was no answer, and the soldier soon realized why.
"My body?!
Suddenly, the lower half of his body stops moving. The soldier realized that his boss, who was talking to him a moment ago, had frozen solid.
"Ah------"
The sergeant was already frozen to death and the culprit was the ice-crystalline anomalies surrounding them.
"Spirits------"
Dozens of ice spirits were staring at him. The worst monsters in this snowfield, with potentials of Class A or higher.
Seventeen years ago, hundreds of Hunters were killed by those spirits.
-Creak---!
The Yeti stretches out its hand, as if mocking the soldier. The giant Yeti's arm snatched the soldier up.
"Ah------"
Staring at the gaping mouth, the soldier could only think of one thing.
If only they had been here------
The Russian soldiers guarding the ice castle in the Siberian snowfield, with snowflakes whipping around, began to disappear one after another.
At the same time.
[I am Skazakari! I am the embodiment of destruction!]
The Archdemon that destroyed China has risen once again from the Shanghai Gate.
* * * * *
The resurrection of the Frost Queen of the Siberian Snowfields was immediately reported to the governments of the world.
The expansion of the snowfields due to the Frost Queen is a major problem that threatens the survival of neighboring countries, and along with the Shanghai Gate and wandering demon swords, she is one of humanity's greatest threats, tracked and monitored around the clock.
Oh Kang-hyuk, the head of the Korean Hunter Association, was quick to react to the crisis in neighboring countries and had already promised to collaborate with Takeda, the head of the Japanese Hunter Association.
Now it was perfect to ask Leon for help as well------
"Slay the demon."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
Leon, who had flown straight to Seoul, was the first to mention that to Mr. Oh, who had been wondering how to ask him to do so politely.
"Where did the others go?"
Leon asked, referring to the empty seats at the roundtable, to which Mr. Oh hastened to reply.
"Ah, yes, the other ten guilds are all stationed in various parts of the peninsula. The 24-hour gate surveillance system hasn't been restored yet, so we're here to respond immediately---"
"Tsk, seeing as how he's the President of the United States of America, I didn't say anything, but he's taking so long to get things done."
"Well, I'll send a formal letter through the government."
Leon nodded and casually took his seat at the head of the round table.
"The reason this king came is because I finally heard that the damned Archdemon of Shanghai has been resurrected."
"Indeed, it is news that your Majesty cannot bear."
The Demon Gate of Shanghai was something Leon had heard about since he had just returned to Earth.
The Wandering Demon Sword, the Frost Queen and Skazakari, of the three scourges that came out of the Black Gate, Skazakari was the one that split the continent apart.
The reason he was able to ravage China so devastatingly is because he is an immortal being who cannot die.
Even if countless S-class raiding parties were mobilized to finally defeat it, it would only return in a few years, causing damage to accumulate and eventually collapsing vital human resources.
It is an Archdemon that has plagued the continent so relentlessly, but it is no longer something to fear.
"This king and the Templars will take care of it. The demon will be destroyed without leaving a single shred of flesh or soul behind."
For the Knights of the Lionheart, practitioners of the Holy Law, demons are their natural enemy. Even their vaunted immortality was meaningless against the power of the concept.
"We are grateful to you!"
"I hear there's been some trouble in Siberia as well?"
"Actually--- there's been a request from the Russian government to enlist the help of the TTG Temple. Apparently, hundreds of Hunters were killed and wounded when they tried to attack the outer shell."
The Russians had already tried to attack the Frost Queen once before, but this latest disaster was apparently an even more overwhelming crisis.
The Russian government has humbled itself and appealed to the nations of the world for assistance, especially begging for the participation of the Korean TTG Temple.
"I see."
Leon felt it was only fair to send at least the full strength of the Holy Knights to the Black Gate.
"Looking at President Ahn's face, I will send my knights. I owe the President a debt of gratitude for turning a blind eye to not only Pyongyang but also Nampo."
"His Excellency will be pleased, but---Your Majesty owes no debt to our government. On the contrary, our country owes you a great debt."
The Second Korean War would not have been won without Leon.
The absorption of North Korea, the world's poorest country and heavily indebted, would have been difficult without TTG Temple help.
Even though he gave North Korea's largest city, Pyongyang, de facto independence, and turned a blind eye to the occupation of Nampo by the Kikiruks, there were other benefits to South Korea.
"What. Korea is a friend of the Lionheart."
"Your Majesty---!"
Oh Kang Hyuk shot Leon a thrilled glance.
"This king and Sir Vulcanus will go to Shanghai, for we are from the Lionheart, and the devil is in the details."
"And who do you intend to send to Siberia?"
"Yes, if I'm sending someone------"
It was not difficult for Leon to choose the knights he would send to Siberia.
* * * * *
The appearance of the Frost Queen in 2016 was a cataclysmic event that threatened the very existence of Russia.
Her heart and ice castle were never destroyed, and the queen's resurrection has been a nightmare for Russia.
"Help! We need more help!"
"The monsters are endless! Send more Hunters!"
Russia declared martial law upon the Frost Queen's resurrection, but it was not enough to stop their expansion.
Monsters are constantly being born. Unlike the demons, which are resurrected even after death, these are endless.
'It's too bad the gate was created in Siberia!'
The Frost Queen has power over ice.
The colder the temperature, the stronger the power of the Frost Queen, and the place where the Frost Queen's Gate appeared happened to be the Siberian snowfields.
Here, the Frost Queen's power is truly limitless.
With a wave of her hand, monsters are born, including ice spirits and Yeti, the boss monsters of the Red Gate.
The battlefield is a devastating situation. The Russian hunters and troops are hopelessly outnumbered by the Frost Queen's forces.
"Alas------"
Waves of monsters rolled in. More monsters than they've defeated trample across the snowy fields.
Even with all the S-class Hunters in their country, they could only last a few days.
The Frost Queen, who had been accumulating power in Siberia for nearly two decades, was stronger than ever, and her coldness was no match for the combined might of a nation.
"The end──"
Great Law
The moment he sensed the end, a huge 'land' passed right in front of the Russian hunter.
It turned the entire battlefield upside down, literally crushing the Frost Queen's powers.
"What's going on---?"
──────!!
Huge mechs suddenly fall from the sky, clinging to each other before hitting the ground and transforming into alien robots straight out of a space war.
-Marquis-class decisive weapon combined. Battle commences.
The iron robot lets out a roar. The weapons of destruction pouring down from the entire body of that decisive battle weapon were like a tsunami sweeping through the beasts of the snowy field.
-Ghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
A huge beast roars. The appearance of something like an alien robot is like the appearance of a perfect nemesis for the beasts.
"Yes, it's the Yeti!"
"Here comes the Yeti!"
The creature that had killed several Russian S-class Hunters charged toward the Marquis but the giant battle machine didn't care about the Yeti.
"Boo, crash!
If the giant robot that swept away the overwhelming quantity of the queen was defeated, the atmosphere of this battlefield would change again.
The Russian Hunters try to hold off the Yeti charge single-handedly to keep the tide turning.
They instinctively realized that robot was the decisive move that would turn the tide.
"Ugh!"
But his resolve crumbles in the face of the Yeti's ever-growing shadow. He realizes the futility of his objective.
Just as he's about to drop his weapon on the creature in front of him──
"Great courage. I'll reward you."
A woman's cool voice rings out, and something races across the snow.
A black bullet races across the pure white snow.
-------?!
Before the white giant can realize its identity, a magic sword flashes.
-Kwah!
The eerie sound of flesh being cut, no, the sound of the sword slicing through the Yeti's throat was precise, and the giant beast collapsed.
'An S-class field boss, a Yeti, with a single strike?!'
The Queen's Legion Leader, the white beast that was said to be the next Frost Giant had been slain with a single stroke of the sword. It was a shock to the Hunters and even to the Queen's Legionnaires, and all eyes turned to the dark-haired woman.
"There are still many. Lord Spinner and Lord Koo Dae-Sung, use your strength."
At the dark-haired woman's words, a green-armored knight's voice spilled from his helmet.
"And Your Highness?"
"I am royalty, and the honor of leading the way is reserved for the knights."
-Crack!
Even as she spoke, the dark-haired woman swung her sword lightly at the monsters approaching her, and with that, their hard flesh was sliced like pudding.
The appearance of just three people changed the face of the battlefield.
There is only one being on this planet who can unleash such supernatural power.
"The Holy Knights------"
They have arrived in Siberia.