In Imphal. Turning away from the splendor of the city center and walking through the shady back alleys, there was an old, ramshackle slum that looked as if it could collapse at any moment. A few years ago, businessmen took an interest in this place, and a new sign was put up.
[ Redevelopment Zone ]
This shabby back alley was now a golden land, destined to be completely transformed into the glamorous front street. However, if redevelopment proceeded, the poor people living here would inevitably lose their homes and end up on the streets. Naturally, those who lived there continued to protest, and the government and businessmen either coaxed and appeased them or even resorted to threats to drive them out.
That was just three years ago. Now, all that was left was the redevelopment, but even the most brilliant businessmen could not have foreseen a global cataclysm that happened. After the city of Imphal turned into a field-type dungeon overnight. The tedious and ambitious plans of the investors were indefinitely delayed. Of course, the businessmen had no intention of just sitting back and watching this situation unfold. A super-large field the conquest of which would take a long time if they just waited. For the businessmen, time was money, and they couldn't just vaguely rely on the Hunters of Imphal and wait for the takeover of this place. In the end, they unanimously decided to accept some losses. They decided that it would be cheaper to entrust the conquest to the Asura Guild, India's strongest force, and conquer the dungeon as soon as possible. And Siddharth Bachchan gladly accepted their invitation. On the surface, he claimed to have stepped up to save the poor citizens, but behind the scenes, the logic of capital was thoroughly applied. And the output was as satisfying as the large input. The moment Siddharth Bachchan joined the conquest, one of the many gates in the Loktak Field was closed in an instant.
'…It was good until then.'
Manu Kizal, the governor of Manipur, who had mediated the deal between the businessmen and Siddharth Bachchan, was now biting his lip with an anxious expression. Until now, touching the Stardust necklace hanging around his neck had calmed his heart, but today felt different.
'How did it come to this?'
Siddharth Bachchan, after that initial conquest, was not conquering the remaining dungeons at all and was just dragging his feet. Of course, he still went in and out of the gates with his guild members, but Manu Kizal already knew that the purpose was not conquest.
'What is the purpose of conducting such experiments…'
Manu Kazal didn't know the specific objective, but he was aware that Siddharth Bachchan was conducting some kind of biological experiment in Imphal. He also knew that the subjects of the biological experiment were the poor people of Imphal. As the governor, who had to continue redevelopment with businessmen, it was better to dispose of the poor people in advance, so Manu Kizal had been turning a blind eye to this fact. But that came back to bite him.
'He's been giving me orders since some time ago. As if he's the governor.'
The conquest was delayed, and complaints from businessmen were piling up, but he could somehow endure that. What he was more dissatisfied with was Siddharth Bachchan's behavior towards him. However, from the moment he turned a blind eye to Siddharth Bachchan's actions, he too was no different from an accomplice. Now he had no choice but to wait for him to get what he wanted and conquer the field-type dungeon as promised.
Clank.
Suddenly, a faint light emanated from the necklace he was fiddling with. Then, as if by magic, his discontent subsided a little.
'…Well, in the end, the things Mr. Siddharth Bachchan is doing aren't exactly bad for me.'
'Yes. Everything is fine.' As this thought naturally permeated his mind, he eventually nodded.
'Who knows. The reason he's secretly raising an army through biological experiments might be to separate Manipur from India, starting with the Loktak Field. Imphal would become the capital of that independent nation. Then what would happen to me?'
It was obvious.
'King'
Manu Kizal's heart began to pound. Siddharth Bachchan possessed unmatched power, but he was by no means a politician. A politician was needed to run state affairs.
'In the end, I'll be in charge of politics, and he'll be in charge of national defense…'
In other words, if Siddharth Bachchan's goal succeeded, he would become the head of an independent nation, not just a governor! Even though the land he ruled would be the same, the meaning of a governor elected by votes and the king of a nation was completely different. Having finished this thought, the corners of Manu Kizal's lips curled up slightly. And as he confidently raised his head to look ahead again, blue malice flowed from his eyes.
'Therefore.'
Far in his sight, there were foreign enemies who had suddenly invaded Imphal today and were hunting Hunters.
'Invaders must be killed.'
'For our grand goal.'
Smirk. A decision that could not be understood by common sense flowed from the lips of Manu Kizal, who was continuing his delusions as if he had lost his mind.
"Ha. China's Liu Zhigang crossed the border and invaded Imphal? Do everything in your power to kill him and his subordinates!"
No matter how much of a 6-star Hunter Liu Zhigang was, he was still a human with blood flowing through him. If they kept pushing him until he was exhausted, he would eventually die!
"If the fact that we killed Liu Zhigang with our own hands becomes known to the world, we will be recognized as an independent nation that no one can ignore from that moment on!"
Manu Kizal eventually declared an all-out war against Liu Zhigang's party, who were stirring up the guilds of Imphal. The Hunters they hunted were just incomplete experimental subjects anyway. Half-baked variants who, fortunately, hadn't had their minds collapse. But they had only absorbed a few drops of dragon blood! Even the mighty Liu Zhigang wouldn't be safe against a true army of dragonids!
"Kill them!"
Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!
* * *
Suho's party learned the whole story about what's happening in this city while treating the beggar boy that Beru had saved in the back alley.
"So you don't know where Siddharth Bachchan is?"
"…I was locked up in a cage the whole time, so I have no idea. All I know is that he's somewhere in the dungeons."
The boy was experiencing the miracle of his wounds gradually healing due to the effect of the healing potion as he answered the questions. For him, born in the slums, it was truly an experience like God's grace.
[Master, I have removed the star fragment.]
Harmakan's treatment was also finished, and the boy was able to regain his appearance from before he was experimented on. However, Harmakan, who had personally treated him, found out why the Hunters were chasing this little boy so desperately.
[This young human's constitution seems to be particularly well-suited to dragon blood compared to the other test subjects we've rescued so far.]
"You're saying he was a cherished test subject."
[Yes. If he had remained imprisoned like this, he would have successfully transformed into 'that' form.]
"…"
At those words, Suho turned his gaze to the variants that were suddenly swarming towards them. Each and every one of them was emitting the energy equivalent to at least an C, or maybe B-rank, perhaps even higher. There were hundreds of them but considering that they were still pouring in endlessly even at this moment, it seemed like thousands would eventually gather. However what was truly terrifying about them was not their numbers, but the fact that they were intelligent like the ice elves, unlike the magical beasts that only moved on instinct.
"This is enough force to overthrow a decent-sized country. Siddharth, what the hell is this guy doing…"
Liu Zhigang clicked his tongue. This was like a large guild made up entirely of villains. The fact that these dragonids had lost their humanity made them an even more terrifying and destructive group. But to someone else, this situation was a delightful sight.
[The King of Dragons, the Monarch of Destruction, licks his lips.]
[The King of Dragons, the Monarch of Destruction, claims that Ragnar's magic power will increase if he absorbs the dragon blood from their bodies.]
And leveling up too. Suho nodded at Antares' words, his eyes gleaming. The job change quest to become the Monarch of Destruction. He might be able to achieve the first goal of reaching level 100 within today. Looking at the charging dragonids, Suho summoned all the soldiers who were scattered around searching for the void gate to him.
"Arise." At that command, the shadow soldiers rose from Suho's shadow!
Swooosh!
The momentum they unleashed in unison overwhelmed the battlefield. Liu Zhigang, despite being on the same side, couldn't help but be astonished as he witnessed the tremendous sight.
'Oh my god! Were the summons I've seen so far not all of them?!'
Not to mention Greed, whom he had personally crossed swords with, the energy that the other soldiers were emitting was also extraordinary.
Gulp. Liu Zhigang's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. More than anything else, he already knew. The true terror of Suho's summons. They were an immortal army that regenerated infinitely no matter how much damage they took.
'What a terrifying ability.'
Even though Liu Zhigang had met Sung Jinwoo in his previous life, he had never witnessed his true power. That's why he was now instinctively looking for Sung Jinwoo's image in Suho. But one thing was certain.
'He's still far behind him.'
Moreover, they were vastly outnumbered compared to the swarming enemies. Suho's current forces numbered only 50. It was the number of troops, including the stored soldiers and the temporary mercenaries he had recruited along the way. There were even ordinary shadow soldiers among them who had become soldiers themselves for revenge. On the other hand, the number of enemies was constantly increasing, with a numerical difference of 20 or even 30 times. Furthermore, it was impossible to easily estimate the odds of winning, considering how strong Siddharth Bachchan might have become through the power of the outer gods lurking behind this. At least from Liu Zhigang's point of view. However…
Smirk.
"We can just replenish the lacking forces."
[Number of extractable shadows: 50/100]
[Number of storable shadows: 8/10]
"I've invested quite a bit in intelligence."
And one more thing. He could just strengthen the weak soldiers.
"Harmakan! Enhance the shadow soldiers!"
[Yes! I will use the Death Knight's armor!]
The armor, which Harmakan had developed in the past to use on evil spirits, was summoned. And the shadow soldiers readily wore it.
Kyaaaaaaaaa!
The vengeful spirits, reborn as Death Knights, were still shedding tears inside the armor. But all that resentment poured out towards the dragonids who had experimented on them. At that moment. Suho's shadow dyed the surroundings black.
[Using Skill: 'Monarch's Domain'.]
Fwooosh!
[Stats of shadow soldiers fighting on the caster's shadow are increased by 50%.]
Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa! All the soldiers on his shadow roared, surrendering their bodies to the boiling thrill. The full-scale battle had begun.
[Harmakan uses Skill: 'Damage Amplification'.]
[Increases damage taken by those cursed.]
[Causes fatal wounds even from normal attacks.]
[Harmakan uses Skill: 'Thorn of Pain'.]
[Shares all pain and damage taken by shadow soldiers with the attacker.]
The result was devastating.
[The King of Dragons, the Monarch of Destruction, bursts into laughter.]
[The King of Dragons, the Monarch of Destruction, urges Ragnar on.]
"…Is this Sung Jinwoo's son?"
Liu Zhigang was speechless…
* * *
…Along with one more person.
Governor Manu Kizal, who was watching this carnage from afar, atop a tall building, couldn't come to his senses either.
"Wh-what is that…?!"
What was happening? His city… was being overrun by evil spirits! He turned around without hesitation and started running…