[Chapter 169]
[Small Victory (3)]
As night fell.
The army invaded again.
While people took shelter in nearby air raid shelters, clans in each region identified the positions of approaching monsters.
""""...."""
The sky, the ground, and the Han River.
Monsters appeared everywhere.
Along with their appearance, signs of mass anomalies began to show all over Gangbuk and─
─Whiiiieeeeaaaaaoooo
Level 3 overrank monster Ye-gyeong.
The sound it let out in the skies over Gangbuk acted as a catalyst.
The stirring anomalies rapidly swelled and reluctantly produced monsters.
Bububububu
At that time, eastern Gangbuk.
The area where Seongdong-gu and Dongdaemun-gu meet.
Tempest and Dangun Clan members faced grasshopper-type monsters flying in the night sky illuminated by lights.
Bububububu
The creatures dispersed.
They went to eliminate human food supplies.
Players couldn't leave them be.
But they couldn't easily catch those moving quickly in the air.
Moreover, Tempest Clan members were mostly accustomed to using firearms.
They were vulnerable to dealing with fast-flying monsters.
"They're quite clever. Did they perhaps anticipate we couldn't move to other districts?"
To this, Tempest Clan Lord Kang Ye-hee muttered as if annoyed.
It could be a coincidence.
But her sense thought Ye-gyeong had deliberately sent the locust swarms to Gwangjin-gu.
The previous day, hadn't Ye-gyeong gone around Gangbuk to grasp the movements of Players in each region?
Having thought that far, she suddenly spat out curses.
Bububububu
They really are devilishly clever.
The monsters found the food supplies that Tempest Clan members had barely secured and were strictly guarding.
They had even layered protective magic in preparation for contingencies.
But those guys sacrificed their bodies to destroy the protective magic and steal the food.
"It's annoying that they form an army. If they were creatures moving individually, they wouldn't do this out of concern for their lives... But when they belong under an army commander, they don't even care about their own lives..."
Tsk, Kang Ye-hee clicked her tongue.
That's when it happened.
─Pshew!
The monsters flying away after stealing food.
They fell in droves.
Kang Ye-hee smiled bitterly.
"─Don't touch my food."
There was something Ye-gyeong hadn't grasped.
That Tempest had a Player who could be called a food god.
Twelve Seats
She who had her food stolen while watching dropped monsters with each pull of the trigger.
Meanwhile─
"─I expected it seeing the locust swarm, but we'll have to deal with that guy."
Level 3 monster Caesar Hopper.
It was floating in the sky escorted by Violent Hoppers.
☆
At the same time, western Gangbuk.
The area where Mapo-gu and Seodaemun-gu meet.
"...It's coming here."
"Bad matchup luck yesterday and today too. Damn it..."
KK Clan Lord Hwang San-gun.
Myeongwang Clan Lord Do Wan-jun.
The two looked up at the creature flying in the night sky escorted by monsters.
Whiiiieeeaaaoooo
Level 3 overrank Ye-gyeong.
It had invaded western Gangbuk.
The two had gloomy expressions after confirming its presence.
Understandably so─
"─This is why illusions won't work. KK Clan Lord, are you alright?"
"Same here. It will be inconvenient to use magic."
Ye-gyeong used magic called jamming.
It didn't completely nullify magic like the Gift
It could distort magic formulas to prevent them from manifesting in reality, or cause mana runaway by reversing them.
In that sense, it was quite an overwhelming opponent for
Do Wan-jun employed tactics of confusing enemies with illusion magic to find openings.
But if Ye-gyeong uses jamming, his tactics lose power.
And Hwang San-gun─
─Grrrr...
Grr...
He was a Caster, and a
Casters are inherently vulnerable to close combat and weak at physical activities.
Instead, Hwang San-gun mainly used tactics of engaging in close and hand-to-hand combat with familiars.
The problem was that familiars operate using mana as nourishment, which means they can't respond to Ye-gyeong's jamming.
Whiiiieeeeaaaoooo
Like yesterday, it seems tonight will be tough too.
The two thought, watching monsters beginning to descend on the city center.
☆
At the same time, southern Gangbuk.
Eun-ha and the clan members were guarding the Itaewon frontline.
Foreigners and civilians were also preparing to fight those creatures beginning to appear in the distance, holding guns.
Meanwhile, telepathists from clans in charge of other regions were sending telepathy moment by moment.
[Myeongwang Clan telepathist Baek Hye-min relays navigator Hwang Dong-hyung's message. At the current time of 10:32 PM, Level 3 overrank Ye-gyeong has appeared in the direction of Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu. Myeongwang Clan and KK Clan are currently launching a joint attack. So
[Announcing Tempest Clan navigator Lee Ye-ji's message. At the current time of 10:47 PM, Level 3 monster Caesar Hopper has appeared in the direction of Majang-dong, Seongdong-gu. We request that Blaze Clan dispatch some Players who can use fire attribute magic as soon as you hear this message.]
The appearance of Ye-gyeong and Caesar Hopper.
Eun-ha, who heard the telepathy, recalled a map in his mind.
One each in the west and east.
The army commanders appeared in different locations from last night.
Moreover─
"They seem quite intelligent. Tempest, which mainly uses firearms, will have a hard time dealing with fast-flying monsters due to their narrow field of vision. Right, honey?"
"And Ye-gyeong's magic isn't compatible with
Bong Gu-rae took the lead and aimed at a monster crossing the frontline.
Bang.
He sniped a large-bodied monster.
Gift
The creature that had nonchalantly moved towards the frontline after being hit by the first attack knelt down tasting pain as if its soul had been pierced by the following attack.
Meanwhile, foreign Rangers joined in to finish off the monster.
The war began quietly.
"Then I'll go somewhere else. Call me if you need me. I'll run to find you wherever you are."
"Don't look for me, look for Mok Min-ho. I have to go around all of Yongsan-gu guarding the frontline."
Bong Gu-rae packed his anti-materiel rifle.
Soon he left to find some tall building using stealth.
On the other hand, Eun-ha stood in place, looking down at monsters persistently coming up while taking bullets.
Ye-gyeong and Caesar Hopper have been confirmed.
Two army commanders remain.
Great Toad Chief and Freak Sphinx...
Have they not appeared yet?
Rangers, Snipers, and Casters continue to pour attacks.
It would be time for Dealers, Hunters, and Guardians to step up when creatures hit by bombardment finally cross the frontline.
Eun-ha was waiting for that moment with his hand resting on his sword.
Right then─
[─Pandora Clan telepathist Jin Seo-na. Relaying Ranger Kim Min-ji's message. At the current time of 11:11 PM, broadcasting that an army has appeared from the direction of Hangang Bridge and is moving north towards Samgakji. The army commander leading the army is the Level 4 Samgakji Great Toad Chief.]
Jin Seo-na's telepathy was relayed.
Jin Seo-na, Kim Min-ji, Han Chang-jin, Yu Nam-hoon, Yeo U-bi, and Cha Eun-woo were forming a party with Ryu Yeon-hwa as leader.
Yeon-hwa's party guarding Samgakji had relayed news of the army commander's appearance.
...It's okay. Yeon-hwa noona can block it.
Level 4 Samgakji Great Toad Chief.
As it's an army commander-class creature, it won't compare to ordinary Level 4 monsters.
Moreover, with the Cocoon collapsed, they had to abandon the thought that the Great Toad Chief's rank would be lowered by at least half a level.
It hadn't been weakened, and they had to consider the buff from the nighttime environment.
Nevertheless, Eun-ha wasn't worried.
If it wasn't the Great Toad Chief but the Level 3 overrank Lizard King, he wouldn't have left it just to Yeon-hwa noona.
But Yeon-hwa noona can handle the Great Toad Chief without me.
Ryu Yeon-hwa, called
In this life, her skills were much stronger than before.
Of course, she wasn't yet at the level to be called
But she should be able to handle the Great Toad Chief.
In fact, she had a record of blocking the Great Toad Chief's army with party members last night.
By the way... My prediction that the Great Toad Chief would appear in the south was correct.
Well, the only place those guys who disappeared into the Han River could appear is the south.
At that moment, a monster crossed the frontline.
Starting then, Hunters and Dealers jumped in with shouts.
Rangers and Snipers changed stance to cover the rushing Players.
While Supporters cast buffs, Casters began preparing large-scale magic according to Navigators' instructions.
Eun-ha fell into thought watching the troops led by
"Ye-gyeong in the west, Caesar Hopper in the east, Great Toad Chief in the south... Then what's left is the north."
The army commander that hasn't appeared yet.
Where on earth is it?
Eun-ha waited for it to appear.
"If that guy appears in the north... Probably Regulus and Silla Clan will face it. That would be perfect..."
At the clan representative meeting.
Eun-ha recalled that Silla Clan and Regulus Clan, who had been hit by Freak Sphinx, were eager for revenge against it.
Sphinx's magic is troublesome.
It has the power to forcibly lower people's mana resistance by asking bizarre questions...
Even in the previous life, Freak Sphinx was a troublesome monster to deal with.
It deceived Players, making them fight each other.
The moment it appeared, frontlines tended to collapse, and Players had to face brainwashed comrades and monsters.
"It would have been good if Sphinx appeared in the east... Then
"I guess it's fortunate that
Freak Sphinx, the army commander that was subjugated first in the previous life.
The frontline would get some breathing room if even one army commander was subjugated.
In that sense, Eun-ha hoped Sphinx would appear in the north.
Then Silla Clan and Regulus Clan, who would be wary of its magic, would subjugate it.
We can't expect help from Zenith Clan. With the Cocoon collapsed, if monsters come over from Uijeongbu too, that would really be destruction.
They'll probably have difficulty dispatching forces while monitoring Uijeongbu.
So Silla Clan and Regulus Clan need to kill Sphinx...
If the situation flows smoothly.
If Freak Sphinx appears in northern Gangbuk as he hopes.
Perhaps they could defeat at least one army commander today.
Just as Eun-ha was thinking that,
[─Announcement from Hanseong Clan.]
A telegram from Hanseong Clan.
Eun-ha paused.
It wasn't strange for a telegram to come from Hanseong Clan.
Even now, telepathists were exchanging information with telepathist contacts in each region moment by moment.
And they relayed information to navigators, and navigators relayed to Players who could access information according to its grade.
But Hanseong Clan's telepathist relayed information to all Players, not just those with access.
It meant the matter was that urgent.
[At the current time... 11... PM, Euljiro...]
The telepathy's condition wasn't good.
It could mean the telepathist's skill was poor or something had happened to the telepathist.
Eun-ha listened closely.
[...Kyaaaah...!! G-Go away! Go... Aaaagh...!! ...]
But the telepathy that followed was cut off with screams.
Eun-ha's face hardened.
Something happened in Jung-gu.
I have a bad feeling.
His intuition was saying that.
Eun-ha looked towards Jung-gu.
Then, telepathy was heard again.
It wasn't Hanseong Clan.
[─Broadcasting from the Mana Management Organization. At the current time of around 11:40 PM, the appearance of the Level 3 monster Freak Sphinx has been confirmed in the direction of Euljiro, Jung-gu. Currently Hanseong Clan is retreating, so clans in nearby locations are urgently requested to subjugate Freak Sphinx.]
"Damn..."
The feeling wasn't wrong.
Reality diverging from Eun-ha's hopes.
Freak Sphinx had appeared in the center, not the north.
Then another telepathy was heard.
[─Broadcasting from the Mana Management Organization. At the current time of 11:52 PM, it has been confirmed that Freak Sphinx, which appeared in the direction of Euljiro, Jung-gu, is leading an army south. Players in Yongsan-gu and Seongdong-gu are advised to be cautious.]
""""...."""
Additional telepathy heard.
The faces of Players who heard the telepathy, including Eun-ha, contorted.
The situation was the worst.
"Ha-yang, show me the map." "O-Okay. I'll bring it up now."
Eun-ha hurriedly called Jung Ha-yang.
Knowing the situation was serious, she zoomed out the map showing Yongsan-gu to show Jung-gu.
Then she input the coordinates received from the Mana Management Organization.
They were Freak Sphinx's coordinates.
"It seems to be coming down to Yongsan-gu."
She cautiously offered her opinion.
Eun-ha clicked his tongue fiercely.
If Freak Sphinx comes down, Yongsan-gu will have to face army commanders above and below.
Great Toad Chief and Freak Sphinx.
A joint attack by two army commanders.
Eun-ha, realizing their intentions, stared at the map for a long time.
If that guy comes down to Samgakji or Itaewon... Then the frontline will completely collapse.
So we have to block it before it comes down.
Eun-ha assessed the war situation.
It was difficult to pull forces from either Samgakji or Itaewon.
Moreover, clans in other regions were each facing army commanders.
"If Silla Clan and Regulus Clan come down to help..."
"No, that's impossible. They would have to come down through Gangbuk-gu, Jongno-gu, and Jung-gu. It would take too much time in this situation."
"So in the end, we have to face it with Players in Jung-gu and pulling some from Yongsan-gu?" "...Yes."
It was unavoidable.
There was no choice.
After discussing with Jung Ha-yang, Eun-ha let out a long sigh.
"─I'll take some people and go up to Jung-gu. So Ha-yang, no, Ariel, you relay telepathy to the people I name."
"Got it! Leave it to me!" "...Can you do it?" "I have to, what else can I do? You'll be fine without me, right?" "Come back quickly. If not, I'll rush up to Jung-gu too."
A separate unit had to be formed.
Eun-ha identified clan members blocking the army in Itaewon through Jung Ha-yang.
And he immediately asked Ariel, who was assisting Ha-yang, for telepathy.
Ariel flapped her ears that sparkled like scales.
[Pandora Clan telepathist Ariel. I'll relay Clan Lord Noh Eun-ha's message! From now, people whose names are called should quickly stop combat and assemble at the emergency control room! Hunter and telepathist Jin Pa-rang, Dealer Choi Eun-hyuk, Guardian Kang Si-hyung, Ranger Hoshimiya Kaede, Caster Jo Ara. These 5 people assemble at the emergency control room right now! This was telepathist Ariel! And guys, hang in there! If we get through this well, Noh Eun-ha said he'll make executive and sub-lord posi...Kyaaaang...!! Noh Eun-ha! Don't touch my ears during telepathy!]