Chapter 156
The allied forces waiting at the military demarcation line couldn't help but feel considerable confusion at the news of the sudden outbreak in Seoul's airspace.
But was it fortunate in misfortune?
The confusion didn't last long.
To be precise, there was no time to be confused.
This was because wraith spirits were pouring out incessantly from the suddenly opened crack in the air.
The number was so enormous that it was impossible to count, but not a single hunter from Korea, Japan, or China took a step back.
The hunters, with eyes full of fighting spirit, formed a formation by surrounding the crack in a circle and unleashed their abilities against the wraith spirits rushing in.
The combined explosion of their powers was enough to bring down the wraith spirits pouring out like rain.
In reality, hundreds of wraith spirits trapped inside the circle formed by the hunters disappeared in an instant without even being able to struggle properly.
It was then, as the offensive led by the main forces of Korea, including Wi Ji-gang, Yoon Min-soo, Oh Kyung-hyun, and Lee Ye-rin, continued.
Kuguung-!
With a massive roar, an enormous number of wraith spirits poured out from the gate.
Following this, as the wraith spirits' charge continued through overwhelming quantity, the atmosphere of the battle began to change rapidly.
In fact, urgent cries were bursting from the mouths of the hunters who had been continuing their offensive confidently.
"We must not be pushed back! Maintain the formation!"
"Northern formation! Injured reported! Requesting quick support!"
This was because there was not even a hint of fear or terror in the movements of the relentlessly advancing wraith spirits.
They were emitting only powerful killing intent and hostility, intent on annihilating humanity.
Even in their final moments facing death, they struggled by bursting the elements like fire or ice contained within their spheres.
It was clearly different from when they seemed to be swept away helplessly without proper resistance.
Because of this, urgent situations were continuously unfolding, but the face of Ko Tae-hyun, who could be called the commander, was extremely calm.
"The injured quickly retreat, and the second line advance!"
It was when a shout burst from Ko Tae-hyun's mouth, who had been constantly observing the battlefield situation.
The hunters waiting behind the formation kicked off the ground as if they had been waiting for this.
"I'll cut down every last one of them without leaving a single one!"
It was the moment when James, who jumped in without hesitation among the recklessly charging wraith spirits, drew his sword with a huge shout.
Seogek-!
The wraith spirits charging with fierce momentum split like sheets of paper and exploded in all directions.
Of course, even at that moment, the wraith spirits showed hostility towards James and attacked, but with the support of the Neuro Guild hunters following him, they met consecutive deaths without even being able to struggle.
"James is the best!"
"As expected of the Neuro Guild!"
While cheers were bursting out here and there at the outstanding performance of James and the Neuro Guild members, which could be called unrivaled.
Mizunohara and the ninjas, who had penetrated the enemy lines taking advantage of the chaos on the battlefield, unleashed their techniques.
"Sweep them away! Ninja Art, Flame Whirlwind."
As the hand seal was completed and activated, a massive storm of flames that rose from the ground instantly melted the wraith spirits.
However, even amidst this, the wraith spirits continued to charge in, self-destructing like moths drawn to a flame.
Thanks to this, the Korean hunters who were able to catch their breath quickly finished regrouping and, led by Yoon Min-soo and Wi Ji-gang at the forefront, pushed back against the wraith spirits.
"Uoooh!"
"Uaaah-!"
The momentum of driving back the wraith spirits grew stronger with the battle cries.
A clear victory was approaching.
It was at the point when all the hunters participating in the battlefield firmly believed they could grasp victory in the war.
Kugung-!
With a loud roar, bizarre named monsters with human upper bodies and lower bodies wrapped in various elements appeared one after another.
[Naiar, Wraith Spirit Bearing Corrupted Water.]
[Silais, Wraith Spirit Bearing Corrupted Wind.]
[Nous, Wraith Spirit Bearing Corrupted Earth.]
[Glaire, Wraith Spirit Bearing Corrupted Light.]
Just four - it was a ridiculously small number compared to the relentless onslaught of quantity earlier.
Because of this, at first, they thought lightly of it.
'If we pour out our firepower together, they won't be able to handle it.'
It wasn't baseless confidence.
Not only were there elite hunters on the current battlefield, but also reliable forces at the ranker level like James, Mizunohara, Wi Ji-gang, and Yoon Min-soo.
There was no reason to think of defeat.
But the moment Nous, clad in hard stone armor, ran like a charge and pushed James's body away, everyone's thoughts changed.
Kwagwagwang-!
With an explosion, James's figure, pushed back far, disappeared into a cloud of dust.
It wasn't just James.
Even rankers like Yoon Min-soo, Wi Ji-gang, and Mizunohara were barely managing to block the attacks unleashed by the named monsters.
The hunters' expressions hardened in an instant.
Witnessing that power directly, they immediately understood why Canada, which had been among the ranks of great powers, had met its doom.
'Is this the true monsters of a Black Gate...'
It was when everyone was unable to hide their bewilderment.
James, flying out while splitting the thick cloud of dust, struck Nous's body with the shield rolled up in his left hand.
Nous frowned and hurriedly wrapped himself in stone armor, but it wasn't enough to withstand James's power.
Kugugung-!
"You're not the only one who can don armor."
James's entire body was now covered in silver armor as he snorted.
It was the manifestation of Iron Emperor, the SSS-rank skill that allowed James Garner to proudly put his name among the upper ranks as the vice master of Neuro.
'I didn't expect to have to use this so soon...'
It wasn't the time to be conserving strength.
All the named monsters before him possessed power equivalent to rankers.
They were not opponents to be taken lightly.
'...I'm quite worried about Lee Seong-jun's side.'
This was inevitable because protecting Seoul could be said to be the ultimate goal of this plan.
But due to the sudden outbreak, they had allowed an invasion.
Anxiety couldn't help but surge in one corner of his mind.
'Can he endure alone?'
It wasn't that he doubted Lee Seong-jun's strength.
But the forces remaining in Seoul now were really very few.
To exaggerate a bit, it wouldn't be an overstatement to say that Lee Seong-jun was left alone.
'The ordinary monsters should be fine, but if there are named monsters mixed in...'
A deep shadow fell over James's expression.
The result was clearly predictable.
'He won't be able to hold out for long.'
If it were a straightforward duel of pure strength against strength, Lee Seong-jun would certainly be able to gain the upper hand.
But Lee Seong-jun had to fight while protecting the city of Seoul.
'...He's at an overwhelmingly disadvantageous position.'
If he could control his power perfectly and use it, the story might be somewhat different.
But it was safe to say that wouldn't be the case.
Even Victor Wiseman, the master of the Neuro Guild and a member of the Guardians called the world's protectors, couldn't handle power that meticulously.
'Although Lee Seong-jun's potential is limitless... he probably hasn't reached the level of Master Victor Wiseman yet.'
This meant support needed to be sent as quickly as possible.
Honestly, he wanted to send support to Lee Seong-jun right away, but unfortunately, the situation on the battlefield wasn't so favorable.
Following the named monsters, wraith spirits were pouring out again.
"For now... clean this up as quickly as possible."
All he could do now was earnestly hope that Lee Seong-jun would safely endure until they could clean up this place.
Bang-!
James, having quickly organized his thoughts, raised his shield and once again charged towards the wraith spirits.
* * *
In the skies above Seoul, South Korea.
Lee Seong-jun's eyes narrowed as he watched the massive amount of energy cover the world and then disappear.
'This is...'
Sensing Jazan's energy from the hexagram pattern surrounding the gate's entrance, Lee Seong-jun briefly looked down at the ground.
His eyes caught the light shooting up from the building where Jazan and the sorcerers were gathered.
Thanks to the situation unfolding before his eyes, Lee Seong-jun could quickly assess the situation.
'A barrier has been deployed.'
Although it didn't cover the entire entrance as in the original plan due to being deployed in an incomplete form, it wasn't a level that would cause major problems.
'With the current scale, Hyukcheonman and Bihyeong should be enough to block it.'
This meant that if he could safely deal with the named monster Adore and the wraith spirits before him, the safety of Seoul, the city, would be secured.
"Blood Bud Resonance."
Lee Seong-jun, his eyes glowing, bloomed a red flower on his palm, then spread a massive wave of energy into the air.
He had once again unleashed the martial art that had swept away the wraith spirits earlier.
But the result was clearly different.
Hwaru-ruk-!
Black flames spewing from Adore's mouth enveloped and burned away the wave that was being shot.
And at the same time, it was the moment when the black flames dancing in the air all shot towards Lee Seong-jun.
At the center of the black flames, Adore's eyes, with a face like a human's, curved as if sneering.
"Interesting."
Kwagwang-!
Lee Seong-jun, letting out a wry laugh, quickly closed the distance with Adore by throwing his body towards the shooting black flames.
"Let's see if you can block this too."
A sword appeared in Lee Seong-jun's hand as his eyes turned a seductive red.
Kwarung-!
With a short roar, a red line shot out.
Adore's eyes widened as he desperately tried to reach out his hand, but it was a belated response.
The red line, shot like a bolt of lightning, precisely split only Adore and the wraith spirits floating in the sky.
"Crescent Moon's Angle, Heavenly Piercing Fang."
It was the moment when Lee Seong-jun, with a grim smile, unleashed a sword technique that cut through the essence, one of the Demonic Soul-Consuming Sword techniques.
Jjeojeo-jeok-!
With a sound of something splitting, the long-drawn red line annihilated Adore and the wraith spirits without leaving a trace.
Ding-!
[You have defeated the SSS-rank named monster, Adore, Wraith Spirit Bearing Corrupted Flame, and A-rank monsters, Wraith Spirits.]
[Experience points increase!]
[Due to the effect of the title 'Conqueror', the experience gained increases by 75%.]
[Congratulations! As you have met the required experience, your level has risen to 169.]
Although wraith spirits were still pouring out from the open crack, as expected, they were meeting their deaths at the hands of Hyukcheonman and Bihyeong as soon as they appeared.
This meant he could immediately leave his post and go to support the main force at the military demarcation line.
However, there was no need to do so.
No, he shouldn't do that.
'The gate opening in Seoul's airspace lasted for barely 5 minutes.'
But considering the number of wraith spirits pouring out and the power of the named monster Adore, the situation on the side of the main force at the military demarcation line couldn't be good.
'As they are elite hunters, the front line won't collapse, but there will be considerable damage.'
This Black Gate wasn't the end.
The current Earth is unstable.
As it's impossible to know when and what crisis might come, it's better to block the invasion with as little damage as possible if possible.
Naturally, Lee Seong-jun's gaze turned to the crack in the sky, the entrance of the gate.
'It would have been impossible when it was completely closed, but if it's open like this...'
He could create a gap by cutting through the essence.
This meant he could pour attacks from the outside, Earth, into the inside of the gate.