Chapter 157
It was inevitable, but by no means an easy task.
Since it was fundamentally a one-way gate with a sealed entrance, the forcibly created gap by cutting through the fabric would not last long.
This meant that an attack had to be pushed through simultaneously as the space was split open.
In other words, two martial arts techniques had to be deployed at once.
Moreover, simply deploying them was not enough.
A technique to forcibly cut open a gap in the fabric.
A technique to sweep away the vast number of wraith spirits inside the gate, occupying a space at least as large as Seoul.
Both required a destructive power that was beyond imagination with ordinary means.
It meant unleashing what are commonly called transcendent techniques.
This was something that not only ordinary martial artists couldn't even attempt, but even the handful of top masters would struggle to accomplish.
However, Lee Seong-jun's face showed not a trace of anxiety. He merely stretched out both arms into the air with a hardened expression.
'...Cheonchung-a in my right hand, Daerameolhwa in my left.'
Through a life of struggle - the Great War of Justice, the Great Demon War, and even the war with the Immortal Realm - Lee Seong-jun had learned martial arts and principles by observing with his eyes.
Among them was the ability to divide one's will in two, the legendary Daoist technique called 'Dual Mind Cultivation'.
This meant he could deploy two transcendent techniques simultaneously without any issue.
"Hmmph..."
As Lee Seong-jun drew in a breath, the vital energy in his body began to gather like a whirlwind in both outstretched hands.
Finally, as Lee Seong-jun's eyes turned red, a red sword formed in his right hand and a tangled sphere like a ball of thread formed in his left.
All preparations to unleash an attack into the interior of the gate were complete.
"Die."
The moment Lee Seong-jun's cold pronouncement fell, the red sword in his right hand slashed a long cut from left to right through the fabric of the gate, opening a gap.
In that brief instant, Lee Seong-jun pushed forward the sphere condensed in his left hand, infusing it with an enormous amount of vital energy.
Woong-!
As the red sphere emitting a resonant sound passed through the small opening, there was a deafening explosion.
Kugugugung-!
An explosion accompanied by a thunderous roar dyed the world inside the gate a bewitching red.
Afterwards, the world inside the gate shook as if it would shatter, accompanied by a booming sound.
[You have slain 36,371 A-rank monsters, Wraith Spirits.]
[The effect of the title 'Conqueror' increases earned experience by 75%.]
[Congratulations! Your level has risen to 178 as you have met the required experience.]
Over 30,000 wraith spirits had vanished like ice cream melting under the midsummer sun.
"Phew..."
Lee Seong-jun exhaled deeply and gazed into the gate's interior through the gap that had shrunk to the size of a pinhole.
The number of remaining wraith spirits was now less than a few hundred. It was safe to say that all the low-level troops had been completely annihilated.
'...This should ease our burden somewhat.'
It wasn't just the main force at the military demarcation line.
In the process of repairing the cut fabric of the gate's entrance, the connection to Earth's Seoul airspace had been completely severed.
This meant that no more wraith spirits could cross over into Seoul's airspace.
While this was an achievement beyond expectations, there was no time to simply rejoice.
'The war isn't over yet.'
Lee Seong-jun's eyes flashed as he immediately shifted his gaze northward, to the land where the military demarcation line had once been.
* * *
Kwagwagwagwang-!
The hunters engaged in fierce battle with the wraith spirits widened their eyes at the tremendous vibration that shook the earth's axis.
Though momentarily taken aback by the unexpected situation, they were all elite hunters and quickly regained their composure, able to guess the reason.
An enormous explosion had occurred inside the gate, the home base of the wraith spirits.
Indeed, after the thunderous sound, the number of wraith spirits pouring out of the gate had noticeably decreased.
"The god of fortune is on our side! Everyone, just a little more effort!"
"The end is in sight! Push forward!"
While most hunters attributed the explosion to mere luck, James Garner, the vice-master of the Cosmos Guild and an active high-ranking hunter, had different thoughts.
'Just now... that power?'
Along with the thunderous sound, an immense energy had flowed out from inside the gate.
This meant that the explosion inside the gate just now wasn't simply luck, but artificially caused by someone manipulating energy.
'Forcibly opening the entrance of a closed one-way gate and unleashing an attack...? Who on earth?'
To be perfectly honest, there was someone who came to mind.
But it was hard to believe.
'Lee Seong-jun... could he wield this level of power?'
Having met Lee Seong-jun occasionally during meetings since entering Korea, James had some grasp of his energy.
Thus, despite never having fought him directly, he could immediately identify Lee Seong-jun as the owner of the energy that caused the explosion just now.
Yet it was still difficult to accept the reality.
'The explosion inside the gate just now was on par with Master Victor Wiseman.'
In other words, Lee Seong-jun had wielded power equivalent to Victor Wiseman, a member of the Guardians.
This meant that a hunter who had been active for less than a year officially was wielding power on par with the Guardians, known as the world's protectors.
Moreover, it wasn't just raw destructive power that was impressive.
'The fact that he unleashed an attack inside the gate means... he single-handedly cleared out the monsters that appeared in Seoul's airspace.'
In a fight that was overwhelmingly disadvantageous, where they had only hoped to hold out, Lee Seong-jun had instead seized victory.
He had perfectly and precisely controlled his power to eliminate the wraith spirits.
Even in terms of technical skill in manipulating energy, he had surpassed Victor Wiseman.
'This is unbelievable...'
It was impossible to believe.
No, it was normal to be unable to believe it.
However, James had no intention of continuing to deny the reality unfolding before his eyes.
'Lee Seong-jun is on par with or even surpasses Master Victor Wiseman.'
A wry smile crossed James' face.
After all, no one in the world had ever shown such a rate of growth.
'...The Force System and hunter growth had a structure similar to a game.'
While growth might be somewhat rapid in the early stages, as one's level and realm increased, the wall of required experience and insight grew higher.
For a ranker-level powerhouse, it takes a lifetime of painstaking effort to break through a single wall.
But there are no obstacles at all in Lee Seong-jun's growth.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was showing the same growth rate as when he first obtained the Force System.
'...This means he has reached a realm that no one else on Earth has ever reached before.'
By now, a bright smile had blossomed on James' face.
'As expected, my judgment was correct.'
Lee Seong-jun was literally an unprecedented existence, the best partner who could take the Cosmos Guild to the next level.
Naturally, a bright future began to unfold in James' mind.
'...We can stop them!'
Given the disrupted plans and the appearance of named monsters at the ranker level, it was inevitable to feel some anxiety.
However, after directly witnessing Lee Seong-jun's power, he was able to firm up his conviction.
'As long as Lee Seong-jun is here, Korea will never fall.'
In fact, after the explosion, the number of wraith spirits pouring out of the gate had significantly decreased, allowing hunters to find some breathing room and support the rankers fighting nearby.
This meant that even the named monsters, who could be considered the enemy's main force, were starting to crumble.
"Everyone prepare to support!"
As James shouted his order, his shield shattered the armor covering Nouse's entire body, and the waiting Cosmos Guild members all rushed in at once.
Of course, being a monster with power reaching the ranker level, they couldn't inflict any fatal wounds.
At best, they could only slow down its regeneration.
But that was enough.
By now, James' silver longsword had arrived within striking distance and pierced through Nouse's core, which could be considered its heart.
Kwajik-!
Feeling the heavy sensation transmitted through his fingertips, a shout burst from James' mouth.
"Die-!!"
As the single cry erupted, James' longsword, wrapped in silver energy, split Nouse's body in half.
Seogek-!
"...!"
Nouse's body, wearing an expression of astonishment, scattered into dust.
It was meeting its death.
With Nouse's death, the tide that had been turning decisively shifted.
"A named monster has fallen!"
"Let's take down the rest of them!"
The coordinated attack of the hunters under Ko Tae-hyun's command was organized and seamless.
Moreover, with James' prowess added to the mix after being freed up by Nouse's death, even monsters with ranker-level power couldn't handle it.
Although the named monsters struggled to their last breath, they ultimately couldn't change the course of the battle.
"Woaaah-!"
"We've taken them all down!"
"We won! We've won!"
Nouse, Naiard, Silais, and Glaire.
As all four named monsters fell, cries of joy erupted from the hunters' mouths.
However, the expressions of the rankers, including James who had played the biggest role, were more rigid than ever.
"Th-this is...?"
"What kind of monster is this?"
Cold sweat poured down their backs at a sensation they had never felt before.
The hair all over their bodies stood on end like a porcupine, and their necks stiffened.
At the same time, an unimaginable tension gripped James' heart.
"Everyone, get away...!"
James tried to raise his voice urgently, but it was far too late.
Jeong-!
A sound like the world shattering erupted.
Immediately after, a massive amount of energy surged out from the gate's entrance, causing a calamity.
Kukung, kwagwagwang-!
Towering pillars of flame, cracking and collapsing earth, suddenly surging waves, and flesh-cutting gales enveloped the area.
"Aaaaargh-!"
"H-help me!"
Along with the hunters' screams erupting one after another, the incessant disasters created a scene as if showing the end of the world.
At the center, a being forcibly tore open the gate's entrance.
Jjeojeojeok-!
With a loud noise, the gate split open, and a being slowly stepped through from beyond.
[Eclipse, the Fallen Emperor of Spirits.]
A monster that outwardly resembled a human but could never be considered human, wrapped in swirling elements and wielding a long spear black as night, had finally revealed itself to the world after crossing through the gate - Eclipse, the Fallen Emperor of Spirits.