Chapter 166
'...If we overcome this crisis, I will definitely cultivate a close friendship with Korea and Lee Seong-jun.'
This meant ensuring they would never again be manipulated by a nation hunter like Daniel.
As Tendo once again clearly set his own goal with a determined expression, Daniel, who had been staring at the scenery outside, opened his mouth.
"It seems like it's about time. Let's move."
"...Yes, I'll escort you."
Guided by Tendo, Daniel slowly made his way to the press conference hall and took his seat.
The eyes of reporters from around the world converged on him as they continuously pressed their shutters.
Click. Click. Click.
Amidst the shower of flashes, Daniel smiled brightly and began to speak.
"I know that many of you have felt great anxiety and unhappiness because of the Black Gate. Although I cannot heal your wounded hearts, I can ease your worries. Because I, Daniel Graham, will exterminate them all."
On the surface, his tone sounded incredibly brave and benevolent.
But all of this was merely an act.
The reason Daniel held this press conference was simply because one of the conditions written in the contract with the Japanese government last night was to reassure the public.
Of course, even for someone like Daniel, it was impossible to give people a sense of relief with just words.
"How exactly... do you plan to exterminate the monsters?"
"Although it's been overshadowed by the title of Guardians recently, before being a Guardian, I was a hunter known as the Great Mage."
Daniel flashed a confident smile and continued speaking.
"With sufficient preparation and time, I can unleash firepower stronger than any other hunter."
As Daniel nodded, giving a signal, a hologram screen appeared on the wall behind him, depicting the Kanmon Bridge, the gateway from the Kyushu region to the mainland of Japan.
"I'll set up magic arrays here in advance. And the moment they step onto the bridge to head inland!"
As Daniel's shout echoed, the Kanmon Bridge in the hologram was engulfed in enormous flames.
Then, the Kanmon Bridge, which had stretched across the sea, disappeared without a trace along with the Black Gate monsters.
"I'll sink them all along with the bridge like this."
The plan itself wasn't bad, as it was an efficient battle using the terrain.
However, it wasn't enough to eliminate the anxiety of people who had been consumed by the fear the Black Gate instilled.
"...Can you really exterminate all the Black Gate monsters with just that?"
As a skilled member of the Guardians, Daniel's power could certainly sink the ordinary Black Gate monsters in a single strike.
However, the named monsters were on a completely different level.
They weren't the kind of monsters that would fall to a wide-area attack rather than concentrated power.
But Daniel, having hunted countless monsters, couldn't possibly be unaware of this fact.
"Of course, the named monsters would likely survive."
At Daniel's seemingly hopeless answer, the reporters' faces turned pale.
If they couldn't deal with the named monsters, Japan would inevitably face destruction.
As dark shadows fell over the reporters' faces, Daniel slowly opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"That's why I mentioned earlier that I'll set up magic arrays."
"What... what do you mean by that?!"
"As people who cover hunter-related news, most of you probably know that mages like myself are preparers. And a mage who has made thorough preparations never fails or loses."
The reporters' faces brightened at Daniel's words, filled with strong conviction.
This was because most of the reporters here, being those who covered and investigated hunter-related matters, knew well that what Daniel had just said wasn't mere bluster.
As the anxiety slowly dissipated, Daniel raised his voice and drove the point home.
"I, Daniel Graham, will save Japan! This means that Japanese citizens no longer need to be gripped by anxiety!"
Yeouido, Korean Hunter Association.
Go Tae-hyun, sitting on a sofa in his office, was watching Daniel Graham's press conference on the wall-mounted TV and letting out a sigh.
"Hmm..."
With his hand on his chin, deep in thought, Go Tae-hyun turned his head and asked the executives of the Korean Hunter Association sitting in a row.
"What do you think?"
"...It's difficult to be certain."
The Great Mage, Daniel Graham.
His rank within the Guardians was 6th, not a particularly high ranking.
He could be considered one of the world's top powers, but he was somewhat lacking compared to the top 3 Guardians.
However, if he had completed thorough preparations, Daniel could potentially demonstrate abilities comparable to the other top 3 Guardians.
In a situation like this where he could make full preparations, he was someone who could possess strength ranking among the world's top five.
But because the extermination targets were Black Gate monsters, it was hard to give a definitive answer.
"..."
Clink-
As the ice in the cup on the desk melted, spreading noise, Go Tae-hyun, who had been deep in thought, cautiously opened his mouth.
"I'd say there's a 70%, no, over 80% chance of success."
It could be considered a rather high probability of success.
It should have been hopeful news for humanity, but Go Tae-hyun's expression as he spoke was far from bright.
"But if an unexpected, extraordinary force appears... I'd say it drops below 30%."
The Great Mage Daniel's preparations would be based on all the known forces so far.
As a skilled member of the Guardians, he could probably handle some variables, but if a variable like Eclipse appeared, the success rate would inevitably plummet.
Go Tae-hyun made a bitter expression and spoke again.
"And if Japan is defeated, their next target will likely be right next door - Korea."
It would be wise to join Japan in exterminating the Black Gate.
However, they couldn't readily send support.
To be more precise, it would be correct to say they didn't have the forces to send as support.
"Is Hunter Lee Seong-jun still unreachable?"
"Yes... We haven't been able to contact him at all since yesterday."
Lee Seong-jun, currently Korea's most important asset, was completely out of contact.
'Without Hunter Lee Seong-jun, any support we send won't achieve much.'
In the worst case, the deaths of Korean hunters could become meaningless sacrifices.
'Especially... Daniel is someone who only thinks about his own greed and safety.'
He would certainly use the supporting Korean hunters as cannon fodder.
Go Tae-hyun didn't want to sacrifice precious young Korean hunters futilely for Daniel's glory.
"We can only pray that... Japan will successfully stop the Black Gate monsters without any unexpected variables."
Although he was praying with a desperate heart, anxiety continued to rise in one corner of his mind.
Deep in the inner world.
Lee Seong-jun recalled a question he had asked himself long ago.
'What is martial arts?'
He still didn't know the answer.
No, he might never know it even if he devoted his entire life to it.
From the beginning, 'martial arts' was something not bound by specifications.
Therefore, while it clearly existed, it couldn't be defined or regulated.
However.
As it was a contemplation he had done countless times, he could assert one thing.
For him, Lee Seong-jun, 'martial arts' was:
Something he wanted to be with forever.
And something he pursued.
At the same time, it was joy itself.
That's why there was no need to give an answer.
He would continue walking the path of martial arts and find his own answer to what 'martial arts' truly is.
That was enough.
Finally, as Lee Seong-jun came to his own conclusion, it happened.
Crack!
With a loud noise, cracks appeared in the space that had been nothing but darkness.
Through the small gap that opened, consciousness that had been blocked by a huge wall rushed in like an arrow.
Crash!
With the sound of something breaking, Lee Seong-jun's consciousness entered a new world with a bright light.
Woong.
The energy flowing from Lee Seong-jun's body, sitting cross-legged in the air, emitted a resonating sound.
The red blood energy enveloping his entire body grew even darker.
Thus, Lee Seong-jun continued to breathe while floating in the air.
"Huu..."
The energy filling the area began to be frantically sucked into Lee Seong-jun's physical body with each breath.
Swish!
Lee Seong-jun's body absorbed all the energy in the area as if it were a black hole.
Perhaps because of the red blood energy spread throughout the area?
Lee Seong-jun, surrounded by the swirling energy, gave the impression of an asura from hell.
Boom-
As the world emitted a loud roar and trembled at this overwhelming sight, it happened.
Flash!
As Lee Seong-jun's closed eyes opened, an enchanting red light burst out in all directions.
Ding!
[The Force System detects a new change in user 'Lee Seong-jun'.]
[Congratulations! User 'Lee Seong-jun' has reached the mythical realm, the Divine Transformation Realm!]
A deep smile formed on Lee Seong-jun's lips as he confirmed the green hologram window that appeared before his eyes with a cheerful sound.
"Finally... I've reached the Divine Transformation Realm."
The Divine Transformation Realm!
He had reached a realm that could be called a dream and legend for martial artists.
Although it could be seen as just one step above the Manifestation Realm, the gap was by no means small.
It wasn't called a legendary realm for nothing.
The Force System immediately recognized this change in Lee Seong-jun and applied it.
[As your physical abilities have changed, all stats (Strength, Agility, Constitution, Blood Energy) increase by 25.]
A whopping 100 stat points had increased.
It was an indescribable achievement, but the true value of the Divine Transformation Realm wasn't merely in the increase of stats.
No, the Divine Transformation Realm wasn't called legendary or mythical for nothing.
'I no longer need... to handle power while harmonizing with the energy flowing through the world.'
The Divine Transformation Realm could handle power that transcended the rules of the world.
If one's capacity in mind, energy, and body - the foundation for unleashing transcendent martial arts - supported it, one could create miracles or natural disasters.