Ten minutes after the armored vehicles carrying the S-Class Hunters arrived, the next set of vehicles with the A-Class Hunters finally entered the city. The A-Class Hunters quickly disembarked and ran toward the keep.
The raid team had divided the Hunters into different teams to maximize the effectiveness of their strategy. The S-Class Hunters would enter first, eliminating as many chanical monsters as possible while heading directly for the keep's entrance. Afterward, the A-Class Hunters would enter the city and also head for the keep, subduing any chanical monsters the S-Class Hunters missed and blocking reinforcents from following them in.
"Enemies sighted at the intersection ahead! Eleven o'clock!" a Hunter with long-range detection reported from the middle of the group.
The leader of the A-Class Hunters, who was just one level short of S-Class, barked out an order, "Numbers eleven to fifteen, take care of those enemies. We'll keep heading down the path to our one o'clock."
Each Hunter in the team had been assigned a number to make command quick and clear. Following his order, five Hunters rushed forward, disappearing from sight within seconds.
Soon after, an explosion erupted in the distance. The leader glanced to the left where the blast had originated. As they moved forward, a group of five Hunters battling three chanical monsters ca into view.
The chanical monsters were outnumbered five to three, but each one of them was an extrely dangerous S-Class entity with stats surpassing those of a Level 100 Hunter.
"Number sixteen... No. Let's just keep heading straight." The leader had considered sending a reinforcent, thinking a two-on-one advantage would be safer, but changed his mind when he noticed one of the three chanical monsters was already severely damaged. The five Hunters should be able to handle it themselves.
When the A-Class team reached the intersection, they ignored the battle and turned toward the other path, leaving the five Hunters to catch up later.
"Two enemies detected in the third alleyway from the right," the scout reported from behind.
Hearing that, the leader ordered, "Sixteen to eighteen, take care of them."
Three Hunters broke away and dashed toward the alley. In the initial clash, one was pushed back, his feet digging into the ground as he struggled to hold his position, while another was sent flying out of the alley. As one of the chanical monsters burst forward, trying to reach the main street, it was smashed to the ground by a swing of the final Hunter's club.
The leader quickly inspected the chanical monster flattened by the blow, then glanced at the other monster still nacing the two Hunters who had been pushed back, before turning his gaze forward again.
The closer they got to the keep, the more the team was forced to split up to eliminate stray packs of chanical monsters blocking their way to the city center. However, he was confident the mbers who had broken off to deal with monsters missed by the S-Class Hunters would quickly dispatch their weakened foes, then rejoin the main group.
As for the possibility that any A-Class Hunters might retreat after defeating their targets, fearing the strength of the monsters in the keep? He didn't have the slightest concern about that. They were already inside the Last City, deep in enemy territory, with no way of knowing when or where reinforcents might appear. Even if a Hunter managed to escape, they would have to cross a distance that had taken over ten minutes by armored vehicle to return to base.
As they made it out, the chanical monsters would be too focused on defending the keep to give chase. Escape ant safety, at least for the body... but then what? No guild would accept a Hunter who abandoned his comrades. No matter how skilled, no country would respect soone who ran while his teammates were still fighting.
The scout suddenly shouted, "The third building on the left! Signs indicate the presence of a single large monster! It must be a Building-type!"
It was a new chanical monster, neither Humanoid nor Animaloid, disguised as an ordinary building.
"Numbers thirty-one to thirty-five," the leader said calmly, ordering five Hunters to deal with the fake building.
This pattern continued as they approached the keep, until the scout suddenly shouted a warning, "Hunter sighted ahead!"
Unlike on an open battlefield, city fighting ant sightlines were always obstructed by buildings pressing in from all sides, so such warnings were necessary to avoid friendly fire.
As soon as he heard the scout's report, the leader began calculating the remaining distance to the keep and confird the number of Hunters still with him. He also used his mana to enhance his vision, and soon spotted the Hunter the scout had warned about.
"Holy..."
"This is... insane..."
The A-Class Hunters following behind let out exclamations at the scene before them. Though he said nothing, the leader felt the sa.
The ground ahead was littered with the scattered remains of chanical monsters. So had stopped moving entirely, while others twitched weakly, alive but too damaged to move.
Amidst the spasming bodies, a single Hunter stood alone on the battlefield. The leader slowed to a halt as he approached the Hunter who had defeated dozens of chanical monsters singlehandedly, bowing his head slightly in respect.
"Impressive work, sir," he said politely.
The lone Hunter replied, "Good work on getting here so quickly, Hunter Kang Tae-Seok."
Kang Tae-Seok was surprised to be addressed by na. They had t once before, but at that ti the man before him had addressed all the Korean Hunters as a group, so he hadn't expected to be rembered.
"Ah... yes." Belatedly composing himself, Kang Tae-Seok responded, "It was my honor, Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok."
"I've never had a chance to et with you since you're usually based in Gyeongnam, Changwon, but since we've t..." Kim Ki-Rok retrieved a business card from his subspace pocket and handed it over with a smile. "If you're interested in joining my guild, please feel free to contact ."
His focus wasn't only on the current A- and S-Class Hunters. To defeat Hell, the last dinsion to invade Earth before the world's destruction, there needed to be at least twice as many of them as there were now.
***
Inside a B-Class Gate known as the Conquered Black Ants Cave, a Human-Ant Hybrid Chira lunged at a young man, swiping its clawed right hand toward him.
Han Hae reacted swiftly, using a skill to deflect the blow before stepping back and drawing his swords. When the Chira struck again with its left arm, he parried once more, then stepped in and drove his blade into the monster's exposed chest.
This wasn't just any monster, but a Gate Boss that had to be defeated for the clear.
"Pheeew..." Han Hae let out an exhausted breath as he confird the Chira's death. He pulled his sword free and returned the five others floating around him to his subspace pocket. Then he slowly turned, giving the other Hunters in the cave a nod and a calm grunt. "Hmph."
At Han Hae's request, his four teammates had let him face the monster alone, watching the battle from a distance. When they saw he had won, they erupted in applause and cheers. "Hurrah! Hurrah!"
"St-stop that," Han Hae stamred, embarrassed.
But the cheering continued. "Another round of applause! Even louder now!"
Most DG Guild mbers had unlocked their sealed abilities thanks to Kim Ki-Rok and received systematic training under his guidance. mbership in the guild granted access to stat increases, training in various support skills, and spells. It even let them access the World Tree behind the guild headquarters, as well as a Gate in the parking lot that led directly to the Yuashiel Dinsion. Kim Ki-Rok had also recruited many exceptional crafting Hunters to supply them with the best gear.
As a result, every B-Class Hunter in the DG Guild could solo the Gate Boss of any B-Class Gate, making Han Hae's feat a common one. Still, he tried to refuse their complints, his face flushed, but they simply ignored his protests.
After a short pause, a ssage appeared before all the Hunters in the cave, confirming the Gate had been cleared. Five minutes later, the DG Guild's team mbers were teleported back to the Gate's entrance, which was now the exit.
As they sorted through their Gate Rewards and exited back to Earth, a voice greeted them politely, "Welco back."
"Huh?" Han Hae said as he and the others turned toward the voice.
A regular DG Guild employee stood there, holding a cara and smiling politely.
The party leader stepped forward. "Ah, have we kept you waiting?"
"Not at all." The employee shook his head. "The Guildmaster told you'd be coming out at this ti."
"Hm? The Guildmaster did?"
"That's right."
"But how?" asked the leader.
The Conquered Black Ants Cave was a maze-type Gate, and they had entered it three days ago. Despite spending the entire ti clearing it and never once returning to Earth, Kim Ki-Rok sohow knew they would return today. Moreover, just before they entered, a call ca informing them that other guild mbers in Japan would finally attempt to clear the S-Class Gate there.
"Has the Guildmaster already returned after clearing that Gate?" the leader asked in disbelief.
"I'm afraid not," the employee replied, shaking his head.
"Then how did you know to be here today?"
"When I first received the files on this Gate, there was a note saying your team would take exactly three days to clear it."
"Huuuh?"
Could the Guildmaster see the future? How else could he have known when to send soone to greet them?
The leader shook off such thoughts and changed the subject. "So, does that an the Guildmaster is still in Japan?"
"Yes, that's correct," the employee confird.
"So what's the situation like over there?"
"They began the final operation one hour ago."
The party leader and the others brightened at the words "the final operation."
"Did the Guildmaster say anything?"
The employee raised an eyebrow. "Are you asking if he specified how long it will take?"
"Yes."
"He said it all depends on whether there are any unexpected variables. It might take five days at most."
If there were unexpected variables, especially those for which no counterasures existed, they might need to conduct a strategic retreat to minimize losses. Including rest and preparation before relaunching the final operation, it could take up to five days.
"What if there aren't any unexpected variables?"
"If so, it should be over in just eight hours."
The leader imdiately checked his smartphone. It was 1:30 p.m., so the raid must have started an hour ago. If all went smoothly, the Gate would be cleared in about seven hours.
Just as the leader recalled why he'd been asked to remain in Japan a bit longer after clearing the S-Class Gate and was about to ask another question, an employee handed him a file.
"Hm? What is this?"
"It's the next Gate you need to raid."
"Already?" He groaned.
"The Guildmaster instructed to give this to you if you cleared the Gate in three days, as predicted."
The leader accepted the file, then glanced at the employee's expression.
Among DG Guild mbers, many treated the Guildmaster with utmost respect, like this employee. Others, like the party leader, saw Kim Ki-Rok as an older brother from the sa neighborhood. He was soone they liked and admired, and would follow into danger without hesitation. They weren't bothered by the respect the first generation of guild mbers showed.
This was because everyone in the DG Guild, from Hunters to regular staff, owed Kim Ki-Rok a great deal and had given him their loyalty. So owed him their lives, while others were grateful for sothing they considered even more precious.
This person must have experienced sothing similar, the party leader thought.
In fact, this employee's daughter had suffered from an incurable disease until Kim Ki-Rok found a cure, saving her life.
"They're really working us hard," the party leader complained.
"It's because there's even more work to do once we're finished with Japan," the employee reminded him.
"Ah, right. There was that," the party leader said, nodding as he recalled the dangerous and difficult task Kim Ki-Rok had assigned him for after Japan.
He muttered to himself, "Let's see. The next Gate we need to head to is..."
Still thinking about the work awaiting him back ho, the party leader skimd through the Gate's files. Realizing the next Gate was closer than expected, he and his team took a car to their next destination.
***
The first team of S-Class Hunters and the second team of A-Class Hunters gathered in front of the keep, taking a short rest as they prepared for the final stage of the operation.
"Holy..."
Several small groups of A-Class Hunters, who had previously split off to deal with chanical monsters not destroyed in the initial assault, muttered in amazent as they reunited with Kim Ki-Rok and the rest of the team before the corpse-strewn keep.
The S-Class Hunters had arrived earlier and were waiting at the entrance. Most of the second team, the A-Class Hunters who had gone ahead, stood in the street before the keep, blocking any chanical monsters from approaching.
The S-Class Hunters wielding Pastera weapons stood at the head of their team, closest to the keep. Judging by the keep's intact walls, it was clear the plan didn't involve destroying them, as that would make it harder for the A-Class Hunters to block reinforcents.
The last group of Hunters finally arrived and quickly joined the rest of the A-Class team, now under the command of Kim Ki-Rok and the other Korean Hunter.
One of the S-Class Hunters, who had kept an eye on the battlefield even as he fought, shouted in a loud voice, "Let the operation comnce!"
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