Chapter 174
Chapter 174. Ambush (8)
“Gasp, gasp…”
At the time when the IUPC hideout was under attack.
The people from another world, who were present, felt horror and quietly slipped away from the scene, especially toward Park Jae-kyung.
A terrifying power that could slice through a monster with a solid exterior in one go!
That was no different from the Rank 1 Heroes they had been so wary of.
“…!”
He hid on a rooftop of a building, observing the situation at the hideout.
Watching all the heroes escape and the entrance get blocked.
He was clearly witnessing the entire sequence of events.
“I have to quickly inform them!”
With trembling hands, he grabbed a ring and tried to communicate with the other people from another world.
As the gem flickered on the ring, it let out a loud emergency alert.
“A monster! It was truly a monster!”
—That was how severe Park Jae-kyung was.
“Ugh! Ugh…”
Park Jae-kyung, with just an ordinary sword, had claimed countless lives.
The man, recalling pumpkins again, found his lower body becoming damp.
Yet, he felt no shame about it.
Only fear.
“If I knew such monsters existed in Korea, I would’ve opposed all of this!”
—First, calm down… hide somewhere safe and wait.
The person on the other end of the call was trying to calm the agitated man.
After about five minutes of the call.
In the space where the people from another world were gathered, a heavy atmosphere lingered for a while.
“They must have fled due to the time limit.”
“I never would have thought we’d look this way against just one hero!”
They had felt uneasy since the monster production line had been attacked continuously.
On the eve of the decisive day, IUPC members and monsters were being slaughtered en masse.
Not everyone had died, but those who experienced such overwhelming power could serve as meat shields but would be useless as meaningful combatants.
“I put a lot of effort into Yeosu…”
“The problem is pooling the members together like this.”
“How did the heroes find that place anyway?”
A man with a frown glanced at IUPC’s deputy, Im Min-soo.
He had received breaking news and wore a deeply contemplative expression.
Considering he had poured a lot of effort into increasing membership and gathering monsters, the emotional shock could not have been small.
Bang! Bang!
Someone slammed their fist on the desk and shouted.
“I told you! We should’ve excluded Park Jae-kyung too!”
“Yeah… I should’ve listened to you.”
The people from another world had expelled all the Rank 1 Heroes from Earth beforehand.
They had sent the ten heroes to ten different worlds.
Knowing their power, often referred to as Korea’s guardians and true heroes, posed a great threat, it had been a rushed decision.
And, thanks to Park Jae-kyung, who had momentarily showcased abilities comparable to theirs.
Once again, they realized how significant their past decision had been.
“There’s no point in regretting it now.”
“Dammit!”
“But looking back, this is also an opportunity.”
“What do you mean?”
“Think carefully! Right now, among the heroes left in Korea, there’s no one with that kind of potential.”
“Hm…”
Park Jae-kyung’s [Jack o’ Lantern] was an exceptionally unique skill.
Aside from her, the other Rank 2 Heroes were generally skilled, but that was about it.
There was no hero comparable to a Rank 1 Hero.
“The IUPC has become our bulwark.”
Park Jae-kyung, the protagonist of this incident, couldn’t utilize her powers properly for several days due to the side effects of her unique skill.
A major threat or obstacle had disappeared.
“That is correct.”
“Min-soo?”
“This opportunity created by our precious members must not be wasted.”
Min-soo wiped the tears flowing from his eyes with a white handkerchief.
He felt sorrow for the members who had passed away without realizing their dreams.
On the other hand, he felt gratitude.
“Let’s proceed with the plan without any changes.”
“I also agree with that.”
“Sounds good!”
It was unfortunate that Yeosu’s forces had sustained hurt so severe that recovery would be difficult.
But they decided to continue their plan to conquer Seoul.
Then a call came through the ring again.
—We have subdued the heroes and secured the comrades kidnapped from the kitchen!
“Oh ho!”
It was information that slightly lifted the sagging atmosphere.
“What heroes are they?”
—It seems to be from the Dice Guild. Should we kill them?
“No! Bring them alive. If they’re heroes from the advance team, they could be useful somewhere.”
*
“Put me down.”
Park Jae-kyung, who had been carried on the back of a party member, got down.
Her legs wobbled a little, but she could move on her own two feet.
“Good job.”
“Now the real struggle begins.”
They had dealt significant damage to the IUPC, which they thought was the most urgent concern.
But that was merely a fragment of the whole.
They would not be able to entirely stop the actions of the people from another world and the IUPC alliance.
‘It’s tough.’
Reviewing all conditions, Yoo Ji-han finally spoke after deep contemplation.
“Realistically, it’s better to step back and join the rear guard.”
“But you know the location of the enemies, Ji-han.”
“That’s true.”
“When there’s an opportunity like this, we should uproot the people from another world!”
As Park Jae-kyung said, Yoo Ji-han had an idea of where the people from another world might be hiding.
Yet, with the core of the expeditionary force, Park Jae-kyung, having lost half her strength due to the side effects of her unique skill.
At least until seven days passed, she wouldn’t be able to take active action.
In the end, they had to break through this situation with the remaining members.
“Even if this ends well, it won’t be the end if the people from another world survive.”
“…One day, they might cause another incident like today.”
“So stop worrying about me and let’s pursue them.”
After repeated requests from Park Jae-kyung, Yoo Ji-han finally nodded.
“Then everyone must follow my instructions.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
The group soon dashed across the dark night road.
Their destination was some dock lined with fishing boats.
Behind it was a two-story guesthouse.
‘They probably never thought I’d find that place.’
It wasn’t a kitchen where drugs were produced or a place where IUPC members were waiting.
It was the headquarters of the elite people from another world in Yeosu.
“Is that it?”
“Yes.”
Normally, it would be a place that would be hard to find even if they searched the entire Yeosu.
Yoo Ji-han found it with ease, as if he had visited there several times before.
“…”
“…”
Once the existence of space distortion was confirmed by the mages.
Without a word, the group exchanged glances and entered through that entrance.
Soon, they arrived at a small room with a translucent door on the wall.
Rustle—
Yoo Ji-han pulled out a transparent bag from his pocket.
Inside was the power stone containing the finger of the elite mage he had prepared in advance.
Ding!
Bringing the two items to a specific location, the fingerprint and magic recognition systems activated simultaneously.
At that moment, the translucent door slid open smoothly.
“Oh, fascinating.”
“So you figured all this out.”
The entry conditions were surprisingly strict.
But since the path was clear, there was no need to hesitate.
“Enter!”
Yoo Ji-han, clothed in buffs, stepped through the wide-open door.
Inside was a broad hallway extending in a straight line.
Despite entering a place for the first time, it felt very familiar to him.
“Wh-who’s there!”
Creak!
After dispatching the guard stationed at the entrance.
Dealers unleashed a torrent of ranged attacks at the figures rushing in from a distance.
“What’s all this commotion?”
“Is that…!”
The people from another world gradually emerged from the chaos outside.
On discovering the heroes infiltrating their headquarters, they all wore horrified expressions and drew their weapons.
[Earthquake]
[Rock Buster]
Boom!!!!
The mages from Kim Si-hu’s and Yoon Do-ha’s party completely demolished one side of the corridor.
Here, they had a structure to keep the monsters they brought in, similar to parking a vehicle, in a separate space.
Blocking the path was a strategy made possible thanks to Yoo Ji-han, who had already grasped the internal structure.
“Those bastards!”
“Ugh!”
With Park Jae-kyung weakened and sent to the back.
Yoo Ji-han took the lead, taking down enemies first.
‘Looks like I’m seeing some familiar faces from back then.’
Many faces he came across in others’ memories were present, not just ordinary lackeys but fairly important adversaries within this group.
They had to hinder as many as possible here.
“Wow! You’ve come!”
“…!”
Just then, Jerry, recognizing him, ran toward Yoo Ji-han with a lovesick expression.
Many of her companions were dying, but all she could see was Yoo Ji-han.
Clang!
As she deflected an attack with her dagger, she said.
“Did you know I was here and come looking for me? Is this the power of love?”
“I had no idea.”
“Oh, stop teasing! You’re the only one for me!”
Yoo Ji-han squinted at Jerry, who only blurted out what she wanted to say.
He didn’t understand why she had feelings for him.
She was definitely someone he couldn’t communicate normally with.
‘Going all out.’
Thud!
Right after the clash with Jerry, Kim Si-hu’s magic followed.
[Wind Nail]
Swoosh!
A thin nail of wind plunged down from above at the precise location and timing.
If Jerry hadn’t quickly rotated her body to the side, the spell would have pierced her skull.
Feeling threatened by the incoming arrow from Min Yu-ri, she took a displeased expression and retreated.
“Babe! Don’t you know my taste? I prefer one-on-one!”
“I’m not here to party.”
Thud thud thud thud…
Sounds of monsters flooding in from the collapsed corridor echoed.
If they dawdled here, it would disadvantage the heroes.
However, just when Yoo Ji-han was about to push through Jerry.
“Everyone stop!!”
A newly arrived man shouted.
As all eyes turned to him, he roughly grabbed someone by the hair and pulled them forward.
“Ugh!”
“Jung Young-wook?!”
Yoo Ji-han and the others widened their eyes.
The person grabbed by the other world citizen was none other than Jung Young-wook.
Seeing him with many injuries, Yoo Ji-han immediately halted his steps.
“If anyone moves even a single step from now on, I’ll kill this brat.”
“Ugh!”
A man holding a dagger to Jung Young-wook’s neck was holding him hostage.
Seeing one of their guild members captured, Park Jae-kyung gritted her teeth.
On the other hand, Jung Young-wook, upon seeing his comrades, seemed unable to speak a word.
His head hung low, unable to make eye contact with others.
‘He’s still alive.’
Confirming Jung Young-wook’s condition from afar, Yoo Ji-han relaxed his grip on the sword.
For now, he was just relieved that he hadn’t died.
Then Yoo Ji-han spoke to the man holding Jung Young-wook by the hair.
“I’ll give you a warning from my side.”
“What?”
“If you kill him, you’ll die too.”
“…!”
Yoo Ji-han calmly predicted death.
The expression of the man whose target he had become twisted in fright.
It was because he knew this was not just a verbal warning.
“Oh, damn! That’s so intense!”
Jerry seemed to really like Yoo Ji-han’s attitude.
