Chapter 98

Despite just sitting and looking down, a pressure of a different dimension poured down on them.

Seeing her, only Song Hyuk-seo gripped the greatsword fiercely.

“Ha Si-ho.”

“If you see me here, don’t you know the answer?”

With those words, Cheon Hong-ryun leaped through the window and landed gracefully.

Seeing her dust-free landing, the members of Giraseong surrounded her, showing a fierce demeanor.

As she said, Song Hyuk-seo was frowning at the current situation.

The school they had targeted was completely empty.

Not a single student, not even an ant, was left inside. It seemed someone had evacuated them beforehand.

Just a few minutes ago, the school was filled with students and teachers.

To have evacuated everyone in such a short time, it was clear the World Returner Association was involved.

No matter how much they assumed an attack was coming, this was too swift a response.

They couldn’t possibly be preparing for an attack every day.

This meant they clearly knew about their plans.

‘Was there really a whistleblower leaking information from within us?’

But those who knew the details of Giraseong were all under contract with the boss.

Was there really someone willing to risk harm to inform the World Returner Association?

I don’t know.

Thinking has never been my strong suit.

But one thing is clear: the World Returner Association has obtained our information.

And the plan has gone awry.

Cheon Hong-ryun scanned the members of Giraseong with an arrogant gaze and smiled lightly.

“All of you are just a ragtag bunch. Asura, it seems only you and that kid next to you are S-class, right?”

“Yeah, we came in large numbers just to tie you down. Kid.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his shadow surged upward.

He had already engulfed the entire school in shadows.

If they’ve prepared for this, we’ll have to improvise.

We didn’t expect the students to be completely gone, but tying down Cheon Hong-ryun was part of the plan.

He knew she was here.

Then, we’ll prioritize that.

Even amidst the engulfing shadows, Cheon Hong-ryun remained relaxed, slowly loosening her shoulders.

“So? Can you even tie me down? Wouldn’t it be quicker for you to die by my hand?”

Seeing her consistently relaxed demeanor, Song Hyuk-seo twitched his eyebrows.

“Asura.”

At that moment, the young Returner next to him seemed to catch on and smiled.

“It seems the Association friends know our plan?”

“The kid’s sharp.”

With that one word, Cheon Hong-ryun’s face twisted into a devilish smile.

“Then did you notice this too?”

Camellia petals began to scatter.

Whoosh-

The wind brushed past the camellia petals.

At that moment, a new camellia bloomed above the heads of Giraseong.

“Gahk!”

Delayed screams echoed from all around.

The Giraseong members on the left were clutching their severed necks, spilling blood as they fell.

An invisible sword slash had taken their heads.

Ziiiiing!

But there was one person who blocked her sword head-on.

With the resonating sound of the sword, the boy called “kid” raised one eyebrow and smirked.

“Hoh.”

Seeing him, Cheon Hong-ryun’s eyes sharpened.

“You’re from the martial arts side. A rejuvenated old man.”

“Nice to meet you. Cheonma, in our world, the number one is the Namgung family.”

The chilling aura of the heavens began to emanate from his resonating sword.

“Let’s see how much difference there is between you and the Cheonma of our world.”

As the storm of heavenly thunder began to swirl around him, red petals started pouring from Cheon Hong-ryun.

[Asura, go over there.]

Facing the battle with Cheon Hong-ryun, Namgung Cheon-ryong used a secret transmission technique.

Hearing his voice, Song Hyuk-seo quietly stared at him, gripping the Shadow Greatsword.

If he leaves, the shadow proclamation will disappear soon.

Then, naturally, Cheon Hong-ryun’s power won’t weaken.

Namgung Cheon-ryong, an S-class Returner, would have to face Cheon Hong-ryun at full strength.

[I don’t plan to let you take away the chance to face the famous Cheonma of this side.]

When selecting the Returner to handle Cheon Hong-ryun, his application was unsettling, but it seems he was serious.

Namgung Cheon-ryong, a Returner who grew bored in his dimension where there was no one worth fighting, returned to Earth.

With his eccentric personality, he recently joined Giraseong solely to face new strong opponents.

Seeing him, Song Hyuk-seo sighed inwardly.

He’s not someone who listens to reason anyway.

If that was his goal from the start, then even if something happens to him, it’s not our responsibility.

‘Anyway, since the plan has gone awry.’

All the plans we set up are now worthless.

It’s better to create variables the opponent can’t anticipate.

“Where are you going.”

As soon as Song Hyuk-seo turned, Cheon Hong-ryun’s sword flew at him.

Clang!

But Cheon Hong-ryun’s sword was blocked once again by Namgung Cheon-ryong.

He smirked, revealing his desire for battle in his eyes.

Cheon Hong-ryun’s eyes began to distort.

Originally, she was supposed to tie down Song Hyuk-seo.

But now, an S-class Returner who wasn’t part of the plan has appeared.

Given that even Eun-namu didn’t have this information, it’s clear Giraseong noticed something and prepared him separately.

“Cheonma. If you look away, I’ll take both your eyes.”

“Haa.”

Seeing Namgung Cheon-ryong swinging his sword at her, Cheon Hong-ryun let out a small sigh.

Cheon Hong-ryun’s eyes turned red as anger began to flow around her.

Because of Namgung Cheon-ryong, she had now lost Song Hyuk-seo.

Namgung Cheon-ryong, feeling a chilling sensation piercing his entire body, forced a smile.

The magical energy flowing from her was so intense that even he, who had reached the brink of the life-and-death realm, was somewhat overwhelmed.

I knew she was famous, but she’s a real monster.

His competitive spirit surged from his dantian to the top of his head.

“I spared that guy. Do you think I’ll spare you?”

“Then don’t spare me and do it!”

“Bastard.”

With Namgung Cheon-ryong’s shout to shake off the magical energy, heavenly thunder and camellia petals collided.

The Giraseong Returners, far inferior to those present, could only scream.

Song Hyuk-seo’s shadow ran through the city, stirring it up.

Meanwhile, screams began to echo from all around as people looked up at the sky.

The distorted sky reflected the appearance of another dimension.

“It’s started.”

Looking up at the sky from the shadows, Song Hyuk-seo muttered to himself.

Giraseong’s biggest move.

It was to connect dimensions above Seoul’s Jung-gu district.

Giraseong had been researching artificial dimensional gates, accumulating knowledge.

The knowledge they gathered by pressuring dimensional experts eventually broke through a certain point.

As a result, they advanced their research to open not just small-scale but large-scale dimensional gates.

Their dimensional gate research had practically reached a singularity.

Earth’s dimensions are twisted because of the Tower of Apocalypse.

Like a fishing net with a large mouth but a small entrance.

It’s easy to enter but hard to leave.

All dimensional movement events on Earth are essentially the whims of the Tower of Apocalypse.

It’s practically impossible for individuals to intentionally move dimensions outside of Earth.

Thus, even if some Returners wish to return to the dimension they came from after returning.

They can’t cross the twisted dimensional walls and are forced to remain on Earth.

So Giraseong’s research developed in another direction.

If we can’t go, then bring them here.

Instead of moving ourselves, connect so that other dimensions can come here.

The first result of that research was the artificial dimensional gate.

Giraseong went further, advancing to the next stage of research.

That is, dimensional fusion.

Opening a dimensional gate on a planetary scale to fuse dimensions together.

And invading such dimensions to create their own world is Giraseong’s current goal.

‘It’s absurd.’

Some might say it’s an impossible plan, but the determination of Returners is terrifying.

Returners are those who clawed their way back from a world of nothing.

For them, determination is natural, and the impossible is just something to break through.

Thus, Giraseong is now rushing forward like a runaway train to break through the impossible.

Not caring if small parts break, as long as they reach their goal.

‘That’s the difference between us and the World Returner Association.’

The World Returner Association manages all matters related to Returners.

In contrast, Giraseong focuses solely on realizing their desires, pouring their hearts into dimensional gate research.

Thus, they have reached a level where they can boast of being the world’s best in dimensional gates.

‘That’s why I had to join Giraseong.’

In terms of dimensional gate knowledge, Giraseong is overwhelmingly superior.

Thus, I believed I could retrieve my younger sister’s body, swallowed by the dimensional rift.

But even Giraseong, after repeated research, hasn’t grasped everything about dimensions.

Opening such a large-scale dimensional gate now is, for Giraseong.

An act they consider the last, pouring immense resources and risks.

The problems that will arise from opening such a large-scale dimensional gate are beyond their imagination.

Yet, they committed to this scale of action.

The reason was none other than to draw out Ha Si-ho.

The size of the dimensional gate above is absurdly large, covering the entire Jung-gu district of Seoul.

Moreover, this large-scale dimensional gate is a rapid one.

‘A large-scale rapid dimensional gate activated without warning has its limits, no matter how quickly Hunters and Returners respond.’

If left alone, civilian casualties will be unimaginable.

The entire Jung-gu district of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, could be wiped out.

The only one capable of stopping a dimensional gate of this scale is Ha Si-ho, the pinnacle of spatial abilities.

Of course, even she won’t find it easy.

It will consume a significant amount of her power.

‘That’s what we’re aiming for.’

While Ha Si-ho exhausts herself stopping the dimensional gate, and Returners and Hunters face the dimensional beings pouring out.

We will solely target Ha Si-ho, abduct her, and escape.

Giraseon has no reason to stop the dimensional beings or the dimensional gate.

Preventing such chaos is the responsibility of the Returner Association and Hunters, not Giraseon.

For them, chaos is an opportunity.

That’s why they went through with this.

‘In the end, isn’t that what it’s about?’

Climbing the building’s exterior with shadows, Song Hyuk-seo let out a hollow laugh, as if recalling the past.

‘Those with much to protect are ultimately more vulnerable.’

Holding onto something until the end is incredibly difficult.

No matter how hard you try to hold on, something always slips through.

And this time, what slips through will be Ha Si-ho.

Song Hyuk-seo doesn’t know how much information has leaked.

But even if he knew, there are things that can’t be stopped.

The large-scale rapid dimensional gate has been in preparation for a long time.

Whether Song Hyuk-seo joined or not, Giraseon had been planning this for a long time and intended to carry it out.

“Kyaaah!”

“Dimensional beings!”

At that moment, an endless number of dimensional beings poured through the rapidly transparent dimensional gate above, eyeing the prey below.

This rapid dimensional gate connected to none other than Fantasy Category 32.

A hellish world where humans don’t exist, only monsters.

The Returner who came back from that dimension was confined to a mental hospital, daily scribbling monster drawings on the walls.

Fantasy Category 32 is not a normal dimension.

‘Like the Zerg from the game, they said.’

Recalling an older Giraseon Returner who peeked into the dimension and called it creepy, Song Hyuk-seo stood tall on the rooftop.

At that moment, the sky split open, and dimensional beings began pouring out.

The large-scale rapid dimensional gate had opened.

Screams and chaos erupted below.

“They’re out.”

Looking up at the sky, Song Hyuk-seo muttered, and shadows began to cover the rooftop as monsters appeared.

Answering the call of the Shadow King, they had arrived.

Not long ago, Song Hyuk-seo summoned monsters from his dimension through an artificial dimensional gate.

Though he had left his dimension with his younger sister Se-hee to no longer live as the Monster King.

He became the Monster King again for her sake.

“Attack the Hunters trying to stop the dimensional beings.”

The Shadow King ordered the monsters to attack humans once more.

From a Spiritual Mage to a Hunter.

He decided to become Asura once again.

At that moment.

Feeling a chilling sensation and a massive energy wave throughout his body, Song Hyuk-seo froze.

“This is.”

A sensation he had felt not long ago.

The moment that sensation touched his sense of danger.

Boom!

A red lightning bolt suddenly shot up into the sky.

In an instant, the area was ignited in red light, so intense that Song Hyuk-seo frowned, unable to see anything.

As his vision slowly recovered, shock filled Song Hyuk-seo’s eyes.

In the blue sky where the clouds had been blown away.

The dimensional beings that were about to pour down moments ago were all swept away by a single red lightning bolt.

In the face of that absurd output, not a single dimensional being could emerge from the large-scale dimensional gate, all swept away.

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