Chapter 169

Heuksan, I had no intention of wasting time like this when I didn’t even know how far she had gone.

Upon hearing my thoughts, Ayu’s appearance instantly transformed into Cheon Hong-ryeon.

As she drew a sword from the fluttering camellia petals, an overwhelming aura of dominance poured out.

“Okay, that’s my husband for you.”

Ayu also seemed satisfied with my choice.

“It’ll be faster to just catch them all.”

“Wait a minute!”

It was the moment Ayu let out a cold smile.

Suddenly, a man fluent in Korean popped up in front of us.

With his messy blond curls and black glasses, he looked like a foreign engineering student.

But the energy emanating from him was unmistakably that of an S-class Hunter.

‘This guy must be Pentagon, the S-class Hunter from the U.S.’

Famous for defending the entire U.S., he was also well-known as a Hunter who significantly boosted the country’s power.

“Are you from the World Returner Association here for this matter?”

Alters had most S-class Hunters under their radar.

Thus, anyone not in their database was treated as a Returner, hence the question.

“And this must be Kang Ha-chan, the world’s only SS-class Hunter.”

Then, as if recognizing me, he spoke.

Being called that way made me feel quite embarrassed.

It seems Seolhyang and the Hunter Management Bureau had done a good job boosting my reputation.

“Since you approached us, can I assume you have no intention of fighting?”

“Yes, of course. Alters has no intention of making enemies with the World Returner Association or Kang Ha-chan.”

That’s good to hear.

We also had no desire to confront Alters.

So, I glanced at Seolhyang, Eun-hyeon, and Ayu, and all three of them withdrew their hostility.

Looking at them, I turned back to Pentagon.

“You mentioned ‘this matter’ earlier. I’d like to confirm if it’s the same as ours. Could you tell us what happened?”

“Yes, of course.”

Pentagon cooperatively answered my question.

At the same time, as Pentagon waved his hand behind him, the waiting S-class Hunters also revealed themselves.

It was clear they had no intention to fight.

“The incident on our side is due to the kidnapping of Chief Wolfgang Beiger.”

Hearing about the kidnapping, I flinched momentarily.

Could Heuksan have kidnapped and taken him away?

Why would she do such a thing?

If Heuksan really kidnapped Beiger, things would get quite complicated, so I let Pentagon continue.

“The kidnappers were people we’ve never seen before. If we haven’t seen them, it means they’re not Hunters.”

“Wait, the kidnappers?”

At the same time, I realized the conversation was heading in a strange direction.

“Yes, about four individuals. We considered if they might be Returners, but we concluded the World Returner Association had no reason to do such a thing.”

Indeed, the World Returner Association had no reason to commit such an act.

Even though the relationship between Alters and the World Returner Association wasn’t great, Beiger had always avoided the path of Returners.

“That’s correct. The World Returner Association has no reason to do such a thing.”

Meanwhile, Seolhyang interjected into our conversation.

She too had noticed the conversation was taking a strange turn.

“So, we’ve been considering the possibility of Dimensional Invaders.”

Hearing this, Seolhyang and I exchanged glances.

Both of us had other suspicions.

“……Clearly, the current dimensional instability causing Dimensional Invaders is limited to Seoul, right?”

“Yes, we’ve confirmed that much. Dimensional Invaders are definitely not the case.”

Even though there were cases like Blood Demon or Heavenly Slaughter Emperor, we’ve strengthened our defenses since then.

Dimensional Invaders can practically be ruled out now.

Then, the implication of this story was simple.

“High-level Dimensional Beings with intelligence.”

Having personally experienced it recently, I spoke with certainty.

Seolhyang also frowned uncomfortably.

“Even we can’t manage all the Dimensional Gates worldwide. If Dimensional Beings entered from areas outside our surveillance, it’s entirely possible.”

Even with Returners spread across the globe, their surveillance has limits.

Especially in places like Iceland, where human presence is scarce, Dimensional Gates are practically left unattended.

If high-level Dimensional Beings with intelligence hid there, neither Hunters nor the World Returner Association would know.

“……But who would have thought they could reach the Tower of Apocalypse.”

Hearing Seolhyang’s words, I looked at Baeksan.

It was to confirm if our assumptions were correct.

Meeting my gaze, Baeksan’s brow furrowed.

“Kang Ha-chan, I told you the situation is moving faster.”

Then, Baeksan spoke to me while listening to our conversation.

“The Tower of Apocalypse doesn’t exist only on Earth.”

Hearing that, my eyes widened.

With countless dimensions existing, it’s possible.

But what Baeksan was saying seemed more significant.

“The Tower of Apocalypse existed in another dimension before appearing on Earth, and the beings there climbed it.”

Baeksan slowly shared what he knew.

“But for some reason, the Tower of Apocalypse left their dimension and moved elsewhere. This time, it was Earth.”

The Tower of Apocalypse moving between dimensions.

Though I didn’t know the significance, I realized one thing.

“……The Dimensional Beings that entered now are from the world where the Tower of Apocalypse once existed.”

Baeksan’s eyes confirmed it.

Seolhyang, despite not hearing Baeksan’s story, seemed to grasp everything, her eyes wide open.

“They aim to reach the top floor of the Tower of Apocalypse. Even if it’s in another dimension.”

“What’s at the top floor of the Tower of Apocalypse?”

“That…….”

Baeksan moved his lips, but no sound came out.

Realizing this, he pressed his lips with his hand and clicked his tongue.

“Anyway, they’re aiming for the top floor. When I climbed the Tower of Apocalypse, they were the most troublesome.”

If they kidnapped Beiger to extract information about Earth where the Tower of Apocalypse is, it makes sense.

Having roughly grasped the situation, I looked at Pentagon, who was just listening.

“May I ask one more thing?”

When I asked, Pentagon nodded as if it was no trouble.

“Have you seen a woman with white hair and red eyes passing by?”

“If you mean that woman.”

Pentagon seemed to have an idea and answered.

“Certainly, after the four unidentified individuals took Beiger, she was seen passing by.”

It’s clear Heuksan entered the Tower of Apocalypse.

“Understood. Then we’ll proceed to climb the floors. If we find Beiger along the way, we’ll prioritize his rescue.”

“Ah, in that case, we’ll provide support.”

He offered to attach Alters’ Hunters to us.

“Sorry, but we can’t accept that.”

“Huh? But since our comrade is involved, you don’t have to decline…….”

However, I had no choice but to refuse.

It wasn’t because their support was lacking.

“You’re being annoying. You can’t keep up with us, that’s why.”

Ayu’s blunt remark was rude to them.

Unfortunately, they would only hinder our movement.

“Ha, listen to this. Returners really look down on Hunters.”

“Arthur.”

At that moment, a short man with a displeased look glared at us.

Pentagon tried to stop him, but the young-looking man named Arthur was already showing hostility.

“Disrespect has its limits. We can’t keep up? We’re S-class Hunters.”

I noticed he was a new face.

He must have recently awakened as a Hunter.

“Hmm, really?”

His statement lightly touched Ayu’s nerves.

“I’ll give you 10 seconds.”

Ayu said as she casually walked forward.

“I won’t attack at all. Do whatever you can to attack me.”

A simple way to show the gap, as if saying.

Ayu’s face wore an arrogant smile as she spoke.

Hearing that, Arthur furrowed his thick caterpillar-like eyebrows.

Then, he drew an empty sword hilt.

“Let’s see if you can still say that after 10 seconds.”

10 seconds is enough time for beings beyond humans to kill someone dozens of times over.

Thus, Arthur scoffed at Ayu’s 10-second offer.

“Hey.”

Seeing Pentagon’s troubled expression asking me to stop him, I asked Arthur.

“Is that person a Hunter who awakened physical abilities?”

“Ah, yes, but.”

“That’s a relief.”

Hearing Pentagon’s answer, I felt momentarily relieved.

“He won’t die.”

As I said that, Arthur charged at Ayu with a blue sword energy.

The intense energy sparking showed his output was extraordinary.

Simultaneously, a blue aura burst from his body as he swiftly swung his sword at Ayu.

Kwaaaaaaang!

A fierce storm erupted between Ayu and him, proving his power.

Even as the wind blew my hair, I calmly watched the scene.

“Ugh?!”

At that moment, a panicked voice came from within the storm.

Arthur’s sword had clearly struck Ayu’s neck, but not even a scratch was left.

“What are you doing? You?”

Ayu’s body was surrounded by fluttering camellia petals, lightly scattering her magical energy.