Murim Login - Chapter 416

From afar, I could hear Chief Choi shouting.

For a brief moment, through the swarm of hundreds of monsters between us, I glimpsed his face before it vanished again.

Then, something flashed through the air, spinning before landing nearby.

“This is…”

It was easy to recognize—it was the *Spirit of a Hero*. Chief Choi shouted from somewhere unseen.

“I’m not going to ask you to come with me. Instead, take that sword and go. And… be careful!”

There was a lot of meaning behind his words. Without saying anything, I pulled out the *Spirit of a Hero*.

Beyond the countless monsters filling my vision, I could see a city shrouded in darkness.

“Let’s go.”

Lee Jung-ryong smiled gently.

—

Crossing a battlefield entangled with tens of thousands of enemies was nearly impossible.

But…

“Whirl! **Blizzard**!”

“Johnson, aren’t you pushing yourself too hard? If you keep this up, I won’t be able to stay out of it either.”

A war hero of the Great Cataclysm, the world’s greatest war mage and archer, unleashed powerful area spells and lightning-like arrows.

“For Her Majesty, the Queen!”

“Long Live The Queen!”

An S-rank hunter who appeared like a comet, the Prince of England, led the elite royal knights in a charge.

“Formation J! Sweep them all away!”

“Fucking jonna fight!”

“Eeeee! Let’s go!”

With the resolve for noble sacrifice, hundreds of warriors moved forward as one.

Boom!

The path opened.

It was a path meant only for three people.

It was the final route to end this war, and they cut through tens of thousands of monsters like a single ray of light.

Slash!

The brilliant light radiating from two swords and one spear swept away the monsters.

A Lycanthrope’s head, with its sharp fangs, flew into the air, and the massive 6-meter-tall boss monster, the Twin-Headed Ogre, had its limbs severed.

Even five Death Knights, each leading their own army, appeared to block the way, but it changed nothing.

– “Commander’s name… Order death…”

Jin Tae-kyung muttered softly.

“Two-two-one. Sound good?”

Lee Jung-ryong nodded.

“Let’s do that.”

Before Wu Haixing could even question, the two were already charging forward.

In just two steps, they closed the distance and swung their weapons without hesitation.

Boom!

The Death Knight staggered as its newly formed body barely blocked the whip-like energy blast.

Its sword, overflowing with dark energy, shattered into pieces, and the Death Knight’s glowing eyes widened.

– “What…?!”

Boom! Slash!

Second strike. Third strike. And then—

Swish!

A lightning-like finishing blow.

The upper half of the Death Knight’s body, along with its armor, slowly slid to the ground. The flickering light in its eyes, like a candle in the wind, went out.

Before the Death Knights’ bodies hit the ground, Jin Tae-kyung and Lee Jung-ryong were already rushing toward their next target.

“Damn it! I’m in too!”

Wu Haixing joined in a beat later.

The fate of the remaining three Death Knights was already sealed.

Seeing their commanders destroyed, the monsters instinctively recoiled in fear.

Slice! Slash!

Jin Tae-kyung cut down everything in his path as he advanced. And at some point, he realized—

There were no more monsters in front of him.

The endless horde blocking his way had vanished. All that was left was a broken road and wilderness stretching out on both sides.

At the end of the path, a city shrouded in thick fog awaited them.

Jin Tae-kyung, Lee Jung-ryong, and Wu Haixing charged toward the city, where **Arc Lich** awaited.

– “You wicked humans. I have long harbored a wish.”

What is it?

– “It is to return home and enjoy a peaceful life.”

You don’t even remember where your home is.

– “How could you say such a cruel thing?”

Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. So, where is your home?

– “The first place I regained consciousness: Korea. I’ve decided to call it my home.”

As I ran toward the city, I hesitated for a moment.

‘Is this guy insane?’

A monster talking about obtaining citizenship—what nonsense. His intentions were obvious.

– “Please, let’s go back.”

No.

– “My head is spinning, and my stomach feels queasy.”

How strange. The more I talk to you, the more I feel the same way.

– “It’s not too late! Stop! If we go there, there’s no turning back!”

No, you’re wrong.

“It’s already too late.”

I muttered inwardly as I took another step. As we entered the city, a dense fog and cold air welcomed us.

At the same time, an all-too-familiar yet slightly different energy brushed across my body.

“This is…”

A sticky, unpleasant energy. It didn’t take long for me to realize what it was, and Lee Jung-ryong and Wu Haixing must have sensed it too.

“Mr. Lee,” Wu Haixing said, his voice shaking.

“I see.”

Lee Jung-ryong surveyed the surroundings with a sunken gaze.

“It’s a **Gate**. No wonder so many monsters were pouring out; there was a reason.”

His guess was only half correct. I shook my head slightly and corrected him.

“The Gate transformation isn’t fully complete yet.”

Wu Haixing swallowed nervously and asked, “How do you know that?”

“Just a feeling.”

“What?”

“Believe it or don’t.”

“…What a strange guy.”

Wu Haixing looked incredulous, but Lee Jung-ryong was different.

His gaze, filled with both suspicion and surprise, lingered on me.

“How did you know?”

“Did you already suspect it?” I asked.

“I just remembered. It’s the same feeling I had in North America during the Great Cataclysm, long ago.”

“I see.”

“But this phenomenon hasn’t happened even once since the Cataclysm. How did you figure it out?”

“Like I said, it was just a hunch. I had a feeling.”

“A feeling…?”

Lee Jung-ryong looked at me with a curious expression, but I had no further explanation to give. Even if I told the truth, he wouldn’t understand.

‘I can’t exactly show him the system window.’

I glanced at the air, where a system message appeared as soon as we entered the city.

**Ding!**

– You have entered the high-rank Gate, **[City Engulfed in Darkness]**!

– You have infiltrated **[Arc Lich’s]** lair!

– The city, corrupted by dark magic, is transforming into a massive Gate. Defeat the Arc Lich to stop the transformation and prevent the catastrophe.

– **Quest: The One Who Returned from Death** has been generated!

– **You cannot use the login function until the quest is completed!**

‘Gate transformation…’

It was an event described only in textbooks. Looking beyond the fog, Lee Jung-ryong spoke again.

“Gate transformations were rare even during the Cataclysm. For it to happen, a monster with immense power must take root and spread its magic.”

If it’s a powerful monster, there was no doubt.

“Arc Lich.”

“Yes, it must be him. He’s been using his magic to turn this city into a giant Gate. That’s why he hasn’t appeared on the battlefield until now.”

Just the number of monsters that had appeared so far was over 200,000.

That alone was an unprecedented disaster, but if the Gate transformation completed?

‘It’s game over.’

Humans would eventually win, but countless cities would be destroyed, and millions—perhaps tens of millions—would die. It had to be stopped before it was too late.

“We don’t have much time. We need to hurry.”

Lee Jung-ryong nodded at my words.

“Let’s move while avoiding as many monsters as possible. We’ll need all our strength for the fight against him. Wu Haixing, you too.”

“…Got it.”

We pressed forward, cutting through the thick fog.

Unlike the small town where I fought Lei Fei before, this city, the base of the Arc Lich, was at least ten times larger and still bore traces of its once-bustling civilization.

Collapsed skyscrapers loomed like a forest, and what was once a prosperous district now lay in ruins.

We moved swiftly and quietly, senses sharp, navigating the desolate landscape.

After some time, Lee Jung-ryong, leading the way, suddenly spoke.

“Did you know?”

“If you say it like that, I obviously don’t. And now doesn’t seem like the best time for twenty questions.”

He chuckled quietly at my quick reply.

“Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about you.”

“Are you confessing your feelings to me? It seems like poor timing.”

“In a way, maybe. I keep thinking that one day you’ll surpass me.”

“You don’t need to worry. Even in ten years, I won’t catch up to you.”

“Ha. Do you really believe that?”

“No. I just said it because I thought you’d like to hear it.”

“You’re as straightforward as ever. Just like when we first met.”

I’m not usually one with a good memory, but my first meeting with Lee Jung-ryong is still clear. It seems the same goes for him.

“We started off on the wrong foot. It’s a shame.”

“Indeed. If we had talked things out instead of cutting off limbs, we might’ve had a warmer beginning.”

“Ji-hoon, that kid, acted out of youthful impulsiveness. I apologize.”

“It wasn’t just your student’s fault.”

“Haha, true. I should’ve taught him better.”

I glanced at Lee Jung-ryong’s back as he leaped between the buildings with precise movements. I wondered what kind of expression he had right now.

As he chuckled softly, he continued talking.

“It seems you’ve grown close to Min-woo.”

“We get along well enough.”

“Unexpected, but I suppose your personalities match.”

“He pays well.”

“A business relationship, huh? I’m glad to hear it. Does that mean I could get closer to you too?”

I laughed and replied.

“About seven years ago, at the Hunter training center, I ate a red bean bun, and it was so delicious I cried. But once I got out into society, it didn’t taste as good anymore. I haven’t eaten one since.”

“Now that you’re full?”

“I’ve already earned enough for several generations to live comfortably. My belly’s already full. There’s no point in stuffing more in—I’d just burst and die.”

“You’re wrong. People are always hungry animals. No matter how much they shove in, they’re never satisfied. Do you know why?”

“Hmm. Do you have an eating disorder?”

Lee Jung-ryong replied in a soft voice.

“It’s greed. For more money, more honor, more love. They always want more.”

“Like you?”

“Yes. Like me.”

He laughed loudly. The sound echoed through the thick fog, but he didn’t seem to care.

“Laughing may bring good fortune, but in this case, I think it might attract monsters.”

“There are no monsters nearby. You know that.”

“Still, it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.”

Swoosh!

A foul-smelling wind brushed against us as we continued jumping from building to building, crossing twenty meters in a single leap.

There were no signs of monsters, and fewer and fewer buildings came into view.

“Let’s slow down from here.”

“It’s dark. Narrow, too.”

“Just bear with it. By the way, can I ask you one more thing?”

“Anything.”

“What did Min-woo say about this mission?”

“He didn’t say much, but…”

I glanced between Lee Jung-ryong and Wu Haixing before continuing.

“He said it was dangerous and told me not to go.”

“And?”

“He specifically said not to go with untrustworthy people. Something like that.”

The smile on Lee Jung-ryong’s face deepened.

“Do you also distrust me and him?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“Well…”

I smiled as I spoke.

“Well… I’m certain.”

“Certain?”

“Yes.”

I smiled again and spoke.

“I’m certain that you bastards are more interested in stabbing me in the back than dealing with the Arc Lich.”

Lee Jung-ryong’s steps came to an abrupt halt.