Chapter 748

“Jin Taekyung has accepted Japan’s request for support.”

Upon hearing Huginn’s report, Michael Silbert replied calmly.

“And?”

“He has formed five teams with elites selected from Ares and the Peace Guild, and the Korean government has mobilized the air force to head to Tokyo. Just in case, I have prepared data on them.”

The tablet PC Huginn handed over contained detailed personal information on the Hunters included in the support force. A faint smile brushed Michael’s lips as he glanced at it.

“Well done. Support from outside Korea?”

“None as of now. If China were to join, it would be a great help… but they lost their core forces in the war with the Arch Lich, and their relations with Japan are not good, so they likely won’t respond to the request.”

This was China, which had already suffered massive losses from the war with the Arch Lich and the terrorist attack in Beijing before the Hellgate.

Even for China, which possessed an enormous number of Hunters, facing a top-tier monster capable of causing a disaster on its own was a burdensome task.

Especially since the country requesting support was Japan, with whom they had the worst diplomatic relations.

“No need to worry about China. Even if the old Chairman wants to help Jin Taekyung, the domestic situation won’t allow it.”

Hearing those words, Huginn realized there was a fact he had not yet been informed of.

“Are you planning to strike China again?”

“Someone might misunderstand if they heard that. A terrorist attack is an unfortunate event that no one can predict until it happens. Don’t you think so?”

Under Michael’s steady gaze, Huginn bowed his head.

“My apologies. I spoke out of turn.”

“Don’t worry about it. Everyone makes mistakes.”

“And this is just my personal thought, but perhaps Shanghai might become the new target.”

Though spoken in a casual tone, Huginn could smell the thick scent of blood within those words.

Shanghai was a major city with the largest population in China.

Following Beijing, which had been the target of the terrorist attack before the Hellgate, it was clear as day that enormous sacrifices would occur.

‘They are paying the price dearly for siding with Jin Taekyung.’

Come to think of it, it wasn’t just China.

Within this series of events that most people considered indiscriminate terrorism, there was a meaning of punishment directed toward the countries and guilds that had shown a friendly attitude toward Jin Taekyung.

‘And the result will be one of two things.’

Muttering inwardly, Huginn looked at his superior.

There stood a conqueror with the grandest ambition in this world, advancing toward a vast goal.

But why?

‘I have a bad feeling.’

The situation was clearly perfect.

Leviathan was a monster as powerful as the Arch Lich.

And unlike the Arch Lich subjugation, which involved as many as six S-rank Hunters, the current Jin Taekyung couldn’t expect any external help beyond his own forces, including Japan’s.

But…

‘Jin Taekyung. If that guy overcomes even this…’

An ominous thought surfaced.

That this trap might instead become a sturdy rope, pulling Jin Taekyung—stuck in a quagmire—out of it.

However, Huginn’s worries were soon buried by the vibration that arrived.

Thud, thud, thud.

[Field entry complete. Preparing for descent in 10 seconds.]

The trembling aircraft and the report transmitted through the speaker came at the same time.

Then, his superior’s low voice reached Huginn’s ears.

“It has begun.”

Michael, now clad in dazzling silver armor, turned his gaze out the window.

A major city engulfed in the monster’s roars and enormous flames.

The battlefield that would once again imprint the name Michael Silbert upon the entire world was there.

“Prepare, Huginn.”

Pressing down the helmet engraved with a crown, he who looked like an ancient god continued speaking to his raven.

“Prepare to become the greatest, whom no one can deny.”

The wait was long, and the pain was deep.

Now, he wanted to paint over this world, already dyed in countless colors, with himself. Not Cheon Tae-min, nor Jin Taekyung, but precisely the name Michael Silbert.

Humanity, which dominated the five oceans and six continents, attached names they decided upon to all lifeforms of the past and present.

Rabbit. Dog. Cat. Horse. Dinosaur…

However, exceptions clearly existed.

Certain beings passed down from the distant past possessed forms and mighty power that humanity could not fathom, and it was difficult to explain them as something else.

At this very moment, like one being driving them into calamity.

GROOOOOAN.

A low roar resonated in all directions.

Beneath the deep water surface mixed with countless debris and blood, the impossibly enormous mythical monster advanced with the waves, crushing and sweeping away everything in its path.

CRASH!

Some called it a crocodile, others described it as a whale.

But humanity ultimately couldn’t define it as anything.

It was far too massive to be treated as a mere living creature, and it possessed inexplicable, mysterious power.

Thus, it was called an indescribable monster, and after a long time, it came to possess a single name in this world that meant only itself.

That name, mixed within the screams humans let out in the distance.

“Le, Leviathan!”

“That’s an order! B-rank Hunters and below, withdraw from the battlefield immediately…!”

KRAAAAAASH!

The clamorous shouts and screams vanished. A wave containing immense power swallowed and shattered everything.

Humans, buildings, even the utterly insignificant defense magic.

RUMBLE…

Leviathan, having raised waves dozens of meters high and swept the surroundings, let out a satisfied roar.

It had truly been a long time.

Waking from that tedious sleep, and running wild to its heart’s content like now.

‘Yes, that was the last time.’

Leviathan recalled its master.

The Demon King Asmodeus.

The absolute being who unified the chaotic demon realm and subjugated all monsters.

But even Asmodeus, so mighty, ultimately fell by human hands, and Leviathan entered the deep sea to sleep.

In this world where its master had disappeared, it could no longer obtain the enormous amounts of magical power and sustenance as before. To survive until the day he might return, it needed to conserve power.

And that wait was not in vain.

‘It has changed. It cannot be compared to the time when the Demon King was present, but it has clearly changed.’

Leviathan had been half in doubt until just after waking from sleep and crossing the ocean.

But the closer it got to this place, the more clearly it could perceive it.

The abundant magical power permeating the water, land, and air.

And what, exactly, had awakened it from its slumber.

…

At some moment, Leviathan’s enormous eyes flashed.

From within the deep water surface that had become part of the sea, amidst countless building debris and human corpses, an intense energy was being transmitted.

‘That.’

No mistake. This was the enticing scent of demonic essence, the source of power monsters possess.

Moreover, a pure lump of magical power retaining its original energy, untouched by human hands.

An excellent sustenance, more than enough to replenish the power it had consumed so far, was waiting for Leviathan in human territory.

‘Yes, so that was it.’

Leviathan realized how it could have awakened.

With the magical power permeating this world now and something containing that level of energy, it was fully possible.

Leviathan was the calamity and ruler of the sea. The body of the starved monster, after a long period of sleep, reacted to the wave of power transmitted through the seawater.

‘If only I can make that magical power my own.’

Leviathan’s eyes filled with greed. A feast laid out before its eyes. There was no reason to refuse.

SWOOSH!

Leviathan surged forward.

As it advanced to swallow its prey, the water depth shallowed and part of its back broke the surface, but there wasn’t the slightest hesitation in the monster’s movement.

It had already assessed everything. The humans blocking its path were weak, and the seawater obeying its will surged on all sides.

“I-it’s coming!”

“Lightning mages, prepare!”

“Long-range units, fire!”

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! ZZZZT! ZZZZT!

Countless arrows and lightning magic crossed the space and rained down. A concentrated volley poured out by hastily assembled Hunters with all their might.

And the result was pitifully insignificant.

BOOM!

After a single explosion, the Hunters who confirmed the revealed scene widened their eyes.

“What is this…!”

Slight scorch marks and dozens of wounds.

No, scratches.

That was the entirety of the damage they inflicted upon the monster before their eyes, and the retribution that followed was harsh.

WHOOOSH! BANG!

A suddenly revealed enormous tail struck the water surface.

As the waves surged up with a roar, the tanks at the front gritted their teeth. Planting their half-submerged legs, they stacked Tower Shields layer upon layer to build a wall.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Powerful, lightning-fast movements.

Though their numbers were fewer than a hundred, those who remained were at least B-rank or higher Hunters. As seasoned warriors, they knew their duty.

“Formation-!”

“Don’t back down! Hold!”

“Protect us from the enemy, Great Shield!”

And at that moment, when the tanks’ desperate shouts and the mages’ spell incantations mixed—

Perish.

Along with demonic language that no one present could understand, the enormous waves surging around Leviathan split as they advanced.

SWOOSH!

One wave became dozens, dozens became hundreds of streams of water. Imbued with mighty magical power, they took the form of spears and assailed the Hunters.

KABOOOM!

A shockwave arrived with a roar, shaking the surroundings.

Hundreds of spears made of water and magical power tore through the layered defense magic and crushed the Tower Shields blocking the front like an iron wall.

CRACK! SPLASH!

“Kuh… huk!”

Water spears that even swallowed screams shattered armor and sliced through bone and flesh.

Along with streams of water dyed red, thoroughly soaked in blood, a fierce wind swept over the heads of Hunters collapsing like crumbling sand.

VROOOOM! VROOOOM! VROOOOM!

Propellers spun wildly.

Dozens of unmanned combat aircraft that pierced through the storm poured out the firearms and missiles mounted on their bodies without a moment’s hesitation.

Annihilation of Leviathan?

They didn’t even dream of it.

Before the main force capable of dealing with it arrived, their sole goal was to delay that monster for even the briefest moment.

But contrary to the wishes of those watching from the operations control room, the power and authority Leviathan possessed were far too mighty.

GROOOOOAN.

The ancient monster that commanded tidal waves and storms howled. Lightning falling from the sky already filled with dark clouds swept through the unmanned combat aircraft.

THUD, THUD! BOOM!

Crashes and explosions. Or sinkings.

Leviathan, standing at the center of that calamity, drove its enormous body forward.

Though it felt some fatigue from expending no small amount of magical power after its long sleep, such things were of no concern at all.

That lump of magical power rapidly approaching even at this very moment.

As long as it existed, emitting an enticing scent enough to paralyze reason, it could recover its original power.

It could cover this land with tidal waves and make it its own.

GRRRAAA!

Finally, with its prey before it, Leviathan opened its maw wide.

Like a crocodile, it tried to swallow in one gulp the corpses and debris submerged in the deep water, and the lump of magical power hidden somewhere among them.

No, it tried to swallow.

The next moment—

If not for a single streak of light that fell onto the undulating water surface.

WHOOOOSH! CRASH!

A bluish-white flame containing searing heat incinerated the waves.