Chapter 85
In front of the bamboo forest leading to the Great Buddha Temple.
Wi Gwakdu, dressed in a tracksuit, stepped out of a motel room often used by tourists.
Wearing a light gray tracksuit and chewing on a hot bar, he had the letters ROKA—symbolizing the Republic of Korea Army—emblazoned across his chest.
Ring ring.
His phone rang. After checking the caller ID, Wi Gwakdu scowled for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.
“Hoo! Communications security! Major Wi Gwakdu speaking.”
The only person who could make Nansan, Wi Gwakdu, nervous.
[It’s me, Jang Man-deok.]
It was the Minister of National Defense, Jang Man-deok.
[Nansan.]
“Major! Wi Gwakdu!”
[Instead of returning, you’ve only written ‘in progress’ on your mission report.]
“Yes, sir! It is still in progress!”
[That’s not like you. Is there a reason?]
“My apologies, sir! I have failed to capture the target!”
[You, Nansan, failed? Is that man, Bang Hyuk-min, truly that strong?]
The word “strong” pressed a small button in Wi Gwakdu’s heart.
“No, sir! I could not use my full strength without your order!”
[Are you referring to a kill order?]
“As you know, sir, my abilities do not include a provision for live capture! To be frank, without a kill order, I do not believe I can defeat the target!”
[For you to say that, it only proves he is someone we must recruit for our military.]
“If he were to join the Divine Power Unit, he would undoubtedly be a great asset!”
[I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if I were to order you to bring that man before my eyes right now, could you do it?]
It was an order from Jang Man-deok to break the promise he had made to Chang-kyung, his senior from the Karma Unit.
Though he considered the principles of the Karma Unit as precious as his own life, Wi Gwakdu only furrowed his brow for a moment before immediately complying.
“It is possible, sir!”
[Hearing your voice, it seems you wouldn’t be able to bring him back alive.]
“My apologies, sir.”
Jang Man-deok had brought Wi Gwakdu out of the Karma Unit back when he was a Lieutenant General at Army Headquarters.
It was the time when rumors of the Karma Unit’s disbandment were circulating, and for Wi Gwakdu—uncertain what to do next—Jang Man-deok had been nothing short of a savior.
Moreover, he was now the direct superior of Wi Gwakdu, a soldier to the core who lived and died by orders.
No matter how proud the principles of the Karma Unit were, Jang Man-deok’s orders took precedence for Wi Gwakdu.
“However, if you wish for a live capture, I will make it happen!”
[But your body wouldn’t come out unscathed.]
After the Divine Power Unit was formed, Jang Man-deok and Wi Gwakdu had lived in a superior-subordinate relationship for a long time.
Though Wi Gwakdu only ever said he would do it, Jang Man-deok miraculously read the message hidden beneath.
A moment of silence passed.
[Then I’ll give you an order.]
“Sir!”
[I’ve received word that the White Mountain and Haeundae Guilds are moving to your location. Ten from White Mountain, ten from the Haeundae Guild, plus one team leader each, for a total of twenty-two.]
“Sir!”
[The intel came too late. They departed a while ago, so they may have already reached the area.]
“Sir!”
[It seems their objective is you and that young man, the Legendary Title Holder….]
Wi Gwakdu’s eyebrow twitched.
[Can you survive?]
At the question that followed, Wi Gwakdu’s expression gradually twisted.
“Sir! If that is your command, I will obey.”
[If possible, try to save the young man as well. I repeat: your survival is the first priority, and the survival of that man—the Legendary Title Holder Bang Hyuk-min—is the second.]
“Sir!”
[I’m sorry for telling you so late. For the sake of our military… you must survive.]
“Sir!”
The call ended, and Wi Gwakdu’s face contorted violently.
A deep rage surged around him, intense enough that the grinding of his teeth could be heard.
It was then.
Ssssh.
At the far end of the long road, he saw a group approaching—its numbers matching what Jang Man-deok had said.
Wi Gwakdu tossed the hot bar to the ground and focused on their attire.
And he saw a single mark.
[White Mountain]
“I am a soldier of the Republic of Korea Army, loyal to my country.”
The moment he saw the mark, Wi Gwakdu began stripping off his tracksuit, piece by piece, and storing it in his Inventory.
“To attack a soldier who protects the nation is tantamount to treason against the state.”
He stripped down to his underwear, his torso bare.
An instant later, a silver dog tag chain clinked around his neck.
“The Divine Power Unit is the final shield and the ultimate weapon that protects the Republic of Korea from Dungeons and monsters.”
Reaching into his Inventory, Wi Gwakdu changed into his military uniform so quickly it was as if he had been wearing it all along.
“Those who pose a threat to the nation….”
Ziiip!
Zipping his uniform all the way up, Wi Gwakdu stared at the approaching figures with razor-sharp eyes and shouted.
“Will be eliminated.”
= = =
On the path to the bamboo forest—the only way to the Great Buddha Temple—everyone halted, the decisive battle imminent, and began setting their formations.
Click.
First, Knife Rain of Baeksan shook the dagger-adorned bracer on his wrist, and the ten Shadows who protected the White Mountain Guild’s master gathered.
The Shadows—dressed in spotless white that belied their name—stood before Knife Rain without a sound or a stir.
Shhk.
The white Shadows, with only their eyes barely visible.
Scanning their blank, emotionless stares, Knife Rain quietly pulled down the mask covering his nose and mouth.
“Difficulty: Grade 2. Targets are Nansan, Wi Gwakdu, and the Legendary Title Holder, Bang Hyuk-min. No live captures. Kill on sight.”
A short command, and an unheard reply.
Yaksha shook his head at the colorless, odorless atmosphere—so unlike people on the verge of a major undertaking.
“All posturing. What a strange bunch.”
At Yaksha’s candid assessment, a man who had just finished checking his weapons—a pistol, a knife, and magazines—approached.
“It’s because their team’s purpose is completely different from ours.”
It was Jo Sa-hyang, the team leader of the Haeundae Guild’s proudest elite special forces—a specialized special assault team directly under the guild master.
“Ah, Team Leader Jo, you know those guys?”
“I know them well. We’ve clashed once or twice.”
Humans were creatures of greed.
In the past, to make Baeksan number one in the country, they had dispatched Shadows to various regions.
Back then, the Haeundae Guild—on the verge of dominating Busan—had also been targeted by Baeksan’s Shadows.
“When was that?”
“A long time ago. I was mid-rank in the team back then.”
“Did you win? Or lose?”
“If we’d lost, we’d be called the White Mountain Guild, not the Haeundae Guild, wouldn’t we? Of course we won.”
“What, so the rumors are fake? You’re saying they’re not that strong.”
Looking at Baeksan’s white Shadows standing silently in the distance, Jo Sa-hyang gave an awkward smile.
“There were four of Baeksan’s Shadows dispatched to our guild, and there were 120 of us.”
“120 versus 4? That’s a fight you can’t lose. Don’t tell me you had trouble.”
“We killed three on the spot and captured one, but he took his own life during transport. And as for us… two of our units were annihilated.”
It meant four people had rendered over forty—two full units—incapable of fighting.
“What? They’re that strong?”
“That was before the Haeundae Guild was fully established. It wouldn’t happen now. If they attacked again, not a single one of us would get hurt.”
“What if the numbers were even, like now?”
Ten of Baeksan’s meticulously raised white Shadows.
And ten elites from the special assault team.
Jo Sa-hyang smiled with quiet confidence.
“The men here are the strongest. We will not lose.”
Yaksha looked at Knife Rain and asked,
“Didn’t you retaliate after being attacked? You knew it was them.”
“We couldn’t. At the time, we didn’t know they were Baeksan’s Shadows.”
“And if you had known?”
“I imagine the executives wouldn’t have just stood by. You know how fiery our guild’s executives are.”
Yaksha burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahahaha! If I had my way, I’d beat them to a pulp right now, but I can’t. The Guild Master’s orders come first, right?”
“That’s right. Given who our opponents are, it’s a shame, but we need those Shadow bastards. Please bear with them a little longer.”
“Well, with two strong teams gathered, Wi Gwakdu and Bang Hyuk-min are as good as dead!”
“With this much firepower, I can confidently say we cannot fail.”
As they laughed and talked, it seemed their time was up.
Knife Rain led Baeksan’s Shadows over to Yaksha.
“This battle will take place in a foreign country. Officially, we were never here, so if we are captured—or are in danger of being captured—may we kill your men to protect our information?”
Was he declaring that Baeksan’s Shadows would kill the Haeundae Guild’s special assault team?
At the provocative tone, Yaksha’s eyes hardened.
“Then I suppose we can do the same to you, right?”
Yaksha’s irritated words snapped out, but Knife Rain simply nodded as if it were a given.
“We would appreciate that. Then, shall we depart in one minute?”
Unlike the incensed Yaksha, Knife Rain’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
He spoke as if it were only natural for his own teammates to die to protect information.
‘Crazy bastard.’
Just as Yaksha was looking at Knife Rain like he was a psychopath, a brief silence fell.
Tick. Tick-tick-tick.
Something rolled to a stop at the feet of Knife Rain and Yaksha.
‘What is this?’
The thought barely surfaced.
The moment they identified it, Yaksha’s and Knife Rain’s eyes widened.
“Grenade! Get down!”
The oval object had rolled over like a stone.
It was a grenade—its pin already pulled.
This wasn’t a battlefield, but the entrance to the bamboo forest leading to the Great Buddha Temple.
So why had it suddenly landed here?
Just as they were about to hurl themselves away from the unexpected explosive—
Thump!
One of the white Shadows rushed forward and threw his body over the grenade.
BOOM!!!
The grenade detonated, and the ground shook.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
The blast was so loud that a civilian’s scream echoed from not too far away.
The explosion didn’t end with taking a single white Shadow’s life.
“Keuk.”
“Damn it, my head’s ringing.”
Even without shrapnel, the shockwave rippling through the air left everyone’s brains and eardrums ringing.
Just then, Knife Rain—his face twisted tight—spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
“It’s Nansan.”
…!!
Eyes widened everywhere.
And no sooner had his name been spoken than gunfire cracked through the night.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Pshk!
“Keock!”
Thud.
A special assault team member who had been covering his ears collapsed sideways, blood spraying.
“It’s an ambush!!”
At Jo Sa-hyang’s shout, the assault team scattered left and right, seeking cover.
They were well-trained, but this was the mouth of a bamboo forest—nothing but bamboo stalks.
Thin bamboo couldn’t fully shield a body from bullets.
Jo Sa-hyang shouted again.
“Mana Deployment! Hold your positions! Find the direction of fire first!”
In the dark forest.
They were elites.
Despite the fear of not knowing when death would come, they whipped their heads around, searching for where the shots had originated.
From the grenade to the gunfire, tension surged with the sudden ambush.
The surroundings went so silent that even the bamboo swaying in the wind could be heard.
“Where are you, Nansan?”
Unable to spot Wi Gwakdu no matter how he scanned, Jo Sa-hyang snapped his head around, checking the teammate who now had a hole through his head.
Just as he was about to trace the bullet’s trajectory—
“Are you the leader?”
Shlk!
Jo Sa-hyang screamed as intense pain tore through his forearm.
“K-kuaaaargh!”
When did he…?
Wi Gwakdu had appeared right beside Jo Sa-hyang.
In his hand was what looked like Jo Sa-hyang’s own severed arm.
At the scream, every gaze—from the White Mountain Guild and the Haeundae Guild alike—snapped to Wi Gwakdu.
“Nansan!”
“Wi Gwakdu!”
Under the attention of formidable elites, Wi Gwakdu bared his white teeth as if to show them off.
Grin.
“I sentence you as traitors to the nation.”
Jo Sa-hyang’s arm fell from Wi Gwakdu’s hand, and a jackknife flashed in the moonlight.
Jo Sa-hyang clutched his neck with both hands, blood pouring out, as Wi Gwakdu’s pistol pressed to his forehead.
Bang!
Beneath his bared teeth, crimson blood soaked his military uniform.
And so, before everyone’s eyes, the flame of Jo Sa-hyang’s life was extinguished.
With his death as the opening shot, a small, blood-scented war began to unfold in the bamboo forest.