Just when everyone thought that the battle was dying down, the appearance of a new monster turned the tables.
It was a disaster for every hunter.
Thunderstorm poured down on the ground with no means to block it.
In order to get out of this crisis, they have to quickly subdue the new monster.
However, they currently do not have a grasp on what kind of monster it is, let alone how to deal with it.
Because of the dark clouds, they havenât caught a proper glimpse of the monster yet.
They can only guess how huge this new monster is.
âThe lightning rod is installed!â
âDid you install them in all the places I ordered you to?â
âYes! Weâre sure of it!â
Seo Sangho bit his lower lip at the sight of the thunderbolts. The attacks havenât subsided at all.
He thought that the lightning rods would help minimize it to some extent.
Unfortunately, it wasnât very effective.
âF**k.â
Seo Sangho quickly came up with the next plan.
He immediately asked the magicians that he ordered to be contacted.
âCan you shoot the monster hidden in that cloud?â
<I think itâs too much for us to handle.>
<Itâs too far high up.>
The cloud was around 34,200 ft. from the ground.
The magicians said that even if their skills can reach that far up, the damage from their power would be decreased significantly.
In short, itâs impossible to shoot the monster down with skills.
âI see. We have no choice but to get closer to it.â
Although the risk was high, thereâs no other choice now but to try using the helicopters that the government sent for support.
âItâs a good thing that they sent it in advance.â
It was too dangerous for the guild leader to personally approach the monster that they knew nothing about.
But there was no other way that came to his mind.
Seo Sangho thought that this was the time for him to step up.
He made up his mind against the objection of the executives.
âThereâs a helicopter coming!â
As they looked to where the guild member pointed, they saw a helicopter approaching from afar.
HoweverâŠ
Seo Sangho witnessed the helicopter fall from the sky with his own eyes.
The lightning struck the helicopter accurately, burning the people inside.
âMy goodnessâŠâ
The helicopter that crashed to the ground caused a huge explosion.
Smokes emerged from the burning helicopter.
Seo Sanghoâs expression looked dejected at the sight of it.
âHow is it possible for a guy who canât distinguish enemy from allies to accurately hit that helicopterâŠ.?â
âIt canât distinguish enemies from allies, of course. It just detects movement and shoots it accurately.â
It was Kang Jinhyuk who answered the guild memberâs question.
Seo Sangho picked up his walkie-talkie and gave new instructions to the guild members.
âTry approaching the cloud one by one with the drones you brought for filming.â
Shortly after the guild members followed the captainâs orders, thunderstorms began to fall from the sky one after another.
The drone, which was less than 30 centimeters in width, was accurately shot and hit with no error.
More than 10 expensive drones were burned down, but there was something that they can reap from it.
As they experimented with different approaching distances for each drown, they began to figure out the detection range of the new monster.
âThe range of detection is more than 1,000 m in radius. Approaching more than that will 100% result in being hit by lightning accurately.â
Upon receiving the report from the guild member, Seo Sangho unconsciously smiled in vain.
Only then did he realize that approaching with a helicopter is a suicide mission.
âHow in the hell are we supposed to catch it thenâŠâ
Next to the depressed Sangho was Kang Jinhyuk, who quietly stared at the clouds.
*Â *Â *
The guild members and other hunters used the basement of a nearby building as a temporary shelter.
On the ground, only a minimum number of people remained to prevent the monsters from going outside the defense line.
Hunters gathered at the temporary shelter all contemplated about how to kill the new monster.
The veteran hunters, who had been through all sorts of hardships, put their heads together, but they couldnât come up with a plausible solution.
Time passed meaninglessly. Everyone felt nervous as they couldnât think of a good solution.
In the end, a Titan executive couldnât stand it and began to ask Seo Sangho a question.
âIs it too much for Guild Leader to shoot down that monster?â
âThe range that my skill can reach is 300m at most. Youâre an executive. Donât you know this already?â
âI asked even though I knew.â
If they could somehow approach the cloud by nearly 300m, Seo Sangho could inflict damage with his skills.
The intention of the executive who asked the question was to make a point. To make them realize that thereâs no solution to this at all.
But in fact, one small possibility existed.
Itâs for Seo Sangho to jump alone, to a higher altitude that the new monster cannot detect and reach.
Seo Sangho, who heard the plan from the executive, grabbed and massaged the wrinkles that formed in his forehead.
âYou want me to play dive?â
âI think you can endure it. As an S-rank hunter.â
âYouâre talking nonsense because itâs not your body.â
Just because S-rank hunters have superior physical abilities over others, doesnât mean that theyâre invincible or immortal.
If he fails to shoot down at an altitude of 34,000 feet and fall, it wonât matter at all that heâs an S-rank hunter. Falling from that height would surely destroy his body.
âIf youâre not coming with me, better to just shut your mouth. I have no intention of putting myself in such uncertain probabilities.â
ââŠI apologize.â
The other executives eyed their colleague.
No matter how bad the situation is, they canât believe that he just asked the Guild Leader to sacrifice himself. He certainly crossed the line.
As the atmosphere subsided severely with Seo Sanghoâs cold expression, another executive stepped up and gave an idea.
âThen, I think we have no other choice but to wait for another S-rank hunter.â
âThatâs right. For example, Getiaâs guild leader.â
âGetia? Do you think those bastards will help us?â
The Getia was a guild that handpicked among hunters whose specialty is a magician.
Everyone in the guild is at least A-rank, and like the Titans, their guild leader is an S-rank hunter.
As much as their skill is unquestionable, they lacked character.
They only move to investigate and analyze monsters.
No matter who died right next to them, they never tried to help if itâs beyond their purpose or goals.
Seo Sangho frowned at the thought of the arrogance of the Getia guild members.
âIf you want help from those waters, you better pray to the right gods.â
âHmm, wouldnât be a bit different this time?â
âWhat is?â
âThe monster up there in the sky is a new type of monster. We have absolutely no information about it.â
The Titans executive suggested that the Getia would actively cooperate, given that they could gain information from the new monster.
Even though itâs a fairly plausible solution, Seo Sangho shook his head.
âThatâs exactly the problem. What if they try to preserve the monsterâs corpse as much as possible?â
âWhatâs the problem with that? All we have to do is kill it.â
âItâs not that simple.â
Seo Sangho continued to explain for the confused executives.
âWho will stop a monsterâs body, with a size of more than 500 meters, from falling from over 30,000 feet altitude?â
âAhâŠâ
Only then did the executives realize their mistake.
The new monster that appeared this timeâŠ
Itâs not enough to only solve the problem by thinking of ways on how to hunt it.
As long as itâs near the middle of the city, they also have to think of ways to reduce damage as much as possible.
âCanât we lure that monster to the river or the sea?â
âHow?â
The hunter, who brought up the suggestion, backed down at Seo Sanghoâs question.
Everyone tried to think of a specific way to lure the monster.
It was impossible to solve this problem with such a clumsy half-plan.
Hunt the monster up in the sky with an altitude of 35,000 feet and shoot targets accurately within a 1 km radius.Prevent the 500 m body from falling into the city.
Only when these two challenges were solved at the same time could the situation be fully resolved.
âThis is crazy.â
While time is ticking, the monsterâs attacks continue outside.
The number of thunderstorms falling increased, as if it was laughing at the poor lightning rods installed.
The number of seriously injured people is at 43, and the number of deaths has reached 12.
Despite the increasing number of victims, Seo Sangho could not tell them to evacuate.
Monsters that have yet to be defeated are still on the ground, so a number of defenders need to remain here.
Seo Sangho was using his position to force the hunters to sacrifice themselves.
He was aware of how cruel it was.
âGoddamn itâŠâ
As everyone grew more in more anxious over time, a call was connected to Seo Sangho through an emergency line.
<Guild Leader! The right line of defense has collapsed!>
A report that he dreaded from hearing eventually came.
He was expecting this situation to come.
However, it came too early than he thought.
âI remember assigning enough people on that side. Youâre telling me itâs already collapsed?â
<About that⊠More than half of them fled so the ones that remained could no longer maintain it.>
Upon hearing the report, Seo Sangho let out a deep sigh.
He was in a position where he could think in a safe place, so he couldnât blame the others for running away to save their lives.
âAlright. Iâll send support from this side, so just hang on for five minutes.â
<Understood!>
Seo Sangho ended the call and looked around the hunters gathered at the shelter.
When he saw the Titans executives gathered in one corner, Seo Sangho internally laughed.
âLooks like theyâre all thinking about their own lives.â
Seo Sangho didnât want to be like those people. He wants to act as the one who will relieve the situation.
However, as the Guild Leader of Titans, giving up on planning and just recklessly going into the battlefield would lead to a more serious situation.
Seo Sangho bit his lips for a while as he was lost in thought. After a few moments, he asked the hunters.
âWe need people to support the right defense line. Is there anyone who can go voluntarily?â
As it was a request to return to the battlefield where lightning continues to fall and monsters run wild, not many people responded immediately.
Still, thanks to those who took on the responsibility, at least 10 people volunteered.
Seo Sangho bowed deeply to them and gave his support.
âI promise to provide at least three fold compensation.â
âCan we receive that even if we die?â
At the joke given by one of the hunters, Seo Sangho made a complicated expression.
Even though he was not a hunter in their guild, no amount of words could be enough to thank these hunters.
The hunters tapped Seo Sanghoâs shoulder once as they headed out from the shelter.
Kang Jinhyuk, who was watching the scene unfold quietly, walked toward the table.
âThereâs something I want to ask you.â
When the executives tried to protest at the sight of the C-rank hunter approaching their guild leader, Seo Sangho raised his hands to stop them.
âWhat is it?â
âJust how much do we need to smash that monster up in the clouds to get rid of its debris?â
âI think a third of its weight is the limit to what we can divide it.â
Considering the height from where the body would fall, thatâs the best that Seo Sangho could do.
âThen please come out and get ready when I contact you.â
Seo Sangho and the Titans executives all looked shocked at Kang Jinhyukâs words.
âDoes that mean that you can catch the monster?â
âIâm not sure, but Iâll go ahead and give it a shot first.â
âYouâll âgive it a shotââŠâ
While Seo Sangho was speechless, the Titan executive, Han Youngseok, stood up.
âAre you kidding me? Who are you to come forward in this situation?â
âThereâs something that I want to test.â
Han Youngseok snickered as if ignoring what Kang Jinhyuk said.
He was well aware of Kang Jinhyukâs identity as the guy who knocked down Ahn Doyoon with a baseball bat.
He was the person who tarnished the guildâs reputation, so he investigated Jinhuyk in hopes of retaliating someday.
âYouâre a C-rank hunter at best. You think youâre worth something? You think you can do something?â
âIâd rather do something useful than sitting around in here. Donât you think?â
Han Youngseok turned red at Kang Jinhyukâs words.
His words made him angry because it seemed like Kang Jinhyuk was implying that the executives were being useless at the moment.
âAlright then. If you catch that monster, Iâll give you a separate reward. But if you fail, you will not receive anything. Not one penny. Even from the other monsters that you caught earlier in the battle.â
Heâs promising a reward for catching a monster that even S-rank hunters need help in hunting.
Han Youngseokâs proposal was ridiculous.
However, Jinhyuk didnât care for it at all.
âIt doesnât matter what the reward is. Donât whine at me later when I bring in the monsterâs corpse.â
âW-what did you say?!â
Han Youngseok couldnât stand the C-rank hunter confronting him, an executive of one of Koreaâs largest guilds.
However, before Han Youngseok could step forwards, Seo Sangho stretched out his arms to restrain him.
While Seo Sangho was restraining Han Youngseok, Jinhyuk left the shelter after showing a meaningful smile.
âWhy are you holding me back?!â
When Han Youngseok angrily shouted, Seo Sangho looked at him with a pathetic look.
He then turned his back on him without answering and began to discuss countermeasures with the other hunters.
Han Youngseok gritted his teeth angrily at Seo Sanghoâs attitude.
*Â *Â *
More than 30 minutes have passed since Kang Jinhyuk left the temporary shelter.
At first, when they heard that he had passed the defensive line and went outside, the other hunters had a spark of hope.
They havenât heard from him since then, which made them suspicious of Jinhyuk.
âDonât tell me he ran awayâŠâ
Seo Sangho, who was positively cheering on Kang Jinhyuk, also felt a little doubt this time.
He knows that Jinhyukâs abilities are excellent, but in this case, even an S-rank hunter like himself isnât confident about killing the monster.
Swing the bat well wasnât the solution to their problem.
âIf he didnât run away, then I guess he was just bluffing. Itâs either of the two.â
While contacting other S-ran hunters and looking for other solutions, Seo Sangho tried to forget about Kang Jinhyuk.
And then, right at an unexpected moment, a call from Kang Jinhyuk was received by his smartphone. He saw the caller ID as the phone was placed at the center of the table.
<Alright, start getting ready.>
The call was cut off after Jinhyuk said a short phrase.
Seo Sangho wondered what nonsense this was.
Jinhyukâs words went beyond his mind as he had suspicions about him.
âHeâs telling me to get ready? It canât beâŠâ
What could the C-rank hunter mean by that?
Sangho thought that Jinhyuk was just buying time, so he tried to ignore what he said.
Just thenâŠ
A roar came over the wall of the shelter.
âW-what theâŠ?!â
When Seo Sangho heard the roaring sound that shook the ground, he immediately jumped from his seat and ran outside.
He looked straight up at the sky and saw a ray of light just across the clouds.
And thenâŠ
A loud, sad scream of the new monster, that caused all the hunters to suffer so far, resonated throughout the area.