Korean Awakeners Association.

The place was in a state of panic due to an entirely unexpected variable.

It couldn’t be helped.

All efforts to prevent the gate from being liberated before were in vain.

Murmurs filled the air!

The inside was in chaos.

Trying to organize the relentless reports and various situations was virtually impossible.

“All the safety measures have been breached. The, the gate… it’s being liberated!”

At someone’s outcry, everyone’s gaze turned to the huge screen in the center.

“How can this be…”

The chairman of the association, Han Sangjin, also stared blankly at the opening gate.

The outbreak, occurring simultaneously around the world, was already beyond control.

“KIEEEEE!”

As branches with numerous mouths finally emerged from the gate…

…a disaster like hell itself began.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Aaaargh!”

“My, my eyes! My… my eyes!”

“GGGAAAAAH!”

Players who had been on standby outside the gate to deal with any contingencies screamed out.

Falling as they spilled blood from their eyes and mouths.

Dozens of mental defense magics and top-grade armors proved useless.

There were some rankers who barely survived, but that was it.

Kwakwakwa!

As the branches swept the surroundings, a red mist of blood rose.

With one light movement.

Rankers who had faced all sorts of battles were wiped out.

Even the military forces, which had been tightly surrounding the gate area, were reduced to ashes without mounting a proper resistance.

The horrific outcome made control rooms of Awakeners Associations around the world even busier.

“We have lost the vital signs of Team 3 of the Olympus Guild that went to Paris C-15 gate.”

“In Washington, USA, near A-01 gate… 1km has been erased. There are no survivors.”

“We’ve picked up an emergency SOS signal from the Gandhara Guild that went to assist China!”

Reports broke out from everywhere.

But.

The biggest problem hadn’t even started yet.

Everything that had crossed over so far were just branches.

The main body still hadn’t emerged from any gate.

Right then.

“A new magical reaction has just been detected.”

Another report came in.

A place emanating the most powerful magic, distinct from the branches.

“B-00. Gapcheon gate…”

The worst scenario occurred.

The main body was manifesting in Korea.

“……”

Han Sangjin clenched his lips tightly.

There were only about 10 minutes left.

A silence as heavy as the deep sea circulated in the room.

“Evacuate everyone through spatial transfer magic. Pull out the military forces as well.”

“What? But…”

“No matter how many there are, it’s useless. It only increases the number of corpses.”

At first, he thought it was unknown.

Maybe humanity could survive if they fought.

With so many rankers and players fully prepared, it might be possible.

But when he tasted a fragment of the magic emanating from Shub-Niggurath’s body.

He realized all those hopes were in vain.

This wasn’t a battle that could be fought.

Even if it was a large guild’s raiding party. Even if they were renowned rankers…

There was no way to reverse the situation.

Yet.

There was one, just one slim chance left… ‘Player Kang Jinhyuk.’

Everything probably depended on the hand of just one person.

Han Sangjin’s gaze once again turned to the screen.

Surely, all players would currently be at the island that appeared in the East Sea.

There was no time for them to return in this short period.

And yet, why?

Han Sangjin couldn’t take his eyes off the screen.

As if he believed that someone would appear from within that screen.

***

[The gate has been opened!]

The chains surrounding the gate were shattered to pieces.

Beyond the fully opened space.

“……”

Shub-Niggurath surveyed the world.

Blue skies and rivers.

An endlessly sprawling cityscape.

This was the world of humans, outside the Tower.

And the reason for its arrival here…

Boredom.

If one had to put it that way, that would be it.

For it was here where the insignificant creatures had defeated the Black Goat.

Kukukuku!

Terrifying magic flowed out from the gate.

The grass blackened and rivers dried up from mere contact.

An unfathomable abyss.

If there ever was an endpoint to a curse, this would be it.

But.

“……?”

Something caught Shub-Niggurath’s eye.

In the now deserted city, a few people had drawn their weapons and were waiting for it.

Of course, it was laughable.

As restricted as it was by the system, it could kill these creatures with a mere breath.

But, due to pitiful curiosity, the act of killing was momentarily deferred.

“Humans. Are you not. Afraid of me?”

Kiiiiiik!

Just the act of opening its mouth made the steel in buildings twist like taffy.

Red smoke rose from the shattered windows.

“Definitely… it’s tremendous. ‘Beyond standard’ doesn’t seem exaggerated.”

“To hear my voice and still. Keep your sanity. Impressive.”

Ordinarily, just facing it would drive one mad or cause fainting.

In extreme cases, it could even result in death.

The fact they withstood that implied they were exceptionally talented players.

Moreover.

The ones next to them were also keeping their wits about them.

Interest grew a bit more.

These could be worth entertaining to kill some eternal time.

“Your names. I will ask.”

Shub-Niggurath’s gaze moved to each person.

“Kang Jinhyuk.”

“Chun Yuseong.”

“Teresa.”

“Moonlight, the sword that serves its master.”

“Anderia.”

“I am the proud head of the Ataraxia family and of pure bloodline… Elise Von! Ugh!”

“I am the Dark Emperor. The Righteous Law of the Heavenly Demon Church.”

Faced with Shub-Niggurath, they all uttered their names one by one.

Seven in total.

Though few in number, each of them was a formidable force.

At least by human standards.

“Interest.ing. This short diversion. Might not be too bad.”

Giggles!

Eerie laughter erupted from countless branches.

[Shub-Niggurath casts ‘Language of the Ancients’.]

Along with the red-tinted system message, an instance of blank memory occurred.

Just 0.1 seconds, but still, a completely defenseless state.

Even with ‘Mental Barrier’ and ‘Mandala’, along with a 7-star shield, it was like this.

“The final boss is the final boss, huh…”

Jinhyuk steadied his trembling arm with difficulty.

In truth, he was on the verge of retching.

But…

He can’t falter here.

The fight that breaks all sense of normalcy begins now.

“Focus mainly on drawing its attention. Especially Teresa and Master, your roles are crucial here.”

“Leave it to me, Jinhyuk.”

“To think that my disciple would fight such a monster. Truly, my student as expected. Well, how far could we possibly get beyond the North Maginot Line? Seize this chance and go wild to your heart’s content.” ŗἁℕꝋBÈⱾ

Teresa and the Dark Emperor stepped forward.

Wooom!

The ‘Blessing of the Stars’ and…

Patsts!

The ‘Black Heaven Demon Emperor Fist’ were activated.

Simultaneously.

Boom!

Whack!

Teresa and the Dark Emperor moved in different directions.

Left and right.

Massive magical forces exploded on both sides.

Teresa’s sword, imbued with divine power, slashed horizontally, while the Dark Emperor’s terrifying Qi-condensed punch penetrated forward.

However.

Boom!

Not even an attack that could one-shot a large-type creature affected Shub-Niggurath.

Like being stopped by an invisible wall.

The sword and fist halted in midair.

“Just. This much?”

Shub-Niggurath murmured, seemingly bored.

From excitement to disappointment.

His emotions changed.

That’s when the air around them began to shift.

“Here it comes!”

The Dark Emperor shouted urgently.

With that warning over.

Swish swish swish swish swish swish!

Sharp winds sliced through space.

Ssssshhh!

From the sliced air, red steam rose.

It was a close call.

A moment slower in reaction, and they would have been split in half, along with dimensional space.

“Just a look… no, just a thought led to an attack of that power?”

Elise, disgusted, added her comment.

The embodiment of thoughts.

As a supreme being, Shub-Niggurath held the ability to turn imagination into reality.

Despite the look of despair from everyone else, Jinhyuk saw hope in the situation.

He had dodged the sharpest and most difficult first strike.

That meant they could respond adequately going forward.

“Elise.”

“Yes?”

“Prepare the strongest attack you can manage. When I give the signal, that’s when we strike.”

“Are you really going for it?”

“Everyone is risking their lives here, so we should at least walk the tightrope too. I’m going to give him an unforgettable strike to the face this time.”

“Alright. I’ll try.”

Elise nodded quietly.

[Unique Holy War ‘Revelation of the Apocalypse’ is activated!]

Behind Elise, a red halo appeared.

Wooom!

The water around them turned entirely into red droplets.

Then soon started to take shape into long, thin spikes.

The strongest strike, fueled with all her magic.

With that…

Jinhyuk drew his Kruger and sword encased in casual clothing.

From now on, it’s a battle against time.

How much longer can they last? That’d be the key factor determining everyone’s survival.

***

They needed to buy time.

They had to create an opening.

With that single thought, the Dark Emperor, who had taken the lead, played a dangerous game.

Boom!

Boom!

His 7-star Qi-filled Black Heaven Demon Emperor Fist shook heaven and earth.

But.

“KIEEEEE!”

“Giggle!”

There were too many.

No matter how deep his internal power was. No matter how intricate his stepping and movement techniques…

Facing overwhelming numbers, everything else paled in comparison.

“Kr…uurgh…!”

The impact made his breathing falter.

Danger.

It was then.

[Teresa activates her 2nd Awakening Skill ‘Call of the Stars’!]

Brilliant meteor showers poured from the sky.

The strike infused with the power of the stars fell upon Shub-Niggurath.

Boom boom boom boom!

Like a carpet bombing.

Countless lights converged at one point.

“I’ll back you up!”

Teresa, clad in white armor, poured all her magic into it.

Her face, long drained of color from surpassing her limits, showed no signs of relief.

“Thank you.”

The Dark Emperor thanked her for the breather.

Immediately, he lunged towards Shub-Niggurath’s main body.

Whoom!

One step.

His Qi-fueled step scattered along the ground.

Whoom!

Two steps.

The distance closed wasn’t much.

Yet, the tearing ground suggested how heavy the next step would be.

Boom!

Thus came the third step.

All the Qi emanating from the Dark Emperor’s body had vanished.

It wasn’t a mistake.

Nor had the technique ended.

Simply.

The Qi, condensed to the extreme, had all seeped inside.

With even minimal damage done to Shub-Niggurath’s exterior due to Teresa’s meteors.

“This is all of me.”

The Dark Emperor’s punch swung through the air.

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