781
[Chapter 200]
[A Matter of Moments]
Northern Gyeonggi Province, Yangju area.
Do Wan-jun also noticed the anomaly.
There was no way he could have slept soundly when lightning suddenly struck in the middle of the night.
Moreover, spatial distortions were being detected.
The spatial distortions detected in various places were of no ordinary scale.
"─Ko Eun-sil! Send telepathists to find out what's happening in the 6th Attack Platoon right now!"
"I was just about to form parties with telepathists and rangers to send to each unit!"
Monsters were swarming in.
They had just cleared the area near the camp, but now monsters were pouring in en masse, making that effort meaningless.
Fortunately, the damage was minimal.
After all, this was humanity's front line.
Even those intoxicated with the joy of victory had been prepared in their own way.
And the players on sentry duty had managed to block the monsters' first invasion.
However─.
"─All platoons, light up! Rangers and snipers, climb to high places and provide covering fire, considering the possibility of aerial combat!"
It was only the first invasion.
Judging by the trend of monster appearances, second, third, and fourth waves would easily occur.
It was also a night when monsters' ferocity increased.
So they had to be even more cautious.
Meanwhile, Do Wan-jun instructed the platoon members to light fires.
They had already become targets for the monsters anyway.
Lighting fires here wouldn't dramatically increase their numbers.
Rather, it was more dangerous to face such an army in the dark.
─Whoosh!!
Not long after that.
Flying monsters appeared in the sky above the base.
Their appearance increased the burden on the players.
It was fortunate that Do Wan-jun had given instructions to be wary of flying monsters beforehand.
The players killed the endlessly swarming monsters without much panic.
This doesn't feel good.
The monsters' movements are too precise compared to yesterday.
Meanwhile, Do Wan-jun was observing the battlefield next to the rangers.
Systematically moving monsters.
From the sight of different species forming clusters and swarming in, there was only one thing that could be deduced.
There must surely be a monster somewhere with the power to command such monsters.
A corps commander.
At least a 3rd rank monster.
Whoosh
The wind blew.
Do Wan-jun felt the wind approaching from behind the monsters.
He tried to extract as much information as possible by reading the mana flowing on the wind.
"─There's no way Ishimi was the only corps commander in Yangju."
Eventually, Do Wan-jun found an aura of a different caliber.
He murmured towards the direction the wind was blowing from.
The 7th Attack Platoon was located to the west of the area where the 6th Attack Platoon was.
Monsters were living in the mountains that sparsely rose along with the urban area.
The corps commander was somewhere in those mountains.
There was no need to find out which mountain it was on.
─Hiss
Because it was coming to find them on its own.
Do Wan-jun heard its sound mixed with the sound of the wind.
It was reminiscent of a snake's sound.
It didn't matter either way.
The fact that they had to defeat it remained unchanged.
It was then.
[─Clan Lord, this is Baek Hye-min. I'm relaying a message from Silla Clan's telepathist Shim Ga-eun. At the current time of...]
After about two hours had passed since dispatching the Dark King Clan's telepathist.
They were finally able to know the situation of Silla Clan.
And the situation was not bright, as Do Wan-jun had expected.
"A monster that creates dungeons is heading down to Uijeongbu..."
A 3rd rank monster had also appeared in the direction where Silla Clan was camping.
The lightning that woke up the 7th Attack Platoon was probably <Thunder Emperor> Lee Do-jin trying to subjugate that thing.
Nevertheless, it was still alive.
It seemed to be heading south now.
At this, the 6th Attack Platoon led by Lee Do-jin was said to be chasing after it to subjugate it.
We don't need to worry with <Thunder Emperor> there.
We don't need to go help.
It's hard enough to block the monsters coming down from here now.
Do Wan-jun recalled the current battle situation across Uijeongbu in his mind.
Large-scale monster waves occurring in the west and north of northern Gyeonggi Province.
They were blocking the west.
Silla Clan would block the north. Although he was worried that their front line had been somewhat breached, there was no need to worry too much.
So the 7th Attack Platoon would hold the front line here.
It was when he made that judgment.
Another telepathy was heard.
[─Relaying a message from Kim Ji-yu, Regulus Clan's telepathist of the 5th Communication Platoon. At the current time of 2:12 AM, the 3rd and 4th Attack Platoons are retreating and the corps commanders...]
"..."
Hearing the telepathy.
Do Wan-jun flinched.
They were using the word 'retreat', but he couldn't help but understand the hidden meaning.
Not only had the 3rd and 4th Attack Platoons failed to subjugate the corps commanders, but those things were now approaching the Arts Center.
Furthermore, Twelve Seats <Beast Tamer> Hwang San-gun had died.
In addition, it was said that prominent figures like the Dankun Clan Lord, Zenith Clan's <Flower Moon Sword> and <Resonance Sword>, KK Clan's <Flame Witch>, and others had died.
Honestly, it was hard to believe.
But the telepathy filled with gloom clearly reminded him that this was reality.
"Wait."
At the same time, Do Wan-jun's eyes widened.
Two corps commanders were coming from the eastern direction of Uijeongbu Arts Center.
It wouldn't be easy to face corps commanders with abilities to nullify physical attacks and magic attacks at once.
In such a situation, if the corps commander that creates dungeons also heads south─.
─Then the recapture war will fail.
<Thunder Emperor> Lee Do-jin will block it well.
He shouldn't just think that.
The situation at the Arts Center is not good.
He had to assume the worst case scenario.
The worst case scenario where three corps commanders could gather in one place.
We can only hope that the players at the Arts Center somehow deal with the armored corps commanders.
Instead, the people in northern Gyeonggi Province need to prevent the other corps commander from heading south.
So they had to go support immediately.
They had to help Lee Do-jin subjugate the corps commander.
"Eun-sil."
"Yes, Clan Lord."
"Right now, form small parties with fast rangers and telepathists and send them to the 5th, 6th, and 8th Attack Platoons. Tell them to dispatch personnel from each platoon to block the corps commander heading south."
The 7th Attack Platoon was also in a situation where it was difficult to spare many people.
Surely similar situations would be occurring in the 5th and 8th Attack Platoons as well.
So they had no choice but to form separate forces by dispatching personnel from each platoon.
Moreover, they had to be composed of people with the power to face the corps commander.
It would be most reassuring if I formed a platoon and went myself, but I have to face the corps commander coming from here.
Do Wan-jun pondered.
He had to stay here and command the players.
So he had to send a sub-lord to replace him to Lee Do-jin.
Who to send.
<Gatekeeper > Ko Eun-sil couldn't go.
Ko Eun-sil's magic was effective in defending the front line.
So he had to send another sub-lord, or one of the Five Dragons who was both skilled and had good command ability.
"─Eun-sil, call Chae Seon-woo."
"Seon-woo?"
"Yes."
And the type that would be most helpful in subjugating the corps commander was the latter.
Having finished his deliberation, Do Wan-jun mentioned one person's name to Ko Eun-sil.
<Wind Technician> Chae Seon-woo.
The ranger most well-known for handling wind magic since Shin Seo-young became an academy instructor.
With Chae Seon-woo, being fast on his feet, it wouldn't take long to join up with Lee Do-jin.
"─Tell him not to try to do it half-heartedly, but to do it properly. If that thing somehow manages to go down to the Arts Center, then there will be no answer."
"...Yes, I'll do that."
If there was one flaw.
Chae Seon-woo often slacked off.
He was a man like the wind.
☆
At that time, 5th Attack Platoon.
The situation of the platoon led by Donghae Clan was similar to other platoons.
Monsters rushed in in the middle of the night.
High-rank monster presences were even being felt here and there.
"─There is no retreat! Hold the front line! If we fall back, there will be no Uijeongbu!"
Donghae Clan Lord Kim Seong-min drew his sword and shouted towards the swarming monsters.
Donghae Clan's Six Dragons exerted their aura and charged at the very front, with players from other clans following behind.
The place the 5th Attack Platoon was guarding was Nogyang Station, corresponding to the old Line 1.
It was right below Yangju.
And below Nogyang Station was Uijeongbu.
So the 5th Attack Platoon members were desperately trying to block.
The moment the 5th Attack Platoon was breached, it was obvious that monsters would go down to Uijeongbu.
"Ugh, fortunately the platoons above are dealing with the monsters, so the situation is only this bad."
The monsters' attacks were fierce.
They seemed to be affected by the night.
Kim Seong-min clicked his tongue hard after subjugating a 4th rank monster with one of the Six Dragons.
Without even time to wipe the blood splattered on his face, he leapt at the monsters again.
[─The 9th Communication Platoon reports. As of the current time...]
Around that time, telepathy was conveyed.
The spatial distortion incidents occurring throughout Uijeongbu and northern Gyeonggi Province.
After grasping the situation, Kim Seong-min spat out curses.
Monsters were appearing as if they had planned it from all over the place.
Moreover, new corps commanders had appeared as well.
Among them, the three considered most dangerous were heading towards Uijeongbu.
Should we head south too?
Should we pull back the front line?
No, we can't do that! Damn it....
Uijeongbu is in danger.
The rear was in danger.
But he couldn't readily pull back the front line either.
Three attack platoons were staying right above the 5th Attack Platoon.
West, 7th Attack Platoon, Dark King Clan.
North, 6th Attack Platoon, Silla Clan.
East, 8th Attack Platoon, Tempest Clan.
If the 5th Attack Platoon retreated, those three platoons would surely be surrounded by monsters.
So the 5th Attack Platoon had to act as a solid wall preventing monsters from heading south to Uijeongbu, and as a pillar safely supporting the rear of those three units above.
Still, I should send one of the Six Dragons.
Considering the situation in Uijeongbu, he had to dispatch some forces.
Kim Seong-min racked his brains and decided to form a force he could manage and send it to Uijeongbu.
Right at that moment─.
─Buubbbbbbbbbb
A sound of something vibrating was heard.
Suddenly the sky darkened.
Kim Seong-min raised his head to the sky where the sound came from.
""""...."""
A giant manta ray was floating.
It was passing over the platoon's airspace, swaying its long tail.
"...Is that the dungeon-creating one?"
Only then did Kim Seong-min realize.
The area he was standing on had somehow turned red.
It had become a red dungeon.
No wonder the monsters seemed too strong even considering the night's influence.
Meanwhile, Kim Seong-min was gloomy.
"It's flying too high, our attacks probably won't reach well..."
It reminded him exactly of Yegyeong.
Fortunately, unlike Yegyeong, this monster didn't seem to have an aggressive disposition.
For now, it was just leisurely flying while creating dungeons.
Of course, they couldn't let their guard down.
There was no knowing how it might suddenly change.
Meanwhile, to face it, it seemed they would have to form a force mainly of players capable of aerial combat.
At that moment, the night sky suddenly flashed.
─Divine Punishment
Lightning that suddenly fell from the sky.
A thick beam of light struck it.
Kim Seong-min, who had been looking up at the night sky, tightly closed his eyes as the lightning suddenly entered his vision.
His vision turned pure white.
He closed his eyes and relied solely on his senses to avoid the monsters' attacks.
Kim Seong-min, who barely regained his vision, looked up at the night sky while cursing <Thunder Emperor>.
Still, he thought there would be some effect.
But it didn't seem fazed at all.
Bubububbbbbbbb
It seemed to have resistance to lightning.
No, not only that─.
─Crackle!!
It absorbed the lightning.
And it spread the absorbed lightning radially.
Suddenly lightning was falling on Kim Seong-min's head.
The power of the lightning was tremendous.
The supporters' protection magic barely held for a moment before shattering.
─Propagation
Baobab Guard
Fortunately, the 5th Attack Platoon had one excellent guardian.
Twelve Seats <Great Tree> Seon Gi-jun.
The fleeting moment created an opportunity.
He immediately deployed magic centered on himself.
Magic quickly completed with the supporters' casting boosters caused a giant tree to sprout from the ground.
The tree that instantly became taller than any structure in the area served as a lightning rod.
The lightning that curved midway flowed into the ground along the tree.
"We almost got wiped out by our allies instead of monsters.... Is <Thunder Emperor> trying to become someone like <Dark King>? We already have enough people like that with <Dark King> and the Pandora Clan Lord..."
Thanks to Seon Gi-jun, they survived.
Kim Seong-min felt like he had aged ten years.
Having regained his composure, he cursed <Thunder Emperor> who must be somewhere.
"Anyway, we need to send someone who can face that thing..."
Kim Seong-min fell into thought.
He couldn't send Seon Gi-jun.
The 5th Attack Platoon's front line was formed centered on Seon Gi-jun.
The moment Seon Gi-jun was dispatched, a hole would open in the front line.
On the other hand, considering the situation in Uijeongbu, he had to dispatch some forces.
Kim Seong-min decided to form a force he could manage and send it to Uijeongbu.
Right at that moment─.
─Buubbbbbbbbbb
A sound of something vibrating was heard.
The sky suddenly darkened.
Kim Seong-min raised his head to the sky where the sound came from.
""""...."""
A giant manta ray was floating.
It was passing over the platoon's airspace, swaying its long tail.
"...Is that the dungeon-creating one?"
Only then did Kim Seong-min realize.
The area he was standing on had somehow turned red.
It had become a red dungeon.
No wonder the monsters seemed too strong even considering the night's influence.
Meanwhile, Kim Seong-min was gloomy.
"It's flying too high, our attacks probably won't reach well..."
It reminded him exactly of Yegyeong.
Fortunately, unlike Yegyeong, this monster didn't seem to have an aggressive disposition.
For now, it was just leisurely flying while creating dungeons.
Of course, they couldn't let their guard down.
There was no knowing how it might suddenly change.
Meanwhile, to face it, it seemed they would have to form a force mainly of players capable of aerial combat.
At that moment, the night sky suddenly flashed.
─Divine Punishment
Lightning that suddenly fell from the sky.
A thick beam of light struck it.
Kim Seong-min, who had been looking up at the night sky, tightly closed his eyes as the lightning suddenly entered his vision.
His vision turned pure white.
He closed his eyes and relied solely on his senses to avoid the monsters' attacks.
Kim Seong-min, who barely regained his vision, looked up at the night sky while cursing <Thunder Emperor>.
Still, he thought there would be some effect.
But it didn't seem fazed at all.
Bubububbbbbbbb
It seemed to have resistance to lightning.
No, not only that─.
─Crackle!!
It absorbed the lightning.
And it spread the absorbed lightning radially.
Suddenly lightning was falling on Kim Seong-min's head.
The power of the lightning was tremendous.
The supporters' protection magic barely held for a moment before shattering.
─Propagation
Baobab Guard
Fortunately, the 5th Attack Platoon had one excellent guardian.
Twelve Seats <Great Tree> Seon Gi-jun.
The fleeting moment created an opportunity.
He immediately deployed magic centered on himself.
Magic quickly completed with the supporters' casting boosters caused a giant tree to sprout from the ground.
The tree that instantly became taller than any structure in the area served as a lightning rod.
The lightning that curved midway flowed into the ground along the tree.
"We almost got wiped out by our allies instead of monsters.... Is <Thunder Emperor> trying to become someone like <Dark King>? We already have enough people like that with <Dark King> and the Pandora Clan Lord..."
Thanks to Seon Gi-jun, they survived.
Kim Seong-min felt like he had aged ten years.
Having regained his composure, he cursed <Thunder Emperor> who must be somewhere.
"Anyway, we need to send someone who can face that thing..."
Kim Seong-min fell into thought.
He couldn't send Seon Gi-jun.
The 5th Attack Platoon's front line was formed centered on Seon Gi-jun.
The moment Seon Gi-jun was dispatched, a hole would open in the front line.
On the other hand, considering the situation in Uijeongbu, he had to dispatch some forces.
Kim Seong-min decided to form a force he could manage and send it to Uijeongbu.
Right at that moment─.
─Boom boom boom boom boom!!!
The night sky flashed again.
─Silent
""""...."""
Twelve Seats <Silent > Yu Su-jin.
She must be nearby.
It seemed the 8th Attack Platoon had dispatched her.
Tempest Clan was generous.
And on top of that─.
─Film Disposal
Twelve Seats <Time Witch> Priscis Memory.
Even she, who belonged to the 12th Communication Platoon moving with the 8th Attack Platoon, had moved.
Even considering that the 8th Attack Platoon's battle situation was relatively better than other platoons, it was quite a bold decision.
But thanks to Tempest Clan's bold move─.
─This gives us some breathing room.
Kim Seong-min could reduce his burden.
He decided to dispatch <Cutting Dragon>, one of the Six Dragons.
Buubbbbbb....
Meanwhile, the corps commander seemed to have a hard time facing three Twelve Seats and the players, and changed direction.
[─The 6th Attack Platoon reports. Currently, the Library is not working, so information about the corps commander heading south to Uijeongbu is quite lacking. Therefore, Silla Clan navigator Yang Hee-jung will name it the 3rd rank overrank 'Demon Face Manta Ray' based on the fact that it has the form of a sawfish... in simple terms, a saw manta ray, has resistance to electricity while being able to handle lightning, and above all, has the ability to turn a certain area into a red dungeon. I repeat...]
3rd rank overrank Demon Face Manta Ray.
The thing that changed direction after being attacked by three Twelve Seats headed towards the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Office.
☆
At that time, Uijeongbu Arts Center.
At the news sent from the 3rd and 4th Attack Platoons, players entered emergency standby.
""""...."""
Their expressions were not good, having been woken up after midnight.
The events that occurred in the 3rd and 4th Attack Platoons had already given them quite a shock, and on top of that, monsters were heading south from northern Gyeonggi Province.
This is different from the future I know.
This didn't happen.
The commanders remained silent.
Eun-ha also kept his mouth shut.
He had many thoughts about the situation that hadn't occurred before the regression.
It's not that I don't understand....
Still, I wanted things to go smoothly, but it's being overturned like this at the end.
Uijeongbu was in a devil's gate area with fierce mana properties when viewed from Seoul's perspective.
So it was understandable that Uijeongbu's monsters were rampaging like this.
Moreover, Uijeongbu's situation was quite different from before the regression.
First, <Empress > Shin Seo-young had used <Miracle > in the 1st Uijeongbu Recapture War to create a slightly better result than before the regression.
Second, 5 years ago, Eun-ha had subjugated the 3rd rank overrank White Face Mask and caused havoc in the process of recovering cocoons.
As a result, Uijeongbu's mana state had changed differently from before the regression.
There were probably other reasons as well.
Those must have intertwined complexly to create the current situation.
Even so─.
─Two corps commanders against whom physical attacks and magic attacks are useless... And there's even a corps commander that turns an area into a dungeon....
He felt the situation was too cruel, no matter how he looked at it.
The 2nd Uijeongbu Recapture War was largely divided into early and late periods.
A few years after recapturing Uijeongbu, they had to subjugate the 2nd rank monster Maegu, which had settled in the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Office.
So he had wanted to end at least the early recapture war, where the danger of White Face Mask had disappeared, smoothly.
But as if there was such a thing as fate in the world, the recapture war that had been progressing smoothly suddenly faced an emergency due to three 3rd rank monsters.
No, not 3rd rank─.
"─We just received a message from the Special Bureau Director at Hoeryong Station. Judging the abilities of the two corps commanders to be dangerous, he says he's elevating their rank to overrank."
""""...."""
Three 3rd rank overranks.
The commanders groaned at the Intelligence Bureau Director's words.
Though not as high in attack power as Yegyeong, the abilities of the three corps commanders were extremely dangerous.
They agreed with that.
But what was important was not re-evaluating their rank, but how to deal with them.
"And we also received a message from the 5th Attack Platoon, Donghae Clan. They say they succeeded in luring the Demon Face Manta Ray elsewhere."
The news that followed was somewhat relieving.
Though the forces gathered at the Arts Center were numerous, they didn't have the power to face three corps commanders.
No.
I should also consider the forces of the platoons that are coming here now.
Soon Eun-ha corrected his thoughts.
The 3rd and 4th Attack Platoons were also coming.
Though they were bringing corps commanders at their rear.
Still, the 3rd Attack Platoon had Twelve Seats <First Sword> Ji Yong-hyeon.
Dankun Clan was said to have <Earth Worker> Kwak Woo-hyuk, who had been nominated as a 2nd generation Twelve Seats before the regression.
KK Clan also had <One-Man Fortress> Chu Young-hoon, who had likewise been nominated as a 2nd generation Twelve Seats before the regression.
The battle situation wasn't entirely unfavorable.
It was worth a try.
So how to defeat them...
The 3rd and 4th Attack Platoons are buying time while coming to the Arts Center.
The players at the Arts Center had to devise a strategy with the time they bought.
"First, rescuing as many members of the 3rd and 4th Attack Platoons being chased by the corps commanders is the top priority. They must all be very exhausted after running away for hours. It seems unreasonable to put them at the front..."
"Where are the people sent from the 3rd and 4th Attack Platoons now? Shouldn't we call them here to get more detailed information?"
"They both collapsed as soon as they arrived. They said they ran here at full speed without even time to drink water. It seems they're seriously injured from the process of shaking off the monsters' pursuit..."
Starting with Koo Yeon-su.
People who were participating as commanders broke the silence and opened their mouths.
They looked at the Witch's Model Garden that Jung Ha-yang had floated in the air.
"By the way, that artifact is quite nice. We'd like to have one too... Hey, Pandora Clan Lord. Can we..."
"M-mouth, mouth, mouth. Is this the time to say such things in this situation?"
A three-dimensional model of Uijeongbu.
Two huge dots were approaching from the east of their position.
One was red.
The other was blue.
The messenger sent from the 3rd and 4th Attack Platoons had informed them of the corps commanders' coordinates.
And they were even sending out scouts separately from the Arts Center to cross-check the information.
Now that Kaede, Ariel, and the new kids have gone out for reconnaissance and are relaying... we should consider the corps commanders' current positions accurate.
Eun-ha looked up at the map.
The corps commanders had come quite close.
Information about the corps commanders was being quickly conveyed from the telepathists sent as scouts.
It was time to make a decision.
"─What other method is there now? We need to separate them so we don't have to face them at the same time."
At this, Eun-ha spoke up.
Others nodded as well.
It was impossible to face monsters that nullify physical attacks and magic attacks simultaneously.
"The Pandora Clan Lord is right. Especially Cobalt Knight, this one might change course to Hoeryong Station if we're not careful. We need to be cautious of this one and separate the corps commanders."
"So where are we going to lure them?"
"Blaze Clan Lord.... Why don't you think a bit before speaking? Don't ask us how we're going to do it."
"Then should we just face them simultaneously..."
"When separating the corps commanders, let's maintain a distance where we can grasp the situation through telepathy. Now, where would be a good location..."
Koo Yeon-su cleanly ignored Kang Hyeon-cheol's words.
Soon he decided on a location to lure Cobalt Knight.
It was a park about 800m away at 8 o'clock from Uijeongbu Station.
And for Crimson Knight─.
"─How about the crater near Uijeongbu Station?"
"The crater? Not bad."
<Golden Sword> Mok Min-ho.
He, who had been watching his seniors carefully among the experienced players, quietly spoke up.
He had been keeping his mouth shut while his seniors were talking, and now voiced his opinion.
"But <Golden Sword>. Is there a reason you want to lure the corps commander into a hole? Are you planning to set up a trap there?"
"I heard that the domain it creates changes as it moves. So I thought it would be better to push it into a hole where it can't move easily. And then we could pour magic on it from outside the hole."
"As expected of Pandora Clan, you know how to devise vicious strategies. Not bad. I think we can go with that."
"And also..."
""""...?""""
"The reason why the 3rd and 4th Attack Platoon members haven't been caught by the corps commanders yet is probably because the corps commanders' speed is slow. I think it's probably because of the armor they're wearing..."
""""...."""
"As far as I know, it's difficult to get up again if you fall to the ground while wearing armor. So I was thinking we could push it into the hole, knock it down, and then pour attacks on it to prevent it from getting up."
"...Is everyone in Pandora Clan like this? Alright, it's a strategy worthy of Pandora Clan, who doesn't hesitate to use anything."
"Could you please stop making such jokes while mentioning our clan?"
"Sorry, sorry."
Mok Min-ho's strategy was almost entirely accepted.
Mok Min-ho wore a satisfied expression.
And when Eun-ha caught that expression, he frowned.
Anyway, the players continued their strategy meeting.
"─In the case of Crimson Knight, a platoon composed mainly of casters and supporters will have to attack. Conversely, for Cobalt Knight, a platoon composed mainly of dealers, hunters, and guardians should attack."
Since Crimson Knight makes all physical attacks ineffective, players specializing in magic will lead the attack.
Since Cobalt Knight makes all magic attacks ineffective, players who mainly use sword strikes will lead the attack.
The outline of the strategy was quickly established.
"─Then let's stop the strategy here. Intelligence Bureau Director, please hide somewhere. The attacks might deflect here."
"Yes, I understand. I wish you all good luck."
Now they had to get up from their seats.
The presence of the corps commanders was gradually being felt.
They were about to return to their platoons.
Right at that moment─.
"─Wait a moment."
""""...?""""
"Ha-yang?"
Jung Ha-yang stopped them.
Eun-ha, whose hand was even grabbed by Jung Ha-yang, tilted his head.
She made him sit down and said to the gathering:
"Aren't you curious about what the corps commanders said while attacking?"
Jung Ha-yang posed a question.
People were bewildered.
No one answered.
So she continued.
"─They said 'I am the guardian of this land', so I was wondering if they don't guard the sky above that land. And I have one more suggestion for defeating the corps commanders..."
""""...!!""""
The question she posed.
It seemed worth considering.
The players sat down again, and they discussed the strategy more quickly than before.
☆
Also at that time.
Red Dungeon Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Office.
Bubbbbbbbbb....
A manta ray with a saw-like mouth was flying in the airspace near the red dungeon.
As if being chased by someone, the manta ray was desperately wandering around the vicinity, floundering.
...
On the ground dyed red.
A fox looked up at the manta ray.
The fur of the fox waving nine tails was extremely white.
A color as if it wouldn't allow any existence other than itself.
The white fox slowly rose from its place.
─Craaaack!!
Whoosh!!
At that moment, the manta ray staggered.
At the same time, a fierce wind blowing from the sky pushed it away.
The manta ray, its body flipped over, was caught in the fierce wind.
And it─.
─...
Approached the airspace of the red dungeon.
The fox looked down at its feet.
There was a boundary line.
Its domain had expanded.
The fox blinked at the strange sight.
And took a step forward.
─It works?
The corners of the fox's mouth lifted.
Soon the fox hopped onto the expanded red domain.
Then the red domain moved.
The fox, startled, moved along with the moving domain.
─Hehehehehehehehehehe
For a very long time.
A being that had spent a boring life trapped in a narrow, red land.
The fox wagged its tails at the newly discovered amusement.