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 [Chapter 168]

[Still, The Night Passes (2)]

No one had imagined it.

Who would have thought the Cocoon would break?

After the Fairy Government was established, people lost their sense of crisis and vigilance, falling into the comfort provided by the Cocoon.

They forgot the obvious fact that death is always right beside us.

The result was the tragedy unfolding before their eyes.

Now, they had awakened from their dream.

"This is a nightmare..."

Gangbuk was being destroyed.

Players watching the scene from across the Han River couldn't help but feel their hearts sinking.

Kirrrrrrr!

Monsters appeared endlessly.

They were flooding into Gangbuk where the Cocoon had been destroyed, as if they had been waiting for this day.

Of course, Players wouldn't just stand by and watch.

Although they had to rush out without proper equipment.

They knew what they had to do.

The problem was─

"─These bastards... don't they have any fear!? They're trying to come inside even while breaking through the Cocoon's wall?"

"They keep coming up endlessly. Damn monsters..."

That Gangnam wasn't in a good situation either.

Not only monsters born in the Han River, but monsters that appeared in the skies over Seoul were trying to keep entering inside without fearing the Cocoon's power.

They were risking their existence disappearing.

Moreover, anomalies started occurring inside the Cocoon due to the monsters' appearance.

As a result, those in Gangnam had to deal with monsters without being able to go to Gangbuk for rescue.

"The fact that they're risking danger to enter the Cocoon means there must be a monster with rank giving them orders! Everyone, stay alert!"

"The monsters appeared almost simultaneously! It means they invaded with an army according to a plan!"

"The monster army's target is Gangbuk! Prepare to go to Gangbuk as soon as we sort out the situation!"

Experienced Players immediately grasped the situation.

They shouted to the Players.

Then they took over command authority and tried to subjugate the invading monsters.

It was a race against time.

They had to quickly resolve the situation in Gangnam and cross over to help the people struggling in Gangbuk.

But they faced practical difficulties.

"─Damn..."

"How many are there beyond that!?" "I can't see ahead. But we can't light it up either..."

Somehow managing the situation,

Skilled Players gathered in front of the bridges heading to Gangbuk.

What awaited them there was darkness where they couldn't see an inch ahead, and monsters in that darkness.

"They're intelligent bastards. To choose this time to invade..." "We can't cross the river like this."

The Players were frustrated.

First, they couldn't illuminate the darkness.

The moment they lit it up, they would immediately become targets for the monsters.

So they were currently using magic that allowed their eyes to adapt to the night.

Second, the environment and time were problems.

The Han River wasn't affected by the Cocoon, so monsters were exerting power befitting their rank.

Countless such monsters existed on the bridges and the Han River.

Moreover, night was the time when monsters' ferocity increased.

"Da...mn..." "...Kuhek...!"

As a result, Players who climbed onto the bridges to cross the river had to taste despair.

There were many vehicles on the bridges, and civilians were occasionally mixed in among the monsters.

Players' movements naturally became sluggish, and they couldn't skillfully deal with monsters in the darkness.

"Aaaagh! Don't come! Don't co...!!" "Chang-sik! Yu Chang-siiiiik!!"

The only area Players could step on was the bridge.

But monsters capable of underwater combat suddenly climbed up the bridge pillars and dragged people into the water.

That was the end.

Monsters in the water swarmed and tore apart the people who fell in.

"Ah... Aah..."

"This is a dream..."

Boom, boom boom boom.

The sound of something collapsing still didn't cease.

Finally, Players witnessed something exploding in the distance.

Somewhere in Gangbuk was engulfed in flames.

And in the light illuminating the darkness, they despaired seeing monsters filling the bridge.

They were dumbfounded seeing monsters flying above their heads, waiting for an opportunity.

"It's, over..."

"We're all dead, it's the end now." "How can we... defeat those things."

The Players lost their fighting spirit.

The length of Dongjak Bridge is about 1.5km.

But to cross that 1.5km, they had to sacrifice a lot.

Even if they crossed the bridge, what would be left?

Would they have the strength to fight the armies that would be attacking Gangbuk after losing so much of their force?

The Players were skeptical.

Right then─

─Blast Cross

Whoosh.

Something passed through them.

It was flames.

The flames that flew in a straight line eventually cut through a huge monster, and even cut through monsters beyond it.

""""...."""

Keeeeek.

Monsters engulfed in flames screamed.

It was truly a strange sight.

Until now, it had been them screaming.

But now those guys were screaming in pain.

Unextinguishable flames.

Monsters with their whole bodies engulfed in flames fell into the river water.

It didn't end there─

─Han Mae-ryu, Monsoon Rain

Spark Shower

Comet

Land of Thorns

The situation reversed.

All sorts of magic fell from the sky.

Magic that ran along the ground suddenly bound the remaining monsters.

Simultaneously, magic falling from the sky sniped them.

"What is this..."

It was in the blink of an eye.

Just a few seconds.

Many things had changed in that time.

Players turned with dazed faces towards the direction the magic had come from.

""""...."""

Players wearing navy blue uniforms.

The Players who kicked off the ground manifesting their internal mana all exuded an extraordinary atmosphere.

Unlike themselves, their gazes didn't waver as they focused on the monsters.

"...It's Pandora Clan."

Someone murmured softly then.

The words muttered by one person spread instantly among those present.

Pandora Clan.

People spoke that name.

Soon they─

"─Pandora Clan is opening the way! Let's lend our strength too!"

"Even a junior clan is fighting like this, how can we just stand here!? Everyone, go out and fight prepared to die!"

"Us too! We're going to Gangbuk!!"

It was too early to despair.

They reignited their fighting spirit watching Pandora Clan members fighting against countless monsters.

☆

Monsters outside the Cocoon.

Moreover, their aggressiveness had increased due to the night's influence.

In such a situation, crossing the Han River, counted as one of the sources of monsters, was nothing short of suicide.

Nevertheless, Eun-ha attempted it.

As he took the lead, the hesitating clan members also steeled themselves and followed.

Sword Spirit Encirclement

The Wall Breaker

Blood Claw

Choi Eun-hyuk, Mok Min-ho, Jin Pa-rang.

The three were diligently following the path Eun-ha had created.

Behind them, Yu Nam-hoon and Kang Si-hyung were on high alert, protecting the clan members.

It's okay, don't be afraid.

You can do it with your skills too.

Yeon-hwa noona and I will open the way, and others will support you.

The three closely following him must be feeling all sorts of pressure.

If they collapsed, the rear would collapse, and if they collapsed here, everything would be over.

But there was no need to feel pressure.

What is a clan?

It was a group that moved organically as one living organism through mutual cooperation.

It wasn't led by just a few.

As if to prove this─

─Spirit Talisman

Wing Bliss

Protective magic and buffs flew in.

Noh Eun-ah checked the remaining number of protective magic spells for clan members from the middle rank.

Maximum 6 times.

The protective magic imbued in Noh Eun-ah's talismans activated the most suitable magic she knew when the target received physical impact.

And Cha Eun-woo's buff magic had the effect of making the body lighter to increase speed and reducing equipment weight.

Everyone's working well together.

No need for me to give detailed orders.

As a result of knowing each other for a long time, the clan members were smoothly coordinating.

Eun-ha was satisfied with the clan members' party play.

[Pandora Clan telepathist Ariel! I will relay supporter Yeo U-bi's message! The vanguard is moving so fast it's hard to keep up. If possible, please match the speed!]

[Pandora Clan telepathist Jin Seo-na. Relaying navigator Jung Ha-yang's message. Pa-rang oppa, fall back four steps and properly fulfill the role of connecting the middle and vanguard. And she says not to mistake the many clan members following from the rear for monsters. This was telepathist Jin Seo-na.]

[This is Pandora Clan telepathist and hunter Jin Pa-rang, can't you just match our speed?]

[Pandora Clan telepathist Jin Seo-na. I will relay caster Bae Su-bin's message so Pa-rang oppa, listen well. If you don't want to fall under the bridge right now, listen to me well. This was telepathist Jin Seo-na.]

Except for Jin Pa-rang being excited, the clan members moved organically.

Soon Eun-ha noticed Mok Min-ho and Choi Eun-hyuk following behind slowing their pace.

Then he spoke to Ryu Yeon-hwa running beside him.

"Yeon-hwa noona."

"Yes, Eun-ha."

"These guys keep coming up endlessly, should we go down instead?"

They had opened the way to some extent.

The problem was that the monsters climbed up the bridge pillars and filled the empty spaces again.

That was really annoying.

So Eun-ha made a radical proposal to Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Ryu Yeon-hwa─

"─Okay." "Okay."

She agreed without hesitation.

Immediately, the two who had been running straight along the bridge jumped down as if in sync.

"Keep running!"

Suddenly hearing startled voices from above as they fell.

Eun-ha shouted to them with mana as he landed on the water surface.

Their surprise lasted only a moment.

They began running along the bridge path Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa had opened.

Meanwhile, Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa who jumped from both sides of Dongjak Bridge gripped their weapons.

"Let's finish quickly and go up." "Okay."

Back to back.

The two glared at the monsters approaching them from both sides of the bridge.

Platinum Cross

Han Mae-ryu Ultimate, Snow Dragon

Centered on Dongjak Bridge.

On one side of the bridge, light flashed, and on the opposite side, winter arrived.

The flash of light cut through the river water and slaughtered the swarming monsters.

The winter dragon froze the river surface and delivered the terror of death to those coming up from under the water.

It didn't stop there─

─Burst Counter

Han Mae-ryu Ultimate, Dragon's Wrath

Eun-ha stimulated the residual mana to cause chain explosions.

Yeon-hwa cleaned up the remaining monsters with the fragments of the disappearing dragon.

"This is only temporary. In a little while, they'll come up from the water again as if nothing happened."

"But we bought time." "That's right, noona. Let's go now. Give me your hand, noona."

"Okay, here."

It was a strange sight.

On one side, fire burned on the water surface, and on the other side, the water surface was frozen.

At the point where the different water surfaces met, the two conversed.

Soon Ryu Yeon-hwa held out her hand.

Eun-ha took her hand.

Han Mae-ryu, Ice Road

Ice surged up.

They returned to the top of the bridge riding the surging ice.

The distance wasn't far now.

The fact that there were no monsters on the bridge meant the clan members had probably dealt with them all.

The two easily crossed the bridge and finally arrived at Yongsan-dong.

""""We did it!""""

"Pandora Clan made a path!!"

The clans from Gangnam who arrived after shouted in joy as they set foot in Gangbuk.

While all the bridges connecting Gangnam and Gangbuk were occupied by monsters,

Under Pandora Clan's lead, they had uniquely created a path to Gangbuk.

☆

The state of Yongsan-gu was miserable.

The clan members who came down from the bridge were all at a loss for words seeing Yongsan-dong turned into a desolate ruin.

""""...."""

There were no intact buildings.

Human corpses were rolling around on the streets like trash.

People were hardly visible, either having fled or been eaten by monsters.

"Ah... ah... save me, kuheukuhu...!!"

""""...."""

They barely saw a person.

But the person who requested help while half-eaten by a monster disappeared with a gulp.

All that could be seen in the city devoid of people were those on the brink of death and monsters coming up from the river enjoying their feast.

"─Ha-yang, show me the map." "Ah, yes!"

The clan members were dazed.

Eun-ha clapped his hands.

Drawing their attention to himself, he called Jung Ha-yang.

She hurriedly activated the Witch's Model Garden.

"Our current location is here. Near the National Museum of Korea."

"See where those guys are heading. The ones that came up from the river are surely going up."

"Looking at the overall situation..."

A map of Yongsan-gu unfolded.

Jung Ha-yang designated their current location, then input information about the monsters.

Soon, large red circles appeared in various places on the map.

"Monsters are distributed all over, but they're mainly concentrated in Itaewon and Samgakji."

Then the direction of the monsters' movement was clearly indicated.

They were heading towards Itaewon and Samgakji.

No, they would already be rampaging there.

As I expected.

In the previous regression, they split into two and invaded Samgakji and Itaewon.

Samgakji and Itaewon.

People living in areas adjacent to the Han River would have fled there.

And the monsters followed the people's mana there.

Eun-ha was lost in thought.

"The National Museum of Korea is also a problem..."

He muttered.

National treasures were currently stored in the National Museum of Korea.

Fortunately, they would be blocking monsters' approach with strict protective magic, but it was only a matter of time before it was destroyed.

If that happened, the worst situation could occur.

In the previous life, monsters stole national treasures and their ranks escalated.

Because of that, even when Im Ga-eul returned, she had to struggle to stabilize Yongsan-gu...

Two areas to defend.

One powder keg.

Eun-ha pondered.

The <Mercenary King> will be holding out to some extent in Itaewon.

Should I split the party in two and take charge of here and Samgakji?

No, that's not possible.

If Itaewon falls, things will get complicated later.

Eun-ha shook his head inwardly.

Right then─

"─We'll guard this place."

"What?"

"To be honest, I don't think we can keep up with you with our skills. We're in a situation where we couldn't even properly equip ourselves as we rushed out, and I think someone needs to stay and guard this bridge." "..." "So we'll stay and guard. It's embarrassing to ask young kids, but we'll leave Samgakji and Itaewon to you."

One of the clans that crossed the bridge together spoke to Eun-ha.

They said they would stay in Yongsan-dong and manage the situation.

Eun-ha was grateful.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"Sorry we can't help. And good luck."

Players from unknown clans.

They cheered for Pandora Clan.

Eun-ha thanked them for their support and turned to look at his clan members.

"From now on, I'll divide us into two parties. I'm thinking of splitting into parties heading to Itaewon and Samgakji."

Mana needed to be replenished in advance.

Eun-ha took a sip of coffee milk that restored health and mana.

He looked over the clan members' faces and distributed his instructions.

"Those coming with me to Itaewon are Mok Min-ho, Chang-jin hyung, Kang Si-hyung, Kim Min-ji, Bae Su-bin, Eun-ah noona, Ariel, and Hoshimiya Kaede."

""""....""" "I'd like the rest to go to Samgakji with Jung Ha-yang as the leader."

The night was still long.

☆

At that time, in the direction of Wonhyo Bridge.

Despite sacrificing many, the Players ultimately failed to defend Wonhyo Bridge.

Amidst the swarming monsters,

They came up onto land.

Grrrr grrrr

A huge form.

Eyeballs that rotated freely.

A monster shaped like a toad or frog, it was hard to tell which.

And monsters following it.

"Monsters! They're here too!" "Reinforcements! Come here quickly!"

"Telepathist Gu Ji-yeon! Please relay to people right now! A monster estimated to be Level 4 has appeared leading an army...!"

The Players discovered them.

But they couldn't stop them.

Because the huge-bodied creature suddenly spat out poison.

People were covered in deadly poison.

"Ugh... Aaargh...!!"

Its poison was terrible.

Though not highly contagious, once infected it caused excruciating pain as if the body was boiling.

Not only did this cause confusion in handling internal mana, but ultimately if the poisoning lasted long, it would cause necrosis starting from the hands and feet.

Grrrr grrrr

Other monsters with similar poisons.

Monsters reminiscent of reptiles and amphibians kept coming up onto land and waited for the commander's orders.

─Grrrr grrrr

Level 4 monster Great Toad Chief.

A commander estimated to be a subspecies of it.

The commander with black base and red stripes as its characteristic indicated a direction.

Towards Samgakji.

The monsters headed there.