Japan Crisis Arc

Finding myself fortunate that I made it through the night, the next day, I am raiding a B-Rank Dungeon. I would've taken the other A-Rank within our area, but it was snatched by Jinwoo and Jinho the moment we were informed at our office.

Clearing the dungeon in minutes and receiving no notable soldiers, I head back to the office only to be confronted by Yoo Soohyun who showed me her phone.

"The S-Rank Dungeon in Shinjuku, Japan is about to break in three days, weren't you contacted to go?"

"Sure, I was," I start, "But I have a more pressing matter occurring just a day later."

"B-but won't a lot of people die if neither Jinwoo nor you are there?" Yoo quivers, "After all, there's no way Japan can afford the services of a nation level hunter to help… and I don't know of any S-Rank who can stop that."

"Surely there must be one…"

Seeing her shake her head, I calculate in my head if it were possible for me to prevent casualties when the Dungeon breaks while at the same time having the opportunity to go to wherever it is that 'The Key' is trying to take me. Heck, I even started to think of clearing the dungeon before it could break. But I quickly threw that idea away.

Treading into an S-Rank Dungeon would be a mistake as it's widely known its environment inside the Gate was purely beneficial for the army hanging inside, and I don't know if my army is at the strength of an S-Rank Gate.

---

⸢ [Skill: Light Extraction Lv.2]

A Soldier of Light is created from a body by morphing the mana inside of its body. The strength of the Soldier is improved by the user's overall 'Intelligence'. The chance of failure increases the higher the target's stats are, and the more time since the target's death. ⸥

---

Even with this improved skill, fighting this gate might prove to be difficult. Sighing, I strain my face, "Fine… I'll head over to Japan and wait for the dungeon to break. If it's proved that it can't be held back by an S-Rank Hunter, I'll step in."

Yoo Soohyun then started to mess with her phone, leading to a voice coming out of it.

"So, you want to head to Japan, huh?"

"Mr. Go?"

"The one in only," He chuckles, "I can send you there, but your services towards Japan shall be paid in full if you do ever decide to step in."

"Ah, I don't need the money…"

"Huh? Who ever said that the money was for you?" Mr. Go questions, "Our Hunters Association needs to make money, and this is just one way to do that."

Staring blankly at the phone, I can't believe that Mr. Go so freely revealed that he'd be extorting Japan and me.

"A plane will be ready for you by tomorrow. While you're in Japan, try not to create any drama that I'll be forced to deal with. Just act like a normal tourist until the day of the Dungeon Break."

Not even able to get another word in, Mr. Go hangs up the phone.

"Good luck."

Absolutely enthused by the motivation from Yoo Soohyun, I board a plane the very next day and then find myself standing amidst a bustling Japanese Market, acting like nothing more than a normal tourist.

Running up a few mountains to commemorate my return to Japan, the day of the Dungeon Break arrives. As it turns out, Japan did have a contingency plan for the S-Rank Gate which came in the form of dumping hundreds of thousands of mana crystals around the entire gate and then having Yuri Orloff, the best S-Rank barrier creator, design a barrier magic circle around the Gate to seal it off.

Standing atop a building as Orloff creates his barrier, my head snaps over to the right to find another person standing atop a different building. I wanted to make my way over to this figure, but my attention shifted back to the Gate when it shatters open.

Looking at the Giants that emerged from the gate, Orloff's barrier held against their strikes. But everything quickly fell apart when a Giant thrice the size of the first emerged giants' steps through.

Whipping a sword from its side, the barrier is sliced through like butter, but instead of stepping forward to ensue more carnage, the giants behind this one jumped forward.

Quickly jumping from the top of the building, I made my way rapidly towards the front lines where Yuri Orloff stood fear stricken, about to be grabbed by one of the Giants.

Tackling Orloff off to the side, I quickly find myself amid a barrage of tank fire, helicopter fire, and Japan's S-Ranks who all tackled the Giants who had stepped away from the gate. Whipping Orloff around me, I throw him into the closest building, nearly sending him straight through it had I thrown him any harder.

Turning my gaze upwards, my eyes catch with the ones of a Giant who had gray sin, thick hair, armor, and horns.

"Ascend."

Like a swarm, my Soldiers of Light flooded out from above me, immediately throwing themselves into the hulking figure.

Overwhelmed by the sheer number of my Soldiers, the Giant staggers backward before falling to its knees and keeling over. Yet, from out of the gate came a whole new plethora of Giants, all of which ran full speed directly towards the swarm of my Soldiers.

"Geo!"

Landing on the ground, Geo places his heel forward and then slams his toe down.

⸢'Geo' is using [Skill: Embiggen] ⸥

Growing, Geo eventually overtook the Giants in height, being an entire head taller than them. Similarly, his axe and flail also grew, matching his impressive stature.Hucking his flail forward, it planted itself in the chest of a Giant, sending it hurling backwards into its compatriots.

"Bingha."

Swooping down beside me, Bingha used his 'Empower', rapidly shooting off towards the line of Giants before planting his dagger just above where Geo had thrown his flail.

With seemingly just enough strength, Bingha flies through the Giants, ridding them of their lives.

My army this entire time wasn't sitting idly by as they swarmed the Giants that had made their way around. My mana was of course being drained as the Giants would wind up planting blows against Geo, who had an extremely slow speed while Embiggened.

Watching this entire battle ensue while keeping a careful eye on all my Soldiers, Asmund plops himself down beside me.

⸢ [Name: Asmund Lv. 1]

Rank: Virtue ⸥

Looking at him questionably, he looks me straight in the eyes and nods his head. Bolting from my side, Asmund flew to a height in which his sword would be in line with the Giants neck. Still wondering what he was doing, Asmund unsheathed his sword.

⸢'Asmund' is using [Skill: Lord's Judgment] ⸥

His sword glow with an immaculate light, leading for the blade of his sword to widen and lengthen. With visible strain on Asmund's part, he cleaved through everything in front of him, whether it be a building or the heads of the Giants. The end of Asmund's blade even reached the big Giant who stood as a gatekeeper, but by simply raising its sword, it shattered the end of Asmund's blade.

Finishing the swing of his blade, its light receded back into it and Asmund sheathed it. Almost like it set off a chain reaction, the tops of building began to collapse sending up huge plumes of smoke, joined by the corpses of the Giants who hadn't been fortunate enough to dodge Asmund's new skill.

The Giants with a good enough sense to dodge would immediately find themselves swarmed by my Soldiers who were no longer preoccupied with another Giant.

Going down in heaps to my Soldiers, the only Giant left was the gatekeeper.

Seeing that it was the only one left, I snap my fingers, sending out anything other than my elites to go and deal with the other dungeons that had broken. Now, I was left with Asmund, Aeri, and Bingha, all of which were Rank Principality. Though, both Asmund and Bingha were lv. 1, most likely being reset by their increase in rank. And, before Geo left, I made sure to take his axe and flail for myself.

Calmly walking towards the Giant while making sure to create more Soldiers to my army off the corpses of the dead, it even allows me to create Soldiers of Rank Principality off the elite Giants.

Entering the ring where Orloff's Barrier had once been, the gatekeeper squints his eyes and disappear.

Rocketing forward, I'm barely given enough time to dodge off to the side before the Giant's blade is unsheathed upon where I stood. Luckily, none of my Soldiers had been in the way of his slash, lest they have been destroyed.

Asmund though, amid his dodge, had thrown his sword at the eye of the Giant.

Contrary to my expectations that he'd only move his face slightly to have the blade land in his cheek instead, the Giant full on blocked the blade with his forearm.

Resummoning his blade to himself, Asmund quickly flew over to me, grabbed me by the arm and then flung me towards the Giants face. Completely surprised that Asmund had done such a thing even though I didn't order him to, I find myself shadowed by Aeri.

Wondering why I was the bait, I come eye level with the Giant and without hesitation use 'Stone Breathing Sixth Form: Uncontested Might'.

Unlike before, where I had planted myself on the ground, I found myself spinning in the air as quickly as possible before extending the end of the axe and flail to their absolute limits. The Giant, who had brandished his sword in preparation for my strike, found himself sinking into the ground when my weapon met with his. And, as I could see from its eyes, the Giant grew surprised when its blade broke after a few moments.

It's arms, which were still violently shaking after defending against my blow couldn't even prep themselves to block Aeri who'd flown behind me and dug herself into the eye of the Giant. Reaching up with its arm, the Giant starts to dig at its eye.

Bingha then also flew from behind me and stabbed his dagger into the other eye of the Giant.

Teetering backwards while both of its hand rest on its eyes, Asmund once again shoves me upwards, this time towards its neck.

Combining 'Stone Breathing Fourth Form: Volcanic Rock-Rapid Conquest' with 'Righteous Execution', I grew wide-eyed when the length of the chain extended enough to where my weapon could wrap around its neck completely. As my axe and flail dug themselves into the skin of the Giant, the chain suddenly constricted, causing the Giant to let of a groan before then digging into its skin.

Continuing to tighten, everything comes to a standstill when the chain is reeled backwards incredibly quickly and caught around what I presume to be the spine of the Giant.

Unfurling my weapon from around its neck, the Giant falls to its knees, its head hung low, mere moments away from snapping off and rolling away. Now, the only sounds I could hear, were those of police, a few fires that had somehow started, and my own breathing.

⸢ [Light Extraction cannot yet be used on this target.] ⸥

Intrigued by the wording of the message, I look to find the Gate still open.

"Just one left… I hope."

Just as I say that I mana storm unlike any other that I've felt whips outside of the Dungeon, wrapping around the Giant I had just killed and sucking in its magic power. The surge of magic power was enough to make me transform into a Demon just to make sure I didn't lose a limb.

Running forward, I jump through the portal and find myself in an area I hadn't been expecting.

A long corridor, lit up by torches, and dressed in immaculate designs is what welcomed me. Following the location, came a grotesque laughter that sent shivers up my spine.

Walking through the empty corridors, I eventually find myself in the boss room, hearing the obscenely loud laughter.

"HAHAHAHA!" A huge muscular man with bluish-gray skin, long messy black hair with a sloppy beard, and glowing red eyes booms, "HOW TRULY AMUSING! TO BE VISTED BY SUCH A BEING!"

Its chains rattle violently as it continues to laugh. It's laughter then dims, but its booming voice remains, "WHAT ARE YOU?! YOU FEEL LIKE A LORD, BUT YOU SEEM TO BE SOMETHING FAR MORE IMMACULATE THAN ANY I'VE SEEN!"

"Lord?"

"YOU'RE NOT WITH THEM?!" It grows a maniacal smile, "THEN THE CHAINS… UNDO THE CHAINS. I MUST MAKE HASTE TO THE OTHER MONARCHS AND WELCOME THE REBIRTH OF THE SHADOW MONARCH!"

"…Why would I do that? I don't even know what it is your talking about. As far as I'm concerned, you're nothing more than a monster."

"A MONSTER?!?" Its eyes shake, "DO NOT COMPARE ME TO SUCH A LOWLY BEING! I AM A MONARCH. A BEING OF ABSOLUTE POWER WHO CAN MAKE MERE MORTALS LIKE YOU TREMBLE WITH A SINGLE BREATH."

"If you're a being of absolute strength, then why can't you free yourself from those chains that hold you?" I stare at it blankly, "And I'm sure that you can make me tremble with a single breath. After all, your breath reeks."

"YOU DARE TAUNT ME MORTAL!" It snarls, "I AM LEGIA, KING OF THE GIANTS AND MONARCH OF THE BEGINNING! AND AS SOMEONE NO MORE THAN A MORTAL, YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO MY EVERY COMMAND!"

"And why should I?" I tilt my head, "King of Giants, Monarch of Beginning, none of that means anything to me. All you look like is nothing more than an easy kill and something to add to my army."

Legia's eyes glow a dim, menacing light, "YOU THINK MUCH LIKE THE SHADOW MONARCH… BUT I AM AN ASTRAL BODY! ASTRAL BODIES ARE DESTROYED UPON DEATH, THEY CANNOT BECOME SOLDIERS! NOW, FREE ME!"

Holding up my finger, I tell Legia, "I'll free you… but only on one condition."

"AND WHAT SHALL THAT BE."

"Tell me about these Lords and Monarchs you keep talking about. Once you've explained it adequately enough, I'll set you free."

"HMM…" It groans, "ALRIGHT, BUT I WANT YOU TO MAKE THE SAME DEAL BY TAKING AN OATH."

Legia then begins to mutter incoherently, and a text box shows up in front of me.

---

⸢The King of Giants, First Monarch 'Legia' used [Skill: 'Oath of Faith (Exchange).']

If you accept 'Oath of Faith (Exchange), the caster and the acceptor will not be able to lie to each other.

Would you like to accept 'Oath of Faith (Exchange)'? ⸥

---

Accepting the exchange, I say the same thing again, and Legia seems content enough with it.

"LET ME FIRST EXPLAIN THAT LORDS ARE TIMEWORN ENEMIES OF THE MONARCHS WHO PLAN TO USE ME AS A FOUNDATION TO TRUE WARFARE." Legia begins, "WHILE THE MONARCHS HAVE THE CITIZENS OF CHAOS TO AID THEM IN BATTLE, THE LORDS HAVE AN ARMY CLAD IN SILVER WITH WINGS ON THEIR BACKS."

"Well, I haven't seen any of the true lords' soldiers come across Earth yet, so why is it that Humans are fighting against these supposed 'Citizens of Chaos'?"

"WE ARE PREPARING FOR WAR! AND THE LORDS PREPARE TO TURN YOUR WORLD INTO A BATTLEGROUND IN WHICH THE FIGHT BETWEEN MONARCHS AND LORDS SHALL BEGIN AGAIN." Legia spits, "AND THE REASON FOR SENDING MONSTERS TO YOUR WORLD… IT'S TO INSTILL MAGIC. THE LORDS WANT TO ENSURE THAT YOUR WORLD WON'T DISINTEGRATE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE WAR."

Legia then gives a hearty chuckle, "ONCE THE WAR BEGIND AGAIN, THE WORLD YOU RESIDE IN WILL TURN INTO A LIVING HELL. NOW FREE ME, AS PER OUR DEAL."

Seeing his cocky smile, I nod my head in a sagely manner. "Of course… As per our deal, I shall free your head from your body."

His expression freezes.

"You said a lot of rather interesting things, that I'll be sure to inform my bud about. And, those Lords' Soldiers, do they look anything like this?"

One of my soldiers materializes above my head. Legia begins to shake his chains violently, turning into something akin to a rabid animal.

"YOU SERVE THE LORDS?!? WAIT, BUT THEN HOW DID YOU ESCAPE THE OATH?!? YOU SAID YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THE LORDS SOLDIERS!"

"Well, I haven't… These are my own, not theirs."

"YOU BAST*RD! I'll KILL YOU!"

Materializing my katana, I give Legia a silent prayer and say, "Well, time to free you."

Continuing to hurl insults at me, I walk next to his head and then swing my katana down, cleanly slicing through it.

As Legia's head bounces away, he laughs once more, "WITH POWERS SO SIMILAR TO THE ABSOLUTE ONE, THE LORDS WILL BE SURE TO KILL YOU!"

Having his laughter echo off the walls long after he had died, I complete my first S-Rank Dungeon, ready to head back home and be embraced by Jinah.

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⸢Righteous Execution

100 Mana

Katana Only

-Your attacks to your foe's neck now deal 4x the damage. ⸥