Mutated Gate (3)

The subjugation of the Red Gate began.

The forces deployed consisted of 300 regular soldiers, 300 civilian guild members, and three master-class Awakeners, and many people viewed it as an excessive commitment of manpower, to the point that some said the scale was too large.

However, it was a lineup chosen to achieve maximum effect with minimal losses, and among the three masters, one was an 8th Circle mage who was regarded as the most likely person to succeed Pi Jin-hyeok as the next master of the Magic Tower.

There was also talk that his purpose in this Red Gate subjugation was to raise his profile through a grand display of skill, but once it became known that this deployment had not been his wish, but rather the result of a government request, people were left wondering why the government was being this cautious about the Red Gate.

“To deploy this many people just to catch some strengthened Kobolds, is that not excessive?”

Ordinarily, when subjugating a Grade 5 Gate, the average number deployed was around fifty members from a single guild.

Yet despite the fact that it had caused a mutation and had changed into a size close to a Grade 6 Gate, the 8th Circle mage Yu Jin-sang was full of dissatisfaction simply because the monsters they had to face were merely Kobolds, and at his question, Kim Dae-man spoke.

“Do you not feel anything after coming inside?”

“Only that the body feels heavy. But that is because we have become smaller.”

“You may not know well, since you are not someone who uses your body directly, so let me explain.”

Then Kim Dae-man explained why he had thought this matter through so carefully.

“Because of the difference in size and mass, our strength is not being properly transmitted to those bastards. At the very least, our movements have become sluggish, while they are no different than usual, and since we are also smaller and lighter than the ones facing them, it would be correct to say that the difficulty has risen far beyond imagination.”

“Hmph, do I look like someone who would not know even that?”

“I am saying this because I want you to clearly understand the difference between those who actually have to use their bodies and those who solve everything with magic from afar.”

Mages had a strong tendency to look down on physical Awakeners.

Because they treated them like primitive humans who tried to solve everything stupidly with brute force. That was why relations between mages and physical Awakeners could not help but be poor, and at that moment Cha Jin-yeong, who seemed to have finished making preparations, came over to report.

“Are you two fighting again?”

“Of course not.”

“What fight? There is not even anything to fight over.”

“Haha, if that is the case, then let us begin the subjugation. The scouting personnel have returned after finishing their confirmation of the Kobolds’ condition.”

“What are they doing?”

“They seem to be grouped together in small units. It feels like they are tied together by tribe, and even so, they seem fairly smart in their own way.”

Soon, Cha Jin-yeong lightly drew a diagram on the ground with a stick as he explained.

“There is a boss at the center of the group, and around it are the ones positioned to shoot arrows. And it seems the outer perimeter is arranged with the stronger ones, the ones with sturdier bodies, guarding the nest. It looks like it would be best to shake up the inside first, inflict damage, and then sort out the rest one by one.”

“Then there will be no need for a large number of people to be put in. Have you confirmed the shaman?”

At Kim Dae-man’s question, Cha Jin-yeong nodded.

“It is presumed that the leader of the group is a shaman. But seeing that a purple light flickers in its eyes, it seems to be a mutant type.”

“A mutation…. It is troublesome, when everything is already full of mutations as it is.”

Yu Jin-sang, who had been listening to Kim Dae-man’s words, cut in and spoke.

“If the scale itself is not all that great, then let us handle it simply. Then we can make noise, dig traps, and drive them into a mass hunt.”

Yu Jin-sang claimed that with 8th Circle magic, he could burn away roughly a quarter of the current Gate in an instant.

But simple destruction was not the objective.

Because they had to clear out the monsters and inspect the mutation state in detail. However, Yu Jin-sang was in a state where he desired only fame, so he began insisting strongly on a mass hunt.

That left Cha Jin-yeong awkwardly stuck in the middle, and he asked,

“Then how about this? We inspect part of it first, and if we judge that there is nothing there, then we drive the monsters into that area and deal with them.”

Both men’s expressions twisted fiercely, but since it was not a situation where either one could be satisfied, he moved to persuade them.

In the end, it proceeded according to Cha Jin-yeong’s words, and they began the full-scale assault.

However, the situation they had not anticipated was beginning deep within the Red Gate.

In the deep underground where the core should have been, the black sphere had begun to ‘sprout.’

The power inside the Gate began gathering rapidly, and as it settled into the sprouting thing, it gradually began changing shape.

The assault force, having no way of knowing this situation, began steadily clearing out the Red Gate, but without noticing the change, they merely advanced deeper and deeper into the Gate.

Inside the Red Gate in the United Kingdom, something that had sprouted within and accumulated immense power opened its eyes.

At the place where the core should have been, an unknown being rose to its feet and revealed itself to the world with overwhelming power and size, and the countless Awakeners of the United Kingdom who had been trying somehow to identify the cause of the expansion by inspecting the interior urgently evacuated and declared a state of emergency as this unknown being revealed itself.

“An unidentified colossal monster has appeared.”

“The Gate is causing a Break phenomenon!!”

The now-panicked people outside began trying to evacuate nearby residents as quickly as possible, while the government urgently dispatched large numbers of Awakeners and troops to the area around the Red Gate.

However, the truly grave situation came next.

The area around the Red Gate began cracking with a tearing sound, and before long, the Red Gate transformed into a huge hole.

Then the gigantic monster that revealed itself stepped out into the world and emerged outside, and soon released its momentum and roared.

Kuuuuoaaaargh!! -

The cry that rang thunderously across the sky of the United Kingdom carried immense power, and countless ordinary people nearby fainted and collapsed.

Some even fell into critical condition from the shock, to the point that their hearts stopped, and the hurried military of the United Kingdom began its offensive against the monster that had appeared, while some Awakeners urgently evacuated the fallen and responded to the dire situation.

The United Kingdom, having established a clear manual for how to respond when a monster incident broke out after the Great Cataclysm, moved into emergency response at once, but the problem was the monster that calmly endured the attacks of the countless Awakeners rushing at it with its own body, and from that point onward, a fierce battle continued between those trying somehow to kill the monster and the giant beast trying to destroy everything.

Countless strategic weapons were poured onto the monster, and master-class Awakeners rushed in to respond to the sudden disaster.

A succession of outstanding talents appeared, displaying mighty powers worthy of being called the best in Europe, and confidence filled the United Kingdom that this crisis could be overcome, while everyone became convinced that this crisis would become an opportunity.

Amid all this, the situation in the United Kingdom began being urgently reported throughout the world….

“A monster like that came out of a Red Gate?”

“Damn…. Are we in danger too?”

Countries all over the world saw their anxiety surge because of the Red Gates that had appeared within their borders.

“Should we not prepare in advance too?”

“How long has it been since the Red Gate appeared in the United Kingdom?”

As each country became certain of a state of emergency and hastened to prepare somehow to respond to the Red Gate situation, Korea finally came to report that it had completed the subjugation.

“All the monsters inside the Red Gate were subjugated, but nowhere was there any trace of the core. It is exactly the same as the situation in the United Kingdom.”

Upon receiving Kim Dae-man’s report, Awakener Association Chairman Min Tae-jin showed him an article and said,

“An abnormal sign has occurred in the Red Gate, and although the United Kingdom is currently mounting a large-scale response, the raid’s progress is said to be poor.”

“…The Red Gate, you mean?”

“Yes, the Red Gate. It is said to be a gigantic monster reaching twenty meters in height, of a type never seen before, and a mutant type that uses both aura and mana.”

“A mutant type…. Could we also have such a monster…?”

“We cannot ignore the possibility. But did you truly fail to discover anything unusual?”

At Min Tae-jin’s question, Kim Dae-man fell into serious thought. No matter how much he thought about it, he had been unable to notice any special change.

Among the more than ten thousand Kobolds, the only one that had anything unusual about it was the Kobold shaman, and even that one was nothing special aside from being somewhat stronger and using abilities closer to superpowers.

So he shook his head, and Min Tae-jin made a suggestion.

“We too will inspect the inside of the Gate thoroughly together with the government and prepare for whatever situation may arise. And if even high-ranking mages were unable to properly discern it, then it seems there is no choice but to request someone from a higher tier than that.”

“By higher tier, you mean…. the Worst?”

“Yes. If one were to name the greatest mage in Korea at present, he stands unrivaled.”

Kim Dae-man withdrew after saying he understood, but Min Tae-jin immediately picked up the phone and began contacting someone.

“It has been a while. Nice to hear from you again.”

-I have been quite busy. What is it? -

“The time has come. You should have your revenge, should you not?”

-What is it that you want me to do? -

“Please hire the Worst to investigate the Red Gate.”

The Red Gate experiment was successfully bringing the situation into being. They could roughly predict the timing as well, and in fact Korea was preparing its response in step with the situation in the United Kingdom.

-Hiring him will not be such an easy matter. The higher-ups do not find that agreeable. -

“Even if it is difficult, it must be done. That is why we raised you to that position.”

No answer came back immediately, but soon the other side hung up, and Min Tae-jin was certain that this matter would be carried through.

‘In many ways, he is an obstacle to our future, so it would be right to deal with him while we can. But…. If even this cannot be used to deal with him, then in the end, They will have no choice but to step forward. And then….’

After briefly organizing his thoughts, Min Tae-jin sprang from his seat.

Then he immediately set out to request an audience with the President.

‘If it cannot be done, then there is no choice but to support matters until it becomes possible….’

Min Tae-jin, who firmly believed that the ruin of this world signified a new beginning, disliked the fact that the foundation they had laid over such a long time had been destroyed by the Worst.

So he intended to settle it thoroughly on this occasion.

Moreover, there was a need to confirm the level of power that would become their foundation, so he regarded it as a good opportunity in many respects. Thus, the Cultists of Ruin began their activities in earnest once again.