The Link System began moving forward step by step.
It gathered as many contaminated Dimensional Cores as possible and did its best to mass-produce Dimensional Movement Blocking Devices.
However, due to the shortage of Dimensional Cores and lack of production facilities, the device manufacturing progressed slowly.
Next, the Link System distributed videos to governments around the world showing monsters destroying the Dimensional Movement Blocking Devices. The company strongly advised governments to prepare accordingly.
But governments, already pushed to their limits, were too busy trying to grab the lifeline that had descended from the sky.
Whether that lifeline was rotten or not was something to consider after grabbing it.
However, no country wanted to be the first to step up and be the test subject, so they hoped someone else would go first.
In the end, the United States stepped up first.
After the U.S. decided to be the first to install the device, a bloody battle ensued. Various lobbying efforts were made toward the Link System and the U.S. government, and the conference room was filled with shouting from national representatives.
In the end, the ranking was decided by power and international relations.
Fortunately, thanks to the United States, Korea was able to receive an allocation from the second production batch.
The U.S. chose Norfolk, Virginia as the first installation site.
Norfolk was a small port city with a population of about 200,000. The reason the U.S. chose it as the first installation site was simple-it housed the country’s largest naval and air force military bases.
The U.S. government gathered its high-level Awakened in Norfolk. American Awakened affiliated with the Link System also assembled there.
In addition to the Awakened, the U.S. government reassigned its elite military units to defend the device. Their goal was to destroy the contaminated monsters with firepower after assassin-type Awakened infected them.
The device was installed at the entrance to the harbor.
Some officials suggested installing it on planes or ships, but the Link System shook its head. The device would not operate unless the Dimensional Core was fixed to the ground.
Instead, the device was placed as close to the sea as possible to limit the monsters’ attack direction to one side.
Once all preparations were complete, the defense team began activating the device.
[Dimensional Movement Blocking Device Successfully Activated in Norfolk! First Safe Zone Established!]
[There was a monster attack, but successful defense achieved through cooperation of Awakened and soldiers!]
[Countries race to announce their own device installation dates!]
[Where will Korea’s first installation site be?]
Yonghoon turned off the internet news screen he was reading. All the articles were filled with positive expressions.
Nowhere did they mention the casualties among the Awakened or soldiers.
Korea was already in a state of quasi-martial law.
Broadcasting and newspapers were under government control. Since Korea also needed to install the device, there was no reason to report bad news.
Yonghoon set out for the office. Until recently, he had trained his Dimensional Power every morning before heading to work, but the E-Rank Dimensional Core he had been using ran out just a few days ago.
So instead of training, he checked the internet and left the house.
He needed a new Dimensional Core to train again, but once the core expired, he had stopped his Dimensional Power training.
That was because the Dimensional Movement Blocking Device had appeared. Things were clearly going to get incredibly busy from now on. He couldn’t afford to waste time acquiring a new core.
Yonghoon went down to the basement of his officetel. The underground parking lot was quiet. Personal cars were being phased out due to the increased risk of encountering monsters. People were trying to rely on public transportation as much as possible.
Yonghoon approached the off-road four-wheel-drive vehicle parked in one corner of the lot.
It was a Discovery 4 from Land Rover, which he had recently purchased. The price had dropped, so he was able to get it for half of what it cost a year ago.
The car exited the underground parking lot and drove through downtown Seoul. The roads were quiet. Few cars were visible, and many shops had closed.
Armed soldiers stood guard at various points along the road, and only buses packed with people raced through the streets.
There was only one reason people were using public transportation.
Because there were Awakened riding with them.
The government had forcibly reassigned Awakened who had been living normal lives into Hunters.
Those capable of hunting monsters were pushed into the hunting grounds, while those who weren’t were deployed to key facilities and transportation hubs.
As a result, people started using public transport with Awakened on board. Even if they were inexperienced F-Rank Awakened, just having them there was reassuring.
Still, unlike before, people on the bus now had hopeful expressions. It was because of the Dimensional Movement Blocking Device. Its appearance had given hope to those drowning in despair.
‘Hope soaked in blood, though.’
Shaking off his dark thoughts, Yonghoon entered the building where the office was located. This parking lot was quiet as well.
With Yonghoon’s arrival, the entire team had gathered at the office. As everyone assembled, team leader Han spoke with a grim expression.
“Please gather in the meeting room for a moment. There’s something I need to tell you.”
The team members looked puzzled.
Ever since returning from Gwacheon early in the morning, team leader Han’s expression had been stiff. Everyone entered the meeting room with curious looks.
Once the team members were seated around the table, team leader Han began to speak.
“You all know I was summoned to the government complex early this morning.”
Everyone nodded at his words.
“When I arrived, all team leaders of E-Rank or higher Awakened were already there. I heard that one of them had come from Jeju Island. Many people had died in Daejeon, but it seems things have been somewhat restored.”
The team focused on team leader Han’s story. He continued.
“At that meeting, the government delivered several new facts and requests-or rather, orders.”
Team leader Han rubbed his eyes, looking tired. A shadow of fatigue from his forties briefly passed behind him.
“The first was the backstory of the Dimensional Movement Blocking Device that was successfully installed in the U.S. Although the device was activated, over a hundred Awakened died, and more than 500 soldiers were killed. They say 20% of the E-Rank Awakened present were killed.”
The meeting room froze at his words. No one had expected that.
Jimin and Sunhee covered their mouths in shock, while Kangwoo frowned and pushed up his glasses.
But Yonghoon’s expression didn’t change. He had expected this. Installing the Dimensional Movement Blocking Device was a bloody task.
In the other world, around that time, violent incidents between Awakened who refused missions and the government had occurred frequently. It would likely happen here too.
Still, even Yonghoon found it a bit strange. The death toll was too high.
“But why reveal such a secret? It’ll only lower morale.”
Sunhee, having calmed her surprise, asked team leader Han.
“Apparently, the commander in charge of the installation operation at the time rejected the Link System’s request to eliminate as many monsters in the city as possible before activating the device. They overestimated America’s strength. The U.S. government is trying to keep this under wraps. But thanks to the Link System, other countries were able to learn the truth.”
At his words, the team members looked dumbfounded.
“There must be some internal conflict within the U.S. government over the Link System.”
Kangwoo, after thinking for a moment, offered his opinion. Everyone nodded, finding his point plausible.
Team leader Han continued.
“This is why the story was revealed. The government is requesting that superpowered team leaders eliminate monsters within a 10km radius before installing the Dimensional Movement Blocking Device.”
Yonghoon spoke up after hearing team leader Han’s words.
“So everyone being called to Gwacheon means Seoul will be the first installation site.”
Team leader Han nodded.
“The Yongsan US Military Base will be the first installation site for Korea’s Dimensional Movement Blocking Device.”
“Ugh, is summer finally over? It’s chilly in the early morning.”
A boy who still looked like a high school student was walking into a city bus depot under the gradually brightening sky. At the Seongsu depot, many buses were lined up, and some were getting ready to depart.
“Dohyeon, you’re here! You’re working hard even at dawn.”
An older bus driver standing next to a running bus at the front spoke to Dohyeon.
“Tch, can’t be helped. If I don’t do this, I’ll end up in jail. At least they’re paying me.”
He shrugged and boarded the bus.
“Jeez, what’s this world coming to, making a high school kid do this kind of work?”
The driver grumbled to the air.
Sitting in the front seat, Dohyeon took his phone out of his pocket and placed it on his palm. He put in his earpieces and looked down at the phone.
He whispered softly.
“Rise.”
The phone on his palm began to move. It slowly lifted into the air.
The phone floated in midair and stopped in front of his eyes.
Dohyeon spoke again.
“Open system.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the screen lit up.
The phone began switching screens on its own. A moment later, music played in his ears.
“Can’t you use your powers without mumbling like that?”
The driver shouted at Dohyeon as he boarded the bus. Dohyeon removed one earpiece and answered him.
“It’s cool, isn’t it? It’s not very useful, so it might as well look cool.”
The driver shook his head in disbelief.
Dohyeon put his earpiece back in and smacked his lips.
He had no choice.
Unlike combat-type Awakened, Special Ability Users had no way to gain experience. So this was the only way he could find some comfort.
“Alright, shall we head out now?”
The bus driver started the bus.
Dohyeon closed his eyes as he listened to the music. His phone was still floating in front of his face.
The bus began driving alone down the empty road.
It was when the music reached the chorus.
Screeech!
The bus came to a sudden stop. Dohyeon, startled, grabbed the safety bar.
“You crazy bastard! Are you trying to die?! What the hell are you doing jumping in front of a moving bus?!”
The driver screamed at the front.
Dohyeon looked ahead. A man was standing in front of the bus, blocking the road. At first, Dohyeon was just dumbfounded, but when he saw the man’s appearance, his senses snapped into focus.
The man standing in front of the bus looked to be in his late twenties, with a buzz cut and a strong impression.
The problem was, Dohyeon could see that he was wearing Anti-stab Clothing and holding a long iron spear in his hand.
“Ah, mister!”
Dohyeon urgently shouted at the driver, who was still yelling. The man in front of them was a Hunter.
And not just any Hunter-he was an E-Rank Hunter who used weapons. A monster hunter known for being rough. He had to stop the driver before he got hurt.
It was then.
The man blocking the road shouted toward the bus.
“I’m Kang Yonghoon from Team Crazy. We’re requisitioning this bus for monster hunting. Please understand.”
Then he raised his spear and pointed it at the bus.
The driver froze as the spear pointed at him. Dohyeon remembered the clause about forced requisition by Hunters. He shouted at the driver.
“Mister, open the bus door, quick!”
The driver opened the door in confusion. The Hunter boarded the bus and glanced over both the driver and Dohyeon. His eyes briefly lingered on Dohyeon’s floating phone.
Dohyeon and the bus driver were immediately kicked off the bus.
As soon as the two got off, the bus spewed smoke and reversed at full speed. After backing up a considerable distance, it came to a stop.
As the bewildered Dohyeon and the bus driver stared at the bus–
KEEEAAAAH!
A strange beast’s roar echoed from between the massive buildings beside the road.
Startled, the two turned their heads and saw a middle-aged man carrying a woman on his back emerge from between the buildings. He turned and began running alongside the building.
Vroooom!
Before the shocked pair could react, the bus that had backed away suddenly took off.
A giant crocodile burst out from between the buildings. It immediately turned and began chasing the man running ahead.
As the two stood frozen, watching the scene unfold, the bus roared past them. It made a sharp turn and charged straight toward the building beside the road.
The giant crocodile paid no attention to the bus coming from the side. Its eyes were fixed on the woman on the man’s back-the one who had stranded it in this world. The crocodile desperately charged forward.
CRASH!
The bus crossed the road, jumped the sidewalk, and rammed the crocodile head-on before slamming into the building wall and coming to a stop.
Two men and women then burst out from between the buildings. Gasping for breath, they ran toward the bus and shouted.
“Captain, are you okay?!”
“You’re not dead, right?!”
The man carrying the woman couldn’t even approach the bus, just pacing in place in frustration.
“Another crazy stunt! We should’ve stopped him when he said he’d go first.”
The man vented his frustration into thin air.
The front of the bus was completely wrecked. The giant crocodile wedged between the bus and the building wall was also completely crushed and dead.
“The crocodile monster is dead!”
The woman who had checked the crocodile shouted. At her voice, the man in the distance approached the bus with the woman still on his back. Then he gently set her down.
“I don’t see the Captain in the driver’s seat.”
Another man checked the driver’s seat and informed the others.
It was then.
A man rose up from the flowerbed beside the bus.
“I’m fine.”
It was Yonghoon.
It seemed he had jumped out before the bus hit the wall.
The members of Team Crazy ran toward Yonghoon, who had gotten up from the flowerbed. They began scolding him.
As Dohyeon blankly watched the scene, the bus driver next to him spoke.
“The government will compensate us, right?”
Dohyeon nodded at his words.
“Probably.”
In Dohyeon’s eyes, he saw Yonghoon and his team members approaching.
Yonghoon first apologized to the bus driver. Then team leader Han stepped in to explain the situation and began making calls with the driver.
Yonghoon looked at the student before him.
“You’re a Telekinesis Ability User, right?”
Yonghoon had seen Dohyeon floating his phone in the air earlier.
Dohyeon nodded.
At that, Yonghoon pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to Dohyeon.
“If you’re interested in monster hunting, give me a call.”
Dohyeon, holding the business card, lifted his head at Yonghoon’s words.
“Think about it. There might be a way to improve your ability.”
Yonghoon waved at Dohyeon and walked back to his team.
“Wow, it’s the first time I’ve seen the Captain give someone a business card.”
Jimin’s voice reached Dohyeon.
The team members looked at Dohyeon with curious expressions.
The bus driver was busy calling the company, and team leader Han was yelling into his phone.
“We’re not moving without a mercenary team anymore! Fine us or whatever, it won’t work. What’s the point of contaminating the monsters? We caught it today, but everyone almost died.”
Team leader Han’s expression changed as he listened to the person on the other end.
“What! The citizens are getting anxious? Don’t make me laugh! Starting tomorrow, we’re not doing anything. You catch them yourself!”
Team leader Han hung up and shoved his phone away roughly, then walked toward his team members.
Team Crazy sat beside the wrecked bus, chatting as they waited for the disposal team to arrive.
Dohyeon floated the business card in the air and stared intently at Team Crazy.
It was five days before the installation of the Dimensional Movement Blocking Device in Seoul.