All broadcasts in Seoul suspended their regular programming and aired emergency announcements.
The message was for everyone to stay home and refrain from going outside.
The civil defense sirens were abandoned due to concerns they might provoke the monsters, so the government spread the news as much as possible through TV and the internet.
Fortunately, people followed the government’s instructions well. In most areas of Seoul, especially within 10km of the Yongsan US Military Base, both people and cars disappeared from the streets.
A four-wheel-drive sedan was driving alone down the empty road.
It was Yonghoon’s car, carrying Team Crazy. The car was heading toward the Yongsan US Military Base.
The spacious interior of the car was enough to carry both the team members and their gear.
“It’s my first time seeing no cars on the road during rush hour.”
Jimin pressed her face against the window, looking outside in wonder. The eight-lane road was completely clear of cars.
There weren’t even any pedestrians, making it look like a scene from a movie where humanity had vanished.
Sunhee stared blankly out the window, unfamiliar with the sight. The team members were a bit worried about her.
It was because the past week had been extremely taxing. She had used Dimensional Power in every hunt, and her complexion had worsened over the past few days.
Thankfully, she got a day of rest yesterday and was able to recover a bit, but they were still concerned.
‘But compared to the captain…’
Kangwoo turned his head to look at Yonghoon, who was driving. With his slightly sharp features, Yonghoon was silently focused on the road.
Thinking back on Yonghoon’s actions, Kangwoo found him both impressive and a bit dangerous. For someone around his own age, Yonghoon’s behavior was heavy and reckless.
‘Maybe that’s where his charisma comes from.’
Kangwoo let out a small sigh, comparing himself to Yonghoon.
A mysterious power had appeared to him when he was worn out and moving out of habit.
Excited, Kangwoo had quit his job and jumped into this path.
People were still reaching out to him, but he was having too much fun with his current companions to respond.
Still, every time he saw Yonghoon, he couldn’t help but reflect on whether he was living the right way.
Kangwoo turned to the side. He saw team leader Han talking on the phone with his family.
Watching team leader Han call his family several times a day made Kangwoo imagine his own future, but he sighed again at how irresponsibly he had left everything behind.
“Why are you sighing like that?”
Jimin tilted her head as she saw Kangwoo sighing so deeply it seemed the ground would cave in.
“Everyone just looks so tired.”
Kangwoo answered with the first thought that came to mind.
Jimin nodded at his words.
“It’s a tough time. But things will get better once the device is activated, right?”
“Probably.”
At Kangwoo’s reply, Jimin frowned and bit her nails.
“Should I move to Seoul? But I don’t have enough money…”
Suddenly thinking of the orphanage, Jimin muttered to herself.
But her words reached the ears of those whose senses had been enhanced by their powers.
Yonghoon pressed his foot harder on the pedal.
The car sped up even more down the road.
After a brief inspection, Yonghoon’s car passed through the main gate of the Yongsan US Military Base. The area was bustling with people and vehicles, a stark contrast to the previously quiet streets.
Yonghoon’s car continued down a tree-lined two-lane road. The low barracks nearby, the distant training fields, and the dense trees made it feel like a peaceful region in rural America.
But along the roadside, soldiers were busy setting up barricades.
Judging by the continuous barricades deeper inside, it seemed the command planned to limit the monsters’ entry routes to the roads.
As the car turned a corner, dozens of antennas rising above the trees came into view.
They were Dimensional Movement Blocking Devices.
The device was installed in the middle of a training field next to a central intersection of the base.
Yonghoon parked the car in a corner of the training field.
“Wow, incredible. It looks like a space transmitter from a sci-fi movie.”
Jimin, eyes wide, said as she got out of the car.
Yonghoon stared at the large electronic equipment installed in the center of the training field. The Dimensional Movement Blocking Device looked very similar to the ones he had seen in the other world.
The device, about twice the size of a shipping container, had dozens of antennas shooting up into the sky from the top, and the bottom was a solid square block that prevented anyone from seeing inside.
A mobile generator was connected to the side of the device, supplying it with power.
It was clearly a product made by a more economically and technologically advanced place.
But the basic structure was the same.
Looking at the device, Yonghoon recalled memories of the other world.
“Captain, let’s go.”
Kangwoo tapped Yonghoon’s shoulder as he stared blankly at the device. Snapping back to reality, Yonghoon moved forward with the group.
A massive crowd had gathered on the training field.
Countless engineers working to activate the device, soldiers standing in orderly rows, and finally, the Awakened were all present.
The Awakened were divided between those holding weapons gathered in the center-E-Rank Awakened-and those spread out along the perimeter-F-Rank Awakened.
Even the E-Rank Awakened were divided into two groups.
One group consisted of general Awakened, dressed in various outfits and holding diverse weapons, standing freely in teams. The other group, the Link System Awakened, wore matching uniforms and stood in a somewhat organized formation, separated by a short distance.
Team leader Han scratched his head as he looked at the divided Awakened.
“Which side are we supposed to go to?”
At his words, Yonghoon strode toward the general Awakened.
“Well, we’re not affiliated with Link, so we can’t exactly stand with them.”
Team leader Han nodded and followed Yonghoon. The others also moved toward the general Awakened.
But Team Crazy couldn’t blend in among the general Awakened. Everyone kept a bit of distance from them.
The general Awakened glanced at Team Crazy from a distance, their expressions a mix of envy, jealousy, and admiration.
It was understandable. Team Crazy was the only fully intact team among the first-generation E-Rank general Awakened teams.
The original E-Rank teams had suffered massive casualties during the large-scale hunt in Daejeon, with many either killed or injured and forced to leave the hunting parties.
The current Awakened teams were formed after those teams were reorganized and new E-Rank Awakened rose up.
But Team Crazy had gained star status by resolving the Daejeon industrial complex incident alongside the Link System Awakened.
Naturally, other general Awakened teams felt a sense of distance from Team Crazy.
To make things worse, the Link System Awakened were waving and greeting Team Crazy’s members, leaving them feeling awkward.
Yonghoon scanned the Awakened. He could feel their aura. Among them, two stood out with a presence different from the rest, like Eunseo. They were D-Rank Awakened.
Yonghoon looked at Instructor Seo standing in front of the group.
Instructor Seo, like Yonghoon, was suppressing his Dimensional Power. Thanks to that, he appeared to be an ordinary E-Rank.
But that couldn’t be true. Yonghoon decided to consider Instructor Seo a D-Rank as well.
Among the general Awakened, no D-Rank had yet appeared. It was inevitable. Their power ceilings were different, as were their hunting methods and training, so their growth rates naturally varied.
Time passed quickly.
Each person was assigned to a unit based on the region they were responsible for.
Each unit had an officer in charge of coordination and control, and was composed of E-Rank and F-Rank Awakened teams, along with military personnel for support.
It was decided that the E-Rank team leader would command the Awakened.
Once the units were organized, they began moving to their designated defensive positions.
The government mobilized military forces to minimize the monsters’ entry routes as much as possible.
Whenever the Link System Awakened cleared an area, they set up barricades along the roadside and reinforced the unit’s perimeter walls.
For several days, the government and military had truly done their best.
As Team Crazy moved to their assigned area, Jimin tilted her head.
“If they’re narrowing the entry routes like this, wouldn’t it be better to just block them off completely? Like installing something inside the factories or building concrete walls.”
Kangwoo answered her question.
“If they do that, the monsters will go berserk. Remember the story? A monster trapped in a building went wild, leveled up, and caused a huge disaster. If there’s no access route at all, Seoul will be overrun by rampaging upper-tier monsters.”
Hearing Kangwoo’s response, Jimin tapped her head with a dull thud.
The US Military Base had a total of eight entry routes. The command assigned two E-Rank Awakened units to each route. These units formed three layers of defense, with the Dimensional Movement Blocking Devices as the final line.
The unit that included Team Crazy was assigned to the eastern entry route, along with another E-Rank Awakened team.
At the end of the two-lane entry road, the two units split left and right to form their formation. Team Crazy took position on the left with the F-Rank Awakened, while the First Team from Gangwon Province took the right.
The soldiers set up a little farther from the road.
For them, unless the monster’s Dimensional Core was contaminated, they couldn’t deal any real damage, so this was the only viable setup.
Sunhee took a deep breath and looked around.
Around Team Crazy were F-Rank Awakened, tense and staring straight ahead. Her expression turned sympathetic.
Now that she was an E-Rank, she could truly understand just how dangerous it was to fight monsters barehanded-especially in a battle of this scale.
There were stories going around that many F-Rank Awakened had refused the government’s summons.
The government promised priority residence in the Safe Zone and generous rewards to attract Awakened, and even used threats-but many F-Rank Awakened still went into hiding to avoid conscription.
However, for E-Rank Awakened teams, hunting had already become a way of life, so evading the government’s eyes was nearly impossible. Whether by choice or not, they had no option but to participate.
Yonghoon stood at the front of the entry route, quietly closing his eyes. He could feel the murmurs and tension of the people around him. He had experienced the same thing seven years ago.
Back then, he had held a spear and trembled with fear behind the other Awakened.
Yonghoon opened his eyes and looked at his hand. It wasn’t shaking at all. And his heart was calm.
Then it happened.
From behind Yonghoon, an immense wave of Dimensional Power spread in all directions. Without realizing it, he turned around.
[Operation start! The device has been activated!]
The voice of the officer in charge of Yonghoon’s unit came through his earpiece.
Yonghoon gripped his spear tightly.
The Dimensional Power generated by the Dimensional Movement Blocking Device spread in all directions.
The wave expanded endlessly-north, east, west, and south-turning the entire 10-kilometer radius into a Safe Zone.
Stimulated by the Dimensional Power, the monsters began to stir from their positions.
A pair of otter monsters hiding in Anyangcheon left their den and began running north, and the crocodile monster lurking in the sewer emerged as well.
Monsters began springing out from all directions.
They had tried to eliminate as many known monsters as possible, but the number of hidden ones was far beyond expectations.
Worse still, from the dense and vast areas of Namsan and Bugaksan-too daunting to even consider clearing-a massive horde of stray dogs came pouring down.
And the ants that had settled in a tunnel near Line 5’s Mapo Station began to rise and move.
The control room was in utter chaos, filled with shouting.
“A pack of 20 stray dog monsters just passed the side road by Gyeongbokgung!”
“Multiple types of monsters have emerged from Anyangcheon and are heading north!”
“Monsters confirmed crossing Dongjak Bridge, Banpo Bridge, and Hangang Bridge!”
The general stared at the large screen in front of him.
On the map of Seoul displayed on the screen, red dots were increasing rapidly. All of them were converging on a single point-toward the Yongsan US Military Base.
The general frowned as he watched the screen. There were more hidden monsters than expected.
At this rate, the damage would be severe. The general could only pray that the monsters’ levels were low.
Some of the red dots on the screen were now approaching the military base. The red dots representing monsters were closing in on the blue ones representing the defense forces.
“First wave of monsters, contact with the first defensive line in one minute!”
The liaison officer’s shout echoed through the control room, and the general clenched his fist while staring at the screen.
Sounds of people gulping nervously could be heard all around. One Awakened was wiping sweat from his palm onto his pants.
“Damn it, if you’re coming, just show up already.”
An F-Rank Awakened, his face pale with tension, muttered unconsciously.
Yonghoon glanced at his face and then turned his head back to the front.
A tingling sensation began to spread across his face. An unnatural energy flowed through the air. They were coming.
[First wave of monsters approaching]
The officer’s voice came through Yonghoon’s earpiece.
The team leader of the First Team beside him must have heard it too, as he adjusted his grip on his weapon.
“Enemy approaching!”
When Yonghoon shouted while gripping his spear, all members of Team Crazy readied their weapons and took position. The nearby F-Rank Awakened also raised their fists.
Two bugs the size of passenger cars appeared in the distance on the road. With large mandibles and hard black shells-it was the stag beetles.
“It’s an insect type! E-Rank!”
One of the Awakened shouted like a scream. The sound threw all the F-Rank Awakened into disarray. These were monsters they couldn’t handle.
Yonghoon frowned.
Using F-Rank Awakened against E-Rank monsters was a waste.
Yonghoon shouted to the Awakened around him.
“All F-Rank Awakened, fall back! Stay with the support unit until further orders!”
The Awakened, unsure what to do, began to retreat. At first, they backed away hesitantly, but soon they were running like they were fleeing.
Seeing the Awakened running away, the members of Team Crazy wore bitter expressions. But they quickly straightened their faces and looked forward.
The team leader of the First Team, positioned next to Team Crazy, frowned at their movements.
Seeing the other team leader’s shout and the retreating F-Rank Awakened, the F-Rank Awakened in his own unit looked at him. Their expressions were pleading for a retreat order.
But he silently cursed Yonghoon and ignored his Awakened. So this is what they meant by “Crazy”-they really were lunatics.
A moment later, the massive stag beetles reached the entrance of the unit.
Charging side by side, the stag beetles smashed through the barricade at the entrance and collided with the E-Rank Awakened teams.
As one stag beetle charged with its massive mandibles wide open, team leader Han leapt forward with his shield. His shield began to shine brightly.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion echoed.
“Whoa!”
A startled voice rang out among the soldiers watching the battle from behind.
The stag beetle the size of a car had bounced off the human’s shield and tumbled backward.
What’s more, team leader Han held his ground firmly.
Jimin and Kangwoo dashed out from beside team leader Han. Their movements were faster than before.
The stag beetle quickly flipped its fallen body over and tried to move again. But before it could, Jimin and Kangwoo pounced on it.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Jimin and Kangwoo’s spears shot like lightning toward the stag beetle in front of them. Their spears pierced through the tough shell and dug inward.
The stag beetle screamed in pain. It swung its massive mandibles wildly, but the two Strike-type Awakened deftly dodged and struck with precision.
The stag beetle’s body was riddled with holes, and blood sprayed in all directions.
Team leader Han jumped in.
Another explosion rang out, and the stag beetle was thrown back again.
The battle on the other side had turned into chaos. Though they had blocked the stag beetle with a Defense-type Awakened, that person was pushed far back from a single collision. As a result, the formation collapsed, and the stag beetle found space to move.
The stag beetle swung its large mandibles left and right. Awakened struck by them were flung away. Just watching made it clear how serious the injuries were.
What followed was a desperate struggle.
The team leader gritted his teeth.
The shell of this insect-type monster, which they were facing for the first time, was too tough. While his own team members were safe, the damage to the F-Rank Awakened was severe.
At this rate, they would lose all the F-Rank Awakened in this battle. He had no choice but to step forward himself, even though he was an assassin-type.
Just then.
A loud cheer erupted from the opposite side. It was the support unit of Team Crazy. Curious, he stepped back and looked to the side.
He saw the stag beetle being slain by the hands of three Awakened.
A Defense-type Awakened had jammed a shield between the stag beetle’s giant mandibles, immobilizing it, while the two Strike-type Awakened drove their spears into its head, finally silencing it.
The team leader’s jaw dropped.
“They’re all D-Rank.”
One of his teammates shouted at the stunned team leader.
“Team leader! Move!”
He snapped back to his senses and turned his head. A stag beetle with mandibles like scissors was right in front of him.
“Damn it!”
He hastily raised his spear. Letting his guard down had cost him. If he got caught in those mandibles, his waist wouldn’t survive.
But the stag beetle’s open mandibles had frozen mid-motion. It was as if the stag beetle was being held in place.
The team leader shifted his eyes sideways to see what had happened.
One of Team Crazy’s assassin-types was standing in front of the stag beetle with one hand raised toward it.
‘She stopped the monster? How?’
As he stood there in disbelief, another Awakened leapt onto the stag beetle’s back.
With a single step, the Awakened landed on the beetle’s head and drove his spear straight down.
The spear pierced through the monster’s head.
Yonghoon pulled the spear from the fallen stag beetle’s head. He spoke to the Awakened standing dazed in front of him.
“The second wave will arrive soon. Regroup your team.”
Yonghoon turned and walked back toward his team.
There, his teammates were gathered, waiting for him.