“W-what’s going on?”
As the red glow slowly faded, Park Dasom, who had been tightly covering her eyes, cautiously lowered her hands and spoke. Her face looked somewhat dazed. Kim Hanbyul said nothing, simply pointing steadily toward the valley below.
When Park Dasom glanced down the slope—
Flash!
The red light surged again, flooding her vision. She let out a startled cry and stumbled backward. Catching Kim Hanbyul’s gaze filled with quiet reproach, Vivian, who had never taken her eyes off the scene, finally spoke in a low voice.
“The explosions don’t stop at just one.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“The first explosion sacrifices both arms, the second sacrifices both legs, and the third sacrifices the body and head itself. There are three consecutive blasts in total.”
“Is that even possible?”
Park Dasom opened her mouth quietly, and Kim Hanbyul asked sharply. Vivian glanced sideways with a cruel smile suddenly spreading across her lips.
“The reason they didn’t summon those things in the last battle was because Kim Suhyun ordered them to preserve the corpses as much as possible. The 5th Legion’s beasts can’t sustain prolonged fights… But.”
“…”
“Because of that, the 5th Legion’s explosive power right now is unmatched by any other legion. Don’t underestimate them just because they’re a single-digit legion.”
“Is that so…”
Flash!
No sooner had she finished speaking than the third explosion erupted. This final blast was more dazzling than the previous ones, its radiant light spreading far and wide, illuminating even the users standing on the hill. Watching Vivian bathed in the crimson glow, Kim Hanbyul thought quietly.
Right. She was once a monster herself.
Ooooooooooooh!
Suddenly, a tremendous roar shook the hill. After the last explosion, the users all stared down in shock, pointing below.
A massive blaze surged up from the valley, thick with choking smoke.
The chain reaction of explosions, triggered by the beasts sacrificing their own bodies, had engulfed the densely packed monsters.
The aftermath was horrific—bodies torn to shreds beyond description, blood splattered everywhere, flowing like a stream across the ground.
“That should be enough. I’m off then.”
Vivian turned sharply, as if she had other business, and quickly disappeared in the opposite direction.
Kim Hanbyul watched the direction Vivian had gone for a moment, then refocused on the battle in the valley.
The waves arranged by Kim Suhyun were far from over. The third wave, following the dissipated beast legion, was the mercenary users charging in without hesitation.
By now, the monsters no longer maintained their initial formation. The shockwaves from the explosions were still wreaking havoc, leaving them disoriented. Their ranks had completely collapsed, allowing the mercenary users to launch surprise attacks despite the skirmish’s localized nature.
The first to break through was a woman wielding a silver spear—Cha Sorim.
“Valhalla’s blessing!”
Cha Sorim’s entire body was enveloped in a brilliant glow. Before anyone could blink, she reached the monsters and thrust her spear forward, piercing through the center in an instant. Each strike skewered and sliced through the monsters, beheading them one by one before they could react.
Her breakthrough power was immense, but even more astonishing was her precision. Even while running, her balance never faltered, and her spear technique was flawless.
Watching Cha Sorim’s movements was dizzyingly breathtaking—like a streak of pure light. The title “Flash” suited her perfectly.
From that point, hundreds of remaining monsters tangled with about thirty mercenary users.
But the monsters didn’t just take it lying down. They roared and charged, quickly surrounding the mercenaries in overwhelming numbers. Those monsters farther away, less affected by the explosions, began writhing their tentacles.
Soon, countless tentacles blanketed the sky.
Of course, the mercenary users didn’t stand idly by. Ansol, watching from the rear, raised his staff high.
“Brighter than any light, Angelus who governs all light! By the name that echoes ancient glory, your servant Ansol beseeches you! Protect us! Guard us! Shield us!”
As his staff blazed pure white, radiant lights gently descended around him. At the same time, the remaining forest burst with light and rapidly grew, forming a protective barrier around the mercenary users.
But that wasn’t all.
“Zmeun Garak!”
Without missing a beat, Baek Hangyeol activated his ability. From his outstretched hands, huge translucent hands began to sprout one by one.
Two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two, sixty-four, one hundred twenty-eight—growing exponentially until over a thousand hands had formed, intercepting the incoming tentacles.
The monsters’ tentacles slammed against the forest barrier, only to be blocked or grabbed by the thousand hands and forced to retreat.
It was a perfect defense, a joint effort by Ansol and Baek Hangyeol. Kim Suhyun’s philosophy—“One well-trained user is worth ten ordinary ones”—shone brilliantly in that moment.
Even the users watching from the hill shared the same feeling.
At first, the attack seemed reckless. When the monsters surrounded them in layers, they gasped in shock. But the situation had far exceeded everyone’s expectations.
There were barely thirty users.
Yet the formation of monsters, which outnumbered them at least tenfold, was breaking apart. Every spell the mages cast shook the ground and rained down unprecedented magic, indiscriminately bombarding the monsters.
The destruction on display rivaled what three hundred—or even more—users could produce.
Bang!
Suddenly, a massive boom struck the users’ minds, drawing their eyes to the source. There stood a man—Kim Suhyun.
Every user on the hill looked at him without exception. Though the mercenaries’ efforts were impressive, Kim Suhyun shone brightest of all.
Bang! Crash!
The users all wondered the same thing:
What kind of trick was he pulling?
Kim Suhyun’s fighting was like a storm. Every swing of his sword unleashed a violent gale in its path, the wind sharpened into blades that mercilessly tore through the monsters. One slash sent three or four monsters bleeding and collapsing.
It wasn’t just his sword. His entire body was a weapon. He skillfully caught tentacles reaching for him, flicked them into the air, then slammed them down hard onto the ground.
Kraaaang!
The number of monsters exploding and dying was countless.
Like a tank crushing infantry, Kim Suhyun darted across the valley, striking swiftly east and west.
Finally, perhaps overwhelmed, over ten monsters leapt simultaneously toward him, aiming to crush him with sheer weight.
Just as a man watching muttered, “Oh,” Kim Suhyun’s hands moved like lightning. The falling monsters were flung away in all directions, each with a large chunk torn off. In that split second, he had knocked them all away with his fists.
“…”
“…”
A brief silence fell over the hill.
Then, suddenly, a burning emotion began to swell in the hearts of the users watching the valley. No one could name it, but the more they looked at the mercenaries and Kim Suhyun, the hotter it grew inside them.
“Let’s begin.”
At that moment, Park Dasom, who had been quietly observing, spoke. Kim Hanbyul nodded and pulled a jewel from her pocket—a beautiful gem glowing bright red.
Then Park Dasom discreetly drew her staff and aimed it at the users.
“───. ───. ───. Radiance.”
“Target designated: Radiance. Using jewel: Light Siam.”
A brilliant light burst forth. The jewel melted into dust, dissolving into the light streaming from the staff.
At that moment, the light surged energetically, spreading far and wide among the users.
The results were soon evident.
“Hah…”
“Krrgh…”
Suddenly, the users’ energy shifted. They began breathing heavily, coughing hoarsely. Their throats burned dry, forcing them to swallow repeatedly.
Red light began to glow in everyone’s eyes. Their pupils flickered wildly—pure killing intent.
The emotions that had been simmering moments ago now exploded into fierce resolve, mingled with the radiance.
It stemmed from the fear and anxiety users had felt toward the monsters all along. Those who had lost comrades felt it too—the helplessness of suffering without being able to fight back.
But now, that fear was transforming into something else entirely.
But watching the battle in the valley completely changed my perspective.
Those damn bastards.
They’re not as tough as I thought.
The users participating in the expedition were all top-tier fighters from their respective clans. Naturally, they didn’t even flinch at most monsters.
So, recalling that moment and unleashing the frustration I’d been bottling up all this time, my anger exploded like wildfire.
After finishing the mission, Seon Yu-woon quietly approached Go Oh-hwan. I was worried that the mercenary might just stand by and watch until something happened.
“Safe road. It’s about time to—hmm?”
But the moment I looked at Go Oh-hwan, I realized my worry was unfounded. He had already drawn his weapon, saliva dripping from his mouth.
“Graaah!”
With a fierce roar, Go Oh-hwan charged forward. Stopping in front of the users, he raised his massive blade high and shouted,
“What the hell are you waiting for? You just gonna stand there?”
No one answered. They just gripped their weapons tightly, clenched their jaws, and shifted their weight, clearly ready for battle.
“Let’s go! Damn it, take them all down!”
A thunderous echo filled the air.
At the same time—
Waaaaaaaah!
An enormous roar, almost like a beast’s growl, shook the hillside.
“Kill them!”
“Slaughter them all!”
Angry voices erupted from every direction.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Heavy footsteps thundered down the hill. The users’ minds were consumed by a single thought: kill at all costs.
Driven by that instinct, their eyes blazing red, the users surged into the valley where the fierce battle raged.
“The vanguard has fully entered!”
The moment all the users on the hill descended, a report reached Han So-young’s ears.
She nodded quietly. She didn’t even need to look to know—there was a storm of deadly intent raging ahead.
“Commander, shouldn’t we lend a hand…?”
Someone hesitated, but Han So-young calmly shook her head.
Helping out wouldn’t be difficult. They didn’t have to go down there; a little magic or arrow support would be easy enough.
But the message from the mercenary lord moments ago changed her mind.
‘No need to provide support. Actually, you must not.’
‘Because…’
Then—
Whoosh!
“Ugh, aah!”
“It’s an ambush!”
The shout didn’t come from the center, but from the rear guard. The moment she registered the scream, Han So-young’s eyes snapped open.
‘The mercenary lord anticipated a monster ambush. No evolved creatures are visible. If we leave our positions, a unit made up of those monsters will likely strike.’
She couldn’t help but admire the mercenary lord’s insight. Not only did he command the vanguard as he pleased, but he’d also read the enemy’s numbers perfectly.
But Han So-young had no time to dwell on it. The rear guard meant there were still formations that hadn’t reached the hill.
As expected, she remained composed.
While everyone else was at a loss, Han So-young calmly raised her hand. Her tightly pressed lips slowly parted.
“Round House.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Today’s update came at midnight after a long time.
“Round House.” Many of you might be familiar with the term. Haha. For those who know, it’s a military term. Speaking of the military, I recently came across a funny post online that reminded me of something. Anyone who’s served has probably done trench work at least once, right?
Here’s a way to explain just how intense trench work is to those who haven’t experienced it—especially women.
(The post:)
“You have to do kimchi-making for a week in spring and fall, carrying 5,000 heads of cabbage each time.”
(Comments on the post:)
And you do it with 20 mothers-in-law.
Plus 20 sisters-in-law.
No other ingredients—just cabbage.
The husbands sit back drinking, watching the show.
Occasionally, relatives from the husband’s side drop by to check on the progress.
Then the eldest family member shows up, says one or two words, and you have to start all over.
The youngest daughter-in-law never listens.
After all the kimchi is made, the oldest grandmother tastes it and says, “It’s too salty,” so you have to redo it.
If you don’t do it, you go to jail.
You get so mad you want a divorce, but they won’t agree. If you try to leave, they’ll chase you down to hell and back.
Still, they give you a small allowance—300 won an hour. ^^
Whether you agree or not, or have no idea what I’m talking about, I couldn’t stop laughing when I read it. Haha.
Of course, I’m laughing now because I’m a reservist. If I were active duty, I probably wouldn’t find it funny at all.