In the Myongjin Shelter Control Room around that time.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The atmosphere in the situation room was very serious.

Obviously, the people in the control room were relatively better than others in terms of their fighting experience, judgement and insight.

At that moment, Chairman Sangman Hong said gently, “Let’s get ready…”

Many people there had no idea what he was talking about.

But not only his elder son Kiyoung and daughter Suyoung, but also Director Sok and the other top executives, as well as the leaders of the Mirae and Tugal Guilds and the Antalagos Information guild knew what he meant because there was only one choice left for them.

They knew that they should get ready to charge at the enemy even though they would inevitably be killed or defeated.

When he issued such an order, Kiyoung answered without any hesitation.

“Sure, we’ll be ready to fight in 10 minutes.”

Of course, it was not Kiyoung alone who answered. Even though they knew too well the consequences of his order, Suyoung, Director Sok, Chief Secretary Dongyoung Ahn, and Chief Security Officer Jungdae Lim responded to his order right away.

So the people in the situation room became busy all of a sudden. And the Mirae, Tutal and Antalagos Information Guild could not help but feel as tense and nervous as them.

Obviously, the owner of this shelter was Myongjin, while they were guests. Nonetheless, the Myongjin people were now preparing to fight at the risk of their lives.

At that moment, Chairman Yon of the Mirae Guild stepped forward and said to Director Sok, “Is this microphone connected to all the other shelters here?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then let me use it for a moment.”

When he said that, Director Sok glanced quickly at Chairman Hong. Then he adjusted the microphone and handed it to Chairman Yon.

Chairman Yon took the microphone and tapped it for a moment.

Tap, tap.

After confirming the microphone worked fine, he opened his mouth right away.

“I am making an announcement to all the members of the Mirae guild. We’re going to attack the enemy with Myongjin. Of course, such a decision has drastic consequences, so I don’t want to mention it. But we should join them. This is not a matter for just us, but the whole human race.”

Then he cleared his throat for a moment, and continued.

“Anyway, Juyoung Hong’s defeat is not only a defeat for us, but also for the entire human race. But we have a ray of hope if he survives. So I’m going to invest in that faint hope because that is my victory, and the victory of our mankind. So get ready to fight, Mirae members! We’re going to follow the Myongjin people in exactly 10 minutes, and I’m going to stand at the forefront of you guys!”

After he finished talking, he put down the microphone.

And it was no wonder that a heavy silence had fallen in the conference room.

Then Chairman Hong broke the silence and opened his mouth.

“Thank you, Chairman Yon.”

Chairman Hong was serious because even though he issued the attack order, he could not speak the same words on the microphone as Chairman Yon because the people listening would most likely take his words as a desperate attempt to save his son Juyoung.

But it turned out that it was the best choice for the Mirae, the second strongest guild after Myongjin in the shelter, to save Juyoung Hong in order to save the human race, although Chairman Hong never considered it. In other words, saving Juyoung was not his private matter, but a grave task for the entire human race.

That’s why Chairman Hong expressed his sincere gratitude to Chairman Yon.

Returning his gratitude, Chairman Yon gently shook his head and said, “Only Juyoung has not been affected by the Land of Despair or the Energy of Despair. So I just invested in the possibility that Juyoung could defeat the enemy for the victory of the human race. I just wish he can survive this battle. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he can hold out and fight well.”

“He will hold out well…”

In any case, Chairman Yon of the Mirae Guild, the second largest guild here after the Myongjin Guild, declared that Mirae members would join the fight.

In such a situation, the remaining guilds could not stay aloof because Juyoung’s defeat would really mean the defeat for the whole human race.

“The Tugal Guild will also fight with you!”

“The Antalagos Information Guild will join the fight too!”

Anyway, so many guild members began to gather in the wide open space in front of the first Main Base of the Myongjin Shelter. Of course, they knew what kind of consequences they would face once they participated in the battle.

The moment they crossed the root wall, their combat power would drop to less than 10% because of a huge debuff called the Land of Despair. With their combat power undermined drastically, they would have to confront the enemy who even Juyoung Hong was struggling to beat.

In other words, it was like hitting a rock with an egg or soft tofu.

But nobody complained about it because they knew too well that they would have to save Juyoung Hong by all means in order to achieve the victory of the entire human race as Chairman Yon said.

In the vacant lot in front of the First Main Base of the Myongjin Shelter a little later.

“Let me stand at the very front. Nobody should take my place. This is my last order!”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Chairman Hong did not give any other order than that.

Did he mention any strategy or tactic to deal with the enemy?

Of course, he didn’t because it would not work at all for this enemy.

So he declared that he would first enter the deadly place instead of dragging all of them with him. Since they knew what his point was, they just responded quietly, tight-lipped.

This was not a situation where they would welcome his statement by shouting for joy.

After that, about 120,000 people, who had all raised their reality actualization rate continued to move forward after crossing the root wall, led by Chairman Hong at the very front.

***

In the place where I was in a fierce battle with the ruler of the 1st Royal District.

Puck! Puck! Bang! Bang!

“…”

My health dropped below 10% a long time ago.

I should have avoided him and run away in this situation.

Of course, I could do it, using Blink if I wanted to.

But if I did so, the Myongjin Shelter behind me would inevitably collapse.

In that case, not only my father, mother, brother and sister, but also Director Sok and Chief Security Officer Jungdae Lim would be killed.

In addition to them, the members of the Mirae and Tugal Guilds as well as the Antalagos Information Guild that I accepted into the Myongjin Shelter would face the same tragic fate.

In other words, I was caught between a rock and a hard place here.

Of course, a lot of thoughts came to mind.

If I sat idle here without doing anything, not only I but also all those behind me would be killed. That was the worst of the worst scenario.

In such a situation, I even toyed with the idea that it would be better for me alone to run away first, for I could take revenge on him later after I survived.

But I knew my escape was an expression of my fear disguised as rational judgment.

Hehehe! It looks like you have a lot of thoughts in your mind. I see lots of complicated feelings on your face. Lol.

Even when he sneered at me openly, I could not respond except launch the usual attack that would inflict little damage on him.

At that moment, however, I heard the sound of heavy footsteps behind me.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!