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nChapter 98: Episode 98

nDevil Borderer showed off impressive power right off the bat.

nEven after being hit by the hunters, he wasn’t swayed one bit.

nHe laughed as he ate the hunters alive, ripped their limbs off, and dismantled their waists.

nThe troop grew more and more unmotivated.

n“Agh!”

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n

nScreams could be heard from all four directions.

n“Attack! It’s just one monster! Don’t be scared,” one of the commanders yelled.

nSteel of all colors was focused on Borderer.

nDespite concentrating all forces, the attack didn’t work on Borderer.

nAfter realizing that there was no hope, the hunters went into despair.

nEven the commanders began to give up.

nBut at that moment, wounds began forming on the devil’s skin.

nHowever, that was it.

nDespite there only being one monster, they had no chance.

nThe number of hunters continued to decrease.

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n

n“R-retreat!”

n“Get out of here!”

nIn the end, the commanders ordered everyone to retreat.

nAs soon as Devil Borderer’s mouth opened, dark sparks flew out and attacked the hunters’ backs.

nBefore they could even take one more step, the hunters rotted due to Devil Borderer’s breath.

nThe number of hunters decreased dramatically in an instant.

nWhile the hunters died off one by one, some of the other hunters escaped through the exit.

nEven while running away, the sounds of hunters dying could be heard.

n***

nSplash! Splash!

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nThey left the tower and swam to the shore.

nWithout even having the energy to dry off, the hunters caught their breath.

nTheir attitude was entirely different from when they first entered the tower.

nThe faces of the hunters were filled with despair and hopelessness.

n***

n‘What’s going on here? Did they already come back?’

nHo Sung Lee, who arrived in Manhattan by plane, swallowed his dry saliva.

nThe current circumstances were runaway soldiers.

nThe place where the top hunters of the world gathered was the Manhattan assembly.

n‘But why are they in such bad shape?’

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n

nBesides the commanders, the hunters outside looked like they lost their minds.

nAnd then Ho Sung Lee began to see injured soldiers.

nMany of them had wounds all over their bodies, and some of them even had rotting or frozen body parts.

nAlthough they were treated with magic, there was only so much they could do to wounds caused by a devil.

nThey knew devils were strong, but they didn’t know they would be defeated on the first floor.

nWhile Ho Sung Lee was clicking his tongue, Ji Yoo Kim was heading toward the tents.

nHo Sung Lee decided to wait for Ji Yoo Kim to come out again so that they could talk.

n***

nInside the tents at the assembly.

nThe hunters didn’t say a word to each other.

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n

nThe air inside the tent was cold.

nAnd at that moment…

nFlap!

nJi Yoo Kim entered.

nThe commanders looked at Ji Yoo Kim, and then their faces stiffened in anger.

n“Who said you could come in here?”

nAmerican hunter master, Ethan, treated Ji Yoo Kim as if she was an outsider.

nIn response, Ji Yoo Kim looked him straight in the eyes.

n“There’s no time for that. We need China’s help. If we put it off any longer…”

n“What makes you think we don’t already know that?”

nThe European commander, who looked like a Mafia head, refuted Ji Yoo Kim with his eyes.

nIt appeared difficult for them to exchange a normal conversation.

nThey were able to participate in attacking the tower thanks to the information they received, but that was it.

nThey had no interest in involving Korea.

nJi Yoo Kim sighed and left the tent.

nOnce she left, the tent grew still once more.

n“We have no choice but to ask China for their cooperation,” one commander remarked.

n“Chinese hunters might be strong, but will they be able to clear the tower?”

nJust as Ethan said, the top was much too difficult.

nEven if China stepped up to help, the chances were slim.

nUnless a miracle happened, mankind was about to face a huge crisis.

n***

nJi Yoo Kim stared at the dark sky and the tower with a sad look on her face.

nIf Min Sung Kang woke up, would things be different?

nWhile Ji Yoo Kim thought about Min Sung Kim, someone approached her.

nWhen she turned around, it was someone she didn’t expect.

n“Ho Sung?”

nJi Yoo Kim called his name in surprise.

nIn response, Ho Sung greeted her with a smile.

n“Hello, General Kim.”

n“Did Min Sung wake up yet?”

n“… No.”

nIn response to Ho Sung Lee’s sad response, Ji Yoo Kim couldn’t help but express her disappointment.

nShe then laughed and continued,

n“But what brings you here?”

nHo Sung Lee smiled awkwardly and scratched his head.

n“Haha, the thing is… I don’t’ want to just sit around and do nothing. I know I won’t be much help, but…”

nJi Yoo Kim shook her head.

n“No, your efforts would be of value. I shouldn’t have asked you that question in the first place.”

n“That’s all right. So what happened? It doesn’t look so good.”

n“Shall we go somewhere else?”

nHo Sung Lee accepted Ji Yoo Kim’s proposal.

n***

n“… I-is that true?”

nJi Yoo Kim nodded.

nHo Sung Lee dropped his jaw in shock.

nAll hunters from around the world gathered besides those from China.

nA large number of forces gathered just to clear the tower.

nBut… they were defeated on the first floor?

nEven after hearing Ji Yoo Kim confirming it, it was hard for him to believe.

nOut of the 300 soldiers that entered, only 150 remained.

n“Of course, the top hunters are still alive. The ones who died were the lower-level hunters.”

n“What happens now? Are you going to attempt a second raid?”

nHo Sung Lee asked with a troubled look on his face.

n“Nothing’s for certain, but since a lot of harm was done from the first raid, we won’t be acting harshly. It’ll take some time.”

nHo Sung Lee sighed and tilted his head.

n“But why didn’t China join in?”

n“China… is the country with the most secrets in current society.”

nKim Ji Yoo continued with a small laugh,

n“But since this circumstance is an exception, China will definitely do something. We’ll have to see.”

nHo Sung Lee nodded.

n“I see.”

n“How’s Min Sung? Is he hurt? I know he was fine when the doctor looked at him, but still.”

n“…I’m sure he’s fine.”

nAfter seeing Ho Sung Lee smiling, Ji Yoo Kim smiled as well.

nShe sensed just how much Ho Sung Lee trusted Min Sung Kim.

n‘Please wake up already, Min Sung.’

nJi Yoo Kim prayed inside her head.

nShe believed that Ho Sung Lee felt the same way.

n***

nMin Sung slowly opened his eyes.

nHe had to blink a few times before he could see.

nAs soon as he got out of bed and drew the curtains, sunshine poured into the room.

nHe looked outside with squinted eyes and then walked into the living room.

n“Masterrrrrr!”

nBowl cried out while grabbing onto his leg.

nMin Sung brushed him off and got a glass of water.

nHe was very thirsty.

n“How long was I asleep for?”

nAs soon as Min Sung put down his glass, Bowl stopped dancing.

n“You were asleep for a week!”

nHe was asleep for a long time.

nHow could anyone sleep for a whole week?

nMin Sung laughed. He made himself an Americano and then sat on the sofa.

nHe did a quick stretch and massaged his neck.

nHe was in bed for so long that his body felt stiff.

nHe took a sip from his coffee and turned on the TV with the remote Bowl handed him.

nAs soon as the TV turned on, the news reporter came on.

nThe world troop failed at raiding the first floor of the tower in New York, Manhattan today. There are currently injured and deceased…

nMin Sung knitted his brows.

n“What happened while I was asleep?”

nBowl tilted his head as if he had no idea.

n“And why isn’t anyone here?”

nWhile Min Sung looked around him, the front door opened to Sia Jang entering.

nWhen she saw Min Sung sitting on the sofa, she was shocked.

n“You’re up!”

nWoong Jang ran over with a smile.

n“What happened?”

nMin Sung pointed at the news and questioned Jang Woong.

nJang Woong caught his breath before explaining everything that had happened.

nAfter hearing the story, Min Sung closed his eyes and let out a sigh.

n“Ho Sung told me to tell you to contact him as soon as you wake up.”

nMin Sung frowned and gestured for Bowl to hand him the phone.

nOnce Bowl wobbled back with the phone, Min Sung called Ho Sung.

nThere was a notification of an international call.

nMin Sung looked at his phone in surprise and then started talking.

n“Are you abroad?”

nSir! You’re up! I knew you’d wake up!

n” Where are you?”

nI’m at the assembly in Manhattan.

n“What are you doing there?”

nPardon? Oh, well… I just wanted to do something to help…

n“Is there a devil in the tower?”

nYes, Sir. I think so. The top hunters from all around the world entered, but they were defeated on the 1st floor.

n“I’ll be right there. Wait for me.”

nYes, Sir!

nMin Sung hung up and finished his Americano.

nWoong Jang stood beside him like a butler.

n“How are you feeling?”

n“I’ll be fine once I do some warming up in Manhattan.”

nWoong Jang didn’t understand.

n“What do you mean…?”

n“That tower. Are there more?”

nMin Sung pointed at the Black Tower on the news.

nWoong Jang dropped his jaw and stared at the TV screen.

n“That… place?”

n“Why?”

nMin Sung questioned him back.

nIn response, Woong Jang laughed and shook his head.

n“Never mind. Have a safe trip.”

nMin Sung waved his hand and got up.

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