abcnovels
Chapter 380
Chapter 380
Chapter 380
Seeing how positive the atmosphere was in the temporary base in which the other Korean hunters were gathered, the Golden Blood Fish hunters realized that they had been worried for nothing.
“Golden Blood Fish? Are you from the Golden Blood Fish clan?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
“Alright, here’s your ID. You can go in. Don’t start a fight.”
The hunters of the Golden Blood Fish were bewildered as they went in. It was a makeshift base, but the security measures were no joke. There was barbed wire all over the place, barracks spread all over the base, and various security devices were operating.
This base boasted military-level security, but that didn’t mean that it lacked in other areas. Facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, heliports, and restaurants had also been established.
“Whoa... Who made this and how? And when did they manage to make it?”
“Oh, I get it.” One of the hunters nodded in understanding. “It’s clear that the clans have joined forces. A single clan wouldn’t be able to build this.”
“As expected... So did the Korean clans all make a money pool for this base because they want to raid the area?”
Someone who seemed to be working there overheard the hunters as they were passing by and wondered what they were talking about. They replied, “Uh, this base has been founded entirely by Dragon Industry.”
“...”
“...”
The hunters of the Golden Blood Fish clan were astonished... Dragon Industry had built this by themselves?
‘Does... Does money not matter to them?!’
This facility was so luxurious that even the hunters from one of the three major clans in South Korea were astonished by it.
***
“Uh, do we really need to build it like this?”
“After thinking about the raid and planning everything, I realized it would probably drag on for some time. I had some money left over and figured that we could use a good base.”
Han Seha was impressed by Choi Yeonseung’s words. In fact, she would’ve been equally impressed if Choi Yeonseung had said, “I think the raid will drag on for some time, so I’ve spent some money to make the base more comfortable, since I’ll be sleeping there.”
“Ah, so that’s why there’s a golf course”
“...What? There’s a golf course as well?”
Choi Yeonseung frowned in confusion. He called a staff member over and gave them an order.
“Cancel the golf course. Who the hell would go all the way in the Abyss to play golf? Are those hunters nuts?”
He had instructed the workers to build the amenities that the hunters requested, but a golf course was crossing the line. He thought that the hunters who had made that request should be trained separately.
Some hunters clearly couldn’t be left alone.
-When do you plan to kill the mechanical dragon?
-As soon as the base is completed.
The mechanical dragon was a boss monster that dominated the Second Realm, which still lacked a ruler.
***
After glimpsing into the future with Future Sight and talking with the chef constellation, Choi Yeonseung headed straight to the Second Realm in order to see for himself what the Future Sight vision had shown him.
-Is Endless Linked Explosions really dead? Explains why he’s been completely silent.
-You want to rule this place? Your desires are really insignificant and incomprehensible. Maybe it’s because of your organic nature.
Choi Yeonseung encountered the robots he had seen last time during the Second Realm race. This cold and emotionless Abyssal race had been living in this land of metal for a long time. It was a relief that they weren’t hostile like the orcs, but that didn’t mean that dealing with them was easy or pleasant.
Hadn’t the Chinese hunters gotten lost last time and almost starved to death in a village of robots? These unusual metallic creatures basically didn’t care about other races, nor did they want to understand them.
Those are the Abyssal robots.
-If you want to become the owner of this place, you have to kill that dragon that roams somewhere in the realm. The dragon is the master here.
Adaquaniel, who was next to Choi Yeonseung, was baffled by what the robot was saying.
-Why don’t you kill it? Are you not strong enough to face it?
-Why do we need to kill the dragon?
-It’s the master of this land... Isn’t it?
-Do we have to kill the master of this land? I don’t understand.
Adaquaniel was speechless and quickly looked at Choi Yeonseung, as if asking him for help. However, he couldn’t help much.
-...They don’t really understand other races, so don’t bother, Adaquaniel.
Adaquaniel was a bit sullen at the robots’ infuriating attitude, but she kept asking them questions, like what type of dragon it was, what skills it used, where they could find it, and so on...
-This dragon has been around for a very long time. It had been collecting the weapons we had discarded and attached them to itself, growing increasingly stronger.
-......
-......
Choi Yeonseung and Adaquaniel were stunned. These robots had basically created that monster...
-But last time, the explosion constellation manipulated this realm as if he were its master, but you said that the dragon is the master...?
One of the robots proceeded to explain how that had happened. -The constellation must’ve negotiated with the dragon. He gave us various devices and spare parts in exchange for renting him the kingdom.
-!
Choi Yeonseung suddenly realized something. If he could negotiate with the dragon... He had managed it with Illingars, so this idea was tempting. He could easily become the master of this kingdom if he defeated the dragon and made it obey him.
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says it isn’t that easy.]
Naturally, other constellations were also very interested in this kingdom, and some of them had already secretly sent their household members over.
There were also constellations who had already thought of negotiating with the dragon.
[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ offers a glorious opportunity.]
[The mechanical dragon ignores it.]
[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ sends his subordinate, Balamancalas.]
[The mechanical dragon fires a fusion energy beam.]
[Balamancalas has collapsed.]
...The results hadn’t been good at all. The dragon either ignored the offers or retaliated with brutal attacks.
Dragons were considered one of the most powerful Abyssal races. In addition, this mechanical dragon had various kinds of weapons at its disposal, weapons that the robots had created and thrown away over its long history. This naturally meant that this dragon was considerably more powerful than regular dragons.
No matter how powerful the constellations were, this dragon was empowered by its habitat, so they couldn’t just defeat it by sending two or three household members.
-Is it that strong?
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that the constellations seem to be paying attention and making plans.]
Naturally, if the constellations made a move, the hunters on Earth would follow suit shortly after. Hearing this, Choi Yeonseung also prepared to act.
‘Go in first and gather the hunters.’
Choi Yeonseung thought it would be better for him to lead the raid rather than leaving it alone. He knew from experience what could happen if he let the others handle it... Moreover, he was the one who could predict the future, sort of, with Future Sight.
[The ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’ says he will reward the mortals who perform well in this raid.]
[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’...]
[The ‘Humble One-Eyed Archer’...]
[...]
[...]
[The ‘Rider of Thirst and Famine’...]
[...]
‘...Crazy. This is no joke.’
Choi Yeonseung was taken aback by how serious the other constellations were about this raid. They weren’t just ordering their own minions or household members to succeed. They also incentivized other hunters to do well, hunters who didn’t serve them.
-If you achieve something great in this raid, I’ll make you my household member!
Becoming the household member of a constellation was like winning the lottery for hunters. It meant gaining near infinite power for free.
There were a few hunters like Hwang Gyeongryong who hated constellations and considered them weird aliens, but most hunters were willing to serve constellations and longed for the chance to do so. Therefore, the constellations’ messages were bound to be effective.
It wasn’t just two or three constellations getting involved. Many constellations, good and evil, were taking action.
‘Ugh... It will get worse as rumors spread.’
***
-It’s not a bad idea to quickly locate the mechanical dragon and try to take it down, but it’s a tough monster!
However, Choi Yeonseung didn’t feel nervous. He had to use only a fraction of his powers to not blow his cover. In comparison, the dragon was almost at the level of a constellation and drew on the power of its kingdom.
The household members of other constellations were slowly getting a lay of the land and looking for opportunities, but Choi Yeonseung could get in trouble if he acted on his own.
‘It’s going to be a drawn-out battle.’
When powerful monsters emerged, the raid usually lasted for months. The hunters wouldn’t immediately try to kill it, but gradually shave off its strength until it was safe to go for the killing blow.
Ganging up on one enemy was humanity’s greatest weapon. Or better said, it was unity.
Bang!
“I got word that some hunters killed the mechanical dragon!” Han Seha cried out as she flung the door open.
“!?”
Choi Yeonseung stood up in shock.
‘There’s no way!’
If the mechanical dragon had actually been killed, the other constellations would be buzzing and the world around them would change. Perhaps the hunters weren’t aware of that, but Choi Yeonseung was a constellation.
“Over here! Look at this!”
The magic video took shape and played. The hunters were recording themselves live. Judging by their clothing and the way they were talking, it seemed that the hunters from Russia and other Eastern European countries had killed it.
-Hooray!
-We did it!
-You’re a bunch of fools! While others were begging like cowards, we took initiative and got the job done! We killed the mechanical dragon! Constellations! Are you watching?
The hunters were intoxicated with the ecstasy of victory.
[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ finds them pitiful.]
The first one who noticed was the angel constellation.
‘It’s too small to be the mechanical dragon.’
Choi Yeonseung also noticed belatedly. He had also hunted dragons in the Abyss, and on a closer look, that dragon did in fact seem too small to be the mechanical dragon.
Monsters differed in size, but...
Han Seha was also flustered as though she had just realized it. She blurted, “What?! I didn’t think those bastards would lie like that! I’ll stop the livestream.”
“Wait.”
“Huh?”
Choi Yeonseung was perplexed by the colossal shadow that was cast on the hunters in the video. Moments later, they all realized what was going on.
A giant dragon of steel was flying above the hunters.
-......
-......
The hunters at the scene acted wisely. Completely forgetting about their ranks and reputations, they all got on the ground face down and hid among the dead monsters.
It looked rather ridiculous, but it was a very effective method, given the situation. Choi Yeonseung was also slightly impressed.
‘Good thinking.’
Reputation meant nothing in the face of death. The hunters had to survive, not save face. The mechanical dragon slowly drifted through the sky until it went out of sight. It was clear that the distorted space of the Abyss allowed it to move more smoothly.
After the mechanical dragon disappeared, Han Seha was speechless for a while.
“...Are you sure you can kill that?”
The hunters had to be shocked by the dragon’s appearance, but Choi Yeonseung thought it was a good thing. If the dragon was this imposing and ferocious, why not find a way to cooperate with it?
‘But if other hunters besides the ones from South Korea attack as well...’
Unfortunately, Choi Yeonseung was the only one who entertained this illusion of cooperating with the monster. He underestimated how fearless and greedy the hunters were.
***
“Do you understand? Don’t cooperate with hunters from other countries.”
It wasn’t just one country; most of the world superpowers were involved in this raid because they wanted to assume control of the Second Realm.
-Do you know how valuable these minerals filling the area are? They could easily make for over tens or hundreds of trillions of dollars! We might never see such a gold mine in the Abyss ever again!
-We have to monopolize this. Do you understand?
The clans felt a bit uncomfortable going into this, but they couldn’t refuse such firm orders from their governments.
Several US clans who were close to Choi Yeonseung apologetically refused to cooperate with him.
-We sincerely apologize, Hunter Choi Yeonseung. We can’t go against our government. We think it’s best for us to just follow our orders this time.
-Damn. I guess the governments are dead set on taking the Second Realm. They probably don’t want to leave this to the clans.
Most of the time, the government would just let the big companies do their thing, but judging from their actions, it seemed like every government was taking this matter into their own hands. Politicians from all countries were shouting out loud “I’ll get my hands on this new realm!” out of their own volition.
In addition, the constellations didn’t seem to have any intention of cooperating either.
In the end, there would be no alliances.
[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ laments that there doesn’t seem to be a way to do this.]
-I’ll fight even without them.
Choi Yeonseung wasn’t intimidated by this. He had fought worse fights. To be honest, he wasn’t even stressed about this.
[A constellation is asking for an alliance.]
“...!”
Choi Yeonseung looked up, surprised. He hadn’t expected anyone to want to side with him, so he was glad.
‘Who is it?’
He thought it could be the angel constellation.
[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ reaches out to fight together.]
“...”