Chapter 306

The area was blanketed in snow. stretching far beyond the horizon, but with so many Hunters gathered here, it wasn't a problem. They could just melt it. Even the Hunters following them, let alone Choi Jong-In, had fire skills. Rather, it was better if Choi Jong-In didn't step forward. If he used his firepower, he might not only melt the snow but also burn away any meaningful traces buried beneath.

Flare—! Flare Flare—!

The Association Hunters began to melt the snow and meticulously investigate the ground, centered around Woo Jinchul. And the rest of them without fire skills started to build a base camp in a suitable location. Since they didn't know how long they would have to stay here, they decided to build a proper base instead of just setting up simple tents. Among that, they put the most effort into building a defensive formation around the ice pillar standing tall in the center.

"…This is a sight I never thought I'd see." Woo Jinchul muttered with a strange expression as he looked at the thoroughly protected ice pillar.

Sirka.

That ice pillar, where the ice elf who was Sung Suho's companion was trapped, was in an egg-like state, and they didn't know when it would hatch. And he also said that when that egg hatched, it would be the moment when Sirka inherited the power of the Monarch of Frost and was reborn.

"…To think that I would protect the descendant of the Monarch of Frost."

The Monarch of Frost. To personally protect the descendant of the one who killed Chairman Go Gunhee. Even if the enemy of an enemy was a friend, he couldn't help but feel mixed emotions when faced with this situation.

"Did I live too long…" Woo Jinchul calmed his mind with a bewildered expression.

'No, Time went backwards without me.' First of all, after the world was completely reset, Chairman Go Gunhee passed away after enjoying a long and healthy life. With the respect and condolences of countless people. He wondered if it was even meaningful to be angry at a young descendant over something that had become a non-existent event in this world.

'A temporary alliance to face a greater enemy. That's all it is for now.' That was Woo Jinchul's stance towards Sirka. And there was also the matter of power. Although he didn't fully understand how powerful the Monarchs were, he knew that they were at least beyond human level. When Sirka successfully became a Monarch, she would be the one who could help Sung Jinwoo and Sung Suho the most. And at the same time, he knew all too well how powerless humans were in this war. A bitter expression briefly crossed Woo Jinchul's face as he thought that.

'Humans have no role in this war anyway. We're just hostages holding back Hunter Sung Suho.' It was an extremely cold-hearted assessment. But what could he do? It was an obvious fact, and he had already experienced it once. Woo Jinchul was deeply aware of how powerless the human race was at the time of the apocalypse.

'So even if we just don't cause unnecessary trouble and panic among ourselves, that's good enough.' Well, in war terms, it would be like civil defense. Woo Jinchul chuckled as he thought that.

'But it's still fortunate. It seems like his son took on the role of supporting him from behind.' Sung Suho. Sung Jinwoo's only son. After seeing his power with his own eyes, Woo Jinchul felt truly relieved for the first time in ages. The heavy burden that had been weighing on his shoulders disappeared like melting snow. Especially that night, when he passed through the Gate Suho opened and fell asleep on the soft bed in Ahjin Hospital with an IV drip… He was finally able to have a good night's sleep. The insomnia that had been plaguing him, The dark circles under his eyes hidden by sunglasses, all disappeared overnight.

That was why he couldn't help but let out a silly laugh. And he suddenly muttered in a casual tone,

"Now that the real war has begun, I can withdraw from this Association President post that doesn't suit me."

"…?!"

"…What?!"

"Wh-what do you mean?!"

All the Hunters nearby, who were clearing snow, were shocked and doubted their ears. What did they just hear? Woo Jinchul was quitting as Association President? Why all of a sudden? Considering the tremendous presence and influence of Association President Woo Jinchul in Korea, they couldn't think of anyone who could replace him. But Woo Jinchul was serious.

"Preparing for war. That was always my role and goal." 

He smiled at the bewildered Hunters with a truly relieved expression. His black sunglasses reflected the dazzling snowfield.

"And no matter how much I think about it, being the section chief of the Surveillance Department suits me best."

"…?"

The Hunters couldn't hide their confusion.

'The Surveillance Department all of a sudden?'

'What is the Association President talking about?'

'The Surveillance Department…'

It was the section that suppressed crimes committed by Hunters and subdued criminals. In other words, it was optimized for battles against humans rather than dungeon raids. Armed with skills specialized for dealing with fellow people rather than magical beasts, that was the Surveillance Department. And once, In the vanished history that no one remembered now,

'Section Chief Woo Jinchul' was the elite agent with the highest combat power against humans in that Surveillance Department…

"In short, this is what it means."

Crack. Crack.

Woo Jinchul relaxed his shoulders, which felt much lighter, and subtly held his weapon.

"I want to take off this cumbersome hat and return as a pure Hunter."

"…!"

It was at that moment. The voices of hunters who were excavating traces of the 'bank' buried in the snow could be heard simultaneously.

"Found it!"

"We found a suspicious stone tablet!"

"I can feel the magic power… No, it's getting stronger!"

Whoosh—

Even before they could finish their words, the wave of that magic power reached all the Hunters in the area. And Woo Jinchul, who was the first to detect that dangerous sensation, glared at that spot and took his stance.

"They're coming. Everyone, prepare for battle."

Flash—!

The suspicious stone tablet. As the snow melted, the stone tablet that was frozen underneath emitted light. And then, 'humans' poured out from the unknown Gate created above it.

"What the, why is this place like this?"

"We barely escaped from Liu Zhigang…"

Chinese.

The Chinese, emitting an obviously extraordinary aura, grumbled as they looked around the snow-covered field. Covered in blood from head to toe, they were clearly villains. They spotted the Korean Association Hunters surrounding them and grinned, revealing their teeth.

"Huh? Who are these guys?"

"Do they want to fight us?"

This situation was definitely unexpected even for the Chinese villains. But, they didn't flinch and just smirked. Even now, they, still coming out of the Gate easily numbered in the hundreds. On the other hand, there were only a few dozen Koreans. A clear numerical superiority. And the Korean side was currently without S-rank Choi Jong-In. To make matters worse, there were even a few A-ranks mixed among the Chinese villains. In that tense situation, Woo Jinchul spoke to them in fluent Mandarin,

"You've crossed the border."

"What, you little…!"

"So what?"

There was no point in responding to their glares. Woo Jinchul had already confirmed it. The strange weapons in their hands. Their design resembled the scythe of harvest…

"Otherworldly weapons. That's what I'm calling them for now."

"…What?"

Woo Jinchul decided to call the weapons made by the 'Doctor' otherworldly weapons. And based on Hasul's experience using it, he knew how powerful those creations were. But so what…?

"Since villains from another country carrying otherworldly weapons have crossed the border, I'll have to take action."

Whoosh—!

Despite the overwhelming disadvantage, Woo Jinchul took the lead and attacked them.

"A-Association President!"

His agility surprised even the Association Hunters who were on standby. At the same time, the Chinese villains laughed at him and unleashed a thick killing intent.

"You idiot!"

"You're walking into your own grave!"

Yes.

At least it must have seemed that way. To their eyes. But again, Woo Jinchul was a former section chief of the Surveillance Department. As an elite agent specializing in battles against humans, his main skills were also focused on that. Especially in this era where he vowed to solve matters between humans with humans.

"Wide-range debuff."

"…!"

A silent wave spread from Woo Jinchul. That was the beginning… It was the beginning of all sorts of skills he unleashed, engulfing the entire area one after another.

"Attack power reduction."

"Speed reduction."

"Dulled Senses."

"Defense negation."

"Blind."

"…?!"

The Chinese villains' expressions hardened. Suddenly, their bodies became heavy, their strength drained, and their vision darkened.

"Cr-crazy!"

"Such petty skills!"

Even while panicking, they instinctively tried to resist the debuff skills he cast, showing how desperately they wanted to survive the chaos. But it was useless. Only two years have passed since the Cataclysm began. The pandemonium they lived through was only two years.

Swing—!

"…?!"

A head flew off from Woo Jinchul's sword strike. Without even a scream.

Swing—! Flash—! Slash—!

Just like that, in the blink of an eye, the next head, and the next, flew off.

"…S-stop him!"

"Ugh?!"

Yes. Not magical beasts, but humans. Against fellow humans, Woo Jinchul was invincible. Association President, wiping the blood splattered on his face, looked back at his subordinates and ordered,

"What are you doing? Kill them all and retrieve the otherworldly weapons."

"…Y-yes!" A beat late, a resounding answer erupted from their mouths.

At the same time, they realized… The meaning of Woo Jinchul's words just now… about returning as a Hunter, not the Association President. The tremendous achievements that Association President Woo Jinchul had accumulated over the past two years, His outstanding political and administrative skills, All the paths he walked were the history of the Korean Hunter world. He was the one who suited the position of Association President the most. But that wasn't all.

He… was a Hunter.

A skilled warrior who suited the name Hunter more than anyone. A true warrior who didn't hesitate to risk his life before the enemy. Woo Jinchul, who had just cut off dozens of heads, was smiling. With a truly carefree expression.

"'Now I can die' is what you say at a time like this." He was sick of playing it safe.

Flash—!

Woo Jinchul narrowed his eyes at the sight of the countless villains still pouring out of the Gate. And he quickly realized the reason why so many of them were flocking to this ruined wasteland at this moment.

Sirka.

There was nothing for them to gain here except for the elf princess trapped in that ice. Although it was a shame that Choi Jong-In was away on business at a time like this, he already had an alternative.

"Come out, Mr. Hwang Dongsoo."

[Call me Greed. It's the name the Master bestowed upon me.]

Rumble—

Woo Jinchul's shadow lengthened, and the shadow soldier Greed rose with his massive body. And he raised his fist towards the invaders from China. With an extremely sinister, villainous smile.

[Welcome. Criminals contaminated by a cult.]

Crash—!

Greed, the former High Priest of the Cult of the Outer Gods, unleashed his full power and struck them.