Chapter 20 – The Nightmare Begins

Scene 1: The Calm Before the Storm

The sun had barely risen over Taal Lake, casting a golden shimmer on its calm waters. Locals went about their morning routines—fishermen preparing their nets, vendors setting up their stalls, and children running along the shoreline. It was just another peaceful day.

But something felt… off.

The lake's surface rippled unnaturally, despite the absence of wind. Fishermen exchanged wary glances as they noticed massive shadows moving beneath the water. The birds that usually perched along the trees suddenly took flight in a frenzy, squawking as if escaping from an unseen predator. Dogs barked madly, pulling at their leashes, while carabaos stomped nervously in their pens.

Then it happened.

A deep, rumbling quake shook the land. BOOM! The ground split apart as cracks raced through the streets, toppling lampposts and sending debris crashing down. The water in the lake swirled violently, as if something massive was about to emerge.

And then, the sky darkened.

Scene 2: Dungeon Break!

High above Taal Volcano, a colossal Dungeon Gate materialized, its swirling black void pulsating with unnatural energy. The very air felt heavy with mana, suffocating those nearby. A low, thunderous croak echoed from the depths of the gate, sending chills down the spines of those who heard it.

Then, it appeared.

A monstrous amphibian, at least ten stories tall, emerged from the portal. Its slimy, bloated skin glistened with toxic mucus, and its golden eyes burned with intelligence and malice. Its throat expanded and contracted as it released another ear-shattering croak, causing buildings to shatter from the sheer vibration.

The Frog Queen had arrived.

Then, as if vomiting forth an unholy spawn, 100,000 monstrous frogs of varying sizes poured out of the gate. Some were as small as dogs, while others were as massive as two-story buildings. They ravenously devoured everything in sight—people, animals, trees, even steel structures crumbled under their relentless advance.

Screams filled the air as entire villages were wiped off the map within minutes.

Scene 3: The Egg Nest

The Frog Queen's massive body trembled, and in a grotesque display, thousands of translucent eggs spewed from her backside, plopping into the steaming lava of Taal Volcano. Instead of burning, they pulsed with unnatural life.

Within minutes, some of the eggs cracked open, revealing newborn frog monsters. But instead of hunting, these creatures did something far more sinister.

They started capturing humans alive.

Those unfortunate enough to be caught were dragged back to the Queen's nest, their screams echoing across the battlefield. There, the newborn frogs submerged them into a bubbling acidic pool, their bodies dissolving into a thick, nutrient-rich soup. The Queen, satisfied, released another batch of eggs—her army was growing exponentially.

This wasn't just a Dungeon Break—this was an invasion.

Scene 4: Emergency Broadcast from HAP

Hunter Association Philippines Headquarters – Manila

The massive LED screens inside HAP's control room flickered to life, displaying live drone footage of the catastrophe. Hundreds of hunters, guild leaders, and officials gathered around in silence, their faces grim as they watched the destruction unfold.

At the center of the room, Don Sy, the strongest S-Rank Hunter in the Philippines, sat at his desk, arms crossed. His sharp, calculating eyes studied the footage without a hint of panic.

Beside him, Chief Inspector Choks Go clenched his fists. "Chairman… we need to act now."

Don Sy remained quiet for a moment before nodding. "Call every available hunter. From F-Rank to S-Rank. This is now a national-level emergency."

Choks Go wasted no time. He grabbed the mic and issued the highest-priority emergency broadcast in HAP history.

Within minutes, the entire country was alerted.

Scene 5: The Hunters Respond

News stations broadcasted the disaster live, showing terrifying images of frog monsters overrunning entire cities. Social media exploded with posts, videos, and desperate pleas for help.

Inside a small apartment, Mon and Bert stared at the TV screen in shock.

"…This is on a different level," Mon muttered, gripping his fists.

Bert, who had just finished his solo dungeon run, wiped the sweat from his brow. "Tch. We're not ready for something like this."

But then, a new announcement came.

"The strongest S-Rank Hunters will be dispatched. Standby for the list."

The screen flickered, showing six legendary names.

These were the top Hunters in the Philippines—each one as strong as a walking calamity.

Mon exhaled. "…This is gonna be a war."

Final Scene: The War Begins

Back at Taal, as the first waves of hundreds of Hunters arrived, the Queen Frog's six Royal Guards finally revealed themselves.

Each towered over the battlefield, their forms grotesque yet regal, radiating immense mana pressure—each one on par with an S-Rank Hunter.

Then, the Queen let out a final, earth-shaking croak.

The invasion had truly begun.