Chapter 276: Chapter 276

Chapter 276: Was It This Much?

[Title: Hey, is this real? Isn't Kim Minwoo crazy?][NEW!]

Author: HunterWatcher

― No, did you see that just now? This is a guy that even Thunder Emperor Chen and Sword Emperor Wang Xiao couldn't even scratch with their ultimate moves, but Kim Minwoo slashes a few times and his legs are getting sliced like nothing?

Does this make sense? They said he's World Rank 157? Is the Association not doing their job? Did they miss a zero or something?

└ [UndeadKing]: 157th my ass lol. If that's 157th, then I'm an amoeba. Isn't he just the World Number 1?

└ [KimchiMan]: National pride is surging…… Shopkeeper! Close the shutters!

└ [Analyst_J]: It's not just that his damage is high. Do you see the movement of those skeletons? How is that summon intelligence? They're just fighting better than humans?

On the screen, Kim Minwoo's legion was showing a battle that was truly close to art.

A monster that had transformed into a giant spider, revealing a horrific pressure that reached even beyond the screen.

Against such a monster, it looked as if they were attempting a raid.

And a raid where the teamwork was artistic at that.

The moment Spider Queen Magenta struck down with her house-sized front leg.

Five Dragon Tooth Soldiers instantly transformed into heavy armored infantry holding massive tower shields and took the attack.

After dispersing the impact with sophisticated teamwork and receiving the leg…….

Another Dragon Tooth Soldier, who had jumped up from behind the shield before anyone knew it, aimed a bow in mid-air and accurately pierced an arrow into Magenta's eye.

[SystemBreaker]: Wow, crazy; did you see that just now? What's with the job change speed? There's no delay?

[BoneLover]: Are they some kind of Transformers? The bones are reassembling in real-time dd

[RankerHo]: That Bone Knight is the real deal. One swing of the spear and Magenta's outer skin is sliced like tofu. The giant skeletons are amazing too, but I think the real Bone Knight is a summon outside the standard!

The thrill beyond the screen crossed borders and spread even to the Chinese continent. China's largest community, Weibo, was a literal melting pot of chaos, mixed with a funeral-like atmosphere and astonishment.

[Real-time Search Terms]

3. Thunder Emperor Defeat

[BeijingRoastDuck]: What did our 20,000 S-ranks even do? I’m so embarrassed I can’t lift my head. A Korean is catching that monster alone?

└ [ShanghaiNight]: Honestly, I’m grateful, but…… I can’t help my pride being hurt. Our heroes were cut down in 1 minute, but he’s fighting like he’s taking a stroll.

└ [ChinaFirst]: Isn't that all CG? The Koreans are manipulating it! There's no way a human is that strong!

└ [FaceReality]: Wake up, guy above. Right now, that skeleton blocked the Oriental Pearl Tower from nearly collapsing right before my eyes. Admit what needs to be admitted. He is stronger than the Thunder Emperor.

The situation on the battlefield was much more one-sided than the netizens' analysis.

Magenta let out a scream full of pain.

The already amazingly well-fighting undead were receiving thoughts shared in real-time through the Heart of the Legion.

Even though she had revealed her true body, the situation did not improve.

No, rather, her size had simply become a better target to hit.

―Master! The bastard's left leg!

Simultaneously with Cedric's shout, Kim Minwoo dug in.

Kim Minwoo's sword drew a red trajectory, accurately cutting off Magenta's joint.

The massive spider's body tilted and collapsed.

― Wow…… Kim Minwoo is the real demon here lol. I’m actually starting to feel sorry for the spider.

― Now that’s what you call hunting. The Chinese kids were just doing a feeding experience.

― Fact) Kim Minwoo didn't get strong because he spent money; a guy who’s already strong just happens to spend a lot of money too.

― Looking at it now, that’s exactly right fck lol.

― King Minwoo! God Minwoo! Light Minwoo!

Overwhelming martial power.

It was an absolute catharsis that transcended nationality and ideology, making everyone watching feel a thrill.

In that spot where China's pride had collapsed, at the center of the ruined Shanghai, Kim Minwoo reigned as the sole savior and the most dominant predator.

Magenta staggered and backed away.

The noble dignity of a queen had long since been trampled into the mud.

Half of her eight legs had been hideously severed, and sticky green blood sprayed ceaselessly from the stumps. The steel-like outer skin she once boasted was tattered like a rag from the coordinated attacks of the Dragon Tooth Soldiers.

“Th-this makes no sense…….”

Her pupils shook as if an earthquake had hit.

The deadly poison she spewed was like a disaster to all living organisms, but it didn't affect the human before her eyes.

The Dragon Tooth Soldiers persistently dug into her blind spots while changing weapons in real-time.

Striking the front legs with shields, piercing joints with spears, and smashing the shell with greatswords.

It was a one-sided slaughter and a thorough violation.

‘I’m going to die. At this rate, I’ll be the one hunted.’

For the first time, a chilling fear climbed up her spine.

The leisure she felt, as if out on a light stroll, was nowhere to be found.

She hurriedly clutched her chest.

Below her collarbone, a bizarre dark-red pattern was throbbing within her grasp.

It was the Stigmata connected to her creator and father, ‘Hardronox’.

‘Father! Father, please help me!’

She screamed toward the empty air with bloodshot eyes.

The pattern flared with red light as it began to burn.

A distress signal sent with her own life force as collateral.

That her great father would never stand by and watch his daughter be violated by these trivial humans.

It might be difficult for her father, who was far away, to descend across dimensions and trample that arrogant Necromancer…….

But at the very least, helping her extract her own body would never be a difficult task.

What returned was silence.

There was no wave of power, nor a voice of comfort.

The Stigmata merely flickered ominously before losing its light helplessly with a thud. As if a lightbulb had gone out.

It wasn't that the connection was cut.

Even though her request had reached him, the other side had intentionally blocked the line.

Magenta’s face turned pale as lime.

Only then did she realize.

The gaze from her father she had felt when descending through Shanghai's sky was not one of expectation, but indifference.

She was nothing more than a thrown-away 'discarded pawn'.

“Father, why…… why have you forsaken me!”

A scream filled with betrayal burst out.

She had managed her father’s territory for over a thousand years.

She had dedicated all her loyalty.

But even that scream did not last long.

“This isn't the time to be looking away.”

Along with a chilling voice, Kim Minwoo’s signal fell.

Simultaneously, Cedric’s spear, having leaped into the air, rushed toward Magenta’s defenseless torso.

The attack did not stop there.

Merhen’s magic poured down onto the massive body.

And from the vibrating human sword, a high-pitched sound as if to tear one's senses burst out, shaking her internals.

Magenta looked down at the weapons tearing through her entire body. In her final moment, what was reflected in her eyes was not rage toward the enemy killing her.

It was a horrific resentment and despair toward the father who had abandoned her on this cold earth.

The massive body of the Spider Queen collapsed helplessly.

It was the hollow end of the disaster that had driven Shanghai into terror.

[You are the one who ‘Opened Humanity’s Horizon’!] [Recognizing the changes in the world!] [One of the Apostle’s daughters has met her death here on Earth!] [Earth’s status is rapidly rising!] [The exchange rate has changed!] [800 Achievement Points are awarded!] [You possess the Achievement Vending Machine! Points are doubled!]

‘One of Hardronox’s daughters.’

Spider Queen Magenta.

She was a bigger deal than expected.

“Father, why…… why have you forsaken me!”

Even the words she had spoken came to mind.

The Shadows had joined hands with China.

The gate exploded, and Magenta popped out.

Considering her words, Hardronox certainly could have helped.

‘But he didn’t? Even though she wouldn't be a mere low-ranking pawn to him at this level…….’

A conversation he once had with the Death Lord came to mind.

When they discussed the equipment of the Hero's party.

—Then it might be a supply of prey to raise one's status.

He had said those words.

If this situation looked similar to that, was it just a delusion?

Finally, the massive corpse of the Spider Queen completely ceased its breathing. As the physical form that had been as vast as a mountain range collapsed, a thick cloud of dust billowed up, covering the ruins of Shanghai.

What arrived at that moment was not cheers.

It was only a heavy silence, as if one were suffocating.

The thousands of surviving Chinese Awakened stared blankly with their mouths agape at the man standing arrogantly atop the spider's corpse.

The emotion contained in their eyes was not gratitude or joy toward a savior.

It was a primitive fear felt before an out-of-standard, overwhelming martial power.

Among them, the one in the most wretched state was Thunder Emperor Chen.

The continent's guardian deity. World Rank 27.

His dignity, which had been adorned with all sorts of grandiose modifiers, had long since been crushed along with the filth scattered on the ground.

He clutched his thigh with a trembling hand.

A damp and lukewarm liquid was soaking his pants.

The urine he had leaked, unable to overcome the fear of death, trickled down his leg.

Normally, it was a situation where he wouldn't be able to lift his head out of shame.

But right now, there was no room for such a thing as shame in Chen’s mind.

Magenta, the monster who until just a moment ago had violated them like insects and brought despair.

That disaster, which the Chinese world rankers and 20,000 S-rank Hunters couldn't even leave a scratch on, had become a wretched lump of meat after a few gestures from that Korean man.

The power of lightning he had dedicated his life to building felt as trivial as a child's fire play before that man’s legion.

At most, it had been about a year since he Awakened?

The same world ranker?

That monster and himself?

No, they are simply on a different status.

Just as a human doesn't feel competitive toward an ant, that man was looking down on them thoroughly.

Chen instinctively curled up his body.

He felt as if his heart would stop just by Kim Minwoo’s gaze grazing past him. The fear that if he happened to offend that man’s mood, he might be the next one slaughtered after Magenta, encroached upon his brain.

Please, let me not stand out.

Let me just be ignored like a pebble rolling on the street.

The great Thunder Emperor Chen was inwardly begging servilely while thrusting his head into the ground.

But Kim Minwoo had no interest in him from the start.

Kim Minwoo’s gaze indifferently scanned Chen, who was trembling while having wet himself, and passed over.

There was not even contempt.

It was a gaze so dry it was as if he were avoiding dirty filth, or looking at a part of the background.

That thorough indifference brought both a greater misery and relief to Chen at the same time.

Because it meant he wasn't even worth killing.

As if his business were finished, Kim Minwoo turned around without lingering attachment.

His black coat fluttered in the air, riding the wind mixed with the scent of blood and acrid smoke.

Receiving the gazes of fear and awe emitted by tens of thousands of Hunters all at once, he opened his mouth lowly but clearly.

“Command the treatment and reorganization of the Hunters here. Save the world rankers lying over there, too. Cedric will stay by your side.”

“I shall follow your command!”

Liang Xiaojun busily began giving out instructions.

The man called the Living Great Wall had died, but the Sword Emperor and the Immovable Wisdom King were still breathing.

As healing magic poured over them, they slowly began to regain consciousness.

The same applied to the Awakened who had been on the verge of death.

All of this was being captured by the broadcasting cameras hovering in the sky.

'There's no point in delaying any longer.'

Kim Minwoo looked at Liang Xiaojun.

The Chinese leadership had made a disastrous series of blunders, and the nation’s top-tier Awakened had been utterly humiliated.

On the other hand, what about Liang Xiaojun’s stock?

Could there be a more perfect time for a new Chairman to be born?

After storing Magenta’s corpse in his inventory, Kim Minwoo addressed the thousands of Awakened who had finished their treatment.

“China has abandoned you. No, to be precise, Li Zemin and the Standing Committee members did. Until the final moment, instead of requesting aid from other nations, they were making a fuss about sending a second wave of support troops. The Chairman was even preparing to flee while moving his assets. Do you not feel the injustice?”

The Awakened remained silent as if dead.

‘Could those words really be true?’

The doubt was only momentary.

Those gathered here were all Awakened with high positions and their own sources of information.

Before long, the circumstances began to be revealed one by one.

As the fear of death lifted, what filled the void was a crimson rage.

The fact that while they were vomiting blood and fighting, the leadership was packing their bags.

The sense of betrayal that the homeland they trusted had pushed them into a death trap and tried to run away transformed beyond resentment into murderous intent.

“Those sons of bitches…….”

A curse burst from someone’s mouth, acting as the fuse.

Sounds of fists clenching until nails dug into palms and teeth grinding rang out from everywhere.

The sense of crisis was instantly replaced by resentment and hatred, and the relief of survival burned into a desperate desire for revenge.

Kim Minwoo indifferently moved his steps, his back to their boiling murderous intent.

His direction was clear.

“Liang Xiaojun and I are going to the Zhongnanhai.”

However, its weight overwhelmed the battlefield.

Kim Minwoo began to lead the way through the ruined streets of Shanghai. Liang Xiaojun followed behind him.

Thunder Emperor Chen staggered to his feet and followed.

The Sword Emperor, the Immovable Wisdom King, and the thousands of surviving Awakened joined the procession in silence, as if possessed.

Broadcasting drones soared high into the sky to capture the spectacle.

A massive wave of rage cutting through the ruined city.

At the head of that revolutionary tide stood the South Korean Hunter, Kim Minwoo, standing arrogantly.