Chapter 61: Collision (3)

After successfully subjugating the Wolf King, Han-seong felt refreshed.

It wasn’t simply because he had achieved his primary goal, but for a more fundamental reason.

[Your level has increased.]

His level rose consecutively.

It seemed to be the combined result of dealing with the Wolf King’s minions as well. Han-seong had reached level 45, and soon after, loot dropped where the Wolf King had been.

[Remote: Inventory activated]

[Loot detected within collection range]

[Loot will be automatically stored.]

The loot disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Shortly after, the collection list unfolded.

[Loot List]

▷Wolf King’s Sixth Heart

▷Wolf King’s Whistle

▷Skillbook: Healing Potion

▷Skillbook: Lightning Speed

Normally, he would have examined the rewards first, but Han-seong ignored all notifications. Right now, his priority was not the loot.

‘I’ve cleared away all obstacles.’

Now his task was to cross the mountain to the militia’s base and find his family. With this in mind, Han-seong immediately set off towards the other side of the mountain.

Meanwhile, Sang-min, who had finished the battle, reported the results through a pigeon. But then, Sang-min suddenly burst out shouting.

“What? Are you sure you saw that correctly?”

As if he had heard some alarming news from So-hyun. A moment later, he spoke with a hardened expression.

“…I understand. I’ll relay the message.”

“What’s wrong? Has some problem arisen?”

Ye-eun immediately asked as the conversation ended.

Sang-min nodded.

“They say the militia has moved.”

“What? H-how…?”

“It probably means they have someone over there with a skill similar to Baek So-hyun’s.”

He frowned deeply.

Realizing the situation was taking an ominous turn, Sang-min looked around at the group and said:

“Let’s hurry. They said the militia is coming this way too, so for now, let’s get to a safe place…”

“I think we’re a bit late for that.”

Han-seong spoke up at that moment.

He stopped in his tracks and muttered while staring at dozens of blue dots that had appeared on the map.

“We’re already surrounded.”

“What did you say?”

Sang-min asked back with a surprised face.

Meanwhile, Ye-eun’s eyes flashed fiercely as if she had noticed something. Yoon-ho also nocked an arrow and aimed his bow towards the bushes.

And at that moment.

Click!

A chilling metallic sound was heard.

Soon, dozens of gun barrels emerged from the bushes. An armed group wearing military uniforms. Seeing the familiar attire, Sang-min bit his lip hard.

“The militia…!”

He had heard they were coming this way, but he never imagined they would arrive so quickly. He wanted to respond immediately, but he couldn’t.

If they were exposed even for a moment, his body would literally become a beehive.

“The boss was right.”

A man in his mid-20s walked out from among the rifle-armed militia. He spoke with a rather relaxed expression.

“He said an incredibly skilled person would take care of the Wolf King for us, but I didn’t think it would be true.”

The man’s gaze turned towards the Phantom.

As if saying he knew about all the feats the Phantom had shown so far.

“That was truly amazing. Launching something like missiles and turning that crazy wolf monster into dust. What exactly is your job?”

“Well, you don’t have to say if you don’t want to. I’m not in the mood for a long conversation anyway.”

The man shrugged his shoulders.

At that moment, Han-seong spoke up.

“I have a question.”

“Why are you doing this when you know I eliminated the Wolf King?”

Through the man’s previous answer, Han-seong realized.

Not only had they watched the entire battle up to now, but they also knew exactly how much power he possessed.

Yet they still point their guns at him like this?

It doesn’t make sense.

“That’s obvious.”

The man, on the other hand, smirked.

As if asking why he was asking such an obvious question.

“No matter how strong someone is, they’re powerless in front of guns. Even that level 28 Spirit User who was causing trouble in Nonsan had his head blown off with one shot of this.”

The man tapped his K2 rifle.

Han-seong nodded as if understanding.

They were currently running wild, trusting in their guns.

‘It’s certainly threatening.’

Without a proper defensive skill, even someone with a high level could die from one bullet. Like the level 28 Spirit User the man had mentioned as an example.

However, Han-seong had Mana Shield.

In the first place, his physical body was currently not here, but in Cheonan. That’s why the man’s words didn’t sound threatening at all to him.

“And if you die, all those monsters you control will disappear too, right?”

However, unaware of this fact, the man continued to sneer with an arrogant face.

“Moreover, we have someone on our side who can detect skill activation. So don’t try anything foolish. Hey, you there! I’m talking to you.”

The man suddenly hardened his expression and pointed at Ye-eun, who was hiding behind Sang-min. Realizing her actions had been detected, she gritted her teeth in frustration.

After finishing what he had to say.

The man threw something on the ground.

“If your curiosity is satisfied, put this on.”

“…What is this?”

“It’s called a Collar of Obedience. If you wear this, I’ll spare you and your companions. I promise.”

An object that looked like a dog collar.

There were exactly four of them. As Han-seong silently looked at them, the man smiled wickedly and urged:

“I’ll give you one minute. Decide quickly.”

“…Sigh.”

Han-seong let out a sigh.

He was annoyed. Both at having his path to find his mother obstructed, and at having to converse with fools who couldn’t grasp the situation.

And the annoyance soon turned to anger.

“You said earlier that one of you can detect skill activation, right?”

“That’s right. Why?”

“Then try to block this.”

“…What?”

The man’s eyebrow twitched at the sudden informal speech. At that moment, the Collector kicked off the ground, and seeing this, the man hurriedly grabbed his gun.

“Shit! Shoot! Shoot them all!”

Bang! Ratatatatat!

Bullets rained down from all directions.

However, no one was hit by the gunfire. Thanks to the Collector, who had moved first and shielded Sang-min’s group with its entire body, blocking the bullets.

The Phantom also took no damage thanks to Mana Shield. Realizing this fact, the militia shouted in surprised voices.

“Th-the bullets aren’t working!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! It must be some illusion-type skill! There must be some trick, so keep…”

The man screamed as if in a frenzy.

But he didn’t get far.

[Activating skill.]

[Area: Poison Fog]

Poison fog activated through Soul Link enveloped the man and the militia in a thick mist.

Although it was only 20% of its original power and range, it was enough to deal with humans who didn’t even have gas masks.

“Gack! Ugh! C-can’t breathe…”

“Urgh! Bleeeurgh!”

The militia, poisoned by the toxin, began rolling on the ground in less than 10 seconds. Some tried to escape the fog, but it was futile.

It was due to the paralyzing poison taking effect.

“Gurk! Gurgurk!”

“S-save… me…”

Dozens of militia members died miserably, poisoned. The time it took for a platoon-sized force to be completely wiped out was just 1 minute.

Faced with this horrific scene, not only Sang-min, but even Ye-eun and Yoon-ho were at a loss for words. After a while, Sang-min, who had finally regained his senses, spoke up.

“Th-that fog is…”

“It’s poison fog. The effect will last for about ten minutes, so don’t come out until then.”

Han-seong moved the Phantom and the Collector.

The Collector was immune to poison, and the Phantom wasn’t a living being to begin with. After finishing his reply, he moved the two monsters beyond the fog.

‘…Mother.’

Please wait just a little longer.

I’ll come to get you soon.

The Phantom and the Collector disappeared into the fog, heading towards an abandoned building about 3km away.

Jeong Ye-jin, a level 1 Mage.

Now fifteen years old, she had lost her parents when she was too young to remember and had been living with her sister, who was eight years older than her.

However, the ordinary life she thought would continue forever was shattered with surprising ease.

『The Upheaval』

A sudden abnormal change that engulfed the world.

The streets were overrun with zombies, and law and order became less valuable than a bottle of water.

Although the world had turned into hell, people somehow adapted to it. They formed groups and created factions.

On the other hand, Ye-jin couldn’t adapt.

‘…I’m scared.’

Both of the world that had turned into hell, and of the group that suddenly started controlling the residents.

So at first, she imagined giving up on life dozens of times a day. If she embraced death, she wouldn’t have to be afraid anymore.

As she was being pushed into a mental corner.

A hand of salvation appeared.

「Don’t worry. Everything will be alright.」

A middle-aged woman she encountered by chance.

She wasn’t a complete stranger.

She was someone who came to volunteer at the orphanage near Ye-jin’s house every weekend.

At the time, the children at the orphanage called her ‘mom’ and followed her well. She didn’t understand why then, but now she did.

‘If I had a mom too…’

Maybe it would feel like this?

With such thoughts, Ye-jin also began to see the woman as a mother figure at some point. Thanks to her, she was able to endure this hellish world.

But now.

A crisis had come to her world.

“Drag them all out.”

About a dozen uninvited guests suddenly appeared.

The militia, an armed group composed of criminals.

They grabbed the children without warning and sent them out of the building. Then they threw the children into a large truck like piles of luggage.

“Waaah! It hurts!”

“Sob! Hic!”

Crying sounds could be heard from everywhere.

Screams and shouts followed one after another. In the midst of this chaotic situation.

Bang!

A sharp gunshot rang out.

A man wearing a red armband on his right shoulder had pulled the trigger of a pistol.

“Ah, shit. It’s really fucking noisy.”

The man’s face crumpled up.

After firing the gun into the air without warning, he growled at the children who had burst into tears.

“If you cry one more time, I’ll blow your heads off. Shut your mouths and follow quietly.”

Perhaps startled by his fierce expression and tone?

The children quickly closed their mouths. Of course, not everyone did.

“Sob! Hic!”

A girl who looked about five years old let out a hiccup mixed with crying. The man immediately turned his head and approached the child.

“Hey, didn’t I warn you?”

That he’d blow her head off.

With those ominous words, the man pointed his gun at the child’s head. She needed to stop him. She needed to, but her feet were frozen in fear and wouldn’t move.

At that moment.

“No!”

With a scream-like shout, a middle-aged woman blocked the child’s front. Ye-jin’s eyes widened. It was the woman who was called ‘mom’ by everyone, including her.

“D-don’t do this!”

“…What’s this now?”

“You should at least explain why you’re suddenly doing this!? Everyone’s scared… Aah!”

The woman fell to the ground.

The man had kicked her.

“Has this old hag gone crazy? Who told you to interfere?”

“Waaah! Mom!”

“Don’t hit mom!”

“Ha, now even the brats are…”

The man’s face crumpled up again.

Just then, a man who had been outside the building approached and whispered to him.

“Squad leader, we need to hurry.”

“The vigilante group’s resistance is stronger than we thought. So we should quickly…”

A small voice continued.

Ye-jin’s eyes widened at the word she heard next. She wasn’t certain, but she thought she heard the word ‘cannon fodder’ for a moment.

‘No. I have to stop this!’

If they’re dragged away like this, it’s over.

For the woman, for her, for all the children.

Meanwhile, the man, having heard the urging from his subordinates, drew his pistol and aimed it at the woman’s head.

“Wait a moment. Let me deal with this old hag first.”

Seeing this scene, Ye-jin unknowingly kicked off the ground. She pushed the man away with all her might, then stood in front of the woman protectively.

“Damn it! What the hell…”

“Magic Shield!”

Immediately after, Ye-jin used the only skill she had gained after obtaining the Mage job.

[Protection: Magic Shield]

A bluish spherical barrier formed around Ye-jin and the woman. Seeing this sight, the man snorted as if dumbfounded.

“Oh? So you’re even using skills now?”

Thud! Thwack!

The man kicked the barrier.

As the damage continued, Ye-jin’s mana was consumed faster and faster. Meanwhile, seeing no signs of the barrier breaking, he bared his teeth.

“…I’ll say this nicely one last time. Cancel it now. If I break through this first, I’ll beat you to death.”

Bang! Bang bang! Bang!

The man started shooting his gun.

The barrier quickly developed cracks, and her mana was depleted at a rapid pace.

[Current Mana: Below 50%]

[Mana Depletion Side Effect occurs.]

An unfamiliar notification. Soon after, she felt a headache and nausea. It was probably due to forcibly continuing to use the skill.

But Ye-jin had no intention of giving up.

Thinking that after always receiving help, it was now her turn to help.

‘…I’ll protect them.’

The woman, the children, everyone.

She endured, even as blood vessels burst in her eyes.

But cruelly, her limit approached.

[Current Mana: Below 10%]

Blood trickling from her eyes and nose.

Feeling all strength leave her body, Ye-jin collapsed on the spot.

As the mana supply was cut off, the Magic Shield shattered pathetically, and the man who had been shooting grabbed Ye-jin’s hair with a wicked grin.

“Didn’t I tell you? That I’d beat you to death.”

A fist as large as a rock was raised.

Ye-jin, without even the strength to resist, closed her eyes tightly in anticipation of the imminent pain. However, she didn’t feel the pain.

Thwack!

The woman who had been lying down got up and shielded Ye-jin. The man, as if thoroughly fed up, unleashed a barrage of angry kicks.

“You damn old hag!”

“Aah!”

“Fine! If you’re so desperate to die, I’ll just finish both of you off right here!”

The man, his face flushed red, pointed his gun at the two. At that moment.

Crash!

With a thunderous sound, the door flew off.

Along with it, one of the militia members outside the building was slammed into a corner. Surprised by the sudden situation, the man looked at the entrance with startled eyes.

“Wh-what?”

Ye-jin also turned her head with difficulty.

What her eyes saw was a figure in rather unusual attire. Black leather jacket and leather pants, and a yellow scarf around the neck─.

It was a man wearing a motorcycle helmet.