Ch.153153. Divine Blessing

Dungeon Backflow is a national disaster.

Nowadays, with hunters’ average levels having risen significantly and established protocols for handling backflows, we can respond and contain them before major chaos ensues. But in the early days, when hunters had just awakened, it was literal hell.

Whether it’s some kind of balance in the system or not, when hunters were at lower levels, high-grade dungeons rarely backflowed, preventing true catastrophes. However, as time passed and hunters’ average levels increased, dungeon backflows seemed to occur more frequently, more extensively, and more dangerously.

The worst recorded dungeon backflow, China’s Land of Ruins, involved an SS- grade dungeon that remains unresolved to this day. This happened six years ago when hunters’ average levels weren’t even 40, leading to fears that the world was helplessly facing apocalypse. The only fortunate aspects were that after devastating a certain radius, the monsters from the SS- dungeon stopped expanding outward, creating their own territory where they’ve coexisted with humans until now. Also, since it occurred in western China in largely uninhabited land, the damage was relatively contained.

The problem is that it’s a ticking time bomb. With the SS- grade backflow having turned into a fog-covered open dungeon impenetrable to satellites or drones, no one knows what’s happening inside.

That’s why we need to handle this quickly. China has already demonstrated to the world what happens when a dungeon backflow isn’t properly contained. There have been several other cases of unresolved backflows since then, though most were addressed by requesting help from other countries before they settled into permanent dungeons.

Worldwide, there are about 4-5 locations where backflows have settled into open dungeons. All of these remaining dungeons are S-grade or higher.

Even with the capability to tackle them, hunters hesitate to enter areas with difficult terrain or combat environments. Reckless entry could result in devastating national losses.

To avoid becoming another country living with such an infamous dungeon, Korea has issued a hunter mobilization order.

All registered hunters are obligated to respond to national disasters and protect the country’s safety. While it’s called an obligation, hunters receive substantial compensation for participating. Nevertheless, given the dangers of an S-grade dungeon backflow, hunters have cautiously gathered in Yongin.

Korea’s top rankers and guilds have assembled in one place. Some say it looks like preparations for war, and viewers watching the footage can’t help but smile with reassurance.

– Wow… this is impressive.

– How many S-rank hunters are there?

– With this force, they should be able to clear an S-grade dungeon in an urban area, right?

– Even if the city gets damaged… preventing greater casualties is the priority.

Urban environments are actually more challenging for fighting monsters than mountainous terrain because buildings are too fragile for unrestricted attacks, and destroying buildings while fighting monsters results in additional damage. Rebuilding a city requires preserving as much as possible while eliminating monsters, which demands precise attacks and creates constraints. But now isn’t the time for such considerations. Especially for people living outside the city, who are praying that these horrific monsters, which have already claimed over 5,000 lives, don’t fly over to their areas.

– Ugh… what is that…

– Are those people?

– Are they eating corpses?

– They’re moving?

– Urgh..fuck..

Capturing footage from inside the city is difficult. Not because it’s already filled with fog from becoming a settled dungeon—it typically takes 14 days for a backflow to transform into a massive open dungeon filled with fog. Only about 6 hours have passed, but visibility is poor because flying monsters are destroying every means of observation, smashing drones and helicopters on sight. Satellite imagery is the only way to see what’s happening inside the city, and the live broadcast shows scenes that disgust both hunters and viewers alike.

“…Those are buying us time.”

“Sadly, yes.”

At the strategy meeting of guild masters and S-rank hunters, they watch the satellite footage with bitter smiles. Such scenes aren’t particularly shocking to them.

The world inside dungeons isn’t the happy place ordinary people imagine or desire. It’s far more cruel and heartless—essentially a den of monsters stronger than humans. A moment’s distraction can result in a monster appearing from nowhere, snatching a companion, tearing off limbs while they’re still alive, deliciously consuming their entrails, and enjoying their agonizing death. To monsters, this is the natural fate and future of the weak.

Dungeon backflow inevitably brings these disgusting, cold, and ruthless elements into reality.

The gates that normally separate reality from dungeons have allowed ordinary people to view dungeons as lands of opportunity—places where anyone can become rich. But dungeon backflow is like a bottle of red pills spilling everywhere.

Massive flying monsters cluster on building rooftops, with nests made of human corpses and still-living people. By feeding on them, the monsters are adapting to reality, establishing their base rather than flying elsewhere. With abundant prey nearby, they have no need to travel far for food.

And the ground teems with monsters.

S-grade dungeons don’t just contain flying monsters. The S-grade flying monsters are merely the apex predators. S-grade dungeons have plenty of lower-ranked food chain monsters as well. This particular S-grade dungeon is estimated to be medium-sized.

“At least 500 monsters…”

Even if only 10% are S-grade monsters, the prospect is daunting.

Monsters that normally live by the laws of the food chain in dungeons somehow change their behavior during backflows, giving and following orders, moving in unison under the direction of the apex predators.

That’s why they can’t rashly enter to rescue people still trapped in the city. With 500 monsters, unless they can eliminate them all at once, they risk being overwhelmed. If even some escape to other areas, they could cause another disaster. Above all, they can’t be certain of a successful operation.

That was the biggest reason.

“Letting them use people as food and buying time won’t change anything.”

Some voiced this opinion, but it wasn’t easily accepted.

“The United States is dispatching the Saint Guild. Two SS-rank hunters, including Kelin, are on their way. We just need to prevent further damage until then.”

It was an extremely rational alternative that would allow the situation to be resolved with minimal sacrifices for the greater good.

The problem was that this wasn’t a unanimously supported opinion either.

“People inside are dying with each passing minute and second. At this rate, the casualties could reach 50,000, not 5,000.”

It’s impossible for everyone in the city to evacuate. The time it takes for a dungeon to backflow and monsters to spread throughout the city is far shorter than the time it would take for ordinary people to walk out of the city.

The estimated death toll is already increasing by the minute, surpassing 6,000.

Even those quietly hiding in buildings are being found as monsters quickly adapt, breaking into buildings and searching for humans. Their heightened senses of sound and smell are particularly effective at finding terrified prey.

Aaaaaah-!

Screams continue to echo. Even hunters who argue for intervention don’t actually stand up and leave. Individual action would only result in death.

Everyone bites their lips in helplessness. Whether S-rank, S+, or S-, they hate this powerless situation where they can’t simply charge in and sweep away the monsters but must wait for SS-rank hunters from another country.

That’s when it happened.

“Huh?”

Everyone’s attention turned to the pure white divine light pouring down from the sky.