Ch.189189. The Reason Do Jong-hyun Was Chosen

[Breaking news. Investigation results regarding the identity of the unknown mysterious beings have been announced.]

Before the attack, an emergency news bulletin was broadcast. The “details” of those who died in the attack had been identified.

While their identities had been confirmed earlier, the investigation into “why” they joined the monster group had taken considerable time.

They had finally tracked down these individuals’ histories.

If one were to be precise, these people had also lived unfortunate lives.

Astro (McCalkin) was the founder of a small company who was fired after being made a scapegoat during a merger with another company.

Park Je-moon was a former runner who ended his athletic career after suffering a major injury caused by a jealous friend.

Kwon Ah-sun was an author who had been exploited by a professor, had her name stolen, and was eventually abandoned.

Every one of them was filled with rage against the world.

This news struck the internet hard, and the Academy was no exception.

Keum Do-hyun sighed as he looked at his phone.

‘A justification for revenge against the world. Is that what brought them together? But how did they make contact with the monsters?’

Do-hyun’s curiosity didn’t last long.

The break had begun.

The Academy alarm sounded again, just like last year. The second-year students, already experienced, moved swiftly.

Under the instructors’ directions, they systematically deployed their magical power to assess the situation.

“North and south sides of the Academy!”

Upon hearing the signal, combat teams rushed to the scene.

“The first-years will be confused, so protect them as you go down!”

The primary objective was the first-year students. They would be in panic at the sight of monsters, just like last year’s students.

They divided into two groups and advanced through the emergency exits and regular staircases.

They guided the chaotic first-year students with their magical power.

“Monsters are coming!”

The combat team, including Keum Do-hyun, moved forward to block the monsters’ advance.

Amidst the coordinated response, the Academy’s outer walls were rising on their own.

They were creating a barrier to prevent entry into the Academy.

“Everyone follow the manual!”

It was clearly effective. The events of last year should not be repeated.

Unfortunately, their preparations were only meant for ordinary monsters.

For extraordinary monsters, it was a different story.

Soon, the protective barrier that had been shielding them collapsed instantly under a massive sound wave.

Before them appeared a monster with a long neck like a giraffe and massive horns.

Its distinctive appearance was that of a famous monster already featured in textbooks.

“It’s the Spiral Goat!”

As the “Alpha species” that rivaled Mahanaga roared, monsters as coordinated as the students began their attack.

At that moment, Do-hyun saw Koo Sang-heon charge forward.

He released his magical power to block the advance of the first monster rushing toward them.

‘He’s quick to act, that’s for sure.’

Not to be outdone, Do-hyun sprayed flames. The blue fire he had learned because of Do Jong-hyun was melting the monster in an instant.

When the instructors confirmed that the students had evacuated, they joined in, and the battle began in earnest.

But Do-hyun was anxiously watching the Spiral Goat.

With that creature’s power, it could easily break through their initial defensive formation.

Yet it was observing rather than approaching.

‘Where are Aerial and Seol Yu-hwa? Where did Jong-hyun go?’

Moreover, the three people who would be most helpful in this situation were nowhere to be seen.

“Min-woo! Keep an eye on the Spiral Goat!”

The Spiral Goat was an energy-emitting type. It could project not only its own magical power but also the energy of its opponents. In other words, it was a powerful monster against which energy projection battles were futile.

Oh Ju-hwan quickly shouted.

“The guilds are coming to support us, so hold on!”

He was using his gravity to restrain the monster, but it was struggling due to its strength.

Just as the third and second-year students were holding the front line, the Spiral Goat finally began to move.

At the point where numerous energies were in chaos, the Spiral Goat opened its mouth.

Almost as if it were smiling.

In any battle, the consumption of magical power was inevitable.

In this scene of magical power consumption, the Spiral Goat began to utilize its specialty.

The moment the Spiral Goat moved, all the energy blocking the monsters began to be pushed back.

Like the repulsion of identical magnetic poles, without any hindrance.

As all that energy was redirected by the Spiral Goat’s power, Han Min-woo leaped forward.

He absorbed the energy with his shield and tried to deflect it back.

But Han Min-woo let out a tremendous scream.

Blood burst from his entire body as he fell helplessly.

“Min-woo!”

Under Do-hyun’s cry, one of the instructors caught him.

“It’s because of its overwhelming power! Treat him! Spray debuffs to weaken that power!”

It was a moment of crisis. The Spiral Goat had deliberately waited for the chaos of battle.

To blow away the entire scene where numerous energies were mixed together.

It was a cunning species that knew how to use its head.

The instructors and students with magical amplification powers gathered together.

And they faced the approaching energy head-on.

“Arghhhh!”

The protective barrier collapsed, and students were fainting under the pressure.

“No! We’re being pushed back at this rate!”

Just as the energy was about to deliver death to them, Han Min-woo’s shield rose up.

It exploded all at once between them and the wave of energy.

“Gah!”

Fortunately, the energy that collapsed from within scattered in all directions.

Do-hyun looked at Han Min-woo.

Covered in blood and breathing heavily, he was still collecting his shield.

‘You really are dependable!’

Just as Do-hyun breathed a sigh of relief, the Spiral Goat began to concentrate its own magical power.

‘Damn it! We’re not ready yet!’

Moreover, there was some kind of massive rumbling coming from behind them.

The Spiral Goat seemed to be preparing for a final attack, releasing its magical power in one breath.

Do-hyun concentrated all his strength to release blue flames.

In the collision of powers, a tremendous pressure was destroying the Academy building.

But they were outnumbered. Do-hyun was shocked by the approaching power of the opponent.

A black flash passed before his eyes. Do-hyun recognized it despite its speed because it was so massive.

Wings, protrusions like a stag beetle’s mandibles, and hard scales.

Suddenly, a hybrid-like monster appeared before his eyes.

“What is that?”

Before Do-hyun’s eyes, this monster leaped.

It took the Spiral Goat’s attack with its body and in one swift motion grabbed its neck and slammed it to the ground.

It was covered in blood as if it had been fighting somewhere, but its bizarre appearance made it hard to focus on that detail.

“Who is that?”

Everyone was confused by this monster they had never seen before.

*

Sometimes when I lose control, I black out and just observe what the monster does.

It’s happening now too. I thought I was dead, but here I am, watching the monster’s actions perfectly fine.

“What the hell is that hybrid?”

A monster that was neither dinosaur, insect, beast, fish, nor machine.

It was as if all the characteristics of the monsters I had transformed into were combined into one.

I don’t know how it appeared. Did it just come out because I was in danger?

There was only one thing that could answer my question.

I summoned my card deck forward. And I pulled out the only card that was glowing.

[Awakening Card]

-Unlock: Automatically transforms for ‘defense’ when the user is in mortal danger.

-Your body is in recovery, and currently ‘instinct’ has taken control.

-However, control is impossible.

It’s clear that I escaped from the brink of death. But in return, I lost control.

“Ouch!”

Moreover, the moment I touched the awakening card, pain surged through me as if it was rejecting me.

It felt like being electrocuted.

[You will not die. Your life force is our life force.]

This was a first. Suddenly, the card was speaking to me.

“Whoa! What’s going on?”

[Contractor, I have come. I am your summoned spirit, dwelling within you to prevent the rampage of our kin.]

The voice was extremely low, but its presence was unlike anything I had ever known.

While I was confused, my vision changed.

In an empty space, only a faint statue was looking at me.

[Our kind has a long lifespan, but eventually dies. However, they defy the natural order. I have come to prevent that.]

“This is the first time I’ve talked with a summoned spirit. I only remember you looking at me scarily.”

Finally, I can talk to it in this situation.

“So what business do you have with me who’s been fighting all this time?”

[Your body activated our defensive instinct to escape the danger of death. What this means is that you should have died as a human, but you didn’t.]

“…Is my body different from normal?”

The card deck answered affirmatively. Hmm. So it’s not just a simple transformation?

[Humans cannot use the power of monsters. Unless they are ‘made’ to. But you are a pure human. To accept our power, you had to change little by little.]

“You mean I’m becoming similar to a human-monster hybrid?”

[Continuous contact with monsters cannot be harmless to humans who accept monsters without resistance, both physically and mentally. Human, we pity you. For bearing such a harsh fate without being ‘special.’ But we must stop their plans.]

So my body is no longer ordinary. Junhu was right.

Because he said I wasn’t chosen because I was special.

[In fact, a god from your world once came to us who were sealed. We discussed ways to prevent the invasion together. But even if we wanted to help, finding a human with ‘qualifications’ was not easy. So I turned back time. To prevent someone from being forcibly summoned.]

“What?”

I was momentarily shocked.

Then light from the card penetrated my head. Knowledge was being forcibly injected into my mind.

“Ah…”

And I understood everything.

First, the act of turning back time is a godlike ability at the pinnacle of the primitive species.

With this ability, they dealt with numerous adversaries in their world. Even if they were defeated, they would go back and attack again until they won.

This overpowered ability solidified their divine status.

Only, they didn’t know the side effects.

The more they turned back time, the less vitality these monsters had in their bodies.

This is what it meant for their energy to decrease.

When their near-immortal long lifespan approached its limit, they fell into great confusion.

And as adult Junhu (Hermes) and I understood, the monsters fought between two factions, and as a result, those who wanted to extend this lifespan indefinitely began invading other worlds, which was the beginning of all this.

The defeated ones were sealed, and even the existing faction sought survival by miniaturizing and segmenting their bodies.

But as adult Junhu informed, they were attacking by growing human power specifically on this Earth.

The reason was simple.

The summoned spirit system on Earth. It’s the source that connects gods and humans.

It’s different from magical power. It’s the power of the phenomenon itself, which even considers magical power as a subordinate concept.

This is what they wanted. This mysterious power was finally suitable for reviving their species.

The problem is that this power is currently inefficient, like a raw gemstone.

Then it needs to be processed. How?

By growing it.

Starting with the weak, giving trials in order until it reaches the desired size.

As it grows and strengthens, the power of the source strengthens.

Like livestock, after raising it enough.

This is also why Junhu and I were indignant. They kill humans like livestock and make them unite to grow stronger.

Making them dance in the palm of their hands.

If this continues, it will surely go as they wish.

That’s when adult Junhu (Hermes)’s summoned spirit appeared.

Hermes succeeded in coming here by receiving the power of various summoned spirits to investigate this cause.

He heard the truth, but unfortunately had no means to prevent it.

Those who were sealed couldn’t take any action. At most, they could turn back time at the risk of their lives. But without change, it would be useless. So they took action.

“So you came with the power of monster summoned spirits.”

Everything became clear. They couldn’t help directly, but they chose me to indirectly lend their power through the summoned spirit system.

That’s why I had no summoned spirit in the “second loop.”

Why? Because something equivalent to a summoned spirit was already attached to me.

Unlike the “first loop,” the second loop was a preparation to intercept the enemy.