Ch.26The National Disaster-Level Beast That Unified Germany

When playing difficult games, you always get annoyed by those pesky bosses.

Bosses with unavoidable attacks.

Bosses that constantly create distance, forcing me to chase after them.

Bosses that reveal a second phase just when you thought you’d defeated them.

But if asked what the most annoying type of boss is, I could definitely say it’s ones like these “guys” in front of me.

Specifically, bosses that come in pairs.

They’re the type where one excels in speed and the other in power. While I’m engaged with the smaller one, the larger one delivers a massive blow to me.

And if the larger one shows an opening, the smaller one rushes in to exploit it, ganging up on me in an unfair two-against-one situation.

In any game, whenever bosses like these appeared, I immediately wanted a refund.

But now this has become my reality.

Clang. Chang. Chang!

“Hmm!”

“Grrrr…”

The Blue Knight used a peculiar movement technique to instantly leap and approach from behind me.

His rapier wasn’t powerful enough to pierce my skin, so if I could just block his attacks and land one good hit, I could defeat him quickly.

However.

“Hehehe!”

Every time I deflected an incoming blade and clenched my fist, a massive shadow would bear down on me.

The giant wearing a chicken mask would nearly crush me, forcing me to create distance and miss my timing to attack.

BOOM!

Though he merely jumped high and slammed down on the ground, all of Gangnam shook.

I could see several high-rise buildings surrounding the intersection tilting, and the knight’s slash that I had dodged had already cleanly cut through several smaller buildings.

They were truly a National Disaster-Level duo.

‘Are these guys trying to turn Gangnam into some bald eagle’s playground?’

It would be problematic if Samsung Electronics in Gangnam were affected.

More importantly, at this rate, my home in Gangnam might disappear too.

I glared at Lee Jin-ah hiding behind the two National Disaster-Level monsters, but…

“If three National Disaster-Level monsters fight and only Gangnam disappears, wouldn’t that actually be fortunate?”

Is she saying that because her Hunter Association is in Yeongdeungpo?!

Lee Jin-ah looked like she didn’t care if Gangnam disappeared as long as she could capture me.

‘This is ridiculous…’

In terms of individual capabilities, both monsters were slightly weaker than or similar to the Angel I encountered at Busan Port ten years ago… no, the early-stage Angel before it evolved.

The problem, however, was their coordination.

They covered each other’s weaknesses like a well-designed system, putting pressure on me.

Together, they weren’t just 10+10, but more like 10×10 in strength.

“Hmm!”

“Grrrk!”

Chang!

The saber in the Blue Knight’s other hand made direct contact with my chest.

There was a sound of metal being struck as I was pushed back, and I thought I’d only been slightly grazed, but…

Drip. Drip.

I had assumed his abilities couldn’t directly wound me, but…

Looking down at my chest, which was dropping a few drops of blood—the first time since my kaijufication—I could guess:

‘That saber is definitely not ordinary.’

Since he’s a monster, is it “Demonic Equipment”?

But if it were Demonic Equipment, he would need to perform a summoning gesture like Twin-Head did…

‘Branch Director Lee Jin-ah… did she give human “weapons” to a monster?’

While the chicken-masked giant was one thing, it seemed the Blue Knight had quite troublesome equipment.

Meanwhile…

‘I’m essentially fighting two National Disaster-Levels and one National Authority-Level, yet I’m holding my own surprisingly well…’

Though she maintained an outward smile due to her current advantage, Lee Jin-ah was hiding her surprise, just as Shinwoo was surprised to be wounded for the first time.

The Monster of Jamsil.

She had expected him to be just at the level of a National Disaster-Level designated by Korea, which ranked 18th in the world in Hunter power.

So she thought her current maximum force—these two National Disaster-Levels from Germany (ranked 9th in the world in Hunter power) and England (ranked 6th)—would quickly defeat him.

That’s what she had thought while fighting, but…

“Ms. Lee Heejeong, are you monitoring right now?”

[What?! Oh, yes! Director! I just logged into the personal server you told me about!]

Suddenly interested in him, Lee Jin-ah called out to Lee Heejeong, whom she had stationed in front of the computer in the branch director’s office on the top floor of the Hunter Association, which shared the view through the lens she was wearing.

“Please check the abilities of the Jamsil Monster in front of me. Can you do that?”

[What? Oh, yes! I’ll do it right away!]

The branch director’s office was equipped with cutting-edge equipment that could immediately analyze monster information.

[Confirmation complete!]

As expected, Lee Heejeong promptly reported the results to Lee Jin-ah.

[The Jamsil Monster’s maximum ability score is 13!]

“Hmm… 13. He’s much stronger than he looks.”

So that’s how he could endure this much.

Lee Jin-ah nodded in understanding.

At the same time, she secretly licked her lips at the thought that he might soon become hers.

However…

[Um, Director? There’s something strange about these numbers…]

“…? What is it?”

[Well, it shows that all stats—that is, all ability scores—are 13…]

“……What did you say?”

Whether human or monster, if even one ability score exceeds double digits, they’re considered beyond common sense.

But all ability scores at 13?

‘Is that even possible?’

No, how…?

How could such a being exist in this world?

Maybe the equipment was malfunctioning.

If not, then the being before her could easily be classified as a National Disaster-Level even by American standards.

…And if all goes well, he could become hers today.

With that thought…

“Ms. Lee Heejeong.”

[Yes, yes! Director.]

“If you support me well in this matter, I’ll consider your request for a transfer to the research division at the American headquarters that you mentioned before.”

[R-really?!]

“Yes, really.”

She first sweetly persuaded her “mark.”

If she could get her hands on him too, becoming the director of the American headquarters wouldn’t just be a dream.

It meant her original plan could be shortened by a good 10… no, 20 years.

‘All stats at 13… but no matter what, that level of 13 won’t be enough to stop this.’

So Lee Jin-ah smiled at the jet-black monster in front of her.

Then, unusually, she snapped her fingers, making the Blue Knight step back and positioning the chicken-masked giant in front.

“Grrrk?”

‘What is she doing?’

I tilted my head, watching their strange phase 2 formation.

Putting that slow giant in front would obviously make him my personal punching bag.

Wondering what she was up to, I decided to wait and see.

“This monster’s designation is Beatbox. It appeared in West Germany in 1989 when Germany was still divided into East and West.”

Lee Jin-ah began explaining as the giant monster Beatbox grabbed a bottle of alcohol with both hands and started gulping it down.

“At that time, it killed 50 third-generation tanks and about 12,000 infantry in West Germany. It didn’t stop there but rolled through the Berlin Wall into East Germany, where it killed another 29 tanks and 21,000 soldiers.”

Is this “alternate history”?

Since Hunter’s Blood was a game that mixed fantasy with the “modern” world, there were many cases where monster incidents were mixed into actual history.

But this was my first time hearing about Germany, so I listened with interest.

“Thanks to this, Germany, devastated on both sides, managed to unite in the face of a powerful enemy on the brink of extinction and miraculously subjugated this entity named Beatbox.”

“Grrrrrr…”

“For South Korea, it would be like North and South Korea unifying to defeat a single monster. How does it sound? Do you now understand why it was called a National Disaster-Level?”

Nod, nod.

Impressive creature.

As in the original work, there’s not a single normal one among the National Disaster-Levels.

But why is she suddenly telling me this?

“You’re wondering why I’m suddenly giving this explanation.”

When I nodded again at Lee Jin-ah’s words…

“It’s because of this.”

“BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURP-!!”

While I was talking with Lee Jin-ah, Beatbox had finished all the alcohol in the bottle.

The creature immediately let out a grand belch, and the sound alone shattered all the windows of the high-rise buildings around the intersection, raining glass down like rain.

“It’s a stalling tactic.”

Eventually, the intoxicated Beatbox lay down on the ground.

Then, despite already being quite large, it inflated its body even more, transforming into a perfect sphere.

Soon, it began rolling in place, gradually increasing speed.

“You’d better be careful, Monster of Jamsil.”

“…!”

“Beatbox, in this state, won’t stop until it has ‘charged’ about 2,000km. And throughout history, no Hunter or weapon has ever stopped it during its charge.”

Entity Beatbox.

Its double-digit ability scores were in “strength” and “durability.”

Both scores approached 12, but in this state, for this duration only, its strength and durability rose to 13.

In other words, until it rolled 2,000km, its strength and durability would match the Monster of Jamsil’s.

Rumble rumble rumble.

“Kruk?!”

The jet-black monster jumped sideways to avoid the massive rolling form.

Beatbox returned, creating holes in several Gangnam high-rises.

Where it had passed, a clean circle had formed with no trace left, and the high-rise buildings that lost their lower floors began to slowly collapse downward.

Regardless…

Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble.

While Shinwoo was worrying about the city, Beatbox, which had been endlessly rolling, finally collided with the jet-black monster.

“Lance… Sir Knight. Get ready.”

“Hmm…”

Lee Jin-ah’s plan was simple.

They might not be able to kill him outright, but with equal ability scores colliding over 2,000km…

Once Beatbox’s rolling state ended and the Jamsil Monster was exhausted, the Blue Knight would cleanly cut off his neck.

That way, they could obtain an almost perfect corpse.

“2,000km… Gangnam will be bald and then some.”

If all goes well, would half of Seoul return to the Stone Age?

It was truly a sad situation.

But regardless, her victory was assured.

A smile of happiness was sprouting on Lee Jin-ah’s lips.

That’s what she was thinking and smiling about when…

“AWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

“Huh?”

A familiar monster’s howl from somewhere.

…Wait a minute.

Come to think of it, the “baby monster.”

Where did my original target go?

Perhaps I focused too much on the Monster of Jamsil.

The original purpose.

As Lee Jin-ah recalled the baby monster that had already disappeared from this intersection and felt an inexplicable anxiety…

BOOM!

Suddenly, something flew through the window of a building behind her.

Lee Jin-ah confirmed it was her Beatbox, which had stopped spinning and was coughing up blood, and the smile gradually disappeared from her face.

“Huh? …Why is it flying?”

The two essential ability scores for close combat, strength and durability, were the same, weren’t they?

Even with higher agility, one could only dodge attacks, not repel them.

“W-WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!”

“…! Beatbox! Stop!”

Something was wrong.

Something… the situation was turning strange.

Realizing this, Lee Jin-ah tried to stop Beatbox, but the National Disaster-Level monster, having lost its rationality to anger after being thrown once despite having died before…

It began spinning its body again and charged toward the jet-black monster that had thrown it.

“Phew…”

This place would soon become dangerous.

I told him to signal when he left Gangnam, and he alerted me with a “roar”—he’s indeed a smart kid.

‘Thanks to that, I can now do this properly.’

[D-Director! The machine is malfunctioning!]

“What? What are you suddenly talking about, Ms. Lee Heejeong?”

Facing the approaching enemy, I took the Sanchin-dachi stance, placing my feet inward to maintain my center of gravity.

I positioned my fist at my waist, preparing to strike—neither too fast nor too slow.

After all, the moment would come, and waiting for it was the ultimate patience of Kyokushin.

[The Jamsil Monster’s ability scores are all increasing without exception!]

“All… of them?”

[Yes, yes! All stats are at 15!!]

“What…”

Just by…

Just by…

Just by taking a stance to throw a “punch”…

‘Kyokushin Karate – Basic Upper Strike.’

My subordinate informed me that all ability scores had increased by 2.

Simultaneously…

BOOM!

The National Disaster-Level monster that had driven divided Germany to the brink of extinction, historically significant…

Entity Beatbox’s body exploded with a “poof,” leaving no form, and Lee Jin-ah, witnessing this directly…

“I evaded over 100 million in taxes just to get that thing…”

And that was in dollars…

She wore an expression of despair, as if finally realizing what she had meddled with.