Ch.3535. A New Transformation

Dokgo Jun tilted his head after receiving the report.

“A monster defeating another monster? What on earth is going on? Could it be a human monster?”

Jeon Se-jin relayed what he had heard from Seol Yu-hwa.

“The one who caught Raiki wasn’t himself, but an insect in human form. It’s definitely classified as a monster.”

“But a monster attacking another monster?”

Dokgo Jun kept tilting his head in confusion. This had already happened with the Minotaur, but now it was the second time in a row.

Dokgo Jun’s career spanned over 25 years, from his teens to his current age in his forties.

He had never seen such a case before.

‘Monsters usually have a unified command system.’

People weren’t fools; they had been researching monsters for over 30 years.

According to their findings, monsters were entities whose instincts were programmed to be hostile toward humans and kill them.

They didn’t care about other creatures at all. Monsters only harmed other creatures when they got caught in the “aftermath.”

This was the third instance of a monster attacking another monster. The first was obviously the Minotaur and the unidentified dinosaur monster.

Then there was that strange mechanical monster and the dead people.

In fact, Dokgo Jun suspected this monster was related to Do Jong-hyun.

He had no concrete evidence, but his years of experience told him so.

‘But the identity of the person who merged with the monster last time was connected to the Goegyeopdan. Is this someone hostile to the Goegyeopdan?’

There was too little information. His veteran instinct told him to put surveillance on them, but that wouldn’t be easy.

[Is this a dictatorship! What exactly has the Goegyeopdan done? Connected to monsters? How can they form relationships with monsters when monsters supposedly kill humans unconditionally? Putting surveillance on everyone—we’re not living in a dictatorship era…]

The reactions of lawmakers continued on TV. In fact, the Goegyeopdan issue had been discussed several times, but it was difficult to pinpoint exactly what they had done.

Monster worship was problematic, but implementing sanctions was an uphill battle.

Evidence of them attacking alongside monsters was needed.

So in reality, Dokgo Jun was considering putting surveillance on them.

‘We need to dig deeper into the Goegyeopdan. Even if it means breaking the law.’

Compared to the chaotic times of the past, people were now trying to follow the law to an unprecedented degree.

Sometimes it was necessary to break the law to catch the enemy.

Dokgo Jun was that kind of man.

Considering the recently problematic group called Goegyeopdan, this was entirely plausible.

‘Human monsters. I thought they would appear sooner or later. So this is how they approach.’

Images of countless colleagues trampled by monsters flashed through his mind.

Family, friends, colleagues. All killed by monsters.

“I will never forgive them.”

He inadvertently revealed his emotions in front of Jeon Se-jin.

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. Good work. Since Seol Yu-hwa went to find her weakness on her own, seriously consider offering her a formal contract.”

“We’re already in the process.”

“As expected, you’re quick.”

Dokgo Jun dismissed Jeon Se-jin. Then, alone at his desk, he held his head in his hands.

“They might be employing deception. They could be trying to create favorable public opinion about monsters and then target us when our defenses are weakened.”

Monsters helping humans? This was difficult to comprehend for Dokgo Jun and ordinary people alike.

His gaze fell on materials covering the Goegyeopdan and groups advocating for peace with monsters.

If it was indeed deception, it could be linked to them.

Everything could be a strategic move—trying to change humanity’s perception of monsters to end the decades-long war.

“Those ignorant trash! After living comfortably because of our sacrifices, they pull stunts like this?”

Monsters helping humans. Such a thing couldn’t exist. Dokgo Jun closed his mind to the possibility.

***

“Do Jong-hyun. You’re really knowledgeable about theory.”

Oh Ju-hwan’s praise reached my ears. I must have constantly emphasized that while practical training is important, theory matters too.

The theoretical class, which covered monster habits, weaknesses, gate conditions, and various other topics, had entered a simple test phase.

Unlike other schools, the Academy’s exams include both theory and practice. However, to prevent confusion, they’re divided into three days of theory and two days of practice, making for a week-long examination period.

Many students neglect theory, so surprisingly, even those who excel in practical training often struggle here.

Me? As I mentioned before, I was at the top when it came to theory.

That’s why I’ve been useful in catching monsters since coming to the past.

I know all the monsters I’ve encountered until humanity’s extinction.

I’m also aware of the human monsters that will appear in the future.

‘Easy, so easy.’

I checked the results after finishing the test.

1st place, Do Jong-hyun

2nd place, Yu Deok-min

It was the same as the pop quiz from last month.

Yu Deok-min, a quiet kid, was always in second place.

And as always, Min Gang-su was glaring at me.

But he doesn’t confront me like before. Of course, he lost in a one-on-one fight.

As a result, I was in a fairly comfortable position in the lower class.

I just kept entering the simulation room to collect M points.

-M Points: 10,200

I’ve accumulated an enormous amount through consistent simulation training.

If I consider monster points too, maybe it’s time to try something new?

10,000 M points equals 1,000 DNA points. And I can exchange those for monster points too?

Let’s check my current points.

-Monster Points: 2

-DNA Points: 2,300

-M Points: 10,200

“What? I have more than enough.”

I immediately turned my attention to the point shop.

[Point Shop]

-Special Evolution Route (Random): 3 Monster Points

-Evolution Body Investment: 30 Monster Points

-Mechanical Parts Attribute Assignment: 1 Monster Point, 1 Part Card required

-Special Sub-Card Purchase: 3,000 M Points

-X (Not yet unlocked)

My gaze was drawn to the Special Evolution Route.

It’s random, but I already have three transformation systems.

Whatever comes up is fine. It’s a way to become stronger through evolution.

Right now, increasing my evolution forms is important.

So I’ll convert 7,200 M points to 700 DNA points, leaving 3,000 M points. Then I’ll convert 1,000 DNA points to 1 monster point, meeting the conditions.

Then I’ll invest 3 monster points in the Special Evolution Route.

It’s literally a random gacha. Purchasing a new evolution point by spending the most expensive monster points.

Now my blood, sweat, and tears are flying away before my eyes.

Many options flash before me.

“Fish? Birds?”

I thought many options would pass by, but there were surprisingly few.

Well, excluding viruses and bacteria, that’s about it.

Reptiles would include dinosaurs, and beasts are mammals. Insects aren’t vertebrates, but they’re included anyway.

After birds and fish mixed intensely, one stopped in front of me.

[Fish has been added.]

-Fish Sura (Sub-adult): 1,200 DNA Points

-Half-Fish Sura (Sub-adult): 1,100 DNA Points

-A new evolution tree has been created. (Half-human Half-fish, Fish)

“This means I have no choice but to change again.”

I choose Fish over the ambiguous Half-Fish.

[Fish Sura]

Out of my remaining 2,000 points, I spent 1,200 to add a new card group to my main card.

Main Card

-Species: Fish Name: Fish Sura Growth Form: Sub-adult

Characteristics: Water Domain (All parameters drop 2 ranks outside water), Wave (Creates waves in water), Gill Breathing (Can breathe underwater and increases magic power and magic resistance with air energy)

Strength: B

Agility: B

Resistance: B

Magic Resistance: B

Energy: B

Magic Power: B

Skills: High-speed Movement, Biting, Air Bomb

Evolution: Fish, Half-human Half-fish

A new entry was engraved on my main card. This is my new power.

The image on the card was a piranha. A black piranha, to be precise.

“I didn’t choose the fish form, but a piranha, huh? If I was going to transform anyway, I would have preferred an electric eel or something from River Monsters.”

I wish it were something bigger and stronger, but it’s only a sub-adult. I can transform into something more impressive when it reaches adulthood.

Currently, I have 800 DNA points and 3,000 M points left.

To test my new power, I opened the Monster Daily.

*

Among monsters, there are naturally several that operate in water.

And these creatures are dealt with late, but for different reasons than mountain monsters.

1. Combat underwater is different from on land.

2. Techniques that work fine on land often don’t work well underwater.

3. Limited personnel, and few Jaegers who can move freely underwater.

For these reasons, unlike monsters that are simply far away, these are difficult to approach even when they’re close.

“They exist from E-rank, but usually even E-rank water monsters travel with D or C-rank individuals, and at least three B-rank Jaegers must deploy together to ensure safety…”

I recalled my experience and theory.

This would probably be my first experience.

The two types of monsters that Jaegers find troublesome are aerial monsters and underwater monsters.

Now I finally have the opportunity to handle one of these types.

“Fighting underwater… I’ve only fought underwater about 4 times.”

Weaklings like me are literally bait. We’re pawns to create attack opportunities for stronger Jaegers.

“Let’s go.”

Following the Monster Daily, I headed toward the Han River and waited for the break.

“Fortunately, there are no CCTVs here.”

I deliberately chose a spot without surveillance, but it’s still nerve-wracking.

But underwater has the least surveillance.

They also arrive the latest.

Just before the Monster Break began, I deliberately jumped into the Han River.

“Wow! It’s refreshing!”

It was late May, so I might have looked crazy, but I entered the water early just in case.

And shortly after, the Monster Break alarm shattered the night.

As people fled and rushed away, I quietly observed the scene and held up my main card.

“Time for a showdown.”

The moment I swiped the card in my glowing hand, everything changed.

My vision lowered, and I felt momentarily suffocated, but once I was completely submerged, everything was different.

It felt comfortable. As if this was my homeland.

Following my instincts, I was now moving through the water, breathing through gills as if I had always known how.

As I naturally swam through the water, traces of the Monster Break appeared underwater.

Space split open with a whirlpool, and underwater monsters emerged.

Three E-rank fish-men covered in scales, two D-rank freshwater snakes resembling venomous serpents, and one C-rank giant scorpion appeared.

With a C-rank present, it was clear that three B-rank Jaegers would need to group together, which would take time.

I moved my body and charged at them. It was time to test my new skills.

I also checked my changed sub-cards.

[Water Vortex]

-Releases water currents to attack opponents.

[Magic Fangs]

-Attack power increases according to magic rank.

These could be considered default sub-cards that come with transforming into a different form.

[Magic Fangs]

I used one sub-card and instantly approached the enemies.

For now, they didn’t attack me.

This is the same with all monsters.

Using this to my advantage, I reduced their numbers first. Yes, here I’m using instinct.

I opened my mouth wide.

My teeth, enhanced by Magic Fangs, targeted the giant scorpion first.

That creature is famous for its strong defense underwater.

I need to deal with it first.

As I moved swiftly through the water currents and opened my mouth, my teeth savagely bit into it.

It was incredibly easy.

The sea scorpion was instantly shredded in my mouth, and its venomous stinger moved belatedly.

But I knew its movement even without seeing it.

[Wave]

My characteristic had alerted me to the enemy’s attack.

[Water Vortex]

In an instant, a fierce water vortex engulfed the Han River monster. It was so powerful that my body shook from the numerous water vapors and force.

From the bottom of the water vortex that had pierced to the riverbed came a message of successful hunting.

[DNA Points Acquired]

-450

-Insect, Fish

With this victory, I turned my attention to the freshwater snake.

The fish-men were scattering, but who cares?

If even a C-rank was no match, they were obviously no threat.

With all movements detected by Wave, I instantly bit another one to pieces.

Freshwater snakes are agile and good at evasion, but the basic stat difference was too large for agility and evasion to matter.

[DNA Points Acquired]

-300

-Reptile

As I was smoothly handling them, I saw the fish-men and sea snake fleeing.

Fleeing? That’s strange. Why would monsters flee? They should fight to the end.

Indeed, it made no sense. This usually happens under orders from a higher entity or for another purpose…

Then, at the edge of my vision, I saw something shocking. A child had fallen into the water.

No, a child who should have been fleeing to a shelter or bunker? The monsters weren’t simply fleeing; they were following their instinct to target humans instead of other monsters.

“Damn it!”

I don’t know how the child fell in. But as a Jaeger, for humanity’s sake, I need to catch all these monsters.

But they’re fast. They’ve already moved far away, and anxiety swept over me that I might not be able to save the child.

I recalled my sub-cards.

Yes, among the cards I’ve collected, there are sub-cards lying dormant.

Among them, two govern speed.

-Speed Enhancement usable

-Acceleration not usable

Both are sub-cards that increase speed, but they’re distinguished by what can be used. Right now, saving the child was all that mattered to me.

[Speed is enhanced by magic power.]

The moment I used my final sub-card, the water currents I had been navigating violently shook before my eyes.

When I blinked, the fish-man’s legs zoomed closer.

When I blinked again, something strange like a parasite between the legs appeared right in front of me.

I wasn’t going to catch them one by one.

As I slipped between them, I could see the fish-men’s spears moving. I brushed them aside.

In an instant, I used my final skill.

[Air Bomb]

Suddenly, water vapor obscured my vision. I could see the great water currents churning in all directions.

Being an air bomb, there was nothing visibly striking. Ring-like formations spread in all directions, and countless water sprays formed underwater.

[Freshwater Snake Defeated!]

-300 DNA Points Acquired

[Fish-man Defeated!]

-450 Points Acquired!

Everything was shredded, leaving nothing to interfere. I made eye contact with the child struggling in the water.