Chapter 222: The Forbidden Existence

Episode 222

“Shh.”

Yoo Jun-ho raised a finger to his lips, silencing Team Leader Hong.

Team Leader Hong immediately closed his mouth and instinctively looked towards the exit portal.

Of course, there was no one there.

“Don’t utter that word carelessly outside. Remember that.”

“…I apologize.”

Yoo Jun-ho asked again,

“Do you understand why I said it’s impossible now?”

Team Leader Hong nodded slightly.

Allobon.

A top-secret existence known only to a select few within the Korean Clan, they were completely sealed away.

They would never see the light of day again unless the clan faced a catastrophic crisis that threatened its very existence.

Master Yong Hangil wouldn’t unseal them until the day he died.

“But, this is just my prediction, but I think ‘they’ might reappear in the world soon.”

He continued, ignoring Team Leader Hong’s widening eyes,

“Because there’s a good chance that we’ll face a truly catastrophic crisis.

Our own research lab has estimated the probability of the Korean Clan’s collapse at over 10%. You know that, right?”

Team Leader Hong couldn’t deny it.

The Korean Clan had conducted a probability analysis of their future, in light of the recent chaos.

The lab had estimated the probability of their destruction at 11%.

It wasn’t high, but it wasn’t negligible either. It meant that they could face a crisis at any moment if they let their guard down.

“Personally, I think the probability is even higher.”

“……!”

“It’s because of Kim Jinsung. If I were him, I would target the ‘Korean Clan’ without hesitation.

And in the current situation, he’s become a threat that even the Alpha Clan can’t ignore.”

He continued, looking at Team Leader Hong, who was speechless.

“If such a crisis arises, Master Yong will have no choice but to unseal ‘them’.

Of course, I know he wants to erase them from the world forever. But that won’t be more important than the survival of the Korean Clan, will it?”

Team Leader Hong, who had been listening silently, finally spoke,

“I disagree. Even if we face a crisis that threatens the clan’s existence, I’m certain that Master Yong will never unseal ‘them’.”

“Why?”

“Do you know about the lab explosion incident five years ago?”

“Yes.”

Yoo Jun-ho answered immediately.

Five years ago, a major accident occurred when a top-secret lab within the Korean Clan exploded for an unknown reason.

The problem was that some incomplete beings, who were undergoing the ‘Allobon’ experiment, escaped during the incident.

One of them even attacked every hunter in sight.

The incident, later known as the ‘Test Subject Rebellion’, resulted in over 500 casualties. And it happened in the Center Zone, where the strongest hunters were gathered.

That was the power of a single incomplete ‘Allobon’ test subject.

Naturally, the Korean Clan was criticized by all the other Major Clans in the Center Zone, and Yong Hangil had to kneel before them.

He promised to prevent such incidents from happening again, shut down the ‘Allobon’ experiment, and eliminate all the test subjects.

But five years later, the completed ‘Allobon’ subjects were still sealed away, not eliminated.

The reason was simple. The Korean Clan wasn’t strong enough to eliminate them.

Completely sealing them in a forced sleep state was the best they could do.

Of course, this was a top secret known only to a few executives.

They all knew that if the truth was revealed, it wouldn’t end with just criticism.

The Korean Clan could be expelled from the Center Zone, or even forcibly disbanded.

The aftermath of the incident five years ago was that severe.

“Master Yong always says that the incident was the biggest hardship he faced after becoming the Master.

If the Korean Clan hadn’t been one of the top ten clans in the Center Zone at the time, we might have been expelled without a second chance.”

Yoo Jun-ho listened silently as he continued,

“Even now, Master Yong wants to eliminate ‘them’ if he could. But he can’t, because there’s no way to do it.

Considering his feelings, I’m certain that he’ll never release them back into the world.

Even if the clan is on the verge of destruction.”

“Why?”

“Because the outcome is the same, whether we’re destroyed or criticized and forcibly disbanded after releasing them.

Master Yong would rather die fighting honorably than be forcibly disbanded in disgrace.”

Yoo Jun-ho, after hearing his explanation, said,

“I understand what you mean. But you’re overlooking one thing, Team Leader Hong.”

“What…?”

“Do you think other clans don’t have anything like ‘Allobon’?”

“……!!”

His eyes widened in shock.

It was the most shocking thing he had heard recently.

“What do you…?”

“Even our clan, which isn’t even in the top ten in the Center Zone, created monsters like ‘Allobon’.

Do you really think other clans aren’t conducting secret experiments? Especially in the New Continent, where Major Clans are above the law?”

He continued, looking at Team Leader Hong, who was still speechless,

“The Triunfo Clan, for example, is importing illegal enhancement drugs regularly. It’s a secret, but everyone knows about it.

What do you think they’re using those drugs for? You don’t think they’re just using them on lab animals or monsters for research, do you?”

“……”

“I’m certain that all the clans in the Center Zone are doing the same thing as us. They’re just hiding it. …So what I’m trying to say is,”

He paused for a moment and then continued,

“If the Major Clans in the Center Zone are truly facing a crisis, they’ll definitely reveal their secrets. And they’ll deploy them to turn the tide. They don’t have anyone like Master Yong to restrain them.

What do you think?”

Team Leader Hong couldn’t refute him.

Even Yoo Jun-ho seemed like he would release ‘Allobon’ if the Korean Clan faced a crisis and Master Yong wasn’t there to stop him.

So what about the other clans? Would they hesitate to unleash their secret weapons?

It was a rhetorical question. There was no Clan Master in the New Continent who valued ethics more than Yong Hangil.

“If another clan reveals their secret test subjects first, we won’t have to hide ‘them’ anymore. Do you understand?”

“…Are you planning to provoke other clans into revealing their secrets?”

“That’s right.”

He nodded.

He looked around and said,

“We should discuss the details of the plan now. This is the safest place to talk, free from eavesdropping or surveillance skills.”

Team Leader Hong nodded in agreement.

The Trial Tower dungeon was a completely different dimension from the Middle Realm, the New Continent.

It meant that even if they were under surveillance, their conversation here couldn’t be eavesdropped on.

It was the only place where they could freely discuss top-secret matters,

including ‘Allobon’.

* * *

‘I’ve become stronger.’

Kim Jinsung thought to himself, stopping in his tracks.

It was the first time he had confidently acknowledged his own strength, even though he always considered the worst-case scenario.

And even this was an understatement. His power level wasn’t just ‘strong’ anymore.

‘I’m strong enough to kill Sariel in one hit.’

Sariel, the boss of the 45th floor of the Trial Tower.

A powerful boss that even the top Major Clans in the Center Zone could only defeat with a raid team of elite members.

He had killed him in one hit.

‘Of course, the dimensional power I acquired from Graham helped a lot.’

▷ Dimensional Power: Allows the user to imbue their attacks with the power of any dimension.

There are 26 types of dimensions available, including the ‘Demon Realm’ and ‘Void’ dimensions that the user already possesses.

Attacks imbued with dimensional power ignore the target’s defense. However, this effect might not work against targets who possess similar dimensional powers.

He had used the ‘Dimensional Power’ trait in conjunction with ‘Kill’, his one-hit kill skill that ignored defense, to destroy Sariel.

The combination of two skills that ignored defense was perfect.

He had sliced through Sariel, who had been channeling his Mana into his shield, in an instant.

‘But it wasn’t just because of the defense ignore effect that I was able to kill him in one hit.’

His opponent was the boss of the 45th floor. Even if his defense was reduced to zero, his HP would still be incredibly high.

The fact that he had killed him in one hit meant that

‘My base stats have increased tremendously.’

He had gained more than just traits and skills from defeating Finlay and Graham, two of the top Rankers in the New Continent.

He had also gained a massive boost to his base stats.

He remembered the notification window that had appeared after killing Sariel.

▶ All stats increased by 1500.

He had gained an absurd amount of stats in a single instance, making all his previous efforts seem insignificant.

He had gained similar stat boosts when he defeated Finlay and Graham.

‘No one, except for the top Rankers, can even scratch me now.’

He drew his sword,

standing before a sturdy building with a sign that read [Paladin G-1 Branch Headquarters].

Two guards standing at the entrance were startled by his action and drew their swords.

“Who are you?!”

“…G-Kim Jinsung?!”

One of them recognized him and shouted in terror.

He swung his sword,

and a black crescent blade shot towards the entrance at high speed.

**Boom!**

The entrance to the Paladin headquarters was completely destroyed.

—