Chapter 5: Each Nest

Olympic Stadium.

Following Han So-Yeon’s advice, Jo Sung-Il arrived at an area filled with purple smoke.

‘She was right.’

She had mentioned spores, but the visibility was worse than he had imagined.

‘It’s perfect for hiding, but….’

It was a bit problematic if he couldn’t see anything himself.

‘Well, I’m not exactly in a position to complain.’

If other humans saw him in this form, misunderstandings would arise instantly.

Jo Sung-Il slowly walked into the smoke.

As expected, he could barely see a foot in front of him.

As he walked, his vision suddenly cleared.

“Hmm?”

The smoke had vanished.

Jo Sung-Il saw a tree standing in front of Olympic Stadium.

The tree, with its massive, world-tree-like roots and lush, cascading foliage, was releasing something from spore sacs hanging from its branches.

The particles shimmered with a violet light near the tree before turning colorless and disappearing, then reappearing as violet dust further away, spreading like smoke.

‘So that’s what the smoke is.’

He wondered if it was safe to inhale, but seeing as there were no ill effects so far, it seemed alright.

In any case, it was fascinating that it became colorless within a certain time or distance from the tree.

Since it didn’t obstruct his vision, it was practically a cloaking field.

‘Well, thanks to this….’

He had found a decent place to stay.

Jo Sung-Il walked towards Olympic Stadium.

The circular building had a hole in the middle, like a donut.

It was the stadium’s interior.

It resembled a nest, so Jo Sung-Il didn’t hesitate any longer.

He entered and curled up.

‘I think I saw this in a monster movie once. It’s more comfortable than I expected.’

Perhaps due to the spore smoke surrounding the space, it even felt warm.

Growl.

A loud rumble echoed from his stomach.

Jo Sung-Il remembered the message he had seen after Awakening.

‘It said my charge was at 27%.’

He had to eat something to replenish his energy.

Of course, even without that, any living creature needed sustenance.

‘I can’t just lie here.’

He had to explore the surroundings after this brief rest.

KOONG.

Jo Sung-Il got up, exited the stadium, and called out,

“Status Window!”

Whether monster or not, he was Awakened, so he could naturally use the system.

---

 Species
∝Kenonian Hectos (Apex Ancient Dragon)

 Stats
∝Strength: SSS
∝Agility: SSS
∝Intelligence: B
∝Resistance: S
∝Defense: SS
∝Potential: SSS

 Overall Rank: SS

⚠ Caution: Stamina and endurance are affected by energy charge level. Even with high stats, you cannot perform at your full potential if you are in a weakened state. Consistent food intake is required.

---

Incredible specs.

‘An overall rank of SS….’

Moreover, his potential was SSS. This meant his rank could increase further.

‘What’s my current energy level?’

It seemed calling up the status window didn’t display all the information.

Jo Sung-Il looked at the numbers displayed below the status window.

The current page was 1.
He instinctively flipped to page 2.

---

 Energy Charge Level: 13%

 Penalty: You will die if your energy charge level reaches 0%.

---

‘13%…? ’

Was it because he hadn’t eaten anything since Awakening? The fight and mental strain might have accelerated his energy consumption.

‘Wait!’

Jo Sung-Il’s eyes widened as he saw the penalty clause below the energy charge level.

The shocking revelation that he would die if his energy reached 0%. Jo Sung-Il couldn’t help but be startled and agitated.

“D*mn it, why are you telling me this now?!”

His outburst received no response from the system.

Jo Sung-Il closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

‘I can’t even imagine sleeping hungry.’

He had to eat something.

He wished he had brought a few of those lizards with him.

“There’s no other way.”

Many monsters lived in the Han River.

He had no choice but to go night fishing.

KOONG!

After surveying his new home, Jo Sung-Il stepped back into the spore smoke.

‘But my intelligence is B?’

It seemed his average human intelligence had carried over, but Jo Sung-Il scoffed.

‘As a monster, I should be grateful to even have human intelligence. What a life.’

THUMP! THUMP, KOONG….

His figure, filled with bitterness at his situation, disappeared into the spore smoke.

Only the ancient tree, which had always been there, remained in front of his new lair.

WHOOSH.

As if greeting its new neighbor, the ancient tree rustled its leaves in the breeze.

---

Headquarters of Korea’s top Guild, ‘Ranger.’
Han So-Yeon had just returned from her mission near Cheonho Bridge.

“Welcome back, Senior!”
“You worked hard!”

Guild members, having heard about the appearance of additional monsters in the after-wave, greeted Han So-Yeon upon her safe return.

“Anyone would think I came back from the dead.”

Han So-Yeon responded flatly, pushing through the crowd and stopping in front of a door.

She waited quietly, and someone opened the door and came out.

“Han So-Yeon!”

A tall, handsome man in a suit.

He looked at her with a complicated expression.

“Are you okay?”

He was the Guild Leader, Han Sung-Hyun.

“I heard a giant monster appeared! An incredibly strong one!”
“Yeah, well.”
“Those Headquarters bastards! I told them not to send my sister out recklessly!”

He was also Han So-Yeon’s only older brother.

He couldn’t contain his anger, hearing that his sister, sent on a mission requested by Headquarters, had almost been attacked by an unprecedented monster.

“Oppa, an S-rank Hunter has to go on deployments like that. Should I just stay home?”
“Yes, stay home!”
“Honestly….”

Han So-Yeon shrugged and entered the Guild Leader’s office through the open door.

“I’m tired, so make me some tea, Oppa. Something good for fatigue.”
“Han So-Yeon!”

Han Sung-Hyun sighed, watching his sister leave without properly listening to him.

“Sigh.”

He eventually went to make the tea.

---

“So. You expect me to believe that?”

Han Sung-Hyun had heard the whole story from Han So-Yeon.

How she encountered a giant monster while waiting at the potential after-wave site, and how it helped people and defeated other monsters.

“Wasn’t it just a fight between monsters? That happens often enough.”
“Well.”

Han So-Yeon, sitting across from Han Sung-Hyun on the sofa, reached for the teacup on the table.

“That monster, it seemed to understand me?”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. It was just… reasonable.”

Han Sung-Hyun stared blankly as she took a sip of tea.

“So-Yeon, do you have any idea how cunning high-ranking monsters are? Some of them even use words to deceive.”
“I know.”
“And yet, you’re….”
“Don’t worry, Oppa.”

Han So-Yeon replied as if telling him not to fuss.

“A nationally recognized S-rank can handle herself, can’t she?”
“You!”
“I’m serious.”

Han So-Yeon stared intently at Han Sung-Hyun.

“Just make sure Hunter Association Headquarters doesn’t ask for my statement about this.”
“Statement?”
“Yeah, a lot of people saw that giant monster, so they’ll ask me for a statement, and it’s just a hassle.”

Han Sung-Hyun was dumbfounded that she would dismiss the Hunter Association’s request for such a trivial reason, but it reminded him once again that she truly was an S-rank.

“Sigh.”

Aside from being her brother, she was also a member of Ranger, which he managed.

Protecting his Hunters was a necessity. But….

“If they find out you’re trying to communicate with a monster, he won’t stay quiet.”
“Well, that’s true.”

Despite his concerns, Han So-Yeon remained calm.

Han Sung-Hyun lamented that he was the only one worried, then said,

“At least give me information about that giant monster. I need to know. You can do that much, right?”
“Sure.”

Han So-Yeon grabbed paper and a pen, saying,

“Oppa, Korea is getting further and further away from peace.”

The ranking system for Hunters was leading to increased social stratification.

Habitable land was decreasing, yet social divisions were widening.

“So let’s do our best. There are many people who rely on us.”
“…….”

Han So-Yeon doodled on the paper for a while, leaving Han Sung-Hyun speechless.

She then lifted the paper.

“Done!”

It was an unusable drawing.