Chapter 9: The mysterious great monster

The next day, at Olympic Stadium.

Jo Sung-Il slowly opened his eyes and stretched his stiff body.

‘Did I put bottled water in the fridge…?’

Jo Sung-Il, momentarily thinking about cool water as if nothing had changed, flinched and looked down at himself.

“Ah, d*mn it.”

As expected, his body was still that of a monster.

“Sigh.”

He sighed.

Looking up, he saw the spore smoke from the tree outside enveloping the surroundings.

Jo Sung-Il jumped over the stadium wall and approached the tree.

Even though Jo Sung-Il, in his monster form, was enormous, the tree was equally massive.

“From now on, I’ll call you World Tree.”

In his current state, he couldn’t contact his colleagues or friends.

He had no family, so the only thing he could talk to was the tree standing silently before him.

“You’re not a monster, so what are you doing here?”

Of course, the tree, now christened World Tree, couldn’t answer.

Jo Sung-Il chuckled.

“Well, I guess you’re closer to a monster than a human. Like me.”

After the Gates opened and monsters poured out, strange plants had appeared all over the world.

Whether they were influenced by the monsters or created by some distortion in the world was unknown, but most of them aided in the formation of monster colonies, making them generally unfavorable to humans.

“I need to fill my stomach again today.”

He checked his remaining energy: 35%. It wasn’t depleting as quickly as he thought.

‘A good night’s sleep helps, I guess.’

He briefly considered sleeping all the time, but knew he couldn’t.

As he pondered what to do, he remembered something.

‘I can receive a mission once a day.’

Whatever the mission was, it might give him some direction.

‘Let’s check it out.’

Jo Sung-Il used Skill 2 to summon the quest window.

[Do you wish to request a quest?]

“Yes.”

[Analyzing for a suitable mission.]

After a brief moment, a blue window appeared.

[Your current state is highly unstable.]
[Your objective is unclear.]

“I know. That’s why I’m asking you to set one.”

[There are two mission paths. Which will you choose?]

“Two paths?”

[1. Become a savior-class monster amidst world destruction.]
[2. Become a disaster-class monster amidst world destruction.]

Jo Sung-Il chuckled at the seemingly moralistic choices.

“You’re giving me these options after my dream was to be a hero?”

If asked if his thoughts had changed after becoming a monster, Jo Sung-Il would firmly deny it.

Dreams were like roots.

They might wither and die, but they couldn’t be replaced.

At least, not for him.

“The first one.”

[Numerous hardships will follow.]

“I choose the first one.”

[You have the right to choose a different path.]

The right?

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

Was it implying that because he was in the form of a monster, he could follow the same path as other monsters?

“I don’t need it. I’m going with the first one.”

[Confirmed. Kenonian Hectos, your mission will be assigned shortly.]
[Status setting: Forgotten Vengeance.]
[Humanity transcending species’ retribution.]

Unintelligible phrases flashed by, but before he could ponder them, a blue window reappeared.

[Today’s Mission: Subdue goblins in the Yongsan Field and rescue at least 30 Hunters.]

“Rescue?”

Setting aside the rescue part, goblins seemed like an unsuitable target for his size.

‘Well, they did say energy replenishment isn’t directly related to a monster’s strength….’

Compared to his abilities, the mission seemed designed for a “beginner player.”

[Excessive activity may attract a ‘Harbinger of Doom’.]
[It is recommended that you focus on increasing your allies and recovering your lost ‘components’ until you become accustomed to your current form.]

What was a Harbinger of Doom, and what were these components?

“Can you elaborate?”

He asked the blue window, but there was no response.

‘Right, blue windows usually just say what they want to say.’

That’s how it was described in a magazine published by a Hunter media outlet.

“Alright, I understand. I accept the mission.”

[Quest activated.]
[Reward for mission success: Palate Adjustment.]

Palate adjustment?

‘Are they going to change my taste buds?’

He wasn’t sure if that could be considered a reward, but one thing was certain.

“Tell me the reward before I accept the mission.”

Again, the blue window remained silent.

---

Yongsan Field.
An area known for goblin infestations, a popular training ground for novice Hunters.

“Gasp, gasp.”
“D*mn it….”

Despite being a beginner area, the Hunters gathered here were in dire straits.

“What’s going on?”
“Aren’t they supposed to stop respawning after a certain number…?”
“What is happening?!”

Fields were spawning grounds that produced a set number of monsters at regular intervals.

Eliminating all monsters in an area could destroy the field, but it was generally too difficult, so they were usually left alone.

However, this goblin field was different.

The monsters here weren’t particularly strong, and the Hunter Association could easily eliminate them, yet they left it untouched.

It was because it served as an excellent training ground for beginners.

“Sh*t…!”

But now, this place had become a death trap, a nightmare for novice Hunters.

“Gah!”
“They’re coming from the side! Watch out!”
“Behind, behind us too…!”

Five times the usual number.

At least, that’s what it seemed like. Hordes of goblins were swarming the area.

The F-rank Hunters, relying on monster information from guides published by various Guilds, were being overwhelmed by the unexpected numbers and falling one by one.

“We need to create an escape route!”

The strongest among the F-ranks, a Hunter wielding a greatsword, shouted.

“Over there! Their encirclement is weakest there!”

Goblins were closing in, surrounding the Hunters. The greatsword Hunter chose the path with the fewest goblins.

“Everyone, aim for that way!”

Led by the greatsword Hunter, numerous F-rank Hunters charged towards the goblins.

Striking, clashing, stabbing, slashing, and falling, their battle with the goblins resembled a warzone.

No one knew how this had happened. It was just a beginner field, so there was no one managing it.

There were too many dangerous areas in the world that needed managing.

It would be laughable for the Hunter Association or high-ranking Guilds to pay attention to this place.

The number of Hunters was limited, and the nation needed to deploy them strategically.

In short,

No one would come to rescue F-rank Hunters.

“Gaaaaah!”

The number of goblins increased.

The F-rank Hunters, unable to withstand the onslaught, began to falter against the goblins’ swords and clubs, their wicked grins widening.

“D-D*mn it!”

By the time the greatsword Hunter looked around, the goblins had reinforced their encirclement.

They were increasing faster than they could be killed.

Something was wrong with this field.

Like a burst pipe rendering a faucet useless, it was releasing even the goblins meant for future spawns.

“No!”

But the greatsword Hunter didn’t give up.
“Don’t retreat yet!”

They might only be in a beginner field, but they had gathered here to become true Hunters.

They had all undergone some training before coming here.

The greatsword Hunter swung his sword again and roared.

“I won’t die here!”

THWACK! CRUNCH! CRACK!

His greatsword cut down numerous goblins.

His powerful display at the front lines reinvigorated the other Hunters.

“Y-Yeah! Let’s do this!”
“We can survive!”
“Yaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

It seemed their struggle would reach a glorious conclusion.

WHAM!

Until the greatsword Hunter’s arm, holding the sword, was twisted backwards.

“Gaaaaah!”

CLANG!

The greatsword slipped from his grasp.

The greatsword Hunter stumbled back, his arms limp and mangled.

“Ugh, guh.”

Pain surged through his body.

As the blood vessels in his eyes burst, he barely managed to lift his head and look ahead.

A Hobgoblin.

The so-called boss of this area was looking down at the spiked club it had just swung at the greatsword Hunter.

–Keke.

Silence fell among the Hunters, while laughter erupted from the goblins.

–Keke, kekeke.
–Kekekeke.

A truly demonic melody.

“Sh*t….”
“What do we do?”
“W-We’re all going to die.”

Despair echoed in their breaths.

‘Here, like this….’

Just as even the greatsword Hunter, their leader, gave in to despair,

THUMP.

From somewhere,

THUMP.

A vibration reached them.

KOONG.

Everyone’s gaze turned towards the source. Even the goblins’.

“W-What is that?”

And the Hunters, who thought they couldn’t be surprised anymore, were filled with awe. What appeared before them was…

『!%#@!%!@!%#.』

An unidentified giant monster.