Gangwon Province, Wonju.
The sound of sirens began to echo through the air. At first, no one paid much attention. Most people didn't even bother reacting to civil defense drills, after all. Who would care about a few sirens going off?
But soon, things started to turn strange.
The teachers began to move hurriedly. Wonju High School had an underground auditorium, and the teachers were now ordering all students to evacuate there.
The PE teacher, who always carried a bamboo sword around, raised his voice at full volume.
"Form a line! We're heading down to the underground auditorium slowly!"
"There's no immediate danger yet, so don't panic, move calmly!"
Even though he said that, the teachers themselves looked far more anxious than the students. Most of the kids followed along, irritated and clueless about what was going on.
Then, news began to spread.
"Hey, seriously! That Cyclops showed up near the terminal!"
"Wait, the same Cyclops that appeared somewhere in Gyeonggi Province? The one that just vanished after?"
The underground auditorium grew noisy in an instant.
The distance between here and the Wonju terminal was about one kilometer in a straight line. It might sound far, but considering the Cyclops' speed, it could cover that in moments.
And monsters were fundamentally hostile to humans. Staying out of sight was the best option for now.
"No way! Fighter jets just took off from the Wonju Airbase!"
Apparently, a squadron had actually been deployed. As if to confirm it, a deafening boom split the sky.
KWA-GWANG!
The sky was clear, yet it sounded like thunder was striking. Even from within the underground auditorium, the roar of the jet engines could be heard loud and clear, it was a low-altitude flight.
"Holy crap, look! Fighter jets, for real!"
"Doesn't matter how strong the monster is, machine guns can handle it, right? If jets are out, it's game over."
"Idiot. They said even rockets didn't work on that thing. Do you not watch the news?"
"Still, with jets in the air, something's bound to happen."
"Yeah, true."
The students giggled, looking at their phones, not realizing the gravity of what was happening.
But a little thought would've told them this was no small matter.
Normally, monsters could be taken down with heavy weapons, machine guns, grenades, or missiles. But fighter jets? Over a populated city like Wonju Terminal? That was something else.
This wasn't some open wasteland, this was a busy downtown area, filled with people and buildings.
Aerial combat here, using fighter jets instead of helicopters… it was never just "business as usual."
❋ ❋ ❋
Media Frenzy
Within minutes, news outlets exploded with breaking stories.
[One-Eyed Monster, Cyclops! Appears in the City of Wonju!]
[The Vanished Cyclops Returns — This Time in the City!]
[Wonju in Chaos — Military Forces Respond Immediately!]
It was 12:30 p.m.
Hyunseok, who had just finished lunch and was leisurely sipping coffee, suddenly stood up. He immediately made a call.
"Dad!"
—"Hey, Hyunseok. It's fine, don't worry. We're a bit away from there. They said it appeared near the terminal."
Hyunseok's legs gave out, and he collapsed back into his chair.
The moment he heard Wonju, his heart jumped, but Wonju wasn't exactly the size of a schoolyard. Thankfully, the area where his family lived was safe.
Wonju, Gangwon Province, that was his hometown.
It was also where Minseo attended school.
The Cyclops had appeared near the bus terminal and was now demolishing everything in sight.
Even with fighter jets engaging immediately, their F-5 missiles (AGM-9s) had no effect.
Six direct hits, and the monster's shield gauge barely moved.
This wasn't just resistance. It was near-total immunity.
A monster far beyond trolls or twin-headed trolls.
It was now certain, this thing had completely surpassed Normal Mode limits.
The President hastily made a statement to reassure the public. The world, from the U.S. to Europe, was watching closely.
Korea had become the global starting point of "Slaying."
If you wanted to understand new monsters or new dungeons, you studied Korea.
And now, in that very country, a monster like Cyclops had appeared.
It had first shown itself in the mountains, but when left alone, it appeared again, right in the city.
As if demanding: "Why haven't you come to slay me?"
[Modern Science Powerless Against Monsters!]
[How Will the Military Respond?]
[Slayers Remain Silent — But Can You Blame Them?]
[Beyond Normal Mode! Modern Weapons Rendered Useless!]
Public opinion was clear: if missiles couldn't do it, what could Slayers possibly achieve?
And yet, no one else could fight this thing except Slayers.
"Dad, don't you move an inch. Stay inside, okay? That thing's seriously dangerous."
—"Alright, don't worry about me. Focus on your work."
Hyunseok wasn't a hero, nor did he want to be one.
To him, his family of three mattered far more than countless strangers.
'Damn it…'
He quickly called Minseo.
Her school was close to the terminal, about a kilometer away. But to him, that might as well have been a hundred meters.
—"Oppa!"
"Hey! If you're okay, the first thing you should've done is call me!"
He shouted loud enough for nearby coworkers to flinch. A few turned toward him, startled, but when they realized why, they just sighed and nodded understandingly.
—"We're all in the basement! The soldiers are fighting! There are these huge booms!"
Hyunseok trembled, grinding his teeth so hard that his jaw clicked audibly.
He thought to himself:
'If there are Slayers who surpass Normal Mode limits… then there must also be monsters that surpass them.'
He paced restlessly, like a man possessed.
The army was fighting hard, but it clearly wasn't working. Still, they had to fight.
You couldn't just watch a monster rampage through your homeland. Even knowing it was useless, they still had to shoot, to fight, to try.
Just then, a call came in, from Ha Jongwon.
—"Hey, Hyunseok. We're forming a volunteer strike team to head for Wonju. Your sister's there, right? Helicopter's ready. Get here fast. Let's go together!"
❋ ❋ ❋
Volunteer Strike Team
Jongwon hung up and muttered under his breath.
"I really don't wanna die doing some hero crap… This is pure insanity. I hate this. My mom told me not to show off. Minhye hates cocky guys too…"
He scratched his head irritably, but still started moving.
"Damn it… my buddy's sister's trapped down there. I have to go."
The kids were hiding underground, but there was no food or water. It was fine for now, but chaos would follow soon.
If Cyclops noticed them, the entire building could collapse.
Hundreds could die, crushed or torn apart.
Jongwon kept cursing as he walked.
"Shit, shit, shit. I don't wanna go. I don't wanna go!"
But his body moved, against his will, toward the helicopter.
❋ ❋ ❋
The Union Mobilizes
The Korean Union was now led by Park Sunghyung.
As Hyunseok had predicted, he was a superb leader.
The Eradication Squad had evolved into the Korean Union, now firmly established as the nation's top Slayer institution.
Just before boarding the helicopter, Sunghyung spoke.
"This could be… a great opportunity for us."
He didn't say the rest aloud, but it could also be our last.
If they died, it would all end here.
Hyunseok felt his heart pounding.
Even though they were traveling by the fastest means available, every second felt like eternity.
Apparently, the Cyclops was now lying down in Wonju High's sports field, taking a nap.
An absurd scene, and the government still couldn't act.
They couldn't use heavier weapons, any detonation risked killing the students underground.
Even though they were technically safe below, the collateral risk was too high.
'…Will my power even work on that thing?'
He wasn't sure.
Normally, Hyunseok never fought under unsafe conditions. Even during joint raids with I'UET, he stayed at the rear.
He always gathered dungeon data before acting.
This would be his first time fighting an unknown monster.
If Minseo hadn't been involved, he probably wouldn't have moved at all.
But now, he had, and he tried to stay calm.
'I should take the front line.'
In current slaying terms, "front line" meant defense, or "tanking," as in games.
Drawing aggro, taking the hits.
While the rear, the dealer line, focused on damage.
Classes had diversified under Normal Mode, but the basics remained the same: close-range combat.
Park Sunghyung's voice came over the comms.
"Apologies for the intrusion, but if anyone has over 3,000 defense points, please raise your hand."
Several Slayers lifted their hands. Hyunseok hesitated.
Being in the vanguard was dangerous. They didn't even know the monster's damage output, one wrong hit could mean death.
He made up his mind.
'Blocking it comes first.'
Hyunseok raised his hand.
'This time, I'll be the front line.'
He closed his eyes briefly.
'If I'm tanking… I'll need a proper item.'
He opened his inventory.
❋ ❋ ❋
Preparation
The helicopter reached Wonju.
The world was watching.
The Korean Union's 80-member strike team had been deployed, composed of Korea's strongest Slayers.
Sunghyung called Hyunseok aside.
"You're taking point?"
"Yeah. Seems like the best option."
"Even for you… it'll be dangerous."
Hyunseok knew that.
That's why he had just spent 30 stat points and achievement credits on a new item, not from a regular shop, but from a Top-Tier Slayer Store.
For most people, 30 stat points was catastrophic.
But for Hyunseok, it was affordable.
He had consumed points from his Intelligence Stat, dropping it down to 208, low compared to his other maxed stats.
'Let's hope that thing isn't beyond Normal Mode…'
He was ready to go all out.
Hyunseok took out the item he had just purchased.
[Holds the Sea — Normal (Current)]
7 million years ago, the Giant King Herantultos, who rebelled against the gods, wielded this shield to block a divine tsunami. Legend says he held back the sea itself with this shield.
Grade: Normal (Current)
Defense: 7,000
Durability: ?
Required Strength: 199
Required Vitality: 199
Special Ability:Once per use, blocks a physical attack that would reduce HP to zero. Cannot block attacks exceeding the item's grade.
The description was long, but the grade said Normal.
Still, Hyunseok wasn't disappointed.
He believed the "grade" could change depending on his mode or power level.
If he was in Normal Mode, then it simply matched that classification.
Everything was ready.
Hyunseok's stats far surpassed Normal Mode limits.
He was strong, but so was Cyclops.
Reporters worldwide broadcast the scene live, their voices trembling with excitement and fear.
—"Eighty of Korea's top Slayers have formed a special strike team!"
—"Citizens, please pray for their success! May these 80 heroes return safely after slaying the Cyclops!"
The world held its breath.
Korea's eighty strongest Slayers were marching toward the sleeping monster, the one-eyed giant that mocked all of modern science.
(End of Chapter 27)
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