Chapter 117: Purgatory (1)
Ding!
A golden status window flashed.
[Emergency Patch Details]
An event far beyond the scale intended for the early Episodes has occurred. Accordingly, some adjustments have been made.
Benefits:
Additional items that allow adaptation to Purgatory have been placed throughout the field.
Three additional [Defensive Strongholds] have been established.
Details:
Purgatory has not yet been fully opened.
Destroy the dimensional gate within 72 hours.
Reward:
The individual with the greatest contribution toward preventing the complete opening of Purgatory will, for Episodes (10) and below only, receive the authority to modify one of the core elements of an Episode.
Unlike the temple, this was a major incident capable of affecting the entire Episode.
Because of that, the status window appeared across the entire world without any intervention from the Administrators.
‘At least we've avoided the worst-case scenario.’
Additional items that allowed one to adapt to Purgatory.
Along with Defensive Strongholds capable of holding back those horrific monsters.
Fortunately, things hadn't reached the point where he had to abandon his final playthrough.
Though the situation was still undeniably bleak.
“They're more generous than I expected. Those Administrators are far too soft.”
Cain clicked his tongue after reading the status window as well.
“What exactly is your goal? What could possibly be worth reducing everything to ruins just to obtain it?”
No matter how much of a scumbag someone was, they didn't destroy society itself.
There had to be something left for them to enjoy.
But the Requiem Cult's methods had always been excessively tyrannical.
“Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand. Nor do I have any intention of explaining it.”
Cain called the Oni over to his side.
Then he added one final remark.
“However, there's one thing.
We are not evil.
If anything, in the ultimate sense, we're closer to righteousness.”
That marked the end of the conversation.
Whoosh!
Activating 'Steps of the Departed,' Cain dissolved into smoke and disappeared.
“We need to leave as well.”
The Saintess approached Yohan.
Rumble...
The creatures of Purgatory slowly emerged through the widening rift.
For now, they had to retreat and formulate a new strategy.
And...
‘We need reinforcements.’
Not frontier troops or small Hunter groups...
They needed genuine military strength.
Only then would they survive.
＊＊＊
The status window had appeared out of nowhere.
Humanity, which had been interacting with the Hestia Empire on multiple fronts, fell into complete panic.
Hunter Associations across every nation declared a state of emergency and immediately began preparing countermeasures.
United States: According to our measurements, over 18,000 monsters have already emerged. And the number is continuing to increase in real time.
France: Even the Empire has made the unprecedented request for full cooperation. They must know it themselves. If this continues, they'll be walking the road to national collapse.
Japan: In other words, if we resolve this incident properly, we'll be placing the Empire deeply in our debt.
The objective for clearing the third Episode was establishing cooperation with the Empire's leadership.
In a way...
This was an opportunity.
China: Hmm. I don't know. From our perspective, wouldn't it be better if the monsters from Purgatory simply wiped out the Empire? Then the third Episode would naturally be cleared as well, wouldn't it?
Russia: I agree. Surely none of you have forgotten the First War? The number of people they killed was on the scale of World War III.
Mexico: Heh heh! Funny, isn't it? Europe suffered the greatest losses, yet they're still saying things like that.
The opposing side was no less vocal.
Their argument was to simply wait until the Empire had been completely devastated.
Then intervene afterward and destroy the gate.
Korea: We cannot leave it alone. If the monsters from Purgatory exceed what we can handle, humanity will end up following the Empire into destruction.
Revenge was sweet.
But this time...
The risks were simply too great.
Complicated interests.
Conflicting ideologies.
Everything intertwined, splitting into dozens of different conclusions.
＊
A stronghold located roughly fifteen kilometers from the fortress.
Expeditionary forces from across the world, including the Empire, had begun gathering there one after another.
[Time Remaining: 60H : 59M : 33S]
After eleven hours had passed, the defensive city had transformed completely.
The once-lush greenery had vanished.
In its place stretched a landscape covered in ash.
At first glance, it resembled freshly fallen snow.
“This place is nothing less than a demonic realm.”
Seo Changhee frowned.
A place of repentance and regret where those whose descent into Hell had been postponed resided.
Naturally, the mana flowing from such a place would agitate his Spirituality.
“Sigh. We only just escaped that hellhole, and now we're back in another mess. Can't we just give up and run back to Korea?”
Park Yeri let out a long sigh.
Well.
He understood how she felt.
No matter how unlucky they were, no one could have expected two massive events like this to happen back-to-back.
Still.
A crisis was also an opportunity.
‘If we handle this well, the rewards will be unbelievable.’
The authority to modify one of the core elements of any Episode (10) or below.
The rewards.
The clear conditions.
Even the penalties and other settings.
Everything could be rewritten at will.
No one understood just how absurd that reward truly was better than Yohan.
If the flutter of a butterfly's wings could create a typhoon...
Then what kind of miracle could the wings of a phoenix create?
Just imagining it made his heart tremble.
Besides that, Purgatory's inhabitants dropped numerous exclusive items and valuable materials.
‘I have to succeed.’
Yohan's mind was already calculating every possible scenario.
Just then—
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The loud sound of galloping horses echoed through the camp.
It was an Order of Knights.
And not just any Order—
The Dragon's Claw.
One of the Empire's elite forces.
Well, considering the circumstances, the Empire could no longer afford to hold back its strongest cards.
One knight dismounted and approached Yohan.
Standing about 188 centimeters tall with handsome features.
If not for the armor, one might have mistaken him for a celebrity.
“I am Ian, Vice Commander of the Dragon's Claw. Are you Kang Yohan?”
“Yes.”
“I've heard that despite the disastrous circumstances, you handled the situation wisely and saved many lives. On behalf of the Empire, I offer you our gratitude.”
“I merely wished to carry on Sir Robert's final will.”
That was probably the best way to phrase it here.
“Indeed.
A man who understands honor.”
“So that's why an outsider has been treated like a hero.”
“I understand now.”
Admiring voices rose from the Dragon's Claw knights standing behind Ian.
That alone had probably earned him one point of favorability from each of them.
“We're about to begin our strategy meeting. If you don't mind, I'd like you to join us. What do you say?”
“I'll do whatever little I can to help. Ah, would it be possible to bring one more person with me?”
Yohan casually pulled Seo Changhee over.
If he didn't include the protagonist at times like this...
The protagonist would inevitably become upset.
And then the probability of him causing trouble to prove his worth would increase by approximately fifty-two times.
“Of course.”
Ian readily agreed.
Soon afterward, they arrived at a massive and luxurious tent.
It was large enough to comfortably hold at least two hundred people.
The Empire's core military strength and famous mercenaries with illustrious achievements were already seated inside.
On the opposite side...
‘The Rankers from each country.’
The Saintess Joanna Siondark.
The Alchemist, Valentina.
Canada's Arcane Scholar, Sieg William.
Arcane Guild Master Benjamin Phantom.
Lee Siwoo of Korea's Monarch Guild.
Hoshino Yuki of Japan.
And many more.
The gathering was filled with renowned figures who appeared in the news every single day.
There were probably only a handful of opportunities throughout the entire Episode to see this many influential people gathered in one place.
“Y-You... you! Return it immediately! Give my belongings back!”
A red-faced man abruptly sprang to his feet.
Oh.
A familiar face.
Ashvalt.
The mage who had nearly drowned at sea.
Apparently losing the Elemental Spear—something more precious to him than his own life—had taken quite a toll.
He looked as though he'd lost at least five kilograms.
“Do you know him?”
“I once saved him after he fell into the water. Things were rather urgent, so I couldn't recover all of his belongings. Yet afterward, he held a grudge against me and even cursed me for it.”
“Th-That's nonsense! That bastard... stole my one and only soulmate! He took everything I had!”
Ashvalt frothed at the mouth.
Well.
It was unfortunate.
But throwing a tantrum now wouldn't prove anything.
The staff had already been significantly modified by Faden Rigger.
“Are you referring to this staff?”
Yohan calmly took out the staff and waved it.
“W-What did you do to my staff?!”
“This is how it originally looked.”
“No! That's impossible! My big and beautiful rod... didn't look like that!”
“Enough. If you continue causing a disturbance, I'll have you removed.”
“Mr. Ashvalt, please calm yourself. You can't make accusations without evidence.”
Ashvalt ground his teeth in frustration.
But under the pressure from Ian and the Rankers, he could only swallow his anger.
Once the situation settled down, the meeting immediately began.
The transformed ecosystem of Purgatory.
The characteristics of the monsters identified during the past eleven hours.
They shared all available information.
Then discussed the optimal routes and every feasible possibility.
About an hour later, a rough strategy had finally taken shape.
However, because so many different factions were gathered together, they decided against operating under a single chain of command.
Instead, each expeditionary force would retain autonomy alongside those they worked well with.
“Then let's depart immediately.”
“May fortune favor you all.”
The expeditionary forces headed out along different routes.
Step.
Step.
Thick fog drifted between the withered trees.
Strangely shaped flowers bloomed everywhere.
They released a sickeningly sweet fragrance.
“Stay alert! Never approach anything we don't have information on!”
The commanders shouted with visible tension.
More than one hundred Rangers had been sent in.
Only about twelve had returned alive.
Considering every one of them had over five years of experience...
The survival rate was absurdly low.
“Lord Yohan.”
Scarlett whispered quietly.
“Yes.”
Yohan nodded.
For some time now, something had been following them beyond the fog.
Maintaining a steady distance.
Moving with extreme caution.
The Arcane Guild, one of Europe's largest guilds, was covering the left flank, so it wouldn't be breached easily...
Even so.
Preparations had to be made.
This place was known as the graveyard of expeditionary forces.
“Gaaaah!”
A horrifying scream echoed out.
Not from the left.
Straight ahead.
The drifting spores slipped through the gaps in a soldier's armor.
His body immediately began swelling.
His veins bulged grotesquely.
As though his body were inflating like a balloon.
Boom!
The moment his body reached its limit...
It exploded.
“Don't let them touch you! Get back!”
“Damn it! Mages, do something about those spores!”
The battlefield instantly descended into chaos.
That was only the beginning.
Craaack!
The earth split open.
Burning hands burst from beneath the ground, grabbing Hunters.
“Aaagh!”
“Below us! There's something under the ground!”
The tanks desperately slammed their shields into the earth, struggling to avoid being dragged underground.
[Blockade.]
[Resistance.]
[Tree Roots.]
Various Traits and Skills activated simultaneously.
Yet none of them could break free from the burning hands, whose grip rivaled that of an Ogre.
Eleven.
Twenty-five.
Thirty-nine.
Within those brief moments...
Dozens of people were taken.
Thud!
To the right, a gigantic creature carrying an enormous book slowly approached.
Standing roughly five meters tall.
Its body was covered with grotesquely twisted faces.
The faces attached to its body sang an incomprehensible hymn.
“We... serve... the Great One.”
“Th-this humble servant... Kik! Kihihit!”
Hunters and soldiers with vacant eyes threw away their weapons and walked toward the creature.
Knights with high magic resistance and mages equipped with [Mental Barrier] remained unaffected.
But for the majority of ordinary soldiers...
The results were devastating.
Its name was the Evangelist.
One of the most troublesome monsters in all of Purgatory.
‘I was hoping we wouldn't run into one.’
Clicking his tongue, Yohan immediately sprang forward.
Bang!
The instant he leaped nearly five meters into the air, he released the mana he had already prepared.
[Void Magic 'Black Gale' has been activated!]
Boom! Boom!
Flames of the Void erupted from the singing faces.
“Kiiieeeeee!!!”
The Evangelist screamed in agony.
Even creatures native to Purgatory couldn't possibly possess much resistance against Void Magic.
[The Evangelist activates its Unique Ability 'Book of Judgment'!]
Flip...
The pages rapidly turned.
It was trying to open the page containing the 'Song of Ruin.'
When fighting multiple enemies, if it suffered a ranged attack to the face...
There was over a ninety-two percent chance it would choose Pattern B-8.
The countermeasure was—
“Seo Changhee! Page 1,225!”
“Leave it to me!”
[Seo Changhee activates the Trait 'Dawn'!]
Brilliant radiance burst forth.
Seo Changhee drew his sword.
The rapidly flipping pages reflected within his eyes.
And at that exact moment—
Slash!
Page 1,225 was severed with absolute precision.
“Gasp!”
“W-What...? Why am I...?”
The soldiers who had nearly lost their minds regained their senses.
“How dare you deceive us with such vile tricks!”
“Kill it! Kill it!”
They immediately picked up the weapons they had dropped and pierced the Evangelist's body.
Stab!
Stab!
Spears and swords plunged deep into its flesh.
The Evangelist possessed numerous troublesome supernatural abilities.
But in exchange, its physical body was relatively fragile.
The soldiers alone were enough to finish it off.
‘He's really unbelievable.’
Watching Seo Changhee's sword draw, Yohan swallowed hard.
He hadn't expected him to succeed on the first try.
But a protagonist was truly a protagonist.
The way he casually performed feats that bordered on miracles...
Thanks to that, they had dealt with one of the most troublesome enemies with surprising ease.
However—
Flash!
Before anyone even had time to breathe a sigh of relief...
Another incident occurred.