novelraw Chapter 326: Episode 326
Chapter 326: Episode 326
The exact moment the global countdown reached zero, all hell broke loose on the surface.
In that instant, the rate at which the apocalyptic Towers of Judgment descended from the sky multiplied drastically.
From the initial count of 120, the estimated number of obelisks currently cratering the globe rapidly surpassed five hundred.
South Korea wasn’t spared, seeing its total number of towers spike to seven, several of which had dropped dead center into major metropolitan zones. The sheer number of defensive perimeters the nation’s hunters were suddenly forced to cover had expanded exponentially in the blink of an eye.
Most devastatingly, the monsters that had previously only trickled out of the 1st-floor entrance gates were now surging outward like a burst dam. Without warning, the seals on every single floor of the towers had simultaneously blown wide open.
Terrifying high-rank monsters, vicious beasts in the 7th and 8th Rank categories, were now mixed heavily among the unending swarms. Military defensive lines were effortlessly breached, and the globe’s surface was rapidly being reduced to smoking ruins.
Consequently, the strategic guidelines for the human forces defending the remaining towers had to be drastically altered. The Alliance was forced to completely revise their previous policy of "not letting a single monster pass," adapting a bleak new mandate: simply let the agile flying types and the unstoppable Rank 7-and-above monsters slip right through the net.
Attempting to block them all was now entirely beyond human capabilities. Preventing the sheer, suffocating mass of low-rank fodder from completely swarming the surface was the absolute bloody limit of what the hunters were realistically able to accomplish.
Excluding the active hunting forces, the entirety of the surviving human race was currently huddled deep underground.
The high-rank predators that easily slipped past humanity’s crumbling defensive lines immediately turned their sights to the earth beneath their feet. They relentlessly sniffed out and burrowed into the subterranean civilian bunkers, resulting in unfathomable, massive casualties. Once an Apex monster discovered a bunker’s reinforced steel hatch, every single soul trapped inside was as good as dead.
The most paralyzing issue of all was that this exact same nightmare scenario was erupting simultaneously all across the globe.
In the end, the Global Alliance issued a bleak, highly classified directive to the leadership of every surviving nation:
Abandon what must be abandoned.
Sprawling superpowers with vast territorial borders like Russia, Canada, and China ruthlessly pivoted their strategies, pulling all their forces back to defend only their most heavily populated capital cities.
Entire regions, such as China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region and Canada’s frozen Northwest Territories, were utterly forsaken, transforming overnight into lawless "monster lands" completely overrun by ravenous beasts.
Paralyzed by the horrifying realization that the entire globe might soon be transformed into one giant, inescapable monster land, the civilians hiding in the claustrophobic dark of their underground shelters could only hold their loved ones and tremble in sheer, unadulterated terror.
High above the burning cities, the leading digit of the eight-billion global population count floating ominously in the sky flickered, shifting downward to a 7.
[7,605,845,850 > 7,000,000,000]
It had taken less than forty-eight hours for five hundred million human beings to be wiped from the face of the earth.
Even so, relatively speaking, South Korea was in a surprisingly better situation than most.
Armed with elite, star-level hunters who had accumulated priceless combat experience during the Red Gate crisis, and boasting a staggeringly high number of trained mages since the peninsula was the modern birthplace of Magic Tower sorcery, the nation was uniquely equipped for the apocalypse. Because of this, South Korea was able to establish highly effective, densely packed defensive formations across its relatively small geographical territory.
As it stood, the Korean hunting forces were miraculously managing to cover the perimeters of all seven active tower sectors.
It was tragic but inevitable that a few winged, high-rank monsters would occasionally slip past the blockade and cause devastating civilian casualties. But compared to the sheer carnage in other first-world nations whose capitals were quite literally crumbling into dust in real time, the defense of Seoul was practically a modern miracle.
"Tower Master."
I was currently resting inside the Magic Tower’s command center, listening to the bleak global casualty updates being telepathically relayed by Ea, when Jeong Seojin approached and bowed his head respectfully.
"We will soon be arriving at the New Continent."
"Understood," I replied softly, my eyes fixed on the horizon.
I pushed back from my seat and stood.
"Tell me, Seojin. At this rate, how long can Earth realistically hold out?"
"A month at best, and that’s only if we miraculously hold our ground."
Seojin pushed up his glasses, his expression grim.
"However, this calamity can’t keep spitting out monsters at this pace forever. The Towers of Judgment aren’t infinite factories. A grace period should arrive soon."
"A grace period? When?"
In response, Seojin silently slid a recent photograph of the sky across the table.
[7,301,524,070 > 7,000,000,000]
"The moment the population hits exactly seven billion. We only have three hundred million left to go."
A dry, humorless chuckle slipped from my lips before I could stop it.
"I know it’s just a projection, but... you realize how twisted that sounds, right?"
"I desperately hope I’m wrong."
"Tsk. Yeah. Let’s head out."
I stepped out of the Magic Tower alongside Jeong Seojin.
As soon as we emerged, the deafening roar of artillery fire assaulted my ears. The Magic Tower was still locked in a brutal siege against the endless swarm of monsters.
Surrounding us, a visibly vibrant purple wind howled through the air. This was the atmosphere bleeding out from the New Continent. It had spread hundreds of miles outward from the epicenter of the phenomenon.
Once inside this atmosphere, normal communication became impossible, and warp coordinates were completely distorted. The New Continent wasn’t just a continent anymore; it was a massive Dungeon that had spawned right in the middle of Earth.
And now, I could finally see it.
A colossal barrier stood in the distance where the purple atmosphere had seemingly solidified. Beneath it, I could make out the New Continent, completely choked by demonic trees.
So that’s the place.
I swallowed hard.
From here on out, it was a path I had to walk alone.
Let’s go.
Firming my resolve, I slowly stepped forward. The surrounding mages bowed their heads, parting like the sea to make way for me.
"Sir."
I turned my head to see Jin Bora approaching, her face etched with worry. I had a pretty good idea of what was running through her mind.
Forcing a reassuring smile, I said, "I promise. This is the last time I’ll push my luck."
"Make me a different promise instead."
She slipped off the woven grass bracelet she always wore and fastened it securely around my wrist.
"You’re definitely coming back, right?"
"...Yeah."
Deafening explosions continued to erupt from all directions, rattling my bones. I walked forward and tapped my earpiece on.
"You’ve all worked incredibly hard putting up with my stubbornness."
Swallowing the countless words swirling in my mind, I finished with one last sentence.
"I’ll be back."
I activated my Wing Golem, kicking off the ground and launching myself into the air.
Straight toward the New Continent.
*
Kreeeeeeeek!
In Songdo, Incheon, the defensive battle against the Towers of Judgment raged at its peak.
Flying monsters reminiscent of black pterosaurs pierced through the heavy missile barrage and slipped outside the defensive perimeter.
—"We lost two Rank Sevens!"
"Leave them. We can’t catch those. Just focus on the ones right in front of us."
Yoon Seulah shot back coldly through her earpiece, turning her head to assess the battlefield.
She’s really putting in the work.
Having burrowed deep into the thick of the monster horde, Hong Yeon was swinging her sword like a madwoman. No matter how many times Seulah witnessed it, she just couldn’t get used to the sight—mountains of swarming monsters being neatly leveled to the ground with a single, devastating strike of that blade.
A true one-woman army.
Were those monsters known as Official rank-1s all like that? How could humanity possibly be losing when there were ten of those freaks walking the earth?
As Yoon Seulah was lost in her thoughts, Hong Yeon eliminated the last monster in sight and returned to the line, panting heavily.
"Yeon! Are you okay?"
"Yes. I’m fine."
Hong Yeon sat on the edge of some collapsed building debris, straightening her suit collar and taking a moment to catch her breath.
"Give me the report."
"Oh, right!"
Yoon Seulah held up her tablet and read the tactical feed.
"Additional towers just dropped in Wonju and Jinju. Im Namjin dispatched all available forces over there. Currently, the total number of towers that have fallen in South Korea is nine."
"I see."
"Also, we just got a call from the governor of Gangwon Province. Apparently, the outer perimeter of the Wonju shelter has been damaged. They requested transport vehicles and an escort force to relocate the civilians."
Having read the update, Yoon Seulah clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Geez. And to think they were just bragging about how their shelter was the safest in the country."
"If civilians come up to the surface right now, it’s a death sentence no matter who’s escorting them," Hong Yeon said, calmly wiping the black blood off her sword with a handkerchief. "This explosive offensive probably won’t last forever. Tell them we’ll permit movement between shelters once the monster attacks subside. Explain the situation clearly and please reassure the citizens of Wonju."
"Yeah, got it. And, um..." Yoon Seulah gulped. "Since we’re trying to block nearly ten towers at once, our forces are stretched dangerously thin. Shouldn’t we start abandoning a few of them now?"
Hong Yeon fell silent.
"This is the Operations Department’s opinion, too."
The Alliance’s guideline was brutal but clear: abandon whatever areas needed to be abandoned.
But Hong Yeon didn’t agree. She believed they still had some leeway. The moment news broke that a region was being left to die, cracks would form in their overall teamwork. Conflicts would inevitably arise not only among the terrified civilians but also within the hunters and the military ranks.
"We still have the capacity. If the situation worsens further, I’ll issue additional orders."
"Okay, understood."
"More importantly, is there any other news? From overseas..."
At those words, Yoon Seulah flashed a teasing smile.
"Oh, there sure is. You’re fishing for news about your hubby, aren’t you?"
Hong Yeon’s face instantly burned bright red.
Yoon Seulah laughed, finding her reaction absolutely adorable, and swiped to the next page on her tablet.
"Ah, here it is! During the Magic Tower’s breakthrough across the Pacific, they reportedly annihilated the Führer and the demonkins following him! Also, the Magic Tower Master, Kim Yusin, successfully entered the New Continent! The Magic Tower and the Sky Castle have teleported straight back to South Korea via transfer magic."
Hong Yeon closed her eyes, the tension visibly bleeding from her shoulders.
"Everything went according to plan."
"Did it really go according to plan?" Seulah asked, lowering her tablet. "No matter how much I think about it, I don’t get it. Why would the Magic Tower go through all the trouble of piercing through the Pacific, only to drop off Kim Yusin all by his lonesome and leave?"
"Because this is something only he can do."
"Hmm." Yoon Seulah crossed her arms with a skeptical look. "I know he’s the strongest hunter and all, but breaking through the New Continent entirely by himself? Does that even make sense?"
"Anyone other than him would only get in the way. Even the weakest monsters in the New Continent are Rank Seven. If they moved in something as massive as the Sky Castle, it would crash before getting very far." Hong Yeon lifted her head, her gaze steady. "As the Supreme Commander, he’s doing his absolute best. If we just trust him and wait..."
"Huh? What’s wrong?"
Yoon Seulah followed Hong Yeon’s gaze, lifting her head to look at the sky.
[7,000,000,000 : 7,000,000,000]
[49:59:59]
The global population had hit the seven-billion mark. Exactly.
And a new countdown began.
*
Humanity had suffered an indelible wound, losing a staggering one-seventh of its global population. With the population perfectly aligned at seven billion, the days-long descent into hell finally shuddered to a halt.
The towers that had been indiscriminately raining from the sky stopped falling. All the Towers of Judgment that had opened up to the ninth floor violently sealed themselves, restricting the monster outbreak routes strictly back to the first floor. The activity level of the monsters themselves drastically decreased.
A grace period.
Humanity had finally bought some time to catch its breath.
However, people couldn’t help but continue trembling in terror.
[7,000,000,000 : 6,000,000,000]
[42:10:57]
Because a new countdown had begun.
The leading digit on the right side had changed to a six. There was only one horrifying thought running through everyone’s minds.
When that countdown hit zero again...
[7,000,000,000 > 6,000,000,000]
Hell would begin anew.
This time, the monsters would relentlessly barrage them until the population was reduced to six billion.
Who could confidently say they wouldn’t be part of the next one billion destined to be wiped off the face of the earth?
Less than two days remained.
Until Nemesis, the mastermind of this calamity and the boss monster, was eliminated, or until that number hit zero, this living nightmare would not end.
Up until now, humanity had fended off every disaster thrown its way. Every time a calamity struck, they had heard the media spout countless claims about annihilation and the end of the world, yet hadn’t they managed to hold out just fine?
People had assumed they would somehow get through it this time as well.
But this was different. A staggering one billion people had died.
Never before had anything on this scale happened.
In the face of this final calamity, humanity’s common sense and shallow pride were miserably crumbling away.
Fear. Despair. Defeat. Utter helplessness.
The people trapped underground desperately needed a reason to keep living—they needed hope.
And there was only one viable move left to eliminate this horrifying Nemesis and end the disaster:
-The Alliance needs to assemble a Second Attack Force immediately!
-I thought they were making a Second Force? When?!
-We’re literally all going to die at this rate, you bastards!
Demands for a Second Attack Force poured in more intensely than ever before.
[US Secretary of Defense: "We acknowledge our past mistakes. We will take the lead this time." Promises massive support.]
[China plans to dispatch an elite hunter team directly under the President.]
[US: "We admit our faults, but the Alliance is also to blame for arbitrarily disbanding the attack force."]
[Alliance in talks with member states over specific details. However, disagreements remain regarding the assembly point and the scale of deployed forces.]
Although the United States and China had finally promised massive support, the other nations were showing lukewarm reactions this time around.
During the all-out offensive, the member nations had lost countless hunters and citizens. There was a growing, paralyzing fear that if any more of their hunter forces were siphoned off, the final defensive lines they were barely managing to hold together would completely collapse.
-Form the attack force already! Do something, anything!
-Are we really just going to sit here and die?
Everyone was crying out in sheer desperation.
...Still, I wish our country would only send a few people.
That was, in truth, their honest, selfish thought.
How long would it take for the attack force to depart, cross the Pacific, reach the New Continent, track down Nemesis, and finally kill the bastard? And while all that was happening, who was going to protect their lives?
As nations failed to narrow their differences due to the dilemma of balancing the dispatch of the attack force with the protection of their own citizens, the hour of death continued to tick closer.
And just as everyone had expected.
[7,000,000,000 > 6,000,000,000]
[00:00:00]
The nightmare began.
Towers of Judgment began plummeting from the sky once more, and monsters poured out from all eight floors of the towers already on the ground.
This time, they would not stop until the population hit six billion.
*