"What in the world... is that?"
One of the aspiring writers fleeing toward the shelter alongside the Guardian Unit 1 from the Gate Emergency Response Force stopped dead in his tracks, staring blankly at something with a dazed expression.
"Hey, don't just stand there gawking—hurry up... Huh?"
Soon, the rest of the group with him halted, followed by the entire Guardian Unit 1, all turning to gaze in the direction he was looking.
The massive shadow emerging between the buildings belonged to none other than a monster.
"Ugh... ugh..."
Even from a considerable distance, its sheer size overwhelmed them, drawing involuntary groans from their lips.
"Excuse me... we really just need to reach the shelter, right? We'll be safe then?"
"..."
But no one from Guardian present could answer that question easily.
Something had gone terribly wrong.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Th-that thing's an A-Rank monster? You've gotta be kidding."
The team members muttered behind Ma Seokgi.
The veterans among the Guardians tried to reassure them.
"Don't let its size scare you! If it's A-Rank, we can take it down!"
The unit leader looked up at the colossal monster, which hadn't made any real moves yet.
"Captain."
Ma Seokgi, momentarily frozen by the unexpected situation, nodded.
The measurements had clearly indicated an A-Rank gate. There was no need to panic prematurely.
If it wouldn't come to them, they'd go to it.
The Guardians quickly aimed their special rifles—designed for large monsters—at the beast.
Tatata-tatata!
An immense barrage of firepower erupted.
"Raaah!"
Kabooom!
Rumble rumble!
Ma Seokgi slammed his hammer into the ground, sending out a shockwave to amplify the assault.
Vroooom!
Dust rose like a sandstorm.
Visibility dropped to zero for a moment.
"Did we get it?"
They'd unleashed everything they had.
Surely that would be enough...
That was when it happened.
Shooo!
A gigantic serpent's maw burst through the sandstorm, right in front of their eyes.
The speed was unbelievable—no time to react!
"Aaaagh!"
The instant one Guardian was about to be swallowed or torn apart,
Kagagah!
Ma Seokgi thrust his blunt weapon vertically, blocking the massive jaws.
"Raaah!"
He flipped his grip and smashed the monster's head away.
Kieeeek!
"I won't let you do as you please!"
Ma Seokgi wasn't called Bulldozer for nothing.
The Guardians drew courage from their leader's bravery.
But then,
Kieee!
Kieeeeeek!
Kieek!
Suddenly, monstrous cries echoed from all directions.
What the hell?
An ominous chill swept over their bodies.
Ssss...
The colossal monster fully revealed itself.
But,
"C-Captain... that thing's heads..."
"Haha... no way."
The true nature of the serpentine behemoth:
A nine-headed snake—Hydra.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Of all things, a Hydra... Damn it all!"
A curse slipped from Ma Seokgi's lips.
In principle, subjugating a single A-Rank monster with their current emergency response unit's firepower wasn't impossible. So why did Ma Seokgi's face darken like never before?
The reason was simple.
"Everyone, get your heads in the game! Each of Hydra's nine heads has the power of an A-Rank monster!"
In other words, fighting Hydra was tantamount to battling nine A-Rank monsters at once.
"Damn it. We need at least four more response units for this."
Normally, the number and strength of deployed units were determined by emergency measurements.
There was no helping it.
Who could've predicted this?
Regret came too late.
Kyaaak!
All nine heads screeched in unison.
"Urgh!"
The Guardians hurriedly plugged their ears, but it was futile.
The ear-splitting cries dulled the movements of Ma Seokgi and every Guardian in an instant.
Swaeek!
Thwack!!
Hydra's enormous tail exploited the opening, sending Ma Seokgi flying.
Kaboom!
"Gah!"
Slammed into the ground, Ma Seokgi vomited blood.
"Captaaaain!"
They'd been hit.
The unforeseen attack amplified the damage.
Kieek!
Hydra's nine heads.
Green venom dripped from their massive fangs onto the asphalt.
Sizzle!
The pavement melted where it landed.
"Ugh... uh..."
Ssss...
Soon, the horrific fangs turned toward the unit members.
No, not good!
Ma Seokgi, barely able to hold himself up, screamed inwardly.
In their current disoriented state, that attack would wipe them out—no survivors.
The whole unit faced annihilation.
"Ngh... nngh..."
He tried to rise, but it was no easy task.
His internals felt shredded.
The aftermath of that blow was too severe.
But he couldn't just lie there.
"Nghhh."
Please, come on!
Ma Seokgi summoned every ounce of strength.
Blood trickled from his bitten lips, veins bursting in his eyes.
"Raaaaagh!"
Thud!
With all his power unleashed, he raised his hammer-weapon and leaped high.
"Dieeee!"
His hammer glowed blue.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Power Crash!
Bulldozer Ma Seokgi's ultimate attack technique. An all-out strike.
Kabooooom!
Kieeeeeek!
Kiek!
Boom! Pop!
Two of Hydra's nine heads vanished in the blast.
An incredible feat.
But.
Kieeeeeek!
Kieeeeeee!
Kyaaaaah!
...
Seven heads remained.
Thud! Thud! Thud thud!
Kwaaaang!
Boom! Kboom! Kaboom!
The enraged Hydra rampaged even more fiercely.
"...Hah. So this is my limit. Shit."
He was still standing, but he couldn't lift a finger.
To think he'd go out like this.
Shouldn't have fought with his wife this morning.
Shouldn't have griped about the egg soup being too salty.
What a lame final image for her to remember him by.
He glanced at his team.
Some passed out from terror, others tear-streaked, accepting their end.
"You lot... good work."
A crappy last farewell.
Kieeeeeek!
Hydra's remaining seven heads reared up.
Glinting eyes, drooling venom between fangs.
The seven heads lunged mercilessly at the Guardians.
"Fuc...k."
With Ma Seokgi's curse.
That was when they thought it was all over.
Flash!
Suddenly, a blinding golden light descended from the heavens.
It tore through the air.
Kwagoogoooom!
A colossal roar followed as the massive light engulfed Hydra.
Kieeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!
With a horrific scream, Hydra charred black,
Ssss.
...and scattered into molecules, vanishing.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
"...Huh?"
Everyone was stunned by the unbelievable—no, utterly incomprehensible—scene.
"Wh-what the hell?"
"Something flashed, and... that snake bastard's dead?"
Gasping for breath, they craned their necks desperately.
Ma Seokgi did the same.
But no matter where he looked, nothing.
What the hell just happened?
"We... survived. Heh. Yeah. Alive is good. Heh heh..."
That was his limit.
Ma Seokgi, who'd held out until then, collapsed forward and passed out.
"C-Captain!"
"Hey! Call the medics—now!"
Thus, the scene was finally brought under control.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
...Hoo.
A man stood atop a distant building, watching the spectacle.
A strikingly mystical figure with glowing blue eyes and platinum hair.
"Ugh!"
Crackle.
His eyes and hair reverted to black.
The man in a hoodie and oversized horn-rimmed glasses—one of the aspiring writers.
Tae Ihyeon.
"Hope no one spotted me. That'd be a real problem."
He'd watched the whole thing.
It dragged on, looking like it might resolve, but might not... and in the end, he stepped in.
No, he had no choice.
What else could he do?
Couldn't just watch the Guardians get slaughtered.
Tae Ihyeon grumbled profusely.
"Seemed like they had it under control at first, then some freak snake shows up and ruins everything. Jeez!"
Some might relish a heroic moment like this, but not him.
He'd hoped against hope to avoid having to intervene.
He had mountains of work piling up.
And besides, well... plenty of reasons.
Ahem! Anyway,
"Time to head back."
As he turned slowly, he muttered to himself.
"Last cooking story got trashed hard, but this one's got potential."
He'd once foolishly tackled a cooking genre when all he could make was fried eggs and instant ramen.
But not this time!
His new piece was a hunter story.
Heh heh.
Who knew hunters better than him?
"They're gonna flip. Heh heh."
A confident smile crossed his face as he walked off.
Light footsteps, a stark contrast to the brutal scene below.
[0 Deaths, 15 Injured]
The 'Hongdae Station Sudden Gate Incident,' which could have been remembered as one of the worst catastrophes, resolved without a single fatality.
Thanks to one unknown someone.
Of course, no one in the world knew.
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