Chapter 33

33. Preparing to Face the Waves – 3

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Thirty silver steel stakes.

These were specially made items requested by Commander Jeongsang from the 'AMT Arsenal.'

'There’s nothing better to drive into the hearts of the undead.'

Lee Hyun-wook levitated them one by one into the air.

Rumble—

Ten of the thirty steel stakes aligned in front of Lee Hyun-wook.

"Wow... "

Each stake, about 60 cm long and weighing around 500 grams, was quite light due to being made of mithril alloy.

"Corporal Lee Hyun-wook, won’t these become several times more expensive soon?"

"Yeah, that's right."

It was true that items imbued with holy power would become more expensive.

However, the cause of this was not in Siberia, Russia, but right here in Seoul.

'I need to maximize my holy power before then.'

Lee Hyun-wook was absorbing the holy power-infused steel beads he had ordered from Master Gang Jeong-doo.

After digesting about 5 kg, a new ability was generated.

– Holy Power Emission Level 1 is being created (34%)

Just as he developed resistance by eating metal enchanted with poison, by consuming metal enchanted with holy power, he accumulated holy power within his body, and further, gained the ability to produce and emit it.

'If I just develop this a bit more, the ability will manifest.'

Clunk!

At that moment, someone opened the armory door and came in.

It was a private from the 3rd Platoon.

"Umm... Corporal Lee Hyun-wook? They say the promotion ceremony will start soon. You should finish your work quickly and, well, practice the drill."

He then remembered that the sergeant promotion ceremony was scheduled for that afternoon.

***

The battalion commander, Kim Gang-seok, pinned the sergeant rank badge on Lee Hyun-wook's chest.

"Sergeant! Lee Hyun-wook!"

Applause erupted from behind.

"Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook, congratulations."

"Yes! Thank you!"

Usually, the company commander would conduct the promotion ceremony, but this time, the battalion commander himself took the initiative.

Then, he began to praise Lee Hyun-wook's achievements in front of the company members...

"Everyone knows, I'm sure, that Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook has done something unbelievable over the past few days..."

It felt like they were trying to make him a role model, which was quite embarrassing.

Anyway, for the 5th Platoon, that night was a festive atmosphere.

"Can we just let this pass? Honestly, we should throw a party."

"I agree with Private An Min-tae. Junmo and I will go to the PX right away!"

They had successfully completed a special operation and received a huge reward from the commander, six squad members were promoted to D-rank, and Lee Hyun-wook was specially promoted to sergeant.

Unable to let such a series of good news pass, all the squad members, except Lee Hyun-wook, gathered their opinions and prepared a feast of frozen food, snacks, and carbonated drinks.

"Isn't this what they call a feast?"

"No, kid, it's a carry!"

"Ah! Yes, that's right! It's all thanks to Corporal Lee Hyun-wook—no, Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook's carry!"

The squad members were more lively and harmonious than ever.

For a couple of hours, they ate and chatted, as if only good things lay ahead.

However, Lee Hyun-wook's mind was elsewhere.

'This can't be the last party.'

He glanced at his watch.

'Finally, tomorrow at 23:59, just before midnight...'

The unprecedented event that would turn Seoul into hell, the 4th Wave, was about to begin.

He started to heat up his 'internal furnace' one last time.

***

At that moment...

In an office of a building overlooking the city's night view, a middle-aged man in a white suit stood by the window, making a phone call while soft classical music played.

"..."

This place, which seemed high and mighty at first glance, was filled with an inexplicable sense of unease.

One of the reasons was the large German Shepherd sitting beside the man's feet.

Grrr...

The dog was baring its teeth, staring at something as if ready to pounce at any moment.

"Ugh, ugh..."

Where the Shepherd's eyes were directed, someone was lying on the ground.

A young man,

His eyes and mouth were covered, and his hands and feet were tied.

"..., Yes, it's me."

At that moment, the call connected, and the middle-aged man in the white suit turned and walked towards the desk.

– Guild MASTER: Ki Beck Jun

The nameplate on the desk revealed his identity.

This man was Ki Beck Jun, the master of Taesan (泰山) Guild, ranked third in the Korean guild hierarchy.

"..., Yes, that's right. The 'candidate' who played the role of the 'supplier' this time turned out to be a complete fool. Yes, yes, it can be considered a failure, and I'm preparing follow-up measures."

On one wall, numerous items were hung, and at the center, a whole ogre was taxidermied. It wasn't just any ogre but an 'Ogre Chieftain' wearing a wooden crown.

"..., Yes, I'm well aware that the 'key' we were supposed to receive from the 'Evil Architect' this time is crucial for our future plans, one of the main pillars for completing the empire. ..., Yes, we must find it. Whoever has it won't know what it's for. Yes, we're mobilizing all our resources to monitor the 'Black Market' in case it appears there."

He manipulated a tablet PC, and a photo appeared on the screen.

The background in the photo was a kitchen of some restaurant.

Scattered on the floor were various bone fragments and charred wood pieces...

"The thief probably uses fire as a weapon, but I can identify him."

The location in the photo was inside a franchise hamburger shop in Seoul Station, where a gate had opened recently.

"Ah, by the way, I've already investigated the station security. It doesn't seem to be them. Given that the AMT rescue team joined late, the thief might be from there."

He then opened a map.

"..., And for various reasons, the AMT 1st Battalion on Namsan has been bothering me lately. I plan to open about three gates when the Wave starts tomorrow and send a few employees to sweep the area. Is that okay? Yes, I hope we can find the key among the bodies."

At that moment, his eyebrows twitched as he heard something from the other end of the phone.

Crack—

The screen of the tablet PC he was holding cracked like a spider web.

"Hahaha... How can I hide an item? It's not like I can swallow it like a secret letter and make it disappear, and I don't even know what it is. Hahaha... Yes, don't worry."

He was laughing naturally, but his expression was not smiling at all.

"Yes, Chairman, you don't need to worry about the situation in Korea. Yes, I'll contact you next time."

He ended the call and ran his hand through his hair.

Then, he whistled expressionlessly.

Whistle—

At that moment, the German Shepherd leaped from the floor.

"Ugh! Ugh-ugh!"

The target was, of course, the man tied up on the floor.

However, something strange happened.

The Shepherd's body began to swell and transform into a grotesque shape.

Kaa-ak!

In no time, it became a massive monster, capable of swallowing a human in one bite.

"Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!"

The monster's late-night dinner began.

Crunch! Crunch-crunch!

However, Ki Beck Jun did not even glance at the horrific scene unfolding in his room.

He leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.

At that moment, the intercom on the desk turned on.

– Master, the Five Butchers have arrived.

"Let them in."

The door opened, and five men and women entered.

However, the atmosphere they exuded was quite alien.

They looked like corpses, with pale skin and dull eyes.

Yes, they gave off a chilling, otherworldly vibe.

"Five Butchers, I have a job for you."

"Yes, Master, please instruct us."

Ki Beck Jun gestured, and the woman at the center approached.

She picked up the tablet PC on the desk, following his gaze.

On the cracked screen, a map of Namsan was displayed.

"Infiltrate there and ensure nothing is alive when the Wave starts."

"Does the method matter?"

"Hmm... Do you want to turn them into 'servants'?"

"Yes, that's right."

The woman smiled.

"Do as you see fit. And after that... "

Ki Beck Jun stood up and walked to the window.

"..., Spread the death throughout Seoul."

"Yes, understood."

"The new map of Korea to be published in the new year should not include Seoul."

***

"Grandma, did you eat dinner?"

In the 5th Dormitory, Park Junmo was on a call.

"I'm fine, so don't worry. Take care of your health, Grandma."

He called his only family, his grandmother, every day at this time.

Usually, he would be somewhat reserved and only ask about her well-being, but today he was unusually cheerful.

The reason was simple.

"Grandma, I did something great and will earn a lot of money! Yes, it's a reward from the government for doing a good job."

He would have money to spend on his grandmother.

"Yes, when I'm on leave next time, let's go buy you winter shoes! And we'll replace that troublesome boiler... No, no, it's not a burden at all. It's winter, and how can you keep using a leaking boiler? ...Why are you wearing three pairs of socks at home?"

Park Junmo's voice suddenly grew louder, and he turned his head to check.

In the farthest bed, Lee Hyun-wook was lying under the covers, seemingly asleep.

The senior members of the 5th Platoon didn't mind that the junior was making a call inside the dorm.

In fact, they often told him not to be too cautious and to speak up.

But with him lying there like a dead person, it was hard not to be concerned...

'And, he seems to be sick...'

Lee Hyun-wook's face had been red since last night, and he was even sweating.

"No, the senior members are really nice, and this time, it's all thanks to them."

At that moment, Lee Hyun-wook stirred.

"..., Grandma, wait a moment."

Park Junmo put down his phone and approached Lee Hyun-wook.

"Hey, Corporal Lee—no, Sergeant Lee, are you feeling okay?"

Lee Hyun-wook shook his head blankly.

"I have duty with you tonight. Can you find a replacement?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Yes, understood."

Lee Hyun-wook stared into space for a while.

It wasn't because he was feeling unwell, but because he was checking the system message.

– Stopping the operation of the internal furnace.

Last night, he had once again operated the internal furnace to its maximum to absorb metal.

As a result...

– Current controllable 'metal' weight: 39,399g

– Mana (371/371)

– Holy Power Emission Level 2 is being created (11%)

He had gained various ability enhancements.

Especially the last line, as Holy Power Emission reached Level 2, it came with a special change.

– Congratulations! A new 'skill' has been granted for meeting special conditions.

A new skill had been created.

– Name: Aura (Saint)

– Rank: D

– Effect: Consumes 10 mana to imbue a specific weapon with 'Aura (Saint).'

* Swallowing a certain amount of 'holy power-infused metal' will improve the skill's rank.

'Fortunately, it's just right.'

Aura, similar to the word Aura, but used differently.

It referred to the technique of enhancing a weapon by infusing it with 'mana,' also known as a sword aura.

In other words, this was a skill to imbue a weapon with holy power.

He had been consuming holy power-infused metal to obtain this skill from the beginning.

"Grandma, anyway, I'll be on leave the week after next, and I'll install the boiler then! Remember that!"

Lee Hyun-wook looked at Park Junmo, who was on the call.

Next month on leave...

Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to go.

At that moment, the dorm door opened.

"..., Honestly, the spicy chicken dumplings have the best value for money."

"Anyway, you still don't know how to eat! Cream udon with Big Farm?"

An Min-tae and Choi Tae-yong entered, chatting loudly, and turned on the TV.

"Hey, change the channel from the news."

"Hey, look at this for a moment."

– ...Next news. There are indications that Okita Kaito, the killer of the Sword Saint, has illegally entered Busan Port, as reported yesterday afternoon. Today, a large-scale tracking team, led by the police, has been formed to capture Okita Kaito. On-site reporter Kim Gi-tae?

"Wow... Why did that guy come back to our country?"

An Min-tae said with a mix of annoyance.

"Kaito said he cut down the Sword Saint with one stroke and claimed that the title of Sword Saint doesn't suit a small country like Korea, according to a Japanese internet broadcast?"

"Ah, is that true? I heard it was a rumor."

"..., I don't know, but it seems so? I don't know, but he's a bad guy, right?"

Sword Saint, a title given to the strongest player in sword skills.

Originally, the first Sword Saint was a Korean, Gukpyeongseong, who was ranked 4th in Korea.

However, while on a business trip to Japan, he was killed by Okita Kaito, a criminal player known as a 'Red Player' and wanted internationally for illegal activities in a Kyoto hotel.

Since then, the title of Sword Saint has effectively been taken by Okita Kaito, though in Korea, it was a matter of national pride, and he was referred to as the 'Sword Saint Killer.'

A few years later, Choi Young-jun beheaded Okita Kaito and reclaimed the title of Sword Saint.

'Okita Kaito, he's a villain indeed. His movement is related to the 4th Wave.'

Lee Hyun-wook thought.

The fact that the Sword Saint Killer, Okita Kaito, was brought to Korean soil was a stepping stone to successfully initiate the 4th Wave.

'Because of this, Kim Gang-seok will leave the base for a while.'

Kim Gang-seok, a druid player known as the 'Mountain Lord of Namsan,' controls various 'beasts' with transcendent senses. He will be dispatched for a few days to track down Okita Kaito.

In other words, the 1st Battalion's top combat force is currently absent.

'Their plan is proceeding smoothly, and the Guardian is always one step behind.'

It couldn't be helped.

A few key components of the Guardian were malfunctioning due to significant defects...

'But by tomorrow, their plan will be slightly derailed.'

Lee Hyun-wook thought as he swallowed a holy power-infused steel bead.

"Lee Hyun-wook, now a sergeant! Are you not training today?"

An Min-tae asked while changing into his combat uniform.

"Ah, I'm taking a