Chapter 41

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In the command and control room underground of the 1st Battalion, the key personnel of the battalion had gathered. Not only the officers but also some squad leaders, including Lee Hyun-wook, were present. At that moment, Captain Park Taek-su, who had returned with Kim Gang-seok, was briefing them.

"Look here."

A photo appeared on the screen. It was a satellite image of Seoul. However, there was something peculiar. A massive white circle was drawn in the center of Seoul, as seen from above. At first glance, it looked like a cloud, but it was too perfectly circular to be one.

"As you can see, a 10km radius centered on Seoul Station has been 'sealed' by the system."

This was something they had not known due to the repeated battles.

"Indeed, it's dome-shaped, but unlike during the 'Unlucky Event,' entry is impossible. It's completely isolated. A barrier magic of this scale, aside from the Wave, could only be the 'Spear Field' of High Mage Anton Makachev... Now that the sky has turned purple, it's clear that it's the Wave."

Naturally, that was the conclusion.

"...The 4th Wave, which humanity has feared, has originated right here in Seoul."

Wave (Wave)

The worst disaster this game offers... A wave of monsters that overturn human settlements like small boats, a long and endless hell.

So far, three Waves have occurred, each time resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of players and millions of civilians. Yet, humanity has never won even once.

And the land thus taken was 'eroded' and transformed into a completely different environment—an alternate world.

1st Wave, California, became a volcanic region ruled by Red Drake.

2nd Wave, Shanghai, became an orc kingdom with a steppe climate.

3rd Wave, Berlin, became a green hell covered in carnivorous plants.

And the 4th Wave... here in Seoul.

What will this place transform into now?

"...And for this reason, many officers have not returned, causing a command gap."

"Hmm..."

Unless they were staying in the BOQ on the base or nearby military apartments, there was no chance to return.

However, Kim Gang-seok, who was in Incheon Port tracking Okita Kai, heard the news of the gate opening in the base and immediately returned, barely making it before the area was sealed.

"First... Are there any adjacent units within the sealed area that we can contact?"

In response to Kim Gang-seok's question, Park Taek-su shook his head while flipping through documents.

"Currently, there is none except the brigade headquarters."

Within the 10km radius of Seoul Station where the 4th Wave occurred, there were several other units. However, it was confirmed that 'gates' had opened in all of them.

"And the situation at the brigade headquarters is not yet fully under control."

Four gates had opened at the brigade headquarters. While there wouldn't be villains like the Five Butchers, there was no one like Lee Hyun-wook who knew the future and could respond, so the response was much slower.

"...Have we been able to contact the Blue Flower Guild?"

"We are communicating every 30 minutes via mana messenger, but they are still responding."

"Then, first, we need to put out the urgent fires."

Kim Gang-seok sighed and stood up.

"We will attack the two sealed gates within the base. After that..."

He showed his right hand, spreading out five fingers.

"...we have five days. As with previous Waves, the sealed period for Seoul will be five days, and after five days, this place will no longer be the Seoul we know... but a part of the alternate world."

The five-day regional seal that begins with the start of the Wave is called the 'Rapid Erosion Period' by humanity.

In just five days, all environments—climate and terrain—will change.

In other words, the golden time is only five days.

"We must stop it somehow."

Otherwise, we will lose Seoul.

"...But, Private Lee Hyun-wook?"

At Kim Gang-seok's call, everyone looked at Lee Hyun-wook.

"You don't look well. Did you get hurt somewhere?"

Kim Gang-seok asked worriedly because Lee Hyun-wook was sweating cold sweat.

"No, I just have a headache from overexerting myself in the last battle."

"You seem to have overused your ability. Go see the medic. You can't be sick now."

"...Yes, I understand."

It wasn't just a little.

His head felt like it was going to split.

And that was...

- A 'Signal Core' is forming in the central nervous system. (62%)

* Severe pain may accompany it!

Indeed, it was the terrible pain that accompanied the digestion of the 'Devil's Medal.'

"Then, we will start the attack in 20 minutes. All personnel, be ready by then."

After the briefing ended, Lee Hyun-wook returned to the dormitory.

"Welcome back... Oh! Private Lee Hyun-wook!"

And he collapsed.

***

Lee Hyun-wook had his eyes closed. He seemed to have lost consciousness.

Before his eyes, a blurry scene played out.

"...So, Team Leader, you're saying that the 5th Wave will occur in Singapore?"

This voice belonged to Seo Eun-ha.

It wasn't the current Seo Eun-ha.

It was the past... or rather, the future.

She was asking Lee Hyun-wook, and many others were looking at him. Lee Hyun-wook nodded and pressed a button on the remote to change the screen.

"Yes, the common point among the four regions where Waves have occurred so far is that the frequency of high-level gate openings in the surrounding areas has sharply decreased one month before the Wave. It's as if..."

"...they are gathering strength for one big explosion. A significant amount of mana must be condensed in the area for a gate to open. Instead, many small gates have opened, as a smokescreen."

"Then, can this information provide a hint for responding to the Wave?"

Seo Eun-ha and the team members shook their heads.

"I don't think so. Even if we know the location in advance, stopping the Wave is practically impossible. The destruction of the area is a given once it starts."

"I agree. However, we need to think about how to use the Wave, now that we know the place and time it will occur."

The team members looked puzzled at the idea of using the Wave.

"As everyone knows, the Wave is essentially induced by villains."

"Yes."

"Their goal is to destroy and conquer cities, and to obtain items from the Wave."

Indeed, villains became much stronger with each Wave because the Wave produced legendary items.

"So, we need to find a way to intercept all of that."

"Ah..."

But the method was vague.

No one knew when or where such items would appear.

On the other hand, the villains already knew the coordinates.

It was a losing battle.

"Many heroes, including Lee Seong-yun, Han Tae-san, Choi Jung-cheol, Kim Gang-seok, and Stipe Marin, died due to the mythic item 'Mistletoe' that appeared during the 4th Wave."

"If someone else had obtained that item first..."

"...history would have been different."

Lee Hyun-wook nodded, and everyone had a bitter expression.

After a moment, the briefing ended.

As the team members left the meeting room, Lee Hyun-wook grabbed Seo Eun-ha's arm.

"Seo Eun-ha, wait a moment."

"...What?"

Lee Hyun-wook looked around and whispered in Seo Eun-ha's ear.

"Be careful tomorrow. I received intelligence that Yu Hae-na has raised a magic beast with 'Ether' claws that can break your 'Guardian Aura.' She will likely use it at a critical moment."

Seo Eun-ha smiled.

"Well... If you want me to be careful, you should be the one to stay alert and be careful. You know who I always get hurt because of, right?"

"That's... true."

"Then, stay alert. I don't want to die. I'm your first life, after all."

Despite the terrifying words, Seo Eun-ha smiled brightly.

Your first life, she always referred to herself that way.

She had taken on the role of a 'shield' to protect the best firepower in South Korea.

"...Right. Let's both survive this Wave intact."

But those two lives...

were not protected in the end.

Creak—

The sound of something solid bending was heard.

Crack—

The sound of it breaking followed.

"-Huh!"

Someone's scream...

At that moment, Lee Hyun-wook opened his eyes.

The bending sound disappeared.

"Uh, Private Lee Hyun-wook?"

Park Jun-mo's voice was heard, and the first thing he saw was a system message.

- Congratulations! A new 'Skill' has been granted due to meeting special conditions.

He sat up.

It was the dormitory.

"Uh... Are you feeling better?"

The bed frame and Lee Hyun-wook's belongings were crumpled like paper. It seemed he had unconsciously used his 'metal control' while dreaming.

'Can my current metal control do this much?'

He didn't know what had happened, but it was clear that his ability had significantly improved in a short time.

He immediately checked the system message that appeared before him.

- Congratulations! A new 'Skill' has been granted due to meeting special conditions.

After absorbing the Devil's Medal (Legion), a new body part was formed.

The central nervous system was newly constructed, which was enough to make him faint.

'It was pain that couldn't be endured by willpower alone.'

Now, it was time to see what had been born from that pain.

- Name: Signal Core

- Grade: D

- Effects:

1) Transcendent Sense: Metal control is enhanced. (+30%)

2) Centurion Force: Maximum number of controlled units increases. (+10)

* Skill grade improves when hidden conditions are met.

'What is this?'

Lee Hyun-wook couldn't help but be surprised.

'Metal control... enhanced by thirty percent...?'

He understood why necromancers were so powerful.

With this item, maximum control is enhanced by 30%.

In other words, it means a 30% increase in growth rate.

'And this number can't be taken at face value.'

Growth is a kind of snowball effect. If you grow faster than your competitors, you can seize good opportunities sooner.

Thus, the current amount of metal Lee Hyun-wook can control is...

- Current controllable 'metal' weight: 65,658g

* Transcendent Sense (+30%) is applied.

...It instantly increased to 65kg.

'If it increases a bit more, I might be able to lift my body.'

Of course, just matching his weight doesn't mean he can fly at high speed.

It means he can carry the weight of a 300g weapon in one hand.

'Next is...'

The second skill, 'Centurion Force.'

Translated, it means the power of a centurion.

This is an ability related to controlled units.

'This is one of the reasons why the necromancer could create such a large army.'

Even for a necromancer, it sometimes seemed too many.

There were other factors, but this power allowed for a significant increase in the number of controlled units.

'Sadly, I don't have a characteristic related to controlled units.'

But there was a method, and he had already implemented it.

Using 'Living Armor.'

Until now, he could control only three, but now it has increased to ten.

'Like a steel army...'

He had tried it in his previous life but didn't find it very useful, and it was eventually destroyed by the necromancer.

Because it only reached 33 units.

But with this skill, a different scenario might unfold.

As the skill grade increases, the number of controllable units will also increase. It might even reach 100, as the name 'centurion' suggests.

'If used well, perhaps...'

He could push back the demon's army, the necromancer, with his own army.

It was still a distant future, but he could vaguely imagine it. A steel army in holy armor.

Lee Hyun-wook turned his head to look at Park Jun-mo.

"Park Jun-mo, how long have I been asleep?"

"About three hours... Are you okay?"

"Is the battalion commander in the command and control room?"

"Yes, probably..."

Lee Hyun-wook got up and headed to the command and control room.

"Attention!"

At his appearance, the officers in the situation room