Entire South Korea hold it's breath, they all prepared for inevitable disaster that will surge from S-Rank Gate any minute now.
Countless B-Rank reporters are S-Rank Gate, all of them prepared and fully aware of the risk that will rise.
But it was not filmed only to South Korea but to countless others channels to other countries. From Japan, North Korea, Germany, China and US. And more of them, each viewer holding their breath, anticipating.
South Korea's Guilds all united, formed front lines around the S-Rank Gate, and all S-Rank Hunters leading their own guilds, holding important positions, whatever happens, there won't be a retreat, it's now or never.
Every single Hunter who is here waiting knows it, if they fall all here, millions of civilians will succumb to fates of being eaten or killed by Magic Beasts incoming from the S-Rank Gate.
Over 40k Hunters from all over Korea surrounded Seoul, from retired to still working Hunters. From C-Rank to S-Rank. And those below C-Rank are stationed further away to protect important evacuation centers or buy time.
Hundreds of A-Ranks surrounded S-Rank Gate from all important positions, every hundred meters has a groups of A-Ranks positioned, And after first front lines made out of A-Ranks are next B-Ranks, even more numerous in Numbers but honestly, they are last defence for Seoul, after them are C-Ranks protecting Command Centers and other vital points.
But now, first team that will interact with enemy would be Hunters Guld from East, followed by next wave of Hunters from White Tigers guild. This will be main front line, south is protected by Knights Guild, West by Fiend Guild and north by Fame Guild.
And Sung Jin-Woo is part of the main force, that is with Hunters Guild.
East Side.
"So, may I ask what is the reason for you not publishing your identity before?" Choi Jong-In asked Sung Jin-Woo as Guild master pushed his glasses further, beside him is silent Cha Hae-In, curiously watching their interaction.
Sung Jin-Woo is now wearing black coat with front side of it being covered in armor, made for agility rather than durability and endurance. With black boots and pants.
He swiftly turned around to look at Choi Jong-In while his long black hair flutters in the wind styled in ponytail.
"My powers might be one of the strongest in world, but they do come with cost themselves. So I always avoided using them, to the point I sealed them and only used E-Rank equivalent for basic needs." He replied, catching Cha Hae-In's attention finally who couldn't help but interrupt.
"What cost do you mean, Hunter Sung Jin-Woo?" She asked politely, Choi Jong-In is also curious, but he is more curious about potentially inviting Sung Jin-Woo into his guild, as he already sorted several options on how to proceed with once they deal with current threat.
Sung Jin-Woo glanced at Cha Hae-In before replying.
"My body is very weak, the more time I use my powers, the more of my lifespan will be depleted. Several Hours of using my [Active Skill: Spiritual Body Manifestation] forced me lose years of my life. And mind you, I was 16 when I fought Kamish, so I obviously do not want to die from power-abuse." He replied curtly as he shifted his gaze at S-Rank Gate.
Choi Jong-In simply nodded before shooting another questions. "So what are your plans after this gate incident ?"
"I can't seal my powers anymore, so my identity will go public."
Cha Hae-In butted in as she whispered something to Choi Jong-In, so quiet only he would be able to hear.
"He doesn't stink at all like other Hunters.."
At that Choi Jong-In's face turned into shock as he tried to compose himself. "Are you sure ? Vice-Master?"
Cha Hae-In nodded.
But behind these three S-Ranks, there are dozens of A-Rank, top A-Ranks too. From A-Team, B-Team, C-Team. And for B-Rank Dungeons too, albeit there are several B-Rank Healers, every other hunter is A-Rank.
Sung Jin-Woo's hand trembled before he spoke, alerting everyone.
"Gate is breaking!" He shouted as much as he could, causing Hunters to break into formations first.
Tankers stepped forwards to be in front of Choi Jong-In and Sung Jin-Woo before taking their positions with their shield. there are dozens of them, nothing short of S-Ranks could pass through them, they all stood up, grabbing their shields and activating barrier-like aura around them.
Sung JIn-Woo did not wait anymore, he used his [Active Skill: Spiritual Body Manifestation] and transformed into one-eyed humanoid Monster, further confirming to all other A-Ranks who could have been skeptical about Sung Jin-Woo's identity, but once they had seen his transformation first hand, they were sure about it.
After all, there are live footage's all around the world from iconic 5v1 against Kamish, and even movies are made to memorize that tragedy.
They stood amazed, finally, their eyes filled with hope, they have National-Level Hunter with them and 7 S-Ranks, they must succeed. But their happiness is short lived once they noticed S-Rank gate starting to break.
And next moment.
A tiger-like humanoid monsters poured from it, many of them wearing different kinds of weapons and armors, even different fur. Some of them looked like Humanoid Lions, some of them as Humanoid Tigers, some as Humanoid Cats. All in all, feline humanoid monsters.
And sure enough, dozens of them exited from the portal.
But everyone present could feel their auras, each one of them is equal to A-Rank Hunter.
But Sung Jin-Woo did not waste any time anymore, he instantly used his special ability, his flames. He blasted wave of his potent flames at Humanoid monster, disintegrating countless of them in a matters of seconds, dozens of them that jumped from the gate were annihilated.
But this wouldn't have been an S-Rank gate if those were the strongest Monsters it had, at best it would have been high end A-Rank Gate.
And soon enough, another wave rushed out, this one was numbering in hundreds not dozens, they moved so fast that they rushed Hunters Guild members first.
But.
The moment some of them rushed there, they got sliced in half by Cha Hae-In, Chon Jong-In used his Magical fire to create swords of flames and send them at Humanoid Monsters, Mages at the end of the group used summoning magic to summon flame-like Knights to rush and support tanks in first line while they are guarded by others.
Hundreds of Humanoid Monsters poured and continued pouring from the gate, some of them rushed at Hunters Guild members while remaining ones separated into their own directions.
But Sung Jin-Woo was not having it, he sent waves of his flames at incoming Humanoid Monster, disintegrating dozens of them in one single wave.
He then proceeded to create giant fireballs and sent them at other humanoid Monsters who separated from the main group, not minding collateral damage at all, he can extinguish his flames at will, so there is no need to worry for further increase of fire down the forest.
In several seconds he obliterated hundreds of Monsters, now the quantity of Monsters is something truly worthy of S-Rank Gate, Jeju Island Ant Gate had thousands of B-Rank Ants sprouting from it once dungeon break occurred, and main power of Jeju Gate was the reproductive capacity the Ant Queen produced, it was Low S-Rank gate after all, and this gate was supposed to be about same rank as that one.
And considering the amount of Humanoid Cats pouring from it, soon enough it should be end of the monsters in it.
It hardly could have over 1k A-Rank Monsters since 200 A-Rank Monsters and A-Rank Boss was enough to obliterate a city or two if Dungeon Break occurred, and that number is High-End A-Rank gate too.
Even though Sung Jin-Woo obliterated hundreds of them, dozens of them escaped into forest going towards other teams. And it's impossible there wouldn't be casualties, even here, Tank team suffered dozen or so casualties and B-Rank Tankers had to take A-Rank Tankers place soon, barely holding their own.
"We need to pull back! We are burning too much oxygen, it's getting harder to breath because of it and smoke!" Ordered Choi Jong-In, and with his orders, his guild slowly started pulling back, meters by meters while being guarded by Sung Jin-Woo.
'He is right, the amount of flames I exuded is enough to harm them as Humans, I'll retrea-' Whatever Sung Jin-Woo wanted to think, it has been interrupted by a hammer hitting him in the face sending him dozens of meters away.
The one who hit him was a Humanoid Tiger, with white fur covering his body and bone-like crown on his head, jaw snarling as it growled at the direction where it sent Sung Jin-Woo flying. Beast does not wear any clothing for upper part of the body but only a battle skirt for lower part, no boots nor any other armor.
It has wild mane with two braids on each side of his head, in all it looks a LOT similar to Battle Beast from Invincible.
In it's right it's holding a war hammer.
"You are strong Human, you are the reason for massive casualties in my arm! All those ants below are not even worthy as a speck of dust on your body!" It roared with all it's might, retreating Hunters Guild couldn't help gasping.
A Monster that can speak Human language, and it sent a NATIONAL-LEVEL HUNTER flying, it must be a boss.
So with clear orders, Choi Jong-In ordered his men and women to retreat as fast as they can, they will meet with Go Gun-Hee and White TIger Guild, together they would reinforce the line and decimate dozens of A-Ranks Humanoid Beasts that keep pouring out from the Gate.
But Sung Jin-Woo is anything but pushover, the instant he got hit by a Boss he was sent flying dozens of meters away, crushing numerous number of trees, the moment he landed safely on ground he immediately dashed at beast.
In a second or two he was there just as it finished speaking before he elbowed it with all his might on it's head, sending it flying dozens of meters too, but he did not waste time as it did by speaking, instead he dashed at it's flying form before kicking once more, sending it's body above the ground by dozens of meters.
"Take this!" Sung Jin-Woo exclaimed before sending a fire ball so large it's almost as big a building, the moment it made contact with Humanoid Beast's body it exploded, creating a shockwave like explosion.
Unknown to Sung Jin-Woo, due to their battle not being caught on camera, instead it's being filmed and broadcasted around the world by a satellite orbiting above South Korea.
World held it's breath as they witnessed the real 'Unknown Hunter' taking action against the Boss himself.
~BOOM!
Something flew from the explosion directly at Sung Jin-Woo, this time he was prepared and knew what was coming. He jumped from his previous location and just a second later it got hammered by the boss and it's hammer, creating a large 10 meter wide crater where Sung Jin-Woo was just moments earlier.
Beast growled before it grinned with it's jaw, it opened it and started speaking.
"I'm Karog, leader of White Beast-Men tribe, who are you Human?" He spoke, his voice filled with excitement it did not felt in years.
Sung Jin-Woo tilted his head for a second before responding.
"I'm Sung Jin-Woo, a National-Level Hunter, one of the strongest Humans alive right now." Sung Jin-Woo introduced himself with a mock bow before taking a fighting stance.
Karog grinned. " One of the strongest Humans? Oh I'll sincerely enjoy ripping you in parts, Sung Jin-Woo!"
Karog lunged with his giant hammer at Sung Jin-Woo proceeded to do the same, and they meet in middle, sending shockwaves all around them, destroying everything in their paths as Sung Jin-Woo grabbed the hammer with his hand in mid-swing stoping.
"We'll see!" Sung Jin-Woo replied before headbutting the leader of Best-Men tribe.
Chapter Word Count: 1964