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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter 54: Bringing in a New Recruit (2)
It wasn’t difficult to find Mei Hong.
After all, she was nearby, since they were already in the process of clearing out dungeons around the Hyukcheon family’s main estate.
As soon as he made the decision, Kwon Hanul got into his car and set off.
The vehicle he was in sped along a road that ran alongside the mountains.
At first glance, there was nothing special about this road—but in truth, it could be called the most luxurious road in all of South Korea.
The northern half of the Korean Peninsula was Hyukcheon territory. This particular road had been built and maintained by the Hyukcheon Group exclusively for their own use.
“What happened to the Mei Clan?”
Kwon Hanul, staring blankly out the window, turned and asked Joo Hayun.
Since that fierce battle, he hadn’t heard a single word about the Mei Clan.
“They’ve collapsed—completely and utterly.”
Not only had they lost the majority of their combat force, but even the treasures stored in their warehouses had all been looted.
No matter how powerful the Mei Clan had once been, such a blow was almost impossible to recover from.
But something didn’t quite make sense.
“Didn’t the Chinese government have their back?”
“They did—once.”
Kwon Hanul could only furrow his brows, confused.
“In the beginning, the Mei Clan grew rapidly with the support of the Chinese government. The problem was… they grew too powerful.”
At some point, the Mei Clan began to ignore the government’s commands, even making demands of their own.
Even a sharp blade is only useful with a proper handle.
To the Chinese government, the Mei Clan had become more of a headache than an asset.
“And then, when we at Hyukcheon brought them to the brink of ruin… well, you can guess the rest.”
“The Chinese government crushed them completely.”
Joo Hayun nodded.
“The bloodline scattered. Some were captured and sold off—who knows where.”
“Sold?”
“Maintaining the bloodline has value—in many ways.”
A wretched end indeed.
“There are still remnants left. I’ve heard they’re moving in the shadows, trying to revive the Mei Clan.”
“Doesn’t feel like a distant problem…”
Kwon Hanul gave a bitter laugh.
While the circumstances were different, the Hyukcheon Group, too, had often flexed its power against the Korean government.
“That is someone else’s problem,” Joo Hayun replied firmly. Her confidence was unwavering—Hyukcheon would never fall like that.
“Then the remaining elites of the Mei Clan…”
Just as Kwon Hanul began another question, a massive surge of magical energy pulsed in the distance.
Both he and Joo Hayun instinctively turned to the right-side window. Far from the car, a dungeon gate was opening.
“An open-type dungeon,” Kwon Hanul observed, eyeing it closely.
Unlike instanced dungeons, which required entry, open-type dungeons expelled all their monsters outward.
He never imagined he’d witness such a rare dungeon in this area.
Just then, a group of people approached the dungeon gate. They must’ve been the team assigned to clear the area.
They varied in gender and age, but they had one thing in common—
Every single one of them belonged to the Hyukcheon bloodline.
‘Five inferior-bloods, three mixed-bloods, and one pureblood.’
As expected of Hyukcheon, each individual was formidable. Still, Kwon Hanul couldn’t help but watch them with concern.
“They look like rookies—probably just debuted. That dungeon’s going to be dangerous.”
Judging by the magical energy, the open-type dungeon was undoubtedly Platinum-grade.
Meanwhile, the Hyukcheon team was still fresh—newly minted fighters.
Even Hyukcheon blood couldn’t guarantee victory against a Platinum-grade dungeon right out of the gate.
“Still, if we intervene without permission, they’ll be furious.”
Given the Hyukcheon bloodline’s notorious pride, that was almost a certainty.
Kwon Hanul decided to watch for now. If things got critical, he could step in then.
“The gate’s opening!”
One of the bloodline fighters shouted. The dungeon gate split wide, and monsters began pouring out.
Pitch-black from head to toe.
Each with a different shape—some walked on four legs, others on two, and some even on one.
Shadowcrawlers.
Insectoid monsters, infamous for their grotesque appearance and lightning-fast, lethal strikes to vital points.
–Kirrk!
–Chirrk!
With chilling cries, the Shadowcrawlers charged. The Hyukcheon fighters summoned their Dragon Aura and met them head-on.
“Attack! Don’t fall back!”
“Let’s finish this before she shows up!”
“This time, we reclaim Hyukcheon’s pride!”
Their Dragon Aura whipped around them, mowing down the Shadowcrawlers.
At first glance, it seemed chaotic, but they moved in formation—organized and strategic.
Even for Hyukcheon, fighting Platinum-grade monsters was no easy feat. Yet they were holding their own—no, they were overwhelming the enemy.
But the monsters were Platinum-grade for a reason. It wasn’t going to end that easily.
The endless flood of Shadowcrawlers suddenly stopped. The fighters stared at the gate, confused.
‘...Why’d they stop?’
Suddenly, the dungeon entrance burst open, as if someone had grabbed the sides and ripped it apart.
Through the now two to three times wider gap, something began to emerge.
Another Shadowcrawler—but this one was different.
Over three meters tall. More than ten legs. Its entire body bristled with blades.
Its sheer presence froze the Hyukcheon fighters in place.
‘...So the boss finally shows himself.’
The pureblood among them spoke.
“Everyone, focus!”
At her shout, the others snapped back to attention.
“If we don’t give it our all, we die here! On my signal, charge together! I’ll crush its throat myself!”
The pureblood clenched her fist, Dragon Aura surging into her hand, like a searing fire gripped in her palm.
“Attack!”
With her command, the bloodline fighters rushed in as one.
At that instant, the blades covering the boss Shadowcrawler’s body all shifted—and lashed out.
Every single fighter was flung backward.
“Urgh!”
“Gah!”
Agonized groans echoed. Deep, blade-like gashes appeared on all their bodies, bleeding heavily.
“...Cough, cough.”
Even the pureblood wasn’t spared. She fared better than the others, but the damage was severe.
“...I didn’t think it’d be this strong…”
Her eyes filled with despair as she looked up at the monstrous Shadowcrawler boss.
“This is bad,” Kwon Hanul muttered, eyes fixed outside.
He had a bad feeling, and sure enough, they were all in danger now.
The others didn’t know what hit them—but Kwon Hanul saw it clearly.
The boss’s blades had extended in an instant, slicing through the Hyukcheon fighters like paper.
“I’ll go help them and be right back.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Huh?”
Joo Hayun silently stared out the window. Following her gaze, Kwon Hanul looked as well.
The Shadowspawn leader was swinging its blades, preparing to finish off the remaining clan members.
And then—it happened.
Someone dropped from the sky.
Her hair was tied back in a neat bun. She wielded a plain, unadorned longsword.
And she wore a black tracksuit.
‘...A tracksuit?’
She’s hunting monsters... in a tracksuit? That was practically suicide.
The only reason the blood clan members had survived their earlier encounter with the Shadowspawn leader was because they were wearing armor. Unless she was extraordinarily confident in her skills, she had to be completely insane.
“...Damn it.”
The pureblood clan member who had been lying on the ground clenched her teeth.
“You again.”
The woman spared her only a glance. She said nothing.
Instead, she gripped her longsword and calmly walked toward the Shadowspawn leader.
—Kreee?
The Shadowspawn leader noticed her approach. Recognizing her as a threat, it began to whip its blades around more furiously.
—Kreeek!
Its blades blurred. Dozens of afterimages lashed out at her.
The woman’s hand moved. In a flash, she deflected every single afterimage hurtling toward her.
—Kree?
Even the Shadowspawn leader was taken aback by the sheer speed and precision.
—KREEK!
More blades burst from its body. It swung them at her again, aiming to cut her down.
She moved.
Blocking each incoming blade, she closed in on the Shadowspawn leader.
‘...Incredible.’
While dodging its attacks, she began slicing off the creature’s blades, one by one.
Each time her sword moved, another of the monster’s blades fell to the ground with a dull thud.
—KREEEAAAH!
The Shadowspawn leader shrieked in fury. Even more blades erupted from its body.
But this time, they were massive—two huge, scythe-like blades grew from its sides.
—KREEEEK!
The giant blades began to vibrate violently. At the peak of that vibration, the Shadowspawn leader swung both blades in a crossing motion.
They slashed toward the woman, aiming to cut her down.
She didn’t dodge. Instead, she lunged forward, meeting the attack head-on with her sword.
It looked as though she was trying to block a club with a toothpick. The outcome seemed obvious.
And yet—she twisted her blade and lifted it upward.
The two enormous scythe-blades slid harmlessly past, soaring into the air.
‘She redirected them...’
It was an astonishing feat, nearly impossible to believe even when witnessing it firsthand.
Without hesitation, the woman surged forward.
—Kree!?
Sensing danger, the Shadowspawn leader tried to retreat. But she was faster.
She swung her sword upward, from low to high.
Her blade rose in a wide arc—and Kwon Hanul saw it.
A massive slash of energy shot up into the sky, as if slicing the heavens themselves.
The sword’s energy carved cleanly through the Shadowspawn leader, from groin to crown.
A thin line appeared across the creature’s body. Then it split in two and collapsed.
Black blood gushed from the severed halves, rising into the sky before falling like rain.
The blood showered down on the woman’s head.
“...Incredible.”
Kwon Hanul murmured without realizing it. That sword strike, which had felled a Platinum-grade monster in a single blow, was no ordinary technique.
He stepped out of the car and approached the woman. She stood still, soaked in black blood.
“You’re Mei Hong, right?”
At his question, the woman slowly turned toward him.
Her face was splattered with black blood, but he recognized her instantly.
She looked exactly the same as she had the last time he’d seen her.
“It’s been a while. First time seeing you since that day.”
Mei Hong said nothing, listening silently to Kwon Hanul’s voice.
“I came here because of you...”
He didn’t get to finish.
Suddenly, Mei Hong turned away.
“Hey, wait!”
Without warning, she shot off at a tremendous speed—and vanished somewhere in the distance.
Kwon Hanul stood alone, staring blankly in the direction she’d gone.
It took him a moment to process what had just happened.
“...Did I just get rejected?”
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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