After completely destroying another rank B dungeon, there was only one more left in Star City. We went toward this last dungeon called [Bullish Arena] where even more squads led by rank A hunters were repeatedly diving in.
When we arrived we were met with another empty space where a monolith used to stand, with hunters cheering in the clearing. My mind grew calm at this site. It seemed like we were finally heading in the right direction. Things would get better from here.
---
In an unknown location
A being dr.a.p.ed in black was overlooking multiple transparent screens that showed complex data. The being had a sharp horn protruding from the center of its head, giving its humanoid appearance an imposing look
It noticed a change on one of the screens that quickly grabbed its attention, making a motion to the underling sitting right behind the screen using a glistening three-point tipped weapon.
"What happened there?"
The aide behind the screen shot to attention and replied, "We began losing some of the major connections that were already established on Planet 90X in close succession"
The sharp horned being looked at the screen as his eyes flashed with a piercing light as he read the data on this target and asked the aide "How many pieces do we have on standby?"
There was a ruffling of some doc.u.ments before a reply came, "We currently have the optimum volume ready for the descent on the next planned target"
A second passed as the sharp horned man seemed to think, before a decisive command came out, "Divert the entire volume towards Planet 90X"
A shocked expression rose on the aide's face when it heard this, and asked to make sure. "Sir, is that necessary? We will be extremely restricted in our actions towards that target should anything change in the future, and redirecting this much traffic would use a lot of essence"
There was a momentary silence as the screens of data in the room fluctuated, before the commanding voice came out once again, "It is abnormal to start losing connections at this stage, and in rapid succession at that. Abnormalities have to be fully eliminated. I do not want any possibility of hope for those backward natives. Do it while also accelerating the release process."
A serious nod came from the aide as they adjusted parameters and redirected the coordinates. Directions were soon passed down as pieces moved into their respective positions. At another location not too far from them, there was a huge field that held beasts of all shapes and sizes as far as the eyes could see. There was an eerie quietness at the sight of these countless beasts as multiple small crystals in the field began emanating light barriers that sectioned them off into multiple groups
In a short period of time, everything was assembled and ready to go. With a nod from the aide, the sharp horned man crossed his legs and sat down while closing his eyes, seemingly putting in all his focus for what was about to happen.
---
I was watching the cheerful hunters when I suddenly felt a change. Even though I was still high in the sky, it felt as if the earth was vibrating. The vibrations only increased as seconds passed and everyone caught on and looked around them
The earth was shaking, the air was shaking, and a strange energy filled the surroundings. An old memory resurfaced in my mind as my face began to drain of all color. This...this was what happened a year ago. Extreme unease began settling in as I recalled what I felt back then and what I was feeling now. It felt much stronger
The faces of hunters soon turned into despair as they saw a familiar light cover the entirety of their sight, and explosions followed right after
BOOM! BOOOM! BOOM!
As if nails were being hammered onto a board, multiple monoliths smashed into the ground and took root. Noises and screams began to be heard as multiple impacts were felt around the city, with a huge one very near to where we are
I opened my eyes in shock to find another dungeon monolith more than two times bigger than the ones I had been clearing smash down onto the area of the dungeon that the hunter squads just destroyed. Some hunters that were still standing nearby were crushed, not even getting a second to let out dying screams
The impact blasted away those that were near as the new dungeon monolith stood erect and proud. Shocks soon turned into despair when hunters got their bearings and saw the bloody site in front of them, as well as the continuous screams that began resounding from the city
The most terrifying thing of all was the fact that the huge monolith that had just struck down was blinking red. Elizabeth had slumped down on top of the black eagle, her eyes showing pits of despair as she looked at the monolith ahead of us
My heart was about to lurch out of my chest as I looked at this monolith and observed the area around me. I was flying high up and had a good view of the city, but I couldn't believe what I saw. Monoliths that seemed to represent rank B dungeons had increased by more than 6, and besides this much larger monolith that appeared near us, there was another one just like it on the periphery of the city
Thoughts began to churn in my head as I didn't even know where to move to. The blinking red monolith near us began vibrating, not even giving a second of rest. I snapped out of my stupor and rushed towards the monolith with my right hand outstretched, hoping to make it in time before what was about to happen
My speed increased as I passed the hunters that were despondently looking forward on the ground as my arms neared the monolith…
BOOM!
I was knocked back by a huge impact while I watched with shock as the monolith in front of me began to bloom like a flower. Terrifying beasts soon began to fill the surroundings as one even larger grew out
ROAAAR!!!
A gruttal roar resounded out as a beast shining in white fur popped out. It had the general outline of a gorilla, yet its size defied normal conventions. It's piercing eyes opened and looked around as its mouth curled upwards and sharp teeth could be seen.
There were hundreds of beasts all around that looked toward this white gorilla that held a devilish smile on its face. Its smart eyes darted around as it looked at the hunters surrounded by beasts and roared out once more. This roar acted like a signal as the beasts jumped to the nearest hunter they could find.
My eyes felt like they were seeing blood as I found my body to already be rushing towards the huge TITAN. It's dark eyes met mine, and it's figure soon disappeared from the ground. [Danger Sense] began ringing as I turned my direction to the sky, only to be met with the newly appeared TITAN smashing its huge palm towards me
PAH!!!
...
Chapter 42 - Death and Destruction
It felt like I couldn't breathe as my figure was forced down to the ground like a missile.
BOOM!
The impact stole the air from my lungs as I felt multiple parts of my body ache in excruciating pain. I had no time to think as I saw the gorilla now diving down with a fist outstretched. My body was covered in a golden glow as I cast [Guardian's Light] and pulled away from the deep pit, the fist smashing down missing me by a second
I wasted no time as I retaliated, casting [Frigid Impermanence] multiple times towards the huge beast. It seemed to instinctively evade the 5 meter cold blasts as the first two hit air, with only the third catching it while it was dodging and making contact
ROAR!
It called out with a furious expression as its left hand had deep red gashes with a blue freezing flame dancing on it. Fury took control of me as I kept on hearing the screams around me as more and more [Frigid Imparmanance] was cast towards the huge gorilla. It was able to evade less and less after the first hit, the cold flames permeating in its bones as more of the skills smashed onto its body
The fur and skin that seemed to provide it tremendous defense were tattered and bleeding, it's smiling expression completely gone as it looked at me in fear. My only response was more freezing blasts that smashed its body further down into the ground. I only watched as its body become more and more mangled, and soon enough there
was no sound coming from the beast
The area around it was still decimated from the cold explosions, but as it cleared I saw a shining [Skill Book] and glistening [Core]s on the ground. I dived down to grab what I saw as I began turning my attention to the hunters fighting the slightly smaller beasts in the background
I checked the information on the skill book as I began casting [Doom Bolt] multiple times towards the monsters clashing with the hunters. It was a rank A skill called [Instant Transfer- Move to any location you can see in an instant]. It was a very straight forward skill that I learned right away while furiously flying across the skies and continuing to shoot down red lighting to any monsters I saw
I couldn't cast [Frigid Impermanence] as they would destroy the surrounding hunters too, and could only strike down with the highest damage single target skill I held. Elizabeth was already on the move along with other rank A hunters that had been clearing the rank B dungeon. They had been taking down the monsters while saving as many lower level hunters and soldiers they could
I saw a hunter about to be eaten at a far off distance where I definitely wouldn't make it there by flying. [Instant Transfer] was used for the first time as my body disappeared and reappeared next to the man about to have his head devoured. My defense skills knocked the monster back as another red streak of lightning struck its chest and blew it away
The hunter thanked me while roughly breathing and I disappeared once more for another location, moving across the battlefield and taking down as many of the beasts as I could. There were mixtures of gorillas, apes, and orangutans that were 3 meters in size running around the field. Their numbers quickly dwindled as they were taken down by rank A hunters, with rank B hunters putting up a fight as well
The area was soon coming to a standstill as mostly hunters remained, many injured and dead as they looked around them in fear and anguish. Friends they were talking to just a moment ago laid dead in their surroundings.
After blasting remaining monsters with [Doom Bolt] I flew around casting [Guardian's Light] to all the hunters that were badly injured and still breathing. All reservations were out the window. I cast as many skills as I could, minimizing much of the damage. I already saw the looks of hope and wonder from the gazes of high ranked hunters as I finished healing the people in the surrounding
I took a second to stop in the air as I looked into the city where smoke could be seen and explosions continued to resound. The battle was still going on there, and even more casualties were occurring. I looked at the hunters below me that were either almost out of energy or looking towards the city in anger.
I was already flying towards the center of the city as my voice rang out powerfully while using [War Cry], "Snap out of it and stick together, save as many as you can!"
My words trailed behind me as I rushed towards the city even faster, with my brain quickly churning and giving me the idea to use [Eagle Eye] in conjunction with [Instant Transfer]. My eyes focused and moved to a position a bit over a mile away in the city where hunters were about to be overwhelmed by monsters, and my figure quickly disappeared from my current position as [Instant Transfer] was used
---
Magnar was looking at the sight in front of him with fear and trepidation. Just minutes after they watched the complete breakdown of the monolith that used to be [Lion's Den], the world began shaking...and it happened again
The same as before, dungeons appeared. The newly appeared dungeons quickly flashed red and a dungeon break occurred. Monsters rushed out and he was now fighting on the front lines while trying to mitigate the damage as much as possible
"PULL BACK!"
He was screaming commands towards his soldiers as he saw them being overwhelmed. A large number of rank B monsters were running amok, with a huge TITAN upfront being held back by a rank A hunter that stayed behind
Apprehension continued to grow in his heart as he saw more and more soldiers fall. His own power wasn't enough to protect those he cared for. Screams continued to ring out as blood and gore followed from the claws or teeth of the beasts
His breathing got rougher as he felt the low energy that remained in his body. He spent the majority of his time in the office, never exerting himself this much before. He looked at the despondent faces of his soldiers that were pushed far back, trying their best to hold on. No, he wouldn't let it end like this
"Find a chance to break through!"
He screamed out another command as he moved to the front of the defense line and his body blazed in a colorful light. He absorbed the blows of two monsters as he grabbed a soldier and threw them to the back. He would save as many as he could with the strength he had left
THUCK!
He then felt a deep impact as something heavy pierced the armor wrapping his chest, and a metallic taste filled his lips. His soldiers screamed and tried to move in, but could come no closer as his body was surrounded by monsters, the defense line pushed further back.
Magnar looked at the distorted face of the beast that had its arm in his chest as memories of a different time flashed through his mind. He felt his body slump onto the ground as the beast pulled out the hand piercing his chest and formed it into a fist before smashing down again
Memories and expectations of hope for the powerful hunter that had gone towards the other side of the city some time back were repeating in his head as his clear eyes began closing. The fist rushing down was abruptly stopped as golden swords, red lightning, and a golden light began descending from the skies
His eyes that were about to shut opened a bit more for the last time as he saw the hazy figure of a man materializing above them. Relief passed through him as he hoped this wasn't an illusion, and his eyes snapped shut. The lightning and swords struck down to meet the monsters, and the light went towards him
The golden light began descending on his body, but his eyes stayed shut. A second. A third. A forth light descended down, but his eyes remained closed. The destructive lightning and golden swords had reached their target on time, but the golden light did not
A frenzied howl rang out in the surrounding as more golden swords and lightning flew at the bounteous groups of monsters that still surrounded the hunters
Chapter 43 - Dissolution
In the capital of the Blessed Empire
A fast-paced battle was taking place between a burly man holding a sharp spear and a large armadillo-like beast that moved at a speed not matching its body size. Around them lay shattered buildings in flames, with a huge mansion standing majestically in the background
Beasts of all shapes and sizes were abundant in the surroundings as they fought with hunters to their last breath. The ferocity of the fights around the burly hunter and armadillo was at another level
The sharp spear in the man's hand shone a white light as it expanded to five meters and struck down on the hard armor of the beast.
CRACK!
A horrid sound was heard as the hard shell broke and meat flew out. The attacks weren't over as the man rose up before bringing his shining spear down once more, nailing the armadillo to the ground.
An instant later, an exquisite battle armor along with [Core]s appeared beside the huge beast. The man bent down and grabbed the battle armor, fitting it on his body as if it were meant for him. He stood proud with an impassive expression as he looked at the battles happening around him. The grand building behind him had been protected, and would stay that way until his last breath. There were too many important people bunkered down in that place
His figure vibrated as the muscles wrapping all over his body like steel cables constricted. Only a flash could be seen as he moved and cut down any monsters that neared. He was the most famous hunter known around the world. He was Steel Mikhail
---
In one of the allied countries of the United Federation.
A man with glistening dark hair had his katana stabbed into the skull of a beast. All around him was a bloody mess of bodies and bones. The hunters that surviv
ed the dungeon breaks were looking at this man fearfully as he yawned and pulled the katana up
He looked to the distance and saw another TITAN that was rampaging. A dark light shone from his body as he suddenly began to grow larger, until reaching 5 meters in height. He pushed on the ground with a disinterested expression as he flew towards the TITAN with the katana in hand.
His large figure was wrapped in the dark light as it streaked across the sky. This was the most powerful rank A hunter in all the countries of the United Federation, The Dark Sword, Kazuhiko.
---
Rage was bubbling throughout every inch of my body as [Doom Bolt]s and [Smite]s continued to be repeatedly cast. Light upon light of my greatest rank A healing skill went down towards the body of a person I had grown familiar with these past few days, and yet nothing changed
I looked at the relieved expression apparent on Magnar's face as I shook my head in sadness and disappointment. Just a second longer and…
I rose up with complex feelings as the soldiers that were freed from the beasts' relentless attacks circled Magnar's body. There was sorrow in the air as people collected themselves, but I didn't have the time to stay. I tried to put the matter behind me for now and keep on moving. Even seconds were precious, and I couldn't waste them wallowing. There were many more scenes in the city repeating just like this
My body disappeared from this location and I continued scouring throughout the city, helping other hunters that were about to be overwhelmed and saving as many normal humans as I could.
Infinite Mana In The Apocalypse c1-705 Page 21
