Chapter Text
Seoul was currently on lockdown, and so were the surrounding cities. Civilians are encouraged to seek shelter in the protected areas or the bunkers outside of Seoul. Loud horns and screams fill the streets of the city as people race to get out as soon as possible, with the people of the Awakened Management Bureau and Korea’s government struggling to keep control. Tension is rising within the hunters of South Korea as they await more announcements from the Awakened Management Bureau.
A month ago, the system released the new South Korea rankings, with everyone dropping at least one rank. It was a huge shock throughout the country to see their supposedly dead national hero reclaim his throne above everyone else. Ham Seok-jeong, as the director of the Awakened Management Bureau, had to release an official statement, and had the Bureau quickly get into search for the situation.
But that wasn’t what put several of South Korea’s cities into lockdown.
Alarms were blaring at the Pado research center situated in Yeongjongdo Island just a kilometer off the coast of Incheon. Researchers and hunters alike were running around with their arms full, shouting to each other as a graph on a huge screen in their control area showed a sudden influx. Monitors flicker wildly with climbing energy readings and messy waveforms. In the middle of the chaos, Lee Sa-young stood still as he was surrounded by several different people squirming and shouting. Nobody could see his expression, not with his face covered with his signature gas mask.
A researcher with a tablet in hand frantically shouts. “Guild leader! The energy index just tripled! We’re well past the safety limit, we need to get in contact with the Bureau quickly!”
“Jung Bin has been contacted, he should be reaching here soon.” Sa-young looked down at the researcher as he received the tablet.
“We have never seen anything like this before,” another researcher trembles to him, “This.. this huge jump is creating a crack! A rift is quite literally trying to force itself to form!”
Sa-young calmly scrolls through the data in the tablet. There was a comparison chart between the data and characteristics of the West Sea Rift from 8 years ago to the now currently forming rift. He glances at the panicking researcher. “What do you mean by ‘forcing itself to form’?”
The researcher jumped at his call. “R-rifts and dungeons, they both form gradually over time before opening and letting the monsters out, correct? The surrounding mana energy forms an entrance for dungeons and a crack for rifts, b-but this rift is trying to rupture right away! It’s not forming, it’s jumping at the end of its phase and is trying to let the monsters out!” She explained with her arms flailing around.
The guild leader knits his eyebrows, which were hidden by his mask, on the new information. That would mean instead of forming a crack for hunters to enter, the rift will immediately release the monsters out. He would need to contact not only Jung Bin, but also get him and Ham Seok-jeong to contact the government.
“Guild leader!” A familiar voice calls out. “Jung Bin is here!”
Lee Sa-young turns around to see Seo Min-gi guiding the Bureau official towards the main room
“Hunter Lee Sa-young,” Jung Bin greets, “Is it really confirmed to be the same rift as the grade 5 rift from 8 years ago?
Sa-young handed over the tablet he was holding to Jung Bin. “Data on characteristics and containment levels seems to show almost the same exact numbers.”
Jung Bin watches the other’s gas mask carefully as he takes the tablet. Even if his face was obscured with the mask, Jung Bin knows Lee Sa-young well enough to recognize his expressions and feelings. And the way he’s talking currently.. Jung Bin has never seen him this serious, not since the first time they met each other in the ruins.
The possibility of this rift is endless, and it was definitely opening up old wounds.
The Bureau official looks down at the data, and saw the comparison chart. The rift currently forming over the Incheon coast was recognized as a grade 5. It is predicted to have the same attributes and traits as the one that formed 8 years ago. The one Hunter J perished in alongside 44 other hunters.
Jung Bin could feel a headache coming in. He scrolled lower. Then, his eyes opened wide.
“Predicted to burst within 6 weeks!? Sa-young, if the rift will really rupture with monsters right away, we need to start evacuation operations as soon as possible!” He pushes the tablet back to the guild leader’s chest, who caught it with both hands. Jung Bin quickly took out his phone and dialed the director.
“Jung Bin,” a female voice crackled from the speaker.
“Director,” Jung Bin responded, “You need a board meeting now.”
Sa-young watches as Jung Bin walks away with his phone to his ear, discussing the rift with Ham Seok-jeong. Then, he saw Seo Min-gi approach him.
“Guild leader, if this was the same rift as 8 years ago, and with South Korea’s huge hunter rank change… Do you think J is..?” His question fades slowly, afraid to offend the leader.
Lee Sa-young continued staring at Jung Bin.
“Hopefully.”
“But how is that even possible!? That rift closed 2 weeks after it opened, why would it open again after 8 years!?” A man in a suit, who seems to be an important person Sa-young doesn’t care to know of, shouts as he slams papers of data to the table.
Lead Researcher Yoon, who Lee Sa-young brought with him alongside Min-gi to debrief the meeting, answered. “We’re trying to get to the bottom of it sir–”
“Is there a possibility the grade may go higher?” Another person cuts over.
“If these readings are accurate, we will need to mobilize as many hunters as possible!” And another.
Jung Bin stood up. “Everyone, please calm down. With Lead Researcher Yoon’s debriefing, we should–”
“Get your team to start evacuating people now!”
“Sir–”
“Everyone.” A chill voice sounded through the room, calmly said but effectively silencing the previously chaotic room. Min-gi shivered, it was as if the temperature of the meeting place went down by 10 degrees celsius. Everybody turns to the source of the voice.
There, Ham Seok-jeong sat at the top of the meeting table. She looked composed, with one hand braced on the polished surface, and the other putting down a file which was previously reviewed.
“If all of you want to continue shouting, get out of my meeting room.”
Everyone stood silently. Even the government and military officials, who were supposedly on equal grounds as the Awakened Management Bureau’s director, looked nervous. Ham Seok-jeong turns towards where Lee Sa-young is, who was sitting calmly and looked like he was ignoring the chaos.
“Lee Sa-young, researcher Yoon. Since you have verified that this rift would possibly burst as soon as it finishes forming, evacuations will need to be done in Incheon.”
The director turns to her assistant. “Assistant Jin, debrief me.”
Assistant Jin, who was standing up by her side all this time, coughs and quickly presents his tablet to the director. “8 years ago, for the previous West Sea Rift, we deployed 20 C ranks, 15 B ranks, and 8 A ranks along with Hunter J as the sole S rank, totalling up to 45 hunters. With the grade of the rift remaining the same since 8 years ago, I’m assuming that means the monsters have not..been killed yet.” The assistant ends that sentence timidly as he looks around. Talking bad about Hunter J might earn you a punch in the face, so he felt incredibly scared, especially while being surrounded by high ranking and powerful figures. He coughs again. “Which means we will need to deploy even more hunters than just 45. Not only that, we may need to discuss deploying shields and borders around Incheon, to make sure the monsters bursting from the rift don't escape outside of the city.”
“Alright, let’s start with the availability of our hunters.” Ham Seok-jeong turns back to the left side of the table, where not only Sa-young was there, but also other top guild leaders, such as Guild leader Mok Tae-oh of the HB guild and Guild leader Song Jo-heon of the Samra guild.
Song Jo-heon smiles. “Samra Guild currently has 3 A rankers and 17 B rankers. The others are either on dungeon and rift expeditions or in recovery. If necessary, I can contact them, but it will take at least a week to bring them back.”
What about yourself? Hangs silently in the room.
Lead Researcher Yoon quickly raises his hand. “Ah, I think one week is fine. The rift is expected to finish forming within 6 weeks.”
Song Jo-heon nods to the information. “Then we would have a total of 4 A rankers and 20 B rankers available for the rift.”
Mok Tae-oh, who seemed to be off on his own world this whole time, speaks in a slightly worried tone. “We can send 3 A ranks and 7 B ranks. I have a C ranker who has high leveled support skills. I can also go myself as well. But I’ll need confirmation before I deploy them to frontline rift suppression.”
Ham Seok-jeong stares at the man. “You look like you have something to say, Mok Tae-oh.”
The man looks up, meeting Ham Seok-jeong’s eyes directly. “..Is the Bureau expecting us to throw hunters in without knowing what’s inside? We’re not going to repeat the massacre from eight years ago. If this rift really is bursting the moment it finishes forming, then we need a layered plan, not just numbers.”
Lee Sa-young scoffs. “Then we’ll draft containment and assault teams separately. Direct a group to engage the monsters pouring out and another group hold the borders up. I can offer my assistance alongside 5 A rankers and 14 B rankers. I have several formidable C rankers too.”
Assistant Jin, who was noting down everything, finally continues speaking. “Other than the offered services from the guild, we have approximately 2 A ranks and 40 B ranks that I believe would be able to help with the rift.”
“Good,” Ham Seok-jeong nods. “We have more than enough.”
A man stands up, looking like he was about to object. “Director–”
“We don’t have to dogpile all our available hunters into fighting against the rift. As Mok Tae-oh and my assistant have said, we need to do something for the borders of Incheon. Assistant Jin.”
“Yes, director?” He replied.
“Have you got in contact with the Seowoon guild?”
“Yes, director. The Seowoon guild is able to provide assistance around the borders of Incheon.”
Ham Seok-jeong nods and turns to another man. “Ministry Kang Jihwan.”
Kang Jihwan, the Ministry of Defense who was previously sitting silently around the chaos, finally talks. “Director. We will prepare defensive barriers and deploy mobile shield units around key Incheon sectors. We’ll also set up stations for the supporters from Seowoon guild. But other than Incheon, I still believe Seoul and the surrounding cities should be evacuated too.”
“Do you believe the damage may reach that large? Doing unnecessary evacuation may lead to terrifying the public. We can’t afford more chaos from that side.”
“In the first place, setting up giant defensive walls and closing Incheon completely will already cause distraught amongst South Korea. Not only that, we aren’t familiar with the monsters coming up. If it managed to destroy 44 hunters and our national hero, they could be powerful enough to maybe even go against our borders, director.”
With Hunter J and the 44 hunters being brought up again, the room somehow turned gloomy, but a sharp voice suddenly cut through.
“Could the rift appearing again be connected to J’s appearance in the rankings?” Mok Tae-oh questioned, voice heavy.
Lee Sa-young didn’t answer immediately. He tapped his finger against the table once, a steady beat to a storm building behind his mask. The coincidence is just so, so perfect.
Ham Seok-jeong stared at the files in front of her. “..For now, we do not rely on unconfirmed hopes. We prepare for the worst.”
There was a long silence.
Lee Sa-young stood at the makeshift camp stationed at a beach in Yeongjongdo Island. It was the closest possible location to the forming rift that they could reach on dry land. There were multiple camps surrounding the area, all built to house the researchers and hunters alike.
He watches the visible distortions that shimmers vibrantly above the sea where the rift is supposed to form, creating strong heavy winds that blow strongly towards the shore.
It’s been a month since the board meeting was held. Preparing and reaching out to available hunters was easier than evacuating Incheon. After all, it was a highly touristic place. Defensive shields strengthened with powerful magic stones thanks to Hong Ye-seong’s abilities (and promises to visit Incheon for a vacation once the whole ordeal finishes) had already been set up around Incheon and nearby coasts. The nearby cities were still evacuating though.
There was only around 2 weeks left until the rift finishes forming.
Suddenly, the shimmering distortions above the sea sparked wildly, turning a shade of red. The ground rumbles in response, the waves moving erratically. Many shouts could be heard from the camps behind Lee Sa-young as he stables himself. There were cracks on the sky.
“Guild Leader!” Seo Min-gi appears right next to him. “They’re calling in the assault hunters to the front line! The rift has accelerated, it’s going to burst any time now!”
Lee Sa-young’s long coat flutters violently in the wind as he watches the cracks on the sky above the sea fracture further. The once-subtle distortions cut further, sharp and glowing, like veins of lightning on the sky.
“Guild Leader!” Min-gi calls again, more urgent this time as the ground shakes beneath them.
Sa-young takes out a paper, grabbed Min-gi with him before ripping it off. They are brought to the front lines right away, where hunters in armored gear are already scrambling into formation, weapons and accessories out. There are loud alarms blaring across the beach as Jung Bin shouts orders and tactical shields are raised at the edge of the barrier line.
Behind Lee Sa-young, dozens of Awakened hunters are already forming a wall at the shore. Far at the borders, a Seowoon Guild supporter deploys a wide-range barrier spell, thickening the protective dome overhead.
Lee Sa-young turns behind him. The rumblings have stopped, but the cracks continue to spread. He looks at everyone's tense expression. “Do not attack until you receive my signal.”
Each hunter nodded to the order. They all stood silently at the eerily calm beach, with only the howling winds accompanying them. Waiting for the rift to finally open. There were hopes that it was a false rift, or hopes of the 44 hunters walking out smiling with Hunter J after a victory.
The cracks form farther and farther, glowing even more red with sparks everywhere.
The mouth of the rift opens, and a calamity crawls out.