Texas, USA.

Keeeek!

Currently, more than half of Texas has been occupied by the Flesh Eaters.

The movement of the Flesh Eaters started changing strangely two days ago.

The Flesh Eaters, who were trying to cross the Mexican border, suddenly changed direction and began attacking the cities of Texas again.

Around the same time, giant leeches that had spread around the world began gathering in Texas.

It was because of Michael, who received control over earth’s calamities from Halphas.

Michael had the giant leeches attack a feed factory that placed an order for the growth accelerator production, sending half of them to Texas.

And the Flesh Eaters, who absorbed the growth accelerator transported by the giant leeches, were rapidly increasing in number.

White House, USA.

“As you can see from the video, the growth of the Flesh Eaters has accelerated significantly, and their numbers are increasing rapidly.”

The Chief of Staff of the Army reported to the President while showing him a live satellite video. The video was full of Flesh Eaters covering the ground.

104.28.193.250

“How much faster has it gotten?”

“It originally took 15 days for them to grow to maturity, but according to experts, at the current rate, they will mature in 3 days.”

“So, it’s almost 5 times faster…?”

“Yes. And there is additional reporting on the mutant entities.”

“Mutant entities?”

When the President made a confused expression,

“Yes. These are the entities that were reported during the Houston evacuation operation.”

The Secretary of Defense quickly showed a tablet displaying a monster with a cherry tomato head and human-like arms and legs.

“Ah… I remember now. Continue the explanation.”

“Yes. I’ll continue. We have found out where these mutant entities are being bred.”

“Produced? Not just growing?”

Until now, the Flesh Eaters were thought to grow like seeds. The term ‘breeding’ didn’t fit.

“Yes. Please watch this.”

The Chief of Staff showed another video.

A video running at 20 times the normal speed.

In the video, there was a much larger Flesh Eater than the others. Almost 30 meters in size.

As time passed, the cherry tomato head split open and bloomed into a giant flower.

And from the mouth in the center of the flower, something could be seen crawling out.

“A group of mutants…”

“Yes. Those mutant entities are hunting and supplying nutrients to the mother body.”

“Are there many of those?”

“According to our current analysis, one such mother body appears for every 1 million Flesh Eaters.”

“Hmm… Dealing with just the Flesh Eaters is already tough… and now this…”

The President’s face grew even darker upon receiving the report.

“So what’s the plan? How are we going to deal with them?”

“Mr. President, we request permission to use nuclear missiles.”

The Secretary of Defense spoke up in response to the President’s question.

Since the high heat could cause damage, using nuclear missiles could eliminate many of them.

“Nuclear missiles?! No matter what, that’s…”

The President hesitated at the mention of nuclear weapons. It was natural to hesitate. It was the right thing to do.

To use nukes, and on U.S. soil at that…

Even with a clear reason and justification, it was a decision that required careful consideration.

“If we rely on hunters and the military to stop the Flesh Eaters, the damage will be too great. Moreover, given their current position, they are gradually moving eastward.”

Texas was already mostly destroyed by the Flesh Eaters, so using nuclear missiles would not cause much more damage.

As time passed, the number of Flesh Eaters would increase, resulting in greater damage.

The Secretary of Defense passionately argued the reasons and justification for using nuclear missiles, trying to persuade the President.

“Sigh. Alright. I grant permission. But evacuation of the people living in Texas must be completed first.”

The President finally spoke after contemplating for a long time.

“Yes. Of course. We will complete the evacuation of all citizens in Texas within 100 hours!”

As soon as the President’s permission was granted, the U.S. military immediately began the evacuation operation for the people of Texas.

Time remaining until the launch of the nuclear missile: 100 hours.

“Kekeke. So this is Korea.”

Michael had arrived at Gimpo Airport aboard a private jet to destroy the safe zone in Korea.

He was carrying a cargo hold full of Flesh Eater seeds.

The only place on Earth with a safe zone. To completely conquer Earth, destroying the safe zone was the priority.

“Chairman, we will move the cargo to the designated location.”

“Go ahead.”

For this mission, he had summoned half of the giant leeches on Earth to the East Sea.

The moment the safe zone disappears, the giant leeches will enter Korea and supply growth accelerators to the Flesh Eater seeds.

“Kekeke. Then this small country will collapse in no time.”

And then they would immediately move to the continent to bring down China.

Once the two most powerful nations on Earth, the United States and China, fell, everything else would be easy.

A little later.

“Here it is.”

Thud.

Michael arrived at the Black Tower on the very outskirts of the safe zone in Seoul and placed his hand on the tower.

Then,

“Disappear.”

As he infused the power of destruction into the tower, the Black Tower began to vanish.

***

75th floor of the Black Tower.

“Alright. I will manage the Faceless Thief Loon from now on!”

“Understood. I will acknowledge that the compensation for damages owed by the Faceless Thief Loon will henceforth be paid by the Wizard Association.”

“Yes!”

Having received the agreement of the Chairman of the Wandering Merchants Association, Mason, and the Chairman of the Freelance Mercenaries Association, Hannibal, Iona was delighted.

Kyoot kyoot kyoot. Now my work will decrease!

Imagining Loon diligently writing reports on her behalf, Iona cheerfully headed towards the 99th floor of the tower.

When she arrived on the 99th floor, the members of the 99th floor were still the same.

Theo was dozing off on Sejun’s lap. Cuengi and Blackie were sleeping against Sejun’s butt. And then…

Kyoot?! A hamster?

Iona spotted a brown hamster holding a twig in one hand and eagerly accepting peanuts from Sejun.

“Kyoo-kyoo-kyoo-kyoo-kyoo-”

How dare it… to my Park Theo-nim!!!!

Iona approached Blackster, drawing up her magical power.

***

To think my name is Blackster…

Blackster, having received a new name from Sejun, was filled with self-loathing.

Crunch. Crunch.

“Tasty.”

But eating these peanuts made him feel a little better.

Then,

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Blackster felt a ferocious aura enveloping him, making him shudder.

“What is this?”

I’m scared!

Blackster hurriedly shoved the peanut into his mouth and dug into the ground under Sejun’s leg to hide. His swift movement was fitting for a thief.

Who is it?

Peeking out from under Sejun’s leg, Blackster searched for the source of the menacing aura.

And then,

“Kyoo-kyoo-kyoo-kyoo-kyoo-”

He saw a pure white hamster radiating a fierce aura approaching him.

The Great Wizard of Destruction, Iona?! Wait, she’s at the fifth stage of angry ‘Kyoo’?!

Why is she like this towards me?

Recognizing Iona, Blackster trembled with fear.

“Puhuhut. Iona, you’re here, meow?!”

Theo, who had been dozing, woke up and greeted Iona.

“Kyoo-kyoo-kyoo-yes! But Theo-nim, who is that hamster?!”

Though Theo’s greeting had calmed her anger considerably, Iona still asked angrily.

“Oh, that’s Blackster. And by the way, he’s a male.”

Understanding why Iona was angry, Sejun quickly cleared up the misunderstanding.

Despite not being able to handle his own love life, Sejun was exceptionally perceptive in these situations.

“Kyoot kyoot kyoot. I see.”

He’s a male.

Iona smiled brightly at Sejun’s words and nestled into Theo’s tail.

Then,

“Sejun-nim, here is the bounty for the Faceless Thief Loon.”

Iona handed Sejun the bounty she had received.

“Hehehe. Thanks. By the way, how much is the bounty?”

Sejun asked as he received the pouch with a bright smile.

“750 billion Tower Coins.”

“That’s really a lot.”

“Yes. He stole quite a lot. Sejun-nim, I want to hire Loon. I don’t know if you’re aware, the Faceless Thief Loon…”

Originally, Loon was supposed to repay the compensation and rot in prison for 100 years.

However, she eagerly explained that if she hired Loon, he could work off the compensation for damages and that the other associations had agreed to overlook it.

“Alright. Go ahead. I was actually thinking of sending him to Iona to learn magic.”

“Really?! I’ll teach him well!”

Iona’s face brightened at Sejun’s response, as she had planned to personally train Loon for a few months to improve his magic skills.

“Blackster, go with Iona and learn a lot, okay?”

“Yes! I will do my best!”

Perhaps because he was in front of Iona, Blackster responded in a tense voice.

“What?! Blackster?”

She had asked to hire Loon, but suddenly it was Blackster?

When Iona looked confused,

“Loon is Blackster, meow! Chairman Park gave Loon his new name, meow!”

Theo explained Loon’s situation to Iona.

“Kyoot kyoot kyoot. I see! It’s a great name!”

Iona praised Sejun’s naming skills,

Hang in there.

and looked at her fellow victim of Sejun’s naming with a sympathetic expression.

“Then please leave Blackster to me! I’ll teach him well!”

“I’ll be going now!”

With that, Blackster, holding the World Tree branch tightly, said goodbye to Sejun and left with Iona.

“Now it’s time to get to work.”

Sejun approached the sausage tree.

He had harvested sausages two days ago, and already the tree was laden with sausages again.

“Our Sausage is working hard.”

Sejun praised the tree, patting its branches, and began harvesting the sausages.

[You have harvested sausages.] ···

..

.

While he was diligently harvesting sausages,

“Huh?!”

Sejun noticed not just the abundant sausages, but one particularly long and thick giant sausage that was glowing faintly.

It’s a giant sausage!

Sejun hurriedly harvested the sausage, assuming it was a new variety.

But instead,

[You have harvested the Relic Giant Sausage Staff.] [Your job experience increases slightly.]

[Your proficiency in Harvesting Lv. 8 increases slightly.]

[You gained 100,000 experience points.]

“Huh? Relic?”

Is this a staff?

Sniff sniff.

It smells like sausage though?

As Sejun sniffed the sausage in his hand,

[You have achieved the feat of harvesting a Relic.] [As a reward for the achievement, the shelf life of the Relic is doubled.]

“Huh?”

Relics have a shelf life too?

Sejun checked the options of the Giant Sausage Staff.

[Giant Sausage Staff] → A Relic sent by the God of Sausages, Vienna, who oversees all sausages.

→ It is made of sausage and smells strongly of sausage, but it is hard and flexible.

→ Vienna used to nibble on the Giant Sausage Staff during battles to satisfy her hunger.

→ When consumed, all stats increase by 20.

→ Shelf life: 60 days

→ Usage restriction: Strength 1000 or more, Agility 1000 or more

→ Creator: Vienna, the God of Sausages

→ Grade: S

“Sent by the God of Sausages, Vienna?”

Is there such a god?

Although a bit skeptical,

“Thank you, Vienna-nim.”

Sejun expressed his gratitude to Vienna for sending him the Relic and created a 3.3 Square meters Vienna Road.

While Sejun was making the Vienna Road,

Wooong.

“Huh?!”

Aileen checked the vibrating crystal orb.

[You have acquired an additional Relic.] [It is a one-time-use Relic.]

[It reduces the time required for the Great Black Tower’s growth by 200 days.]

“As expected of our Sejun!”

He’s done something again!

As Aileen rejoiced,

[The growth of the Great Black Tower is complete.] [The Great Black Tower’s functions are activated.]

[It will take 3 days to include Earth, the dimension currently managed by the Black Tower, in its management area.]

[After 3 days, Earth will be temporarily incorporated as the 0th floor of the Black Tower.]

A black veil began to envelop Earth.

*****