Chapter 294: The Mightiest Guild, ‘Hardcore Corporation’

The ceiling shattered, revealing the gigantic face of a goat.

“GRROOOOOAR!”

A shadow cast across the sky.

The ground cracked open like a turtle’s shell under its thunderous roar.

Fear was palpable.

It was daunting not to even twitch a finger.

Tremble, tremble, tremble!

Everyone froze in their place.

These people, who had struggled to survive, saw their instinct to live fade away in the face of overpowering terror.

[The ‘Black Goat’ uses ‘Crushing Wave’!]

A sinister light gathered in the mouth of the Black Goat.

It was the same accursed attack that had destroyed the Great Wall.

“Ah…”

A short sigh escaped from Kim Ki-tae’s lips.

People hiding in the underground parking lot screamed and hugged each other.

An image of a mother clutching her child caught the eye.

One second. Two seconds. And three.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

A highly compressed ball of magical energy was fired in a straight line.

From where the Black Goat stood to the entrance of the parking lot, everything within the light’s radius began to evaporate.

There was no way to block it.

Not even the will to dodge.

This was the end.

That’s what they thought, when suddenly…

FZZT FZZT!

A red, pentagram symbol appeared in front of them all.

KABOOM!

As massive magical energies collided, clouds of dust erupted from the ground.

“Haah…”

Another short sigh.

A person with a geometric patterned mask emerged from the dust.

“Uh, unknown… Player?”

“Why the hell do I have to deal with such tough stuff! Honestly, this calls for a month’s supply of chicken. And fries with cheese sauce! And cola with loads of ice! Preferably zero cola!”

Elise muttered to herself, her gaze turned towards the Black Goat.

“Look at you, I’m so pissed off and you’re just making me angrier!”

[Unique ability ‘Blood Lord’ activated!]

The sky was dyed the color of blood.

“GRROOOOAR!”

“Making noises like ‘groar,’ huh.”

Elise waved her hand through the air.

Dozens of red javelins impaled the Black Goat’s body.

Staggering.

The Black Goat took a step back.

This was just the beginning.

A disturbance began to unfold simultaneously around the world.

***

Europe.

A line of Black Goats traveling along a desolate highway in Southern France halted in their tracks.

They saw someone blocking their path.

Step by step.

Dazzling blonde hair flowed over pristine white armor.

It was Teresa.

Beside her was Cheon Yuseong.

“By now, everyone should have arrived at their positions.”

“That’s right. Everyone started before us.”

Cheon Yuseong nodded.

“Elise should be fine on her own, and with Cheon Yuseong… and her,” Teresa said, glancing to his side.

Locking eyes, a pure, beautiful woman with jet-black hair and an innocent smile stood beside him.

Chuhonsayeong.

The master swordswoman who invented the Chuhong Sword and the mentor of Cheon Yuseong. She should have remained with the Martial Alliance to prepare for the war against the Empire but was persuaded by Cheon Yuseong’s heartfelt plea to sacrifice her ‘inner elixir’ and leave the Tower.

“We’ll serve as bait. In the meantime, Master, please cut off the creature’s lifeline.”

“Oh dear. Is Cheon Gong-ja asking a delicate lady to wield her sword? Even against such a large and vicious monstrosity?”

Chuhonsayeong gasped in feigned shock, her performance exaggerated.

“Your tone… What is that, seriously! And when has the master ever been frail…”

“Come now, try to follow my lead. ‘Please help, my beautiful and powerful master…’ Like this.”

“Are you serious?”

“Hurry up. Otherwise, you two might have to deal with that monster yourselves.”

“Cheon Yuseong! It’s coming!”

“I know. Dammit.”

Cheon Yuseong gritted his teeth.

His face flushed with embarrassment, but there was no time to hesitate.

“Please… Please help. Beautiful and mighty Sword Maiden.”

“Haha. How could I refuse such a cute disciple’s plea?”

Chuhonsayeong playfully pinched Cheon Yuseong’s cheeks.

Any previous sternness vanished, leaving only a master deeply affectionate for her disciple.

SWISH!

Chuhonsayeong drew a snow-white sword.

“You haven’t forgotten what I’ve taught you, right? I won’t tolerate being overshadowed by the student of the Black Emperor.”

[Unique ability ‘Song of the Sword’ activated!]

Chuhonsayeong unleashed her unique ability.

“There’s no need to worry about that. I will surpass him once this ordeal is over.”

Following that, Cheon Yuseong also released his unique ability.

[Unique ability ‘Song of the Sword’ activated!]

An indescribable energy enveloped their swords.

A pure light surged over a dozen meters along the sword spirits.

“I will ensure the first blow is blocked.”

Teresa advanced her shield.

[Unique ability ‘Blessing of the Stars’ activated!]

Thus.

The saint who had saved Amsterdam once again took action to save Europe.

***

At the same time.

The landscape where Andria of the fifth layer was located had been completely transformed due to the Black Goats.

The coliseum was gone, the mines had collapsed, and the mental ward was partially destroyed.

Yet, it was not completely over.

“Haah… haah… haah.”

Andria breathed heavily.

The other bosses of the remaining districts were either dead or had fled.

The only one left standing guard alone in her district was Andria.

“It’s not over… not yet.”

Andria bit her lip.

This place was a precious haven left by Master Jinhyuk.

It had given life meaning to her, who had been at rock bottom.

‘I’ll defend it even if it kills me.’

Even if she fell in battle, running away was not an option.

[Andria activates ‘Fox Bead’!]

Nine tails ignited with the souls of foxes in flames.

Thump… Thump. Thwack!

Andria blurred with afterimages as she moved at high speed toward the Black Goat’s feet.

The flames spread in nine directions before converging into one point.

WHOOSH!

Blue infernal fire enveloped the Black Goat’s body in an instant.

But.

‘It doesn’t even… react.’

The infernal fire barely scorched its skin.

“GRROOAAAR…”

As if annoyed by the presence of a mere gnat, the Black Goat prepared a sphere in its mouth.

Crushing Wave.

The light that had shredded countless people was aimed at Andria.

At that moment.

“You’ve had a tough time fending them off by yourself.”

A new voice interjected.

A handsome man with deep silver hair stood in the path of the Crushing Wave.

His face twisted slightly, but the malevolence oozing from his body sharpened even further.

“Quite powerful for a mere thought form. It almost brings back nightmares of the past.”

This was one of the proud Demon Lords of the demon world.

Veriel, known as the Rotten Heart, manifested.

“Still, it’s foolish for you creatures to bare your fangs at me.”

A blood-red spear formed at the tips of Veriel’s fingers.

Crackle! Fizzt!

Sparks flew.

And then, in an instant.

“Tell Shub-Niggurath that I am here in this layer.”

The spear vanished without a preparatory motion.

Accompanied by the sound of tearing air, it caused five sonic booms.

BOOM!

“GRRRAAAAH!”

The chest-struck Black Goat was lifted off the ground.

The shock was so immense that even its massive body couldn’t withstand it.

But the shock was just beginning.

Crack!

Crack!

The spear whirled, exuding even more powerful magical energy.

Runes, each bearing curses and spells, simultaneously began to consume the area around the spear.

“GRR… GRROOAAAR!”

The Black Goat’s jaw seemed to tear apart from the force.

BWWOOM…

…and then a tremendous BOOM!

The body was blown away, hitting a cliff on the opposite side.

The sight was grotesque beyond words.

***

After getting thrashed, the queen hid in the sand, creating a brief lull in battle.

‘That should take care of the outer preparations.’

Jinhyuk nodded in satisfaction.

Thanks to a well-placed team of reliable companions, the worst-case scenario was now avoidable.

The gates that appeared in the martial world were also being handled by the master, Sweet Potato, T-Bone, and the ancient warriors.

Buying time should be sufficiently manageable.

‘As for the outside situation…’

[Outbreak ‘Beginning of the Nightmare.’ Is this the end of everything?]

[Even major guilds are helpless and forced to watch.]

[Black Tuesday. Emergency meetings summoned by leaders of various nations.]

Headlines from all kinds of media blanketed the internet.

Good.

The atmosphere was perfectly ripe.

Humanity in crisis. And the hero who comes to their rescue.

There is no better script for an epic.

[Activating video conference.]

Everyone’s chat was connected to one place.

“Remember what I told you? It’s easy, just say what you’ve memorized. And don’t say anything that isn’t in the script.”

-Elise: Hey. Do I really have to say this? Really?

-Cheon Yuseong: Damn it. I am not your jester.

-Teresa: Jinhyuk. The whole world is watching us right now.

-Abyss Emperor: Apprentice, have you ever heard of the word ‘expulsion’ from the sect?

-Andria: Jinhyuk… You’re a fool.

-Veriel: Haha. Indeed, the candidate I picked shows promise. You have the qualities of a Demon King.

-Sweet Potato: Mosquito!

-Elemental Special Forces: Master. This will embarrass us internationally… no, embarrass the entire Tower.

-T-Bone & Ancient Warriors: Master. Please get lost.

Complaints from all sides flooded in like a raging torrent.

Of course, it’s customary to easily crush minor dissent in an absolute command structure.

“Why wouldn’t I promote when everyone’s attention is focused here? Am I supposed to be digging dirt instead of business?”

The promotional benefits for the guild, through brand image enhancement and additional revenue, were invaluable.

-Cheon Yuseong: Hey… if you want to promote so badly, why don’t you come out and do it yourself?

“I have more important things to do, so I can’t.”

Jinhyuk decisively drew the line.

There was a more important task than handling the queen.

He had to go somewhere through the ‘Mirror that Breaks Borders,’ where a reward was waiting for him.

“My point is, you’re not in a position to raise your voice at me, are you?”

He reminded him about the maid-signed video that was in his possession.

Hopefully, he hadn’t forgotten.

If things got out of hand, he could ensure a prompt drop from med school—and life.

-Cheon Yuseong: You… If you keep threatening me with that, I won’t stay silent. Do you understand? That’s a crime!

-Chuhonsayeong: Oh my. Is there a video featuring my disciple? I’d love to see that.

-Cheon Yuseong: M, Master…?

“It seems even your master is on my side, so what will you do?”

In the end.

Amidst coercive atmospherics, a video that will be immortalized on Tower Community and ViewTube began to be crafted.

“We, if you’re curious who we are, responding is only polite…”

Unknown—no, Elise, started speaking.

One hand on her waist and the other with just the index finger pointing was key.

“Hardcore… Hard… Sigh… On behalf of Hardcore Corporation.”

Cheon Yuseong continued the script, his voice like swallowing molten metal.

“From now on, these guys.”

The rest pitched in one line each according to their roles.

And finally.

“We will take care of them.”

Everyone’s voices merged into one.