The landscape changed as they approached North Manchuria.

The endless plains gave way to mountains and rivers. Pines dotted the mountains, which were little more than high hills. Thin ice floated on the winding rivers around the mountains, and the cold air stung their noses.

That was when the reality of nearing Siberia truly hit.

"We’re almost there. Alright, everyone up! Check your weapons before the mission!"

Yeomyeong’s ears caught Tian Lin’s voice as he took in the scenery. He turned to see that Tian Lin was already fully equipped.

Like the other mercenaries who had just opened their eyes, Yeomyeong took out his weapon bag without a word.

He had the Remington MH750 and grenades provided by Chang-man, along with three standard-issue steel swords from the mercenary corps.

It was all close-combat gear, but none of the mercenaries pointed that out.

A rookie like him wouldn’t have the chance to fire a gun on an expedition support mission anyway. The experienced mercenaries holding the guns would be enough.

Just as the mercenaries finished gearing up, and the military truck started to slow down...

…?

Yeomyeong’s senses seemed to plummet. No, his reality stretched out before him.

The sound of the truck engine and the retching noises from Deputy Commander Kim Man-su became distant, as though they were coming from far away.

‘What is this…?’

He tried to draw upon his mana, but his body had already left his mind behind.

Shhh—

Between the elongated realities, a shadow crept in.

It was the primordial shadow that swallowed even the starlight above, and at the same time… it was familiar.

‘…Mignium?’

Yeomyeong unconsciously called its name, but no answer came.

The shadow silently wrapped around his mind and lifted him high.

His detached mind soared as the world stretched out below. Everything began to recede into the distance.

The military truck was the first to shrink away. The mountains of Manchuria fell behind, followed by the entire Korean Peninsula.

When he finally ascended to the height of the stars, a voice emerged from the shadow.

『My chosen one.』

The voice was sticky and detached from reality. It was then that Yeomyeong realized he was in a dream.

Mignium’s dream, no less.

『Look over there.』

Following the shadow’s direction, he looked west. The first thing that caught his eye was America.

The land of superheroes, the Cold War victor, and the most powerful nation in the world.

But it was shrouded in darkness. Only one light glowed, a single tiny orb deep within Washington.

『Can you feel it?』

He couldn’t quite tell what that orb of light was, but he nodded.

Within this stretched-out reality, even that distant orb felt close enough to grasp.

『Now, find the next orb.』

His gaze shifted next to Australia.

Specifically, the western side of the continent, a place called Lord Howe Island.

He knew it well. The famous Lord Howe Academy was built on that beautiful island.

But as he focused on the academy, his eyes narrowed.

Unlike America, the academy had six orbs shining within it.

Some orbs were brighter than others, some were broken, and some were hidden, but…

The light of the six intertwined, flashing in a dizzying array of colors.

…What in the world were these orbs?

The question lingered, but there was no answer. Mignium’s shadow led his gaze to the next location.

『Now, look beneath you.』

Below him, between the ominous red-stained Korean Peninsula and the darkness-shrouded Siberia.

Manchuria.

There were two orbs shining there. One was racing northward, away from the Manchurian base, while the other…

…was directly in front of the Manchurian Rift.

The moment he realized this, Yeomyeong’s mind plummeted.

He wasn’t falling toward the truck he was riding in reality but rather toward the ridge overlooking the rift.

It was the location of the North Manchuria base Tian Lin had mentioned. It should have been filled with armed mercenaries and superhumans…

But all that remained was a burning ruin.

The surrounding mountains and forests teemed with monsters, and the desperate sounds of gunfire from mercenaries echoed through the air.

A nightmare? Or perhaps a vision?

Neither. The sight unfolding before him was happening in real-time reality.

Yeomyeong turned his gaze back toward his real self.

Not far from the burning base, he could see the Seonjook Mercenary Corps' truck. The mercenaries were approaching the base, completely unaware and defenseless…

‘The Korean government’s watchdogs?’

He saw grotesque creatures, with pig heads and ox heads, charging toward them.

Could it be that the Korean government was behind the destruction of the North Manchuria base? Why on earth?

While these questions bubbled up, Mignium spoke again.

『Fate has awakened.』

『The masters of all destinies have awakened as well.』

『You must seize their fates.』

Words he couldn’t understand, and a dream he couldn’t comprehend.

Yeomyeong glared at Mignium, his gaze demanding an explanation.

But the master of the dream, Mignium, offered no answers. Instead, he merely laughed silently and issued him a farewell.

『Do your best, my chosen one.』

‘Wait…!’

The dream flipped. The stretched-out world contracted, and his mind rushed back toward his body.

As Mignium’s shadow faded, and the scent of death and blood pierced his nose.

Yeomyeong woke from the dream.

 

‘…What’s that?’

Smelling something burning, Tian Lin stuck his head out of the truck.

The smell drifted over from the pine forest in North Manchuria. Was it just the smell of gunpowder? No. Mixed with the scent of gunpowder was the stench of burning wood and flesh.

Frowning, Tian Lin looked up to see faint black smoke rising into the sky.

No question about it—a bad omen.

He grabbed the radio to contact the North Manchuria base. There was no response, not even a basic signal tone.

As a seasoned mercenary, Tian Lin didn’t ignore his instincts. Something had gone horribly wrong.

"Stop! Everyone, halt!"

He pounded on the driver’s seat to stop the truck and gathered the attention of the other mercenaries.

The mercenaries, looking confused, glanced up and saw the smoke filling the sky, their faces darkening.

"Could it be…?"

"Captain, what’s happening in North Manchuria?"

"I can’t say yet. The comms are dead. For now… all mercenaries, disembark. Wake the ones who are sleeping and secure the perimeter!"

As Tian Lin gave his orders, Yeomyeong slowly opened his eyes.

"…Rookie?"

The air around the newly awakened recruit seemed to grow heavy. Was he finally feeling the tension?

No, it didn’t seem that way.

With a grim expression, Yeomyeong pulled out his sword and shotgun and approached Tian Lin.

"Tian Lin, sir. We need to retreat immediately."

"Retreat? What, are you scared?"

"We don’t have time. Some of our forces need to pull back and report to the rear. North Manchuria has already fallen."

"Fallen? What are you talking abo—"

Tian Lin’s question was cut short.

The next moment, something flew toward the other truck carrying mercenaries.

‘…An anti-tank rocket?’

As soon as Tian Lin identified it, the rocket struck the truck.

Boom!!

It was a powerful explosion. The heavy military truck was blasted into the air.

Flames, screams, and a shockwave of terror and confusion washed over the mercenaries.

Tian Lin’s body was thrown from the truck and landed hard on the ground.

"Oof… damn…"

Luckily, he had landed on soft earth. His head was ringing, but he was otherwise unhurt.

"Aaargh!"

"My arm! My arm!"

But unlike Tian Lin, who’d had luck on his side, those who didn’t die instantly had lost limbs or suffered grievous wounds that the field medical kits couldn’t treat.

"Two hundred meters ahead! In the western woods! Over ten enemies!"

"Damn it, open fire!"

Those who still had their wits began firing back in the direction of the rocket.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

The loud gunfire filled the air.

But it was just suppression fire. The automatic rifles had limited effect against enemies hiding among the pines.

Had they brought grenades or mortars, it might have been different. But the only weapons the mercenaries had were assault rifles and shotguns.

They had no other choice. They were here to hunt monsters, not to engage in a war with armed humans.

‘Inferior terrain, inferior firepower. No way to turn this around.’

The mercenaries’ situation was dire. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before they were wiped out.

"Damn it, everyone fall back! Scatter into the woods!"

With a grim expression, Tian Lin gave the order to retreat. A few mercenaries began to run for cover.

But another rocket came hurtling toward them as they ran.

Were they using magic? The enemy’s rocket fell precisely over the fleeing mercenaries.

Boom!!

Blood and flesh sprayed into the air with the explosion. Countless mercenaries were swept away without even a scream.

"Fall back! Fall back!"

The battle was already lost. Tian Lin couldn’t tell how the rookie knew, but North Manchuria was in no condition to fend off the monsters.

"Don’t die in vain, fall back!"

Even as he shouted, Tian Lin moved forward, firing his weapon to buy his men some time.

‘…Where’s the rookie and the Deputy Commander?’

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Amid the deafening gunfire, Tian Lin scanned his surroundings.

No matter what happened, those two had to survive and escape.

‘Damn it, only a superhuman can report back to the Manchurian base before the monsters head south…!’

Tian Lin pulled a grenade from his belt, threw it, and took cover behind the rear of the truck.

By some miracle, he spotted the two men nearby, also taking cover.

Both were armed and speaking to each other. Neither seemed badly injured.

Unlike the rookie, who was only slightly disheveled, Kim Man-su was scorched in several places… but that was nothing for a superhuman.

With a sigh of relief, Tian Lin called out to them.

"Rookie! Deputy Commander! If we don’t retreat now, the monsters will head south! You both need to report to the Manchurian base!"

Even if the rest of the mercenaries died, the monsters moving south had to be stopped. Tian Lin coldly ordered his men.

"Everyone still standing! Cover them! Buy them time!"

The two moved as soon as Tian Lin issued the order.

But not to retreat—they were heading toward the enemy.