237

Chapter 237

***

What did he possibly want to find when the end of the world was drawing near?

No, was this person really Hunter Sung Jin Woo?

The director shook his head. Maybe he was hallucinating because he was too drunk.

But, he realized shortly after that the person standing before him was not just a byproduct of his drunken mind. He asked,

"What are you looking for?"

"A runestone."

Jin Woo clearly expressed his intentions to the director.

"Please hand me the『 Runestone 』of Karmish."

"...!"

The director's eyes widened in momentary shock. He almost shook his head in reflex.

"As Hunter Sung knows, the Runestone of Karmish is the property of the Hunter Bureau.."

Then, he cut himself off.

This occupational disease.

What was the『Hunter Bureau』?

The 'Hunter Bureau' was the power house of the United States, but what was the point of saying those things now?

'Well, I don't think I've had enough to drink.'

The director chuckled. He slapped his cheeks with both hands and shook his head. His blurred vision got clearer.

And now, the director understood that Jin Woo's reasons were far more important than the Hunter Bureau—or the United States itself.

After a moment's thought, the director said,

"I can show it. But why do you want it?"

Jin Woo immediately answered without hesitation.

"I will use it as a tool to counterattack."

* * *

Jin Woo, a veteran, had already previously confirmed the skill engraved on the Runestone through the eyes of the system. It contained the power of the dragon.

The reason he didn't show much interest in the Runestone at that time was because he believed that the skill was too weak, and he didn't have any use for that power back then.

'But ... everything is different now.'

The director and Jin Woo, who descended to the ninth floor of the Hunter Bureau's building, stood in front of a reinforced glass box containing the Runestone.

Jin Woo didn't need to approach in order to measure the power of the skill. He could read it through his mind and heightened senses.

The skill remained the same.

A skill with weak strength.

But in his current situation, that terrible power would have to compensate for his shortcomings.

Jin Woo's heart surged.

The director asked,

"Didn't Hunter Sung say that the Rulers also sent the monsters here?"

"Yes."

"So what are these Runestones found in the bodies of monsters?"

"It's part of their strategy to help humans hunt more efficiently."

What the Rulers wanted was to strengthen the earth with mana through the fierce battles between humans and Monarchs.

Human sacrifice was a consequence, but it was not their purpose.

And Runestones, which were planted to automatically seal the abilities of monsters after their death, was a consideration of the Rulers to help humans hunt.

Karmish's power was sealed the same way, and the power of the dragon would be the key to Jin Woo's counterattack.

The director, who stared at Jin-woo with tense eyes, swallowed nervously.

"Really ... can you stop them with that?"

"I have to try."

Even at this time, the troops led by the Dragon Monarch were relentlessly destroying everything in their path. They continued to advance without stopping.

Thanks to the Rulers who strengthened the earth with mana, the rate at which the world was ravaged was gradual, but it would only last for a while.

Soon, the whole world will burn.

Could he watch the world collapse like this?

They feared the power of the Shadow Monarch.

Even if he were to fall behind, he wanted to show them how a weaker being could wield that power—the power that they wanted to prevent.

"I will try to."

Jin Woo's intentions rang clear inside the director's mind.

In front of Jin Woo, who chose not to run away from the enemy despite knowing their strength, he became disgusted with himself for trying to escape.

'I want to go where my daughter is? But this man ... '

He felt very ashamed of himself.

Even if the outcome was bad, he would see everything to the end.

"I have no strength ... and I'm really grateful to you. So, please. Please stop them.. please stop the monsters."

Tears flowed from his eyes as he bowed to Jin Woo.

Perhaps what he truly wanted to avoid was not his own death in the hands of the monsters.

As head of the USA Hunter Bureau, who must lead the battle against monsters on the front lines, he did not have the courage to watch the citizens he was supposed to protect, die in the hands of the monsters.

That would be the final straw.

And it would be better if it didn't happen at all.

He hoped to capture all kinds of hope, if there was any. His heart felt heavy and broken.

Jin Woo placed his hand on the director's shoulder without saying a word.

"..."

But, the director felt that one gesture was better than a hundred words.

The director wiped away his tears.

"It's a shame. Forgive me, Hunter."

Jin Woo waited a moment for him to calm down before opening his mouth.

"There's one more thing. I want to meet someone."

* * *

Together with the director, Jin Woo visited the apartment near the headquarters of the Hunter Bureau.

Has he been to this place?

That didn't matter, the Hunter Bureau would willingly help Hunter Sung Jin Woo if he needed it.

The director chose to use the stairs because the intended floor was not too high. His back began to sweat a little when he finally stopped at the door on the fourth floor.

He looked towards Jin Woo.

This was it.

Jin Woo nodded.

'Alright.'

The director then lightly knocked on the door twice instead of pressing the bell.

After a few more knocks, the clerk who saw the director's face opened the door.

"... Chairman?"

The agent, who frowned upon the smell of alcohol piercing his nose, jumped when he saw Jin Woo standing next to the Director.

"...!"

Wouldn't it be a good idea not to take out a gun like he did during their first meeting?

When he saw Jin Woo and instinctively reached for his back, the agent turned red with embarrassment.

Hunter Sung Jin-woo..?

Why did the strongest Hunter in the world pay them a visit? And it was even the director himself who brought him here.

Another agent who waited inside came out meet to meet the director.

"What about Mrs. Selner?"

"She is inside.. Ah!"

Just like the first agent, he was also  surprised to see Jin Woo.

"Is the director ...?"

"Hunter Sung wants to meet Mrs. Selner. Did you tell Mrs. Selner that Hunter Sung Jin Woo was coming? "

"...Well"

Then -

"I wasn't told that someone would be coming to see me right now."

As if she had been waiting, a woman walked out of the room. It was Mrs. Norma Selner.

Previously, she had worked as an "Upgrader" who helped Hunters reach the peak of their power, but now, she was only a former spiritualist.

After a short step forward, Jin Woo bowed politely to the older woman.

"Please come in."

The woman invited Jin Woo into the room. The director who was standing behind him tried to follow Jin Woo, but Mrs. Selner restrained him lightly.

"Hunter Sung might want to talk in private. Am I right?"

When Mrs. Selner turned and asked, Jin Woo nodded in response.

This meant that the director was not welcome to participate,and he scratched his head in annoyance.

Selner, who had closed the door, slowly turned and walked to one corner of the room.

But the moment Jin Woo sat in front of her, the older woman coud not contain her amazement.

"Oh, my God!  You look very different from the last time I saw you."

She paused, then added,

"You ... you are not the person I knew."

Her eyes trembled.

Previously, there was darkness in the depths of Jin Woo, but now, he had turned into darkness itself. Her eyes clearly saw the power of death surrounding Jin Woo.

However, Jin Woo shook his head and disagreed.

"I'm the same man you knew. But the darkness that Mrs. Selner saw at the time has become one with me."

"Geez......"

What words could fully describe this wonderful sight?

It was the power of God that was inhabited by man.

Gazing at the endless flow of Jin Woo's power, Mrs. Selner could only be amazed. She could't even close her mouth for a long time.

"I don't have the strength to help you ... Hunter."

No.

What abilities in this world could possibly help this man?

He was no longer human.

Bu Jin Woo had a different idea.

Jin Woo looked at the frightened woman and asked,

"You said you could see the future?"

"Yes, to a certain extent ..."

"Then, would you like to see my future?"

Prior to entering a full-fledged battle, Jin Woo wanted to see the end of this fight through Mrs. Selner's eyes.

Even if the outcome was unexpected, at least it would ease his mind.

Mrs. Selner, who hesitated, nodded slowly. She held out her hands and closed her eyes. Looking into the darkness required great courage, but more than that, she could not refuse the request of a soldier who was willing to face a formidable enemy. That required great courage.

Time passed quickly.

When Mrs. Selner opened her eyes, she could not stop the tears from flowing down.

"You ... Are you really going to take it all by yourself?"

"..."

Jin-woo didn't answer.

"How can this be ... How can this burden be borne only by one person ...is it possible to keep everything at the expense of one person? "

Jin Woo's face turned bright.

"Fortunately, it can."

"Good luck! No one will remember it. And this will be a fight filled of loneliness!"

Jin Woo put his hand in Mrs. Selner's grasp. When he chose to fight, he already prepared himself for all of that.

Jin Woo then stepped away from Mrs. Selner and said politely,

"I apologize for asking too much."

"Hunter Sung Jin Woo!"

Even before Mrs. Selner's bitter voice ended, Jin Woo had already vanished into the shadow under his feet.

Hearing Mrs. Selner's voice, the people outside rushed in, but Jin Woo had already disappeared.

* * *

"..."

Jin Woo climbed the tallest building in town and stretched out his heightened senses as much as he possibly could.

At the far end of the northern mainland, Jin Woo could sense the presence of many troops, and there were much more than he could count. What's more, he could also feel a little energy coming from other beings.

They belonged to the people who have been killed and eaten by the monsters.

Min Byung-gu, Go Gun Hee, Adam White, and his Father.

The faces of those who have been sacrificed in this war flashed through Jin Woo's mind.

There was anger.

The anger that arose from his chest filled his 'Black Heart'.

Jin-woo closed his eyes and searched for the energy of the dragon in that large corps. It wasn't so difficult to find its mass of power which swirled like a typhoon and swallowed everything around it.

"... I found you."

Jin Woo saw the dragon he was looking for.

In that moment, the dragon also saw Jin Woo.

There was a a feeling of delight that came from the two figures who stared at each other.

Jin Woo stopped at the top and looked towards the direction of the Dragon Monarch.

Those evil repitalian eyes did not take his eyes off the darkness for a long time.

The Dragon knew that the Shadow was a real enemy who threatened him.

"..."

"..."

The Shadow Monarch and the Lord of Destruction stared at each other.

The Lord of Destruction then bared his fangs.

[I am here!]

A tremendous commotion triggered by hundreds and thousands of thunderstorms made the whole earth tremble.

[Thousands of lives have been lost. How long will you hide like that?]

Jin Woo's eyes glowed with anger.

'I will be there soon.'

Then -

Jin Woo, who swallowed the words he wanted to say, disappeared into the shadows.