Chapter 7 — Light in the Underground

Soon, the entire underground was looking toward the strange light.

To ordinary people, it looked almost magical.

But Father Charlie, Arthur, Lit, Hiten, Hinine, Septiumbra, Star, Knox, Kasi, and Vanessa saw something completely different.

They didn't see something magical.

They saw something evil.

At that exact moment, figures began falling from the opening above. Nobody could see who—or what—they were.

Arthur looked toward Father Charlie.

Arthur: “What's going on?”

Father Charlie: “I don't know.”

He immediately turned toward Arthur.

Father Charlie: “Arthur, take Lit and go back to the base.”

Before Arthur could answer, a huge sound came from above.

BOOM!

Something had fallen.

Everyone immediately looked toward the source of the sound.

A man wearing full, heavy armor stepped forward. His boots landed on the edge of the cliff, and behind him, thousands of people and monsters wearing armor and carrying weapons began to emerge.

The armored man raised his voice.

Armored Man: “See my soldiers! They are all criminals and traitors. Those disgusting Rebels are also hiding in this place!”

He raised his sword toward the underground city.

Armored Man: “Capture every single person in here. If they fight back, kill them!”

Father Charlie immediately looked toward Arthur.

Father Charlie: “Arthur, go now!”

Arthur nodded.

Arthur: “Where are you going?”

Father Charlie: “To the Guild Master.”

Arthur: “Okay. Understood.”

Arthur picked Lit up and immediately began running back toward the base.

Back at the Base

Hiten and Hinine were already preparing for battle.

Both of them put on their armor and took up their weapons.

Hiten gripped his morning star, while Hinine held his twin short blades.

They were ready.

Then Arthur rushed inside with Lit in his arms.

Arthur: “Did anyone see Septiumbra?”

Everyone looked at each other.

Everyone: “No. We didn't see him or Star.”

On the Cave Roof

Star looked toward the army below.

Star: “What's going on?”

Septiumbra didn't answer immediately.

He stared at the heavily armored man.

Something about him felt wrong.

A strange feeling suddenly ran through Septiumbra's body.

He began to shake.

Star immediately noticed.

Star: “Hey, are you okay?”

Septiumbra: “I don't know.”

The armored man raised his sword.

Immediately, the army behind him began descending down the cliff.

Behind them, archers prepared their weapons.

Then—

WHOOSH!

Flaming arrows began raining down toward the city.

Septiumbra: “It's an attack! We need to regroup with everyone!”

Star: “And how will you do that?”

Septiumbra looked at her.

Star: “They might have already started roaming through the city trying to help people. We don't know where they are.”

She pointed toward the army.

Star: “Instead of wasting time looking for them, we should go down and help as many people as we can.”

Septiumbra looked toward the opening.

More soldiers were still coming through.

Star: “Look. They're still coming from the hole. It's not over yet.”

Suddenly, their shadows began glowing.

Both of them looked down.

Their guild envelopes were glowing.

Star: “It's a message from the guild.”

She opened her envelope.

Septiumbra did the same.

Septiumbra: “Yeah. You're right.”

They pulled out the letters.

The message read:

ALL HUNTERS:

THE UNDERGROUND IS UNDER ATTACK. YOUR JOB IS TO SAVE THE PEOPLE AND STOP WHOEVER TRIES TO PREVENT YOU FROM DOING SO.

They looked at the bottom of the paper.

There was no option to reject the mission.

Only one choice.

ACCEPT.

Both of them accepted.

Then they jumped from the roof of the cave.

Half an Hour Earlier — Huntsman Guild

Father Charlie rushed into the Huntsman Guild.

The entire place was in chaos.

Hunters were panicking, people were running around, and nobody seemed to know what was happening.

Father Charlie immediately made his way to Vanessa's room.

He opened the door.

Vanessa was standing by the window, staring outside.

Vanessa: “How is this possible? Where are the spies I sent out? Why didn't any of them tell me anything?”

Father Charlie walked toward her.

Father Charlie: “What's happening here?”

Vanessa turned toward him.

Vanessa: “I don't know how, but the supernatural army is here.”

She looked back outside.

Vanessa: “And for some reason, my information is missing. My information gatherers are dead.”

Her eyes narrowed.

Vanessa: “Definitely because of that big guy.”

Outside, the heavily armored man raised his sword.

The army behind him began descending the cliff.

Father Charlie: “They're starting the attack.”

As he said that, countless flaming arrows began falling from the sky and striking the houses below.

Father Charlie: “What should we do?”

Vanessa: “I'll send out my people. You get your team. We need to save everyone.”

Father Charlie looked at her.

Father Charlie: “You know we can't do that alone. Get the Hunters in.”

Vanessa paused.

Vanessa: “Yeah... you're right.”

She slammed her hand against the desk.

The door immediately opened.

Knox stood outside.

Knox: “You called for me, Master?”

Vanessa: “Yes. Send every Hunter a letter they cannot refuse. Tell them they have to protect the people and kill whoever tries to stop them.”

Knox: “Yes, Master.”

She turned and left.

Father Charlie looked at Vanessa.

Father Charlie: “You called her like that?”

Vanessa: “It's faster.”

She turned toward him.

Vanessa: “Now don't just stand there wasting my time. Go and do something useful.”

Father Charlie's jacket suddenly began glowing.

He reached inside and pulled out his envelope.

It was glowing.

Father Charlie: “I see. The work is done.”

Vanessa: “Yes, I know. Now go.”

Father Charlie left the room.

Outside, Knox was walking toward him.

Knox: “Father Charlie, where are you going?”

She looked at him.

Knox: “Isn't it obvious? I'm going out to help.”

Father Charlie smiled.

Father Charlie: “Then let's become a team, just like the old days.”

Knox sighed.

Knox: “Okay. But if you're too slow in your old age, I'll leave you behind.”

Father Charlie laughed.

Father Charlie: “I can say the same thing about you, old lady.”

The two looked at each other.

Then they both smiled.

The guild doors opened.

Knox and Father Charlie stepped outside.

A bright red hand mark was visible on Father Charlie's face.

Meanwhile, Septiumbra and Star had reached the ground.

They immediately began helping people who had already been injured by the flaming arrows.

Septiumbra: “I'll move them somewhere safe. Give me some time. I have to send a letter to the guild because they didn't say where we're supposed to take them.”

Star nodded.

Star: “Okay. I'll deal with the fire.”

She began using her Shadow Bullet power to extinguish the flames.

Septiumbra: “Okay. I'm going.”

Star: “Be safe.”

Septiumbra nodded and moved away.

After Star left, Septiumbra continued helping the injured people.

Then—

WHOOSH!

A knife flew toward him.

Septiumbra didn't even flinch.

He caught it.

Septiumbra: “Too slow.”

He looked in the direction the knife had come from.

There they were.

The army had reached the lower level.

Septiumbra's expression changed.

Septiumbra: “Wait... Star went that way.”

One of the soldiers raised his weapon.

Soldier: “Kill him! Kill every survivor you see!”

Septiumbra slowly looked at him.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Septiumbra: “Hmm.”

He stepped forward.

Septiumbra: “You can try.”

His eyes narrowed.

Septiumbra: “I won't let you.”

A short battle followed.

When it was over, every soldier who had attacked him was lying defeated on the ground.

Septiumbra stood above them with one foot resting on the soldier who had ordered the attack.

Septiumbra: “Hmm. I thought you were going to do more.”

He looked down at him.

Septiumbra: “Sadly, you're not very powerful.”

Suddenly—

CRACK!

A bolt of lightning came from the left.

It struck Septiumbra.

BOOM!

At the same time, Arthur was walking with Lit, Hiten, and Hinine.

Arthur: “Everyone, stop!”

Lit, Hiten, and Hinine stopped and looked at him.

Hiten: “What happened?”

Arthur: “We have a rescue mission, and the underground is too big. We need to split up.”

He pointed in different directions.

Arthur: “I'll go toward Father Charlie and help people along the way. You three decide on a direction and start helping people there.”

Arthur smiled confidently.

Arthur: “This is our hero moment! After this, if I don't get my hero license, I'm going to be angry.”

The other three immediately walked away without listening to the rest of Arthur's anime-inspired speech.

Lit went south.

Hiten went east.

Hinine went west.

Arthur stood there alone.

Arthur: “How rude of them.”

He sighed dramatically.

Arthur: “They could have at least listened to me.”

Arthur took a deep breath and started making his way into the city.

Arthur began helping people escape from the underground.

The problem was that he had absolutely no idea where he was supposed to take them.

So he decided to send everyone toward the training ground.

Arthur: “Everyone, go this way! And don't stop. Whatever you do, don't stop!”

The people followed his instructions and began moving toward safety.

Then—

SCREAM!

A series of screams came from the middle of the city.

Arthur immediately stopped.

Arthur: “What's that?”

He looked toward the center of the city.

Arthur: “I should go see.”

Arthur activated his magic.

Arthur: “Holy Magic: Blessing Boost ×10!” improved burst speed

Energy began flowing around his body.

His speed increased dramatically.

Arthur jumped.

With a single leap, he crossed the distance from the outskirts of the city to the center.

He landed and immediately looked around.

Everything seemed normal.

The streets were quiet.

The buildings were still standing.

Arthur couldn't see anything.

He continued forward until he reached the fountain.

Then, from the opposite side of the street, he saw something.

A familiar wolf-like man was running toward him.

Behind him was something that looked like a red ocean.

Arthur's eyes widened.

The red ocean was made entirely of cockroaches.

Wolf Man: “Hey! Sir!”

He ran toward Arthur.

Wolf Man: “Please help me!”

Before either of them could react, the red sea of cockroaches swallowed him.

Arthur watched in shock.

After a moment, the wolf man's hand emerged from the mass.

Arthur didn't waste a second.

He jumped forward at incredible speed and grabbed the man's hand.

Arthur: “I've got you!”

Arthur pulled.

But only the hand came free.

Before Arthur could even say anything, cockroaches began crawling out from inside it.

Arthur immediately threw the hand toward the red sea.

He landed on the roof of a nearby building.

Arthur stared down at the scene.

Arthur: “I don't care if I've seen something like this on TV before.”

His expression became serious.

Arthur: “But what you just did means you should pay for it with your life.”

Suddenly, laughter echoed throughout the area.

The red sea of cockroaches moved toward the fountain.

Then something emerged from the middle of it.

A gigantic cockroach-like demon appeared.

Arthur stared at him.

Arthur: “Oh... I wish I had Incinerate.”

He looked at the demon.

Arthur: “Because you look just like that man.”

The demon looked confused.

Cockroach Demon: “What?”

Arthur shook his head.

Arthur: “Never mind.”

The demon grinned.

Cockroach Demon: “I am Falsboll!”

Arthur blinked.

Arthur: “Wait. That's your name?”

Falsboll started laughing loudly.

Falsboll: “I am one of the generals of my lord, the Fire King! And he has given me the order to kill everyone!”

He pointed toward Arthur.

Falsboll: “So you too, kid!”

Arthur smiled.

Arthur: “Oh.”

He cracked his knuckles.

Arthur: “It will be delightful to show you the difference between us.”

Falsboll suddenly disappeared into the sea of cockroaches.

Then—

A giant red hand emerged from the building Arthur was standing on.

Arthur jumped away.

The cockroach swarm followed him.

Arthur began jumping from rooftop to rooftop, trying to avoid the red sea as it chased him.

Suddenly, smaller cockroaches began flying toward him.

Arthur looked at them.

Arthur: “I see. So that's your long-range attack.”

The swarm continued coming.

Arthur: “Good attack.”

He raised his hand.

Arthur: “But I don't think it will even hurt me.”

Arthur activated his Holy Magic.

Arthur: “Holy Shield!”

A glowing shield appeared.

Arthur threw it toward the swarm.

The shield cut through a large number of cockroaches.

But the swarm kept coming.

Arthur looked confused.

Arthur: “I see.”

He watched as the cockroaches returned.

Arthur: “Your army isn't disappearing or dying.”

He narrowed his eyes.

Arthur: “I don't understand. Are they real or not?”

Arthur landed on another rooftop.

Suddenly—

Falsboll appeared directly in front of him.

Arthur smiled.

Arthur: “There you are, you idiot.”

Before Falsboll could attack, Arthur punched him with tremendous force.

BOOM!

Falsboll went flying and crashed into the fountain.

Arthur looked toward him.

Arthur: “You idiot. I'm faster and stronger than you.”

He pointed toward the swarm.

Arthur: “Your red sea is the only reason you're surviving.”

Falsboll lay unconscious.

For a few moments, the red sea began disappearing.

Arthur looked at it.

Then—

SCREAM!

The scream of a little girl came from across the fountain.

Falsboll immediately opened his eyes.

The moment he heard the scream, he jumped back up.

The red sea returned.

Arthur's expression changed.

Arthur: “What?”

He immediately jumped behind Falsboll and headed toward the source of the scream.

Arthur reached a nearby house.

Inside, he found a little demon girl with a broken horn.

She was sitting on the ground, crying and trembling.

Arthur immediately softened his expression.

Arthur: “Don't worry. I'm here now.”

He crouched down.

Arthur: “I'll take care of you. Come here, child.”

The little girl slowly walked toward him.

Arthur picked her up.

But before he could jump away—

Several cockroaches grabbed his leg.

The red sea transformed into a giant hand and threw Arthur toward the fountain.

Arthur fell into the water while protecting the little girl.

He quickly got back up.

Then he noticed something crawling inside his right leg.

Three cockroaches had gotten inside.

Arthur's face twisted in disgust.

Arthur: “Ugh!”

He immediately activated Purification.

Golden energy spread through his body.

The cockroaches disappeared.

Arthur stared at his leg.

Arthur: “It worked.”

He looked toward the swarm.

Arthur: “That means they're not real cockroaches.”

A smile appeared on his face.

Arthur: “And they can die from Purification.”

Falsboll laughed.

Falsboll: “HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

The swarm began gathering around him.

The countless cockroaches merged together.

They formed something enormous.

An enormous cockroach-shaped creature rose from the red sea.

Falsboll stood within it.

The giant creature began moving toward Arthur.

Arthur held the little girl securely.

He raised his hand.

Arthur: “Holy Magic: Blessing Boost ×10!”

His golden aura intensified.

Arthur looked directly at the giant cockroach.

Arthur: “Boosted Purification.”

A brilliant golden light erupted from his hand.

The light spread across the entire area.

The giant cockroach and Falsboll were completely engulfed by it.

Their forms began burning away.

The golden light continued until nothing remained.

Then, slowly, the light faded.

Silence returned to the city.

Arthur looked down at the little girl.

A small barrier had surrounded her, protecting her from the Purification.

Arthur: “Are you okay?”

The little demon girl nodded.

Little Girl: “Yes. I'm fine.”

Arthur smiled.

Arthur: “Good.”

He gently adjusted his hold on her.

Arthur: “Let's take you somewhere safe.”

Septiumbra: “Ahh! What was that?”

He looked toward the direction the attack had come from.

A Lightning Ogar stood there.

Septiumbra: “What's a Lightning Ogar doing here?”

The Lightning Ogar glared at him.

Lightning Ogar: “You have killed so many of my men. Are you one of the Rebels?”

Septiumbra: “No. I don't know who you're talking about. I was just living here.”

The Lightning Ogar studied him for a moment.

Lightning Ogar: “I see. So you're a good fighter.”

His expression hardened.

Lightning Ogar: “Sadly, you have to die. My master has given me the order to kill you all.”

Septiumbra thought for a moment.

Septiumbra: “What if, instead of killing me, I join you?”

The Lightning Ogar looked surprised.

Septiumbra: “I did take down a few of your soldiers, after all. You can take me as a replacement.”

The Lightning Ogar considered the offer.

Lightning Ogar: “Hmm... that's a good idea.”

He smiled.

Lightning Ogar: “I'll take you to my master.”

Septiumbra: “Yes, yes. Good.”

The Lightning Ogar turned around.

Lightning Ogar: “Follow me.”

Septiumbra: “Shadow Demon.”

The Lightning Ogar stopped.

Lightning Ogar: “Yes?”

Septiumbra: “I am following.”

The Lightning Ogar took a step forward.

But before he could take another—

Septiumbra: “Shadow Domain.”

Everything suddenly went completely black.

The only light came from the Lightning Ogar's glowing horns.

Before the Ogar could react, his body began sinking into the floor.

Lightning Ogar: “What's this?!”

He looked around.

Then he saw Septiumbra.

Septiumbra: “I'm sorry.”

The Lightning Ogar's eyes widened.

Septiumbra: “But you have to die.”

The Ogar grinned.

Lightning Ogar: “I knew it. You really are one of the Rebels.”

He raised his hand.

Lightning Ogar: “My name is Indo, and I am one of the generals of the Fire King.”

Lightning began gathering around his body.

Indo: “You should know that my lightning is your biggest weakness.”

He looked around the darkness.

Indo: “And I can see you there, standing in the shadows.”

Indo raised his hand and fired a lightning bolt.

But the moment he did—

His body suddenly fell apart.

He had been cut in half.

Septiumbra slowly stepped out from one of the nearby buildings.

Septiumbra: “My, my...”

He looked down at Indo.

Septiumbra: “You couldn't even see your own legs.”

Indo stared at his body in confusion.

Septiumbra continued.

Septiumbra: “It wasn't even me.”

He smiled.

Septiumbra: “I simply opened a shadow portal underneath you.”

Septiumbra pointed toward Indo's severed legs.

Septiumbra: “Those were your own legs.”

He laughed.

Septiumbra: “And you're an even bigger idiot for firing that lightning.”

Septiumbra shook his head.

Septiumbra: “It cancelled out the shadow beneath you...”

He looked at Indo.

Septiumbra: “And you cut yourself in half.”

Septiumbra: “Hahaha! You fool.”

At the same time, everyone else was fighting the supernatural army.

Father Charlie and Knox moved through the underground city, defeating soldiers as they went.

Father Charlie looked around.

Father Charlie: “Why is this guy calling himself a general?”

He looked at the defeated soldiers around them.

Father Charlie: “He's so weak.”

Knox nodded.

Knox: “Everyone in this army is so weak.”

Father Charlie looked ahead.

Father Charlie: “I don't think we'll have any problems.”

Knox: “Yeah, you're right.”

The two continued running toward the direction the army was coming from.

Knox: “We have to find out what's going on and who's behind this.”

Father Charlie nodded.

Father Charlie: “We'll only engage if necessary.”

Knox: “I completely understand and agree.”

The two continued through the city, defeating soldiers as they went.

Suddenly—

A golden shield flew past Knox's face.

Both of them stopped.

They looked toward where it had come from.

To their right stood Arthur.

He was simply walking toward them with a little demon girl in one arm.

With his other hand, he was throwing golden shields at the supernatural army.

Father Charlie: “Hey! Arthur! Look here!”

Arthur heard his voice.

Arthur: “Hey! Father Charlie! It's you!”

He ran toward them.

Father Charlie: “You're okay!”

Arthur smiled.

Arthur: “Yes. And why are you still alive?”

Both of them started laughing.

Knox stared at them in confusion.

Knox: “Look at them.”

She shook her head.

Knox: “So confused.”

Arthur looked around.

Arthur: “I don't understand what's going on, but everyone here is so weak.”

Father Charlie nodded.

Father Charlie: “Yes. I noticed that too.”

Then he looked at the little girl in Arthur's arms.

Father Charlie: “But I also noticed that you have a child.”

Arthur looked down.

Arthur: “A child?”

He looked back at Father Charlie.

Arthur: “What do you mean ?”

Father Charlie stared at him.

Father Charlie: “Arthur, what kind of things are you getting yourself into?”

Arthur laughed.

Arthur: “Oh, this?”

He gently held the girl.

Arthur: “This is a rescue mission. I couldn't find anyone alive when I came here, and I didn't want the supernatural army to get her.”

He looked at the girl.

Arthur: “So I carried her all the way here.”

Knox crouched down slightly and smiled at the little girl.

Knox: “Hey, sweetheart. What's your name?”

The little demon girl looked at her.

Lilith: “I'm Lilith.”

Knox smiled.

Knox: “That's a wonderful name, Lilith.”

Lilith: “Thanks, lady.”

Father Charlie looked at Arthur.

Father Charlie: “So, Arthur, you didn't find any survivors?”

Arthur: “No.”

He paused.

Arthur: “Actually, I did find some.”

Father Charlie waited.

Arthur: “When I found them, I sent them to the training ground.”

Father Charlie smiled.

Father Charlie: “That's good.”

Knox looked toward the city.

Knox: “Then I'll tell everyone that whenever they find a survivor, they should send them to the training grounds.”

She looked at Father Charlie.

Knox: “I think I should do that.”

She glanced toward the army.

Knox: “The army is big, but they're so weak that I don't think I need to come with you.”

She looked at Arthur.

Knox: “And anyway, your student can come with you.”

Arthur nodded.

Arthur: “Okay.”

Knox held out her arms.

Knox: “Arthur, give me Lilith. You and Charlie go to the main point.”

Arthur handed Lilith to Knox.

Arthur: “Yes, ma'am.”

Knox and Lilith began heading toward the Huntsman Guild while Arthur and Father Charlie continued toward the main point of the attack.

Then—

BOOM!

Five more figures suddenly fell from the hole above.

A tremendous crashing sound echoed throughout the underground.

Everyone stopped.

Across the entire underground city, people and monsters turned toward the hole.

Fear spread through the crowd.

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

Everyone simply stared.

A massive, intimidating aura began flowing around the clay beneath the hole.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

The battlefield became silent.

People stood frozen in place.

And for a moment—

everything was completely silent.