TDWAD 26

Chapter 26

“As ferocious as a mother bear who’s lost her cubs.”

Whether that analogy could be extended to monsters in general might be up for debate—
But replacing the subject with “demon bird” was something no one would argue against.
Not if they saw the current scene.

Intruders who had trampled the “nest” and slaughtered the “children.”

More precisely, toward the one that must be torn to shreds—
And the “attachment” (?) that came with him—
The mother demon bird unleashed a roar dripping with vengeance.

KAAAAAAAH!

Its massive beak split wide open, sending a shockwave that cracked the ground.

CRRRRUNCH!

Concrete shattered into fragments.
Columns of dust surged into the air.

Han Yeonha instinctively covered her ears.
The vibration that tore through the air slammed into her whole body like a crushing weight, beyond her eardrums.

—Stay still.

Doyun’s voice sounded in her ears.

“Wah!”

He scooped her up—
One arm under her back, the other behind her knees.

Summon.

While calling forth the Flame Sword with his voice,
He controlled his status window with just his eyes.

[Equipping ‘Wings of Jet Black (Rare).’]

[‘Wings of Jet Black (Rare)’]
– Special armor crafted with the magically processed remains of an enhanced demon bird. It can wrap around the user to provide protection. Cannot enable full flight, but allows gliding on air currents.

Feathers with a dark sheen formed on his back, spreading wide as the Wings of Jet Black.

With a push off the rooftop, wind wrapped around them.

Their bodies shot into the sky—
And below, the shockwave swept across the rooftop.

SKREEEE!

The mother demon bird, expressing her fury with powerful wingbeats, paused mid-pursuit.

From inside the nest came an ominous scent—

Doyun’s Flame Sword was tearing through the hatching chamber!
The straw and mucus strewn everywhere were perfect fuel.
Flames spread, devouring the precious eggs.

Torn between instinct and vengeance, the mother finally turned back toward the hatchery.

Meanwhile, Doyun circled in the air, maneuvering with the Wings of Jet Black while holding Yeonha, before smoothly banking around.

Tap.

They landed back on the rooftop.

“You okay?”

“Of course. W-who’s arms do you think I’m in?”

“…?”

He set the blushing Yeonha down safely, then resummoned the Flame Sword.

The burning blade scattered sparks in the air—
Heat that would only sear the enemy’s flesh.

Gripping the crimson-hilted sword, Doyun poured the inner force of the Heavenly Flower True Scripture into it and charged the hatchery.

The mother demon bird’s body was massive enough to cradle an enhanced demon bird with ease—
Its feathers layered like barbed scales, leaving no gaps despite its size.

But he saw them.

[Heaven’s Fortune Sword Art (Legendary)]
└ [0th Form – Clairvoyant Eye]

The bird’s outline lit up in his vision.
Its insides became transparent to him—

He confirmed the throbbing red mass in its chest, and the blood-colored mist in its head.

As I thought.

Yet he didn’t dive straight for the vitals.
Rather than fixating on its heart, he aimed for an exploitable weak point.

[Heaven’s Fortune Sword Art (Legendary)]
└ [1st Form – Flash Strike]

SLICH!

Its tail was severed, feathers scattering in the air.

Exposed flesh and muscle.
That’s where Doyun began—

Slash, slash—

With sword energy riding on the Flame Sword, he cut steadily up the rear.

In an instant, the once-pristine feathers were marred with gaping wounds, blood spraying like a fountain.

KRAAAAH!

The gale pouring from the mother bird’s beak ceased.

Abandoning even the attempt to put out the fire in the hatchery, she spun her wings like blades, trying to smash him.

Swish—

But his honed combat senses had already secured a safe distance.

SKREEEEEEE!

Spreading her body wide, the massive beast gathered immense power.

[‘Killing Intent Detection (A)’ activates.]
[Detected Killing Intent: 1 Champion-class monster, consumed with a berserk will to kill.]
[Killing Intent Grade: AA… Breaking through AA-grade!]

WHOOOOOOM!

From her outstretched wings, two streams of wind formed—
As if the boiling hatred had taken on a will of its own, one wind struck toward Doyun.

The other—

Han Yeonha!

Without a moment’s hesitation—

[Lightning Burst Movement (Hero)]
└ [1st Step – Lingering Thunder]

He threw himself into the path of the oncoming gale.

CRRRAAASH!

His afterimage was shredded to pieces—
And the skin-prickling wind clamped onto his real body.

Just as he angled the Flame Sword to cut the gale—

Vmmm—

A golden light flared.

Shield of Light?

The thick barrier collided with the windstorm.

The once-ferocious vortex was deflected as if it were nothing—
Then turned back toward its sender.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh!

The already battered mother bird staggered violently.

Doyun didn’t miss the opening—
Sliding into her shadow—

[Heaven’s Fortune Sword Art (Legendary)]
└ [2nd Form – Annihilation]

Unlike in the tunnel, he unleashed the wide-range destructive form with leisure.

“…This is the end.”

Driving the Flame Sword into her chest, a sky-blue radiance exploded outward.

SKRIIIIIIEEE!

With a deafening roar, the mother bird’s heart shattered.

Her flapping wings lost strength—

THUD.

The massive body crashed into the rooftop.

[You have slain the ‘Mother Demon Bird.’]
[World’s First Monster Counterattack!]
[First in Korea – Monster Counterattack!]
[World’s First Champion Counterattack!]
[First in Korea – Champion Counterattack!]
[World’s First Champion Clean Kill!]
[First in Korea – Champion Clean Kill!]
[First in Korea – Party Champion Kill!]
[First-time achievement rewards: 35,000P]
[7 consecutive achievements bonus: 12,500P]

He hadn’t secured the World’s First Party Champion Kill title.
Until now, he’d swept nearly every first-time reward.

…Guess the title monopoly ends today.

The real race for firsts had begun—
And his rivals were now hunters on a global scale.

Sensing the changing tide, Doyun turned to Han Yeonha.

“Why’d you use it on me? That was dangerous.”

“…You taught me what it means to be a good healer.”

She looked up at him hesitantly.

“Was it another mistake this time?”

“Not at all.”

They could’ve survived separately—
In fact, that would’ve been the safe choice.

But their intent to protect each other had created a decisive moment.

“Thanks to you, it was easy to finish her off. Well done.”

“R-really?”

“No.”

“Ah…”

“You went beyond ‘well done.’ Clean kills aren’t easy.”

Thanks to her—points jackpot.

Seeing his smile, hers blossomed in turn.

“I’m glad… if I was helpful.”

“Then let’s finish this.”

He released the sword hilt, letting the Flame Sword float at his will.

The acrid scent of smoke hit their noses.
The hatchery was engulfed in flames.

Fwooooosh!

[‘Nest’ has been destroyed.]
[Remaining Nests: 19]

If a player left the mission’s designated area—
Even by 1 cm—a [Mission Failed] message would appear, stripping them of clear eligibility.

For “Colony Purification,” the mission area was inside the dark clouds.

That made rest and resupply difficult—
Especially with scout demon birds creating a net around them.

One of the key factors making this mission hellishly difficult.

…But that doesn’t mean there’s no gap.

Tick—

[‘Underworld Escape Compass (A)’ activates.]
[Escape Range: 1 km²]
[Searching for nearest safe zone… Proceed straight at the upcoming crosswalk… Enter the underground mall 700 m ahead.]

“This way.”

Doyun led her to a basement-level beauty store—
A place minimally exposed to scout routes, able to avoid their eyes and ears.

And more than that—

Clatter.

Approaching the display shelves, he swept an armful of perfume bottles and smashed them at the entrance.

“Perfume? Why…?”

“Scout demon birds have the sharpest sense of smell. They never miss a human scent.”

With his distraction device in place,
They hid in the staff room at the back of the store.

Only then could they finally breathe.

Doyun rummaged through the fridge and pulled out whatever food wasn’t spoiled, laying it on the table.

“Phew~ I feel alive again.”

Han Yeonha came in, toweling her damp hair.

“What do you want to eat? Choices are snacks or instant food.”

“I’m fine with anything.”

“Half and half then.”

He broke a chocolate chip cookie in two—popping one half into his mouth and handing her the other.

She sat beside him and began to eat.

Munch munch.

“This feels like…”

“Hm?”

“…like we’re back on the train.”

Doyun chuckled.
“Not much different, I guess.”

“It feels like ages ago, but it hasn’t even been a full day yet.”

Her expression dimmed slightly.

“What now?”

“N-no, nothing.”

“Do I need to play the recorder again? If you don’t talk—”

“…Do you think Iren unnie made it up safely?”

“Ah.”

It was understandable for her to feel a sense of emptiness—
They’d been together as three for nearly a week straight.

“Hold on.”

Closing his eyes, Doyun traced Seiren’s presence—
Her aura slowly moving northward.

“She’s more than safe—she’s lively. Nothing to worry about.”

“How do you know that?”

“It’s hard to explain, but the system links us a bit.”

“One mind and body?! Ah! That’s why—”

“It’s not ‘one mind and body.’ It’s just position and status data.”

It was simply a clan network bound by [Blood Bond].

Han Yeonha’s face, bright for a moment, darkened again.

“That’s bad!”

“What now?”

“T-then unnie doesn’t know your true feelings?”

“What ‘true feelings’? I’d like to know myself.”

“Honestly! Why can’t you be straightforward?!”

Her voice rose—almost the first time she’d shouted.

“When you said NPCs don’t have status windows to use rewards—that wasn’t to say ‘don’t reach for what you can’t have!’”

“…?”

“It meant you were worried about her—because you didn’t want an NPC dragged into a fight that was all risk, no reward! The truth is the same—if you don’t put it into words, it won’t reach her!”

Using his own words to argue against him—

But—

“Wrong.”

His eyes were calm, emotionless, as he looked at her.

“Why would I worry about Seiren? I just don’t want an NPC to meet destruction.”

“What does that even—”

He rotated his phone, showing the news article he’d been reading.

[Breaking News] NPCs show potential for cooperation? ‘New NPC Council’ issues statement: “We will take the lead in controlling the Gates.”
– Leader Kairon: “We reject the criminal label on NPCs. We will use our abilities to meet the expectations of the people and government.”

The New Humanity Association had rebranded itself as the New NPC Council.

Han Yeonha, unaware of the circumstances that had brought them into the spotlight, felt her mind tangle into knots.

Was this also Doyun’s doing?

But why were NPCs listening to an Awakener’s words?
And what did this have to do with destruction?

“What… is this?”

“Well, to confess, I’m kind of the NPCs’ messiah. You could say I’m the only exit from the tunnel to hell.”

For the first time across all rounds, the NPCs had declared collective cooperation.

– ‘Coexistence Scenario’ has begun.

The one who had thrown open that curtain, Doyun, curled his lips into a slow grin.

“You’ll find out soon enough. …Why NPCs are destined to be hunted by hunters.”