Chapter 46

Chapter 46
## Chapter 46: Silencing the Assault

I raced down the trail like a lunatic, my thoughts spinning as fast as my feet.

“Why didn’t they target Hamburg directly?”

The strike hadn’t landed squarely on the city—just on its outskirts. That provided a window for preparation. The margin of error was far too significant for a direct hit.

—The South Korean high command has analyzed the landing zone, the breeze, and the velocity. Sarin gas will engulf Hamburg in 35 minutes. We are moving the locomotive toward the Netherlands within 20.

“That’s exactly what they want.”

The humanitarian crates could easily be tainted by the toxins as well. We needed to get that engine into gear immediately.

—Even if it is a trap, we have no other options.

“No, you’re missing the point.”

Evacuating the train wasn’t the end goal; it was just the setup for a larger play. If I was interpreting this correctly, the objective was transparent.

“They’re trying to separate Hunter Lee Se-eun from the transport.”

The plan was to keep her occupied here while the train steamed away without her. Taking control of the cargo would be significantly easier once she was out of the picture.

—…They will likely succeed.

I nearly tripped over my own feet. Succeed? Was he conceding that they’d manage to isolate her?

“What are you saying?”

—There is a marksman dressed in tactical gear and a cowl…

I clicked my tongue before he could even finish the sentence. I recognized that description. It was the same individual Han Sang-ah and I had encountered back on Gyodongdo.

That man possessed the skill to stall Lee Se-eun. It was no wonder the voice on the comms sounded so desperate.

—We must initiate the train’s departure.

Handing out the supplies was no longer the priority. If the toxic mist arrived on the wind, the local population would end up consuming contaminated aid and dying anyway.

“Utterly insane. At least they are consistent with their drama.”

Releasing sarin gas on German soil. Was this some twisted attempt to avenge victims of the past, or were they just causing chaos for the sake of it?

“What an absolute mess.”

The first sight that greeted me was Lee Se-eun locked in a fierce exchange with the hooded figure in camouflage.

In an instant, a deluge of arrows descended like a torrential downpour. Lee Se-eun reacted, gripping her massive two-handed sword and triggering explosive bursts of energy to deflect every projectile.

“The station isn’t going to survive this level of violence.”

Energy surged through the locomotive, and the heavy wheels began to grind forward. Everyone else had already scrambled on board.

Everyone except Lee Se-eun. I spared her a fleeting glance before leaping onto the moving deck. She wouldn’t be able to join us on this ride regardless.

“We’re moving!”

With that shout, the train picked up speed. The distance between us and Lee Se-eun grew rapidly.

Inside the accelerating carriage, a bitter taste filled my mouth. It’s a sickening feeling when you realize you’re performing exactly how someone else choreographed.

“Who could have possibly anticipated a chemical weapon attack?”

I wasn’t even bothered by where they had sourced it. It was practically an open secret that Dangun’s Descendants were in league with the Korean government.

If Korea—the reigning global power—truly desired some vintage gas canisters, who was going to stop them?

“…”.

The passengers who had been forced to abandon Lee Se-eun in Hamburg stared blankly back toward the receding city, shrouded in a heavy silence.

“What, do you honestly think staring out the window is going to make Hunter Lee Se-eun manifest in this cabin?”

The glares I received in response were anything but warm.

“Get your heads on straight. She isn’t fighting her soul out back there just so you can sit here and mope.”

I surveyed the room as I finished my thought.

“This line is headed for Amsterdam. Since those fanatics managed to peel Hunter Lee Se-eun away, something is bound to happen shortly.”

Based on our current velocity, we would reach Amsterdam in roughly nine hours. Dangun’s Descendants would undoubtedly strike long before we arrived.

“We have to get ready. We can’t afford to waste time grieving the fact that she’s stayed behind.”

The confrontation was imminent. The Korean military was capable of managing civilians and securing crates, but they were outclassed by high-level hunters.

“Korean military, I need your cooperation.”

“Even if we mobilize, our combat effectiveness against such targets is limited.”

I interrupted them before they could make further excuses.

“Forget about guarding the barrier generators. Redistribute your soldiers and position them directly on the supply cars.”

I wanted to see exactly how Dangun’s Descendants would interact with the national military.

If they attacked the supply trains, then my suspicion about their government ties was flawed.

But if they bypassed those cars entirely, it would be undeniable proof of their collusion.

“Hunters, your sole priority is the barrier generators.”

I issued the instructions and moved toward the designated area with the rest of the awakened staff.

“Unknown hostiles ahead!”

Just as I suspected, they were waiting for us. I funneled mana into my eyes to get a better look at the approaching crowd.

There were roughly 250 of them.

“That prick.”

One man standing squarely on the tracks caught my eye. It was the same person who had managed to lock down Lee Se-eun’s movements back in Khabarovsk.

Next to him was a woman clad in a dark, traditional hanbok. A deep blue-green gayageum was positioned beside her, immediately drawing my attention.

Those two were clearly the ones spearheading the blockade.

“Get ready…”

At that moment, the woman in the stylized hanbok charged toward the locomotive. Her physical strength was staggering—the ground literally erupted in clouds of dust behind her as she sprinted.

Closing the distance with terrifying speed, she reached the front of the train in seconds and swung the musical instrument directly at my skull.

“Damn, she’s lost it!”

I dropped into a low crouch. The air whistled as the instrument passed inches above me. A jarring, discordant vibration radiated from the vibrating strings.

“Ugh.”

The sheer resonance pushed me back, making my vision swim. Several hunters nearby had their legs give out instantly; they hit the floor, gasping for breath.

This wasn’t just noise. Mana was woven into the acoustic waves, attacking the mind while carrying significant physical force.

“You’re the one?”

“What about me? Try using your words properly.”

I sparked the Paradox Flame on the tip of my spear as I answered. Her eyes grew cold at the sight of the dark fire.

“It really is you. Fine, die.”

“Are you really trying to bludgeon people with a gayageum?”

That instrument was never intended to be used as a club.

“I am Seo Yeon-joo. My instructions are to leave you alive, but I have no problem breaking every bone in your body.”

“Everyone has their little fantasies.”

Who was going to break whom? With that woman swinging her instrument like a mace at the front, the rest of the blockade began to swarm the train.

Behind Seo Yeon-joo, the eerie shaman-like figure who had previously restrained Lee Se-eun stood there, fluttering a ceremonial fan.

“Yoo Chan-seok, the lineage of the Gangneung Yoo clan can be traced all the way back to Chinese origins.”

“What’s your point? Are you planning on reenacting a genocide?”

“Your very ancestry is tainted from the start.”

He was just rambling nonsense now. Was he looking to get sued by the clan association? The man was clearly unhinged.

I didn’t realize there were still people obsessed with genealogy in this day and age. And it wasn’t even an old man—just some young fanatic.

“I assume you two aren’t actually planning to double-team a defenseless guy like me.”

“We are.”

“You’re finished.”

I took a quick look around. If I could neutralize these two, the threat would be over. They were elite, there was no doubt about that.

In a fair fight, a hunter of my rank shouldn’t have been able to handle them both simultaneously.

“Then come and try.”

Life rarely presents you with problems that are easy to solve.

“Aaargh…!”

A heavy thud echoed as the sound-drenched gayageum collided with my spear, forcing me backward.

The vibration made my wrists throb with agonizing pain. What was that thing built out of to withstand such a strike?

“Why did I even bother with all that preparation? This is incredibly irritating.”

The gayageum was magnifying the dissonance of the impact through its hollow body, focusing the energy into a tight strike.

“If you want to burn anything with those black flames, you’ll have to break through this first.”

She had a point. The collision wasn’t between wood and steel. It was my spear against a wall of pure sonic pressure.

Seo Yeon-joo then gripped the instrument with both hands, swinging it with expert precision and relentless speed. It had ceased to be an instrument and had become…

“Signboard spinning.”

That was the only way to describe it—like a street performer spinning a sign. She rotated the gayageum in a blur, closing the gap with heavy, crushing blows. I retracted my spear to a shorter grip and began to parry.

She tossed the spinning gayageum into the air and transitioned into a handstand. Her legs gripped the frame like a pair of tongs, bringing it down like a pickaxe toward my head.

“What the…!”

A massive shockwave traveled through my arms. Once again, there was no physical contact; the sound did the hitting.

She maintained the pressure for a moment until she noticed my spearhead darting toward her midsection. Her fingers danced across the strings in a frantic motion. A screeching wall of noise blocked my thrust.

“I didn’t expect you to actually strike back.”

“Really?”

She was surprised. If it weren’t for my enhanced nervous system, I never would have found that opening.

“Are you just going to stand there and watch? I’ll report your laziness.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll get to work. Will the Jeseok Haewon-gyeong suffice?”

At Seo Yeon-joo’s command, the man watching from the rear finally began to move.

“Pillars of iron, bells of copper in the great hall, ancient chambers of light reaching for the sky—constructed with such vanity, with bells on every corner. How could the metal not decay? When the wind from the southeast blows, the ringing reveals the nation’s treasures.”

“What an arrogant brat…”

As he began his ritual, I could see the literal vitality surging into Seo Yeon-joo. Her strikes were about to get a lot heavier.

“Demons and spirits, vengeful ghosts and wicked entities—bind them all. By this sacred decree, the celestial soldiers shall purge them. Spirit of the earth, general of thunder…”
⟨ Jeseok Haewon-gyeong ⟩

He continued his rhythmic chanting, performing a sword dance while ringing his bells. Shimmering waves of heat-like energy began to rise from beneath my feet, pinning my legs to the spot like a heavy vice.

“Get out of the way.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

I growled the words, clenched my jaw, and drove my spear upward to meet the full force of the gayageum swinging down at my skull.

The impact was so great the spear shaft actually flexed for a second.

A sickening crack came from my ankles as the floor—which was reinforced with tank plating—dented under the pressure.

“Cough!”

I spat out the metallic-tasting blood that filled my mouth and wiped a stray drop from my nose. I had stopped the hit, but my muscles were failing.

“Your bones are still in one piece. That won’t last.”

Seo Yeon-joo made the declaration, spinning her gayageum once more. I looked down at my trembling hands and let out a small laugh.

Not for long? We’ll see about that.

“It’s not like you’re playing any decent music on that thing anyway.”

I took a deep, steadying breath and slammed the butt of my spear into the plating. Paradox Flame erupted from the point of contact.

“Let’s try a little silence. Sound fair? Everyone keeps their mouth shut from this point on.”

With that command, the Paradox Flame surged outward, incinerating every vibration and sound in the immediate vicinity.

‘Gayageum strikes that rely on sonic waves, and a ritual that requires constant chanting to function.’

By burning away every bit of noise with the Paradox Flame, their primary weapons were rendered useless. I wrenched the spear from the floor.

I gave them a mocking gesture in response to their stunned expressions. It was time for the next phase.