Chapter 266 - Moonlight Night

Night.

It was clearly night, something that should only be experienced by half of the Earth not facing the sun.

"....Huh?"

That day, as the year was coming to an end.

All blue skies across the globe were suddenly captured by deep darkness.

And the sun, which had been shining brighter than ever.

Abruptly, vanished.

"....What is this?"

The entire Earth.

The whole world was equally enveloped in darkness.

"...Honey, look outside."

"Dear God..."

And above it all.

A massive bright moon that shouldn't be visible at this hour.

It was shining in the sky, larger than ever before.

Not just the Republic of Korea, but every country was suddenly plunged into darkness.

"...What could this be?"

"I know. Has some villain appeared again?"

People who had been enjoying an ordinary day and the year-end atmosphere were bewildered by the sudden situation.

"Wait. This isn't just happening here—the entire country... no, the whole planet is like this?"

"That's what they're saying on the radio."

"...Damn it!"

"Hey, hey! Wait, what's wrong?"

Some people, realizing this phenomenon wasn't limited to one region but was occurring globally, sensed an ominous future and were frantically fleeing under the dark night sky.

"....."

"Is this... what he warned about..."

Those who had received prior warnings from someone.

Quietly. As they looked up at the night sky with their squad members.

That voice.

Suddenly echoed in everyone's ears.

[Are you well... my children?]

"...?!"

"Ahhh! Who's that?!"

Screech. Bang.

The city of Seoul shrouded in darkness.

On countless roads filled with cars trying to drive through the suddenly darkened visibility.

To those gripping steering wheels, to pedestrians walking on streets, to people sitting in cafes trying to figure out what was happening. To powerful figures sitting in high positions watching the situation with grave expressions, to those lying in bed asleep.

That bizarre voice suddenly reached everyone's ears.

[Have you all been living peaceful lives until now...?]

Transcending language and cognition.

Mystically.

Like an elderly voice piercing directly into the brain.

That voice, heard by all human beings, woke even those who were sleeping.

As all Earth's inhabitants quickly grasped the situation and listened fearfully to the mysterious voice.

The metallic voice continued calmly, yet somehow mixed with manic delight.

[Yes, yes. You've lived quite peacefully until now.]

[While you rotten creatures]

[Pollute this world with your disgusting breath.]

[You've lived well, haven't you... heh heh heh.]

That voice, suddenly turning pale and cold, piercing like ice.

At that moment, as people staggered from the direct impact of genuine hatred and surging anger filling their minds.

The voice, as if nothing had happened, continued with a laugh.

[Anyway, it's time to end it all now....]

[This humble person finally introduces himself. I am the Moon Light Cult Leader, Celestial Moon Emperor. Heh heh...]

And the moment his words ended.

The screens of all electronic devices shut off simultaneously.

Finally.

The figure of an old man in white clothes, with his back to the dark city of Korea.

Revealed himself.

Standing atop a towering building.

Leaning on a staff.

And only then could people see.

The madness in the eyes of the man called the Moon Light Cult Leader.

[..Heh heh. I'm tired of your disgusting hypocrisy.]

[What more is there to say? It's now your turn to be judged, isn't it?]

[The moment of destruction has arrived, humans.]

The dark night sky.

From that high place where the wind blew fiercely, receiving the gaze of hundreds of thousands.

The Moon Light Cult Leader felt the biting wind and finally sensed the arrival of the day he had waited for so long.

After today, this disgusting world would surely collapse.

And in its place, the Moon God and his creations would create a new world.

No one can stop it now.

Everything is already over.

After taking a brief breath, he exhaled coldly, raised the staff in his hand.

And proclaimed:

[My children.]

[Your world is now over.]

And with those words, he struck the ground with his staff.

Simultaneously.

Numerous, truly countless magic circles inscribed with purple symbols.

Appeared beneath his feet and behind him, intricately intertwined and multiplying.

Screeeeeeeech

-BOOOOOOOOOM.

As the sound of the sky tearing apart echoed everywhere.

Portals of various colors, gates, dimensional doors.

Dozens, hundreds appeared in the sky behind him

Finally.

[Farewell, my children.]

With his final words.

Countless gates.

Began appearing all over the Earth.

Paris, France.

[Everyone, can you see it? In the sky above..]

In the dark night sky with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Numerous sky-blue, blue, and purple gates floating incongruously.

Tokyo, Japan.

Above the murmuring crowds, countless portals shining alone in the black sky.

Similarly.

Beijing, China.

New York, United States.

New Delhi, India.

Moscow, Russia.

London, United Kingdom.

And.

[Everyone! Numerous strange portals are floating around Seoul right now! Similarly, in Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju, and other major cities, these strange things...]

Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Numerous circular gates suddenly appearing against the dark night sky above tall buildings.

And soon.

Shortly after they appeared.

[Screeeeeech.]

[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!]

Monsters.

Beasts with bodies made of dark purple tentacles, not appearing to be of this world.

From beyond those gates, one, two, dozens, hundreds, thousands.

Falling to the ground with thuds.

They began charging toward the city, toward people.

"""Kyaaaaaaaaaah!"""

Thus, an overwhelming army of monsters devoured the city.

The world was destroyed.

...Or so it seemed.

"Alright, is everyone following the plan?"

[Yeah! Let's stretch our muscles a bit after so long.]

[Da-in. Military deployment and missile interception preparations are complete. I'm firing now.]

[This is the Director. Emergency broadcasts have started and all bunkers are open. Heroes have been deployed.]

[Sigh. Oppa, it's starting now. I've arrived. I'll handle the ones in this area first and then come back.]

[Teacher Da-in! Entering combat now. Will contact you later!]

[Egostic, this is Katana. Our Japanese region has completed first-line preparations. Are you doing alright there?]

....Ha.

The world is destroyed? How could that be?

The country I've protected until now, the world, wouldn't collapse so easily.

I'll show them. Perfect preparation can prevent disaster.

With a smirk, I took action alongside Eun-wol.

While our Egostream members stepped forward.

***

"Hee, heeeeek!"

[Screeeeeeeech!]

In the heart of Seoul.

In the chaos where numerous monsters were rampaging, a boy was hiding behind a collapsed building, holding his breath.

[We announce again. All citizens please evacuate to underground bunkers immediately. The locations are...]

The mechanical voice of the Association's announcement continuously echoing through the city.

As soon as the situation occurred, this broadcast began, and under the guidance of Association agents, most people had already evacuated to underground bunkers.

But the boy, unable to escape in time, was alone, trembling and hiding between the dark city streets.

'Please don't find me, please don't find me, please don't find me...'

He prayed while covering his mouth and trembling.

Unfortunately, his wish would not be granted.

[Kieeeeeeeek?]

Sensing something, a quadrupedal beast resembling a fox made of purple tentacles.

Began growling and charging toward where he was hiding.

"Hu, huaaaaa!"

As the boy screamed, realizing his fate as he saw the monster leaping toward him.

Flash.

KABOOOOM

[-Kieeeeeeek!]

A massive lightning bolt struck where the monster had been.

As the smoke cleared, the monster turned to dust with a death cry.

A woman with orange hair, with her fist clenched toward the ground where the lightning had struck.

Touching her hand, she stood up.

"Hmm... so that's how it works? Okay, got one."

The woman casually swung her arm and stood up.

The boy, suddenly saved, blinked repeatedly and looked up at the woman from where he lay.

"Hm?"

When their eyes met, he quickly gathered his wits and spoke.

"Th-thank you...!"

"Huh? Oh, right. It's nothing. No need to thank me."

"Wh-what..?"

"Well, I'm a villain, you see."

"What...?"

"Well, see you!"

Leaving the dumbfounded boy sitting there.

The woman, Electra, gave him a smirk before flying away at lightning speed toward another villain.

And so.

The Republic of Korea.

"Take this! How do you like Star Conqueror!"

[Kieeeeek!]

Han Seo-eun.

"Hmm... I just need to burn everything, right? Ahaha."

[Kuaaaak!]

Mist, Seo Ja-young.

[Kieee-] [Kie-] [Kiee-]

"Phew, that's it! Fifteen, sixteen..."

Shadow Walker racking up kills alone.

"Heo Da-hee, cover me!"

"Ugh! Soo-ah, give me a buff!"

"Okaaay..."

[Kyaaaaaaak!]

The PMC members facing off against several strong monsters together.

Citizens who quickly fled to safety with the Association's emergency broadcasts.

In the nearly empty major cities across the country filled only with monsters, those prepared by Egostic were holding defensive positions against waves of monsters.

And.

"Ugh... Wait, Calypso. Why are you here?!"

"Ha. I agreed to help you just this once, so shut up and cover me. Unless you want us all to die."

All around the world, numerous villain alliances from Kathedal were joining forces with heroes.

They began using all their abilities to block the hordes of monsters falling from the night sky.

And so.

Contrary to the Moon Light Cult Leader's expectation that everyone would helplessly collapse without preparation.

Everyone was holding out better than expected.

"....Something is strange. Child, are the preparations not ready yet?"

"No! Gates above a certain size require advance preparation, so we're creating summoning circles. Cult Leader, please wait a little longer."

"...Strange. Something. Is strange."

As the Moon Light Cult Leader sensed something peculiar.

Toward the center of Seoul occupied by the Moon Light Cult, surrounded by enormous monsters and pink smoke.

A woman in a hero suit with red and blue colors and a star-shaped emblem in the center was flying with her blonde hair streaming behind her.

Her name was Stardust.

An A-class hero of the Republic of Korea.