Why Are You Killing My Baby's Energy

【 [ ! ] WARNING: HIDDEN BOSS DETECTED 】

【 [ ! ] WARNING: HIDDEN BOSS DETECTED 】

【 [ ! ] The true ruler of the Dungeon has its eyes on you……… 】

[ Entity Name: Crawling Calamity — Recognized. ]

"Huh?"

I was busy gawking at the massive floating islands drifting through the sky when a new notification suddenly popped up, announcing the appearance of another Hidden Boss.

Come to think of it, Erdi had mentioned that all those giant islands up there used to be Hidden Boss territory.

Apparently, some of them never bothered moving out — they just kept living on their islands this whole time.

"Miss Erdi, I think there's someone here."

"Get ready. It'll be here soon."

"Huh? What will?"

"…Annoying little brat."

Erdi had already sensed the new Hidden Boss's presence and was gazing up at one of the islands overhead.

For the record, the islands in the sky were currently merging together, with the largest one at the center.

Each island was already enormous on its own, so watching them fuse together was something else — they were getting absolutely massive.

I was dying to know how they were even floating up there, but meeting the new Hidden Boss came first.

—Ding.

[ Effect of 'Passive: Let's Be Friends' — Boss's hostility adjusted to 0. ]

[ Effect of 'Passive: Let's Be Friends' — Boss's affinity adjusted to 50. ]

[ Entity Name: Crawling Calamity has confirmed the return of Entity Name: Lee Ji-woo. ]

Accompanied by the now-familiar notification windows, I looked around trying to spot the new Hidden Boss.

According to Erdi, Hidden Bosses were destined to become my followers.

The more followers I had, the stronger I'd become.

And as a bonus, I'd gain their Avatar Manifestation skill too.

[ Entity Name: Crawling Calamity's affinity is rising. (50 → 998) ]

[ Entity Name: Crawling Calamity joyfully greets its beloved mother. ]

"…Mother? Whose?"

Something was different this time, though.

The affinity shot up on its own, and then a notification popped up saying something about greeting a mother.

There were only two kids here right now.

—Peek.

『Mom────! I'm here────!!』

"Oh."

The new Hidden Boss finally appeared — and announced its arrival at the top of its lungs.

It shouted from up on one of the islands, and the voice carried all the way down to where I was standing. Massive lung capacity.

It was waving its arms around like crazy and grinning from ear to ear, clearly thrilled about something.

The thing was, I had absolutely no idea who it was calling "Mom." There was only Erdi and me here.

"…You."

"Huh? Me what?"

"You. That's you."

You're its mom.

Erdi's blunt, no-frills explanation made my brain freeze up entirely.

But before I could even process that, there was a leap.

『Mo───m─────!』

"Wh— wait?!"

The white-haired Hidden Boss jumped off the island. Just straight-up launched itself off the edge without a second thought.

And then it went into free fall. Thud.

A bungee jump from a sky island to the ground, no cord attached.

I'd seen something like this in One Piece. Was this Hidden Boss secretly Kaido?

—Tap tap tap tap!

The white-haired Hidden Boss hit the ground with a thud, immediately scrambled upright, and came sprinting straight toward me.

At least it didn't seem hurt, which was a relief — but watching it charge at me like that was honestly a little terrifying.

Looking more closely, its eyes were completely black. No whites at all, just solid darkness where the irises should be.

Wait, I'd seen that somewhere before too. Was this thing currently in some kind of unconscious—

—Grab!

—Squish squish.

—Squish squish.

"…………"

『Hehe, I missed you, Mom.』

The white-haired Hidden Boss ran right up to me, beamed the brightest smile, and started kneading my cheeks.

Calling me its mom.

I'd never even been married, and somehow I had a daughter now.

Though, judging by the way she was manhandling my cheeks without permission, she seemed like kind of a rude kid. A little unfilial.

"…Data Viewing."

【Crawling Calamity ■■■■■ (Undesignated)】

【Affinity: 998】

【❮(P) Avatar Manifestation: Lord of the Abyss❯ : Acquirable】

【Cute■ ■■■ is ■■… (Insufficient authorization)】

At least the Avatar Manifestation skill was there. Good.

It was already in an acquirable state, even.

Her affinity had shot up to nearly 1000, same as Arkiel's.

Though — there was noise in her name too, this time.

Even for a Hidden Boss, calling her "Crawling Calamity" felt a little off. Kind of like a middle-schooler's edgy phase.

"Hey, um…"

『Why did you take so long, Mom? You said if I slept a few nights you'd be back right away.』

"Ah."

『You said stay home and guard the house and you'd be back soon. You lied, Mom!』

I'd been about to ask for her name, but those words hit me first.

The kind of words that clearly had a story behind them.

And from the looks of it, I was obviously the villain of that story.

I could practically hear the coffin lid of Ultra-Trash Ji-woo getting kicked open.

"Ah — Mom got a little busy. Sorry, sweetie."

『Mm, but I kept guarding the house the whole time! I did good, right, Mom?』

"Oh wow, good girl. You did so well, sweetheart."

『Hehe.』

I ended up just cooing at her to smooth things over.

I didn't even know the full story, but the more I heard, the more it stung a little.

If I handled this wrong, Ultra-Trash Ji-woo might just resurrect herself.

"Since our girl did such a good job guarding the house… how about Mom gives you a present?"

『A present? What is it?』

"A new name for my girl. Tell me whatever name you want, and I'll call you that from now on. How's… that sound?"

I patted her on the shoulder, watching her reaction carefully, and suggested we give Crawling Calamity a new name.

She probably had a real name somewhere, but with all the noise in the data, I couldn't make it out.

So I figured I'd just let her pick whatever name she wanted.

『Hmm…. …Nia! I want my new name to be Nia!』

"Okay. From now on, my girl is Nia."

She picked a name fast. Nia.

Nice sound to it, short and easy to call out.

Though —

—Ding.

[ Entity Name: Lee Ji-woo has designated Entity Name: Crawling Calamity as 'Nia.' ]

[ Reflecting newly designated name 'Nia' in Entity Name: Crawling Calamity's biological data……… ]

"Oh."

The moment I gave her the new name, a fresh set of notification windows floated up.

I hadn't realized I could name Hidden Bosses too. Apparently there was a rename function.

"Hey, kid. Stop clinging."

Erdi, who'd been silent this whole time, finally spoke up — telling Nia to get off me, that she still had plenty left to teach me.

And Nia's response to Erdi's scolding was to immediately burrow deeper into my arms and puff out her cheeks.

『Mom, the old lady keeps nagging.』

"Why are you crushing my girl's spirit, Miss Erdi?"

"…………"

I hadn't really planned on taking sides, but blood runs thicker than water — I took Nia's side.

Well, Nia was apparently my daughter, or something like that.

Her affinity was already at 998.

And I'd just personally named her, so maybe that was why — I'd already gotten attached, ridiculous as that was given how little time had passed.

Not that I had any memory of having a daughter. But anyway.

—Nuzzle nuzzle.

—Nuzzle nuzzle.

『Hehe, you smell like Mom.』

"Uh, Miss Erdi — I'll just listen like this, if that's okay."

"Haah…"

In the end, Erdi's lecture on how to get stronger was delivered while I had Nia wrapped around me.

Looking at her, it seemed like Nia had been waiting for "Mom" for a very, very long time.

I knew what it felt like to wait for your mom.

And Nia had finally gotten to see her mom again after what must have been ages — so this much seemed fine.

"So what do we do now?"

I pointed up at the massive floating islands and asked what came next.

I knew the general idea — the islands were where the Hidden Bosses I'd meet going forward would live.

But if they just kept drifting up there in plain sight, they'd be all over the news nonstop.

Some UFO panic would break out and British fighter jets would come screaming in to shoot them down.

Not that I was sure fighter jets could actually take down islands that size, but still.

"What do you want to do?"

"Hmm… shouldn't we hide them somewhere without people? If everyone finds out those are Hidden Boss homes, it'll cause a massive panic."

"Fine, then."

Erdi, surprisingly, asked for my opinion first this time — then slowly reached out and lifted my wrist.

And then she said it.

Those islands would obey my commands.

"The Arks' master isn't me — it's you. They'll only listen to your orders."

"So then?"

"You said you wanted to hide them from humans. Command them to do what you want."

Almost simultaneously — hum. The key-shaped mark that had been on the back of Erdi's hand was now on the back of mine.

So I just… talk to it here?

"Umm…. Go hide next to Jeju Island!"

I ordered the giant sky islands to hurry up and make friends with Jeju Island.

A few years back, the Gate Shock had turned Jeju into an uninhabited island, which made it the perfect place to tuck away a bunch of enormous floating landmasses.

The sea routes were blocked by monsters anyway, so there was no real reason for anyone to go to Jeju.

And besides — Dokdo had Ulleungdo, but Jeju Island had no real companion.

Jeju had probably been lonely all this time, hadn't it?

—Ding.

【❮The Ark❯ responds to its master's command.】

"Oh."

Whether my command had properly activated or not, the islands floating in the sky began to fade.

And then, like mirages, they vanished with a pop.

They must have actually gone to Jeju Island.

I'd have to ride on Arkiel's back and go check it out sometime.

"Did it work, Miss Erdi?"

"Yes."

Erdi nodded, confirming the islands had hidden themselves just as I'd said.

Then she looked back and forth between me and Nia, and said:

"Have her clean up."

"Huh? Clean up what?"

"Jeju Island."

She pointed at Nia.

She said to send her to clear out the monsters on Jeju Island before they could encroach on my islands.

Apparently, if other monsters were squatting in places that used to be the Hidden Bosses' homes, the Hidden Bosses would get upset.

"Nia."

『Yeah, Mom?』

"Can you go to Jeju Island and let the monsters there know it's not an empty house anymore?"

『Got it!』

Almost instantly, a small dark pool formed beneath Nia's feet, and she sank down into it and disappeared.

She'd actually gone to Jeju Island.

…I'd have to tell her she did a good job when she got back.

Honestly, Nia turned out to be a perfectly obedient kid who'd do anything Mom asked. I felt bad for misjudging her as unfilial earlier.

***

And at that same moment.

In the waters surrounding Jeju Island — which had been completely unclaimed territory.

【 [ ! ] WARNING 】

【 [ ! ] WARNING 】

【 Hidden Boss, 'Crawling Calamity Nia,' reveals her true power 】

【 'Lord of the Abyss' temporarily manifests 】

『M̷̡̛̫̻̗̳͉̉̿̌̃̀́̚ȯ̴̫̟͇̤̬̲͙̜͒̍͌͜ḿ̶͇͔̥̯̬̲͈̫̙̩̠̱̰̦̫̱̯͇̳̞̇͗͑̓̏̄͛̓̔̓̋̾̇̐̇̀͛̚

.̷̩̗̲͙̱̠̥̭̟̳̳͈͇͎͍͙̉͐̂̆̊̔̏̒̒̈͛͒̂̓̀̐̓̚.҈͉̘̗̦̭̦̮̱͍̱̰̩͙̰͕͚͕͓̬̟͕̎̒̿̄͆̿̓́̽̎̑̓̃̈́͛̍̃̌̈̒͐̎́̈.̶͇͔̥̯̬̲͈̫̙̩̠̱̰̦̫̱̯͇̳̞́̇͗͑̓̏̄͛̓̔̓̋̾̇̐̇̀͛̚ͅ.̷̬̲̥̯̥̠͓͎̞̖̫͈̬̗͕̊̿̒͛̈́͒̆̅̒͊̅̊̀̽̾̍̊̏͛.̸̟̗͖̝̯̙̞͉̞̦̝͈̟̳̙͈͆͐͛͐̓̋͒̌̏̇̃̀̚.҉̞̠͈̬͔͕͉͚̖̝̯͓̥̖̦̠͇̲̓̾̓͂̀̈́͆͌̒͆̐̎̋̌.҉̞͙̯̞̳͈͇̣̳͕̯̙̟̩̰̄̂̒͌̿̀̐̓̏̀̀̾͒ͅ .̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́.̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́ .̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́.̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́.̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́ I̴̱̦̭̳͙͐̂̃͌͗͜ͅ'l̢͎̘̝̟̱̂̄̆̉͗͜ļ̷̨̲̹͉̯͉̐̑͋̾͊

c̱̖͖̳̝̖͉̽̾̋̍̑̿̍̅̄̚͟ļ̷̨̲̹͉̯͉̐̑͋̾͊ë̶̡̛̛͓̲̝̻̝̱́̒̃̈̕͢͟ȧ̵͇̯͍͕̙̝́͛̂͛͘n̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚ ỉ̷̩̗̲͙̱̠̥̭̟̳̳͈͇͎͍͙͐̂̆̊̔̏̒̒̈͛͒̂̓̀̐̓̚t̷̬̲̥̯̥̠͓͎̞̖̫͈̬̗͕̊̿̒͛̈́͒̆̅̒͊̅̊̀̽̾̍̊̏͛ .̷̩̗̲͙̱̠̥̭̟̳̳͈͇͎͍͙̉͐̂̆̊̔̏̒̒̈͛͒̂̓̀̐̓̚.҈͉̘̗̦̭̦̮̱͍̱̰̩͙̰͕͚͕͓̬̟͕̎̒̿̄͆̿̓́̽̎̑̓̃̈́͛̍̃̌̈̒͐̎́̈.̶͇͔̥̯̬̲͈̫̙̩̠̱̰̦̫̱̯͇̳̞́̇͗͑̓̏̄͛̓̔̓̋̾̇̐̇̀͛̚ͅ.̷̬̲̥̯̥̠͓͎̞̖̫͈̬̗͕̊̿̒͛̈́͒̆̅̒͊̅̊̀̽̾̍̊̏͛.̸̟̗͖̝̯̙̞͉̞̦̝͈̟̳̙͈͆͐͛͐̓̋͒̌̏̇̃̀̚.҉̞̠͈̬͔͕͉͚̖̝̯͓̥̖̦̠͇̲̓̾̓͂̀̈́͆͌̒͆̐̎̋̌.҉̞͙̯̞̳͈͇̣̳͕̯̙̟̩̰̄̂̒͌̿̀̐̓̏̀̀̾͒ͅ .̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́.̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́ .̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́.̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́.̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́ r̶̡̛̛͓̲̝̻̝̱̈́̒̃̈̕͢͟i̵͇̯͍͕̙̝̇́͛̂͛͘ĝ̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚h̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓t̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃ .̷̩̗̲͙̱̠̥̭̟̳̳͈͇͎͍͙̉͐̂̆̊̔̏̒̒̈͛͒̂̓̀̐̓̚.҈͉̘̗̦̭̦̮̱͍̱̰̩͙̰͕͚͕͓̬̟͕̎̒̿̄͆̿̓́̽̎̑̓̃̈́͛̍̃̌̈̒͐̎́̈.̶͇͔̥̯̬̲͈̫̙̩̠̱̰̦̫̱̯͇̳̞́̇͗͑̓̏̄͛̓̔̓̋̾̇̐̇̀͛̚ͅ.̷̬̲̥̯̥̠͓͎̞̖̫͈̬̗͕̊̿̒͛̈́͒̆̅̒͊̅̊̀̽̾̍̊̏͛.̸̟̗͖̝̯̙̞͉̞̦̝͈̟̳̙͈͆͐͛͐̓̋͒̌̏̇̃̀̚.҉̞̠͈̬͔͕͉͚̖̝̯͓̥̖̦̠͇̲̓̾̓͂̀̈́͆͌̒͆̐̎̋̌.҉̞͙̯̞̳͈͇̣̳͕̯̙̟̩̰̄̂̒͌̿̀̐̓̏̀̀̾͒ͅ .̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́.̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́ .̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́.̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̜̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́.̶͓̮̩̙̞̙̫̪̯̘̠̲̂̎̃̈͂͂̉̽̏̈̒̋̓̂̈́̉̽̄̽̓̉̇̚.̵̫̯̥̮͕̝͔͉̜̮̰̞̟̬̖̠̜͖͈̫̲̗̽̿́̌̽͂̽̎͆̑̑̐̽̂̂̽̌̆̌̀̓.҈͚̯͇̫͕̥͙̲̲͙̳̝̤̪͇̱̝̰͔͕͎̞̃̐͂̊̎́́̋͗̅̑̈́̇̂̏̒̐̽̓̚̚ͅ.̷̠̝̤̲͍̱͍̤̗̪̜͖͚̮̙̜͋̔̋̂̈́͂̍̓̀͂͑̎̇͊͑͆̃.҈͙̮̗͓̥͉̮͚͉͖̭̭͎̥̉͌̑̾͂̍́̃̄̌̀̎̌̾͋͐̈́ ä̶̡̛̛͓̲̝̻̝̱́̒̃̈̕͢͟ẇ̵͇̯͍͕̙̝́͛̂͛͘ą͉͇̠͓̘̉͋͛͋͊̓̎͆̀͝ý̨͔̭̣͎̟̹͈̅͗̌̚』

The colossal creature that erupted from the sea began to annihilate every living thing in the area.

Exactly as her mother had asked of her, just moments before.

｢What in the — what is that…….｣

｢…Holy shit….｣

｢Zwei! Mei! We're pulling out!!｣

The uninvited guests who had secretly slipped onto Jeju Island years ago were no exception.

Nearly all of the unidentified Awakened who had tried to stand against the mysterious creature were wiped out, with only a tiny handful managing to board a high-speed submarine and flee.

Even they didn't get far before an invisible pressure crushed them into a handful of ash.

｢What? Total annihilation…?｣

That was why an emergency alarm went off in a major guild somewhere in Beijing, China.

The secret forces they had hidden away from both the Chinese and Korean governments had been wiped off the map in an instant.