#68 Cyclops
Five days in Nova equal one day on Earth.
In New Seoul, daily reports were submitted once per day, which meant Army Headquarters received five such reports every Earth day.
Conversely, when Army Headquarters issued orders or directives, they came once per Earth day, so New Seoul's government offices typically received orders once every five Nova days.
Yet now, beyond the regular reports that should come every five days, messengers were constantly coming and going.
"Martial law declared near Osaka! While goblins are being exterminated, related photos and videos are spreading uncontrollably online."
"The Japanese government will soon issue an official statement. An emergency global meeting has been convened, and matters concerning Nova are expected to be announced."
"The Pacific Union including the U.S. has decided to disclose information about Nova soon."
"China has no choice but to follow suit and release information too."
With reports arriving hourly, Major General Park Jun-pil even considered crossing over to Earth himself.
"So what's the damn cause?!"
That was the most pressing question.
There was no way to know why a massive goblin respawn had suddenly occurred within a 30-kilometer radius of the Osaka portal.
These creatures weren't just roaming streets - they popped up in homes, supermarkets and factories, looting before vanishing instantly.
They weren't goblin warriors but the weakest looters, so anyone with decent strength and weapons could hunt them easily.
Novices were gradually increasing around Osaka.
"Still no leads on the cause?"
"No sir. The Japanese side isn't sharing information proactively."
"Damn it."
Major General Park drummed his fingers on his desk.
Goblins appearing on Earth?
Was this really such a bad thing?
'We can mass-produce Novices.'
This was essentially a low-risk, ongoing apocalypse trial.
"Osaka's situation?"
"Residents are being evacuated."
"Naturally. I'd do the same."
What was Nova's most precious resource?
Manpower.
With enough people, anything could be accomplished.
Pioneer villages would be built faster, and with more people, exceptional talents would emerge - it was simple probability.
Another monster like Cheoldu might suddenly appear.
"The Self-Defense Forces?"
"Japanese government says they're 'investigating.'"
"Investigating my ass. They're turning kids into Novices and deploying them."
Evacuate residents near the portal while mass-producing Novices from their forces.
Japan's Nova development was already advanced, but this could elevate their standing indefinitely.
In Nova, manpower equaled national power.
"If we knew the conditions, we could replicate this in Korea..."
Currently Korea had five portals.
If any dungeon transformed like Osaka's, they could evacuate locals and deploy troops.
Then they could even recruit civilians. Dangerous work attracted volunteers when the pay was right.
"But we don't know the conditions."
Major General Park's face darkened with frustration.
An Ogre.
Not just any monster - called a "combat gauge" because only near-Ranker level hunters could take them down stably.
Oh Jun-hwan could hunt Ogres thanks to his near-Ranker stat activation (though under 50) and natural melee sense.
His combat intelligence was exceptionally high.
With slightly higher physical stats, his synergy would improve dramatically.
No wonder he hunted faster than actual Ranker Choi Jun-seop.
When two Ogres appeared simultaneously, Oh Jun-hwan and Choi Jun-seop each took one, but Oh Jun-hwan finished first.
"Hah, I won again."
"Stop gloating and help!"
"Rankers aren't so special."
"Ugh!"
Whoosh!
"Groooar!"
Choi Jun-seop was a Ranker with 52 sensory stats activated.
His strength and agility matched Oh Jun-hwan's, but his inferior combat sense made him slower.
In stealth tracking, Choi would dominate.
Whoooosh! CRASH!
A massive axe flew from afar, embedding in the Ogre's skull and abruptly ending the fight.
"What's all the fuss?"
"Boss! You startled me!"
"My axe never misses."
"Damn near gave me a heart attack."
Though called Cyclops Forest, the outer woods under the World Tree's shadow might as well be Ogre Forest given their frequency.
Cheoldu's overwhelming presence - hunting Ogres like flies - earned Choi Jun-seop's upgrade from "hyung" to "boss."
"Let's head deeper now."
"Yes, we'll prepare briefly first."
"Good. Eat first."
"Yes sir."
Oh Jun-hwan, now a sergeant, gathered subordinates who quickly set up cooking pots while others stood guard or trained.
"The system seems fully established now."
Cheoldu nodded at Choi Jun-seop's remark.
"Warrant Officer Oh worked hard."
A chieftain acknowledging his subordinate.
The rookie Barbarian kept growing.
"Interested?"
"Huh? In what?"
"If you apply, I'll pick you first."
"Oh, the mercenary corps."
Choi Jun-seop thought before shaking his head.
"No thanks. Guys like me are needed to protect the country."
"Heh, understood."
Can't force unwilling recruits.
"There might be fewer applicants than you think."
"Hmm? Why?"
Choi answered matter-of-factly:
"Everyone has their reasons, but all Nova troops are volunteers."
"I see."
"Patriotic types. The pay's good too."
"Earth's money might become worthless paper someday."
"Haha, maybe someday. But not now."
"Right."
Cheoldu only had his grandfather left.
"I wanted to bring my grandfather here."
"Oh really?"
"But he refused."
"Ah. Earth's more livable. Haha."
Cheoldu understood - no dramas or friends here for his grandfather.
"Heh, I see."
For a Barbarian, Nova was ideal for strength and survival. But not for an old man.
At his age, new challenges weren't practical. Kang Yong-cheol only spoke of dying in his hometown, never new achievements.
Except one thing:
Since he mentioned farming, perhaps that was his final "to-do."
"Meal's ready!"
"Thanks."
Cheoldu took the bowl of meat-and-grain porridge.
Slurp.
Choi spoke between bites:
"I've got a wife and kid in Seoul. A sick mother too. Haha, as breadwinner, expenses pile up."
"..."
Cheoldu ate silently.
"I appreciate the offer, but my fate is serving the country. They take care of my family."
His salary couldn't cover costs, but the military did. His decade of hardship bought two years of family happiness.
Thus Choi had no doubts.
At least he wasn't a doomsday believer.
"Heh, eat up and join me when ready. The troops return to camp - just you and Warrant Officer Oh will hunt the Cyclops with me."
"Understood."
No questions asked.
They were hunting a world boss.
Against a Cyclops, numbers were liabilities - retreat might be necessary.
"Boss! Wishing you safe return."
"Idiot. Making it sound like the boss is going to die."
"What? Just being polite."
"Huh? Idiot?"
Leaving their self-proclaimed idiot subordinates behind, Cheoldu, Choi and Oh headed deeper.
Trees shrank until only barren wasteland remained, shrouded in shadow.
"Dark for daytime."
"Light a torch?"
"Yeah."
The torch brightened visibility.
"Is that a pillar?"
"Looks like it."
"Seems like some building."
Massive pillars and high ceilings left surroundings pitch black.
They stopped.
Cheoldu frowned.
"No 'first discovery' message?"
"Obviously not first."
"Someone's been here?"
"The First Raid Party. Probably bandits now."
Makes sense.
They must have scouted here first.
"What a shame."
Cheoldu stowed his twin axes and drew his massive halberd-like weapon.
"Can you even swing that?"
"Heh, perfect for giant-slaying."
Whooosh!
Test swings proved satisfactory.
With his barrier skill and enlarged mana pool from magic stones, no better weapon existed.
"Groooar!"
No need to search.
A towering one-eyed giant appeared, its flaming eye illuminating the darkness.
Its glowing body made visibility easy.
"Holy... It's huge!"
"Can we even take it down?"
The humans tensed as the 10-meter giant appeared.
The Barbarian charged.
Whoooosh! CRAAASH!
The Cyclops's massive sword clashed with Cheoldu's axe.
KABOOM!
Worried for his blade, Cheoldu deployed a barrier, draining mana significantly.
'Doable.'
Blocking the first strike boosted his confidence.
'We'll win.'
The Barbarian's heart pounded with battle frenzy.
