A suffocating silence stretched on.
As the flash faded, the massive body of Demextria could be seen slowly collapsing within the light.
Simultaneously, thunderous roars of cheering erupted from the coaching zone and the spectator stands alike.
The broadcast booth was no different, shouting with extreme excitement.
"Match end!!! Match end!!! Team Korea has done it! They have subdued Demextria, the Chief Executor! Team Korea wins!!!"
The caster burst with joy, slamming the table.
"This is truly… a match that I believe will go down in history. This Team Korea could essentially be called a three-man system! We thought they were faltering in Phase 3, but they won in Phase 4 after all! They showed us the spirit of a tiger tearing into a lion's heart!"
"I think a little differently—you said it's no different from a three-man system, but Gru Hunter's drone really played a decisive role. From support to stealing the opposing team's boss, it was deployed at exactly the right moment in exactly the right place. Moreover, that single blow that took down Demextria! It was truly the game-changing decisive strike."
"The control they showed when stealing the German team's Phase 3 boss was truly incredible. I still get chills just thinking about that moment."
"I can't even begin to fathom how much effort it must have taken to move the drone exactly as desired; they might truly be a natural-born genius."
"Oh! The face of today's MVP, Gru Hunter, is appearing on screen right now. Leisurely making a V sign! How absolutely adorable!"
On the giant screen, Gru making a V sign was shown, and below it was written in large letters, 'Today's MVP.'
"Hehehe! Truly cute! National treasure-level, national treasure-level!"
The commentator also burst into laughter, retorting with a hint of jest, calling the hunter 'Korea's adorable treasure.'
"Yes, that adorable hunter is the MVP. This means that in the contribution measurement, the drone achieved the highest contribution. Despite such a young age, it's amazing! On-Gru Hunter!"
"That's right. At this point, rather than a three-man system, isn't it practically closer to a five-man system… Ah, wait. A breaking update has just come in from the coaching zone. Please hold on a moment."
The caster seemed to communicate with someone via headset, then their eyes sparkled.
"Everyone, the drone's rank has come in. Don't be surprised."
With a flushed, excited expression, the caster paused for effect.
The noisy stands fell silent, holding their breath as they waited for the caster's next words.
"Ladies and gentlemen in the stands, viewers at home. Korea takes another leap forward…."
The caster shouted at the top of their lungs, voice full of emotion.
"S+! The highest rank currently existing in the world!! Everyone, Korea has done it!"
"Waaah!!!"
The commentator threw both hands into the air. Then they embraced the caster before speaking with a face flushed from excitement.
"The whole world will go crazy over drones once again!"
"This makes Jjapsso Hunter, who will now stand shoulder to shoulder with Amakusa Hunter!!!"
"Amazing! Jjapsso!! Amazing! Republic of Korea!!"
Tremendous cheers blanketed the stadium, and the chat window froze due to traffic overload.
*
Hunter TV Live Chat
ON: Broadcasting
- Victory!!
- SSS!
- Holy sh*t, we won~~~!!
- The German team acted cocky and got completely wiped by a kindergartener, right? Lololol
- Sick lololol
- Wow, the rank is only showing now
- Mister, stop dragging it out and just tell us!!
- Serhi, I love you! ❤❤
- ??
- ?
- S+?
- For real?
- wtf!!!!!
- WTF WTF
- Waaaaah!
*
"Waaaaaaaaah-!"
From the stands, voices of frenzy erupted at the appearance of a domestic S+.
The surroundings were deafening with people chanting 'Jjapsso' and shouting 'Long live the Republic of Korea!'
Amidst that passionate cheering.
At the stadium's gate entrance, Yulian grumbled about the noise while trying hard to hide his surprise.
'S+…….'
It truly meant the highest grade among equipment existing in the world.
Whoever Jjapsso was, they seemed to be an incredible figure.
A Creator Reactor, and even an S+ drone.
If Amakusa was the orthodox and classic production school, Jjapsso was a more unorthodox and modern production school.
Ideas and realizations almost like those of a child.
Just then, Gru appeared on the screen. Gru, chosen as MVP, was being tossed into the air in celebration by Team Korea.
Yulian, who had been lost in thought for a moment, gave this his attention before crossing his arms again and staring intently at the stands.
At the end of his gaze was a boy who looked to be about five or six years old.
The child had a plump bird perched on his head and a white baby rabbit in his arms.
He had come following the trail of that plump bird to find Dominic.
He had expected it to be with that platinum-haired girl again, but what do you know.
A child who looked no older than a kindergartener had participated in the exchange match.
Instead, the one with a baby bird on his head was a peer who appeared to be that child's friend.
'What on earth have they done?'
Nothing special was visible for now, but Dominic was unmistakably an SSS-class monster. A creature incomparable to a child's game like an exchange match.
Then he had no choice but to infer that that bird was a similar existence.
'Another monster like Dominic……?'
For a moment, Yulian stopped his thoughts from deepening further. There was no need to think anymore.
He had simply received the mission to recover Dominic; he only needed to carry it out.
To do that.
[Activating the skill 'Spectrum Echo (SSS)'.]
—Captures the flow of past time or traces of past energy and reverts them.
He uses the skill.
He uses the skill to find traces of the past Dominic. And he just needs to use that plump bird as a medium to restore Dominic.
It was rather fortunate that the bird was an existence no different from Dominic.
With his power alone, bringing the past Dominic to the present was impossible, but if there was a medium that could become Dominic's body, it became possible.
Of course, the existence of that baby bird would disappear, but that was none of his concern.
Yulian shot the film of light circling at his fingertips toward the baby bird.
But just then. The baby bird suddenly turned around.
"……?!"
He flinched. When he met eyes like a sunset, Yulian's shoulders trembled.
His spine tingled with the feeling of being crushed by an overwhelming sense of intimidation.
'Could it have noticed?'
In that time, the film of light extending from Yulian's fingertips seemed to coil around the baby bird's body, and then.
Shuuuuuut!
After circling once, it began to return to Yulian.
'Ah!'
It was a split second with no time to dodge.
The bounced skill enveloped Yulian, and Yulian frowned at the blinding film of light surrounding him.
In front of the gate that no one was paying attention to, Yulian's figure was wrapped in light.
Shortly after.
The light surrounding Yulian shrank into a very small circular shape.
"Pip?!"
Soon, as the light completely subsided, a Yulian different from before appeared.
"……!"
So flustered that its mouth hung open in a diamond shape, Mephisto broke out in a cold sweat.
What do I do? I caused an accident……?
Mephisto flew up flutteringly toward the bewildered Yulian.
"What's up? Why are you like that?"
Vailark turned around following Mephisto.
Mephisto, who had been flying in circles around the gate, broke out in a cold sweat.
That guy just now was clearly the boy looking for Dominic.
He had simply knocked away something flying toward him through that guy; he had no idea it would turn out like this.
Mephisto grunted as it grabbed Yulian by the nape and flew up. Regardless, this was entirely its responsibility.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Yulian still seemed to have no idea what had happened to him.
Okay, if I can just take him to Gru and reverse the situation……!
Just then, Vailark, who had been following Mephisto, asked offhandedly,
"What's that now?"
"Bbi—!"
Trying to answer with it in its mouth, Mephisto dropped Yulian and then quickly snatched Yulian by the nape again and flew up.
"Why are you suddenly holding a puppy?"
And no wonder, for what Mephisto had suddenly picked up was a baby puppy with long, fluffy fur, about the size of a fist.
"Kkyu……?"
Rucifel, whom Vailark had been holding in their arms, also tilted their head in puzzlement.
On the other hand, the baby Maltese that Mephisto was holding—Yulian—unable to contain his anger, trembled and bared his teeth.
"Arrrrr—"