Operation: Extermination of Vermin (2)
From above the city, it looked like nothing more than an explosion striking the ground…
But the real damage unfolded underground.
From the roof of the command center down to its very foundations, everything was torn apart in a single impact, ripped to shreds as a massive sinkhole opened wide.
“Confirmed. Underground command center collapsed.”
“Next.”
Seon Yul purchased the second steel sphere from the Omnipotent Shop, and at the same time, Cheon Li Yu designated the next target.
“God’s Hammer, second strike.”
Another massive sphere fell from the sky.
This time, the target was the National Mana Research Institute… a core facility where research on artificial mana users and imperial technology was concentrated.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWANG!!
The entire research complex collapsed as if being swallowed into the earth along with the steel sphere.
Decades of accumulated data and experimental equipment turned to dust in mere seconds.
Some Chinese users connected to community servers captured and uploaded the moment in real time.
> Hey, what the hell is happening in Beijing right now? The sky just exploded?
> I was working near the Military Commission, and barely made it out alive. That place is just… gone.
> What the hell, is this a nuke or something?
> Not a nuke. It’s that lunatic again…
> “Absolute Safety First” again?
> Damn, good thing they warned us. I barely escaped.
> But isn’t this going way too far?
> So what are you gonna do about it? Do you even know who Absolute Safety First is?
> Screw this. What kind of country is this? I’m leaving for another one.
……
……
“Third.”
Without emotion, Seon Yul rolled the next sphere.
Communication facilities, defense nodes, auxiliary magical research sites…
Each coordinate was erased in an instant.
By the time the fifth strike landed, most drones and reconnaissance-type mana users flying over Beijing had either fled or been shot down.
“Sixth, seventh, eighth…”
KWAAANG!
KWAGWAGWAGWANG!
BOOM!!
The entire city trembled.
But the whole forest of buildings wasn’t being erased.
The strike zones were narrower than expected, focused mostly on military and magical facilities.
It was clear to anyone watching.
[Real-Time Contribution Log – Beijing Defense Board]
> Four main nodes of Beijing’s defense network just got wiped.
> What is this precision strike… that’s terrifying.
> This seriously feels like they’re only targeting military installations, not civilians.
> That’s what makes it scarier. It’s like they’re showing, “We could erase the entire city if we wanted.”
> Touching Absolute Safety First in the first place was the mistake.
……
……
Cheon Li Yu murmured,
“At this level… China’s ability to pass information to the Empire will be severely reduced.”
“Exactly. That’s why we came this far.”
The thirteenth sphere fell deep underground into the location where a stable portal to the Kanon Empire had been maintained.
KWADDDDDDDDD!!
An invisible circuit woven from mana was torn apart from its roots.
At that moment, one of the stable passages connecting Earth-001 and Earth-104 vanished forever.
“Last one.”
Seon Yul reached toward the fourteenth steel sphere.
“Don’t mess this up.”
“I know. That’s why I saved it for last.”
The final target wasn’t the training base; it was a hidden location where a Chinese artificial mana user corps had already gathered.
This place hadn’t been warned.
There was no need… There were no civilians here.
And unlike the others, this wasn’t about destroying a facility. This time, the target was people.
In the middle of a fortified hilly region, thousands of elite artificial mana users assembled for future invasions of neighboring countries.
“Let me say this again… they’re beyond saving.”
“…I know.”
Cheon Li Yu closed her eyes briefly, then opened them.
“Coordinates locked. Drop it.”
Seon Yul released his hand.
The final God’s Hammer sank through the clouds.
A brief silence.
Then…everything ended.
KWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG—!!
The explosion rang longer and deeper than before.
In that instant, every artificial mana user gathered there was completely erased.
From the sky above, Seon Yul watched the scene, lips pressed tightly together.
In the end… There were only two choices. Either we die, or they do.
***
An emergency alert spread across all of China.
“The command center, mana research facilities, and communication networks have all been destroyed simultaneously!”
“How is that even possible… all at once?!”
The high-ranking Chinese officials who received the reports descended into chaos.
No one could clearly explain what had gone wrong… or when the situation had flipped from offense to defense.
“We must capture that Korean player… Absolute Safety First!”
Someone shouted, but the words quickly became hollow echoes.
“How? We don’t even know his location!”
“He doesn’t show up on mana detection networks and moves across the world without leaving portal traces!”
“And our communication network with the Empire has been cut… we won’t be receiving support anytime soon.”
The room fell into silence once more.
They finally understood.
This wasn’t just “an attack.”
One of the two pillars China relied on… the Empire, and its artificial mana user army, had been severed entirely.
This… is a warning.
Some of the more rational officials thought so.
If we keep pushing forward, he could erase the country itself… that’s the message.
***
After receiving reports that, following the northern fortress, even their Earth-104 footholds had been partially cut off, the Emperor frowned for the first time.
“It’s been a while since a contracted world dared to act this boldly against the Empire.”
Rakan, standing beside him, spoke.
“Of the four Pure White Mark bearers active on Earth-104, Zhang Peng has died. No thread remains. Most likely… killed by an enemy.”
The Emperor chuckled softly.
“Good. This is becoming more interesting.”
“If you give the order, we will authorize the remaining three to begin ‘hunting’ on Earth-104. And… we will further intensify investigations into irregulars originating from that world.”
“Do it. Absolute Safety First, was it? I already dislike the name.”
The Emperor’s gaze drifted through the air.
“Bring him to me. Not as a corpse… but alive. It would be best if he kneels before me.”
“A being who dares to act against Your Majesty… it will certainly be entertaining to bring him to the Empire.”
Rakan smiled faintly and bowed.
The problem is… that man is far more troublesome than expected.
***
Seoul – Gate Management Bureau, Secret Conference Room
“…For now, we’ve achieved our first objective. China is no longer in a position to continue external offensives.”
Cha Seong Hyeon finished his briefing.
On the projector screen, the “Beijing Core Strike Points” were marked in red.
Not only Korean personnel but also representatives from multiple countries were connected via video.
“What about Vietnam, the Philippines, and Mongolia?”
Seon Yul asked through a voice call.
The U.S. representative answered immediately.
“They’re rebuilding their defensive lines. Frankly, without your intervention, those three would’ve been completely wiped out. We’ll… give proper thanks later.”
A European representative added,
“The issue now is Russia and India. India is in civil war, and Russia… hasn’t launched a full external offensive yet, but their accumulation of magical forces is concerning.”
Seon Yul nodded.
“India is fractured internally. If we cleanly remove the pro-Empire faction, there’s a chance for internal stabilization.”
“And Russia?”
“Russia… is the most compatible with the Empire. Energy infrastructure collapse, vast territory, low population density, and a strong desire for centralization.”
He spoke calmly.
“At least one, maybe two, of the Pure White Mark bearers will likely continue to be used as Russian-origin threats. I’m already planning a separate response for that.”
Cha Seong Hyeon asked,
“That ‘separate response’… don’t tell me it’s another God’s Hammer?”
“This time, I’ll approach it a bit differently.”
Seon Yul’s eyes gleamed without warmth.
“Beijing was a ‘warning.’ Next… is ‘hunting.’”
Community – [International Magic War Status Live Thread]
> Aerial photos of Beijing just dropped. Military facilities are wrecked, but civilian zones are mostly intact.
> Isn’t that even creepier? He really only targeted military sites.
> China/Russia launched the first strike, but now BRICS is getting more hate lol
> Check Philippines, Vietnam, Mongolia communities—people are putting up banners saying “Thank you, Iljwa-nim.”
> Since when did Earth turn into a gacha game storyline? Nations being beaten around by noble-tier players…
> Still, facts are facts. BRICS sided with the Empire and messed things up—someone had to stop it.
> But what if the Empire’s main force actually descends on Earth-104?
> That won’t be easy for them either. Interdimensional movement costs are insane.
> Hey, did you hear? The Emperor is now “watching closely” Absolute Safety First.
> “Watching closely” = wants to kill him, right?
……
……
***
Absolute Space – Residential Area
After finishing all the meetings, Seon Yul threw himself onto the bed.
Instead of the ceiling, he stared blankly at the soft lights floating above the Absolute Space.
“…If things get just a little safer… can I go back to the original plan?”
The original plan.
What he had dreamed of was simple… to live quietly inside Absolute Space.
Outside was dangerous. Inside was safe.
So living inside seemed most efficient.
But now…
“…the outside is on fire.”
Cheon Li Yu leaned against the doorway, looking down at him.
“Still, compared to before you stepped out… You are making the world a little better.”
“Are you sure?”
“At the very least, better than those who’d join hands with the Empire and treat people like parts.”
A brief silence passed. Then Seon Yul let out a small laugh.
“That’s a pretty low standard.”
“That’s the world we’re in now. That’s our reality.”
She turned to leave, then looked back again.
“Anyway, where to next? India? Or Russia?”
Seon Yul closed his eyes, then slowly opened them.
“…India first.”
“Why?”
“The longer the civil war drags on, the higher the chance the pro-Empire faction reconnects with the Empire.
Right now, while they’re still confused, it’s best to set the direction once and for all.”
He stood up slowly.
“First, we separate India slightly from the Empire’s grasp… then we deal with Russia properly.”
“Got it. Then what’s the next operation called?”
Seon Yul thought for a moment, then smiled faintly.
“…Let’s go with ‘Salvation.’”
“Switching from extermination to salvation?”
“We’re still hitting them… but this time, we focus more on the ones worth saving.”
Cheon Li Yu smiled.
“Alright then, Operation Salvation: India Arc.”
Seon Yul nodded.
“Let’s go. To Delhi.”
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