Somewhere in Virginia, USA…
「U.S. Department of Homeland Security – magic beast Division」
This was a massive secret government facility known only to high-ranking officials.
It was America’s core strategic security agency, responsible for collecting and analyzing all information related to the 「Demon Lord’s Towers」 worldwide—via satellites and other strategic assets—and furthermore, for overseeing strategies and countermeasures.
That place was this very Department of Homeland Security. In simple terms, it could be seen as the 「command center」 for U.S. 「Breakers」.
"Hey, John! Play it again from right there."
The director of this facility, former 「Breaker」 David Sloan, spoke in a low voice.
His eyes were fixed on the giant screen in the control room, which was repeatedly playing the final moments of 「Avalon」 that had unfolded in Gangnam, Seoul.
"Director, that’s the 57th time already. Nothing changes."
The operator replied with a tired tone.
The scene looked the same whether in Korea or here.
"No, there is. There’s definitely something we’re missing."
In fact, just looking at the footage, the situation seemed no different between Korea and here. But David thought otherwise.
As a former S-rank 「Breaker」 who had worked in the field, his instincts were telling him that some crucial clue was hidden in that video…
"One more time!"
David scanned the footage with piercing eyes. Missile barrages from the military, tank shells—all of it exploded harmlessly against the massive beast’s scales.
"Right there! Stop!"
The screen froze.
"What were the magic power readings here?"
"As I mentioned before, there’s nothing unusual here. The magic power density is at the level of a typical magic beast general-class."
In the footage that followed,
the distressed form of 「Avalon」 was captured.
"The problem is here. The magic power reading suddenly spikes. For about 0.1 seconds just before and after the explosion, an enormous reading of 1.27 million was detected within a 500-meter radius."
"1.27 million, huh…."
As expected, that makes no sense.
magic power exceeding one million — that was not a figure that could be produced by human strength.
Even the leader of America's proudest and strongest 「Breakers」, the Amazing 6, had not reached even a quarter of that million mark, let alone half.
For that level of magic power to be measured, it would barely be possible only if all of America's top-rankers gathered and fought a large-scale war against magic beasts — and even then, at full power….
"So this must be an error, right?"
"Yes. There is a 99.99% probability that it is a measurement error."
Since the measurement was taken via satellite, the chance of an error wasn't zero.
"There's also a possibility that it was caused by interference from the tank units and missiles engaged at the time."
"No, that's not it."
Even so, Director David left room for the possibility.
"Besides, didn't the Korean National Disaster Headquarters announce it as a new-type magical wave cannon?"
"Yes, but according to our intelligence and technical teams' analysis, that is impossible. If such a weapon existed, it would have been picked up on our intelligence team's radar long ago, and they would have directly deployed it in tower raids as well."
David stroked his chin.
'As I thought — there is someone.'
He was certain. An unidentified being with power that defied common sense had appeared.
"Just before the creature exploded, the flow of magic power was converging toward its core, and that clearly caused the explosion."
"It gathered magic power to use a skill and then burst?"
A magic beast making a mistake? That was far too unnatural.
Rather than that…
"The possibility is slim, but… there is also a chance that accumulated magic power was triggered by an external influence at that timing, causing it to run rampant and explode all at once. Alternatively, a 「Breaker」 with a 「mind control」-type「Unique Trait」 might have intervened."
That was the most credible explanation offered so far.
The 「mind control」 type — regarded as one of the rarest and trickiest abilities.
However, if it was a level of mind control that could work on a general-class magic beast like 「Avalon」, then that could be said to transcend all known mind-control-type abilities to date.
"Re-examine the entire list of all mind-control-type 「Breakers」 in Korea, along with all identified information on their Unique Traits. And obtain the full list of civilians who fainted or were injured near the site. Don't miss a single detail, no matter how minor."
"Yes, sir."
David's eyes gleamed coldly.
"A new 「Breaker」. And an extremely powerful one at that."
A variable that could shake the balance of the world. America would never sit idly by.
Their intelligence network began to stretch quietly and meticulously toward the Republic of Korea.
***
At that very moment in Korea,
Ha-min began cleaning his room. And he did it with great care, spotlessly….
Sswak!
Sseuk sseuk!
It was clearly a cleaning full of earnest effort.
And cleaning wasn't the end of it.
As soon as he finished cleaning while sweating, he took a refreshing shower, then knelt calmly in his room with a composed mind.
What are you doing?
To anyone watching, it would look absurd, but in truth, Ha-min had his own reason.
That reason was — he was about to use the 「Unique Trait Enhancement Rune」 right now.
What does that have to do with cleaning, you ask?
Don't be naive.
Everyone has their own superstitions.
Ha-min was no different.
Back when he played games, he had often found that when he did this before he made his pulls, the results tended to come out well.
「Unique Trait Enhancement Rune」!!
From what he heard, depending on the type, it could even lead to a jackpot upgrade.
└ I've gained a recovery-type ability starting today!
└ I got a stealth-type!!!
└ Ah!! I got a movement-type skill. Human delivery app confirmed… sob sob
└ Is there a dud option too?
There were various testimonies related to this.
'Please, let me get a recovery type ability too….'
Right now, Ha-min wanted two main things:
Recharging the usage count of 「Absolute Command」 and a recovery ability. Getting both would be the best of the best, but he hoped for at least one of the two.
That was why, before using the item, he was putting in all this excessive effort like he was doing now.
「Demon Clan」
Honestly, unless he was an idiot, even being optimistic, it didn't seem like a recovery-type skill would suddenly appear here. Even the current list of 「Absolute Command」 had something like "Annihilation" — downright brutal, wasn't it?
What part of that looked like a skill that could heal anyone?
But even so… humans lived on hope.
'You never know until you try!'
And Ha-min had no intention of giving up. His head was running on an infinite hope circuit. With all preparations complete,
Now what was needed?
A pious heart!
A calm mind with all greed erased — that was essential before a pull. And so, while controlling his mindset… he took out the 「Unique Trait Enhancement Rune」 from his inventory.
….
Ddiring!
【Do you want to use the 「Unique Trait Enhancement Rune」?】
"Hoo…."
After taking one more deep breath,
'Use!'
He used the rune.
【Once used, it cannot be reversed. Are you sure you want to use it?】
'I get it already!! USE!!'
Why does it keep hesitating like this?
【You have used the 「Unique Trait Enhancement Rune」。】
….
'Please, recovery skill!!!!!'
With a heart so full of greed it was overflowing, Ha-min waited for a new skill to appear.
….
Ddiring!
【「Absolute Command」 has grown to Lv.2。】
【A new command has been added。】
Gulp!
Ddiring!
▶ Unique Trait Information
― Name: 「Absolute Command」
― Level: Lv.2
― Command List: 2
― Usage Count: 2/2
You can issue absolute commands to a target.
Command List
「Annihilation」
「Summon」
Ow!
The usage count had been restored. Moreover, with the level-up, the available usage count had also increased to 2.
So the first goal was achieved.
But,
What's this?
Summon?
Ha-min mulled over its meaning for a moment. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed to have absolutely ~~~ no relation whatsoever to a recovery skill.
'I figured as much.'
Sigh… What can you expect from my fate? A sigh naturally escaped him.
Still, he had to check it out.
Since it's summoning, you never know, so….
But
▶ Compendium
― Maximum Capacity: 1 (Currently 0)
Randomly summons a demon from the Demon Realm.
Huh???
'Summon from the Demon Realm???'
Now, of all things, it says he can summon demons. Just what you'd expect from a Demon class….
'Ugh, seriously, what is this type!'
From a religious perspective, this skill description was brutal enough to get you dragged away as a heretic. For the record, Ha-min was non-religious.
'And wasn't summoning demons something only villains did?'
Usually, that was the case. In novels and movies, rituals that summoned demons were almost exclusively the domain of villains….
And,
The fate of those summoners was always gruesome too. The summoned demons themselves were mostly out of control as well.
'I've never heard of a demon summoner living well and prospering….'
What if, by some chance, a crazy butcher demon got summoned and tried to chop him to pieces the moment it appeared?
Now he had to worry about that too.
'No, that's a bit over the top.'
Regardless, this was his own「Unique Trait」 and a summoning skill at that. A very, very rare one….
'Let's think positively.'
Originally, summoning was a skill that summoner-types possessed. The world's most famous summoner 「Breaker」 could summon a 「Phoenix」 — and on top of that, that 「Phoenix」 could even use healing magic, giving a two-for-one effect.
'Who says mine can't do the same?'
Still running his hope circuit at full capacity inside his head, Ha-min.
Please, give me a break.
But if it's a demon summon? Usually, that would mean summoning some hideous magic beast.
'Ugh, I'm getting nervous for nothing.'
He wondered what would happen if a really strange monster got summoned.
The one saving grace was that the summoned being would absolutely obey the summoner's commands.
This was the basic, publicly known law of summoned beings.
Therefore, even if it was a demon summon, he didn't think it would actually harm him.
'Will it? Won't it?'
The worry dragged on. Plus, if he used this, the usage count of 「Absolute Command」 would decrease back to 1.
….
Still,
….
Ddiring!
【Select a 「Absolute Command」。】
「Annihilation」
「Summon」
▶ Compendium
【Do you wish to summon a demon from the Demon Realm?】
Ha-min hesitated for a moment. But his deliberation didn't last long.
'If you hoard it, you'll lose it anyway!'
Unless he was going to completely seal the skill away!
'Summon!'
He made his decision quickly.
'Whatever it is, let something good come out!!'
Once again, Ha-min prayed with a heart full of greed.
'Yeah. Good is good, isn't it!?'
Ddiring!
【When using the 「Compendium」 command, 1 usage count of 「Absolute Command」 will be consumed. Are you sure you want to use it?】
'I already know! Why do you keep trying to scare me?'
This isn't actually going to summon some real monster demon, is it? Or like a serial killer demon or something….
Right now, he had to use one of only 2 「Absolute Command」 uses….
….
….
Ha-min hesitated again.
But,
He had already made up his mind.
The sages of old used to say, "No takebacks" — or something like that.
When it comes to big matters, you have to seize the moment like in a game of Go-Stop!
"Let's go!!!!!"
He let out a battle cry for no particular reason.
【Summoning a demon.】
At that moment, a massive surge of magic power began to erupt before Ha-min's eyes.
Shwoooosh!!!
And soon, red magic power began to coalesce.
A violent storm of magic power, as if sucking in all the surrounding energy!
'Ooh!!!….'
It felt like something huge was brewing.
Shwooooooosh!!
The red magic gradually took shape!
Thankfully, it didn't seem like any of the strange monsters he had worried about would appear.
Shooooooo!!!
A person?
It gradually took on a human silhouette.
'A man?'
Just from the silhouette, it was clearly a man.
Zwaaaang!!
The red glow intensified even more.
'Ugh!'
Ddiring!
【Successfully summoned a demon.】
….
【Demon Army Combat Soldier Bellamon has been summoned.】
Success!
But,
【Latest Korea Patch has been applied.】
Huh? What?
Korea Patch?
What's that?
Wait — isn't "patch" usually just a Korean language patch?