The Only Enhancer - Chapter 101
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 101
101 – Kraken (2)
2.
The surrounding nations could not possibly have missed the tremendous surge of mana emanating from the English Channel.
Though she had caused trouble like this before, every single movement of hers demanded our utmost attention.
Her existence posed that grave a threat.
This was no ordinary Disaster Level 5 monster rampaging through a single city.
With one movement, she could determine the fate of an entire nation.
Everyone whispered about it—a creature estimated to be Disaster Level 6.
Yet no one dared speak it aloud.
Since she had only recently begun destroying cargo ships, no official announcement had been made.
But secrets could not be kept forever.
It had been a month since her appearance.
While England faced the most immediate threat, neighboring nations—France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal—could not help but remain vigilant.
Then it happened.
Was it because cargo ships no longer ventured forth?
Or had something shifted in her temperament?
The moment she was spotted leaving her territory, every neighboring nation descended into chaos.
More precisely, the entire European Union did.
“She’s moving!”
“W-what is her target!?”
“Confirmed heading toward Le Havre, France. If she maintains this direct course, she will undoubtedly reach Le Havre.”
“This is madness! If she reaches a city of over 200,000 people, it will be catastrophic!”
“Is there no way to stop her?”
Panic seized them all, yet no one could devise a solution.
The European Union’s strength alone was insufficient.
She was estimated to be Disaster Level 6.
Even assembling all the Awakened from across the European Union could barely contain a Disaster Level 5 creature—a Level 6?
It was impossible.
Several nations might be lost in the process.
There was only one option.
“…We must summon Mister Reinforce.”
“…There is no other way.”
“…Whatever price we must pay, we must call upon him.”
All spoke with desperate resolve.
Germany made every conceivable effort to meet with Mister Reinforce—Min-jun, that is.
But.
-Mister Reinforce cannot be found anywhere!?
“W-what did you say!?”
-He left the Hotel where he was staying a day ago.
“…Can’t we track him?”
It was a sensitive matter that could immediately damage our rapport, but there was no helping it.
It meant we were that desperate, that urgent.
And the answer came swiftly—they had already attempted tracking.
-We’ve tried every method, but we cannot locate Mr. Reinforce. We cannot determine whether it’s due to his abilities or if Jung Ji-hwan dealt with it.
“Sigh…”
Since both possibilities existed, the leaders of each nation gathered here squeezed their eyes shut.
Then Matteo, an agent from Germany, spoke with a voice tinged with despair.
-We confirmed he met with the Korean negotiation team just before disappearing, but given that he vanished afterward….
“…Did he return to his homeland?”
-Given that Guild members remain, we assess the probability as low, but….
It wasn’t impossible.
Everyone gnashed their teeth in frustration, but they could sense that the very situation—that only Min-jun could resolve this—was itself hopeless.
A nation could crumble if the world’s greatest hunter didn’t intervene.
It wasn’t an exaggeration.
A being who handled Disaster Level 5 beasts like toys single-handedly.
Naturally, he could also eliminate Disaster Level 6 beasts.
But if even that being couldn’t be found….
It was truly hopeless.
Everyone fell into a daze.
But they couldn’t simply give up.
“…What about the European Union’s awakeners?”
“The elite forces from each nation have already departed.”
“Sigh…”
“Given his speed, he’s practically toying with us—we might just barely match his timing?”
“But… can we actually stop him?”
“…Even if we can’t stop him, we have to try, but what happens to Europe?”
Everyone was in despair.
Just because his destination was France didn’t mean only France faced ruin.
All of Europe could be shaken.
And there was no means to stop him whatsoever.
In other words, no one could predict how many days he might rampage depending on his mood.
Soon he would arrive at Le Havre.
The scene would become absolute chaos.
Just as everyone hung their heads in despair.
-He, he’s appeared!
“It’s over….”
No one knew which nation’s representative had spoken, but everyone in this room agreed.
Yet the words that followed possessed a power that lifted everyone’s heads.
-Mr. Reinforce has appeared in Le Havre!
At Matteo’s words from Germany, everyone’s eyes fixed on the screen.
A solitary figure emerged leisurely near the beach by the Le Havre harbor.
As the image magnified, an East Asian man with refined, elegant features became clearly visible.
It was Min-jun.
“Holy X!”
“What, what did you say!?”
“Th, this is—!?”
“Oh! Heavens above.”
With Mister Reinforce here, everything would be fine!
The creature was a marine monster, so the city would inevitably suffer damage, but with Mister Reinforce present, there was no problem!
The city, already evacuated with no signs of life remaining, saw Min-jun walk in leisurely before producing a long staff unlike the wand he typically wielded.
A lengthy staff different from the wand Min-jun usually favored.
It resembled the staff wielded by a sorcerer from mythology itself.
Min-jun swung that staff.
Kuuuuuuuu———!
Kurung!
Kuuuuuuuu!
Dark clouds began gathering.
As the surrounding temperature plummeted dramatically, the leaders of each nation wore expressions of bewilderment.
What on earth was this phenomenon?
Staring blankly at the incomprehensible occurrence.
A voice came through.
-The temperature throughout Le Havre has dropped below 50 degrees in an instant! Current temperature is negative 25 degrees. Haa… haa…
Matteo’s breathing had grown ragged from the sudden cold.
Was such a phenomenon even possible?
An Awakener capable of lowering the temperature of an entire city—no, an even vaster region to such extremes?
I’ve never even heard of such a thing.
Just as everyone swallowed hard at Matteo’s words.
Crystalline frost spread in the direction Min-jun had swung his staff.
Crack! Craaack! Crackcrackcrack! Craaaaaaaaack!
Sounds of something colossal colliding echoed as the sea where the frost spread froze solid.
Even the undulating waves that had been surging froze over.
The Dover Strait transformed into a vast expanse of ice.
And from the sky thick with dark clouds, snow began to fall.
The expansive ice field soon became a snow plain itself.
No one could even utter a sound at this transcendent phenomenon.
They couldn’t even move.
Though they knew this was no film, the phenomenon was so surreal they wondered if they’d turned on a movie instead.
But the surreal phenomena were far from over.
That vast expanse of ice.
The snowy plain that had formed from the falling snow suddenly began to crack, and massive tentacle-like octopus legs surged upward from the fissure.
The moment they rose, extreme cold descended, frost settled upon them, and they turned white.
Crack! Crack! Craaack—!
They had frozen solid.
But the creature refused to submit, shattering those frozen legs and revealing itself.
Gone was the form of a colossal octopus; instead, a woman floated in midair, her body wrapped entirely in blood-red octopus tentacles.
Those who witnessed this tilted their heads in confusion, their mouths falling open.
“…W-where did Kraken go?”
“W-what on earth….”
-Kraken’s presence is emanating from that woman! That woman is Kraken!
At Matteo’s declaration, everyone’s jaws dropped.
A monster with a form resembling a human!
Yet all could perceive the truth.
That delicate-looking woman was indeed Kraken.
The massive black octopus shadow etched vividly behind her made it unmistakable.
3.
Though her skin was blood-red in hue, her form was unmistakably humanoid at first glance.
Two legs and two arms.
Octopus tentacles wrapped around her body like garments, but stripped of that, anyone would recognize her as human in shape.
Blue hair, black sclera with violet irises, and pupils split horizontally like an octopus’s.
From a distance, one might mistake her for human, but up close, her visage fell into the uncanny valley.
She hovered there serenely, her gaze fixed upon Min-jun.
Her expression carried a hint of bewilderment.
Min-jun felt equally taken aback.
He had anticipated a colossal monster when those octopus-like legs erupted, yet she had suddenly transformed into human form.
“Human?”
Min-jun tilted his head as he spoke, though he understood the truth.
She was no human.
Had he not felt it distinctly when enhancing Gwen’s trait before?
Because he could sense mana, he now comprehended just how formidable an adversary this woman was.
The massive octopus shadow clinging to her back said it all.
Min-jun realized that what had been roaming the strait all this time was that shadow.
No wonder it navigated so freely even in shallow waters.
Though Min-jun had imagined a colossal yet flattened creature, a fully humanoid monster was unexpected.
It was genuinely surprising.
‘I’ve noticed that all creatures bearing the Sphere of Evolution have become smaller.’
But what did it matter?
Min-jun gazed at the items rippling across his body and grinned widely.
Where should I test these new items?
As Min-jun smiled, his anticipation grew.
Kraken was the first to make a move.
Or more precisely, the black shadow that lurked behind her.
Shhhhiiiing!
As the black shadow stirred, a massive octopus tentacle tore through the void as if piercing through dimensions themselves, and upon witnessing it, Min-jun swung his staff with a flick.
Instantly, colossal ice spikes materialized in the empty air.
Their numbers exceeded several hundred—an absolutely staggering quantity.
Whoosh!
The ice spikes cascaded forth in unison, moving as one and producing a single unified sound.
The enormous octopus tentacle attempted to swat away hundreds of the colossal ice spikes.
But.
Puk puk puk puk puk puk!
Countless spikes pierced into its tentacle.
Of course, that was far from the end.
Craaaaaack!
Boom.
Crash crash crash.
The octopus tentacle, pierced by the spikes, could not withstand the extreme cold and froze solid, and mere moments after freezing, it lost its form and crumbled to pieces.
Yet even having lost one tentacle, it showed no concern.
Instead, as if demanding more, it manipulated the black shadow to summon three octopus tentacles simultaneously and launched an attack at Min-jun.
But this time as well, the moment I swung my staff, hundreds of colossal ice spikes materialized and assailed the three tentacles.
Perhaps because it had already experienced this attack?
One tentacle sacrificed itself to block all the ice spikes, and just as the other tentacles were about to strike down the frozen one and press forward with their assault.
Min-jun swung his staff and spoke.
“Detonate.”
The tentacle that had just frozen and begun to crumble erupted in a tremendous explosion.
Boooooom!
The two tentacles caught in the blast were equally helpless, and the attack was pathetically thwarted.
And as Min-jun observed Kraken in this state, he posed a question.
“Is that all? Should I attack now?”
Watching Min-jun smile wickedly, Kraken could not help but feel her entire body bristle with dread.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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