♪
[swords clanging]
[grunts]
[growls]
[Esil gasps]
[ESIL] I surrender to you! Please spare my life!
[SUNG JINWOO] That voice.
Are you...
[metal clanging]
[sighs]
I am so sorry!
You won fair and square!
Now, will you let me go?
Please?
[fire crackling]
[SUNG JINWOO] You attacked us first.
Now, you're begging for mercy?
After I killed all your men?
[ESIL] A knight's solemn duty is to protect their master.
As long as I live to see another day,
they would be happy, I'm sure.
[chuckles]
[SUNG JINWOO] Happy they died?
Whatever.
♪
[ESIL] Now's my chance!
[groans]
♪
Whatcha doing?
That was a mistake I deeply regret,
so please don't kill me!
I'll give you anything you want!
[SUNG JINWOO] Unbelievable.
What about the entry permit?
Can you get me that?
[ESIL] Yes, I certainly could!
My family is holding on to the one for this floor,
please consider it yours as a token for sparing my life!
And not only that, I also know
where the upper floor permits are.
If you guarantee my and my family's safety,
I would be happy to serve as your guide
and show you the way.
[SUNG JINWOO] Your family's hiding the permit.
[sighs] Now I get it.
No wonder I couldn't find it.
One question.
[gasps]
You're a demon.
Can I trust anything coming out of your mouth?
[ESIL] O-of course, you can.
I speak the truth, I'd never lie to you.
[gulps]
All right, then, you agree to give me the permit,
I'll agree to leave in peace.
[ESIL] Uh!
I will not soon forget this kindness!
[fire crackling]
[SUNG JINWOO] But would you mind...
explaining just what you are?
[wind howling]
[gnawing]
[trembling]
[screams]
[fluttering]
[ESIL] I am the eldest daughter of the Radiru family, Esil.
[SUNG JINWOO] Cool, but not exactly what I meant.
Huh?
[SUNG JINWOO] I was hoping she'd give me more information
about the system,
like what I learned from Barca.
[inhales]
Do you demons hear a voice in your heads?
Commanding you to slaughter every human you see?
[ESIL] Oh, umm.
Well, there is a voice, but it gives a different order.
[SUNG JINWOO] Which is?
To protect this place no matter what.
When did it start?
We've heard it since our arrival.
[SUNG JINWOO] They came from somewhere else!
Where were you before?
[ESIL] The demon realm.
Then one day, we woke up and found ourselves here.
[SUNG JINWOO] This demon realm...
what did you do there?
[crackling]
[gasps]
[ESIL] [static] War.
We were preparing for an imminent war.
[SUNG JINWOO] A war?
Against who?
An adversary so strong all demonkind
had to unite to face it.
It seemed a monumental war was on the horizon, when...
[crackling]
[gasps]
Permitted amount of information exceeded.
Ending conversation.
Permitted amount of information exceeded.
Ending conversation.
Permitted amount...
[sighs]
♪
[SUNG JINWOO] I guess that's all I'm gonna get.
[WOO JINCHUL] This is the damage assessment
and combat log from the winged ant appearance
on the nearby island within Japan's borders.
It isn't pretty.
Two hundred ninety-four civilians were killed
by the ant,
and one hundred eight hunters deployed,
to contain it.
As for hunter casualties, there were four E-ranks,
a single C-rank, and a B-rank.
You'd think it was a colony's work, not one ant.
[WOO JINCHUL] The decisive factor was an A-rank
who arrived on the scene later and landed the fatal blow.
So, one of these mutated ants is on par
with an A-rank hunter, then.
Hm.
That lines up with the conclusions
from the Surveillance Team's necropsy,
so I'd say yes.
[sighs]
[GO GUNHEE] The attack took place
120 kilometers from Jeju Island.
Should the ants gain any further mastery over flight,
it will only be a matter of time
before they reach the mainland.
Contact Japan and request to join forces.
Reach out to our neighbors, too.
Tell them to raise the threat level ASAP.
[WOO JINCHUL] Yes, sir.
We can't put it off any longer.
Time's already against us.
I want this crisis handled before any more lives are lost.
[inhales]
Therefore, as chairman of the Hunter's Association,
I hereby initiate the fourth Jeju Island raid.
[ESIL] I don't know why I suddenly passed out like that.
I'm sorry for the extra trouble.
Nah, don't worry about it.
Are you feeling okay now?
Yes, I'm much better!
It's kind of you to ask, considering...
[SUNG JINWOO] Just being polite.
[Esil sighs]
[SUNG JINWOO] More importantly, how much further is it?
Ah! It's close!
Keep going straight and you'll reach the castle.
Then the entry permit will be yours!
♪
What the blazes have you allowed into our home, Esil?
Are you mad?
He may appear to be one man.
But soldiers dwell within his shadow,
hordes of them!
[SUNG JINWOO] Huh, I'm impressed he noticed.
You have deceived her!
If this is an attempt to take our castle,
I'll see you dead first!
Father, calm down!
I can explain!
Your daughter and I have an agreement.
Hand over the permit for the next floor
and nobody here has to get hurt.
[gulps]
[BORGON] This human must be the one
who slayed Vulcan and Metus.
I honestly don't see how we could best someone
capable of that.
[deep breath]
♪
[SUNG JINWOO] Pleasure doing business with you.
[BORGON] Pleasurable or not, that "business" is finished.
Now begone from my castle at once!
- There is one other thing. - Ah?
I'd like to borrow your daughter.
[gasps]
Cur!
[SUNG JINWOO] Oh, no, no, no, no, not like that.
As a guide, I mean.
She said she knows where to find all the entry permits
above this floor.
[breathing heavily]
And you won't let any harm come to her?
I swear it.
[sighs]
Very well.
I will allow it.
Then, we're off.
We've got this. Right, Esil?
Right!
[metal scraping]
[door opens]
Guildmaster Goto?
[fire crackling]
[SUNG JINWOO] Nice.
That wraps up the 89th floor.
And for Tank and Igris,
that should mean...
rank promotion.
Now they're comparable to an A-rank and an S-rank.
Which rounds out my forces pretty well.
[glass clattering]
[sighs]
I was hoping this load would get lighter as we went,
but I haven't had to barter for our safe passage once.
[SUNG JINWOO] Wouldn't you rather keep the treasure?
I brought them to trade!
Elite nobles are stewards of the 90th floor and above,
and they're strong.
Stronger than anything you've faced up to this point, by far.
But through negotiation,
we shall secure the permits the same way you did with my--
Esil, if I'd been weaker than your family's forces,
would you have agreed to our deal?
[gasps]
[SUNG JINWOO] That's what I thought.
You nobles are always trying to climb
the hierarchy ladder, aren't you?
I'm about to put your family right at the top.
The Radi, uh, whatever family.
It's Radiru.
But... Sir Jinwoo?
You weren't obligated to spare my family.
What made you do it?
Guess it's because I like you.
[ESIL] [trembling] "Like?"
[SUNG JINWOO] First Jinho, now her.
Maybe I just get along well with people
who have... a few toys in the attic.
Oh, yeah, you can head back now.
Huh?
Why?
[SUNG JINWOO] You said the enemies up ahead are no joke.
And I made a promise to your father.
If you tell me where to find the rest of the entry permits,
I can take it from here.
Hold on!
Do you really find me so useless?
[SUNG JINWOO] [chuckles] It's not that.
I just thought it'd be dangerous.
You've done great. Thank you.
All right!
In that case, I'm staying with you!
Until the very end!
I want to see what you accomplish with my own eyes!
Have it your way.
Let's head out.
[chuckles] Onward!
[SUNG JINWOO] Esil wasn't kidding.
I saw a drastic spike in difficulty
on the 90th floor.
Each encampment of demons, both in strength and numbers,
were quite literally on another level.
But I'm keeping up,
clearing the floors one step at a time.
Almost there.
I'm getting the last ingredient for the elixir,
whatever it takes.
[CHOI JONG-IN] The fourth Jeju Island raid
is in the works,
and we've both been summoned to participate.
[CHA HAE-IN] Of course.
[CHOI JONG-IN] President Baek from the White Tiger Guild
has also been called upon.
In fact, every S-rank from the country
should've received an invitation.
[CHA HAE-IN] Which would include Hunter Sung.
[CHOI JONG-IN] In addition, this raid will be an official
joint operation between us and our close neighbor.
[CHA HAE-IN] You mean Japan.
[CHOI JONG-IN] I do.
The recent attack by one of these evolved ants
on Japanese soil proves
they're as much at risk as we are.
It's the right call to make.
[exhales]
I honestly don't care as long as we kill every last one.
♪
Have they set a date yet?
[CHOI JONG-IN] It's still under consideration,
but I doubt they'll take too much time to decide.
As we speak, hunters from Japan's largest guild
are flying in.
They'll be meeting with members of the Association
to discuss strategy.
♪
[wind gusting]
[SUNG JINWOO] So, this is the top floor.
[ESIL] Doesn't seem like anyone's around.
- [gasps] - Uh?
♪
[rumbling]
[crackling]
[SUNG JINWOO] That's him, the Demon Monarch.
Baran.
♪
[growls]
[SUNG JINWOO] That's one daunting aura.
- I can tell this won't be easy. - [wind gusting]
[ESIL] His sheer bloodlust is making me weak.
[SUNG JINWOO] Even Esil is feeling it.
And that creature he's on could be a problem too.
A wyvern.
So, he commands more than just demons.
[rumbling]
[electricity crackling]
♪
[rumbling]
[growling]
♪
[growling]
[SUNG JINWOO] The gang's all here, huh?
If you have an idea, now would be the time to share!
[growling]
- Sir Jinwoo! - Yeah, I know!
♪
[SUNG JINWOO] Come forth!
[sword slashing]
♪
[roaring]
♪
[fire crackling]
Incredible.
He never once showed this kind of strength
on the floors below.
But the Demon Monarch Baran,
isn't just a boss.
He's a sovereign.
And Sir Jinwoo invaded his castle.
He should be eliminated.
Who do I side with?
Lord Baran or Sir Jinwoo?
[electricity crackling]
[growls]
[roars]
[electricity crackling]
♪
[explosion]
♪
[electricity crackling]
[gasps]
[ground rumbling]
Ah?
♪
[trembling]
[SUNG JINWOO] That's no ordinary lightning.
It's wide-range magic with a stun debuff.
I can revive my soldiers,
but my mana will deplete fast if keeps using that move.
So, before he can...
[panting]
♪
I'll clip those wings!
[sword clanking]
He saw through Stealth?
[grunts]
[gasps]
[panting]
A homing attack?
And it's gaining on me!
Tusk! Igris!
♪
[explosion]
[growls]
[thuds] [ground rumbling]
[SUNG JINWOO] Sorry, but looking up was tiring me out.
C'mon, Baran, you call yourself a Monarch, right?
Fight like one.
[growls]
Pleasure to meet you all.
My name is Hanekawa
and I belong to the Drawn Sword Guild.
This is Ryuji Goto-san, our guild master.
I'll be interpreting as he only speaks Japanese.
[GO GUNHEE] The Drawn Sword Guild.
Japan's largest, and with eleven S-ranks,
easily their strongest, too.
Also said to be the second largest in all Asia.
Their leader...
Ryuji Goto, has an aura that more than lives up
to his and his guild's reputation.
First of all, thank you for inviting us
to join this new strike team of allied forces.
We pledge our support.
Ah.
We should be the ones thanking you
for even agreeing to come.
We are truly grateful to you.
As the documents that you've received state,
we've conducted our own investigation
into the winged ants.
and it's revealed a fair bit of useful information.
If you could all turn your attention to the screen.
We've provided a visual to explain two critical points
we'd like to touch on.
One is their lifespan.
The ants grow at an accelerated rate after hatching
but only live for about a year.
In other words, once we exterminate the queen,
the remaining ants will die off within a year's time.
The second point is in regard to their behavior.
From the previous three raids, we know that the ants
are drawn to stronger enemies.
The more mana a hunter has,
the more attracted the ants are.
As such, we'll organize our strategy around that trait
and use it against them.
[GO GUNHEE] We've been aware of the ants' tendencies
for a while now,
but they've described them in quite the elaborate breakdown.
[HANEKAWA] As for the plan, you'll of course need hunters.
[speaking in Japanese]
[HANEKAWA] Of the Drawn Sword Guild's 11 S-ranks,
10 will be contributing, and that does include myself.
[all gasp]
I'm sorry, did you say 10 will help?
[BOTH] We'll act as a decoy and draw out the ants.
That will leave the queen ant defenseless,
then your hunters could move in and finish her.
But, sir.
This would require you to fight thousands of ants.
Since we're only creating a diversion, it should be fine.
And as AI simulations have proven,
this plan has the highest chance of success
and the fewest deaths.
[GO GUNHEE] Ten S-rank hunters is certainly more
than we would be able to field.
The choice is simple.
Yes, that could work.
If there's no one here opposed, let's begin tactical planning
with that in mind.
[growling]
[sword clanking]
[roaring]
[sword clanking]
[SUNG JINWOO] I don't even have time to down a potion.
[roars]
♪
[growls]
♪
[Sung Jinwoo growls]
[SUNG JINWOO] He blocked Fatal Strike?
[grunts]
♪
[gasps]
[sword clanking]
[groans]
♪
[roars]
♪
[SUNG JINWOO] There goes all my mana.
♪
[electricity crackling]
♪
[thunder rumbling] [rain splattering]
[gasps]
♪
[sword clanking]
[growls]
[sighs]
[sword clanking]
[Sung Jinwoo growls]
[sword clanking]
♪
[gasps]
♪
[grunts]
Shit! My daggers!
[gasps]
[grunts]
[groaning]
[SUNG JINWOO] He's too strong!
No, no, no, no!
I can't dodge!
[metal creaking]
♪
[Esil gasps]
[SUNG JINWOO] Now's my chance.
I'll use all of my strength,
and combine it with Ruler's Hand!
♪
[roaring]
♪
That's enough!
[screaming]
♪
Who the hell do you think I am?
♪
[explosion]
♪
He did it.
♪
[thuds]
♪
[Sung Jinwoo sighs]
[ESIL] Are you all right?
[SUNG JINWOO] Esil.
Head home and give your dad this message.
From now on, the Radish family runs this place.
Sir Jinwoo.
[sighs]
It's Radiru.
Not Radish.
♪