Hahyuk and Ruth rested as promised for a day before going about their respective tasks. They first contacted the association to announce their return, and also shared the news of Sihyun's recovery. The anxious people around the world cheered upon hearing that Sihyun had awakened, sending various tonics and gifts to the Korean Association. Sihyun, who declined all these, sought to learn more about the stories he had heard from the Class A children and visited the tombs of the Awakened who had died in the dungeons.
Alongside Ruth, he visited Sherry's grave, laid a single flower, and observed a moment of silence. Uiheon, who had recovered and come along, could not leave Sherry's grave and wept for three hours, his tears soaking the ground and weighing heavily on Sihyun's shoulders. Regret visited him briefly, but it didn't last long as there was no luxury of time.
Next, they headed to the grave of Changsik, who had died protecting weaker Awakened and helping them evacuate. The funeral portrait showed Changsik with a stern expression. Sihyun burst into laughter that was almost a cry upon seeing this, feeling the reality of a close person's death, and cried together with the children.
After several more visits to the tombs, Sihyun appeared publicly to instill confidence in the anxious global citizens. He attended a press conference with the representative of the World Awakeners Association, declaring that the current crisis would continue unless the remaining dungeons and the final battle with Gula were concluded. People paradoxically cheered more amidst their fears, and Sihyun received worried messages from acquaintances, including Bandal and Shin Ijae, as well as the Chassi brothers from Muam Guild. After carefully responding to each message filling his phone, it seemed he had waited enough, and the final dungeon opened.
Primus, Gula's first offspring, awoke in Korea.
***
“It’s fortunate that the dungeon opened in Korea this time. Usually, we’d have to fly, but there’s no need this time, and most of the top Awakeners are here anyway,” Hahyuk lightened the suffocating atmosphere of the meeting room with a joke.
“It would have been better if it weren’t right in the middle of Seoul, though,” Sihyun joined in the joke, but feeling the mood drop further, he closed his mouth. It seemed this wasn't the right flow.
The final dungeon had opened in Seoul, above the Han River—a region dense with Awakeners, which was a positive aspect considering it would minimize casualties, but it was also distressing that so many people were concentrated in one area.
Everyone was anxious. To alleviate their anxiety and minimize the damage, Sihyun promptly called for a strategy meeting of prominent Awakeners at Redem’s meeting room. The association had offered space, but since he had decided to bring Hahyuk and the Class A children, the meeting had to be held at Redem for them to have a voice.
It wouldn’t be as challenging as dealing with this Irregular, though.
“...Primus. A tricky one. I’d rather not accompany him this time,” Arumus commented, glancing at Sihyun, who smiled kindly and showed him the preemptively prepared list of names for tackling the Primus dungeon.
“Regrettably, your name is the first one listed. Consider it an honor, Arumus. I listed your name before mine.”
“…What an honor.”
Arumus’s expression soured immediately, a satisfyingly deserved response for all the preparations. Sihyun put the list down and gestured towards Arumus.
“Now that you understand, tell us what you know about Primus.”
“Might as well be highway robbery,” the Irregular grumbled, looking around at the gathered Awakeners in the room, sighed deeply, and began.
“Primus is Gula’s first child, and he’s the most variable of the lot. He has the strongest sense of self among the Irregulars. Not that his loyalty to his mother is weak, but that he’s exceptionally intelligent. The most terrifying aspect of him is…”
Arumus paused, grimacing, and Sihyun took over the explanation.
“He grows on his own.”
The room's attention shifted to Sihyun. Arumus nodded, running his hands over his goosebumped arms in agreement.
“Yes, that’s the worst part about him. Primus has excellent learning and thinking capabilities, constantly contemplating and questioning, eventually resolving all queries through growth. He’s superior in knowledge, but in everything else, he’s more formidable.”
It was typical of Arumus to brag about his battle prowess. His rare praise for an opponent was not a good sign.
The mood darkened as those familiar with the massive Irregular’s characteristics looked grim, and those new to teaming with Arumus looked puzzled. Arumus
scratched his head several times and sighed.
“His abilities change over time, so what I know may not be very helpful. They might have been compensated for, or their nature might have completely changed.”
“But the fundamental weakness remains the same,” Sihyun pointed out, and Arumus agreed.
“That’s exactly the point to focus on.”
The previously tired and reluctant Irregular curled up his lips. He then adjusted his posture, leaning toward the table, eagerly engaging in strategies against his siblings.
“Primus was the first to be born from his mother. That’s why he received the most abilities and is mighty, but that also makes him unstable.”
“What are you talking about? That makes no sense,” Hamin raised his hand, asking for a simpler explanation. Arumus looked at him disdainfully.
“Think about it, you foolish human child. Isn’t it that whatever is first created is the worst, and what’s made in the middle is the most refined?”
“…By that logic, the last created should be the best?”
“You’re wrong. The power dwindles after the middle, so the last created is just as bad as the first.”
It was a convincing argument. The people nodded in strange agreement, and the Irregular, receiving several nods and feeling pleased, snickered.
“So, Primus is as strong as he is unstable. Being the first-born sibling, both the soul-to-body ratio and the balance between self and abilities are unstable. In short, if one of his attacks directly hits anyone, that person can’t escape instant death, but if you find his gap, it’s not difficult to strategize against him.”
Find the gap.
The Irregular emphasized this. Then, pausing to stroke his chin thoughtfully, he turned to Sihyun.
“Got all your memories back?”
“As much as I need.”
“Then you remember about Primus too.”
“Yes.”
Sihyun and Arumus simultaneously curled up the corners of their mouths. Arumus knew the theoretical information about Primus, while Sihyun knew Primus’s weaknesses from having fought him several times. Now that his memory was nearly perfect, there was no chance he’d be pitifully defeated by an Irregular again.
Arumus straightened his body, indicating his part was done. Naturally, the lead in the conversation passed back to Sihyun.
Sihyun began explaining that Primus was humanoid, pointing to his forehead.
“The weaknesses of Primus are threefold: the space between his eyes, his chin, and his groin. If all three places are targeted simultaneously, he can be defeated. These are the points where the soul and body connect weakly, so they respond as soon as they are struck.”
“We need to decide on the three to deliver the final blow then.”
“There’s no need to decide if it feels stable, but it’s better to make a decision. Ruth, Hahyuk, and I are confirmed. It would be better to decide on two more as reserves. Those called should conserve some energy during combat. It’s no good if you run out of strength when delivering the last blow.”
Sihyun spoke matter-of-factly and started to write down the names for the Primus dungeon strategy. Ruth, Hahyuk, and the Class A children, along with two S-rank Awakeners brought by Ruth from the IRS. And finally.
“Mr. Kwon Taeju.”
“That seemed likely but, yes, you added him.”
The guild master of Muam, Kwon Taeju.
Thus, a total of thirteen were set to attempt the strategy.
Sihyun called the name of the remaining candidate.
“And Lee Hamin.”
“……!”
Hamin’s pupils widened, his expression showing he had not expected to be chosen. Sihyun recalled the data Uiheon had provided. Up until the previous dungeon strategy, Sihyun had intended to exclude Hamin from critical roles, considering the reactions he had shown in the dungeon. However, while he had been unconscious and dreaming, Hamin had shown remarkable performance in two dungeons.
More than a day.
Sihyun could easily guess that now was the moment when Hahyuk’s brother’s talents truly blossomed.
That’s why Hamin, not Haru, was chosen as a candidate for the final blow. No one responded to his question if there were any objections. After confirming this and repeating a few precautions about Primus, he tried to end the meeting when an Awakener from the IRS raised his hand.
“Is there no further explanation about Primus’s abilities? Like using fire or something…”
Hearing this through the translation device in his ear, Sihyun slightly smiled.
“None.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not necessary. The first time I met him, he was using fire, but in the next meeting, he handled earth, and in the next, lightning. That’s just the kind of creature he is, so explaining it would only cause
confusion. His ability is singular. He simply selects one ability and masters it completely. If he’s chosen a different ability, then that becomes his main power.”
“……”
“Nobody knows what that power will be. So, explanations are unnecessary.”
The explanation left everyone in the room stiff. Arumus, watching them, snickered but then lightened the mood by saying that however, if the attacks are well-placed, the creature can be defeated. Sihyun agreed and concluded the meeting.
The meeting for the final dungeon strategy was unusually short, but because of this, a sharp sense of urgency was etched into everyone present.
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