Sparks flew, accompanied by a grinding sound.
Crackle Zap
Massive chunks of reinforced concrete rose into the air, defying gravity, their sheer weight creating a suffocating pressure.
Thud Crash
The debris piled up neatly in a corner, a breathtaking display of power.
"Alright, where to next?"
Yoon Ji-yoon, the branch manager of the Awakened Association, ignored the awestruck gazes, speaking casually. This was a national crisis of unprecedented scale. She couldn't afford distractions.
-That was the last one. Good work, Branch Manager.
"…Really? Anywhere else that needs immediate attention?"
-No, not at the moment. There's still cleanup to do, but nothing requiring your direct intervention.
Her tense muscles relaxed as her secretary's voice came through her bone conduction headphones. She had been racing across Seoul for hours since the first reports of the attacks. Finally, a moment to breathe.
"Hah…"
She stretched, sighing in relief. This had all happened so suddenly.
'Such a large-scale attack. This must have taken years of planning.'
Now that she had a moment to think, various thoughts flooded her mind. The perpetrators' identities and motives, the aftermath, and the recovery efforts. All troublesome issues.
"Ugh, this is giving me a headache."
She pushed the thoughts aside. She would have plenty of time to worry about them later. Brooding alone was unproductive.
'The Blood Alliance's vampires were a great help. Without them, the villains would have caused more damage during the brief security lapse.'
And Heinz's contribution was invaluable. He had assisted with rescue efforts and kept the other underworld organizations in check. Her decision to cooperate with them had been the right one.
'There were several other promising individuals as well.'
She recalled the Awakened who had distinguished themselves during the chaos. Some were familiar, but many were new faces.
'Is the Supernatural Management Bureau even doing their job properly, vetting these returnees?'
So many hidden talents! She had been too busy to contact them, but they couldn't hide from her senses, which extended for several kilometers.
'Where have they been hiding? I wish they would join the Association. Especially…'
Two individuals stood out: the spirit summoner, exceptionally rare on Earth, and the mysterious figure in the metal suit.
'Even I couldn't easily handle the spirit summoner. Just how many times has this happened?'
Another unregistered Transcendent appearing in Korea. She didn't know whether to be pleased or worried.
"…I'll inform the press."
"…Let's move on. The preliminary damage assessment is…"
The government had already decided on their approach. They needed to lift the nation's spirits and divert attention from the grim reality.
Korea's heroes, rising to the challenge.
That was their narrative. Creating heroes was the best way to inspire patriotism and boost morale in times of crisis.
-Wow, are they even human?
-Thank you so much! My father is safe thanks to you!
-I want that suit! Where can I buy it? Is it a magical tool? Does Howard Industry sell it?
And it worked perfectly.
***
The Seoul terror attacks left deep scars on Korean society. Astronomical property damage, heavy casualties, and widespread trauma.
Despite the swift response from the government, the Association, the Pantheon, and other organizations, the casualty count was still being tallied, and related agencies were overwhelmed. They were fortunate that martial law hadn't been declared.
All eyes, both domestic and international, were on Seoul, seeking information.
And the media, following the government's lead, began shaping the narrative.
A martial artist, wreathed in internal energy, rescuing children from a burning building. A mage extinguishing flames with torrents of water. A psychic transporting civilians to safety with telekinesis. A priest shielding survivors from a chain explosion with a protective barrier.
The focus shifted from the damage to the heroic deeds of those who responded. The individuals mentioned in the media became the center of attention, especially those who had performed exceptionally well.
-It's amazing how the raging flames just vanished, and the black smoke disappeared instantly.
-I'm more impressed by the ground moving on its own, lifting people trapped under the debris lol. Look at them staring in confusion after being rescued lol.
-I'm more touched by the ordinary people who risked their lives to save others without any superpowers. I teared up.
-Seriously, does anyone know about that power suit? It shoots lasers from its hands! It vaporized a wall instantly! What is that thing?
Many heroes emerged from the chaos. Photos and videos circulated online, and reporters interviewed survivors.
-How did you feel at the time?
-Terrified. I could hear things collapsing below, and the black smoke made it impossible to see outside. The door to the rooftop was locked, and I thought I was going to die…
-And then the man in the suit appeared and saved you.
-Yes! He smashed through the wall and reached out, and then these black webs wrapped around me and the others…
The mysterious hero in the metal suit was a captivating figure, straight out of a movie. His appearance and heroic deeds captured the public's imagination.
-Here's a breakdown of the Seoul Iron Man's suspected specs.
-Supersonic flight, sub-second zero to sixty, full-body energy shield, rapid-fire no-delay laser cannons, laser swords that cut through steel like paper, and unlimited energy wires from his right hand lol.
-He even held up a collapsing building with one hand while flying. And his movements are so efficient, like he's following a pre-programmed route.
-Considering his appearance and the timing, could it be a product of… that company?
And the excitement turned towards Howard Industry, the mysterious new company boasting the ability to custom-make top-tier magical tools. A newly established company with advanced technology, and a superhero appearing soon after its launch. It was hard not to connect the two.
-Can we request a custom-made suit like that?
-They accept elixirs as payment. And not just any elixir, I'm sure.
-Maybe the suit is actually a combination of multiple top-tier magical tools: arms, legs, head, all separate. How much would that even cost?
Some were close to the truth. While they couldn't sell an exact replica of the Titan, powered by a dragon heart and requiring the AI-powered 「Machine Eye: Callicas」, the full Titan set was practically a miniature, humanoid spaceship, a Special Grade magical tool.
'Well, the publicity is good for business.'
He might even officially make the Titan Howard Industry's mascot. It would reassure those still skeptical after the Mjolnir demonstration.
'But I should hold off on expansion for now. I can use my accumulated wealth for charitable donations to improve our image… and donate a portion of our potions for disaster relief.'
Money wasn't a concern for him anymore. The wealth he had amassed in the two other worlds was immeasurable. Hans, the Immortal King, and Horus, who had inherited 「Golden Treasury」, had mountains of gold and jewels.
'I should also make donations in the Blood Alliance's name. An opportunity to improve their image.'
Word was spreading about the Blood Alliance's contributions to the disaster relief efforts. This was the perfect opportunity to change public perception of vampires. Most people would still fear and distrust them, but even a small step forward was significant.
'Right, that's settled… Now, how do I deal with this?'
Beep Boop
BEEEEP
A room filled with the sounds of machinery. Hesperon, clad in the full Titan set, stood in the center, wires extending from his shoulders, connected to various devices.
'These devices are something else. This is taking longer than expected.'
This was the Heaven's Turn Society's hidden base in the demilitarized zone. He had used 「In The Hero's Footsteps」 to infiltrate the base, searching for clues in the abandoned equipment.
Hans, or rather, his main body projecting Hans's persona, had already extracted the memories of the captured Heaven's Turn Society members and returned home. Heinz II and the Blood Alliance were more than capable of cleaning up the remaining remnants.
Ding
After what seemed like an eternity, the complex symbols scrolling across his right eye finally displayed the message he was waiting for.
Normally, even with a high-performance AI, hacking random devices, especially those from a different technological civilization, would be impossible. The 「Machine Eye: Callicas」 was designed as a prosthetic eye, not a hacking tool.
But Howard's 「Technological Revolution」 modifications and the 「Artisan's Soul」 enhancements had broken those limitations. And Hesperon's 「Chain of Promise」 had integrated it into his being, not just a device, but a part of his body.
The 「Machine Eye: Callicas」 wasn't just a device; it was a part of Hesperon, a skill that grew stronger alongside him, benefiting from his avatar's growth bonus and the effects of 『Elixir of Growth』.
'And the Titan, a miniature spaceship, makes this possible.'
These devices were likely provided for a secret mission. The information gathered by these low-ranking members wouldn't be significant…
But it wouldn't hurt to check. Memory extraction wasn't perfect.
"…Oh? This is…"
Hesperon's eyes widened as he reviewed the information displayed on his right eye. He had found something in their database. A clue about the Heaven's Turn Society's Southeast Asian branch, another key base of operations.