Chapter 85

Chapter 85

CRUNCH—! CRACK—!

SNAP—!

Bones twisted.

Flesh tore open and gaped wide.

Jaws stretched downward, and eyeballs rolled loose from their sockets.

After the Mutation was complete, the internet broadcasters bore no trace of a human form.

"Until our viewers are satisfied...... we will...... keep killing. The broadcast...... continues."

"Thank you for the donation. Carrying out request now."

"Today's broadcast...... we're going to...... tear it up."

"Send missions...... through chat."

Monsters that grew stronger when viewers donated money.

That was the true nature of the Broadcast Ghouls.

And among them, there was one specimen that looked especially powerful.

"100 million...... Chairman...... thank...... you."

This particular Broadcast Ghoul—a former notorious degenerate BJ—kept bowing in gratitude toward his selfie stick, now warped into a vicious hook.

It was plain to see that he had received an enormous sum in donations and had grown exponentially stronger as a result.

"Chairman's mission...... Cha Eunseong...... accepted."

BJ DestroyGod.

Real name, Song Hakdu.

A once-famous degenerate BJ who had prowled the Bucheon Station area.

He had been so notorious that even Eunseong, who paid no attention to internet broadcasting, knew his face and name.

He had frequently made the news for throwing filth at passing pedestrians, parading the streets without bathing for months on end, and committing all manner of deranged stunts.

Given that he had boasted a close friendship with Gu Taeil, his level of depravity surpassed imagination.

The only difference between him and Gu Taeil was whether they had become a Hunter or not.

"Cha Eunseong...... CHA EUNSEOOOONG—!!!"

Song Hakdu charged at Eunseong.

"Big Brother!"

"I'll handle it, so clean up the rest!"

Eunseong shouted back as he readjusted his grip on Slaughter Game.

WHOOSH—!

What could no longer be called a selfie stick—a vicious bludgeon—hurtled toward Eunseong's skull.

Eunseong slipped past the attack and raked Slaughter Game across Song Hakdu's abdomen.

SPLATTER—!

Pitch-black dead blood, reeking of rot, gushed out in torrents.

"GYAAAARGH!"

A scream burst from Song Hakdu's mouth.

"You think getting fed some money will make you strong? If that were the case, everyone would be a powerhouse."

Eunseong muttered coldly as he systematically dismantled Song Hakdu.

"KAAAARGH!"

Song Hakdu was utterly helpless before Eunseong.

Every attack missed, and every one of Eunseong's strikes was a Critical Strike on Song Hakdu.

"If viewers...... drop...... can't—AAAARGH!"

Just as Song Hakdu's left shoulder was nearly severed.

CLINK, CLINK, CLINK, CLINK—!

The sound of coins dropping rang from somewhere, and Song Hakdu's size swelled further as his wound regeneration accelerated dramatically.

"CHAIRMAAAAN! THANK YOU FOR THE DONATION!!!"

Song Hakdu roared.

"Thank you for a total donation of 500 million won! Loyalty! Loyalty! Loyalty!"

At the mention of a cumulative donation of 500 million won, Eunseong's face twisted violently.

"What kind of lunatic throws 500 million at a broadcast like this...... Ah."

Eunseong's expression hardened as if he had realized something.

Not many people in the world would blow 500 million won on this grotesque, inhumane broadcast of monsters killing people.

Unless they were some perverted nouveau riche who got off on snuff films......

If so, the culprit was one person.

'Wi Taewoong.'

Eunseong was certain of the identity of the maniac who had poured a fortune into Song Hakdu.

***

Viewers always wanted something new.

They might keep watching because the broadcaster had a unique charm, but if the content was the same every time, they'd inevitably lose interest.

After the Nine-Tail Crew had seized control of Bucheon and monopolized the Bucheon Station Gate, the Broadcast Ghouls' streams had gradually lost popularity.

What was so entertaining about watching Nine-Tail Crew Hunters, well-versed in the strategy, one-sidedly slaughter the Broadcast Ghouls?

The same characters every time.

The same development.

And the same ending.

It was only natural that interest would wane.

But when the Nine-Tail Crew fell and the Bucheon Station Gate was opened to regular Hunters, the Broadcast Ghouls' streams were reborn.

As new Hunters flocked to the Bucheon Station Gate, a fresh wind blew through the stale broadcasts.

New Hunters.

Unpredictable developments.

The provocative murder content had returned.

Perhaps that was why.

The Broadcast Ghouls' streams were plastered across the front pages of every internet broadcasting platform.

This was an uncontrollable phenomenon that occurred regardless of the platforms' will.

Even after shutting down servers, deleting channels, and permanently suspending the Broadcast Ghouls' accounts, the streams could not be stopped.

Perhaps the Broadcast Ghouls' streams were the horror story most befitting this era......

[Viewer] Damn;; those are actual Hunters?
[Viewer] Whoa;; that girl's a legit tanker;; she won't go down;;
[Viewer] Ooh?

The flood of new viewers poured in with their chat messages.

[Viewer] "LuckyAce" <<< Sign up NOW for instant $$BONUS$$ payout! 100% first deposit up to 5 MILLION! Extra perks on signup!

In the midst of it all, promotional messages from an illegal gambling site betting on the battle between Eunseong's party and the Broadcast Ghouls even appeared in the chat.

[5,000 won donated.]
[300,000 won donated.]
[10,000 won donated.]
[50,000 won donated.]
[1,000,000 won donated.]
......
[2,000 won donated.]

As the viewer count swelled, so too did the donation amounts.

And as the donations grew, the Broadcast Ghouls grew stronger to match.

"Until our viewers...... are satisfied...... we will...... keep...... killing. The broadcast...... will...... con...tinue."

"Thank you...... for the...... donation...... Carrying...... out...... request......"

"Today's...... broad...cast...... we're...... going to...... tear...... it up."

"Send missions...... through chat."

FWOOOSH—!

An even more powerful burst of Ether erupted from the Broadcast Ghouls.

By now, the smartphones that had been mounted on their selfie sticks had fused with their faces, becoming part of their bodies.

SWISH—!

The Broadcast Ghouls' attacks rained down on Ra Sihyeon, Oh Taegwon, Kim Seunghye, and Kim Duhyeon.

With their increased strength and speed, the fledglings' movements grew increasingly chaotic.

And the viewers' donations didn't merely strengthen the Broadcast Ghouls.

[Viewer] Just ignore the non-Hunter lackey and go for the mage first tsk tsk
[Viewer] Kill the mage first! Idiot!

The viewers' "advice" directed the Broadcast Ghouls.

"Mage...... kill the mage first."

"Kill-the-mage mission...... executing now."

The Broadcast Ghouls all rushed at Ra Sihyeon in unison.

"Block them!"

"Damn it!"

Kim Seunghye and Oh Taegwon threw themselves toward Ra Sihyeon.

A Mage was the highest-priority asset to protect on a team.

The moment you lost the Mage, the team's firepower dropped to less than half, so Kim Seunghye the Guardian and Oh Taegwon the Warrior had no choice but to desperately shield Ra Sihyeon.

But it was not enough.

"This bastard...... I'll rip your limbs off...... for our viewers."

"We're killing the mage...... why are you getting in the way."

There were simply too many Broadcast Ghouls.

"F-fall back!"

BANG BANG! BANG BANG BANG BANG! BANG BANG! BANG!

Kim Duhyeon unleashed a barrage of bullets, but the Broadcast Ghouls, empowered by the viewers' donations, shrugged off even 7.62mm rounds with ease.

"Tch!"

Ra Sihyeon hastily abandoned her casting and swung her Spirit Sword—her staff—at an incoming Broadcast Ghoul.

CRACK—!

The staff connected squarely with the Broadcast Ghoul's head.

"Hmph......"

The Broadcast Ghoul grinned grotesquely, as if it found her pathetic.

"Now then...... time to show everyone...... a mage getting beaten to death......"

WHOOSH—! WHOOM—!

The Broadcast Ghoul unleashed a barrage of attacks on Ra Sihyeon.

THWACK—!

CRASH—!

Ra Sihyeon's body was sent flying into a concrete wall.

"Sihyeon!"

Kim Seunghye clenched her teeth and was about to sprint toward Ra Sihyeon when—

FLASH—!

A flashlight embedded in the Broadcast Ghoul's face erupted with a blue flash.

WHOOOOSH—!

An intense wave of cold engulfed Kim Seunghye.

[Viewer] Oh lol that was a good one
[Viewer] Nice hehe
[Viewer] Just kill them already lol byebye~~

The viewers went wild over the spectacle.

THUD THUD THUD—!

Now another Broadcast Ghoul charged at the fallen Ra Sihyeon.

"Ah."

A shadow of despair fell over Kim Duhyeon's face.

You didn't need to be a Hunter to see it.

There was no hope.

The Broadcast Ghouls, fueled by viewers' donations, were leagues beyond what fledglings like them could handle.

Even Eunseong, their only hope, was pinned down by Song Hakdu, who had received hundreds of millions of won in donations......

"Is this where I die? Ha."

A lament escaped Kim Duhyeon's lips at that very moment.

"Close your eyes and cover your ears! Get down!"

Eunseong's shout rang out.

***

One minute earlier.

"Hmph."

An irritated sigh escaped from Eunseong's lips as he parried Song Hakdu's attacks.

"I went to all this trouble of bringing them out here, and this is what happens."

For someone of Eunseong's temperament, the act of training fledglings was a rare occurrence—as uncommon as rain in a drought.

Having that disrupted made even Eunseong unable to help but feel annoyed.

On top of that, when he considered Wi Taewoong's intent, his irritation spiked even further.

'So this is how you test the waters?'

Wi Taewoong wasn't trying to kill Eunseong.

If he truly intended to, there would have been no reason to resort to such a petty, juvenile prank.

He could have had his subordinates dispose of Eunseong without a trace, or he could have done it himself.

Eunseong knew all too well that in his current state, he was nothing more than easy prey to Wi Taewoong, and he did not deny it.

Yet despite that, the reason Wi Taewoong had gone as far as donating to Song Hakdu to intervene was nothing more than a simple poke—a prod to test his abilities, or just messing around.

'This is going to make it hard for me to get close to him.'

A cold smile, and Eunseong's gaze locked onto the charging Song Hakdu.

"CHA EUNSEOOOONG—!"

SWOOSH—!

A crimson crescent of Ether bisected Song Hakdu.

Red Moon Slash.

A secret technique taught by the Card Spirit of the [Red Moon] card.

SPLATTER—!

THUD—!

The two halves of Song Hakdu collapsed.

Instead of finishing Song Hakdu off, Eunseong launched himself through the air.

THWACK—!

CRASH—!

He saw Ra Sihyeon slam against the concrete wall and go limp.

"Close your eyes! Cover your ears! Get down!"

Eunseong drew three cards from his Deck and shouted.

"......!"

Oh Taegwon, Kim Seunghye, and Kim Duhyeon pressed their hands over their ears, squeezed their eyes shut, and threw themselves flat.

TINK, TINK, TINK—!

Roll, roll, roll......

Flashbang grenades.

Crafted primarily from crystal Etherium with its transparent crystalline structure.

FLASH—! FLASH—! FLASH—!

SCREEEEEE—!

Three flashbang grenades detonated in rapid succession, paralyzing the Broadcast Ghouls' sight and hearing.

'Now.'

Eunseong shot forward like an arrow.

SWOOSH—!

SQUELCH—!

Slaughter Game danced its murderous sword-dance.

The target was the face.

The fused smartphones.

SPLATTER—!

Gray brain matter and pitch-black dead blood gushed out in torrents.

SCRAPE—!

The smartphone fused to the Broadcast Ghoul's face split apart.

BZZT, BZZZT.

Black-and-white static filled the cracked screen.

Eunseong wove between the Broadcast Ghouls, swinging Slaughter Game without pause.

THUD—!

CLATTER—!

Every time a Broadcast Ghoul fell, a massive haul of Etherium spilled out.

At last, Eunseong's steps came to a halt.

Eunseong flicked Slaughter Game clean with a sharp snap.

SPLAT—!

Brain matter and droplets of blood flew from the blade.

Behind Eunseong, not a single Broadcast Ghoul remained alive.

An instant massacre.

And the result of that massacre.

[Viewer] Whoa......
[Viewer] Insane;;;
[Viewer] Holy crap
[Viewer] ?
[Viewer] That's nuts...........
[Viewer] Chills;;;;;;;;;;
[Viewer] What was that instant wipe;;
[Viewer] ...
[Viewer] Absolutely insane;;;
[Viewer] ????

The chat of the sole surviving Broadcast Ghoul—Song Hakdu's stream—exploded.