Chapter 62 (1/2)

The only path to humanity’s survival – Colonization. Although becoming a colonizer was dangerous, there were many young men and women who wanted to become colonizers. Like the young, penniless colonizers who crossed over to the New World, and like the outlaws who roamed the West, many left the world of civilization behind and headed towards the colonized lands, sword in hand. On top of that, wasn’t it ‘outer s.p.a.ce’? It was a suitable place to act on impulse when you broke up with your lover and the word ‘outer s.p.a.ce’ was enough to boil the blood of people for no reason.

Those who were determined on becoming colonizers would normally either take a test to enter a clan or buy Mission Points with money to move to Dragonic. This aspect was very different from the first awakenees who had no choice but to become colonizers.

That was why Lumin was saying this today again.

“What I’m saying is that being a colonizer is nothing compared to the past.”

Did kids these days know what suffering was? Even without saying, it felt like they could hear the bragging coming from within his heart.

Like most clan leaders, Lumin was also one of the first awakenees. The generation who became colonizers after overcoming more vicious fights than anyone. He had achieved a few feats within that h.e.l.l and obtained ‘2/3 Qualifications to be a Sovereign’, becoming a Leader of Ten Thousand, the clan leader of the ‘Lumin Clan’.

That was why he was calm while everyone else was nervous. He was saying those words, how becoming a colonizer wasn’t anything, in an attempt to cheer up his clan members.

Although Lumin’s new recruits felt that his words were a bit c.o.c.ky, they were also strangely rea.s.sured by them.

Their clan leader, Lumin, sat his b.u.t.t on the rampart and confidently said,

“Don’t worry; you’re not going to die. I survived through worse conditions than this.”

His composed figure, even with the growing number of monsters outside the rampart, was brazen but also felt reliable.

The Lumin Clan was a skilled, mid-sized clan. They considered themselves as one of Lao Ban’s subordinate clans and were active in his capital city, ‘Zhiyu’. It was also a profit-oriented clan that surrendered immediately once Choi Hyuk captured ‘Zhiyu’ a few days ago.

The hot springs city ‘Pyungryu’, the mining city ‘Wanwu’, the farming city ‘Yes.h.i.+’, and the capital city ‘Zhiyu’, whose market had developed so much that it was known as ‘the market of all things’, had all fallen under Choi Hyuk in an instant. Amongst them, there were mid and small-sized clans that confronted Choi Hyuk out of loyalty towards Lao Ban, and some, like Lumin, who immediately backed out, saying they never had that kind of relations.h.i.+p. Choi Hyuk left the clans who backed out intact. Not only that, but he even ordered them to manage the city for the time being.

To be honest, his actions weren’t very understandable. Choi Hyuk didn’t come with enough soldiers to safely occupy the four cities in the first place, and immediately left the cities after capturing them. After telling the surrendered clans that they would be back, all the Berserkers headed towards their capital city, Barhaloleun, before returning to Earth.

In reality, the four cities were left alone in a state of anarchy.

Within these cities, the mid and small sized clans began a bout of wits. To swallow the cities for themselves? That was impossible. If Choi Hyuk inherited Lao Ban’s authority, then they would be deported without even being able to fight. Then, there were two remaining ch

oices. Either obediently manage the city, or flee and look for another colonized land.

Each of them did their own calculations and eventually around half stayed while the other had left the cities. The clans that remained were usually those that yearned to revive themselves in a city with fewer compet.i.tors, rather than finding a new foothold in a different colonized land teeming with compet.i.tors.

However, the problem was the monsters.

“The fight must have been noisy for monsters to swarm into the city territories…”

Perhaps it was because of the noise and the scent of blood.

A few days after Choi Hyuk left, the number of monsters gathering around the cities started to increase. At first, it was ‘I see some?’ to ‘There’s a lot of them?’ and now, a week later, there were enough to call them an army.

Yet, they normally wouldn’t fear them. They had thick ramparts as well as the blessing of the Territory Pyramid that weakened the abilities of monsters and strengthened the abilities of allies.

However, now that the position of the sovereign was vacant since Lao Ban’s death, the Territory Pyramid stopped functioning. They had to fight the monsters without buffs. This was the reason why they couldn’t help but resolve themselves on top of the ramparts.

It was to the point where clans, who decided on leaving late, stayed. However, Lumin was still confident.

“This place is our hometown. If we leave once, we will have to forever live as fellows without a base. Just erase the thought of running away. And don’t worry! You won’t die. The Berserk Sovereign said so. That he would return after inheriting Lao Ban’s authority. You know that those monsters out there are nothing if the Territory Pyramid functions again, right?”

It would be fine if the Territory Pyramid functioned. They only needed to endure until then. The goal he proposed ignited the fighting spirits of his clan members since it was a more realistic goal than trying to block all the monsters.

Then all that remained was in the Berserk Sovereign’s hands.

‘Hey, Berserk Sovereign. No, Mr. Berserk Sovereign. I don’t know what it is, but finish it quickly and return…’

Even Lumin’s heart was burning with urgency.

The reason why Choi Hyuk suddenly withdrew was, in fact, because of the Sovereign Mission.

______

{Sovereign Mission}

Complete the dimensional transmission and obtain the code that can lift the dimensional isolation. Among the three dimensionally isolated areas, Kangdong, Mapo, and Seongbuk, release one and annihilate the monsters dominating within.

_______

It was a mission with a time limit, and one that also took place on Earth. It was a situation where Choi Hyuk, who prioritized inheriting the sovereign’s authority, couldn’t help but quickly withdraw. Once he returned to Korea, Choi Hyuk immediately issued a draft for Berserkers and put the Berserkers, who returned from outer s.p.a.ce missions, on standby at their headquarters. 12,000 soldiers could be recruited. This was the largest soldier recruitment since the formation of the Berserkers. The deciding day was tomorrow.

Since he was recruiting within Seoul, he had already discussed it with President s.h.i.+n Woojin. s.h.i.+n Woojin had introduced him to nearby civilians and actively promised to cooperate with the Berserkers for food supplies and other problems.

Although there were frequent disputes between Berserkers and Super Soldiers, s.h.i.+n Woojin and Choi Hyuk’s relations.h.i.+p was amicable. In reality, in s.h.i.+n Woojin’s perspective, nothing good would come out from being on Choi Hyuk’s bad side.

Though he was still the president, due to his recent dictators.h.i.+p, his political legitimacy had fallen greatly. Only, he still had the support of the military and colonizers because of the crumbs he could give them, and with their support as his foundation, he was able to give citizens the minimum level of safety, not completely lose his popularity, and obtain political power. But to get on the bad side of Choi Hyuk, who was known as a mythical existence among Korean colonizers, in that situation? The military power of the Berserkers was already frightening, but there was no doubt that the reactions of other colonizers, due to this, wouldn’t be soft. If the political situation became that chaotic, then even hearts of the citizens would leave him.

The president had even acknowledged the current fighting-oriented colonizers’, the members of large and small clans, extraterritorial rights.  Because their support was his most important political foundation, he usually let their commotions and unlawful acts slide as long as they weren’t too severe. He especially paid no attention to disputes amongst colonizers. He had already decided on this policy the moment Choi Hyuk sliced Song Simin’s head during the dinner party.

Since he treated regular clans that way, it was obvious he would treat the Berserkers, who were a sovereign clan, even better. On top of that, s.h.i.+n Woojin was already greatly indebted to Choi Hyuk.

It was successfully colonizing his first territory which made him a sovereign. If it wasn’t for the apt advice from Baek Seoin, whom Choi Hyuk sent, s.h.i.+n Woojin would never have become a sovereign.

There were 39 people who made up the first sovereign group. They were all strong, becoming sovereigns after accomplis.h.i.+ng amazing achievements. However, there were only 13 still alive today. 26 had died. Although there were some who died during outer s.p.a.ce missions, or while expanding their territories, but 17 of them had died during their first colonization. They made up the majority of deaths. The first colonization was simply that difficult.

There were currently 41 sovereigns. Among them, 11 had accomplished new achievements and became sovereigns, and 17 leaders of various countries succeeded in colonizing a land and became sovereigns. Only 17… The Giant Orc Karik had granted the leaders of each country the status of ‘preliminary sovereign’. There were hundreds of them. Since only 17 of them had succeeded in their first colonization, one could once again realize just how difficult the first colonization was.

In fact, even those from developed countries, like the prime minister of England and president of France, had died during their first colonization. Although, strangely, the Queen of England succeeded and had become a sovereign.

Anyways, the reason why s.h.i.+n Woojin was able to succeed in such a difficult colonization was because of Baek Seoin’s unsparing advice. The composition of soldiers. Quality and formation of soldiers as well as tactics. s.h.i.+n Woojin had consulted Baek Seoin on all of these and was able to safely succeed in his first colonization.

Because of this precedent, the relations.h.i.+p between Choi Hyuk and s.h.i.+n Woojin couldn’t help but be amicable. In the very least, Choi Hyuk was still useful to s.h.i.+n Woojin. It was the same for this ‘Sovereign Mission’. Wasn’t this a mission that he may eventually have to take? There was nothing bad in watching it beforehand.

Due to President s.h.i.+n Woojin’s wholehearted support, preparations for the Sovereign Mission, which would be held in the middle of Seoul, was going smoothly despite the urgency.

Choi Hyuk had decided to release the Seongbuk District’s dimensional isolation. Yes, Seongbuk. This was why he was feeling restless the night before the Sovereign Mission.

He left the dormitory and was walking alone. The dormitory of the Berserkers was simply called so, but it was, in fact, a luxurious apartment complex in Yeouido.

Choi Hyuk quietly walked along the well-tended garden and wide streets. Yeouido Xi apartments stood tall. Although it wasn’t possible for all 20,000 Berserkers to live here, those who were considered elites all lived here. No living costs. Choi Hyuk took that burden for his followers.

Where did this money come from? He was a sovereign with colonized lands. Each pa.s.sage to his colonized lands was taxed. Every business transaction within his territory was taxed. And Earth’s economy was restructuring to become more reliant on resources from colonized lands. This… was a structure where even a three-year-old child could build a fortune, let alone Choi Hyuk.

“Money, power, how great…”