SFRW-Chapter 157

Ch. 157 Sword God From The Ruined World

The Casserian Guild’s seven-member strike team performed remarkably.  

But that was all.  

Primitive tribes had emerged from a staggering 100 rift zones worldwide.  

This meant nearly half of all nations were engaged in desperate battles.  

“Guild Master! Liechtenstein… has fallen.”  

The first official nation to admit defeat, unable to withstand the primitive tribes’ assault.  

This tiny European country sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria had a population under 40,000.  

Possessing two rift zones, they were unlucky enough to have tribes emerge from one.  

Without any S-rank Heroes, Liechtenstein’s defeat was inevitable from the start.  

Following Liechtenstein, a cascade of nations began declaring defeat against the primitive tribes – Andorra, Estonia, Kosovo and others.  

In these overwhelmed nations, high-ranking officials and Hero association members scrambled to evacuate to neighboring countries.  

Their excuses were identical:  

They would regroup with allied support to drive out the tribes and restore stability.  

“Bullshit.”  

Park Chul scoffed watching Liechtenstein’s Hero Association head being interviewed.  

“Neighboring countries can barely handle their own problems! Who’d be crazy enough to help others now?”  

Even Switzerland and Austria bordering Liechtenstein were overwhelmed.  

Expecting them to assist while struggling themselves? Impossible.  

“Wait? What’s he saying now?”  

The Liechtenstein official was blatantly requesting the Casserian Guild’s assistance.  

Shamelessly pleading for help while his citizens were being slaughtered.  

“Unbelievable.”  

Park Chul was appalled as the official implied their plight was the Guild’s fault for not helping sooner.  

The more they listened, the angrier the team became – yet Seo Do-jun remained expressionless.  

He was accustomed to this.  

Such behavior was commonplace in the ruined world he came from.  

People blaming others for not saving them, despite owing them nothing.  

Even when helped, such people took it for granted or claimed credit.  

Harsh as it was, Seo Do-jun had neither obligation nor time to save Liechtenstein.  

“France has officially authorized nuclear strikes.”  

Park Chul shook his head at Park Sung-wook’s report.  

“This is basically nuclear war now.”  

“Bangladesh and Laos have requested nuclear missiles from India and China respectively.”  

Once the taboo was broken, others followed.  

Seeing India and Pakistan easily repel tribes with nukes made the option tempting.  

“What are India and China’s positions?”  

“They’ll likely approve. The rifts are too close to their borders – it’s self-defense.”  

Better to detonate nukes on others’ territory than one’s own.  

Seo Do-jun remained silent while Park Chul anxiously paced.  

“What’s the overall situation?”  

“About half are successfully repelling the invaders. The rest remain uncertain.”  

Holding 50 out of 100 rifts was better than Seo Do-jun expected.  

If more nations resorted to nukes…  

‘We might overcome this sooner than anticipated.’  

But it was too early to relax.  

“Have any chieftains or equivalents emerged yet?”  

Both Park Sung-wook and Park Chul shook their heads.  

“No reports from the Association.”  

“Our monitoring shows only reinforcements so far.”  

Only by defeating the chieftains could they truly end each tribe’s threat.  

“Team 1 has eliminated all primitive tribes!”  

Good news arrived.  

Jung In-joo’s team had completely cleared China’s rift zone.  

“Even if a chieftain appears there now, it shouldn’t be problematic, right?”  

Seo Do-jun nodded at Park Chul’s question.  

A chieftain alone couldn’t change anything – at best killing a few Heroes.  

“Redirect Team 1 to Mongolia.”  

“But China still has one rift zone remaining?”  

Seo Do-jun insisted China handle that themselves, sending Team 1 onward.  

Teams 6 and 7 also reported complete eliminations.  

“Send Team 6 to Poland, Team 7 to Tunisia.”  

Seo Do-jun redeployed them according to pre-planned routes.  

The seven-member teams moved with devastating efficiency, sweeping through tribes like a scythe.  

As other nations struggled, Seo Do-jun began redirecting teams before complete clearances:  

Team 2: UK → Ireland  

Team 3: USA → Cuba  

Team 5: Canada → Honduras  

Team 8: Russia → Finland  

Team 9: Egypt → Sudan  

“Team 4 is delayed handling two rift zones simultaneously.”  

Seo Do-jun watched the monitor confirming Park Sung-wook’s report.  

Though Shinjo’s newfound power was overwhelming the tribes, their numbers were staggering.  

Yet Seo Do-jun could see the battle nearing its end.  

“Someone’s emerging from Hachimantai Mountain rift!”  

Drone footage showed four new figures exiting the rift.  

Their ornate attire marked them as leaders.  

“Commence drone strikes!”  

Japan didn’t wait passively.  

A cinematic bombardment rained down on the rift entrance.  

When the dust settled, only one bloodied figure remained standing.  

His three companions had been obliterated.  

The survivor roared in rage before charging toward Towada-Hachimantai National Park.  

“…Wow.”  

His head flew off the moment Shinjo’s blade flashed.  

“Redirect Team 4 to the Philippines.”  

With this, all strike teams began their second deployments.  

“Finally! Some rest during transit!”  

Park Chul stretched, allowing his team brief respite.  

Seo Do-jun continued reviewing Association reports.  

Many nations were suffering, some barely surviving while others faced existential threats.  

Overall, the situation was better than expected.  

‘The stabilized nations should assist their neighbors…’  

But would they?  

Seo Do-jun smirked at the thought.  

He’d make refusal impossible.  

“All nations who’ve secured their borders must aid their closest struggling neighbor.”  

Park Sung-wook stiffened while Park Chul frowned skeptically.  

They’d hesitate to risk their Heroes.  

“Inform them, refusal means forfeiting all future Guild assistance.”  

Expecting help while refusing to give any? Unacceptable.  

Especially for nations the Guild had already saved.  

“They’ll have no choice.”  

“And reject token efforts – support must be substantial.”  

Half-hearted assistance to appease the Guild?  

Seo Do-jun would exclude such nations completely.  

Park Sung-wook relayed this to Association Chairman Na Tae-hwang, whose satisfied laughter came through the phone.  

He fully approved of Seo Do-jun’s approach.  

“You should eat something.”  

Seo Do-jun nodded but remained at his post, ordering delivery – black bean noodles, seafood noodles, sweet and sour pork.  

As he took his first bites, Na Tae-hwang called again.  

“Yes, Association Chairman?”  

-“North Korea has urgently requested assistance.”

* * *

North Korea.  

Post-Rift Era, North Korea ceased being an international nuisance.  

Even the mighty U.S. struggled initially – nuclear threats held no weight during global crisis.  

War threats meant nothing when world peace was already shattered.  

Their extortion tactics found no takers.  

Moreover, the dictatorship was destabilized by rifts, forcing the regime to focus inward.  

Thus North Korea teetered on collapse yet somehow endured.  

“Apparently North Korea is struggling against the tribes too.”  

Park Sung-wook’s report made Seo Do-jun nod.  

U.S. intelligence indicated about 50 rift zones in North Korea.  

They traded magic stones and monster byproducts like other nations.  

“Rumors say they force civilians into Gates to create more Heroes… Is that true?”  

Park Sung-wook shrugged at Park Chul’s question.  

Seo Do-jun didn’t care either way. He was debating whether to honor Na Tae-hwang’s request at all.  

“I’d expect North Korea to use nukes before begging for help…”  

Seo Do-jun recalled Na Tae-hwang’s words explaining Park Chul’s muttered doubt.  

“The tribes emerged from a Pyongyang rift zone.”  

“Pyongyang?”  

“They can’t nuke their own capital.”  

Park Sung-wook understood immediately.  

“No wonder they’re asking! Those bastards have no choice!”  

Park Chul clicked his tongue, asking if Seo Do-jun would help.  

“What do you think we should do?”  

Park Sung-wook was startled by Seo Do-jun seeking his opinion but answered calmly:  

“They’re still Koreans… Turning away feels wrong.”  

Park Chul disagreed:  

“After treating us as enemies for decades, maybe their regime collapsing isn’t so bad?”  

“Regime collapse wouldn’t instantly change their system. The chaos could spill over to us.”  

“…Hadn’t considered that.”  

Park Chul fell silent, realizing the complexity.  

“You sound just like Association Chairman Na Tae-hwang and the President.”  

Seo Do-jun stood up, having made his decision.  

“You’re going?”  

“I need some air anyway. Might as well visit our northern neighbors.”  

Seo Do-jun called Na Tae-hwang, demanding absolute cooperation from North Korea.  

-“If anyone there displeases you… handle it as you see fit.”  

“Even kill them?”  

A long silence followed Seo Do-jun’s blunt question.  

-“…Are you actually considering that?”  

“Just asking.”  

-“I doubt it but…”  

Na Tae-hwang just hoped this unprecedented meeting wouldn’t end disastrously.  

Ten minutes later.  

Casserian’s cry echoed over Seoul as the great bird, always flying south, beat its wings northward for the first time.