SFRW-Chapter 153

Ch. 153 Sword God From The Ruined World

Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, Shaanxi Province, China.  

A chartered plane carrying Jung In-joo and six guild members of Casserian Guild’s ‘7-Man Special Assault Team – Unit 1’ landed at the airport.  

The first to greet Jung In-joo as she exited the plane was Hong Zi-xian, an executive of the Chinese Hero Association.  

“I’m Hong Zi-xian! Welcome!”  

“I’m Jung In-joo. What’s the situation?”  

When Casserian Guild first promised to send personnel, Hong Zi-xian had been more excited than anyone.  

This seemed like perfect proof of his close connection with Casserian Guild since the Terracotta Warrior Gate incident.  

However, he couldn’t hide his disappointment upon hearing none of the Guild’s ‘Big Three’ captains were coming to China.  

Why?! How could they send only seven people despite China being where Casserian Guild made its name during the Terracotta Warrior Gate crisis?  

From Hong Zi-xian’s perspective, it was deeply disappointing that the three strongest members after Seo Do-jun weren’t coming to assist China.  

But when he learned Vice-Guild Master Jung In-joo herself would lead Unit 1, his pride swelled again.  

Though the Big Three weren’t coming, the Vice-Guild Master’s personal involvement carried significant meaning.  

“The situation is urgent, so let me explain while we move!”  

Hong Zi-xian treated Jung In-joo with extreme care befitting her status.  

A luxury limousine bus prepared by the Chinese Hero Association waited right beside the plane.  

The Casserian Guild members couldn’t hide their admiration upon boarding.  

“Wow! This bus is killer!”  

“It’s much bigger than regular buses but only has 14 seats?”  

“The seats are first-class airline quality!”  

“I’ve never even heard of buses like this! Can’t we get one too?”  

“Vice-Guild Master, shouldn’t we buy a few of these?”  

Hong Zi-xian swelled with pride at their reactions.  

‘I must capitalize on this opportunity to score points!’  

Every nation and association worldwide sought closer ties with Casserian Guild.  

As someone who wanted to secure this advantage first, Hong Zi-xian knew succeeding would greatly increase his and his father’s influence in China.  

“If you wish, we could send such vehicles to Korea…”  

“Everyone quiet. Situation briefing first.”  

Jung In-joo cut him off, looking at the guild members.  

They instantly straightened up as if flipping a switch.  

Hong Zi-xian was more impressed by their immediate discipline than offended by the interruption.  

‘As expected from the world’s best guild!’  

Every Casserian Guild member was effectively S-rank.  

Getting such powerful individuals to follow orders so precisely was no easy feat.  

Remembering China’s own so-called S-rank Heroes, Hong Zi-xian clicked his tongue internally.  

‘Completely different from our pretenders!’  

As he recalled China’s arrogant S-ranks, Jung In-joo’s sharp gaze prompted him to begin the briefing.  

“The current situation…”  

Hong Zi-xian explained fluently in English – the situation was worse than expected.  

China had initially used modern weapons against the primitive tribes.  

Relentless firepower achieved decent results, but the area shields remained problematic.  

As a Hero superpower, they’d briefly held the first defensive line until tribal warriors arrived and easily crushed it.  

Most shockingly, three Chinese S-rank Heroes had already died in combat.  

Losing S-ranks was devastating to morale.  

“Currently all Heroes are holding the third defensive line. We bomb whenever shields show openings.”  

Following Seo Do-jun’s warning, they were prepared to instantly bomb any reinforcements emerging from the rift.  

“Any tribal forces exiting the rift will immediately face drone missile strikes.”  

Without their shields, the tribes were vulnerable to modern weapons the moment they emerged.  

This strategy was being employed worldwide.  

“What about Chengdu’s rift situation?”  

China was one of three nations facing tribes from two rifts simultaneously – making their crisis twice as severe.  

Even as a Hero superpower, defending two fronts was overwhelming.  

“Well…”  

Hong Zi-xian avoided meeting Jung In-joo’s gaze.  

“Accurate information would help us assist better.”  

Pressed by Jung In-joo, Hong Zi-xian sighed deeply.  

“Truthfully… China’s elite S-rank Heroes are all defending Chengdu’s rift.”  

It was obvious.  

China had shamelessly deployed its best forces to Chengdu while dumping Xi’an’s defense on Casserian Guild.  

The fallen S-ranks were undoubtedly China’s weakest.  

“These guys might as well be highway robbers without the knives.”  

One guild member clicked his tongue at China’s attitude.  

“Chinese Heroes would just get in our way anyway. Better we fight our own style.”  

Even as she said this, Jung In-joo’s expression remained stiff.  

‘Can we really handle this alone?’  

She couldn’t help worrying.  

But remembering Seo Do-jun’s face steadied her resolve.  

‘Right. As Guild Master said – we can do this!’  

The bus raced toward the third defensive line on cleared roads.  

***

“7-Man Special Assault Team? Ha!”  

Chinese S-rank Hero Wang Shu-wen couldn’t hide his disbelief that only seven reinforcements were coming against thousands of tribal warriors.  

It made him want to confront Casserian Guild about their arrogance.  

“They’re just S-ranks like us! Arrogant bastards!”  

“Still, they came from South Korea to help. And they are S-ranks.”  

Fellow defender Jin Gang-hui tried calming him, but his expression was equally grim.  

The tribal warriors were that formidable.  

While scouts were manageable, the true warriors emerging later were the problem.  

Each warrior far surpassed A-rank strength.  

Jin Gang-hui (ranked 21st in China) struggled against just seven simultaneously.  

And there were nearly 1,000 such warriors.  

Realistically, they’d need 150 S-rank Heroes like Jin Gang-hui to counter them.  

But reality?  

Only 11 S-ranks remained after losing three.  

What difference would seven more make?  

As Jin Gang-hui sighed deeply:  

“They’re coming!”  

170cm tall warriors with animal hide headbands, half-red painted faces, carrying daggers and round shields approached arrogantly.  

“Start artillery! Mortars too! Launch all drones!”  

Wang Shu-wen roared with hatred, remembering comrades brutally slaughtered by these warriors.  

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.  

WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH.  

THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD.  

Tank cannons, mortars, and 30 drones unleashed hell.  

All useless.  

A golden flag-waving tribesman behind the warriors projected a hemispherical shield nullifying all attacks.  

“…Goddammit!”  

Wang Shu-wen gnashed his teeth as the shield rendered their firepower meaningless.  

The area shields seemed to have unlimited uses without weakening.  

He wanted to crush them with tanks, but tanks froze upon contacting the shield – becoming mere scrap metal for the tribesmen.  

Having seen tribesmen tear open tanks to slaughter soldiers inside, Wang Shu-wen kept the tanks back.  

However, firearms worked inside the shield.  

“Fire at will once they enter the shield! Don’t wait for orders!”  

Soldiers nervously raised their guns – light machine guns, even heavy machine guns deployed.  

The tribesmen’s pace quickened as they closed in.  

Finally:  

“KYAOOOO!”  

With beastly cries, they charged the third defensive line.  

“Fire! Aim for heads and hearts!”  

RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!  

Bullets poured like rain, dropping front-line warriors who quickly regenerated unless shot in vital spots.  

Terrified soldiers threw grenades.  

BOOM! CRASH! KABOOM!  

Explosions increased casualties, but warriors kept coming, easily scaling makeshift barricades.  

One warrior charged a machine gunner.  

“Not so fast!”  

Wang Shu-wen swung his Chinese polearm.  

CRACK!  

The shield-blocking warrior was knocked back.  

Protecting gunners was the Heroes’ duty – their firepower was essential against these foes.  

Eleven S-ranks and 1,000 A-ranks formed defensive lines against approaching warriors.  

Once warriors engaged, 3,000 tribal scouts began ranged attacks.  

WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH!  

Crude wooden spears arced through the air.  

THUNK! THUNK-THUNK!  

“…Ghk!”  

“ARGH!”  

Spears impaled gunners’ heads, chests and shoulders.  

Meanwhile, warriors who closed in engaged Chinese Heroes in melee.  

Against a few it was manageable, but as numbers grew past ten, then twenty, thirty – the tide turned.  

Each warrior could fight four S-ranks simultaneously.  

As more appeared, Chinese Heroes were pushed back, falling one by one.  

Worse, melee engagements restricted soldiers’ firing lanes.  

“Shoot! Target those coming from behind!”  

Wang Shu-wen’s order had soldiers fire at flanking warriors.  

But the warriors anticipated this.  

One pretending to fight a Hero suddenly vaulted over him to pounce on a machine gunner.  

SLASH!  

The dagger severed the soldier’s neck halfway.  

The warrior gruesomely tore off the head and threw it at other soldiers.  

“AAAAH!”  

“HYAAAK!”  

“D-don’t come closer! Stay back!”  

Soldiers panicked and fired wildly as warriors infiltrated their ranks, making guns useless.  

“Dammit! Watch your backs! Don’t just run – shoot the ones coming from behind!”  

Wang Shu-wen’s shouts were futile amidst the chaos.  

Fear spreads fast – especially against monstrous, incomprehensible enemies.  

“AAAAAH!”  

One terrified soldier fired indiscriminately.  

“Ghk!”  

“…Urk!”  

While only head/heart shots stopped warriors, the same wasn’t true for comrades.  

THUD!  

“…Idiot!”  

Captain Wang Guo-jiang knocked out the panicked soldier with his rifle butt.  

But the situation was already disastrous.  

Their trusted S-ranks were completely surrounded.  

1,000 A-ranks and 2,000 B-ranks fared no better.  

“…We must retreat.”  

Continuing would only increase casualties.  

Losing more S-ranks was unacceptable.  

Though unauthorized to order retreat, Captain Wang couldn’t just watch.  

“All units fall ba—!”  

At that moment –  

A black shadow passed overhead.  

Someone landed among the warriors as a sword unleashed blue energy waves.  

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!  

Seven warrior heads flew instantly.  

“…!”  

Captain Wang’s eyes bulged at this display of power beyond any Chinese S-rank’s capability.  

That the attacker was a composed woman made it more astonishing.  

“…Wh-who…?”