Moments later, the sight of Jeju Island came into view as Min-Jae looked through the window.
The Japanese hunters were already inside the island, dividing into teams according to plan.
Just as the helicopter neared the island, an enormous surge of magical energy erupted from multiple points across the terrain. Min-Jae could instantly tell this was part of the strategy—the Japanese S-Rank hunters were using it to lure the ants out of the nest.
They'd done their job. Now it was the Korean hunters' turn.
"What an enormous magical energy output. The Japanese hunters must have started their attack already," Baek Yoon-Ho said, peering through the small window. The ants began swarming out of the cave in massive numbers, streaming toward each location where magical energy had been released.
As expected, some of the ants diverted toward the helicopter carrying the Korean S-Rank hunters. The rear ramp of the aircraft opened mid-air, wind rushing through the cabin.
Choi Jong-In stepped forward first, his red hair whipping in the wind.
"Allow me to take care of them," he said confidently. "Flame Spear!"
Multiple spears of fire materialized in the air around him, each one blazing with intense heat. They launched forward with precision, piercing through several of the approaching ants. The creatures shrieked and fell from the sky, their bodies burning.
"That's impressive," said Min Byung-Gu, the S-Rank healer, watching the display.
"No, not really," Choi Jong-In replied, his expression turning serious as he observed the remaining ants still approaching. "As I thought, that amount of flame will do nothing significant to them."
"Let me handle some of them too," Min-Jae said, walking forward with his hands resting casually at his sides. He stood right beside Choi Jong-In at the open ramp.
Choi Jong-In glanced at him, then took a step back, gesturing for him to proceed.
Min-Jae raised one hand slightly, his fingers spreading. The air around the approaching ants seemed to distort. Then, with a subtle flick of his wrist, the creatures were seized by an invisible force.
Their bodies jerked to a halt mid-flight, wings beating frantically but achieving nothing. Then, with another gesture from Min-Jae, they were crushed—compressed inward by telekinetic pressure until their exoskeletons cracked and shattered. The broken bodies fell toward the ocean below.
"You can use telekinesis?" Choi Jong-In asked with a slight smile, clearly impressed.
"Yeah, well, basic ones," Min-Jae replied casually.
He turned to Choi Jong-In. "You can take over from here."
Choi Jong-In nodded and stepped forward again. More ants were emerging from the cave now, drawn by the commotion. He unleashed another wave of flames, incinerating several more mid-flight.
"The ants have evolved quite a lot," he said, his tone analytical. "They're much different from last time. They seem to have resistance similar to the ones in A-Rank dungeons. I have to make sure to focus quite a bit on my flames just to get through their defenses."
Without warning, he jumped from the helicopter, dropping toward the ground below while launching fire attacks at the ants swarming around him.
"Will he be okay?!" Ma Dong-Wook called out, moving to the edge of the ramp.
Before anyone could answer, Min-Jae walked forward. "I want to join in too. Meet you guys later."
And he jumped.
The wind rushed past him as he fell, the ground approaching rapidly. Below, Choi Jong-In was already engaged with multiple ants, flames erupting around him in controlled bursts. Min-Jae extended his hand downward and used a controlled burst of Red to slow his descent, landing smoothly on the rocky terrain.
Together, they made quick work of the ants in their immediate vicinity. Choi Jong-In's flames burned through their defenses while Min-Jae used telekinesis to crush or hurl the creatures into each other.
Within minutes, the area was clear.
Min-Jae looked up toward the helicopter still hovering above. "You guys can come down! It's safe!"
Choi Jong-In walked over, brushing ash from his sleeve. "This is the first time I've used my flames at this intensity with someone standing this close. Yet you're completely unaffected." He glanced at the scattered ant corpses. "Looks like you took down quite a few yourself."
Min-Jae shrugged with a slight smirk. "Nothing can touch me unless I want it to."
Choi Jong-In chuckled. "Confident. I like that."
The helicopter began its descent, the other S-Rank hunters preparing to disembark as the rotors kicked up dust and debris around the landing zone.
The real raid was about to begin.