154 - The Territory Dispute

The river valley remained unusually quiet the following morning.

The monsters that had gathered there during the previous days had settled into a loose territory around the water source. The strongest creatures occupied the deeper parts of the valley, while weaker species stayed near the outer slopes. What had initially looked like a chaotic migration had gradually become something closer to a functioning ecosystem.

For Subin, that should have been reassuring.

Instead, the growing number of human vehicles gathering on the southern ridge made him uneasy.

Several armored trucks had arrived before sunrise. Their markings belonged to a private South American guild, and behind them came more than twenty Awakeners. Most were B-rank, but at least five were A-rank. Their equipment was designed for combat rather than observation, and the large containers mounted on the trucks suggested that they had not come merely to investigate.

Mateus Oliveira stood beside Subin and watched them unload.

"That's the São Verde Guild."

Subin glanced at him. "You know them?"

"Everyone in this region knows them. They're one of the largest independent guilds operating near the river districts." Mateus folded his arms. "They clear dungeons, collect cores, sell materials, escort settlements. Usually they don't cause problems."

Camila looked through her scope from several meters away. "Usually?"

Mateus gave a humorless smile.

"They've been waiting for this."

Yerin turned toward him. "Waiting for what?"

"The territory."

Mateus pointed toward the valley.

"The river changed after the dungeon appeared. Some farmland was destroyed, but other areas have become extremely fertile with mana. Several new mineral deposits were exposed when the river shifted. There are also reports of high-grade monster materials in the valley."

Ara frowned. "So they're here for resources."

"Partly." Mateus looked at the armed Awakeners. "But there's another problem. The government hasn't officially declared this region a protected zone yet."

Jae-hyun's expression hardened.

"Meaning the first guild to secure it can claim operational rights."

"Exactly."

Min-seok cracked his knuckles. "So we're going to have humans fighting over land before we've even figured out what the monsters are doing."

"That's usually how humans work," Ethan said.

Liu Wei glanced toward the approaching guild leader.

"At least they came in daylight."

A tall man wearing reinforced armor walked ahead of the group. He looked to be in his early forties, with short black hair and a broad scar running from his left cheek toward his jaw.

He stopped several meters away.

"Mateus."

"Rafael."

The two men stared at each other without greeting.

Rafael's eyes moved across the international team before settling on Subin.

"So you're Subin Vans."

Subin nodded.

"I've heard enough about you to know that you're the reason this international group is still sitting here instead of clearing the valley."

Yerin's expression changed slightly, but Subin remained calm.

"We're observing the region."

"You've been observing for days."

Rafael gestured toward the valley.

"Meanwhile, those creatures are occupying territory that belongs to people."

Mateus stepped forward.

"They aren't attacking the settlement."

"Not yet."

Rafael's answer was immediate.

"That's what everyone says until something gets killed."

Subin looked toward the valley. Several creatures were drinking from the river. None showed interest in the humans on the ridge.

"Your guild wants to clear them."

"We want to secure the area."

"By killing everything inside it?"

Rafael's jaw tightened.

"If necessary."

The atmosphere changed.

It was no longer an ordinary disagreement between Awakeners.

Jae-hyun quietly moved closer to Subin. Min-seok stopped joking. Yerin shifted her spear slightly, not threatening anyone, but making it clear she was ready if the situation deteriorated.

Rafael noticed.

"We aren't here to fight you."

"Then why bring twenty combat Awakeners?" Camila asked.

Rafael did not answer immediately.

Instead, one of the guild members approached him and whispered something.

Rafael's expression changed.

"There's been another sighting."

"What kind?" Mateus asked.

"Three A+ monsters moving toward the eastern settlement."

The mood immediately became serious.

Camila checked her communication device.

"That's not possible. The eastern settlement is almost twelve kilometers from here."

"They've been moving through the forest."

Mateus looked at Subin.

"How long?"

"Twenty minutes, perhaps."

Rafael turned toward his guild.

"We're going."

Subin raised a hand.

"Wait."

Rafael looked back.

Subin walked toward the edge of the ridge and studied the distant forest.

The others followed.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then the trees began to move.

Not violently.

They simply parted as several enormous creatures emerged from the forest.

Three A+ monsters.

The first resembled a massive armored rhinoceros with dark plates covering its shoulders. The second had six powerful legs and a long neck protected by overlapping scales. The third was smaller but far more agile, with two curved horns and a body covered in pale fur.

None of them charged.

They were running.

Subin narrowed his eyes.

"They're fleeing."

Rafael scoffed.

"They're heading toward a settlement."

"Look at their formation."

Subin pointed.

The largest creature was not leading.

It was moving behind the other two.

The smaller creatures repeatedly looked backward while running. Their bodies were tense, and their movement was irregular.

Something was chasing them.

Then the ground behind them shook.

A roar rolled through the forest.

The three A+ monsters accelerated.

Ara's expression changed.

"There's something behind them."

Another roar followed.

This one was deeper.

Much deeper.

The trees in the distance bent as something enormous moved through them.

Rafael immediately raised his weapon.

"All units, prepare to intercept."

Subin stepped in front of him.

"Don't."

Rafael stared at him.

"Move."

"The three monsters aren't attacking the settlement."

"They're heading directly toward it."

"Because they're trying to escape."

Rafael's patience disappeared.

"We don't have time for another theory."

He raised his weapon.

"Kill them before they reach the civilians."

Subin's eyes hardened.

"Then you'll kill the creatures that are running from something stronger."

Rafael took one step forward.

"And if I'm wrong?"

Subin met his gaze.

"Then I'll deal with the consequences."

Rafael swung his weapon.

Not at Subin.

He struck the ground beside him.

The impact sent debris across the ridge.

"Move."

Subin's expression became cold.

The conflict that had been building all morning finally broke.

Yerin immediately moved between the groups.

"Enough."

Rafael's guild members raised their weapons.

Min-seok stepped forward.

"You really want to start this?"

Rafael stared at him.

"This isn't your country."

Min-seok's eyes narrowed.

"No. But civilians are civilians."

Subin lifted his hand.

"Everyone stay here."

Yerin looked at him.

"Subin."

"I'll handle the monsters."

She understood immediately.

"Then I'm coming."

"No."

Yerin frowned.

Subin looked toward the forest.

"Something stronger is coming. I need to know what it is before everyone engages."

Yerin held his gaze for a moment before nodding.

"Then come back."

Subin smiled faintly.

"I will."

He jumped from the ridge.

The forest rushed toward him.

The three fleeing monsters noticed his arrival but continued running.

Subin landed directly in their path.

The armored creature skidded to a halt, its claws tearing through the earth. The other two stopped behind it.

For several seconds, Subin simply stood there.

The monsters stared at him.

He lowered his sword.

"I'm not here to hunt you."

The creatures remained tense.

Then the roar came again.

The forest behind them exploded.

A massive creature emerged.

It was unlike anything the team had encountered in the region.

Its body was covered in dark stone-like armor, but unlike the other monsters, the armor seemed to grow and shift with every movement. Four enormous arms supported its upper body, while its lower half resembled a powerful beast built for charging.

Its level appeared immediately.

Level 143 — A+

But the number was not what concerned Subin.

The creature was wounded.

Deep cuts covered its side.

Blood flowed from its shoulder.

Something had already fought it.

The three fleeing monsters had not been running toward the settlement.

They had been running away from this creature.

The monster raised one of its arms.

Subin drew his sword.

The impact came instantly.

The creature crossed the distance between them with frightening speed.

Subin's blade met its fist.

The collision shattered the ground beneath both of them.

He slid backward several meters.

The creature followed.

Subin turned his body and redirected the second strike rather than blocking it directly. The enormous arm passed beside him and smashed into the earth.

He stepped inside its reach.

His sword flashed.

A shallow cut appeared across its forearm.

The creature roared.

It swung all four arms simultaneously.

Subin retreated.

For the first time, he understood why the three monsters had been running.

This creature wasn't simply stronger.

It was territorial.

And it was trying to drive every other creature away from the region.

Subin's eyes moved toward the valley.

If it continued fighting here, the entire ecosystem could collapse.

Behind him, the three fleeing monsters had started moving again.

But instead of continuing toward the settlement, they turned east.

Subin understood.

They had been looking for somewhere safe.

He looked back at the A+ creature.

"You don't actually want the humans."

The creature charged again.

Subin's sword moved.

This time, he did not attack its body.

His blade struck the ground between them.

The creature's momentum changed as Subin cut the section of earth beneath its leading foot, forcing it to lose balance.

The enormous body crashed sideways.

Before it could recover, Subin placed his sword against its neck.

He did not strike.

The creature stared at him.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then Subin slowly lowered the blade.

"Leave."

The monster remained still.

Subin turned away.

The creature eventually rose.

It looked toward the three fleeing monsters disappearing into the forest, then toward Subin.

After a long moment, it turned in the opposite direction and walked deeper into the valley.

Subin watched it disappear.

Behind him, footsteps approached.

Yerin arrived first, followed by Mateus, Camila, Min-seok, Jae-hyun and the others.

Rafael arrived last.

He looked at the wounded A+ creature disappearing into the forest.

"You didn't kill it."

"No."

"Why?"

Subin pointed toward the settlement.

"Because it wasn't the threat."

Rafael looked at him.

"Then what is?"

Subin looked toward the eastern forest.

"The fact that everyone here thinks they have to control the territory before understanding it."

Silence settled over the ridge.

Mateus looked toward the valley.

The monsters were spreading out again.

Not attacking.

Not gathering for war.

They were choosing where to live.

Rafael lowered his weapon.

After a long pause, he turned toward his guild.

"Stand down."

Several of his members looked surprised.

Rafael continued watching Subin.

"We'll withdraw for now."

Mateus raised an eyebrow.

"For now?"

Rafael gave him a hard look.

"This territory isn't going to remain unclaimed forever."

Then he walked away.

Subin watched the guild vehicles disappear down the road.

Min-seok came to stand beside him.

"So that was your solution?"

Subin glanced at him.

"I didn't solve anything."

"You stopped a fight."

"Temporarily."

Yerin approached from the other side.

"He's right."

She looked toward the valley.

"People will come back. The moment valuable territory appears, someone will want it."

Subin nodded.

This time, he did not look at the monsters.

He looked toward the distant settlements.

The conflict was no longer simply between humans and monsters.

Humans had begun competing with one another over the world that the monsters were creating.

And unlike the creatures in the valley, humans would not simply move aside when another group claimed the same territory.

Subin sheathed his sword.

"We need a meeting with the regional authorities."

Mateus looked at him.

"About the monsters?"

"No."

Subin turned toward the road where Rafael's guild had disappeared.

"About who gets to decide what happens here."