Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Clash in the Wasteland
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The place where he encountered the monster was a vast wasteland. There was nowhere to hide, no cover to use.
It was a spot where he had no choice but to face it head-on with raw power.
Normally, the side with more numbers would have the advantage, but against a monster, that didn’t seem advantageous at all.
-Kyaaaaah!
The monster’s roar from afar made his skin prickle. Was it rage toward the one who had inflicted the first wound of its life? Its movements and cries both felt rougher than before.
In contrast, Yuseong remained calm. He showed no fear like when he’d first encountered it, nor the desperation from when it had invaded his hideout.
He was simply tense, ready for battle.
Even as the monster drew closer, Yuseong and the robots didn’t budge. They merely aimed their muzzles at it. Though it had entered the effective range of the railgun and NK-4, their guns stayed silent.
The distance closed further.
“Fire!”
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Yuseong and the six robots opened fire in unison. Gunshots rang out one after another.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Blood sprayed from the monster’s body. Considering no weapon had ever worked on it before, it was an astonishing sight.
But the damage wasn’t that severe.
Most bullets bounced off its tough hide without penetrating. Only a few that hit what seemed like weak spots left small holes.
Yuseong wasn’t disappointed, though. He had expected this.
After all, the guns he and the robots were using were Arc beginner rifles.
‘As I thought, it must’ve hit a weak spot before.’
Even NK-4 bullets couldn’t pierce the beast’s hide unless aimed precisely at vulnerable areas. This proved that even weapons effective against the monster needed baseline power to inflict real damage.
Still, Yuseong and the robots kept firing the Arc beginner rifles nonstop. Holding them in both hands and unloading rapidly created at least a basic barrage. But firing a single-shot break-action rifle quickly was still just single shots in the end.
Yuseong’s solution was overwhelming volume of fire.
Whoosh!
He tossed the spent gun to the ground carelessly and pulled out a freshly loaded one to fire. It was a crude method, but the fastest way to keep shooting Arc beginner rifles.
-Kraaaah!
The wounds were minor due to the weak power, but a wound was still a wound. Rage and hatred filled the monster’s howl, now tinged with faint pain.
Yet it didn’t stop its charge.
‘It’s resolved itself.’
That must’ve been its counter to a weapon capable of wounding it.
One might argue how simply pressing on despite injury could be called a “counter,” but with the monster’s physical prowess, it absolutely was. An excellent one, at that.
These popguns couldn’t inflict serious injury, let alone stop it.
The monster closed in right up to him. It extended its razor-sharp claws and swung at the robot blocking Yuseong’s path.
‘Now!’
Yuseong and the robots pulled their triggers. These weren’t Arc beginner rifles. They all held unfamiliar firearms.
These were the new guns Cooking Day had made for Yuseong.
The moment his week was up, he’d logged into Arc from a house he’d claimed after wiping out beasts—not even his hideout—registered them in the purchase window. It had been extremely risky, but the payoff was certain.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The sound alone was different from Arc beginner rifles.
In the game, their stats were so high they couldn’t be used right away, which made sense.
And unlike the game, in reality, Yuseong in his powered exoskeleton and the robots could unleash their full devastating power.
Boom-boom-boom!
-Kraaaagh!
Blood gushed from the monster’s body in far greater quantities than before. The wounds were larger and deeper, naturally amplifying the pain.
-Kreeek?
The monster recoiled in surprise.
‘Just as planned!’
It was the type to flee from mere scratches. It had no tolerance for wounds or pain.
For such a creature to suddenly suffer major damage, its movements slowing was inevitable.
‘Plus, it thought our only attack was the Arc beginner rifles.’
That’s why they’d started with those—to lure it into complacency.
Things went smoothly, leading to the situation Yuseong wanted.
Close enough range. The monster was sluggish from the unexpected assault. This was the perfect chance to target the objective.
“Eyes!”
Shouting that, Yuseong pulled the trigger. The robots followed orders, aiming as planned.
Rat-tat-tat!
Bullets flew once more. But this time, it wasn’t up to the robots’ individual judgment. The target was singular: the eyes Yuseong had called out.
Boom-boom!
Yuseong went without saying, but the robots’ precision, moving exactly as programmed, was astounding. And now, the monster had fallen right into their setup.
All seven bullets struck the monster’s eyes dead-on.
-Kyaaaaagh!
The monster screamed. Blood poured profusely from beneath its sealed eyelids.
‘Perfect!’
At this range, using enhanced rounds no less, the attack had taken its sight.
Victory odds soared higher.
Thud!
The monster turned tail. Having lost its vision to stronger resistance than expected, it seemed intent on fleeing again.
‘Can’t let it escape!’
Why lure it in close with those popguns? To boost power or accuracy?
Those factors played a role, but the main reason was to prevent escape.
‘You die here!’
Dead or alive—one of them would end it here. He didn’t believe it would abandon him just because he’d hurt it worse this time. It would target him again.
Of course, more cautiously and cunningly.
That would only heighten the mortal risk. Daily life would become impossible, forever fearing its raids.
It had to end here.
Yuseong tossed aside his rifle and drew his pistol. Another gun from Cooking Day.
He gripped two pistols, one in each hand, and unleashed on the monster.
Boom-boom-boom!
Despite the pain, the monster kept trying to flee. It desperately wanted to escape this spot, shake off the agony, confusion, and faint terror.
But its body wouldn’t obey.
-Kreek?
The monster looked down at its legs. White frost clung thickly to them. It was freezing.
Click!
Yuseong reloaded. This magazine was packed with special freezing rounds.
Special ammo. Along with the top-tier guns from Cooking Day, these were his trump cards. He’d already succeeded with enhanced rounds, shattering the monster’s eyes. Now, freezing rounds pinned the fleeing beast.
All that remained was to finish it off.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The robots poured fire on the monster. Every round they had was enhanced ammo. Blood sprayed repeatedly from its body.
Yuseong kept blasting its legs with freezing rounds to halt its movement.
-Kraaaah!
It finally seemed to realize escape was impossible. It turned and charged. But its frozen legs slowed it.
“Spread out!”
Yuseong issued another command. The clustered robots dispersed on his order.
They’d bunched up to concentrate firepower until now, but no longer. Blind, the monster had to rely on other senses.
Surrounding it with robots would block escape and disorient it with gunfire from all sides.
He’d masked scents by dousing in beast blood. Over the past few days, he’d diligently drained and stored blood from encountered beasts, slathering it on before battle.
On himself and the robots alike. Their skin stung from the beasts’ toxins, but victory demanded it.
This neutralized three of the monster’s senses. Or so he thought.
Sniff! Sniff!
The beast, briefly confused as if his plan worked, flared its nostrils. Like it was smelling something.
Whoosh!
Its head snapped straight toward Yuseong.
‘Sense of smell failed.’
Yuseong realized instantly.
-Kraaagh!
Confirming his guess, it charged him.
‘It pinpointed my scent amid the beast blood stench. Highly developed olfactory sense.’
Perhaps that’s how it had found his hideout.
One plan failed, but Yuseong stayed composed. Just one of many he’d devised. In this damned world, plans going awry was commonplace.
Rat-tat-tat!
He immediately unloaded his pistol at the beast. These weren’t freezing rounds.
Boom-boom!
Fierce flames erupted where bullets hit. The monster shrieked. Its thick hide blocked some, but wounded spots burned exposed.
The searing pain of burning flesh was among the worst agonies. Unbearable for a beast unused to pain.
Yet the monster lunged at Yuseong anyway.
Boom!
Its forepaw tore another chunk from his side. The powered exoskeleton shattered.
But gritting through the pain, Yuseong kept firing.
Rat-tat-tat!
The robots fired relentlessly too. Normally, they’d halt if their owner was at risk, but Yuseong had ordered them never to stop, no matter what.
If they strictly followed the Three Laws of Robotics, they’d have refused.
But humanity, locked in a war for survival against monsters and beasts, wouldn’t leave the First Law intact—especially since it caused refusals over potential harm to humans.
So the First Law remained but was narrowed to extremes in their programming. Thus, the robots fired without hesitation, even with Yuseong in the line of fire.
It put him at risk, but steadily damaged the monster.
Whoosh!
Ignoring attacks, the monster hammered solely at Yuseong. As if it knew killing him ended the fight.
No time to ponder why.
Boom!
Another hit from the monster. Yuseong twisted, making this wound lighter than the last. Still, chest skin ripped away, muscles sliced sharply.
Then, Yuseong activated his powered exoskeleton to charge the monster in turn. He clamped its thick arms around it tightly, then released the exoskeleton and leaped off.
-Kreek!
Irritated by the sudden bind, the monster tried to shake it free. Its monstrous strength pried the exoskeleton arms apart effortlessly.
In that instant, Yuseong gripped his pistol two-handed and fired between the exoskeleton and monster.
Bang!
“Guh!”
The new pistol’s recoil was fierce, matching Arc’s strength-focused design. Plus, without nano machines, his injuries wouldn’t last a minute before fatal.
Pain drew an involuntary groan.
But Yuseong endured, firing repeatedly.
-Kyaaaaagh!
The frozen exoskeleton frame clung to the monster, hindering it. Yuseong leaped back, chugged a potion, and sprayed his wounds.
Injuries began healing.
But the battle raged on.