The Age of Chaos
Yoo Sung-jun’s reason for switching his greatsword to dimension-tech was simple.
Right now, there were very few people who could actually deal with the monster they were about to face.
Even if it was only Alpha Strike, the cheap end of dimension-tech, that still meant something.
From the start, it had been a concentration of technology from an entirely different level.
He had considered swapping his firearm over to dimension-tech too, but points were the problem.
Once you get to firearms, anything even remotely usable jumps straight to 2.5 million points.
Because it was a greatsword, he could buy it relatively cheaply. Firearms were a different story.
Even if he scraped together the points and bought one, it wouldn’t be truly useful unless he added abilities at the equipment modification bench.
So Yoo Sung-jun lowered his standards.
With the points I have left, I need to add abilities to Alpha Strike and the firearm.
By his rough estimate, he could spend about 1.2 million points.
That was because once equipment cost more than a million points, the expense of adding abilities rose exponentially.
I need to pick the most useful thing within 1.2 million points...
Yoo Sung-jun thought of the mutant’s form and abilities.
It was said to be the Infector most similar to Kalaqua.
Free modification of size and shape. Immense power that wasn’t restricted by whatever form it had taken.
Its representative abilities could be summed up in two.
Ultrahigh-Speed Ejection and Ultrasound.
The creature launched parts of its own body faster than the speed of sound to attack.
Which meant that if you didn’t recognize its attack in advance, you’d be pierced before you could blink.
As for ultrasound, I’ll have to deal with it the moment I catch the warning signs.
The moment its mouth opened wider than a certain point, that would be the opening.
That was when he’d have to ram a firearm or a greatsword straight in.
He absolutely had to stop the ultrasound.
It’s a sound attack you can’t block at all.
The first time he had faced that ability in the game, he had died instantly.
His innards had probably all burst apart.
It had been a game, so he’d simply tried again. In reality, that would be the end of him.
He intended to rely heavily on Jack Kalt for this part.
He said he had a plan. I should at least let him support me once.
The man was still impossible to read.
Still, this mission had taught him just how desperate Jack was to bring down the mutant known as the middle finger.
He won’t be able to make things annoying for me, not when I’m the core of this operation.
Yoo Sung-jun nodded to himself and stopped the shop scroll that had been moving downward.
It was about time to decide.
Three firearms were on the purchase list.
“SU-108, Bull’s-Eye, and Untouch Shooter. So that’s about it.”
Each had very clear strengths and weaknesses.
As for the SU-108, it boasted a single shot powerful enough to kill even a level 5 in one hit.
But compared with the other two, its accuracy and handling were lacking.
Bull’s-Eye had automatic tracking built into every round, so its hit rate was absolute... but...
Its firepower is weak. Most importantly, it’s heavy.
One might say that after finishing level 4 body reinforcement, a few kilograms shouldn’t matter.
But the difference was real.
Life and death could hinge on a split-second difference in reaction time.
The only thing remotely usable is Untouch Shooter, I guess...
It was a semi-AI firearm.
He could fire it directly, but if he attached it to his shoulder, he could hand over the control work.
I can leave the handling to Loki. Firepower sits somewhere between the SU-108 and Bull’s-Eye. Reloading can be replaced by the Omega Suit’s nano suit cartridge.
It was the kind of gun whose accuracy varied wildly depending on the supporter handling it.
So he needed to check.
“Loki. Don’t even think about lying. Just tell me the truth.”
[I have always supported Sung-jun-nim in every possible way and never once spoken a lie.]
“Still, I feel like you might this time.”
[That’s too much, (,,•﹏•,,)]
Her response was short. And what was that strange expression supposed to be?
Feeling as if her manner of expression was becoming more and more varied, Yoo Sung-jun pointed at Untouch Shooter.
“This one. Can you handle it well?”
[Of course. Back on my home planet, I was called the Ultimate Shooter, the one who could pierce anything.]
“Pfft! How can your nickname be Ultimate Shooter?”
[...Are you mocking me right now, Yoo Sung-jun-nim?]
“I’m not mocking you. It’s just funny.”
[We’ll see how long that laughter lasts. Now, hurry and purchase Untouch Shooter. I’ll wipe that grin right off your face with my perfect marksmanship.]
“You think you can shoot better than Sung-hwan?”
[Th-that...! That’s difficult...]
So she really couldn’t lie, then.
Still, if Loki said she was good at shooting, there was no better option than this.
If he was going to hold a greatsword with both hands and fire a gun, anyway, he might as well.
With a shrug, he bought Untouch Shooter.
1.2 million points vanished like a receding tide, but he didn’t care.
He would make far more than that from this hunt, not to mention the extra income on the side.
Now all that’s left is to add the abilities and test performance.
After leaving the Enter Room, Yoo Sung-jun contacted Jeyca.
It was time to borrow the equipment modification bench.
***
“This is the gun you bought today?”
Jeyca, standing beside him with her hands clasped behind her back, let her eyes shine.
Watching the firearm Yoo Sung-jun placed on the bench, she murmured in quiet admiration.
“Just looking at it, it already seems good. The design is pretty, too.”
“You’re judging a gun by the design?”
“You said it cost 1.2 million points. You can kind of tell from the points alone. Ah, sorry. I should pay back the points as soon as possible so I can buy better equipment.”
“You can take your time. Sung-hwan paid it back that way too. Your head’s fine now, right?”
Jeyca smiled bashfully, opened the pocket on the front of her clothes, and took out a well-worn notebook.
“Yes, I don’t even need to look at this anymore. I remember everything clearly, and more than anything... I like that I can’t forget it.”
She pushed back the long hair spilling over her shoulders as she spoke.
Come to think of it, her hair had grown a lot.
That long would be a nuisance in battle.
The visor on the Omega Suit would keep anyone from grabbing it, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t interfere somehow.
A strand brushing the ear, the nape of the neck, or even the eyes was enough to be irritating beyond reason.
“Your hair’s gotten really long.”
“It has. We’ve been so busy there wasn’t even time to trim it.”
“That’s true.”
As he nodded, Jeyca suddenly asked, “Do you prefer short hair, Sung-jun oppa?”
“You’re asking because my hair is short?”
“That too... I just wanted to ask.”
“I guess I do prefer it short.”
For battle.
He swallowed the rest of the sentence. It was obvious enough.
“Short hair...”
Ignoring Jeyca’s muttered words, Yoo Sung-jun examined the ability options that had appeared on the bench.
Shared Vision
:The supporter shares the firearm’s synchronized vision with either the left eye or the right eye.
Fire Designation
:The supporter fires first in the direction indicated by the chosen finger.
[Take Fire Designation out of the options.]
At Loki’s abrupt interruption, Yoo Sung-jun arched an eyebrow.
Why? Is there a problem?
[That is clearly an ability that ignores me. I’m the Ultimate Shooter, so of course I’d shoot well. Why would we need something so cumbersome?]
Loki seemed to have great pride in her own shooting skill.
That could be proven if there were a target to shoot at, but unfortunately firing in the Enter Room was impossible.
And testing it in reality would mean aiming at users rather than Infector.
What’s the last ability?
For now, he set Loki’s suggestion aside and looked at the final ability.
High Output
:Nano particle consumption increases by 300%. Power increases by 300%.
[I think that’s good. It suits someone as perfectly accurate as me.]
Ignoring Loki’s satisfied voice, Yoo Sung-jun selected the ability.
Fire Designation. The moment he chose it, Loki screamed.
[Eek! What are you doing?! Yoo Sung-jun-nim. Did you not trust me that much? I’m hurt.]
Hurt or not, don’t I need a backup plan too?
High Output was certainly an attractive choice, but there was a reason Yoo Sung-jun hadn’t picked it.
Think about it. No matter how well you shoot, can you really handle threats that come lunging from blind spots?
[...No.]
My Omega Suit has a skill called Armor Plating. Using it requires nano particles. If I dump everything into shooting, I won’t have enough nano particles left to protect myself.
[So that’s why you chose Fire Designation.]
Also, because the target you choose might be different from mine.
[...! I thought you and I were of one mind. I’m disappointed.]
Whether you’re disappointed or not, survival comes first for me. I hate leaving my life entirely in someone else’s hands.
While Yoo Sung-jun was explaining his reasoning to Loki point by point, the modification was already complete.
Now it was the greatsword’s turn.
There was no long deliberation needed for the greatsword modification. A very good ability was sitting right there on the list.
Meat Severing, Bone Cutting
:Consumes 40% of nano particles and Omega Suit power. A cutting force exceeding normal sharpness by more than 2,000% is imbued into the blade.
It was a true one-strike kill technique.
With a satisfied smile, he finished the modification.
[Now, Jeyca-nim.]
Jeyca, who had only been staring at Yoo Sung-jun’s back, jumped at the sudden voice.
What? What’s that supposed to mean, Mac?
Her supporter, Mac Cludy, had been feeling frustrated this whole time.
This clueless woman always acted like this whenever an opportunity came.
Opportunity wasn’t something you waited for. It was something you seized.
Mac Cludy said in a composed tone:
[You need to score points with Sung-jun-nim. Do you really think an opportunity will come if you just exchange bland little questions and stare at him from behind?]
It’s kind of embarrassing to say that out of nowhere... And I told you I’d handle it myself. Do you even know what I’m feeling?
[Judging from your behavior right now, I think I understand better than you do. So why don’t you trust me just this once and follow my advice?]
You’re always saying weird things. Were you planning to tell me to hug him from behind again?
[Absolutely not! What do you take me for? This time, you should go out naturally.]
Haa... Fine. Say it. I’ll at least hear you out.
[Even Jeyca-nim will be tempted!]
After hearing Mac Cludy’s explanation, Jeyca caught her breath.
Somehow, “going out naturally” felt even more embarrassing.
Still, she couldn’t just stand there doing nothing.
The number of female clan members in Blood Rain who were harboring feelings for Sung-jun oppa was increasing by the day.
If she didn’t act now, the chance would only keep slipping away.
They’re probably drawn to the name Meteor and the strength hidden behind that visor, but I still don’t like it.
So she needed to make things clear.
She wanted to keep his indifferent care and the casually warm kindness he tossed out as if it meant nothing all to herself.
Jeyca strode up beside Yoo Sung-jun and took his hand.
Despite her pounding heart, her expression management was, thankfully, flawless.
“If you’re done modifying everything, should we head out? I happen to know a mission that looks perfect for a performance test. Let’s two-man it and knock it out quick.”
Blue eyes met brown.
Even as Jeyca pushed her hair back from where it had fallen over her face, she twisted her fingers together.
A subtle smile slipped onto her lips as an extra touch.
[Eeeek! Perfect! That was a flawless suggestion, Jeyca-nim!]
Be quiet!
It felt like her heart might leap right out of her mouth.
She was already a timid person to begin with, and on top of that, she had a terminal illness.
So this kind of action was no less than the greatest challenge of her life.
All that’s left is to hear his answer...
She waited for a moment, hoping he would accept her suggestion.
Then Yoo Sung-jun opened his mouth.
His tone was careful.
“I feel like if I don’t ask now, I won’t get another chance, so... Jeyca, do you maybe... like me?”
His blunt question, fired like a missile, made Jeyca’s mouth drop open as wide as it could go.