Chapter 188
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Floor 6. Martial King Heavenly Demon
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Hye-yeon and Hye-jeong were crying because Seo-yeon was bawling, like that contagious crying that's so typical of girls?
I don't know if you call it having exceptional empathy or what, but anyway, Hye-yeon and Hye-jeong started sobbing right along with Seo-yeon as she wailed.
Still, it wasn't like they were forcing out tears that weren't there at all; it was more like they were on the verge, and then Seo-yeon's crying set them off, turning it into a full-on flood.
"Hey, hey. Everyone calm down. ...So, no one's hurt, right?"
"""No.... sniffle.... sniffle."""
"Good. That's a relief. Whew, with all the windows shattered here, it's gonna be tough living in this place now. For the time being, keep your shoes on inside the house like you are now. Take turns standing watch around the apartment complex with the drones. You get what I'm saying?"
"""Yes...."""
"I'll go finish off those bastards I was attacking. Try to relax a bit, everyone. ...Oh, someone should check that spot out with a drone."
"Then one of us stands watch here with a drone. The other two go support Master. Those guys are the culprits behind this, right? The 'Half-Apartment Alliance' or whatever that got us attacking them?"
"Yeah."
"Then we can't forgive them. We have to get revenge. Hye-yeon and Seo-yeon almost got hurt."
I could feel the anger in Hye-jeong's gaze.
"...Y-yeah. Looks like our Hye-jeong is pretty pissed. Yeah, good attitude. If they screw us over, we hit back."
"Then as soon as Master heads down, we'll launch the drones and wait over their hideout."
"Yeah, do that. ...Oh, one more thing. Those guys mentioned some secret passage earlier? Said they were going through it to call for help or something ridiculous like that. Might be real. Keep a sharp eye out for any secret passages connected to their hideout around there."
"Yes, Master."
I gave each of my Pussy Slaves a tight hug before rappelling back down to the ground on the tactical climbing rope.
I was about to pull out my Flying Skateboard from the Subspace Storage and head off when I saw the drones controlled by my Pussy Slaves taking off ahead of me.
Since the drones were faster than me, they'd probably arrive first and keep an eye on the enemies' hideout.
I hopped on the Flying Skateboard and set off to finish off the enemies' hideout I'd been attacking.
Since I'd crushed the plans of the ones trying to attack my base, I was taking it leisurely.
Suddenly, a powerful sense of impending crisis hit me.
Intuition Lv.1
Warning: Life in danger!
This was the warning my occasionally triggering Intuition Lv.1 skill sent when my life was at risk.
I yanked the Flying Skateboard sideways from its straight path...
-Tatang!!!
A bullet grazed right over the tips of my hair.
I almost died just now.
I could clearly feel the bullet whipping past so close.
If I'd reacted even a little slower, that bullet would've gone right through my skull.
"Whoa, fuck, that was close."
One second.
No, 0.1 seconds from death.
Someone had taken a precise shot at my flight path.
If Intuition hadn't kicked in and I'd kept going straight, I'd be dead for sure.
"Which bastard...?!"
I immediately looked toward where the bullet came from and spotted an enemy hiding in a first-floor window of a building less than 50 meters away.
The guy gripping an M16 rifle was in military fatigues, looking like an ex-soldier.
When I dodged the bullet and survived, his face twisted in massive regret.
I ducked behind an abandoned car for cover and grabbed the first gun I could from my Subspace Storage—a suppressed full-auto UMP45.
Even then, the enemy kept firing at me.
-Tatang!!!
I was pondering how to take him out—grenade maybe?—when radio chatter came in.
Radio: "Master? You seem to have stopped moving suddenly. Everything okay?"
"Oh... right, you guys are here. I'm under attack right now. They predicted I'd come this way and set up an ambush."
Radio: "What?! For real?! ...W-we're coming right now! Sis! Master's under attack!!"
Radio: "Master. How many enemies?"
Radio: "How's the situation? Are you hurt anywhere??"
"Ah, speak one at a time. Radio's getting cluttered. So far, I've only spotted one enemy. We're in a standoff right now.... Opposite building from me. Direction... southwest from my position? 50 meters. Right in front of me, window facing my way. No big deal. I'm not hurt. No need to freak out."
Radio: "It's dangerous, so fall back. Our strategy is drones and long-range sniping, right? We're almost there, so pull back. We'll handle it."
"Doesn't matter who takes him out. Just come. ...Yeah, and my thought is, only one needs to come. The other two keep watch on the base and enemy hideout. Could be a diversion. Just send one drone."
"""Yes. Got it."""
Ten seconds or so later, I sensed a drone controlled by one of my Pussy Slaves hovering above me.
"Who's on drone duty over me right now?"
Radio (Seo-yeon): "It's me. Seo-yeon."
"Got it, Seo-yeon. Enemy position?"
Radio: "Enemy's still hiding in that building you mentioned. First-floor window. Looks like he's aiming at Master? What should we do? Drop a C4?"
"Yeah."
Radio: "He's probably on the first floor, so a drone-dropped bomb might not kill him right away since it hits the roof first. Or should I drop it right at the first-floor window entrance?"
"Doesn't matter. Drop on both spots. If he panics from the top attack, I'll finish him. Or if the shoddy building collapses all at once, even better."
Radio: "Roger. But Master, you're too close. Better pull back a bit. From the enemy's angle, if you use that car behind you and back up straight, he won't see you."
"Got it."
I moved back.
Just as Seo-yeon said, the enemy kept staring at my cover spot, oblivious as I retreated.
I quickly put more distance, over 300 meters in no time.
At this range, the UMP45 was useless, so I pulled out the sniper rifle M24 and got ready to take the shot.
Radio: "Master. Enemy seems to have noticed something's off and started running."
"Yeah, I see him."
Radio: "Chase and grenade him?"
"Nah, I can snipe him. Hold on."
I inhaled, exhaled halfway, and lined up on his head.
Then pulled the trigger.
M24 Sniper Rifle
Twang! Clack.
A hole punched through the fleeing bastard's head.
The guy who'd dug a trap to kill me was dead.
Radio: "Enemy eliminated. Confirmed."
"Good."
I almost died. Gotta be more careful.
Something told me this wasn't sustainable.
I'd planned to steadily farm points in Tower Floor 1's Project Zombie World and invest in stats and skills.
But seeing how things were going on this floor, that wasn't gonna work.
Felt like more assholes gunning for me would keep popping up... and if I died here, it'd be a waste of my Resurrection skill.
If I blow the Resurrection on something pointless and then die again for another reason, I'm really done for.
That sense of crisis hit me.
No good. Guess I have to head back to the Martial King Heavenly Demon world and level up as a survivor, like it or not. Sigh... fuck. Life.
I left Tower Floor 1 and returned to Tower Floor 6, the Martial King Heavenly Demon world.
I was still in that medical facility-like place undergoing the "Devil's Trial."
"So, that's everything for today?"
"Let's head out and grab a drink."
The doctors overseeing the Devil's Trial were already in early wrap-up mode.
No more challengers seemed to be coming for the trial today.
I put the brakes on their early departure.
"Hold up."
"...?"
"One more time."
"...!?"
"I said one more time."
"Didn't you just curse it out earlier, saying you'd never do it again?"
"Changed my mind. Let's do it again."
"""Hoo...."""
At my declaration to take the Devil's Trial again, the doctors—who'd been packing up to leave early—stopped what they were doing.
They reverted to their mad scientist vibe, overseeing the Eastern-style doctors.
They strapped me down tight to the large operating table again.
"One last warning: once it starts, no turning back."
"Just get on with it. I'm already regretting it."
"Fine."
The bastards started the Devil's Trial.
Having to go through this shitty, dogshit trial again.
"Grrrrr!! Urgh!! Fuck! Aaaargh!!!!"
Fuck, why don't they use anesthesia? Fuck, if they just numbed it, I wouldn't have to suffer like this. Fucking primitive ancient China bullshit. Why no anesthesia... Oh, right, they said it lowers survival rate. Argh, what a retarded system. With anesthesia, it wouldn't hurt. Anesthesia......
"Ah, wait! Hold on!!! Doc! Stop for a sec!!!"
"Too late."
"...No, fuck! Anesthesia!! Give me anesthesia!!! I said I'm fine with anesthesia!!! Grrrrr!! Aaaargh!!!!!"
I finally realized.
Whether the survival rate was 10% or 5%...
I'd come back anyway with Resurrection.
Even if it dropped to 1%, no pain was the best.
"You fuckers!!! Give me anesthesiaaaa!!!! Graaaargh!!!!!"
"Too late. It's started—stay still."