Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Northern Lands (1)
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“Wouldn’t it have been better to bring the power armor?”
“Power armor can’t carry multiple people.”
Right now, they were riding in a military vehicle. It was called a military vehicle, but it had been modified with several enhancements to allow safe travel on Cameron, boasting defensive capabilities on par with an armored car. Of course, even this didn’t guarantee safety on Cameron……
“Gasp, did you leave the power armor behind because of us?”
“No, if we needed the power armor, we would’ve brought it and left you behind. Power armor is convenient for head-on fights or battles of attrition. Otherwise, there’s no need to haul it around.”
“?”
Kim Chang-sik tilted his head, his face showing he didn’t understand.
“Think about it. Do you think the missing Russian research team was just any ordinary team? It was a team including the president’s son. Do you think they sent a team like that into the wilderness without any protection? They would’ve attached every possible asset. And yet they went missing. That means something unexpected happened.”
“Something unexpected?”
“Most likely a special monster. Even a powerful superhuman has a high chance of getting taken out the first time they face a monster with unique abilities.”
“…Then aren’t we in danger too?”
“Have we not done dangerous stuff once or twice?”
He said that, but Suhyun wasn’t particularly worried. No matter what had happened, this research team had managed to survive. That meant the danger was ultimately at that level.
What Suhyun was actually concerned about was the Chinese team.
‘I wonder what they’re thinking coming here.’
The altaranium deposits were certainly an enticing reward. However, one of the participants from the Chinese side was Liu Xin—a superhuman whom China was backing with full support. It was hard to believe he’d personally join just for some altaranium deposits.
‘They probably know more about the Russian situation than we do…’
The China-Russia relationship wasn’t as close as Korea-US, but they still had some level of cooperation. Just as Suhyun was participating for the grinder, the Chinese might be after something else.
‘But what could it be?’
* * *
“It’s a frost giant.”
Among giant-type monsters, it had a relatively small build, but its tricky special ability more than compensated for that. The Chinese members nodded upon spotting the creature exhaling chilling frost from its mouth.
“We’ll go by the book. Move out.”
“Yes!”
Confirming no other monsters nearby, they sprang into action. First, two with fire-based superpowers stepped forward. Arrows of flame streaked through the blizzard-swept air.
-!
Feeling the searing impact on its back, the frost giant slammed the ground. The shock was strong enough to send vibrations through the earth, but there were no superhumans here who would panic at something like that.
“Keep attacking! Draw its attention!”
There was only one monster, but many humans. Attacking from multiple angles would inevitably confuse it.
And then Liu Xin moved.
Slash!
By the time they realized he’d moved from afar, he was already at the frost giant’s feet. Before the startled frost giant could exhale its breath, he swung his blade. The artifact provided by the Chinese government for this mission began to blaze intensely at the wound.
The frost giant dropped to one knee. Liu Xin’s movements transcended human limits. A physical enhancement superpower, specifically agility-based.
A barrage rained down on the kneeling frost giant. Though only twelve in number, their actions were impeccably precise, without waste.
This was a different kind of strength from the non-superhuman teams China raised to deal with superhumans for covert ops. These ones didn’t hide their identities. Their mission was to operate openly in the public eye.
“Moving out.”
The operatives, clad in custom-made suits, moved with eyes full of respect for their leader. Their leader had abandoned the wealth and fame of a sports star to devote himself to the nation, leading by example on the battlefield.
* * *
“Stop.”
“?”
“Something’s off.”
Suhyun got out and scanned the surroundings. Luiril, seeing him casually step outside into the thickening snow without a care, chattered her teeth and asked.
“Uh, wh-what are you looking for out here?”
“Looks like someone passed through.”
“There’s no trace at all?”
Footprints would surely be covered by the falling snow right away. But Suhyun shook his head.
“The snow accumulation is even, but this spot is excessively shallow. They must’ve had a fight here. A fight means movement…”
With that, Suhyun struck the snow-covered rock. It wasn’t a rock—it was a monster corpse. Seeing the frozen body of the frost giant, Suhyun furrowed his brows. He could gauge the opponent’s skill from it.
‘Liu Xin.’
Few on Cameron enjoyed close-quarters combat with monsters. Fighting from range was risky enough; up close, the danger multiplied several times. The only ones who truly loved close combat were Liu Xin and Mun Seo-yeon.
“They’re moving slower than I thought. We might be able to catch up.”
“Is it okay to follow them?”
“Of course it’s not ideal. We’re not exactly on friendly terms…”
He didn’t care about the president’s son. What he wanted was the grinder. The problem was finding it somewhere in this vast Yelbrufski Mountains.
‘The most likely scenario is that the research team already found and secured it…’
Honestly, he hoped they hadn’t found it yet. But the odds were high that they had. It made more sense that they’d found it before going missing rather than while trying to return with an artifact in tow. They wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to search on the way back.
‘I need to tie their feet down a bit.’
If the Chinese team realized the grinder’s value, things would get messy. They’d snatch it without hesitation, just like Suhyun would.
* * *
“No sign here either.”
“What if they’re already dead?”
“Could be. Then find the bodies. We can go home after that.”
Searching likely spots for survivors around the destination coordinates was a tedious process. Yet Liu Xin urged his subordinates on without a change in expression.
“Uh… Monsters in the rear! Frost giants! At least ten of them!”
“?!”
Frost giants didn’t travel in groups. For them to suddenly swarm from behind like this. Liu Xin made a swift decision.
“Retreat! Head deeper in.”
“Yes!”
And there were watchers. Suhyun and his team. Recalling what had just happened, Luiril wore a traumatized expression.
-Attack the frost giants with whatever means you have. From hiding, of course.
Hearing that, Luiril had frantically looked for cover. But Suhyun grabbed her shoulder and said,
-You’re the bait.
-……
The horde of frost giants had roared and charged after Luiril as she teleported away to create distance. She’d escaped their pursuit with a final teleport into the air, but it was a spine-chilling experience. House-sized monsters chasing from behind wasn’t pleasant.
“They were over there… Guess they’ve already searched that area.”
Suhyun had exploited them thoroughly, annoyingly so. Having mentally divided the mountain range into sections, Suhyun reassigned their search area.
“Then we go the opposite way.”
“Now?”
“No, wait.”
Suhyun activated Clairvoyance. It was the ultimate ability in terms of cost-performance. Especially in situations like this. The mountains were vast, but places where survivors fleeing an attack could hide were limited.
‘Focus on caves…’
“Huh? The snow stopped.”
“Yeah? Perfect for moving. Found it. Let’s go.”
What others had to cover on foot, Suhyun handled with a single superpower. Spotting light from a cave midway up the mountain, Suhyun set it as their destination.
* * *
“Can’t we go outside?”
“…If you want to go out so bad, be my guest.”
For people trapped, their complexions weren’t bad. Inside the cave were researchers, soldiers assigned to protect them, and a superhuman team. Even after being attacked and going missing, they looked intact.
Snap-
“Ah, what the hell!”
“Cut the crap and block it properly.”
The superhuman team leader smacked the back of the head of the man who’d suggested going out, speaking in a tired voice.
“We made it back alive, but if that guy dies, we’re defecting on the spot.”
“Come on, seriously…”
Their forces were decent enough. They’d been ambushed unexpectedly, but with so many personnel to begin with, even half their strength was enough to escape.
Yet they stayed put and waited. It wasn’t because of President’s son Dmitry. Sure, they couldn’t risk moving rashly and getting him killed, but the root reason was the monsters outside.
“Wait. Rescue will come.”
“But no one’s come yet.”
“They’ll come for him even if not us. We have enough supplies. Hold out.”
As the superhumans chattered, the researchers turned away with gloomy expressions. A camera installed outside showed the external situation. If not for their predicament, they might’ve enjoyed the view, but now wasn’t the time.
“Dmitry, let’s sort the research data.”
“Yes…”
“Do you really need to carry all that? Toss the unnecessary stuff.”
“N-No way. Do you know how important this is?”
The superhumans sighed at the researchers clutching their assorted junk. They weren’t openly clashing, but mutual understanding was lacking. To not discard such items even in this situation.
They’d come here to survey Cameron’s northern environment and check a site discovered as ruins. The ruins themselves weren’t much trouble. Collecting the ancient异種 relics one by one was a bit tedious, but manageable—they had plenty of equipment to transport them.
“These seeds in this jar are so well-preserved that if we take them back…”
“Yeah, yeah, got it, stop there.”
Ivan waved dismissively, annoyed. His goal was to get Dmitry out somehow, but that didn’t erase the boredom.
This whole mess wouldn’t have happened if these researchers hadn’t been so stubborn!
After leaving the ruins, he’d wanted to return immediately. But the research team insisted on staying longer to collect data. With no issues, he’d permitted it.
And it didn’t take long to realize that permission was a huge mistake.
A dragon-like appearance, body made of transparent ice. Cunning and brutal temperament that toyed with and crushed enemies. The ice dragon was a pseudo-dragon monster like the earth dragon, but its power was enough to smash them.
If Ivan hadn’t stepped up, they might’ve been wiped out there. They’d barely made it to this makeshift base in the cave.
With baggage like Dmitry, he didn’t want to face it. Ivan had tried slipping away during openings, but the ice dragon would roar and appear whenever they tried to leave the mountains. They’d already lost eight more in two attempts.
In the end, Ivan chose to wait. A wait that was almost like blackmail. ‘Dmitry’s here, so you’ll come rescue us,’ something like that.
“Are you there?”
“!”
At the voice from the cave entrance, Ivan shot to his feet. He’d expected rescue eventually, but not like this.
“Wh-what?!”
“Rescue team.”
Seeing the uniquely composed group enter, the Russians gaped. Realizing they were in better shape than expected, Suhyun asked curiously.
“We heard there were survivors, but you look surprisingly fine?”
“Korean team?”
“Came at the Russian government’s request.”
“Uh… Thank you. I’m Ivan.”
“Who’s Dmitry?”
“That guy.”
“Hmm…”
Suhyun nodded at the bespectacled man who gave off a somewhat feeble impression.
“So, what happened?”