Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Rock Giant Hunt (1)
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“The Rock Giant inflicted devastating losses on the first soldiers to venture into the Euterpe region. Even now, it’s one of the reasons the military can’t roam freely across Cameron Planet.”
Once the team members’ training had progressed to a certain point, Suhyun gathered them in the briefing room. They weren’t used to facilities like this, so their expressions were a bit awkward.
But that awkwardness vanished the moment Suhyun began speaking. They were full-fledged Cameron Planet operatives now, yet the tension before a new mission was unavoidable.
“It was a joint operation between the Korean and U.S. militaries, but the Americans took the heavier casualties. Naturally, they’re grinding their teeth over this thing.”
One of the Rock Giant’s key traits was its incredible durability against physical firepower. Soldiers who’d charged in relying on their weapons learned the terror of Cameron Planet the hard way.
“The initial bounty on it was twelve million dollars. Then it rose to fifteen, and now it’s at twenty. Know why?”
“...?”
“Because of all the failures?”
“Exactly.”
The military hadn’t sat idle after those losses. They hadn’t launched a direct subjugation due to the matchup, but they’d slapped a bounty on it. Afterward, a few small teams of superpowered users had tried their luck.
Now, the bounty had nearly doubled. But no one on the team was thrilled about it. A high bounty meant it was that much trickier to handle.
“As a powerful monster, it has most of the advantages you’d expect: cunning intelligence, a rock-solid body, and tricky special abilities. Honestly, almost no mercenaries out there are even attempting it.”
The firepower capable of taking down a Rock Giant wasn’t worth the risk for most. On Cameron Planet, jobs weren’t about whether you could do them—it was whether those who could had any reason to bother.
“What we’re doing this time is taking it down.”
Most of the team took it in stride. Suhyun setting tough goals wasn’t new, and he always had a plan. Above all, they didn’t have any real fear of the Rock Giant.
But those who knew better turned pale. Shaia’s face drained of color, though she kept it to that. Gorgan looked genuinely shocked.
“Take down the Rock Giant? For real?”
“Yeah. Problem?”
“......”
As Gorgan clamped his mouth shut, the other team members turned to stare at him. It was rare to see him this rattled.
“Hey, you okay?”
“I get the shock. The team might not know, but for heteromorphs who’ve faced giants head-on, it hits different, right?”
Gorgan nodded at Suhyun’s question.
“Our clan has two rules for dealing with giant monster kin.”
“Oh? What are they?”
Kim Chang-sik asked curiously.
“First one: if you encounter one, run away, no exceptions.”
“...Not super helpful. Second?”
“If you still want to fight, remember the first rule.”
“......”
It showed just how much orcs feared giant monster kin.
‘Humans can just avoid those areas, but for orcs, it’d be hell.’
Human cities were monster-free safe zones. Tough monsters? Skirt around or come back later. Time and effort lost, but not your life.
Heteromorphs, though, had to fight when monsters invaded their turf. With inferior tech, they relied on raw bodies and superpowers.
“Shaia, anything to say about giant monster kin?”
“Well? Our home didn’t have any. But the response is pretty much what this orc said: don’t engage, just run.”
“Got it. But we’re not scouting—we’re going in to kill it. So no panicking yet. Won’t do us any good.”
“How do you plan to take it down?”
“Good question. Every monster has a weakness. This one’s no exception.”
In Suhyun’s view, humanity’s greatest weapon wasn’t advanced tech or diverse superpowers. It was analysis. Fail once, gather data, keep going until you find the way. That was humanity’s method.
The Rock Giant wasn’t taken down by Suhyun’s team. As the Euterpe region developed and humanity’s territory expanded, the need arose to develop the mountains where it hid. Eventually, aligned groups banded together and dropped it.
Afterward, it was analyzed, and Suhyun had studied the data closely. No rule said it only appeared there.
“The Rock Giant has a weakness?”
“It’s about whether it’s visible or not. Easy to spot or hidden. No monster lacks a weakness entirely. Keep looking, and you’ll find it. The Rock Giant has a few.”
Suhyun projected a hologram video. Korean military footage from an encounter remained in the database. A massive clump of rocks rising up. The team’s faces paled at the sight.
“The ones spotted so far range from about five to seven meters. Ours will probably be around five. As you can see, regular firearms basically don’t work.”
“So we’re leaving the Power Armor again this time?”
“Nah. Is the Euterpe region just this guy? Plus, mobility-wise, we need it. Last time was the exception—don’t underestimate Power Armor.”
Made for exploring Cameron Planet, it was reliable and rarely a loss.
“Regular firearms don’t work, but superpower-based attacks get through.”
“Uh... Team Leader.”
“Yeah?”
“If it’s a pile of rocks, won’t the Lightning Axe—even as an artifact—have reduced effect?”
“Probably.”
“?!”
“Don’t worry. I’m not planning to rely on the Lightning Axe for this hunt.”
With that, Suhyun distributed documents outlining the plan.
“The backbone will be the Ring of Confusion and the Rock Spear.”
“Aiming for the back?”
One team member asked after reading. Suhyun nodded.
“Yeah, the back.”
The Rock Giant’s weakness was its back. Like the gap between human shoulder blades. Hit there, and its size and toughness crumbled like a lie. The subjugation team hadn’t known, so they’d blasted it from all sides. Suhyun, knowing better, wouldn’t waste the effort.
“Above all, it’s fiercely hostile to intruders. It’ll come at us once we show. Main force draws its attention up front, buying time. I climb its back and stab the weakness with the Rock Spear.”
Fortunately, the Rock Giant wasn’t that agile. A small team could dodge and stall, unlike a large military force.
“It’s cunning and experienced against humans. Knows what weapons and superpowers do.”
Monsters that fought humans learned and adapted. Suhyun knew that well. Facing one that had figured out countermeasures after a few scraps was a hassle.
“So no half-baked tricks. Kim Chang-sik, fire’s fine, but don’t let it touch the body. Won’t work twice.”
“Yes, sir.”
“...Even a cunning bastard won’t predict how we’ll take it down, so don’t freak out.”
After laying it all out and telling them not to panic, the team burst into dry laughs. No despair or tension hung in the room—that was Suhyun’s skill. Whatever the job, if he planned it, they believed it was doable.
Feeling the vibe, Shaia was impressed inwardly. Suhyun seemed an even greater leader than she’d thought. Alone, he’d seemed like a lone wolf...
‘Amazing. Usually talent breeds arrogance and solo work, right?’
By Shaia’s common sense, young and skilled meant preferring to go alone, cocky. Suhyun’s first impression fit. But with the team, he was different. Answered even trivial questions earnestly, explained plans patiently.
“What’s this stealth ability? Hiding using terrain...?”
“Literal. It’s a master of mimicry. Especially in mountains.”
One of its tricky traits. In rugged terrain, it could camouflage as the surroundings.
Mercenaries in Euterpe avoided mountains or kept distance from suspicious rock clusters.
“That’s creepy.”
Slow body, so it compensated with ambushes. Mimic, wait, strike—that was its favorite.
“Don’t sweat it. Scary only if you’re clueless. Aware, it’s just tough.”
Plus, Suhyun knew how to break its mimicry.
“No more questions? Back to training. Not leaving yet, so keep at it.”
Groans rippled through the team. They’d adapted to artifacts and new tactics, but Suhyun wasn’t satisfied. He drilled them until exhaustion.
“To the training ground!”
As they moved, Suhyun called back the last one out, Shaia.
“Hang on.”
“Yeah?”
“Didn’t mention in front of the team, but heading into Euterpe, I want to snag some cassia on the way out.”
“That? Seriously?”
“Need it personally.”
Mentioning cassia to the team might spark misunderstandings later when testing it on Kang In-gyu. Better fewer knew.
“I’m hired help, so I’ll do as told... What can I do?”
“Tough to find?”
“Nah. If we’re hunting Rock Giant, same area. It’s a mountain grass.”
“Perfect. Keep an eye out during the mission. If chance comes, go solo for it.”
“While fighting a Rock Giant? Got the spare time?”
“Find it, get a bonus.”
“...I’ll definitely snag some!”
Shaia brightened and bolted out. Suhyun chuckled. So blatant made her easy to handle.
‘Got Kang In-gyu to decent stamina, others trained up... Two weeks, we can move.’
Goals were simple: kill the Rock Giant, grab cassia as bonus. Hands itched to test on Kang In-gyu ASAP.
“Achoo!”
“What? Catch a cold?”
“Nah, I’m fine!”
Unlike his Jindo Dog Team 10 days, Kang In-gyu was settling in. Others didn’t resent him—pitied him for Suhyun’s intense training.
After endless drills and practice, Suhyun deemed it enough and set the schedule. Uncle Jo Company’s team departed for Euterpe fully prepped.
* * *
Working with the government meant no walking to jobs. In the transport, the team bantered idly.
“By the way, Team Leader, you scored Power Armor support this time.”
“Yeah.”
Civilian-grade from government stocks, requested pre-departure.
“Who’s piloting it?”
“Me.”
Too obvious a question for Suhyun. Kim Dong-wook clapped in awe.
“Oh, you have your license too? Impressive.”
‘...!’