Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Battle (1)
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A makeshift base had been set up. One side was barricaded with felled trees, and the squad members were positioned at appropriate intervals around that wall. With the work done, there was nothing left to do but wait. Seizing the moment, Kim Chang-sik approached Suhyun.
“Try to understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Su-yong hyung. That guy’s always been a bit strict.”
“I’m not really bothered.”
That kind of opinion was perfectly normal. Of course, if one of Suhyun’s own subordinates had said it like they didn’t trust him, he’d have disciplined them on the spot, but he could let it slide from strangers showing that level of reaction.
“But you really think monsters will come?”
“Probably once, at least. Since the crocodile bird got away.”
“That thing was really a crocodile bird? You sure you didn’t mistake it? From that distance? You’ve got no experience here either, right?”
“Want to bet on it?”
“Uh, it’s not that I don’t believe you!”
As Suhyun pushed back firmly, Kim Chang-sik backed down.
“I’ve come here occasionally since I was a kid. With my dad.”
“What?!”
Just saying he’d heard about it continuously wouldn’t be convincing enough, so Suhyun added one more lie. Hearing that, Kim Chang-sik looked genuinely shocked.
“Seriously? What kind of family education is that?”
“…We never did anything too dangerous, so it’s fine. Anyway, it was definitely a crocodile bird.”
“You said there were a lot of monsters here earlier? Too many to identify the type.”
“Yeah. Of course, it varies by region, but the crocodile bird is the type that calls in distant ones…….”
“Any particularly dangerous ones?”
“Monsters are all dangerous if you’re not prepared. Even the troll I mentioned earlier is risky if ambushed, and the Calcutta raptor is filthy cunning and fast. Get herded wrong, and you’re dead. And the Calcutta hell crocodile, which pairs with the crocodile bird, is tricky in a whole different way from the raptor.”
“Calcutta hell crocodile?”
“If there’s a crocodile bird, there’s a crocodile too. Though the bird calls more than just hell crocs—it summons any easy prey nearby…….”
The crocodile bird didn’t exclusively summon hell crocs. But when it was first discovered that it called monsters, the one it summoned was a hell croc, so that’s how it got the name.
“Tricky in a different way?”
“Its hide is insanely tough. Slow, but the intimidation factor is massive. Vitality’s tenacious too…… If it sneaks up and closes the distance on unaware folks, it’ll snap a leg or two like nothing.”
Kim Chang-sik felt chills creep up his spine unbidden. It was because Suhyun spoke so matter-of-factly. In a situation where they might soon fight those things, an inexperienced rookie was acting like a battle-hardened veteran. It was unnerving.
“Scary stuff. Any tells? Weak points?”
“If you’re talking tells, it makes a low growl when it spots prey.”
Krurrrung—
“And it wags its tail in this distinctive way, so in areas like this, you hear constant crashing sounds.”
Pashasak—
“!”
No one had been speaking, but everyone was listening to Suhyun and Kim Chang-sik’s conversation. No one was dumb enough to ignore it when the tells Suhyun described started happening right then.
“Monster!”
“And it hides its form as much as possible, creeps in low, then charges fast once the distance is right. Just like that.”
“Enough explaining! Everyone, stay sharp!”
The Calcutta hell crocodile had a mix of gray and black coloring. This area was open ground, so it couldn’t camouflage in the brush and had to walk straight into the fusillade of heavily armed mercenaries.
Pew-pew-pew-pew!
No sharp cracks of rifle fire. But everyone focused their shots on the hell crocs that appeared, eyes gleaming. Before that, Suhyun glanced up at the sky.
“As expected.”
The crocodile bird that started the fight flew around nearby during the battle to feed on the resulting carrion. Suhyun took quick aim and dropped it. Considering the havoc it caused, there was no reason to let it live.
“It’s walking right at us?!”
One squad member muttered in shock at the croc still writhing and advancing after taking dozens of rounds.
“Its back hide’s tough. Don’t worry. The impact alone should make it hard to move.”
“Now’s not the time! Mags aren’t infinite!”
Boom!
Gorgan, the only orc in the group, pulled a shield from his back and slammed it into the ground. It was that precious altaranium shield of his. Using it as cover, he started aiming at the croc. His back screamed he wouldn’t retreat an inch.
‘He’s got spirit. Orc-like.’
Seeing rifle fire wasn’t penetrating well, Gorgan switched to a shotgun. Pump-action. Looked like a model made for Cameron Planet mercenaries.
Thump! Pew-pew-thump!
‘Wow.’
Pump-actions naturally threw off aim during reloads. But Gorgan held the gun steady with orcish brute strength, pumping and firing relentlessly.
“Gorgan! Watch out! Fall back!”
The hell crocs, dazed from the initial barrage, pressed forward relentlessly. Gorgan was in danger first—he was up front, making him the prime target. Even with the shield, against monsters that could snap a leg like a twig, he didn’t flinch.
Thump!
One hell croc toppled. It had charged the shield only to get its head pierced and collapse.
“Up close like that, it’s actually easy if you’re prepared. Good for targeting vitals.”
Suhyun caught a hell croc with its mouth open and fired inside. An astonishing feat.
“The inside’s the weak spot?!”
“Back’s tough, but belly and mouth are weaker than you’d think.”
Suhyun strode forward boldly. The squad freaked out.
“Hey, stop! What the hell are you doing?!”
“If you know how to handle them…….”
Spotting prey sauntering up insolently, the hell croc bellowed ferociously and gaped its jaws, lunging to bite Suhyun’s leg.
But Suhyun had already read its move. The croc could close distance in one go, but it had limits. Its teeth snapped empty air.
Thump!
The hell croc tumbled sideways. Suhyun had sidestepped and shoved it full-force. It tried flipping back urgently, but Suhyun was faster. Rifle rounds pierced its belly hide.
“!!”
“How…?”
The squad blinked in disbelief at Suhyun handling the monstrously tenacious beast like a child.
“Expose its vitals like this and take it down, or just keep shooting.”
“?”
“No matter how tough the back hide, sustained fire will punch through eventually. Bullets aren’t toys.”
Hell crocs weren’t that threatening without ambush advantage. They could tank initial hits and close in, but if spotted coming, you could hose them from afar.
Couldn’t drop them instantly, sure, but the hits slowed them, and eventually, they hit their limit and fell.
Kraaang!
Dodging another lunge, Suhyun dropped it the same way.
‘But what’s the team leader doing?’
Power armor’s firepower could’ve swept them easier. Louder, yeah, but noise was already high from the fight.
“?!”
Suhyun noticed Lee So-hee’s face inside the Black Bear cockpit, smeared with panic. For the Black Bear, there was only one reason.
‘Power failure!’
He wanted to tell her to pull the rear T-lever, release, and restart, but no need now. Saying it would just raise suspicions.
He could explain monsters and terrain knowledge somehow, but the Black Bear was a rare military prototype few knew about.
The hell crocs were wrapping up anyway. The holdouts were dropping one by one.
“It’s over?”
“Team leader! What are you doing back there?”
“S-sorry. I think I’m just clumsy with the controls…….”
“New gear messing you up?”
“Team leader messing up? First time seeing it.”
No one doubted Lee So-hee’s skills. They just figured the prototype threw her off while adapting.
“This hide’s that tough?”
“That’s why it’s valuable.”
“!”
Heads snapped toward Suhyun so fast it almost made a sound.
“Well-tanned good ones fetch hundreds easy…….”
“This is doable too?!”
“You make all those bullet holes and ask? Conscience…?”
The squad member who asked flushed red at Suhyun’s words. Even he could see that perforated hide was worthless.
“Ah. Before everyone approaches…….”
Mid-sentence, Suhyun glanced back at Lee So-hee’s Black Bear. In that moment, Park Su-yong approached the hell croc corpses. First monster fight—curiosity won out. Creatures leagues beyond Earth animals. Fascinating.
“Damn it, listen and move!”
“?!”
Park Su-yong felt a strong yank on his collar from behind. Suhyun. He’d spotted him closing in while distracted by the Black Bear and rushed over, grabbing him back.
“What the hell?!”
“This!”
Kraaaang!
A “corpse” hell croc’s eyes snapped open and lunged. Prey close enough now. But Suhyun was a step ahead.
He leaped lightly over it, landing atop its snout. A stunt needing real guts. The jaws couldn’t bite and clamped shut.
Then the finisher. Suhyun shoved it aside, exposing vitals, and fired.
“Some monsters play dead. Hell crocs are a prime example.”