Chapter 323
Chapter 323
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 323
Chapter Title: 129. Voice (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Well-known types are easier to deal with.
Being widely known means all their patterns and characteristics have been thoroughly documented.
But that doesn't mean "easier" is the same as "easy."
How many monsters are infamous yet still a nightmare to handle?
Even in boxing, champions have every habit, quirk, and technique analyzed down to 0.1-second frames.
The Pretorian type is one of those.
Thoroughly analyzed, yet still no pushover.
Back in China, the moment I spotted one, I handed it off to the artillery or air support.
As its name—drawn from the legendary Roman Praetorian Guard—suggests, it's a perfect killing machine, seamless in offense and defense.
While the Annihilator type we faced before wipes out human groups in mid-range with devastating firepower, this one zips around at high speed—uncharacteristically agile for a monster—hurling projectiles that mimic human rockets, obliterating forces in the area.
It's impossible to engage something the size of a massive trailer that hovers like a hovercraft at 35 km/h in close quarters. But it's not weak up close either.
It lacks limbs but wields thick, rigid tentacles like hawser ropes from ships, literally slicing daring humans who approach in half.
The smartest way to kill one is with expensive weapons.
Aircraft, helicopters—anything works.
Fire supersonic guided projectiles from outside its reflex field and take it down.
If that fails, go for artillery bombardment.
Of course, even a Pretorian gets reduced to cannon fodder under massed fire when crawling out of the kill zone with the others.
The problem is when it breaks free and roams unchecked.
"Can you handle that thing?"
Kim Byung-chul seemed to recognize the Pretorian type.
His unusual tension gave it away.
I shook my head.
"It's on another level from the Necromancer type. This is a combat model, not infiltration. I can't do it alone."
"Then what do we do?"
"I've got a plan sketched out. But first, we should evacuate the people under The Hope."
"I've talked to them already. Doubt they'll listen to me."
I briefed Kim Byung-chul on the anti-Pretorian strategy, then headed to my team.
They were all waiting.
No usual friction or awkwardness.
One of the few upsides to monsters, I suppose.
Humanity's enemy sometimes unites us.
"SKELTON. What's the plan?"
Hong Da-jeong asked.
"We fight, obviously. But no regular Hunter team can take that mid-tier beast. This battle's strictly military gear."
This wasn't a hunt.
It was war.
No one objected, but Cheon Young-jae dredged up a forgotten name.
"Speaking of, what about Director Woo? She coming? Or nah?"
Woo Min-hee.
Right.
She'd slipped my mind.
I figured she wouldn't show, but who knows.
No word, no sign.
Given her personality, she had to be here somewhere.
Whatever. It'd work out.
A brutal fight loomed.
One that might cost my life.
*
"Target null approaching."
We tracked the Pretorian via military equipment.
No signs of dissolution.
Most monsters disintegrate within 24 hours of emerging from rifts, but not this one.
Probably hunkered down in the eroded zone to avoid it.
One easy option was off the table, but I hadn't banked on it anyway.
We had a backup.
Building collapse for a rockfall ambush.
Truth be told, it's our only shot against a Pretorian.
We had two Mongtongguri tanks, but they're only effective against small fries. Against mid-tiers mimicking humans or larger? They're just wheeled cannons—nothing more, nothing less.
The moment a mid-tier hits them, they shred like paper.
Kim Byung-chul needs those tanks to survive.
So we stake everything on the building drop.
Small comfort: we know its path.
It follows the voices of the dead.
Those voices echo from The Hope's basement.
Know the destination, plot the route easily.
From its northeast position, three main paths here.
Block two with barricades.
At 35 km/h, it prefers detours over slowdowns.
"Detonate on my signal."
A drone hovered overhead.
High altitude to dodge monster anti-drone waves, feeding us a bird's-eye of ruined Seoul.
"Target null approaching from northeast!"
We watched its position update in real-time.
Plan's simple.
Hit the button when it reaches the drop point.
That's it.
But.
"Hm?"
Kim Byung-chul tilted his head.
No wonder.
The Pretorian veered off course.
It plowed straight through a building we'd marked as an obstacle.
Smashed the thin outer wall of that tower and barreled between the pillars toward us.
"W-what now?"
Kim Byung-chul asked urgently.
"Evacuate everyone."
I bolted downstairs.
"Where you headed?!"
"Baiting it."
"Bait a monster?"
Soldiers train for worst-case scenarios, but I hate that mindset.
Worst-case means things went south.
Means casualties.
Still beats getting blindsided.
Yeah.
"SKELTON?"
"Come out here. I'll drive this thing."
I headed to The Hope's basement—the government's secret vault with the dragon.
"W-what're you planning?"
"Bait the monster."
I floored it.
Vroooom—
The trailer surged forward with a mighty roar.
Thud—snap—
The rear power cable snapped.
Comms should hold, though.
I checked the panel by the driver's seat.
- Switching to emergency power.
"Park Gyu here. Pretorian's position?"
"2 km from The Hope! Heading down the main road!"
"Got it."
I wrenched the wheel onto the road, waited for stability, then slammed the accelerator.
Vrooooom—
A big rig's engine rumble instills confidence.
Makes a mere human feel invincible.
Soldiers scrambled to clear barricades as scenery whipped by.
Enemy territory ahead.
Zombie, monster, mutation turf.
Veered west.
Unfamiliar ground.
Full throttle.
Crushing zombies, debris, and junk under the heavy chassis.
"Park Gyu here. Monster's position?"
And waited.
For better than hoped.
Brief silence, then response.
"Target null! Course change! West! Heading west!"
I closed my eyes, exhaled.
My gamble paid off.
No doubt.
Dead Man Walking.
Not his "voices of the dead."
Whispers from beyond the rift—the enemy's siren call.
That eerie wavelength granted him miracle-like power.
I'm certain.
He found the voices, sure—but knows no more than I do.
"Target null! Recalibrating north!"
35 km/h is blistering for humans—near impossible to chase.
Especially a trailer-sized behemoth.
No manpower can stop it.
To our tools? Glacially slow—like ignoring a honking tailgater.
I lured it back to our trap, light as a stroll.
Once off-course, it followed my lead obediently.
"……."
What emotion that stirred in me? Indescribable.
All I know: humanity just crested a monumental ridge we'd craved.
Not Armstrong on the moon, but we crossed a line.
Undeniably.
"Target null! Reaching strike point!"
"Detonate!"
Soldiers' cheers boomed over the roar as the ruined building erupted.
The 35 km/h monster plunged into the kill zone amid the death rain.
BOOM! RUMBLE!
Soldiers cheered.
"……."
But I halted the truck, glaring at the rubble.
No particles.
It's alive.
"Got spare explosives?"
Finish it fast.
No second chances.
All monsters self-repair.
Unless particle-disrupted, they'll revive soon.
Very soon.
"Hurry!"
Grabbed the packed bag, charged the ruins.
Zombie howls nearby, ignored.
I eyed the building's shadow—the enemy lurking beyond.
There.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A grayish horror pulsing heart-like shockwaves, shoving off debris.
Pretorian type.
50 meters away.
No guns.
First—
Shwick—
It lashed its death whip.
Clang!
Thigh-thick tentacle smashed the pillar I leaned on.
Didn't hit me, but innards rattled.
Direct? Bisected.
Threats aren't just whips.
Crackle—
Eerie current.
This is—
"……."
Detonation field.
Most explosives detonate on command.
Instinct hurled the bag skyward.
Then—
KABOOM!
Blast raged point-blank—shockwave, roar, flash stole my senses.
Swish—
Came to, face-down.
Body unresponsive.
Drip—
Blood trickled from forehead.
Test breath.
Out fine.
Lungs intact.
Limbs?
First, check something else.
Axe in hand—don't recall drawing it. Scanned for monster traces.
Closed eyes, pained sigh.
Visible.
Light particles.
Scattering beautifully from the rubble.
Downed.
Another foe of man.
"……."
My end nears too.
Crunch—crunch—
Zombies approached.
Pecking at a fallen bird's feathers.
"……."
A old tale flashed: zombie deaths are unimaginably painful, drawn-out.
Yeah, 65kg bite force gnawing slow? Torture.
"Senior Park! Where are you?!"
"Park Gyu! Respond!"
They searched, but zombies closed in.
Dead before they arrive.
Fortune: axe still gripped.
Carotid slice—quick end.
But no suicide.
Fight to the last.
Face my death.
No matter how gruesome.
I'll witness my finale.
That's our Hunter fate.
Crunch—crunch—
Zombies neared.
Broken teeth, twisted hands, pale eyes gleaming sinisterly.
Forced numb body—nothing.
Zombies gleamed.
They rushed me.
Glared, awaited death.
"Come on."
Axe ready.
"Raaargh!!"
Zombies filled vision.
Thud!
Shockwave rippled.
Flash blinded.
Explosion.
Vision blacked, gale whipped.
Debris, dust, acrid air engulfed.
Coughed, focused sight.
Vision cleared amid ear-splitting screech afar.
Screee—SKREEE—
Blurred gaze there.
Huge hole in concrete.
Beyond: gaunt, tall woman, hooked prosthetic arm twitching arrogantly.
"Ha…."
Not one to laugh in battle, but couldn't help it.
Scraaape—
Prosthetic scraping floor as she approached.
"Senior looks coolest bloodied and battered, as always."
Yes.
Unexpected savior: my junior, Woo Min-hee.
She extended a hand.
Her face emerged from backlight.
"Right, tough guy?"
My junior smiled.
*
"Aah. Aah. What's this? Felt off since arriving."
Even surrounded by hostile soldiers, Woo Min-hee acted utterly at ease, like her living room.
More like they didn't register.
Kim Byung-chul right there? Ignored.
"What is it? This?"
She does as she pleases, always.
Her interest now? Not me, not gov't assets—the eerie voice only she hears.
She glared at the rig-mounted gear.
"This?"
"Yeah, tough guy."
"Not 'tough guy'—why keep calling me that?"
"Yes, yes, tough guy senior."
Woo Min-hee smirked slyly.
"Why the pad drip obsession?"
"?"
"That Doctor Emiris or whatever—isn't he your alt?"
"What're you on about…?"
Anyone not a beast would've sniffed it out.
Truth: she'd pegged me as "tough guy" over 90% already.
This just confirmed.
Still, my denials? Park Gyu's human charm.
"SKELTON!"
Valentine leaped from the trailer.
"Almost set! Receiving?"
He blanched meeting Woo Min-hee—like litmus in base.
His eye for people spotted the danger instantly.
For speechless Valentine, Woo Min-hee glanced up, asked me:
"That's why you're here?"
I nodded.
"Yeah."
Checked phone.
Antenna up.
One bar to one-and-a-half.
Opened internet.
And waited.
For the promised dead voice on my phone.
[F. Sawyer, M. O'Connor, and to the beloved crimson one.] [Welcome to the raucous city of death.]
- Dead men, hit enter -
Handed phone to Woo Min-hee.
"Huh? This?"
"Necropolis."
"Necropolis? Oh, that western thing?"
She scanned around.
"This it?"
"What vibe for you?"
I watched her gleaming eyes, awaited answer.
Curious girl-face—not her usual—she circled, peered, then smiled meaningfully.
"Voices."
Ambiguous.
Dead's waves around us? Or rift's whisper?
Either way, one truth: we found the rift's voice.
Twenty years after rifts scarred the world.