Chapter 67
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Late Enlistment Sergeant Kim Yo-han - [4]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The moment I received their challenge to a duel, I was honestly taken aback.
It felt like the cops had just asked me to throw down. These guys, who were public servants no less, talking smack like that to a civilian like me?
For a split second, I wondered if they weren't trying to cut off my arms but actually kill me to silence the witness. But nah, that didn't make sense.
When I popped up out of nowhere, they hadn't shown any panic like "We're screwed." They'd just reacted like they'd been caught illegally dumping trash.
And it was the same now. Their attitudes screamed annoyance at being interrupted during their usual routine—no cold calculation or anything like that.
Just from this, you could tell what kind of vibe the Special Task Force had, how they operated in Seoul to "maintain order."
Screw the law—they just beat and stab first, ask questions never. And these clowns were public servants?
Come to think of it, the one who'd gone down after eating my punch earlier had been the same. The guy got pissed and went straight for my collar, even swinging fists—something even my hot-headed punk days self wouldn't have pulled.
You'd think I'd feel some camaraderie from their "fists over law" attitude, but nope.
It just made my stomach turn. Why?
I decided to act first. I crooked my finger at them.
"If you're so confident, come at me."
They must've been thrilled I accepted the fight. The corners of the Special Task Force guys' mouths curled up.
Park Joo-hyun straight-up grinned like an idiot.
I eyed the one standing in front.
He looked like the type who'd loved being on the student disciplinary committee back in school. The kind who got off on bullying little kids under the teacher's protection. He'd been a hunter originally, but I suspected he'd joined the Task Force just to relive those glory days.
Sure enough, Park Joo-hyun fought like a total thug.
"Hold up, lemme make a quick call before we—"
He faked fiddling with his radio, then suddenly gripped his knife tighter and kicked off the ground.
Park Joo-hyun charged straight at me.
The speed as he closed the distance was creepy fast, but I wasn't surprised. I'd fought Force Field Bodies plenty of times already, even tangled with knife-wielding Soma-rin assassins.
This guy was definitely slower than that Soma-rin I'd one-shot with a kick.
Tension fired up my nerves.
Through my slowed perception of time, I analyzed the situation in detail.
Meanwhile, one Task Force guy was sneaking around behind Park Joo-hyun. Covering his back, huh? Guessing I'd teleport behind and counter, so he'd pounce the second I did.
But honestly, no need for teleporting.
I charged right at Park Joo-hyun.
As we closed in, just before he swung his knife, I shot my hand out.
And grabbed his wrist—the one holding the knife.
Park Joo-hyun's face twisted as I clamped down. He tried wrenching free with all his strength, but my grip didn't budge an inch. The power gap was too wide.
Once it was clear I outclassed him physically, his eyes wavered.
"You—"
He started to say something, but I didn't care to hear it. I smashed his jaw to shut him up.
As a Force Field exoskeleton user, he didn't crumple or scream from one hit.
But as his head snapped back and then forward, his face was a mask of shock and humiliation.
Part of me wanted to follow up with another, but I held off. One of the Task Force guys was lunging at my back.
No need to turn around. My mental web picked up his ambush and every move.
Aiming for my shoulder, from the trajectory of that raised knife.
Before he could swing down, I whipped out a spinning back kick. My foot connected with the arms of the guy sneaking up behind.
"Guh—"
That single blow shattered his Force Field. And the bones and flesh it had been protecting.
The sensation of both his arms crunching transferred through my foot.
Finally turning to look, it was gruesome. Ugh...
His arms were torn apart like he'd taken a shell hit—nauseatingly mangled.
He gurgled, unable to even scream properly. Seconds later, his eyes rolled back, foam bubbling from his mouth as he collapsed.
This threw me off. I hadn't meant to get that brutal. Even the weak Force Field exoskeleton guys Kim Seok-hee had brought could tank my punches without shattering. This dude was even worse.
"Way too weak."
The expressions on the other Task Force guys changed completely. Whether from my blunt mutter or seeing their buddy wrecked, who knows.
"You little shit...!"
At this point, they seemed set to all rush me at once.
Park Joo-hyun still couldn't free his wrist, but the rest piled in—six in total.
Needed my hands free, so I shoved Park Joo-hyun hard. He collided with one of the incoming guys, and I turned to the rest.
First up: the one charging head-on, trusting his tough Force Field. Reckless, but decent call.
Figure he could eat a hit or two, then stab me? Totally doable. So I wouldn't bother pounding him.
"You fuck—"
I flicked my hand and teleported. Instantly grabbed his wrist.
Kept the momentum, swinging his captured arm wide.
His whole body flew through the air.
"—iiiing shiiit!"
Released him, hurling him down below the apartment. Pretty high up, but with his Force Field durability, he'd live.
Meanwhile, the others scrambled to track my teleport spot.
"Where?!"
"There!"
They spotted me late and tried rushing again.
Still six, counting the now-free Park Joo-hyun.
Impossible to fight them all at once, but hey, teleporter here. No reason to let them surround me—I could reposition freely anytime.
Did just that.
Low kick on teleport—my foot slammed the thigh of the rearmost charger. Or rather, collided with his Force Field.
A cannon-like boom muffled his groan.
"Ugh—"
His Field held, but the shock toppled his balance—he dropped to one knee.
I stomped his back hard. He rolled screaming across the ground.
"Agh!"
The rest were still slow to react. Two closed in fast from the sides, but I dodged the pincer again.
Teleported right in front of the guy I'd just kicked, as he struggled to get up.
I towered over him—massively. Filled his vision completely.
"Wha...!"
The terror in his bulging eyes was sweet.
My enhanced nerves let me blitz him: face, chest, gut in rapid punches, knee to the ribs, then headbutt.
His Force Field shattered under the combo.
I stomped his leg as he crumpled. Bones snapped; his screams were music.
"Agh! Aaaagh!"
One down—five left. I eyed them.
"Fucking losers."
Fear finally crept over the Task Force guys' faces. And grim resolve too.
Especially the one with the determined look—dangerous.
He gripped his knife, Force Field blade wrapping it, and kicked off.
Superhuman speed.
But not at me.
Aiming for Kim Seok-hee behind me. Figured he couldn't take me, so complete the mission.
Had to move fast.
"Get lost!"
Teleported behind him mid-charge toward her. Grabbed his neck, hoisted him up, spun—and saw the others lunging at me.
Four swinging knives... Quick judgment: teleport out of this mess easy, or protect the immobile Kim Seok-hee right behind?
Obvious choice. Incheon Warlord doesn't abandon his vassal.
I roared.
"Kim Seok-hee—"
Targeted the bulky one in the middle first. Threw the neck-grabbed guy at him.
They tumbled—now three immediate threats.
"—drop the Force Field exoskeleton!"
The leftmost reached me first.
His knife arced for my shoulder, but I didn't dodge. Had to deal with the other two quicker, and one arm was fine to lose.
As his blade sliced my left shoulder, another swung from the right. That one I blocked.
Grabbed his wrist, swung it.
His Force Field blade became my weapon. Slammed it down on Park Joo-hyun's shoulder as he arrived.
No resistance. His shoulder sheared clean off, hitting the ground.
Park Joo-hyun flailed his stump, blinking.
Took him a beat to process—rage turning to shock.
He backed away, staring blankly at his severed arm on the floor.
Too clean a cut? Pain hit late.
"Gaaaaah!"
As he screamed belatedly, the guy whose wrist I held gaped like a fish.
If he were smart, he'd retract the Force Field blade now—but nah. Let me keep swinging him.
"You dog!"
The one who'd cut my shoulder swung again. Not this time.
Parried with the captive's blade. Swung the wrist—Force Fields clashed.
They either shear clean or explode on impact.
Sheared this time.
Both blades snapped; their faces went slack with horror.
Slamming the now-blade-less two down, I stomped their backs and glared at the last pair.
"Keep going?"
They shook their heads wildly. Cute—I'd spare 'em.
I glanced between the screaming Park Joo-hyun, the sprawled Task Force guys, and my severed arm.
Pain throbbed in my shoulder belatedly. It'll regrow if left, but reattaching's faster. Picked it up.
Grabbed Kim Seok-hee's severed ankle from earlier too.
"Kim Seok-hee? Force Field off?"
She nodded, dazed. I grinned, gripped her shoulder, and teleported.
The Task Force wrecks? Hospital's their problem.
Ignored 'em and warped.
"Healer! We need a healer stat!"
At the hospital with her, demanded quick treatment—they delivered.
After reattaching her ankle, I dropped her back in Incheon. Kim Seok-hee sweep complete.