Chapter 81
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 081
Chapter Title: Australia's Catastrophe, the Phoenix - [2]
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There was no time to even catch my breath. While spreading out my mental net to survey the overall situation, I looked up at the sky.
More precisely, I gazed at the Phoenix in flight.
The Phoenix had just annihilated the Apache squadron and made a flashy debut in Korea. It seemed to be scanning the skies from above, checking if there was anything else it could blow up. Circling over one building, it kept tilting its head this way and that.
Right here in Seoul, to that bird of prey's eyes, humanity and all the civilization we'd built were nothing more than playthings.
The Phoenix's international name is Firehawk.
It looked like a fantasy monster straight out of a story, but surprisingly, it wasn't a beast that had crossed over from Somwol—it was an Earth-born monster.
It's believed to have originally been a hawk from northern Australia.
According to Aboriginal testimonies and recent research papers, some raptors in Australia deliberately start fires. They carry burning branches to ignite bushfires and wildfires, then easily hunt the small animals fleeing from the flames.
And Australia's hawks are one of the raptors known for this arson behavior.
Presumably, back when it was just a hawk, it got caught in a fire it had started itself and burst into flames all over its body.
Under normal circumstances, it would have burned to death right there. But since catching fire all over is the awakening condition for flame abilities, it awakened instead. From there, it evolved into a Flame Spirit, and after hunting countless people in Australia, it grew to that massive size.
How do I know all this so well? Because that bastard is notoriously famous.
Australia's catastrophe, the Firehawk. The Korean Hunter Association arbitrarily translated it as Phoenix, of course.
Early on, Australia's air force was annihilated not only by Behemoth's heat rays but also by that flying beast. The Phoenix isn't quite as fast as a real fighter jet, but whenever it flew near the aircraft, those unfortunate machines would explode in mid-air.
So, as long as that one burning hawk was flying around, air support was out of the question—hell, even transport helicopters evacuating people couldn't operate.
So what the hell was I supposed to do about it?
There was nothing else I could do.
Even if it gnawed at me, I had to neatly give up on it. My experience taking down one Flame Spirit before wouldn't help against that Phoenix.
Unlike that ground-bound Flame Spirit, this raptor soared freely through the air. How the hell was I supposed to catch it?
If I kept teleporting into the sky to swing my hammer around, the shockwave wouldn't propagate properly in mid-air. There was just no way to land a solid hit on its flame body.
"Any other ways to take down Flame Spirits?"
"China used tactical nukes once—the shockwave vaporized three of them flames and all, I heard."
"Not that! Something we can do with our gear!"
"I don't know!"
Listening to the radio chatter, everyone sounded just as frustrated and out of ideas as I was.
I decided to focus on the ground situation and ignore the rest. Closing my eyes to concentrate, I opened them again.
My mental net detected dozens of Deathclaws charging ahead.
They had split into several groups, all heading in one direction—it looked like a building ahead was their target.
Considering how monsters scout prey locations from inside the Gate before bursting out, there had to be people gathered in that building.
Sure enough, when I teleported inside, there they were.
Office workers who probably worked in the building normally.
It was a high floor, too high for Deathclaws to easily climb the walls, but everyone was visibly anxious. No surprise there—with just a glance out the window, they could tell they were now the hunted.
"Everyone, gather together!"
I shouted.
The terrified group perked up the moment they recognized me.
"It's Kim Geuk!"
I teleported them all out together in one spot.
There were thirty-four of them, so I had to split it into three trips to get everyone to safety. Before awakening my force field exoskeleton, it would've taken a couple more jumps—my Physical Enhancement made my body weight about five times that of a normal person.
And the unique thing about my force field exoskeleton compared to others is that it makes teleporting easier when it's active.
The field doesn't actually reduce my real weight. But somehow, when I teleport with it up, it feels like my weight drops dramatically.
They say even the same ability manifests differently based on the Awakener's individuality, and that checks out. Maybe it's because of the circumstances when I awakened.
"Thank you!"
Ignoring the thanks from the Seoul locals I'd evacuated, I kept doing my job.
I was in the middle of picking off Deathclaws that had rushed into the building to hunt people, only to find no prey and start frantically scanning around.
Then my phone rang.
I would've ignored it under normal circumstances, but the caller was my regular partner, so I picked up.
Baek Dam-bi asked from the other end.
"Kim Geuk, I heard Seoul's a warzone right now—are you out there working?"
"Huh? Yeah!"
"Where are you right now!"
I had a rough idea why she was asking.
"You planning to come here?"
"Yeah!"
"Why? This is Seoul!"
Why was she insisting on butting in when it wasn't even our assigned area? That's more or less what I meant, but her answer was unexpected.
"I need to claim my award!"
"What award?"
"The Golden Arrow Award! It's given out directly by the government..."
What the hell kind of award was that? No clue.
Normally I'd Google it, but with no time to even swap magazines, I didn't have the luxury.
Anyway, if she wanted to come, I wasn't going to stop her. I ended the call and got back to hunting.
"Han-hee, you got those magazines?"
"Yeah, this is the last one..."
I swapped out the Hunter Rifle magazine Han-hee brought and glanced out the window. My eyes widened at the sight of the Phoenix in view.
Where the hell was that bird-brained freak flying off to now?
Following its trajectory, it was on a collision course with a building—and sure enough, it smashed right into one.
A normal bird would've plummeted, but its body was made of flames. A fluid form that could change size at will.
The Phoenix squeezed through a window smaller than itself, then burst out the opposite wall's window in a blaze.
The entire floor it passed through filled with flames.
I could guess what that was about. Hunting. Doing in this urban jungle what it did in Australia's outback.
From what I knew, the Phoenix didn't blow up helicopters and jets just for fun—its real hunting method was raiding high-rises like this to burn people alive inside.
Probing the building with my mental net confirmed it. Damn it—people were in there too.
Even if I usually griped about Seoul folk, there was nothing for it.
I teleported inside the building.
"Water! Waaater!"
I grabbed a person flailing in the flames and teleported out. Repeated it several times.
To teleport efficiently, I couldn't gather multiple people first—the flames would've cooked them before I could.
Evacuating them one by one as I found them left me exhausted by the end, sweat pouring down my body.
My body felt scorching hot too. Overusing teleportation? Or from stirring through the fire?
My force field exoskeleton gave some heat resistance, but it wasn't perfect. Heat rays pierced Force Field Bodies easily enough—clearly had limits.
I was about to teleport out of the building amid the dizziness.
A thick jet of water from outside slammed into my face. Shit...
Frowning, I looked out the window. Four fire trucks were rushing around, desperately fighting the blaze.
I almost cursed them out, but stopped.
With Deathclaws and monsters rampaging, even inside fire trucks wasn't safe. Everyone was having a rough time.
Awakener Hunters sure as hell couldn't rest either.
Checking Seok Jang-sil through my mental net, he was busy at work too.
Seok Jang-sil was charging straight into a pack of dozens of Deathclaws. Trusting that their force field claws couldn't reach his internals, he barreled through, stomping them with his massive legs, sweeping them with autocannon fire, and smashing them with the long staff in his hands.
Normally, that tactical weapon rampaging alone would've been enough—but not today. Chaos everywhere.
In the midst of all this, one Seoul Awakener was as idle as the Special Forces team.
"This is worse than we thought. At this scale, shouldn't we call Kang Jun-chi?"
"Tried contacting him—he said he'd come if there were no Deathclaws on site!"
"Ah, damn it! So he's not coming..."
Hearing that on the radio made me grimace despite myself. Not coming in this situation? For real?
Kang Jun-chi hated Korea—or so he claimed—but never actually left. Always ranting about "mudfish villages" and such to vent his Korea-hate. Maybe it was all for moments like this.
By branding himself an extreme Korea-hater, he'd built the perfect excuse for slacking off in situations he could easily handle. Something like, "People dying? Whatever, it's just filthy mudfish villagers—no reason for me to step in..."
Right then, the fire trucks fighting the blaze got swarmed by Deathclaws. That's when I teleported the firefighters inside to safety.
"Shelter! Sandworm attempting breach at the shelter! Seok Jang-sil, get over there quick—"
"It'll take me forever to run there!"
Hearing that, I grabbed the radio.
"This is Kim Geuk. I'll handle the shelter."
Then I teleported. Right to the front of the shelter.
The shelters prepared for Gate incidents were underground, protected by thick steel doors and even thicker concrete layers. Solid enough that even Deathclaw blades couldn't cut through.
But even that was useless against a Rock Spirit.
I spotted a monster burrowing into the shelter.
A Sandworm. Like an earthworm covered in rock.
Before becoming a Rock Spirit, it was probably some eel-like fish. From Somwol, they burrow underground during dry seasons, and that's how many awaken into Rock Spirits.
Right now, this seven-meter-long Sandworm was dismantling the concrete ceiling of the shelter.
The thick layer was almost breached already. A deep tunnel had been dug, courtesy of Rock Spirit super strength and stone manipulation.
Any longer, and the shelter below would be exposed.
I kicked off the ground and teleported in.
"Come here, you bastard—!"
I coated my Hunter Rifle in a force field, jammed the barrel into the Sandworm's rocky hide, and pulled the trigger.
Then I dragged it out by force. Distracted by digging, it barely resisted before I yanked it free.
I hauled it far from the shelter, then teleported again.
Grabbing the hammer I'd stashed earlier.
I brought it down on the thing. Again. And again.
How long did I beat on it? By the time the rocks making up its body shattered and scattered across the ground amid rubble, it was dead—but I was beat too. Overworked my body and overused teleportation.
But no rest now.
Radio call came in.
"Kim Geuk, you still at the shelter entrance?"
"Yeah, why...?"
"More Deathclaws pouring out of the Gate. Looks like at least seventy, heading your way! You can teleport out, but just a heads-up—"
Teleport out?
I glanced at the shelter above the deep tunnel the Sandworm had dug.
One look told me I couldn't abandon this spot. A Deathclaw slipping into that hole and slashing a few times would open a path straight to the shelter.
So what now?
Hunter Rifle ammo was long gone. Han-hee had run off for more, but she'd said it was the last mag—who knew when she'd be back.
That left fighting with the hammer up close. Insane.
Going melee against Deathclaws with their everything-slicing blades was terrifying enough—one on one. Against endless numbers? No way.
No matter how sharp my reflexes, I'd be shredded in seconds.
Best case: keep teleporting to avoid encirclement. But against that many? Reducing their numbers by half would fry my nerves first...
Then my phone rang. Baek Dam-bi.
"I'm here! Where are you...?"
I teleported to the spot she mentioned.
There she was, hauling a heavy machine gun. Seeing her face and the two parked fire trucks sparked an idea.
I grabbed her wrist and teleported us inside a nearby building overlooking the shelter.
Quick explanation.
"Dam-bi, you summoned that blizzard last time. Can you do it again?"
"What scale?"
"Max scale. Thick enough to block all visibility... Not now—when the Deathclaws swarm below! Got it?"
The best part of working with Baek Dam-bi? Her experience meant no dumb questions in a pinch.
She just nodded, no hesitation.
"I'll try."
From inside the building, looking down—we heard the thunder of approaching footsteps.
Dozens of Deathclaws flooded the street below, enough to fill the road.
"Now!"
I shouted, and she obliged.
Her gaze locked on the Deathclaws below.
A cyan vortex erupted in their midst.
A whirlwind packed with frigid air. It ballooned instantly, sweeping past the road to engulf the entire street.
A blizzard that blotted out the world.
Now neither the Deathclaws, the shelter entrance, nor the tunnel were visible.
My figure wouldn't be visible inside it either. Not to the Deathclaws' eyes.
I'd banked on the blizzard acting as a smokescreen, and it was working.
Moments later, the pounding footsteps halted. Their charge had stopped. Not just from the cold—visibility was zero for blind rushes.
Couldn't see a thing myself, but it didn't matter. My mental net ahead pinpointed them clearly.
I teleported down.
Hammer in hand, I charged them. cleaved through the fierce blizzard and smashed down.
The shell-like explosion rocked the area, shockwaves ripping through. Boom—!