Incident at the Mission Training Ground - 5
For a first mission, the enemies felt a bit overkill. What the hell, there were so many corpses?
"...The day the King of Terror descended from the sky in 1999. That's when monsters and dungeons started appearing all over the world."
I could guess why there were so many corpses from Seong Haryin's mutterings. The victims from when monsters and dungeons first emerged. The ones who fell because the Awakeners couldn't wield their powers yet. Those were their bodies.
But that wasn't all.
"...And then the second blue bird appeared."
When Awakeners had grown stronger to fight monsters and dungeons, and gotten used to combat, the blue bird that heralded the end showed up. And with it came the Waves.
The nightmare of 2012, called the Waves—massive monster outbreaks across the world that dealt a huge blow to humanity once more. Of course, we'd been prepared compared to the first time, so the damage wasn't as bad, but the sacrifices were still far from few.
Maybe some of them were among those down there. Without thinking, I glanced at Yoo Choa.
Her ever-smiling face was frozen stiff. Yeah. She was one of the victims from that day too. 2012. The year Yoo Choa's mother died in a monster attack.
"Those guys probably..."
"...I can't forgive them."
Gritting her teeth, clenching her fist, Yoo Choa growled under her breath. Cheon Suho was the same, fiddling with his shield as he watched the screen before asking,
"When do we move out?"
"You guys won't need to step in directly. You're for the final defense line anyway."
Seong Haryin tapped at the keyboard, and the screen changed moments later. The dummies started moving. The golems rose to their feet. The lab's defense systems began preparing against the undead rising from death.
"Those should hold them off for a while."
"I... see."
"But we can't rely on just dummies and golems. Villains are cunning. That horde of corpses might just be bait to tie them up."
Seong Haryin knew villain tactics well, being a hero herself. Right. In the game, that massive number of enemies was just an event gimmick, and the cadets had their own foes to face.
"Let's watch for now, then. Loosen up in the meantime."
"Got it."
"Man, there's a ton of 'em... Hope it's okay..."
It would be fine. Even from the screen, the dummies looked strong, and the golems were tough. The mana cannons from the lab's dedicated defenses were blasting dozens of the oncoming corpse horde at a time.
Of course, with their numbers and the corpse giants formed from clumped undead, it didn't look like that alone could hold them back.
"That one... a skeleton? A bit higher rank than a ghoul, right?"
"Probably."
I'd heard in class before. Among undead monsters, skeletons were on the weakest end. So they'd crumble easily against the lab's defenses.
-KABOOM!!BOOM!!
But there were so many. Easily over ten thousand. The defense batteries couldn't hold forever.
And then.
"Incoming."
A black lightning bolt shot from the rear of the skeleton horde. The moment it hit a battery, the mana cannon fire stopped.
"The Death Witch..."
An old woman in a black robe, twisted smile on her face. Sunken eyes slit long, hooked nose. The classic witch look. When she raised her staff, the black-armored figures beside her started moving.
And then.
"Let's go!!"
Kang Jin-ho and his comrades, waiting in the lab, sprang into action.
♫ Ding. ♫
[Academy cadets, assemble at the main building.]
Seong Haryin, standing beside me, nodded as she saw the message from Instructor Yang Jun.
"Go on. Looks like they're giving you group combat experience. I'm research staff, but as a senior... be careful. You never know what'll happen in battle."
Her voice was pretty serious, and she wasn't wrong, so I nodded.
I left the lab and arrived at the main building to find Instructor Yang Jun and the other cadets gathered.
"Our mission is to defend the first inner line. Sure, there are defenses inside too, but we need to fight the ones that make it past the first layer."
Everyone looked tense, so Yang Jun smirked.
"Advice: remember the three-man cells. Don't try to take on enemies alone if you can help it. And don't get surrounded."
"Yes sir!"
"Move out."
Following Yang Jun's lead outside, I could feel the air trembling. Cannon fire from beyond the outer wall, undead shrieks. Strange sounds from skill use. The heat of battle dominated the place.
"Here they come."
The firmly shut lab outer gate was shaking. Despite the defenses, dummies, golems, and the heroes' efforts, the horde was attacking the gate.
"I'll take the front."
"Huh? Gate's not open yet."
"Hmph."
To one cadet's question, he just snorted. He headed to the gate and—
-RAAAAAWR!!
Grabbed the slowly prying-open gate tight. As skeletons and undead reached from beyond to grab him—
"Hah!!"
With a kiai, he shoved it shut.
"Whoa..."
"That strength..."
His "Herculean" nickname fit perfectly. Just pushing the steel door was repelling dozens—no, hundreds of undead.
-THUD!!
The gate shut again, noise intensifying nearby. The cadets sighed in relief, but—
"Don't let your guard down!!"
His shout rang out as something flew in from above. Now the real fight begins.
"Guys."
"Yeah?"
"Buffs first. You heard earlier? We stick together, the three of us."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. But buff..."
Blessing of the Holy Spirit. Boosts strength and stamina. To Yoo Choa.
Diamond Protection. Boosts defense. To Cheon Suho.
Twilight Shadow. Boosts status resistance. Hold for emergencies.
Only these three buffs available now, but they'd help for sure.
"...Buffs will help... right?"
"I've got cooldowns and duration control, so stay in my sight."
Can't apply if you're too far or out of view.
"...Aren't you a healer?"
I am. For now.
"Dunno what they do exactly, but... this'll help plenty."
As a tank, he must've sensed his boosted defense. Main character material, alright—talent like no other. Cheon Suho grinned, smacking his shield, oozing confidence, while Yoo Choa clenched and unclenched her fist lightly. Both adapting to the buffs quick. Good.
Meanwhile, flying undead from the sky were increasing.
"What're those?"
"Someone outside tossing 'em, I guess."
Corpse giants lobbing undead. Some shattered on impact, but others were fine. Undead could keep fighting even damaged.
"Fight!!"
As the lumped undead went on the offensive, I yelled.
"Haaaah!!"
The cadets charged. Alright, time for me to hang back like a proper buffer.
As the battle dragged on, I couldn't stop marveling. They fought amazingly. Newbies or not, this was the elite class— no slouches here.
Two stood out especially: Cheon Suho, of course. Smashing skeletons to bits with his shield, his occasional shotgun blasts sweeping the front like buckshot. Felt like Doomguy.
"Ahahaha!!"
And our star, Yoo Choa. Hurling mana cannonballs from her hands, blasting everywhere. Just like the game protagonist from my past life memories. Scary good.
"Thanks!!"
"No prob."
Yoo Choa yelled mid-barrage. Easy reason—I'd just rebuffed her.
"Thanks! Double thanks!!"
Cheon Suho reloading his double-barrel shotgun, spraying mana shots. Reason: I healed him. Just a scratch-mender heal, but with Diamond Protection's defense boost and his insane tanking, scratches were all he took. So my heals worked fine.
"Uwaaa!!"
Not everyone fought perfectly, though. One flank buckled in the melee. Spotting the sword cadet, spear cadet, and mage trio falling back, Yoo Choa chucked a mana cannonball their way.
-KABOOM!!
Explosions rang out. She grinned at the shattered undead—and damn, it looked kinda beautiful.
"Hyejin! Fall back! You're too far!"
"Huh? Oh! Got it... Wait, what?"
The spear cadet who'd nicked her arm on an undead attack earlier. I healed Hyejin, who seemed like Yoo Choa's friend. Thanks to the holy relic from the church and Subhuti's rosary, it was a bit better than before.
Just a bit. But enough to ease the pain and wound.
"Uh... th-th-thanks."
Hyejin stared wide-eyed, flustered. I waved it off. Fight instead of thanking.
"What a time for this."
Everyone else busy fighting, me chilling in the back—it felt awkward. But I was pulling my weight...
-KABOOM!!
As we cleared the intruders, something black dropped from the sky. One of the elites guarding the Death Witch earlier.
"...Living Armor."
Living armor. Infused with a dead soul—tireless, unharmable powerhouse undead. Association rates it D-rank at least. The final boss of Chapter 1's first event had arrived...
"Dieee!!"
"It's already dead, idiot!!"
-BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!!
Yoo Choa's rapid-fire mana cannons, Cheon Suho's shotgun blasts and shield bashes. Buffed to the gills, their assault—
"......."
—dropped it quick. Chapter 1's first event boss: cleared. Skip the entrance for style points.
Not a tough foe in-game, no big tension, but insta-gibbed? Buffs rock.
I watched the battlefield calming, then popped a Choco Pie from my pocket.
Good job's good—easy win, no complaints.
"Whoa~. Yohan. Hiding your power, huh? This is nuts!"
"The one who just shredded the Living Armor and everything around it with those mana shots was nuts too."
"Ehehe. Aw, shucks."
"Here, have one."
"Whoa! Choco Pie!"
Other fights were winding down too. Meant we won this one. Phew. Glad no issues.
"This is wild, man. Hey, Kim Yohan. Wanna transfer to our class? Lock you in."
"Sounds good~! Transfers allowed?"
Buffs taste sweet, huh? Well, parties form across classes later anyway. Building favor's smart...
"Whatcha thinking?"
Yeah. Gotta stack points steady for the true ending route. This place was out of reach with my grades before, nearly gave up, but opportunity knocks—grab it. With my buffs, they seem doable...
"No transfer. But can you guys help me out later?"
Time to tackle true ending score farming.