Chapter 100
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Into the Red Hole
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The special management zone was, in gaming terms, a “hunting ground.”
It wasn’t like other games where you leveled up by slaying monsters, but growth through combat was still the name of the game.
‘Vacation is the one and only early-game growth opportunity.’
Once the semester started again, there wouldn’t be another chance to hunt freely for the next ten days or so.
That said, Abel had no intention of pushing too hard.
Growth was only possible if you stayed alive, after all.
Abel mentally reviewed the key precautions for Red Hole, then slowly stepped forward.
Boom, boom, boom—!
Each step sent heavy vibrations rippling through the ground.
Just a few strides in, and an exhilarating thrill coursed through him.
And for good reason—Abel’s Gigant, Lupus, had undergone changes beyond comparison to its previous state.
For starters, he’d completed the transplant of the second-generation core, which had still been in development.
It had stability issues, sure, but its output was in a league of its own compared to the old core.
-Power’s surging through me. Most satisfactory.
Lupus’s pleased voice reached him, and that was why.
Abel grinned and nodded.
But the upgrades didn’t end there.
The modifications to the Guardian’s Shield and Blessing of the Wind from the three-piece set Scarlett had given him were finally complete.
They now featured mana shielding and reinforced plating laced with Tartarium, renowned for its unmatched durability.
This put him comfortably in the top ranks among Miles-grade Gigants.
-An impressive Gigant.
As Abel reached the gate, Jackal—who had arrived ahead and was waiting—spoke up.
Jackal was piloting a Tito, and it was clear at a glance that it had been heavily customized.
‘That thing’s too incredible to just call Tito-grade.’
The other mercenaries’ Titos were all above average, too.
As their employer, Abel couldn’t have been more pleased.
-Thank you. Shall we head out, then?
-Yes. We’re all set.
At Jackal’s response, Abel nodded and raised Lupus’s right hand.
The barrier encircling the building parted open.
Grind—.
Beyond the opening gates, crimson-tinged earth came into view.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
Once the gates fully opened, two Tito-grade Gigants advanced ahead.
They were the reconnaissance team.
The rest formed up around Abel’s Gigant, with the Midget taking rear guard.
“Phew.”
Abel steadied his nerves and gazed ahead.
Even with these veteran mercenaries, this expedition was for his own growth—no one else’s.
He had no plans to lean on Jackal.
Having pored over maps and plotted routes meticulously for this hunt, Abel spoke in a calm voice.
-Move out.
He dropped the formalities.
In most situations, he’d be issuing orders, so attaching honorifics every time would be a hassle. They’d agreed to skip them upfront.
Boom—! Boom—!
At his command, the mercenaries matched his stride perfectly, moving as one.
Current forces: one Miles-grade and five Titos.
Two Titos were melee specialists, while the other three carried compact mana cannons.
Mana cannons were far superior to half-hearted melee work.
And the melee pilots—Jackal and the vice-captain—were beyond reproach in skill.
‘Force-wise, low-grade packs are no issue. Mid-grades and up need caution, though.’
Most Gigadeus Fragments in Red Hole were low-grade.
The resident knight order culled them periodically.
Perfect level for Abel’s current abilities.
Except near the suspected “Gigadeus Remains” site in Red Hole.
‘Unexpected situations could pop up anytime.’
Abel reviewed his plans mentally as they pressed on.
No signs of Gigadeus Fragments yet.
* * *
Abel and the mercenaries marched nonstop for an hour before taking a break.
Rest was crucial.
If a Gigant overheated mid-battle, it’d be a disaster.
After two cycles of march-and-rest—
“Sir Abel.”
Jackal approached Abel, who had stepped out for the break.
“Yes.”
“We’ll encounter Gigadeus Fragments soon, so we should cut march time to forty minutes.”
“Got it. Understood.”
They’d move slower, but it didn’t matter much.
Red Hole was two days’ march away—no rush.
After that break, they doubled recon to two units.
The scouts took turns probing ahead, scanning the surroundings.
About twenty minutes into the next leg—
-Front: Iron Bear pack!
The scout reported back.
Abel asked:
-How many?
-Four total. One’s about one-and-a-half times bigger than the rest.
-Winnable. Any other Gigadeus Fragment signs?
-No.
Iron Bears were low-grade.
Their signature was metal hide tougher than average Fragments’, but otherwise manageable.
-We’ll take them out.
Abel decided after a moment’s thought. The mercenaries nodded without complaint.
Seven minutes in the scout’s direction, and there they were: Iron Bears sprawled near a hill.
Still too far to notice, but closing in meant detection.
No way to fully muffle Gigant footsteps without special abilities or gear.
So Abel flashed the preset hand signal.
Simple meaning: All-out assault.
Boom—!
Abel kicked off hard, charging forward.
Leaving the Midgets and one Tito behind.
Jackal and the vice-captain hugged his flanks.
The two Tito gunners widened to the sides for clear shots, closing on the Bears.
Boom, boom, boom—!
The initial launch startled the Iron Bears upright—and they spotted the Gigants.
Ordinary beasts might flee from charging giants.
Not these.
“Groooaaargh—!”
They puffed up and charged back.
Even low-grade Gigadeus Fragments weren’t small.
Oncoming monsters shaking the earth—hard to tell who was ambushing whom amid the intimidation.
No one stopped.
Whiiiiiinnn—!
At close range, mana cannon whine pierced the air, followed by blinding blasts.
Boooom!
Explosions hurled two Iron Bears backward.
Both first shots hit.
The remaining three, unhindered, closed in.
Abel targeted the biggest—the pack leader, presumably.
As distance shrank, it swiped with a forepaw.
Abel didn’t dodge. Instead, he swept his sword low-to-high.
Just as Carlton had taught.
The massive greatsword slashed down.
Craaaack!
A burst of fluid sprayed with the rupture.
The paw-lifting Iron Bear took the blade in the shoulder and crumpled.
He’d aimed for the head, but it twisted at the last second.
“Grrraaaaargh—!”
Despite the deep gash, it thrashed wildly, swinging its arm.
Abel simply stepped back, evading effortlessly.
Iron Bears boasted immense defense and one-hit power.
Funny thing: so did Abel.
As it flailed to rise, Abel raised his sword again.
And brought it down on the arm.
Crunch!
“Gwaaaargh!”
The limb crumpled, dangling limp.
Tough, but not against Abel’s strikes.
Nimble for its size, but not enough to overwhelm him.
Kabaaaang—!
That’s why it fell after just three blows.
Head split by Abel’s final swing, it twitched and slumped.
-Left! Target the left leg!
Meanwhile, the mercenaries smoothly cornered the rest.
Not as dominant as Abel in their Titos, but their teamwork was stunning.
‘The Iron Bears can’t even attack properly.’
Any attack attempt drew cannon fire, pinning them.
Compact mana cannons couldn’t pierce the hide, but for suppression? Perfect.
‘Good.’
Satisfied with their skill, Abel raised his sword once more.
Whoooosh—!
The great blade cleaved the air powerfully.
The remaining Iron Bears were mopped up in just six minutes.
* * *
“Going smoothly.”
“Thanks to you and the team, Jackal.”
Abel replied, sipping steaming soup.
Night had fallen, thick darkness settling.
This was a pre-planned rest point: elevated terrain, no Gigadeus Fragments.
Jackal swallowed his bite before responding.
“We just followed orders. Without your performance, that last fight would’ve damaged our units for sure.”
Abel smiled faintly at Jackal’s earnest words.
Day one in Red Hole.
They’d fought four battles.
Battles easier than expected left extra time.
But the last one had gotten dicey.
“Ten low-grade beasts do pack a punch.”
The Fragments themselves weren’t much tougher than the initial Iron Bears, but a surprise happened.
One broke off and charged the Midgets.
Abel’s quick intervention prevented damage—or worse, casualties.
Recalling it, Abel said gravely:
“We’ll fight more cautiously from now on.”
“I’ll be more careful, too.”
“Yes. Appreciate it.”
Just one day in.
Nine more to go.
‘And we have to reach near Red Hole proper.’
Unlike his Gigant, the others lacked mana shielding, but he’d brought countermeasures.
Auxiliary gear for three-to-four shielding uses.
Plus inherent shielding on the Gigants themselves—enough for a day.
‘If no clues in six hours, we pull back.’
Disappointing, but necessary.
The last fight nearly burned them for greed.
No repeating mistakes.
“Alright, time to turn in.”
“Yes. Me too.”
Abel ended the talk with Jackal and settled in, closing his eyes.
Time passed to next morning.
Boom—! Boom—!
Abel snapped awake to earth-shaking roars.