Sergeant Baek Jaesung 7: Stealth Infiltration Training
I pulled out the map and double-checked our target point. Our objective was the communication post located on a nearby mountain. To get there, we'd have to climb the mountain.
If it were just a simple nighttime mountain hike, the training would be a piece of cake. But of course, it wasn't that straightforward.
Just as no homeowner leaves their front door open for a thief, the forces around the comm post had set up tight security to block our approach.
"There's a mobile patrol over there."
A military truck sped down the road. Hwang Cheolmin spotted it and whispered.
This was already the third patrol we'd encountered. You could feel the scale of this training was no joke. For us, it was just post-basic training, but the difficulty was insane.
Of course, if we brute-forced it, regular soldiers who weren't hunters would get wrecked.... But since it was training, we couldn't do that. This was evaluating infiltration skills, not combat power.
"Let's hide."
Luckily, they didn't seem to have night vision gear. We slipped into the bushes and easily evaded their sight.
It looked like reaching the target wouldn't be easy. What to do?
I stared at the map, weighing our options.
"There are two routes to the comm post. Stick to the road all the way up and take the mountain path, or go over the opposite hill and head straight."
One was the standard route, the other required blazing a trail.
Obviously, the first would be heavily guarded. The second might have surveillance too, but probably less.
They wouldn't expect infiltrators to stick to the main roads anyway. Given the troop numbers, mountain infiltration wouldn't be a walk in the park either.
"Let's go over the hill."
The higher chance of sneaking in undetected was the off-road route. Sure, it'd be rough and uncharted, but that was no big deal for us. Compared to monster-infested dungeons, it was practically a red carpet.
Once decided, we moved fast. Hwang Cheolmin and I crossed the hill beside the road. I used Darkness Radar to scout as we went. No guards nearby, thankfully.
We closed in on the mountain where the comm post sat at a brisk pace. It was about 7km distance-wise, but we covered it in 30 minutes. That's dungeon hunter mobility for you.
"This is where it gets tricky."
The area around the mountain was crawling with guards. Navy and Marines were sweeping the vicinity.
Hwang Cheolmin and I were Team 10. I keyed the mic.
"Team 10 responding."
"Team 4 acts as decoy and pushes one team in? Only one needs to send the signal from inside anyway."
This guy was way too into the role. Sounded like Jang Gun-gi.
We reported our lat-long. Team 10—us—was closest to the comm post.
"Got it. Cheolmin, you hear that?"
"Yeah. We're the stars, huh. Heh heh."
Hwang Cheolmin chuckled beside me like it was hilarious. "Stars" fit, I guess. Though being the lead in this training meant jack shit good.
Right as the radio cut, massive fireworks boomed from the right. Guards reacted to the explosion and started moving.
"Over there! It's hunters! Avoid direct engagement—encircle them!"
A net was slowly forming toward the noise. One wrong move, and Hwang Cheolmin and I'd be trapped too.
"Move fast, Cheolmin."
"On it!"
Acceleration ability user Hwang Cheolmin kicked in his power and blazed ahead. Even a mediocre hunter like him could move when it counted.
We covered over 1km of mountain in 10 minutes, slipping out before the net closed.
"Team 10— infiltration complete."
Once past the first perimeter, it was smoother. Secondary and tertiary lines were sloppier and thinner-manned.
Darkness Radar pinpointed them; we darted through gaps and reached the comm post easy.
Guards inside too, but more holes. We found a blind spot—brick wall and barbed wire. Child's play for us.
We stacked our gear into a step. I hopped up first, vaulted the wall light as a feather. Wall-climbing? Easy.
"Jaesung, catch."
Hwang Cheolmin tossed my gear; I snagged it mid-air, silent.
"You good alone?"
"Of course."
He'd wait outside. Honestly, solo beat dragging this guy.
The post: big comm tower, barracks. Sentry shack glued to the tower. Camo-painted barracks looked worn and drab.
Lights on despite the hour; silhouettes of soldiers lounging in bunks, awaiting duty visible through windows.
Bet their faces screamed exhaustion. "What the fuck is this?"
I circled to the barracks rear, pulled the beacon from my pack.
Beacon looked like comm gear—extend antenna to use. Had long-range radio too.
"Lemme see... tactical guidance signal..."
Found the code in my notebook, inputted it. Once HQ got coords and OK'd, mission done. Now relax.
About 5 minutes later?
Rustle—soldier with K-2 rifle on back rummaging pockets appeared. Our eyes met.
"Huh?"
Cigarette tumbled from his hardtack pouch.
Out for a smoke?
This fucker too chill for training?
Caught scouting, he freaked, ass-planted.
"C-Colonel!"
Yelling for the post CO, he scooted back ass-first, rifle suppressor dragging dirt.
Pathetic, but his scream carried—armed soldiers poured out.
"D-Don't move!"
Totally unthreatening, guns leveled. Monster fodder, one bite each.
"Too late."
Guidance Beacon Active
Mission Phase Complete
Beep-beep!
Thunderous WHOOSH! echoed—parachutes deploying. Special forces drop commencing.
"Wh-whoa!"
Post soldiers collapsed at the roar. Then BOOM!—main gate shattered. Hwang Cheolmin burst in.
"Jaesung! Nailed it!"
I high-fived the grinning idiot striding over. Dimwit, but didn't screw us this time.
In under 30 seconds, 20+ trainees parachuted in.
Seamless takeover: demo specialist slapped "Demolished" stickers everywhere; comms guy reported success to HQ. Platoon leader trainee approached me.
"Great job, sir!"
It was Daedu.
"You too."
"Nah, we just jumped. Nothing else."
True. Like cops scarfing served meals in some detective manga.
Daedu poked a dazed comm soldier's shoulder. Soldier radioed.
Trainees responded. Now group march with regulars.
"Take care!"
Daedu boomed cheerfully.
Fuck, trekking with these slowpokes sucked. Suddenly appreciated Hwang Cheolmin as a fairy.
Stealth and speed key to punching through to rally. We picked the roughest paths on purpose.
"Cliff ahead."
Daedu gulped, peering into dark void.
Hwang Cheolmin and I could free-climb no gear. For normals? Suicide.
"Rope up."
Daedu linked carabiners and static line to tree. Regulars descended carefully.
Darkness made them timid on the rock face. We hopped cracks casually.
"Whoa... Dungeon hunters really human?"
Daedu muttered, deflated.
Not wrong.