Chapter 225
Han Yaseong was exhausted after a month of futile digging. No matter how much he shoveled, only dirt turned up, leaving him crushed with frustration day after day. It was an endless loop of hoping something might finally appear today, only to mutter, "Fuck, nothing again." His irritation piled up until he was hurling his shovel aside more often than not. He didn't even want to keep digging anymore.
"Ah, this is so fucking annoying."
That day, fed up mid-dig, he stripped off his shirt and flopped onto the ground, staring blankly at the sky. No matter how hard he tried, it was all wasted effort. Pits nearly two meters deep dotted the landscape—over thirty of them by now. The fact that nothing had emerged from any of them filled him with utter despair. There was no thrill left, no drive. Just mounting stress, and the nagging urge to pack up and head home.
Han Yaseong lay there, gazing at the cloudless blue sky blazing under the sun, before finally hauling himself up.
"Guess I'll go hunting."
He figured he'd eat some meat, recharge his strength. Slaughtering something might lift his spirits too. So he grabbed his weapons and gear with Yadong-i and headed for Forest 3.
The place was still teeming with massive beasts grazing across the vast plain that stretched for dozens of kilometers. The sight of those colossal creatures lumbering about was as spectacular as ever. But predators lurked in the distance, so Han Yaseong and Yadong-i stayed hunkered in the tall grass, not daring to emerge.
They waited a long while until the predators wandered off elsewhere, then finally stepped out—backpack frames loaded, true swords gripped tight.
The plain held beasts like the hippo he'd eaten before, plus flocks of ostrich-chickens. Wondering what to hunt, he opted for the safer choice: ostrich-chicken. But even those were nearly three meters tall. Underestimate them, and you'd regret it—so he approached with caution.
Slash!
Creeping up from the side, he struck the long neck of one grazing ostrich-chicken as it bowed its head. Thud—its head tumbled to the dirt, spraying blood. The others caught the scent and bolted in panic. The five-meter giants nearby barely glanced over, ambling past indifferently. Han Yaseong and Yadong-i were so small they posed no threat.
He swiftly hacked off the dead bird's two thick legs and strapped them to his frame. Leaving the meaty torso behind stung, but he couldn't carry it all.
"Let's go, Yadong-i."
The hunt wrapped up simply enough, and they headed back toward the grass. Somehow, it felt anticlimactic. He craved something more exciting. Maybe bag a bigger beast next time.
Then, out of nowhere—Skreee!—a piercing cry echoed from above, wings beating the air.
He glanced skyward. A massive black monster bird was diving like a missile, wings spread wide. It resembled a hawk, but its size was insane—bigger than a light aircraft, each wing spanning nearly three meters. Claws extended from both talons, thick and razor-sharp, hurtling down at terrifying speed.
"What the hell?!"
Han Yaseong startled, scrambling toward the grass. Yadong-i freaked too, tongue lolling as it sprinted in terror. The beast was enormous. And blindingly fast. In seconds, its shadow engulfed him.
Sensing doom, Han Yaseong shrugged off his frame. Clatch!—the bird snatched it midair. A ferocious gust knocked him flat; Yadong-i tumbled meters away.
The monster clutched the frame in its talons and soared high again.
"You fucking bastard!"
Caked in dust, Han Yaseong spat curses from the ground. That torso was still there—why target him? Curiosity must've sparked when it saw the tiny human hauling those legs.
He snatched his fallen true sword. The bird wheeled overhead, dropped the frame, and dove for round two.
"Yadong-i! Run!"
The little guy was useless against that thing. Better it flee than become a snack. Yadong-i, dirt-caked and whimpering, bolted tail-high.
"Come on, you son of a bitch!"
Already stressed from digging, this unprovoked assault fueled his rage. Gripping his true sword two-handed, he glared at the plummeting fiend. It'd strike with claws; sever a leg, and he'd win.
The bird swooped low, talons foremost. Han Yaseong dodged sideways, slashing at an ankle.
Clang!
He hit wrong—talon met blade. Those claws were like forged steel; they rang like metal on metal, unyielding. The rebound hurled him sprawling.
Skreee! The bird climbed, circled, eyes blazing fury, and dove again—pissed at being struck.
Heart pounding on the dirt, Han Yaseong regretted not fleeing. What arrogance to challenge this monster. Those talons would shred him alive.
As it barreled straight at him, he yanked a dagger from his belt and hurled it. Straight for the face.
The bird faltered, flapping to brake hard and swat the dagger with a talon.
Skreee!
Fury redoubled, it lunged anew—like it was the victim. Absurd, but desperate, Han Yaseong drew two more daggers. The bird veered, wary, circling without committing.
He sheathed his sword, daggers at ready, tracking it warily as he backed toward the grass. It feared the blades, orbiting instead of striking. He retreated step by step.
Please don't attack. Just let me go...
Relief flickered as grass neared—then skreee!, wings thrashing, it exposed all six savage talons and charged.
"Gah!"
He toppled backward, flinging both daggers. Clang!—they ricocheted off talons. Those six claws rushed in. Death if they hit. He rolled desperately aside.
Skreee! The bird banked sharply.
Han Yaseong knew he was done. No more dodging. He gripped his axe for a final stand.
Its feral eyes and talons filled his vision.
Squelch!
"Arrrgh!"
The central sickle-claw ripped into his gut. Agony exploded through him—unbearable, unprecedented. But it didn't end. Flanking claws pierced his sides, clamping tight.
Crack!
"Gaaack!"
Ribs shattered; blood spewed from his mouth. Sanity shattered, he hacked wildly at the leg with his axe.
Thud! Thud!
Even then, he targeted the thick ankle—tire-tough, rebounding blows, but cracking open, bleeding. The bird screeched in pain, shaking him violently. His body scraped across dirt until the claws released, flinging him rolling.
"Keurgh..."
Blood poured from mouth and gut. Flanks crushed, entrails spilling. Pain blurred his vision; death loomed.
To die so stupidly...
A giant bird? Unthinkable—he'd never seen one. Lulled by the lack of nearby carnivores. All too sudden for countermeasures.
Bleeding out, he watched dimly. Enraged by the axe, it dove talons-first again.
It's over...
No strength left. Shredded alive, maybe pecked—that beak looked vicious. Unfair, but he'd braced for death since arriving here.
Regret stung, but—
Crunch!
Claws plunged into his chest. Ribs splintered; heart pierced by steel. Vomiting blood, Han Yaseong blacked out.