Chapter 84
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Chapter 84 - 악연 (1)
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Fateful Connection (1)
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Meanwhile, Lieutenant Nikolai Hilbert of the 2nd Company, tasked with searching another corridor, felt something was off.
It was too quiet. Far too quiet.
They had called it an infiltration, but that was only up to the point of neutralizing the surface facility. Considering the deafening gunfire that must have erupted during the process of subduing the forces above, the guys downstairs weren't idiots; they had likely already fortified their defenses.
So, they had proceeded with the utmost caution...
Yet, despite having entered the underground facility for over ten minutes, there wasn't a trace of the enemy, nor a single sign of human presence.
"Has there been any contact from the 1st or 3rd Companies?"
"None, Company Commander."
"Hmm..."
He hadn't heard any news of the artifact being secured yet. A nagging feeling of unease persisted, but regardless, they had no choice but to advance.
If he pulled his troops back based solely on a gut feeling, it could create an unexpected variable for the other companies currently operating elsewhere. Nikolai couldn't bear the thought of the tragedy that might ensue from that.
"We're continuing the advance."
"Yes, sir."
At the company commander's order, soldiers dashed forward. They were scouts from the reconnaissance unit.
Unlike the 1st Company, which moved in platoon units, Nikolai's 2nd Company adopted a method of dispatching several reconnaissance squads to each area and moving the entire company only after receiving their reports.
In these complex, narrow underground alleyways, it was better not to bunch up in large numbers.
It was difficult to maintain visual contact, and if the enemy's heavy firepower concentrated on them, it could lead to massive losses.
Of course, things would be different if the enemy brought in a large army or summoned monsters, but this was, after all, an armory. The forces defending the surface facility were at most a company level, so the personnel stationed underground couldn't be that numerous.
That was Nikolai Hilbert's judgment. Just as he was advancing slowly with his subordinates, checking every corner of the corridor...
Boom—!
A gunshot that made his nerves twinge rang out. It was close.
"That's from the recon squad, isn't it?"
There was no mistaking the direction. Nikolai's and his deputy's eyes met simultaneously. Just as the deputy was about to ascertain the situation...
Boom, bang bang!!
The gunshots grew more frequent. Shouts were mixed in with them. Before Nikolai could even react, three scouts came sprinting out of the corridor.
"Company Commander!!!!"
"What is it?!"
"A m-monster—!!"
With a desperate scream, Randel, a member of the 2nd Platoon's recon squad, was sent flying into the air. Crack! With a horrifying sound, the soldier crashed to the floor.
"W-What the hell!?"
Before they could even check on their fallen comrade, a hulking giant stood there, drenched in blood and snorting steam from its nostrils. Lieutenant Nikolai, terrified, drew a pistol from his holster and fired.
Boom! Bang!!
The soldiers deployed behind him also fell into a panic as the company commander opened fire. Without waiting for a specific order, they immediately began pulling their triggers.
The dim underground was lit up by the flashes from dozens of muzzles.
However, the creature didn't fall. The giant simply continued to advance slowly, absorbing the bullets with its entire body.
Faced with that terrifying sight, the training they had drilled time and time again vanished from the soldiers' minds as if erased by an eraser.
"A m-monster!! Someone, help me!!"
"Uwaaah!!"
In the end, one soldier, unable to overcome his fear, screamed and fled, causing the formation to collapse naturally. It was only natural that gaps appeared in the 2nd Company's line of fire as they fell into an uncontrollable state in an instant.
And that very moment was the opening the mutant had been waiting for.
-CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE-
Formation Break
"Kraaaah!!!"
The giant let out a deafening roar. Just as its raised, massive fist was about to come crashing down on the fallen scouts...
"Get out of the way!"
Slash! A man brushed past Nikolai, accompanied by a violet lightning. In the blink of an eye, he lunged at the giant and plunged daggers into both of its eyes.
"—!!"
Crack, craaackle! As the daggers lodged in both eyes unleashed a torrent of purple lightning that literally roasted the giant's eyes, the creature, its vision gone, shrieked in agony and stumbled backward.
He was Sergeant Claude Raine, a 2nd-class violet mage and war hero. The 2nd Company Commander was momentarily dumbfounded, then quickly came to his senses and asked.
"What brings the 1st Company here!?"
"Came to get that bastard."
At the question, Claude answered nonchalantly. He wasn't the only one. Several other figures came running from behind, panting heavily.
"Huff, huff...!! I told you to wait...!!"
"If I'd waited, at least four of them would be dead. You're alive thanks to me."
"Th-that's true, but...!! At least tell me the way...!!!"
It was Bell Mayer, also from the 1st Company.
Even as she gasped for breath, she deployed her mana and pulled the groaning soldiers near the giant back to safety.
Intermediate Blue Magic, Floor Slide.
A surge of water from the floor pushed the soldiers' bodies outward, allowing them to safely escape the giant's reach. Nikolai was finally able to check on the condition of his wounded unit members.
"Is everyone alright?!"
But no one gave a proper answer. A glance was enough to tell they weren't in good shape. Every single one had at least a fracture.
The most severely injured was Randel, who had been thrown into the air. His bones were fractured, jutting out through his skin. He must have suffered serious internal injuries as well.
Seeing his grim state at a glance, Bell Mayer immediately ran to him and began emergency treatment.
"Kraaaah!!"
However, the mutant hadn't been subdued yet. Nikolai focused his mind and spoke calmly to Claude.
"Is there a chance of winning with magic?"
"That's right. That bastard is just perfect for getting roasted with fire or lightning. Look, he's dancing already."
"Hmm...!!"
Nikolai immediately gathered all the mages under his command. Lining up like infantry of an old era, they unleashed a barrage of spells. If they had been locked in close combat, it would have been different, but against an enemy whose vision was gone, there was no need to be afraid and mess things up.
In an instant, the flames that surged forth enveloped the blind mutant, and the troll and yeti-infused skin couldn't withstand the heat, blackening and curling inward.
Thud. The rampaging giant collapsed on the spot. Remnants of fire crackled and blazed on its skin.
"That takes care of that. I've also secured a map of this place. Keep going straight from here and turn right, you'll find the exit."
"...Aren't you coming with us, Lieutenant Claude?"
"Our company commander hasn't evacuated yet, so I have to see it through to the end."
He looked down the corridor.
He had already ordered the 3rd Company, led by Lieutenant Luna Aire, to evacuate before meeting up with the 2nd Company, so his work here was done.
"Then I'm counting on you with the wounded."
"Don't worry and get going."
The only thing left to do was to join his main company.
Claude threw a word to Bell Mayer, who was tending to the wounded, and led his platoon members into the darkness.
"That's the second one...!"
Erwin Rus, the 3rd Platoon Leader, straddled the fallen mutant and said. They had managed to capture another mutant that had been drawn by the sound of battle while they were holding off the mages that had been added as reinforcements.
This specimen was much smaller and weaker than the one they had first encountered. Unlike the first time, when they had to unleash the entire company's firepower, this one could be handled by just the 3rd and 4th Platoons.
Erwin could now feel for certain that this was the product of human experimentation.
Builds, appearances, and strengths were all different.
They weren't mass-produced like weapons from a factory; they somewhat followed the physique and abilities of the original human base.
Disgusting bastards. Erwin sincerely cursed as he closed the eyes of the dead, inverted mutant.
Perhaps even this one had been hoping for such a rest.
"Company Commander! Do we continue the assault!?"
"Ah, Platoon Leader Hilton. We are retreating now. There's no need to occupy the entire facility."
"Ah... So it's not an assault..."
Hilton Kalia's shoulders, which had been brimming with excitement, slumped. His slightly raised eyes also drooped back down.
'He's so easy to read.'
Although they were fellow platoon leaders, Hilton Kalia was a rather special person. Usually timid and stuttering, he transformed into a completely different person once a battle began.
"We've already achieved our operational objectives. We've inadvertently secured the Sovye Empire's dirty little secret, so all that's left is to evacuate safely."
"You heard him? Bring some of this bastard's corpse with us!"
"Yes, sir!"
At Erwin's shout, the 3rd Platoon members brought over a small box they had pulled from a warehouse.
Unlike the previous one, which had been completely burned to a crisp, this one still had some semblance of its form. This alone would be enough to serve as clear evidence to squeeze the life out of the Sovye Empire.
Just as Erwin was about to use a short bayonet to cut out a piece of the mutant's flesh...
"That won't do."
"...?"
Along with a voice that came out of nowhere, condensed air grazed Erwin's right shoulder. If he hadn't instinctively recoiled the moment he sensed the killing intent, his arm would have been cleanly severed.
A vividly felt green mana.
It was wind magic.
⚠️ Alert Level:High
🎯 Hostile Detected:Unknown Mage
"Who are you."
Erwin stood up, covering his torn wound. From beyond the flickering candlelight in the corridor, eyes as vivid as the flame atop a candle appeared.
"Oh, I missed."
"I asked who you are!"
"Geez, you're in a hurry. How about we have a nice, leisurely chat for now? Comrades of Ukraine."
At those words, Company Commander Enok Levandel stood up, pulling his troops back.
"So you must be the one managing this armory."
"That's right. And you must be the leader of these intruders."
Imperial Inspector Egor Ivanov and Duchy Officer Enok Levandel. The fateful connection that began with the raid on Belgorod Fortress was finally meeting face to face.