Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: 15. The Tenth Trial (8)
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A single soldier's remark.
The 1st Company Commander stared fixedly at Kim Chun-sik.
Glancing at his chest, he saw Kim Chun-sik's name tag.
'Was this guy the soldier from the Link incident?'
He'd heard the rumors.
During the Link outbreak, one soldier searching the surroundings had saved people from dozens of monsters. It had been a brief media sensation, so he remembered it clearly. Especially since the battalion commander had praised the 2nd Company Commander for it, leaving the 1st Company Commander to lament why he didn't have a soldier like that under him.
He saw him in a new light now.
He'd initially judged it reckless, but considering his past exploits, it didn't seem so unreasonable.
'He has a point. Right now, with time of the essence, even if the main force arrives, the full moon's effects could prevent them from finding the path properly, delaying the rescue. If he perfectly scouts ahead and rescues the Ranger Unit, the credit goes to our 1st Company. Even if it's in the form of a dispatch, it was the commander who listened to the soldier's words and made the decision. The problem is how truly dangerous this is...'
There are all kinds of soldiers.
Those truly devoted to their country, or those overly sensitive about promotions.
The 1st Company Commander was the latter.
The issue was, if he sent him out needlessly and Kim Chun-sik died, the 1st Company Commander would be held responsible instead.
The 1st Company Commander asked.
"Are you really confident? If you fail the mission, we could end up worse off than if we hadn't tried. Our primary mission to rescue the Ranger Unit would turn into the complicated problem of having to 'rescue you too'."
"I'm confident."
"Is that so?"
Even with his promotion ambitions.
The 1st Company Commander wasn't reckless.
The 1st Company Commander called over a non-commissioned officer.
"Equip Corporal Kim Chun-sik with an action cam and full gear right now. Since he's heading into the jaws of death on reconnaissance, we need to provide maximum support. Issue him bombs too, the kind not given to regular soldiers."
"Understood."
They prepared thoroughly.
The prep time was short.
With time pressing, it wrapped up quickly, and the 1st Company Commander grabbed Kim Chun-sik.
"Remember this. Your top priority on this mission isn't finding the Ranger Unit—it's your own safety. If you sense even a hint of trouble, run back immediately. We'll be monitoring your situation live via the action cam, so don't push yourself. Got it?"
"Yes, sir."
Kim Chun-sik's eyes gleamed sharply.
Did the 1st Company Commander know?
From the moment he received the mission.
Whether he returned with Kang San or died together, he would never come back alone.
Before departure.
There was a minor commotion.
Park Corporal and several others insisted on coming along, but he convinced them it was too dangerous a mission and he needed to go alone for mobility. From the start, confronting monsters head-on offered slim chances. C-Rank Werewolves were a disaster for soldiers, so the best scenario was avoiding them as much as possible while finding the Ranger Unit.
The forest cloaked in darkness.
He stepped into the space warped by the full moon.
The silence was so profound that even the brush of grass against his pants sounded hypersensitive; not a single insect chirped anywhere.
Swish.
Swish, swish.
He picked up speed.
Kang San's survival mattered more than safety.
Kim Chun-sik secured his grip and scanned the surroundings with bloodshot eyes.
[Corporal Kim Chun-sik. Slow down.]
Through his earpiece.
The 1st Company Commander's voice came through, but he ignored it.
His path was being 'data-mapped' and sent to the 1st Company, so if he found Kang San, the main force wouldn't get lost. At least within 10 minutes. He had to find the Ranger Unit.
How far had he gone?
Suddenly, the bushes rustled violently.
Shhhh—
Kyaak!
It was a Werewolf.
Kim Chun-sik's reaction was instantaneous.
Bang!
Rat-a-tat-tat!
His rifle spat fire.
Reinforced bullets riddled the Werewolf's flesh—papapak—but such attacks couldn't fell a C-Rank Werewolf. Kim Chun-sik didn't panic in the slightest. It was expected. He grabbed something from his belt, tossed it into the air.
Kaboom!
Rumble rumble rumble.
A bomb.
As it exploded, Kim Chun-sik wrapped himself in the special protective coat issued to him.
Thud—
Crash!
Even so, the shock sent him tumbling across the ground.
He immediately lifted his head.
The Werewolf was out of sight.
A foul blood scent wafted, and the sensor on his suit warned of the Werewolf's approach.
Beep.
Beep-beep—!
Heat signature detected.
Without hesitation, he launched himself away.
Whoosh.
Splat—!
Bang, rat-a-tat!
The Werewolf streaked past.
Kim Chun-sik unleashed a frenzy of shots in that direction, then used a Haste scroll from the 1st Company Commander to widen the gap. His breath came in ragged gasps. Even against one Werewolf, it was life-or-death, and despite a dozen bullets embedded, he heard its ragged breathing.
Thud thud thud.
This time, he didn't dodge.
He swallowed dryly.
If firepower couldn't deliver shock, he needed one devastating blow.
Plunk.
Roll roll.
He rolled something across the ground.
Then closed his eyes.
Flash!
A flashbang.
As the Werewolf shrieked in sudden blindness, Kim Chun-sik hurled three special bombs and backed away. He didn't wait for detonation. As they reached the Werewolf's head, his rifle blazed, firing bullets into them.
Rat-a-tat—!
Kaboom!
Kaboom kaboom kaboom!
A massive explosion erupted.
The powerful blast near its head overwhelmed even the C-Rank Werewolf this time. Special weapons forbidden to regular soldiers. The 1st Company Commander's consideration paid off. Of course, without his hunter-level physical abilities, Kim Chun-sik couldn't have achieved this.
"Huff, huff."
Only then did Kim Chun-sik exhale heavily.
Approaching the corpse, he saw its head unrecognizably mangled.
He spoke to those watching this via feed.
"I've taken down one Werewolf. Resuming mission."
No time to catch his breath.
As he moved past the body, the 1st Company Commander's voice crackled through the earpiece.
[...You're really as rumored, huh?]
The soldier who faced dozens alone.
The slightly trembling voice acknowledged Kim Chun-sik's skill.
Was it his desperation reaching the heavens?
He found the Ranger Unit.
The full moon muffled sounds, but pushing through bushes, he witnessed the Ranger Unit battling a pack of Werewolves.
"Found them."
[Good work! Come back now. Your mission ends here...]
That was when.
Kang San staggered.
Drenched in blood, on the verge of falling to a Werewolf, Kim Chun-sik ignored the voice in his ear and charged out. No time for rational thought. Regardless of his own abilities, saving Kang San came first.
Events in the dungeon.
Grandmother's medical bills.
Even if he died here, Kang San was worth it.
Clatter.
Plunk.
He pulled out a bomb bundle.
Threw it immediately, then fired wildly.
"Everyone, take cover!"
Bang!
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!
Kaboom, kaboom kaboom kaboom!
A tremendous explosion rocked the area.
Chain detonations swept through like area-of-effect magic. But the dramatic effect he'd hoped for didn't materialize. Against one Werewolf, it was a single target with focused firepower on the head. Against a swarming pack, human weapons fell short.
Grrr.
Not a single one dead.
Some writhed on the ground in agony, but they twitched with strength to rise again.
Dust clouds billowed thickly.
Red eyes fixed on Kim Chun-sik.
One aggro pull.
That was it.
Thud thud!
Kyaak!
Yip yip yip!
"Shit."
The Werewolves charged madly.
Kim Chun-sik turned and ran.
He'd bought Kang San a moment's reprieve; now, all he could do was sprint at full speed. Breath burned. Beastly howls right behind, foul breath signaling imminent devouring. No shooting backward this time. Against multiples, getting caught meant death.
Whoosh!
Crack.
"Argh."
He tumbled across the dirt.
Caught.
His forearm torn open. Springing up, he lobbed another flashbang.
Flash!
Thud—!
Something slammed into him.
Plan was flash and retreat, but the Werewolf's leap tangled them, rolling together. Kim Chun-sik gritted his teeth, stabbing its limbs with his dagger. The blinded Werewolf screamed; he shoved it off and fled desperately.
Too late.
Completely surrounded.
Tail grabbed—he realized escape was impossible now.
Grrr.
Grrrr.
Monsters drooling thickly.
Kim Chun-sik swallowed dryly.
Terror crept in, but he regretted nothing.
'If I've raised Kang San's survival odds even slightly, my death isn't meaningless.'
He'd likely be honored as killed in action.
Grandma would grieve, but that safety net eased him.
Click.
Reloaded swiftly.
"Come on, you fucking bastards."
As he aimed with fierce eyes, the monsters lunged.
That was when.
Rat-a-tat!
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Behind Kim Chun-sik.
A hail of bullets erupted.
Turning in stunned confusion, he saw the 1st Company Commander staring at him with a shocked expression.
"You crazy bastard. You're no ordinary madman. Fall back. We'll take it from here."
A little earlier.
Kang San thought he recognized a face.
The sudden soldier's bomb gave a brief breather.
'Reinforcements?'
Not the main force.
Military meant main force still needed time, but fading hope reignited.
Kim Myung-min shouted.
"Reinforcements found our position! Main force incoming—hold on somehow!"
Grind.
He clenched his teeth.
The Tenth Trial.
Impossible difficulty for Kang San, but after enduring this far, he couldn't die now.
Bang—!
Blocked an attack.
Even normal Werewolf strikes now churned his guts; he couldn't hold ground, pushed back helplessly. Limit reached. Scroll buffs expired; his limp body long out of control. He barely remembered surviving after. Amid tangled red lines, he just blocked and dodged instinctively.
Body soaked in blood.
World spun; mind fogged.
Yet.
'I won't die.'
He didn't collapse.
Didn't give up.
As a Werewolf lunged spotting an opening, he parried and thrust his sword under its jaw.
Squish.
Grrrrk.
[Blood Demon Art effect activated.]
[Attack power temporarily increased by 42%.]
He raised his head.
Far off.
To Luca Bellino watching him, he proved he wasn't broken.
That was when.
Flash.
Rumble rumble rumble.
A single beam stabbed from the sky.
Werewolf flesh tore apart instantly; amid the glow, a white-haired man appeared.
"Is everyone alright?"
Finally.
The main force had arrived.
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