Infernal Barrage

Roooaaar-!

Whoosh-whoosh-! Shoo-shoo-whoosh! Whoosh!

A massive blaze erupted, followed by hundreds of light rounds piercing straight through the flames. In front of it, even a level 650 rating meant nothing. The monsters couldn't even approach before melting away. And the experience points pouring in were beyond counting.

Ten million per monster. Even with eight ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠people, an absurd amount of experience was flooding in. Considering that soloing the 12th-grade boss Silalion had given 12 million EXP, this was utterly ridiculous.

"This is that thing we've only heard about…."

"Look at how fast they're dropping. It's a total farm."

"Were Pauls always this weak?"

"Nah, it's the captain who's just that strong. Check out that crimson inferno. Straight-up hellfire."

The squad members, witnessing their regional commander's battle for the first time, couldn't help but gasp in awe. Taking down level 650 monsters single-handedly was impressive enough, but he was massacring hundreds without even moving a step. It was a scene that wasn't exactly common.

Normally, this kind of numbers would require dozens of same-level hunters in a party just to claim victory. Taejeong pulling it off alone was more ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than enough to inspire envy and admiration among the hunters.

As they stood there, lost in admiration, the battle was already wrapping up.

With the final wave cleared, the situation ended perfectly—with a level up to boot.

The squad approached Taejeong as he stowed his mech.

"To clear out this many Pauls so effortlessly… It's unbelievable even seeing it with my own eyes. Truly amazing, Commander."

Taejeong gave them an awkward smile in response to their praise. A reaction like this for something so routine felt unexpected. Honestly, he'd done this sort of thing every day like it was breakfast.

"No big deal. Let's keep up the search. Doesn't seem like a good spot to stick around long."

"Yes, sir!"

They resumed their movement, combing every corner of the research facility.

How much time had passed like that? After checking the final room, they exchanged hollow looks. Not a single person, not even a trace or clue to be found.

"Doesn't look like it's here."

"Then where the hell could they be? The comms cut out right from this place…."

Taejeong shared the same doubt. If the leader—the third-in-command—had specifically mentioned the research lab and tower, there should at least be some remnants.

If I were the leader, what would I do? 'If rescue's the goal, common sense says you don't stray far from here. Hiding that many people needs cover—a structure. Not many options, including this place. Were they still under threat even then?'

His recon with B6-1 had shown only five or six buildings nearby suitable for hiding. This research lab was the only one he'd entered, and the rest should be getting swept by other teams by now. If nothing there either, it meant they'd moved regions.

But no markers at all? With no word from the other teams yet, they decided to search outside a bit more.

"Let's head out and keep looking for now."

Just as they turned to move, Gerard's voice broke the silence—calm as ever.

"What is it?"

"Combat? What forces?"

"What? Five hundred?"

As Taejeong processed Gerard's report, an urgent voice came from the squad member with the comms.

"Regional Commander!"

"Report."

"Contact from Squad 1-3. Massive monster swarm incoming. They need support… exact coordinates—"

"Everyone, full speed out of here."

Cutting him off, Taejeong moved first, and the squad deployed their teleporters to follow at max effort.

Emerging from the research lab's north side, they veered toward the support site—but hundreds of monsters burst from the ground, blocking their path. Pauls, just like before.

"Everyone, head for the tower—"

About to order a breakthrough downward, Taejeong fell silent. The open space made solo aggro impossible. Summoning a mech and unloading the super Vulcan here could endanger the squad.

In the end, he summoned the railgun. Donning the minigun Vulcan and blaster at the same time, he directed the squad.

"I'll provide covering fire from the air. Take out as many as you can while heading down."

"Understood."

The moment they replied, Taejeong rocketed into the sky. The squad activated skills and charged, while energy rounds from the minigun rained down like a storm.

Tatata-tang! Tata-tang! Tatang!

The minigun lacked raw power, so using it was low-risk. Even direct hits on allies wouldn't hurt at this output.

Would such light attacks hold aggro? Fortunately, struck monsters peeled away from the squad, milling in confusion. But with their sheer numbers pouring from all sides, the aggro they pulled was no joke.

Taejeong's railgun fired single shots at them.

Whoosh! Shoo-whoosh! Whoosh!

Thud! Thunk!

One-shot, one-kill. As expected from cutting-edge tech—the attack power was solid.

The squad's performance was no slouch either. True to their special forces rep, they shredded every blocker in their path. Seamlessly switching offense and defense by timing skill cooldowns, they embodied the pinnacle of Baelrang training.

Even as they pushed through, Taejeong monitored via Gerard.

"What about the other sides? Any issues?"

"Good. Keep reporting anything odd. Scan nearby for a spot to bunch these up and wipe 'em. Can't drag 'em to the join-up."

With multiple squads converging, everyone seemed aware. A relief, for now. First things first: deal with their pursuers.

About five minutes after the last update.

"Figured. What is there in a place with just a few buildings?"

As if he'd expected it, Taejeong kept backing up the squad. Switching channels, he asked them via comms.

"Remember the dam at the town entrance we crossed first?"

"Yes. But what's up?"

"How long to cross it without help?"

"Uh… not sure, but around 10 seconds?"

"I'll cover you max. Break out, cross the dam."

"Weren't we heading to support?"

"These guys are more than we thought. Dragging 'em along could make it worse. We handle 'em here first."

"Orders received, but what after the dam?"

"Leave it to me. Get as far away as possible."

"Planning an AoE?"

"Yeah. Job shields up if you can."

"Got it. We'll try to widen the gap."

Ending ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the call, Taejeong focused fire to buy distance—now prioritizing close-range threats within 20 meters.

Far at range, sure, but demanding intense focus. Hitting moving targets from the air? Only a master marksman could dream of it. One slip, and it'd be his funeral, not a monster's.

Good thing the laser had zero recoil. Something like the MK4, and 20 meters would feel microscopic.

With Taejeong's backup and the squad's desperate push, a gap tore in the encircling ring.

From there, they bolted straight ahead. After a long sprint, the sheer vertical dam loomed like a wall.

Ten meters from outside, nearly triple inside—a daunting climb without flight or levitate buffs.

But were these ordinary hunters? Veterans of the Baelrang, levels aside—they'd scaled worse countless times.

Equipping wall-cling skills, they stuck and leaped three meters at a time. Magnet-like, they repeated it a dozen times in seconds, cresting the dam.

A dozen Pauls trampled each other to follow, but the rest scratched futilely in chaos.

Taejeong prioritized wall-clingers, buying the squad time to flee farther.

Once satisfied with the distance, he summoned Cheonmu.

Small launchers with multi-launch converging guided missiles deployed on either side of Taejeong's blaster. Each round packed 10,000 submunitions—the deadliest human-form wide-area weapon around. Excluding standalone B6-1, it was mega-scale devastation.

Power already proven in Jeju trials.

"Targets: two on their tail, two mid-pack, two at the dam."

"Squad casualty risk?"

"Good. Fire 'em up."

With that, missiles launched from the pods.