Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: The Real Psychos in This Area Are Us - 2
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The battle between the Sniffers and the raiders was no joke.
Tatata-tang!
The harsh gunfire echoed through the subway station, but the two Sniffers held their ground firmly.
The raiders kept running away while firing nonstop.
We hid in the bathroom, studying the Comprehensive Sports Complex Station map as we refined our plan.
"We've got two things to do here. One is finding the backup shelter."
"And the other is killing the Sniffers?"
"No. We need to track down those crazy doctors who made the Sniffers. Their shelter has to be around here...
somewhere near Bupyeong-gu Office Station."
Geom-in scratched his head while staring at the map.
"It's quite a distance. Wouldn't it be better to split up and tackle them separately?"
"Two groups would be too thin."
I recounted what had happened at the Georyong Unit.
Seok-hyun seemed awkward about describing his own combat experience anyway.
Geom-in's jaw dropped as he listened to the details.
"Even four of you couldn't take them down?"
"To be precise, I was just running to find the shelter entrance. Da-jeong and Mi-kyung were focused on drawing aggro too."
Meaning Seok-hyun was the only one charging in like he meant to kill them.
"If the four of us... no, three of us went at them, what then?"
"It'd still be tough. But why three? Lacking confidence?"
"Well... Blink has limitations in the dark."
"This should cover it."
I pulled a flashbang from my dimension slot and handed it to him.
Geom-in's face lit up as he held the incredibly bright flashbang.
"Perfect."
"If things get dicey, bind them and run. Never fight up close. All Sniffers have those spines in common."
"Got it."
He loaded a magazine into his K5 pistol and flicked off the safety.
Pretty smooth moves.
"You know this already, but... I can shoot, but I can't hold out long. One magazine at most."
"Hold fire as long as possible?"
"Hold until I signal, then unload everything at once. Activate the bind too. That'll give us an opening for the rocket."
"Bind... doesn't seem like it'll stick well."
"Flash 'em first, then bind. Have some faith in your ability."
I clapped him on the back, and Geom-in nodded with a heavy breath.
Running simulations in his head, probably.
Da-jeong emerged from the dimension gate, having finished adjusting her bulletproof vest.
She'd disassembled a spare vest and inserted extra ceramic plates into her pants.
"No idea why you'd do that."
"Raiders always aim for the legs."
"Why legs?"
"Head or torso shots risk killing. They don't wanna be murderers."
"Ah, got it. Cripple 'em so the monsters finish the job?"
"Exactly."
I had my dimension wall, but anatomically, it was hard to cover my legs.
So, reinforcing the legs for minimal protection.
With Hard Skin skill too, no penetration worries.
Seok-hyun returned from scouting, blood on his fist.
"Found the shelter entrance. Near the platform phone booth."
"Raiders?"
"Gone for now, but lots of tents nearby. Saw barricades and a crane too."
"Pulled from the backup shelter."
The raiders had set up camp right at the backup shelter entrance on the platform, siphoning supplies bit by bit.
But something was off.
Why stick around fighting strong foes like Sniffers instead of grabbing what they want and bailing?
Geom-in tilted his head.
"I think... they're smuggling the supplies somewhere."
"Where to?"
"Look."
His finger circled around Comprehensive Sports Complex Station and Chunui Station.
"You saw coming in, but no cover around Sports Complex Station. Wide open. Hard for raiders to move loot."
Survivors flocking to Sports Complex was old news now.
"So?"
Da-jeong prodded, and his finger pointed to Chunui Station.
"But this area's full commercial district. Tons of hiding spots. They're definitely funneling supplies here via the line."
It all clicked now.
They'd planned to strip the backup shelter bare.
"Nice catch, Geom-in."
"Been around here before."
He shrugged, looking pleased with himself.
Anyway, the raiders' chase with the Sniffers was baiting them away.
To clear the supplies.
"Leaving guns out weakens them though..."
Da-jeong smirked at my expression.
"Look at his face change. Must hurt to leave 'em."
Of course.
The backup shelter loot was all mine.
I gathered my thoughts and spoke.
"Priority one: deal with both Sniffers. They can't see, but super sensitive to sound and smell. Lure with firecrackers and drop 'em fast."
"Who kills?"
"You and Seok-hyun."
"Geom-in then?"
All eyes turned to him.
He waved it off.
"I'm good. Feels wrong hogging something I can't even use right..."
"I'll hook you up later. Yield to these two this time."
"Sure."
No hint of regret, which was unusual.
Maybe Geom-in was content just being with us.
I briefed Seok-hyun and Da-jeong.
"I'll call your IDs, pull weapons from dimension slot, toss 'em. Catch and fire. Watch the backblast, stay clear."
"Even a Shield Sniffer won't tank that?"
"Insane penetration. Probably one-shot."
If it tanks a Pfz-3, we're out of options but run.
Da-jeong summoned ghouls from the dimension gate for recon.
Sniffer and raider positions roughly mapped.
We donned vests, grabbed guns.
Shadow Grapes down, prep complete.
"Let's go."
.
.
.
Sniffers track by sound and smell.
Extremely sensitive to gunpowder.
Firecrackers? They'd love it and charge.
But needed positions first.
We gathered auction house rumors.
—Sniffer over there, passing outside the bathroom!
—Jeez, which bathroom? Sports Complex Station got multiples? Where?
—Marker nearby!
—All gone!
Chaos.
Da-jeong snapped her fingers after sending ghouls.
"Exit 4. Slingshot Sniffer."
We hustled after the Sniffer.
Soon, the snorting monster appeared.
No need for firecrackers.
The Sniffer spotted us and froze.
"Then it'll slingshot right at us."
No sooner said, it leaped.
No wind-up, straight airborne.
I threw up a dimension wall on its trajectory.
It crashed into the wall and flopped to the floor.
"All in!"
Da-jeong's ghouls swarmed.
Flashbang lit it up, freezing it solid.
Bind took hold perfectly.
Spines shot from its body, skewering ghouls.
"Gah!"
Geom-in flinched at the grotesque form but held the bind.
Used to avert his eyes before. Growth.
I opened dimension slot, tossed rocket to Seok-hyun.
"Tok!"
Just follow procedure and fire.
But no plan's 100% perfect.
The bind holding the Sniffer broke.
We glanced at Geom-in.
He shook his head desperately.
"N-not me! Held it till the end."
Forced release then?
Maybe high level meant short bind time.
The Sniffer grabbed a leaping ghoul's head and crushed it.
Crack.
Da-jeong bit her lip, losing the locust, ordered the tank.
"Grab it!"
Thud, thud!
The massive tank charged.
But Sniffer was already mid-jump.
Dimension wall up, but it wall-ran the station wall toward us.
Fast mover.
I instinctively opened dimension prison.
The crouched Sniffer tumbled inside.
"Got it! It's in!"
"Out in how many minutes?"
"Five!"
We surrounded the prison spot.
Suddenly, bullets whizzed in.
Bang! Bang!
Floors pitted from shots.
No need to check who.
I told Geom-in immediately.
"Into the bathroom, now."
"Ambush from the side?"
"Bingo."
Lure them, we slip into dimension gate, then strike.
Scary, but hang in.
He ducked into the bathroom; we hid in the gate.
Footsteps, then raiders appeared.
"...Where'd these bastards go? Were right here."
"Bathroom there."
"Ugh, idiots. Hid there of all places."
"Bet they're regretting it now. 'Shouldn't have come, shouldn't have!'"
"Heh heh heh."
Guns made 'em cocky.
Sniffer around, they'd bolt.
Three surrounded the entrance.
Come deeper, just a bit...
Seok-hyun and Da-jeong pressed against me.
Panties-only guy breathing heavy, not great vibe.
Back off a little...
Waited till they neared, opened gate.
Seok-hyun rocketed out.
"Falcon Punch!"
His fist smashed one's jaw, sending him flying.
"Gurk!"
The other two swung guns, but Tok's high kick floored them.
Crunch.
Three down, guns dropped.
Ghouls emerged, pinned them.
"Nice, Tok!"
Da-jeong slapped his ass passing by.
Ripping his panties further... don't think it.
I recovered guns, frisked for mags.
Da-jeong stomped one's head.
"Minutes left?"
"Two."
No leisure to wait though.
Shield Sniffer snorted into view.
Seok-hyun clenched his fist.
"Look at that casual strut. Wanna deck it."
Same here.
I called Geom-in from the bathroom.
He relaxed seeing the downed three, paled at Shield Sniffer.
"W-what do we do?"
"Good."
Facing two at once was stupid; kill this in two minutes.
But the approaching Shield Sniffer suddenly fled.
I recalled they had some smarts.
Smelled the Slingshot Sniffer here?
Felt the threat?
Thoughts brief, action swift.
Pulled rocket from slot, but it rounded corner, vanished.
We chased without word.
Flashbang popped, lighting its back.
"Bind, bind!"
Geom-in paused to focus, but it leaped down stairs.
Dimension wall useless.
Stumpy but nimble.
We halted at stairs.
"Don't chase. Back and kill Slingshot."
Seok-hyun stepped up, loosening fists.
"I'll pursue. You handle it. No time."
Slingshot out soon.
Time for debate? Better rush and finish.
I tapped his shoulder.
"No heroics."
"Gotta push to catch it."
Stripping torn panties, dead serious.
He bounded—no, rolled—down stairs.
Da-jeong snickered.
"Faster that way."
Tough body, rolling fine.
We headed to dimension prison for Slingshot.
I prepped rocket, handed to Da-jeong.
"Pull trigger when it pops out."
"Roger."
She shouldered the 13kg rocket, waiting.
Moments later, gate spat Slingshot.
Lower body melted, wreathed in flames, writhing.
Kuuaaaah—
"What?"
Da-jeong startled at its flailing, lowered rocket.
Poor thing fell into lava zone.
Dimension prison environments total random, even to me.
It flopped fish-like, no former power.
Da-jeong tsked, re-aimed.
"Bye-bye."
Whoosh, boom!
Massive fireball erupted; flailing Slingshot exploded.
Bang!
Blazing flames and smoke billowed.
We rushed to Seok-hyun.
Da-jeong cheered.
"Yes! Bouncy body's out!"
Good thing?
.
.
.
Crowds flooding the station had one goal: snag guns.
Few watched veteran fights; too risky with raiders shooting and Sniffers lurking.
They lurked in shadows like hyenas, waiting chances.
Then they spotted a chase: two people—no, one monster and one freak.
He was unilaterally pummeling the fleeing Shield Sniffer.
Naked.
"That guy's totally insane..."
"Tok maybe?"
"No panties though?"
"Ripped in fight probably."
Murmurs be damned, Seok-hyun pursued Shield Sniffer.
Tough hide ignored endless punches.
Sudden competitive fire.
*How long you gonna ignore me?*
Seok-hyun flipped aerial, landing ahead.
Its belly writhed, forming shield tissue.
"Falcon Punch!"
Full-force fist rebounded off shield.
He recovered, eyes reddening.
Werewolf skill activated.
"Kiyoooht!"
Onlookers lost him in dark.
Muffled sounds from shadows, then he retreated.
Shoulder pierced by spine, bleeding.
"You're... tough."
Shield Sniffer roared, annoyed by blocking Tok.
Spines exploded from body.
"Ngh!"
Arms shielded, but insufficient.
Seok-hyun panted, hedgehogged.
Regen pushed spines out, but heavy damage.
"No joke..."
Tanking bodily impossible.
Grin crept on Shield Sniffer's mouth.
"Laughing?"
Grrr.
It posed; Seok-hyun charged too.
But it hesitated.
Seok-hyun, about to lunge, bolted instead.
"Fake, dumbass!"
He dashed; hiding crowds entered its senses.
"Kyaaak!"
"Run!"
Platform turned pandemonium.
[The Real Psychos in This Area Are Us - 2] End