Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 035
Chapter Title: Counterattack Begins, Gyo-nam-dong Recapture Operation (2)
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2.
“Old City District breakthrough formation, disperse.”
At Choi Uk’s command, the assault team scattered in perfect order.
They were the most elite combatants, and having run through rehearsal drills, their dispersal was swift and precise.
“[Scout Squad], move across rooftops as much as possible. Quickly detect threats ahead of the main force’s path.”
“Confirmed!”
“[Support Squad], spread out as wide as the street conditions allow. Swiftly neutralize enemies on the intercept paths.”
“Confirmed!”
“Move at full speed!”
The [Scout Squad] deployed in a large wedge formation (▲).
The [Support Squad] enveloped our [Decoy Squad] in a smaller wedge. The overall formation was that simple.
“Lead Hunter bro, just run and leave everything to us.”
At the center of the formation.
Hong Byeong-gyu let out a tense laugh and lowered the visor of his [Heavy Armor].
“Of course.”
I forced a smile as well.
“Gye-sang oppa, see you later. You better make it.”
Cha Seung-hyeon grabbed the hem of Kim Gye-sang’s blue cloak, then let go. Kim Gye-sang smirked.
“Yeah. You take care too.”
Short farewells were exchanged.
Right after, Support Squad 6 slowed their pace, naturally falling back to the rear of the formation.
“At least the rear’s covered. Solid as a rock.”
“Agreed.”
It sounded like banter, but our voices trembled.
It’d be a lie to say we weren’t scared. Proof was the cold sweat already making our hands and feet sticky.
This was the Old City District.
Also known as the old Gyo-nam-dong town.
Nightmare streets gleaming dark purple. Yellowed, rotting buildings rising on both sides.
Splash…… splash…… splash……
This place drained strength even from the act of running.
The stench of rank tidal water.
That water rose to our ankles, flooding the streets.
──Kikikikikik.
Suddenly, something screeched from the ruins.
Cold sweat dripped down immediately.
Some of them were already taking interest…… Not a good sign.
As I ran, I checked my wristwatch. Not to check the time specifically.
It was a keepsake from my parents.
To me, it was like a talisman for good luck.
Click. The minute hand pointed to 12:05.
That’s when the first ambush hit.
Kwaaaaaang──!
The gates of a ruined cathedral exploded without warning.
Steel plates. Glass shards. Wood splinters…… Countless debris flew through the air under overwhelming force.
From the half-shattered doorway.
Three grotesque creatures burst out, and the hairs on my body stood on end.
……Human Bats.
As the prefix [Human] suggested, their heads were fully human.
But humans don’t.
Have shaggy, elongated fur.
Or long fangs, or leather-covered wing-arms.
“Kiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaak!”
The moment they unleashed their chilling shrieks, Queen Do Su-jin charged toward them, her red-and-white cape billowing.
“I’ve got this!”
Her elegantly drawn blade.
Muddy water swirled around it like a vortex, then swung wide in an instant.
Along the arc of that strike.
The muddy water tore a massive gash through space.
Oh…… my God.
The human bats in that space were shredded limb from limb by the high-speed spinning water blade, reduced to bloody chunks.
Three in one swing……?
Truly astonishing skill.
Kim Gye-sang whistled, clearly thinking the same.
Thanks to Do Su-jin’s intercept, the main force kept charging ahead as if nothing had happened.
Click. The minute hand pointed to 12:06.
Peww.
Then a flare sliced through the night sky. Breath caught in my throat.
“One on the right flank ahead.”
“Color’s blue.”
Choi Uk confirmed the reports instantly and shouted.
“Got it. Support Squad 3, intercept.”
“On it.”
Another flare shot up from the left flank right then.
Blue again……?
To explain, blue signaled Heteromorph swarms.
“Support Squad 4, moving out.”
“Rejoin without delay. Don’t die.”
Squad 4’s leader bowed deeply at Do Su-jin’s words. Support Squads 2 and 4 were all [Royal Guard].
Heteromorph laughter and footsteps grew louder from distant ruins.
Each time, support squad members drew their weapons and peeled off toward intercept paths.
Soon after, shouts and sprays of blood mingled in the air.
“One more incoming.”
“Hold.”
“My God, one from above too! Monster bird!”
“Intercept!”
The main force kept sprinting down the street.
Peww…… More flares kept rising after that.
The [Support Squad] deployed for intercepts, returned, then went out again, repeating.
“Support Squad 2’s turn.”
“Got it.”
That’s when crisis struck.
The skyscraper to the left suddenly writhed.
More precisely, the monstrous vines coiled around the apartment’s exterior like hideous snakes.
……Huaaaaaaaa……
An echo like a baby’s sigh.
The instant it registered, dark purple spores poured from the grotesque vines like mist.
Ah…… no……!
Next instant, I was yelling desperately.
“We need to change course now! Those spores melt people outright!”
“No can do!”
Choi Uk in his crow mask screamed back. To relay orders amid the massive echoing cries all around.
“We push through! No other way!”
“But how?!”
Instead of answering, Choi Uk thrust his primary weapon, the jet-black grenade launcher, skyward.
“Full speed breakthrough!”
──Boom!
The grenade launcher roared.
Choi Uk’s crow-feather cape whipped wildly behind him.
The launched shell.
It slammed into a corner of the high-rise, exploding on impact.
Right between the spores and main force.
Debris from the blast surged out, tangled with the spores midair, melting into sludge in seconds.
“Tighten the wedge! Out before that falls!”
By then, the main force was charging madly forward.
Scattered debris blocked paths, but the hunters desperately leaped and climbed over.
“Heteromorphs from the rear!”
Someone shouted, then another.
“Here! Here! Right side too! Human Centipedes! Human Centipedes!”
Swarms crawled out, human heads and limbs writhing grotesquely on centipede bodies.
Someone from Support Squad 4 tripped, and the centipedes tore into his limbs and ripped his throat in a flash.
The main force plowed through the impending acid rain, grasping human centipede claws from both sides, and their chilling shrieks.
……Damn it.
At this rate, casualties were inevitable.
“I’ll handle it.”
[Decoy Squad] wasn’t supposed to engage by rule.
But rules didn’t matter now. Decisive action was needed.
Fast. Really fast.
I kicked off the ground in a burst.
Overamplified leg strength cratered the footing, propelling me instantly to the human centipedes’ faces.
──Chaang!
At the same time, I drew the Dawn Sword from my back.
As the bandages unwound from the blade like a sheath, dawnlight scattered everywhere.
Tactical goal: delay.
So judging, I thrust. The blade pierced a human centipede’s neck.
Fur. Flesh. Bone.
Sensations of rending flesh transmitted sequentially; I twisted and slashed sideways.
One. Two. Three. Four.
The fifth mid-slash.
Dozens of human centipedes leaped at me.
Now, back.
I kicked off again, returning to the main force.
Heart-pounding close call.
Just before the green slime rain hit, we escaped the kill zone together.
The Heteromorphs weren’t so lucky.
“Kiiiiieeeeeek!”
“Kyaaaaaaa!”
Exposed to the pouring slime, the human centipedes shrieked in agony.
And.
Their flesh melted horrifically into sludge, leaving bones sprawled bare on the ground.
Hellish silence after the inferno.
I panted, glancing back at the carnage, finally turning forward after a while.
……Kuh.
Nearly twisted my ankle.
Repeated overexertion on leg strength had left them numb.
“You okay?”
“Fine…… I’ll be fine soon.”
I hoped.
Click. The minute hand pointed to 12:08.
How long had we run?
Beyond distant Support Squad 1 ahead, a Joseon-style stone wall came into view.
Ah, that’s……!
Before I could draw a tense breath, Choi Uk glanced back at us.
“Bait operation, prepare.”
Gyeonghui Palace.
Finally, Gyeonghui Palace.
Lair of Gyo-nam-dong’s Subordinates. The Dawn Sword hummed─ as if sensing their overwhelming presence.
……They’re really here.
Kim Gye-sang and I exchanged looks, then pulled handfuls of [Holy Blood Pills] from our coat pockets.
“3, 2, 1. Go!”
I clenched my fist, crushing the [Holy Blood Pill].
Blood stench exploded, thick enough to sting my nose.
For a moment, ecstasy dazed me.
Like getting drunk…… I shook my head to dispel the temptation. What…… is this drug?
Anyway, the effect must be even fiercer on Heteromorphs.
──Pewww.
Choi Uk fired a flare.
Not a Heteromorph warning. Signal that main bait op was on—get ready.
“Turn here.”
The main force veered into the left apartment complex.
No need to run along Gyeonghui Palace’s walls. Couldn’t afford to.
Honestly, that’d be suicide.
Because [Scout Squad] couldn’t operate there.
Which meant the [Old City District breakthrough formation] would collapse, leaving us open to ambushes—easy total wipe.
“Just reach the point like this!”
Kim Gye-sang panted. I nodded, and he cautiously added.
“But what if they don’t come?”
“Well…… will they?”
The last part was to Choi Uk.
Choi Uk nodded without looking back.
“They’re coming. For real.”
Click. The minute hand pointed to 12:09.
A flare crossed the starry sky. Seeing it, my heart skipped for a moment.
One.
Another. Another.
One more. Then another.
Flares rocketing madly from the right flank were…… blood-red.
Silence. A brief, intense silence. Then the next instant.
……Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud……
Ground-shaking footsteps followed, the earth trembling faintly.
……Kwarung kwang kwang kwang……
Roars of structures shattering. The Old City District erupted in chaos. And.
Grraaaaaaaaaooooooooouuuuu.
Just hearing it.
Sent cold sweat beading on my forehead—a horrific roar swept in.
They’re coming this way.
The Subordinates are coming.
Heart pounding wildly.
I clenched and unclenched my fists to steady myself. Dread of the coming fight shivered through me.
Blood-red flares.
Their meaning was crystal clear. As Choi Uk said, the giant type had taken the bait.
“For real──”
I started to say.
──Beeeep!
A shrill tone pierced from afar, spiking then fading.
Faint as it was, enough to freeze my blood.
Sonic flare?
Sonic flare?!
No…… way faster than calculated?
Glancing aside confirmed it.
Kim Gye-sang blinked in disbelief.
“Did I hear that wrong?”
We’d planned for bait, sure. But their arrival wasn’t good news.
I’d even hoped they’d stay away while we fought the giant type.
Click. The minute hand pointed to 12:10.
By then, from rear to front.
Sonic flares wailed and wailed, drawing closer.
Beeep…… beeep…… beep…… beeep……
Flares warned of Heteromorphs.
Sonic flares were distinct, fastest for urgent alerts.
Reserved for the most critical: Subordinates appearing.