Subway Shelter Synchronization
“Ollie, it's almost done!”
“Jenny's preparations are complete, Captain!”
I've also gotten a feel for leveling up in the training ground.
Starting with hands-on experience with the new skills I'd acquired, I was endlessly honing my HUD and sniping techniques to keep my instincts sharp.
“Data backup 100% complete!”
Right on cue, Ollie finished the final step: security. We'd prepared thoroughly because no one knew what changes might occur to the existing shelter upon opening a new one.
No need to drag this out. Time to move.
Before that, the agents lined up in a row in the corner of the room. It was their request for a few words on moving day from this shelter we'd grown attached to.
Funny.
It's not like we're abandoning this place just because a new shelter's been created.
“Alright, then. Ahem.”
- Snap! Snap!
The kids stood at attention and saluted.
Why are they treating this move like some dramatic farewell?
“We've eaten, slept, and lived here, owing this place a lot. So, as a goodbye, let's each silently bid our farewells in our hearts—no hard feelings while we're away!”
At that, Jenny toddled over... and gazed out her favorite window. She'd always sit there during breaks, humming tunes with lyrics I couldn't understand.
Ollie ordered a Jaws Bar from the [Cooking] appliance before leaving and popped one in his mouth. Then he stopped by the lab to sniff the chemical fumes one last time.
Me? ...I just lay on my bed for a bit.
Of course, this place is precious to me too, but
we're not abandoning it. We're just adding another operational base.
Guess the kids feel differently.
“You close your eyes and pray too! So it won't feel lonely without us!”
“Isn't that a bit much? Just leave a message now and then.”
“Huh? Shelter and messaging??? That's possible?!”
“Oh right. Seems like it.”
The agents' sentiments were touching.
More attached to this space than I am.
Precious kids.
Not just their abilities... but as my 'connections'.
Now, I can't imagine how I survived the loneliness without them. Even before awakening.
“Agents, assemble!”
- Snap! Snap!
“Yes, Captain!” “ROGER!”
“Did everyone say your goodbyes properly?”
“It feels so sad...” Jenny pouted faintly,
“If we utilize the AI well, maybe it could develop a sense of self? Then messaging might work?” Ollie started seriously brainstorming.
- Clap!
I clapped softly to pull them together,
“Let's go.”
We're moving.
All of us... to the new shelter.
'Thanks.'
I gave my own silent farewell too.
.
.
.
Sniper Shelter Synchronization in Progress... (32%)
Current location analysis: [Suitable]
How long had it been since I'd seen this scene?
A small status window popped up, and a dazzling light scanned the space from top to bottom, probing every corner as if analyzing it.
Sniper Shelter Synchronization in Progress... (56%)
Area/height/structure analysis: [Suitable]
This place was the Abandoned Subway Station.
“Whoa!” “Yo.”
For the first shelter, I'd watched the whole process trembling alone with squinted eyes, but not anymore.
Sniper Shelter Synchronization in Progress... (100%)
Synchronization Complete.
“Complete!” “GOOD.”
I had a family now.
Shelter Deployment
- Fwaaaah!
Done.
“This entire vast space is our shelter now.”
No need for area reinforcement anytime soon.
And since it's completely isolated, accessible only via the hell train, we might not even need much barrier reinforcement. This option's more economical anyway.
Clatter clatter... Jenny hurriedly grabbed cleaning tools and dashed around the entire shelter.
“Jenny will clean! I'm really good at it!”
From what little I knew of her life in Arcana, cleaning seemed part of it, but
“Nah, no need.”
As Ollie said, Jenny had forgotten in her excitement.
“First things first.”
[Cleaning]
- Shwaaaaaah!
“Gasp!” “Whoa.”
It was a villain hideout, still filthy with filth and bloodstains everywhere.
My lovely shelter—solving everything but my HP—had instantly restored perfect cleanliness with [Cleaning].
Rotted wall tiles, rusted steel beams, discolored floors, corners. Spiderwebs and mold—all eradicated in one go.
The grime vanished like deleted game files, transforming it into a brand-new subway station.
“Let's make it fully comfortable. This is our home.”
[Air Purification] [Pest Extermination] [Humidity Control] [Water Quality Management]
I activated the essential shelter functions one by one. Once toggled, they run continuously.
- Whiiiir...
The soothing hum of air purification adjusted humidity too. Flying insects everywhere vanished in seconds.
[Furniture Arrangement]
I selected spots for the agents' beds. The station's vast but lacks cozy walled-off areas.
The 'Information Center' seemed best.
Using furniture arrangement, I reclaimed the cluttered desks and chairs. (Retrievable later.)
- Whoosh! Whoosh!
“Our quarters here!”
“Perfect, Captain!” “Anywhere for sleeping's fine yo!”
The info center was a spacious multi-person office. Clearing the junk allowed efficient layout for our core facilities.
[Training Ground] next to the staff lounge, behind an iron door.
Then [Supply Depot] [Lab] [NBC Shelter] [Explosives Storage] packed efficiently.
“Just checked—no worries, original shelter facilities intact yo!”
Now we had duplicates of everything. Labs and explosives storage would be hugely efficient.
Then, a rare melody alert chimed.
- Ding!
Rewards granted for new shelter establishment.
“?”
'Training Ground' upgraded to Level 2.
'Supply Depot' upgraded to Level 2.
'Agent Quarters' upgraded to Level 2.
...
'Explosives Storage' upgraded to Level 2.
'Infirmary' upgraded to Level 2.
'Security Control Room' upgraded to Level 2.
■ All facilities upgraded to Level 2 en masse
Didn't see that coming.
I'd expected just a new home base, plus using the station's control center and gear.
Then,
“Kyaaah!”
Jenny screamed from somewhere—nowhere to be seen.
“Whoa!”
Ollie's excited voice too.
“Whoa. Unreal.”
Jenny's room retained its medieval apprentice mage vibe but with expanded space and upgraded quality.
“Roomy enough for 2-3 people.”
Jenny asked if she really deserved such a nice place, but it was a legit new shelter perk.
Ollie's was already a PC bang/SF playground; now bigger, with game consoles and gadgets at least twice as good.
I gave the agents time to geek out over their rooms, then we regrouped at the info center.
Time for the most important facility.
“Here.”
[Operations Room]
The existing control center's age-related malfunctions fully repaired and powered ON.
Our ops room facilities layered on top—fully upgraded.
“Whoa! With this, decoding Plan's Church will be a breeze yo! Shelter system's amazing! How?!”
Super hyped Ollie dove straight into ops room immersion, ignoring everything else.
“...”
Jenny glanced at me worriedly.
“C-Captain?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you angry...? I'll do better! Sorry!”
“Oh.”
Guess my expression slipped.
Plan's Church (Korea).
Seems like branches worldwide. 'Korea' specified.
I soothed Jenny, then asked Ollie.
“A few hours tops for decoding! We can pinpoint the church yo!”
“...I see.”
- Grip.
My fist clenched unconsciously. These kids are precious to me. Connections gratefully filling a lonely life without family.
The day to see those bastards' faces—who targeted these innocent kids with unspeakable plans—was near.
Is that the main base? Or was this station the main, and that's a hideout?
Unknown. But even after hitting the station hard, I had no intention of going easy here.
“Push fast. No mistakes. Ollie.”
“ROGER! Trust me!”
Ollie sensed my mood, eyes fiercer than usual.
Wall murals on all four sides of the church. Not a temp spot. Heavily encrypted docs too.
Smash the Korean branch first. If a bishop's there, even better. Kill on sight, claim two Power Fragments.
Then, an email from Hunter Management Bureau.
“Reverse Cross, right.”
Hell Gate plan hinges on relics absorbing many souls.
Disrupting villains' plan means exterminating them.
“Ollie, get me the list and info on high-rankers entering combat.”
“ROGER.”
They'd already entered the gate.
No glaring human-side issues.
Among Korean high-rankers: Kim Chi-gon.
- Click!
Going in.
Level 101 growth management.
Tested: Transfer skill's pretty fun. Also,
◈ [Dispel Bullet] x4
◈ [Shadowless Bullet] x6
◈ [Thunder Bullet] x3
My steadily produced special rounds.
Clear the gate interior fast.
Fukuoka, Japan.
Ultra-high gate 'Barlog's Grudge' opened.
Same one as before. Emerged from the same gate again.
But with full high-ranker assembly and Kim Chi-gon's explosive DPS, Barlog's Grudge was slain.
They entered the ultra-high gate interior.
- Groooar.
“Hah, seriously.”
Upon entry, Kim Chi-gon's massive muscled body groaned under pressure. Even breathing took serious stamina.
- Crackle! Crack!
- Rooooar!
Mid-wave monster swarms were so dense they felt like the air itself.
Even upper unique bosses mixed in midway.
Sato Kenji, bleeding from the nose, unleashed Yamata no Orochi's five heads and shouted to all.
“This time, we end it!!! Charge!!!”
“Raaaaah!”
Japan's high-rankers numbered over 20, including the injured.
Korea dispatched 6, including Kim Chi-gon.
Most manpower yet deployed.
Kenji infused his katana with Yamata no Orochi power and charged.
- Creeeeeen!
Two boss-grade monsters blocking ahead—erased without trace in one strike. Sato Kenji's power honed through endless battles.
Must recover the Reverse Cross this time.
More sacrifices and injuries inevitable. Kenji steeled for mortal resolve to wield this power again.
“Hup!”
Kim Chi-gon hurled his 1.5x bulkier-than-tank frame,
- BOOM!
- BOOM!
Clearing paths for all to the relic. Countless attacks rained on him.
“Tch. Annoying.”
Even for Kim Chi-gon, pinpoint hits in this density tore muscles, spilling blood. But he tanked through sheer grit.
Normally prepped with Yoon So-i's heal buffs for rampage, but post-Jackal Mask nullification, her power depleted—no dice.
Other Korean high-rankers filled roles perfectly.
- BOOM!
“We'll get it this time!”
Kenji and Rank 3 Ono Yuji maxed [Oni Transformation], spewing fire to devastate areas.
Then,
“Gaaah!”
“Aaaah!”
Two rear Japanese high-rankers—key roles—screamed.
“Damn!” Kenji bellowed in shock.
Those two tanked for rear support hunters. If breached,
- Stab! Crunch!
“Kyaaak!”
An upper boss giant tore a key Japanese support's leg off.
“Inoue!!!”
Kenji hesitated toward rear aid—Kim Chi-gon grabbed his collar.
“Hey, slant-eye. Here to film a movie?”
“...!”
“Don't wanna see real hell? Quit bitching and charge. That's how we win. Before I say worse. Got it?”
Kim Chi-gon glared ferociously.
His pressure amplified by blood staining his dress shirt.
“I know! No intentions of disgrace!”
“Lead on, slant-eye. I'll duo-tank.”
Kenji and Kim Chi-gon surged ahead. Ono Yuji followed, eyes on the relic alone.
The farther they pushed, overlapping screams from bonded, resolved hunters behind. Kenji shed bloody tears.
“Hraaaah!”
Protect. Succeed. His mission.
Then,
- Ding! Ding! Ding!
A message appeared before Kenji's eyes.
⊳ [Agree] / [Decline]
“!!!” “!!!”
The message appeared for all Japanese hunters in their language too.
“Unregistered!”
Gasping Kim Chi-gon lit up joyfully, smashing [Agree] without hesitation.
Then he roughly grabbed Sato Kenji's wrist, forcing [Agree].
“Wh-what is this?!”
Kim Chi-gon ignored, roaring at surrounding high-rankers in fluent Japanese.
“!!!”
Koreans had already agreed and braced defensively. As if expecting anything here.
Japanese high-rankers, mid-battle, panicked over the 'ally message' meaning.
Kim Chi-gon grabbed Ono Yuji's arm too, forcing [Agree], then final words.
Instantly,
- BOOOOOOM!
“!!!” “!!!”
Direction of Kenji, Kim Chi-gon, Ono Yuji.
I.e., vanguard—threatening boss-grades exploded en masse.
Remaining Japanese high-rankers frantically hit [Agree],
The real show started now.
- BOOOOOOM!
- BOOOOOOM!
- BOOOOOOM!
All monsters in the raid formation exploded. Even high-rankers injured by flying flesh and bone.
This is the destruction Unregistered showed in the gate,
as Cheon Seung-hyuk described.
- Hummmm...
- Hummmm...
Dozens of black holes (●) uniformly along the path to relic [Reverse Cross], sucking in red mist and monsters, compressing.
- Creeeeeeeeeeen!
Lightning now. Heard physical hunter, but absurd-class thunder magic massacred monsters instantly.
Lightning as dense as Sato Kenji's Yamata no Orochi.
“Run, you bastard!”
- Thwack!
Kim Chi-gon punched dazed, spectating Kenji's back hard.
There—relic [Reverse Cross].
“Raaaaaaaah!”
Kenji unleashed full power, solely for relic recovery, charging ahead.
All this scene
recorded in Sato Kenji's system window as 【Final Battle, Perhaps】.
“...”
- Swish, click!
Finished tuning sniper rifle 'Massacre'.
Holy Relic [Reverse Cross] recovery complete.
Hunter Management Bureau email arrived around then.
All relics now in human hands.
Relics recovered—now destroy them.
That crushes Necrophilia's plan most decisively.
Perfect timing—second email from Director.
“Fwew.”
Then Ollie rushed over.
“Analysis complete!”
As expected.
Powered-on control center fused with ops room gear—top-tier setup. Ollie atop it cracked this cipher easily.
“Then, let's go.”
Relic recovery and destruction. Church raid.
I'll sweep them breathless.