[What's life anyway, just live as it goes]
[What's life anyway, just live as it goes]
When an Enemy Species crosses over due to a Dimensional Rift, the response time for a Force User team is usually about 5 to 10 minutes. Even if it's in the capital area or a region far from a busy district, it doesn't exceed 20 minutes; that's the basic level of response for a country currently ranked among developed nations.
The level of an Enemy Species is divided based on the core shape caused by the output and the size of the Enemy Species. The highest grade is Nonagon (nine-sided), but the highest grade identified so far is Octagon (eight-sided).
However, there is one type of Enemy Species that is tricky and difficult to deal with regardless of output: the Large-type Adversary Species.
The physical force coming from a size of at least 10 meters could not be blocked by a single Force User. A Large-type Adversary Species is at a level that can barely be caught only after multiple Force Users, and specifically long-range attack type Force Users, cling to it and lower its mobility.
Anything is strong if it's big.
"Fuck off, you're getting sliced by me today and used to craft a Zinogre set. It'll be a souvenir since I'm giving it to Sion."
Choi Ak growled, kicked off the building wall, and flew in front of the Large-type Adversary Species' mouth.
The Large-type, recognizing the human appearing before its eyes, opened its mouth. Not to eat, but to bite and chew to death.
A command stronger than the instinct filling the Large-type's head was telling it to kill the human in front of it. It faithfully obeyed that command.
[Kya-uk!!!]
"Where do you think you're going!!!"
Thud!
Choi Ak blocked the bite from inside the Large-type Adversary Species' mouth, lifting the roof of its mouth to prevent being chewed. He was blocking the Large-type's jaw strength with his own strength.
"First, the jawbone."
Crack!
He stomped down on the tongue he was stepping on and kicked it. Along with half of its tongue, the jawbone was crushed and ripped away.
The reason a Force User can deal more damage to an Enemy Species than modern firearms is due to the resonance generated by the Force Fusion Phenomenon.
When Gaia Force fuses and dwells within the body of an Enemy Species, the Force contained in the Force User's attack resonates, neutralizing the activity of the Raf Energy, so the Enemy Species, which has resistance to physical attacks, takes damage even from the Force User's cold weapons.
However, that is only the case when the Force Fusion Phenomenon is complete. A small Enemy Species completes the Force Fusion Phenomenon in 1 minute at the longest, but in the case of a large one, it often takes more than 10 minutes due to the size of its body.
In front of an Enemy Species where the Force Fusion Phenomenon has not occurred, a Force User has no choice but to fight purely with their own skills.
It hadn't even been 5 minutes, let alone 10, since this large Enemy Species had crossed over.
[Kyaaaaaak!!]
"Your breath stinks, you dog-like bastard!"
The Large-type Adversary Species, with half its tongue and lower jaw ripped off, glared at the culprit, Choi Ak, while letting out a shriek. Humming, it concentrated the Raf Energy it could instinctively handle to generate high heat. Perhaps due to the characteristics of the Enemy Species individual, electricity began to spark.
A strike like a lightning bolt, added with the leg strength of the Large-type Adversary Species, fell upon Choi Ak. In front of a strike that would burn and split even a big tree that had stood for hundreds, even thousands of years, Choi Ak frowned and clenched his fist.
"↓→↘-Punch! Shoryuken!!"
The attack, launched while mimicking one of the famous techniques from a certain fighting game where he kicks the ground and flies up to deliver an uppercut, collided with the Large-type Adversary Species' forepaw, generating a massive wave of energy.
The windows on nearby buildings shattered and fell to the street, or the shock, which made one wonder if it was a small earthquake, shook the ground.
[Kiak! Kyaaaaa! Gyaak!!]
"Does it hurt? You bastard, don't whine just because you lost a few claws. It's possible to lose your fingernails and toenails once in your life. What really hurts is getting a needle poked between them."
They collided, but it was the Large-type Adversary Species that suffered one-sided injuries. All its claws and a few toes were blown off, and even the remaining toes were not intact.
The monster that had crossed dimensions to kill humans felt fear for the first time in its life.
It was the highest grade among the Enemy Species that had appeared on Earth so far, but in front of Choi Ak, there was no answer. In his eyes, there was no desire to protect people or fighting spirit, only the murderous intent to kill.
Crack!
"First, one leg."
Choi Ak, who had grabbed the Large-type Adversary Species' leg at some point, twisted it and ripped it off with force. It had a body that exceeded biological limits, but in the end, it was just a living thing. To a Transcendent who has surpassed the body, muscle strength is just a force that can fluctuate at any time.
[Kiiiii......]
"Trying to run away?"
The Large-type Adversary Species, which had been tucking its tail and slowly backing away, kicked the ground at Choi Ak's taunt and ran away without even looking back.
Survival instinct took precedence over the command to kill humans. It trampled and smashed the vehicles on the road lightly, ran, and jumped enough to leap over a decent building with a little running start.
"Where do you think you're going!"
[Kiek!]
The strike that was suddenly planted in its face was fierce. The Enemy Species' body fell to the ground as it was, shaking the earth. A whole street was devastated by rolling on the ground from the impact, but that was none of Choi Ak's concern.
"And another leg, two."
Bam!
He stomped down with a kick, breaking one leg.
"Three."
Snap!
He crushed the bone with his bare hands and pulled it out alive.
"Last one, four."
Slice!
As Choi Ak struck down with a hand blade, the last remaining leg was severed.
The Large-type Adversary Species, which any Force User team would struggle with whenever it appeared, had become a legless Daruma doll in just a few minutes. It was wriggling while shrieking, but it was just struggling.
Only now that the environment was ready to start the work, Choi Ak loosened his hands.
"You bastard, I'd catch you on a dog meat day and boil you in a soup. You bastard, I'd pull out your horns and make deer antler velvet. If you hadn't used an EMP, I wouldn't have even thought about stepping in."
Bam! He kicked the guy's face. The upper jaw, which had been relatively intact, broke and dangled. The majesty of the Large-type Adversary Species threatening humanity had long since disappeared, and only time remained to beat it like a dog on a dog meat day.
After about 5 minutes of Choi Ak beating up the Large-type Adversary Species, there were signs of the Force User team and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces arriving at the scene. A CH-47 transport helicopter flew in for the movement of the Force User team, and several F-35A aircraft were flying near the scene to support and check the situation to deal with the Large-type.
"What is this, are you guys like police in an action movie, showing up only after everything is solved incompetently?"
In fact, it's not that they are incompetent.
If a Large-type Adversary Species appears in the city center, it takes time to mobilize to prepare and respond, so a quick response is difficult. Especially if you count from the moment of appearance purely without a Dimensional Rift warning, 10 minutes is a level worthy of praise because the attitude of dealing with a sudden situation was good.
Choi Ak has no intention of running away.
He had already done everything he could. If he gets caught, he gets caught, if not, then not. What's important now is to beat this Large-type Adversary Species a bit more and then end its life.
A dozen or so Force User team members descended from the transport helicopter. Since they had grasped the state of the Large-type and the scene from the air, they were coming down with peace of mind without other preparations.
Among them, Choi Ak discovered a familiar face.
"When I saw it on TV, it wasn't that kind of modern-looking mask."
"You never know when such a mask for sale will come off. It's not a situation where I can fight like that."
Choi Ak thought they might recognize him by his voice, but as he spoke differently than before, his voice was automatically modulated.
"What is the Raccoon Man or whatever, who should be in Korea, doing here?"
"Sightseeing. Am I not allowed to come and play?"
"What about the report?"
"We didn't even register as Force Users in our country, so how would I have done it? I just came as a civilian."
"That's illegal."
"Have you never committed an illegal act?"
"At least I've never done anything that I'm ashamed of in my conscience."
"So you mean you have done illegal things."
The Force User team that came with Hibiki. It was an elite team centered around him. Most of them possessed combat power above Expert, and even if not, they had skills equivalent to that.
Some were looking at the half-dead corpse of the Large-type Adversary Species behind Choi Ak, and some were glaring at Choi Ak along with Hibiki, preparing for the worst.
"Seeing him catch that alone, his skill is....... Hmm, to be honest, is he stronger than me?"
"That's a generous evaluation."
"I can't catch that alone."
Even a Master-class Force User has limits. A Large-type, especially an Enemy Species whose core output looks high, can only be caught if Hibiki has the support of other Force Users.
But if the power is enough to beat a Large-type that hasn't even finished the Force Fusion Phenomenon to death, it's safe to consider him a Master user already.
"So it's certain that he's stronger than me. And that if he runs away from here, we can't catch him."
"I don't have any intention of running away yet."
"What are you trying to do?"
"I have to slit this bastard's throat before I go. I'm pissed off because of this piece of shit."
"Go when I let you go nicely. There's a limit to what I can handle at my own discretion."
"Oh my, since when did we know each other that you're accommodating me like that?"
"Well, maybe if we have a drink, it might be like that."
"........."
Although it couldn't be seen because it was covered by the mask, Choi Ak made a subtle expression.
"If a Force User from another country enters the country without a report, the incident will turn into an international issue."
"Let it turn into one. Anyway, I don't care what happens. Whether Japan picks a fight or our country picks a fight, I'll just smash them all."
"If other countries interfere then, it's you who will be in big trouble. It's not like you're unsociable, and you must have friends and family, right?"
"If you say 'let it be', something will happen, that's life. I don't have any thoughts right now, so I'm full of intention to do as things go. First, let me kill this bastard."
Choi Ak turned his back and looked at the Large-type Adversary Species. He clenched his fist and struck lightly, completely shattering its skull.
It was natural that even the brain was crushed by the shattered shape. The monster that had crossed dimensions to kill humanity just 10 minutes ago became a corpse that twitched occasionally.
"If this bastard hadn't detonated an EMP, I would have just ignored it and gone sightseeing. Ah, seriously. It makes me angry just thinking about it again."
Perhaps because that didn't relieve his anger, he approached and kicked the corpse several times. Seeing the ton-unit corpse heave and move every time he kicked, it could be seen that even a simple kick contained tremendous power.
"........Am I late?"
Hibiki muttered while watching such a Choi Ak. People from the Self-Defense Forces, who had completely grasped the situation, stepped forward.
Although the Force User team is strong, not everyone who is strong knows strategy and tactics, so they receive orders from a separate command system. Of course, if it's Hibiki, a Master user, there are no such restrictions, but they still cannot be ignored.
Hibiki, who was trying to send Choi Ak away before the situation became more annoying, was late because he hesitated. The gnats that Choi Ak hates began to swarm.
"Since you brought this on yourself, take it easy."
"Depending on how you act."
Hibiki stepped back. It was a sign that he would no longer interfere. Choi Ak nodded slightly to thank him and looked at the person approaching.
A pattern with two stars and two lines. Choi Ak didn't know the ranks of the Self-Defense Forces well, but he knew that a low-ranking person wouldn't step forward in this situation.
"Hello? I am Lieutenant Colonel Hachida Torame of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Capital Defense Force."
"Well, this side is Raccoon Man, just passing by. The Large-type Adversary Species was handled by this Raccoon Man, so don't worry!"
"Yes, it doesn't look like there's anything to worry about."
Its legs are all cut off, it's swollen from being beaten, its lower jawbone is lying over there, and its skull is shattered. If it's alive, that's amazing in itself.
"Thank you for your cooperation. Thanks to you, we were able to reduce human casualties and property damage."
"It would be fine if it's just the road and buildings smashed and a few cars blown away. So, what's the main point?"
"I would like to ask for your accompaniment for a moment."
"And you'll send me home when it's over?"
"Yes, of course."
Choi Ak's second ability, 'Sense', was telling him. That it's a lie.
"You're lying. You don't intend to send me back, do you?"
If it's certain that there is a Force User not registered in Korea, and also combat power that might belong to the top tier of the Master level, it is better to pull him in than to send him to Korea.
If there are two Master-class users, there are too many benefits that arise from that. National defense becomes much easier, and one can be dispatched overseas to gain advantages between countries.
Although he first appeared in Korea, there was a difference between Choi Ak's appearance then and now. The biggest one is the difference in the mask. There was a difference between a cheap one sold as a souvenir and a craft-level one made with effort.
Once detained, if they create an identity, they can make him their own country's Master user. If words come out from Korea, it's enough to insist that it's a different person.
"I don't want to. I killed that bastard, and I'm just going to go home."
"Illegal entry of a Force User, property and human damage....... Do you think you can leave? It will turn into an international issue, won't it?"
"Nope, not happening. Whether it's an international issue or whatever, let them handle it. Does our country suffer, or do I suffer?"
".......Do you have no patriotism?"
"If I had done this out of patriotism, I would have registered as a Force User and belonged to the country long ago. They give peanuts as compensation and treat me like trash, so why would I do it?"
"Then how about naturalization? If it's treatment, I promise you several times more than Korea."
If it's a Master-class Force User, they must be recruited by any means. Considering the impact on national defense with just one person, they can grant some privileges for the sake of that profit.
"It's not a bad idea. Because if you have money, there's no place as good as our country."
"Japan is more economically developed than Korea, though?"
"What are you talking about when radiation exploded and it looks like you're filming Fallout?"
"..........."
He stabs the sensitive part as if poking with a skewer. His honesty is excessive, so he looks arrogant.
"Ahem, still, Japan is better socially and economically."
"Economy is a problem in any country, so don't say it's only good in Japan. Can you say that when you guys aren't even a democracy socially?"
"Japan is a democratic country, though?"
"Looking at the behavior of the politicians in your country, I wonder if it's an aristocracy or a monarchy, let alone a democracy."
Until a few years ago, Choi Ak had the same thoughts about Korea, but seeing a certain president impeached for manipulating state affairs, he liked that Korea still had civic consciousness.
Knowing when to really stand up, he acknowledges that much. However, Japan doesn't have a good perception of protests, so even if a politician makes a wrong choice, the only weapon a citizen can put forward is the right to vote.
".........You are a bit rude. If you don't cooperate, we won't just stand by either."
"Oh, are you going to bring tanks or fighter jets to have a go?"
"No matter how much of a Master-class user you are, you cannot win against the military. You will struggle, but in the end, it is you who will lose."
"Weeell."
Choi Ak could kill every citizen in Japan on the spot from where he stood, but he agonized over what expression to make in front of an opponent who didn't know that. It wouldn't be visible anyway because of the mask, but he wondered if he should make an expression of being pathetic, or just laugh, or if he should make an angry expression saying it's absurd.
An individual cannot win against the majority. It's natural because the difference coming from numbers is large.
But if it's a person heavily armed with modern firearms and 100 primitive people, the relationship between an individual and the majority also collapses. In the end, the difference in class determines victory or defeat.
"Let's start by cleaning up. I caught that, but since there was property damage and other losses, you guys take it. I don't need change."
"........Yes."
"And I'm going home. Okay?"
"That part is not okay."
Choi Ak also knew that there were various problems, so he wouldn't be able to get out easily, so he did it. Now, he's just being unreasonable.
"How about moving after hearing the story from this side first? You wouldn't have thought you could get out easily anyway, right?"
Hibiki stepped forward to mediate for a moment. If it goes on like this, the story won't end.
"Of course, you're right. But if you don't do things like trying to naturalize me on the sly after cornering me by asking for responsibility, I'm willing to respond to the story as much as you want."
"Unless you have the intention, we won't do that."
"Really?"
"............"
In the work done by the state or organization, the opinions of the minority do not have a great effect. Whether it's the right thing or not, they rationalize and move on.
"Let's go easy. Easy. You can just say you caught it and pretend you didn't see me, right?"
"There are witnesses."
"Things like that can be handled by media manipulation. Isn't media manipulation what every country is best at? I've never seen a country that can't do that. It's to the point where they are better at media manipulation than politics."
"Then what's next? How are you going to go to Korea?"
"Since I can't ride a plane or a boat, I'll just have to swim. It would take a day to get to Busan comfortably."
Hibiki clenched his fist. Since their opinions didn't match, the only way to solve it was to use force.
"If it goes on like this, the story won't match."
"So?"
"Let's try to solve it with what we are best at."
Crack, Hibiki clenched his fist and showed it. Choi Ak smirked, thinking of his inner thoughts that he had already grasped.
"I said it earlier. You said with your own mouth that you can't catch that Enemy Species alone, so do you think you can beat me?"
"There is a difference between dealing with a monster and dealing with a person. Just like a national martial arts athlete doesn't become an outstanding Force User even if they awaken as a Force User."
As Hibiki said, there was a difference between the two. It's not that a martial arts athlete has never awakened as a Force User, but even so, they don't stand out to the point of being outstanding.
It's just that the starting point is different, and if you only count ability, it's a beginner level who has experienced a few actual battles. There is a big difference between a match where safety is secured between people and a battle where you risk your life every time.
Conversely, Force Users who are used to dealing with Enemy Species sometimes cannot use their power properly against people. People with personalities who are reluctant to kill or don't want to hurt others belong to that category.
But no matter where you look, Choi Ak is not that kind of personality.
"Let's have a go."
Hibiki said that and launched a preemptive strike.
"Wait a minute, Hibiki-ssi!"
A voice stopping him popped out, but it was already too late. His fist was stuck in Choi Ak's abdomen. An attack containing enough power to shatter even a concrete pillar of a large building in one blow shook Choi Ak without mercy.
The asphalt road Hibiki was stepping on vibrated once. The reason it didn't break was that he strengthened the ground he would support with his Force ability characteristic to be able to hit with full power.
Kwaaang!!
Faithfully to the principle of action and reaction, Choi Ak's body flew through the air, smashed a nearby building, and crashed into it. The blow was so intense that the sound of the air being torn apart overlapped with the sound of breaking.
Hibiki, who jumped in without giving time, threw consecutive punches at Choi Ak. Just with the shockwave, the glass of the store display inside the building shattered, and the dozen-story building itself began to shake. It was fortunate that it didn't collapse to that extent because the seismic design was well done because it was Japan.
Throwing punches, throwing punches, eating punches, and striking. Choi Ak, who was half-buried in the ground while blocking only the mask that covered his face with a guard against the continuous barrage, looked up at Hibiki with a calm face.
"Are you done?"
"You brat, it seems only your mouth is alive."
Wooong!
The air trembled, and power began to dwell in Hibiki's right fist. Solid and strong. And it was a fist that released at the single moment of collision after compressing to shatter the opponent.
"Oh, that looks like something. Do you have a technique name or something?"
"Well, I didn't particularly decide on one, but other guys call it this."
The fatal blow of one of the few Force Users at the pinnacle on Earth was struck at Choi Ak's abdomen.
"[Oeyama Drop]!"
Kuuuuung!!!
A heavy pressure drove Choi Ak into the ground along with the nearby ground.