Monster Wave (2)
The sight of the Creals swarming the courtyard like bugs made my mind go blank for a moment. These crab-like monsters, roughly the size of a king crab at most, weren't dangerous or hard to handle by any means. It was just that realizing what this phenomenon implied filled me with an indescribably complex mix of emotions.
Allowing even C-rank monsters to invade meant every barrier protecting this island had already been shattered. And if that was the case, a few hundred Creals crawling around the yard were the least of our problems. It was as good as saying B-rank, A-rank, or even S-rank monsters—as Eunbyeol had warned—were heading our way.
Proof of that came from the mid-sized monsters in the distance, presumed to be B-rank, still approaching but not yet reaching the courtyard.
We needed to request backup from other high-rank hunters who could clean up this mess, and fast. Or else abandon the island like the other areas eroded by the monster wave. Either way, as Eunbyeol said, hopping on the helicopter and evacuating was the top priority.
The problem? Monsters were already swarming the area around our ride.
As I racked my brain over where to even start, a flurry of daggers flew past from behind me.
Crunch!
The daggers pierced five or six Creals, killing them instantly, then zipped back to their owner like they were magnetized.
"First, we'll clear the path to the helicopter."
Eunbyeol, the maid gripping the daggers that had just skewered the monsters, stated matter-of-factly. I was dying to know where those weapons had come from and what her awakening ability even was to handle them like that, but there was no time for questions.
"Sounds good. Do you have a weapon, Sungcheol?"
Do Sihee asked as she pulled her bow from her travel bag and strung it. I drew my greatsword from my subspace pocket and showed it to her.
"Ready."
"Avoid unnecessary fights as much as possible. Escape comes first."
"Got it."
Ping.
Two enchanted arrows shot from Do Sihee's bow, slicing straight ahead. They cleanly carved a path from the villa entrance to the helipad where the helicopter sat, obliterating monsters and obstacles in their way.
'Gegegegek.'
'Kek, kkegegek.'
Of course, it was temporary—the Creals were already swarming back in. We had to move fast.
Without any prior discussion, Do Sihee, Eunbyeol, and I naturally fell into formation. I took point, slashing through Creals rushing to refill the gap with my greatsword. Eunbyeol covered the middle, picking off stragglers outside my blade's reach or coming from behind. Do Sihee brought up the rear, sniping mid-sized monsters approaching from afar with her enchanted arrows.
Crackle, crunch, stab.
Our weapons carved through the monsters in their own ways, and before long, we reached the helipad.
Of course, the helipad wasn't monster-free either, so we couldn't just hop in and go.
"I'll handle the ones on the helicopter. Please buy time so no other monsters get close, Mistress and Mr. Kim Sungcheol."
"Got it."
"Understood, Eunbyeol."
Eunbyeol hiked up her long maid skirt slightly, drawing more daggers from within, then hunted the dozen or so Creals crawling over the helicopter, retrieving her weapons each time. Quite the secretive skirt.
No time to admire her work, though. I swung my sword in wide arcs, toppling monsters climbing onto the helipad.
The issue was these damn things weren't just climbing the stairs—they poured in from every direction. Blocking one or two sides wasn't enough; monsters kept surging toward the helicopter from elsewhere.
Do Sihee's archery wasn't ideal for crowds, and she was already busy thinning out the B-rank monsters closing in.
At this rate, we'd be buried under monsters before we could escape—none of us making it out.
"Sihee, cover me for a sec—I'm stepping out!"
"Sungcheol?! Where are you going?!"
These were just trash mobs I could wipe in one go anyway. Better to lure them into one spot and hit them all at once. I moved to the wide courtyard below the helipad and bellowed loud enough to echo everywhere.
"Raaargh!!"
My awakening skill Provocation hooked them—the gazes of every nearby Creal locked onto me. Except for a few stragglers, over a hundred surged at me in a wave.
Perfect setup for Bayonet Tempest.
Rrrrip, craaack.
The sound of my greatsword tearing wind and chitin rang out repeatedly. Soon, Creal corpses piled around me like a crater rim.
I glanced up to check the helicopter—Do Sihee and Eunbyeol called out.
"Takeoff prep complete. Board quickly, Mr. Kim Sungcheol."
"Sungcheol! Hurry!"
The rotors were spinning slowly—Eunbyeol had cleared her side too and was in the pilot's seat, starting the engine. Thank god.
I raced back up the stairs, boarded, and the door slammed shut. Eunbyeol's helicopter lifted off, leaving the monsters below.
"Are you both alright?"
"Hah... y-yeah..."
"I'm fine, Eunbyeol."
"We'll head to the nearest center—the International Warp Gate Terminal. New Guinea Island has even stronger divine barriers than this one, and we can request high-rank hunter support quickly."
"Yeah, that sou—Kyaaah?!"
Thud.
The cabin shook violently—we'd collided with something.
"Suspected collision with a flying object. Please fasten your seatbelts."
"F-Flying object? Like a bird?!"
"No. Estimated as an attack from below."
"If it's a monster wave from the sea, it has to be ocean monsters... but ones that can attack from the air... Kyaaaaah?!"
"Whoaah!"
Thud!
The chopper rocked again. Do Sihee and I clung to our seats, asses glued down desperately.
Eunbyeol stayed cool in the cockpit, piloting through it all—impressive focus.
"...Ink cannon."
Her words sent chills down our spines the moment she spotted it.
"An ocean monster that can fire ink cannons this high..."
"N-No way... a Kraken?"
Eunbyeol nodded silently from the cockpit at Do Sihee's guess of the S-rank monster.
Beyond the window, half-obscured by black liquid, a massive squid-like monster revealed itself.
"C-Can we escape quick, Eunbyeol?"
"That attack dropped our altitude significantly. Need more time to climb."
The question was whether the Kraken, now locked on, would let us.
Its ink cannon was already firing our way—visible outside.
Thud!
One of three shots slammed black goo into our side again.
"Ngh."
"Kyaaaaah!"
Even the ever-stoic Eunbyeol bit her lip, looking troubled. I knew this was beyond serious.
Minutes in, her chopper couldn't leave the island—up, down, repeat.
We'd either crash slowly or shatter mid-air from the impacts.
Frustrated, I mentally pinged Esilla for advice.
'Any ideas, Esilla?'
Estimated survival probability without eliminating S-rank monster Kraken: ~2%.
Yeah, I knew 2% wasn't some bargain-basement optimism.
'Then how do we take down the Kraken?'
Kraken's weakness: single 'eye' hidden between tentacles.
However, A-rank hunter Do Sihee's enchanted arrows cannot inflict meaningful damage to the eye.
'What about my sword?'
Your swordsmanship can sever tentacles and pierce the eye.
However, your current sword cannot withstand the Kraken's tough hide.
Eunbyeol had to pilot, so she was out. And I wasn't sure she even had the skills for a Kraken anyway.
As dissatisfaction swirled in my head, I remembered something I'd overlooked.
'What about the mithril greatsword?'
Can inflict effective damage.
'How many awakening points do I have left?'
Total remaining awakening points (including this morning's gains): 1160.
'Cutting it close...'
Was I seriously gonna have to force some sex in this helicopter? Just as the absurd thought hit, Esilla continued.
...Additionally, you have two unclaimed first achievement rewards pending.
...Right. No one's forcing me to die.