Feeder-Class Command
Mogs fundamentally obeyed the commands of Cyclops.
And Cyclops issued only two simple orders: attack and retreat.
So the Mog legion typically showed disorganized reactions when attacked.
It was the same now.
Suuuuuuh!
Suddenly, the air shuddered with a trembling sound, and one Tank Worm that had been solidly filling a section of the charging Mog legion exploded outright.
Puhwahaha!
Like a balloon popped by a needle, the Tank Worm's body burst, scattering chunks in every direction.
The charging Mog legion turned into utter chaos at the sight.
Kieeeek!
Kikikigi!
The Mogdogs and Thorn Snakes near the exploded Tank Worm froze in bewilderment at the impossible scene, halting their mad dash abruptly.
Meanwhile, others kept charging wildly toward their target—the Polish Base.
It wasn't a good response at all.
A legion only showed its true value when it moved as one.
Scattering like this just gave the enemy openings for piecemeal strikes.
That's why those fighting Mogs—from Space Marines onward—feared special individuals.
They provided real-time command in the absence of Cyclops.
And this Mog legion had one right now.
Kuooo!
That Tank Worm looked different from the start.
For one, its bulk was at least twice that of a standard Tank Worm.
Its exoskeleton was far blacker, too—like black paint layered over black, or black clothes piled in layers.
Kuooo!
The overwhelmingly imposing beast let out a short cry.
Kuooo!
Then another.
Kuooo!
As the cries continued, the confused Mog legion began regrouping.
They resumed their charge.
So at that moment, the Feeder-class Tank Worm thought this.
It wasn't a big deal.
No reason to slow the advance.
Above all, it was confident.
Kuoooooo!
No matter what this was, no matter the attack, nothing could threaten it.
And once it reached the enemy base, it was over.
It wasn't just the Feeder-class Tank Worm's arrogant thinking.
Kim Seo-jun's group, now aware of it, judged the same.
"Feeder-class specimen! It's a Tank Worm!"
Thanks to the high-performance sensors on Uroe, Private Park Bo-seop spotted the Feeder-class Tank Worm faster than anyone and alerted his comrades.
Everyone fell silent at his words.
It was that staggering.
Kim Seo-jun was no different.
He didn't waste breath on useless talk.
'This is bad.'
He wasn't taking it lightly.
Quite the opposite—he saw it as deadly serious, so he didn't hesitate.
There was only one thing for his group to do here.
"Target the next one."
"Sir?"
"Continue combat."
Private Park Bo-seop's mouth flapped open at the order.
Pressing the fight in this insane situation seemed mad.
Kim Seo-jun knew what everyone was thinking and explained willingly.
"Distance to the Mog legion: about 8.5 kilometers. Their speed: roughly 60 kph, but Mogdogs can hit over 100 kph. That means 5 minutes 6 seconds."
"Sir?"
"We've got 5:06 before we meet the Mogdogs. Railgun reload: just over a minute. Could be longer."
Everyone realized it then.
"We can fire four more times, if we're lucky."
Lee Hye-na, now a major, moved first.
Kang!
She reset the supports firmly with her hammer.
Kang!
Her action snapped the other two to attention.
'Even if we run, we'll face them at base.'
'Take out as many Tank Worms as possible. Boosts our odds by even 1%.'
They knew this was their best play: maximize Tank Worm kills while they could.
But the question lingered.
'How do we handle the Feeder-class?'
Kim Seo-jun wondered the same.
But he recalled a key lesson from surviving active duty.
'If I had the brains to puzzle this out in minutes, I never would've joined the Space Marines.'
Someone that smart wouldn't enlist for cash.
More importantly, to him, the situation wasn't bad.
How could sniping a Tank Worm per minute be bad?
So he focused.
'Just the Tank Worms.'
Naturally, no stray events cluttered his mind.
He ignored them.
He just waited—and it came.
Railgun ready for use.
The moment reload finished, Kim Seo-jun hit the fire button without hesitation.
Skreeeeeng!
With the eerie roar, a notification rang in his ears.
◈ One-shot kill. +1,000 bonus points.
◈ Killed from 5+ km. Great Marksman bonus: +2,000 points.
And Uroe's guidance chimed.
"Huh? Reload's longer?"
Private Park Bo-seop's question got a reply from Kim Seo-jun.
"Overheated. Longer reload is normal."
As he finished, everyone prepped again.
Kang!
Major Lee Hye-na reinforced the supports.
By then, Major Yan Zabwotski pitched in on setup, despite his limits.
Private Park Bo-seop stayed alert to move anytime.
They waited in silence.
Skreeeeeng!
The third railgun shot rang out.
79 seconds later, the fourth shot.
Skreeeeeng!
Tank Worm eliminated.
The moment the notification hit Kim Seo-jun's ears, Major Lee Hye-na spoke.
"Sergeant Kim Seo-jun!"
"Requesting retreat!"
It was a perfectly reasonable request.
66 + 72 + 79 = 217 seconds. 3 minutes 37 seconds.
Mogdog meet time: 5:06.
Remainder: 1:29.
Next shot: 88 seconds away.
They'd face Mogdogs before it finished.
Retreat made sense!
Especially since the remainder wasn't ordinary Tank Worms.
"It's Feeder-class! Reinforced exoskeleton—anyone can see it!"
A being where even railgun kills were questionable!
Retreat was obvious, but Kim Seo-jun said:
"Give me 20 seconds."
"20 seconds?"
"I'll think."
Everyone was stunned.
This wasn't a situation for pondering.
Even Kim Seo-jun agreed.
'Hawk Eye'd call me nuts.'
To him, it looked insane.
Pondering the unponderable.
'But.'
The reason was simple.
'This is a chance.'
He saw it.
'It's glaring.'
The oncoming Mogdogs—and farther, the Feeder-class Tank Worm—glaring at them.
Rare sight.
Tank Worms rarely opened their eyes unless something special.
Meaning: special circumstances for the Feeder-class.
'Aim for the eye.'
For Kim Seo-jun, it was the sole shot at downing this beast with exoskeleton many times tougher.
That shell looked railgun-proof.
No decisive hit, even if struck.
But the eye? Different.
No way it tanked a railgun slug.
'Can hit. Fatally.'
Even if not lethal, damage alone was huge gain.
Risks were high, too.
Time tight.
Mogdog fight unavoidable, even on perfect hit.
Casualties likely mid-fight.
Still, he pondered.
Not because he tossed lives lightly.
Opposite.
'To survive.'
His obsession with survival made him weigh it.
'Survive by killing it.'
His instincts screamed: take the Feeder-class.
There, he stopped pondering.
He said:
"One more shot."
Private Park Bo-seop and Major Yan Zabwotski gaped in shock.
Major Lee Hye-na replied:
"I'll hold the Mogdogs. Take your time."
She grabbed her axe and charged the lead Mogdog pack.
Silence fell.
No words.
No breaths.
Consideration—for Kim Seo-jun aiming.
In that quiet, at 10 seconds to reload, he held his breath.
Breath held, he maneuvered the controller, aligning the red crosshair—visible only to him—on the Feeder-class eye.
Steam Pack surging, the 10 seconds felt eternal—then ended.
Ready to fire.
The chime hit; Kim Seo-jun fired without a split-second's pause.
Skreeeeeng!
The roar echoed; his world shook.
In the quake, he heard:
Feeder-class Tank Worm eliminated. 3,000 points awarded.
One-shot kill. One-shot-one-kill bonus: 5,000 points.
Mission conditions met. Skill Upgrade Ticket (A) awarded.
Notifications of the miracle.
Before they faded, Private Park Bo-seop yelled:
"Whoa, incoming! Mogdogs!"
Major Lee Hye-na charged them.
Kwajik!
"Come on, you bastards!"
She swung her axe, cleaving Mogdogs.
No respite.
Kim Seo-jun shoved aside sweet rewards, telling Private Park Bo-seop:
"I'll drive Uroe."
"Sir?"
No reply—Kim Seo-jun opened Uroe's hatch.
Chil-keok!
Hearing it, Private Park Bo-seop leaped out without a word.
Kim Seo-jun slid into the seat and shouted:
"Inventory."
Vast inventory appeared; he stowed Uroe.
The massive battle tank vanished before their eyes.
Awe-inspiring.
Everyone stared, dumbfounded.
'Sergeant Kim Seo-jun's power is unreal. How does a battle tank just disappear?'
Even Private Park Bo-seop blanked amid the crisis.
'Ah!'
He snapped to.
'Time to bail!'
Expecting Kim Seo-jun to pull out another ride for escape.
But he saw:
Drdrdrdr!
Uroe gone; Black Panther battle tank emerging instead.
'Huh?'
"Private Park Bo-seop."
To the stunned private, Kim Seo-jun said:
"Combat start."
"Sir?"
"All Tank Worms gone. Just Thorn Snakes and Mogdogs left. And we've got a battle tank."
Private Park Bo-seop's mind reeled.
True, wiping Tank Worms had swung things favorably.
But the legion still numbered over 9,000—not hundreds!
Facing that with one psyker with an axe and one tank? Insane!
"Private, need your driving. More than ever."
That erased the doubt in his eyes.
He vaulted into the open Black Panther hatch, yelling at full throttle:
"Yes, sir!"
Private Park Bo-seop took the controls.
Battle began.
Two hours later, Kim Seo-jun heard: