Victor's Premature Assault
There are a total of twelve combat lodges in the Terraforming world, encircling the Shelter like the hours on a clock face. The lodge at the 12 o'clock position from the Shelter is the District 12 Combat Lodge, the one at 6 o'clock is District 6, and so on.
That's why, when Gerard attacked, support came quickest from District 12—the closest to the Northern Training Camp. Our internship in District 11 ties into this too. Normally, we'd head to District 12, but they've been shorthanded lately, with over a dozen combatants gone for days. No one left to babysit trainees.
So we're off to the next closest, District 11. What a shitty situation...
"So Kaya, you did your internship in District 12?"
"Yes! I got super lucky. I bonded with the District 12 combatants while learning the ropes for a month, and with a 1/12 shot, I landed there!"
Kaya was District 12's assigned combatant—and a former Northern Training Camp trainee. Assignments are random post-graduation, so District 12 was a jackpot for her.
"What do combatants even do? Kill monsters, right?"
"Hmm... It's too varied to sum up. Think military roles—artillery, engineers, comms specialists. Combatants have their niches too."
"Ah... So some don't fight monsters?"
"Sure, some don't. Like Instructor Bennett—no, Instructor Gwangnyeon-i—as a prime example of an 'Instructor'."
"Ah! Right. So how do you become an instructor?"
"Gotta be one of the top living combatants. Plus trust from the ranks. That's the bare minimum to teach trainees, yeah?"
"Ugh..."
True to her chatty nature, Kaya answered our burning questions in detail. Half was useful intel, the other half pointless gossip. Trainees would pivot topics with new questions when it dragged.
"...So patrols are the most common. Gotta mark the area as 'human territory' for the monsters."
"No super strong ones? Ones you gotta run from no matter what?"
"Seniors say they're deep in the forest... Never seen one myself."
...Tragic, really. If things follow the original plot... we'll see one soon. Fuck.
"..."
Gwangnyeon-i, leading the pack, looked off—grimacing, barely talking, just marching.
Time to make my presence felt after ages.
"Something sour your mood, Instructor?"
"?... What?"
"You told me once—manage your face. While kicking my ass."
"...You still holding onto that? Petty little shit."
Pfft. Not holding a grudge—just a memory that fit the moment. She knew it, chuckling back. Her stiff face softened at my jab.
Reel 'em in, now push.
"Cool, then I'll head back to chit-chat with the team."
"What, convo over? You're a riot."
"You seem better now—that was my goal. Cling too much, feels creepy. What, you think I'd pry into your dark past?"
"..."
"Two mannerly guys like me in this world?"
"Bullshit. Scram."
Heh heh. End on a pull even when pushing. I bowed lightly to Gwangnyeon-i and returned to my spot. Textbook push-pull.
*
"Hey! I'm Mahal, District 11 combatant escorting you this internship. Oh, Instructor Bennett. Looking forward to it."
"Junior to me, right? Drop the formalities."
"Of course. Instructors rank equal to deputy chiefs, yeah?"
Gwangnyeon-i nodded, pleased at his humility. Mahal screamed Indian heritage—turban-free here, but obvious.
"Tough trek since dawn—good work! Quick tour of the District 11 Combat Lodge, intros to other combatants, and rules. Let's go!"
He grinned brightly. We memorized layout amid the chaos, faces and names of passing combatants, basic rules. Sun dipped low by end.
Plenty of empty rooms—frontline perks meant ample arms and supplies, doubling as evac shelters.
Food rivaled the training camp. Trainees agreed: decent living standards.
"Hit the sack! Tomorrow, we dive into combatant duties. Start with easy recon—no worries, monster odds are zilch."
He's right for tomorrow. Day after... shit.
We got rooms per his guide and crashed. Pre-sleep, I racked my brain for the impending crisis...
Damn... info's too thin. Original barely covers this arc...
Tomorrow, schmooze as many combatants as possible, build cards to play. Best move now.
...
"Ah... why do combatants do morning runs too..."
"Heh. Same everywhere. District 12 ran daily too."
Morning routine unchanged, venue swapped. Run, breakfast, assemble in clearing, follow Mahal into the woods.
No tense trainees—this close to lodge, monsters unlikely. Daily patrols wouldn't miss any.
"Day two—casual stroll through the woods."
Trees everywhere to me, but familiar turf to him—he pushed ahead confidently.
I mentally checked tasks while walking.
Lunchtime to cozy up to locals, drop hooks...
Incident hits tomorrow. Gotta hustle.
BOOM——!!
My plans shattered. Not tomorrow—today. Earlier than original.
"Huh?..."
A massive bulk crashed before trainees, Gwangnyeon-i, Kaya, Mahal. Over 4 meters tall. Silvery fur, familiar. Ape-like feet dwarfing 150cm soles. Couldn't branch-swing its bulk, but gripped trunks with those plates, landing smack in front.
"Baekwonhu..?"
Mahal muttered, stunned.
Why today, you fucker?
One eye pulped. Crumpled lid, lone vertical slit pupil scanning us. Hunting something.
We all knew when it found it—ape-grin baring gums, thunderous roar.
- KIIIII———!!
KABOOM-! It lunged, arms whipping long.
Frozen split-second from shock, but Natural Healing snapped me fastest.
Unknown why, but Baekwonhu's here now. Call it.
I knew its target.
"Lee Kangin!! Run!!"
I vaulted, yelling at its mark. Glancing back: Kaya, Gwangnyeon-i, Mahal charging to block trainees.
Shit!! Three combatants ain't enough...!!
Three superhumans mastering mana—still short. Silent approach till drop. Tree-trunk stomps should thunder, unnoticed by elites? One reason: it wields mana.
- KIIIII——!!!
"Fuckin' what is this!! Trainees!! Back to lodge, call backup!!"
"We three buy time..."
But it spiraled out of control. Baekwonhu's too cunning—thinks ahead, checks work. Knows blind rushes cost big.
The trio tried corralling... but it ignored blades, barreled at trainees.
"What?"
- SLASH!!
Ignoring incoming steel, it took a dozen gashes in a blink. Momentum unbroken toward us.
"Th-this fucker! Targeting trainees? Why?!"
"...Instructor! That's him! 'Victor'! One-eyed!!"
If this is the original's delayed Baekwonhu, it has a name: Victor. A named boss—failed kills over years, mounting victims.
Plot on rails. But if Gwangnyeon-i, who hates Victor, hears...
"...That one? That one? Victor? Victor? VICTOR..?"
...Freaks?
"You fucking—!!"
- SLASH!!
"Piece of shit!!"
- KIIIIIK———!!!
Gwangnyeon-i subspace-warped behind Victor, slashing deep. Not once—clung to its back, hacking relentlessly.
"Dog! Fucking! Shit!! Die!!"
- THUD! THWACK! THUD-! THWACK!!
- KEEK! KIIIIIK———!!
Pain too much even ignoring combatants—it rolled, bucking to shake her.
I glimpsed that, then focused on fleeing. Eyes caught Lee Kangin halted.
Stupid fuck! You don't know, but it's after you!
Dunno why he's target—novel hiatus pre-reveal. But original Victor fixated like possessed, solely on him.
"Park Chanyoung!"
"Don't stop! It's probably you!! Fuck, why run this way?!"
Incomprehensible. Toward me?
"You!"
"Turn and run! Why toward me... guhk!"
"Dodge!"
Someone shoved me aside—I tumbled. Pusher: Kaya? Why me...
- KIIIIIK———!!
WHAM! Kaya, in my spot, launched by Victor's palm.
"Park Chanyoung, you moron! It's after me, not you!!"
"Kyaaak...!"
"Hup!"
Lee Kangin caught flying Kaya, checked pulse—out cold—hoisted her.
Wait, what? Victor wants him, not me?
...Why?