Terraforming - Tatatata!! Dozens of Rebels in Pursuit

Tatatata!! Dozens of rebels were chasing after me. They were all the ones who had been on standby at the base. It was broad daylight right now. The rebels' professional combatants would have left for external operations. But due to the structure of their personnel, the vast majority of the rebels were superhumans capable of combat. That meant there was plenty of surplus manpower to chase me down immediately.

Of course, their numbers couldn't even touch the toes of the Shelter's total combatants.

If only I'd known Humbahumba's face... it would have been so much easier... If I had, I would have chosen infiltration and assassination. But the face I knew belonged to him from seven years ago. Even with mana awakening slowing aging, his appearance wouldn't have stayed the same. That was why I couldn't use the Deceiving skill to transform into Humbahumba and slip into the heart of the rebels.

Tatatatata!!

"Catch him!!"

"Who the hell is this guy that we're chasing..."

"Think about it, idiot! That bastard knows our base!!"

"Damn! You're right!!"

Would there really not be a single rebel among these dozens faster than me? Especially with Humbahumba, who'd survived here for seven years? No way.

"Status window."

With all buffs applied, my agility stat was now 34. But the guy leading the chase from the front among the rebels...

38? No wonder he's so fast. Chris's agility is 39, so he's almost on her level. I ignored everything else and only checked his agility stat. The distance between us was closing. At this rate, getting caught by him was inevitable.

The difference ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was four agility points. Without hesitation, I manipulated my status window.

"...My breath's catching. But no choice." With the tens digit of the stat hitting 3, the karma cost had become ridiculously high. But it was worth every bit. The distance to that guy stopped closing. I would never be caught by the rebels now.

"Damn! He suddenly got faster!"

"...Just keep chasing! He's heading toward the Shelter!!"

Dozens of them were pouring mana just to chase me alone. The distance between the Shelter and the rebel base wasn't that far, but even this would drastically reduce combatant mortality rates.

Tatatata!!

How much farther did I run? I was nearing District 11's scouting zone. The chasers started getting anxious.

"Gerard! What do we do? He's too fast—lots of our comrades are falling behind!"

"We're almost in their territory! We should retreat now..."

"This might be... a lure."

"No retreat. We must kill him! That bastard... murdered the Invitation. He's the enemy of the entire revolutionary army."

"Gasp! If he killed the Invitation...!"

"What?! Wasn't he dead?!"

"That guy's Park Chanyoung? Hey, you saw his face, right? East Asian, handsome guy?"

"Uh... y-yeah, definitely East Asian and good-looking..."

"...Unbelievable."

"I thought he was dead too. But somehow he's alive. We have to kill him now."

The strong ones chasing me close enough seemed to know who I was. Among them were probably trainees from seven years ago who'd trained with me. But I had no intention of showing mercy. Why leave embers behind? If they'd made the wrong choice, they had to bear the responsibility. That's why, knowing this would happen, I hadn't built bonds with any trainees except Brack and Chris seven years ago. No hesitation in driving them to their deaths.

Be grateful I didn't kill you back then. Right? Honestly, if I'd had the Deceiving skill then for a perfect crime, I might have. But I gave up fearing I'd be branded a war criminal when I returned to this timeline.

I'd already entered the farthest edge of District 11. Both I and the rebels were running full tilt without masking our presence. The combatants guarding this area must have detected us and were panicking. I expanded my senses to gauge the district's assigned combatants. One was heading this way to assess, another racing to the Shelter with the news. I had to relay the raid alert even faster than them. My voice would beat their feet.

I gathered mana into my vocal cords, inhaled deeply, and expelled it with the mana in a roar.

"Huuuuh—ENEMY RAID!!! They've attacked!!"

The massive voice, infused with mana over 200, shook most of District 11. Presences stirred busily from all directions. The main force would hear within minutes. They'd surely finish combat prep before the rebels reached the barracks.

"Kuh...!"

"Damn! Th-this is..."

"It's fine! The mana in that shout was unnatural! He must've depleted most of it! We can catch him soon!"

"Take him out quick, then retreat!"

"Keep chasing!"

Unfortunately, Humbahumba was wrong. I'd returned to Earth to refill my mana, got cloud tree tea from Anzelli for focus buffs, and re-entered Terraforming. Ignorant of that, they chased relentlessly, sparing no mana. I felt the approaching combatant turn toward the Shelter. With the situation clear, he'd abandoned the suicidal solo welcome for dozens.

The sentries everywhere were doing the same—heading to join the main force. All except one.

Damn... who the hell is coming alone to die... Chris?

It could only be her. The one who'd recognize my voice and rush here. The presence confirmed it as it neared—slightly faster than my 38 agility.

Only a handful in the entire Shelter had that speed. Sure enough, crimson hair flashed through the blue foliage.

"Chanyoung!! You okay?!"

"Why'd you come?! I told you to head to the barracks first!"

"Would you stay put if it were me?! Holding back from chasing earlier was already a lot!!"

"...Just run for now!"

Chris's words left me speechless. Fortunately, she wouldn't slow me down. She was a bit faster, after all.

Tatatata!!

Chris matched my pace. Seeing I was unscathed, her face relaxed in relief. We were heading straight for the combatants' gathering spot. The Shelter's fighters must already be en route. It proved true minutes after linking up— their group appeared in the distance.

They spotted us too.

"Whoa! Someone's there!"

"Enemy? No, friendlies! Those two are ours!"

"They're being chased! Everyone, battle ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ready!"

Luckily, many recognized us. Chris had long been an elite celebrity, and I'd been the hottest topic as the temple discoverer lately. No friendly fire mishaps.

Everything up to here was as planned. Now I could only pray the Shelter combatants would crush the mana-drained rebels.

"Damn! Gerard!"

"...A trap."

"With half our mana gone, fighting them... damn, their numbers...!"

"...They came prepared."

The rebels' faces darkened at the far larger combatant force than expected. Chaos engulfed them instantly. Direct confrontation would be total defeat.

It wasn't just depleted mana. Low-agility ones lagged far behind, unable to keep up. Even in a proper fight they'd lose; now they were perfect for divide-and-conquer.

In the seconds they halted for Humbahumba's call, the combatants charged.

"Retreat! Sacrifice what we must and retreat—kugh!!"

Clang! Clang!!

"No need to subdue! Kill them all!"

"These fuckers walked right into it!!"

"We've got the numbers! Kill!!"

The rebel leader's decision came too ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠late. Swords clashed—withdrawal impossible. Today's sun would be their last.

As we turned to join, one rebel dodged the charging combatants with swift agility and came straight for me.

Thud!

"You... unforgivable. Now that I've caught you, no more scurrying like a rat."

"..."

This was the guy. Humbahumba's fastest lackey. I'd had to pump agility to 32 because of him.

"Chris, handle this one. I gotta play with Humbahum—Gerard."

"What? I should take Gerard!"

"I'm stronger than you now. You saw it these past three days, right?"

"...W-well, maybe, but..."

"I know Gerard's strong. No slacking."

Seeing my serious eyes, Chris reluctantly nodded. She drew her sword from subspace and aimed at our pursuer. Leaving her—who'd humored my unreasonable request—I headed for Humbahumba rampaging on the front line. He was holding off three combatants alone.

"Keh... You think I'll let you escape? Lame last words."

"Heard of me if you're a rebel? Chris Bennett."

"Hahaha! Yeah, pretty famous bitch, huh? I'm the second strongest in the revolution after Gerard... Kwatikhungkwin!"

"?...Wait, your name's what?"

"...My name is Kwatikhungkwin!"

The conversation from behind halted my steps toward Humbahumba. What nonsense? Who names their kid Kwatikhungkwin?

I had to turn. At first, I thought it was a ploy to rattle us. But his expression at our puzzled stares was genuine—and offended.

"Whoa... it's real. How's anyone's name..."

Unable to curb curiosity, I checked his status window and had to admit it. His name really was Kwati-whatever. While fleeing, I'd focused only on agility, missing the name.

Chris looked baffled too. She questioned the fuming guy.

"Just curious, but did your mom fart when she gave birth to you?"

"What bullshit outta nowhere? ...Ah, low-rent stall tactic. The great Chris Bennett scared?"

"Nah, no meaning—just your name sounds like a fart recording played back..."

Crunch!

"...You bastard!! Racist scum!!"

"No fuck, it's a world with murder and prostitution—racism's no biggie?"

"...You!!"

Thud!!

Wordless at Chris's retort, he bellowed and charged her. Eyes bloodshot obvious.

Deliberate provocation to tie him down? Chris, who'd faced racism, wouldn't say that sincerely. Spot on—she glanced my way and nodded. Signal she'd handle him.

By stats alone, Chris had high odds. Plus her skills—perfectly useful ones. Beating a half-mana rebel? Easy.

I bolted for Humbahumba the moment I saw her signal. Had to reach before he died to group attack. High chance of a hard-mode quest handling him.