Hard Mode - The Rebel Leader's Head
As expected in Terraforming, the Status Window soon greeted me before long.
It's a window I never tire of seeing.
[Quest]
Content: Battle Experience Against a Formidable Foe
Details: The all-out war with the rebels has finally begun! Fortunately, the tide of battle heavily favors our side! Without intervention, victory seems assured, but this is a chance to gain experience against a strong opponent! Personally eliminate the rebel leader! (However, you must not receive significant assistance from others.)
Reward: Item Information Confirmation Lv2
Time Limit: 06:00:00
Failure Conditions: Rebel leader 'Gerard [Revolutionary]' escapes unharmed. Or kill share below 65%.
Failure Penalty: All proficiency gains (stats/skills) reduced by 33% for 24 hours.
Abandon Penalty: All proficiency gains (stats/skills) reduced by 20% for 12 hours.
['Battle Experience Against a Formidable Foe' quest - Accept?]
"As expected!"
The hard mode quest window popped up as I drew closer to Gerard. I quickly scanned it.
The reward was a function worth 50,000 Karma—something I'd been eager to unlock ASAP. Plenty enticing.
The penalties were just proficiency reductions, nothing major. I could chill on Earth during that time.
But…
'The success conditions are tricky. I need at least 66% kill share when taking him down… True to hard mode, no easy rides.'
Tap tap tap!!
Luckily, luring him here and draining his mana would likely count as my contribution. I rushed toward the bastard, who was fending off three combatants at once.
The more he tired, the lower my share would drop. Hell, I was hoping Gerard hadn't taken much damage yet.
'Gotta lure him somewhere else.'
Too many chances for interference here. The melee had enemies and allies tangled everywhere.
Enemy meddling was bad enough; allies would just dilute my share. For max share, I needed a one-on-one setup.
I was confident I could take him solo anyway.
[Skill Name] Brainwash
[Level] -
[Attribute] Intelligence
[Type] Buff
[Details] Implants a very, very light suggestion. Dissipates if the target senses anything off. Success rate depends on your Intelligence stat. Higher target Intelligence means more resistance. Stackable.
* High mana cost.
[Brainwash Duration] 00:30:00
[Cooldown] -
'My trait should neutralize his skill just fine.'
It was a weak one, qualified as "very, very light." He hadn't used it on me while fleeing from base to Shelter—proof it wasn't strong enough to halt me.
Even now, under siege, no sign of him casting. Not suited for mid-combat.
Nothing to hesitate over. As I closed in—
Grab!
A hand seized my running arm.
"Ch-Chanyoung!"
"Who… Kaya?"
*Natalia Kaya. She saw herself as utterly ordinary. Moderately selfish, moderately generous. Reality might differ slightly, but that's her self-assessment.
She wasn't devoid of altruism. Unconsciously, she'd taken a hit meant for Park Chanyoung in peril.
Clang! Clang!!
Most value their life above riches, fame, or power. Naturally so—what use are material gains after death?
Kaya drew that line sharply. Say someone offered to trade your life for hundreds saved. How many would accept?
Most would stall, asking: Are acquaintances among those hundreds? Would refusal stay secret? Any time to see family one last time before a deadline?
After such deliberations, ninety of a hundred would refuse. Their life trumps strangers'.
And Kaya? She'd reject first, without those questions. No matter the counterweight, her life comes first.
She clung fiercely to life.
Clang! Clang!
"Watch out!! These traitors are tough one by one!"
"Damn, all that monster-rolling paying off? They're fighting like hell!"
"You bastards! Starving skeletons like you!"
Splash!! Clang!!
"Fuck! Too many of 'em…!"
"Push! Getting surrounded ends us!! Grit and break through!!"
"Tighten formation, reduce blind spots!"
Steel clashed, sparks flew. Keen cold weapons sliced flesh easily; superhuman strength shattered bones tougher than equal-weight iron. Ownerless blades tumbled in the dirt. Ownerless limbs too.
A massive clash of superhumans. A gruesome, abhorrent spectacle unmatched in Earth's history.
"…Huff. …Huff…!"
Slightly back from the front lines, a familiar face watched the slaughter blankly, like it was someone else's mess.
Kaya. Panic etched on her face for all to see.
"Wh-What do I… do…"
Truth be told, Kaya had lived detached from effort her whole life. She admitted it inwardly.
Like some combatants, her Earth days were those of a loser. Quitting no longer pricked conscience; complacency stuck like glue. Much like some hero's son somewhere on Earth.
Unlike Baek Hamin, she never exposed her ugliness to others. Knowing it. Hiding it well. Enough for smooth relations.
Though Chris seemed to see through her somewhat.
Training camp under Chris started correcting that… but sloth reclaimed her soon enough.
Kaya hadn't changed. Or rather, chose not to.
'Fireball! With Fireball, I'll be fine…!! It's always wowed them against monsters!!'
A miracle for rare combatants: mana awakening. Hers skewed toward destruction, top-tier in Shelter history.
From her first palm-flame in training, her combatant life shifted.
While others trained teeth-gritting, she was strong sans sweat. Their desperate fights? One gesture for her.
Monsters incinerated before reaching her. Realizing this, she quit hard training.
And now, her choice proved not entirely wrong. Effortless feats piled up.
All thanks to Fireball, devastating against monsters.
This massive rebel battle—too brutal, momentary fluster. But her ability wouldn't betray her, as always.
It'd save her, make her war hero.
As Kaya stirred inner mana—
"Gasp…!!"
She froze, realization dawning. The palm ember fizzled without growing, scattering.
She'd halted mana flow deliberately. Spell canceled successfully.
Panic clouded judgment. But razor-sharp survival instinct saved her.
'Enemies aren't mindless monsters…!! Spot Fireball, they'll prioritize me!!'
Too threatening, thus prime target. Her firepower was no joke—like sole air support in a no-modern-guns world.
Enemies, modern humans too, would grasp her impact. Sacrifice to kill her.
Kaya's hunch was spot-on. Fireball cast? She'd be among the casualties.
'Why no guard left for me! Just protect, I'd shine!…'
The reason? Her own doing.
She'd subtly offloaded monster fights to others. Excuse: noise draws more. Truth: hated post-mana fatigue.
'Not super risky, why bother?'
Thus, underrated despite power. Unknown outside her district.
Opposite of Chris, slaying monsters relentlessly for instructor spot.
'N-Now request… but all busy fighting, how…!!'
Can't recall proper training beyond basics. Her melee skills? Zero. One touch, dead.
Need another way. Passivity terrifying, but ditching fight? AWOL in wartime? Worse.
Training lessons from Chris: heavy crime. Post-battle trial, possible execution. No fragging summary justice, but lifelong labor sans benefits. Die old or to monsters in that helljob!
For Kaya, planning fat retirement post-danger? Chilling.
'Ideal: meat shields for Fireball casting.'
Rebels few. Two-three allies tanking dozen seconds? Victory sealed.
Meat shields, bluntly.
No gamey friendly-fire immunity. Shields take hits too.
Irrelevant. She needed disposable dummies to charge with rebels, vaporized in blast.
Tap tap tap.
Then, grim-faced man brushed past: handsome guy charging hottest front where Gerard rampaged. Park Chanyoung.
"Ah! Right!"
Kaya recalled saving his life once. Potion and Natural Healing or not, she didn't know. But tanking Baekwonhu hit for him? Fact.
'Rethinking… stupid move, but jackpot now! Leverage it!'
Park Chanyoung, once discriminated against in old body, still smiled at most. Gentle, sociable per looks.
Won't refuse lifesaver's plea.
'…Fine. Fireball splash? Might survive, retire with burns? Profit! And I saved him anyway!'
Rationalized. Friend's life secondary to hers. No contest.
She'd witnessed his power: proving Baekwonhu kill for promotion, surpassing average combatants. Instructor trajectory soon.
Debt plus top-tier strength? Perfect solo shield.
She'd give repayment chance. With that, Kaya chased Park Chanyoung.
Tap tap tap!
"Ch-Chanyoung!"
Grabbing his arm, Kaya startled. Excitement? Face sharply intense, unlike usual softness.
(Usual smile: ingrained image control from 'Baek Hamin' days. This his true face. But Kaya oblivious.)
"Who… Kaya?"
Park Chanyoung's icy expression softened to puzzlement. Relief for her.
"What? I'm in a hurry."
"H-Help me!"
Kaya feigned fear. Knew her looks stirred pity.
His brow twitched. She dismissed as coincidence. No way he'd see through in chaos.
"What? What help?"
"P-Protect me!… I have an ability—if you just guard, I'll shine! Enough to clinch victory!"
"…Sorry. Urgent business. Specifically, grabbing the rebel leader."
Rebel leader? That monster overwhelming three allies? Unbelievable.
Yet resolute face suggested maybe. Irrelevant. Reducing sacrifices? Meh. Clearing her path first.
Key: rejection. Irked her—he forgot the debt.
"But…!"
"Killing Gerard impacts win more than guarding you. Ask someone else…"
"Everyone's fighting! You're the only one!"
"Won't change my mind. Gotta join…"
No choice. Ugly directness, but desperate times.
"Remember?! I saved you once! Repay now… with your life!!"
Brow twitched again. Worked—shifted to hearing her out.
"…Fine, prioritize. I grab Gerard first, help after."
"Th-Then help me down their leader…?"
"No. No help needed. Would hinder actually."
"Ah. That worried for me?"
"Yeah. Let's call it that."
Relieved—no strong foe for her. Brief guilt over scheming kind guy, but faded. Earth wasted time toughened her to conscience pangs.
"Before go—your ability?"
"Ah! Exploding fireball. So strong, flashy, draws eyes. Just protect me!"
No long fight. One cast proves participation. Done.
'One max-power shot—blasts clustered foes, kills most. Victory. Hero who one-shots dozen. Park Chanyoung? Obliterated. Whatever.'
"Explosion… Affects me holding them too, huh."
"…Huh?"
"Wrong?"
Kaya strained neutral face. Park Chanyoung eyed suspiciously, already wary.
No clue on her ability details—unused vs. Baekwonhu.
Conclusion: deceive.
"…Y-Yeah, fine! Been here ages! Mastered control?"
"……"
"Can adjust—no harm to you! You just grab charging enemies!"
"……"
"Then I target only foes…"
Sigh…
Park Chanyoung pinched brow, interrupting. Deep sigh laced with patience, fury.
"Once. Forgiven once. Debt cleared."
"…What'd you say?"
"Conversation over."
Step step.
He turned without hesitation, leaving stunned Kaya.
Even idiot grasps: pissed. Proposal rejected.
'Wh-What? Why?…'
Voice icy, hostile. Real panic now. No one else to beg. Needs two-three for shields in melee? Impossible.
Park Chanyoung: irreplaceable chance.
Tap tap tap!
"Wait! Why mad?! Just hold few seconds! Can't even do that?!"
She snapped, genuinely furious. He wouldn't play ball. Ignored life debt? Wrong.
Should be noble savior. She'd cry at funeral, console new-love-lost Chris.
Perfect exit spot/time: now.
"Chanyoung! No answer…?"
Swish.
Creased brow. Irritated glare, raised hand. One finger pointed somewhere.
Look there.
Direction: fierce battlefield.
"Try it."
"Huh? Sudden wha…"
"Your ability. Now. At front lines. But… if allies hurt contrary to words, my blade ends you."
"…"
Shing…
Drew waist sword. Kaya's heart froze.
Scheme busted. How, sans skill info?
"Th-This far…"
"Bullshit. Planning hero act with me as shield?"
"!!…"
Twitch!
Horror on face. All exposed. Ugly plot.
Snicker.
Park Chanyoung smirked at her expression, turned, bolted toward Gerard.
"…"
Alone, Kaya stared ground blankly. No shame in exposure. Too irrational for that.
One emotion: absurd rage.
'Me… me… die alone?!'
Rationality fading, she looked up at Park Chanyoung's back facing Gerard.
*
'Bitch. If not read skill, would've died for sure?'
Ally power adjust? Nowhere in description.
Habit of reading others' skills: keep forever.
Shake filthy memory. Emotional? Fail even winnables. Brain stays cold always.
Natural Healing cooled boiling fury quick.
Tap tap tap!!
Legs pumped, eyes fixed on Gerard, no glance back.
Provoking easy: approach sword-parrying bastard, wave cheerily.
Clang! Clang!!
"Yo, humba humba. Date with me, yet playing with others?"
"…You fucking shit!! Walked into jaws yourself!!"
Face twisted demonically at sight. Nostalgic. Seven years back, that face got gut-punched.
Clang!!
"Kuh…!"
"Urk!… This guy's strength, why…!"
Thud!
"Park Chanyoung!! I'll gnaw your nape!!"
Explosive power repelled joint attackers' blades. Gerard charged me, ferociously befitting leader.
Tap tap tap!!
"Bastard!! Don't run!!"
"Ditch others, duo fun. You want too?"
"Kuhuhu!! Arrogant fuck!"
No far trek—encircle risk. Moderate distance, stand ground…
Grab!
"Can't go!!"
"Guh?!"
"I saved your life!! Repay!! Life for lifeee!!"
"What the fuck?!"
"How can you do this?! I won't die alone. Die together!!"
Pulling me from front: Kaya. Eyes met—pure madness. No reasoning.
Praying pain snaps her, slapped cheek hard. Palm? Nah, fist.
Crack!
"Guh, uk!"
"Damn! Snap out! Not time— kuh!!"
Clang!!
"Kuhaha!! Eyes off!!"
Blade force immense. Iron ring tore toward hand via hilt.
His checked Strength: 40. Highest I'd seen, beating Brack. Tens digit shift warps dimension—never clash head-on.
"Let go! Bitch!!"
Thwack!
"Nooo!!"
Fist to Kaya, arm clung waist. Truly deranged, death pact.
Thoughts halted. Slowed by her, Gerard's swings incoming.
Cclang!
"…Kuh!!"
"Kuhuhu! Till death together! Romantic."
"…"
'Fucking whore. Spared once, now backstab?'
Killing urge surged. No need restrain. Remove.
But not here. Eyes everywhere. Kill in unseen woods.
Scrap near-front plan. Her needless combatant strength blocked/parried Gerard while hauling deadweight.
Until eyes gone, drag Kaya along.
Tap tap tap!!
Dodge/block Gerard, keep moving. Reached deep, silent recon zone—
Whish!