Chapter 177: Weakness (1)

After a few days, the mechanical monsters began attacking the catapults less frequently. Although the number of assaults had declined, each wave contained more mechanical monsters than before. Their strategy was clear: to exploit humanity's vulnerability to physical and mental exhaustion through relentless, high-density attacks. Like clockwork, the mechanical monsters would burst out of the city and charge at the catapults every two hours.

However, the Hunters from Earth were all veterans, having survived countless challenges in their time. Some even had military experience from their respective countries, so they weren't easily fooled by the monsters' tactics. In response to this change, the CCC quickly divided the Hunters into four groups, rotating between rest, personal matters, maintenance, and bombardment.

Of course, even with this system, the Hunters weren't completely immune to accumulating fatigue.

"

Haaaaah!

" Yoo Seh-Eun yawned.

"Compared to when we first started, their recovery speed has slowed down a lot," Kim Ki-Rok noted, observing the city through a telescope.

"Oh! So how much longer do we have to wait before we can attack?" she asked excitedly.

"Twenty more days."

"Are you kidding me!"

"The city seems to have stockpiled a lot of Pastera, so there's nothing we can do."

"It's been ten days since the raid began, so... that means we'll be able to attack the city in exactly one month, just like you predicted. Isn't that right, Guildmaster?"

"That's right. Although, if something unexpected happens, that timeline could get a lot shorter."

"What kind of unexpected situation?"

"For example, if the city finishes analyzing us ahead of schedule and attacks with hundreds or even thousands of Humanoid Mechanical Monsters?"

"And why would something like that affect the timing of our raid?"

"If the city loses a large number of its defenders in battle, it will have no choice but to speed up production of mechanical monsters."

Yoo Seh-Eun carefully considered Kim Ki-Rok's response. Regardless of appearances, the city's resources had to be limited. If they could force the city to ramp up production of mechanical monsters, it would eventually exhaust its supply. What if they could further accelerate that depletion by destroying the defenders stationed outside?

"So what you're saying is..." she began slowly, realization dawning on her face.

"Yep," Kim Ki-Rok confirmed with a nod.

"As long as we reduce the number of forces the city can field, we can shorten the duration of the raid?"

"That's right."

Things had changed ever since Kim Ki-Rok began using his Discernment skill to verify the conditions needed to clear a Gate. Before that, Hunters could only clear Gates by finding and killing every hostile monster inside. Rather than looking for other methods, they always relied on the simplest and most reliable approach: neutralizing the Gate's monsters. Because of this, raids were usually difficult, tedious, and dangerous.

"How tiresome," Yoo Seh-Eun complained.

"It really is tiresome," he agreed.

Thanks to Kim Ki-Rok, the DG Guild had always cleared Gates with relative ease, so the guild members felt even more frustrated by the long, exhausting task ahead.

Just then, Lee Ji-Yeon came running over to report, "Guildmaster, the Humanoid Mechanical Monsters are emerging from the city."

As Lee Ji-Yeon raised the alarm, Yoo Seh-Eun, who had been sitting on a crate of catapult ammunition, hopped down and turned her gaze toward the city. Kim Ki-Rok also lifted his telescope and resumed watching.

All right. Things are going exactly as planned,

he thought.

The incident during their earlier escape operation had attracted the mechanical monsters' attention sooner than anticipated, accelerating the conflict. However, just like in his previous Attempts, the Humanoid Mechanical Monsters still emerged from the city on the tenth day of the Raid, presumably after finishing their analysis of the lengthy battle records against the Hunters.

The Humanoids marched out of the city, accompanied by a fresh wave of Animaloids running on all fours. They appeared to consider the catapults the greatest threat to their defenses, as hundreds of thousands of both ground-type machines advanced directly toward the siege weapons.

Beginning at a slow walk, the mechanical monsters gradually accelerated into a rapid charge. The Humanoid ones were slower than their Animaloid counterparts, whose designs focused primarily on maximizing physical capabilities. Even so, they outpaced all other types of mechanical monsters.

"They seem to be at least A-Class..." muttered Ji Seok-Hyun, who had cut his break short after hearing about the Humanoids.

Kim Ki-Rok nodded. "Yep. Their physical stats are definitely on par with an A-Class Hunter."

"And there's over three hundred of them," Ji Seok-Hyun counted.

"If we include the Animaloid Mechanical Monsters, their total numbers are probably around seven to eight hundred," Kim Ki-Rok added.

"Ugh, how terrible..."

As the siege dragged on, the mechanical monsters had shown signs of adapting to the siege weapons' damage to some extent. However, that alone wasn't enough to make the Hunters panic. Kim Ki-Rok had already prepared them for a certain level of adaptation during the strategy meeting.

—Humanoid Mechanical Monsters have been sighted. We can't confirm their exact numbers, but expect between seven and eight hundred in total. Fortunately, they're all grouped together and charging straight at the catapults, so we should be able to annihilate them all at once with a single strafing run.

As a voice came through from the command center, the Hunters sprang into action. They aimed at the predicted points, infused their siege weapons with mana, and activated the inscribed magic circles that automatically calculated the distance to the targets.

—Ready... aim... fire at will!

The Hunters unleashed their siege weapons, filling the air with screaming missiles, groaning wood, and heavy weights slamming into the ground. The scorpions tasked with ground defense spat out one bolt after another. The catapults shifted their targets from the walls to the charging horde.

With the order to fire at will, the siege weapons continued firing without pause until every mechanical monster was destroyed. A clamor echoed in the distance as bolts and metal balls rained down on the mechanical monsters.

"Guildmaster," Yoo Seh-Eun called. "Didn't you say these Humanoid Monsters can learn?"

"I certainly did."

"Then why are they still charging at us all bunched up like that?"

"Well..." Kim Ki-Rok trailed off, carefully watching the horde.

As the mechanical monsters at the front of the pack were destroyed, the Humanoids who took their place at the front line raised their arms. The metal hands at the ends of these arms, each with five fingers like a human's, expanded and transformed until it looked as though the Humanoid Mechanical Monsters had giant cannonballs hanging from their arms.

Yoo Seh-Eun gasped. "Huh? No way!"

In a chain of explosions, these iron balls shot off their arms, intercepting the bolts fired by the scorpions.

She groaned with disappointment. "What? They're not firing lasers?!"

Kim Ki-Rok chuckled. "The Animaloid Mechanical Monsters didn't shoot lasers at us either. Why would the humanoid ones be any different?"

"So the only difference between the Humanoids and animal-like or flying ones is that they can shoot those iron balls?"

"Not at all. Didn't you see how they transformed their hands into cannonballs?" Kim Ki-Rok reminded her.

"Oh! So they can transform."

"Yep. That's right." Kim Ki-Rok said with a nod, turning back to observe the wave of monsters.

Several had climbed onto the backs of nearby Animaloid Mechanical Monsters and charged to the front, transforming their limbs into giant shields. These shields held up under the heavy rain of projectiles. Although the force of the shots eventually knocked them and their mounts down—damaging them so severely they couldn't rise again—the monsters still managed to block the siege weapons' attacks.

Of course, even if they blocked one wave, the siege weapons would just launch more iron and bolts to reduce their numbers as much as possible. However, compared to the initial charge, the overall damage being dealt had greatly decreased.

—Prepare for battle.

Following the command center's new order, the Hunters readied themselves for close combat. They needed to face a horde of mechanical monsters, now numbering in the hundreds, with far fewer losses than expected. But the Hunters, who had grown lethargic from the monotonous siege, quickly refocused.

Kim Ki-Rok cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "I'll now share the information I obtained through my Discernment Skill."

The Hunters, weapons drawn and ready, turned their attention to him.

"The Humanoid Mechanical Monsters can transform their bodies. Unlike the Animaloid ones, whose attacks are limited to bites, claws, and tail swings, they have learned fighting techniques from the combat footage retrieved from the Animaloid monsters we've slain. If I had to compare, I'd say they're all A-Class Hunters with extensive combat experience," Kim Ki-Rok began, delivering the worst news first.

As several Hunters swallowed nervously at the warning, Kim Ki-Rok continued.

"But they do have a weakness. Their body transformation takes a few moments. During that time, when they're mid-transformation, their defenses are much weaker. It seems the strength of the Pastera metal decreases during rapid deformation. Of course, attacks using mana still won't get through their resistance, but those of you with enhanced physical stats should be able to destroy them if you strike during those moments with a weapon made from Pastera," Kim Ki-Rok revealed.

"Also, this is just my prediction, but I'm pretty sure these Humanoid Mechanical Monsters have also copied combat techniques of the most skilled Hunters."

The sound of the approaching horde grew louder as they drew close enough for the Hunters to see them without mana-enhanced vision. As Kim Ki-Rok watched the Humanoids sacrifice themselves to shield their comrades from artillery, he summarized his explanation.

"Let's use a Hunter as a comparison. Every Humanoid Mechanical Monster is at least an A-Class Hunter, but with the combat skills of an S-Class Hunter. Their weakness is that their bodies become vulnerable when they use copied skills or transform. Keep this in mind as you prepare to face them."

***

"Whoa, fuck!" Yoo Seh-Eun cursed, barely managing to block a quick slash.

She was currently facing a Humanoid that had transformed both of its arms into longswords. Kim Ki-Rok's warning had proven accurate almost immediately.

The monster's swordsmanship was remarkably refined. Each strike was sharp and unpredictable, resembling the technique of a true master. After its attack was deflected, the Humanoid stepped back and adjusted its stance. For some reason, it seemed to be buying time.

Yoo Seh-Eun took advantage of the pause to check her surroundings, then let out a dry laugh. More monsters than expected had made it through the kill zone with little damage. Until now, most of the Hunters had only encountered small groups of mechanical monsters, already weakened by artillery fire. But now, they were forced to fight while being vastly outnumbered.

At this moment, it wasn't just one Humanoid facing Yoo Seh-Eun. Another crouched beside the first, waiting for an opening. Other mechanical monsters circled her sides and back, ready to jump in at any time.

"

Fuuuu, haaaah.

" Yoo Seh-Eun took a deep breath and fell into a stance.

—I will now announce several new weaknesses we've discovered.

As Kim Ki-Rok's voice came through her earpiece, Yoo Seh-Eun made a strange face. It hadn't even been that long since the battle started.

—If you stab the part corresponding to a human's uvula, their left arm will be disabled. If you stab the crown of their head, you can disable their detection function, which we believe locates enemies through vibrations. If you stab just below the solar plexus, both legs will stop moving.

Listening to his explanation, Yoo Seh-Eun ran forward instead of waiting for her opponents to move.

—If you strike a Animaloid Mechanical Monster right between the eyes, or slash diagonally across its abdomen from left to right, it will cripple its detection function. Since it's difficult to explain the exact location with words, it might be best to just try slicing through their stomach.

As if waiting for her to act, two Animaloid Mechanical Monsters charged at her from both sides. However, Yoo Seh-Eun sensed their movements through the mana she had spread around her and reacted instantly.

"Mana Blade," she called out.

Since all of the mechanical monsters were made from Pastera, ordinary mana-based attacks did little damage, but Yoo Seh-Eun's Mana Blade was different.

[

Mana Blade (A)

]

Description: Creates a mana blade with high cutting power and mana penetration

Effect 1: 40% increase in cutting power

Effect 2: 40% increase in mana penetration

It had two effects: one increasing cutting power, the other enhancing penetration with mana, both by forty percent. So, unlike most Hunters, she could still inflict real damage on the mechanical monsters using her skill.