Chapter 197: Urban Combat (1)

The massive iron ball, laced with Pastera and launched by the catapult, slammed into the city wall with a thunderous crash. A fiery explosion followed, ripping through stone and sending debris flying as the wall collapsed.

"Sand Dune!" shouted S-Class Hunter Haksen.

Though he was better known as a long-range specialist, Haksen had been assigned to the reconnaissance unit for his rare ability to manipulate natural elements like sand and soil. Extending his hand, he summoned a surge of sand that swept over the wreckage, molding the ruins into a smooth, climbable dune with uncanny precision. An armored vehicle loaded with Hunters ascended the slope and used it to vault cleanly over the shattered wall.

"Disembark! Disembark!"

Hunters jumped out and took up defensive positions. Thanks to Haksen, the road had become a dune, allowing more armored vehicles to enter. The armored vehicle that climbed up was not the only one to enter the city. Dozens of armored vehicles streamed into the city, crossing the sandy expanse that had replaced the ruined walls.

Voices rang out in all directions as enemy positions were spotted.

"Nine o'clock! Enemy sighted!"

"In front! Twelve o'clock! Enemy sighted!"

"Three o'clock! Enemy sighted!"

Some armored vehicles were still coming down the dune. Others had already descended, but the Hunters inside had not yet gotten out. The Hunters who had disembarked and were guarding the surroundings sprang into action, splitting into three teams to block the incoming enemies.

"Block the enemies as soon as we disembark!"

Upon hearing the command, the Hunters leaped from the armored vehicle and scattered in all directions.

While armored vehicles continued entering the last city through the collapsed walls, another chunk of iron fell on the opposite wall. With a rumble, the opposite wall fell to the massive projectile launched by a catapult.

Japanese teleporter Kayano appeared in front of Indian Hunter Haksen as if on cue, blinking in from the rear lines and calling out, "Hunter Haksen!"

Without a word, he immediately grabbed her hand and the both of them warped to the front of the second collapsed wall.

"Please!" she cried.

Haksen reached out again and created another dune, opening two passages for entry into the last city and completely bypassing its gate.

"Ah..." he murmured.

The issue wasn't his earth powers, since his mana usage had dropped by thirty percent thanks to abundant dirt and sand. The real problem was the nauseating aftermath of her teleportation.

"Hunter Haksen!"

He sighed as Kayano reached out and grabbed his hand again. Moving to the front of a third collapsed segment of the wall, Haksen momentarily lost his balance and staggered.

"Please!" she urged again.

"Hoo."

Bracing himself, he leaned forward and raised his hand. Another dune rose up.

"Th-this is killing me," he groaned.

The teleportation was dizzying in itself, but his abnormally high mana sensitivity only made it worse. Another distant explosion rocked the air and Haksen dropped to one knee, wincing.

"Hunter Haksen!"

"Ah."

***

"Disembark! Disembark!"

Korean Hunters disembarked from the armored vehicle that had entered the last city through the third passage. Following the command of Team Leader Ji Seok-Hyun, the Hunters got off the vehicle, spread out to form a wide perimeter, and stood at attention.

The armored vehicle rolled forward, repositioning itself in the road. Instead of parking end to end, the vehicles were arranged side by side, stretching horizontally between the buildings like a barricade. The last Korean Hunter stepped down from one of them.

"In preparation for any contingencies, we will divide into three teams," Ji Seok-Hyun announced. "Once we're inside the castle, S-Class Hunters will separate from the teams, and the groups will split into two. Team One will be commanded by Kim Ki-Rok from the attack squad, and Team Two by Kim Tae-Shik, an A-Class Hunter from the defense squad."

"Yes," the Hunters replied briefly.

Having already discussed the plan beforehand, they quickly fell into formation and rushed toward the castle at the city's center. More Hunters poured out of the two armored vehicles behind them.

"Some of these buildings could be mechanical monsters, so be careful," Kim Ki-Rok warned. "There's a high chance they're lurking in the alleys, too."

Taking his words to heart, the Hunters behind Ji Seok-Hyun stayed on high alert.

Normally, providing support from the rear was the role of those with utility or healing abilities. But in the Patera Gates, rear support came from long-range Hunters, who unleashed powerful attacks from a distance instead.

"Between the three-story building on the right and the red building!" shouted one of the long-range ability users.

The call came from a Hunter who had spread his mana throughout the area to monitor. The Hunters on the right released their own mana to check when, just as reported, an Animaloid burst from the alley. With a loud crack, one Hunter swung his mace, sending the mechanical monster flying.

If it had been the only one, they could've overwhelmed it easily. But more mechanical monsters surged from the alley, some leaping straight at them. A Hunter farther back struck one with his staff. The first was knocked back into the alley. The second slammed into a building wall with a thunderous crash.

Seeing the wall hold and the monster still moving, Kim Ki-Rok shouted, "Collision with building! Mechanical monster!"

With a whoosh, a Building-like Mechanical Monster that had missed its chance finally struck. Dozens of spears shot out from its walls, but thanks to Kim Ki-Rok's warning, the Hunters already had their shields raised and managed to block the barrage.

"Keep moving!" Guildmaster Ji Seok-Hyun ordered.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Though it might have been safer to subdue the Building-like Mechanical Monster and the Animaloid, their priority was securing the area around the Central Castle at the heart of the last city.

"Roof of the third building on the left! The two-story red building!"

This time, the call came from a long-range ability user sweeping the area with mana. In response, the Hunters shifted their focus from the right flank to the left.

As they pushed toward the Central Castle, deflecting attacks from mechanical monsters along the way, a ranger suddenly stiffened and shouted, "They're coming from every alley behind us! Mechanical monsters incoming!"

"The same goes for the front!" another Hunter exclaimed.

Ji Seok-Hyun gritted his teeth at the multiple reports. "An ambush, then a siege, huh?!"

It was clear the monsters had picked up tactics from fighting the Hunters. But there was no real alternative. Rushing to clear the Gate out of fear the enemy might adapt would've only led to heavy casualties. Besides, the team had anticipated this.

Kim Ki-Rok looked at Ji Seok-Hyun, who was deep in thought, and suggested, "Let's split the team."

"Into two?" Ji Seok-Hyun asked.

"Yes."

"How many members?"

"All but one for Team One, and one person for Team Two."

Ji Seok-Hyun unconsciously slowed down and turned to stare in disbelief. "What?"

"I'll hold off the mechanical monsters approaching from the rear alone. Don't worry, I'll join up with the reinforcements coming after us and move with them."

"It's too danger—"

"For me?" Kim Ki-Rok interrupted him, pulling a unique artifact from his subspace pocket.

"Ah, right. You have Guardian," he said in realization.

"That's right."

"It feels odd to say this, but if you ever feel you're in danger, get out immediately," Ji Seok-Hyun ordered.

"Right. If things get too risky, I won't join the rear forces and will head straight for the central city, even if the mechanical monsters are chasing me."

At his response, Ji Seok-Hyun managed a smile. "Hunter Kim Ki-Rok. Please hold off the mechanical monsters behind us."

"Understood. I'll see you again in front of the Central Castle."

"Be careful." Ji Seok-Hyun bowed his head, then sped up and ran forward.

Kim Ki-Rok returned the bow and stepped aside, gradually slowing his pace. The DG Guild members in the Korean clear team dipped their heads in respect as they passed. After returning their bows, he finally came to a stop with a heavy breath.

Despite what he'd implied, Kim Ki-Rok had no intention of using Guardian, thanks to its level-reducing restriction. Instead, he pulled an elixir from his subspace pocket, one he had prepared in advance, and drank it. He'd commissioned these specifically for elves and Beastfolk, and while the effect lasted only an hour, it boosted all his stats by thirty. Without hesitation, he pulled out another potion and drank that too.

A sudden surge in abilities could throw off the balance between body and mind. To counter that, Kim Ki-Rok had commissioned a Willpower and Sensory Reinforcement Potion from Potion Brewer Kim Yoon-Joo. After drinking the elixir to boost his body and the potion to stabilize his mind, he turned around, fully composed.

Whether it was due to his role in the escape operation or his fight with the Aberrant Humanoid, the mechanical monsters that emerged from the alley approached Kim Ki-Rok with caution. The Animaloid crouched low, eyes locked on him, while the Humanoid—its arms now a sword and shield—stood ready, staring him down.

"Hmm..."

Kim Ki-Rok scanned the area, quickly gauging distance, numbers, and fighting styles. Among the threats, he spotted a Building-like Mechanical Monster disguised as a regular structure, seemingly focused on the rear troops rather than him.

He pulled a mace from his subspace pocket and gripped it in his right hand, then drew a second for his left.

"Let's get this over with," he said with a grunt.

Right on cue, the mechanical monsters sprang into motion, almost like they actually understood Korean.