Chapter 198: Urban Combat (2)

"Team One and Team Two have both stopped!"

"Team Three has successfully infiltrated!"

"Team Twelve is currently joining forces with thirteen and fourteen to infiltrate! ETA to their destination is thirteen minutes!"

In the central command room, Lieutenant General Akabe issued orders the moment he heard the operator's report, then turned his attention back to the monitor screen.

A large wall-mounted display was divided into twenty-four sections, each showing a different location. The top row of monitors displayed the sky, the middle row showed rooftops and castle walls, and the bottom row captured activity on the ground.

Akabe focused on one of the upper monitors, watching the sky. Dozens of Hunters filled the air. Some flew by the screen using their own skills, and others could be seen engaging with Flying Mechanical Monsters. A few simply hovered midair, staring down their opponents.

None of the Hunters showed any sign of unease in the air. That was no accident; every member of the unit had been handpicked from thousands for their extensive experience in aerial combat. Even when seasoned A-Class Hunters occasionally exposed openings, it posed no real threat because multiple teleporters would instantly appear to cover them.

"How many more Flying Mechanical Monsters are left?" asked Akabe.

"A total of thirteen remaining, sir."

"What's the situation outside the city?"

"There aren't any reinforce—er... enemy sighted! We've got eyes on Worm Mechanical Monsters! Their location is..."

Upon hearing the operator's report, Akabe issued an order. "Utilize the main base's artillery to take out the worms."

***

Despite facing a swarm of mechanical monsters on his own, Kim Ki-Rok calmly held his position. He gripped a heavy Pastera mace in each hand, his movements precise and deliberate. His armor, also Pastera-made, bore the marks of earlier clashes.

"Grease. Earth Shield. Sound Boom," he muttered under his breath. With no restrictions on magic or skills now, he used everything at his disposal.

An Animaloid lunged at him, but Kim Ki-Rok met it head-on, swinging his mace down with a brutal, efficient strike that sent the creature crashing into the ground. Without pause, he ducked and twisted as a Humanoid's blade cut the air inches from his head. Switching grip, he raised a shield in one hand and kept his mace ready in the other. This wasn't simply about survival, but not giving up ground.

"

Hup!

" he grunted, dodging his enemy's attack by a hair's breadth. He swung his mace and struck the exposed abdomen of the Humanoid.

After seeing the Humanoid fly backward and the Animaloid unable to get up from the impact, Kim Ki-Rok stepped back. Both swords of the Humanoids flanking him missed and were impaled into the ground.

A split second later, a third Animaloid that was previously waiting on a rooftop came crashing down. It landed squarely where the two blades were buried. Having evaded all these mechanical monsters in succession, he took a quick breath to regain his composure.

The moment his feet hit the ground, Kim Ki-Rok swung both maces, his left came down hard while the right swept upward. The Animaloid charging from the left was smashed into the dirt while the one on the right was simultaneously launched into the air.

Since he was facing more than just one or two monsters, Kim Ki-Rok couldn't afford to relax yet. He quickly scanned the battlefield, spreading his mana out to confirm temporary safety before looking around.

The mechanical monsters seemed to realize that brute force alone wouldn't take him down. He spotted a cluster of Animaloids gathering on a rooftop, and a Humanoid closing in on foot. Down in the alleyways between buildings, Animaloids and other mechanical units were shifting into position.

"It's obvious why..." he muttered to himself.

Kim Ki-Rok unleashed his mana to track each monster's location. They were moving behind him, using the web-like structure between the buildings to their advantage. Just as the Korean Gate clear team had split into two groups to form an encirclement, the monsters were attempting to do the same. Soon enough, he would be surrounded.

"Well, that's fine with me," Kim Ki-Rok said.

He quietly watched the alert mechanical monsters. His mission was to hold out until reinforcements arrived from the rear. The monsters seemed to prioritize surrounding him over engaging the approaching unit. Those in the rear alleyways began to emerge, and the Humanoid resumed its cautious advance, returning to an alert stance as the encirclement closed.

The Humanoid advanced toward Kim Ki-Rok as the Animaloid on the rooftop dropped down. At the same time, another mechanical monster positioned behind him leaped into the fight. Still fresh and having conserved their energy, the three attacked in unison.

"Blink."

Kim Ki-Rok disappeared in a burst of light, causing the mechanical monsters to hesitate and abruptly stop. They turned their heads with their signature mechanical whirring, only to see Kim Ki-Rok waving casually, as if to say he could break through their encirclement whenever he pleased.

As the monsters began to emit steam, he chuckled. "Looks like even mechanical monsters get frustrated."

The monsters sprang from the ground and charged. Kim Ki-Rok rushed forward to meet them, colliding head on with the now red-bodied mechanical creatures.

***

Nam Dong-Wook, the fifth of Mapogu siblings and the South Vermillion Bird of the Four Cardinal Guardians, stood atop the castle wall. His bowstring was drawn with a Pastera arrow, one of many stocked in both his quiver and subspace pocket.

"Come on, just shoot already. We've got plenty," Yoo Seh-Eun said mockingly.

"You idiot. I'd give up my location if I did that."

"You're going to move anyway after you shoot, stupid."

Nam Dong-Wook gritted his teeth at Yoo Seh-Eun, who, at the moment, felt more like their second-in-command than a friend. "Ah, I need to focus. Focus..."

"

Ha,

I can't believe this idiot." Yoo Seh-Eun berated him again as she dashed forward and beheaded a Humanoid that had just managed to climb above the wall.

With a swift slash from left to right, she severed the monster's throat. Without hesitation, she adjusted her grip and drove the sword backward, piercing the neck of the now-decapitated Humanoid, which was still moving despite losing its head. Yoo Seh-Eun twisted her wrist, tearing through its insides before letting the sword drop. By sheer luck, she seemed to hit its core. The monster toppled off the wall.

After scanning the area with her mana, she returned to Nam Dong-Wook once more and urged, "Hey. They're not going to stop coming. Shoot your shot!"

"Wait—"

Nam Dong-Wook, frowning in reluctance, finally spotted an opening and released his bowstring. The arrow streaked through the air and lodged in the side of a Flying Mechanical Monster's wing, hitting a spot already damaged in the ongoing battle.

Anticipating a counterattack from the alert Flying Mechanical Monster, he quickly ducked and muttered, "Let's move, stupid woman."

"We're too late, shithead."

Hearing Yoo Seh-Eun's response, Nam Dong-Wook stopped putting on his hood and looked around awkwardly. "Ah, um..."

Dozens of Mechanical Monsters appeared to give up climbing the castle wall all at once. Nam Dong-Wook sensed the shift and cautiously lifted his head as they began to reveal themselves.

Above, Flying Mechanical Monsters were weaving through the attacks of nearby S-Class and A-Class Hunters, evading and retaliating in kind. One in particular stood atop the castle wall, dodging blows, parrying strikes, all while staring directly at

him.

"Seh-Eun," Nam Dong-Wook said.

"What, shithead?" she said, becoming more annoyed.

"We've been caught."

Yoo Seh-Eun pulled out a knife from her subspace pocket. "I know."

Nam Dong-Wook also drew his bow. "It's about three minutes away from here."

"That's quite a bit."

"We moved to a secluded place to avoid the monsters' gaze, after all."

***

With a boom, Ji Seok-Hyun swung his shield in a wide arc, sending a mechanical monster hurtling through the air. It didn't fly backward, though. He had sidestepped and struck from left to right just as the creature leaped, redirecting its momentum straight toward Jeong Man-Kook.

"Hunter Jeong Man-Kook!"

Upon hearing the team leader's voice, he looked up from the flat piece of metal that was once an Animaloid. Raising his giant hammer again, he adjusted his stance.

"Hunter Jeong Man-Kook!" cried another voice, this time belonging to a foreign Hunter.

Like a batter at the plate, Jeong Man-Kook swung his hammer at the approaching Animaloid, adjusting his aim and stance mid-strike. He had heard the shout just before launching his attack. With another deafening boom, he sent one Mechanical Monster after another flying.

After a brief pause, he set the hammer down and casually reached into his pants pocket. He popped an almond cookie made by Kim Ki-Rok in his mouth, then readjusted his grip and went back to swinging.

One, two, four, eight monsters.

Sometimes he struck out, and other times, he hit a home run. Occasionally, he landed a foul ball and wasn't able to smash the monster in one blow. Even as the creatures swarmed nearby Hunters, Jeong Man-Kook held his ground and kept swinging his bat, no, his

hammer.

***

In the Gate clear headquarters, Kim Ji-Hee placed a spirit mana stone on the ground beside a siege weapon, then stood up from her crouched position.

"Unni. Let's go now," Kim Ji-Hee said.

"You're ready?"

"Yes," she replied, reaching out her hand.

Kim Ji-Hee had summoned her contract spirits, as well as the uncontracted ones that usually assist her, from the spirit mana stones.

"Is it our turn?" one of the spirits said.

"Yes."

"Hmm. It's a shame we can't fight due to mismatched attributes..." the spirit said.

The spirits used mana borrowed from Kim Ji-Hee to fight the monsters. As usual, she focused on reconnaissance and support rather than direct combat, attaching spirits to assist the clear team. She had called on them to help monitor the surroundings and shield her allies from danger. With her preparations complete, she made her way to the command room to wait for the operation to begin.

"Then, we'll be off," a spirit said.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Ji-Hee, take care," said another.

"We might miss some of the enemies. Don't let your guard down," another spirit warned.

The spirits offered advice and greetings, then dispersed in all directions. She had attached spirits to the Hunters before the operation started. Therefore, there was no need to send the spirits to the last city.

However, the same could not be said for the outside of the city. That's why Akabe had told Kim Ji-Hee to deploy the spirits and monitor the city's surroundings. After carrying out his order, she saw the spirits off, picked up the spirit mana stone she'd just used for simultaneous summoning, and turned around.

After returning to the command room at a brisk pace, she walked right up to Akabe and spoke with an unusual stiffness, "Uh... Commander?"

"Good work, Hunter Kim Ji-Hee."

Hearing a cute girl call him "commander" was almost enough to make Akabe break out into laughter, but he held it back. With a serious expression, he received her return report and focused on the monitor screen.

"Report immediately if you encounter enemy reinforcements or an ambush," he said.

Kim Ji-Hee nodded. "Yes, sir."