《World’s Greatest Militia》 Chapter 1
World¡¯s Greatest Militia: Chapter 1
1. Prologue Militia: A power or group which controls a region on the basis of military strength. Warlord: Someone who owns an individual/personal army. *** Kwang Hwi blinked, and the world disappeared. Moments ago, he was knocking back drinks with his former subordinates, but as he closed his eyes and opened them again, they had disappearedpletely ¡ª just like his house and everything else around him ¡ª leaving him alone in a nk, white space. ¡®What is this ce?¡¯ As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a screen, like a hologram from a sci-fi movie, unfolded before his eyes. ¡ºMerit Points: 100,000¡» ¡ºBy defeating monsters, you can earn Merit Points which can be used in the Merit Shop.¡» ¡®Monsters? Merit Points?¡¯ Kwang Hwi tilted his head, slightly confused at the bizarre announcement. He chose to remain calm, carefully observing his new surroundings. Given his experiences, even a sudden change like this would hardly faze him. ¡°What¡¯s a Merit Shop?¡± he wondered aloud. A new alert instantly answered his query. ¡ºFrom the Merit Shop, you can purchase weapons and equipment, which can be used to kill monsters.¡» ¡ºThe only category avable at the moment is .¡» ¡º category is currently locked.¡» ¡º category is currently locked.¡» ¡º category is currently locked.¡» ¡º category is currently locked.¡» ¡º category is currently locked.¡» ¡º category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked immediately for 50,000 MP.¡» ¡º category is currently locked.¡» ¡º category is currently locked.¡» ¡º category is currently locked.¡» ¡º<¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö> category is currently locked.¡» ¡º<¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö> category is currently locked.¡» ¡°Personal weaponry, huh¡­?¡± he mused. As if in response, a ck speck on the horizon grew as it drew closer. His vision flickered as a strong gust of wind blew his hair over his eyes, announcing the appearance of a small, simple rack. Kwang Hwi smiled as he looked over the items on disy. He was intimately familiar with them. ¡®I haven¡¯t seen you in a while.¡¯ His hand gently brushed over the cold, ck steel of an HK416C. It had been Kwang Hwi¡¯s go-to weapon as an active mercenary; even now it had a familiar feeling. ¡ºHK416C¡» ¡ºA derivative of the HK416, introduced in 2011 and designed for 5.56mm NATO rounds.¡» ¡ºPrice: 158 Merit Points¡» ¡ºTechnical Specs¡» Length: 690mm Barrel: 9¡± Bump Stock included. 5.56mm cartridge (30) included. ¡ºWould you like to purchase?¡» Kwang Hwi shed a bitter smile as he nodded. He still wasn¡¯t sure this wasn¡¯t all just a dream. But it was mostly irrelevant; ever since he had quit being a mercenary, he hadn¡¯t once touched the gun he used to use so often. He wanted that feeling again, even if it was just a momentary illusion. ¡ºPurchaseplete. 158 MP have been deducted.¡» In an instant, the modest-size rifle was back in his hands. Although the gun was simr in size to an SMG, it was undoubtedly a full-blown assault rifle. Despite its small size, it proved perfect for its intended use. He let the familiar, cold metal settle in his hands. ¡ºIf you kill monsters with weapons purchased from the Merit Shop, you will receive additional Merit Points.¡» Kwang Hwi looked around. Nothing had changed. The gun rack was still standing in front of him, both he and it the sole upants of this empty space. There were no monsters, as far as he could tell. ¡°Monsters? What monsters?¡± The words barely escaped his mouth before the world around him changed again. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 2 2. Fog Join our discord server to discuss the novel https://discord.gg/wsqKy9R ¡°Hahahaha!¡± ¡°Dude, some random weirdo came up to me asking when I graduated from the military academy, right? So I just¡ª¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s body trembled in shock as the white room and the solitary gun rack vanished without a trace. A familiar scene filled his vision once again. He was sitting in a circle, surrounded by hispatriots. In the center, there were a variety of snacks topliment the soju and beer. He remembered now. They were reuniting over drinks, a year after the team had disbanded. ¡°Hey boss, what¡¯s the matter? You look like you just saw a ghost.¡± ¡°Wait a minute boss. Where¡¯d you get that gun?¡± Silence engulfed the room in an instant, as Kwang Hwi felt everyone¡¯s eyes move to his hands. Looking down, his face froze in a grimace. The HK416C he had bought in that dream sat in his hands. He pulled out the magazine, just to check. 30 rounds of 5.56mm NATO, steel in brass casing, live. It hadn¡¯t been a dream after all. ¡°Damn boss! How¡¯d you get that gun?! Did you smuggle it in?¡± ¡°Man, I don¡¯t know who, but wow boss, you must¡¯ve made a deal with someone, huh? Please, boss! Get me one too! I wanna relieve my stress every once in a while; fire one, you know? Oh man, how about a .50 Barrett!¡± His subordinatesughed and drank their beers. Whether it was the alcohol or just an eptance of Kwang Hwi¡¯s antics, they seemed entirely unperturbed by the fact he had found a gun. Kwang Hwi winced as they spoke; their loud voices were giving him an ear-splitting headache. He was sure of it now. It definitely hadn¡¯t been a dream. ¡°Quiet.¡± He raised his hand as he spoke. A tense silence quickly fell over the room and the previously smiling faces turned into grim stares. Kwang Hwi looked around. Something felt off. Suddenly, it hit him. ¡°The fog,¡± he whispered. ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°Look outside.¡± Kwang Hwi jerked his head to the side. They had been holding their reunion at Kwang Hwi¡¯s house; on the 2nd floor, to be precise. Kwang Hwi had personally designed the home, and one of its walls was made entirely out of ss. As his former subordinates turned their heads and stared out the window, their voices rang out in surprise. Outside, the warm sunshine had been suddenly reced by a thick, gray mist, which made it impossible for anyone inside the house to see more than a few feet past the windows. It covered everything; the trees, the buildings, even the lot just outside the house and the cars parked within. ¡°What is with this fog?¡± As if sensing the danger from this incredibly bizarre scenario, the men jumped to their feet. Kwang Hwi picked up the remote next to him and turned on the TV. ¨C BREAKING NEWS. An unusually thick fog appears to have covered the entire country, reducing visibility to only a few feet. idents have been reported across multiple freeways and roads. Local police departments have been quick to dere a state of emergency. Kwang Hwi flicked through a few more channels, ignoring the culture and variety shows. Every single news channel was reporting on the unbelievable, country-covering fog. Some even reported that the Minister of National Defense had issued an order to immediately recall all foreign-deployed soldiers. Inside the house, a nervous tension filled the air. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen fog that looked like this in my life.¡± ¡°Me neither. What about you boss?¡± Kwang Hwi shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s a first.¡± Indeed, as Kwang Hwi stared uneasily into the void, he felt like calling it ¡®thick fog¡¯ was a massive understatement. It was like staring into a terrible abyss, a dark hole that could swallow everything in the world. ¡®¡­ Is this rted to the gun?¡¯ The thought urred to Kwang Hwi quite suddenly. While he had been drinking, he had a dream. But it wasn¡¯t a dream ¨C he had brought back a real gun from that ce, and almost as soon as he returned, the fog appeared. He couldn¡¯t ept that as simple coincidence. On a hunch, he opened a small window. As if it were a beast, simply waiting for an opportunity, the fog immediately leapt into the room. The men nearby rushed forward to close the window, but Kwang Hwi waved them off. He watched with tense curiosity as the fog, like it truly did have a mind of its own, reached out a long, misty tendril and wrapped it around the HK416C on the floor. It trembled, every now and then, as it engulfed the rifle. Kwang Hwi swallowed. It was abundantly clear that this was no ordinary fog. Instead of pouring in and filling up the room like a normal mist, it had chosen, in defiance of the typicalws of physics, to focus its presence on the rifle, ignoring everyone and everything else in the room. Exactly 10 minutes passed, but the rifle appeared totally unchanged. Rather, Kwang Hwi noticed that the fog had started thinning out. Finally, as the fog disappeared entirely from the room, Kwang Hwi reached down and picked up the rifle again. He inspected it carefully, looking over its joints and hinges. It appeared perfectly intact. ¡°Why did the fog wrap itself around the rifle, and only the rifle?¡± He turned to the others. One of his subordinates replied, ¡°It had a purpose?¡± ¡°Yeah, it certainly did. The question is¡­ what purpose?¡± ¡°Maybe it was trying to destroy the rifle?¡± ¡°Destroy?¡± Kwang Hwi thought about it. It was far too early to jump to conclusions, but this was the only reasonable hypothesis they coulde up with. ¡°Then, can anybody confirm this?¡± Everyone¡¯s gazesnded on one person. ¡°Jackson, I heard you¡¯re still employed. Don¡¯t you have a pistol and a silencer with you?¡± asked Kwang Hwi. ¡°Y-yes. But I don¡¯t have them with me right now. They¡¯re in my car.¡± His unusual name betrayed his foreign heritage, but he (perhaps surprisingly) spoke fluent Korean nheless. Jackson was a ck American, but had joined Kwang Hwi¡¯s crew while they were still active; learning Korean to alleviate his difficultiesmunicating with the others. ¡°Your car? The sedan outside?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded reluctantly. Everybody¡¯s eyes darted towards the window, and one of the men gulped. Their cars were parked just beyond the dense wall of fog, but nobody wanted to chance wandering out there. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± Kwang Hwi stood up as he spoke, and raised his HK416C to chest level. ¡°Everyone else, stay here. Only Jackson and I will go.¡± ¡°Understood. Please be careful.¡± Kwang Hwi nodded. He could tell that his subordinates wanted to go with him, but in this case, it was dangerous to move as a group. In the thick fog where it was easy to lose one¡¯s bearing, arge group would have a hard time staying together. The duo carefully opened the door and stepped into the fog. As if it were waiting for their approach, the fog enveloped them instantly. A particrly dense patch arose around Kwang Hwi¡¯s rifle, but to his relief, nothing seemed to happen to the gun itself. ¡°It should be somewhere around here¡­.¡± Jackson kept one hand on Kwang Hwi¡¯s shoulder, while pressing his car keys with the other. A loud beep, and a brief sh of orange light greeted them. Kwang Hwi slowly moved towards the sh, careful to take note of his direction. Amidst the fog, a pitch ck sedan slowly came into view. It was barely visible, but it was enough for the two of them, who possessed finely tuned physical abilities and senses. Jackson quickly jumped into the driver¡¯s seat and Kwang Hwi moved to sit next to him. ¡°Please wait,¡± he said, as he opened the hand rest between the driver¡¯s seat and passenger¡¯s seat. A few objectsy strewn about the storage space haphazardly: a capsule of anti-drowsiness gum, a notebook, and various pens amongst other things. Jackson gently pressed the gum capsule, and a hiddenpartment opened with a click. Kwang Hwi could clearly see a pistol with the silencer already attached, and 3 magazines sitting inside. He saw Jackson reach for the gun, then pause, and frown. ¡°Holy fuck!¡± Jackson eximed. Kwang Hwi looked at the gun more carefully. His eyes narrowed. The gun that should¡¯ve been well-maintained waspletely covered in rust, as if it had been sitting in the ocean, decaying for years. Firing it was almost certainly out of the question. Simrly, the ammunition in the cartridge looked like it would explode if it was fired. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t have touched the fog¡­¡± Jackson muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± Kwang Hwi said. ¡°Roger.¡± They left the car, stepping back into the cold, oppressive gray air. The all-epassing fog was dizzying, but Kwang Hwi expertly retraced his steps as he worked his way back towards the house. Jackson followed without question. It had been a year since Kwang Hwi retired, but Jackson still believed in his boss¡¯s senses. Suddenly, Kwang Hwi stopped. ¡°Boss?¡± ¡°Shh,¡± he whispered in response, as he strained his ears. It was quiet earlier, but now Kwang Hwi could clearly hear heavy footsteps ¡ª from the side. He swerved around. Chapter 3 3. Monster Join our discord server to discuss the novel https://discord.gg/wsqKy9R Kwang Hwi carefully aimed his gun towards the faint sound he had heard in the fog. Jackson caught on fast and moved behind Kwang Hwi. As the footsteps grew louder, Kwang Hwi could hear the sound of gravel crunching underfoot. ¡®Gravel. That means¡­¡¯ Kwang Hwi quickly visualized his surroundings. The area he owned was a square piece ofnd, with a 2 meter-tall fence around the property. The ground in front of his parking lot, where the two men currently were, was full of gravel. With this knowledge in hand, Kwang Hwi readjusted his aim towards the sound¡¯s origin. Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder, and turned to find Jackson staring at him, maintaining silence despite the tense situation. Kwang Hwi knew he was waiting for orders and gestured towards the house in response. Jackson¡¯s pupils widened ¡ª obviously he was hesitant to leave his boss without backup, but Kwang Hwi simply nodded in affirmation. Despite his worries, Jackson trusted his boss¡¯s skills above all else. He silently vanished into the fog withoutint. The footsteps continued to grow louder. Whatever wasing was getting a lot closer. Kwang Hwi could make out a shadow moving in the fog. Slowly, he moved his finger onto the trigger of his rifle and took aim. He was prepared to open fire at any moment, but decided to risk waiting for whatever was out there toe into view. He wanted to see it clearly. A low growl emanated from the shadow in the fog. It was bing increasingly apparent that this thing was not human. As it lumbered out of the fog, Kwang Hwi finally got a clear view of the creature. It had a humanoid build, but the rest of its features could only be described as alien. Its skin was dark blue in color and itsrge frame was bulging with muscles. A single blue eye was present on its face, ring viciously at Kwang Hwi. However, Kwang Hwi was more focused on what the creature held, arge, one-handed machete. The monster brandished this savage looking weapon as it rushed straight at him. With his curiosity more than satisfied, Kwang Hwi pulled the trigger of his rifle. A burst of light and a sharp crack apanied the bullet as it erupted from the muzzle. The impact of the shot caused the monster to shudder ¡ª but not stop. In the face of the monster¡¯s inhuman vitality, Kwang Hwi kept his cool. If one shot couldn¡¯t stop it, he just had to keep shooting. Four more bullets pierced its chest, causing the monster to spasm and copse, like a puppet whose strings had been cut. Disgusting ck blood oozed from the monster¡¯s wounds, seeping into the gravel beneath its body. ¡®Persistent bastard.¡¯ Kwang Hwi took careful aim at its head. Blood and brains exploded outward, leaving a gore-filled hole in the monster¡¯s skull. ¡®At least its head isn¡¯t as tough as its body. One bullet¡¯s enough, huh.¡¯ ¡ºYou are the first person in the world to defeat a Keku.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 500 MP.¡» ¡°Boss!¡± Several voices called out in unison from behind, as the sound of urgent footsteps drew closer. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Kwang Hwi replied. He watched as several of his subordinates appeared out of the fog as they rushed towards him. All of them recoiled in surprise once they saw the corpse at Kwang Hwi¡¯s feet. ¡°Let¡¯s head back inside. Also, we¡¯re taking this thing with us.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± His subordinates responded in unison once again. *** The monster¡¯s corpse was much heavier than Kwang Hwi had anticipated. He knew that the dead felt heavier than the living, but even then, the monster easily weighed more than two fully grown men. Luckily Kwang Hwi wasn¡¯t alone. He and his subordinates managed to carry the monster inside, where they were now examining its body. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like a human.¡± One of his subordinates said. Another subordinate scoffed in response. ¡°Obviously.¡± ¡°Has anyone seen something like this before?¡± Kwang Hwi asked while looking around the room. Everyone shook their heads. Even with their vastbined experiences, nobody had so much as heard of a monster like this before. ¡°Why don¡¯t we check the news again?¡± A subordinate suggested. ¡°If we ran into such a monster, it¡¯s likely that others have as well.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement and they all moved to the TV in the living room, flicking it on and switching to the news channel. A news anchor wearing a grim, sober expression filled the screen. ¨C BREAKING NEWS! The appearance of the unexinable fog is now confirmed to be a world-wide phenomenon. We have also received a small number of reports iming that there are strange creatures lurking in the fog, attacking those who encounter them. Viewers are advised to take caution and remain indoors. The group flipped to another channel. A Blue House spokesperson appeared onscreen. ¨C We want to make it clear that the rumors and reports of unidentified and hostile entities attacking people in the fog are indeed true and that their number is currently unknown. We strongly urge you to remain indoors as much as possible. You should also ensure that you have ess to enough food and supplies to survive indefinitely. Also, please immediately take any defensive measures you can. ¡°Damn. This isn¡¯t good.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± His subordinates turned to Kwang Hwi with puzzled expressions. It seems that they didn¡¯t fully grasp the severity of the situation. ¡°It seems like the government has been rendered useless,¡± Kwang Hwi exined. His answer only served to confuse the men further. They knew Kwang Hwi was serious ¡ª he didn¡¯t joke ¡ª but what he was saying didn¡¯t make any sense to them. ¡°But how, boss? Our country¡¯s standing military is half a million strong and we¡¯ve got 150,000 police officers on top of that.¡± Several of the men nodded in agreement. They had all served as mercenaries with Kwang Hwi overseas and they all knew that the South Korean military wasn¡¯t to be taken lightly. If anything, the absurd military strength of neighboring countries like China made South Korea look weak simply byparison. ¡°Did the government spokesperson say, ¡®Wait to be rescued?¡¯¡± one of his men asked. ¡°No.¡± Kwang Hwi answered. ¡°They told us to take defensive measures if possible.¡± ¡°¡­What does that mean?¡± Someone asked in confusion. Kwang Hwi let out a sigh. ¡°Has the government ever, in its history, told us to arm ourselves?¡± At the very least, Kwang Hwi himself couldn¡¯t recall such a drastic measure ever being implemented. The South Korean government ¡ª or, more specifically, its high ranking officials, were heavily opposed to giving private citizens ess to weapons. In all fairness, it was mostly to protect the people from themselves. There was also the fact that, since the people of South Korea couldn¡¯t arm themselves en masse the government didn¡¯t have to worry about a citizen¡¯s uprising, unlike gun-friendly countries such as America. Which meant that if the government was now encouraging people to ¡®take defensive measures,¡¯ then the situation had indeed gotten very bad. Kwang Hwi turned to Jackson. ¡°Jackson, tell them what happened in the car.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Jackson carefully exined how they had gone to retrieve his hidden pistol, only to find a rusted gun and useless ammunition. ¡°We can probably expect the same situation to have yed out across the country, which means that all the guns the military have are now useless. At this point, we can¡¯t be certain that guns are the only things affected by the fog.¡± His men all wore grim expressions now. Humans hadn¡¯t dominated the earth because of some superior physical prowess. No, the strength of humanity had alwayse from its ingenuity, the ability to create a tool for any and every situation. But what if all the tools that gave humanity its edge disappeared? What if something stronger than humans appeared after they lost their trump card? Everyone looked down at the monster¡¯s corpse again with uneasy expressions. A single nce made it clear. This monster¡¯s physical capabilities surpassed humanity¡¯s by leaps and bounds. Few humans were trained in close quarters physicalbat. Even if someone had trained to the extreme, this monster looked like it was on apletely different level. Having realized all of this, one of his subordinates finally spoke. ¡°The situation isn¡¯t looking too great for us.¡± The tension in the air was palpable. Kwang Hwi pped his hands together, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Thankfully, I have a solution,¡± he said, lifting up the HK416C he had bought from the Merit Shop. Fortunately, the gun worked perfectly, even if he had no idea why. ¡°Now, listen. This is going to sound crazy, but here¡¯s what happened¡­¡± Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t bother hiding any of the details. The men gathered here were hisrades, people he could trust more than anyone else. ¡°¡­Even I have no idea why this happened, or how I got this ability. What I do know is that it¡¯s essential to our survival.¡± ¡°T-that¡¯s true¡­¡± They couldn¡¯t be certain, but in the worst case scenario, the entire country of South Korea¡­ no, the entire world had just lost all of their firearms. ¡®Only I can get a gun?¡¯ Kwang Hwi almost snorted in derision. It was like a bad web-novel title. One by one, he looked each of his subordinates in the eye, and then spoke. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s time to get the band back together, ya hear?¡± At his words, surprise quickly changed into tion; excitement was written across their faces. Were they too used to life on the battlefield? Anxiety, concern, fear, all of these would have been more normal reactions. Yet these men looked excited more than anything else. ¡°As expected, boss. You¡¯re one wild mofo!¡± Jackson guffawed as he broke the silence. The others quickly chimed in. ¡°Hell yea, boss!¡± ¡°Ha! Never expected our one year reunion to end up like this!¡± Their reactions were incredibly abnormal. But for them, it was to be expected. They¡¯d always had a few screws loose. Chapter 4 4. Preparation Join our discord server to discuss the novel https://discord.gg/wsqKy9R Kwang Hwi opened the Merit Shop. This time, he didn¡¯t return to that strange white space. Instead, the same holographic disy opened up in front of him and hundreds of personal weapons were disyed in a neat array. Judging by everyone else¡¯sck of reaction, he was the only one who could see the screen. He scrolled to the bottom of the list and saw several categories with a lock icon next to them. ¡º ¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked immediately for 500 MP.¡» ¡º¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked immediately for 500 MP.¡» ¡º¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked immediately for 1000 MP.¡» ¡º¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked immediately for 10,000 MP.¡» ¡º¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked immediately for 50,000 MP.¡» ¡º¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked afterpleting a mission.¡» ¡º¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked afterpleting a mission.¡» ¡º¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked afterpleting a mission.¡» ¡º¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked afterpleting a mission.¡» ¡º<¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö>¡» ¡ºThis category is currently unknown.¡» ¡ºUnlock conditions have not been revealed.¡» ¡º<¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö>¡» ¡ºThis category is currently unknown.¡» ¡ºUnlock conditions have not been revealed.¡» Personally, Kwang Hwi wanted to buy an armored vehicle right away. ¡®Unfortunately, it seems to be locked behind some kind of mission, huh? Well, without a sitrep, epting a mission would be quite risky.¡¯ For now, Kwang Hwi had to fully arm his crew and assess the situation at hand. ¡º category has been unlocked.¡» ¡º category has been unlocked.¡» Kwang Hwi decided to only unlock the first two categories. After all, he rationalized, he could unlock the other categoriester once he understood more about what was going on. This way, even if he miscalcted now, he wouldn¡¯t have wasted all of his MP. First, he purchased tactical vests and walkie-talkies, one for each member of his team. They simply materialized out of thin air above his empty palm. The men showed only a brief moment of surprise, but quickly moved to put on the vests. ¡ºM4A1 SOPMOD II purchased.¡» ¡ºF90 purchased.¡» ¡ºFN P90 USG purchased.¡» ¡ºM82A3 purchased.¡» Like the vests and walkie-talkies, the guns simply appeared in his hand as he purchased them. Kwang Hwi made sure to hand each of his subordinates a weapon. He spared little expense when it came to arming them, even spending the extra MP to purchase scopes, sights, foregrips, and other essories that his men were used to having. ¡°I¡¯ll distribute sidearms to everyone as well.¡± ¡ºGlock 17 Type C purchased.¡» All together, it cost way more MP than the single HK416C he had bought earlier, but Kwang Hwi felt that it was definitely necessary to be as well-equipped as possible. ¡°Man, it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve held one of these, boss!¡± ¡°Hey boss, is this the part where I¡¯m supposed to say ¡®I¡¯m feeling overwhelmed by my emotions¡¯?¡± Jackson wore a huge grin has he stroked the barrel of his rifle, a big upgrade from the pistol in his car. The team had disbanded a year ago, and since then, most of them had entered fields unrted to their previous work as mercenaries ¡ª fields that typically didn¡¯t involve handling firearms. But these were men with nearly 10 years ofbat experience drilled into their bodies. A year away wouldn¡¯t be enough to turn these experts of war into amateurs. After equipping their gear, Kwang Hwi and his subordinates looked like they had returned to their mercenary days. Military-grade walkie-talkies hung around their necks. Tactical vests, filled with fully loaded magazines, were put on over the shirts they had been wearing. A Glock rested in each of their leg holsters. In unison, they lined up in front of Kwang Hwi. Their movements were perfectly in sync, owing to their decade of camaraderie. Kwang Hwi checked each of them one by one to make sure their gear was properly equipped. For men with this caliber of experience, it waspletely unnecessary, but everyone here was used to it. Not once during their time together had Kwang Hwi ever failed to inspect them. It was practically a ritual for the group at this point. Satisfied, Kwang Hwi nodded. ¡°Stand by until the fog thins out.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The men rxed and sat down in one smooth, rehearsed motion. One of his subordinates who had been watching the TV called out to everyone. ¡°Hey, it looks like the channels are starting to disconnect.¡± Indeed, as Kwang Hwi began flipping through the channels, he saw that more and more of them were eitherpletely ck or showing an [On Standby] message. ¨C BREAKING NEWS. Monsters have begun appearing all over the country, attacking people indiscriminately. Their numbers are still unconfirmed. A video began ying on the TV. It was clearly recorded by phone, you could see the cameraman¡¯s hands shaking. In it, a monster ¡ª identical to the one that Kwang Hwi had killed earlier ¡ª was roaming the hallway of an apartment building. It appeared to be sniffing the air repeatedly, like it was searching for something. It suddenly stopped, as if it had found what it was looking for, and began pounding on a door. The loud banging echoed through the hallway. ¡°Oi! Shut the fuck up! Who the ¨C uwagk-!¡± A man opened the door, and was immediately grabbed by the monster. It violently dragged the man down the hall, like a ragdoll. For a brief moment, the man¡¯s eyes stared straight into the camera. ¡°S-save me! Please!¡± The video ended abruptly as the startled cameraman hid inside his own apartment. ¨C Theck of aid from both the police and the military has lead to mass civilian protests. Riot police were deployed in some areas, but have proven ineffective in quelling the unrest. The report, unfortunately, proved to Kwang Hwi that the government could not be relied on for help. ¡°Boss.¡± It was Jackson, who was looking outside. ¡°The fog is clearing.¡± It was true. As Kwang Hwi looked out the window, he could see the thick gray fog slowly dissipating ¡ª turning into a softer, thinner white. The cars, which had previously been totally obscured, were now showing faint outlines. ¡°Alright. First, we need to secure our immediate surroundings.¡± Kwang Hwi had chosen to build his home in a secluded area; on a low hill, far from any major urban centers. The only things nearby were a few factories and stores. ¡°The monsters appear to be hostile,¡± he continued, ¡°so don¡¯t take any risks and terminate them on sight. ¡°After we secure our surroundings, we¡¯ll move to a nearby supermarket to gather supplies.¡± ¡°Roger.¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± The fog had almostpletely vanished. There was still some pockets left here and there, but it was nothingpared to earlier. The sun could be seen shining brightly for the first time since the fog had descended. ¡°Soo Min, cover us from the 2nd floor,¡± Kwang Hwi ordered. He stood up and motioned the others towards the front door. ¡°Understood,¡± responded Soo Min as he hurried up the stairs. One of his subordinates opened the door with a small creak. A slightly warm breeze greeted them. The men quickly exited the house and fanned out. ¡ª ¡°No problem here.¡± ¡ª ¡°All clear.¡± The transmissions came in through Kwang Hwi¡¯s walkie-talkie as his subordinates secured the building¡¯s perimeter. Satisfied, Kwang Hwi spoke into his walkie-talkie. ¡ª ¡°Soo Min, sitrep?¡± ¡ª ¡°The property itself is clear. But I¡¯ve got 50 and counting in front of the parking lot. They look the same as the one you killed earlier, boss. They probably heard the gunshots.¡± Kwang Hwi nodded. Hisrge property waspletely fenced off, but the inherent weak point in its defense was the road that led to the parking lot outside. There was an iron gate, with some holes for visibility, that allowed entry into thepound. However, Kwang Hwi felt that, given the monsters¡¯ size, they could easily break through the gate if they tried. ¡ª Kwang Hwi turned to his men. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± With Kwang Hwi taking point, the group moved towards the parking lot. Rows of cars were visible in the wide, t lot. As Soo Min had said, dozens of Keku were spread out across the lot as well. One spotted Kwang Hwi¡¯s team approaching and roared, charging towards them and ramming into the iron gate. As if it didn¡¯t even acknowledge the gates existence, the monster strained and stretched its arms through the narrow opening between the gate doors, swinging its enormous knife futilely. Kwang Hwi pointed his gun towards it. Following suit, his subordinates raised the stocks of their rifles to their shoulders. Kwang Hwi spoke a singlemand. ¡°Fire.¡± Chapter 5 5. Encounter Join our discord server to discuss the novel https://discord.gg/wsqKy9R Gunshots erupted around Kwang Hwi. He saw the Keku shudder and shake as bullets ripped into its body, its arm drooping as it lost strength. ck blood gushed onto the gravel. As the Keku¡¯s corpse slumped down, hand still tightly sping its dagger, Kwang Hwi saw the rest of the monsters rushing towards the gate. The men continued firing, but the Keku used the bodies of their deadrades to push forwards. As the horde of monsters reached the gate, they rammed into it like a living tidal wave. The pirs holding the gate in ce began to shake dangerously. They hadn¡¯t been built to withstand the overwhelming strength of the Keku. With a violent creaking sound, they were torn from where they stood, sending the iron gate crashing to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, the Keku swarmed into thepound, letting out shrieks and roars filled with bloodlust. Kwang Hwi opened fire on them. The sharp stato of automatic bursts filled the air as Kwang Hwi¡¯s gun jumped again and again. A normal human would be killed by a single shot from a high-powered rifle like the one Kwang Hwi was using. The Keku, on the other hand, could tank 4-5 of the same shots and continue to advance unabated. Kwang Hwi already knew this after his initial encounter, but his subordinates were clearly rmed by the Keku¡¯s unexpected durability. ¡°Automatic bursts,¡± he ordered calmly, ¡°shoot until they fall!¡± His men switched from semi to fully automatic fire and started pouring bullets into the crowd of monsters. The violent roar of their guns was deafening. The effect was instantaneous. The withering fire tore into the advancing Keku, stopping them in their tracks.The charging horde quickly turned into a pile of corpses. The gunfire stopped. Dead Keku were scattered all around what was left of the gate. ¡°Is it over?¡± As soon as those words were spoken, the ground beneath them started rumbling. Kwang Hwi looked down to see the gravel visibly vibrating. ¡ª ¡°Boss! At least 100 and counting! Approaching from all sides. 550 meters out!¡± ¡ª ¡°Acknowledged.¡± Kwang Hwi looked around. ¡°Who needs ammo?¡± ¡°I do!¡± ¡°Me too.¡± He quickly purchased several additional magazines and distributed them. ¡ª ¡°450 meters! Guess we¡¯re up.¡± ¡ª ¡°Firing!¡± A thunderous boom came from behind Kwang Hwi. It was the sound of a Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifle. It¡¯s massive bullet pierced through a Keku, putting a massive hole in its chest. Its body flew back into a group of Keku, knocking them over like bowling pins. To the Keku, the Barret roared like a savage predator. Each boom of the weapon firing signified another death amongst them. In the face of this overwhelming annihtion, the Keku faltered. Kwang Hwi reloaded his gun and took aim. He pulled the trigger once. A Keku froze in ce, its eye reced with a gore-filled hole. Itsrge body slowly crumpled to the ground. It was the confirmation Kwang Hwi wanted. Unlike their sturdy bodies, a Keku¡¯s head was as fragile as a human¡¯s. Seeing this, the other men started aiming for the monster¡¯s heads as well. The oppressive roar of their rifles was quickly reced by the sound of precise, semi-automatic fire. The monsters were copsing in droves, each one with a hole in its head. Facing such a systematic ughter, their aggressive assault disintegrated. ¡°Widen the gap,¡± ordered Kwang Hwi, as he began slowly walking backwards. The men followed suit, making sure to move carefully. Their methodical fire never let up. ck blood sttered across his cheeks, but Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t even blink. He chose another target and pulled the trigger, causing another yellow sh to erupt from the end of his muzzle. The smell of gunpowder seeped into his nostrils. Another monster fell headfirst. His crosshair moved again. Another sh. Another tuft of smoke. Another monster. It was a rhythmic cycle of violence. With each shot Kwang Hwi felt himself sink deeper into its flow, the sounds and smells fueling his adrenaline and funneling his concentration. He hadn¡¯t felt like this in a very long time. A Keku broke through the hail of bullets, somehow still alive. The monster roared as it swung its de. Kwang Hwi easily dodged the clumsy attack, letting the monster¡¯s momentum carry it tumbling forwards. The needlessly wide swing left it unable to follow-up and Kwang Hwi quickly took advantage of its mistake, drawing his Glock and pulling the trigger in a single, smooth motion. The advantages of apact handgun were well demonstrated in closebat. Bullet holes quickly riddled the monster¡¯s body as it roared again in agony and anger. Kwang Hwi heard the click of an empty clip as he pulled the trigger again. Without hesitation, he released the magazine, letting it fall through the air. Kwang Hwi kicked the magazine with nearly inhuman precision, sending it rocketing straight at a charging Keku brandishing an axe. The magazine hit the monster in its eye. The pain made it pause for a moment, but that was all the time Kwang Hwi needed. He finished reloading in that brief second and pulled the trigger. He looked around for his next target and then stopped. There were no more Keku. ¡ª ¡°Soo Min, do you see any more monsters?¡± ¡ª ¡°Negative. There doesn¡¯t appear to be any reinforcements.¡± Kwang Hwi turned to his subordinates. ¡°Alright, if any of you are injured tell me now.¡± ¡°Hurt? Ha, that¡¯s funny boss.¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t look down on us like that.¡± He smiled as he confirmed that everyone was okay. ¡°Alright, real good guys. Don¡¯t forget to make sure they¡¯re dead.¡± ¡°Roger!¡± A chorus of voices yelled out. ¡ºYou have defeated 10 Keku faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 1000 MP.¡» ¡ºYou have defeated 100 Keku faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 1500 MP.¡» ¡ºYou have defeated 200 Keku faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 2000 MP.¡» The announcements appeared one after another. Kwang Hwi was pleased as he read them. ¡®Well, it¡¯s only natural. We¡¯re probably the only group in the world with firearms at the moment.¡¯ Certainly, there were people in the world who could deal with these monsters, even if it was through brute strength or the use of primitive weapons. But they wouldn¡¯t be able to kill them as fast as Kwang Hwi¡¯s group. ¡°Hey boss, what should we do with these corpses?¡± Jackson asked. ¡°Let¡¯s take them outside thepound and incinerate them. Someone go and bring up the gasoline from the basement.¡± His subordinates got to work quickly and efficiently. The dead bodies were dragged and stacked atop each other, forming a heap of dead Keku. Like the first one, the bodies were quite heavy, but his men were much stronger than the average person. Jackson brought the gasoline from the basement and quickly poured it all over the monster corpses. Everyone¡¯s noses wrinkled at the strong smell, which overpowered the scent of gunpowder lingering in the air. Kwang Hwi lit the makeshift pyre with a lighter and, in seconds, thick ck fumes rose into the air. *** ¡°We¡¯ll head to the supermarket as nned,¡± Kwang Hwi exined. ¡°Soo Min, Jackson, the two of you will stay here and defend the house. If any monsters approach, take them out with the Barret.¡± He materialized a few additional .50 caliber magazines, and tossed them to Soo Min. The .50 cal magazines were much more expensive than the others, but Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t feel the need to be overly conservative when arming his men, especially when they still knew so little about the situation. ¡°No matter how often I see that magic trick, I just can¡¯t get used to it,¡± Soo Min joked as he caught the magazines. ¡°Don¡¯t worry boss, I¡¯ll make sure that he doesn¡¯t do anything stupid,¡± interjected Jackson, pointing at Soo Min. ¡°Hey Jackson, what¡¯s that supposed to mean, huh?!¡± Kwang Hwi left the two behind and motioned for the rest to follow. Ever since they first met, the two of them were always fighting ¡ª but in reality they were really close friends. ¡°Let¡¯s move out!¡± Kwang Hwi ordered. His men followed him and the group filled two of the cars on the driveway. Luckily, they were still functional. A sedan and an SUV drove over the destroyed gate and onto the road. *** ¡°Boss, we¡¯ll arrive in 10 minutes.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Unlike his subordinates, who were on edge, Kwang Hwi had a calm expression as he stared out the window. ¡®An entire 30 round magazine of 5.56 is only 1MP¡­ unlike the .50 cal mags, at 1MP a bullet. Well, thanks to the points I got from those 200 Keku I should have more than enough MP.¡¯ His musings were cut short by one of his men. ¡°We¡¯re almost there, boss.¡± Sure enough, the densely packed apartments of downtown quickly came into view. The normally busy streets were empty and abandoned carsy strewn about the road. Kwang Hwi grimaced as they passed by the mangled bodies that dotted their surroundings. ck smoke billowed somewhere in the distance. It was the end of the world. ¡°Keku up ahead!¡± one of his subordinates yelled suddenly. Kwang Hwi looked forward. An absent-minded Keku, holding a knife in one hand and a round object in the other, milled about in the middle of the road. ¡°Run it over.¡± Kwang Hwi said. ¡°Roger.¡± The driver mmed the gas and the car lurched forward with a roar. The Keku finally turned and saw the vehicle, but it was toote. With a sickening crunch it flew into the air. The knife and the round object shed past the car. It was a human head. Kwang Hwi quietly shook his head in disgust. Besides the one they hit, the group didn¡¯t encounter any more Keku, which relieved him. His group was here to secure supplies. The fewer Keku they encountered, the better. After arriving at the supermarket, Kwang Hwi instructed the driver to head towards the warehouse. The two cars drove past the customer parking lot and headed towards the back of the building. Enormous box trucks branding the supermarket¡¯s logo sat in the warehouse. The cars stopped with a screech and the group piled out. Kwang Hwi handed silencers and hand grenades to his men, who hastily attached the silencers to their guns. ¡°Two of you will stay here and defend the cars,¡± he instructed. In case of an emergency, Kwang Hwi wanted these two cars to be ready to escape at a moment¡¯s notice. The drivers nodded and stayed put as Kwang Hwi led the rest of the group inside. The door, which was supposed to be locked tight, was wide open. Chapter 6 6. ck Wolf¡¯s Den Join our discord server to discuss the novel https://discord.gg/wsqKy9R The fluorescentmps on the ceiling flickered as Kwang Hwi and his subordinates entered the warehouse. They split off into two groups so that they could more efficiently search the building. Additionally, they wouldn¡¯t be clumped together in one big group. The warehouse was in disarray, a clear indicator that chaos had swept through the building. Red blood painted the floor like it was a canvas. Items that had been neatly organized were ruthlessly torn from their packaging and strewn all over the floor. It was fortunate that theyout of the warehouse was notplicated. Each aisle was neatly divided and evenly spaced, making navigation a breeze for anyone. ¡°Team 1? How¡¯s the search going?¡± Kwang Hwi asked into his walkie-talkie. ¡ª ¡°Aisles 1 to 10 clear.¡± Each of the aisles were numbered ordingly, allowing the men to systematically report their progress. Despite how smoothly everything was going, Kwang Hwi couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. There were massive bloodstains all over the warehouse¡ªand yet, not a single body could be found. But they disregarded these oddities; the men were not here to search for survivors. They were simply here to fulfill their objective of gathering supplies before leaving. ¡ª ¡°Copy. Team 2 will transfer the supplies into the box truck,¡± instructed Kwang Hwi. While Team 1 was responsible for checking their immediate surroundings of any dangers, Team 2 was in charge of moving the supplies into the box truck. As one of the men turned on the forklift,the loud rumble of the engine echoed throughout the warehouse. It was quickly overshadowed by the loud, high pitched warning beeps as they reversed the forklift. Team 2 then quickly and efficiently maneuvered the forklift into lifting pallets of supplies, most of which contained canned food and bottled waters, into the box truck. While wandering around the surroundings, checking to see if monsters would appear, Kwang Hwi stopped in front of a hinged door that separated the warehouse from the supermarket. Looking down, he could see a long line of smeared blood that led into the supermarket side. That by itself wasn¡¯t anything significant. After all, such bloodstains could be seen all over the warehouse. However, unlike the other areas, these bloodstains were still wet. Kwang Hwi carefully crept towards the door. As he approached, the foul stench of blood wafted heavily towards him. When he opened the door, his brows furrowed slightly as flies brushed past his face and a low buzzing sound whined in his ear. Swarms of flies flitted about the disy stands. On it, instead of having fruits disyed, were corpses piled grotesquely on top of each other. The dripping blood formed a small puddle underneath the stand that steadily grewrger. Even for Kwang Hwi, who had previously seen many grotesque things in his years as a mercenary, frowned at the sight before him. He finally understood why there were only bloodstains in the warehouse. All of the corpses had been brought here. ¡®The question is, by whom?¡¯ The question was quickly answered by a ck shadow that appeared on the other side of the supermarket. It looked like a wolf. Well, it was difficult to say that it looked like one, because the creature was muchrger than any wolf that Kwang Hwi knew of. It was probably at least twice the size of a normal wolf. Its fur was pitch ck, as if it had been dyed by ck paint. It blended into the darkness, making it difficult to spot. To top it all off, there wasn¡¯t just one wolf. There were probably more than a dozen of them dispersed throughout the supermarket. And they were all headed towards the pile of human corpses. Soon the sound of crunching bones and tearing flesh filled the air as the wolves ripped apart the corpses. Devouring the limbs and heads in a single bite. Their teeth and fur were stained with blood as they made quick work of the pile of corpses. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, they licked up the blood that had pooled under the corpses, leaving nothing behind. ¡®It seems like there are around 40 to 50 of them.¡¯ Kwang Hwi quietly backed away. Even for him, it was reckless to fight against 50 wolves alone. He could kill a lot of them with his gun, but in the time that took, the rest would¡¯ve already pounced on him. To finish them off, he needed backup from his subordinates. Kwang Hwi slowly backed away towards the door. He very gently pushed open the door without making any sound. At least, that¡¯s what he thought would happen. Instead, a creaking noise echoed across the room as the door opened. ¡®Fuck.¡¯ The wolves who had been eating the corpses, whipped their heads towards Kwang Hwi. Upon making eye contact, they bared their fangs, snarling at him. Therge one was scratching at the floor getting ready to pounce at any moment. Kwang Hwi grabbed the hand grenade that was attached to his vest. Pulling the safety pin out from the grenade, he flung it onto the floor. As the floor was drenched in blood, the grenade easily slid along the floor towards the approaching wolves. Kwang Hwi immediately turned and dashed out of the supermarket. The wolves simply stared at the grenade, not knowing what it was. The force of the resulting explosion shook the entire building. ¡ºYou are the first person in the world to defeat a ¡®ck Wolf.¡¯¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 500 MP.¡» ¡ª ¡°Boss! What was that explosion ¡­¡± ¡°Come to Aisle 15!¡± said Kwang Hwi. Kwang Hwi pointed his gun towards the door and backed away, widening the gap between him and the wolves. After a few minutes, he felt the presence of his subordinates drawing closer to his position. They hurriedly stood in formation on both sides of Kwang Hwi. ¡°They are about twice the size of a typical wolf. There¡¯s at least 50 of them.¡± he warned. Nodding, the men aimed their guns towards the door. A haunting howl suddenly pierced through the air. A chill ran down their spines. Proving that they were not normal wolves, their cries caused Kwang Hwi and his subordinates to stiffen in surprise. Before they could rx, the doors sprung open and a ck shadow sprung forth. Its white teeth contrasted sharply against its pitch ck fur. Its eyes were oozing bloodlust. Kwang Hwi was the first to react to the sudden appearance of the ck Wolf. He pulled the trigger and shots rang out in quick session. After a split second, the rest of his men followed suit, pressing down hard on their triggers with their index fingers. The ck Wolves were quick, but even they couldn¡¯t avoid a bullet. More than 10 of them rushed out quickly and copsed almost immediately, unable to take a few steps beyond the door. They were very different from the Keku that were able to take up to 5 shots before dying. While the wolves were bigger and faster, their skin and flesh were more vulnerable than a Keku¡¯s. They were unable to resist the bullets at all. ¡°It¡¯s not over.¡± Kwang Hwi warned. ¡°Roger.¡± Kwang Hwi did not let down his guard. Even though he had just thrown a hand grenade at them, they had not been grouped. Most likely, only a few had died upon impact. Although they had just killed 10 of them, there were still a lot of wolves left. All of a sudden, gunshots rang through the air from behind. Kwang Hwi quickly turned and looked behind. ¡ª ¡°Boss! There are multiple Keku approaching the warehouse!¡± The situation was not looking good. Despite being in an ostensibly secluded location, roughly 200 Keku had appeared around his house. There was no way such a popted area would have only 200. Plus, Kwang Hwi still had to deal with theserge wolves. ¡°Are the supplies loaded?¡± Kwang Hwi asked. ¡ª ¡°We have fully loaded two box trucks!¡± ¡°Start the engine! We¡¯re retreating. Hurry!¡± ordered Kwang Hwi. The men started to dash towards the other side of the warehouse. Kwang Hwi took out hisst hand grenade. Thankfully, the door had been slightly open by the now dead ck Wolves. He pulled the pin and threw the grenade into the supermarket. Another explosion rocked the building. ¡ºYou have defeated 10 ck Wolves faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 1000 MP.¡» By the time Kwang Hwi arrived at the entrance of the warehouse, the box trucks that were filled with supplies were already leaving the driveway. The trucks rumbled towards the approaching Keku without any hesitation. The Keku wisely jumped out of the way. Clearly, they were at least intelligent enough to recognize the futility of trying to stop a truck. An SUV followed the trucks. Bullets rained from the vehicle. The Keku, who had been too busy avoiding the box truck, were unable to avoid the bullets that were fired at them. Meanwhile, thest sedan was waiting for Kwang Hwi. ¡°Boss! Over here!¡± Kwang Hwi hurried towards the car. After getting into the sedan, they departed in haste. Some of the Keku tried to block the road, perhaps thinking that due to the vehicle¡¯s rtively small size, they would be able to do so. But the sedan just ran over them at full speed. With a loud m, the Keku were knocked away. The hood and the bumper of the car were damaged from the hit, but other than the newly acquired dents, the car was fine. Except the driver, everyone in the car was busy shooting at the Keku. The sedan quickly turned and left the supermarket. The subordinate who had been focused on driving nced back. ¡°Boss?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± asked Kwang Hwi. ¡°The monsters are still chasing us from behind.¡± Kwang Hwi turned. Behind them was a pack of ck Wolves chasing them. ¡°Aren¡¯t those¡­ Keku on top of the ck Wolves?¡± asked one of the subordinates in disbelief. It was truly an unusual sight: a Keku riding on top of a ck Wolf. It was as if he was looking at a monsterfied version of a cavalry unit. Not only that, the ck Wolves were actually slowly catching up to the car. Kwang Hwi knew just how heavy the Keku were. And yet, these ck Wolves were able to catch up to a sedan operating at full speed while carrying them. He was amused by the ck Wolves¡¯ raw speed. Kwang Hwi pointed his gun towards the rear. His subordinates mirrored his actions. They tapped their guns against the rear ss. Although it didn¡¯t break off cleanly, the hole was just wide enough stick the gun muzzle out to fire at them. Sticking out the muzzle of his gun and looking through the 4x ACOG scope, Kwang Hwi could clearly see the monsters. Despite the considerable distance between the two, it felt as if they were right in front of him. Taking in a breath, he calmly exhaled as he pulled the trigger. At the sound of the gunshot, the ck Wolf closest to him immediately copsed onto the road dead. The Keku that had been riding on top of the ck Wolf wasn¡¯t safe either. Its head hit the floor, instantly breaking its neck. Kwang Hwi immediately took aim at the next monster. Gunshots rang through the air in quick session. Whenever he mechanically pulled the trigger, the number of ck Wolves chasing the sedan declined one by one. As the number of ck Wolves that had their heads blown up increased to the double digits, the wolf furthest from the car stopped chasing. With its massive body and eyes dyed blood red, it looked to be the leader of the pack. A blood-curdling howl echoed through the air. The other wolves stopped. Of course, this did not mean that Kwang Hwi had any obligation to stop firing at them. Gunshots continued to echo in quick session. They even managed to kill three more wolves before they were out of range. Despite the distance between them increasing, Kwang Hwi could feel the heavy gazeing from the pack leader. It was a gaze filled with bloodlust. Had it been a weak willed person who was subjected to such a gaze, they would have fainted on the spot. Naturally, this had no effect on Kwang Hwi. After all, he had been exposed to much stronger bloodlust in the past. Chapter 7 7. Rise To Power Join our discord server to discuss the novel https://discord.gg/wsqKy9R Most radio channels contained nothing but static. The few channels that were still broadcasting all yed the same pre-recorded script on a loop. ¨C Please stay indoors and stockpile as much food as possible. Monsters have appeared all over the country. In response, the military and police forces have started to take action. ¡°Boss. Look up ahead¡­¡± said one of the men. Kwang Hwi, who had been resting, opened his eyes to find something unexpected. The SUV and box trucks had already arrived at thepound, but they were far from the only things present. ¡°P-please protect us! There are monsters everywhere and we have nowhere else to go!¡± ¡°Please save us!¡± Dozens of people were gathered in front of the house. Kwang Hwi¡¯s subordinates were in the midst of trying to stop them from climbing over the fence. ¡°Everyone, please calm down!¡± One of his subordinates shouted. While his men could easily keep their cool duringbat, dealing with normal civilians like this left even them flustered. This wasn¡¯t some enemy they could just kill. As the sedan rolled to a stop, Kwang Hwi got out of the car. His men immediately snapped to attention once they noticed his arrival. ¡°Our boss has arrived!¡± One of the men announced. ¡®Oh boy.¡¯ Kwang Hwi forcefully suppressed the smile creeping onto his face. When the situation truly called for it, his subordinates could act professionally. But they were never usually this formal when speaking to Kwang Hwi. Simply put, this was all an act that he and his men were putting on. Kwang Hwi followed along and pretended like he was ignorant of what was happening. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°You see¡­¡± The noisy crowd grew quiet. They had noticed the change in his subordinates¡¯ demeanor. Instinctively, they must have realized that Kwang Hwi was the one who had the final say on whether they would live or die. ¡°They are asking us to protect them.¡± ¡°Protect them?¡± asked Kwang Hwi. ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded. ¡®This is faster than I anticipated.¡¯ Kwang Hwi had expected something like this to happen in the foreseeable future. However, he hadn¡¯t thought that people woulde seeking protection on the first day of this catastrophe. Perhaps this was the result of attracting all those monsters with gunshots. Before the Keku could find people hiding in their houses or the surrounding factories, Kwang Hwi and his subordinates finished them off. These people must have seen their battle against the horde of monsters and decided his home was the safest ce to be. Kwang Hwi climbed on top of the sedan, surveying the crowd. All of the survivors naturally looked up to him. ¡°My name is Kwang Hwi Baek. These men are myrades. All of us have realbat experience.¡± Kwang Hwi shouted. ¡°We have just returned from L-mart after gathering supplies. Everyone here must know by now that those monsters aren¡¯t just killing people, but also eating them.¡± The people¡¯s faces contorted, disying their fear and disgust. Some covered their mouths as if they were feeling ill. ¡° Let me be clear. We are not part of the government or military. Therefore, we do not receive any orders from the government or military.¡± Kwang Hwi continued his speech. His subordinates nodded like it was obvious this was fact. The military? The government? To them, there was only one leader they would follow. It was neither the President nor the Ministry of National Defense. Kwang Hwi Baek was their boss. ¡°We only fight for ourselves. We¡¯ll do anything to protect ourselves and only ourselves.¡± Kwang Hwi said resolutely. Many people gulped in apprehension without even realizing it. There was something in Kwang Hwi¡¯s voice that attracted their attention. They were focused on nothing but his domineering voice. ¡°If you join us, you¡¯ll be one of us.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s words reverberated through the crowd. ¡°My orders are absolute. Forget all thews of society. You must prioritize my orders over everything else.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s subordinates stood still in shock, mouths agape. They did not think their boss would ept these people so easily. At the very least, this wasn¡¯t something the Kwang Hwi they knew would do. Anything that wasn¡¯t helpful was either ignored or eliminated. Civilians who had nothing to do with an operation were dismissed. They were ¡®mercenaries¡¯ after all. But something was different this time. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, you don¡¯t have to join us. I won¡¯t force you. However, don¡¯t stab us in the backter. We¡¯ll hunt all traitors to the ends of the earth and punish them.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s stern tone made it clear to everyone just how serious he was. Kwang Hwi stared at the crowd. His eyes gleamed with a subtle light. Everyone in the crowd wanted to shrink back from his stare, but they couldn¡¯t help but gaze back at him. ¡°If you can ept this, follow me.¡± This was the start of Kwang Hwi¡¯s rise to power. *** Kwang Hwi was on the second floor of his home. People who decided to join his group formed a line while Kwang Hwi¡¯s subordinates inspected them, asking for basic information such as their name, age, and upation. While inconvenient, it was a necessary process. Holding a weapon wasn¡¯t the only thing that made someone useful. They had to produce more food and construct residences for people to live in. All of this could not be done solely by Kwang Hwi and his subordinates. They needed more people to join. While he was watching his new ¡®recruits¡¯ outside, Jackson appeared behind him. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°How many people joined?¡± Kwang Hwi asked. ¡°Around 40.¡± ¡°What about the supplies we brought from L-mart?¡± ¡°ording to our assessment, we¡¯ll be able to make do for a while.¡± If people hadn¡¯t joined they would have had enough supplies tost for months. However, the number of mouths they had to feed had increased. Perhaps they couldst for a month at most, but any longer would be difficult. Kwang Hwi was a bit disappointed that the Merit Shop did not sell any food or general supplies. ¡°Boss, I didn¡¯t expect you to ept these people,¡± Jackson quipped. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Even if no one else mentions it, I¡¯m not the only one who thinks so.¡± Kwang Hwi turned around. ¡°Were you surprised too, Soo Min?¡± Soo Min looked around aimlessly and coughed to clear his throat. ¡°Hm¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°At first, I thought only we needed to stick together.¡± Kwang Hwi began exining. Jackson and Soo Min listened intently. Grinning, Kwang Hwi continued. ¡°But I quickly realized we couldn¡¯t do that.¡± The media had exined everything clearly enough. The entire world had been covered by a fog so thick, visibility was reduced to just a few feet. This same fog made guns and other weapons inoperable, meaning that every firearm across the globe had been rendered useless. To top it all off, man-eating monsters were now indiscriminately attacking people. At a minimum, there were 6 billion humans inhabiting the earth. Was it reasonable to believe that only a few thousand monsters were all that were attacking the entire? If they were appearing all over the world, then there were, at the very least, tens of thousands of monsters. Moreover, the battle at the supermarket confirmed that there was not only one species of monster. It was growing increasingly dangerous to operate with a small team under these circumstances. Their group had to grow in size. No matter how many weapons Kwang Hwi bought, there needed to be people to use them. Even if he was able to get a SPG, a helicopter, or some other cutting-edge weapon, there was a limit. How many of these could Kwang Hwi and his subordinates operate at once? Ten people operating military equipment was different from one hundred, let alone thousands of people. The scale was iparable. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m recruiting people.¡± ¡°As expected, boss!¡± said Jackson, as he mulled over his boss¡¯s words. ¡°After checking the new recruit¡¯s personal information, report back to me. For now, let the people rest in tents. Night watch duties will be assigned as usual.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± said Jackson, as he left to carry out Kwang Hwi¡¯s orders. Chapter 8 8. Expansion (1) Join our discord server to discuss the novel https://discord.gg/wsqKy9R [Unable to disy the following page due to awork error.] It had been two days since the beginning of what could only be described as ¡®the end of the world¡¯. Inte and mobileworks had finally crashed. Phone calls and text messages were left unanswered and many were left wondering which, if any, of their loved ones were still alive. During this time of crisis, the government refused to take action. The radio stations that had been broadcasting pre-recorded warnings now yed nothing but silence. Even though the power grid was down, there were sr panels on the roof of Kwang Hwi¡¯s house, which provided the home with enough electricity to get by. In the past two days, they had made several renovations to his house, transforming it into something more suited for their current situation. Among those changes, his men had turned their old drinking room on the second floor into an office. In there, Kwang Hwi was reviewing the logistics report he received from his men, when he heard a brief knock on the office door. ¡°Come in.¡± Soo Min entered the room, holding a sheet of paper in his hand. He handed it over to Kwang Hwi. ¡°Boss, here¡¯s the information about the people who joined us yesterday.¡±. Kwang Hwi took the report and quickly skimmed through it. He only needed to read it once to memorize the recruits¡¯ personal info. Soo Min pointed at the paper. ¡°People with specialized skills are marked on the report. Those who didn¡¯t have any unique talents are listed at the bottom. We can train them to be soldiers in the future.¡± Kwang Hwi gave hisrade a stern nod. ¡°First and foremost, we have to expand our base.¡± In order to increase their overall forces, they had to make a number of preparations. Of these, acquiring morend was the highest priority. The new arrivals needed to live somewhere other than Kwang Hwi¡¯s yard. In time, they would also need room for training and storing equipment. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t difficult to acquire morend. Kwang Hwi¡¯s current base was rather secluded, which offeredrge tracts ofnd for the taking. This would have proven to be much more problematic if they were located in a downtown hub. ¡°Soo Min, I need you to bring me two people.¡± ¡°Who should I bring?¡± ¡°These two,¡± said Kwang Hwi, tapping his finger next to their names. Kwang Hwi selected an interior designer and a construction worker. Soo Min left the room and quickly returned with the two in tow. Two middle-aged men meekly followed Soo Min into the room. The two shuffled about in ce and sped their hands together in abject silence. They kept their heads down and averted their eyes as Kwang Hwi observed them. It was easy to see that they were nervous. It was to be expected, seeing as Kwang Hwi was the leader of this group. With but a single word he could have the two of them kicked out, which was nothing short of a death sentence. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Brigadier General Kwang Hwi Baek.¡± ¡°B-brigadier General?¡± One of them men stammered in surprise. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell us yesterday that you weren¡¯t a part of the military¡­?¡± ¡°You do not need to be in the military to have a rank. Please, sit.¡± Kwang Hwi motioned to the chairs in front of his desk. The two white-knuckled workers sat down, waiting to hear what they were called here for. Kwang Hwiid something out onto the table in front of them. It was a map of the local area. He remained silent for a moment in contemtion, before finally addressing the two men. ¡°I heard one of you worked as an interior designer and the other worked for a constructionpany. Is that true?¡± Both of the men replied immediately. ¡°Y-yes!¡± ¡°Then, please take a look at this,¡± said Kwang Hwi, as he pointed towards the map on his desk. The map highlighted notable areas in the city. One such area on the map was marked with a red border. It was the neighborhood Kwang Hwi¡¯s house was located in. ¡°This is where my house is located. With the money I saved, I boughtrge tracts ofnd and built a house muchrger than a single person would ever need. But, it¡¯s not big enough to house dozens of people. Shouldn¡¯t we create a better living environment that¡¯srge enough to amodate as many people as possible?¡± The construction worker caught on to what Kwang Hwi wanted first. ¡°So, you want to expand your base and set up some temporary amodations for everyone.¡± Kwang Hwi nodded. While there were a few factories near the house, most of thend consisted of empty lots. So long as they were able to fortify the surroundingnd, they would be able to expand with no worries. ¡°I heard you guys worked in a nearby factory. Can you get the materials you need from there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± said the interior designer, ¡°while they¡¯re not in the ce I work at, there¡¯s a pile of shipping containers close by.¡± ¡°Shipping containers?¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes shined. ¡®Shipping containers could be used for a myriad of purposes, including serving as walls and temporary housing. Didn¡¯t the former President also build a wall with shipping containers? To think that there were some nearby, especially when we are nowhere near the coast. It¡¯s wee news to say the least.¡¯ ¡°We can use those as walls and the leftovers can take care of the housing problem you mentioned. On top of that, we can probably find something like a prefabricated house in the factory.¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Kwang Hwi grinned. ¡°You¡¯lle with us when we head thereter.¡± ¡°Eh? Okay¡­¡± Although neither of them wanted to go, the two men didn¡¯t dare speak up against Kwang Hwi. *** Kwang Hwi gathered all of his subordinates together. He felt that now was the right time to unveil his n. ¡°I heard the yard where the shipping containers are stored is quite spacious. I think it¡¯d be nice to bring some new recruits there after training.¡± Kwang Hwi paused for a moment. ¡°How¡¯s that going anyways?¡± ¡°Boss, you¡¯re nning to toss them into livebat this early? There could be casualties,¡± remarked one of the subordinates. ¡°You should know that shooting practice dummies is way easier than shooting moving, living targets.¡± Kwang Hwi knew. However, he felt it would be better for the new recruits to experience an actual battle now, rather than continue their training with dummy targets. ¡°Even during their training, they should build up some actualbat experience. If it¡¯s against a small group of Keku, I think the recruits will be fine.¡± Kwang Hwi spoke confidently. One of the men suggested, ¡°Hm¡­ I think it¡¯ll be best to have some backup.¡± The drill sergeant nodded. With backup from the veteran mercenaries, they didn¡¯t need to worry about the recruits getting into trouble. ¡°Pay special attention to their mental training. They¡¯re civilians that have been livingfortable, normal lives up until now. Remember what we went through when we were going through training in the army. We have to make them obey orders unconditionally.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss! Understood.¡± It wasn¡¯t going to be an easy task. In the face of the apocalypse they joined his group out of necessity to survive. Even with the training he had already provided them, these people weren¡¯t going to forget their old lives overnight. He needed to mold them by fire, through trials and tribtions. ¡°As we grow, we will need to be more structured,¡± said Kwang Hwi. ¡°Do you mean we should form an organization¡­?¡± ¡°We aren¡¯t any different than a group that controls a region based on military strength. In other words, a militia¡­ We need to have an internalmand system. Is anybody dissatisfied with me being the leader?¡± Kwang Hwi shared his thoughts. Everyone remained silent. Naturally, no one was dissatisfied. It was due to Kwang Hwi that they were all here in the first ce. ¡°I think it would be best to use military rank. As I am themander-in-chief, I will be the Brigadier General,¡± said Kwang Hwi. ¡°Boss, how can you be so greedy?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, boss. Even in privatepanies, they normally use Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel. Starting off as a one-star general? You need to earn that rank!¡± His subordinates really enjoyed making a fuss. Kwang Hwi grinned in response. ¡°Is that so¡­ I felt bad for only giving myself a star, so I was going to assign you as Lieutenant Colonels. If you guys don¡¯t want it, then I suppose it¡¯s best if you start off as Captains,¡± said Kwang Hwi. ¡°Ahaha¡­e on, boss. You know we were joking.¡± ¡°We love having a higher rank!¡± It was obvious that his subordinates were flip-flopping. Some men even looked like they were ready to bow down to Kwang Hwi. Kwang Hwi looked at them with disgust and shooed them away. Anybody watching could tell that they were joking around. ¡°Forget it ¨C it¡¯s toote. You can all start as Majors,¡± concluded Kwang Hwi. ¡°Boss! Please!¡± ¡°Boss. Without fail, I will always support your decision,¡± said Jackson. ¡°Wow, Jackson. Sucking up to the boss already!¡± said Soo Min. Kwang Hwi rapped his knuckles on the table andmanded his troop¡¯s attention. The room soon became quiet and all eyes focused on him. ¡°Once the recruits are done with their training, they will be assigned to each and every one of you. Likewise, you must select a senior officer from the graduates to take the lead. Understood?¡± If need be, Kwang Hwi nned to recruit talents from outside of his troop. Veterans didn¡¯t just disappear because their guns malfunctioned. What he needed the most right now were soldiers. ¡°Ah ¨Ce to think of it, boss. Don¡¯t we need some sort of name?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyebrow raised in response. ¡°It won¡¯t matter if it¡¯s just between us, but other people will need some way to recognize us.¡± Kwang Hwi became deep in thought. He was right. They needed a distinctive name for their soldiers to rally under and for other powers to fear. Even gangsters had some sort of name for their group like the Crips and the Bloods. It was weird that the world¡¯s only military power did not have a name. ¡°Any ideas?¡± said Kwang Hwi. ¡°Oh me! Me!¡± eximed Soo Min. The first person to raise his hand was Soo Min. Kwang Hwi became uneasy. Soo Min was likely to say something stupid. Simr to Soo Min¡¯s excellent skills, the nonsense that came out of his mouth was superb. ¡°How about Kwang Hwi Faction? Since the boss does everything for us alone, we should name it after him!¡± The entire party burst out intoughter. ¡°Kwang Hwi Faction! It certainly has a nice ring to it.¡± ¡°Oh God¡­ In English it¡¯s¡­ Morning Glory?¡± said Jackson. His instincts were right. Kwang Hwi let out a sigh. ¡°Drop down.¡± said Kwang Hwi. The rowdy subordinates immediately rammed their head into the floor. Chapter 9 9. Expansion (2) Kwang Hwi and his subordinates were left focusing on the new recruits¡¯ training for the time being. The instructors drilled them harshly, teaching them obedience and mental fortitude. In the morning, they would begin their day with physical training and shooting practice. By noon, they underwent psychological training to strengthen their resolve. The green soldiers had difficulty adapting to their new lifestyle. Years ofcency drove them to cling onto their peaceful habits. In order to subvert this, the drill sergeants took advantage of a special method: livebat. A fierce howl thundered, sending a wave of panic through the new recruits. This was their first excursion into the outside world after being indoctrinated into Kwang Hwi¡¯s army. Although the area surrounding the base wasrgely cleared, dozens of monsters continued to traipse about. The new recruits couldn¡¯t help but be nervous when faced with threats all around them. It was deeply reminiscent of their first day of the apocalypse. The screams of horror and a sense of futility washed over them as they remembered the distressed cries of their loved ones as they were mutted and torn to shreds. Naturally, their drill sergeant wouldn¡¯t let them indulge in the past. A single gunshot rang out, fired from the officer¡¯s rifle, snapping the recruits out of their collective daze. ¡°What are you doing?! These monsters killed your family! Your friends! It¡¯s time to get your revenge!¡± Their eyes turned sharp. Everybody here had lost somebody. Subconsciously, they recalled the stringent training regimen that they had slogged through over the past few days. Their bodies automatically went through the motions as they prepared for battle. They aimed their rifles and fired toward the monsters. The Keku staggered back at the iing fire, but held their ground and shrieked at their opponents. Fortunately, the recruits remembered that the Keku¡¯s defense was exceptional and they did not panic. In that short confrontation, they found themselves exposed to the frightening truth: the world they once knew was gone. The police and military had all gone missing and the government was in shambles. Monsters ran rampant while they were left to fend for themselves in a brand new world. All in all, this mission was just what the doctor ordered. With most Korean men having military experience, the recruits were simply using the skills they already had. In the beginning, the men found themselves easily flustered but, over time, they grew to be capable soldiers. The camaraderie built between the recruits made them fiercely loyal to Kwang Hwi¡¯s cause. On the final day of training, Kwang Hwi and his subordinates hosted a graduation ceremony for the new recruits and presented them each with a military uniform and badge he purchased from the Merit Shop. The 10 individuals who graduated today stood at attention as Kwang Hwi offered his congrattions. Of the 10 recruits, 8 of them were promoted to Private. The remaining two, the squad leader and deputy respectively, were promoted to Private First ss. ¡°Good work, everyone. As you continue to distinguish yourself in battle, your rank will rise to reflect your contributions. Over time, you will have the opportunity to ascend in rank¡ªnot just to Sergeant. With ample opportunity to rise to the asion, you can be a military officer.¡± The recruits¡¯ eyes widened. ¡°Keep in mind, while it¡¯s good to contribute, the most important thing you can do is survive. Let¡¯s all work hard to survive until the very end.¡± ¡°To the boss! Salute!¡± The recruits raised their right hands in unison and stomped together with military poise; they all felt that their training had been worthwhile. There was no military anthem, Kwang Hwi felt there was no need for them to prove their allegiance or sing a congrattory song like the Korean military did. After receiving the salute, he stepped down from the podium. From here, everybody could see him face to face. Kwang Hwi made sure they understood that, even if they weren¡¯t soldiers, they couldn¡¯t sit around doing nothing. Some were assigned to cook for the soldiers, while others were tasked to search houses and factories after monsters were cleared from the area. There were even those who were sent out to surveynd for expansion and construction work. Most people were assigned to the production of necessary goods that supported the Kwang Hwi Faction. Even the elderly, who had poor physical capabilities, were no exception to this rule. They could pick up garbage around thepound and do simple chores, like cleaning. *** After training had concluded, Kwang Hwi headed immediately to the container yard with his new force. ¡°Send in the drone.¡± One of the subordinates following Kwang Hwi pulled out a drone from his vest. It was a miniature drone approximately the size of a removable phone battery. He had found this in the [Communication/Reconnaissance] category of the Merit Shop. The subordinate ced the drone on the floor and spread its folded wings. ¡ºSnipe Nano Quadrotor¡» ¡ºA miniature stealth drone made by the AV Company. It was specifically designed for short-range reconnaissance and surveince. Weighing 140g, it has a maximum speed of 36 km/h and an operational range of 1km.¡» ¡ºPrice: 250 MP.¡» It was easy to carry around and even had ess to infrared cameras. Between that and the rtively cheap cost, it was extremely convenient for Kwang Hwi¡¯s needs. With its four rotors, the drone flew into the sky. Circling around the container yard, it provided the militia with a full view of their surroundings. Multiple containers were neatly stacked next to each other along the far side of the yard. On the other side, trucks and cranesy dormant¡ªlikely once used to transport the containers. ¡°Any sign of monsters?¡± ¡°All clear.¡± ¡°Not even one?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Kwang Hwi took his gun and fired a few candid shots outside. A still silence washed over the abandoned yard as the SUV lurched forward, escorting a Medium Tactical Vehicle. ¡ºMedium Tactical Vehicle¡» ¡ºA prototype model developed to rece the existing military transports. Per military standard, it features a bulletproof frame that can transport 28 fully armed soldiers at a time. Run-t tires are installed to guarantee the vehicle¡¯s mobility. Modifications can be made to the vehicle to install machine guns and other weapons in the carrierpartment.¡» As always, the Merit Shop spoiled Kwang Hwi. In the carrier, soldiers who had just finished their training were awaiting further instructions. When the vehicle screeched to a halt, the soldiers quickly deployed into the surrounding area. From there, the 10 recruits split into pairs with one of Kwang Hwi¡¯s subordinates leading each of the 5 squads. Kwang Hwi stood back and waited for them to secure the perimeter. ¡ª ¡°Team 1. All clear.¡± ¡ª ¡°Team 2, reporting. No issue!¡± ¡ª ¡°Team 3. Clear.¡± ¡ª ¡°Team 4. Nothing special.¡± ¡ª ¡°Same here for Team 5.¡± The men started transporting the containers, the handpicked soldiers imed the vehicles and secured containers for use. Once the truck was in position, the crane moved the container in ce. Aside from the crane, there was also the reach stacker, which was a specialized forklift for handling containers. As the soldiers expected, the vehicles generated a lot of noise which could attract a horde of Keku. In order tobat this, the new recruits maintained a tight perimeter around the container yard at designated patrol points to keep watch for iing attacks. ¡°Everything¡¯s going smoothly.¡± ¡°Boss, isn¡¯t it nice when things go as nned?¡± ¡°It is.¡± Kwang Hwi nodded grimly. As enticed as he was at the prospect of everything going as nned, he knew that it was extremely rare for everything to seed without a hitch. His contentment didn¡¯tst, however, as one of his Majors soon sounded the alert. ¡ª ¡°Boss! A horde of Keku are approaching from 5 o¡¯clock!¡± He sighed. Of course it couldn¡¯t possibly be this easy. Grabbing themunications device, he asked for more information. ¡°How many?¡± ¡ª ¡°It¡¯s¡­ preliminary estimates are nearing 500!¡± Chapter 10 10. Expansion (3) Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t panic at the newly discovered information. He prioritized checking on the status of the containers. ¡°How many containers are left?¡± ¡ª ¡°10 left, but we have to wait for the trucks to return before proceeding.¡± The civilian that Kwang Hwi brought from base spoke with a cracked voice. From his position, he could clearly see the onught of monstersing to tear them limb from limb. Kwang Hwi sneered. To an untrained individual, 500 Keku was enough to wipe out their defenses. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll have to deal with them.¡± There was no reason to avoid the monsters¡ªthey would have to be killed eventually. With their ample firepower, these monsters would have little to no effect on his forces. Kwang Hwi issued his orders in a calm and collected voice. Themander cannot panic, for his actions affect the morale of the entire troop. ¡°Carry on working. Teams 1 and 3 will hold their positions and defend the perimeter. As for the rest, rendezvous at the entrance of the container yard.¡± Kwang Hwi waved down the vehicle and reconvened with the other teams at the front of the container yard. They had parked the Medium Tactical Vehicle so that it was blockading the entrance as a suitable way to provide suppression fire and cover. For Kwang Hwi¡¯s subordinates, who had followed him through thick and thin, they showed no signs of fatigue. The same could not be said for the new recruits, who were panting in exhaustion. Kwang Hwi quietly clicked his tongue. He made a mental note to double down on physical training when they got back to the camp. This level of fitness was uneptable. ¡°Dispatch the troops to that office.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± As a deep rumbling grew ever closer, eachmander drove the recruits waiting inside the containers,. A horde of Keku reared their ugly heads and the dispatched troops drew their guns in response. Kwang Hwi held onto the handle of the grenadeuncher in preparation for the uing melee. He apuded his foresight in unlocking [Support/Crew Weaponry] beforehand. ¡ºMk 47 Striker ALGL¡» ¡ºA 40mm automatic grenadeuncher with a built-inser rangefinder and ballisticputer technology for calcting trajectory. Compared to the Mk 19 GMG, it has a lower peak recoil and is easier to carry around. It can fire up to 225 ¨C 300 rounds a minute.¡» Kwang Hwi¡¯s love of the weapon was two-fold. It demonstrated all of the conveniences of a high-speed automatic grenadeuncher in a streamlined design meant for essibility. The intuitive nature of the Mk 47 was put on full disy as he used its sights to calcte the perfect trajectory for maximum impact on the iing horde. He braced his knees for the recoil. The fixed grenadeuncher shook the vehicle violently as he let loose a few preliminary shots at the Keku. The most aggressive monsters were turned into mincemeat and the battlefield rapidly degenerated into a meat grinder. ck blood and entrails pockmarked the ground and saggy bits of flesh left the new recruits retching at the sight. No matter how durable a Keku imed to be, it couldn¡¯t survive a direct hit from a grenadeuncher. Kwang Hwi lowered his grenadeuncher and surveyed the sight in front of him. A trail of white smoke bellowed out of the barrel of the Mk 47 and a slew of explosions erupted from the center of the horde. The packed army of monsters was torn to pieces in the aftermath of the explosion. The damage was done¡ªafter 3-4 rounds of fire, the Keku were finished. Before the soldiers had a chance to fire a single shot, only a handful of Keku remained. At this point, he put away the Mk 47 and left the soldiers to clean up the scraps. Some of the Keku that managed to get close threw their weapons to no avail. The gunshots echoed in the container as Kwang Hwi noticed a familiar text box shing in front of his peripheral. ¡ºYou have defeated 300 Keku faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 2500 MP.¡» ¡ºYou have defeated 400 Keku faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 3000 MP.¡» ¡ºYou have defeated 500 Keku faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 3500 MP.¡» ¡ºYou have defeated 600 Keku faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 4000 MP.¡» ¡°Don¡¯t tell me,¡± someone said sarcastically. ¡°Are the new recruits still scared?¡± Kwang Hwi could hear his subordinates snickering on the other side of the walkie-talkie. Even the new recruits could hear it. All of the soldiers had gear surpassing that of the average Korean soldier. He made sure that all of his men had state of the art gear to preserve his allies. ¡ª ¡°Did you hear the boss? Report!¡± ¡ª ¡°Yes, sir! We heard him!¡± Kwang Hwi asked for a status report from the team leaders. Sporadic gunshots sprouted from all over the container yard as thest vestiges of the Keku were eliminated. ¡ª Kill confirmed. *** ¡°Boss. It¡¯s all done.¡± Thest fully loaded truck left the container yard. What was originally filled with dozens of shipping containers was now an urban wastnd. Kwang Hwi and his soldiers were thest to leave. In the few hours that they were away, their base had aplete makeover. The base expanded and, with the container walls, a defensible perimeter was formed to keep a lookout. Patrol points were designated across the territory and weapons were mounted at intervals to stop monsters from advancing. Seeing Kwang Hwi return, Soo Min and Jackson rendezvoused with him at the entrance. ¡°How¡¯s the expansion?¡± asked Kwang Hwi. ¡°As you can see, we have finished dispatching containers to create the outer wall. Afterwards, we¡¯re going to fill them with as much sand and garbage as possible to secure their foundations.¡± When they were done, it would be strong enough to withstand a truck hurtling into it at full speed. ¡°Thankfully, we have a few containers left, which we can use to decorate the interior and provide living quarters.¡± The containers were repurposed as dormitories for the civilians¡ªsuitable for living, if only just. Another set of containers were converted into barracks for the militia right beside Kwang Hwi¡¯s house. The raw materials that were brought from nearby factories were piled up beside Kwang Hwi¡¯s house. ¡°For now, the boss¡¯ house will be our temporary base. It shouldn¡¯t take too much time to assemble the prefab house. In the meantime, they¡¯ll be living in tents. It shouldn¡¯t be all that bad in this weather.¡± It was currently springtime, which proved to be ideal for their current situation. Were it the Summer or Winter, the weather wouldn¡¯t have been suitable for their soldiers to live in a tent. Kwang Hwi knew he needed to treat them with respect and build the loyalty of his militia. Giving them the ideal living environment was just the first step towards that. As the men who were on the front lines, fighting to protect their haven from imminent threats, Kwang Hwi gave them preferential treatment as thanks for their service. Kwang Hwi reviewed the defensible locations and designated patrol points across the camp, travelling to each location personally and ensuring that everything met his standards. He made some minor adjustments to the blueprints and proceeded to purchase machine guns and ammo from the Merit Shop. As he entered the Merit Shop, he found himself overwhelmed by the sheer number of options avable to him. Models from all over the world were offered to Kwang Hwi and he took a few painstaking moments before he decided on his purchase. ¡ºSTK Ultimax 100¡» ¡ºWeighing 4.9kg without the magazine, it is one of the lightest machine guns in production. Due to its unique design, its recoil is dampened.¡» Whilst it was unfortunate that it used an exclusive drum magazine, modifications to the gun would allow them to use the NATO magazine, which Kwang Hwi preferred. Most importantly, the weapon was portable and very newbie-friendly. The n was to install the machine guns in ce and use the monsters for shooting practice. With this, they had taken the first step towards setting up the foundations of their military base. Kwang Hwi nced back at the Merit Shop. ¡ºArmored Vehicle¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked. It can be unlocked afterpleting a mission.¡» Now all he would need is an armored vehicle in order to safely transport his soldiers. Right now, they were stuck with regr vehicles and a single bulletproof transport truck he purchased on the Merit Shop, but its limitations were bing more and more apparent. None of their current vehicles could take a direct hit from a Keku and hope to remain in one piece. Kwang Hwi knew that his most valuable resource was manpower. With limited human resources avable, he could not afford to waste them. He needed armored vehicles to protect his assets. The ability to run over monsters was an added bonus. Up until now, he postponed the mission to ensure that theyid the foundation for their base of operations. But now, it couldn¡¯t be dyed any further. ¡ºThis category can be unlocked afterpleting a mission.¡» ¡ºWould you like to ept the mission?¡» ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 11 11. First Mission (1) ¡ºKwang Hwi Baek¡¯s Mission¡» ¡ºObtain the necessary medical supplies from Dongducheon General Hospital.¡» ¡ºMission Rewards: Unlock , 300,000 MP.¡» Kwang Hwi rubbed his eyes in disbelief, but the mission reward remained unchanged. ¡®In addition to unlocking , it also gave 300,000 MP?¡¯ Simr to the amount given when he awakened his ability, the reward forpleting this quest was enormous. ¡°Dongducheon General Hospital?¡± He knew where that was. With the ambition of bing thergest hospital in Asia, it had only openedst year after 22 years of construction. But what he couldn¡¯t wrap his head around was why. In the grand scheme of things, there were plenty of other ces to secure. Military camps, police stations, fire departments, and the city hall were all crucial to their ns of conquest. He nced at the whiteboard in his office. It listed their current status and future ns per Kwang Hwi and his subordinates. Weapons ¨C Secured Land ¨C Secured Troops ¨C Ongoing Energy ¨C Limited Supplies ¨C Ongoing (Medical Supplies URGENT) For a long time, he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off of the whiteboard. ¡®Could that be it¡­?¡¯ Last time, when they went to secure supplies at the L-mart, they were only able to secure basic supplies. Hygienic supplies, food, and clean water were abundant, but they were low on proper medical supplies. That, alongside with theirck of doctors and nurses meant any injuries had a serious chance of escting. The system appeared to be reading his mind as it assigned him a mission to secure supplies from the hospital. Grabbing his walkie-talkie, he ordered Soo Min toe to his office. *** ¡°Tell me what the minimum number of people needed to defend the base is.¡± While others would have been perplexed by Kwang Hwi¡¯s odd question, Soo Min didn¡¯t bat an eye and answered immediately. ¡°10 people.¡± Kwang Hwi agreed with hispatriot. In fact, 10 was a bare minimum. As they expanded further, that number would progressively increase. ¡°Did something happen?¡± asked Soo Min carefully. ¡°We need to secure a hospital¡ªa reasonablyrge one, so I¡¯m nning a full force expedition.¡± Looting every single minor hospital in their way would dig into their time. While he would prefer to go with only his subordinates, he understood that they needed to provide some semnce of protection for their base. With the substantial reward, there was danger lurking beneath the surface. Soo Min caught on to his boss¡¯ thoughts and did his best to assuage his concerns. ¡°Boss. I understand how you feel, but we can¡¯t keep treating them as recruits.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re right.¡± Kwang Hwi had to ept that casualties would ur during the mission. The new recruits needed to learn in a trial by fire, but it was also too dangerous to take them to such a ce. Any mission worth 300,000 MP was most certainly fraught with danger. Taking them to build experience was one thing, sending them out likembs to the ughter was something entirely different. Soo Min could see the moral dilemma going on in his boss¡¯ head. ¡°Boss, we know how much you care, but you need to believe in us and the recruits we¡¯ve trained.¡± Kwang Hwi nodded. They weren¡¯t flowers in a greenhouse. Only through hardship would they be able to grow into capable, diligent soldiers that sneer in the face of danger. ¡°Form a team that will plunder the hospital by 22:00 today. You¡¯ll stay here as the temporary Commanding Officer.¡± Within the team, Soo Min upied an unusual position. During regr operations, he acted as the sniper. In the absence of Kwang Hwi, he was the acting Commanding Officer. While unreliable at times, Soo Min was someone that he could trust. After he left the room, Kwang Hwi opened up the Merit Shop and made some final preparations for the mission tomorrow. *** Next morning, Kwang Hwi did a final check on the men¡¯s equipment before they headed out. For their mission, there were 8 people on the team: 4 recruits and 4 of his subordinates. Naturally, Kwang Hwi was leading them. ¡°Today, we¡¯ll be heading to the Dongducheon General Hospital. Our objective is to salvage medical supplies and bring them back to our base.¡± Some of them were surprised that they were sending such a small crew to raid the hospital, but Kwang Hwi pretended not to notice. ¡°Don¡¯t think that 8 people is too small. We are now the only military force around. Follow mymands and we will survive. Everybody, on board.¡± Kwang Hwi boarded the SUV and waved the rest of his troops in. Whoever was left settled in the Medium Tactical Vehicle. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± With a loud whirring, the SUV and Medium Tactical Vehicle lurched forward. des were attached to the front of the trucks¡ªanother perk from the Merit Shop. It tore apart obstacles on the road, such as stationary cars from before the incident and monsters charging at them at a breakneck pace. In less than an hour, the des were covered in the stench of monster flesh and ck blood. As the trucks screeched to a halt, Kwang Hwi ordered them to start reconnaissance. The drone that was usedst time was sent in to scout. Discarded cars littered the side of the slope leading to the hospital. As the drone got past the slope, it entered through the parking lot entrance. Corpses were strewn across the parking lot, most likely shredded by monsters. It had been some time since they had been murdered and the corpses had been rotting for a little while now. A dreary feeling crept up behind them. An ambnce was stuck in the lobby of the first floor, but a strange feeling washed over him. ¡®Are there no monsters?¡¯ The drone hovered in the vicinity of the hospital for a long time, but no monsters were caught on camera. ¡°Carry on.¡± ¡ª ¡°Roger.¡± The Medium Tactical Vehicle continued to wade through the obstacles, driving over corpses, bulldozing other cars, and paving the way for the other soldiers. Once stopped, the team exited the vehicles and fanned out to secure the perimeter. Despite the loud noises, nary a response was to be found. Without the emergency power, the only source of light in the entire hospital was the natural lighting from the windows. The deeper they headed into the hospital, the more the darkness flooded their vision and left them blind. Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t panic and opened up the Merit Shop. ¡ºGPNVG-18¡» ¡ºNight-vision goggles used by special task forces such as the DEVGRU in the United States. Compared to the traditional dual-tube goggles, it offers a wider range of vision. Additionally, it blocks strong sources of light to prevent re.¡» ¡°Wear these.¡± Kwang Hwi distributed night vision goggles to each of his troop. Now their vision was clear, albeit tinged in blue. As they continued further into the hospital the darkness swallowed Kwang Hwi and his men, one by one. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 12 12. First Mission (2) There was a map for the entire hospital near the entrance where they came in.
¡°We¡¯re heading towards the pharmacy on the first floor.¡± ¡ª ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°If you see anything strange, report back immediately.¡± The number of corpses increased sharply as they made their way deeper into the hospital. The recruits¡¯ grimaced as the rotting bodies reeked of decay. Without a word, Kwang Hwi hurried over to his destination.
Looking at his surroundings, he noticed a convenience store next to the pharmacy. ¡®More food is always good.¡¯ Kwang Hwi gestured for Team 2 to take control of the convenience store next door. As they rummaged about and salvaged whatever they could get ess to, Kwang Hwi headed for the pharmacy. The door creaked open and dozens of shelves came into sight, overflowing with medical supplies. ¡ª ¡°Convenience store clear. Stockpiling is underway.¡± ¡ª ¡°Pharmacy clear. Securing medical supplies.¡± The men began shoving medical supplies into their backpacks and grabbing ahold of any equipment that could be easily transported back to the base. With the sheer amount of things to salvage, they would have to make multiple trips to secure everything that was avable. ¡°Boss, everything has been loaded into the vehicles.¡± ¡°Everyone, l¡ª¡° A scream rang out from further away. ¡°Report.¡± ¡ª ¡°Convenient store is silent.¡± ¡ª ¡°The truck is clear!¡± Kwang Hwi exited the pharmacy and reunited with the team that was looting the convenience store. ¡ª ¡°Boss! Movement detected on the third floor!¡± ¡°Go!¡± They hurried up the stairs. Kwang Hwi, who was in the lead, suddenly threw himself to the floor. Not even a secondter, something crashed into the wall behind him with a loud thud. ncing up, he could see a fire axe embedded in the wall, still shaking from the force of the throw. Even he wouldn¡¯t survive being hit by that. One wrong move and he¡¯d be put out ofbat¡ªpermanently. A curious monster stood at the top of the stairs. It cawed and looked down at them. It was unlike the previous monsters, bearing no resemnce to the Keku or the ck Wolf. Instead, its face and skin looked like they were wrapped in a ck membrane. On the surface, arge blister was wriggling around. Kwang Hwi immediately showcased his disgust for the monster. He had seen his fair share of gruesome things in his past, but this was definitely near the top. As he thought about his new adversary, a few friends popped up beside the mass of ck. The slew of monsters brandished makeshift weapons made of ramshackle items collected from the building. They carried levers, fire axes, and iron pipes, ready to bludgeon anybody who came close. He raised his gun and pointed it at the first monster that appeared. It didn¡¯t resemble a person, which meant that he needed to deal with the hostiles. Gunshots rang out and the face covered in blisters popped. A small piece of crystal thaty inside shattered into pieces. ¡ºYou are the first person in the world to defeat a ¡®Blister.¡¯¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 500 MP.¡» As soon as the first one died, the other monster shrieked at the sight of hisrade dying. Blisters began arriving from all around the pharmacy and they charged directly at Kwang Hwi and his men. Kwang Hwi, however, had his men get into position and begin gunning down the opposition. Soon after, he received another notification: ¡ºYou have defeated 10 Blisters faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 1,000 MP.¡» Despite taking down 10 in an instant via baptism by ballistics, more and more continued appearing. The number of Blisters was increasing far too quickly, and soon became overwhelming. In response, Kwang Hwi took out his own treasured weapon: the M32A1 Grenade Launcher. ¡ºM32A1 MSGL¡» ¡ºA revolving grenadeuncher used in the American and South Korean military bases. It can carry up to six 40mm rounds at once.¡» Unlike the automatic grenadeuncher that he had used prior, the M32A1 was designed to be portable so he could stay on the move. He pointed the barrel towards the horde of Blisters and fired. The round exploded directly in front of a Blister and it burst into hundreds of pieces,unching its crystal against a wall, where it shattered. If someone else saw the crystal without knowing anything, they would have mistaken it for a beautiful jewel. Kwang Hwi fired his remaining 5 rounds at the Blisters and they burst apart. Walls were blown out and the railings on the stairs were nowhere to be found. After checking to make sure that the cylinder was empty, Kwang Hwi reloaded and raised hisuncher again. ¡°All clear!¡± As his soldiers let out sighs of relief, he noticed something in the corner of his eye and broke into a sprint. A woman covered in gore was trying to catch her breath as red blood gushed out of her stomach. Kwang Hwi could see that she didn¡¯t have much time left. He reached out and grabbed her hand, providing what littlefort he could to this dying woman. ¡°Rescue¡­ team?¡± ¡°Are there any survivors?¡± ¡°1¡­ 1501.¡± The woman¡¯s hand went limp as her eyes zed over. It was tragic¡ªthey had lost her just on the cusp of rescue. Kwang Hwi closed her eyes and left her to her eternal rest. ¡®15th floor.¡¯ Based on the map at the entrance, the 15th floor was a VIP Hospital Room. ¡°We¡¯re going up. This has turned into a rescue mission. Search for and destroy all threats on the way to the 15th floor.¡± Kwang Hwi and his team rapidly ascended straight up the stairs. They didn¡¯t have time to scour each and every single floor. There were innocent lives on the line. Monsters frequently appeared and ambushed the men as they passed by. Kwang Hwi received a notification that their kill count just passed 100 Blisters as they reached the 13th floor.
*** Unlike the other floors, a locked door blocked the entrance to the 15th floor. Motioning for his men to fall back, he fired a grenade at the door and blew it off its hinges. Kwang Hwi¡¯s team stormed the entrance,sers swept through the darkness. ¡°Clear!¡± The interior of the 15th floor was quite luxurious. Leather couches lined the waiting area and both an expensive coffee machine and a Smart TV sat on an avant-garde bookshelf beside the entrance. Unlike the other floors where bloodstains and corpses painted the background, the 15th floor was sterile. As they neared Room 1501, the militia were glued to the walls, ready to respond at a moment¡¯s notice. Kwang Hwi battered the door down and stepped into the room. They stormed the room and found themselves in a room very out-of-ce in the hospital. A 1780 sqft VIP Hospital Room was furnished like a luxury apartment. In the center of the room, there were people tied up with rope on the floor. The sound of the door made them turn their heads and widen their eyes in surprise. The people struggled and Kwang Hwi could hear their muffled screams asking for help. Hemanded his men to release them from their bindings. The hostages soothed their wrists, where red welts covered their skin. ¡°Is this every¡ª¡° ¡°Hey you!¡± said one of the captives. He was a middle aged man whose hairline receded with a furious look on his face. ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing, arriving sote? It¡¯s been a week! You dare show up now?¡± Kwang Hwi shook his head. He had never seen this man before. Just in case, Kwang Hwi looked over at his men, but they shrugged their shoulders. They didn¡¯t know him either. ¡°Who are you?¡± said Kwang Hwi with a frown. ¡°What?¡± He was enraged. ¡°Who am I? You dare to talk back¡­ to me? Son of a bitch! What military unit are you from?¡± Kwang Hwi turned away from the bitter old man and spoke to another person in the room wearing a white gown. He looked like a doctor. ¡°Who is this person?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know, but he says he¡¯s a General Officer in the Army.¡± The doctor was evidently very nervous. ¡°A general?¡± Kwang Hwi smiled. Now it all made sense. He believed that Kwang Hwi and his team were here to save him. ¡°You¡¯re a General Officer?¡± ¡°What is your unit and rank!¡± The old man bellowed at Kwang Hwi, going red in the face. Kwang Hwi pointed his gun towards the elderly general, whose eyes were tinged with red. He fired a single shot and blood dripped from the man¡¯s cheek. As the man began to understand the current situation, his eyes opened wide and his words were stuck in his mouth. A dark smile appeared on Kwang Hwi¡¯s face. ¡°It appears you are mistaken. We¡¯re not from the Army.¡± ¡°I¡­but¡­then are you from the Navy? The Air Force?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this guy a little slow?¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s subordinates burst intoughter. The new recruits watched with aplicated look on their face. They didn¡¯t know how to react. ¡°Sir, which unit do you belong to?¡± The general began speaking to Kwang Hwi politely, but by now, Kwang Hwi went to speak with the other survivors. ¡°My name is Kwang Hwi Baek. I am the leader of the militia in Dongducheon.¡± ¡°Militia?¡± Kwang Hwi nodded solemnly. ¡°As you may know, since the monsters have appeared, the world has be a mess. The army, which was supposed to be the first line of defense, has be powerless. We have not seen any sign of either the police or the military in a long time.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s true, what they were saying on the TV?¡± ¡°Yes. For the past week, we haven¡¯t encountered any armed soldiers. Additionally, we have confirmed that firearms have rusted out and have been rendered unusable.¡± Here and there, the survivors let out a sigh. The general in particr was taking the news harder than most. He had doubts, but he didn¡¯t think that the military hadpletely caved. ¡°Fortunately, we were able to secure an armory of functional guns and ammunition. With it, we¡¯ve been getting by, doing our best to survive.¡± Kwang Hwi wouldn¡¯t mention just yet that they were doing better than surviving with his newfound ability. That was news for when the time was right. ¡°I¡¯ll get to the point¡ªwe are looking for people to join us, particrly doctors and nurses. We arecking in people with medical expertise.¡± Kwang Hwi looked at the crowd. There were roughly three people who looked like they worked for the hospital. Excluding the pompous old man, there were five people left. ¡°Is anybody interested?¡± Looking at each other, everybody raised their hands at the same time. Kwang Hwi grinned in satisfaction. ¡°Good.¡± Chapter 13 13. First Mission (3) ¡°Let¡¯s head out.¡± Having secured medical supplies and practitioners, there was no reason to stay here any longer. The team nodded and led the way out of room 1501. Kwang Hwi extended his arms. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°W-what¡¯s wrong?¡± The restrained general looked at Kwang Hwi with puzzlement. ¡°You can¡¯te with us,¡± replied Kwang Hwi. A high ranking official was both useless and risky. ¡°I¡¯m the leader,¡± Kwang Hwi continued. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but I can¡¯t let you go around acting like some kind of big shot.¡± ¡°W-who said I¡¯d do that?!¡± His flustered reaction gave away his intention to do so. From the general¡¯s point of view, the sky was the limit with an armed force such as the one in front of him. Unfortunately, due to Kwang Hwi¡¯s unique rtionship with his militia, it was painfully obvious to everyone that his chances of sess were slim to none. ¡°Either way, you can¡¯te with us.¡± Kwang Hwi walked away and the general¡¯s face paled. ¡®W-what should I do?¡¯ He bit his lip¡ªhe couldn¡¯t have begun to imagine how poorly this situation had gone. He had hoped that his men would eventuallye save him, but given the current circumstances, he had to cling onto the man in front of him to survive. ¡°Wait! Let¡¯s make a deal!¡± Kwang Hwi stopped and turned to the general. He fiddled with his gun and yed with his finger dangerously close to the trigger. ¡°¡­A deal?¡± ¡°If you can ensure my safety, I can promise you something useful.¡± ¡°Something useful?¡± ¡°A Heron.¡± Kwang Hwi furrowed his brow. ¡®Does he mean¡­?¡¯ ¡°Are you talking about the UAV Heron?¡± he asked. ¡°What other Heron could I be talking about?¡± The general sighed with relief. The general wagered that the leader of a militia group would be interested in military equipment. ¡®A Heron¡­¡¯ Kwang Hwi¡¯s expression belied his interest. The Heron was a medium-altitude UAV manufactured by Israel¡¯s IAI. It was extremely popr in South Korea, able to operate continuously up to 52 hours at a time with a range of 3,300 km¡ªenough to scout both China and Japan from South Korea. While it wasn¡¯t needed right this moment, it was a necessaryponent to grow by leaps and bounds in the future. He paused. He was willing to ept the offer, but what if it turned out like the guns? He rationalized to himself that it wasn¡¯t a firearm. While some UAVs had weapons attached, the Heron was fundamentally a reconnaissance vehicle. ¡ºIAI UAV Heron¡» ¡ºPrice: 1,000,000 MP.¡» ¡ºWould you like to purchase?¡» Under [Communications/Reconnaissance], the Heron cost an astronomical 1,000,000 MP. When Kwang Hwi thought about the paltry 190,000 MP he had gained so far, he was bbergasted. ¡®I guess it¡¯s worth the risk.¡¯ If he only had to save one person, it was worth the trouble. Plus, if his hypothesis was correct, there was an opportunity under the surface. ¡°Alright, deal. But ¡­¡± His apathetic eyes bore down on the general. ¡°If you try anything funny¡­¡± ¡°I¡ªI know!¡± The general choked out the words and failed to meet Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes. The two of them were thest to leave the VIP hospital room. Without warning, a Blister ambushed them. The general recoiled in shock, but Kwang Hwi casually aimed his gun at the Blister and stepped in the way of the Blister and its prey. Until Kwang Hwi imed possession of the Heron, he would treat the general as a VIP. The Blister¡¯s abdomen burst apart from the spray of bullets and it copsed. ¡°Please give me a gun¡­¡± the general pleaded. ¡°No.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s sharp nce made the general curb his avarice. The team and the survivors were already waiting in vehicles. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll be going back to base.¡± The line of vehicles turned around and left the hospital. Unlike when they arrived, Kwang Hwi¡¯s SUV led the way, while the Medium Tactical Vehicle carrying survivors and supplies brought up the rear. *** The Blister Lord watched the men depart from his perch. He had been curious as to what humans would approach him so recklessly and had chosen to simply observe from afar for the time being. He quickly realized he had made the right choice¡ªthese humans ughtered countless of his minions in the hospital. For now, there was nothing to do but bide his time. *** ¡°To the boss! Salute!¡± The patrol guards hurriedly raised their hands to salute theirmander. He noted with satisfaction that the exterior walls of the containers had been painted ck, making them even more daunting than before. As soon as he entered the base, notifications popped into view. ¡ºMission Complete¡» ¡ºSecured the necessary medical supplies from Dongducheon General Hospital.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 300,000 MP as a reward.¡» ¡ºUnlocked Armored Vehicle category.¡» ¡°Keep an eye on him around the clock. He is not allowed out of sight.¡± ¡°W-what! I said I wouldn¡¯t do anything strange!¡± The protest was in vain. Aftermanding his subordinates to keep the general under heavy military surveince, Kwang Hwi headed to his office. Soo Min, who was talking to the other soldiers, stopped and greeted him warmly. ¡°You¡¯re back, boss! Did you get what you needed?¡± Wordlessly, Kwang Hwi went to the whiteboard. Supplies ¨C On Demand (Secured Medical Supplies) ¡°This time, I brought doctors and nurses from the hospital. Establish a medical system around them.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Satisfied, Kwang Hwi entered the Merit Shop, and selected the [Armored Vehicle] category. ¡ºIFV K-21¡» ¡ºIFV BMP-3¡» ¡ºIFV LAV-25¡» ¡ºIAV Stryker¡» ¡ºAPC BTR-90¡» The category started off with all kinds of armored vehicles used in Korea, the USA, Russia, and so on. ¡ºK1A1 Tank¡» ¡ºK2 ck Panther¡» ¡ºM1A2 Abrams¡» ¡ºAMX-56 Leclerc¡» ¡ºMerkava Mk. 4¡» ¡ºLeopard 2¡» ¡ºT-90¡» ¡ºType 99¡» As he went through the list, it even progressed to tanks. Hundreds of vehicles were listed. Vehicles with a big and beautiful cannon, a sturdy looking armored te, and a continuous track that looked like it could crush anything in its path. With great reluctance, Kwang Hwi tore his nce away from the tanks in front of him. ¡®Not yet.¡¯ A tank certainly had its appeal, but he needed to prioritize transforming his team into mechanized infantry. He paused, as his eyes lit up as he scrolled through the APCs. ¡ºAPC Namer¡» ¡ºA heavy armored personnel carrier developed in Israel. Shares the same body frame as the Merkava Mk. 4. Widely considered to have the most superior defense amongst APCs.¡» Kwang Hwi had heard of this vehicle before. It was an APC from Israel designed to protect the rtively small Israeli armed forces. The more he thought about it, the more he realized his situation was simr to Israel¡¯s. He was short onbat personnel. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t stop looking at the Namer. ¡®Do I even have enough?¡¯ ¡ºPrice: 320,000 MP¡» ¡ºWould you like to purchase?¡» After histest mission, Kwang Hwi now had 490,000 MP. He resolved himself and purchased it. ¡ºPurchaseplete.¡» ¡ºPlease confirm the location to deploy vehicle.¡» A red rectangle appeared in front of Kwang Hwi. He focused the rectangle to the parking lot in front of the house. A Namer appeared on the gravel out of thin air. Its body was painted in khaki, and a machine gun and a 30mm autocannon were mounted. Inside, a RCWS system was installed to remotely control the autocannon. The people standing nearby jumped back in surprise. Soo Min stared nkly at the APC, and then back at Kwang Hwi. ¡°Boss, is this also your ability¡­?¡± Kwang Hwi nodded resolutely. ¡°Who do we have that can operate an APC?¡± ¡°Including Jackson, 3 people.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more than enough.¡± Chapter 14 14. Item Get Kwang Hwi called the general in for a meeting. An old man fraught with worry stepped through the door. He had changed out of the luxurious suit from yesterday and was now wearing more modest clothing that better reflected his age. ¡°Did you call?¡± he asked. ¡°Were you able to get some rest?¡± ¡®As if!¡¯ The man stopped himself just short of vocalizing his sincere thoughts. He nced over at Jackson, the man responsible for his watch. Jackson red menacingly back at him. ¡°Ah¡­ahem. Yes, sure,¡± he replied awkwardly. It had, in fact, been quite an ufortable night. He had slept next toplete strangers¡ªsomething unbefitting of his rank. It was like he was back in Nonsan Training Camp. Still, it was better than being tied up and starving on the hospital floor. ¡°Did you call me for the trade?¡± he inquired cautiously. ¡°Naturally.¡± Kwang Hwi showed none of the nerves the general did. He smoothly unfolded a map from his left breast pocket and turned to face the general expectantly, pressuring the man to speak through silence. The general cleared his throat and pointed at a spot on the map. It waspletely unremarkable. The map showed only a few apartments, surrounded by some small hills. ¡°The exact address,¡± demanded Kwang Hwi. A hint of suspicion carried through the query. Noticing Kwang Hwi¡¯s doubtful gaze, the general fumbled. ¡°While it may appear to be simply an apartmentplex in a remote area, that¡¯s just a disguise. Underneath the apartments, there¡¯s an underground facility where all the equipment is stored.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll know when we get there.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s tone was nomittal. ¡°Boss, we¡¯re ready,¡± Jackson interjected. ¡°Excellent.¡± Kwang Hwi gestured towards the general as he replied. With a massive grin, Jackson began advancing on the general ominously. The man hurriedly jumped up from his seat in a panic. ¡°W-what are you trying to do?!¡± There was no reply. Kwang Hwi merely stared at the general with an amused expression. His eyes began darting around for the exit, but Jackson was already in front of him. ¡°W-wait!¡± He reached out his hands to push Jackson away. Jackson brushed them aside and forcefully shoved a stab vest over the man¡¯s clothes. ¡°H-huh?¡± Realizing he was not being disposed of, he stopped resisting. ¡°What are you getting scared of?¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s voice had a light mocking tone. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a General Officer?¡± He clicked his tongue in admonishment. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mr. Scared General.¡± *** The members who had been tasked with defending the base yesterday were waiting in front of the APC. Kwang Hwi had made sure to rotate his men for missions in order to ensure that everyone would get field experience. Everyone wore military uniforms, with a stab vest and a tactical vest over top. Since the monsters tended to use sharp edged weapons, a stab vest would help tremendously in avoiding fatal injury. Jackson entered the cockpit first. ¡°Awesome! An APC with a bathroom?¡± He could hardly contain his excitement. In fact, everyone, including Kwang Hwi, was the same. It was their first time entering the Namer. After confirming everyone had boarded, Jackson closed the rear door with a nk. The interior went dark. Then, powerful lights overhead lit up. ¡ª ¡°Attention passengers, this is your pilot Jackson. We¡¯ll be arriving at our destination shortly, so please buckle up and enjoy the ride.¡± The trip itself wasfortable. Jackson skillfully avoided any monsters lingering on the roads by taking some detours. Kwang Hwi looked around the interior. The members who were leaving base for the first time today seemed a bit nervous. In contrast, the experienced soldiers appeared more bored than anything. Some of them were even falling asleep. ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ll be arriving at our destination in 2 minutes.¡± Kwang Hwi kicked the soldiers dozing off. They arrived shortly at the entrance of an apartmentplex. It was situated in a fairly remote location. Behind the apartments stood a mountain that was hundreds of meters high, like a beautiful folding screen. ¡°How should we proceed?¡± asked Kwang Hwi. ¡°Head inside the apartmentplex. If you keep going forward, you¡¯ll find an entrance connected to the underground parking lot.¡± Dpidated apartments greeted them on both sides as the APC slowly entered theplex. The entireplex seemed fairly old, the tallest apartments were only five stories high. Still, they didn¡¯t look anything like the buildings ravaged by the monsters. Regardless, the entireplex looked cold and empty. Soon, the entrance to the underground parking lot became visible. ¡°Keep going,¡± the general advised. *** A thick iron door blocked the vehicle¡¯s path. Kwang Hwi determined that it was a st door, capable of withstanding even tremendous explosions. ¡°Please let me go out to the front. I¡¯ll need to verify my identity.¡± Kwang Hwi nodded and the team exited the APC. His men secured the area while the two of them headed towards the security panel to the right of the door. Unlike the residential areas above, the security panel was receiving power from off the grid and appeared to be in perfect functioning order.
The general looked into the scanner while a redser swept over his eye.
An unmanned turret came into view as the door slid open. Kwang Hwi was not surprised to notice that it had rusted past the point of use. Overhead lights buzzed with life, revealing two rows of vehicles neatly lined on either side of the lot. On one side sat a line of Light Tactical Vehicles that could be called the Korean HMMWV. Opposite them, sat a row of K-21 IFVs. Kwang Hwi carefully inspected each of the vehicles. As he concluded, he eximed aloud, ¡°It¡¯s just as I thought.¡± The ones without weapons were still in perfect condition, while every vehicle with machine guns or turrets had rusted to scrap. Even the K-21 had holes rusted through the armor ting and its tracks werepletely ruined. In contrast, the Light Tactical Vehicles were in pristine condition. Kwang Hwi¡¯s suspicions were confirmed. Unlike Kwang Hwi, the general¡¯s face was aghast as he saw the state of the vehicles. After what felt like an eternity, Kwang Hwi finally turned back to him. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s over there,¡± he said, pointing at arge trailer at the end of the parking lot. Kwang Hwi entered the trailer. The grey fusge of the Heron, faintly reflecting the overhead illumination, greeted the men from the carrierpartment. Kwang Hwi nodded in satisfaction. He carefully inspected every part of the drone. ¡®Well maintained. As expected of a military drone.¡¯ Simr to the tactical vehicles outside, the Heron was in perfect working order. If Kwang Hwi could secure satellites and SATCOM transceivers, he could expand his operating range from 200 km up to 3,300 km. ¡°I kept my word,¡± the general mentioned. Kwang Hwi nodded. ¡°Alright. A deal is a deal.¡± He turned around, scanning the parking lot. His eyes paused on another door at the end of the lot. Unlike the massive st door that they had passed through, this one was small. ¡°What¡¯s this door for?¡± he asked, pointing towards the end of the lot. ¡°That¡¯s a shelter,¡± the general exined. ¡°It¡¯s also used as amand and control center.¡± Kwang Hwi was now interested. ¡°Can you open it?¡± The general quickly walked up to the security device. So long as his safety was a priority, he was willing to cooperate with Kwang Hwi as much as possible. This time, a security code followed the retinal scan.
The door opened, showcasing a long corridor. The soldiers cut across to the other side, securing the perimeter. It didn¡¯t matter if there were any troops remaining. Without any weapons on hand, they weren¡¯t a threat. At the end of the hallway was another locked door. The general opened that one too. As promised, arge disy screen greeted Kwang Hwi and his men as they entered the door at the end of the hallway. In front of it sat a row ofputers. Kwang Hwi tapped at the keyboard. The disy was non-responsive. ¡°It seems the higher ups initiated a facility lock,¡± the general advised. ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Kwang Hwi. ¡°It allows entry, but prevents system operation.¡± Kwang Hwi nodded. He quickly lost interest in the unresponsive system. It was unfortunate, he had hoped to use themand and control center to take over the satellite system. ¡°Is there an armory around here?¡± he asked, shifting focus. ¡°Follow me.¡± *** The armory was quite spacious and well stocked, as expected of a military facility. All manners of weaponry were neatly on disy. Unfortunately, as Kwang Hwi expected, most of them were rendered unusable. The saving grace was that there were a few non-lethal items that were still useful, such as smoke grenades and re guns. Rather than the armory, it was to Kwang Hwi¡¯s pleasant surprise that the facility¡¯s food storage was the biggest boon this ce had to offer. The facility had clearly been designed to be able to house and feed hundreds of soldiers in worst-case scenarios and, consequently, it was filled to the brim with rations. There was a cornucopia of food, enough to even feed the survivors they picked up alongside his men. After confirming that there were no hostiles in thepound, Kwang Hwi quickly drew up ns to put everyone to work. He silently watched his men load the supplies. Even the general was not exempt, he understood that Kwang Hwi guaranteed his safety and only that. Any resilience would be met with discipline. ¡°Is that everything?¡± asked Kwang Hwi. ¡°Yes. We loaded the UAV and all the supplies,¡± Jackson replied. ¡°Good. Seize all usable vehicles in the lot. There should be five or six of them that still works.¡± While they weren¡¯t equipped with weapons, they were still bulletproof military grade vehicles. nning to make a mechanized infantry unit in the future, it was certainly nice to have more at hand. The light vehicles were ideal for patrols and reconnaissance. If he mounted machine guns onto them, his men could easily subdue a few monsters. Jackson called out from across the room. ¡°There¡¯s five in total, boss. Ready to go.¡± ¡°Excellent. Lead the way.¡± Less than half rode the Namer on their way back. The others were needed to operate the five Korean HMMWVs and a trailer carrying the UAV. The mission was a great sess. With 1 Israeli APC, five Korean HMMWVs, and a trailer with a UAV Heron, he was riding off of waves of momentum that would lead him to greater heights. Monsters? With enough Merit Points, they were just cannon fodder. Military? Without their weapons, they were nothing. At this rate, nothing would stop him on his path to creating the strongest militia in South Korea. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 15 15. Test Flight The UAV whirred into action. It sped across the runway and flew straight into the sky. Excited gasps and murmurs broke out among the crowd. As there weren¡¯t many things to pass the timepared to the old days, people were starving for entertainment. ¡®I should bring back some books or board games,¡¯ thought Kwang Hwi. Despite the fact that his house had been hastily remodeled to serve as a control room, he was rather satisfied. The interior was dark and, just like the control rooms in action movies, live video feed captured straight from the UAV was showcased onrge monitors mounted around the room. ¡°How¡¯s it looking?¡± he asked a pilot sitting near one of the control panels. ¡°Good. Reception is good and flight performance is satisfactory. All systems nominal.¡± The pilot gently pulled on the stick as he answered. In response, the Heron began ascending, drawing more and more of the city into view. The camera mounted to the bottom rotated around, taking stock of its surroundings. They were grim. Streets, once filled with ordinary people, were now clearly upied by the monsters. Buildings all across the urbanndscape were awash with mes. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that?¡± Kwang Hwi suddenly interjected. ¡°What¡¯s what, boss?¡± ¡°Check the North-East corner. 135 degrees.¡± The pilot dutifully pulled on his controls and the camera swiveled to meet Kwang Hwi¡¯s demands. Keku upied the majority of the screen, oblivious to the aerial surveince of Kwang Hwi and his team. They filled the entire roadway and Kwang Hwi even saw a few of the ck Wolf Cavalry units he encountered at the supermarket. Although cluttered, they were clearly walking towards an objective. They marched in unison down the road. ¡°It looks like at least a thousand of them in total, boss.¡± Kwang Hwi nodded in acknowledgment. If the pilot was correct, this would be the biggest horde he had encountered so far. ¡°Where are they all going?¡± he asked. The pilot frowned. ¡°Given their current direction, it seems like they¡¯re heading towards the university.¡± ¡°A university?¡± said Kwang Hwi. ¡®That must mean there are survivors in the university¡­¡¯ It would certainly exin the monsters¡¯ behavior. The campus was located in a rtively remote area. There wouldn¡¯t be any real reason for the monsters to head there unless they had their sights set on prey already. ¡°The campus will be in sight soon,¡± said the pilot. The Heron seamlessly flew past the Keku horde. At the end of the road, a haphazard wall had been hastily erected with just about anything one could expect to find at a university. It was nked by tall buildings on either side, blockading the road. A number of survivors were garrisoned on top of the wall, each carrying a blunt weapon. ¡°How long before they arrive?¡± asked Kwang Hwi. ¡°Based on their speed and distance, probably 12 minutes.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not stealing my points. Men, move out!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The crew members that were gathered near him stood up and rushed off. *** The student council president gritted his teeth. Originally, he was under the impression that the monsters were still quite far away. But what he, and his peers, thought they saw was very much wrong. Everyone was anxious. It had been a week since they had first encountered the monsters, but fear still gripped their hearts. The monsters were extremely hostile and much stronger than a normal person. Those that were brave enough to stand up against them were torn apart, limb from limb. Those that tried to run away also met the same fate. The ones who were quick and clever enough to hide survived¡ªif only just. The student council president recalled how he had shrunk into a corner and shriveled in fear until the monsters had left. ¡®I really hoped they would never return.¡¯ He knew he couldn¡¯t count on it. The initial peace had scarcelysted a week. They had finished barricading the front when giant wolves appeared. It was as if they were ying with their food. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that they had prepared a Molotov cocktail, their paltry fortress would have already been breached. He picked up the walkie-talkie. He couldn¡¯t hide it any longer. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke. ¡ª ¡°Please brace yourselves.¡± Around the university, a sense of impending dread glossed over the survivors as they clutched their improvised weapons a little bit tighter. Hemented over this fact as well. With some modern weaponry, they would have been more sessful in their pursuits against the monsters. That said, a dangerous firearm had little ce at a university. All they could find were bows from the archery club and they had already deployed archers to the rooftops. On the wall itself, everyone was equipped with baseball bats or metal pipes with slightly sharpened edges. ¡ª ¡°Should we shoot now?¡± He hesitated before answering. ¡ª ¡°Yes, please shoot.¡± One of the archers perched on the rooftop drew the bow back. At the tip of the arrow, a spark of me flickered with life just as he loosed the arrow into the sky. It arched gracefully through the sky andnded with a non-descript ssh. An explosion sounded from the target location as the oil prepared earlierbusted into mes, bisecting the road. The monsters immediately slowed down, approaching the ming barrier with trepidation. The president¡¯s face brightened, if only a little. ¡®At least they¡¯re scared of fire.¡¯ His eyes wandered over the fire wall which separated them from the monsters beyond. Just as he took a brief reprieve from their difficult situation, a ck shadow pierced through the blinding mes and his heart throbbed. Four thick, heavy paws hit the ground, pushing the fire aside. Two crimson eyes were framed with a row of vicious teeth. The jet-ck shadow let out a piercing howl and the student council could feel their hearts drop. It was the monster he had seen yesterday. The wolf lowered its head and, like knights dismounting a steed, the three Keku riding on its back hopped off and began advancing forwards. ¡°They¡¯reing!¡± he heard his voice scream. More and more ck Wolves jumped through the mes, carrying Keku across the wall of fire. The archers poured arrows into the Keku to little avail. Many Keku had dozens of arrow shafts protruding out of their body as they climbed the wall at a frenzied pace. The students who met the Keku at the top saw simr results. The Keku shrugged off their blows and caused havoc wherever they went. Despite this, the survivors were not totally helpless. The walls were still several feet tall, which bought them time. More importantly, Molotov cocktails had been prepared in advance. After seeing the efficacy of the previous ones, they didn¡¯t hesitate to prepare more. Fire rained down onto the Keku as they scaled the walls and they recoiled from the mes. Those who were hit directly howled in pain and copsed to the ground. ¡°Noooo!¡± The wolf howled triumphantly and a cry of pain rang out from atop the wall. A ck Wolf had scaled the wall in moments and sunk its teeth into a student. Slowly realizing he was being taken away, the male student resisted. However, he was powerless against the ck Wolf¡¯s grip. Red blood sttered and the student was torn into two. A sickening squish filled the air as the student was rended. Everyone¡¯s faces darkened and fear swept through them. Their bodies froze in fear and monsters started to bounded over the walls like a tsunami. The wall of mes which had once held the majority of the monsters at bay had diminished, leaving the students vulnerable. Some of the monsters were struck and fell back down to their deaths, but many more arrived to fill the spaces left by theirpatriots. The defense line was wearing thin and their supply of Molotov cocktails were quickly being depleted. ¡®If they keeping, we¡¯re all going to die. I should¡¯ve ran away deep into the mountains like the guy suggested yesterday.¡¯ A Keku hand reached over the wall, interrupting his thoughts. Instinct took over and he mmed his hammer over the Keku¡¯s skull. Blood sttered across his face as the Keku¡¯s head burst like a watermelon. Its body fell into the sea of enemies and another instantly took its ce. ¡®Dammit! How many are there?!¡¯ He had killed more than 10 of them, diligently swinging his hammer as each appeared but there was no end in sight. He grumbled, but he remained steadfast in his defense. Eventually, he would run out of energy and that would be the end for him. ¡°Nooo! Save me!¡± Desperate screams could now be heard all around him. He wanted to help his fellow ssmates, but his hands were tied. He could hardly maintain his own position, let alone help others. He nced around furtively. There were only a few defenders left on the walls now. ¡®Well, at least the people on the roofs are rtively safe. Those ck Wolves are strong, but even they can¡¯t leap up a 10 story building.¡¯ Unfortunately, there was a limit to how much help the supporters could provide. They couldn¡¯t prevent the wall from being breached. ¡°Ugk!¡± He gasped as the hammer missed and mmed into the wall. His thoughts had distracted him, causing his swing to miss. The reverberations shook through his arms, loosening his already exhausted grip. The hammer ttered to the ground. Seeing an opportunity, the Keku mbered up the wall to find the president. It knew that the humans were rallying under hismand. Without him, the university was ripe for the taking. The president saw ck Wolves rush in below the Keku and he sensed the end was near. Even if he avoided the attack, a pack of ck Wolves were ready to tear him limb from limb. In hisst moments, he couldn¡¯t repress the fear any further. He closed his eyes as tears poured out. ¡®Fuck.¡¯ Chapter 16 16. Campus Recruitment The grunts of the monster sounded in his ears. The president was even able to smell the Keku¡¯s foul breath up close. He felt like his end was nigh as the scene imprinted itself in his memory, never to be forgotten. He was too scared to remain standing and his wobbly legs finally gave way. With a thump, his bottom kissed the cold, hard floor. In his confusion, he didn¡¯t immediately register the sound of a gunshot. A sticky substance sttered across his face, jolting him back to his senses. The Keku was knocked down. Having its skull crushed, ck liquid spewed out like a fountain. That disgusting liquid had sshed onto his face but, strangely, he didn¡¯t mind it at that moment. ¡®A g-gunshot?¡¯ his mind wandered. As if proving that he had not misheard, more gunshots rang. He felt as though the threatening sounds of guns in the past were like fireworks to his ears now, brightly lighting the sky and cheering up the viewers. The student council president rose to his feet. The formidable monsters were now being swept away so quickly that he even wondered if he was hallucinating. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­?¡± ¡°Leader! Look over there!¡± A student council officer standing next to him pointed up ahead and shouted. In response, the president numbly looked over.Despite being far away, he could see a massive object in the distance. Having served the military, the president knew exactly what that thing was. It was an Armored Personnel Carrier. Next to it, he saw the Light Tactical Vehicles that were often called the Korean HMMWV. Whenever the mounted machine gun fired, the monsters would fall t onto the ground. It appeared almost too good to be true. ¡°M-military?¡± He recalled that the military was rendered powerless in this catastrophe. Even so, it was certainly not a bad situation. They were finally going to be saved from this nightmare. Other survivors were also shouting in joy, happy to see the APC. ¡°It¡¯s the military! We¡¯re saved!¡± ¡°Hurray!¡± ¡°Phew.¡± As relief washed over him, the president copsed onto the ground, too exhausted and spent to carry on. *** ¡°You¡¯re permitted to use all firearms except the autocannon.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s order was simple: Eliminate all monsters! So, his excited men fired away, raining hell on the monsters. Unlike the earlier days, the men didn¡¯t need to confront the terrifying creatures directly. They could safely shoot from inside the APC and the feeling was exhrating. Next to the APC, there were Light Tactical Vehicles that cleared the pathway. The Keku, who were able to withstand 5.56mm NATO rounds, were powerless against the stronger 7.62mm and could only fall down helplessly in front of the bullet shower. ¡ºM240N¡» ¡ºA fixed model of a general-purpose machine gun that uses 7.62mm NATO rounds. Developed by the FN corporation in Belgium, it¡¯s a stable machine gunmonly used for military training in the USA and other countries. It can fire 550 ~ 650 bullets per minute and has an effective firing range of 800m.¡» Whenever the guns fired, the monsters dropped like flies. Utilizing the frontal de of the APC, the vehicle trampled over the monsters, leaving mangled bodies in its wake. It was excessive to use a 30mm autocannon for such a small threat. None of the monsters could win against the APC. The Kwang Hwi Faction broke through the monster¡¯s rear line with a violent force and momentum. Sensing the change, monsters in the front line started to turn around. However, their vision was impaired by the hundreds that were flocking together. Seeing the entire scene unfold from the UAV, Kwang Hwi grabbed the walkie-talkie. ¡°Jackson.¡± ¡ª ¡°Roger that, boss! Firing!¡± Behind the APC, there was the Medium Tactical Vehicle. Jackson was standing on the roof, holding an MK. 47 Striker AGAL Grenade Launcher. An intense explosion swept through the surrounding area. Instinctively, the Keku covered their eyes with their hands, but the shockwave tore through their useless defense and ripped apart their bodies. Chunks of flesh that were torn apart violently rained down from the sky. It was too horrible a spectacle for an average human to witness. ¡ºYou have defeated 700 Keku faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 4500 MP.¡» ¡ºYou have defeated 800 Keku faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 5000 MP.¡» ¡ºYou have defeated 900 Keku faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 5500 MP.¡» Notifications were appearing in front of Kwang Hwi, extending above his retina. His vision was obscured so much that he could not see anything except the prompts. A faint smile hung around his mouth. His MP was rising quickly. He couldn¡¯t ignore the amount of MP he had earned from killing monsters andpleting the mission. The battle continued, albeit one-sidedly. Naturally, the Kwang Hwi Faction was winning. In a short matter of time, the thousands of monsters were cut into half. As the soldiers fought even more fiercely, the number dwindled even faster. A ck Wolf came into Kwang Hwi¡¯s gun sight. It resisted until the very end by erratically flinging its body all over the ce. Nevertheless, it couldn¡¯t escape its fate. The asphalt road was soon littered with ck blood and chunks of flesh from the monster. ¡°Heron #1, do you see any other monsters nearby?¡± ¡ª ¡°All clear! Boss.¡± ¡°Alright. If anything unusual happens, report back immediately.¡± Kwang Hwi slowly walked up to the wall. ¡®Not bad,¡¯ heplimented himself internally while moving, feeling a bit proud. People looked up at Kwang Hwi with a favorable impression, perhaps due to his help and timely rescue in a dire situation. ¡°I am Kwang Hwi Baek!¡± The eyes of the remaining survivors in the university were all on him as they looked at him with expectant and reverent expressions. ¡°We are an armed force based around the entire area of Dongducheon. Currently, we have dozens of survivors working together to tide over these difficult times.¡± Kwang Hwi exined slowly, but his voice was full of confidence. The first thing he did was to inform the survivors about the current situation. ¡°It is difficult to determine if the government still exists as the military and the police force are nowhere to be seen. The authorities have made no response in such dire times, which is a statement in itself.¡± Kwang Hwi smacked his lips and looked around the crowd before continuing. ¡°So far, based on what has been confirmed in the military base located at Uijeongbu, all firearms have been destroyed, rendering the army useless even if they were here.¡± He waited for a moment to let his words sink in. He could see the fear and nervousness in the eyes of his audience, but he ignored the emotions and went on, ¡°Desperate times call for desperate measures. Therefore, we have decided to make our own armed faction to band together and follow the most basic instinct of humanity¡ªsurvival!¡± The people in the university were visibly shaken by his promation. As they had been hiding in the university from the monsters since the beginning, they did not know the situation outside. Moreover, on the second day, allmunications were cut off. While some left to go find their family members, most stayed in the university waiting for a rescue team. ¡°You may be surprised, or rather¡ªshocked, but this is the reality. It¡¯s difficult to say when the rescue team will arrive. Perhaps, they will never arrive.¡± The crowd remained silent, perhaps too terrified to make a response. In such arge pack, not even a peep could be heard. ¡°Join us.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s voice shook the survivors, jolting them back to their minds. Even the survivors who were mentally exhausted pricked up their ears to listen. Everyone¡¯s heart started beating a bit faster with anticipation and hope for the future. ¡°Based on what you can do, we will be assigning appropriate tasks to everybody. Just know that our base is safe and there will be no monsters to haunt you at night. You can have a sound sleep.¡± People started to look at the student council president. They needed someone to represent them at this moment. The president checked on everyone¡¯s expression. While no one was speaking up, it was easy to tell what they were thinking. They wanted to stay safe from the monsters. In front of him, Kwang Hwi and his subordinates stood tall like mountains, unshakeable and steady. The men proved they were strong, sweeping up a thousand monsters. The president organized his thoughts. ¡®I feel the same way.¡¯ While he had willingly taken the role of the student council president, he did not have the courage and ability to take responsibility for the livelihood of everyone. ¡°If others are fine, let¡¯s join them.¡± Even though his heart was just about to burst out from the overwhelming pressure, the president felt at ease after speaking these words. There was a sensation, as if a boulder was pushed away from his shoulders. Kwang Hwi epted them with wide, open arms. ¡°Wee.¡± In the Shinhoo University Dongducheon Campus, 70 survivors had joined the Kwang Hwi Faction. Amongst them, over half were healthy, active adults in their twenties to thirties. If trained properly, it was possible to get a decent-sized armed force. Furthermore, the amount of talent that came from the university was an asset to be reckoned with. Students majoring in specialized fields and professors with useful knowledge were all crucial resources. Manpower was much needed in such tumultuous times. With some reluctance, a small number of people refused to join. It was impossible to tell why. Perhaps it was because the faction wasn¡¯t affiliated with the government or some other reasons. Many people were still stuck with the ideas of the past. Nothing could be done to wake them up to reality. ¡°It¡¯s regrettable.¡± Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t stop them. There was no reason to force them to join if they didn¡¯t want to. Doing so would only ruin the mood and atmosphere of their camp. ¡®Naturally, I can¡¯t guarantee your safety if you go alone,¡¯ hempooned inwardly. His militia was purchasing a bulletproof APC and military vehicles because of the monsters. Yet, these unarmed people wanted to go back home barefoot or with a bike. It clearly wasn¡¯t a wise choice but rather a ridiculous one. ¡°Good luck.¡± After the reluctant ones left, the willing ones remained standing there, looking left and right. Kwang Hwi got those people into the vehicles. There was no shortage of seats as he had estimated the number of people ahead of time using the UAV. On top of the added manpower, he was able to secure more food. While it wasn¡¯t an amount that could feed everyone for more than a week, there wasn¡¯t any good reason to leave it behind. ¡ª ¡°Boss, we¡¯re ready to leave.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± The vehicles started moving, with the APC leading the way. It was a fruitful day with a bountiful harvest. They had absorbed an entire group of survivors, making the militia bigger. And there was even a new change. ¡ºYou have defeated more than 1,000 ¡®Keku.¡¯¡» ¡ºFrom now on, you will receive additional Merit Points for every ¡®Keku¡¯ defeated.¡» ¡ºUnlocked Artillery category for a more effective mass destruction.¡» Additional MP was nice, but Kwang Hwi had also unlocked the category that he had never seen before. The message that appeared with it was also significant. ¡®A more effective mass destruction, huh¡­¡¯ He imagined the carnage he could cause with the new weapons. The ability he had acquired was pushing him to fight against the monsters even harder. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 17 17. Wee Boys~ ¡°What¡¯s your major?¡± ¡°Social science.¡± After confirming the student¡¯s ID, the recruiter turned to Jackson. ¡°Soldier.¡± With a mischievous smile, Jackson grabbed and pulled on the student¡¯s hand. ¡°Wee, boys~!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Hearing the foreign English words, the nervous college student tried to resist instinctively. However, he could not overpower the muscr man in front of him, no matter how hard he tried. In defiance, the student tried to kick Jackson but failed as Jackson yanked him hard. Naturally, Jackson was not only talented in shooting and firing guns from far away. He was also experienced in closebat, a soldier through and through. ¡°Don¡¯t resist. You can¡¯t escape me,¡± Jackson said while chuckling, almost like a devil. The student was brought to the temporary training hall. A crowd of students in simr situations was already gathered here. Perhaps because they were being enlisted as soldiers, the atmosphere was oppressive. Everyone was feeling nervous for what was toe. Amongst them, there was a particr face that stood out. It was the temporary leader of the university¡ªthe student council president. Having attended the military earlier than most students, the president¡¯s face was already masked with paint, ready for action andbat training. ¡®Re-enlisted again?!¡¯ he was crying internally though, unlike his external appearance. Unfortunately, the president majored in Chinese; therefore, there was nothing he could do under the current circumstances. Perhaps the situation would change once the militia met some foreigners. When he decided to join, he knew enlistment was an inevitability, so he wasn¡¯t opposed as much as the rest of the students were. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! We won¡¯t shave off your hair!¡± Jackson said while chortling. He was having fun teasing the new recruits. They were likembs ced in front of a wolf, just ripe for hunting. ¡°Now, next. Show me your student ID.¡± The recruitermanded without much emotion in his voice. The next person in line was a female student. After seeing the scene unfolding in front of her, she was quite nervous. Hearing the recruiter¡¯s instruction, she handed over her card apprehensively. Comparing the female student¡¯s face with the student ID, the recruiter mumbled. ¡°Engineering.¡± This time, another subordinate guided the female student elsewhere. Students in the STEM fields were regarded as valuable human resources in the Kwang Hwi Faction. This was mainly because there weren¡¯t enough people to maintain the equipment, and they needed anyone who could give a helping hand. Whether it was because she was female or an engineering student, the subordinate guided her with courtesy, showing due respect. ¡°Next!¡± This time a middle-aged professor stepped forward, looking rather calm andposed. ¡°Please show us your teacher identification card.¡± The middle-aged professor pulled out his ID card from his wallet. ¡°Dean of Food Science & Nutrition?¡± The recruiter gave a slightly perplexed look. It would have been easier to make the call if he was a Dean of STEM majors but Food Science & Nutrition? From a nce, the professor only looked suitable for cooking. ¡®Ah, screw it!¡¯ he shrugged it off. ¡°Ahem, cooking duties.¡± The old professor was baffled. He couldn¡¯t believe his ears, and his face was screaming, ¡®I am the dean, but you are telling me to cook?¡¯ The recruiter did not care about his reaction. While he didn¡¯t want to abuse his authority, he was the one in charge of assigning tasks. ¡°C-cooking duties?¡± The professor stuttered. It was unimaginable for him that his luck would be so miserable. ¡°Next!¡± *** Amongst the students, only a few were technically skilled. Most were majoring in social sciences, and they were naturally enlisted as soldiers. What was unusual was that one of the students was an ROTC cadet. Due to this problem, Jackson had to visit Kwang Hwi to seek his opinion. ¡°Boss, what should we do?¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s answer was simple. ¡°He¡¯ll start out as a soldier like the rest and climb the ranks.¡± Although the student partaking in the ROTC program was more talented than the others, Kwang Hwi had his own philosophy and set of rules. Knowledge thatcked experience was useless, and it was even more so in such chaotic times. Also, though some of his subordinates had been affiliated with the army, Kwang Hwi still drilled obedience into all of them regardless. As a matter of fact, Kwang Hwi himself was a former Sergeant. ¡°How is the pilot?¡± ¡°We assigned him a student who¡¯s good at ying console games,¡± Jackson reported. ¡°Good job. The boy should get the hang of it in no time. Tell the pilot to teach him well.¡± Kwang Hwi had assigned the UAV to members experienced in piloting. However, he was in dire need of troops. With the addition of personnel, hisbat forces could focus solely onbat missions from now on. His support squad was finally taking shape now, a significant boost to his armed forces. ¡°We have also secured a handful of STEM professors and students. They should be able to handle the weapon maintenance.¡± Jackson continued his report. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Anything else?¡± ¡°This is a suggestion made by someone in our first batch of recruits¡ª¡± Jackson put down the paper he was holding: it was handwritten with several drawings on it. ¡°¡ªHaving marketing experience, he made these suggestions to help us grow in strength.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡®A marketer.¡¯ Kwang Hwi looked at the paper with interest.
(1) Let others know about the Kwang Hwi Faction through radio broadcast. (2) Leave graffiti everywhere in the city.¨C These are methods that could help publicize the Kwang Hwi Faction and rally nearby survivors. For those who cannot hear the radio broadcast, it¡¯ll be best to proceed with (2) simultaneously.
¡°Not bad.¡± Kwang Hwi sincerely appreciated his suggestions. Although they were simple, they were like a fresh spring breeze in these apocalyptic times. They needed as much manpower as they could get, and the marketer had helped them solve that dilemma. Given that graffiti was started by the American gangsters who used it to mark their territory, the n was certainly not bad at all. Until now, there hadn¡¯t been any regr patrols or rescue missions due to theck of transportation and soldiers. However, the situation was now different since most of their problems had been resolved with the fresh injection of recruits. While the second batch of neers had to undergo training, they could still defend the base. The same was true for the first batch when Kwang Hwi had gone to secure the hospital. Kwang Hwi quickly brainstormed ideas. The vague n he had in mind was starting to be more concrete as he thought up the details. ¡®If we can organize a team using the two Light Tactical Vehicles¡­¡¯ A driver and a machine gunner with two people per vehicle, four in total. It was possible to organize a team with just 4-5 soldiers. And their firepower wouldn¡¯t becking either thanks to the machine gun mounted at the top of the vehicle. With extra seats, they could bring back the survivors. He finally decided to put the idea into action. ¡°Let¡¯s do the radio broadcasts first.¡± Kwang Hwi browsed through the [Communication/Reconnaissance] category in the Merit Shop. It took him some time to choose one because there were so many things in the shop, but he finally found something that could be used for broadcasting. Despite being an old model, it looked brand new after being purchased from the Merit Shop. ¡°Take this. Find some people who are good at talking and assign them the task. Make sure to share the broadcasting content with me beforehand.¡± ¡°Roger.¡± ¡°For the Recon Team, bring me a list of members. I¡¯ll draft up a n.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Even though he could leave the task to his men, Kwang Hwi was not the type to dump his duties to others. It didn¡¯t take much time, and it was one of his responsibilities as themander in chief. He also liked to remain in control. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I forgot to mention.¡± Jackson suddenly spoke. ¡°What is it now?¡± ¡°Weck electricity.¡± Kwang Hwi was at a loss for words. The sr PV panels installed on the rooftops of thepound were household products. With their efficiency and scale, they couldn¡¯t keep up with the increase in power usage. They needed to resolve this as soon as possible since the n hinged on using electricity. ¡®I¡¯ll need to use more MP.¡¯ He was bitter at the fact that he would have to spend his hard-earned MP now. Having killed more than a thousand monsters yesterday, Kwang Hwi now had over 100,000 MP. However, as his MP increased, more useful options were avable, and he needed to save up for them. Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes naturally shifted towards the [Energy] category. ¡ºEnergy ¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked immediately for 50,000 MP.¡» ¡ºWould you like to unlock the Energy category?¡» Kwang Hwi¡¯s finger started shaking. It was almost as if he could see the points flying way, waving goodbye. ¡®To think that I have to use half of what I earned yesterday, just to unlock this.¡¯ Even so, he couldn¡¯t just leave it as it is. ¡®Let¡¯s unlock¡­¡¯ Just as he was about to make the purchase¡­ ¡°When I asked around, the people told me that there is a power nt nearby.¡± ¡°A power nt!?¡± Kwang Hwi shouted urgently. He was sweating due to the sudden turn of events. ¡®CANCEL! CANCEL!¡¯ ¡ºYou have canceled the purchase.¡» Kwang Hwi sighed in relief. Thankfully, he had reacted in time, or else, he would have made a hasty decision to use his MP. ¡°How far is it?¡± ¡°They said it should be 30 minutes away.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ording to Jackson, the power nt was operated by a privatepany. The facility generated electricity using LNG and sr power. It was capable of producing approximately 1700 MW of electricity at full capacity. Since the nt provided 700 MW of electricity for 500,000 people, 1700 MW meant that it could handle more than a million people. ¡®If I could get it, I won¡¯t have to worry about electricity for a while.¡¯ Kwang Hwi¡¯s heart was filled with desire. This was an opportunity that he couldn¡¯t let go. ¡°¡­ We must get it, at all costs.¡± Chapter 18 18. Combined Cycle Power nt
The pathway to the power nt was blocked by mobile barricadesmonly found at military checkpoints, barring their way ahead. The driver asked for further instructions from Kwang Hwi. ¡ª ¡°Boss, what should we do?¡± ¡°Step on the pedal and run over it.¡± The engine started rotating at a furious pace as the APC rushed forward like a charging bull. The barricades violently bounced off the truck, scattering like loose sand in front of the overwhelming force. One of the barricades flew towards the side, partially destroying the guard post. The APC shook from the impact, slightly startling the new soldiers. The more experienced members closed their eyes, unfazed and steady. They showed the maturity that they forged through the blood and sweat expended in the war against the monsters. ¡ª ¡°Barbed-wire fence up ahead!¡± Kwang Hwi looked at the screen linked to the front camera. The road leading to the parking lot was obstructed by barbed wires and Keku were dangling on it, strewn like kebabs on skewers. All of the corpses were charred ck without exception. It was as if they really were barbecued. ¡°Stop!¡± The APC slowed in a hurry, rapidlying to a halt. ¡°Open the back door. We¡¯ll investigate it personally.¡± The sunlight gradually peeked over the men, illuminating their battle-hardened faces. The armed forces went out first, leading their inexperiencedpatriots. Perhaps because of their realbat experience, the men quickly surveyed the surroundings with sharp eyes. They started to behave like true soldiers. Kwang Hwi vigntly approached the barbed wire fence. A blue me erupted as if it were a warning not toe closer. It was an electric fence and a deadly one on top of that. ¡°Not a bad idea.¡± To avoid direct confrontation, they had deployed tools to stop monsters by utilizing the abundant amount of electricity avable from the power nt. Unless the monsters were capable of jumping over the fence, they would suffer a lot of damage, effectively crippling their advance. ¡®They have certainly thought this through, but they¡¯re still not invincible.¡¯ CCTVs and intes were installed near the parking lot¡¯s entrance, monitoring the vicinity. Waving his hand towards the CCTV, Kwang Hwi pressed the inte call button. After a few dial tones, someone picked up from the other side, but he remained silent. To break the silence, Kwang Hwi spoke first. ¡°Is someone there?¡± ¡ª ¡°¡­Are you the rescue team?¡± While the person spoke in a blunt manner, one could tell he was desperate. It was understandable as no one would want to remain confined in a ce, always living under the threat of monsters and fearing for their lives. ¡°Close.¡± ¡ª ¡°¡­What do you mean? Are you or are you not?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you know, but the current government¡ªincluding the military and the police¡ªare practically gone. There is no authority maintaining the order of society.¡± Kwang Hwi was slightly annoyed at the fact that he had to repeat the same story. He didn¡¯t want to bother doing this for every single survivor he met. It¡¯s been a while since monsters have appeared. ¡®If the situation hasn¡¯t improved over time, shouldn¡¯t they know by now that the government is helpless? To think there are still people clueless about the reality of the situation.¡¯ Kwang Hwi mused in his heart,menting the ignorance of the survivors in the wild. ¡°Join us, and we can ensure your safety. What you¡¯ll be doing won¡¯t change while being under our military protection.¡± ¡ª ¡°¡­We think we¡¯re safe even now.¡± ¡°For now, yes. But, I doubt you can say the same for the foreseeable future.¡± ¡ª ¡°Our electric fence has already killed numerous monsters. Do you not see the corpses in front of you?¡± Kwang Hwi grinned. ¡®Are they trying to bargain their worth or simply resisting?¡¯ It didn¡¯t matter, though. Kwang Hwi moved the smart pad next to the CCTV to show them from the control room. ¡°This is a footage shot from the Dongducheon downtown.¡± The area was teeming with monsters, they were everywhere and denied any chance of survival. There were more than just a few thousand, they were seemingly endless. While the majority were Keku, there were a decent amount of ck Wolves too. ¡°If all of them came here, would you be able to defend against it? With just this barbed wire fence?¡± There wasn¡¯t an answer, or rather, they couldn¡¯t give an answer. They weren¡¯t clueless either and knew it was impossible to remain here and do nothing. They couldn¡¯t live on by turning a blind eye to reality. Perhaps they could stop a few hundred monsters since they would die upon contact. But, what would happen if all the monsters concentrated towards a single point of the fence? Kwang Hwi had already experienced something simr. It was the iron gate and fence protecting his house. Realizing it was impossible to do it individually, the monsters levied their full body weight on the iron gate and fence by cooperating with theirrades. Unable to withstand the full weight of the Keku, the iron gate copsed, allowing the monsters to enter. While it wasn¡¯t an electric fence, would it be more sturdy than an iron gate? No. It would eventually break. Nothing couldst in front of a crowd of savage monsters. They would have to counter numbers with numbers and the monsters¡¯ ferocity with their bullets. ¡°You should also be running low on food supplies.¡± While it wasn¡¯t certain how much they had stockpiled, it had been over a week. By now, their food should be rapidly dwindling. What¡¯s more, they weren¡¯t even able to secure food from outside. ¡°Have you changed your mind yet?¡± ¡ª ¡°¡­Pleasee inside and let¡¯s talk first.¡± Rather than cutting off the electricity, a gate slid to the side, opening a path. They were still on their guard in case it was a trap. Nothing could be left to chance in these tumultuous times. Kwang Hwi and his members entered the power nt, followed by the APC Namer. ¡°Over here!¡± In front of the main building, there was a man waiting for them, looking haggard and downtrodden. He tried his best to appear normal, but his pallid face and emaciated body betrayed his actual situation. His getup showed how much the situation had deteriorated in the nt. ¡°I¡¯m the head manager of the power nt, Yeon Ho Lee.¡± ¡°My name is Kwang Hwi Baek.¡± ¡°Please,e in.¡± Unlike Kwang Hwi¡¯s carefree attitude, his men carefully observed the surroundings. Since they were not on the same side, the men needed to be on their toes. Thankfully, it didn¡¯t seem like there was an ambush set in advance. After a few security checks, the men entered arge conference room right in front of the control room. In there, some people also dressed in the same manner as Yeon Ho were waiting for Kwang Hwi. Kwang Hwi made his men wait outside. He did this to assure them that he didn¡¯te with bad intentions. These people weren¡¯t a threat to him even if they all attacked at once. After both sides briefly exchanged greetings, they began to discuss the terms. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. I want everyone here to divide into groups to work in shifts. As for sleeping and other daily life activities, pleasee to our headquarters. Since this ce is important for us, we¡¯ll always have troops deployed here. Even in the worst-case scenario, I¡¯ll make sure everyone here can escape.¡± ¡°¡­Is that all?¡± An engineer asked in disbelief. He made a dumbfounded expression. It was as if he couldn¡¯t believe that the terms would be sox. ¡°Is there anything else we need? We came here and found people. Couldn¡¯t it be any better than the worst-case scenario? The power nt ispletely fine and there are even people who can operate it. I think both sides can benefit from this rtionship. After all, the best deal is one in which both parties can benefit.¡± The situation was undoubtedly better than what Kwang Hwi had expected. It was really good to know that the power nt wasn¡¯t taken over by the monsters or destroyed. The engineers exchanged nces with each other in a solemn manner. It didn¡¯t take too long to arrive at a decision, however. Unless their heads were empty, there was only one path they could take. Furthermore, theirbat force had already entered the facility. ¡°Let¡¯s join you.¡± Kwang Hwi shook hands with Yeon Ho with a calm expression. He wasn¡¯t too excited as he came prepared for the worst. ¡°Wee aboard.¡± With this, he managed to resolve the electricity issue smoothly. *** Over the static of the radio, a voice sounded abruptly, startling Soo Min on the other side of the receiver. ¡ª ¡°Soo Min, check.¡± ¡°Yes, boss!¡± Soo Min motioned with his hand. He was prepared with a team and was standing by for confirmation. People moved in haste to test the home appliances. The devices that were not responding previously now started to work in unison, making everyone rejoice. A cool breeze blew from the air conditioner, while the TV screen disyed a noise screen. The light bulbs emitted a bright light, driving out even the faint darkness hiding in the corners, and the people¡¯s faces gleamed along with it. They were suffering because the weather was getting warmer. It was fortunate that they could use the air conditioners and fans once again, relieving them of their worries. One of the soldiers reported back to Soo Min saying ¡°Everything is working fine!¡± Wearing a satisfied smile, Soo Min grabbed on the radio. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve confirmed the power supply. It¡¯s working!¡± ¡ª ¡°Got it. Go deploy the guard squad.¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll send them out immediately.¡± Soo Min headed out to the 2nd floor¡¯s balcony. In front of the headquarters, there were members waiting for Soo Min¡¯smand with the two Light Tactical Vehicles. ¡°Guard squad! Go.¡± The soldiers assigned to the guard squad quickly got into the vehicles. The tightly closed gate opened and the people working near the entrance promptly moved away to make way for the iing vehicles. The Light Tactical Vehicles left the headquarters. Being an essential facility, it was agreed that guards would be deployed to the power nt to maintain order and be ready for emergencies. Even though Kwang Hwi only had stationed a few men alongside two tactical vehicles with mounted machine guns, he nned to defend the power nt with a stronger force once their situation improved. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 19 19. Trap Following Kwang Hwi¡¯s decision, the recon teammenced full-scale operations. However, it wasn¡¯t at arge scale. While patrolling around the headquarters, they would eliminate the monsters. They would also search and rescue survivors at the same time. It was an excellent method to clean up and expand the area little by little. They were going to do this step by step to ensure sess. Jackson was thest person to get in the car. The recon team this time was made up of the first and second batch of new recruits¡ªfresh out of training, with Jackson leading the group. Jackson wasn¡¯t typically a part of the recon team, but as the new recruits were still greenhorns and had yet to gain some experience, he was here to assist them and show them the ropes. ¡°Is everyone on board?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Jackson picked up the radio after checking on the members of the recon team. New regtions had been added for regr check-ins when going outside. ¡°HQ. This is the recon team. We are ready to rock and roll.¡± ¡ª ¡°Confirmed. Recon team, deploy.¡± The recon team set out on two Light Tactical Vehicles. Navigating through the quiet neighborhood, the vehicles entered the city in less than 10 minutes. A terminal appeared before them after crossing a bridge. Beyond it,rge buildings stretched far and wide. It seemed to be the office district. ¡°Oh, around here should be fine. Let¡¯s stop.¡± Jackson got off the vehicle while holding a spray can. There was a wall with appropriate width and height conveniently on one side. ¡®What should I write¡­?¡¯ He thought for a moment about their recruitment notice. It wasn¡¯t necessary to make itplicated; all it needed to do was to make everyone know that the Kwang Hwi Faction existed. By doing this, they could set the name of their faction deep in the mind of anyone who would read it. Even if they did not want to join them immediately, they could at least spread their moniker.
On the gray background of the wall, the ck letters stood out like a blot on thendscape. When Jackson returned to the vehicle, the driver had already tuned into the frequency. ¡ª ¡°Greetings to all survivors. This is the Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s radio broadcast on 108.5 MHZ¡­¡± For the past few days, the Kwang Hwi Faction had been conducting radio broadcasts regrly to attract more survivors and spread awareness. However, rather than live broadcasts, they were akin to pre-recorded messages. The content of the announcements was simr: what the monsters looked like, what the Kwang Hwi Faction called them, and an up-to-date recap of their characteristics. Through the transmission, the names Keku, ck Wolves, and Blisters were poprized. Of course, some propaganda was mixed in too. ¡ª ¡°The Kwang Hwi Faction regrly patrols the Dongducheon area. Our goal is to one day defeat the monsters and return to our previous way of life. We wee all survivors! We can provide food, shelter, and security¡ªthe three most essential things under the circumstances.¡± It also criticized the government, which had yet to take any action. Of course, this was done intentionally to spread skepticism among people regarding the authorities. ¡ª ¡°Do not expect help from the government. You must face reality. If fighting the monsters is inevitable, then you must make the most of the tools you have. You must depend on yourself. Do not risk heading to the police station as all guns have rusted.¡± Jackson closed his eyes and fell into his own thoughts. ¡®I don¡¯t know if Mother or Father are doing well.¡¯ Kwang Hwi, Soo Min, and the other Korean members were mostly orphans without families, so they had little to worry about. However, both of Jackson¡¯s parents were alive before the catastrophe. The monsters made him concerned about his parents, but there was little Jackson could do right now. He couldn¡¯t even contact them, nor could he travel to America. ¡®It might be possibleter on, right¡­?¡¯ Jackson believed in Kwang Hwi. Though cold on the surface, Jackson had never seen anyone take care of their people so much. It was significantly different from what he had heard from his superiors in the U.S. Army. Considering how he maintained their production of armored vehicles, they¡¯d be able to produce helicopters and transport aircraft in the future. ¡ª ¡°Recon Leader, this is Ryker 1.¡± The sudden interruption broke his reverie as Jackson opened his eyes to the voice in his ear. Ryker 1, who was leading at the front, began to slow down. When it came to a halt, Ryker 2, who was following, was also forced to stop. ¡°Ryker 1, this is the Recon Leader. What¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡ª ¡°Ryker 1 reporting. There¡¯s a survivor down on the road ahead.¡± ¡°A survivor? Alone?¡± ¡ª ¡°Affirmative.¡± ¡°Secure the perimeter. I¡¯ll check on the survivor.¡± Jackson stepped out of the car. Indeed, there was a man who had copsed on the road in front of Ryker 1. His face looked pale and close to death. It wasn¡¯t apparently whether it was from injury or an adverse health condition. ¡°You over there, can you hear me?¡± Jackson slowly closed the distance while being fully alert. His gun aimed at the wounded as he checked his surroundings. However, the man did not reply. No, it seemed more urate to say that he wasn¡¯t able to give a reply. His face was sweating profusely and his whole body was shivering as if he had chills. The man¡¯s body shook violently for thest time and his arms and legs bent at odd angles, showing a grotesque appearance. ¡°Holy fuck!¡± Jackson cursed in English due to the sudden change. He tried to keep calm at the inexplicable and spooky scene in front of him. ck blisters pierced through the man¡¯s clothes. The blisters, originally the size of fingernails, quickly grew and expanded throughout the man¡¯s body, covering him entirely. The familiar shape of a human soon disappeared and only a strange creature remained in ce. It was like a scene from a horror movie. Jackson started to back away without realizing it, but he kept his aim steady. It was a familiar-looking monster: The Blister from Dongducheon General Hospital. With a bang, the P90 in his hands started spraying bullets as mes sparked from the gun. The small caliber, high velocity 5.7mm ammunition hit Blister¡¯s torso. With the sound of tearing flesh, a small hole was formed in its heart. The shattered ck crystals broke out of its body and scattered on the floor. Following the fall of the Blister, the screeching sound of Blisters came from all directions. Jackson¡¯s blood ran cold and his hair stood on end. ¡®A trap!¡¯ He hastily turned his body to retreat to the vehicle. However, a Blister suddenly appeared in his view. Without giving it a chance tounch an attack, Jackson pulled the trigger reflexively. The Blister copsed, beaten down. However, there were not merely a couple of Blisters. Rather, they numbered in the hundreds. They came running from all directions like a roaring flood. From a lightless opticians store, from a clothing store with shattered windows, from a narrow alleyway between buildings. No direction was left empty. Jackson jumped onto the car with the utmost haste. A soldier holding a machine gun awaited orders with a panicked face. ¡°W-What do we do, sir?¡± ¡°Fire! Fire!¡± Jackson roared at the soldier in English but soon followed it in Korean. The vehicle-mounted M240N¡¯s muzzle lit up as the rain of bullets fell on the Blisters. Ryker 1, up at the front, also started firing its machine guns. The Blisters that could not even withstand gunfire from pistols copsed without taking a single step further. ck crystals from the Blisters¡¯ bodies covered the asphalt road. Though they had taken down dozens of Blisters at once, Jackson¡¯s expression did not rx. There were more of them out there, way more than they¡¯d ever hope to take down. ¡°Ryker 1, get moving! We¡¯re getting out of here!¡± ¡ª ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The engine of the stationary Light Tactical Vehicle roared as it began moving. The crystals crumbled under the weight of the wheels when they sped up. More Blisters rushed in but could not keep up with the car running at full speed. The gap widened quickly as they left the horde in the dust. Jackson gave a sigh of relief before pressing the transmission button. ¡°HQ. This is the Recon Leader.¡± ¡ª ¡°This is HQ. Go ahead.¡± ¡°Multiple Blisters encountered at the Woosung intersection. We made contact and are now leaving the scene.¡± ¡ª ¡°Copy that. Return to HQ under standard recon protocols. What¡¯s the sitrep?¡± ¡°Currently, we are¡ª¡± *BANG* The vehicle collided with a Blister that suddenly appeared in front of it. Ryker 2, on uneven ground, took to the air after the impact. Jackson strained to hold on to the door handle and keep himself steady. Blood began to pool in his skull with his body inverted. With a boom, the Light Tactical Vehiclended, flipped, and skidded several meters across the ground, sending sparks flying everywhere. The screeching sound of the metal grazing the hard surface created a sharp noise. ¡°Euuugh¡­¡± Jackson shook his head after the crash. Ryker 1 entered his shaky and blurry vision. Slowly, he came to realize that they had stopped in the middle of nowhere. He looked at the other soldiers. The trooper that had manned the machine gun earlier had slipped back into the car at some point and now sat slouched in the passenger seat. The driver was in a simr dazed state. Jackson checked their pulses in a hurry. Thankfully, they were still breathing and were merely unconscious. Jackson undid his seatbelt and searched around for his gun. Fortunately, it was right next to him. The Blister that had followed them from behind ran right past Ryker 2 and headed directly for Ryker 1. The machine gun on Ryker 1 lit up. The people stuck in Ryker 2 heard banging sounds as more Blisters swarmed around them, pounding the vehicle. Thankfully, amidst the chaos of flipping, the door was not damaged and did not open. ¡®Just need to hold on for a little longer.¡¯ While the engine would likely not start, the body of the car was sturdy. Additionally, with the support fire from Ryker 1, rescue would be possible in a short time. There were already dozens of dead Blisters near Ryker 1. Jackson aimed his gun through a port in the door. It was an opening for thebatants inside to fire upon enemies outside. The monster¡¯s body that was attached to the door fell apart under his firing. *** The APC Namer drove down the road at high speed. Debris and wreckages ofteny on the path, blocking the way ahead. But, the APC drove on while smashing through them. Speed was its priority. Kwang Hwi¡¯s face held a stiff expression. The rest of the crew were not much different. ¡°ETA 7 minutes at current speed. 3 minutes until the Heron is in the area.¡± ¡°Anymunications?¡± ¡°We are periodically checking in with Ryker 1 but not with Ryker 2, which has flipped over.¡± The screens on the inside of the APC blinked and a static noise sounded. ¡ª ¡°The Heron arrived at the location. Live feed connection established.¡± The camera, which had been panning around for some time, soon fixed upon one direction. The flickering scene disyed the situation outside. A deste street emerged beyond the lens. Ryker 2 had been turned upside down and Ryker 1 was stopped a little way away. The Blisters were headed for the two vehicles. Ryker 1 wasying down suppressive fire with its machine gun, but their numbers did not wane. There were just as many Blistersing out as there were being felled. ¡°This is HQ. Zoom out the camera.¡± ¡ª ¡°Zooming out from 10x to 4x.¡± The camera zoomed out to increase the area in view. The surroundings that were not visible before entered the screen. Seeing the situation, the faces of the crew became grave. ¡ª ¡°B-Boss. Are you seeing this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m watching.¡± Kwang Hwi bit his lips due at the horrible scene. The area was swarming with Blisters. It was fortunate that the recon team could not see this scene or they would have been filled with despair. It was like a sea packed with Blisters. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 20 20. Firepower ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ll be engaging the Blisters soon!¡± The driver gave a warning over the radio. Kwang Hwi immediately shifted to the gunner¡¯s position and got ready for action. The remote-controlled weapon system allowed the simultaneous operation of a 30mm cannon and a 7.62mm machine gun. The APC ran over something with a clunk. Kwang Hwi observed the surroundings through a camera mounted outside. The Blisters were running amok everywhere, their appearance alone made him shudder in disgust. Kwang Hwi squeezed his index finger without hesitation. The yellow glow of the tracer rounds streaked out of the muzzle and tore through the monsters. Bloody flesh flew everywhere as the monsters¡¯ bodies fell in droves. ¡ª ¡°This is the support team! ETA: 2 minutes!¡± ¡ª ¡°Affirmative! Current situation: our machine gun is silent and we are defending with primary arms! There¡¯s just too many of them!¡± ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ll be there soon! Just hold on and defend your position!¡± There was a lot of chatter on the radio as the men were moring on the other side. The sounds of gunfire and shouting in the background also made it difficult to distinguish anything. Kwang Hwi, however, focused on firing the machine gun. The ck wall blocking the APC¡¯s way disappeared in an instant with his incessant firing. Familiar-looking vehicles came into view as they got closer. One was overturned on its roof while the other sat perilously atop a sea of Blisters. There were dozens of monsters who were clinging to the car, trying to force themselves in. Had it not been for the bulletproof body, it would have been pierced long ago, with the people inside ripped to pieces. Kwang Hwi turned the machine gun and aimed in the direction of the car. The monsters sticking on the Light Tactical Vehicle needed to be taken care of first before the troops could reunite. Bullets rained in the direction of the car. To be more precise, they were aimed at the monsters surrounding the vehicle. The bullets tore apart the monsters without mercy, shredding them to pieces. asionally, a stray bullet would hit the car, but the Light Tactical Vehicle was bulletproof, so it remained unaffected. It could deflect 7.62mm rounds indefinitely. Rather, those rounds would instead ricochet off and hit the monsters, causing even more damage. In an instant, ground superiority was seized and support was ready to be deployed. Kwang Hwi, who was observing the situation with the remote camera, barked an order. ¡°Rescue them!¡± The team promptly followed hismand as the members hastily rushed out. They formed up behind the APC and their guns began firing as they cleared a path to Ryker 2. The approaching Blisters started to fall one after another and the rescue team dashed to the vehicle. ¡°Jackson!¡± Hiding inside the vehicle, Jackson¡¯s expression lit up with relief. ¡°Hurry and open up. We¡¯re getting out of here!¡± ¡°Oh, sure!¡± Jackson, who was in a rtively good conditionpared to his fellow passengers, walked on his own while the driver and passengers were assisted out of their seats. ¡°Come on! Make it fast!¡± The men providing cover fire were thest to return to the APC. Kwang Hwi pulled his trigger at the monsters rushing at their rear and created an opening. The Blisters that were attempting to close the distance were cleared in a few moments. ¡°Rescueplete. Is Ryker 1 capable of driving?¡± ¡ª ¡°Ryker 1 can drive!¡± ¡°Alright. We¡¯re escaping at full speed!¡± The recently arrived APC began moving again. Immediately following it was Ryker 1. The engines roared violently, but the speed was surprisingly slow. No matter how well built the APC was, it was difficult to gain speed with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Blisters blocking their path. And that was not all. With a bang, the APC that had been gradually gaining speed abruptly rocked. All the upants of the APC, including Kwang Hwi, were surprised by the sudden sound. Something had collided with the APC, causing it to tilt to one side. Loud explosions and vibrations sounded nonstop. Kwang Hwi handed over control of the remote weapons system to another member and returned to the carrierpartment. ¡°The Blisters are exploding,mander.¡± ¡°Exploding?¡± He was right. The Blisters kept appearing from all over. They ran at full speed and mmed into the APC, exploding with loud booms. The crystals spewing out were like shrapnel that bounced off the APC. Fortunately, they weren¡¯t powerful enough to prate the armor of the APC, or else they would have been doomed. ¡®Their heads are about 3-4 timesrger,¡¯ Kwang Hwi analyzed. As their heads exploded, the shrapnel would beunched in all directions. Thankfully, they were easy to identify. However, the problem was that the number of exploding Blisters were increasing. The APC would be fine, but the Light Tactical Vehicle would be a concern as it could not withstand such substantial damage. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Jackson, are you okay?¡± ¡°The Blisters are human. They are people who have transformed.¡± ¡°¡­What did you say?¡± ¡°I saw it myself! A survivor we found turned into a Blister in an instant!¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes darkened and his expression turned gloomy. Jackson was not one to spout nonsense. If he said something like this, it must be true. ¡®Transformed people¡­? Then does that mean the Blister we encountered at the hospital was initially human too? But how did they transform?¡¯ One species turning into another, there must be a cause or reason behind this phenomenon, or else it would be too mind-boggling. ¡®Bacteria? Infection? Bugs?¡¯ It could be anything. But the fact that the ¡®suicide bombers¡¯ appeared as soon as they saw the APC was too much of a coincidence. Even if they could evolve depending on the situation, they were doing it too fast. There was only one conclusion in the end. ¡®A high-rank being!¡¯ There should be an entity, like a Queen, that could artificially create and manipte the evolution of Blisters by some means. It should have seen the APC and created a new exploding Blister, a suicide bomber. ¡°HQ, this is your boss.¡± ¡ª ¡°Yes, boss!¡± ¡°Use the Heron to find the Blister Queen.¡± Kwang Hwi exined his thoughts simply and described the situation of the new breed of Blisters. ¡°It will look different than a regr Blister in some way. There¡¯s a good chance it¡¯s watching us, so it can¡¯t be too far away.¡± ¡ª ¡°Understood.¡± There were no questions asked or doubts raised, only a single word of acknowledgment. As the namesake of the Kwang Hwi Faction, his authority was absolute. The Heron, which was hovering near the APC, flew higher into the air. The video switched to infrared. As the regr Blisters had heat signatures, the high-rank being should also be detectable by its body heat. They did not have to wait long for an answer. ¡ª ¡°Commander!¡± ¡°Did you find it?¡± ¡ª ¡°We found something suspicious at the Dongducheon Stadium. Apart from a number of Blisters, a huge heat source was also detected.¡± ¡°Good.¡± It was good they had the Heron. If not for the UAV, it would have been difficult to find. ¡°You said the Dongducheon Stadium?¡± ¡ª ¡°Affirmative. Setting the course now.¡± ¡°Ryker 1, return to HQ.¡± Now that the ammunition of the machine gun had all been spent, the Light Tactical Vehicle was only a hindrance. It could not provide support, so it was ordered to return. The APC swerved sharply. The maneuver resulted in a collision with a car,unching it into several Blisters and crushing them into meat patties. The stadium was not very far away. On the path to their destination, the number of self-destructing Blisters increased significantly but did not cause any significant damage to the APC. Kwang Hwi was sure this was the ce once he neared it. Although the situation didn¡¯t seem to have changed much, the Blisters¡¯ movements had definitely be more urgent. The one at the rear controlling them had felt the dangering. ¡ª ¡°Boss. We¡¯ve arrived at the stadium.¡± The shutters to the entrances were down, cutting off the path of the APC. Of course, it was futile as they wouldn¡¯t be able to stop the speeding APC. The shutters crumpled as the APC rolled through, sending the metal debris flying. The vehicle¡¯s continuous tracks trampled over the grass field. ¡°Stop!¡± The APC slowed down to a halt as the driver followed themand. It didn¡¯t take long to identify the high-rank being. In contrast to other Blisters, it was distinctlyrger and had some recognizable facial features. However, they were unlike typical human facial features. It had no ears and instead three eyes and a single nostril and mouth. Blister Lord! Its eyes were on the APC. The Blister Lord¡¯s sharp screech rang out in all directions. The Blisters filling one side of the grandstand rose in unison and turned in their direction. However, it wasn¡¯t the Blisters that caught the attention of Kwang Hwi¡¯s group. Jackson¡¯s jaw was agape with shock and terror. He was horror-stricken by the spectacle in front of him. ¡°What the fuck¡­¡± Hundreds of people hung from a pole simr to how a butcher hangs meat in a ughterhouse. They swayed in a state of helplessness, unable to change their fates. From the back of each person, a ck tube was protruding. The tubes were connected to the Blister Lord. Boils covered all parts of their bodies, resulting in a hideous and grotesque appearance. It took less than 10 seconds for a normal human being to turn into a Blister. While everyone was overwhelmed by the sight and felt at a loss, only Kwang Hwi kept his cool. ¡°Gunner! Fire the autocannon at the Blister Lord!¡± Only after a short moment of daze did Kwang Hwi¡¯s men regain their senses and responded to his orders. ¡°F-firing!¡± The autocannon aimed at the Blister Lord. Realizing the danger it was in, the Blister Lord scrambled to get itself up. It had tried to evade, but it was a futile effort. The cannon shell reached it in a split second. Its left shoulder was blown off clean and the remnant pieces flew in the air, blood flying everywhere. Crystalline shards scattered in all directions. An average person would have been blown to pieces, but the Blister Lord just stared at the APC, enraged and furious. ¡°What are you waiting for? Keep shooting!¡± ¡°Y-yes, sir!¡± The shell that followed prated its body, leaving arge hole. A person would have been blown away without a trace by that st. The Blister Lord¡¯s body was instantly covered in wounds. The Blisters in the grandstands copsed. However, it was definitely not a good thing. The ck crystals flew into the sky as if they had wings and gathered towards the Blister Lord. Therge hole rapidly mended. The remaining crystals wrapped around the Blister Lord as if to protect it with armor. The Blister Lord¡¯s body grew in height and became more sturdy. It was a daunting sight. The size of the cannon shells was twice the length of an adult male hand and it could prate through unbelievably thick walls. However, it failed to work on the new form of the Blister Lord. As powerful as they were, they were not as effective as before the transformation. Only the crystals from its exterior fell down, considerably reducing the damage it received. The gunner quickly aimed at its head, but this time, the Blister Lord was ready as it raised its arms to prevent the shells from hitting its head. Unlike other Blisters, this one was at least intelligent. ¡°B-boss!¡± ¡°Keep firing!¡± The Blister Lord that had only been passively taking fire till now raised its leg. ¡°Evade it! Evade!¡± Before Kwang Hwi had even given the order, the driver began moving the APC in a hurry. An enormous foot missed the APC by mere inches. The neatly arranged grass field was turned over with a crash. The ground shook as if a bomb had just fallen, wreaking havoc everywhere. One side of the APC slightly lifted due to the tremor. The seated men hurriedly grasped a handle to steady themselves. The APC found the ground again, and its continuous tracks absorbed much of the shock, barely surviving the aftermath of the strike. Realizing that its attack had missed, the Blister Lord took a step back. Soil rained down. The APC distanced itself from the Blister Lord with haste. Amid the chaos, the autocannon kept its aim on the Blister Lord¡¯s head. The Blister Lord, reaching for the APC, faltered. Even though it wasn¡¯t able tond a critical hit, its kic energy was not lost. ¡ª ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°The preparations?¡± ¡ª ¡°Fire preparationsplete! Ready tomence firing!¡± Chapter 21 Chapter 21 21. 155 mm ¡°The preparations?¡± ¡ª ¡°Fire preparationsplete! Ready tomence firing!¡± A smile crept onto Kwang Hwi¡¯s face. ¡®It could withstand autocannon fire? Then how about this?¡¯ ¡°Fire!¡± ¡ª ¡°Danger approaching! Firing!¡± A roar sounded from the radio, giving out a warning. Kwang Hwi raised his voice and shouted amand. ¡°Get out of the stadium, pronto!¡± ¡ª ¡°Roger! Hold on tight!¡± With its engine roaring, the APC that had been circling the stadium changed its direction. The abrupt turn caused the APC to drift in the middle of the field. The artificial grass and dirt were thrown into the air. A deep curved track was left on the ground as the showy APC pulled out from the stadium, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. The enraged Blister Lord was also mid-stride, chasing the APC. A sharp whistling sound came from the sky. Immediately on guard, the Blister Lord raised its head. Something ck was falling high from the blue sky, a sharp contrast to the bright background. Three ck dots rapidly grew in size as they neared. The Blister Lord whimpered in rm and fear of the strange objects. Three shells simultaneously fell towards the Blister Lord. Time on Target coordinated firing! The shells were fired so that theynded on the target concurrently by adjusting the angle of the trajectory. Separated by fractions of a second, the first shell st shredded the Blister¡¯s waist to nothingness with a loud bang. Without a waist to support it, its upper body began to tip backward as it lost its bnce. Two deafening booms soon followed as the projectiles lodged themselves into the body of the monster. The shells, with a 50 meters kill radius, brilliantly shattered the Blister Lord¡¯s body into giblets. The ck crystals melted away without a chance to scatter, marking the end of the Blister Lord and the fierce battle. ¡ºYou are the first person in the world to defeat a ¡®Lord.¡¯¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 100,000 MP.¡» ¡ºAll Blisters that have lost their ¡®Lord¡¯ have be incapacitated.¡» The unsettling shockwave shook the APC and a dirt cloud enveloped the APC in an instant. The driver opened his eyes groggily. Though the soot obscured fine details, faint outlines were still visible. The dust seemed to be endless, but eventually began to thin out. They weren¡¯t able to stop until they travelled a sufficient distance from the center of the st. The thick dust finally settled and the scene of the devastated stadium revealed itself. All that remained of the stands was rubble and stones. The athletics track and the center field had been reced by a ckened crater. The Blister Lord, with its overwhelming demeanor, was nowhere to be seen. ¡ª ¡°Kill confirmed on the Blister Lord. Good work, everyone.¡± The men who had been tightly gripping the handles inside the APC finally rxed and sighed a breath of relief. Sitting in the car, they were almost crushed in the aftermath of that explosion. ¡°Boss?¡± Jackson looked at Kwang Hwi with a puzzled look. He didn¡¯t know of any equipment in possession of Kwang-Hwi Faction that could produce this level of destructive power. Under his questioning stare, Kwang Hwi answered matter of factly. ¡°It¡¯s a 155 mm self-propelled gun.¡± ¡°SPG¡­?¡± Before Kwang Hwi departed on the APC, he had hurriedly purchased an SPG from the Merit Shop and left it to the members remaining behind. ¡ºK-9 ¡®Thunder¡¯ SPG.¡» ¡ºA self-propelled gun developed and employed by the Republic of Korea. Powered by a 1000 horsepower diesel engine with hydropneumatic suspension, it has an excellent capacity for tackling rugged terrain. An automated fire control system and auto-loader allow the first shell to be fired within a minute of maneuvering into position. It boasts excellent firepower with its 155 mm howitzer main armament.¡» Instead of another APC, Kwang Hwi bought this just in case. Thanks to the MP he had earned through recent achievements, he was able to afford them. Preparations also took some time as there were no trained personnel for it. But thankfully, it was ready when needed. Kwang Hwi checked his bnce. Killing the Blister Lord had initiallyted him 100,000 MP. However, the actual amount earned was more than 300,000. Aside from those achievements, he was also given credit for killing ordinary Blisters. ¡°We¡¯re returning to HQ!¡± The APC¡¯s continuous track began to move. The half-demolished stadium stood tall behind the departing APC Namer like a trophy, a witness to the battle and the destruction here. *** Though there were some dangerous moments, it was not a bad day overall. All the Blisters had been eliminated and now there were only two species left in the city of Dongducheon: Keku and ck Wolves. ¡°Would the rest of them all die if we find and eliminate their Lords?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I mean, all the Blisters were left debilitated after we killed their Lord. Then the same could also hold true for ck Wolves and Keku.¡± Soo Min¡¯s conjecture seemed quite usible. With that in mind, Kwang Hwi had begunbing through Dongducheon with the Heron. Unfortunately, all their efforts resulted in nothing. Unlike the Blisters, no ¡®Lord¡¯ entity for the Keku or ck Wolves could be found. Even after redoubling their search efforts and going through the area with a fine-toothb over several days, not even individuals of unusual size were discovered. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. If we can find their Lords, this would be much simpler.¡± If a Lord was found, they would simply bombard the entire area and there wouldn¡¯t even be a need to leave the headquarters. The whole Dongducheon area was within the range of the SPG. ¡°In the end, the only solution is theplete annihtion of the monsters.¡± While it would be a hassle, every single monster in Dongducheon would need to be eliminated one by one. There was a problem, however. The current method of elimination was too slow. While Dongducheon was not an enormous city like Seoul, it was extremely difficult for the existing forces of the Kwang-Hwi Faction to cover the entire area. There may be another incident such asst time. ¡°Is it necessary for us to do all the searching?¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Jackson who had spoken. Curious, Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°So? Are you suggesting that we just bombard the whole city?¡± ¡°What? No! Just what do you think of me?¡± No matter how pretentious Jackson may have been, he would never suggest leveling the whole city. There were quite a few survivors hiding throughout the city and there were still plenty of supplies waiting for them to salvage. It would also not be viable from a humanitarian perspective. The indiscriminate artillery fire would surely blow all the monsters away, but the supplies that the Kwang-Hwi faction needed would also disappear along with the monsters. ¡°Let theme. We bring monsters to us.¡± ¡°You are suggesting we lure them out?¡± ¡°We have the SPG now, don¡¯t we? We just have to gather them all in one ce and then bombard the area until we run out of the shells.¡± The usually brutish and straightforward Jackson had put forth such an effective n. The men began to whisper among themselves in amazement. ¡°This came from Jackson¡¯s big head?¡± ¡°Did Soo Min actuallye up with this?¡± ¡°Oi, I can hear you all!¡± It was an elementary yet practical n: Gather as many of them and then pepper them to the heavens. The Keku or ck Wolves would be obliterated by the power of the 155 mm shells that not even the Blister Lord could withstand. Those who survived the shelling would then be finished off with primary arms. ¡°It would be better to n out the operation a bit more and tune the details.¡± Soo Min agreed with Jackson. Kwang Hwi also nodded. ¡°Lets cut the chatter and form up.¡± The men who had been chatting amongst each other quickly took their positions, forming up on Kwang Hwi. The rowdy, babbling atmosphere was instantly reced by a solemn and stern one, showcasing the strict order and discipline of the men. Chapter 22 22. Operation: ¡®Bait & Massacre¡¯ In the recent battlefield of the now half-wrecked Dongducheon Stadium, a ck bomb fell. Destruction ensued with a loud boom, causing a shockwave to spread out from the center. The floodlights and grandstand seating, that was somehow still standing, were ttened immediately. Watching the events from afar, Kwang Hwi grabbed his radio. ¡°It¡¯s too close.¡± ¡ª ¡°Readjusting the target.¡± A few minutester, the gunner gave another reply. ¡ª ¡°Ready to fire with the new corrections.¡± ¡°Fire.¡± Though it was his imagination, the thunderous sound of the artillery fire seemed to be right next to him, shaking his eardrums and causing his guts to squeeze. The second bomb fell outside the stadium, creating a mushroom cloud of smoke and dust. The asphalt debris was thrown out in all directions and the smog barred the vision of the soldiers. ¡ª ¡°How was that one?¡± ¡°Looks good.¡± ¡ª ¡°That¡¯s a relief. We¡¯ll stand by for further orders.¡± Kwang Hwi turned to face the men standing at attention next to him. They were in charge of driving each vehicle. ¡°You saw that? That¡¯s where it will fall, so find cover around the corners.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Everyone on board.¡± The men that had been observing from outside rushed into the car. Most of thebat force of the Kwang Hwi Faction was present here, witnessing the scene and preparing themselves for the uing fight. They came fully prepared for this campaign. There was the APC Namer, Light Tactical Vehicles with machine guns, and even a Medium Tactical Vehicle mounted with a grenadeuncher. Allbat assets except those tasked with guarding the power nt and HQ were deployed for this cleanup operation. The Kwang Hwi Faction returned to the stadium with the armored vehicles leading. The roads were rough from all the shelling, but military vehicles were designed to be used in such conditions in the first ce, so they continued without any hups. Each vehicle stopped in one corner of the stadium. Their positions were some distance away from where the shells were expected tond, with a small hill on their rear. ¡°Everyone disembark and begin the operation!¡± The men got off the vehicles and stuck close to the carrierpartment. From there, they carried out blockades and obstacles such as sandbags and mobile barricades and began to set up a defense. Most were of considerable weight and were sturdy enough to take a beating. ¡°Make sure they are installed properly.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s subordinates walked around while supervising the work and spitting out orders. There weren¡¯t only setting up obstacles. The soldiers were also preparing to engage in battle. Ammunition was stockpiled and the medical personnel was brought into the rear just in case. They wereying the groundwork for any unforeseen idents. ¡°Boss, all the preparations are ready.¡± ¡°Really?¡± All that remained was for the monsters to gather ande to them. ¡°Jackson, you take charge.¡± ¡°Y-you want me to?¡± He seemed a little reluctant, perhaps due to what happened yesterday. Kwang Hwi ced his hand on Jackson¡¯s shoulder to encourage him. ¡°You¡¯re the only one I can trust here.¡± ¡°Leave it to me!¡± Jackson¡¯s expression became firm with determination as though the hesitation he just showed was never there. Kwang Hwi pursed his lips to hold back hisughter. ¡°Get ready and go around the perimeter to be familiar with the roads.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± With a quick salute, Jackson ran towards the Light Tactical Vehicle. He took along a new recruit who had been standing around somewhat idly. Without clearly knowing what was going on, the recruit was taken away by the veteran. ¡°Ahem.¡± Clearing his throat to hide the smile, Kwang Hwi turned to his radio. It was time to get serious. ¡°Operation Bait and Massacre, begin.¡± The Light Tactical Vehicle in charge of baiting sped off. With a heavy foot on the pedal, the vehicle quickly left the stadium, leaving the men in anticipation of the uing fight. Kwang Hwi entered the APC. A temporary operations headquarters was set up inside: a screen connected to the UAV, a digital map showing the nearby geography, and amunication line to the SPG. Jackson was doing a great job as bait. The operation was simple with the following steps: 1. Using information from the UAV, go to where the monsters are concentrated. 2. Draw their attention by firing the machine gun. 3. Maintain a proper gap,rge enough so that the vehicle is not caught by the monsters but also short enough to not lose the monsters. 4. Attract as many of them as possible to the stadium. Kwang Hwi looked at the screen. The UAVs were following Jackson¡¯s movements and urately disying the current situation. The Light Tactical Vehicle was driving around like crazy. asionally, there would be abandoned cars blocking the road, but Jackson¡¯s vehicle slipped past them, barely avoiding contact. The driving was even more dangerous than that of a racing maniac or a biker gang. It was apparent that Jackson was driving. The recruit that had been dragged along in confusion was now diligently firing the machine gun towards the rear. Yellow tracers streamed towards the Keku. The monsters shot by the bullets would fall, but it didn¡¯t make a difference. Instead, the sound of the gunfire attracted more monsters to join the chase. It was evident that they were performing brilliantly and no mishaps had urred so far. ¡®That¡¯s a lot of them.¡¯ Kwang Hwi thought as he scrutinized the numbers of the monsters. Nevertheless, that was not all of them. It was only a fraction of what was being dragged in. ¡ª ¡°B-boss! ETA 3 minutes!¡± ¡°Affirmative, ETA 3 minutes.¡± Communications were being made on an open channel. Members hiding behind the barricades checked their weapons. They fiddled with their equipment onest time to check for any damages. Who knew whether theirst-minute check would save their lives. The roar of an engine was heard in the distance. The familiar sound of the Light Tactical Vehicle could be discerned and the men quickly readied their guns, pointing the muzzle forward. ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ve arrived!¡± The vehicle leading the monsters quickly moved off to one side. Kwang Hwi and the others could see the monsters with their eyes. Their savage appearance had now be a routine to them. They were not as nervous as their first time. ¡°Fire!¡± ¡ª ¡°K-9 Firing!¡± Shells from the SPG fell on the monsters¡¯ heads and the dust enveloped them. There wasn¡¯t time to even frown at the explosion. The ones lucky enough to be out of the explosive range were scampering away from the front hurriedly. Primary arms, machine guns, and grenadeunchers saturated the air with metal. The cacophony of sound almost caused everyone to be deaf. There was carnage everywhere with the blood and flesh of the monsters flying in all directions, scattering through the air and grass. The ground was dyed red with bullet shells dotting it like a painting¡ªa bloody artwork with the bullet shells as stars and the blood as the night sky. The ferocity of the monsters died away in front of the barricade¡ªa monster-grinding barricade. Droves of monsters died every time a 155mm shellnded. Arge hole would form in the ck crowd, but it would quickly close up as more numbers filled the area. More Keku piled in from the rear as if they were attracted to their deaths like moths to a me. Abruptly, the machine-gun fire came to a halt. Its magazine had been exhausted as the smoke was released from the heated muzzle. There was a rare moment of rtive silence. The assistant gunner next to him hurriedly pulled out a new magazine and connected it to the machine gun. ¡°Reloaded!¡± The gunner nodded his head and loaded the chamber once more. The empty shells spewed from the side of the machine gun on to the floor as it began another round of firing. The bullets rained at the monsters like water droplets falling from the sky. The assistant gunner that helped with the reloading quickly grabbed his own gun. There were only the screams of gunfire and monsters. Amongst the chaos, Kwang Hwi¡¯s gaze was fixed on the screen connected to the UAV as he observed the overall situation and kept close of note of everything. ¡°SPG, cease fire!¡± ¡ª ¡°Cease fire!¡± In only a few minutes, the majority of the monsters Jackson had drawn in had been defeated. There was no need to use artillery fire on the numbers that remained. Following the SPG, the grenadeuncher also stopped firing. The seemingly endless gunfire gradually subsided and the battlefield calmed down. ¡°Casualty report.¡± ¡ª ¡°One minor wound. No serious injury or death.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s face creased. There should have been no monsters close enough to the barricades, so why was someone hurt? ¡°Who the hell was injured by an enemy with no ranged weapons?¡± ¡ª ¡°¡­I¡¯ll give him additional disciplinary training.¡± ¡°Straighten him out! Equipment status check.¡± Reports from those in charge of the SPG, machine guns, and grenadeuncher came in one by one. ¡ª ¡°SPG, no issues.¡± ¡ª ¡°Grenadeuncher operating normally.¡± Thankfully, there was nothing to worry about as everything was going smoothly, except that rookie. ¡°Jackson!¡± ¡ª ¡°Yes, boss!¡± ¡°Go out one more time.¡± ¡ª ¡°¡­Do I have to go again?¡± There were still plenty to kill and they wanted to have more fun. *** The streets became cleaner with each passing round. The city was still quiet, but it was certainly different from before. The Keku that would wander around the city had disappeared, as well as the ck Wolves that would search for the survivors with their keen sense of smell. By the fifth cycle, the survivors that had stayed hidden for so long came out one by one. How many times was the operation carried out? Kwang Hwi noticed that there was no need to continue as the area had been pretty much cleaned up. ¡ºAll monsters within Dongducheon City have been eliminated.¡» ¡ºYou are the first to acquire a city.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 300,000 MP as a reward.¡» ¡ºRumors of the ¡®Kwang-Hwi Faction¡¯ are being spread slowly by word of mouth of the survivors.¡» ¡ºThe ¡®Lord¡¯ entities in other regions have acknowledged the existence of the ¡®Kwang-Hwi Faction.¡¯¡» ¡°Boss?¡± Kwang Hwi raised his head to look at his men. Everyone acted like they were fine, but their tiredness was evident from their faces. They had definitely worked hard for it as they had been fighting intensely for three days. There were no fatalities or serious injuries, but the physical and mental fatigue had built up due to the long fight. ¡°Dongducheon City is now in our hands. If we continue eliminating monsters like this, we¡¯ll be able to reim our lives. We will once again live as we had back when there were no monsters.¡± None of the men thought Kwang Hwi¡¯s words were nonsense. They may have had such thoughts before joining the Kwang-Hwi Faction, but they had experienced fighting back against the monsters several times now. The monsters they had once feared were shot and killed by their own hands. There was no other armed force like them in the world. As their arsenal berger and more powerful, someday they would be able to drive out the monsterspletely. ¡°Good work, everyone. Let¡¯s go back!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 23. Secure Dongducheon City ¡ª ¡°Greeting to all survivors. This is the 108.5 MHZ Kwang-Hwi Faction broadcast.¡± Kwang Hwi raised the volume of the radio that had been quietly ying in the background. Yesterday evening, a new message had been added to the repeating broadcast and he wanted to review it. ¡ª ¡°We will start with the good news first. As some of you may already be aware, all the monsters in Dongducheon City have been wiped out. Over the past several days, the Kwang-Hwi faction has mobilized all of its forces tobat and subdue the Keku, ck Wolves, and Blisters. After yesterday¡¯s final battle, we have confirmed that there are no more monsters remaining in the city. We, the Kwang Hwi Faction, will be beginning operations for rescuing survivors starting tomorrow. We offer safe passage, food, and shelter. We look forward to weing the new survivors who¡¯ll be joining us.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes turned to the map and he studied it while thinking about his next steps. ¡®It¡¯s going to get very busy tomorrow.¡¯ They had resolved a troubling issue and now it was time to taste the sweet fruits of their hardbor. Dongducheon was now in their hands in all of its entirety, including thend, supplies, and survivors. Taking in and absorbing all of these would let the Kwang Hwi Faction undergo rapid growth. They will be like a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate, bing a hegemon of the area. ¡®We will have to move the HQ to the city hall. It¡¯s in the center and can also represent our status and authority.¡¯ Though it was unfortunate that the headquarters had to be constructed and established in the city, it had to be done. Thinking ahead into the future, it would be best to make the city center the hub for operations. For the numerous survivors and supplies that would being in, it was necessary to have an appropriate building for that purpose. Dongducheon City had many buildings still standing. There wasn¡¯t any need to expend resources and manpower on constructing a new building to house people. Practicality was one of the most essential principles to follow in this brutal era. Along with it being an ideal location, defending the city was significantly easier too. Using the densely packed buildings as corridors, shipping containers could be moved to barricade roadways. The narrower pathways could be blocked with garbage. As for his former headquarters, he could repurpose it for farming and station a permanent security force. They had a whole n prepared that uses their resources more effectively. ¡®We¡¯re going to need a lot of troops to defend an entire city.¡¯ While it was uncertain how many survivors would be rescued, they would try to enlist every able bodied-person into their ranks. Even though they valued skilled workers, soldiers were vital to protect them. *** Early the next morning, all the members gathered after a well-earned rest. The members were divided into tworge groups. One was tasked with rescuing survivors and the other was responsible for securing supplies. ¡°Did everyone listen to the broadcastst night?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°Today¡¯s mission is critical. As we roam through Dongducheon City, we will scoop up survivors and salvage supplies. There may be survivors that are not willing to cooperate. If you meet them, take appropriate measures. Everyone is to treat this mission seriously!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The members, who were all lined up, all responded with vigor. The rest period had done them wonders and they were reinvigorated. Kwang Hwi grinned in satisfaction at their enthusiastic response. Morale was indispensable, especially now. For some reason, he was feeling positive since he woke up. And now, he believed there would be good results today. ¡°All aboard!¡± The crew boarded the vehicles with well-practiced movements. The drivers that were waiting inside all started their engines in unison. It was as if a slumbering beast was woken up, ready to pounce. Each vehicle was also equipped with a loudspeaker system. In an effort to reach out to people hiding in the apartments, they would act like the salesmen knocking on their doors, promoting their shelter and name. ¡ª ¡°Rescue team is ready to be deployed.¡± ¡ª ¡°Salvage team ready to go.¡± ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s rock and roll!¡± The vehicles departed the base in a long line. As they approached the city, the rescue team split into smaller groups and spread out like a bee swarm, covering the whole city. They turned on their loudspeakers and the broadcast from the Kwang-Hwi Faction rang out across the whole city. ¡ª ¡°All monsters within Dongducheon City have been eliminated. The Kwang-Hwi Faction offers safety to all and doesn¡¯t discriminate between the weak and strong, the skilled and unskilled, or the men and women. To all survivors, you do not have to be afraid; we offer food, medical care, and shelter.¡± People that were in hiding began to emerge one by one. There were those who had heard the radio broadcast, those who had seen the graffiti on the wall, and even those who had just learned of the situation from the loudspeakers. ¡°O-over here! Here!¡± A window on the third floor of a shopping mall mmed open and a teenager showed himself, waving his arms. He even held a white cloth in one hand. Hearing his shout, the vehicle that was passing in front of the mall stopped. Two rescue workers disembarked and entered the building. For a while, the men were on full alert as there was a chance the survivors could be hostile. Thankfully, their worries were unfounded, and the survivors were very cooperative. Tears were shed by the survivors that had been holing up in a PC Cafe in the same building. It showed how desperately they clung to the hope of rescue. Seeing the soldiers, they were relieved of their fears. If it were a normal asion, they wouldn¡¯t have even batted an eye. But, no one else could reassure them more than these soldiers at the moment. ¡°Thank you! Thank you so much!¡± ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get in the vehicle first. If you have any possessions, you can bring them with you. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll be safe.¡± Fully packed vehicles returned to base to drop off the survivors. Then, they were once again sent out to continue the rescue missions. The salvage team was also busy during this time. Starting at the L-Mart that had been raided previously and then moving on to therger department stores of Dongducheon, they scoured the whole area clean. Mobilizing all avable vehicles and personnel, looting operations were repeatedly carried out. ¡°Don¡¯t leave anything behind, take everything! Food, clothes, toiletries, beds and simr furniture, grab it all! Understood?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Commence operation!¡± Kwang Hwi roared out instruction after instruction. He was supervising this mission seriously to avoid any possible mishaps. ¡°Roger that!¡± The men barked back. They exuded an aura of true soldiers now, having gone through mes of war. The supermarket, which had been silent all this time, became noisy again. asionally, the survivors that had been hiding within the supermarket would stumble out, their faces lit up with hope. The salvage team would pass them onto the rescue team. The whole militia worked like the gears of machinery, rapidly fulfilling their duties. While his men were busy working, Kwang Hwi was inspecting the Dongducheon City Hall that would soon be his new headquarters. The inside of the city hall was clean and tidy, and there was almost no sign of any attack on the building. It was as if this area was located in a different world than the one they were currently in. Corpses of people were rarely spotted. There were still some rotting bodies outside, but none inside the building. ¡°Set up the situation room.¡± Having finished searching, the men hurried to the basement to organize themand center. After cleaning off the dust that had settled there over time, they brought inmunication equipment and began installing them. They even prepared a chair for Kwang Hwi. He felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders when he sat down. Reports were constantlying in over the radio from the crew. ¡ª ¡°Rescue Team 2, five survivors rescued from zone 32. We¡¯ve exceeded the capacity of our vehicle and will be returning to the base.¡± ¡ª ¡°Salvage Team 1, H-Mart has been cleaned of supplies. Moving to the next target.¡± Of course, not everything went smoothly. ¡ª ¡°This is Rescue Team 5! We¡¯ve encountered some survivors, but they are refusing to join us. Waiting for orders,mander!¡± A situation urred in which the rescued survivors did not want to join. Kwang Hwi gave his orders without any hesitation. ¡°Stick to the n. Evict them.¡± ¡ª ¡°Roger that! Evicting!¡± Dongducheon City was now the territory of the Kwang-Hwi Faction. Those that did not acknowledge it could not be left alone. It would be a fool¡¯s dream to think that they could enjoy peace at the expense of others. ¡ª ¡°Who the hell are you?! It¡¯s my house and I will live here! ¡­Wait, please stop!¡± A resident¡¯s voice could be overheard on the radio. He shouted at the soldiers at first but quickly changed his tone when he saw that they didn¡¯t care about his protest. ¡ª ¡°Suppress him!¡± Following orders, those who refused to join the militia were driven out of Dongducheon. Those with a rebellious attitude were responded to in kind with guns. Even the aggressive ones turned docile when confronting a muzzle. ¡°The situation room and the relocation of the HQ are almost finished.¡± ¡°Excellent. Now, start working on fortifying our position.¡± Containers were transported to the downtown area. The reach stacker began diligently building up a container wall. The abandoned cars that were littered everywhere also became building materials. After ttening them, they were piled up outside the wall as an extrayer of defense. Troops were deployed to guard key locations. They were rapidlyying out the framework for their future well-being. The day ended as darkness engulfed everything, only to be pushed away by the following sunrise. All roads except those intended to be used by the Kwang-Hwi Faction were blocked. Warning messages were posted all along outside the wall. Kwang Hwi and other key members gathered at Dongducheon City Hall. ¡°Thanks to everyone¡¯s hard work, we were able to relocate the HQ sessfully.¡± Thunderous apuse followed hisment. They were appreciating their leader¡¯s foresight, theirrades¡¯ hard work, and, most of all, their own diligence, courage, and bravery. At the same time, they were hoping that this shiny moment was the start of their future and were encouraging themselves not to be afraid of any challenges they would face on their path of survival. ¡°Now then, shall we check on the results?¡± Kwang Hwi gave Soo Min a look. Soo Min stepped forward, holding a piece of paper. ¡°In total, we found 210 survivors in the city, of which 200 joined the Kwang-Hwi Faction.¡± The faces of the members present darkened. Originally, Dongducheon had a poption of 50,000 to 60,000 people. While 210 survivors was not a small number, it was a far cry from the original poption. ¡°Our numbers have increased greatly. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of the salvage team, there are enough essential supplies, such as food, to meet the spike in demand.¡± Some of the men who were in charge of the salvage team grinned. The acknowledgement of their arduousbor made them proud. ¡°How many new recruits will we get?¡± ¡°We finished the assessment three hours ago. I believe around a hundred of them will be fit enough to be trained asbat troops.¡± ¡°A hundred people¡­¡± It was simr to thest time. On average, around half of them could be drilled intobat troops. This was good enough since they also needed people to produce other goods and maintain their equipment. ¡°How would you like to proceed?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll start training all of them at once.¡± Soo Min gave an understanding nod. He recognized the challenge they had to face in defending the entire city. ¡°We will begin the training tomorrow and¡­¡± Before Soo Min had even finished speaking, a notification popped up. ¡ºThe number ofbat troops has exceeded 100.¡» ¡ºCommencing Second Stage.¡» ¡®What?¡¯ Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t even get a chance to turn his head and make sense of the situation before his surroundings began to blur. The familiar scenery disappeared and only a white space remained. It was just like the first time he used the Merit Store. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 24 Chapter 24 24. Command System ¡ºCommand System has been unlocked.¡» ¡ºUsing the system interface, you can now manage and supervise the members of the Kwang-Hwi Faction.¡» Before Kwang Hwi could understand what was going on, another screen popped up in front of his eyes. ¡ºCombat Force Info¡» ¡ïTitle¡ï Kwang-Hwi Faction (No Symbol) ¡ïCommander-in-chief¡ï [Absolute Leader] Kwang Hwi Baek ¡ïControlling Area¡ï [HQ] Dongducheon City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea ¡ïTotal Force¡ï 155 (+1) ¡ïEquipment¡ï [Operating] K-9 SPG [Operating] APC Namer [Operating] 4x Light Tactical Vehicles [Operating] Medium Tactical Vehicle ¡ïDivisions¡ï Dongducheon City Security Team Power nt Guard Squad Farnd Guard Team Recruit Training Center ¡ºYou can check the location and current status of the members and equipment in real-time.¡» The Total Force category started to shine brightly as if it were asking to be clicked. Kwang Hwi drew his finger towards it, giving it a tap. The list copsed, revealing even more information. It felt like opening a folded bamboo scroll, unfurling it to reveal the contents within. ¡ïTotal Force¡ï 155 (+1) Kwang Hwi Baek Commander Soo Min Lee Absolute Loyalty Good Dongducheon City Hall, Situation Room Jackson Turner Absolute Loyalty Good Dongducheon City Hall, Situation Room ¡­ The names of all the members in the Kwang Hwi Faction were disyed on the screen. Not only did it include his subordinates from Africa, but also the newest recruits. It was aprehensive list, indeed. ¡ºName, rtionship with themander-in-chief, health status, and their current location will be disyed in respective order.¡» ¡ºThis will enable more efficient management and control.¡» While his oldestrades had ¡®absolute loyalty¡¯ towards him, the new recruits were only ¡®normal¡¯, as should be expected. ¡°I think I get the gist of it.¡± It wasn¡¯t that difficult toprehend, after all. With an intuitive interface, even if he didn¡¯t understand something, the system would exin it in great detail. It was truly an astonishing feature that even allowed him to know ahead of time if anyone harbored ill intent toward him. On top of that, it was possible to find their current location without using tracking devices or UAV. This would be especially useful formanding arge number of troops, truly a god-send. ¡ºYou can designate a symbol of power.¡» ¡ºImagine the desired symbol to have it drawn.¡» ¡ºOnce designated, the symbol of power will automatically be imprinted on all weaponry and vehicles.¡» ¡®Oh, right!¡¯ Kwang Hwi had been neglecting it for a while, mostly due to his hectic schedule. The notification reminded him just in time. Every group had a symbol to represent themselves, even African warlords used them. He went into deep thought until an image suddenly popped up in his mind: a majestic, fierce lion with a fluttering mane. ¡®Not bad.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know why, but he really liked the image. It showcased his ambition of being a ruler and the majesty associated with it. The picture was drawn right before his eyes and, somehow, it looked exactly the way Kwang Hwi had imagined¡ªdignified and splendid. ¡ºWould you like to designate this symbol?¡» ¡ºOnce designated, the symbol of power will automatically be imprinted onto all weaponry and vehicles.¡» Kwang Hwi nodded. He was very satisfied with the result. ¡ºAs a reward for entering the Second Stage, you have obtained 100,000 MP.¡» ¡ºEngraving symbol on all equipment.¡» Before he realized it, the white space disappeared and Kwang Hwi¡¯s body returned to the Situation Room. ¡°Uh, huh?¡± The surprised men hastily stood up, looking around vigntly. Something was being drawn on their guns. It was as if there was aser hidden from their eyes, shooting through the void and rapidly carving a symbol. And this was not all. On their military vest, the same symbol was being engraved: a lion with its mane fluttering. Kwang Hwi quietly watched the scene unfold. He heard a smallmotion from outside as well. Everyone was dumbfounded by the event. Everything purchased from the Merit Shop was now being branded with the new symbol. Guns, military uniforms, tactical vests, vehicles, APC, and SPG all had the same symbol! ¡ºThe symbol representing the Kwang-Hwi Faction have been engraved on all equipment.¡» ¡°Commander, what is¡­?¡± ¡°This is the symbol we¡¯ll be using from now on.¡± ¡°A symbol, an emblem of sorts?¡± The curious men looked at their equipment. Once again, all equipment had the same symbol engraved. This included the bulletproof helmets,bat boots, knives, and even their bullets! The members who were quick to understand carefully asked. ¡°Is this perhaps your ability?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± The men easily epted the truth when they heard it was due to their leader as it was not the first time they had witnessed something like this. They believed nothing was impossible for him. Seeing them settle down, Kwang Hwi opened his mouth to discuss their future strategy. ¡°There¡¯s still a lot of things we need to do. Only Dongducheon City has been cleared so far. Other areas are still being overrun by the monsters. There may even be stronger foes we have yet to face.¡± The battles so far had been smooth. However, they couldn¡¯t let themselves be caught off guard. They had to be on their toes and prepare for the worst. ¡°Remember, we have only won a single battle, not the war. The struggle has not ended yet. There¡¯s much more toe.¡± His men nodded with a solemn expression, understanding the gravity of the situation. Well, the mood did notst for too long. Jackson, clueless to the situation, spoke in a carefree manner. ¡°Come on, boss. Don¡¯t worry. We will be alright, just like we have been so far!¡± Soo Min, who had not interjected until now, red at Jackson. ¡°Jackson, you¡¯re the biggest problem.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Can you please be more serious?¡± ¡°What did I do this time?!¡± Kwang Hwi and his subordinates shook their heads at the familiar scene. ¡°Stop it. It¡¯s hurting my head.¡± *** ¡ºMerit Points: 800,000¡» After the brief meeting ended, Kwang Hwi opened the Merit Shop. It was time to go on a shopping spree and he was going to purchase some new equipment. ¡ºAPC Namer¡» ¡º Would you like to purchase?¡» ¡ºMedium Tactical Vehicle¡» ¡ºWould you like to purchase?¡» In an instant, half of his Merit Points disappeared. Kwang Hwi did his best to soothe the agony he was feeling. Now that they had grown in size, he had to get more transport vehicles. Otherwise, it would be too cumbersome to move around. ¡ºPurchaseplete.¡» Now, he had two APCs and five Medium Tactical Vehicles, bringing up their transportation resources to suit their numbers. After purchasing all the equipment he needed, he had exactly 400,000 MP left. Since he had already prepared guns andbat gear for the new recruits, he could spend the rest on other things. ¡®Should I buy another SPG?¡¯ SPGs boasted overwhelming destructive power in numbers. The South Korean military sought after producing 1,000 SPGs to bolster their firepower and carried out projects to improve the older models, signifying their importance and effectiveness. If their weaponry had not been corroded, the situation would have never turned this bad. Once a dozen cannons were lined up, the monster horde would have been easily wiped out. After a moment of thought, Kwang Hwi closed the Merit Shop. ¡®I don¡¯t need to buy anything immediately.¡¯ He didn¡¯tck firepower. Thus, he had the leisure to purchase it when the need arose. Kwang Hwi chose to dy the purchase in case he needed to buy other resources. *** [¡ø Dongducheon City] *Kiii.* The faces of the people who were running for their lives distorted with hopelessness and fear. A burst of low, shriekingughter could be heard behind them. They were sweating profusely after running for hours. A man at the rear turned around to look. Not too far away, there were monkey-like monsters chasing after them. They were jumping over rooftops and using utility poles tounch themselves into the air. ¡°Shit.¡± A curse naturally spat out from his mouth. He turned around, thinking they had lost them. However, their n evidently didn¡¯t work. ¡®At this rate, everyone will be in danger.¡¯ The distance was quickly shortening as the monsters closed in on them. ¡®200 meters¡­ 120¡­ 80¡­¡¯ Soon, it would be near impossible to lose their pursuers. They had to somehow buy some time to give them thatst bit of hope. If they continued like this, even that bit of hope would be lost to the fangs of the monsters. ¡°Everyone, just run without turning back! I¡¯ll buy us some time!¡± ¡°Y-you can¡¯t!¡± The man stopped running and ignored what others said behind him. He mentally prepared himself for a final showdown. ¡®Just run faster!¡¯ He aimed his crossbow at the monkeys and pulled the trigger. The arrow pierced the closest monkey, setting off a jet of blood. The monkey, with its small body frame, was unable to withstand the brunt of the force and was flung to the other side. Having an arrow prate the heart, it couldn¡¯t have survived and died with one hit. Seeing the swarm rush forward, the man narrowed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and continued to pull the trigger, quickly firing arrows non-stop. The enraged monkeys continued running towards him, not caring one whit for their fallen brethren; they weren¡¯t scared at all. The monsters he had hoped to stall were already nearing him. With such a short distance left, the man could not keep hisposure and his perfect uracy was affected. Thus, a few arrows missed their targets. Soon, he had no more arrows left. Without hesitation, the man threw his crossbow. The unlucky monkey who was hit on the face shrieked and faltered. Using that window of opportunity, the man started sprinting again. ¡°Brother! Please hurry!¡± Sensing a monster right behind him, the man dropped down in a hurry and rolled on the floor. The monkey¡¯s sharp ws swiped across the air and a few strands of hair that could not escape its trajectory were cut off. His knee scraped against the asphalt floor several times and started to sting. However, ignoring the pain, the man quickly got back up and ran towards Dongducheon. ¡°Brother! Just a bit more! Please, run just a bit more!¡± The colleagues he had urged to leave first were waiting for him. They each held weapons such as iron pipe spears, fire axes, and kitchen knives. All of them had determined looks while cheering him on. ¡°You idiots! I told you to leave me behind!¡± Reuniting with his colleagues, the man scolded hisrades. However, they only responded back with smiles, warming his heart. ¡°How could we leave you behind, brother? If we¡¯re going to die anyway, it¡¯s better to do it together.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! We¡¯re only alive thanks to you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not toote, so¡ª¡± Before he could finish his sentence, a dozen monkeys caught up to them, baring their fangs. It was far toote to escape now. ¡°It¡¯s toote, brother.¡± ¡°Haa¡­ Ah, screw it!¡± The man reached out to his waist and took out his weapon. Pressing a button, the baton extended. The two groups stared at each other. Even though there were some meters in between them, he knew such distance could be narrowed in an instant. Saliva drooped from the mouths of the monkeys as they stared at their prey. It appeared as if their sharp ws had be even more razor-sharp. Sensing his body tensing up, the man took a deep breath to calm down. It wasn¡¯t like there wasn¡¯t any hope. Since their bodies weren¡¯t immune to sharp blunts, it was possible to defeat them. The problem, however, was that they were extremely agile and greatly outnumbered them. The size of the swarm was three times their group. The man noticed that the monsters were about to make a move, so he spoke to warn everyone. ¡°Everyone, get ready¡­¡± The abrupt roaring sounds of an engine throttling at full speed drew his attention. The man trailed off and didn¡¯t finish his warning as a result. He looked sideways toward the origin of the noise. The osting monkeys naturally followed suit. ¡°Huh?¡± *Kiii?* Spotting the group, Jackson blinked in wonder. But soon after, he waved his hand in excitement and smiled brightly. He was just as clueless to the dire situation as usual. ¡°Hey, man.¡± Chapter 25 25. Call for Help Spotting the group, Jackson innocently waved his hand. ¡°Hey, man.¡± ¡°¡­Hi?¡± Those who had escaped from Yangju City absentmindedly greeted Jackson. They were weirded out by his enthusiasm. After all, these were chaotic times, and anything that appeared too good to be true should be avoided. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Jackson asked with eloquent Korean, startling the audience. They didn¡¯t even have time to react after seeing a burly foreigner speaking theirnguage so fluently. ¡®Is he insane? Does he not see the monsters in front of him?¡¯ The leader could not hide his bewilderment. The man appeared oblivious to his surroundings. He even wondered if he was just ying tricks. ¡°There are monsters, as you can see.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jackson grinned and beckoned to hisrades. The soldiers inside the carrierpartment pointed their guns from the vehicle. The leader could not believe his eyes at the spectacle. There were guns and they weren¡¯t rusted like the ones he saw at the police station. ¡®Where did they find such weapons?¡¯ The monkey monsters looked at the new group, sensing the situation was bing unfavorable for them. At this moment, both parties were bewildered. ¡°Fire.¡± With amand from Jackson, the oh-so-familiar sounds of gunshots rang out. Feeling surprised and surreal, the leader took a step back. Unable to do anything, the monkeys were rapidly shot down. Seeing a few charging at him in desperation, Jackson drew his gun and aimed. It was an urate one shot one kill. The monsters fell short of escaping and all were eliminated. As relief washed over them, the survivors copsed onto the ground. They had mixed feelings at the moment. The sudden reversal of the situation overwhelmed them. The leader gulped as the guns pointed at the monsters were now being pointed towards them. Jackson asked them sternly, his previousx attitudeplete vanishing. ¡°This area is controlled by the Kwang Hwi Faction. What business brings you here?¡± ¡°Kwang Hwi Faction?¡± The whole ordeal made the head of the leader spin. He stopped his colleagues from brandishing their weapons, not that it mattered. It was an unfavorable fight. The opposing side was armed, pointing their guns from inside a military truck. Even if they wanted to, they couldn¡¯t do anything to these soldiers with just blunt weapons. Before they could take a step forward, they would be drilled with holes. ¡°We came from Yangju City and were being chased by those monkey monsters.¡± Jackson¡¯s eyes narrowed at the answer and he deliberated over it for a while. ¡®Yangju is¡­¡¯ Yangju was a city south of Dongducheon. ¡°Please discard your weapons. I¡¯ll contact my superior.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The leader signaled everyone to lower their weapons carefully. Jackson picked up the radio after seeing everyone was unarmed. ¡°Boss, Jackson speaking.¡± Kwang Hwi quickly responded. ¡ª ¡°Did something happen?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve encountered survivors from Yangju City: a small group of five.¡± ¡ª ¡°Bring them with you.¡± ¡°Roger. We¡¯ll return immediately.¡± Jackson beckoned to the survivors. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The survivors boarded the Medium Tactical Vehicle with nervousness. Their weapons were discarded on the ground, but no one thought of bringing it with them. Kwang Hwi Faction did not collect weapons and it was pointless to amass them when they had guns anyway. The soldiers gave the survivors a cold re. As always, they were fully alert. ¡°Now, now! Let¡¯s go back!¡± Jackson sensed the tense air and opened his mouth to ease both parties. The Medium Tactical Vehicle turned and headed to the Dongducheon City Hall. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Was there something like that before¡­?¡± The survivors thought aloud while feeling perplexed. There was a solid wall erected at the entrance to the city, a barrier built to ward off monsters. It was freshly made, less than a week old, and surrounded the entire city that Kwang Hwi Faction had acquired. On the gray wall, there was a symbol of a fierce lion with its mane fluttering drawn on it alongside a warning notice. Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s Controlled Area Stop immediately! Be unarmed and follow our instructions! The truck momentarily paused at a routine checkpoint. Everyone¡¯s attention was focused on the guard standing on top of the wall. Jackson hollered at him from inside the vehicle. ¡°Open up.¡± ¡°Greetings, Major Jackson! Opening!¡± Being one of the few high-ranking officers in the Kwang Hwi Faction, everyone knew Jackson. The guard promptly saluted and followed the order. Once the door was half-open, the Medium Tactical Vehicle entered the city. It was rtively quiet here, aside from the few guards on duty. The roads were clean of monster carcasses. In less than five minutes, another wall came into view that blocked their path and, just like the outer one, the inner wall also had guards deployed on it. The inspection quickly ended. This was primarily due to the fact that Jackson was the sole ck American in the Kwang Hwi Faction and they could identify him from afar. ¡°We¡¯ve already received orders from HQ. Please enter.¡± A guard reported to Jackson while making way for the vehicle. Beyond the wall, an entirely different scenery came into view. While there weren¡¯t many people, it looked like civilians were walking on the roads. The people neither looked mistreated or starving. It was evident that they had a decent life and it was almost as if they had entered a small town from the times bygone. Naturally, there were no monsters or their corpses in the picturesque scene, a testament to the strength of the faction. asionally, there would be discolored bloodstains on the streets, which the civilians mopped. The survivors from Yangju City looked at the scenery as if they were country bumpkins who were visiting a city for the first time. What¡¯s more, the city even had electricity. It was theplete opposite of what they experienced at Yangju. The Medium Tactical Vehicle came to a screeching halt in front of the Dongducheon City Hall. A group of soldiers were there to meet them, likely informed of their arrival ahead of time. Jackson led the Yangju survivors out of the vehicle and into the building. ¡°Follow me.¡± While following Jackson, the survivors saw the APC and SPG stationed at the parking lot. ¡°Boss, this is Jackson. I¡¯ve brought the survivors.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Kwang Hwi greeted the survivors whilefortably reclining in his seat. Soo Min was standing right behind Kwang Hwi. Chairs were prepared ahead of time for the survivors. ¡°I¡¯m Kwang Hwi Baek, themander of the Kwang Hwi Faction.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you. My name is Sang Woo Hong.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you came from Yangju City. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The leader did the introduction and told his story. He recounted how the city was suddenly attacked by monkey monsters and how people were utterly massacred. The policemen tried to take action but couldn¡¯t do much without their weapons. In the end, they were effortlessly ughtered. ¡°That¡¯s why the five of us looted the hardware store to arm ourselves. At first, we somehow managed to survive for two weeks in the city. But as time went by, without any help, we realized it was only getting dangerous, so we fled.¡± ¡°And you were chased by these monkey monsters?¡± Kwang Hwi tapped his finger on the table. Based on the story, Yangju City was upied by a different type of monster, referred to as the ¡®monkey monster¡¯. Using their small and agile bodies, these beasts wouldunch surprise attacks from blind spots. Their ws were their primary weapons, and some could even paralyze its victim. ¡°How many are there?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know¡­¡± The survivors had no way of knowing the monsters¡¯ numbers. They didn¡¯t have the necessary equipment for this. In contrast, Kwang Hwi Faction had the UAV. ¡®Yangju City, huh? There must be at least a few thousand.¡¯ A rhythmic tapping sounded in the room as Kwang Hwi organized his thoughts. He then raised his head. ¡°Do the monsters eat people?¡± ¡°Eh? No. Even though they kill people, they don¡¯t eat them.¡± ¡°So, they don¡¯t eat people¡­¡± It was unexpected or rather shocking information, to say the least as the Keku and ck Wolves ate people. Kwang Hwi had thought that the monkeys would do the same. ¡°There¡¯s something else that¡¯s pretty strange, too.¡± ¡°Strange, you say?¡± ¡°Two days before we fled the city, the monsters captured the people and took them somewhere. They killed the men who resisted and seized the powerless women.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Kwang Hwi signaled to Jackson, who took the survivors and left the office. After an aptitude test, the survivors would be assigned new jobs. Kwang Hwi thought they were suited to be soldiers. They had to be experienced inbat to flee from a city overrun by monsters. On top of that, all of the men were healthy adult males. Soo Min, still standing behind him, asked Kwang Hwi. ¡°Boss, what do you n to do?¡± ¡°First, let¡¯s check what¡¯s going on.¡± There was no reason for Kwang Hwi to take any immediate action. They were still in the process of converting Dongducheon City into a fortress and needed a few more weeks to train the new recruits. It was not the right time to visit Yangju City. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll deploy the Heron first.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Just before Soo Min was about to leave the office, the radio on the table sounded. ¡ª ¡°Southern Wall Security Team reporting! A number of unidentified monsters are approaching from Yangju City!¡± Chapter 26 26. Yangju City A shrill siren rang on the outer wall, alerting the men. The sharp warning signal sounded far and wide. ¡°This is not a drill! It¡¯s the real deal! Hurry!¡± The Captain hastily shouted at the top of his lungs. The soldiers ran around diligently, preparing the ammunition they needed in advance. Boxes filled with magazines were distributed to each point. The men checked to make sure the crew-served weapons were functional so that they could provide support fire when needed. The Captain surveyed the proceedings with an eagle eye as he barked an order through the radio in his hand. ¡°Report!¡± ¡ª ¡°Mortar operating normally.¡± ¡ª ¡°Grenadeuncher operating normally.¡± The Captain raised his binocrs. The monkey monsters menacingly crowded the roads, approaching steadily. There were undoubtedly over a few thousand. The artillery fire data calcted from the observation device were sent to theputers attached to the mortars. ¡°Are the mortars ready?!¡± ¡ª ¡°Data received! Ready to fire!¡± ¡°Fire!¡± With the green signal from the Captain, the soldiers quickly inserted the shells and backed away. All mortars fired at once. Immediately after it fired, the men inserted a new cartridge, their swift motions showing their training beforehand. Loud explosions broke out in the middle of the horde. A destructive fire enveloped the area. Those who were at the center died before they could even scream. Chunks of flesh sttered across the sky, painting a bloodyndscape. Only now did the monsters understand that they were being attacked and scattered. Instantly hiding in the houses and buildings located on either side of the road, the monsters continued their advance. This smart trick made the mortar attacks less effectivepared to before. Observing the situation, the Captain issued new orders. ¡°Prepare object 1 ~ 15.¡± ¡ª ¡°Trigger ON! Explosives ready!¡± ¡°st ¡®em away!¡± ¡ª ¡°5! 4! 3! 2! 1! Firing!¡± The buildings beyond the outer wall started to crumble simultaneously. Surprised by the copse, the monsters scurried to escape, but it was far toote. Large blocks of concrete fell above their heads, blocking their advance. Unable to do anything, the monkey monsters were crushed. White dust clouds enveloped the area and vision of it became hazy. ¡ª ¡°Objects sted.¡± The Kwang Hwi Faction had already prepared for such a situation. Their simtion results showed that hostile forces could avoid direct confrontation by using structures outside. At first, the popr idea was to clear away any building that could be used to hide. But, Kwang Hwi cooked up another devious n. He thought of letting the enemies hide in the buildings first. When they felt safe, he nned to activate the explosives that were prepared ahead of time, burying them along with the buildings. His scheme had worked perfectly. The number of monkeys was drastically cut down as most were crushed to death. Those who couldn¡¯t hide anymore charged towards the outer wall as ast-ditch move. The grenadeuncher fired away, dashing their hopes. Even though they had dispatched sandbags below the wall, aftershocks still shook the grenadeunchers. The limbs of the monkey monster flew into the air as they were swept away by the bombardment, a testament to its destructive power. Meanwhile, the persistent ones that survived entered the rifle range. The soldiers, who had been patiently waiting, aimed and pulled their triggers. Machine guns and assault rifles fired in unison,unching a hailstorm of bullets. The monsters that came close crumbled away one by one. Some managed to climb onto the wall, but they were drilled with holes by the soldier¡¯s focus fire. The mortars that were firing asionally wentpletely silent at this moment. This was because the soldiers in charge of operating them had grabbed their primary arms. Brass shells rolled on the floor haphazardly. The Captain clicked his tongue. At a nce, the battle appeared to be an overwhelming victory for the Kwang Hwi Faction. However, from a cold, objective perspective, he knew they still had a long way to go. The monsters that broke past the carpet bombing from mortars and grenadeunchers were only a few hundred. In response, the soldiers became too nervous and wasted a lot of bullets. While it was fine to squander some, it was difficult to tell what could happen, so they should be prepared for any emergencies. Who knows, one more bullet in the chamber could save their lives. It was a battlefield after all, not some yground or simtion. ¡°Cease fire!¡± ¡°Ceasing fire!¡± After thousands of monkeys were ughtered, the gunshots gradually died. The vicinity became silent, except a few nervous gasps here and there. ¡°Report casualties.¡± Each team reported back immediately. Naturally, there were none. After confirming the reports, the Captain changed the radio channel. Connecting to the Situation Room, he spoke to Kwang Hwi. ¡°This is the Southern Wall Security Team. We¡¯ve eliminated the monkey horde. Over.¡± ¡ª ¡°Copy that. Good work, everyone. I¡¯m sending civilians to clean the area.¡± Kwang Hwi and the Captain both spoke in a solemn manner. ¡°Affirmative,mander. Thank you for your hard work.¡± Above the Captain, the Heron flew, capturing the whole scene. *** ¡ºYou have defeated 3500 Monkeys faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºAs a reward¡­¡» Kwang Hwi flicked his finger and the notifications blocking his view disappeared. While he couldn¡¯t get the reward for the first kill, he got plenty for killing en mass. ¡°Command System.¡± This was the function he recently unlocked after entering the Second Stage. Among the categories, Kwang Hwi looked at the ¡®Divisions.¡¯ ¡ïDivisions¡ï Dongducheon City Security Team (¨‹Details) Power nt Guard Squad Farnd Guard Team Recruit Training Center He clicked on the detail button. From there, he found a sub-category called ¡°Southern Wall Security Team¡± under the Dongducheon City Security Team. The names of soldiers deployed to the Southern Wall were all disyed from top to bottom. ¡°Yong Seok was there, huh?¡± Yong Seok was one of the highest-ranking officers in the Kwang Hwi Faction. Below him, other soldier¡¯s ranks were disyed in order. Yong Seok Ma Absolute Loyalty Rational Southern Wall Command Center Choe Sang Lee Loyal Nervous Southern Wall Woo Jung Kim Loyal Nervous Southern Wall Chul Min Park Loyal Nervous Southern Wall Yu Jun Lee Normal Nervous Southern Wall Portable Restroom ¡­ ¡®Their loyalty went up.¡¯ Kwang Hwi certainly remembered that just yesterday, most of his men were ¡®normal¡¯. But today, they suddenly became ¡®loyal¡¯. Kwang Hwi quickly understood why as it was not thatplicated. ¡®It must have been due to the recent confrontation with the Monkeys.¡¯ After going through a real battle and surviving the ordeal, their sense of belonging to the faction went up. Having an absolute victory must have affected them too. Kwang Hwi carefully checked everyone¡¯s loyalty. All of his direct subordinates had ¡®absolute loyalty¡¯. Those who joined his group after the appearance of the monsters all had at least ¡®normal¡¯ loyalty. Thankfully, no one had ¡®distrust¡¯. ¡¾Loyalty Description¡¿ Absolute Loyalty Follows any orders. Will never betray. Loyal Follows most orders. Trusts in themander and superiors. Normal Will follow orders. Distrust Does not trust themander. Dissatisfied and could potentially cause a coup d ¡®¨¦tat. It was a considerable advantage to be able to see the loyalty of the troops as a coup or possible disobedience could be prevented in advance. This was a real monitoring system, eliminating any uncertain factors. ¡®Of course, it¡¯s not like I would ever let a coup d ¡®¨¦tat take ce. I must thwart any such attempts beforehand¡¯ While Kwang Hwi was still in Africa, he was the second-inmand of the mercenary group. He had plenty of experience in dealing with those under him and knew how to lead stubborn men. Seeing their boss lost in thought in the Situation Room, the subordinates carefully called out to him. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°The Heron will arrive at Yangju City shortly.¡± ¡°Connect to the screen.¡± The screen in the Situation Room showed the full view of the city. Monkeys were bustling in there. Initially, the city belonged to humans. But now, Monkeys were the ones who walked down the streets or peeked their heads outside the buildings. It almost looked like a settlement of monsters. ¡°Switch to infrared.¡± ¡°Heron switching to infrared.¡± The pilot changed the camera mode and a ck and white world came into view. ¡°It can¡¯t detect any heat signatures?¡± ¡°The camera is operating normally.¡± The Monkeys, giving off no heat signatures, were marked in ck. The Heron hovered around Yangju for a long time and no other heat sources were detected, excluding the asional campfires. They were unable to find any survivors, either. ¡®The other survivors mentioned seeing people being dragged elsewhere. That means the Monkeys must have taken them somewhere deeper. But why?¡¯ The situation in Yangju was far worse than Dongducheon. Looking down from the sky, there were more Monkeys than all the monstersbined in Dongducheon. The whole area was teeming with them. They lived in groups inside buildings previously used by people and dozens patrolled the streets. They had a system of their own. The Monkeys carried weapons and there were even ones who appeared to be in charge. It was like a bee colony, with everything in order. Chapter 27 Chapter 27. Bombardment ¡°The meeting willmence now.¡± Kwang Hwi attended the meeting with his subordinates. The screen disyed videos and images taken from the UAV over the past few days. ¡°After observing Yangju for several days, we have concluded that the number of ¡®Monkeys¡¯ in the city is size-four.¡± ¡°Size-four?¡± His subordinates could not hide their shock. Size-four meant that their numbers exceeded ten thousand. They recalled how they killed thousands of monsters in Dongducheon and felt a bit proud and aplished. Inparison, tens of thousands was apletely different ball game. ¡°Their biggest trait is their ability to reproduce. The poption is increasing by hundreds¡ªif not thousands¡ªevery day. While they initially maintained their power around Yangju City Hall, their forces have started branching out everywhere as the days go by.¡± It would have been better if they were expanding with their existing numbers. If that were the case, they would have thinned out to cover arger area. The problem was that their poption density continued to grow and they were using their newborns to expand their territory. It allowed them to maintain their hold over the regions they were extending their operations to. Two pictures were then shown side by side, providing aparison to the viewers. ¡°These pictures were taken three days ago and this morning, respectively. Yangju City Hall and the east are both upied by Monkeys.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°This is a bit¡­¡± The gathered menmented at the scene. The white areas were dyed in ck. Without a doubt, the ck dots were Monkeys. They were spreading like a locust swarm, rapidly engulfing everything. The eastern side of Yangju was muchrger than the entirety of Dongducheon, but it was still conquered in a matter of three days. This matter could not be taken lightly. ¡°For us, this means that we need to move quickly because¡­¡± A new image was disyed. It showed the administrative districts of Dongducheon and Yangju, where West Dongducheon met East Yangju. ¡°Once the Monkeyspletely capture Yangju City, we¡¯ll need to face them at two fronts.¡± ¡°It will only get harder the longer we drag this out.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± The fortification of Dongducheon City was finally finished. It had no weakness and was able to defend against an attack even if it were from two directions. However, that was only against forces as big as size-three. ¡°What if we were attacked from two fronts by a size-four?¡± No one replied as the implications were clear. While Kwang Hwi Faction grew in magnitude recently, there were only 155 people at the end of the day, nowhere near the humongous scale of the Monkey horde. Based on the Korean military standards, they were equivalent to apany. But, it wasn¡¯t like the entirepany was defending a single area. Instead, they were evenly divided into a few groups, each responsible for its own zone. In the worst-case scenario, they could deploy the SPG to defend against a size-three attack. But, beyond that? ¡°Even now, there is a size-three horde moving northward. They will engage us from the South. At this rate, we¡¯re going to have size-three attacks on a daily basis near the Southern Wall.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll strike first.¡± Everyone looked at Kwang Hwi. ¡°How is the Heron?¡± ¡°It¡¯s operational. The engineers that joined recently are taking good care of it.¡± The Heron was instrumental. Ever since they had acquired the Heron from the underground base, it had been deployed every day for recon missions. It should have been damaged from overuse, but the engineers were making sure it was in pristine condition. ¡°We¡¯ll deploy the SPG.¡± The men eximed. In hindsight, the men forgot the Kwang Hwi Faction had an effective long-range weapon. The SPG¡¯s maximum range was 40 km and the distance between Dongducheon and Yangju City Hall was within 18 km. Even without lifting a finger, they could effectively strike the Monkeys andy waste to their numbers. All they had to do was deploy the Heron to acquire firing data. ¡°That¡¯s right, we have an SPG!¡± ¡°But boss, will one SPG be enough?¡± With a ng, Kwang Hwi stood up and headed towards the window. He pulled back the thick curtains, allowing sunlight to pour in. ¡ºK-9 ¡®Thunder¡¯ SPG.¡» ¡ºA self-propelled gun developed and employed by the Republic of Korea. Powered by a 1000 horsepower diesel engine with hydropneumatic suspension, it has an excellent capacity for tackling rugged terrain. An automated fire control system and auto-loader allow the first shell to be fired within a minute of maneuvering into position. It boasts excellent firepower with its 155mm howitzer main armament.¡» ¡ºWould you like to purchase?¡» ¡®I¡¯ll buy it.¡¯ ¡ºPurchaseplete.¡» ¡ºPlease select the area to deploy the SPG.¡» Kwang Hwi chose the City Hall¡¯s parking lot, right next to the first K-9 SPG. ¡ºDeployment finished.¡» Above the empty space, an imposing SPG was constructed. On one side of its main body frame, it had the Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s symbol. The soldiers who were passing by nced at it. While it was amusing at first, they had grown ustomed to the scene, so the men continued on their way without overreacting. Naturally, the subordinates present in the room saw it too. Kwang Hwi gestured towards the parking lot with a nod. ¡°Now, we have two.¡± While Kwang Hwi wanted to purchase as many SPG as he could, he only had enough points to buy one. With the remaining MP, he had to purchase the necessary ammunition. Otherwise, the weapons would just be paperweights. ¡°First of all, we¡¯ll deal with the size-three horde approaching from the south.¡± ¡°Roger!¡± The men left the conference room with bright faces, except for one. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°What is it, Soo Min?¡± ¡°As you are well aware, the SPG will only buy us some time. The biggest issue right now is dealing with the Monkey¡¯s abnormal fertility. We have to solve this problem somehow.¡± ¡°Naturally.¡± ¡°Do you have some n in mind?¡± Kwang Hwi realized Soo Min had misunderstood him. ¡°I think you have the wrong idea.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°After we take care of the size-three horde, we¡¯ll attack their base.¡± ¡°By base, do you mean¡­ Yangju City Hall?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Soo Min¡¯s face became pale at the confirmation. ¡°T-then, we may kill all the survivors in Yangju along with the supplies.¡± Kwang Hwi turned around to look at Soo Min and showed a determined look. Soo Min gulped quietly at his resoluteness. ¡°This is also the safest method possible.¡± In the current situation, the Monkeys exceeded size-four. No matter how well the operation was nned, casualties could not be avoided. Inyman¡¯s terms, a single soldier had to fight against 150 Monkeys. While it was essential to secure supplies and save survivors, it was more important to minimize the damage Kwang Hwi Faction would face. ¡°Soo Min, you must remember this: we are a militia and our main objective isn¡¯t to save civilians. It¡¯s to ensure the safety of those in the Kwang Hwi Faction.¡± ¡°U-understood.¡± ¡°Increase the frequency of radio broadcasts. Try to inform the people of Yangju City so that they can at least prepare for it.¡± After saluting, Soo Min left the room. Kwang Hwi looked away, towards the window once again. *** ¡°Please move out of the way! The vehicles are passing by!¡± Soldiers carrying traffic rods cleared the area near the SPG and those passing by hastened their steps to move aside. After confirming no one was nearby, the drivers started the engines to move the SPG forward. The continuous tracks of the vehicle rotated and the 47-ton heavy metal behemoth raced ahead. The Light Tactical Vehicles that were on standby quickly cut in front to lead the way. The SPGs were headed towards the Dongducheon High School near the City Hall. The soldiers who were contacted in advance were waiting there with the gates wide open. The school was usually used to train new recruits. Now that the training was over, it was empty. The SPGs were parked in the middle of the schoolyard. Dust smoke rose into the air, following their halt. The UAV in the air checked on the Monkey horde¡¯s location and sent the data to the SPGs. ¡°Coordinates confirmed!¡± The supporting ring fell, lifting the 8-meter long gun barrel. The automatic loading system inserted the shell while the soldiers finished loading it with gunpowder. ¡°SPG 1 loaded!¡± ¡°SPG 2 loaded!¡± After confirming that both SPGs were loaded, themander shouted. ¡°Fire!¡± ¡°Fire!¡± A cloud of gas gushed from the gun barrel along with fine dust particles. While the frame shook from the recoil, it quickly recovered its bnce. The shell instantly covered the 10 km distance and fell right above the size-three Monkey horde. Wrapped around the explosion, the simian monsters vanished without a trace. Soon after, the asphalt road, which was previously covered in ck dots, revealed itself. Flesh was glued to the floor from the intense heat, creating a grotesque scenery. After reloading, new shells were fired with a loud roar, recreating the same scenery a bit further down the road. The SPGs continued shooting. Every minute, it fired 2 ~ 3 rounds or approximately 120 ~ 180 shells an hour. The Monkeys tried to escape from its firing range, but the SPGs immediately corrected its trajectory towards the most concentrated areas. Whenever the SPGs were pushed back from the recoil, they would quicklye back to their original position. ¡ºYou have defeated 4000 Monkeys faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºAs a reward¡­¡» ¡ºYou have defeated 4500 Monkeys faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºAs a reward¡­¡» ¡ºYou have defeated 5000 Monkeys faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºAs a reward¡­¡» Kwang Hwi¡¯s MP quickly rose as the constant announcements made him feel dizzy. He decided to just close his eyes so that he couldn¡¯t see the alerts. ¡°Stop firing!¡± The gunshots, which could be heard at set intervals, all stopped. The Heron hovered around the surroundings to check on the status of the enemy. The rain of steel brought aboutplete devastation. Buildings that could be seen asionally were all destroyed without mercy and there were no Monkeys left alive. ¡ª ¡°Annihtion confirmed!¡± ¡°Ammunition report!¡± ¡°SPG 1 has 38 left!¡± ¡°SPG 2 has 39 left!¡± The maximum loading capacity they had was 48 shells, and they did not even use half of it. ¡°Monkeys usually live inside buildings. Rather than shooting towards the ground, focus on destroying those constructions.¡± ¡°You are absolutely right, sir.¡± Themander agreed with Kwang Hwi¡¯s words. If they took down the buildings, they could effectively reduce the number of Monkeys. ¡°When should we resume firing?¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± Kwang Hwi checked his watch. While he had told Soo Min not to show pity, he didn¡¯t want to cause unnecessary civilian casualties. That¡¯s because they had to integrate the survivors into the Kwang Hwi Faction in order to grow. ¡°Continue firing tomorrow morning at 8 o¡¯clock. Until then, have the SPGs reloaded and let the soldiers rest.¡± ¡°8 o¡¯clock tomorrow, affirmative.¡± This gave the survivors a 12-hour leeway. While some may say that it¡¯s not enough, it was better than shooting without warning. In this do-or-die era, they had already shown enough tolerance. *** ¡°Keep the radio on. Is there still nothing?¡± ¡°Last time, it definitely caught something!¡± A young man was tuning the radio with a solemn expression. He didn¡¯t care about hismentingpanion right next to him. ¡°Why are you doing something so pointless? Didn¡¯t I tell you to trust me? The underground warehouse is filled with food and we can survive here for years toe.¡± ¡°Are you going to live here forever? You should at least know what¡¯s going on out there. And what are you going to do about the monsters roaming around?¡± ¡ª ¡°Gr*** to ***vors¡­¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Abruptly, there was some static, and then came a distorted voice from the radio. The man hastily adjusted the frequency. The faint voice became more and more distinct. ¡ª ¡°Greetings to all survivors. This is the Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s radio broadcast on 108.5 MHZ.¡± ¡°I found something!¡± Even the grumbling friend quickly approached the radio. It was the first radio broadcast they had heard in a month, so he was also curious. ¡ª ¡°Kwang Hwi Faction have fully secured the entire Dongducheon City. We are now waiting to reunite with the nearby survivors. We provide food, shelter, and safety from monsters.¡± ¡°Kwang Hwi Faction? What kind of army is that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Dongducheon is¡­ north, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The two chatted but did not miss the crucial details. Food and shelter were provided alongside the protection from monsters and such. ¡ª ¡°A monster called ¡®Monkey¡¯ was found in Yangju City. Their numbers are rapidly increasing and havepletely taken over Yangju City Hall and the eastern side of the city.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same monsters we met on the first day, right?¡± ¡°I mean they¡¯re calling it Monkeys, so probably?¡± ¡ª ¡°We have confirmed that Monkeys are approaching our territories in Dongducheon, and we n to annihte the horde with our K-9 SPGs.¡± ¡°SPG?¡± The two men looked at each other with disbelief. The horde had thousands of monsters, and they wanted to raze them all. But the more surprising news was that¡­ ¡ª ¡°Kwang Hwi Faction n to bombard a portion of Yangju tomorrow morning at 8 o¡¯clock. It is to curb the Monkeys¡¯ rapidly growing poption. The survivors in the vicinity should leave the city or evacuate underground if possible.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t we need to run away too?¡± ¡°What are we going to do about the monsters outside?¡± ¡°¡­Fuck, you¡¯re right.¡± Chapter 28 Chapter 28 As soon as the hour hit 8 o¡¯clock, an rm went off. Kwang Hwi looked at themander and calmly issued an order. ¡°Begin.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The Heron, which was deployed earlier, hovered above Yangju City. It had already sent the coordinates for the first target. Themander held onto the radio and contacted the troops. ¡°SPG-1, report. Did you confirm the coordinates?¡± ¡ª ¡°This is SPG-1. Affirmative, we¡¯ve confirmed the coordinates. Ready to fire.¡± ¡°Fire away!¡± ¡ª ¡°Firing at designated coordinates!¡± A loud roar rumbled through the open window, shaking its frame. The shell soared through the sky, reaching its designation shortly after. The patrolling Monkeys looked up at the iing foe, fully alert. A ck silhouette covered their vision as the shell crashed into the ground. Swarms of Monkeys instantly disappeared in the detonation. The fire raged devastation as the sharp screams filled the air. Others were dazed at the sight of it. In the blink of an eye, thepanions that were standing in front of them had disappeared. Soon after, the monsters urgently bawled and scurried away. They flocked into the buildings without hesitation, as if rehearsed beforehand. Identifying the buildings packed with the most Monkeys, the UAV sent firing data to the SPGs. Once received, the coordinates were automatically punched in. Having patiently waited for its turn, SPG-2 raised its head, like a sleeping behemoth opening its maw. Its next target was a four-story building in the shopping district. The 155 mm shell was already loaded inside. ¡ª ¡°SPG-2, ready to fire!¡± ¡°Bring them hell!¡± The SPG trembled as it sent off the explosive. Shells flew high into the air at set intervals. This was K9 SPG¡¯s Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact feature. In MRSI mode, the K9 could fire three projectiles in under 15 seconds, allowing for quick response at demand. ¡ª ¡°MRSIpleted!¡± ¡°Be on standby.¡± On the screen, a white dust cloud rose from the shopping district. The first shell blew away the roof while the other two ttened the entire building. The monsters hiding inside didn¡¯t even have a chance to escape. It was like a rain of doom falling on them. ¡ª ¡°Target eliminated.¡± ¡ª ¡°Received new coordinates!¡± With the Heron¡¯s guidance, the next target was quickly selected. The automated fire control system calcted the trajectory and made appropriate adjustments. A new shell was inserted with the autoloader. The weaponry once again proved that although physically weak, humans were still at the top of the food chain. ¡ª ¡°Ready to fire!¡± ¡°Fire!¡± SPG-1 continuously fired, unloading its burden. Once again, the shells hit the building with high precision. The windows were shattered and concrete blocks were thrown out in all directions. The building trembled under the might of artillery fire. Sensing danger, the Monkeys immediately jumped outside the building, but it was futile. The ce was already copsing, annihting their hopes. It was a difficult situation to run away from, after all. The Heron captured all of that from the sky above and sent new coordinates. Another shellnded, right above the escaping Monkeys. The asphalt road overturned and the simians were swallowed up in dust clouds. The frantic Monkeys hurried to hide in a different building. Still, they were bombarded with new shells and buried alive in a matter of minutes. Simr scenes repeated several times. It didn¡¯t matter whether they hid or ran away. In the end, they all met their fate and died. Realizing that peril existed regardless of where they holed up, the Monkeys started moving towards the south. SPG-1 fired a shell towards the expected pathway with the Heron¡¯s assistance. While the Monkeys were trying to minimize the damage, they had a habit of moving in groups. Explosions continued to engulf them, killing multiple at a time. SPG-2 focused on firing on buildings, even if only a single Monkey took refuge there. This was just in case there were babies or injured monsters. Back in the Situation Room, all the data gathered over the past few days was presented. ¡°72nd building in 16th street, Monkeys confirmed 3 days ago!¡± ¡°102 Star Hills Apartment, Monkeys sighted yesterday!¡± ¡°Deokjeong Elementary School, 4 days ago!¡± ¡°¡­ 2 days ago!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve confirmed yesterday!¡± The members present in the Situation Room were hard at work. Even though there may not be a Monkey in the building, they had to demolish the ones that the monsters had previously amodated. The number of targets kept increasing with each report. The Star Hill Apartment crumbled helplessly while an elementary school sunk. But soon after, the SPGs that were firing in turn went silent. ¡ª ¡°SPG-1! No ammunition left!¡± ¡ª ¡°SPG-2 has also exhausted all its shells!¡± ¡°Boss. We¡¯ve received reports that our SPGs have consumed all of their ammunition.¡± Kwang Hwi checked the time. Morning had barely passed since they began the operation. It may have been a short operation, but the results were satisfying. ¡°Restart after 3 hours.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± *** The radio broadcasts resumed after being suspended for a while. It touted the power of Kwang Hwi Faction and did not forget to warn others of another artillery attack. ¡ª ¡°We will temporarily stop bombarding the city between 10 AM and 1 PM. If there are any survivors nearby, please escape Yangju City or hide in underground shelters.¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± The man looked at his friend, dumbfounded. His friend, with a nk expression, flung a backpack towards him. A jerky wrapper was sticking out through the zipper. ¡°Did you take a good shit? Here, I packed a bag for you.¡± ¡°A bag¡­? I mean, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you tell? I¡¯m preparing to head outside.¡± For emergencies, they had already prepared two bicycles and ced it at the entrance that was connected to the ground level. ¡°Are you crazy? What about the monsters on the surface?¡± ¡°Just listen to this first.¡± The man received a radio from his friend. From it, he heard a familiar voice from yesterday. ¡ª ¡°At 8 AM today, Kwang Hwi Faction conducted a military operation around Yangju City. Utilizing K-9 SPGs, we have killed a number of Monkeys in the Deokjeong area. We are confirming that Monkeys are running away from Deokjeong¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s saying that the Kwang Hwi Faction is sweeping up the monsters with artillery shells, so it¡¯s the perfect chance to make a run for it.¡± ¡°Stop spouting non¡ª¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have much time left. If we hadn¡¯t slept in, we could have leftfortably by now.¡± The man wanted to stop his friend, but before he knew it, he was being dragged away. As the door to the ground level opened, their noses were pricked by the thick smell of gunpowder. It was more than enough to make them frown. There was even a faint smell of cooked meat mixed amongst it as if someone had held a barbecue party here. ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead, so follow me.¡± ¡°¡­Sigh.¡± The two men carefully observed the surroundings. They couldn¡¯t bex just because of an announcement that they couldn¡¯t verify. ¡°Nothing, right?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± They checked one more time before riding their bikes. The familiar shrieks that had haunted their ears before had disappeared without a trace. The silence even unnerved them a bit. The buildings that were perfectly fine a few hours ago were all ttened and, between the gaps of the wreckage, a Monkey arm was sticking out. The entire road was littered with the flesh, presumed to have belonged to the simian monsters. The t highway hadrge craters in it. The whole scene appeared to be taken from a post-apocalypse movie. ¡°Why are there so many cra¡ª¡± A shrill screech sounded in his ears as the man swerved sharply. A ck shadow passed right by his nose. A hot sensation of pain came btedly and beads of blood dripped from his nose to the pedals. The man was left petrified at the sudden ambush. The Monkey, who missed, screeched louder. In response, cries could be heard from everywhere. The two men felt like they were in the middle of a jungle, amid hungry predators thirsting for their life. ¡°Yo! Step on it!¡± The men pedaled with all their might¡ªtheir lives hinged on it, literally. The bicycles started to pick up speed. It was certainly fast, but the two couldn¡¯t rx as they could still hear loud squeals right behind them. ¡°This was your idea of a perfect chance?! A perfect chance to die?!¡± ¡°Shut up and keep pedaling!¡± Their quarrel didn¡¯tst long because they were greeted by a new group of Monkeys up ahead. They did not look very well, though, as their bodies were scarred by shrapnel and some even had one or two limbs missing. The problem, however, was their numbers. There were more than ten. With menacing res, the Monkeys blocked the road. Even if they had some minor or severe injuries, it wasn¡¯t going to be easy to confront them. ¡°Fuck!¡± ¡°Hey! What are you going to do about that?¡± ¡°What else can we do?! Just break past them!¡± If they turned here, they would be cycling around Yangju. By then, more monsters would pick up their trails and they would lose all chances of escaping. As the distance narrowed, they could smell the foul breath from their gaping maws. The two friends closed their eyes. It was toote to avoid the sh now. ¡®It¡¯s either do or die!¡¯ ¡°Argggh!¡± They roared at the same time. It was theirst-ditch move, a gamble with their lives, and it worked magnificently. As if their bodies had emitted an intangible shockwave, the Monkeys that were standing in line were sent flying. They flew through the air before crashing into the walls of buildings. Others were skewered by the steel bars jutting out from the road, like a monster kebab. In the empty road, the two bicycles passed by safely. Not feeling the expected crash, the two men opened their eyes, nervously. ¡°W-what?¡± Some Monkeys were still falling from the sky. The monsters tried their best to do something, but they couldn¡¯t defy gravity. The lucky ones received grave wounds, while the unlucky ones died immediately. Seeing the head of a primate crushed like a watermelon, one of them cringed. It was not something he would have liked to see and almost fell off his bicycle as a consequence. Maybe, they were surprised at the death of theirrades? Nevertheless, the Monkeys behind them slowed their pace. Having already gone through a catastrophe, they were rather wary of any unusual happenings. ¡°They must have given up the chase!¡± ¡°Hell yeah! I thought we were going to die!¡± Abruptly, a wristwatch beeped, breaking their joyous cheering. Seeing it, the man¡¯s face became pale with fright. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s time.¡± ¡°Time for what?¡± ¡°Time for the artillery attack to resume.¡± Right after he spoke, a sharp sound pierced the sky above, bringing his fears to reality. A ck shell was falling directly above their heads. ¡°Fuck.¡± *** After restocking ammunitions, the SPGs spat fires once again. Kwang Hwi¡¯s gaze was fixed on the screen. The Heron was disying two civilians that had barely escaped the SPG¡¯s attack. An explosion erupted behind them, almost making the two men lose their bnce. However, they quickly regained their senses and continued their getaway. The Monkeys chasing them from behind were caught in the explosion and died. ¡°Jackson.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Kwang Hwi gestured towards the civilians on screen. ¡°Use the transport vehicles and rescue those two men.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do so immediately.¡± It was more of a coincidence that Kwang Hwi had found them. Before they resumed firing, he had spotted a small horde of Monkeys. Tracking them down, he saw the two men. ¡°Can we review the video footage taken just now?¡± ¡°Yes, we can.¡± On another screen, a video was put up, reying the scene right before the two civilians were supposed to crash into the Monkey horde. However, the monsters were suddenly thrown into the air, preventing the expected catastrophe. The video was erged, showing that the bicycles never collided with the Monkeys. Even if they did, it didn¡¯t make any sense. Instead of knocking out one or two Monkeys, the bicycles should have flipped over. Instead, the entire horde was thrown away violently as if they were hit by an invisible force. The thin bicycles did not have the mass of an armored vehicle. Therefore, it was highly likely that the civilians did it. Aside from himself, they were the first awakened ability users he had seen. Chapter 29 29. 1+1=3 ¡°Pleasee in and rx.¡± The two men looked around anxiously. They were tense because they were suddenly asked to meet the leader of the Kwang Hwi Faction. Chuckling, Jackson guided the two men to the office. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve brought the survivors.¡± Kwang Hwi stood up from his seat and reached out his hand to greet them. He didn¡¯t act high and mighty after gaining a bit of power. Moreover, he knew he had discovered an unpolished gem. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m the leader, Kwang Hwi Baek.¡± ¡°H-hello, I¡¯m Jin Hyun Park.¡± ¡°My name is Seung Chan Jeon.¡± Kwang Hwi began the conversation with a light topic to ease the tension in the room. It seemed to work, as their stiff expressions gradually softened. Now that they were rxed, he began discussing the main topic. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for our UAV, we wouldn¡¯t have found you two. You see, we just happened to watch over a small Monkey horde when we discovered that you were in a pickle.¡± ¡°We¡¯re grateful as we were only able to survive thanks to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be straightforward. Has either of you awakened an ability?¡± ¡°An ability?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± The two men stared at each other, puzzled. Kwang Hwi scrutinized them, but it didn¡¯t seem like they were acting. They really didn¡¯t know what they were capable of. ¡®Maybe it was their first time using the ability.¡¯ ¡°Please take a look at the screen over there.¡± Jin Hyun and Seung Chan looked at the screen where a video was being reyed. It was footage the UAV took a few minutes ago. The two men were frantically pedaling for their lives. A horde of Monkeys appeared in front of them, barring their path ahead. Right before shing, the primates blocking the road were pushed away as if they had crashed onto something. ¡°¡­My eyes weren¡¯t deceiving me?¡± ¡°I believe one of you has awakened.¡± ¡°One of us?¡± Kwang Hwi nodded. ¡°Seeing that you came to Dongducheon, may I assume that you are willing to join the Kwang Hwi Faction?¡± ¡°Eh? Ah, yes.¡± ¡°While I can¡¯t tell which one of you awakened, it¡¯s certainly a handy ability. I personally find it fascinating. I would love to have you both join the Kwang Hwi Faction. If you join us, we¡¯ll treat you better than any ordinary civilians.¡± Jin Hyun and Seung Chan looked at each other to confirm their intentions. ¡®It should be fine, right?¡¯ ¡®It doesn¡¯t look like a bad deal.¡¯ While protection was attractive, it was even better to be scouted into a powerful army. If the men were in their 40s to 50s, they might have had a different opinion, but they were currently in the prime of their youth and were full of vigor and ambition. The feeling of being recognized moved them. ¡°I won¡¯t mistreat you even if you don¡¯t have any abilities. The courage you showed while escaping the city has really moved me. I¡¯ll do my best to help you get the job you want.¡± Kwang Hwi made such an offer because he was confident that one of them was an ability user. He knew they wouldn¡¯t be intrigued if he brought nothing to the table. Additionally, it was a good deal for the two men. ¡°It¡¯s certainly appealing. I won¡¯t be in my right mind if I don¡¯t ept it.¡± ¡°But, sir Kwang Hwi? How do you know we have an ability? Even for us, it¡¯s unbelievable.¡± ¡°I, too, have an ability, albeit different from yours. You can say that it¡¯s a gut feeling.¡± ¡°Y-you are also an ability user?¡± Kwang Hwi purchased a gun from the Merit Shop, the sidearm Glock 17 he had distributed to all members. Jin Hyun and Seung Chan were amazed to see a pistol appear out of thin air. It was like a fascinating magic trick, captivating the audience. ¡°So this is how the Kwang Hwi Faction gets their guns¡­!¡± ¡°Wow, what a cheat. This is too OP!¡± ¡°What do you think? It might sound like bragging, but there aren¡¯t that many groups like us that could fight against monsters. In many ways, I think it¡¯ll be good for you to stay here.¡± After a moment of silence, both spoke at the same time. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll join you.¡± Kwang Hwi reached out both of his hands. Jin Hyun and Seung Chan took them without hesitation. Since they were bing a member of the militia, they had to stick to the etiquette. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the training room.¡± The two new entrants were directed straight to the training room. They were going to find out which one of them had awakened. There were shooting targets installed throughout the room. Was it because they were being evaluated? The two men became fidgety once again. ¡°Please don¡¯t worry too much. Just as I said before, I will not mistreat or ignore the one without an ability.¡± Kwang Hwi spoke firmly as he didn¡¯t want them to misunderstand his intentions. Upon hearing his guarantee, Jin Hyun and Seung Chan did their best to rx. Kwang Hwi had nothing to lose. If one didn¡¯t have an ability, he could appoint him as a normal soldier. He gave a bit of simple advice as it was nice to have more ability users. He couldn¡¯t have enough of them. ¡°You don¡¯t need to think too hard. Speaking from experience, just ask yourself what kind of ability you have and simply wish to use it. I got an immediate reaction from doing so.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll have a go at it.¡± Jin Hyun stepped up first. He was a healthy, muscr male. Shutting his mouth and closing his eyes, he tried to focus his attention. ¡®What¡¯s my ability?¡¯ Surprisingly, an image was drawn in his mind. He could tell how to use it and how powerful it was. Jin Hyun raised his hands as if he was possessed. Kwang Hwi, who was standing behind them, felt a strong gust of wind blow through his hair. The targets that were within 100 meters all fell down. They were set to do so after receiving a fixed amount of force. Realizing he had seeded, Jin Hyun¡¯s face lit up. Kwang Hwi pped his hands. ¡®He¡¯s able to push away objects with a strong gust of wind. If so, he must be the one who sent the Monkeys flying.¡¯ Seung Chan tapped Jin Hyun¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Congrats.¡± Despite his words, there was faint darkness lingering on his face. It seemed like his expectation of having an ability was crushed. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit down at the revtion. ¡°Seung Chan, why don¡¯t you give it a try too?¡± ¡°Eh? But Jin Hyun already¡­¡± ¡°Just do it. Who knows.¡± Jin Hyun cheered his friend up. After hesitating for a moment, Seung Chan stood up from his seat. Perhaps because had he made up his mind, he looked more determined and focused. The targets were raised again. Jin Hyun, who had already seeded, whispered. ¡°Concentrate. It seemed to have helped.¡± ¡°Concentrate, huh?¡± After having closed his eyes for a while, Seung Chan reached his palms towards the target. Unexpectedly, something really came out from his open palms. The target, which Seung Chan had reached out to, was torn into pieces. It became mangled after being cut by an invisible de. ¡°Huh?¡± Everyone watching was amazed. ¡®I thought only one person awakened, but to think both were ability users?! I¡¯ve hit the jackpot!¡¯ Seung Chan, who was looking at his palm as if it were possessed, grabbed Jin Hyun¡¯s arm and pulled him in. ¡°Jin Hyun, let¡¯s do it together.¡± ¡°Together?¡± ¡°Yeah, together.¡± Jin Hyun was dragged next to Seung Chan. He didn¡¯t know why his friend was acting like this, but he didn¡¯t mind. ¡°We¡¯ll do it together at once.¡± ¡°3, 2, 1. Now!¡± A strong wind gushed from the hands of the two and the shooting targets shot up into the sky. The nts and flowers nearby were also helplessly plucked from the ground. Anything that wasn¡¯t firmly fixed was dragged into the raging wind. A small hurricane swept through the training room. The hurricane tore the shooting targets into shreds. The flowers, which were helplessly sent airborne, were also ripped apart. Kwang Hwi, including others, was dazed by the hurricane. However, the two men who started the hurricane were panicking. ¡°S-stop!¡± ¡°How do you stop it?!¡± The hurricane whirled for a good while until it eventually died out. Luckily, it stayed in one spot, minimizing the damage. As if they hadmitted a grave sin, Jin Hyun and Seung Chan apologetically lowered their heads. While the damage was minimized, the training room was left in shambles. The shooting targets that were sent into the air crashed onto the floor and crumpled. Boxes that were not cleared away spilled out their contents. The aftermath left everybody in disarray. ¡°Boss! Are you okay?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± In addition, soldiers rushed in thinking that something had happened because of the mor. ¡°W-we¡¯re sorry.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± Amidst all of this, Kwang Hwi was smiling. ¡°Don¡¯t be. This is really great!¡± ¡°Eh?¡± While having two individual ability users was like winning the lottery, thebination of their powers wasn¡¯t like 1+1=2. Instead, it was more like 3, or perhaps even more. The Kwang Hwi Faction had won the jackpot and gained immense power from what was a mere coincidence. ¡°I¡¯ll be blunt with you two.¡± ¡°Y-yes!¡± Kwang Hwi looked at Jackson. Gazing at his boss, Jackson grinned sheepishly. He immediately knew what his boss wanted. ¡°Jackson, I don¡¯t need to tell you, right?¡± ¡°Yessir. I¡¯ll turn them into strong and unbelievably perfect soldiers.¡± ¡°I trust you.¡± Jackson walked up in front of the two men. ¡°Men, follow me.¡± Not knowing what was going on, the two flustered men fell into step behind Jackson. Seeing this, Kwang Hwi did his best to hide his smile. *** For three days straight, the SPGs bombarded Yangju City. Loud artillery fires would start sounding early in the morning, but none of the members gathered at the Situation Room thought twice about it. While it was annoying at first, they had gotten ustomed to it in two days. ¡°How¡¯s the current situation?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve destroyed everything in the east. There may be a handful of Monkeys hiding under the wreckage, but most were eliminated.¡± East Yangju was utterly demolished. Shells were frequently reloaded and exhausted soldiers were rotated so that they could fire non-stop. Due to the constant deafening noise, some civilians who lived nearbyined of headaches. The number of Monkeys seemed to have dropped from a size-four to a size-three scale. ¡°In the south, our recon team is on the move. Thankfully, it seems like only a small number of Monkeys escaped there. Once in a while, a size-two horde would appear, but they¡¯re quickly being suppressed.¡± Kwang Hwi did not rule out the possibility that Monkeys could escape to the south. To prevent this, aside from the SPGs, he had dispatched mortars and other weaponry to the south. The mortar team had even secured a separate temporary foothold there. Their primary purpose was to stop Monkeys from entering or leaving the area by using 81 mm shells. While not as strong as their 155 mm counterpart, the 81 mm weapons were sufficient enough to st away the simians. As long as the soldiers responsible for the mortars were not tired, it had the advantage of firing shells rapidly. In return, the UAV pilots moved around without a rest. The barrage of shells fell from the sky like rain. As a result, the Monkeys could not leave the city. At first, a small group of Monkeys attacked the mortar team. Still, they could not remain standing in the face of the Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s bulletproof vehicles and machine guns. Separately, a search team surveyed the area with the APCs. They created a racket and lured the Monkeys nearby. With distorted faces, the monsters charged in, only to be greeted by grenadeunchers. Before they could cross the line, the majority died. The lucky ones managed to scratch the vehicle¡¯s body frame, but their ws snapped. The Namer was an overwhelmingly powerful vehicle. With its help, the search was quickly over. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°Good work.¡± The SPG that fired thest shell lowered its head. While he needed to reload it, he had been overspending MP over the past three days. They also had to maintain the SPGs before reusing it. ¡°Keep focusing. It¡¯s almost o¡ª¡± His sentence was abruptly cut off by something shattering the window. Something had entered the Situation Room: a Monkey. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 30 - Attacked 30. Attacked The window was smashed to smithereens and something rolled on the floor. It was a Monkey. Its eyes glowed with a menacing gleam as it were looking for a victim. Unfortunately, he had walked into the wrong hood as armed soldiers filled the room. ¡ºYou are the first person in the world to defeat a ¡®Half Flying Monkey.¡¯¡» ¡ºAs a reward¡­¡» Before the Monkey could do anything, a barrage of bullets pierced its body. After being showered by a hail of lead, the corpse was in tatters. ¡°Cease fire.¡± Kwang Hwi looked at the mangled Monkey carcass on the floor. At first, he thought it was something else. But he had to change his opinion soon after. While it had a Monkey head, it¡¯s body looked like a human. On top of that, there were wings on its back. It was indeed a sight that would make one shudder in disgust. It was almost as if it were a Monkey and human hybrid. ¡®Hybrid? It can¡¯t be¡­¡¯ Kwang Hwi remembered the testimonies of the survivors Jackson had brought back from Yangju. ¡°The monsters captured the people and took them somewhere. They killed the men who resisted and seized the powerless women.¡± After mulling over it for a while, his eye twitched. It was horrifying to even imagine what could possibly have happened. The mere notion of it gave him chills. His train of thought was interrupted by an urgent voice on the radio. ¡ª ¡°Arge group of flying Monkeys are appearing at HQ! Cannot identify exact numbers!¡± ¡°Commander!¡± ¡°You must escape!¡± The men grabbed Kwang Hwi¡¯s arms in a bid to escort him to a safe location. However, Kwang Hwi waved at them to stop. ¡°Shut up and go out. We need to kill these moths.¡± ¡°B-but.¡± ¡°Now!¡± His subordinates rushed out of the Situation Room while he stayed inside. Kwang Hwi raised his gun. There were mutant Monkeys with wings flying in the sky. Kwang Hwi fired. The head of the mutant that was attacking the security team abruptly flew backward. With half of its head crushed and ck blood oozing out, the Monkey copsed onto the floor, lifeless. Kwang Hwi flicked his gun elsewhere. Every time his gun rang, another mutant would perish. It didn¡¯t matter whether bullets punctured their cheeks or foreheads, they all died with a single shot. After quickly suppressing multiple hybrids, Kwang Hwi grabbed the radio. ¡°Get inside the buildings to neutralize their flying ability.¡± The soldiers that were caught unprepared started to counter-attack. Following Kwang Hwi¡¯smand, they hid in structures or vehicles nearby. From inside, they began unloading their guns at the horde. Although it was not easy to keep up with the flying Monkeys, the men never stopped firing. It became much louder outside. The sirens, gunfire, and shrieking Monkeys were all mixed together, piercing everyone¡¯s ears. They had to shout even when talking to someone next to them. ¡ª ¡°HQ! This is the Outer Wall Security Team. We can hear gunshots and the siren from here. Do you need reinforcements?¡± ¡ª ¡°Immediately¡­¡± Kwang Hwi quickly interjected into the radio. ¡°This is yourmander. Do note to the HQ! It may be a diversion! Maintain your current position and prepare for any possible offensive!¡± ¡ª ¡°U-understood.¡± The superiority the Monkeys had gained from the surprise attacksted only for a moment. The half-breeds were quickly being swept away. While their ability to fly looked threatening, their weaknesses were evident. Their gliding speed was slow, and, due to having a simr physique as an average person, one or two bullets could incapacitate them. Moreover, they had limited means to attack. On the other hand, the Kwang Hwi Faction had adequate ranged attack capabilities. Once the element of surprise was taken out of the picture, they were superior. And to prove that point, one by one, the mutant Monkeys fell from the sky. Yet, Kwang Hwi wore a grim expression. ¡®Something is strange.¡¯ The ambush was sudden and the mutant Monkeys created from breeding with human females were appalling. But amid all this chaos, it was clumsy. It almost felt like a piece of the puzzle was missing. As if on cue, a roar was heard from the sky above. Kwang Hwi turned around and looked up. ¡°There it is.¡± A giant monster was falling from the sky. It¡¯s blood-red fur stood out like needles, looking hideous. ¡®Rather than a monkey, it¡¯s more like a gori.¡¯ The monster fixed his gaze at Kwang Hwi. He could feel intense hostility from its stare. It was as if the beast knew who the leader was. Kwang Hwi quickly grabbed the M32A1 next to him. It was the revolver-type grenadeuncher he previously used. He fired and a grenade went off, exploding on the monster¡¯s chest. The gori was pushed back slightly from the force. Kwang Hwi continued to pull the trigger and the rounds quickly left the cylinder. The chain of explosions continued. While there were no critical hits, the shock sent the gori further away. Eventually, the monsternded in a small forest right next to the Dongducheon City Hall. The ground trembled as a shockwave overturned the soil. Trees were knocked down and thick clouds of dust rose into the air. Nearby mutant Monkeys and soldiers, who were fighting each other, both fell over due to the small earthquake. The enraged gori started causing a ruckus. Not finding its target nearby, it vented its anger on thendscape. The chipped trees were wholly ttened by its weight. Kwang Hwi hurriedly ran outside. Conveniently, there was the APC Namer in front of him. ¡ª ¡°Boss, please teach that uncultured monster some manners!¡± said Jackson. ¡°Always a pleasure.¡± Grinning, Kwang Hwi got in the gunner¡¯s position. He was weed by the automated fire control system. On-screen, there was the giant gori who was demolishing the forest. Focusing on his target, Kwang Hwi grabbed the stick. The 30 mm autocannon rotated. The gori was still charging andying waste to the forest, carving a path for itself. All the while, it had not realized that the gun was aimed at it. The crosshair was aligned with the gori¡¯s chest. Kwang Hwi gently pulled his finger. Arge hole was pierced into the monster¡¯s chest as a witness to his gentle squeeze. Blood trickled down the wound. Despite the fatal blow, the gori continued to run wild. It plucked utility poles and trees from the ground and threw them at the APC. Jackson, who was piloting the vehicle, quickly maneuvered away. The utility pole struck the ground, missing its target. Kwang Hwi promptly followed the first shot with the second and third shells. Before the heavy shell bounced off the ground, it drilled more holes in the gori¡¯s body. It kneeled onto the floor, failing to even scratch its prey. Its shoulder bone and muscles were exposed, while the contents of its abdomen and chest were spilling out. The blood rivulet started to dye the soil red. When Kwang Hwi thought it couldn¡¯t possibly be alive, a notification appeared in front of him. ¡ºYou have defeated the ¡®Red Monkey Lord¡¯.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 100,000 MP.¡» Only then did Kwang Hwi stopped firing. The system was his bestpanion, after all. ¡°Death Confirmed!¡± ¡ª ¡°Nice shot!¡± The mutated Monkeys that raided the HQ were also almost cleaned up by now. Their limp bodies were littered everywhere. A small stream was formed from the ck blood oozing from their bodies. Gunshots rang sporadically, the men making sure the monsters stayed dead. ¡°This is HQ. Security team, report!¡± ¡ª ¡°All hostiles were eliminated! A small number of mutants ran away, while around ten civilians were injured.¡± ¡°What about ourbat force?¡± ¡ª ¡°Three have minor wounds while one has serious injuries. The wounded were relocated to the hospital to receive treatment.¡± Kwang Hwi quietly let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, no one died. While they were ambushed, the Monkeys were unexpectedly weak, lessening their threat. ¡ª ¡°HQ. This is the Southern Wall Security Team!¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ve engaged with a size-three horde that descended from a nearby mountain. Luckily, no one was injured and the monsters were all eliminated.¡± ¡°Roger. Stay on alert. Hostiles at HQ were also eliminated.¡± ¡ª ¡°Understood.¡± Kwang Hwi then changed the channel. The search team sent to Yangju was using a separate radiowork. ¡°Search team, report on the operation.¡± From the radio, disorderly noises could be heard. It was the engine sound of the APC and gunshots from the machine guns. It seemed as if they were fighting the monsters. ¡ª ¡°This is the search team! We have entered Yangju City Hall and are currently engaging against the Monkey horde. However, they are being suppressed without an issue!¡± ¡°Copy that. Prioritize the safety of all members.¡± ¡ª ¡°Affirmative. We¡¯ll report back once we¡¯ve secured the location.¡± As soon as Kwang Hwi got off the APC, his subordinates gathered around him. They were here to confirm his well being. He was their mental support, after all. ¡°Boss! Are you okay?!¡± ¡°We thought something happened because we couldn¡¯t find you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, so don¡¯t worry. Instead, report back to the Situation Room. We still need to secure Yangju City.¡± ¡°Roger that!¡± After responding loudly, few men headed back into the city hall. They were now relieved after seeing him unhurt with their own eyes. ¡°As for the rest, clean up this mess. If you were injured, don¡¯t be stubborn and immediately head to the hospital.¡± There was nothing more stupid than leaving a treatable injury unattended. ¡®The mercenaries in Africa were like that.¡¯ ¡°Move!¡± The rest dispersed at his behest. *** With the repeated sound of bullets being fired, the machine gun rained hell at the horde. As the windows of city hall shattered, chunks of flesh sttered from within. The Monkeys that were preparing for a surprise attack flew out while bleeding profusely. In a role reversal, the hunters had be the prey at this moment. A mutant swung its ws at the gunner. The gunner lowered his head in a hurry to dodge the iing strike. The razor-sharp ws grazed the bulletproof helmet, almost causing him to meet his maker. There wasn¡¯t time to be terrified, though. The gunner turned his machine gun, links and empty cartridges poured out. After being shot in the wings, the mutant fluttered and fell to the ground. It tried its best to stand up, but its vision was filled by the APC¡¯s continuous tracks. The mutant could not withstand the iron hulk that weighed several tons. As it was crushed underneath the vehicle, its flesh scattered everywhere, creating a grotesque scene. The autocannon fired and the walls of city hall crumbled like tofu, just like its defenders. It had no difficulty in prating the thick walls. Concrete boulders rolled onto the floor due to the overwhelming power. ¡°City hall, 3F! Size-two Monkey horde spotted!¡± The Monkeys started pouring out of the broken windows and walls. The Medium Tactical Vehicle packed with heavily armed soldiers stopped. Bullets greeted the Monkeys that had justnded, dashing their hopes. The Monkeys died before they could even scream. Instead of a neatly organized flower bed outside the government building, deep craters formed where theynded. Soo Min was issuingmands inside the APC, keeping the whole situation under control. ¡®Their resistance is weakening.¡¯ In the beginning, hundreds were pouring out at once. But now, it was reduced to a few dozen. It was evident that their forces were depleted. After all, they had been bombarded by SPGs and mortars for days. ¡°All soldiers, disembark!¡± Finally, the order was given. The soldiers, who had been waiting for themand, immediately jumped out of the vehicle. The convoy covered every point to guard against a possible surprise attack. Even if they had cut down their numbers, they couldn¡¯t bex now. The infantry entered the building in a hurry. The ce revealed itself in its entirety, showing how it was ravaged by shells and bullets. Monster carcasses were lying everywhere. The infantry split into smaller teams. Each team surveyed the building to see if there were any remaining monsters. Hidden Monkeys were routed out by the soldiers one by one. ¡°Ugh.¡± An infantry member opened a door and immediately fell on his back. A small needle was sticking out from his neck. ¡°Neurotoxin! It¡¯s a Monkey!¡± Hispanion quickly grabbed him by the bulletproof vest and dragged him away. Another soldier threw a grenade and closed the door. An explosion erupted inside the room as the iron door shook violently. The men opened the door once again. One of the subordinates holding an Ultimax machine gun pointed the muzzle through the gap. The Monkey, who had already died from the explosion, had some bonus bullets added to its body. ¡°All clear!¡± Thest member of the team quickly drew a circle with a spray can. It was to indicate the room was clean. They then moved on to the next office and knocked on the door. ¡°Is anyone inside?¡± ¡°W-we¡¯re here!¡± ¡°Please help!¡± The soldier cautiously opened the door. Survivors, who appeared to have been tied by the Monkeys, were wriggling on the floor. Seeing the soldiers, they burst into tears. ¡°W-we¡¯re saved! Saved!¡± After confirming there were no Monkeys nearby, the men cut the ropes. Once they were freed, the survivors rubbed their sore wrists and ankles. ¡°Rescued 20 survivors in the 2F. We¡¯ll escort them out.¡± ¡ª ¡°Roger. There are still a lot of monsters inside. Prioritize the safety of all soldiers.¡± After a few minutes, Yangju City Hall was thoroughlybed through. Spare vehicles, which had been brought just in case, were packed with survivors. As for the soldiers, they were taking a short break outside. ¡°Major Soo Min.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°¡­There is something you must see.¡± Soo Min followed the soldier to the city hall¡¯s underground parking lot. As they got closer, a foul stench overwhelmed their noses. The men guided Soo Min to a subterranean bunker that was used as a shelter in case of emergencies. Those who were guarding the entrance greeted Soo Min. His face became contorted as he bore witness to a gruesome spectacle. ¡°¡­Shit.¡± A pile of corpses could be seen inside. There were women who had their stomach split open. The floor was drenched in an unidentified liquid that couldn¡¯t be distinguished as either blood or urine. Babies were abandoned in one corner. ¡°These babies are¡­¡± The soldier could not finish his sentence due to grief, disgust, and anger. Soo Min went to inspect the babies himself. ¡°Ugh.¡± The babies had a monkey head and a human body, simr to the mutants the men saw outside. The only difference was that their bodies were much smaller, with either one arm or leg shriveled up badly. It appeared to be deformation caused by cross-breeding. Now they knew why the women were dragged away: to procreate mutant Monkeys. It seemed the situation was worse than they had initially thought. ¡°For now, take pictures and report them back to themander.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± ¡ºGyeonggi Province¡¯s Yangju City was added to the Controlling Area category.¡» ¡ºIt is strongly suggested to deploy troops in the area. If troops are not deployed, other forces may take over the territory.¡» ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 31 - Who are you again? (1) 31. Who are you again? (1) ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Just in time, the search team that had entered the Yangju City Hall reported back. ¡ª ¡°HQ, this is the search team. We have fully secured Yangju City Hall and found 50 survivors.¡± Soo Min, who had taken charge of the team instead of Kwang Hwi, spoke. ¡°Any injuries?¡± ¡ª ¡°Except for the one who got paralyzed by a Monkey, everyone else is fine. The poisoned individual is receiving first aid treatment as we speak.¡± ¡°Alright. Return to HQ.¡± Watching over the city hall video footage from the Heron, Kwang Hwi ordered the men toe home. Initially, they were nning to use Yangju as a forward operating base. However, their ns changed once the monsters had resisted them inside the city hall. The autocannon had demolished the building with its 30 mm shells. ¡®We need to find a new checkpoint.¡¯ *** ¡ºCombat Force Info¡» ¡ïTitle¡ï Kwang-Hwi Faction (View Symbol) ¡ïCommander-in-chief¡ï [Absolute Leader] Kwang Hwi Baek ¡ïControlling Area¡ï [HQ] Dongducheon City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea ¡ïTotal Force¡ï 157 (+1) ¡ïEquipment¡ï [Operating] 2x K-9 SPG [Operating] 2x APC Namer [Operating] 4x Light Tactical Vehicle [Operating] 2x Medium Tactical Vehicle ¡ïDivisions¡ï Dongducheon City Security Team Power nt Guard Squad Farnd Guard Team Recruit Training Center There was a knock on the door. Kwang Hwi closed the Command System in front of him and refocused his attention on the visitor. ¡°Come in.¡± The office door opened slowly and a subordinate carrying documents carefully approached Kwang Hwi. ¡°Commander, here are the reports.¡± ¡°Good work.¡± Kwang Hwi meticulously inspected the papers. The documents contained fine details of what the Kwang Hwi Faction had obtained from securing Yangju City. As themander, he only needed to concern himself with the overall situation and let his underlings do the rest. Rescue Report Yangju Armed Forces Hospital ¨C 50 people. Yangju City Hall ¨C 50 people. Yangju City ¨C 10 people. ¡°This time, half of the survivors are army surgeons and military soldiers who were hospitalized. Aprehensive report of each individual is listed on the following page. Please view them at your leisure.¡± Kwang Hwi flipped a page. Their name, military rank, and position were all there in detail. There were five army surgeons and the rest were hospitalized soldiers or hospital employees. ¡°How are they doing?¡± ¡°The hospitalized survivors all have some modicum of injuries. Some people were already ill, while others received theirs from Monkeys.¡± ¡°We should treat them with care.¡± ¡°Yes. Thankfully, it doesn¡¯t seem like anyone has any serious wounds.¡± It was fortunate there were no grievous damages or losses. No matter how many medical personnel and supplies the Kwang Hwi Faction had, it was challenging to recreate the capabilities of past medical services. It did not only depend on these factors as there was a lot more involved behind the scenes. ¡°It¡¯ll be best to incorporate all the survivors from the Armed Force Hospital into our military and have the rest plow the farnd.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s former base was currently idle, so his privatend had been repurposed into farnd. While they had plenty of food right now, they couldn¡¯t push aside cultivating thend. It wasn¡¯t like food grew in a matter of a few days, so they had to prepare in advance. ¡°Do you want to train them immediately after they get back to their feet?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°As you say. I¡¯ll have it taken care of.¡± Misceneous reports followed after, such as their former lifestyle or rusted ammo they carried with them. There was also good news, though. SPGs, which had been under maintenance due to overuse, had returned to operational status. After confirming the reports, Kwang Hwi changed the topic. ¡°How is the traininging along for the two?¡± ¡°You mean the hurricane duo that recently joined?¡± ¡°Hurricane duo?¡± Kwang Hwi shook his head in amusement. It was a strange nickname that was indeed one of its kind. ¡°Many people were impressed by the hurricane they created at arrival. Therefore, the men are now calling them the hurricane duo.¡± *** The ¡®hurricane duo¡¯ were practicing their ability at Dongducheon Training Center. They chose the location for having a sparse poption around. Besides, there was no need to worry about coteral damage as it was close to the mountain range and was far from the city. Jin Hyun and Seung Chan, who were facing each other, shouted at the same time. ¡°One, two, three!¡± With a swish, a small tempest formed at the empty lot. Small tree branches that were nted ahead of time rose into the air and were torn to fragments. It was not just some simple gale as each stream of wind was as sharp as a de. Once sucked in, most life forms would perish within. The two friends red fiercely as they focused on controlling the hurricane they had created. Now and then, the situation took a dangerous turn. The hurricane would climb the mountain, only to change its course and head towards Dongducheon City Hall. Whenever that happened, beads of sweat would drip from the two men who would try their best to twist its direction. They could have caused an unintentional coup d¡¯¨¦tat with their attempts. The raging storm gradually subsided under their guidance. After confirming that it had disappeared, the two men flopped onto the floor, too tired to remain standing. ¡°It¡¯s like taming a wild horse.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± While it wasn¡¯t easy to control the hurricane, they were getting better at it with each attempt. It was as if some horse had stepped on a nail and went on a rampage, rather than letting go of the reins. Naturally, it was exhausting trying to deal with that. ¡°Even though I saw itst time, it still amazes me.¡± Jin Hyun and Seung Chan scrambled to their feet. Kwang Hwi, who had just arrived, looked at the two with delight. He was satisfied with their earnestness and hard work. ¡°Greetings,mander.¡± The two men raised their right hands to salute. Although they were previously known as survivors, they were now Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s recruits. Thus, they had to treat Kwang Hwi with the utmost respect. ¡°At ease.¡± Even after Kwang Hwi had told them to rx, the two only lowered their hands. They stood upright like a spear, waiting for orders. It seemed like military discipline had been drilled into them, and quite thoroughly at that. ¡®Seems like Jackson overdid it once again.¡¯ Considering Jackson¡¯s personality, their reaction was natural. Only Kwang Hwi and his subordinates treated him like a naive kid. When it came to disciplining underlings, no one else was stricter than Jackson. ¡°Have you gotten familiar with your abilities?¡± ¡°Yes! We need more practice, but we¡¯re getting ustomed to it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I look forward to your performance.¡± Kwang Hwi patted the duo¡¯s shoulders, but his eyes suddenly became sharp. Seeing Kwang Hwi reaching out for his leg holster, Jin Hyun and Seung Chan looked at him with surprise. In a sh, Kwang Hwi held a pistol in his hand. ¡°B-Boss?¡± The two men panicked as they called out to Kwang Hwi, but his gaze was fixed on the mountain. He was fully alert as if facing some grave danger. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± The two men, who btedly realized there was a trespasser, also hurried to pull out their pistols wrapped around their waist. Regardless of rank, all members of the Kwang Hwi Faction were given sidearm. ¡°Come out! If you won¡¯t, we¡¯ll open fire!¡± Despite the warning, the mountain forest remained still and silent. Seung Chan and Jin Hyun even wondered whether there really was someone out there. Just when they had that suspicion, Kwang Hwi pulled the trigger. The bullet hit a tree, forcing the hiding people to step out. The duo¡¯s intuition was proved false as the ck shadows revealed themselves. Kwang Hwi squinted his eyes; the people who had emerged all looked shabby. It almost made the ones who were rescued after a month look like some sort of nobility. Their clothes were ragged, covered in dirt. Most of their skin was exposed and their faces looked miserable from the hardships. Even a young child looked like he was in his thirties. Some of them were holding onto rocks as substitute weapons. From their mouths, Kwang Hwi could only hear an unfamiliar Korean ent. ¡°P-please, do not kill us!¡± ¡°W-we¡¯re only trying to run away from the monsters!¡± Jin Hyun and Seung Chan¡¯s mouths gaped. They couldn¡¯t hide their curiosity and one of them gave voice to his thoughts. ¡®Are these people¡­¡¯ ¡°North Koreans?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± Kwang Hwi grabbed onto his radio and sent an order to the Situation Room. ¡°Commander speaking. Send one support team to Dongducheon Training Center.¡± In less than two minutes, a loud engine noise could be heard from afar; it was the Light Tactical Vehicle. ¡°Boss! Where are you?!¡± Without saying a word, Kwang Hwi shot a bullet into the air. A gunshot rang and the surprised North Korean defectors flinched. After identifying the location from the noise, the support team rushed to the scene. One of the best veteran soldiers greeted Kwang Hwi. ¡°Greetings,mander. I¡¯m Hu Seok Oh, a Sergeant leading the support team.¡± ¡°Sergeant Oh, guide these people to the temporary relief center.¡± ¡°These people are¡­ understood.¡± After identifying the North Koreans, the Sergeant moved quickly. Following the protocol, the soldiers checked to see if the defectors carried any weapons. After doing so, they gathered them to make sure no one would wander elsewhere. ¡°Everyone! Please follow the instructions. There is no need to be afraid or nervous.¡± ¡°HQ, this is support team 3. We need one town bus.¡± ¡ª ¡°This is HQ. Your location?¡± ¡°Entrance to the Dongducheon Training Center.¡± ¡ª ¡°Affirmative. It¡¯ll be there shortly.¡± With a concerned expression, the defectors obediently followed instructions. Their eyes were fixated on the guns each soldier carried. It was typical for people to be scared of strangers carrying around weapons. At the very least, most would get nervous. Yet, the defectors were showing signs of relief, contrary to what might one think. Kwang Hwi was able to get a rough idea of North Korea¡¯s situation from this; they were in the same plight as the South. ¡°¡­Seems like we won¡¯t have time for breaks.¡± He wanted to leave the HQ for a while, but it seemed like he had to return just after 10 minutes. *** Kwang Hwi gathered his most trusted men when it was long past sunset. ¡°Have you found out anything about the runaways we found this evening?¡± ¡°They lived near the border. After the monsters appeared, the North Korean military issued evacuation orders to a nearby military base. Unfortunately, even that base was attacked.¡± ¡°Was the military unable to stop the monsters?¡± ¡°Yes. Just like us, all of their weapons were destroyed.¡± ¡°Figures.¡± Beside the handful of special forces, the ordinary soldiers in North Korea were far worse than South Koreans. It was questionable whether the famished and inadequately equipped North Korean soldiers would be able to kill even one Monkey. Most were probably swept away by the monsters. ¡°How do you n to deal with the defectors, boss?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll ept them.¡± Having anticipated such an answer, the subordinates nodded. Kwang Hwi Faction had to keep expanding its size. That way, they could train more soldiers and maintain a powerfulbat force. ¡°Like the survivors in the Armed Force Hospital, there are many in poor condition. Additionally, we need to teach them ournguage tomunicate properly.¡± ¡°In the morning, train them like the hurricane duo. In the afternoon, teach them ournguage.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯ll be enough for the defector issue¡­¡± Kwang Hwi looked at one person. ¡°In Ho Kang.¡± ¡°Major In Ho Kang, reporting!¡± In Ho sprang to his feet with a stiff face. He was responsible for rebuilding Dongducheon as a fortress. ¡°If monsters, not the North Korean turncoats, came to our Dongducheon Training Center from the mountains this time, everyone would have been in trouble.¡± Unable to respond, In Ho lowered his head. The incident proved that the fortification process was notplete. They were fortunate to have defectors instead of monsters and had discovered an unexpected weak point. Perhaps the mutant Monkeys Kwang Hwi previously encountered came from the mountain range after taking a detour. ¡°Don¡¯t forget this mistake.¡± ¡°Yes! Understood.¡± Kwang Hwi ended his scolding with a light warning. Even if his subordinate had made a mistake, it was his responsibility to check on it. After all, he was the leader and was responsible for their actions. ¡®It¡¯s my fault too.¡¯ Kwang Hwi waved at his subordinate to sit. ¡°We¡¯ll block the roads to the mount¡ª¡± A loud, whirring sound interrupted their meeting as everyone looked outside the window. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 32 - Who are you again? (2) 32. Who are you again? (2) From above, a strong gust of wind blew against the trees nted in the ground. A colossal helicopter blocked the sky, letting everyone know of its presence. ¡°It¡¯s fucking big.¡± The gathered men nodded, seeing eye to eye. As Jackson stated, it was an unbelievably big helicopter. Kwang Hwi focused on the barely visible fusge and found a red star was imprinted on it. ¡°It¡¯s the DPRK¡¯s helicopter.¡± ¡°DPRK?¡± The helicopter didn¡¯t seem to have any mounted weapons or rockets. Hovering at a low altitude, it didn¡¯t look like it had any intention of attacking. At such heights, it was even possible for the Kwang Hwi Faction to shoot it down. ¡ª ¡°Boss. Reporting from the Situation Room. We¡¯ve receivedmunications from the unidentified helicopter.¡± ¡°What are they saying?¡± ¡ª ¡°They have stated zero intentions of engaging in a battle with us. Instead, they have surrendered.¡± ¡°First, have themnd on the Dongducheon Training Center.¡± ¡ª ¡°Copy that.¡± While Dongducheon High School was closer, the SPGs were still deployed there. Therefore, the next empty lot avable was the training center. Over the radio, Kwang Hwi overheard the exchange of words. An unfamiliar voice with a thick ent agreed to the request. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the training center.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Peeking out from the vehicle, the traffic controller raised his traffic rods. As the Light Tactical Vehicle headed toward the training center, the traffic controller swung his rods without a rest. Seeing that, the DPRK transport helicopter slowly followed behind the vehicle. Upon arriving, the dark training center brightly lit up. The chopper carefully descended after securing visibility. A dust storm was swept away by the strong breeze. In the meantime, armed soldiers were arriving one after another, encircling the neers. ¡ª ¡°Team 2 has arrived at the north.¡± ¡ª ¡°Team 8 has arrived at the south. Dispersing troops.¡± ¡ª ¡°Team 9, ETA one minute.¡± Kwang Hwi had his subordinates manage the troops. Numerous assault rifles, machine guns, grenadeunchers, and an autocannon were all aimed at the helicopter. It was impossible to get away after being exposed to such a level of firepower. As the rotor slowed its rotation, it came to aplete halt. The door on the side opened under the watchful eyes of the soldiers. DPRK pilots, who were wearing dark green military uniforms, revealed themselves. ¡°We¡¯re unarmed!¡± Aftering down the stairs, the pilots raised their hands and turned around. Forget the gun; they didn¡¯t even have a knife. The pilots were totally weaponless. Kwang Hwi picked up the loudspeaker. ¡°Approach slowly!¡± After the pilots widened their distance from the helicopter, Jackson walked up to it. A single team covered his back, vignt against any sudden change. After inspecting, Jackson reported back. ¡ª ¡°Boss, the helicopter is clear.¡± ¡°Copy that.¡± Kwang Hwi walked up to the pilots. ¡°A-are you themander of the ROK Armed Forces?¡± ¡°While I am Korean, I am not affiliated with the South Korean military.¡± ¡°What do¡­¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°W-we are pilots, part of the helicopter unit¡­¡± Their story was simr to the defectors found earlier today. Without warning, all their weapons had turned into scrap metal. The only thing left intact was the transport helicopter without mounted guns. Hiding in a secluded ce, the troops held out for a while. Despite their efforts, though, the monsters somehow found them and raided their base. They could onlyst for so long. Once theirst line of defense was breached, the few pilots ran away using the helicopter. While deciding where to go, the men saw the city light and crossed the border. ¡°P-please save us. We won¡¯t do anything bad.¡± ¡°We will even give this helicopter. So, please ept us.¡± Kwang Hwi nced at the chopper. ¡®Mi-26¡¯ Amongst the mass-produced helicopters, it was the biggest model that had simr transport capacity as the U.S. C-130. It could load up to 20 tons, twice as much as the famous Chinook. If used for transporting soldiers, up to 90 people could board it. Just to operate this beast, five pilots were needed. It was a Soviet transport helicopter that highlighted its beauty and massive size. While Kwang Hwi had heard North Korea was operating a few, it was his first time seeing one. ¡°We¡¯ll ept you only if you work for us.¡± The pilots briefly nced at each other. Naturally, they had already prepared their answers. ¡°We will fully cooperate.¡± ¡°Please leave it to us!¡± Soo Min urgently walked up to Kwang Hwi. He frowned, having his back against the pilots and intentionally spoke with a loud volume. ¡°Boss, they are North Koreans. Even though they are saying they¡¯ll be of service, there¡¯s a good chance they¡¯ll change their mind depending on the situation.¡± Hearing that, the surprised pilots rejected the notion at once. They were flustered as they spoke. ¡°T-That¡¯s not true! We will never betray you!¡± ¡°I-I will even sacrifice my life to express my loyalty!¡± Kwang Hwi deliberately made a solemn expression. While the two were acting, the North Koreans looked like they were about to wet their pants. As the overwhelming silence continued, the pilots became even more desperate. ¡°Then, let¡¯s do this. If youplete the task, we¡¯ll ept you as one of us. You¡¯ll need to receive some training, but it won¡¯t be too difficult for you soldiers.¡± ¡°W-What should we do?¡± ¡°Shout out loud so everyone here can hear. Say ¡®Kim Jong-un is a bitch¡¯ loud and clear.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Not only were the North Koreans silent, but even Kwang Hwi¡¯s subordinates and other men also could not hide their astonishment. Even so, he was looking at the pilots with a calm expression. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°B-but.¡± ¡°So, you want to die?¡± Kwang Hwi reached out for his Glock wrapped around his waist. ¡°K-Kim Jong-un! How dare you look down on our general¡­¡± A gunshot rang and a pilot copsed onto the floor. Blood trickled down from the bullet hole in his forehead. Kwang Hwi turned around to the other pilots. The silence pressured them and they gulped their saliva. ¡°¡­ Kim Jong-un is a bitch.¡± ¡°Louder!¡± ¡°K-Kim Jong-un is a bitch!¡± ¡°One more time!¡± ¡°Kim Jong-un is the son of a bitch!¡° Perhaps they were under the heat as they added more insult. Kwang Hwi, including others, nodded with satisfaction. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve recorded them.¡± Jackson, who had returned, gave Kwang Hwi a camcorder. It had perfectly captured the scene where the North Korean pilots slurred at the North Korean leader. Although it was uncertain whether or not Kim Jong-un was still alive, the pilots could not betray him anymore. ¡°Wee, soldiers. Jackson, I¡¯ll leave them in your care once again.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Jackson led the surrendered pilots away, and they followed his footsteps with a look of defeat. No matter the circumstances, betraying their country would be a blemish on their hearts. ¡°Soo Min?¡± ¡°Yes, boss!¡± ¡°Tell the engineers to look at the condition of the helicopter.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± It was a helicopterrger than the Chinook. While it would be difficult to deploy it for battles, it was perfect for transporting troops. It could even carry more than half of all forces in the Kwang Hwi Faction. *** ¡°I¡¯ll leave all the matters to you, Soo Min.¡± ¡°Have a safe trip. We should be able toplete the fortification process by the end of the day.¡± Kwang Hwi was thest person to get in the APC. All other members were already on board. He was greeted by an ample empty space. ¡ª ¡°Ourmander is in. As of now, our vehicle is Turtle-1.¡± The rear door closed after his entry. The faint vibration caused by the engine could be felt from the seat. ¡°Move forward.¡± ¡ª ¡°Orders received.¡± The Light Tactical Vehicles led the way. Immediately following it was the Namer Turtle-2. Turtle-1 quickly trailed behind. In the rear, Medium Tactical Vehicles andrge box trucks joined the ranks. In the carrierpartment, the grenadeuncher was mounted alongside fully armed soldiers. Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s destination was the 26th Division¡¯s military base located at Yangju. It was not too far from Yangju City Hall and was not explored yet. They were also scheduled to visit the medical unit nearby. ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ll arrive at our destination shortly.¡± The front gate, which should have been tightly shut, was wide open. As if there was a battle here, many of the obstacles were destroyed and the guard post was already demolished. Traces of blood were left on the ground, evidence of some fight taking ce not too long ago. Kwang Hwi Faction passed through the wide-open gate. Even after entering the army base, the APC did not have to worry about being attacked by the Monkeys. All vehicles stopped at therge military training grounds. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± Armed soldiers left the transport vehicles and got going. They were tasked with dispersing to find the survivors and supplies. ¡ª ¡°Boss! We found them!¡± ¡°What did you find?¡± Immediately, the men had dug up edible supplies. Most of the food stored in the Post Exchange and cafeteria was rotten, but military MREs were perfectly fine. Being made for emergency consumption, they were not affected by the weather. Having such a long shelf life, MREs had many uses. Even so, the men did not only retrieve food. ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ve found soldiers hiding inside.¡± ¡°Soldiers?¡± Some troops were also found hiding in the warehouse that was transformed into a temporary shelter. As if there were a high-rank officer amongst the survivors, the radio became loud. ¡ª ¡°Oi, where did youe from?! I¡¯m a Major General!¡± ¡®Why am I getting this feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu?¡¯ Although Kwang Hwi Faction wasn¡¯t associated with the ROK Armed Forces, the person in question was a two-star general. The situation could quickly deteriorate as the men had all served the military once. Kwang Hwi promptly issued an order. ¡°Subdue them.¡± ¡ª ¡°Yes!¡± Their indecisivenesspletely disappeared as the men brilliantly restrained the Major General and others. When they tried to stand their ground, the men fired into the air. The noisy Major General stopped resisting at once. Kwang Hwi sent out the vehicles to carry food and survivors. ¡ª ¡°Boss, this is Team 12.¡± ¡°Team 12, report. What¡¯s the sitrep?¡± ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ve checked the Air Defense Team, but most of the equipment was out ofmission. Even the M61 Vulcan and K30 Biho were unusable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, boss.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s subordinate let out a sigh, looking extremely disappointed. Anything considered as a weapon was rusted, and there was no exception. ¡ª ¡°However, it seems like the anti-aircraft radar is fine. We would need additional people to check on it.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s face became bright at the surprise. It would be great if they could acquire at least an anti-aircraft radar. Just a few days ago, they didn¡¯t even know how a DPRK helicopter had approached them. ¡°Copy that. We¡¯ll send some technicians, so be on standby.¡± The engineer sitting inside the APC stood up. She was a precious member of the Kwang Hwi Faction. ¡®Would there be any user manual guide lying around?¡¯ After some time, reports came in one after another. ¡ª ¡°Boss, this is Team 7. We found a group of Light Tactical Vehicles. They are fully operational.¡± ¡ª ¡°Commander, we have secured some bulletproof vests andbat gear used by the military police.¡± ¡ª ¡°Secured radio equipment from the Information & Communication Center. Returning shortly!¡± ¡ª ¡°Team 2, reporting! None of the ammunition is usable.¡± ¡ª ¡°Multiple corpses¡­ found at Maintenance Depot.¡± ¡°Collect all the bodies and cremate them. That¡¯s the least we can do out of respect.¡± ¡ª ¡°Yes!¡± The search continued throughout the morning. In the meantime, the transport truck made multiple trips from the Dongducheon HQ. There were a lot of supplies that were unearthed and had to be preserved. When the search waspleted to a certain extent, Kwang Hwi ordered the men to block the entrance to the 26th Division base. Eventually, it would act as a recement headquarters to the destroyed Yangju City Hall. The doors were closed and the broken chains were reced. On top of that, a warning was also pasted. Warning! This facility is under the control of the Kwang-Hwi Faction. Trespassers may be attacked. In the afternoon, they all headed to the 26th Division¡¯s boot camp located elsewhere. A small group of survivors was found there, as well. They were a mix of civilians and soldiers. Somehow, they managed to make a spear out of iron pipes, but in front of Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s guns¡­ ¡°We surrender!¡± was the natural and only response possible. Unfortunately, aside from human resources, there wasn¡¯t much else to gain. The bulletproof vests they wore were damaged beyond repair by the Monkeys and they barely had any food left. In a single day, Kwang Hwi Faction had plundered all of the 26th Division. It wasn¡¯t untilte at night that they were able to return to the headquarters. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 33 - Emergency Mission Chapter 33 33. Emergency Mission ¡°This is a rebellion, a coup d¡¯¨¦tat!¡± ¡°We refuse to acknowledge such uwful and unwarranted use of military force!¡± ¡°Immediately yield themand of all troops and equipment to us. If you do so, we will consider offering you a position!¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s face creased with annoyance. The high ranking officers he brought from the 26th Division¡¯s military base were all shouting nonsense that pricked his ears, driving him up the wall. ¡°What should we do with them?¡± His subordinates asked for guidance as they couldn¡¯t overstep their bounds. The current situation was somewhat simr¡ªyet also different¡ªto the time he found the General Officer at the Dongducheon General Hospital. The General Officer had quickly grasped the situation and surrendered to Kwang Hwi, even offering a UAV. Afterwards, he¡¯s been quietly living with them without kicking up a fuss. On the other hand, these stubborn idiots were giving him an attitude. Kwang Hwi couldn¡¯t tell whether they were obstinate or really that dumb to go against him. ¡°Despite being prisoners, they sure do like to yap.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, boss. They don¡¯t know their ce at all.¡± ¡°Boss! You¡¯re not nning to listen to their nonsense, right?¡± His men raised their concerns at his continued silence. Before they went to Africa with Kwang Hwi, they were once part of the ROK Armed Forces. Having been sent out there for a politically motivated reason, most of his men did not have a favorable impression of military officers. ¡°Now, now. Everyone rx.¡± Soo Min did his best to calm the men down. When Kwang Hwi¡¯s right-hand man joined the conversation, the rowdy ranks and files did their best to regain theirposure. ¡°Boss, this issue also pertains to how we will deal with the government in the future.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Even though the military was gone, the people in front of him were the top brass of the division. Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s rtionship with the government would depend on how he dealt with them. Even so, Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t dwell too much into it. ¡°Take care of them in a quiet ce.¡± ¡°W-wait!¡± ¡°Based on the Geneva Convention¡­ Mmm!¡± Kwang Hwi knew what the officer was trying to say. He wasn¡¯t stupid, he just didn¡¯t care. The military officers, including the Major General, struggled with all their might, but their limbs were already tied up. On top of that, his men were pointing their guns behind the officers, so any exertions they did were all in vain. His subordinates forcefully dragged the iling officers away. They were going to be executed in a secluded ce and the timing was just perfect since it waste at night. Nobody would discover their ndestine affair. ¡°Will this be fine?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t just leave them be.¡± ¡°But, boss! Our rtionship with the government¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s if the government still exists.¡± Ignorant fools like them were bound to cause troubleter. The Kwang Hwi Faction did not have people lying around to keep an eye on them. To make matters worse, it would be problematic if the former Korean soldiers had a change of heart. All in all, it was better to nip it in the bud. Even if the government didn¡¯t copse, how would they know? Even better, what could they do? For a powerless government, the fully armed Kwang Hwi Faction was necessary. They would have to beg to not have guns pointed at them. Might was right during these chaotic times. ¡°Is the fortification processplete?¡± ¡°Yes. There won¡¯t be another incident like before.¡± ¡°And the anti-aircraft radar?¡± ¡°Um¡­ We can¡¯t seem to activate it due to some unknown error. The engineers are looking into it. They say it¡¯s a simple setup problem rather than a technical malfunction.¡± ¡°Finally, what about the vehicles we brought from the 26th¡­¡± Suddenly, a notification appeared in front of Kwang Hwi. ¡ºEmergency Mission!¡» ¡ºEvacuate all members of the Kwang Hwi Faction into buildings within 15 minutes.¡» ¡ºReward: Pantsir-S1¡» ¡ºFailure: Complete Annihtion of Kwang Hwi Faction¡» ¡®Hole up inside buildings?¡¯ A sudden notification popped up to issue an emergency mission. Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t even question its validity. Just like the previous one, the system never caused any harm to him or his men. While he didn¡¯t know who was behind it, he knew the system was set up to assist him. Therefore, he believed there was a good reason for evacuating and he better do it pronto. ¡°All members, immediately hide in the nearest building. Prevent any civilians from leaving the cover.¡± ¡ºTime left ¨C 14:47¡» ¡ºTime left ¨C 14:46¡» ¡ºTime left ¨C 14:45¡» Thankfully, it was the curfew time. No civilians were outside doing other activities, so only the troops deployed outside had to evacuate. ¡°I repeat. All members must conceal themselves in the nearest building without dy!¡± Perhaps because Kwang Hwi spoke with such urgency, no one questioned his instructions. There was a smallmotion outside as soldiers on night patrol hurried back in. The troops spread across Dongducheon City quickly hid inside the nearest building. After evacuating, the men reported back. ¡ª ¡°Southern Wall Security Team has evacuated.¡± ¡ª ¡°Northern, Eastern, and Western Security Team have fully evacuated.¡± ¡ª ¡°HQ Security Team haspleted the evacuation order.¡± ¡ª ¡°Night Patrol Team 2 is inside. Waiting for further instructions.¡± ¡ºTime left ¨C 04:42¡» ¡ºTime left ¨C 03:35¡» ¡ºTime left ¨C 02:17¡» There wasn¡¯t much time left. Kwang Hwi picked up the direct line connected to the power nt. ¡ª ¡°Executive member of the power nt, Ho Cheol Shin reporting.¡± ¡°Brigadier General, Kwang Hwi Baek speaking.¡± There was a loud gasp from the other end at his introduction. Ho Cheol promptly addressed him with respect. ¡ª ¡°Commander! Greetings!¡± ¡°Cut off all electricity supplied by the power nt.¡± ¡ª ¡°Pardon? What do you¡­¡± ¡°Right now!¡± ¡ª ¡°U-understood. We¡¯ll cut off the power supply.¡± Taken aback by the sudden request, Ho Cheol couldn¡¯t help but ask why. However, Kwang Hwi firmly restated his order, shutting down his question. Across the receiver, Kwang Hwi could hear people getting busy. He could make out the sound of people running around and tapping on their keyboards. ¡ºTime left ¨C 01:05¡» ¡ºTime left ¨C 00:52¡» ¡ºTime left ¨C 00:33¡» ¡ª ¡°Power supply shutting off in 10! 9! 8! 7! 6!¡± ¡ª ¡°5! 4! 3! 2! 1!¡± A ck veil covered Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes after thest exmation. All the lights that lit up the ground went out. In an instant, the entire city of Dongducheon was covered in darkness. ¡ºTime left ¨C 00:05¡» ¡ºTime left ¨C 00:03¡» ¡ºTime left ¨C 00:01¡» As soon as the timer reached zero, a ck shadow engulfed the sky. ¡°What¡¯s¡­?¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Tens of thousands of bird-like creatures filled the sky. They looked more like bats than birds. While flying, their gazes were fixed on the ground, as if they were looking for some prey. The faint moonlight waspletely cut off by a giant bird monster in the sky. It was bigger than the Mi-26 he had obtained recently. As a matter of fact, it¡¯s body wasrger than most transport aircraft. The birds that were gazing on the ground raised their heads in unison and let out loud screeches. The quiet sky became noisy as the uncanny birds shrieked. The giant bird monster, however, continued to p its wings in silence, not joining his brethren. As the birds flew away from Dongducheon City, it revealed the moon once again. Without the birds covering the sky, the moonlight shone over the city. Only 10 minutes passed by. Yet, they were the longest 10 minutes, feeling like an hour. ¡ºEmergency Mission Complete¡» ¡ºYou have evacuated all members in time. No casualties recorded.¡» ¡ºForpleting the emergency mission, ¡®Pantsir-S1¡¯ has been rewarded.¡» It was only then that Kwang Hwi was able to lift the emergency protocol. ¡ª ¡°Lifting the restriction. Electricity¡­ has been resupplied!¡± The city that was hiding in the darkness regained its original brightness, shining like a pearl under the night sky. After a short break, the guards returned to their positions. ¡ºWould you like to deploy Pantsir-S1?¡» ¡ºPlease confirm the location to deploy the vehicle.¡» As always, Kwang Hwi chose the Dongducheon City Hall¡¯s parking lot. An anti-aircraft vehicle with a lion emblem revealed itself. Although its design was a bit crude, it looked very reliable. ¡ºPantsir-S1¡» ¡ºOne of the best-performing short to medium range air defense system developed after the 2K22 Tunguska. It¡¯s able to intercept missiles, precision munitions, helicopters, and stealth aircraft within a 20 km range. It can track up to 20 objects at once and shoot down four targets simultaneously using 30 mm autocannon and the Russian 57E6 missiles.¡» To purchase it from the Merit Shop, Kwang Hwi had to unlock the [Aircraft] category and pay arge amount of MP upfront. So he had no reason to refuse such a weapon given to him for free. ¡°Next time we meet, I¡¯ll take you down from the sky.¡± While he couldn¡¯t say the same to the thousands of birds, he knew the Pantsir had the capability to take down the giant bird monster at the very least. *** ¡°Brother.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Can you really¡­ stop them?¡± ¡°I have to.¡± The rescue leader was carrying a little girl. He was her brother and her only support now. ¡°Now, why don¡¯t you let your brother go?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After gently patting his little sister¡¯s back, he managed to convince his sister to release him. Soon after, he joined the ranks of men who were moving in haste. More than half of their group were women, leaving only a handful of men who could effectively fight. ¡®Would we be able to hold out today?¡¯ The rescue leader grabbed onto the baseball bat that was leaning against the wall while mulling over the uing battle. Currently, they were staying inside arge mall, so it was easy to find something that could be used as a weapon. ¡°T-they¡¯re here!¡± He quickly grabbed onto the roof¡¯s railings. On the road right below the H mall, there were thugs holding torches. The number of mes rapidly increased, perhaps their tactic to increase the pressure. One became two and two became four. As the yellow light grew, the looming darkness retreated, conceding a small area to the wolfish humans. ¡®Their numbers increased again.¡¯ There were more than a dozen of them. The biggest man among them, who was in the center of the group, held up a loudspeaker. ¡°How have you all been?¡± The rough voice resonated in the vicinity. The people who had escaped to the roof flinched at the question. ¡°It¡¯s time for your payment! Come on! Give us all of those young women!¡± A burst ofsciviousughter followed as the crowd that surrounded the man cheered. In contrast, the rescue leader made a solemn expression, just like hispanions. A few of the strong-willed women raised their voices. ¡°Get the fuck out, you human-trafficking gangsters.¡± ¡°Do you not know shame!?¡± They threw all sorts of insults, but the men shrugged their shoulders, not caring a bit. ¡°Human-trafficking? It¡¯s just a transaction! All you have to do is give us the women and some food! In return, we¡¯ll guarantee your safety! How simple is that? After all, what the worldcks the most right now is safety!¡± The rescue leader shook his head. ¡°We can¡¯t ept those terms!¡± ¡°Tsk. I knew this would happen. You leave us no choice!¡± The man who clicked his tongue turned around. ¡°Boys!¡± ¡°Yes, don!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go collect our payment.¡± Grinning, the men walked up. Even though they weren¡¯t as burly as their leader, they didn¡¯t look any weaker. They had blue translucent shields and batons in their hands. The survivors gaped their mouths in shock. ¡®Police¡¯ was clearly written on the shields the gangsters held. ¡®So, they raided the police station.¡¯ The gangsters were subjugating powerless civilians with police equipment. It was an absurd and ironic situation. Behind the riot shields, rtively smaller men followed. They looked like a bunch of ordinary people who had joined the gang after the government was incapacitated. The rescue leader bit his lips at the spectacle. To him, those people made him feel sicker than the gangsters. ¡°Tear it down!¡± The men swung their batons at the ss door. The door onlysted for a moment before cracks formed all over it. Soon after, the cracks extended and shattered the ss helplessly into the floor. Behind the ss door, a wall made out of carts was erected. Several carts were stacked on top of each other to form a barricade, but it didn¡¯t hold out for much longer against the strength of the gangsters. The cart wall tumbled down, presenting a path to their iing doom. Chapter 34 - SOS Chapter 34 34. SOS After the gangsters swept through the mall, it was left in utter disarray. The little food that was left was plundered and the mall was vandalized beyond repair. To make matters worse, all of the women were taken away. The remaining survivors had bruises all over their bodies, a witness to their futile struggle. The atmosphere was heavy and somber. It was natural since their family members and lovers were just kidnapped and they were helpless to stop them. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°We need to rescue them!¡± The rescue leader had his little sister taken away. The others were also in a simr situation. They couldn¡¯t let it slide because they knew what would happen to those women. Unfortunately, not everyone shared the sentiment. ¡°B-but, we¡¯re outnumbered and they are much stronger than us.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think this is too much for us?¡± What they said was reasonable. While monsters were monsters, they were dealing with an organized gang here¡ªlow life scum who were adept when it came to fighting their own species. It was uncertain whether the men could even win against two or three of them. ¡°Even so, are we just going to sit by idly?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice! Do we?¡± After the dispute settled down and silence was restored, a man in the corner raised his hand. He was quite burly. ¡°Why don¡¯t we ask for aid from outside?¡± ¡°Support from outside? Really now? Is there even help?¡± ¡°He¡¯s right. The military and the police are both gone.¡± The crowd raised their voices and the rescue leader had to calm them down. Being upset didn¡¯t help the situation at all. After everyone regained theirposure again, the rescue leader looked at the one who made the suggestion. He thought the man must have brought it up because he knew something. ¡°Could you borate a bit more?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Before I joined this group, I heard of the Kwang Hwi Faction in Dongducheon City.¡± ¡°Kwang Hwi Faction? What the hell is that?¡± Most people shook their heads, but some had also heard of the name. They were the few survivors who had joined muchter. ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve heard of them too. Kwang Hwi Faction is basically a military force.¡± ¡°Military?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard about them from the radio broadcasts. Last time, they dered that they¡¯ve conquered all of Dongducheon¡­¡± The small group of men started talking about the Kwang Hwi Faction. Hearing their stories, people started seeing some light in the darkness. ¡°Is it really a military force? Then they should be able to easily wipe out those gangsters!¡± ¡°What can those bastards do in front of a gun?¡± ¡°How can we get in touch with them to ask for help?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t someone say that they did radio broadcasts? Why don¡¯t we use that? Does anyone remember their frequency?¡± ¡°Ah, yes! It is 108.5 MHZ.¡± The rescue leader thought to himself. ¡®Were there any facilities nearby that had radios?¡¯ He came to a quick conclusion. ¡°Everyone.¡± The eyes of the people who were chatting among themselves gathered on the rescue leader. ¡°Let¡¯s visit the fire station. If we use the equipment over there, I think we can find a way to save ourpanions.¡± ¡°A fire station? Isn¡¯t the police station bet¡­ Arg! Why hit me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so dumb. Did you forget that the gangsters are at the police station right now? Are you really asking us to go there?¡± ¡°Oh, right¡­¡± ¡°T-then, are we abandoning the mall?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing left here. They took all of the food¡­ so we really don¡¯t have a reason to stay. I think it would be better to move our base to avoid their eyes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s hurry. There isn¡¯t much time left until dawn.¡± After packing up, the survivors left the mall in haste. Some looked back at it with lingering feelings. The mall was a reliable base that had protected them from disaster since day 1. Checking the time, the rescue leader urged the people to move forward. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time left.¡± Holding torches, the survivors walked in the darkness. If anyone fell behind, the rescue leader or the survivors next to them would lend a hand. As time passed by, the rescue leader felt increasingly anxious. The darkness which seemed to continue endlessly gradually gave way to the morning light. ¡°Please hurry, even if it¡¯s hard!¡± After being beaten to near-death by the gangsters, everyone was tired. But they had to grit their teeth and drag their exhausted bodies. At the very least, the healthier people helped the injured. Right before the sun rose, they stepped foot in the fire station. The survivors slumped down onto the floor, their ragged breathing echoed in the quiet building. Soon after, an rm went off. Everyone looked outside the windows vigntly. As the sunlight banished the darkness, the city revealed itself. And so, the change urred. A loud boom deafened the nervous onlookers. The ground was shaking as arge mass of dirt started to rise across the city. Soon after, it took the appearance of a person. Naturally, they were nothing like an actual person. Its entire body was made out of dirt,cking distinct features of a person. Instead of fingers, all it had was a fist. The monster looked simr to a poorly crafted doll. It was not alone, there was a whole heap of them. The dolls stretched their bodies like they were warming up. Every time they moved, a small amount of dirt would fall. This was the main reason why the survivors moved in the darkness. These monsters were only active in the daytime and were dormant during the night. Compared to an average person, they were much grander in size. Blunt weapons or sharp des didn¡¯t affect them either. Even if they sustained an injury, they would recover soon after. People who tried to fight against them were either crushed to death or sent flying from a punch. There wasn¡¯t a single case where someone had sessfully escaped them. Contrary to their looks, the monsters were quite agile. ¡°It would have been better if they were active 24 hours¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The gangsters wouldn¡¯t have been able to do whatever they wanted.¡± While others were looking outside the window, the rescue leader was fishing around the fire station. ¡°Here it is.¡± As he knew where it might be, it didn¡¯t take him long to find it. He grabbed the radio. People quickly gathered around and formed a circle. The leader turned it on and tried to establish contact with their potential knights in shining armor. ¡°Hello? Can you hear me? Kwang Hwi Faction? We¡¯re from Uijeongbu. Kwang Hwi Faction? Hello?¡± *** ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve received an SOS request from Uijeongbu.¡± ¡°SOS?¡± It was an unprecedented case as this was the first time anyone had asked for rescue. ¡°Along with the monsters, there is an organized gang that kidnapped their family members, especially women.¡± ¡°I guess their living condition isn¡¯t so bad if they can fight among each other.¡± ¡°The survivors reported that monsters are only active during the day. People hide when the sun is out and fight with each other during the night.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a night owl but a morning owl?¡± ¡°What do you mean by morning owl?¡± One of the men corrected Jackson. ¡°The word you¡¯re looking for is diurnal.¡± ¡°Oh, right. Diurnal.¡± ¡°Boss, what do you n to do?¡± Everyone looked at Kwang Hwi, waiting for his response. ¡°We took a long enough break. It¡¯s time to move out.¡± ¡°I agree!¡± The subordinates grinned in glee at the thought of the action. ¡ºCombat Force Info¡» ¡ïTitle¡ï Kwang Hwi Faction (View Symbol) ¡ïCommander-in-chief¡ï [Absolute Leader] Kwang Hwi Baek ¡ïControlling Area¡ï [HQ] Dongducheon City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea ¡ïTotal Force¡ï 187 (+1) ¡ïEquipment¡ï [Operating] K-9 SPG [Operating] 3x APC Namer [Operating] 10x Light Tactical Vehicle [Operating] 2x Medium Tactical Vehicle [Operating] Pantsir-S1 [Operating] Mi-26 ¡ïDivisions¡ï Dongducheon City Security Team Power nt Guard Squad Farnd Guard Team Recruit Training Center Yangju Detachment There had been a slight change as the Light Tactical Vehicles found in the 26th Division were added to the category. The wounded soldiers from Yangju Armed Forces Hospital were also absorbed into their troops after rehabilitation and training. To ount for the growing forces, Kwang Hwi had purchased another Namer. Thanks to the increase in size, he was able to create a new unit called Yangju Detachment. Unlike Dongducheon, the entire of Yangju wasn¡¯t fortified. Even though they had grown in size, they were stillcking the manpower required to defend two cities. At best, all they could do right now was to patrol the area. In the meantime, the 26th Division military base they had raided was being used as a garrison. Kwang Hwi Faction moved in haste. Now that they had decided to get involved, they had no time to waste. Being swift and precise was their principle. The UAV Heron hovered above Uijeongbu. Based on the images taken, the men quickly formted a n of action. ¡°Are these those mud people? Don¡¯t they look so weak?¡± ¡°The person who contacted was terrified of them.¡± ¡°I mean, can you me them? They don¡¯t have guns.¡± Jackson ignored the unimpressive monsters, but Soo Min was of the opposite nature and offered a cautious opinion. ¡°The dirt can absorb shock, so it¡¯s likely that regr assault rifles and machine guns wouldn¡¯t be enough.¡± Although the monsters had shown variance so far, all of them had flesh and blood. In those cases, an assault rifle or a machine gun was more than enough to inflict some damage. However, the ¡®mud people¡¯ in Uijeongbu were different. Their entire body was made out of dirt and they had no internal organs or blood that could be observed. It looked like they would simply eat up all the bullets Kwang Hwi Faction shot. While they would receive some damage, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to finish them. ¡°These are all conjectures. We would need to put them in practice through real battle.¡± ¡°Then, should we upgrade our weaponry?¡± ¡°Yes. I believe that would be the best course of action.¡± ¡°Boss, I think we should use at least a semi-automatic shotgun or a .50 caliber heavy machine gun.¡± Even though Jackson looked down on the monsters, he didn¡¯t mind getting his hands on some upgraded goods. Kwang Hwi opened the Merit Shop following their suggestions. ¡ºK6 Heavy Machine Gun¡» ¡ºAn improved model of the U.S. Army¡¯s M2 Browning. It¡¯s much easier to rece the gun barrel in this one. Known for its long shooting range, it can be equipped on an APC or tank. It is alsomonly used to defend checkpoints. Using .50 rounds, it boasts its anti-tank capabilities.¡» ¡ºPurchaseplete.¡» On the floor of the Situation Room, a bunch of HMGs appeared out of thin air. With additional options,rge red dot sights were added to the guns. The subordinates called in some soldiers to take them away. The iers froze once they saw the arsenal. Even though they didn¡¯t know the HMG weighed 40 kg, they could tell it wouldn¡¯t be easy to carry it around from a nce. ¡°Move them outside.¡± ¡°¡­Understood.¡± The soldiers responded hesitantly and went to pick up the new equipment. Although they hadn¡¯t neglected their training, they struggled to carry the guns away. ¡°What should we do if the .50 HMG fail?¡± Kwang Hwi waved his hand, telling Soo Min not to worry. ¡°We just have to shoot ¡®em with something stronger.¡± This time, they were nning to deploy two Namer APCs. The 30 mm autocannon on them provided sufficient firepower in most situations. If worst came to worst, they would receive assistance from the 155 mm SPGs. ¡°We¡¯ve located the gangsters.¡± ¡°Where are they at?¡± ¡°They¡¯re currently at a police station in Uijeongbu.¡± Kwang Hwi and his subordinates looked at the image on the screen and they could immediately tell who the leader was. It was the tallest and bulkiest man amongst the crowd. Even from afar, it was hard to miss such a prominent figure. He was presently standing on the rooftop of the police station. As the camera zoomed in, they could see him biting his lips out of frustration. ¡®Is he not an ability user?¡¯ Kwang Hwi had some doubts, but it didn¡¯t seem like he was one. ¡°How much gas do we have?¡± ¡°More than enough.¡± While he could purchase gas from category, there was no need as he could plunder nearby gas stations and military bases. ¡°We¡¯re leaving at 9 o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Chapter 35 - Mud Golem 35. Mud Golem The APC ran over something with a loud clunk, jolting the members inside the vehicle. ¡ª ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We¡¯ve bumped into some monster carcass.¡± After clearing his throat, Kwang Hwi pressed the transmission button. ¡°Uijeongbu team, this is yourmander speaking. I¡¯ll brief you on the mission.¡± The chatter on the radio channel promptly subsided as everyone focused their attention on him. ¡°Our first objective is to rescue the survivors hiding inside the fire station at Uijeongbu. Immediately after, we will head to the police station to quell the gangsters and subdue any monsters we encounter along the way.¡± After exining only the key points, Kwang Hwi asked if they had any questions. However, there was silence as a response. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll soon arrive at Uijeongbu City, so get ready.¡± The APC escaped the dark tunnel and sunlight gently wrapped around the Kwang Hwi Faction from above. Unfortunately, the men did not have the leisure to enjoy the sunbath. As soon as they left the tunnel, the ¡®mud people¡¯ rushed at them madly. Whenever the monster took a step, the men could feel the ground vibrating from inside the APC. ¡°Eliminate all hostile monsters.¡± The leading Light Tactical Vehicle pointed its HMG at the monsters. With a snap of the finger, a thick shell flew out, making the smaller 7.62 mm bullets look like child¡¯s y inparison. Often used by anti-materiel rifles like the .50 Barett, the projectile flew at high velocity towards the monster. The bullet pierced through its body, going out to the other side. However, to the dismay of the attackers, dirt started to fill the hole rapidly. The mud monster only flinched a little and started moving again. Observing the situation, Kwang Hwi shouted. ¡°What the hell are you doing!?¡± Only then did the gunner snapped back to his senses and fired away. The gun gave a strong recoil and second round of .50 caliber shells rained hell on the monster. The bullets must have had some effect, as the mud monster halted in its tracks. However, even then, it did not fall. Slowly but surely, it was repairing the damage it was dealt with. ¡°Don¡¯t spare any bullets!¡± The APC gunner, which had been watching for a while, let loose his reins too. The autocannon rotated, aiming its muzzle at the mud monster. With a sh of light, a deafening sound followed. As expected, the 30 mm shell didn¡¯t let them down. Unlike the .50 caliber shells that had merely stopped the monster in its steps, the 30 mm shell left a beautiful hole that wasrge enough to be appreciated by everyone. Soon after, the mud monster crumbled into loose sand, flying away with a gust of wind. ¡ºYou are the first person in the world to defeat a ¡®Mud Golem¡¯.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 1000 MP.¡» It was the first-kill reward he hadn¡¯t seen in a while. In addition, the bounty he received was double the usual amount. ¡°From now on, we will call these monsters Mud Golems. Aim at their legs with the HMGs so that they can¡¯t approach us. Then use the autocannon to finish them off.¡± ¡ª ¡°Roger. Turtle-2, engaging inbat.¡± Namer Turtle-2, which had been on standby, also entered the fray. The Mud Golems were charging towards it from all directions. Not cowering from their towering bodies, the heavy machine gunners focused on their lower halves. Unlike their thick upper body, their legs were thin inparison. Since this was a weak point, the .50 caliber shells managed to break their legs. While the Mud Golems were recovering on the ground, the autocannons spat fire. The mud-caked behemoths returned back to the earth, unable to retain their shape. ¡ª ¡°Warning! More Mud Golems up ahead!¡± The driver yelled on the radio, alerting everyone. Mud Golems appeared out of nowhere and blocked the road ahead. ¡°Break past them at full speed!¡± As if it understood Kwang Hwi¡¯s words, the engine let out a battle cry. In a matter of seconds, the APC reached its max speed of 60 km/h. The Mud Golems quickly reached out their hands. It looked like they were trying to stop the intimidating APC with their bare hands. Sadly, they must have thought the APC was just another vehicle carrying a strong weapon atop it. Not only did it boast its tremendous defense, but it also weighed over 60 tons and rivaled a tank. On top of that, it was running at full speed. That alone transformed the APC into an impressive weapon. It was a metal behemoth, quite literally. A Mud Golem was crushed on impact, unable to withstand the shock. The monsters next to it hurried to stop the vehicle, but their hands gave way in a simr fashion. Their n to stop the vehicle failed, leaving them at a loss. Turtle-2 paved the way for the Light Tactical Vehicles and Medium Tactical Vehicles. The vehicles followed behind, shooting non-stop to slow the Mud Golems down. The Mud Golems tried to chase after the Kwang Hwi Faction, but the gap only widened as they went on. While they were fast, they weren¡¯t swift enough to chase after a vehicle powered by engines. ¡ª ¡°Encirclement broken.¡± Ignoring the wee they received soon after entering Uijeongbu City, Kwang Hwi Faction headed towards the main street. The familiar view of the deserted streets with fallen buildings and debris everywhere greeted them. ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ll arrive at the fire station soon.¡± Uijeongbu fire station was stationed right next to the city hall. A few Mud Golems were waiting in front of the fire station, as if they knew some survivors were hiding inside. In front of the autocannon, however, they were pulverized into dust. All the vehicles stopped in front of the fire station. The APCs parked inside and the Light Tactical Vehicles surrounded the APCs, neatlypleting a formation. It was a defensive circle against any Mud Golems that might appear. The Medium Tactical Vehicles that were transporting troops parked elsewhere. ¡°Disembark.¡± The soldiers got off the vehicles in an orderly fashion, ready tounch the offensive. Kwang Hwi tried to stop the soldiers in their tracks as they were about to leave with their vests on. ¡°Wait.¡± The troop leader tilted his head in confusion. Seeing that, Kwang Hwi quickly grabbed on the radio and issued a new order. ¡°All members, be on standby until further instructions.¡± The soldiers who were about to enter the building quickly backed away. ¡ª ¡°Is there an issue?¡± Giving another quick nce at the fire station, Kwang Hwi opened the Merit Shop. Luckily, he found what he needed. Kwang Hwi grabbed onto the M32A1 grenadeuncher on his back and opened the cylinder. ¡°Boss?¡± He reced the grenades with tear gas he had purchased. In a low voice, Kwang Hwi muttered, ¡°Gas.¡± The surprised leaders quickly propagated the order to their respective team members. ¡°Gas!¡± Hearing that, the soldiers started shouting the same words and quickly wore the gas mask hanging around their necks. Confirming that everyone was prepared, Kwang Hwi pulled the trigger. The tear gas flew in a parab, broke the window, and rolled inside. After firing all 6 shots inside the cylinder, Kwang Hwi also put on a gas mask and waited patiently. He was standing by for any reaction from inside. White gas fumed out of the broken ss window. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± ¡°Wheeze!¡± Soon after, people rushed out after opening the door to the fire station. They desperately sought fresh air while covered in tears and snot. Kwang Hwi gestured towards them with a nod. ¡°Subdue them.¡± The soldiers pointed their guns at the survivors and some even brought zip ties. The survivors were unable to resist because they were out of their minds from the tear gas. They were dragged away and forcefully restrained. Amidst the chaos, some tried to struggle to break free. However, the soldiers repressed them in a cold-hearted manner. They didn¡¯t open fire, but they weren¡¯tx with their fists. The survivors¡¯ faces were a mess and unsightly to see. Those who hade back to their senses raised their voices in protest. ¡°W-what is this? Cough! A tear gas out of nowhere?¡± ¡°How can you do this to unarmed civilians?!¡± The restrained survivors spat theirints one by one, hollering at full volume. The fire station became noisy, just like a marketce. After inspecting each person, Kwang Hwi pointed towards one individual. ¡°Bring him.¡± The two soldiers next to the man dragged him out of the group. The frightened man looked at Kwang Hwi with a face that evoked sympathy. If they hadn¡¯t known better, they¡¯d have been fooled. ¡°W-why are you doing this? We didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t ask twice. Where are they?!¡± ¡°W-what do you¡­¡± Kwang Hwi pulled out the Glock on his waist and pulled the trigger. The man copsed onto his knees after being shot and fell to the ground. Blood trickled down from his forehead and formed a small puddle. His eyes were opened wide with shock, fear, and confusion at his own unforeseen death. ¡°Hiiik!¡± ¡°P-please, do not kill us!¡± Horrified by the sudden cold-blooded murder, the survivors screamed at the top of their lungs. The soldiers were also shocked, but they did not show it on their faces. They stayed staunch in their attitude. ¡°You.¡± Kwang Hwi picked a new man. The selected guy tried to scamper away, but the soldiers quickly dragged him out. Thrown next to the dead man, the survivor¡¯s face became pale with fright. Kwang Hwi indifferently pointed his gun at the man¡¯s forehead. ¡°Nooo!¡± ¡°Where are they at?¡± ¡°I-I will speak! I¡¯ll tell¡ª¡± A bang followed and another body joined the pile, right next to hispanion. Kwang Hwi looked at another man. Before the soldiers could drag him out, the frightened fellow spoke as fast as he could, not caring one whit about others. ¡°T-they¡¯re trapped inside the Uijeongbu Police Station! Uijeongbu Police Station! We were sent here to ambush you!¡± Only now did the soldiers realize that everything was a trap. Even Kwang Hwi¡¯s loyal subordinates could not hide their amazement. ¡°Wow, boss! How did you know?¡± ¡°Amazing, boss!¡± Kwang Hwi casually spoke, as if it were nothing noteworthy. ¡°I saw their faces from the UAV.¡± Yesterday, the Heron flew above Uijeongbu. While hovering around the gangster¡¯s hideout, it had managed to catch the faces of these survivors. With a nagging suspicion, Kwang Hwi threw tear gases. His concerns were validated once he saw their faces and he became certain that a trap was set up. ¡°Check the building. Afterwards, we¡¯ll head to the Uijeongbu Police Station.¡± *** ¡°Do you think our boys will do the job properly¡­?¡± ¡°Those soldiers will be fooled wlessly, don.¡± The don looked back at the figures on the ground. The survivors from the fire station were kneeling on the hard floor. While they weren¡¯t tied up, they were beaten up pretty badly. With such injuries, it wasn¡¯t possible for them to lift even a finger, not to mention making an escape. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you guys would pull such a cute trick.¡± The don sarcastically jabbed at them, but the survivors couldn¡¯t even respond. He was right, though. At the end of the day, they were caught. ¡°You should have known better. Why did you ask for help using the public channel?¡± The survivorsmented over the blunder they hadmitted. While it was a good idea to ask for help, they should indeed have been more cautious. ¡®We shouldn¡¯t have told them about our location so soon.¡¯ It would have caused some inconvenience, but they could have been safely rescuedter. Even so, it was toote to cry over spilled milk. When they had their guards down, the gangsters barged into the fire station and dragged them away. In return, they left some thugs to be rescued in their ce. ¡°Gentlemen, I¡¯m grateful for what you did. Thanks to you, we can get our hands on some guns! How can you bear so many fruits for me? First offering me women and now even weapons. Isn¡¯t that right, boys?¡± The gangsters on one side bowed their heads in humility. They were like a bunch of loyal dogs wagging their tails at their master. ¡°Yes! Don!¡± The don smiled and spread his arms wide in the air as if grasping everything in his embrace. ¡°The world is in quite a mess, isn¡¯t it? Our lives were spared because we were imprisoned. Thanks to that, we took all the equipment from the police station and became the strongest power in Uijeongbu! And now, with Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s help, we can be the strongest power in the entire country!¡± ¡°That¡­ won¡¯t happen.¡± With a swollen face, the rescue leader struggled to leave one remark. ¡°You really think so? Even if they are soldiers, it¡¯s not like they¡¯re immune to des. Ultimately, they are made of flesh and blood. We left the best actors with the sharpest knives back at the fire station. I don¡¯t think things will go the way you imagine. Nheless, it¡¯s quite a good fantasy to have.¡± The rescue leader closed his eyes in pain and grief. The don was lightly tapping on his cheeks while exining his scheme. Then, he made himselffortable on his chair. ¡°They should be done by¡ª¡± Before the don could finish his sentence, a ck container rolled onto his feet. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± *Pshhh!* Chapter 36 - Tear Gas of Laughter Chapter 36 Tear Gas of Laughter White gas instantly enveloped the entire area. After a momentary confusion, a sharp pain, an unbearable tingling, and a burning sensation bombarded their senses almost simultaneously. Their noses became uncontrobly runny and their eyes teared up. ¡°I-it¡¯s tear gas!¡± ¡°Cough, cough!¡± The gangsters, who had looked stronger than everyone else, were now crawling blindly on the floor. ¡°O-open the window!¡± The men near the window fumbled to unlock it. Soon after, some of the rising gas escaped through it. Just as they thought the air had gotten a bit better, a new tear gas canister came in through the open window. Thanks to that, those who were inside the room suffered even more. Their actions to save themselves harmed them instead. Amidst the chaos, the rescue leader acted fast. He didn¡¯t miss the opportunity to escape, especially when no eyes were on him. He hurried to help other survivors get back on their feet. ¡°Now is our only chance! Please get up!¡± No one was in good condition after receiving such a brutal beating. However, they were going to be in for a lot worse if they didn¡¯t escape now. Groaning in pain, the survivors struggled to stand up. Luckily, they were not restrained at all and quickly regained their mental and physical faculties. ¡°Everyone, grab on! Don¡¯t let go!¡± The rescue leader led the way from the front, raising their spirits all the while. Even though his eyes were scorching and his nose was stinging, he was able to figure out the general direction. ¡°Get them! Don¡¯t let them escape!¡± The don shouted, but no one was in the right state of mind to respond to hismands at the moment. Because of that, the survivors were able to widen the distance and managed to escape the conference room. Thankfully, the hallway was much better than the previous smoke-filled location. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ The rescue leader had a hunch the Kwang Hwi Faction had responded to their urgent plea. ¡ª ¡°Resist and you¡¯ll be shot! Drop to your knees immediately!¡± An unfamiliar voice came from outside, supporting his idea. *** Without taking a breather, Kwang Hwi systematically fired tear gas everywhere. He was shooting evenly on all areas as he didn¡¯t know what kind of defense perimeter the enemy had set up. A cloud of gas leaked out from the window on the fourth floor as its doors opened with a loud bang. While it was a reasonable reaction, the gangsters were practically telling Kwang Hwi where they were hiding. Without further ado, Kwang Hwi shot tear gas in the opening. He heard faint screams and coughs shortly after. Seeing that, the subordinates pitied those inside with schadenfreude. ¡°Unlucky.¡± ¡°How pitiful.¡± They were exposed to the tear gas without any masks, certainly not a situation they wished to be in. ¡ª ¡°All members, stay on alert. We don¡¯t know how they will attack.¡± The soldiers dragged out the gangsters they had captured from the police station. After killing two of theirrades, the rest promptly became submissive. They had already confessed to their ploy. ¡°T-the hostages were meant to be used as meat shields.¡± In response, Kwang Hwi reciprocated in kind, making the gangsters kneel in front of the soldiers. With theirrades held as hostages, it wasn¡¯t easy for them to charge out or attack. Looking at the watch, Kwang Hwi muttered. ¡°They¡¯resting¡­¡± Before he could finish, the police station¡¯s gate mmed open. The trapped gas escaped from the interior, along with people squirming on the floor. Some of them hit their heads as they couldn¡¯t see properly. The soldiers, who were on full alert, aimed their guns at the gangsters. The prominent leaders of each group amplified their voices. ¡°Raise both of your hands! Do not move!¡± ¡°Lie down!¡± Apanied by themands, warning shots were fired into the sky to make them submissive. Despite being disorganized, the thugs quickly fell down when they heard the gunshots. Some gangsters were still struggling, though. In return, they were kicked and smacked with the butt of the rifle. ¡°Don¡¯t show any mercy. They are our enemy.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± With that, a few thuds and smashes followed as the tough ones were beaten without any remorse. ¡°Uwagk!¡± ¡°I-I surrender.¡± Before long, the gangsters were tamed into obedience, rolling on the asphalt floor. The apprehending team quickly stepped in to search their bodies. Weapons that were found were thrown far away. More and more people were forced to kneel in front of the police station. Some of them included women who didn¡¯t have time to dress appropriately, while others looked like captured survivors. Seeing this, some of the soldiers started hesitating to take action. In response, the team leader stepped in to scold them. ¡°Don¡¯t be sorryter and check them now! Are you going to put your fellow men in danger with your loftypassion!?¡± Only then did the soldierse back to their senses and hastened their steps. Kwang Hwi waited until the gas was gone. While it didn¡¯t disappearpletely, it was much thinner than before, barely a hindrance. ¡°Team 1 to 5, enter the police station. You are authorized to fire based on judgment.¡± ¡ª ¡°Authorization received. We¡¯ll start the search.¡± Following the order, soldiers wearing gas masks entered the police station. ¡ª ¡°Resisting hostile found. Subdued.¡± ¡ª ¡°Found a survivor on the second floor. We¡¯ll guide him outside.¡± ¡ª ¡°The basement is clear.¡± As most people had already left the police station, the operation proceeded smoothly. asionally, some gangsters would resist with knives, giving them a rough wee. The soldiers of the Kwang Hwi Faction responded in their own ways. Shots were fired and blood spewed out as the gangsters fell onto the floor. Clear metallic ngs apanied the crumbling bodies due to their cherished knives dropping on the tiled surface. Witnessing their grim oue, the remaining gangsters immediately threw away their weapons. ¡°W-wait! We¡¯ll surrender!¡± One of the soldiers acted like he heard nothing and aimed his gun at the thugs. Even during peaceful times, the gangsters caused harm to him and the others. Just as he was about to shoot, the team leader smacked him on the back. ¡°Don¡¯t forget what themander told us.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll mend my ways.¡± Another soldier came forward to apprehend the gangsters. During that time, they reunited with team 3, who had headed to the other side. ¡°Fourth floor clear!¡± Gently tapping on the soldier¡¯s shoulder, the team leader reported the news back to Kwang Hwi. ¡°Commander! We just need to secure the roof now!¡± The men went upstairs together with the sound of military boots reverberating in the vicinity. The member who had turned the doorknob shouted. ¡°It¡¯s locked!¡± The team leader promptly issued an order. ¡°Bring the sticky bomb.¡± Right behind, another soldier brought a backpack he was wearing on his chest. Taking out a wrapped rectangr package, he attached it to the door and pulled the pin in the middle. It sparked a bright fire; everyone quickly backed away. Then the soldier pushed on the detonator. ¡°Breaching!¡± With a loud bang, the iron door flung to the other side. The men set foot on the rooftop, passing through the faint cloud of dust and gas. Beyond the entrance, they could see the broad back of a burly man. He was huge, even for the Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s standard. They circled the man in a semicircle formation, ready to fire at any given moment. ¡°Raise your hand and kneel! Now!¡± Despite the numerous warnings, the don didn¡¯t move. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Instead, heughed for reasons unknown to everyone. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The soldiers were taken aback at his sudden outburst. They didn¡¯t think he would be so jovial even under such a dire situation. ¡®Is he insane?¡¯ ¡°The world of people is really unpredictable.¡± ¡°Shut up! Get on the floor. Right now!¡± Sensing something amiss, the team leader shouted again. However, the don only continued. ¡°I thought it would all end here, but I was wrong.¡± ¡°This is yourst warning! Slowly lie down on the floor!¡± As the team leader was about to pull the trigger, he flinched. The don was glowing in bright light. ¡®He¡¯s shining?¡¯ The don swung his fist towards the team leader. It was a massive fist, much bigger than an average human. On instinct, the team leader raised his gun to protect his face. With a resounding crack, the assault rifle snapped like a straw toy. The momentum behind the punch crashed onto the team leader, sending his body flying into the air. ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Leader!¡± The soldiers, who were standing behind and witnessing everything, fired their weapons at the man. The assault rifles spat fire, sending hundreds of bullets in a matter of seconds. However, the bulletstorm was in vain as the crushed shells fell onto the floor. ¡°What the¡­?¡± ¡°W-what¡¯s that?¡± The don, who should have been drilled like a beehive, was standing perfectly fine. On top of that, he was bing taller and bigger. His torso became thicker, alongside his limbs and it was questionable to call him a human anymore. ¡®It¡¯s as if he is a¡­¡¯ ¡°Mud Golem?¡± His appearance resembled the Mud Golems they had encountered along the way. The only difference was that instead of dirt, his entire body was covered with iron tes. ¡°Kghaha!¡± Even his voice changed with his body. The don charged towards the soldiers. The men fired non-stop, but their guns soon went silent as they ran out of bullets. While they were hurrying to reach out for a new cartridge, the don closed the gap and swung his fist. ¡°D-duck!¡± The soldiers, who were trying to reload, swiftly ducked away. Not everyone was lucky, though. A soldier was unable to avoid the fist, which prated his chest. While he was wearing a bulletproof vest, it didn¡¯t help at all against the overwhelming force. Blood spewed from his mouth like a broken faucet, mixed with some of his internal organs. The remaining members didn¡¯t even have a chance to be surprised. The fist that flew like a bolt was now being swung at them. The don jumped on the soldiers like a wolf hunting sheep. With each swing, bodies copsed onto the floor. With each deadly attack, screams rang out on the rooftop. In a short period, two entire teams were incapacitated. Only the team leader, who was hit first, was left better off than the others. He had managed to block some of the force with his gun. Raising his upper body with great effort, he grabbed on the radio. He had to tell others about this revtion. ¡°Cmander! The don became a Mud Go¡ª¡± Crushing the team leader¡¯s head like a watermelon, the don looked below. He had only faced a small portion of the Kwang Hwi Faction. Now, it was time for the full course. The don stepped on the railing and directly jumped off the roof. In midair, his eyes met Kwang Hwi. ¡°New target found. All members, attack!¡± The weapons that responded the fastest were the HMGs. Small sparks erupted all over the don¡¯s body, but that was all. They didn¡¯t even manage to slow him down like they did with the Mud Golems. The car hood of the Light Tactical Vehicle was badly crushed under his assault. Due to the weight of the weapon mounted in front, the rear side was slightly raised. The heavy machine gunner quickly hid his body inside the vehicle. The don¡¯s fist barely grazed his hair, tearing away the mounted HMG like paper. ¡°I like this very much! Kghaha!¡± After taking out one of the vehicles, the don looked around for a new target. There happened to be another Light Tactical Vehicle in front of him. The don leaped from his feet to enjoy the dish served to him. Unfortunately, he was shot by the 30 mm autocannon midair, ruining his meal. From the shock, he flew outside of the police station. ¡°That won¡¯t be enough! Kghaha!¡± ¡°All vehicles focus fire on that crazy bastard.¡± ¡ª ¡°Roger. We¡¯ll turn him into swiss cheese with the autocannon.¡± As the don charged at the Kwang Hwi Faction, two autocannons started spouting mes simultaneously. Large shells mmed into his body and, from the powerful kic energy, he was shoved back again. HMGs joined the shell-fest, albeitte. It was a sight to behold. The men had deployed all of their arsenal to take down a single person. Chapter 37 - A Stronger Attack Chapter 37 37. A Stronger Attack The area where the don stood was utterly destroyed under the concentrated attack. The convenience store across the street from the police station was turned into ruins after receiving a few shots from the autocannon. The wall of the studio apartment right behind was knocked down, revealing its interior. As the grenades exploded, dust scattered through the air. With a nk, a stray bullet hit the don¡¯s head. It merely bounced off without doing much. He didn¡¯t receive any damage besides flinching. ¡®To think I was scared of these weaklings.¡¯ After engaging with them, the don was ashamed of his past self. He started taunting the Kwang Hwi Faction. ¡°Kghaha! Is that all? I¡¯m fairly disappointed!¡± Then he slowly walked towards the soldiers. Passing by the countless streaks of yellow light in a carefree manner, he wanted to demonstrate the overwhelming difference in power to these chickens. Even the 30 mm autocannon barely startled him, so the don was confident that the Kwang Hwi Faction could not stop him. ¡ª ¡°B-Boss! The target is approaching us,pletely ignoring our bullets! It looks like we¡¯re unable to deal any damage to him!¡± The gunner was unable to hide his fear while reporting. Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t me him. It was not unusual to be afraid of someone impervious to weapons. ¡ª ¡°I-it would be best to receive support from the SPG¡­¡± Kwang Hwi shook his head. The SPG was indeed powerful. However, it was currently difficult to deploy it. The Uijeongbu Light Rail Transit was in front of the police station, so even if they fired the SPG, it would only hit the U Line. Delivering a clean hit from the current angle was almost impossible. Even if he was willing to ept some casualties, there was no guarantee that damage could be inflicted. It was highly probable that explosives were not effective on this freak either. ¡°Slow him down as much as possible.¡± ¡ª ¡°Understood.¡± The autocannon fired shells without rest. The soldiers followed as they pointed their guns at the don. The sound of gunshot and artillery fire intertwined in the background while Kwang Hwi hurried to open the Merit Shop. ¡ºMerkava Mk. 4¡» ¡ºIsrael Defense Forces¡¯ main battle tank primarily known for its electronic systems and defensive capabilities. Equipped with a 120 mm smoothbore gun and LAHAT missiles, it is possible to attack helicopters as well as ground targets. As secondary weapons, it has two 7.62 mm machine guns.¡» ¡º120 mm shells (48) included.¡» ¡ºPrice: 450,000 MP¡» He was really fortunate to have enough MP to purchase the tank. ¡ºPurchaseplete.¡» ¡ºPlease confirm the location to deploy the vehicle.¡» Kwang Hwi ordered the nearby soldiers to spread out and clear the area. ¡°Move away and make some space!¡± Despite the sudden order, the soldiers fanned apart in an orderly fashion. ¡ºDeployment finished.¡» A tank appeared out of nowhere in the empty lot. It had a bulky turret and heavyyers of armor rarely found in its brethren. Even without it, the vehicle was massive. ¡°Jackson! Head to the loader!¡± Jackson rushed to Kwang Hwi and the two entered the tank from the rear entrance. Merkava was the only tank to have a back entrance that led to the main crewpartment for easier ess and additional storage capacity. Arriving first at the loader, Jackson pushed a switch. Soon after, a shell was ejected from the protective container. Jackson carefully grabbed the projectile and inserted it into the loading dock. After swallowing the shell, the door closed to separate it from the main crewpartment. Confirming that the round was loaded, Jackson shouted. ¡°APFSDS loaded!¡± Kwang Hwi operated the automated fire control system. The don was on full disy¡ªa person who looked more like a mutant Mud Golem than a human. While Kwang Hwi had questions nagging his mind, he needed to silence the target first. Ballisticsputer andser rangefinder calcted the distance and disyed its specification. Kwang Hwi firmly pulled the trigger. A boom followed, and the thin and sturdy armor-piercing shell prated the don¡¯s metal skin that was impregnable so far. The don staggered and his nonchnt face crumpled as his body, which had withstood the autocannon, received a deep scar. The APFSDS was made to prate the thick armor of modern tanks, and it¡¯s kic energy increased as the distance shortened. No matter how hard he was, it was a force to be reckoned with. ¡ª ¡°H-hit! The target has stopped moving!¡± While the soldiers cheered on the radio, Jackson smiled and reloaded a new shell. ¡ª ¡°APFSDS loaded!¡± Maintaining his aim, Kwang Hwi fired the second shot without hesitation. A small hole formed on the don¡¯s chest. Compared to his massive body, it was a minimal injury. However, tiny shards of the shell had prated deeply into his heart. If he was a true Mud Golem, he wouldn¡¯t have received any damage, and it would have regenerated. Unfortunately, or fortunately, he was still a person. The don knelt on one knee as he failed to keep his unfaltering posture. Even the autocannon and HMGs he didn¡¯t fear before were starting to hurt him now. ¡°N-not¡­ bad¡­¡± The third shot hit the skull perfectly. Flinging his head backward, the sharp metal made him groggy. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Unable to keep his mental faculties working properly, the don copsed. His metallic skin, which had been reflecting the sunlight, turned into a murky ck liquid. ¡ºYou have defeated ¡®Jong Hoon Park.¡¯¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 100,000 MP.¡» Unlike before, the screen didn¡¯t disy a monster¡¯s name. Instead, it revealed a person¡¯s name: the don. After staring at the disy screen for a while, Kwang Hwi tried to lean back and rx. ¡ºYou have defeated a member of the Armata family.¡» ¡ºFor such an outstanding feat, you have been rewarded 300,000 MP.¡» ¡®What?¡¯ Kwang Hwi squinted his eyes as he pondered about the new information. ¡®Member of the Armata family? Outstanding feat?¡¯ These words caught his attention more so than the additional MP he received. ¡ª ¡°Enemy neutralized!¡± Jackson shouted at the top of his lungs out of sheer joy. Kwang Hwi removed his headset and exited the vehicle from the rear door. His subordinates were lined up neatly, waiting for him. They all praised Kwang Hwi and admired his unique ability once again. ¡°B-Boss!¡± Right at this festive moment, the HQmunicator rushed in with great haste. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve received reports that all of the Mud Golems are on the move!¡± ¡°Where are they heading to?¡± ¡°H-here¡­¡± Kwang Hwi looked at his men. They weren¡¯t smiling anymore. Rather, they wore a grave expression, recognizing that they had to face more peril. ¡°Reload and get ready for another battle.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The battle was not over yet¡­ *** A loud explosion echoed throughout the quiet city like thunder and the man covered in metal knelt in front of the Kwang Hwi Faction. Seeing that, the Armata frowned. ¡®How? Even if it was done in haste¡­¡¯ Armata did not have high expectations for him because he had given the mortal a small shard without proper preparation. It was a feeble power, like a small gift for his child. Especially whenpared to his own power, it was nothing noteworthy. Despite everything, for insignificant monsters and people, it should have been an overwhelming power. Even then, his child died so helplessly. Seeing the demonstration of power at the rooftop, Armata had some anticipation for the results. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t expect the battle to be lopsided. It only took three attacks to overpower the mortal who should have crushed others like ying with a toy. Armata looked at the Kwang Hwi Faction on Earth with newfound interest. The unfamiliar form of weaponry impressed him. ¡®How did they get those?¡¯ He was certain that the current world had all its weaponry rendered useless. That¡¯s why they were able to settle in with little effort. ¡®But what¡¯s this?¡¯ The weapon looked exactly like the ones that should have been destroyed. Therefore, he didn¡¯t know what was going on. Even so, he knew one thing for sure: if things continued like this, they would take over his territory. He had to stop that at all costs. Armata slightly opened his mouth. He was saying something, but there was no sound. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡öa¡ö¡ö¡ö¡öm¡ö ¡ö¡öt¡ö¡ö¡ö¡öf¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡öj¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡öl ¡ö¡ö¡öd¡ö¡ö ¡ök¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ök!¡± A strange reverberation spread across the ce. At the same time, unknown symbols were being etched to the mountain range surrounding Uijeongbu. In short notice, the symbols started to glow brightly. A strange phenomenon that couldn¡¯t be scientifically exined was happening there. With loud booms, heaps of dirt rose from the ground. Soon after, it took the appearance of a giant person. It was the Mud Golems Kwang Hwi Faction had previously encountered. Armata red at the aggressors with cold eyes. ¡°Stop them.¡± The Golems started moving on themand. All of them, including the newly created Golems, were heading towards a single target. Hundreds of Mud Golems moved in unison, causing deafening rumbles. Whenever they took a step, the ground would tremble under their weight. While they looked daunting, Armata looked bored, as if he wasn¡¯t impressed by their appearance. In spite of that, he was confident that the Golems were more than enough to take care of the mysterious army. ¡®It won¡¯t be easy to take down my children.¡¯ To make Golems, he needed material. The core material of the Mud Golems was ¡®dirt¡¯, and his territory had plenty of that. The entire area was surrounded by mountains. The tip of Armata¡¯s fingers melted away. Even at the frightening scene, he was unfazed and only clicked his tongue. ¡°I¡¯ll need to find a better doll.¡± The ¡®doll¡¯ he made was nothing noteworthy as he had picked a random human passing by. He couldn¡¯t even disy his full power, let alone attack others. Soon after, his doll crumbled into a fistful of dust and scattered into the air. *** Not noticing that Armata was observing him from above, Kwang Hwi was busy preparing for the battle. Based on the reports from the UAV, several hundreds of Mud Golems were approaching them from all directions. They were encircling the Kwang Hwi Faction currently located at Uijeongbu Police Station. ¡°How are the SPGs?¡± ¡ª ¡°SPG-1, secured firing data!¡± ¡ª ¡°SPG-2, ready to fire.¡± ¡°Let them loose. Soo Min, take over from here.¡± ¡ª ¡°Roger! All vehicles, fire!¡± A sharp swishing sound split the sky as the shells fired from the SPGs fell in a parab. The strong explosions swallowed the Mud Golems. Those who were directly hit by the shells returned back to the earth, while the nearby ones were blown away. They struggled against the aftershock that followed, trying to restore their original form. However, despite all their efforts, they lost when the second shellnded amidst them. The Mud Golems that were trying to regain their bnce flopped once again. Losing its cohesion, the pile of dirt drifted away in the air. The APCs broke the walls of the police station and then stopped, adjusting their aim. After securing their surroundings, the autocannons spat fire. Their shells destroyed Mud Golems approaching from afar. Guided by the automated fire control system, the gunner changed his target. After one fell, he immediately fixated on the next one. While there were only two APCs, it did not have any issues handling the Mud Golems. As support, the tank was also deployed. ¡°NE 20! 1720 away!¡± Once the gunner confirmed a target, the loader hurried to insert a new shell. With a dull nk sound, the shell was sealed inside. Confirming the cartridge was loaded, the gunner pulled the trigger and the Mud Golem approaching from the northeast was smashed into pieces. The 120 mm had caused fatal damage to the metal-ted don, so it was impossible for a weaker Mud Golem to resist a single shot. The heavy machine gunners focused on pushing away the Mud Golems that got closer to the tank and APCs. When a Mud Golem found its way in, the HMG would slow it down, and the APCs would suppress it soon afterward. After firing non-stop, a few HMGs went silent. ¡ª ¡°Turtle-3 is out of .50!¡± ¡ª ¡°Namer Turtle-2 only has 140 bullets left!¡± The soldiers who were carrying bullet containers left in a hurry. Since rifles were ineffective, most of them were tasked with supplying ammunition and changing the gun barrels. Among them all, Kwang Hwi¡¯s role was to make the necessary ammunition or equipment. Even while issuingmands, he had the Merit Shop open on one side to make purchases. ¡º30 mm rounds (1000)¡» ¡ºWould you like to purchase?¡» Arge container full of autocannon shells appeared out of thin air. The soldiers who were waiting in front of Kwang Hwi carried them away in a sh. ¡°Commander, we need .50 cal¡­¡± ¡°I know.¡± Kwang Hwi flicked his finger to purchase the .50 caliber shells for the HMGs. Once again, the troopers received the containers and ran off. Without a rest, Kwang Hwi looked at the screen connected to the Heron. ¡°SPG! Destroy the light metro line at 125!¡± ¡ª ¡°Affirmative.¡± A few minutester, a shell uratelynded on top of the U Line. With a loud explosion, chunks of concrete tumbled down on the road. Underneath it, Mud Golems reached out their hands towards the falling concrete. However, they were crushed into dirt paste as they could not withstand the weight. Some piles of dirt wriggled underneath the concrete but stopped soon after losing its strength. Chapter 38 - Find It (1) Chapter 38 38. Find It (1) The encroaching Mud Golems lost their shape and returned to a pile of dirt. Without a target, shells flew through the air. One of themnded on top of a bus, causing a massive explosion. Bright red mes soared into the sky for a brief moment. ¡°Cease fire!¡± The hard-working autocannons went silent to take a rest. Even so, an acrid smell of gunpowder pricked the men¡¯s noses, a natural result caused by shooting for an entire day. It was more than enough to nauseate those who weren¡¯t used to it. The sun had already set and a thin veil of darkness had reced it. ¡ª ¡°Boss! All targets have been incapacitated!¡± A report from the Heron showed that the Mud Golems that once filled the screen had all returned back to the soil. ¡°Boss, everyone is exhausted.¡± Kwang Hwi wore a grim expression at the oue. At first, he was fairly confident that they would be able to suppress the enemy in a few hours. As the battle continued for an entire day, his outlook became bleak. Despite eliminating over hundreds of Mud Golems, new ones would appear at set intervals. There was no end to them, no matter how many rounds they fired. It was just like pouring water into a bottomless pit. Only after the sun had set were they able to take a breather. Kwang Hwi inspected the tired men nearby. Having fought a fierce battle for an entire day, they were at their limit. If the fight had continued, casualties would have urred from exhaustion. While he wanted to search the area, he knew it would be a selfish request on his part. Now was the time to retreat. ¡°Get ready to return to HQ.¡± ¡°Roger. We¡¯ll make the preparations.¡± ¡°Also, retrieve our brothers who have died.¡± Unfortunately, his brave men who faced off the mutated don were all killed in action. They were the first casualties of the Kwang Hwi Faction. The faces of his subordinates, including Jackson, stiffened at the news. They had tried their best, but it was near impossible to prevent losses. ¡°We need to make sure that the families of our fallen brothers are treated with respect. Jackson, take care of it for me.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± ¡°Now, move out!¡± His men dispersed to make the necessary preparations while Kwang Hwi contacted the Situation Room at HQ to call the Mi-26. They needed to quickly transport the wounded soldiers. Even though it was dangerous to summon it without any escorts, he had to take the necessary risk. Fortunately, the helicopter arrived quickly without any hups. A strong gust of wind from above blew against his hair as the des whirred. The beads of sweat on his forehead cooled down rapidly. Underneath, two men waved their traffic rods to guide the helicopter. As the helicopter¡¯snding gear contacted the ground, its rear door opened in haste. Soon after, wounded soldiers and those who had died in action were boarded. Then, the tied up gangsters and survivors alike were escorted inside. Finally, the destroyed Light Tactical Vehicle upied the unused space. The vehicle was utterly crushed by the don, rendered inoperable. So, it had to be slowly towed by other vehicles from behind. By the time the transport helicopter was ready to take off, foot soldiers hadpleted preparations to leave. ¡°We¡¯re returning! Prioritize the safety of all members.¡± ¡ª ¡°Departing to Dongducheon HQ. Ryker-2 will guide the way.¡± Ground forces made up of APCs, tanks, and tactical vehicles left the police station. Even in the dark sky, the fusge of the Mi-26 was easily visible. Behind them, heaps of dust around the police station were blown away by the wind. *** ¡°Dear! No!¡± ¡°S-son, what am I supposed to do now¡­¡± Coffins of the fallen soldiers wereid out on the open field. They were crafted to the best ability possible in an apocalyptic world. Even so, it couldn¡¯t bepared to official ones with fancy decors. Each coffin had the names of the fallen soldiers, and they were surrounded by their respective family members. Upon receiving the sudden grievous news, the families mourned in their own ways. Some sobbed loudly, while others mourned in silence. Kwang Hwi and his subordinates also attended the funeral. The guards immediately stood upright to greet them. ¡°Commander, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± cing an index finger on his lips, Kwang Hwi approached the families. Everyone¡¯s eyes were on themander-in-chief. ¡°Bring back my husband! Bring him back!¡± A widow threw flowers on Kwang Hwi¡¯s face, scattering the petals onto the floor. The rmed guards tried to protect Kwang Hwi from the crowd, but he raised his hand to stop them. Bending his knees to pick up the chrysanthemums scattered on the ground, he carefully ced them on top of the coffin. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± He bowed deeply to the widow to show his sincerity. For those who had lost their family members, it was natural to be angry and aggrieved. As their leader, he was responsible for their deaths. Even if he couldn¡¯t have prevented casualties, he may have reduced the numbers if he had carefully nned out the operation beforehand. His subordinates, who were following from behind, also bowed silently. Seeing these tough and battle-hardened men apologizing to her, the widow burst into tears. Kwang Hwi then quietly bowed to the other families. For those who didn¡¯t have family members, he stayed in front of the coffins for a while to offer his prayers. Without any rtives to bid farewell, he couldn¡¯t just leave them alone. ¡°It¡¯s been a short time, but thank you for being with me. I¡­ will see you again when I get there.¡± After finishing, Kwang Hwi left the funeral gathering. As if reflecting the hearts of the people, the gloomy clouds looked like they were also about to shed tears. After a long silence, Kwang Hwi opened his mouth. ¡°Soo Min?¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we send the prisoners we captured this time to our farm?¡± It was where the Kwang Hwi Faction was born and also where Kwang Hwi lived before the monsters appeared. After moving to Dongducheon HQ, his house was repurposed as a farm to utilize itsrge fields and some of the recent survivors were deployed there to cultivate thends. ¡°Do you n to use them as ves?¡± ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s no good reason to keep them alive, so we might as well use them for manualbor.¡± Reports wereing in that they needed more manpower to manage the abundant farnd, so Soo Min agreed with Kwang Hwi. ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll send them out tomorrow. I¡¯ll have them work like those ves in salt farms.¡± Having the gangsters work like this was also beneficial for improving the public opinion of the Kwang Hwi Faction. Kwang Hwi and his subordinates walked along the road, sharing their views on the way. Right before they went inside the Dongducheon City Hall, Kwang Hwi caught sight of a destroyed vehicle that had been left in one corner. It was the Light Tactical Vehicle that was destroyed back at Uijeongbu. Its hood had practically caved inside the engine, making it impossible to repair. When Soo Min followed his eyesight and spotted it, he spoke with a troubled expression. ¡°We tried our best to repair the vehicle, but our engineers reported that it would be more economical to scrap it altogether. Although, there isn¡¯t much left that could be used as spare parts¡­¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Kwang Hwi smacked his lips. Unlike the earlier days, he didn¡¯tck vehicles now. Furthermore, there was no need to purchase Light Tactical Vehicles from the Merit Shop as he could find plenty in nearby military bases. Nevertheless, it was still disappointing to let it go just like that. ¡®What can we do about it?¡¯ At that moment, a message appeared at the corner of his eye. ¡ºWould you like to recycle the destroyed Light Tactical Vehicle K-151?¡» ¡ºComplete Repair: 7000 MP¡» ¡ºResell: 3000 MP¡» ¡°Hm?¡± Startled by the sudden prompt, Kwang Hwi blurted out, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡®Complete repair? Resell?¡¯ It cost 10,000 MP to purchase the bulletproof K-151 from the Merit Shop. Just to make sure, Kwang Hwi looked away in search of another target. There just happened to be a regr sedan he had found at downtown right next to the destroyed vehicle. The content of the message changed. ¡ºThis was not purchased from the Merit Shop.¡» He reshifted his gaze back to the Light Tactical Vehicle and the content changed once again. ¡ºWould you like to recycle the destroyed Light Tactical Vehicle K-151?¡» ¡ºComplete Repair: 7000 MP¡» ¡ºResell: 3000 MP¡» It seemed like he could only ¡®recycle¡¯ equipment purchased from the Merit Shop. ¡°Repair it.¡± A white light wrapped around the Light Tactical Vehicle after he chose to repair the scrapped vehicle. It was so bright that he couldn¡¯t open his eyes. His men also covered their eyes in tandem. ¡°¡­What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Why are you even surprised?¡± ¡º7000 MP have been deducted.¡» ¡ºRepaired.¡» The light disappeared and the destroyed Light Tactical Vehicle regained its original appearance. On the surface, it looked no different than when it was first purchased. However, the HMG that was torn apart was missing. It seemed like he needed to buy the weapon separately. ¡®If we can repair equipment mid-battle¡­¡¯ If the pilot was fine, as long as he had time to spare, he could repair any vehicle with some MP. It would, in effect, have infinite durability. This was another piece of good news for his future encounters. Kwang Hwi headed to his conference room with his subordinates. Along the way, he met those who were preparing for the meeting. The pictures taken by the Heron were disyed in order on the projector and the Mud Golems roaming around Uijeongbu were erged. ¡°Even though we eliminated a significant number of Mud Golems yesterday, there are already new ones to rece them.¡± ¡°Just like Yangju.¡± Monkeys in Yangju also took advantage of their fast reproduction cycle to bolster their strength, a simr case to the current situation in Uijeongbu. ¡°Are the Mud Golems reproducing like the Monkeys?¡± Hearing Jackson¡¯s suggestion, amotion followed in the conference room as the attendees engaged in the discussion. ¡°The Golems look like inanimate objects. Are you telling me they can reproduce?¡± ¡°Logically, no, butmon sense has been destroyed long ago.¡± ¡°Come on. Even so¡­¡± Having been silent the entire time, Kwang Hwi spoke to provide his own viewpoint. ¡°I think it¡¯s closer to being manufactured.¡± ¡°Manufactured?¡­ It does make sense.¡± The men were slightly surprised, but they nodded their heads. They had gathered testimonies of the don before he turned into a mutant from the survivors. Prior to Kwang Hwi Faction raiding Uijeongbu, the don was skilled at using des. However, he didn¡¯t look like a monster back then. Given his nature, it was apparent that he was not the kind of man who would hide his strength. Rather, he liked showing off to everybody. This meant that he was originally a human that transformed soon after Kwang Hwi Faction appeared. ¡°And the entity responsible for causing such a change was likely Armata.¡± ¡®It must also be why I saw in the notification.¡¯ ¡°Armata¡­¡± ¡°Then, all we need to do is either find and kill Armata or research how the Golems are made and destroy its source.¡± ¡°Bingo.¡± Chapter 39 - Find It (2) Chapter 39 Find It (2) Kwang Hwi issued a new order to his men. ¡°Find Armata or the facility that is mass producing the Golems.¡± Immediately after, the men deployed the Heron. It was one of the most treasured assets of the Kwang Hwi Faction as it was the only equipment suited for arge scale reconnaissance. A few gathered at the Situation Room to keep a close eye on the screen. If they found anything strange, they shared their opinions on the matter. Their efforts paid off as they were able to find suspicious areas in less than a day. ¡°Boss. We found it!¡± Soo Min dashed into the office, prompting Kwang Hwi and his subordinates to turn their heads. ¡°We found two suspicious locations. The Cheonbosan Peak and Mt. Mangwolsa.¡± ¡°Mark them on the monitor.¡± Soo Min tapped on his smartpad to transfer the images into therge screen. Soon after, they were disyed on the map. ¡°Did you find Armata?¡± ¡°No, sir. We don¡¯t think it¡¯s Armata. We presume it¡¯s the facility that is mass producing the Golems.¡± A video taken from Cheonbosan Peak was disyed on the screen. Cheonbosan was a rtively small mountain with a height of 335 meters. However, it¡¯s rocky cliffs made it difficult to climb over it. While the summit was rtively t and unnoteworthy, there were unidentified symbols drawn all over it. The symbols looked like they would disappear from a slight disturbance. A few people tried to analyze the symbols, but they couldn¡¯t make any sense out of them. ¡°We have confirmed that whenever the symbols shine brightly, newly made Mud Golems appeared at the base of the mountain.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s essentially a production facility.¡± ¡°Yes, it appears to be so.¡± Soo Min disyed the next image. ¡°The next target is Mt. Mangwolsa located at Dongbansan.¡± ¡°¡­It looks like it¡¯s even more difficult to approach than Cheongbosan.¡± The mid section of the mountain was a vertical cliff, which looked dangerous. It was going to be difficult to deploy arge-scale operation, not to mention vehicles, to such a ce. ¡°After finding the symbols at Cheonbosan, we focused on searching nearby mountains. By chance, we spotted the same lighting out of Mt. Mangwolsa.¡± ¡°Nice. We¡¯ll attack immediately.¡± Fortunately, they didn¡¯t have to go in person. They were really lucky to have SPGs that could fire projectiles a few dozens kilometers away. Outside, the SPGs were waiting orders. Their turrets were already raised up high as they had received the firing data beforehand. They were ready to be fired with the push of a button. Kwang Hwi gave them a simple order. ¡°Fire.¡± A deafening sound reverberated through Dongducheon and the windows of buildings near the SPG shook violently. Citizens of Dongducheon momentarily stopped what they were doing, but quickly went back to their daily tasks. It was not unusual for the Kwang Hwi Faction to fire guns without giving any notice. A shell flew high into the sky, only to lose its momentum and strength. After a momentary pause, it started to fall back down. Under the downward pressure of gravity, the speed sharply increased. When it contacted the ground, arge explosion urred. As if it were trying to swallow everything, intense mes burst out. The shockwave swept across 50 meters, sending thick clouds of dust into the air. The symbols were removed as they could not withstand the external shock. ¡ª ¡°Hit confirmed!¡± As soon as the symbols were erased, Mud Golems scattered around Uijeongbu dispersed. [You have defeated 100 Mud Golems faster than anybody else in the world.] [You have obtained 3000 MP.] [You have defeated 200 Mud Golems faster than anybody else in the world.] [You have obtained 4000 MP.] [You have defeated 300 Mud Golems faster than anybody else in the world.] [You have obtained 5000 MP.] A single shell shaved off half of the Mud Golem poption. As the kill count increased, Kwang Hwi¡¯s MP reserve shot up. Compared to other monsters, Mud Golems gave twice the Merit Points. Confirming the kills, Kwang Hwi pressed on for more points. ¡°Next target.¡± ¡ª ¡°Target confirmed. Firing!¡± Two SPGs fired at the same time. In MRSI mode, the SPGs fired a total of six rounds right above Mangwolsa. The mountain which enjoyed peace until now was unable to avoid the iing projectiles. None missed and they allnded perfectly on top of Mangwolsa. The pagoda for a respectable Buddhist teacher that¡¯s considered a cultural asset for Gyeonggi-do was destroyed by boulders that came tumbling down. Nearby buildings couldn¡¯t withstand the destructive force of the SPG and shattered into pieces. In a matter of seconds, the oldest pagoda of Uijeongbu was turned into ruins. At the same time, the explosion swallowed symbols hidden inside Mangwolsa. The flickering symbols lost their light, drawing on theirst breath. Soon after, the remaining Golems lost their form and returned to a pile of dirt. [You have defeated 400 Mud Golems faster than anybody else in the world.] [You have obtained 6000 MP.] [You have defeated 500 Mud Golems faster than anybody else in the world.] [You have obtained 7000 MP.] [You have defeated 600 Mud Golems faster than anybody else in the world.] [You have obtained 8000 MP.] ¡ª ¡°A-all Mud Golems have been incapacitated!¡± Everyone inside the Situation Room had their eyes glued to the screen after hearing the report. They couldn¡¯t believe it until they saw that there weren¡¯t any Mud Golems roaming the streets. [Gyeonggi Province¡¯s Uijeongbu was added to the Controlling Area category.] [It is strongly suggested to deploy troops in the area. If troops are not deployed, other forces may take over the territory.] While they had faced some trouble, Kwang Hwi Faction was able to safely secure Uijeongbu. *** The blue eyed Keku exchanged nces with each other. Their leader pointed towards the white walls and cried out to rally his troops. Others nodded and raised a metal pole sorge that multiple Keku, known for their strength, had trouble carrying it. The monsters rammed the pole into the wall, leaving a small mark. They did not rest and kept swinging their siege weapon. As they continued, the visible mark grew in size. The men who were watching the scene through the camera bit on their lips. They were wondering what happened to the Keku that had gone silent for the past month. Never did they think they would return after finding the weakest point of the bunker. As the wall shook, one of the security guards asked his buddy. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Report it to the Chief.¡± The man nodded and dialed the phone. ¡°Chief, it¡¯s the security team. Monsters are attacking the wall.¡± ¡ª ¡°Wait a bit. I¡¯ll be there.¡± Hearing an urgent sound of footsteps from behind, the men turned around and immediately stood upright to greet the Chief. ¡°Chief, you¡¯re finally here.¡± ¡°You said they¡¯re destroying our wall?¡± The middle-aged man looked towards the wall that was visibly shaking. ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°Yesterday, all they did was knock on the walls. It wasn¡¯t until 10 minutes ago they started their siege. You can see them on the screen.¡± His eyes twitched after watching what was going on. ¡®Why now?¡¯ He didn¡¯t think for too long as they had to reinforce the walls immediately. ¡°First, reinforce the wall as much as possible. The two of you will go to the storage room and bring anything we aren¡¯t using. We need to slow them down with a barricade incase they breach our walls. Also, bring fire extinguishers and shields as well.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The men rushed to the storage room. ¡°As for you, I need you to stay here and report every hour. Make sure to report immediately in case of emergency. Got that?¡± ¡°Yes! Understood.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back after visiting the president.¡± The Chief Security Officer hurried along the corridor. After walking past the empty corridor for few minutes, new scenery entered his vision. There were men in ck suits guarding the entrance to a room across the corridor. When the guards saw the Chief, they greeted him with a respectful bow. ¡°Hello, Chief.¡± ¡°Good work.¡± Immediately after entering the room, a blue logo stamped on the floor weed him. [Republic of Korea, Blue House] After passing by few more corridors and security doors, the Chief Security Officer finally reached the temporarily Situation Room. As the facility was still under construction, the room was quite empty. ¡®Why here.¡¯ If their weapons were not broken, they would have relocated the president to other bunkers that werepleted. However, hundreds of monsters attacked them at once, ughtering the security guards that were unarmed. Eventually, the Chief was forced to evacuate the president and his staff to the nearest bunker. Perhaps they would of had a better chance if the enemies were human, but they faced monsters who surpassed humans¡¯ physical strength. Without firearms, all they had left were tactical batons that didn¡¯t help much. They had thought about breaking past other buildings, but decided not to as they couldn¡¯t ensure the safety of the president and others. While they were able to save their lives by escaping here, they couldn¡¯t be at ease. Because the construction of Sangchunjae Underground Bunker was iplete, their food reserve was low as it wasn¡¯t properly stocked and they didn¡¯t have any escape route if the monsters broke past their defense. ¡°Hahaha.¡± ¡°Things turned out to be great.¡± ¡°Who¡¯sughing?¡± He turned his head around to the ce he heard theughter. Representatives of major political parties who took refuge with the president were talking with a bright face. The Chief had never seen them make such a bright face in years. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ The leader of the Liberty Korea Party spotted the Chief Security Officer and waved his hand. ¡°Chief! Where have you been?¡± ¡°I went to check on the wall. Did something good happen?¡± ¡°Something good? Hahaha! Take a look here. There was an armed force still left!¡± ¡°Eh?¡± At first, the Chief thought he had misheard. ¡®An armed force?¡¯ ¡°You look like you don¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°Of course he can¡¯t. Now, Chiefe here and take a look at this.¡± Representatives from each party, who had gathered in front of the screen, moved out of the way. The Chief walked close to the screen. A familiar staff bowed to greet him. ¡°We spotted them through the satellite.¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± On the screen, APCs and Tanks were moving in a line. He didn¡¯t expect to see anymore. On top of that, there were perfectly fine autocannons mounted on top of the APCs. The Chief blinked his eyes. Seeing his reaction, the politiciansughed. ¡°I told you so.¡± The Chief Security Officer hurried to check the details of the photo. The location and time were visibly marked. [Gyeonggi Province¡¯s Uijeongbu, 20180520. 1123] It was taken today at 11:23AM, not too long ago. ¡°Oh, Chief you¡¯re here too?¡± ¡°President!¡± Respective party leaders greeted the President and so did the Chief Security Officer. ¡°Did you see the photo? We¡¯re truly fortunate. To think that there was still an armed force.¡± ¡°God must be truly looking out for our country.¡± ¡°Contact them immediately and bring them here. There¡¯s no need to worry about the monsters outside.¡± While the president and political party leaders were happily discussing about the weapons, the chief security officer bit on his lips. In a low voice, he spoke carefully. ¡°Excuse me.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Chief?¡± The President looked at the Chief Security Officer. After a momentary silence, the Chief closed his eyes and spoke. ¡°Those people in the satellite images are not from our country.¡± Chapter 40 - Contact 40. Contact ¡°What are you saying, Chief?!¡± The surprised men raised their voices. Even though they were politicians who were good at keeping a poker face, they could not hide their shock. The president was not exempted. Their high expectations lead to a great disappointment that crumpled their faces. ¡°Exin to us, Chief. What do you mean they¡¯re not our people?¡± As the Chief remained silent, the president took a deep breath to regain hisposure. He asked again. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to reprimand you or anything. I just want to know the reason why you believe so. Tell us the truth.¡± The Chief Security Officer pointed at one side of the picture. ¡°If you look closely at the lower right corner, you¡¯ll see a vehicle with a heavy machine gun. That vehicle is called K-151, a Light Tactical Vehicle that our military recently received. While a small portion are sold overseas, it¡¯s one of the most popr models we purchase.¡± ¡°Yeah? Then howe they¡¯re not from our military?¡± Someone interrupted him with a question, but the Chief ignored it and continued his exnation. ¡°The problem is the APC and the tank next to it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with them?¡± Everyone gazed on the screen, still confused. Unlike the absent Minister of National Defense, most people present here did not have any military knowledge. ¡°Those vehicles are equipment used by Israeli forces.¡± ¡°I-Israel?¡± The politicians tilted their head and thought to themselves, ¡®Not North Korea, or China, nor Japan, but Israel? Why are Israeli forces operating in South Korea?¡¯ ¡°We also have another problem.¡± The Chief led their attention to the screen once again. On top of the Light Tactical Vehicle, they could see a soldier of the Kwang Hwi Faction. The person in question was, without doubt, Korean. ¡°A Korean is operating the Israeli vehicle.¡± The people gathered in the Situation Room were speechless. Their thoughts were left in shambles, unable to make any sense out of the situation. Only the president, befitting his role, quickly regained hisposure. ¡°We¡¯ll have to contact them.¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll need to get in touch with them first. Regardless of nationality, they have what we need the most.¡± The Chief agreed with the president. Even if they weren¡¯t part of the ROK Armed Forces, they had to check whether the Korean government could cooperate with or use them. ¡°Does everyone agree?¡± The absent-minded Minister of Justice and other officials nodded. In the end, they didn¡¯t have any other ns. Soon after, the president made his decision. ¡°Then, let¡¯s contact them.¡± *** Vehicles of the Kwang Hwi Faction traversed through the streets. They were running through Uijeongbu to find any useful supplies. Just a moment ago, they found arge amount of gas from the gas station. On their way, Kwang Hwi spotted something and barked an order. ¡°Stop!¡± ¡ª ¡°Eh?¡± The driver was taken aback from the sudden order, so Kwang Hwi shouted again. ¡°I said, stop!¡± With a screech, the APC stopped on the road. Vehicles following from behind also came to a halt. ¡°Open the rear door.¡± ¡ª ¡°Opening the rear door. All members, please be on the alert.¡± Kwang Hwi exited the APC. ¡°Hey boss, what¡¯s the matter?¡± asked Jackson. Kwang Hwi pointed afar. His men looked only to find an electronic billboard. It was an electronic billboard installed by the local government, mainly used formercial or political advertisements. The electronic disy lost its re and showed only ck letters on a white background. We want to talk. New words were being written right below it as if someone was typing it out with their keyboard on the spot. 5F Gyeonggi Province Northern Government Building Not taking his eyes off the billboard, Kwang Hwi picked up his radio. ¡°We¡¯re heading to the Northern Government Building.¡± After passing the light rail and the pier, they arrived at their destination. A fairly grand building greeted Kwang Hwi and his men. The APCs drove up the sidewalk, which cracked under the sheer weight. A small staircase blocked the pathway, but it posed no challenge as the APC was designed to operate in rough terrains. After climbing over the stairs, the APCs stopped in front of the main entrance. Fully armed soldiers exited their vehicles. Fortunately, they did not have issue with visibility as the only thing that stood nearby was the government building. Kwang Hwi, who confirmed that the area was clear, got out of his vehicle. ¡ª ¡°Boss, the Heron also reports the area is clear.¡± ¡°Keep an eye on it, just in case.¡± Kwang Hwi and his men entered the building. As with other buildings, there were signs of damage everywhere. The men moved in front of Kwang Hwi andbed through the building. [5F] Industrial Policy DMZ Policy Construction Technology Emergency nning Emergency Safety He walked past the corridors. Every door had a namete with the department¡¯s name on it, such as Industrial Policy or Construction Technology. ¡°Found it.¡± In contrast, all that Room 505 had were numbers. The keypad on the door shot a faint blue light. ¡®They must have a power source somewhere.¡¯ Kwang Hwi inputted the password he received earlier. With a beep, the locked door opened slightly. When Kwang Hwi was about to enter, Jackson stepped forward. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ll check first.¡± Fortunately, the interior room was quiet. In a small room, there was only afy sofa and equipment for video call. Confirming that there were no threat, Jackson left the room. Soon after, a camera in one corner of the room focused on Kwang Hwi. As the monitor turned on, an old man appeared on screen. Kwang Hwi knew that familiar face. ¡ª ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m the president of the Republic of Korea, Shin Myeong Lee.¡± ¡°I¡¯m themander-in-chief of the Kwang Hwi Faction, Kwang Hwi Baek.¡± The president¡¯s shed a surprised look. ¡ª ¡°Kwang Hwi Faction¡­ Are you not from our military?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, no.¡± For a moment, the president could not hide his disappointment. In a dire situation, an armed force appeared but they were not part of the ROK Armed Forces. He was extremely troubled by the developing situation. ¡ª ¡°So, the Chief Security Officer was right.¡± ¡°What did you want to see me for?¡± Naturally, Kwang Hwi did not care what the president felt. He was slightly surprised that the president and the head of government were still alive, but there was no particr excitement. ¡ª ¡°While it¡¯s unfortunate to hear that you are not part of our military, we would like to make an offer.¡± ¡°You have my ear.¡± ¡ª ¡°Representatives from all political parties, including me, have been evacuated to an underground bunker at the Blue House. Please rescue us from here.¡± Kwang Hwi gave the president a surprised look. ¡®I had doubts, but were they really unable to evacuate?¡¯ Sensing the doubtful stare, the president spoke with a solemn expression. ¡ª ¡°We¡¯re currently hiding in an underground bunker located at Sangchunjae.¡± ¡®Sangchunjae, huh?¡¯ It was a location frequently mentioned by the media, a traditional Korean building used mainly for political meetings. ¡ª ¡°When the disaster urred, I was discussing pending issues in Sangchunjae with representatives from each political party. Then suddenly, monsters poured from everywhere. To make matters worse, our security team¡¯s weapons were all destroyed. While we were able to hold out for a while, they overwhelmed us with their numbers and we hurried to escape to the underground bunker at Sangchunjae. The current problem we face is that this bunker is iplete.¡± ¡°Iplete?¡± ¡ª ¡°It¡¯s still undergoing construction. There aren¡¯t enough food or defensive measures to protect us. Those creatures have already spotted us and have attempted to break in a few times. While the doors are fine, the walls have started to crack. At this rate, they will breach our bunker and we¡¯ll all die.¡± Kwang Hwi understood their rough situation. If the bunker was perfectly fine, the president would have waited patiently from inside. He would have been able tost for months. During that time, he would have sought after the remaining military or coborators that might have survived. However, he did not have the time, so he had been quick to offer a deal to the Kwang Hwi Faction. ¡°A rescue¡­. What would we receive in return?¡± The president went silent for a moment, pondering what to offer. Kwang Hwi waited patiently because he knew it wasn¡¯t an easy decision to make. ¡ª ¡°ording to our investigation, we heard that the Kwang Hwi Faction reimed Dongducheon, Yangju, and Uijeongbu.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ll officially recognize your sovereignty in the name of the South Korean government.¡± ¡®I¡¯m disappointed.¡¯ It was not a favorable term for Kwang Hwi as he had already conquered those territories. He didn¡¯t need approval from the government. ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡ª ¡°On top of that, how about we offer the equipment we¡¯re not using?¡± ¡°What equipment?¡± ¡ª ¡°Do you know Baengnyeongdo-ss?¡± ¡°Baengnyeongdo-ss? Are you talking about the amphibious assault ship?¡± The president nodded. ¡ª ¡°While it¡¯s not armed with any weapons, the construction isplete.¡± ¡®An amphibious assault ship, huh?¡¯ Kwang Hwi gulped quietly. While he wanted the ship, the Kwang Hwi Faction was currently unable to operate it. They did not have the trained personnel for it nor a secured port. ¡ª ¡°Are you interested?¡± ¡®Well, either way¡­¡¯ After organizing his thoughts, Kwang Hwi nodded. ¡ª ¡°If you could rescue us from the current ce, we¡¯ll tell you the location of the ship. When will you be able to get here?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need some time to n the operation. Why don¡¯t you get back to us the same time tomorrow?¡± ¡ª ¡°Tomorrow¡­ alright. It would be great if you could help us soon.¡± After making the appointment, Kwang Hwi ended the video call. The screen showing the president turned off and he exited the room. His subordinates were waiting for him outside, curious about what happened. ¡°Commander! Who did you talk to?¡± ¡°The president.¡± ¡°T-the president?¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Kwang Hwi looked around and then took his subordinates to a remote ce. He had to make sure no one was eavesdropping. ¡°What happened inside?¡± ¡°The president¡­¡± Kwang Hwi shared the details about the president¡¯s situation and the offer the Korean government made. His subordinates listened carefully. ¡°Hm, a rescue request.¡± ¡°It does make sense, since their security team was disarmed.¡± ¡°Boss, are you alright with just the Baengnyeongdo-ss? We could have obtained their satellites and more.¡± Looking around, Kwang Hwi whispered in a soft voice. ¡°Either way, once we rescue the president¡­¡± After listening to his n, his subordinates shed a devilish grin. ¡°So you had a n. Well, if that¡¯s the case¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re right boss. There¡¯s really no need for us to uphold a fair deal.¡± Not hearing any opposition, Kwang Hwi opened his mouth once again. ¡°First, we¡¯ll deploy the Heron and figure out the situation around the Blue House. Then, we¡¯ll rescue the president and think afterward.¡± ¡°Roger that, boss!¡± ¡°For now, we¡¯ll use this ce as a forward operating base. Maintain the defensive perimeter and make yourselffortable here. We¡¯ll have the helicopter transport the necessary supplies.¡± The subordinates moved in haste. Commanding their respective team, they started setting up the temporary base. While everyone was busy, Kwang Hwi got on top of the APC. He decided to use the APC as amand center until the base wasplete. ¡°Heron, move to the next location. Check 1 Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul.¡± ¡ª ¡°1 Sejongno, understood.¡± The Heron pilot, who confirmed the location, became speechless. ¡°Did you confirm the location?¡± ¡ª ¡°Is it the Blue House?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡ª ¡°Confirmed. We¡¯ll report back once we get there.¡± It didn¡¯t take long for the Heron to arrive to the Blue House. Kwang Hwi looked at the screen installed inside the vehicle. He received the live video feed of the Blue House. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen some Keku.¡± The mysterious ce where the president of South Korea resided was now overrun by Keku. Chapter 41 - Second Mission 41. Second Mission ¡°Hm¡­¡± Kwang Hwi let out a murmur, pondering what to do. ¡°It would be ineffective to move across thend,¡± said Soo Min. The road to the Blue House was crowded with all kinds of monsters. To be more exact, entire streets of Seoul were packed with them. Their number was iparable to any of the other territories that the Kwang Hwi Faction had seized so far. Normally, it would have taken them less than an hour to drive to their destination. However, if a battle broke out, it would take them more than a day. This posed a problem for Kwang Hwi. As the operation dragged on, his men were put at a greater risk. After the recent incident, he wanted to avoid casualties as much as possible. On top of that, he had another issue to solve once they reached the Blue House. The Keku that they hadn¡¯t seen in a while had set up a camp around it. Not only did they had to fight the monsters while they were exhausted, they even had to deal with potential threats from the South Korean government. ¡°Seems like only hardship will await us if we go in on foot.¡± ¡°Boss, I think it would be best to use our helicopter.¡± The Kwang Hwi Faction had Mil Mi-26 transport helicopter. It was a massive helicopter that could carry up to 90 people, perhaps even 100. However, one of his subordinates disapproved of the idea. ¡°Without an escort, it¡¯ll be dangerous. We would be setting ourselves up for a disaster if a flying monster like before were to appear.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. If we had the Chinook, we could have mounted some weapons. It¡¯s unfortunate that the Mi-26 is just a transport helicopter.¡± After some thought, Kwang Hwi opened his mouth. ¡°If we don¡¯t have it, we just have to make it.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Kwang Hwi opened the Merit Shop. It was time for him to unlock the [Aircraft] category. ¡ºAircraft¡» ¡ºThis category is currently locked.¡» ¡ºThis category can be unlocked afterpleting a mission.¡» ¡ºWould you like to ept the mission?¡» Kwang Hwi nodded to ept the mission. ¡®I wonder, what kind of mission would it give me this time?¡¯ He wished for a mission that wasn¡¯t too difficult. ¡ºKwang Hwi Baek¡¯s Mission¡» ¡ºFind 5 people who can pilot an aircraft.¡» ¡ºMission Rewards: Unlock , 300,000 MP.¡» Kwang-hwi smacked his lips with a perplexed expression. ¡°It just had to be pilots¡­¡± It was natural to have pilots to operate a helicopter. The problem was that, unlike soldiers who can be put in action with a little training, pilots had to be skilled. It wasn¡¯t easy for him to find such talent out of thin air. ¡®Why couldn¡¯t it tell me to just kill some monsters?¡¯ Just when he had that thought, a system message appeared in front of him. ¡ºPilots : 5/5¡» ¡ºKwang Hwi Baek¡¯s Mission Complete!¡» ¡ºYou have found 5 pilots who can operate an aircraft.¡» ¡ºUnlocked Aircraft category.¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 300,000 MP.¡» Along with all his concerns, the second mission was quickly resolved. ¡°How¡­¡± After a momentary confusion, Kwang Hwi quickly understood what had happened. He forgot that he had recently acquired the North Korean pilots. Mil Mi-26 was a massive transport helicopter that required at least 5 pilots to operate. Although he had killed one who failed to surrender, he had another pilot. ¡°Chopper? No problem!¡± There was Jackson, the all-round capable operator. As for his other subordinates, they simply shook their heads as they never imagined they would one day operate a helicopter. ¡°They say that everything has its use.¡± ¡°I know right? What can¡¯t you do, Jackson?¡± Receiving everyone¡¯s attention, Jackson simply shrugged his shoulders. Given his alreadyrge frame, his wide shoulders were covering the sky. After watching theedic scenery for a while, Kwang Hwi started talking again. ¡°Now, now. Let¡¯s decide what helicopter to buy.¡± ¡°Is that even a question? It has to be Apache!¡± said Jackson. ¡°Jackson is right, boss. Are there any other helicopters that can rival an Apache¡¯sbat prowess?¡± Kwang Hwi agreed with his men. The first thing that came to his mind when he thought of attack helicopters was the Apache. It was so famous that even people who didn¡¯t know much about military equipment had heard of it before. ¡°Give me a sec.¡± Kwang Hwi scanned through the Merit Shop. ¡ºAH-64 Apache¡» ¡ºThe primary attack helicopter of the U.S. Army. It¡¯s possible to equip a variety of weapons such as the 30 mm Chain Gun, Hellfire missiles, Hydra rocket pods, or even other air-to-air missiles. While there are many other attack helicopters, the Apache retained its throne for 20 year as the best selling model.¡» ¡ºPrice: 4,780,000 MP.¡» ¡ºMerit Points: 950,000¡» ¡ºYou do not have enough Merit Points to purchase.¡» ¡®4.78 million?¡¯ It was too expensive. While it was nice to have, he had nowhere near MP to purchase one. Disappointed, Kwang Hwi let out a sigh. Without a clue, Jackson was still singing a song about Apache right next to him. ¡°I can¡¯t buy an Apache.¡± ¡°What?! Nooo!¡± yelled Jackson. ¡°Then, how about a Viper?¡± Ignoring Jackson¡¯s cries, Soo Min made a suggestion. Kwang Hwi looked for the Viper. ¡ºAH-1Z Viper¡» ¡ºAn improved version of the AH-1W SuperCobra. It canpete with the Apache AH-64 Longbow in closebat and has thetest target sighting system that¡¯s superior to the Longbow. Depending on the situation, it can be equipped with autocannons, Hellfire missiles, and short range air-to-air missiles.¡» ¡ºPrice: 3,200,000 MP.¡» ¡ºMerit Points: 950,000¡» ¡ºYou do not have enough Merit Points to purchase.¡» ¡°I can¡¯t buy that either.¡± While it was cheaper than the Apache, it was still expensive. Soo Min could not hide his disappointment. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Why not the Russian Ka-50?¡± ¡ºKamov Ka-50¡» ¡ºManufactured by the Russians to counter against the AH-64 Apache. Unlike the Apache, only one pilot is required to operate. It¡¯s one of the few attack helicopters that is equipped with an ejection seat. Has a distinctive coaxial rotor system that is known for its speed and maneuverability.¡» ¡ºPrice: 1,610,000 MP.¡» ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡ºMi-24 Hind¡» ¡ºA transport and attack helicopter manufactured by the Soviet Union. It can transport up to 10 soldiers at once. There¡¯s a misconception that it¡¯s slow due to itsrge size, but it¡¯s high-performance engine allows it to quickly maneuver in the sky. It¡¯smonly referred to as the ¡®flying tank¡¯.¡» ¡°Setting aside the price, isn¡¯t the Hind known for its questionable performance?¡± asked one of the subordinates. Afterward, there were mentions of the Mi-28 Havoc, Mangusta, Harbin Z-19, and many others. However, there were none suited for immediate deployment. Chinese helicopters had a quality issue, where else others were too expensive. Kwang Hwi¡¯s men racked their brains to find the cheapest and most reliable helicopter. They wanted to find the one that could transport many soldiers. ¡°How about the dragonfly?¡± ¡°Dragonfly?¡± ¡°You know, the AH-6 Little Bird.¡± ¡ºAH-6 Little Bird¡» ¡ºA light helicopter used by the U.S. Army. It was originally designed for observation and reconnaissance, only to be modifiedter on for transport, escort, and ground attack missions. Its low price, maintenance cost, and mobility makes it a popr model. Recent models are equipped with high-performance engines to help traverse through windy mountain ranges. With a bulletproof fusge, it has a six-ded main rotor.¡» ¡ºPrice: 100,000 MP.¡» ¡º25 mm autocannon and 70 mm Hydra rocket pods included.¡» It was a small helicopter that couldn¡¯t be evenpared to any of the previously mentioned attack helicopters. Some people referred to it as a dragonfly because of its appearance. Thanks to its small size, it was considered multi-purpose and had rtively great mobility. With the 25 mm autocannon and 70 mm Hydra rocket pods, it¡¯s affordable price made it favorablepared to other attack helicopters. On top of that, if the situation called, they could even mount anti-tank missiles. Unlikerger models that required at least 2 people, the AH-6 only required one pilot. Given that he wascking pilots, Kwang Hwi could deploy up to 5 helicopters simultaneously. ¡°My big and beautiful Apache¡­¡± Jackson looked like he was about to cry. It was not pleasant to see a bulky man like Jackson in tears like a kid. It certainly didn¡¯t help Kwang Hwi¡¯s mental health. Kwang Hwi and the others turned their back on Jackson. ¡°Boss, we still haven¡¯t finished our search. Let¡¯s look for pilots in Uijeongbu.¡± ¡°Yeah. There should be a military base used by the Army Aviation or an airdome.¡± What they had to do became clear. They had to secure as many pilots as they could before heading out to the Blue House. *** ¡°Boss, we found someone!¡± Kwang Hwi found helicopter pilots who have previously operated the Apache for the ROK Armed Forces. They were hiding in an underground shelter located at a military base in Uijeongbu because their Apache broke down. Kwang Hwi was concerned they would refuse to join, but the men agreed without question. In total, they found 8 pilots who belonged to the same squadron. It was unfortunate that not all members had survived the ordeal. In either case, if he assigned them to operate the Dragonfly, he could deploy 8 helicopters at once. There was also another piece of good news. They found ¡®training simtors¡¯ near the military bases. Soldiers who had no experience in piloting a helicopter could be trained as new pilots there. ¡°The Apache pilots have previously piloted the Dragonfly, so they shouldn¡¯t have any issues operating them.¡± ¡°Nice. I¡¯ll purchase the helicopterter and have them get ustomed to it. It must have been a while since they operated one.¡± ¡°It sounds like a good n, boss.¡± Kwang Hwi heard a knock on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± A security member opened the door and entered the room. ¡°Commander, we¡¯ve been contacted by the Blue House.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± When Kwang Hwi returned back to Room 505, the president was waiting for him. ¡ª ¡°Were you able toe up with a n?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve just finished the preparations. Would you tell us how many people we need to evacuate?¡± ¡ª ¡°Please wait.¡± The president looked away. Kwang Hwi could barely hear an unfamiliar voice across the screen. ¡ª ¡°Around 15 people.¡± ¡°15¡­ understood. We¡¯re nning to head there tomorrow or the day after. Would you be able to hold out until then?¡± ¡ª ¡°It would be best if you could hurry.¡± ¡°Then, we¡¯ll depart tomorrow morning. Before we depart, we will call you one more time.¡± The president nodded. Perhaps because he was told he could escape from the stuffy ce, his face brightened a bit. ¡°Then, farewell.¡± After finishing the video call, Kwang Hwi left the room. Jackson guided him to the hangar. They¡¯d built a temporary hanger right next to the Northern Government Building. Inside, Kwang Hwi saw unfamiliar men talking to each other. They were the newly recruited helicopter pilots. Spotting Kwang Hwi, the men stood upright to salute their new leader. During their orientation, they were told to memorize the faces of important figures of the Kwang Hwi Faction. A senior member greeted Kwang Hwi with a loud voice. ¡°To the boss! Salute!¡± After receiving the warm weing, Kwang Hwi told them to rx. The pilots sped their hands behind their backs. ¡°Men! You will take on an important mission tomorrow by operating helicopters. There must be some of you who haven¡¯t piloted a Dragonfly for a very long time, so get ustomed to it asap.¡± ¡°Yes! Understood!¡± As a demonstration of his powers, Kwang Hwi decided to purchase the AH-6 Little Birds. ¡ºAH-6 Little Bird¡» ¡ºA light helicopter used by the U.S. Army. It was originally designed for observation and reconnaissance, only to be modifiedter on for transport, escort, and ground attack missions. Its low price, maintenance cost, and mobility makes it a popr model. Recent models are equipped with high-performance engines to help traverse through the windy mountain ranges. With a bulletproof fusge, it has a six-ded main rotor.¡» ¡ºPrice: 100,000 MP.¡» ¡º25 mm autocannon and 70 mm Hydra rocket pods included.¡» ¡ºPurchased 8x AH-6 Little Birds.¡» ¡º800,000 MP have been deducted.¡» ¡ºPlease confirm the location to deploy the aircraft.¡» After purchasing the Dragonflies, he deployed them across the hanger. The helicopters, which appeared out of nowhere, filled the empty hanger. Its ck fusge didn¡¯t reflect the light. On one side of the body, a grey symbol of the Kwang Hwi Faction was engraved. The colorbination made it look almost invisible at night. Seeing the magical scene unfold, the pilots couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. Naturally, it was to be expected. It was their first time seeing an ability power. On the other hand, other soldiers didn¡¯t bat an eye as they were focused on guarding the perimeter. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 The following day, Kwang Kwi visited the Gyeonggi Province Northern Government Building, Room 505. He greeted the president of South Korea before departing. ¡ª ¡°I¡¯ll be expecting you.¡± ¡°Please be careful. We¡¯ll get there as soon as we can.¡± He spoke with some sincerity as he couldn¡¯t have his goods be damaged, especially if they were going to make the Kwang Hwi Faction grow bigger. When he exited the room, he was greeted by his men who wore carefree expressions. They were fully armed and ready to depart. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± When he reached the first floor lobby, soldiers were already there on standby. Kwang Hwi walked up to them and stood in front of the soldiers. ¡°Attention, everyone.¡± ¡°ATTENTION!¡± Even at Kwang Hwi¡¯s low voice, the soldiers responded with vigor. ¡°Today, we¡¯ll be using the helicopter tounch an assault. We shouldn¡¯t encounter any issues if everyone follows mymand. Let¡¯s end this quickly and return back to HQ.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t speak much as his subordinates had given a briefing for the mission yesterday. He didn¡¯t need to repeat what was already known, instead pointing outside. ¡°Go.¡± ¡°Embark!¡± Following Kwang Hwi, the soldiers exited the government building in an orderly fashion. In front of the building, the road had been cleared of abandoned vehicles and was now filled with helicopters. There were eight AH-6 Little Birds and a massive Mil-26 transport helicopter. The soldiers embarked the helicopters and Kwang Hwi got inside the Dragonfly at the front. His Dragonfly had only one autocannon to make room for additional fuel tanks so that he couldmand and guide his men from the helicopter. Kwang Hwi fastened his seat belt and wore a headset to protect his ears from loud noises. The headset also enabled him tomunicate with his men. The pilot in front wore a custom made HMD. Depending on whether one wore the helmet or not, their ability to respond to situations and conductbat differed greatly. While he needed to spend some extra MP, he knew it was a necessity. The rotor des began to spin and gusts of wind spread around. The flowers that had been nted in front of the building were shaking dangerously. Themanding helicopter that Kwang Hwi was on was first to lift off, and the others followed soon after. Thergest transport helicopter, the Mi-26, wasst to take off. As they ascended, the helicopter made loud noises which filled the surrounding area. Even the headset was unable to block all of it. Kwang Hwi looked outside. It had been a long time since hest rode a helicopter. The cold wind brushed against his body and the clear blue sky captivated his eyes. ¡ª ¡°Boss.¡± His subordinate tapped his shoulder and gestured below. Right beneath them, he could see a green billboard. They were passing by Uijeongbu and entering Seoul. Good bye! ¨C Uijeongbu City.Wee! ¨C Dobong-gu, Seoul Unlike the empty streets of Uijeongbu, the road leading up to Seoul was blocked by Mud Golems that were shouldering each other. Their gazes were fixed on what was in front of them, making them look like a massive wall from a distance. ¡®We could have been in trouble.¡¯ The Dobong-gu road that bordered Uijeongbu was filled with Mud Golems. Their numbers easily surpassed scale three. If they proceeded with the operation bynd, they would have had to get past all of them. It would have been cumbersome to engage in such battle. The helicopters continued on their path to Jongno-gu, where the Blue House was located; the nation¡¯srgest city that had once been full of people was now filled with monsters. ¡ª ¡°Boss, we¡¯ll arrive shortly.¡± In front of them, Kwang Hwi found a lustrous mountain. It was Bugaksan Mountain, located right next to the Blue House. Perhaps because it hadn¡¯t been visited by humans for months, the mountain looked greener and more sacred than he remembered. ¡°Heron, report.¡± ¡ª ¡°So far, it¡¯s quiet. We haven¡¯t found any other monsters asides the scale three Keku horde in front of the Blue House.¡± ¡°Got that. Keep an eye out.¡± In the meantime, the helicopter passed by Bugaksan Mountain and the Keku horde came into sight. The monsters were on full alert, startled by the sound of the helicopter¡¯s rotor. ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Proceed with the n. Get in formation andunch a ground attack as a pair!¡± ¡ª ¡°Roger. Asides Mi-26, Dragonflies will enterbat.¡± The Mi-26 from the rear stopped in its ce with escort helicopters on each side. For the safety of the soldiers, the escort helicopter had to be next to Mi-26 at all times. The remaining helicopters were sent to attack the enemies on the ground. In pairs, the Dragonflies lowered their altitude. Only then did the Keku spot the Kwang Hwi Faction from the sky above. While shouting, they pointlessly swung their weapons at the air even though the helicopters were far beyond their reach. When the helicopters got close enough, they slightly tilted to the side and the HMD disyed their targets. The 25 mm autocannons spat fire and Keku turned into mincemeat. Their limbs were torn apart, falling onto the ground helplessly. Blood sttered across the green yard in front of the Blue House. The Dragonfly passed by the Keku, mowing them down and leaving behind mutted corpses. After a barrage of shells, they shot up back into the sky. Only a few managed to barely avoid the disaster. They raised their head to see if the enemy had left. Sadly, a new pair of helicopters wereing right after them. The helicopters drew a line right at the center of the Keku horde. Monsters who could not avoid the line of barrage died miserably. Some threw their weapons in vain, as they were unable to reach the Dragonflies soaring in the sky. It was a one-sided massacre. Realizing they have no chance of winning, the frightened Keku turned their backs and started running away in haste. ¡°Jackson!¡± ¡ª ¡°Engaging!¡± Jackson¡¯s Dragonfly chased after the ones who were escaping. The circr pod fired a Hydra rocket towards the monsters, which flew andnded precisely near a Keku. An explosion swept through the surrounding area and the shockwave swallowed all the Keku nearby, instantly killing them. A few at the outer ring of the explosion managed to roll away. Naturally, they were not safe, as another helicopter chased after them. From the sky, they could see a dainty helicopter. However, nothing was dainty about its mounted weapons. The helicopter¡¯s autocannon mowed past the Keku, further reducing their numbers. From Sangchunjae, Kwang Hwi slowly expanded the operation area. He ordered his men to find Keku hiding inside buildings. When they did find the monsters, they showered those Keku in a hail of bullets, raining empty shells from the sky. During the entire operation, Kwang Hwi kept a close eye at the surrounding area and reports from the Heron. Only after he confirmed Sangchunjae was cleared did he issue a new order. ¡°Descend.¡± ¡ª ¡°We¡¯ll prepare fornding.¡± The helicoptersnded in order and the Mi-26 opened its rear door. Soldiers of the Kwang Hwi Faction exited the helicopter, lowering their heads on the way out. Keku blood soaked their military boots as they stepped on the ground. ¡°There may be monsters who are still hiding! Don¡¯t lower your guard!¡± ¡°Stay on alert!¡± The soldiersbed every corner of Sangchunjae. When Keku came out of their hiding spots, in an attempt to ambush them, they were shot down immediately. In the meantime, thest Dragonflynded. ¡ª ¡°Commander hasnded on the ground. I repeat. Commander hasnded on the ground. Focus on the operation!¡± Kwang Hwi extended his arms after unfastening his seat belt. On request, his subordinate handed him an AA-12. ¡ºAA-12¡» ¡ºA fully automatic shotgun, simr to the USAS-12. It¡¯s durability and reliability improved thanks to its gas system with a locked breech. Improving on the Ultimax 100, it has reduced recoil to automatically fire 12 gauge rounds at once without loss of uracy. Can use 8 shell box magazine or a 20 ~ 32 shell drum magazine.¡» It was the same automatic shotgun that appeared in a certain action movie, famous for its firepower at close range. ¡ª ¡°Boss. It¡¯s Soo Min.¡± Kwang Hwi, who was about to leave the helicopter, stopped. He heard Soo Min from a separate radio he used solely for the operation. The second radio used a different channel from the one connected to the Blue House. ¡ª ¡°Right now¡­¡± Listening to Soo Min¡¯s report, Kwang Hwi made a grim face. ¡°Boss! We found a pathway connected to the bunker!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Kwang Hwi and his subordinates led the way. Keku with visible gunshot wounds were scattered everywhere. It was a sign of the skirmish that took ce while the soldiers were searching for the basement entrance. They found it rtively quick as it was being forcefully torn apart by the Keku. The pathway leading to the underground bunker was like a maze. It had many twists and turns. On their first corner, a Keku ambushed them out of nowhere. Soldiers from behind quickly rushed to the front. ¡°Commander! It¡¯s danger¡­¡± Kwang Hwi simply pulled the trigger and 12 gauge round flew to shred the Keku and the wall behind it. The monster¡¯s blood mixed with the cement powder. ¡°¡­ or not.¡± Rather than theirmander, the soldier thought the Keku were in danger. Grinning, Jackson tapped on the soldier¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Who do you think our boss is?¡± With the AA-12, Kwang Hwi and his men made quick progress. After walking for a while, the t tunnel started nting downward and became steeper. ¡°We can see the end of the tunnel, boss!¡± A wide room greeted them, blocked by a st proof door that looked thick enough to withstand a nuclear explosion. Sadly, it couldn¡¯t do anything about the deep hole being carved right next to it. Keku were sieging the thinner walls with a metal pole. Sensing Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s arrival, they turned their heads. When they spotted the new enemy, the monsters dropped the pole to grab their weapons. ¡°You think I¡¯ll let you?¡± The entrance to the bunker quickly turned into a butcher¡¯s, the floor and walls covered in ck blood. Unable to withstand the rounds, the walls were painted with chunks of flesh from the Keku. An empty drum magazine dropped to the floor, along with an eerie silence. Kwang Hwi waved his hand at the camera on the ceiling. ¡°You can open up now!¡± Immediately after, the door opened. Despite itsrge size and thickness, the door wasn¡¯t slow. Across the entrance, he could see a group of people. Immediately, he recognized a familiar face, the president. A middle aged man standing right next to the president slightly moved forward to cover for the president. The Chief Security Officer¡¯s eyes were fixed on the weapons Kwang Hwi and his men possessed. Grinning, Kwang Hwi passed the shotgun he was holding to his subordinate. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. President. I¡¯m Kwang Hwi Baek.¡± ¡°¡­ Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Shin Myeong Lee.¡± After the simple greeting, the two shook hands. ¡°May I ask who they are?¡± ¡°A-ah. They are representatives of each party.¡± The president beckoned the politicians toe and introduce themselves. As expected from a politician, they wore professional smiles while shaking hands. Kwang Hwi shook hands with them without saying a word. ¡°This is our Chief Security Officer.¡± The Chief squinted his eyes. ¡®He¡¯s not the type to sit back and issue orders.¡¯ The Chief hadbat experience and knew Kwang Hwi was just like him. The man before him had calluses on his hand and smelled of gunpowder mixed with sweat. Kwang Hwi swept his eyes across the group of politicians. The Chief was immediately filled with a strange sense of uneasiness. ¡®Why?¡¯ Then he realized that Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes were filled with murderous intent. ¡°Wait¡­.¡± Kwang Hwi grabbed his Glock 17 from the leg holster. His subordinates from behind pulled out their personal firearm and pointed it at the politicians. Even for the experienced Chief, it all happened in a sh. Soon after, gunshots rang out. Chapter 43 - Got It Chapter 43. Got It The president trembled in fear as the security guards that were protecting him fell to the floor. The Chief Security Officer had also copsed after being shot in the heart. In a threatening manner, Kwang Hwi pointed his Glock at the politicians. ¡°President, move aside.¡± The president vacantly looked at the dead security guards. Jackson, who was standing next to Kwang Hwi, stepped forward to pull the president away. His other subordinates pointed their guns at the group to make sure they didn¡¯t make any sudden movements. At gunpoint, the politicians became pale. ¡°W-wait!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Shots were fired and blood spewed from the two politicians as they also copsed. Red blood oozed from their heads, forming a puddle as it mixed with the Keku¡¯s ck blood. Regaining his senses, the president shouted. ¡°W-what are you doing?! Didn¡¯t we agree to a deal?!¡± ¡°Yeah, we did.¡± ¡°Then why?!¡± Kwang Hwi furrowed his brows. ¡°Are you really asking because you don¡¯t know anything?¡± Silently staring at the president, Kwang Hwi extended his arm and Jackson passed him a smart pad. After tapping on the device a few times, he passed the smart pad to the president. ¡°Will you still say you don¡¯t know anything?¡± On screen, it disyed a live video feed of captured men. The men wore ck clothes to hide their identity, but they looked like they were suffering from injuries. Their blood drenched the floor, clothes, dagger, and wires they carried. ¡°You sure are assertive for attempting burry at an empty house.¡± The president bit his lips. He had proceeded with the secret n after confirming with the satellite that Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s base was nearly empty. He just happened to have special forces hiding in the underground bunker right below the Uijeongbu base. While they didn¡¯t have guns, all members were experienced fighters. Knowing this, the president thought they had a good chance to loot the HQ, but he didn¡¯t think the n would fail. ¡°You injured my men and even killed some. Despite doing so, you dare to raise your voice against me?¡± Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t yell, but rage seeped from his voice. Naturally, Kwang Hwi never intended to let the president go. He wanted to acquire some new recruits. That¡¯s why he agreed to the unfavorable conditions the president offered. However, he didn¡¯t think the president would plot something behind his back, killing his men. With great effort, he calmed himself and remembered the original objective. ¡°Now that ites down to this, we¡¯ll take everything from you.¡± ¡°W-what do you n to do with me?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We don¡¯t n to kill you or torture you. You¡¯ll be something like the Emperor of Japan.¡± ¡°Emperor¡­ of Japan?¡± ¡®A Japanese Emperor? No way, he wouldn¡¯t?!¡¯ The president face became dark. ¡°We have already acquired the necessary strength. Now that we have you, the president of South Korea, we obtained the justification. This means that we¡¯re the only power in this era that have obtained both strength and a cause.¡± Kwang Hwi smiled inwardly. Now that he had the president, it became much easier to grow his influence. It was going to be easy to win over the people and have them surrender. He could even find hidden facilities to re-establish and absorb them into the Kwang Hwi Faction. Existing soldiers of the ROK Armed Forces would join the Kwang Hwi Faction without making a fuss. As for the president, he was trembling from the humiliation of bing a puppet. ¡°H-how cruel!¡± Kwang Hwi ignored the sharp look the president gave and started walking away. ¡°We¡¯re leaving this ce.¡± He looked at the Security Chief Officer who was shot and lying on the floor. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear about himing back to life. Make sure he stays dead.¡± The soldiers subdued all the survivors, excluding the president. Most survivors were staff working at the Blue House. Kwang Hwi nned to win over them at ater date. He didn¡¯t have a good reason to kill all of the politicians as they couldn¡¯t revolt like the security guards. If he couldn¡¯t reconcile with them, he would just send them to the farm. It was up to them to take the opportunity he offered. The remaining soldiers went to confirm the security guards were dead because they couldn¡¯t know if someone was wearing a bulletproof vest. Pressing their guns to the heads of the men lying on the floor, the soldiers pulled their triggers. In the meantime, Kwang Hwi¡¯s subordinates protected the president. They treated him as a precious good. ¡°Sitrep.¡± ¡ª ¡°Monsters outside of the Blue House are being attracted by the gunshots, but their numbers aren¡¯t threatening. It¡¯s safe toe out.¡± ¡°Confirmed. We¡¯ll move the package.¡± Kwang Hwi and his men exited the corridor and arrived above ground. It was noisy outside as there were monsters charging at the Blue House and helicopters shooting at them. ¡°Send the survivors and the president to Mi-26.¡± Soldiers shooting near thending site began to retreat one by one. The Dragonflies moved diligently to buy them time. ¡ª ¡°Mi-26 ready to take off!¡± ¡°Go first.¡± Therge helicopter slowly rose into the sky. Unlike the quiet Dragonfly, the rotor des of the Mi-26 produced loud noises. Following Mi-26, other helicopters also hurried up to the sky. Just after Kwang Hwi got on his helicopter, monsters he had never seen before appeared. He aimed his shotgun toward the monsters and fired. 12 gauge rounds prated through the monster¡¯s skin and flesh without resistance and tore apart their internal organs. The closest ones were practically shredded to death as red shells fell on top of their corpses. Then, thest Dragonfly rose into the sky. *** ¡ª ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡ª ¡°An unidentified flying object is approaching us from the rear.¡± ¡°UFO?¡± Holding onto the safety rails, Kwang Hwi looked outside. He could barely see a ck line on the other side. ¡°Raise the speed.¡± The helicopters raised their speed. Leaning forward, they navigated through the sky. The dashboard disyed the speed exceeding 250 km/h. Fortunately, the ck line seemed to have difficulty keeping up with the helicopter, and the distance was no longer narrowing. The problem was that a new silhouette appeared above the ck line. Despite the distance, one could easily notice its massive size. ¡ª ¡°A new object appeared on radar! It¡¯s arge one!¡± ¡°What?¡± Kwang Hwi recalled the giant bird monster that triggered the emergency mission. ¡ª ¡°It¡¯s getting closer!¡± The maximum speed of the helicopter was 280 km/h. Despite so, the monster bird was quickly closing the gap. In response, the pilot spoke out of concern. ¡ª ¡°Boss, at this rate it¡¯ll catch up to us.¡± Kwang Hwi didn¡¯t panic. Rather, he looked around and confirmed his current location. ¡ª ¡°Boss?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Kwang Hwi changed the radio channel. ¡°Pansir.¡± ¡ª ¡°Pansir, waiting for orders.¡± ¡°There¡¯s currently a giant bird following us from behind. Were you able to confirm it?¡± After a momentary silence, Kwang Hwi heard a response. ¡ª ¡°Yes! We¡¯ve confirmed the coordinates.¡± ¡°Shoot it down.¡± ¡ª ¡°Roger that. Pansir. Target Lock. Missile¡­ fire!¡± From theunch tube, a 57E6 missile shot forward. It was 3.2 meters long and capable of reaching 1300 m/s. As it soared through the sky, it covered great distances and quickly reached its target. Right behind it, another missile was following its tail. Late to realize its being attacked, the monster bird hurried to evade the missiles. Betraying its massive body, the bird was quite agile. The first missile barely grazed past the monster. However, the missile was designated to explode onmand. The explosion engulfed the monster¡¯s vision, creating a smokescreen. From the smokescreen, the second missile emerged and flew towards its target. It hit the target and the 90kg missile swallowed the monster bird. The bird pped its wings and wobbled. More missiles arrived on time, prating the monster¡¯s back. As explosions continued, the monster disappeared within the ck smoke. With onest shriek, its dismembered body fell to the ground.. ¡ºYou have defeated the ¡®Giant Bett.¡¯¡» ¡ºYou have obtained 200,000 MP.¡» ¡ºYou have defeated a member of the Armata family.¡» ¡ºArmata will now be taking action personally, despite the hassle.¡» ¡ºAs a reward, you have obtained 200,000 MP.¡» ¡ª ¡°Target eliminated!¡± With a sour face, Kwang Hwi closed the notifications. ¡®That giant bird was just a pet?¡¯ Angered by the death of their leader, the other birds screeched. They didn¡¯t seem to have any intentions of running away, as they frantically pped their wings. The distance started closing. ¡ª ¡°Boss! Shouldn¡¯t we take care of the ones following us? They don¡¯t look like they¡¯ll give up.¡± After a thought, Kwang Hwi nodded. He concluded that if they were to chase him back to HQ, there was a possibility he could suffer unnecessary losses. It was best to take care of them now and then return. ¡°Two Dragonflies will continue to escort the Mi-26. The rest will turn to engage with the enemy from behind.¡± ¡ª ¡°Understood.¡± Dragonflies turned their heads, including the one Kwang Hwi rode. They faced the monster birds and charged at them. ¡°Use the Hydra rockets and proceed with the autocannons.¡± ¡ª ¡°Missile away!¡± In unison, the Dragonflies spat Hydra rockets which left a trail of white smoke in the clear blue sky. Perhaps due to their extreme hostility, the monsters did not turn their backs even after spotting the missiles. It was certainly good for the Kwang Hwi Faction as the monsters flew straight to their deaths. Fireworks erupted in the sky, swallowing the Bett. The damage was amplified by the fact that the monsters stuck close to each other. Each explosion left an empty gap in the ck line they formed. ¡ºYou have defeated 10 Bett faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºAs a reward¡­.¡» ¡ºYou have defeated 100 Bett faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºAs a reward¡­.¡» ¡ºYou have defeated 200 Bett faster than anybody else in the world.¡» ¡ºAs a reward¡­.¡» After exhausting their supply of Hydra rockets, the Dragonflies proceeded to attack with their autocannons. While the autocannonscked the explosive firepower of the rockets, they were still more than enough to deal with the leftovers. The bird monsters were drilled with holes. ck blood gushed from their wounds and its foul stench pricked Kwang Hwi¡¯s nose. Despite the one-sided carnage, the monsters didn¡¯t give up and continued to rush at them. ¡°Hurricane duo, it¡¯s your time to debut.¡± ¡ª ¡°Yes, boss!¡± Seung Chan and Jin Hyun extended their arms towards the Bett. ¡°Attack separately.¡± ¡ª ¡°Roger.¡± Invisible des shot from Seung Chan¡¯s hand, slicing the Bett in front. Each attack hit the vital spots as he had better control of his power after the practice. The monsters had their wings sliced apart and their eyes split in half. In contrast, Jin Hyun released a powerful wind from his hand. The Bett which frantically tried to close the gap were being pushed back. Surprised by the sudden phenomenon, they pped their wings even harder. However, they couldn¡¯t win against the wind pressure. Given the window of opportunity, Dragonflies shot down the ones that were slowed. Kwang Hwi¡¯s Dragonfly, which was flying in ce, quickly flew up. A monster had attempted a suicide attack and collided with the helicopter skid, shaking the helicopter. Checking that his safety belt was on, Kwang Hwi pulled out his AA-12. He fired and the monster let out a final cry before falling. Even as the helicopter shook, Kwang Hwi fired with great precision at the iing monsters. On one corner of his eye, notifications of his achievement continued to appear. When the helicopters almost ran out of ammunition, the Kwang Hwi Faction hadpleted subjugated the monster horde. Onmand, each unit reported their condition. ¡ª ¡°Mi-26 and the two escorting units have safely arrived at Uijeongbu forward operating base.¡± ¡ª ¡°Portion of Dragonfly-2¡¯s front ss shattered.¡± ¡ª ¡°Vertical tail of Dragonfly-4 slightly damaged.¡± Thankfully, none were taken out or seriously damaged. Naturally, no casualties were reported. ¡°Let¡¯s return to base.¡± Chapter 44 Chapter 44 44. Use It Armata¡¯s eyes widened. A bat like monster appeared in front of him, pping its wings. It had just returned after engaging with the Kwang Hwi Faction. Meeting Armata¡¯s eyes, the Bett lowered its head. ¡°What happened?¡± Armata asked. He pointed toward a spot and the Bett carefullynded there. Soon after, the monster transferred memories of what it had witnessed to Armata. As if he had seen it in person, vivid images shed past Armata¡¯s eyes. He saw the humans riding something and flying toward the building with blue tiles. It was an open territory he had given to the Keku so that they could settle in. However, theck of obstacles made it difficult for the monsters to find shelter against the flying objects that spat fire. Before they could even counterattack, the Keku were ughtered. Armata thought that the long range weapons that humans possessed were too powerful. All that Keku had were crossbows or blunt weapons to throw. Their defeat was a natural oue. He saw the humansnd on the ground and disappear into the building. Soon after, they reemerged with new faces and took off. While the Bett chased after the humans and engaged in another fight, they werepletely annihted. Only a small one managed to survive. ¡°Tsk.¡± After seeing what had happened, Armata gnashed his teeth. He thought that if he put a pile of Mud Golems to block all exit paths, the humans wouldn¡¯t be able to leave the city. Never did he expect them to ride flying vehicles. If he could, Armata wanted to go after the humans and crush them under his feet. However, he couldn¡¯t do that right now. If he were to leave his current position, the dimensional transporter would copse and his remainingrades wouldn¡¯t be able to cross worlds. From the sound of a whimper, Armata was snapped back to reality. He raised his head and found a Bett looking at him with glittering eyes, filled with anticipation. ¡°You did great.¡± A blue aura sparked from his fingertip and Armata carefully caressed the Bett with it. In response, the Bett rubbed its head against the finger with affection. Then, Armata opened his mouth and a soundless reverberation headed towards the small bat. ¡°r¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ön¡ö¡ö¡ö¡öz¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ök¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ög¡ö¡ö¡ö¡öf¡ö¡ö¡ö¡öf¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ör¡ö¡ö¡ö¡öf¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ök.¡± In response, the blue aura swallowed the Bett. The monster rapidly grew in size, going through multiple stages of instantaneous growth. Its wings that produced feeble winds were now causing strong gales. Its cute appearance disappeared and was reced by a dignified look. Long horns grew on its forehead, distinguishing it from the Giant Bett the Kwang Hwi Faction had defeated. Its horns emitted a blue light, while the blue aura wrapping around the monster slowly disappeared. Soon after, the small and weak Bett was nowhere to be seen. Instead, arge creature sat in front of Armata. After receiving Armata¡¯s power to evolve into a Giant Bett, the monster bowed to its master. ¡°Now, go.¡± The Giant Bett flew into the sky. Seeing that, Armata waved his hand in the air. Above him, odd symbols appeared once again. ¡®They can fly? Then, I¡¯ll make it harder for them.¡¯ ¡°Try flying now.¡± Armata grinned, shing his teeth. *** After capturing the president, Kwang Hwi stayed at the Uijeongbu forward operating base before returning back to the Dongducheon HQ. His schedule was hectic. Once he returned to HQ, he attended the funeral for the men who had died for him and then discussed how to utilize the captured president. ¡°We should milk everything out of him we can.¡± ¡°I agree!¡± ¡°Scrap every ounce of his flesh, down to the bones.¡± Kwang Hwi agreed with his subordinates¡¯ sentiment. He had always intended to do so when they went to pick up the president. ¡°Are there any broadcasting stations in Dongducheon, Yangju, and Uijeongbu?¡± ¡°We would need to confirm it, but there should be one.¡± ¡°Find one and put the president to use.¡± The president¡¯s existence allowed the Kwang Hwi Faction to strengthen its cause. Although the world had been overrun by monsters, the citizens wouldn¡¯t ignore the representative they had elected. Up to this point, his militia had been ruling over the people with military power. From here on, it was going to be reborn as a legitimate power of the Korean Penins. The president was not just a pretty face. He was a puppet controlled by the Kwang Hwi Faction. Once his use was gone, there was no need to keep him alive. ¡°Do you have theptop?¡± ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± Soo Min carefully removed theptop from his thick bag and ced it on top of the desk. Unlike the regrptops that were thin and slim, this one in particr was thick and sturdy looking. It even had the Blue House¡¯s logo in ck and white. ¡°The Blue House staff cooperated with our technician to remove and rece the president¡¯s ess.¡± ¡°Soo Min, grant yourself an ess too. If I¡¯m not here, you¡¯ll need to use this in my ce.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Kwang Hwi put his hand on theptop¡¯s touchpad. With a sh, his palm was being scanned. After verification, theptop automatically turned on and its screen became bright. [Wee, Commander Kwang Hwi Baek.] [You can use Speech Recognition, Direct Search, and other features to work on the tasks you want.] A unique interface greeted Kwang Hwi. ¡°Satellite.¡± [Speech Recognition Keyword : Satellite] [Searching for task¡­] [Currently connected satellites] [Heaven¡¯s Eye Reconnaissance Satellite] ¨C A spy satellite in sun-synchronous orbit that observes the Earth. [Heaven¡¯s Ear Military Communications Satellite] ¨C Satellite in geostationary orbit. Deployed to ensure smoothmunication system for the ROK Armed Forces. ¡°Current location of Baengnyeongdo-ss.¡± [Dokdo-ss Amphibious Assault Ship, Baengnyeongdo (LPH-6113)] ¨C Location : 100km off the coast of Jeju Ind. ¨C Status : Limited operations. ¨C Weapons : None. ¡°What? Jeju Ind? These bastards lied to us.¡± ¡°Sons of bitches!¡± eximed Jackson. The notebook had many capabilities. It had removed the facility lock ced on the underground military and granted Kwang Hwi ess to the satellite. He could now find and control any military or government facilities in the country. ¡°I like it.¡± It was simr to the nuclear button carried by the president of the United States. As a matter of fact, it was highly likely that nuclear weapons were damaged beyond use. If so, it was better to have the notebook rather than a weapon that lost its functionality. ¡°We should be able to smoothly absorb the ROK Armed Forces. By doing so, we¡¯ll be able to recruit all the talented people we need,¡± said Soo Min. From Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s standpoint, the president was a figure of hatred and love who served his purpose all too well. If it wasn¡¯t for that, he would have killed the president for taking away the lives of his loyal men. ¡°For the time being, focus on stabilizing our internal structure.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Seoul had a poption of 10 million people. The metropolis was now overrun by monsters. The men did not know how many monsters or survivors were at Seoul. Given that they barely had enough people to maintain current operations, trying to eat Seoul now would only make their stomach burst open. Not to mention that once they absorbed Seoul, they needed personnel to train the new recruits. While it was impossible to take in all of Seoul, it was necessary to gain ess to the northern part. ¡°To avoid problems, we should secure Paju and Yeoncheon County.¡± Both territories were bordering North Korea. They were a must get locations for the Kwang Hwi Faction which needed to bolster its strength. To fend off against an invasion from the North, the best military facilities were located there. If the Kwang Hwi Faction were to secure them, they didn¡¯t need to worry about their backs and could focus on expanding south. ¡°Isn¡¯t Pocheon also a military area?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll visit Paju and Yeoncheon County first. We can get Goyang and Pocheon Cityter. For now, use the president as a propaganda device and then double check the government and military facilities in our territory.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± *** ¡ª ¡°Greeting to all survivors. This is the Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s radio broadcast on 108.5 MHZ. On the 22nd, the Kwang Hwi Faction rescued the president from an underground bunker at the Blue House. President Shin Myeong Lee praised the Kwang Hwi Faction for its hard work in restoring the Korean Penins during its lowest time.¡± ¡°Huh? What was that?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Increase the volume!¡± The Sergeant Major next to the radio hurried to raise the radio¡¯s volume. ¡°Did they just say the president?¡± ¡°Y-yes!¡± The gathered men looked at each other in astonishment. While they have been keen to follow the radio broadcasts by the Kwang Hwi Faction, this was the first time they heard the news about the president. ¡°Did they¡­ really rescue the president?¡± ¡°There should have been a lot of monsters in Seoul. How were they able to break past all of that and safely reach the Blue House?¡± ¡ª ¡°President Lee has issued a public statement to all citizens that are currently hiding. Please listen.¡± ¡ª ¡°Dear citizens, how have you been? I¡¯m the president of the Republic of Korea, Shin Myeong Lee. The past month was no different from hell. All weapons we possessed had broken. Due to this, our military could not respond properly to the crisis. Unidentified monsters stomped over our soil and brutally ughtered our citizens. Seeing it pained my heart. I felt so bad, at one point I thought it would be better to just die. Thankfully, I found a new ray of hope.¡± The military soldiers held their breath as they listened to the radio broadcast. For an entire month, they hadn¡¯t heard or received any orders from the higher ups. Naturally, they thought the president, theirmander-in-chief, had died. ¡ª ¡°The Kwang Hwi Faction. They saved the powerless me trapped at the underground bunker and gave me a new hope. Hope that we could return to our peaceful world without monsters.¡± Silence ensued the shelter, only to be interrupted by the sound of someone swallowing their saliva. ¡ª ¡°My dear citizens. We n to recreate the Republic of Korea with the Kwang Hwi Faction. Our first mission is to reim the northern part of Gyeonggi Province. Very soon, Kwang Hwi Faction will conduct military operations at Pocheon and Yeoncheon County. Please lend us a hand in creating a new Republic of Korea during this time of crisis. Kwang Hwi Faction will always wee citizens and military soldiers alike. Thank you.¡± The broadcast ended soon after the president¡¯s speech. In return, the military soldiers discussed among themselves. They didn¡¯t have anything better to do as they were essentially trapped in the shelter. ¡°The voice does sound familiar. Maybe it¡¯s not fake.¡± ¡°How can you decide with just that?¡± Suddenly, the soldiers heard a knock. The noisy shelter became quiet once again until the interimmander issued an order. ¡°Corporal Kim, check the cameras! As for the rest, bebat ready!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Soldiers rushed to pick up bays and blunt weapons that were ced nearby. Their primary arms had rusted, so all they could use were these. After checking the visuals, Corporal Kim yelled. ¡°T-there are armed soldiers!¡± ¡°Armed?¡± The Captain looked at the screen. Just like what Corporal Kim said, there was an armed group waiting in front of the entrance. Unlike the ROK Armed Forces, they wore a ck military uniform and carried various equipment typical soldiers could never get hold of. ¡°W-What do we do, sir?¡± The Captain couldn¡¯t answer. Biting onto his lips, he grabbed the walkie-talkie and pushed on the transmission button. ¡°Who is it? This is a military shelter. It¡¯s off-limits to unauthorized personnel.¡± ¡ª ¡°We from the Kwang Hwi Faction. Under the president¡¯s order, we are rescuing surviving soldiers. Please open the gate.¡± Hearing what the Kwang Hwi Faction had said, the shelter became noisy once again. They still couldn¡¯t believe the news. ¡°R-rescue?¡± ¡°Under the president¡¯s order?¡± ¡°Everyone quiet!¡± After calming the soldiers, the Captain pushed to talk once again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we would need to verify the legitimacy of that order.¡± As if they were expecting it, themanding officer from the Kwang Hwi Faction nodded his head. ¡°Smartpad,¡± he ordered. A soldier from behind pulled out a smartpad and passed it to the officer. The officer turned the smartpad so that those in the military shelter could see. On screen, a tired looking president was present. Unconsciously, the Captain saluted. ¡°M-Mr. President! Captain Sang Hoon Lee present!¡± ¡ª ¡°Nice to see you, Captain. I¡¯m President Shin Myeong Lee. These are our allies, so don¡¯t be afraid. Open the gate. We¡¯ll move you to a new HQ so that you can all rest until we assign you a new mission.¡± ¡°U-understood! We will immediately open the gate!¡± The Captain could tell that this was not a pre-recorded video as the president was able to recall his name. Immediately, he pushed on the switch. The orange warning light shed as the iron gate opened. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 [Combat Force Info] *Name ¨C Kwang Hwi Faction (See Symbols) *Commander ¨C Kwang Hwi Baek (Top Status) *Possession of Areas ¨C Republic of Korea, Dongducheon City, Gyeonggi-do Province (HQ) ¨C Republic of Korea, Yangju City, Gyeonggi-do ¨C Republic of Korea, Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi-do *Total Troops ¨C 303 (+1) *Possession of Equipment ¨C 2 K-9 Self Propelled Guns (Top) ¨C 5 Medium Namer Armoured Personnel Carriers | APC (Top) ¨C 2 Merkava Mk.4 Tanks (Top) ¨C 1~10 Light Tactical Vehicles (Top) ¨C 5 Medium Tactical Vehicles (Top) ¨C IAI Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Heron | UAV Heron (Top) ¨C Night Intruder-300 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Heron | UAV Heron (Top) ¨C Pantsir missile system S-1 (Top) ¨C Mi-26 Cargo Helicopter (Top) ¨C 1~8 AH-8 Little Birds (Top) In the past few days, the size of the Kwang Hwi Faction had increased. Using the President¡¯sptop terminal, shelters and facilities were found throughout Dongducheon and Yangju¡ªmany facilities. Among them, the surviving soldiers were distributed to different forces and facilities, ranging from only a couple soldiers to a few dozen. The total number of people in the Kwang Hwi Faction increased by around 100. In some cases, they weren¡¯t able to join immediately. The Kwang Hwi Faction utilized the President¡¯s order, which had been written in advance. Although the world was ruined, the name of themander in chief remained unexpectedly powerful and useful. They also gained a significant amount of useful equipment. This was mainly due to the variety of roles of the soldiers that had joined. For example, soldiers who had operated K-9 Self Propelled Guns. These weremon in the old Korean military, with some having over 10 years of maintenance just to keep them in good working condition. The executives, officers, and soldiers had continued to use them because they remained reliable. However, because of the increase in their human resources, equipment was bing scarce, even after factoring in what they had gained. The Kwang Hwi Faction had been deploying more armored vehicles and distributing more equipment. Last time, Kwang Hwi had bought an extra Mercaba tank, which was a major contributor to the removal of Armata¡¯s power, so the number of Namer APC¡¯s increased. Apart from the UAV Herons found earlier, the RQ-101 Falcon Hawker was found at a new facility. It was 180 kilometers worse than Heron, which had a maximum operational distance of 3300 km, but it was always better to have more UAV¡¯s. *** A loud, rumbling sound filled Kwang Hwi¡¯s ears. There was a massive march happening in the city, including the transportation of arge number of trucks and various types of heavy equipment in the lineup. The survivors in the buildings carefully drew back the curtains to look outside. The parade of Kwang Hwi Faction troops exited the center of the city and headed to the highway. [¡øPyongYang] [¡øKesong] It was telling him that they were getting closer to North Korea. -¡°Squad Leader? We are entering Tongil Bridge soon.¡± -¡°Confirmed.¡± The Kwang Hwi Faction was heading toward the Inter-Korean Immigration Office. Located past Tongil Bridge, you could get to North Korea by passing through the entrance gate. -¡±Attention all units. This is your Squad Leader.¡± -¡°Before we take over the city of Paju, we are going to block off thend connected to North Korea. This will prevent monsters from North Korea from running after and attacking us. As soon as we finish the blockade, we will enter into Paju. This is not an advance against North Korea. We are only blocking the way, just in case.¡± [The gateway of Tongil!] [Preparing Paju for unification] There were usually armed military police waiting at the gateway. But after the start of the end of the world, Kwang Hwi could only imagine where they had gone. Therge amount of dirt and dust covering things was a testament to the fact that it had been some time since anyone hadst been here. On the road, rusty guns that seemed to have been carried by the military police were thrown away. With a rumble, a bulldozer drove past Kwang Hwi. It lowered its digger and drove forward. The barrier that blocked the road wasn¡¯t able to withstand the force and was pushed back. Other vehicles of the Kwang Hwi Faction followed the path that the bulldozer broke through. Four widenes weed them on the highway. After crossing Tongil Bridge, an entrance gate that was simr to the one at the highway came into view. Unlike IC gates on expressways, thick iron doors were installed in both directions. Even during this chaos, someone must have locked all the doors. The armored vehicle stopped at the entrance gate. ¡°Start the blockade.¡± -¡±Yes sir! Members, get off.¡± Dozens of soldiers of the Kwang Hwi Faction appeared. Today, he was the least armed of them all. The advance team began trying to force the tightly closed gates to open. Fortunately, there was nothing more than a simple lock keeping the gates shut, so there was no need for the hassle. After a few moments, the gates flung open. Passing through, the soldiers of the Kwang Hwi Faction carriedrge boxes with them. One they were a reasonable distance from the gate, these soldiers carefully opened the boxes. The senior member of the group raised his voice. ¡°Everyone remembers, right? The most important thing is safety.¡± The soldiers that were watching their senior nodded. ¡°If you don¡¯t know, just ask. Our first priority is to keep you all safe.¡± ¡°Yes sir!¡± The soldiers took off the covers of their respective boxes; they were filled withndmines. The usually expressionless Kwang Hwi Faction soldiers were currently visibly nervous. They had been told the mines were safe until their safety devices were released, but if even a single one of them exploded, they would all get blown sky high. The soldiers carefully picked up thend mines and started to install them. The rules for their instation were daily straightforward. They would leave a clear passage in the center, while installing thendmines on either side. The anti-tank mine was centered around anti-tank mines and distributed in a semi-circr manner. ¡à¡à¡à¡à¡à ? Passage ? ¡ß¡ß¡ß¡ß¡ß All of the anti-tank and anti-personnelndmines were used, just in case there were arge number of enemies. While the soldiers were slowly working on the mines, in the back, shipping containers were being installed. ¡°Slowly! Good! Like that!¡± Rich Stacker, who was active in the early days, hade to help pile up the shipping containers. Luckily, it did not take too much time since the road they were blocking was not wide. Three containers were lined up in a row and two more were stacked on top of them. The Kwang Hwi Faction soldiers who remained at the gate were building signs near the gateway and Tongil Bridge. [Warning! No Trespassing!] [Landmines are buried to prevent monsters from entering.] [The Kwang Hwi Faction is monitoring the surrounding area. Unauthorized ess is prohibited.] In one hour, the shipping container wall wasplete. Because of the container wall blocking them, any monsters that came this way would not be able to pass. Afterward, the surveince facilities were scheduled to monitor it at all times. These facilities were only active for as long as they were supplied with electricity, but the cost was worth the added security. ¡°Squad Leader, the blockade isplete.¡± ¡°What about the Falcon Reconnaissance?¡± ¡°It is said that the North is quiet. We don¡¯t have to worry about it for the time being.¡± ¡°Heavy machinery and transport trucks should be returned. Send an armored vehicle to cover them so that they don¡¯t get lost.¡± The heavy machinery and transport trucks departed for Dongducheon, guarded by a lone armored vehicle. In the meantime, the rest of the soldiers boarded the remaining vehicles. ¡°SPG.¡± -¡±Yes Squad Leader! It¡¯s aunch controller gun.¡± ¡°Fire 3 rounds into the confirmed nest.¡± ¡°3 rounds at the nest! Fire!¡± Dwarfs were located in the area around Paju. They were a humanoid monster, about the size of an elementary school child. They could move quickly because of their light monkey-like bodies. These things lived together inrge groups, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. Around Paju, there were five tribes, with around 500-1000 Dwarfs per tribe. The SPG fired shells around Dongducheon. These shells traveled a distance of 37 km in an instant. *** The ball that the Dwarf kicked flew into the. Another Dwarf, who was ying goalkeeper, cried out in anguish. Meanwhile, the ones that had just scored were hugging each other andughing. However, a sudden whooshing sound caused the Dwarfs that were gathered around to raise their heads. A dark object was falling from the sky. As it hit the ground, arge boom shook the earth. The explosion of the shell swallowed up the monsters. At the foot of one mangled dwarf body was the ball they were just ying with; it was a human head. [You have eliminated 10 shorters before anyone else.] [The reward for your achievement¡­] Surprised by the sudden explosion, the dwarves got up to leave. However, before they could take even one step another shell exploded over their heads. It was another shell shot by the second vehicle. Hundreds and thousands of fragments flew past the Paju Stadium. The monsters hit by the fragments started bleeding and eventually copsed. The artificial grass was scratched up and sprayed by dirt. Blood from the monsters bodies seeped through into the turf. [You have eliminated 100 shorters before anyone else.] [The reward for your achievement¡­] [You have eliminated 200 shorters before anyone else.] [The reward for your achievement¡­] [You have eliminated 300 shorters before anyone else.] [The reward for your achievement¡­] Some of the dwarves tried to hide in the tents. A coarse tent made of branches and woven fabric that seems to have been picked up from somewhere. Something like that could not protect against the debris. The weak support broke off. There were countless holes in the tent, which could only block out the wind. The dwarves that were hiding in the tent suffocated under the debris. [You have eliminated 400 shorters before anyone else.] [The reward for your achievement¡­] [You have eliminated 500 shorters before anyone else.] [The reward for your achievement¡­] -Paju Stadium Nest has been eliminated! ¡°You will arrive in 3 minutes.¡± The Kwang Hwi Faction was receiving reports while running in downtown Paju. The operation was simple. Since there were monsters in each nest, a self propelled artillery would be fired first. Attack the weak nest and clean it up. The dwarves were too quick so the soldiers didn¡¯t get off; they were to engage inbat while on the vehicle. Medium sized tactical vehicles that are carrying the troops were covered with bullet proof panels. Although boarding could be a little frustrating, they didn¡¯t have to worry about getting attacked from somewhere higher. Kwang Hwi was going to shoot from the side. ¡°Engage inbat once you see them.¡± -¡±Yes sir!¡± The Kwang Hwi Faction arrived at the Paju Stadium. At the entrance of the stadium, expressionless dwarves were running out in a hurry. The dwarves stopped after seeing the armored vehicle. The atmosphere suddenly changed due to the overwhelming appearance of the Namer armored vehicle. A coaxial machine gun fires out 7.62 mm bullets. The bodies of the monsters that stood still from shock copsed onto the ground. These bullets were stronger than the 5.56 mm bullets used in personal firearms and prated the dwarve¡¯s bodies and even struck those behind the first line. The dwarves that reacted toote fell in droves. Seeing a path, Kwang Hwi dodged into the tower¡¯s square. He picked up the knife at his waist and started stabbing the bodies. However, he couldn¡¯t pierce the hard exterior with the knife. The knife that he was holding was going to slip out of his hands or break before making a dent. Some nimble dwarves climbed over the rubble and onto the vehicles as if they were rock climbing, but the troops remained inside. Even if they wanted to get in, there was no way to open a door that was locked from the inside. The soldiers in the medium sized tactical vehicle quickly extend their guns outside the small shooting holes. Even if their bullets couldn¡¯t pierce the dwarrve¡¯s armor, they could still distract them. The soldiers fired the guns everywhere, overpowering the dwarves with therge amount of bullets peppering them. The artillery kept hitting the tent that had yet to copse. The tents that were half down failed to withstand the power of the shells. Some of the dwarves ran to hide themselves in the stadium. The armored car that saw them rotated its turret. The wall they were behind copsed after one hit. The dwarves that were hiding were surprised but were torn apart by the oing bullets of the machine gun. In between the loud noises of the guns, the sounds and screams of the dwarves slowly became quiet. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 [Paju Ecological Park] [Please Do Not Litter] The sign was destroyed by the vehicle¡¯s grenade attack. The APCs pursued the dwarves. Realizing they were no match against the brute features of the APCs, the dwarves hurriedly fled without putting up a fight. The driver of the APC hit the gas. The vehicle elerated and crushed the dwarves. It met little resistance and left behind unrecognisable piles of crushed flesh in its tracks. Some dwarves jumped into a nearby small pond in an attempt to avoid the Kwang Hwi Faction. The vehicles which had been driving over the green bushes stopped and shifted their muzzles at once. Bullets of varying sizes, from 7.62mm to 30mm, shot into the water. Given the shallow depth of the pond, the bullets hit at full force and prated the monsters hiding in the pond easily. The initially clean pond became more and more contaminated, its clear waters turning ck. Other dwarves hid amongst the thick bushes. Thanks to this, they were able to avoid being hit by the bullets. However, they could not avoid the vehicles that charged into the ecological park. Monsters were crushed as theyid low in an attempt to hide, and bodies were sprawled across the area. ¡°Confirmed destruction of Paju Ecological Park!¡± The Kwang Hwi Faction defeated the nests located in the Paju Ecological Park and the Paju Industrial Complex. Initially, all of the troops had gathered together to deal with the situation¡ªhowever, upon realizing the dwarves¡¯ weakbat capabilities, they separated to divide and conquer. Only a few of the dwarves had survived the artillery bombing and those few numbers were easily cleaned up by dividing the troops. Even though they were divided, the troops were mechanized infantry armed with machine guns and autocannons¡ªa natural enemy of the dwarves who had no means of prating armor. It was overkill, in a sense. ¡°What is the progress of the other troops?¡± Kwang Hwi asked overms. ¡°Progress at Paju Stadium has beenpleted.¡± ¡°Progress at Paju Ecological Stadium has also beenpleted.¡± ¡°Assault on Paju LCD Industrial Complex still in progress!¡± ¡°Remnant forces at Byeokchoji Arboretum have been sessfully suppressed!¡± ¡°Progress at Paju Samreung is nearlyplete.¡± The destruction of the monsters was going smoothly. Kwang Hwi ordered for the reserves. ¡°Confirmed. Reserves, are you on stand-by?¡± ¡°Yes, Commander. Waiting for orders.¡± ¡°Start rescuing the survivors.¡± The reserves, who had all been waiting outside of Paju, were now put into action. Hoping to prove just as effective as they were in the Blue House operations, the AH-6 Little Birds, a.k.a. dragonflies, entered into Paju City¡¯s airspace. However, unlikest time, a speaker was now attached to the dragonflies instead of a hydra rocket. The dragonfly helicopters yed pre-recorded announcements as they flew around the city of Paju. ¡°The Kwang Hwi Faction has a message for all survivors in Paju City! We are almost done with our operation to eliminate all of the monsters in Paju. Survivors, please join Kwang Hwi Faction if you hear this. We can provide safety, aodation, meals and medical treatment.¡± People in hiding stuck out their heads. The Kwang Hwi Faction slowly went around the city to collect people. The survivors boarded buses that were acquired from another area. Even though they were not vehicles purchased from the Merit Stop, the symbol of the Kwang Hwi Faction was painted on arge scale. ¡°No need to rush! There are still many seats left!¡± ¡°Please maintain order!¡± ¡°Commander, this is the reserves. The rescuing of survivors is going smoothly.¡± The main force led by Kwang Hwi circled a military base of Paju. Paju was one of the frontline regions of South Korea. Therefore, many troops were stationed in Paju in case of an emergency attack from North Korea. [2nd Armored Brigade 1st Corps] They first headed towards the armored brigade base, but there wasn¡¯t much to be salvaged. APCs and tanks were all damaged and unusable. ¡°Oh man, if only these were fine¡­¡± ¡°If these were fine, we wouldn¡¯t be here, you fool.¡± They were only able to obtain Light Tactical Vehicles with no weapon attachments and some engineer equipment. The other bases¡ª1st Division, 9th Division, and 30th Division¡ªwere no different. Fortunately, as expected of a highly military-concentrated region, many soldiers were found. 50 new soldiers were added to thebat force even after discharging injured ones and giving them civilian duties. The Kwang Hwi Faction conquered Paju City within a day. Out of all the operations undertaken thus far, this was the smoothest yet. [All monsters within Paju City have been eliminated.] [You have obtained 100,000 MP as a reward.] [Rumors of the Kwang Hwi Faction are spreading across Northern Gyeonggi Province and Kangwon Province.] [Gyeonggi Province¡¯s Paju City was added to the Controlling Area category.] [It is strongly suggested to deploy troops in the area. If troops are not deployed, other forces may take over the territory.] *** Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s next target was Yeoncheon County. Located in the utmost northern part of Gyeonggi Province, Yeoncheon County prided itself as the holder of the lowest poption in the province. Neighboring Yeoncheon was Cheolwon County, belonging to Gangwon Province. 98% of the county was off-limits to non-military personnel, but seeing how North Korea seemed to be wiped off the radar, none of that mattered. The monsters in Yeoncheon County were known as Os. They resembled ostriches, if ostriches had ab like chickens and sharp feathers epassing their neck. It was a shame that these monsters flocked in small groups, making it unnecessary to use the SPGs. It would be a waste to use them. In the end, Kwang Hwi Faction moved in directly to take them out after marking their whereabouts using the UAV. ¡°Night Intruder, how much farther do we have to go?¡± ¡°¡­turn left now!¡± The APC that Kwang Hwi was riding in made a sharp turn. The sudden turn caused the vehicle to graze the side of a building. Pieces of concrete scattered from the impact. The sudden appearance of the APC Namer caused a ruckus. It was the thickest and hardest-looking APC the Os had encountered thus far. The formidable exterior imposed such fear that the monsters could not think to challenge it. Cawing furiously, the Os turned abruptly and ran. The bipedal monsters stampeded furiously. They gained distance from the APC. It was unbelievable that such speed was possible with just two legs. ¡°Quite fast, huh?¡± Kwang Hwi mused. The Os were running away, and sessfully at that, but he kept his cool. There was no need to be fazed. They might be fast, but they couldn¡¯t outrun bullets. The gunner operated the machine gun remotely connected to the control panel. The crosshair eventually ovepped one of the running Os. A ray of light pierced through the atmosphere. An unlucky Os crumpled, screeching pitifully Panicked, the other Os worked their legs faster. Veins bulged from their already inted thighs as if they were going to burst. The Os steadily gained more distance. However, the average range of the machine gun was 1-2km. The distance the monsters gained wasn¡¯t even close to 1km. The 7.62mm bullets prated the Os without mercy. Suddenly, the Os changed direction. A stray bullet streaked towards an idle vehicle in the corner. It missed its mark and pierced the window, boring a hole in the car. The APC followed suit and changed direction as well. Just as it turned the corner, the Os rushed out. This startled the driver. He tightened his grip on the handle. The Os flew about 5-6m into the air and rushed past the APC, heading in the opposite direction of Kwang Hwi¡¯s forces. ¡°W- We lost them!¡± cried the driver. Kwang Hwi observed the monsters through the exterior camera. He didn¡¯t me the driver. He radioed the pilot waiting behind him. ¡°Dragonfly 3, it¡¯s your turn.¡± The helicopter following the APC proceeded to chase the Os. An APC¡¯s movement was limited as it had to stick tond, but a helicopter followed no such rule. A helicopter created its own rules; after all, the sky was the limit. It just had to watch out for some skyscrapers and utility poles here and there. ¡°This is Dragonfly 3, target acquired. Engaging target.¡± The 25mm autocannon rained down fire. The monsters fell without the chance to even let out a gasp as the cannons found their target. The dead ones brought down their brethren with them as their lifeless bodies crashed into them. mes suddenly sparked from the rear end of the Os. The pilot squinted his eyes to make sure he wasn¡¯t seeing things. ¡°Huh?¡± The Os¡¯ bodyunched straight into the air. After rocketing dozens of meters into the air, the Os gentlynded back on the ground. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kwang Hwi asked. ¡°Th-There were mesing out of the targets¡¯ asses and¡­ for a bit they flew into the air!¡± ¡°They were shitting fire?¡± Kwang Hwi zoomed in the footage of the UAV to make sense of what he just heard. The footage showed the Os rocketing themselves into the air. It was as the pilot said. Pirs of fire were sting out of their bums, just like a jet. Kwang Hwi wiped his forehead with his palm and ordered calmly,¡°¡­huuuh, whatever they¡¯re shitting out of their asses, eliminate all targets.¡± ¡°Roger that.¡± The pilot came to his senses and pulled the trigger. The autocannons resumed hailing down pain upon the enemy. The pilot generously fired round after round as if in an attempt to erase what he had just witnessed from his mind. The Os, using their ultimate move, did their best to gain more distance, but their mes grew weaker and weaker after each use. Despite their fancy efforts, the Os failed to increase their chances of survival against a helicopter. To a helicopter, fire-shitting Os were all the same¡ªall destined to be mincemeat. Dozens of Os stumbled past Kwang Hwi¡¯s APC. Several of them fell under machine gun fire as they neared Kwang Hwi¡¯s position. A wrong decision on the Os¡¯ part. Light Tactical Vehicles with heavy machine guns attached to them pursued the Os. The APC driver quickly followed behind. The newly-found Os pack seemed smaller than the ones they had encountered so far. They looked like chicks yet to have entered adulthood. The little ones¡¯ speed failed to match that of their adult counterparts. TheLight Tactical Vehicles were able to catch up and stay toe-to-toe to them. The Os chicks red at the vehicles that managed to catch up. The feather covering their necks started to shake. The machine gunner instinctively ducked back into the vehicle. What seemed like normal feathers at firstunched out like knives. But they were no match against the vehicle¡¯s armor. The sharp feathers ricocheted off of the vehicle and pierced another Os chick instead. Squawking, the chick writhed in pain until it was knocked to the ground by a bullet. ck blood spat across a nearby vehicle. The monsters had fallen for their own trick. The other Os changed tactics after watching their brethren¡¯s blunder. They jumped andnded on top of the Light Tactical Vehicles. The gunners frantically swirled the machine guns around to aim towards the Os, but their efforts were contested by the Os¡¯ sharp ws. Some of the Os managed to catch a piece of the gunners with their ws as a few of them failed to dodge entirely. The soldiers riding in the passenger seat quickly grabbed their rifles and aimed at the Os. They counterattacked from inside. ManyOs flew back, gushing blood. The rapid gunshots scared off the rest and they jumped off of the vehicles. The APC Namer that was trailing behind seized the opportunity and fired at the Os. The fire-control system offered pin-point uracy.One by one, the Os fell as each round exited the barrel. [All monsters within Yeoncheon County have been eliminated!] [You have obtained 100,000 MP as a reward.] [Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s reputation is spreading further in all directions.] [Nearby monsters will now be cautious of the Kwang Hwi Faction.] [Armata is scheming up a n to prevent the Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s advancement into Seoul.] [Gyeonggi Province¡¯s Yeoncheon County was added to the Controlling Area category.] [It is strongly suggested to deploy troops in the area. If troops are not deployed, other forces may take over the territory.] ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 47 Chapter 47 The host stepped up to the podium. ¡°We will now begin the promotion ceremony. Candidates, please stand at attention.¡± The soldiers ceased their whispering and fixed their gaze forward. ¡°Commander Kwang Hwi Baek is entering!¡± All attending troops straightened their backs and stiffened up. Familiar faces entered Dongducheon City Hall¡¯s lobby which was being used as the main headquarters. Themander of the Kwang Hwi Faction, Kwang Hwi Baek himself, and his most trusted executives who have been with him since the beginning were now in in view. The pre-recorded fanfare red out of the speakers. ¡°To themander, present arms!¡± The soldiers raised their right arm in unison. Kwang Hwi lightly saluted in return. ¡°At ease.¡± The soldiers lowered their arms in perfect sync as if they were one body. Meanwhile, the executives all sat down on seats specifically arranged for them, except Kwang Hwi. ¡°First off, a few congrattory words from ourmander.¡± The host stepped back and Kwang Hwi took over his position in front of the microphone. Kwang Hwi tapped on the mic twice to make sure it was working, then opened his mouth. ¡°Candidates, step forward.¡± Soldiers from the top of each column stepped forward. Unlike the others, these soldiers were wearing their pre-issued service uniform. The insignias on their chests glistened as they reflected rays of sunlight. ¡°Today, we are here to wee our newest lieutenants,¡± Kwang Hwi continued. ¡°They are the first to have climbed the ranks of lower enlisted and NCOs, ande out victorious.¡± A warm breeze enveloped the bright candidates. ¡°Are you thinking of the clumsy second lieutenants of the past? Then you are gravely mistaken. Forget the weakness of the past. You are invaluable soldiers, iparable to them.¡± During peaceful times, second lieutenants were practically useless. They received the necessary training and education, but their utterck of experience caused them to underperform on many levels. But the new lieutenants of the Kwang Hwi Faction were different. They weren¡¯t West Point or ROTC by any means, but they were molded through grit and blood from the bottom-up in the field. They were second to none in battling monsters. And what the world needed most right now was the ability to fight monsters. Kwang Hwiid his gaze on the candidates. Their eyes sparkled. Despite their efforts to seem stoic, their excitement and anticipation betrayed them. It was obviously written on their faces. ¡°Today you bemissioned lieutenants, but this is not the end.¡± As soldiers who started as privates, bing an officer would be a dreame true, but there were more feats to be achieved. They were just now taking their first steps into bing officers. They still had a long way to go. ¡°Will you be satisfied with just being second lieutenants?!¡± ¡°No, sir!¡± Kwang Hwi shifted his gaze and looked beyond the candidates to the rest of the soldiers. ¡°Will you be satisfied?!¡± ¡°NO, SIR!¡± All of his men in the lobby roared in unison. They didn¡¯t need to be addressed to know what Kwang Hwi meant. Theirs was a thunderous voice, echoing throughout the space. Kwang Hwi roared in response. ¡°Every single one of you can reach this spot! Do not be content! Strive for more! Survive! When all monsters have been eradicated! When peace has been restored! We will be the center of the new world order! Understand?!¡± ¡°YES, SIR!¡± Satisfied, Kwang Hwi stepped down from the podium and approached the candidates with a smile. The host hurried to Kwang Hwi¡¯s side. He held in his hands the rank badges Kwang Hwi purchased from the bat gear=""> category in the Merit Shop. Kwang Hwi pinned the Second Lieutenant badges onto the candidates himself. The candidates shouted their rank and name each time Kwang Hwi¡¯s hands touched their uniform. ¡°Second Lieutenant Sun Mo Yi!¡± ¡°Second Lieutenant Eun Hoo Kim!¡± ¡°Second Lieutenant Sahng Sup Lim!¡± ¡°Second Lieutenant Myun Young Kim!¡± ¡°Second Lieutenant Hyun Soo Moon!¡± Ten names rang out through the lobby. Kwang Hwi motioned with his hand after all badges had been pinned. All of his officials rose from their seats. In each of their hands was a small ck case. ¡°This is a little promotion gift.¡± Engraved onto each case was a candidate¡¯s name. Kwang Hwi opened one of them. A standard-issue Glock-17 was revealed, restingfortably inside the case. However, there was a slight difference. Instead of the manufacturer¡¯s name, the candidate¡¯s name, in Korean and English, was engraved onto the weapon. It was one of the many wonderful add-on features of the Merit Shop. [Yi Sun Mo / ???] On top of that, different color pigments were applied to the weapon, unlike its default counterparts. The distinction was impossible to miss. Dumbfounded, the candidates received their glocks: their very own personalized pistols, none like them in the whole wide world. They were the ultimate surprise gifts. Kwang Hwi apuded. The rest of the soldiers behind the candidates followed suit and began to p as well. He was confident he made the right choice. All eyes were gleaming with fire, not only the candidates but the soldiers behind them as well. He nced at his Command System briefly to see that some soldiers had increased amounts of loyalty. Spending 5 MP to gain loyalty had not been a bad deal at all. ¡°Right! That¡¯s all for today. Everyone, back to your posts! Fall out!¡± Kwang Hwi dispersed the soldiers back to their ces. It was unnecessary to drag out these events; he¡¯d rather let his soldiers celebrate amongst themselves and rest up. Despite hismand for them to fall out, Kwang Hwi¡¯s soldiers left in formation. Kwang Hwi made his way back to the office in the building. Jackson was already there, waiting for him. ¡°Boss, I came to give you a report.¡± Kwang Hwi, now seated, nodded in response. ¡°Remember that facility we visited around the time all this shit began?¡± ¡°You mean where we got the Heron?¡± It was the underground facility where the army general had presented the Heron. Multiple supplies and military vehicles were acquired on top of the Heron from that facility. ¡°Yep, that ce. It was on lockdown under some protocol, but we unlocked it and resetted ess authorization as well. It¡¯spletely under our control now.¡± This was good news. With theptop already in hand, their status-checks and control were limited to a bare minimum. But under a more professional facility, operations could be widened exponentially. ¡°When can we start moving the Heaven¡¯s Eye recon satellite?¡± Kwang Hwi asked. ¡°Right this moment¡­ but we don¡¯t exactly have the appropriate talent to control it so please understand if it¡¯s a bit slow. Where do you want it?¡± His chin resting on his hand, Kwang Hwi became lost in thought for a moment. ¡°Have it directed towards Seoul.¡± ¡°Towards Seoul?¡± ¡°Yeah, I got a bad feeling.¡± Kwang Hwi still remembered the alert he received after he conquered Yeoncheon County. [Nearby monsters will now be cautious of the Kwang Hwi Faction.] [Armata is scheming up a n to prevent the Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s advancement into Seoul.] He wasn¡¯t sure exactly what the enemy was nning, but he couldn¡¯t afford to sit idly by. The least he could do was keep eyes on them and monitor them as much as he could. ¡°Then we¡¯ll deploy the UAV over Uijeongbu and Seoul.¡± A sessful resolution was reached, but it was merely one of many reports Kwang Hwi needed to take care of. There were many more matters that needed Kwang Hwi¡¯s attention. ¡°We secured arge amount of resources from Paju and Yeoncheon,¡± Jackson continued. ¡°Food supplies?¡± ¡°Food, gear, you name it. We even managed to get a hold of an ARV and a Chinook from one of the bases in Yeoncheon.¡± ¡°An ARV and a Chinook? What a catch.¡± ARV stood for Armored Recovery Vehicle and it possessed the ability to pull damaged armoured and tracked vehicles behind the frontlines for repairs. There was definitely no harm in keeping it. Even if Kwang Hwi was capable of instant repairs through MP, there was no guarantee that he would be aware of all damaged equipment. The CH-47 Chinook was a transport helicopter often used by the U.S. and its allies. It was a medium-torge sized heavy-lift helicopter, capable of transporting 33~55 foot soldiers or 13 tons of cargo. But the Kwang Hwi Faction was already in possession of the Mi-26, which was capable of carrying twice as much as that of the Chinook. The only edge the Chinook held over the Mi-26 was that it could be equipped with three machine guns, allowing it to provide limited fire support. The price of the Chinook in the Merit Shop was an outrageous 8,000,000 Merit Points. Kwang Hwi was able to save 8,000,000 Merit Points. ¡°Alright then, anything else?¡± ¡°The active-duty soldiers we acquired from the two areas are going through training smoothly, but there was something I wanted your opinion on, Commander.¡± ¡°And that is?¡± ¡°These active-duty guys¡­ we can mix the lower enlisted with our current lower enlisted members. That won¡¯t be an issue, but we weren¡¯t sure how the NCOs and officers would fit into our ranks.¡± If ROK military members were allowed to retain their previous ranks in their transition into the Kwang Hwi Faction, there could be internal issues. Aside from the beginning members of the Kwang Hwi Faction, the organization just recently gained newlymissioned Second Lieutenants. Despite Jackson¡¯s concern, Kwang Hwi responded lightly with an indifferent expression. ¡°Just clump them together based on rank, like batchmates dorming together.¡± ¡°What? I-I mean, what, sir?¡± ¡°Group them together by rank or as close as possible, and our boys can join in when they rank up.¡± Demoting them was not an option. But then again, so was letting the ones who did nothing but hide order around soldiers. They too needed to build field experience. The most logical solution was implementing the batchmate toon concept, courtesy of the ROKA. ¡°Work the shit out of them. No promotions until they rack up the adequate amount of experience.¡± ¡°For sure, sir.¡± ¡°Did we manage to collect the Unmanned Monitoring System deployed around the MDL?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve obtained control over them and we¡¯re currently figuring our way around their overall status. Some of them seem to be malfunctioning though.¡± Throughout the Military Demarcation Line which faced North Korea, high-quality CCTVs were deployed under the control of a monitoring system. The system also came with unmanned turrets, but these had wasted away along with all other functioning weapon systems. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that the mines are useless,¡± Jackson mused. ¡°It is too bad. But the monsters aren¡¯ting this instant so let¡¯s just observe for now. We can always use the SPGs if we confirm monsters approaching.¡± The world¡¯srgest number of mines were buried in the DMZ and its vicinity. If the mines were functioning, they could repel fairlyrge waves of monsters all by themselves. ¡®Current MP in possession.¡¯ Small text appeared in front of his eyes in response to his thought. [Current MP : 1,070,000] The previous mass purchase of Dragonflies drained 800,000 MP, but they had all been restored after a few conquests and killing a couple thousands of monsters. ¡°Any equipment we need at this very moment?¡± ¡°An Apache for the big guy!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jackson was quick to shut his mouth after shouting with enthusiasm. He saw veins popping out of Kwang Hwi¡¯s forehead. ¡°No, sir.¡° ¡°¡­good. Let¡¯s buy actual things we need first, like ammo and other essential consumables.¡± Disyed on the bottom of the electronic document was a file that summarized the amount of munitions the Kwang Hwi Faction had spent. The amount was not small by any means. They did skirmish with the enemy at least once every few days so it wasn¡¯t a surprise. Fortunately, small weapons munitions were rtively cheap so supplying them wasn¡¯t an issue. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this today so¡ª¡± The fizz of static interrupted Kwang Hwi before he could finish.¡°Commander! Reporting in from the Situation Room!¡± Kwang Hwi grabbed the walkie-talkie. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°We caught something on the long-range radar!¡± ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 48 Chapter 48 ¡°What do you mean? Be specific.¡± ¨C We¡¯ve detected movement in the air headed this way from Seoul. There are approximately 200 of them! ¡°Did you try contacting them throughms?¡± ¨C We got no response. No radio response? That made things much easier. ¡°Take them down.¡± ¨C Roger! There was no way in hell he would allow strangers to set foot on his base. ¨C Data link established. After a few moments, the target¡¯s information from the long-range radar was sent to the Pantsir. This Pantsir Missile System, an anti-aircraft artillery vehicle, was the reward forpleting the emergency mission. Although it was quite expensive, its performance reflected its value. Its maximum firing range was around a staggering 20km. ¨C Target Locked! Fire! With a boom, a 57E6 missile shot up into the air. mes burst out of the missile¡¯s rear as it sliced across the blue sky, leaving a trail of white smoke behind. At theunch site, clouds of dust and smoke blinded everyone. For a brief moment, the missile seemed to pause mid-air. A st rang throughout the air. Right as it stopped, the missile shot off again, raising its altitude. As the second booster came alive, the missile reached its maximum speed in an instant. Itnded right in the center of the spherical unidentified flying object. The sh from the explosion was bright enough to reach Kwang Hwi¡¯s office. The rest of the missiles followed suit in small intervals and found their own spheres to strike. Thunderous booms sounded in session, apanied by ck smoke and zes of light. ¨C All Hits! Target neutralized! Although mission sess was confirmed on the radar, four new targets popped up. The Pantsir responded in kind, and four missiles soared through the air, piercing the sky one after another. Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes were glued to the radar disy that was being transmitted to the office. A monster disappeared from the radar each time the Pantsir roared. ¨C We are ck on missiles! Switching to the Vulcan rounds! The Pantsir automatically maneuvered its 2A38M 30mm Autocannon, as it had run out of missiles. The monsters were within 4km of the Pantsir, in the firing range. The autocannon raised its barrel towards the sky, aiming at the monsters who dared challenged its authority. Streaks of bright red lined the sky. It was a sight to behold; beautiful, almost. In an instant, the projectiles found their mark, and the flying spheres crumbled into pieces. The Vulcan adjusted its aim and continued to maintain fire superiority. Thick shell casings poured out of the ejection port like raindrops pelting the ground. Once the casings hit the ground, a pleasant melody rang out, only to be buried underneath the symphony of rapid gunfire. Around 50 monsters were now left from the original 200. Once their numbers deteriorated to such a degree, the monsters began splitting themselves. Little offsprings of the sphere monsters began spreading themselves across the atmosphere, like specks of ink on an empty canvas. The radar disy was soon filled up with little dots. The airborne monstrosity from before, ¡®Bat¡¯, paled slightly inparison to the massive clump of dots. 50 had be 150 in an instant. The control operator stuttered in disbelief. ¨C Th-their numbers have tripled. Kwang Hwi kept his cool, though. As themander, he must calm both his nerves and his men. ¡°Deploy the LPWS.¡± ¨C Roger! Deploying LPWS. The Pantsir was a formidable anti-air vehicle, but it fell short when faced against numerous targets in the sky. So, another anti-aircraft system was needed to make up for its weakness. However, anti-air weapon systems were too costly. They were expensive even for Kwang Hwi, who had umted a significant amount of Merit Points. The LPWS, however, offered a solution. Simply put, it was a Land-based Phnx Weapon System. [LPWS] [The Phnx, originally installed on warships, was remodeled to befitnd-based vehicles and is now ready fornd ops. Initially utilizing 20mm cartridges, its recent upgrades now allow it to operate 30mm autocannons, dramatically increasing its firepower. It is fully capable of detecting and responding to small objects such as mortar rounds. Estimated maximum firing range: 2km.] [Price: 150,000 MP] The autocannon raised its muzzle and made it rain. In the blink of an eye, the small spheres disintegrated before they could reach the Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s headquarters. Dust swept across the battlefield, running far as the breeze gave chase. Maybe, the LPWS was a bit too much of an overkill. The dots filling up the radar began to quickly fade away. 150 became 100. 100 became 30. ¨C Our defenses have beenpromised! Despite the best efforts of the Pantsir and the LPWS, several spheres managed to survive like cockroaches. They found their way into the vicinity of the headquarters. However, the monsters shouldn¡¯t have split themselves so close to the base. The troops on standby quickly aimed their guns towards the spheres, ready to make them pay. Kwang Hwi was observing everything through the action cameras attached to the soldiers. Although it was impossible to tell from the radar, the sphere wasposed of mud. ¡®Mud?¡¯ Mud. It reminded Kwang Hwi of something. Just as Kwang Hwi was lost in thought, the sphere began to undergo mutations. Its round shape warped as arms grew out. When its arms touched the ground, a pair of rods extended out of its back, acting as its legs. Even though the head hadn¡¯t formed yet, it was already evident what this creature was. It was smaller than the ones that the Kwang Hwi Faction had faced before, but it was definitely a Mud Golem. Havinge to the same conclusion, the fieldmander hastily hurled out orders, ¡°It¡¯s a Mud Golem! Fire!¡± As the rounds struck the Mud Golem, the unformed golem began shaking. Clumps of mud even dripped from the golem¡¯s gunshot wounds, as if it was bleeding. This version was definitely weaker than its previous brethren, which were highly resistant to small arms. A grenadeuncher sted the Mud Golem¡¯s torso away. The golem trembled on its remaining two legs, but there was no reprieve for it. Another grenade flew towards the golem to end its misery. It returned to the earth, failing to disy the remarkable regeneration ability the previous Mud Golems possessed. Jackson, who was paying attention to the radio, made an additional report. ¡°Boss, all monsters in HQ have been taken care of. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because they¡¯re smaller, but these ones seem less durable.¡± The newer Mud Golems dropping from the sky had limited powers. They were smaller than the original and had lower resistance. The original Mud Golems would¡¯ve brushed aside these rifle attacks. However, these ones were vulnerable to them. This proved in favor of the Kwang Hwi Faction, as they suffered no casualties. ¡°Are we linked to the satellite right now by any chance?¡± ¡°We¡¯re connected to UAV, which is currently pointed towards Seoul.¡± ¡°Connect it to a monitor. Towards Dobong-gu.¡± As requested, the bottom camera on the UAV aimed towards Dobong-gu. The golems towards Uijeongbu were holding their ground, not even budging an inch. Kwang Hwi tilted his head in confusion. ¡®They¡¯re standing still?¡¯ It was an odd ambush, too ambiguous to push through an opening. If Kwang Hwi was Armata, he would never have done such a meaningless action. ¡®Then¡­ a misdirection?¡¯ Kwang Hwi raised his head. ¡°Let¡¯s check somece else. Start with the areas bordering Seoul.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll scan through Goyang City first.¡± His bad intuition rarely missed its mark. After around thirty minutes since the camera changed direction, thousands of Mud Golems were spotted walking amidst Goyang City. *** The silence of the empty streets was overwhelming. These streets were supposed to be full of life, people, and cars. But now, lost objects, no longer reminiscent of their past, were strewn about both the sidewalk and the road. At longst, the silence was broken, and the streets miraculously became alive once again. Only this time, the source of the noise and vibrations wasn¡¯t people nor cars. They were Mud Golems. Each time a golem¡¯s massive footnded, the ground would shake and the windows of nearby buildings would rattle, as if it was an earthquake. Thousands of golems were acting as one. They stepped in unison, amplifying the effect. Artillery shells from the K9 SPGs rained down on the Mud Golems¡¯ heads, and the series of explosions demolished their ranks. The golems were reduced to mud, mixing with the ground they were treading on before. However, the Mud Golems remained indifferent to the destruction and chaos. They continued to march forth like an emotionless machine. It was like looking at dolls¡ªnot even a single hint of emotion was visible. The artillery strike continued on for a long time. Whenever the rounds were exhausted, they would be replenished by the K-10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle. Realistically, a decent period was required for the K9 SPG to exhaust all of its default 48 rounds, alongside the 104 rounds provided by a supply vehicle. When the artillery ceased its action, once a tightly strewn pristine formation of the golems was littered with numerous craters. [You have defeated 700 Mud Golems faster than anybody else in the world.] [You have obtained¡­] [You have defeated 800 Mud Golems faster than anybody else in the world.] [You have obtained¡­] Kwang Hwi opened the Merit Shop. [K307 HEBB 155mm Artillery Shell] [Designed for the K9 ¡®Thunder¡¯ SPG. Equipped with new drag reduction technology, the K307 HEBB is able to travel farther than its previous versions. Maximum firing range is up to 40km and st radius is up to 30m.] [Price: 115 MP] [Bundle purchase is avable.] [x48 bundle price: 5000 MP] [x96 bundle price: 10000 MP] Kwang Hwi purchased the 96-rounds bundle. His Merit Points were converted into the shells nowid out in front of him. The loaders on standby proceeded to carry the rounds to their designated SPG. ¡°Fire when ready.¡± ¡°Roger.¡± Just because the SPGs were on a break didn¡¯t mean that the Kwang Hwi Faction was done with its assault. Rather, two Merkava MK. 4 Tanks were approaching the Mud Golems. The tanks stopped once the enemy entered their firing range. The required data was already inputted into the control system and a round was loaded into the chamber. ¡°On the way!¡± Deafening sts echoed in the surroundings as tank rounds fired from the MG253 smoothbore covered the distance of 2km in a sh. The targeted Mud Golem¡¯s body shook. A fissure had formed where it was hit. The golem crumbled without any chance of retaliation, powerless under the might of war machinery. The gunner then switched to HE rounds. When the ammo door opened, half of an HE round revealed itself. The loader grabbed the round, pushed it into the barrel, and screamed,pleting the process in one swift motion. ¡°UP!¡± Without pausing, the gunner aimed at its next target. The necessary values were calcted automatically beforehand. ¡°On the way!¡± Each time the tanks spewed fire, golems would fall one by one. Although 120mm was a bit smaller than 155mm, unlike the SPG, a high-angle weapon, a tank shell directly hit its targets. It was more powerful in terms of raw strength. The Namer APCs refused to let its Merkavapatriots bathe in all of the glory. While the immense explosions and firepower stole all the enemy¡¯s attention, the APCs went around and nked them from the rear. The APCs lined up in a straight file, ready to engage and rain hell. All vehicles except defensive carriers were now gathered together. ¡°Commander, we¡¯ve reached their backs.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯smand was simple. ¨C Light ¡®em up. ¡°You guys hear that? Commander said light ¡®em the fuck up!¡± The Namer APCs sted their 30mm autocannons at the golems¡¯ backs. They weren¡¯t as devastating as a high-angle 120mm, but 30mm was more than capable of inflicting pain on the enemy. The Mud Golems in the rear were torn apart as rounds pped their backs. Some of them turned around once they realized the presence of another threat. But it was toote. The autocannons had done their jobs already. What the 30mm autocannonscked in power, they made up for it in the rate of fire; they were fully capable of firing in auto mode. The APCs took advantage of this feature. The rain of bullets pelted the approaching Mud Golems. They were like sitting ducks caught in the barrage of autocannon fire. ¡°Driver! Start backing up slowly!¡± The APCs didn¡¯t just stand there, though. They moved back to keep their distance, making the golems¡¯ efforts to close in on them meaningless. The APCs left piles of mud and brass in their wake each time they backed up. Amid the whirring of des, familiar silhouettes rushed past the APCs. The AH-6 LittleBirds had made their appearance. The Dragonflies had ditched their default 25mm autocannons and Hydra rockets to be fully endowed with the Hellfire anti-tank missiles. The adjustment aimed towards absolute victory. [AGM-114 Hellfire Missile] [Anti-tank missile equipped with a percussion fuze. It can reach up to a maximum speed of Mach 1.3, and its name reflects its absolute firepower. Its high speed and piercing capabilities allow it to destroy even third-generation tanks. Being second to none, the Hellfire Missile is the world¡¯s best anti-tank missile.] A distinct whistle sounded in the chaos of autocannon and tank fire. One of the Dragonfly had let loose all of its missiles and raised altitude. The rest of the Dragonflies followed suit and carried out the same actions: exhaust all missiles and take off. A total of eight aircrafts exhausted their missiles in an instant. Dozens of Hellfires shot through the air, leaving traces of white. Dashes of red and white whizzed toward the golems, and none of the missiles missed their target. It was destruction and annihtion everywhere, truly proving to be hellfire. [You have in more than 1000 Mud Golems.] [Additional MP will be rewarded for every golem-type monster in.] [All monsters within Goyang City have been eliminated.] [You have obtained 100,000 MP as a reward.] [Gyeonggi Province¡¯s Goyang City is added to the Controlling Area category.] [It is strongly suggested to deploy troops in the area. If troops are not stationed there, other forces may take over the territory.] While Kwang Hwi was bombarded with Merit award notifications, one of his executives looked at him with excitement. ¡°All threats have been neutralized.¡± ¡°Good work, everyone.¡± Kwang Hwi smiled back and voiced his acknowledgement. They had tided over another monster wave and took control of an additional region. ¡°We¡¯ll have to clean all this upter.¡± ¡°Not anytime soon. It¡¯ll probably stay like this for a while.¡± The La Festa area in Ilsan City, where the Mud Golems attacked from, was now an absolute mess. Buildings were in shambles and ruins, and piles of mud decorated the surroundings. However, it was to be expected since hundreds of artillery shells, autocannon rounds, and anti-tank missiles had carpeted the ce before. ¡°What¡¯s our status?¡± ¡°No human casualties, thanks to long-range weapons. But our armored vehicles need an overhaul due to overuse.¡± Simply put, they had to be disassembled to check everything, part by part. ¡°Looks like maintenance is gonna have a rough time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that we have actual engineers this time. We could only do little maintenance before.¡± ¡°Although the engineers have to toil for a while, make sure the rest of the troops get a well-deserved break.¡± ¡°Yes, Commander.¡± ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 49 Chapter 49 In front of the National Museum of Korea in Yongsany a pond named ¡®Mirror Pond¡¯. It had earned its name from the reflection it gave off of the sky and its surrounding. The pond wasplemented with a blue-roofed gazebo on one side, allowing the visitors to gaze at the beautiful scenery in peace. Below the gazebo, a three-eyed Armata was muttering something with closed eyes, ¡°xkdhffkfk!¡± Armata raised his hands from his chest and stretched them towards the sky, as if he was going to hug it. With two eyes still closed, his third eye shed open. An invisible shockwave sted through the area, spreading outwards in a circle. The trees and various nts around the pond shook violently. Buildings and nts reflected on the pond began to fade away. Its effects also reached the pond. It began to dye itself ck¡ªdark as ink. As soon as the pond turnedpletely ck, a sizzling sound went off, clear even amid the rustling of leaves. A dark me had emerged. Its heat was so intense that the surrounding temperature began to increase. The ck burning me on top of the water was not only strange but also terrifying. That was not the end of eeriness, though; a faint silhouette was moving inside the me. Inside the gazebo, Armata opened all three of his eyes. White skeletons, set off by the ck me, emerged out of the pond. They were not fazed by the intense heat from the mes whatsoever. The undead, without any feelings, had stepped foot in this world. Armata frowned, his eyes full of contempt while staring at the skeletons. ¡°Sending the underlings first, huh. How cowardly.¡± The skeletons formed a circle around the pond. Each grabbed its spear, shield, or whatever weaponry it had on its back and scanned the surrounding with caution. One skeleton stood apart from others; it was themander. Unlike its counterparts, whose bones seemed brittle, this one was muchrger and sturdier. The leader of the skeletons approached Armata inside the gazebo and lowered its head. The greatsword on its back jutted out, enhancing its charisma as themander. Armata opened his mouth and asked curtly, ¡°The hell are you supposed to be?¡± ¡°Pleased to meet you, Lord Armata. I am Sten, under Lord Bannis.¡± ¡°Sten? I¡¯ve heard that name before.¡± Armata¡¯s head tilted in thought, and his eyes widened at once. ¡°Were you with the Human Alliance?¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord. However, my past is no more. I have since been born anew under the graceful arms of Lord Bannis.¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Armata chuckled in disbelief. He might be a subordinate of an ally, but he was once an infamous enemy feared by many in the past. Even the ignorant and reckless Kekus would turn tail when facing Sten. How such a figure died and turned undead was a mystery, and it was quite baffling, to be honest. ¡°Right. So, when is Bannis going to show up?¡± ¡°Lord Bannis will arriveter with all of his forces¡­ my Lord.¡± ¡°Huh! He¡¯s bringing them all?¡± ¡°At least that¡¯s what I have been told.¡± Armata clicked his tongue in disapproval. ¡°Undeads can be formed here. They¡¯re not worth the trouble.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Sten kept silent with his head lowered. Armata¡¯s irritation crept onto his face. He waved his hand towards Sten, signaling him to go away. ¡°Alright then. Go tend to your soldiers. I¡¯ll rest for a bit and open the portal again.¡± ¡°As you wish, my Lord.¡± Sten kept his head low as he backed up. Armata turned his gaze towards the Mirror Pond again. The ck mes were still raging, and the pond was plunged into darkness. ¡°Well, since I started it, I should also finish it.¡± The mes grewrger and roared fiercely, as if understanding his words. However, little did Armata know that he was being watched. *** The images taken by the Heaven¡¯s Eye Recon Satellite were delivered to Kwang Hwi. At the moment, his coremanders were huddling around the footage. The new changes had them all concerned, as it represented an unknown enemy. A pond was, simply put, arge puddle of water. But from thatrge puddle of water, mes and skeletons one would see in movies were rising. And that was not all¡ªthe mes were unusually ck. No amount ofmon sense would be enough to exin the scene unfolding before their eyes. Without the satellite, they wouldn¡¯t even have known that something as ridiculous as this was happening. Kwang Hwi was aware that nothing about this was normal. In fact, this was far from normal. [Emergency Mission!] [Destroy the portal by eliminating Armata.] [Reward: 2,000,000 MP] [Failure: Complete annihtion of the Kwang Hwi Faction and rapid spread of chaos across the Republic of Korea] A second emergency mission was presented to Kwang Hwi, and the reward was a staggering 2,000,000 MP. Given that 300,000 was the most he had received when unlocking a new Category in the Merit Shop, it was clear just how crucial this mission was. ¡°A dimensional portal?¡± The mission description proved that Kwang Hwi and his executives had assumed correctly. The monsters belonged to another world. ¡°How about a fire mission first? From the Gyeonggi Province Northern Government Building area, they¡¯ll be barely within reach of the SPG.¡± The K9 SPGs were conveniently stationed in the Uijeongbu base at the moment. ¡°Good idea.¡± Kwang Hwi immediately gave the green signal. The SPGs were done with maintenance and were on stand-by when the order came down. They immediately raised their guns and prepared the pre-emptive strike. ¨C Target confirmed. Loading one round. After Soo Min confirmed that everything was good to go, he turned to Kwang Hwi, who nodded in response. ¡°Fire!¡± The bullet path of the rounds fired by the SPGs was disyed on the digital map. With the speed of the projectiles, the distance of 38km was covered in an instant. ¡°Huh?¡± However, an unforeseen change took ce. The rounds disappeared without a trace before the impact zone. The trajectories, now iplete, also vanished from the map. ¡°Heron, HQ. Status on impact zone, over.¡± A brief pause. The atmosphere was so tense that seconds felt like hours. The wait was excruciating for everyone in themand center. ¨C HQ, this is Heron. We must have missed. Negative effect on impact zone, over. Even the surrounding areas of the Mirror Pond showed no traces of any impact. After calmly observing the whole situation, Kwang Hwi broke the overwhelming silence. ¡°Ready fire for effect.¡± ¨C SPG 1 ready for fire for effect! ¨C SPG 2 ready as well! ¡°Fire.¡± Six trajectories were now visible on the map as the missiles headed for their targets. The executives held their breath. Every single one of them was wholly focused on the digital map. ¨C H-HQ! You need to see this! Live footage was connected to the office as the Heron operator¡¯s cries sounded from the transmitter. The screen showed the impact zone, the Mirror Pond. Out of the corner of the disy, a giant bird monster popped out. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± It was a familiar sight for Kwang Hwi and his executives. The monster was simr to the Giant Bett they had taken down with the Pantsir earlier. This one was slightly different, though: it had a horn. It was no ordinary horn, either, since it gave off a bluish light. What happened next was even more surprising. The bluish light grew in intensity, and explosions suddenly went off in the air. A total of six explosions sounded, indicating what was happening. All six rounds from the SPGs were cut off in the air. The trajectories simultaneously disappeared from the map as well. ¡°It¡­ intercepted the¡­ shells?¡± This was, of course, not impossible with modern technology. Even the LPWS was more than capable of such a feat. However, that was the case for modern technology. To see a monster do so was baffling, to say the least. The Kwang Hwi Faction continued to send rounds afterward, but it was futile. They tried waiting it out, but the Giant Bett continued to roam the vicinity. ¡®An emergency mission indeed, huh.¡¯ Their efforts were useless. So far, none of their tactics had borne any results. It was to be expected, though; things were going a bit too smoothly after all. Some hups meant a challenge, and they were certainly up to it. Kwang Hwi stood up. The executives stared at him as they sat nervously, swallowing their breath. ¡°The hell are you guys doing? Time to go.¡± As soon as the siren red throughout Dongducheon, the soldiers grabbed their gear and rushed out from their downtime. ¡°Jackson, can you¡­¡± ¡°No need to say it. I got you, Boss.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± Kwang Hwi stared at Jackson, his eyes full of skepticism. Jackson pounded his chest in absolute confidence. ¡°Trust me. Sir.¡± Kwang Hwi shook his head as he walked out, equipment in hand. *** The whirring of des stirred up clouds of dust in the air. The Kwang Hwi Faction had mobilized all its helicopters and headed towards the National Museum of Korea. The executive next to Kwang Hwi handed him a smart tablet connected to the UAV. ¨C They¡¯re stilling out! From the initial hundreds, the skeletons were now over a thousand strong. It was only moments ago that they dotted around the pond here and there. Now, the pond¡¯s surroundings were teeming up with them. ¨C Commander, Giant Bett detected. ¡°Fire as soon as you lock-on.¡± ¨C Roger! Initiating lock-on procedure. In this operation, eight Dragonflies had been deployed, equipped with 25mm autocannons and Stinger anti-air missiles. The Stinger was preferred over the Hydra to handle the Giant Bett, which had rendered their SPGs useless. ¨C Lock-onplete¡­ Firing! Dragonflies lined up in a row and fired missiles in unison in a magnificent disy. Amid sharp whistles, eight streaks of white decorated the sky blue canvas. The missiles sped up to 2.2 Mach in an instant. The Giant Bett circling the museum raised its head and let out a sharp screech. Its instinct was screaming about the impending danger. Something was approaching. Fast. The Giant Bett¡¯s horn intensified its blue glow in response. Its defense didn¡¯t disappoint it. The Stinger missiles headed towards the monster blew up midair, three missiles exploding in an instant. ¨C Firing remaining Stingers. The cold war machines once again let loose eight missiles, and new white lines formed a beautiful visual before its predecessors could vanish. Thirteen missiles were now baring their fangs at the Giant Bett. The Giant Bett¡¯s horn shed continuously, and a missile would vanish with each sh. Still, the missiles were too fast to keep up. They rapidly shortened the distance to their target. The first set of missiles that blew up midway were too far to cause any damage, but thetter few missiles were close enough for the Giant Bett to feel its impact. By the time half of the sixteen missiles were intercepted, it was toote. The rest of the missiles were now a mere fingertip away from their target. Just one was more than enough to do heavy damage. Unfortunately for the monster, eight missiles charged at it from all angles. The Giant Bett violently exploded, not even having a chance to let out its final scream. ¨C Target neutralized! [You have in ¡®Giant Bett¡¯.] [You have obtained 200,000 MP as a reward.] [You have defeated a member of the Armata family.] [You have defeated a unique variation possessing minor levels of fragments. You have obtained 300,000 MP as a reward.] Just one single monster had gifted them an outrageous 500,000 MP. This Bett was worth 100,000 more than its regr counterpart. ¡°Armata will know we¡¯reing now.¡± Perhaps the chopper had be lighter after firing the Stingers, but it seemed to move faster. Less than a few minutester, a green forest began to cover thendscape. They were approaching the National Museum of Korea and the Mirror Pond. ¡°Proceed to engage immediately.¡± The autocannons spat out bright yellow mes, kicking off their direct assault at the Armata family. The bone monsters on the ground, who were cautiously watching the choppers, were reduced to pieces under the heavy fire. [You are the first person in the world to defeat a ¡®Skeleton¡¯.] [You have obtained 500 MP as a reward.] ¡°The bone freaks will be called Skeletons from now on.¡± ¨C Roger, Skeletons in sight. The Skeletons were dummies, though. They retaliated only after dozens of theirrades were shredded apart. However, their choice of weapon was anything but modern like their foes in the sky. Bows materialized out of thin air into the Skeletons¡¯ hands. Despite being torn apart, the Skeletons remained unwavering and pulled back their bowstrings. Loud twangs sounded like a sweet melody on the battlefield. The fully taut bows loosened, and the bone arrows were released from their strings. Unlike the invisible bullets, the rain of arrows painted a hellishndscape. ¨C EVAC! EVAC! The helicopters carried out evasive maneuvers at once as the aircraft broke even-flight and dodged the arrows with wild movements. The majority of the arrows missed their targets and whizzed past the helicopters. However, the few that did manage to hit did nothing. The Dragonfly, while it might seem rtively small and weak, was fully equipped with enhanced bulletproof armor capable of fending off 50 caliber bullets. Arrows, let alone rifle rounds, stood no chance against the hard exterior. ¡°Their ranged weapons are useless! Maintain fire superiority!¡± The Dragonflies roamed all over the ce. They were like fish in the water and continued to baptize the Skeletons with fire. Although the monsters were still emerging from the pond, the autocannons were much faster in disposing of them. ¨C Woah, woah! The point chopper turned sharply. At the same time, Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. A Skeleton was flying towards the lead helicopter that Kwang Hwi was on. It was the undeadmander from the first group of Skeletons. It was Sten. He was holding a greatsword as big as himself with both hands. ¡°Kwaahhh!¡± The Skeleton leader and his greatsword gave Kwang Hwi goosebumps. For a moment, he was dazed, but he forced his wits together and grabbed the AA-12 on hisp. The greatsword shed out the transport door. It was an act to behold¡ªunbelievable, despite seeing it in person. The wind rushed into the aircraft as it saw an opening. Along with it, a hand, devoid of flesh and blood, reached out to Kwang Hwi. However, Kwang Hwi turned his barrel towards Sten and roared at the top of his lungs. ¡°Who the fuck do you think you are?!¡± A squeeze of Kwang Hwi¡¯s finger gave Sten a warm wee. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 50 Chapter 50 The impact from the shotgun shells sted Sten away from the aircraft. Kwang Hwi squeezed the trigger until the magazine was empty. Sten crashed into the ground and tumbled violently from thending. An unfortunate tree was caught in his path, and it snapped in half, scattering dust throughout the air. ¡°How dare you, mortal!¡± Sten quickly drove his greatsword into the earth and stopped himself from sliding further. After regaining his footing, he drew out his greatsword, which had cut deep as the earth failed to hide its inner flesh. On the other side, the executives frantically confirmed Kwang Hwi¡¯s safety. ¨C Boss, you good?! ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¨C That bastard went after themander! Get his ass first! ¨C Roger! The Dragonflies encircled Sten. ¨C Smoke ¡®em! With only a moment¡¯s rest, the autocannons began to spit fire again. The high-caliber bullets tore up Sten¡¯s vicinity without mercy. The harmless trees standing by the side had their branches split into two, and then to dust. Clumps of soil were forcibly dug up and tossed into the air. Sten braced himself to leap out of the way, but he quickly changed his mind and raised his sword forward. He had decided to stand his ground. ¡°Shield.¡± The magic runes etched into his bones let off a disheartening glow. In the blink of an eye, a dark force field barrier emerged out of thin air, protecting Sten from all directions. A shellnded a second toote and collided with his defense field. Fortunately for Sten, the magical force field sessfully withstood the shell¡¯s firepower. ¨C He¡¯s got a protective shield. ¡°Focus all firepower till it breaks.¡± ¨C Roger! Multiple autocannon rounds poured down onto the force field from all angles. The impact of each round started umting at an exponential rate. Soon, Sten was forced to back off. The autocannon¡¯s destructive power was stronger than he had imagined. The seemingly sturdy barrier was reaching its limit under the relentless assault. This became more evident as the dark force field started to lose its opacity. What was initially impossible to see through was now bing brighter. Darkness was now a slightly darker grey. As the color brightened, the cracks in the force field started spreading like a spider¡¯s web. While Sten was at the receiving end of a one-sided beating, a few of the choppersnded near the museum. It was now time for the soldiers to shine. Heavily armed troops disembarked the aircraft and aimed their guns at the nearby Skeletons. The next second, all hell broke loose as the sounds of guns and soldiers¡¯ yells shook the air. The Chinook that was on stand-by in the rear also flew forward. The heavy lifter was carrying a Light Tactical Vehicle by a wire. The helicopter carefully lowered its altitude until the tires of the LTV met the earth. After confirming a sessfulnding, the Chinook disabled the wire and took to the skies. Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s soldiers rushed toward the vehicle¡ªone to the driver¡¯s seat, the other to the machine gun seat. ¡°Skeletons approaching from NW!¡± Following the driver¡¯s call, the gunner, heavy machine gun in hand, squeezed the trigger with all his might. The Skeletons also responded to melee warfare. They ditched their bows and pulled out their swords while nearing Kwang Hwi¡¯s troops. At the same time, the Skeletons gathered together into a small group. Their target: the Light Tactical Vehicle. However, even though they had high aspirations, to Skeletons, who were nothing but bones, a .50 cal round was overkill. The small force of calcium was eviscerated long before they could even reach the vehicle. Limbs, rib cages, and even skulls were shattered and turned into bone powder. The yellow earth was now turning white. Meanwhile, the Chinook hadn¡¯t left the scene after delivering the Light Tactical Vehicle. Rather, it was still circling the area. ¡°Opening rear door!¡± Gusts of nose-piercing gunpowder smell escaped the rearpartment as the door opened. A soldier, cringing slightly from the gunpowder smell, grabbed hold of the minigun installed at the end of the rearpartment. Once he double-checked the safety rope secured around him, the soldier scanned the scene below. Thanks to the Chinook operator adjusting its position, they were now in the perfect spot to engage the Skeletons. Without further ado, the gunner pressed down on both levers. The main body¡¯s axle in the center supported the minigun as the six barrels initiated their rotation. Gas and the searing me became one and sted down fire and fury. The Skeletons aiming their arrows at the Chinook were, simply put, wiped out. The sight reminded one of a skiff breaking into pieces after crashing into a reef. In a simr manner, bone fragments were sprawled about everywhere. Hot shell casings poured out of the ejection port and hit the floor with a ng. It was a torrential downpour of brass, one might say. The might of a minigun capable of spitting 4000 rounds per minute was there for everyone to see. While the Skeletons disintegrated on this side, Sten¡¯s magical force field weed its own disintegration. Just as the force field shattered like ss, Sten dove to his side to avoid the hail of bullets. The bullets drew a line on the soil, grazing Sten as it whizzed by. Once Sten¡¯s protection was out of the picture, another chopper quickly turned its nose to join the fray. The chopper leaned slightly to the side and pointed its autocannon towards the bone leader. Seeing the muzzle pointed at him, Sten quickly raised his greatsword to defend. His weapon was bombarded by the autocannon fire, and a sharp metal sound rang out as faint sparks flew off of the sword. Sten¡¯s fleshless skull formed what seemed to be a frown. His most trusted ally, his sword in which he prided in being the sturdiest one of them all, was beginning to crack. Of course, this heartbreaking shock was only in Sten¡¯s mind. The Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s pilots were experiencing a different type of disbelief: a mere metal de was able to withstand so much. The minigun, the annihtor of Skeletons, also turned its barrel towards Sten. Even the choppers taking a brief pause after unloading troops were headed here. Then came an unrelenting barrage of 7.62mm and 25mm rounds. Sten rushed to change his position after realizing the true gravity of the situation he was in now. But it was toote. No matter how much he moved, he couldn¡¯tst more than 3 seconds in a single position. There was no way that airborne choppers would miss Sten. The trees and statues he used as cover all melted away against the absolute dominance of modern weaponry. Sten came to another realization: they had gravely underestimated the humans of this world. Once again, it was another realization that came toote. ¡°I¡­ I must warn Lord Bannis¡­!¡± A 25mm autocannon round demolished his head before Sten could finish his words. He had done his best to shield his skull, but his arms were already in pieces. His pride, the greatsword, was also riddled with holes. Like sshing blood, white bone pieces scattered apart into the air. Next, tiny fragments rained down onto the ground. The persistent skeletal body failed to stand any longer and turned to white dust, mixing into the mud. [You have defeated ¡®Skeleton Knight Sten.¡¯] [You have obtained 200,000 MP.] [You have defeated a member of the ¡®Bannis¡¯ family.] [You have defeated a figure of renown in their former world. An additional 300,000 MP will be rewarded.] After witnessing the final moments of Sten, Kwang Hwi turned his head. Under the gazebo attached to the Mirror Pond stood a bizarre-looking creature with three eyes. At the moment, the creature had both his arms forward towards the pond. Although Kwang Hwi had never seen him before, he instinctively knew this creature. ¡®Armata!¡¯ Words failed to exin the dreadful difort overwhelming Kwang Hwi. For someone who always managed to maintain his cool no matter how dire the circumstances, this was quite baffling. Armata, on the other hand, aggressively embraced Kwang Hwi¡¯s gaze. ¡®How dare you, puny human!¡¯ What Armata was feeling was different. It was rage. The bottled-up hostility against the man who constantly managed to get in his way was now erupting, inciting him to finish him once and for all. Armata retracted his left arm from his stance. Despite his desires to crush the humans with all his might, much of his strength was required to maintain the portal. In the end, Armata just waved his left hand around in the air. Aplex magic circle was formed out of nowhere. It was not the end, though. Dark crystals emerged from Armata¡¯s body, reaching dozens in numbers. ¡°Maximize creation speed.¡± Next, the magic circle glowed brightly. ¡°Stone Golem, feature settings, Destruction Beam.¡± The magic circle reacted to Armata¡¯s words and vibrated each time he opened his mouth. Towards the end, it shook violently, as if it was going to explode. ¡°Complete.¡± The dark crystals floating in the air soon expanded. At the same time, pieces of rock and stone from the vicinity flew towards the crystals and attached themselves. What was once a small fragment moments ago was now taking a familiar form. It was something that the Kwang Hwi Faction had dealt with countless times. A Mud Golem, but not quite at the same time. Instead of mud, these ones were made of stone. The eyes of these new Stone Golems gave out bright red glows as they stared at the humans. ¡°Scatter!¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s soldiers quickly dove to the sides. A red beam pierced the air and drew a line where the soldiers once were. The beam left ashes and embers in its wake. The Stone Golems shot their Destruction Beams toward the skies. Realizing the danger, the choppers were quick to engage in evasive maneuvers. Fortunately, the beams were slow enough to be dodged. While the Stone Golems were busy attacking the skies, Kwang Hwi¡¯s soldiers refused to sit still and let their enemies dictate the pace of the battle. ¡°Over here. I can see them well.¡± ¡°Right on.¡± The soldier reached for theuncher on his back and brought it forward. [RPG-7] [Also known as ¡®Ah¡¯s Magic Wand¡¯, the RPG-7 is an anti-tank rocket-propelled grenadeuncher. Due to it being rtively cheap and easy to use, it is popr in many countries across the world, including its manufacturer, Russia. While it may becking in armor-pration, it is more than capable of incapacitating vehicles by attacking weak points, such as a vehicle¡¯s tracks and gun barrel.] Invented in Russia but cherished and loved by the terrorists, no anti-tank rocketuncher was superior to the RPG-7 when it came to cost-effectiveness. ¡°Hurry up.¡± The soldier carrying the warhead quickly proceeded to assemble the warhead and the booster. Thanks to countless hours of practice, the assembling did not take long. The warhead was now one with the booster, and they were carefully inserted into theuncher. The soldier didn¡¯t forget to fully twist them in with a quick snap of the wrist. After helping the gunner load theuncher, the spotter tapped his helmet. He was clear to engage. The gunner eyed a Stone Golem shooting outser beams. The distance between them wasn¡¯t that far. He had practiced hitting targets at the maximum range; this was nothingpared to that. He was confident innding a clear shot. ¡®Hwooooo-op.¡¯ A deep breath. And then a gentle squeeze. The propent charge within the booster sted the warhead out of theuncher. The shockwave shook the grass around the gunner, and gas from theuncher¡¯s rear dissipated in the atmosphere. After the warhead traveled a few meters, the stabilizing fins at the front were deployed to give it drag. And then the final bastion of the warhead, the fuse safety, was disengaged. The RPG warheadnded squarely on the Stone Golem¡¯s dome, and the impact shook the surrounding. The superman-like red beam ceased pouring from its eyes. Although the force wasn¡¯t enough to prate tank armor, for Stone Golems made entirely out of stone, it was menacing. Thus began a crude symphony of rockets and sts echoing from multiple points across the area. A symphony yed by RPG warheads. They soared through the air, eager to baptize the Stone Golems with unholy fire. The explosions continued without any pause in sight. The Stone Golems were being reduced to sharp stone shrapnels, which ricocheted off across the impact zone. The formation of mighty Stone Golems was breaking apart, and their fierce attacks were forcibly halted. Leaving the RPG operators, the remaining Kwang Hwi¡¯s forces stopped dodging. They were now busy joining the counter-attack. In the sky, the choppers transitioned from their evasive maneuvers to aiming their autocannons toward the enemy. The machine gunners of the Light Tactical Vehicles followed suit and turned their muzzles as well. In an instant, the tables had turned. The concentrated assault was proving a bit too much for the Golems. Under the carnage of high caliber rounds and shells, they began to shake even more violently. Bullet holes now decorated the rough surface of the Stone Golems. As the number of holes increased, their movements became slower. Kwang Hwi was not someone who would stand by and watch from the side. He took out his beloved M32A1 Grenade Launcher and joined in on the fun. The grenade round formed a gradual curve as it flew. Another explosion urred in the backside of the first Stone Golem to be hit with the RPG, which now had half of a face. Perhaps it had reached its limit. The Stone Golem crumbled helplessly. Like falling dominoes, the Stone Golems began kneeling down one by one. The troops engaged the enemy even more aggressively once they witnessed their fall. ¡®Now it¡¯s that fucker¡¯s turn.¡¯ Kwang Hwi¡¯s sharp gaze traveled past the Golems and caught sight of Armata. As long as the Golems were out of the way, Armata was nothing. *** Unlike Kwang Hwi, who was closing in on his objective, Armata was anxiously biting his lip. ¡®Come on, any minute now!¡¯ He had also realized that death was an actual possibility here. But stopping the summoning was no longer an option either. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t afford to create more minions since most of his strength was used in maintaining the portal. Bannis, the one Skeleton leader served, needed toe out faster to obliterate the humans. As Armata prayed in his heart, the zing me suddenly started to grow smaller. A dull thud rang in the vicinity, pounding the hearts of everyone. An enormous bone structure was emerging from the water. At the same time, the shrinking ck me finally burst out of control. The few remaining Skeletons turned toward the Mirror Pond and bowed their heads. Although the barrage of rounds rained on their bodies, they did not even budge an inch. ¡°Comander.¡± ¡°Wh-what in God¡¯s name is¡­¡± For a brief moment, the fighting stopped, as the neer was too big of a shock for the humans. Rising out of the pond was a gigantic creature. A creature made entirely of bones. The humans were not unfamiliar with the sight. The bone creature had been a part of myths, novels, and movies, after all. Kwang Hwi regained his wits and opened his mouth. ¡°A Yong of the West. It¡¯s a Dragon.¡± A dimension-traveling Bone Dragon, Bannis opened his jaws and let out an earth-shaking roar. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 51 Chapter 51 The Bone Dragon roared with sheer might. Its aura and prestige overwhelmed Kwang Hwi¡¯s soldiers, who found themselves taking a step back. Faint hints of fear had now seeped into their faces, erasing their determined expressions. In the sky, unsettling sounds ofughter began to creep out of Bannis the Bone Dragon¡¯s mouth. ¡°Keh, keh, keh, my dear humans, all the way out here to greet m¡ª¡± Before Bannis could finish, a grenade round exploded in his eyes. Kwang Hwi yelled after unloading all his grenade rounds on the new foe, ¡°EVERYBODY GET YOUR F*CKING SHIT TOGETHER!¡± The Bone Dragon¡¯s roar paled inparison to his roar. His leadership aura broke the overpowering image in the soldiers¡¯ minds. They jumped in shock, and their shit and their wits were shoved back into their heads. ¡°You dare!¡± Bannis was enraged when a mere mortal dared challenge his majesty. He spread his wings wide, as if he was going to cover the whole sky. The wings were made up of hundreds and thousands of bones tightly weaved together; they were a terrifying sight to behold. A powerful wind buffeted around the surrounding. It was strong enough to push the heavily armed troops of the Kwang Hwi Faction. ¡°Dragonflies, intercept the dragon.¡± ¨C Roger! Unfortunately, the Stinger missiles were already used up on the Giant Bett. The Dragonflies had to face the dragon with a limited amount of autocannon ammunition. Bannis let off a crooked smile as he scanned his surroundings. ¡°Flying machines¡­ quite amusing you are, humans of this world.¡± As the Bone Dragon¡¯s massive body lurched forward, the choppers gathering to fire autocannons quickly turned to dodge the dragon¡¯s body m. Fortunately, his speed wasn¡¯t as superior due to his huge size. The Dragonflies continued to dodge Bannis by a hair¡¯s breadth. When the Bone Dragon noticed this, he became irritated,shing out in anger. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but mere mortals!¡± The Bone Dragon¡¯s mouth opened once more. Inside was nothing but darkness, but all of a sudden, a faint silhouette began to emerge. Amid sharp whistles, bone arrows zoomed past the Dragonflies. Although the arrows merely grazed the choppers, the impact was strong enough to rip away their armor. These arrows were on apletely different level from the bone arrows shot by the Skeletons. The pilots were struck with a sudden wave of fear. ¨C re! The decoys covered the Bone Dragon¡¯s sight, halting its pursuit. These were no ordinary decoys, though. They were res with enough heat to deceive heat-seeking missiles. Even a Bone Dragon couldn¡¯t help but pause slightly in caution. The choppers took this opportunity to distance themselves from the dragon. The Chinook, which was already positioned far away, started raging fire at the dragon, getting its attention. However, the 4000 rounds per minute lost all weight against the mighty Bannis. The bullets bounced off of his bones and fell into the pond. They were like needle pricks to the dragon. Having caught sight of the Chinook, Bannis opened his mouth and fired his bone arrows as if he was swatting away a fly. The heavy-lifter did its best to avoid the iing attack, but a slightly dyed reaction resulted in catastrophe. An arrow prated the front main rotor, causing it to explode. A Chinook was a transport helicopter lifted into the air by two sets of rotors. If one of the rotors lost its functionality, then the aircraft would fail to stay in the air. The pilot tried to restart the rotor, but this caused another smaller explosion, entirely separating the rotor from the body. ¨C Mayday! Mayday! We¡¯re going down! The Chinook pilot desperately pulled the control stick to reduce the uing impact. His effort and desperation were enough to move even the heavens, as there was a miracle. The helicopter avoided the troops andnded on the west pavilion of the museum. A deafening sound rang across the battlefield, followed by a wave of dust rising from the ground. The Dragonflies turned around and started firing back at the bone Dragon. Against Bannis, the autocannon rounds proved superior to their 7.62mm counterparts. His expression darkened since the impact definitely felt stronger. A much angrier Bone Dragon was now rushing towards the choppers. However, the choppers retreated after exhausting their ammunition. Grinding his teeth, Kwang Hwi yanked the receiver. ¡°Jackson.¡± ¨C Yes, boss! ¡°We need close air support.¡± ¨C ETA 2 minutes. Two minutes. Kwang Hwi instantly issued new orders. ¡°Dragonflies! I don¡¯t care what you do, but stall that beast for two minutes. TWO MINUTES! The rest of you, get the fuck out of here! All remaining ground forces, retreat NOW!¡± As he was hurling out orders, the Light Tactical Vehicle pulled up in front of Kwang Hwi. He then began to shove his soldiers into the vehicle. ¡°Squeeze in as much as you can!¡± Following their leaders, the Kwang Hwi Faction soldiers hastily fled the battlefield. Kwang Hwi also jumped onto the vehicle, hanging on its side, and took out a small stick from his pocket. Theser automatically detected and transmitted the Bone Dragon¡¯s coordinates. ¨C Target Confirmed! Apanied by an ear-piercing noise, the cross-shaped aircraft pierced through the skies. An angry lion, Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s symbol, was drawn into the cockpit. Even the Bone Dragon was startled by the sharp whistle and turned around. The Dragonflies were quick to flee the scene. It was risky enough for multiple helicopters to engage in battle together, and if a jet was to join the fray, the airspace would turn into a disorderly mess. [A-10C Thunderbolt II] [An attack jet aircraft of the US Air Force, the A-10C was the first one of its kind to be designed for close air support. It is not onlypatible with a multitude of armaments, but it also possesses superior maneuverability at low altitudes. The high durability and ability to carry out long-duration flights make the A-10C an exceptional model that satisfies various needs for carrying out missions. The aircraft can be equipped with a 30mm GAU-8 gatling autocannon and up to 11 explosive missiles at a time.] [Cost: 1,260,000 MP] ¨C Hellooo! You motherfucker! It was an A-10C Thunderbolt, aka the ¡®Warthog,¡¯ making an appearance. The GAU-8 gatling gun equipped at the front of the jet started to spit fire. The recoil shook the jet¡¯s interior, almost powerful enough to slow down the aircraft to a grinding halt. The recoil reflected the gun¡¯s firepower, though. Bannis¡¯ bones, which were able to withstand 25mm autocannons without a scratch, began to fracture. ¡°Kaahhh!¡± Afterpleting its strafe, the A-10 casually flew past above the Bone Dragon¡¯s head. Which, of course, given Jackson¡¯s exciting personality, was no casual stroll by any means. Under each wing, and attack missile was conveniently ced. When the thunderbolt was going past the dragon, both missiles were released from their shackles. Their timing couldn¡¯t have been better. Even the Bone Dragon wasn¡¯t able to withstand a direct hit from the missiles, and his bones began to break. Realizing the danger he was in, Bannis quickly opened his mouth, muttering inaudible words. Several surviving Skeletons near the pond shattered into smaller bits and flew towards him. Although it was minor at best, some cracks and wounds were healed. ¡°Dammit!¡± His minions were all disposed of, which meant that he wouldn¡¯t be able to restore his wounds any further. Bannis red at the A-10 making a semicircle in the distance. He wasn¡¯t able to respond aptly since such weaponry didn¡¯t exist in his world. On top of that, he wasn¡¯t able to cast magic since he wasn¡¯t a real dragon. He only had one ranged attack in his arsenal. The Bone Dragon¡¯s jaws opened once again. Within the depths of his mouth, bone arrows started materializing. This time, there were several dozens of them. Bone arrows rushed out of his mouth in a wide spread. A shotgun of bones. But it was nothing more than mere child¡¯s y for the A-10. The warthog shifted sideways and dodged the arrows with ease. At the same time, Stinger missiles wereunched at the Bone Dragon. Bannis instinctively sensed the threat and spat out another round of bone arrows. His goal was to use the arrows to counter the strange projectile. It wouldn¡¯t have been a bad response¡­ If the Stinger missiles weren¡¯t exponentially faster than the bone arrows. It was apt to say that the missiles were swift like lightning. Flying at twice the speed of sound, the Stingers rushed past the bone arrows andnded squarely at the dragon. One missile evennded inside the Bone Dragon¡¯s mouth and exploded, scatteringrge shrapnel of bones in the air. ¡°Kwwaargh! You damn bastards!¡± Bannis swung his ws at the air. However, his struggles were futile when confronted with the A-10. The jet used this as a chance to close in and rain down 30mm rounds. Vicious ballistic roars echoed throughout the atmosphere. Glowing red streaks of light stabbed the struggling Bannis. His sturdy bone tes gave way eventually. It was too much firepower for them to handle. The thing was, these bones wereponents of the wing. And once Bannis lost his thrust power, he sank to the earth. The ground caved in, and arge pit formed where hended. The impact was so big that a shockwave swept the surroundings, raising dust into the air. Despite being entirely made up of bones, his weight was still overwhelming. ¨C Dropping all remaining explosives! The A-10 grazed past the skeletal ws and dropped its remaining bombs. The drop might seem careless, but these explosives were equipped with precise guidance capabilities. Every single one of them hit the Bone Dragon. shing lights and shockwaves swallowed the Bone Dragon whole. The carpeted strike rose clouds of dust, making it impossible to see. Jackson stayed vignt and continued to fire the GAU-8 into the dust. Soon, a blood-curdling shriek faintly resounded. A new notification popped up in front of Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes. [You have defeated ¡®Bannis the Bone Dragon.¡¯] [You have obtained 1,000,000 MP.] [You have defeated a member of the ¡®10 Kings.¡¯] [The Undead will trouble you no more. You have been rewarded another 1,000,000 MP.] The haze slowly cleared away and presented a graveyard of bones¡ªbones that belonged to Bone Dragon Bannis¡ªwhere the National Museum once stood. It was quite the sight. Enjoying the new scenery, Kwang Hwi thought of an idea. ¡®Maybe we should build a museum here.¡¯ It was the founding step for the that would be built in the future. Kwang Hwi strolled towards the Mirror Pond as he thought of future ns. However, this battle wasn¡¯t over yet. The inter-dimensional portal was still open, and Armata was yet to be apprehended. The A-10 streaked across above Kwang Hwi¡¯s head. ¨C Boss, Armata stepped out of the gazebo. ¡°Dragonflies, surround Armata. Smoke his ass if he tries anything weird.¡± ¨C Roger,mander! Unlike Kwang Hwi¡¯s concern, Armata seemed to be having a hard time moving. As a result, the choppers encircled him without any trouble. Armata, as if showing his will to surrender, nonchntly sat still on the ground. Kwang Hwi¡¯s soldiers quickly raised their guns. When Armata saw Kwang Hwi, he raised both hands into the air. ¡°Beaten. By a mere human.¡± Kwang Hwi wasn¡¯t sure how, but he fully understood Armata¡¯s words. The man wasn¡¯t speaking Korean. Thenguage that came out of Armata¡¯s mouth was definitely alien and unheard of. But for some reason, the gibberish became clear in Kwang Hwi¡¯s head. To confirm his suspicion, Kwang Hwi spoke in his ownnguage to the monster, ¡°In our world, humans are considered the most supreme of all creations.¡± ¡°Hah! Supreme of all creation, you say?¡± Despite being spoken to in Korean, Armata understood every single word and responded in his ownnguage, ¡°To think that I¡¯d run into more humans after running away from them. My luck seems to have run out.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Armata kept his mouth shut, not bothering to entertain Kwang Hwi. Kwang Hwi¡¯s gaze shifted from Armata to the pond. The portal was still active there. Fortunately for the Kwang Hwi Faction, nothing was traveling through the portal. Unfortunately for Armata, however, the portal had to be closed. Kwang Hwi pointed at the pond. ¡°Shut it.¡± ¡°Kuhk, you daremand me?¡± ¡°Need a bit of motivation?¡± ¡°Do what you want. You¡¯re mistaken if you think my death will cause the portal to close.¡± For a brief second, Kwang Hwi almost believed him. However, it was almost only, as texts popped out in front of his eyes. [Emergency Mission!] [y Armata to destroy the inter-dimensional portal.] [Reward: 2,000,000 MP] [Failure: Complete annihtion of Kwang Hwi Faction and elerated levels of chaos across the Republic of Korea] An emergency mission was given to Kwang Hwi. ¡®Why is thising up now¡­?¡¯ ¡®Oh.¡¯ Kwang Hwi firmly shut his mouth. The answer was obvious. ¡°Motivation it is.¡± Kwang Hwi swung around, his back facing Armata. Both Armata and Kwang Hwi¡¯s executives were flustered by his response. ¡°Dragonflies, turn him into powder.¡± ¨C Roger that! The choppers immediately spewed fire as if they were waiting for themand their whole life. The soldiers weren¡¯t the ones to be left behind. Their fingers squeezed the triggers of their rifles, and RPG rockets flew across the air, apanied by the glorious music of war. ¡°Shit.¡± Armata smiled helplessly. He had used all his strength powering up the portal, so all he could do now was watch as his demise came closer. Armata¡¯s body was ripped apart into pieces. ck blood showered the earth, and chunks of flesh flew into the sky. [You have defeated ¡®Armata the Golem Master.¡¯] [You have obtained 1,000,000 MP.] [You have defeated a member of the ¡®10 Kings.¡¯] [Your deeds are still unknown to the remaining members of the ¡®10 Kings,¡¯ but they will eventually be aware. You have been rewarded another 1,000,000 MP.] [You are the first person in the world to defeat 1100 ¡®Mud Golems¡¯.] [You have obtained¡­] [You are the first person in the world to defeat 1200 ¡®Mud Golems¡¯.] [You have obtained¡­] [You are the first person in the world to defeat 1300 ¡®Mud Golems¡¯.] [You have obtained¡­] The ck me dissipated. The pond found its pure color. The blue skies returned to shine down once more. The inter-dimensional portal was no more. [Emergency Mission Complete!] [You have in Armata and destroyed the inter-dimensional portal.] [You have been rewarded 2,000,000 MP.] ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 52 Chapter 52 The entire National Museum of Korea had been razed to the ground under the merciless onught. The battle was over in a jiffy, and Kwang Hwi emerged as the obvious victor. He immediately visited the Merit Shop to purchase 25mm rounds. All munitions were used up in the previous fight. They would be helpless if more enemies showed up in their current state. ¡°Yeah! Put it there.¡± ¡°Grab it and stay put!¡± As the pilots and soldiers resupplied themselves, the ngs and dull rustling of iron resounded throughout the field. ¡°Hurry! Take off now!¡± The Mi-26 Transport Helicopter took to the sky, bringing the wounded and the Light Tactical Vehicle along with it. Fortunately, the injury count was reduced to the minimum, and they only belonged to the Chinook helicopter that was shot down by the Bone Dragon: three pilots, an engineer, and the gunner manning the minigun. Kwang Hwi stared at the fading helicopter. ¡°How are they?¡± ¡°The medic says it¡¯s pretty bad. A miracle, really, for them to be breathing¡­¡± ¡°Phew.¡± Avoiding instant death was more than one could ever hope for. Kwang Hwi silently prayed for the injured to be healed. ¡®Hold on.¡¯ ¡°We¡¯ll head back once we finish loading up autocannon rounds into the choppers.¡± ¡°Commander.¡± Kwang Hwi turned to the executive. ¡°We checked with the UAV; Yongsan district seems clean, with no monsters anywhere. How about we check it out while we¡¯re out here, sir?¡± ¡°Our troops need rest, no?¡± ¡°They do¡­ A tiny bit of rest with some energy bars might do the trick, though.¡± While Kwang Hwi hesitated, Soo Min chimed in from all the way in HQ to help persuade Kwang Hwi. ¨C We might as well check out what the Ministry of Defense and Joint Chief of Staff have been up to. About a month ago, we confirmed records of several VIPs, including the Secretary of Defense entering an underground facility below the governmentplex. ¡°The Secretary of Defense?¡± When they had secured the presidentst time, they did not find any secretaries of any government department. ¨C If our findings are correct, there should also be a ckhawk and some armored vehicles stored there. Kwang Hwi nodded eventually. With no more monsters left to fight, now was a good time as any to check it out. ¡°Pack some food into Mi-26 and send it over here. It should be on its way there with the wounded.¡± ¨C Roger! Kwang Hwi sat down on the bench next to the pond. This bench was surprisingly untouched, unlike its brethren that were mangled beyond recognition by shrapnel and pieces of monsters. A few clumps of bone powder here and there were quickly brushed off. [Combat Force Info] *Title* ¨C Kwang Hwi Faction (View Symbol) *Commander-in-chief* ¨C [Absolute Leader] Kwang Hwi Baek *Controlling Area* ¨C [HQ] Dongducheon City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea ¨C Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea ¨C Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea ¨C Paju City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea ¨C Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea *Total Force* ¨C 300(+1) *Equipment* ¨C (Operating) 2x K9 SPG ¨C (Operating) 2x Namer APC ¨C (Operating) 2x Mk-4 Merkava Main Battle Tank ¨C (Operating) 10x Light Tactical Vehicle ¨C (Operating) 5x Medium Tactical Vehicle ¨C (Operating) 1x IAI Heron UAV ¨C (Operating) 1x Night Intruder-300 UAV ¨C (Operating) 1x Pantsir S-1 ¨C (Operating) 1x Mi-26 ¨C (Operating) 8x AH-8 Littlebird ¨C (Operating) 1x A-10C Thunderbolt ¨C (Inoperative) 1x CH-47 Chinook ¨C (Operating) Heaven¡¯s Eye Reconnaissance Satellite ¨C (Operating) Heaven¡¯s Ear Military Communications Satellite And at the very bottom, the total amount of Merit Points in Kwang Hwi¡¯s possession was disyed. [Merit Points: 8,240,000] ¡®Quite the haul today.¡¯ He had spent 1,260,000 MP earlier on the A-10C Thunderbolt. With the current amount of Merit Points, it was possible to buy even more A-10Cs or attack helicopters. The Ah-64D Apache that Jackson mored about was 4,780,000 MP. Another possible substitute mentioned during their discussion, the AH-1Z Viper, cost 3,200,000 MP. The cheapest one, the Russian Mi-28 Havoc, was 1,500,000 MP. The Kamov KA-50 from the same country had a price tag of 1,610,000 MP. He could buy up to five of those. However, even if he bought them now, these choppers wouldn¡¯t be in use immediately. Although the Kwang Hwi Faction hadunched its own pilot training program, it was still taking its baby steps. Smashed helicopters could be repaired through Merit Points. But the same couldn¡¯t be said for losing pilots. ¡®Any pilots out there¡­¡¯ Kwang Hwi could only pray that there were pilots hiding in the underground facility. *** The troops filled their stomachs with the food brought by the Mi-26. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head out.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The group in Seoul was divided into two. Kwang Hwi personally led one team to investigate the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff offices, and, if possible, meet the Secretary of Defense. Until a few years back, the United States Forces Korea headquarters was located in Yongsan, but then they moved down to the countryside. In the end, it meant less work for Kwang Hwi. The other remaining team was tasked with investigating the densely popted areas of Yongsan. Their goal was to rescue the survivors in hiding. Kwang Hwi permitted them to use the Mi-26, which was big enough to fit 90 people at a time. ¡°Send out the rescue team first.¡± ¡°Roger.¡± Three Dragonflies and the sole Mi-26 headed off first. Attached to the transport helicopter was arge speaker to lure out survivors. ¨C People of Yongsan district! We¡¯re here to rescue you! If you can hear this broadcast, pleasee outside! We will provide you with food and shelter. The broadcast was loud enough to almost bury the rotor sounds from the chopper. People would¡¯ve called the cops for noiseints if things were still the way they were. ¡°We¡¯ll head out as well.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s team boarded the Dragonflies and took off. The Ministry of Defense offices weren¡¯t far, and they soon saw the two buildings standing proudly in the distance. They were the Ministry of Defense building and the newly built Joint Chiefs of Staff building. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look too intact, huh.¡± ¡°It looks like the Golems came by first, sir.¡± Traces of destruction and ughter left by Armata¡¯s minions were clear and visible for the eyes to see, especially so in the building¡¯s front garden. Pieces of ripped human torso dirtied the green with red. Although they were dposed beyond recognition, Kwang Hwi was still able to see through the decay. He had once seen a simr horrific sight back when he was in Africa. Green grass was turned crimson, and it was not a sight to see for people with weak stomachs. The Dragonfliesnded softly on top of the grass, and the soldiers disembarked from the transportpartment to scan the area. Confirming that all the members had exited, the choppers lifted off again. They had to be airborne, just in case they had to react to any uncertainties. The team quickly moved into the government building. These soldiers had already turned into experts at this point. With no monsters barring their way, they swept through the building like a tornado. Kwang Hwi kept eyes on the status of the wounded as he awaited the recon results. ¨C Commander, we¡¯ve finished searching through the building. ¡°Even the Joint Chiefs of Staff building?¡± ¨C Yes, sir. We¡¯ve checked everything minus one area, which was crumbled down from Golem attacks. No survivors were found. Kwang Hwi nodded. The results were expected. ¡°Alright. Head back to the 1st-floor lobby.¡± Kwang Hwi grabbed his HK416C and also went upstairs. ¡°Soo Min, I¡¯m all yours now.¡± ¨C Roger that, Commander. Head down to the 1st basement floor. Kwang Hwi led his troops to the underground structures. The staff dining hall was located in the basement. When the men stepped foot inside, they were greeted by wafts of rotten food. ¡°We¡¯re here. Where¡¯s our next location?¡± ¨C Men¡¯s room, the veryst stall. A mere bathroom being the next target surprised an official moving with the team. He wore a baffled expression. Kwang Hwi remained indifferent, though, and followed his guide. Dust was piled thick in the bathroom, as it had been left unattended for a long time. Still, it was in much better shape than the garden outside. The team moved to thest stall. A cautious push. It had the same structure as any other stall one would find anywhere: a toilet in the middle and arge bin in a corner. ¨C At one side of the bin, there should be a small button. Press it three times in a row. Kwang Hwi felt across the bin with his hand. Certainly enough, there was a small button at the side. The button was white, matching the bin, so it was really easy to miss. *Click. Click. Click.* The response was immediate as the wall on the opposite side split open. Shocked, the soldiers aimed their guns towards the new opening. Fortunately, there was nothing but a downward passage beyond the wall. There were no monsters or other hints of danger. ¨C Do you see the passage? You just have to follow it. Kwang Hwi entered the passage and walked down the hall. The automatic sensors detected movement and switched on the lights, chasing away the darkness. The lights illuminated the end of the passage. The team was greeted with the same set of doors as the ones seen under the Blue Pce. This was one of the facilities mentioned in the president¡¯sptop: the VIP emergency underground shelter linked between the Ministry of National Defense building basement and the Joint Chiefs of Staff building basement. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± ¨C I¡¯ll open the door remotely. There might be an ambush waiting inside, so please proceed with caution. ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it. Just open the door.¡± Any possible hostiles beyond this door were unarmed. Hence, the chance of Kwang Hwi¡¯s team losing against unarmed retaliation was zero. Fully armed soldiers rushed to the front. They covered the leader with their bodies and raised their barrels towards the front. Kwang Hwi also grabbed his Glock in the leg holster. The security system located above the doors activated itself. These doors were impossible to open, let alone approach, with low authorization levels. But with theirptop, it was possible to enter into any facilities. [Top Authorization Level Confirmed.] [Opening Doors.] With a hiss, the doors opened, and right away, the soldiers swiftly infiltrated indoors. They swept the ce once before shouting, ¡°All clear!¡± Kwang Hwi followed through with his official, who was flinching with nervousness. ¡°This feels more like a hangar than a shelter.¡± The inside part was a lot more spacious than imaginable. This was no simple bunker by any means. It was more of abination between a hangar and a shelter. The doors that Kwang Hwi entered through were in the center. To the left were themand center, office, and living quarters, while military equipment was lined up on the opposite end. Most of the equipment was firearms or weapons, including the K-2 Assault Rifle, but they were ruined beyond repair. Some features stood out among the rest. Beside the military equipment, multiple freight elevators were installed. They weren¡¯t small elevatorsmonly seen in civilian facilities or apartments. Instead, these were huge models, big enough to move armored vehicles and helicopters. Kwang Hwi approached the freight elevators. [Freight Elevator No. 1] There was nothing left in the spot where the lift was supposed to be, with only four pirs supporting the elevator remaining in solitude. Kwang Hwi¡¯s eyes moved toward the ceiling. It was wide open, but the elevator shaft was engulfed in darkness. No. 2 and 3 were also in simr shape. Off to the side of the elevators, K-21 Infantry Fighting Vehicles with several holes in their sides and Light Tactical Vehicles stood unattended. The ckhawk chopper, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen. ¡°I don¡¯t see the ckhawk anywhere. The freight elevators were already activated as well.¡± ¨C Is that so? After a moment of silence, Soo Min solved the mystery in Kwang Hwi¡¯s head. ¨C I think the VIPs that were sheltered here took the ckhawk and escaped Seoul. ¡°Looks like it.¡± Kwang Hwi smacked his lips. The VIPs could always be taken care ofter, but losing such critical equipment was definitely a shame. The ckhawk would¡¯vee in handy. ¡°Commander!¡± Kwang Hwi turned his head. There were people being dragged out by his soldiers. They weren¡¯t in standard military uniforms but in G-Suits, worn only by pilots. ¡°We found them hiding in a corner.¡± ¡°Are-are you the rescue team?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡®Just what we needed.¡¯ ¡°I-I¡¯m Captain Jung In Lee, Army Aviation Operations Command.¡± ¡°Warrant Officer Ho Jun Kim.¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s expression brightened. Warrant officers usually had more flight experience than most regr officer pilots. After lightly exchanging greetings, Kwang Hwi stopped beating around the bush, inquiring about the Secretary of Defense¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°We heard that the Secretary of Defense came down here right as the monsters started appearing. Do you know where he went?¡± ¡°That son of a bitch? We¡¯re not so sure ourselves.¡± ¡°Probably ran off somewhere, with his minions.¡± ¡°¡­Did something happen?¡± The two pilots didn¡¯t hesitate to mask their anger against the Secretary of Defense. ¡°When the monsters first appeared, the people working in the Ministry of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff didn¡¯t think much of the situation. They all believed things would quickly die down. But that was obviously not the case. As you¡¯ve already seen, firearms and weapons turned to shit, and the military became powerless. ¡°The few who realized the true gravity of the situation hurried down here. This shelter might be ssified, but everyone who worked in these buildings knew about this ce. But the Secretary of Defense entered in first and locked the doors.¡± ¡°He locked¡­ the doors?¡± ¡°This facility is capable of sheltering up to 150 people. But that didn¡¯t matter to the secretary. He only opened the doors for his close allies, some bodyguards, and pilots needed for flying the helicopter. He only looked out for himself.¡± The two pilots¡¯ faces reddened as they continued to recap the scenes back then. ¡°Even though he was our superior, his actions made us furious. We tried reasoning with him¡­ that we had to let everyone in¡­ that this ce was more than capable of handling everyone. Next thing you know, he attacked us, and we lost consciousness.¡± Recounting those memories caused the pilots to frown and rub the back of their heads. ¡°When we woke up, the secretary was gone with the helicopter¡­ We had no choice but to remain here.¡± ¡°I see.¡± After listening to their story, Kwang Hwi receded into deep thought. He assumed that winning over these two gentlemen would be as easy as taking candy from a baby. ¡ª ¦¸ ¡ª Chapter 53 Chapter 53 His expectations weren¡¯t wrong. The two men were more than happy to join the Kwang Hwi Faction. ¡°I¡¯m in. Can¡¯t live in a world run by monsters forever.¡± ¡°Count me in as well. My family went on a trip overseas, and I want to see them.¡± There was no need to bring up the President. ¡°Wee, gentlemen.¡± Kwang Hwi was now able to return with some weight off of his chest. The rescue team also managed to secure arge number of ¡®human resources¡¯ his faction alwayscked. That was not all. More good news awaited Kwang Hwi as he returned back to the Dongducheon HQ. ¡°The surgery was finished as soon as possible.¡± ¡°How are they?¡± ¡°We¡¯d have to wait and see to be sure, but as of now, their conditions seem stable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± The soldiers were allowed to rest after a long day, but Kwang Hwi and his executives still had work to do. After taking their seats, the executives turned to their leader to begin the meeting. All executives assigned to outer defenses and the Uijeongbu forward base were assembled here, awaiting Kwang Hwi¡¯s instructions. Kwang Hwi cut straight to the point. ¡°To Seoul.¡± The people on the table remainedposed, as if they were already expecting this. Only Jackson yelled YES in excitement. The rest maintained silent approval. Soo Min, on the other hand, failed to conform and provided realistic criticism. ¡°Commander, our forces number up to about 300 people. We can¡¯t cover our upied territories with them alone.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong in any way. It was a valid point. However, the solution was simple too. It would be pointless to try to cover every inch since theycked the assets to do so. Hence, all they had to do was set up defense lines around key areas and use abandoned facilities as bases. The city would be naturally filled up as time passed. ¡°We¡¯re gonna move HQ to Seoul. Our main base in Dongducheon will be temporarily closed off, and we¡¯ll use a facility with satellite control capabilities to cover the northern areas. And of course, we¡¯ll keep expanding our workforce.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m in.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the boot camp?¡± ¡°Almost done, sir. They should be ready to see action by the time we hit Seoul.¡± ¡°So, about 50 more soldiers. I¡¯m guessing we¡¯re gonna need more gear?¡± Kwang Hwi¡¯s gaze was fixed on Jackson as he spoke, as if he was expecting him to open his mouth. ¡°Hell yeah! An Apache hel¡ª¡± ¡°Hell is where I¡¯ll send you to if you don¡¯t shut up.¡± Jackson¡¯s bright smile turned into a small whimper. Grins escaped the other executives¡¯ faces as they struggled to keep a straight face. Kwang Hwi once again proved to be the only person capable of keeping Jackson under control. ¡°I think we need additional armored units.¡± ¡°Approved. APC or tank?¡± ¡°Two Namer APCs.¡± ¡°Will that be enough?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. We already got a Medium Tactical Vehicle for transport, so two should suffice.¡± Kwang Hwi brought up a map on the big screen, disying it in front of everyone. It was a digital map of the entirety of Seoul. While staring at the map, he muttered to himself, ¡°Where do we start¡­¡± Soo Min managed to catch his silent whisper and pointed to one side of the map. ¡°How about we start here?¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± *** Looking down on Seoul from above, Kwang Hwi grabbed the radio. ¡°Dismount team, have you reached the target?¡± ¨C Dismount team. Yes, sir, we¡¯ve arrived at our target location. Currently searching the interior of the building. ¡°Roger. We¡¯re almost there.¡± The lead Dragonfly with Kwang Hwi on-board entered Sangam-dong, Seoul. A lush green forest stuck out like a sore thumb amidst a jungle of grey apartments. In the middle of the forest was a decentlyrge empty lot. Just as the forest stood out amid the grey, the sandy field was also conspicuous in the green. With the lot in the center, there were paths branching out to each direction, and buildings were built at the end of each path. This ce was originally an oil reservoir but was transformed into a tourist attraction. ¡®Oil Tank Culture Park¡­ was it?¡¯ The nearby Goyang City was all cleaned up, and beside them, there was even a ce to hold rescued survivors. Oil Tank Culture Park, this would be Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s temporary HQ for their conquest of Seoul. The ground troops had arrived earlier and were alreadybing through the buildings. APCs and Tanks were pulling security around the area. ¨C Initiatingnding procedures. The signaler waved his signal baton around with vigor, guiding the helicopter innding. The Dragonfly slowly touched down on the lot. An official approached from afar, wading through the strong wind. ¡°Commander! We¡¯ve finished acquiring the base.¡± ¡°Alright. Show me the way to the situation room.¡± The official led the way in front. [T6 Community Center] This space originally housed a cafe for tourists and several staff offices. However, it was now being transformed with various equipment by Kwang Hwi¡¯s soldiers. They must¡¯ve managed to do some cleaning as well because the ce was slightly neat and organized. The officials themselves were installing critical equipment, mainly dealing with encryption and security. ¡°Is the monitor connected?¡± ¡°We¡¯re setting up power!¡± ¡°Comms system is linked up.¡± ¡°Call HQ and request CCTV ess to this area! Make sure we get all of ¡®em!¡± Overall, the ce was still chaotic, but that didn¡¯t stop Kwang Hwi and his officials from immediately starting their meeting. At least, the necessary equipment for a meeting was prepared. ¡°We should hit Mapo-gu, Eunpyeong-gu, and Seodaemun-gu first.¡± ¡°The monsters in those areas?¡± ¡°All three areas are overrun by these guys.¡± The screen blinked, and a strange monster showed up on disy. It was a new type of monster never seen before. It was tall and built solid like a sculpture, and its full-body armor looked intimidating. A helmet protected its face, a vest shielded its torso, and leather pants with steel tes on top wrapped its lower body, offering both protection and maneuverability. The armor seemed to have dual functionality, as it also had sharp spikes attached to it. For offense, it held a short javelin in its hand, with several of them equipped on its back. It was even wearing something simr to boots, and they had long steel spikes protruding at the end. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how sturdy those spikes are, but it¡¯s probably better not to find out.¡± Whilst tapping his finger on the table, Kwang Hwi opened his mouth. ¡°We¡¯ll deploy APCs and Tanks and engage them from a distance. The choppers will only provide air support for contingencies.¡± ¡°Roger.¡± Unlike their armored units, the AH-6 Littlebirds fell behind when it came to defense. It was entirely possible for them to be taken down while flying low by one of those javelins. After almost losing pilots from the Chinook crash, Kwang Hwi wasn¡¯t willing to risk any more uncertainties. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± *** The Namer APCs rolled forward on its unending track. At the left of the APCs was the Mapo District Hall, whose structure seemed too grand for a mere district hall. ¡°Halt.¡± ¨C Halt! The driver abruptly stopped the vehicle. Tagging alongside, Track No. 3 slowly came to a halt as well. The gunner immediately got to his job, working the fire-control system. The camera zoomed in closer and clearly showed the monsters on the screen. The distance between the vehicle and the monsters was automatically calcted and disyed. ¡°Target ¡®Armor¡¯. 12 o¡¯clock 700 meters.¡± ¨C Track 3 good copy. 700m in front of the APCs were armored monsters, hence the name, ¡®Armor.¡¯ Around five of them were sighted. They were huddling together in the middle of the intersection. It seemed as if they were trying to do something with their hands, but it was hard to tell. ¡°Seoul Main, this is Seoul One. Five Armors detected near Mapo District Hall. Requesting clearance on further action.¡± The response was immediate because Kwang Hwi was observing from the situation room. ¨C Seoul One, Seoul Main. You are clear to engage. The gunner grabbed and shifted the control stick. The autocannon gun moved correspondingly towards the Armors. Along with the rattling of gatling guns, the two APCs opened fire at the same time. The 30mm round shrouded in kic energy pierced straight through their steel armor. The Armor¡¯s back was facing the APCs. When the bullets riddled its body, it slouched forward, and blood squirted out like a water fountain. It fell lifelessly to the side from its seated, hunched position. Once an opening was created, it uncovered what the monsters were fiddling around with. ¡°They um¡­ they¡¯re grilling uh¡­ people and eating them.¡± A person was tied to a tree on the side of the road, and a fire was lit below them. The person tied was already dead, their body burnt to a crisp. The Armor they just dispatched was in the process of eating someone that was already cooked. Off to the side, there were some alive human captives. The Kwang Hwi Faction¡¯s troops¡¯ faces twisted in disgust. ¡°The hell are you waiting for?! Shoot!¡± ¡°Aim! Fire!¡± One of the monsters quickly got up and jumped out of the way, but it was staggering. A round had busted its kneecap through its armor. Had it not gotten up in time, its chest would¡¯ve been turned into a mangled mess. The sudden onught showered blood on the prisoners, who shouted at the top of their lungs. Irritated at the noise, the crippled monster tossed the screaming prisoner into the fire. ¡°Uwahh!¡± It all happened too fast, and the soldiers failed to respond. The prisoner was swallowed in mes in seconds. The screaming ceased in seconds as well. The Merkava Tank entered the scene, joining its Namer brethren. The Seoul Two squad trailing behind the APCs had joined the fray. The tank¡¯s long barrel raised slightly and aimed towards the monsters. Locked and loaded. ¡°FIRE!¡± The limping Armor stopped limping and was sent flying. The rest of the Armors jerked their heads back. Their eyes fixed on the sight of theirpanions, now torn in half by the explosion. A gruesome sound escaped the monsters¡¯ mouth. At the same time, the Armors¡¯ hands reached behind them, and they held the javelins on their backs. They arched their arms back, ready to swing. As they stored up power to throw the javelins, their forearms, which seemed soft at first, tensed up with veins popping out. The arms were swung forward from behind the shoulders, and all of the monsters¡¯ strength was channeled into the javelins. The javelins flew into the air. ¡°Iing projectiles! Brace for impact!¡± Sensing the attack, the gunner shouted urgently. All crew members except the driver fumbled frantically and grabbed onto something. The javelin flew towards the tank and bounced off the turret like a toy. The turret was clean, all except one barely visible scratch. No signs of pration or any real damage were to be seen. ¡°Status report!¡± ¡°All clear!¡± Even in the midst of all that, the loader stayed focused on his role. A new round was already loaded. A deafening boom shook the battlefield, and one of the Armor¡¯s head blew up as it was getting ready to toss its javelin once more. The scene was simr to that of a rotten watermelon blowing up. The insides were scattered all across its surrounding, staining the ss window on a nearby building with thick blood. A bullseye indeed. The tankmander gave a thumbs up. ¡°Good job!¡± ¨C Enemies approaching! Once the monsters realized their javelins were useless, they charged towards Kwang Hwi¡¯s troops. The APCs were quick to respond and let their autocannons do the talking. The monsters quickly reached out their hands and lifted the taxi cabs by the road, using them as shields. Nheless, the cabs were prated through, and pieces of metal sprayed about the battlefield. The autocannon rounds going through the cabs found rest inside the monsters¡¯ shoulders. Their steel tes were blown off, along with chunks of their flesh. Blood flowed down from the wounds and painted the asphalt red. Although their faces scorched up from the pain, the monsters did not cease their charge. Even they knew it was toote to give up and run away. ¨C 500 meters! ¡°Up!¡± ¨C Fire! ¨C On the way! White fumes exited the gun barrel. The round left the smoothbore andnded squarely on an Armor that was using the cab as a shield. The explosion ripped through the air, and the monster was sent flying. The cab in its hand had already turned into a rag by the autocannon shower earlier. It had lost its effectiveness as a shield long before the 120mm tank round shredded it apart, along with the Armor seeking refuge behind it. It was super effective. The Merkava Tank spun around to aim at thest Armor, who rushed behind a building to seek cover. The MG253 Smoothbore gun followed its movement and fired. Like a popping water balloon, the building spilled its contents outward. Office stationeries, ss shards, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and all sorts of objects poured out onto the street. The Armor carefully peeked out from behind the building. It was unscathed due to the building tanking the damage. Everyone was now focused on it. 30mm rounds dug up the ground near the monster, and the autocannon bullets pierced everything. ¡°It¡¯s running away!¡± The Armor had recognized its inferiority and began running. The APCs continued toy waste, but the buildings provided cover for the monster. ¨C Give chase and eliminate it. ¡°Roger!¡± As the APCs and tanks elerated to finish the human-eater, the glorious sounds of engines mightily echoed out. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!