BXBX NOVEL Chapter 49: Everything Is Mine (2)
Just a little later, and the tanks would have lost their lives. In such an impactful battle, their role was of crucial importance for the victory.
I stood up, looked at them, and gave the last few orders.
“Everyone at the front, maintain a safe distance from the crack and take up formation, surround it on all sides.”
“Oh, but who…?”
After everyone’s wounds were healed, they started wondering who I was. It was only natural that they were reluctant to follow someone they didn’t know into battle.
“Obey his orders! I vouch for the commander!”
Fortunately, Han Yeon-soo eliminated their doubts. Those filled with confidence in me listened to the words and began to follow my commands. The gathering veterans of the association had a great influence, and the formation changed in an instant.
I effectively switched the positions of the center and the rear, and then started giving orders to them.
“Now!”
Kwaduk.
Perfectly-timed attacks suppressed the tentacles. Some tanks couldn’t evade the incoming hits, but thanks to Zhang Wei’s presence, the injuries were immediately healed.
‘As expected, Zhang Wei is at his best in the midst of devastating battles.’
Not only did life-threatening injuries disappear, but the magic resilience increased, and that increased the rear’s battle spirit. The front’s advance was now more stable than before.
The monsters emerging from the Rift died immediately after being hit by a properly-timed volley of attacks. The tentacles didn’t stand a chance.
‘It’s going well.’
Even if the fighting would go on for a while longer, the enemies’ numbers would gradually dwindle. The Rift’s inner recesses were overflowing with monsters eagerly waiting for their chance to come out.
“Teams 3 and 4 have arrived!”
The association’s reinforcements arrived at a crucial time. All were elite, prime troops.
“Okay then. Let’s join the formations and enter the crack.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Let’s go inside.”
If it weren’t for the reinforcements, I don’t know what would have happened. All were amazing hunters, and it was best to enter and clean the crack once everyone was gathered.
In the <Great Rift>, opened by the first wave, there were many more creatures in addition to the annoying tentacle monsters.
Surprisingly, they were vulnerable to melee attacks. Finally, being able to kill the monsters behind the tentacles made everything much easier.
“Soldiers, stand your ground. Only one-half of the tanks, one-half of the middle battalion, and the rear will follow us in.”
“……”
“If we press forward, we can kill the tentacle monsters and end this fight. If we remain here, we will keep getting pummeled by those tentacles. What do you choose?”
“Alright, darn it… Let’s go.”
One of the tanks hit by the tentacles nodded. Those who had been hit knew how deadly they were.
“Hunter Han Yeon-soo, how many troops can you send to support us?”
“Yes? Ah… which…”
“Taesan Giant, Black Knight, and Great Spirit.”
“……”
At the moment, Han Yeon-soo’s expression seemed to switch to amazement, ‘How on Earth do you know my troops so well?’
“I do.”
Hinting that she’d inquire more later, she brought out her troops from the shadows.
“Kwooah….”
Three monsters approached us with a dreadful shriek. The faces of some hunters turned pale upon recognizing some of the monsters.
Judging by their appearance, these were the final bosses.
“Then let’s go.”
I turned around and faced the crack. It seemed 10x larger than an ordinary crack. I climbed on the back of a tank and pulled out a large bow.
Shoo-!
An arrow flew through the brow of the monster that had just escaped from the crack. It immediately slid to the floor and died.
Thump.
The tank took the lead. Ruthlessly trampling over the bodies of dead monsters, we marched towards the Rift.
I muttered under my breath as I saw the people in front of me, stepping,
“Don’t be scared, just go in.”
* * *
“Are you Zhang Wei by any chance?”
The president of the association, Min-Jae Kim, asked.
“……”
Zhang Wei didn’t respond. Min-Jae Kim looked a bit taken aback, but suddenly recalling something, he asked again in Chinese.
“You are Zhang Wei, right?”
“Ah. You were talking to me. Yes.”
When asked in Chinese, he was more than happy to answer. Was it Chinese?
How had the cadet found such talent lingering in China?
Min-Jae Kim stared at him in admiration.
‘It was about time the Association got a good healer.’
When you stood next to this person, it was as if you were invisible. He was still so young too. Min-Jae Kim smiled and slowly approached Zhang Wei.
I was certain he was about to make Zhang Wei a tempting offer. I had never seen someone who was opposed to gaining money, honor, power, and women. Jeong Si-woo, who strove to uphold justice, also sought honor.
“I have something to tell you.”
Min-Jae Kim, as if thinking about something, stood with his mouth open.
And then.
Kwa and Gwang-!
A giant fish-like monster emerged from the crack. Judging from the injuries on its body, it looked like it was fleeing from our armies.
“What is that……”
The fish had six legs and could move at tremendous speed; it evaded all attacks from the wizards and archers.
Everyone was irritated by its bizarre appearance. It ran away from the front row and swiftly ran into the rear, and back and forth.
“Can you hear me?”
At that moment, a man’s voice echoed through the receivers placed in the hunters’ ears. It was the voice of Jeong Si-woo.
“I forgot to mention one thing. It’s very fast, but it’s surprisingly stupid. Do you have any potions? Throw a bottle of potion on the floor, and it will run through the puddle and slip.”
Chaenggrang!
With that, someone threw a potion bottle. It was thrown by a wizard who was scared to see a monster approaching him so close.
“Kiyiyi!”
“……”
As the potion spread on the floor, the monster stepped in it and fell. Just as I had predicted. The marksmen hit their target. The fish that had almost broken our formation died.
“I’ve never seen this type of monster before. How did you know?” asked one hunter.
Others nodded their heads in agreement.
Everyone here was a veteran but had never before come across a monster like this.
‘To what extent do I need to develop my observational powers to actively gain information on such monsters?’
A few hunters were staring at me in admiration.
“I’ll tell you if any more of these monsters are about to come out. Drink potions when you have a moment.”
Jeong Si-woo was passing orders to the outside by changing channels while entering the crack. This tactic was unheard of.
There weren’t any errors in the order, and Min-Jae Kim always received the correct orders. It was as if I was working with an AI specialized in command.
“Ah….”
Min-Jae Kim was stunned by his appearance. Even among the veterans, no one could compare.
“Well. I think you had something to say… If you’re not really in a hurry, I’d like you to tell me when it’s over. Right now is not the best time.”
“……”
Zhang Wei spoke with a smile when he saw Min-Jae Kim approaching him.
* * *
[You are awesome]
The traveler spoke as he gazed at me, sitting by the entrance of the crack, yelling out orders.
What made it easier to handle was that this was a casual habit since the old days.
“You shouldn’t go in there like that. Oh, good. Tank, attacking with a shield like that and slowly comboing…”
“No…to hell with fire magic, who uses that in a sea rift!? Ah… sorry. I will be more cautious with my words. Please make sure you use water and lightning magic.”
“Archers, switch to daggers or melee bats and stick with the wizards. Inside the Rift, your bows won’t work.”
“The Taesan Giant needs to go in, so take it slow… Oh, I’ll change the channel for a minute. Yes. Outsiders. Another fish is about to escape. Toss a potion and focus your firepower on it.”
My mouth was dry, so my orders became increasingly difficult to understand.
The attack of the Rift continued smoothly. All the octopi pups that had been spouting tentacles were annihilated. All that was left were the tricky beasts; mothers who made their surroundings a sea-like environment and lay hundreds of eggs each. If we killed them quickly, we might be able to survive the first wave without any fatalities.
“Who…”
I drank the water a soldier had brought me and continued shouting orders. With the camera in place, I could see what was happening at the front and continue giving orders. I didn’t necessarily need the camera since I could understand what was going on by listening to the hunters’ sounds and conversations, but it did help.
Chaenggrang!
Well, the line had started to crumble.
‘Is it happening when I speak?’
Something had smashed the camera.
“Report. What is the situation?”
“That… an unknown monster is rampaging! It is incredibly large, and there are a lot of other smaller ones as well… I can’t keep up. All the tanks’ armors are melting, and magic is ineffective. I think we have to kill it with our swords, but it’s moving too fast.”
“Ah. Melting armor. I know what this is.”
They weren’t that bad when you knew how to deal with them, but for anyone who didn’t, they were a nightmare to fight against. In any case, they could easily eradicate the advance squad.
[How can you remain calm in this situation?]
However, there was no time for indecisiveness. I got up slowly and took in a deep breath.
‘If my old self were here, it would have been a bloodbath.’
But now, things were different.
‘I can go and catch one. I am not just an analyst anymore, I am a leader and a hunter.’
Luckily, I had ‘The best prospect’.
Smiling, I activated the ‘skill’ I had gained some time ago.
[Would it not be a waste to overexert yourself for that ‘skill’?]
My entire body began to surge with tremendous power.
‘Everything else has fallen silent. All I can hear is my heartbeat, is that a side effect?’
In front of my eyes, a notification window appeared.
[Skill ‘Evolution Zone’ has been activated.]
[Evolves ‘Dragon Heart (F)’ to the highest skill level.]
[Already a high-tier skill.]
[Are you sure you want to evolve it to the maximum?]
.
.
.
[Evolution successful.]
[‘Evolution Zone’ has increased the skill’s proficiency in ‘B’.]
The new one-line notification window was also very clear.
[Skill ‘Great Heart (B)’ has been activated.]
[All stats temporarily massively increased.]
[Price of the soul temporarily increased.]
[Power of all skills temporarily massively increased.]
* * *
“Hold on just a bit longer.”
Caang, Cang!
I heard a metallic sound as if an alloy shield was collapsing. Nevertheless, the tank did not back down. If he fell, everyone would die. There was no choice but to trust the wizards alone; they were the last remnants of hope. No, the answer was to buy time for the others to escape.
“What about the support team? Where are they?!”
“They are in combat with other creatures! The situation there is not good either…”
“Damn, what’s worse than this!?”
Each time I blocked an attack, my bones seemed to tingle, and my muscles hurt.
“Jegi-la-a-al!”
The giant monster kept wagging its tail as if to mock us. Anger rose, but there was nothing we could do. Its movements were faster than any monsters we had seen so far, and the saliva flowing from it was like molten lava, melting everything it touched.
“Is it still blocked?”
“Ah… Yes. Sorry. Can you hold on a little longer?”
“This…This is… Ahhhhhhhhh!”
Still, no support came. Despair began to fall on the faces of wizards and archers. Fortunately, Han Yeon-soo’s troops, the Taesan Giants, were holding up well, but the monster’s spit was the perfect counter.
As things were…they wouldn’t last much longer.
“Please, please anyone…!”
The sounds of despair floated through the channels. The situation was the same everywhere. They desperately needed support.
“Is there no one to help us…”
“Uhhh…Why us…?”
“They are so fast.”
“What was that? How can anything move so fast underwater?”
“Wasn’t that our commander? How can he move so fast? He was running, wasn’t he?”
“What are you talking about?”
The tank frowned.
“What are you guys talking about?”
And then.
“Avoid the blood!”
Kyaahah!
The giant monster that melted everyone’s armor was approaching them…
“Sh…”
The tank was cursing loudly.
He lifted his shield and prepared to take his last stand.
“Thank you. You’ve protected us well.”
Kwa-Aang!
With the sound of an explosion, something approached from the side.
‘A person? No, can a person be that fast in the water?’
Only
“Kiyiyi…”
At the same time, the creature that had approached them let out a desperate cry and turned around to run away.
Gliding smoothly through the water, Jeong Si-woo stopped right in front of the monster, ready to fight.
“I will take it from here.”
His strong voice echoes through the channels.
In the next moment, a giant, gaping hole appeared where the monster’s heart had just been, and the monster was launched into the distance.