Chapter 9: Tatiana Belorov (1)

No beasts or monsters dared approach Mount Noah.

Aside from its harsh volcanic terrain,

The high ether concentration triggered a primal aversion in them.

It was this unique trait that allowed humanity to build Ark, its last stronghold.

But Noah's gift—

Was also a curse.

Ether did not merely exist.

It could descend.

Some rare individuals could withstand the descent—

Harnessing ether as a power.

But for most—

It meant madness.

This was why Red Line—the Ark sector closest to Noah—

Had the strongest fear of ether.

It was the safest place in Ark,

And yet, paradoxically,

The most dangerous.

And now—

I was deep in its heart.

[Play with me… hurry…]

[Hehe… Hehe…]

The whispers grew stronger.

[Insomnia] and [Possession].

Now, Noah's presence.

There was no way I could get proper sleep.

'…This won't work.'

I gave up.

And left the tent.

Lying there would only get me tormented all night.

I made my way to the hot spring I had dug.

'…Screw it.'

I discarded my armor.

I wasn't disciplined enough to resist the temptation.

At least I had the sense to clean myself first.

Using my canteen, I scooped up the steaming water.

Bubbles rose as I poured it over myself,

Washing away the dirt and sweat.

Only then—

Did I step into the spring.

The heat seeped into my body,

Washing away the exhaustion.

"…Ahh."

A gruff, satisfied sigh escaped me.

For the first time,

I had room to think.

'Why was I sent to this world?'

The first time I truly asked myself that.

The answer was obvious.

That trainer was real.

My ammo was infinite.

And I had fallen into this world.

So—

What next?

It wasn't hard to figure out.

The core objective of The Defense—

Protect Ark.

Survive.

That's what it all came down to.

Reaching the 100th stage.

And uncovering the true ending.

I needed to become stronger than any character I'd played before.

The question was how.

Raise my Stats & Achievements The most standard method. Time-consuming but reliable. Good thing I know all the most efficient ways. Obtain Better Equipment Normally, time would solve this too. But as an exile, getting Ark's weapons was almost impossible. Trading with the Sandstorm Caravan? Maybe… but their gear isn't as good. Master Ether Noah's dense ether levels made it a perfect training ground. Dangerous, but if I survived— I'd become something far beyond human.

Thunk, thunk.

The sound of struggling metal.

Inside a rusty can,

A parasite writhed.

Bone Parasite.

Still weak, but recovering.

I had left it alone for now.

But soon—

It would be time to use it.

'Tomorrow.'

Before it fully recovered.

I sank deeper into the spring,

Letting my mind drift.

[Help me.]

I froze.

A clear, distinct voice.

Unlike the mindless whispers from before.

"…What?"

At that moment,

A chill ran down my spine.

Instinct screamed at me.

I shot up from the water.

The cold air bit into my wet skin.

I grabbed a towel,

Quickly dried off,

And dressed in my armor.

Fully armed,

I focused every sense outward.

No sound.

Not even the wind.

A mountain should not be this quiet.

I gripped my Ark-15 rifle.

This—

Was not a normal night.

[Someone… please help.]

The voice returned.

Clearer.

More distinct.

It wasn't from Noah.

Then— where?

I adjusted my 36x scope.

Sweeping across the lines and plains below.

With night mode engaged,

Darkness was no obstacle.

'…There.'

A massive formation of beasts.

But—

Something was off.

They weren't wandering.

They were chasing something.

Or someone.

'10 kilometers, at least.'

Even with my vision and scope,

I could barely make out the silhouettes.

Red Line's borders were long behind them.

Why?

Why was someone running alone across the open plains?

Their pursuers were gaining.

There was no time to think.

No time for logic.

Only instinct.

'…Fine.'

I turned the lever on my Ark-15.

Jiiiiiiiing…

Click. Click. Click.

[Switching to Anti-Materiel Rifle Mode.]

Ark-15's max effective range: 13 kilometers.

Theoretically—

I could make the shot.

But at this distance,

Even with the best rifle,

Even with the best scope—

Hitting the target was near impossible.

For anyone else.

[Activating "Sniper's Time."]

A Conditional Trait.

A trait that only activated under certain conditions.

And when it did—

It outperformed permanent traits.

Like right now.

'There you are.'

The scope's image sharpened.

Still too far to see who they were.

But far enough for a shot.

Wind direction.

Wind speed.

Target distance.

Ark-15's bullet velocity.

Every factor processed in seconds.

'Now.'

BANG—!

A shockwave ripped through the air.

A bullet tore through the sky.

Straight toward its mark.

***

Tatiana Belov ran.

And ran.

And ran.

Her hoverbike was destroyed.

Her squad—

All dead.

Her only hope—

Her own two legs.

The mission was lost.

Five elite agents of Navy Line—

Gone.

Tatiana alone had barely escaped.

But now—

This was as far as she would go.

[Grrrr…!]

[Kyahaah!]

[Krrrkkh!]

Hundreds of beasts swarmed behind her.

Blood poured from her left arm and right side.

Her legs trembled.

She could barely keep moving.

Snap.

Tatiana gritted her teeth.

Her squad had died so she could live.

She wouldn't let herself be taken down by these things.

Not by them.

She kept running.

The farthest line of beasts was already upon her.

A Grade-9 Black-Maned Raptor lunged.

Its fangs flashed—

Deadly. Precise.

Snap—!

Tatiana moved.

Her blade flashed.

And the raptor's head fell.

A perfect cut.

But—

She was too tired.

Too injured.

She had already lost too much blood.

More monsters surged forward.

Too many.

And she—

Could barely stand.

'...Is this it?'

SHHNG—!

A sound ripped through the air.

A sonic boom.

Tatiana froze.

A beast lunging at her—

Exploded.

Blood splattered across the ground.

And she—

Was still alive.

***

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