Chapter 12: Bone Armor (2)

"Named."

A term referring to monsters or aberrations that possess unique names, signifying their exceptional power and special abilities beyond their usual class.

Mossback Kupf was one such Named Beast.

Its appearance resembled a giant turtle, but instead of a shell, it carried an entire boulder on its back.

A colossal creature stretching 15 meters in length—

Its massive rock-like armor made it clear that it wouldn't allow any weak spots to be targeted.

True to its name, thick moss covered the stone layers along its back.

A beast that had long surpassed the limits of a typical Grade 6 Aberration.

Hunting Mossback Kupf through conventional means was impossible.

[ Switching to Anti-Materiel Rifle Mode. ]

I adjusted my Ark-15 into its sniper configuration and peered through the scope.

'Distance… is a little tricky.'

According to the scope's reading, I was 8 kilometers away.

That was within range, but not ideal for an efficient kill.

I needed to get closer.

Fortunately, Mossback Kupf rarely moved from its resting spot, so I had no risk of losing it.

'Time for another hike.'

No complaints.

I'd be climbing mountains for the rest of my life anyway.

By the time I had closed the distance to 3 kilometers, I raised my Ark-15 once again.

Looking through the scope, I saw Mossback Kupf, resting peacefully, unaware of the fate about to befall it.

'Good. The angle is just right.'

That meant both of its eyes were fully visible from my position.

I adjusted my aim, locking onto its half-lidded eyes.

Then, I swapped to Explosive Rounds.

These rounds were designed for anti-materiel sniping, making them perfect for this situation.

Clack—

Click.

'Everything's set.'

Now, it was time to execute.

Even a regular Grade 6 Aberration would be difficult to hunt.

But this was a Named Beast.

There was zero room for error.

My first move—

Take its sight.

Both eyes were its only true weak points.

Click.

First target: Left eye.

Click.

Second target: Right eye.

I waited.

I needed the perfect moment.

A good sniper understood the art of patience.

Like right now.

'Now.'

Click. Click.

I pulled the trigger twice in rapid succession.

WHOOOM!

The air tore apart as two Explosive Rounds streaked across the kilometers of open space—

Straight into Mossback Kupf's eyes.

'Success.'

A fountain of blood erupted from its eye sockets.

[ KRRRRROOOOAAAAHHHHH!! ]

The earth trembled as Mossback Kupf howled in agony—

A living earthquake thrashing across the terrain.

Even from 3 kilometers away, the sheer scale of its rage was overwhelming.

'That's insane.'

Even though I was safe from the impact, just watching its monstrous body rampage was enough to make my skin crawl.

But this was only the beginning.

Now that both of its eyes were gone, it was no longer vulnerable.

I had to get closer.

Even with Anti-Materiel Rounds, I couldn't pierce its rock-like armor.

To land the finishing blow, I needed to close the distance.

But first—

There was something else I had to do.

I adjusted my Ark-15's aim, now targeting the monsters surrounding Mossback Kupf.

I couldn't afford distractions when I approached.

'Grade 8 and Grade 9 Aberrations…'

I swapped to Armor-Piercing Rounds.

These weren't strong enough to break through Mossback Kupf, but for these creatures, they were more than enough.

'I'll crush their skulls in one shot.'

No hesitation.

No mercy.

This wasn't a fight.

This wasn't a hunt.

This was a one-sided slaughter.

WHOOOM!

The first shot exploded the skull of a Grade 9 Aberration—

Marking the beginning of the massacre.

Even at 3 kilometers, the monsters had no idea where I was.

The moment their allies began dropping, chaos spread through their ranks.

[ KREEEK! ]

[ KRRK! KREEEAAAK! ]

Horrific shrieks filled the air—

But I wasn't listening.

I simply kept pulling the trigger.

One by one, their heads exploded.

One by one, the monsters collapsed.

This time, I wouldn't make the same mistake.

I managed my barrel heat carefully, ensuring my Ark-15 wouldn't overheat.

No matter how durable its shape-memory alloy was—

If I pushed it too far, I'd be forced into downtime.

I couldn't afford that.

Not now.

'Dance for me.'

One shot.

A monster's skull shattered.

Another shot.

Another beast collapsed.

With each pull of the trigger, the nightmare intensified.

This was true horror—

For them.

[ Hehehe... ]

And then, that voice.

That eerie, impossible-to-get-used-to voice whispered through the air.

[ I'm here... ]

At the exact same moment—

The eyes of every beast turned toward me.

As if they knew exactly where I was.

[ Kyak! Kyak! ]

[ Krrrrik! ]

And then—

They charged.

All of them.

'...So that's why it felt too quiet.'

The problem with Ether Sensitivity—when it's half-baked, it only creates more problems.

Until I fully mastered it, things like this would keep happening.

But now wasn't the time to think about that.

Some beasts could reach speeds of 150 km/h or more.

Even with 3 kilometers between us, there was no time to relax.

'No time to worry about barrel heat.'

Easily over a hundred of them were rushing toward me.

And among them—

The fastest ones were already pulling ahead.

At this rate, they'd reach me in under two minutes.

And considering I was on a mountain slope—

That was an insane speed.

'Too bad for them.'

I raised my Ark-15 and pulled the trigger.

BOOM! BOOM!

A pair of steel-piercing rounds blasted toward the leading beasts.

The ones brave enough to take the frontlines—

Deserved a fitting reward.

For the fastest beasts—

A quick death.

That was the judgment of my anti-materiel rifle.

But still—

Even as I fired nonstop, the gap between us kept closing.

There were simply too many.

'...Way too many.'

I'd closed the distance to hunt Mossback Kupf—

And now, this happened.

'Nothing's ever easy.'

When the gap shrank to under 1 kilometer—

I flicked the Ark-15's mode selector.

This was no longer a hunt.

This was now a fight.

[ Switching to Assault Rifle Mode. ]

I swapped to Standard Rounds.

Armor-piercing was great for penetration, but it lacked stopping power in this kind of battle.

'Come on, then.'

By now, they were 500 meters away.

Basically, in my face.

[ Krrrrr! ]

[ Kyaooooooo! ]

They were angry.

Maybe because I'd slaughtered so many of them already.

But that wasn't my problem.

Instead—

I greeted them with three bullets to the skull.

[ Keenng! ]

In this kind of battle, barrel heat management was no longer a choice—

It was a necessity.

So, I ran as I fired, never letting them corner me.

It was hit-and-run tactics.

[ Keng! Keng-keng! ]

As I fired and retreated, the horde's numbers gradually dwindled.

By the time only a handful remained—

I stopped running.

The moment had arrived.

I turned.

I faced them.

And I stood my ground.

"Come on."

As if they understood me, the beasts lunged forward.

Though, in reality—

They'd been charging the entire time.

[ Gyaaaak! ]

[ KIIIIIEEEK! ]

A horrific shriek tore through the air.

Almost like an ultrasonic scream.

"Shut up."

I silenced the shrieking beast with one bullet to the throat—

And another between the eyes.

"Much better."

One by one, they kept lunging—

But they never reached me.

Fifteen meters away—

As if an invisible wall had been raised, their bodies collapsed before reaching me.

A bullet curtain.

Ten shots.

Twenty shots.

Thirty shots.

Forty shots.

The Ark-15 burned hot, spewing continuous fire.

And the horde crumbled.

One by one—

Their bodies piled into a mountain of corpses.

Only a few managed to get past the bullet storm.

BOOM!

The final beast lunged—

And its skull exploded.

Chunks of once-fearsome flesh rained to the ground.

"Haaah…"

As I finally caught my breath—

A new sound tore through the air.

[ GUUUUUOOOOOOHHHHH!!! ]

The earth shook.

The mountain trembled.

And I knew exactly where the roar had come from.

Mossback Kupf.

It was calling me.

***

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