Chapter 26: Experimental GHOST-157 (3)

The distance from Ark to Kronos was well over 400 km.

That's even farther than the distance between Seoul and Busan.

'Of all routes, it had to be this one.'

The Kronos route was one of the longest among the possible paths to retrieve the experimental bullet.

Naturally, it was the last route I wanted, but of course, things never go as planned.

'Nothing I can do about it.'

I shifted my gaze, keeping an eye on the retrieval team's movements.

'Still keeping the same pace, huh.'

The mission to retrieve GHOST-157 wasn't something that could be completed in a day or two.

No matter how rigorously trained the Ark soldiers were, the retrieval team had no choice but to pace themselves.

They didn't have expensive gear like silent hovering bikes used by reconnaissance teams.

'Looking at it this way, it's hard to tell if they actually want to find the bullet or not.'

Of course, to be precise, the side scenario to recover GHOST-157 wasn't particularly difficult.

The location was already tracked, and since it was right after the Wave, there weren't too many beasts or monsters around.

Considering it was the first side scenario where a player in trainee status could venture outside of Ark,

it couldn't be too challenging even if it wanted to be.

'Well, that works out for me.'

If Ark had provided just a bit more support, it would have been a lot harder for me to steal the bullet.

But as things were predetermined, none of that happened, which made it easy for me—all I needed to do was get ahead of the retrieval team.

'Let's move.'

I quickly picked up the pace, and before long, the distance between me and the retrieval team began to widen.

At this rate, I'd put enough distance between us within a few hours.

I urged my steps to move faster.

*

About three hours had passed before I knew it.

The distance between me and the retrieval team had grown considerably, leaving me with enough leeway to complete my task at a comfortable pace.

Slurp. Sluurp—

I took a sip of water through the purification straw attached to my canteen.

While the canteen's capacity wasn't small, it wasn't enough for the long journey ahead.

'Good thing I filled up the spare canteen too.'

The extra weight made my pack feel heavier, but it was a necessary burden.

That's when it happened.

[Awooooo!]

[Bark! Bark!]

A pack of beasts was heading straight for the retrieval team.

It was clear that a battle was about to break out.

For someone like me, who needed to widen the gap between us, it was perfect timing.

'Knock yourselves out fighting.'

I already knew the exact location of the experimental bullet in Kronos and the optimal route to get there.

It wasn't something I'd only done once or twice.

I'd done it hundreds of times.

Finally, the beast pack collided with the retrieval team.

'...Huh?'

Something felt off.

'...What's going on?'

The fight I expected didn't happen.

The retrieval team and even the beasts acted like the soldiers were invisible, just passing by without a second glance.

[Heheh...]

On top of that, there was a disturbing, thickening voice that had been grating on me for a while.

There was no way all this was just a coincidence.

'...No way.'

I switched the Ark-15 automatic rifle to sniper mode, applied silencer mode, and loaded a new magazine.

—Clack.

Level 2 Tranquilizer rounds.

If my assumption was wrong, I couldn't afford to cause any fatal injuries.

Thanks to moving so diligently, the distance between me and the retrieval team was now over 9 km.

Still, I aimed my rifle without hesitation.

['Sniper's Time' has been activated.]

There was no need to aim for a vital point.

I just needed to hit the easiest target—the body.

I pulled the trigger.

—Swoosh!

Should I say it was just as I expected?

The tranquilizer round sliced through the air but passed right through the target, almost too easily.

The image of the retrieval team shimmered like a mirage.

There was no doubt about what this was.

'...An illusion!'

Since when?

'From the start? ...No, that can't be. The retrieval team's movements at first were definitely real.'

I recalled the events slowly.

When did the retrieval team's movements start becoming unnatural?

When did the voice in my ears start growing thicker and more unsettling?

Soon, I reached a conclusion.

'It's clear. It started from that fork in the road earlier.'

I immediately changed direction.

The unexpected variable had cost me time, and now things were urgent.

'The destination is the southeastern swamp outside Ark.'

There was no time to retrace my steps.

To take the shortest path, I was prepared to endure some battles.

'...I have to hurry.'

The outside of Ark was dangerous.

Strictly speaking, no place in this world was truly safe, but the difference in safety between the inside and outside of Ark was beyond comparison.

To survive outside Ark, one must never make loud noises or draw the attention of beasts.

Until just a moment ago, I had been strictly following that rule while moving.

But now, I couldn't afford to do that anymore.

Time had become far too tight.

'To cut through to the southeast, I'll have to cross the plains. It's right after a Wave, so it might be a bit better... but there will still be plenty of dangerous ones roaming around.'

This was completely different from sniping from Noah's vantage point under the pretense of hunting.

I was out in the open, in the middle of the plains outside Ark, and if I ran into a Grade-5 beast or higher,

I wouldn't be able to avoid death.

'No helping it.'

At this point, avoiding all beasts and monsters was impossible.

If I had to encounter them anyway, I might as well face those I could handle.

'I'll pass through the Tropical Grassland Raptor habitat.'

The Tropical Grassland Raptor habitat was exactly what it sounded like—a place where Grade-10 beasts called Tropical Grassland Raptors mainly gathered.

Among the routes to the southeastern swamp, it was the least dangerous.

'The problem is the one leading the pack.'

The Grade-8 Named Beast, Yellow Fang Rapping.

Compared to the beasts I had fought so far, it wasn't overwhelmingly strong, but the real problem lay in Yellow Fang Rapping's cunning and persistence.

'If it senses a strong opponent, it won't come out recklessly. Instead, it controls its pack from behind.'

That made passing through its territory unappealing, but I had no choice.

'The southeastern swamp isn't that far from Ark. I won't worry about pacing and just go all out.'

My march turned into a marathon.

"Huff, huff..."

Even though I prided myself on my stamina, running at full speed without pacing made me start gasping in less than two hours.

Still, it should have helped me close the distance significantly, even though the retrieval team was still nowhere in sight.

'Considering their pace and mine earlier, I should be able to catch up in about three hours.'

But this was where the real problem started.

['You have entered the Tropical Grassland Raptor habitat.']

[Run away...]

[I don't like it here...]

[Let's get out of here...]

Beasts, monsters, and ether.

The three were inseparably linked, causing ether to stir naturally.

'Move as stealthily as possible.'

I wasn't here to hunt the Raptors.

I just needed to pass through.

There was no reason to provoke them unnecessarily.

But—

[Kiek?]

'...I've been spotted.'

Things rarely go as planned.

[Piiiieeeeek—!]

I had been prepared for the possibility, so I immediately shifted to combat mode.

[Piiik, Pik!]

The Tropical Grassland Raptors charged at me.

I switched the Ark-15 automatic coonversion rifle to assault rifle mode.

—Clack.

Regular rounds loaded.

Silencer mode activated.

I pulled the trigger.

—Bang!

—Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

The muzzle flashed continuously, spitting fire.

[Grade-10 Beast, Tropical Grassland Raptor has been defeated.]

[Damage against Grade- 10 Beast, Tropical Grassland Raptor has increased by 0.05%.]

[Grade-10 Beast, Tropical Grassland Raptor has been defeated.]

[Damage against Grade-10 Beast, Tropical Grassland Raptor has increased by 0.05%.]

[Grade-10 Beast, Tropical Grassland Raptor has been defeated.]

[Damage against Grade-10 Beast, Tropical Grassland Raptor has increased by 0.05%.]

...

[Grade-10 Beast, Tropical Grassland Raptor has been defeated.]

[Damage against Grade-10 Beast, Tropical Grassland Raptor has increased by 0.05%.]

In an instant, dozens of Tropical Grassland Raptors fell, but hundreds more kept surging in from all sides.

50 meters.

30 meters.

10 meters.

5 meters.

The distance between me and them was shrinking fast.

But I had no reason to fear close combat with a mere Grade-10 Beast.

"Your turn."

[Kkigit!]

With the response from the bone parasite, bone tendrils shot out from beneath my camouflage poncho.

After merging with the power source of the Level 3 protective suit and devouring Mossback Kupf, the Bone Armor's grade was almost equivalent to Grade-7.

No matter how many Grade-10 Beasts grouped up, they couldn't handle this level of power.

['Hardening' has been activated.]

The hardened bone tendrils, each sharp as a spear, pierced through everything in their path.

Thud!

Squish!

The dozens of branching tendrils immediately subdued the Tropical Grassland Raptors, tearing through flesh and blood as they devoured their prey.

Slurp. Slurp—

[Screeech!]

The captured Raptors thrashed about, but the bone parasite wasn't merciful enough to release its catch.

[Grade-10 Beast, Tropical Grassland Raptor has been defeated.]

[Damage against Grade-10 Beast, Tropical Grassland Raptor has increased by 0.05%.]

As I massacred the Raptors with overwhelming force, a howl echoed from a distance.

[Piiiiiiieeeeek—!!!]

With that cry, the Raptors surrounding me cautiously backed off.

'Smart as always.'

The sound came from none other than Yellow Fang Rapping, the Named Beast leading the pack.

Recognizing that continuing the battle would be futile, it had ordered a retreat to minimize losses.

That was precisely why I had chosen this path out of many.

[Pik, Pikpik!]

The Tropical Grassland Raptors cautiously parted, creating a path for me to pass through.

As soon as they backed off, I stopped attacking.

"Should've done that from the start."

[Kkigit!]

The bone parasite revealed its tendrils in a threatening display, making the Raptors flinch, but none dared to charge.

Finally, I managed to escape the Tropical Grassland Raptor habitat.

[You have successfully passed through the 'Tropical Grassland Raptor Habitat'!]

[You have shown remarkable courage!]

[Tenacity has increased.]

[3 -> 4]

[You have persevered through the traps of the spirits and stayed true to your path!]

[Ether Sensitivity has increased.]

[10 -> 11]

...

[Ether Sensitivity has reached 'Lv.2'.]

[You have acquired 'Steel Body'.]

──────────────

[Steel Body Lv.1]

—Enhances the body by absorbing ether.

──────────────

The ether swirled around me, and I felt strength surging through my entire body.

***

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