Chapter : 9
Battle (1)
A temporary base had been set up. One side was blocked off with cut-down trees, and the members were positioned at suitable intervals around that wall. Once the work was done, there was nothing left to do but wait. Taking advantage of the lull, Kim Chang-sik struck up a conversation with Su-hyeon.
“Try to understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Su-yong hyung. He’s always been kind of picky.”
“I don’t really care.”
That level of opinion was something anyone could have. Of course, if one of Su-hyeon’s subordinates had said something that sounded like they didn’t trust him, punishment would’ve followed immediately. But reactions like that from strangers were something he could let slide.
“But do you really think monsters will come?”
“They probably will at least once. The crocodile bird got away.”
“Are you sure that was really a crocodile bird? Couldn’t you be mistaken? From that distance, could you really see clearly? You don’t have experience here either.”
“Want to bet?”
“Ah—no, it’s not that I don’t believe you!”
When Su-hyeon came on strong, Kim Chang-sik quickly backed down.
“I’ve been coming here occasionally since I was young. With my father.”
“What?!”
Thinking that wouldn’t be convincing enough on its own, Su-hyeon added another lie. Hearing that, Kim Chang-sik looked genuinely shocked.
“Seriously? What kind of upbringing is that?”
“…It wasn’t anything particularly dangerous, so it’s fine. Anyway, it was definitely a crocodile bird.”
“You said earlier there are a lot of monsters around here, right? So many you can’t even classify them?”
“That’s right. It varies a bit by region, but crocodile birds are the type that call monsters from far away…”
“Are there any especially dangerous ones?”
“All monsters are dangerous if you’re not prepared. Even trolls are deadly if they ambush you. Calcutta Raptors are filthy—cunning and fast. If you get herded the wrong way, you can die just like that. And then there’s the Calcutta Hell Crocodile, which is often paired with the raptor. That one’s difficult to deal with in a different way.”
“Calcutta Hell Crocodile?”
“If there’s a crocodile bird, there’s bound to be crocodiles. Of course, crocodile birds don’t just call hell crocodiles—they’ll call any nearby monster they think is easy prey…”
The crocodile bird didn’t exclusively summon hell crocodiles. However, when it was first discovered that crocodile birds summoned monsters, the monster involved happened to be a hell crocodile, and the name stuck.
“Difficult in a different way?”
“Their hide is incredibly tough. They’re slow, but the pressure they give off is overwhelming. They’re stubbornly hard to kill, too. If you get ambushed after they close the distance without you noticing, losing a leg or two is nothing.”
Kim Chang-sik felt a chill run down his spine without realizing it. Su-hyeon was speaking far too calmly. A rookie with no experience here was acting like a battle-hardened veteran, even though they might soon have to fight monsters like that. The unease was unavoidable.
“That’s scary. Doesn’t it have any defining traits? Weaknesses?”
“One trait is that it makes a low sound when it spots prey.”
Grrrr—
“And because of the way it swings its tail, in areas like this you’ll keep hearing it bumping into things.”
Rustle—
“!”
Everyone had been silent, but they were all listening to the conversation between Su-hyeon and Kim Chang-sik. Hearing the very traits Su-hyeon described, no one was foolish enough to stay still.
“A monster!”
“And it hides itself as much as possible and approaches low to the ground, then attacks quickly once it’s close enough. Like that.”
“That’s enough explaining! Everyone, be careful!”
The Calcutta Hell Crocodiles had a mix of gray and black coloring. Since this area was an open clearing, they couldn’t camouflage themselves among bushes, so they had to walk straight into the mercenaries’ prepared field of fire.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
There was no sharp crack of gunfire, but everyone fired intensely, eyes shining, at the advancing hell crocodiles. Before that, Su-hyeon looked up into the air.
“As expected.”
Crocodile birds that incited fights would circle the area during the battle, waiting to feed on whatever prey remained afterward. Su-hyeon immediately took aim and shot the crocodile bird down. Considering how much harm it caused, there was no reason to let it live.
“It’s still walking?!”
One of the members muttered in shock at the sight of the crocodile still moving despite taking dozens of bullets.
“Its back hide is pretty tough. Don’t worry. The impact alone should make it hard for it to move.”
“Is now really the time for that?! Magazines aren’t infinite!”
Boom!
Gorgan, the only orc among them, pulled out a shield from his back and slammed it firmly into the ground. It was the precious Altaranium shield he cherished. Using it as cover, he began aiming at the crocodiles. His stance made it clear—he had no intention of retreating.
‘He’s got fighting spirit. Very orc-like.’
When rifle fire didn’t seem effective, Gorgan pulled out a shotgun—a pump-action model. Judging by the design, it was one made for mercenaries from the planet Cameron.
Bang! Thud-thud!
‘Wow.’
Pump-action shotguns usually lose accuracy during reloads. But Gorgan used his orcish strength to lock the gun in place, reloading and firing relentlessly.
“Gorgan! Watch out! Fall back!”
The hell crocodiles, shaken at first by the concentrated fire, kept advancing stubbornly. Gorgan was the first to be in danger, standing at the very front and drawing their attention. Even with a shield between them, he didn’t flinch at monsters strong enough to casually tear off a leg.
Bang!
One hell crocodile collapsed. It had charged the shield and had its head blown straight through.
“If you’re prepared for close combat like that, it’s actually easier. Makes it easier to aim for the vital spots.”
Taking advantage of a hell crocodile opening its mouth, Su-hyeon fired straight inside. It was an incredible feat.
“Is the inside a weak point?!”
“Only the back is tough. The belly and inside of the mouth are weaker than you’d think.”
Su-hyeon began walking forward confidently. Seeing that, the other members panicked.
“Hey, stop! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“If you know how to deal with them—”
Seeing its prey approach so brazenly, a hell crocodile let out a savage roar and opened its jaws wide, charging to tear off Su-hyeon’s leg.
But Su-hyeon had already read its movement. The hell crocodile could close distance quickly, but even that had limits. Its jaws snapped shut on empty air.
Thud!
The hell crocodile rolled sideways. Su-hyeon had dodged to the side and shoved it with all his strength. As it hurriedly tried to flip itself back over, Su-hyeon was faster. A rifle bullet pierced straight through its exposed belly.
“!!”
“How…?”
The members blinked in disbelief at Su-hyeon subduing a monstrously resilient creature as if it were a child.
“Expose its vital point like that and finish it, or just keep shooting.”
“?”
“No matter how tough its back hide is, if you keep hammering it, it’ll eventually break through. Bullets aren’t toys.”
Hell crocodiles weren’t that terrifying if they didn’t get the jump on you. They were dangerous because they could tank most attacks while closing distance during an ambush. But if you knew they were coming, you could pour fire on them from afar.
You couldn’t drop them instantly, but each hit slowed them down. If you held out long enough, they’d eventually reach their limit and fall.
Roar!
Dodging another attack, Su-hyeon took down another hell crocodile the same way.
‘But what is the team leader doing?’
With the firepower of a power armor, this should’ve been even easier. It would be loud, but the battle had already made plenty of noise.
“?!”
Su-hyeon noticed Lee So-hee’s face inside the Black Bear’s cockpit window—frozen in panic. With the Black Bear, there was only one possible reason.
‘Total power failure!’
He wanted to tell her to pull and release the rear T-lever and restart, but there was no need right now. Saying that would only raise suspicion.
Knowing the monsters and terrain could be explained somehow. The Black Bear was different—it was a military new weapon very few people knew about.
In any case, the hell crocodiles were already nearing their end. The ones holding out fell one by one.
“Is it over?”
“Team leader! What are you doing over there?!”
“S-sorry. I guess I’m not used to the controls yet…”
“Because it’s a new weapon?”
“This is the first time I’ve seen the team leader make a mistake.”
No one doubted Lee So-hee’s skills. They simply assumed that, since it was a new weapon, even she could make mistakes while adapting.
“So its hide really is that tough?”
“That’s why it’s expensive.”
“!”
The members snapped their heads toward Su-hyeon so fast it practically made a sound.
“If you process one in good condition and sell it, you can easily make several hundred…”
“You can do that?!”
“You’re asking that after filling it with bullet holes? Do you have no shame…?”
The member who asked blushed. Even he could tell that hide full of holes wouldn’t be usable.
“Ah—before everyone approaches, just a moment…”
Mid-sentence, Su-hyeon glanced back, bothered by the Black Bear behind him. During that moment, Park Su-yong approached the hell crocodile corpses. It was his first monster encounter, and curiosity got the better of him. Creatures far stronger than Earth’s animals—it was impossible not to be fascinated.
“Damn it, listen and stop moving!”
“?!”
Park Su-yong felt someone yank hard on the back of his neck. It was Su-hyeon. He’d noticed Su-yong approaching and rushed over in alarm, pulling him back the moment he arrived.
“What are you doing?!”
“This!”
ROAAAR!
A hell crocodile that looked like a corpse suddenly snapped its eyes open and lunged. It had judged that Su-hyeon and Park Su-yong were within reach. But Su-hyeon was one step ahead.
He lightly leapt over the creature and landed squarely on its snout—a feat that required unbelievable nerve. Unable to bite, the hell crocodile’s jaws snapped shut.
Then came the finishing blow. Su-hyeon shoved it aside and fired into the newly exposed vital spot.
“Some monsters pretend to be dead. Hell crocodiles are a prime example.”
