Hiding a House in the Apocalypse - Chapter 255



Only Krnovel

104. Beyond the Fog (5)

The distance between me and the monster is less than 30m.

The distance where the reflective field is losing its meaning.

However, not all monsters’ reflection fields have the same minimum range.

Even the reflective field that a level 5 Awaken deploys can be deployed from a distance of 5 meters.

If we trust the hypothesis that there is no significant difference between Awakens and monsters, then the minimum reflection field range may vary from individual to individual.

But before that, what we need to do is observe.

Monsters’ behavior is completely different from that of humans.

Although there are some exceptions, monsters will not attack right away just because there is a human right next to them.

Monsters are something that stands on the border between the living and the non-living, like mechanical devices that act according to algorithms that are programmed.

And just my opinion, but monsters read life.

He sees the tendency to read the minds of people who think they are going to kill them and attack them first.

This is an opinion that even I, who enjoys writing reports, would not upload.

Because even I think it’s overly subjective, and like any other theory about monsters, there’s almost no way to prove it.

However, the hunters who were on the battlefield, especially the veterans who had faced numerous monsters, had similar thoughts as me.

Didn’t the arrogant Ma Won-gap, who created that pseudo-religion, have a psychotic delusion when he saw that monsters didn’t attack even when passing right next to him?

At that time, Ma Won-gap was probably in a state of panic to the point where he couldn’t even move himself, let alone having any intention of killing the monster.

Monsters don’t touch such humans.

Monsters primarily counterattack those who attack them, and very rarely preemptively attack those who harbor murderous intent toward them.

I stared indifferently at the grayish-white object outside the observation deck, leaving my fate to this unproven theory.

Height: approximately 3.5 meters.

The overall appearance is more human-like than the necromancer type that mimics a human.

Unlike the necromancer type, which has an elongated, diamond-shaped head, this one has a more human-like head.

Although sensory organs such as eyes, nose, mouth, and ears were not expressed, the sunken cheeks and egg-shaped shapes were enough to make one feel the eerie feeling that the cracks of another world were maliciously imitating human forms.

But its static appearance, frozen like a statue and positioned somewhere on the border between the living and the inanimate, is not much different from any other monster I know.

What’s more concerning is the engine noise of the armored vehicle.

An armored vehicle that had been shining its searchlight right in front of us is now moving away.

Well, they must be getting out of the way because a monster that is difficult for them to deal with has been released.

Kugu palace!

Another thunderstorm struck.

This time it’s close.

A lightning strike struck an unknown tree, casting a red glow across the mountainside.

And from quite a distance the sound of the loudspeaker could be heard mixed with the wind and rain.

“I guess the rumors were true.”

There is no way to answer his question.

I could shout at the top of my lungs, but I don’t feel the need to go that far to communicate.

“There’s a story that says that old-school hunters killed more Chinese people than monsters in China.”

Well, I won’t deny it.

Because there were far more people than monsters and they attacked in groups.

The phenomenon worsened as I went along.

“They say you’re a total slaughterer. Huh? That’s why you’re so good at killing children who will be our future. Huh? I’m really surprised. Seriously. I’ve sat down with the slaughterers in Pyongyang, but no one has killed our students as cleanly as you. I’ll give you my compliments, Professor. Not as a monster hunter, but as a human slaughterer.”

I was a little surprised as I listened silently.

Lucky low-level Awakens. So, the people who are currently controlling the Jeju government have such a great inferiority complex towards our old-school hunters?

My friends in Gaeseong and I, Park Seung-su, why are they so jealous of us?

We didn’t do anything to them.

Is this the sense of entitlement of unqualified people who are stuck between old school hunters and high level Awakens?

Or is it because of the complicity that these unqualified people have created for themselves?

The reason is unknown.

Their hatred for us, especially for me, seems as deep-rooted as my hatred for monsters.

Well, I guess the country’s unique characteristics also play a role there.

No matter what, this Park Gyu was a representative hunter of the old days.

“I was thinking of releasing the Dancer type, but unfortunately, there are no Dancer type capsules among the currently stable ones. I brought one that is one level stronger than the Dancer type. I was hoping for a chance, but I never thought I would end up using it.”

Park Seung-su’s voice continues to resonate.

“Our professor. I heard that the holder of the Golden Fleece is so good at catching monsters. Let’s see for ourselves. Let’s see how well an incompetent person who hasn’t received a single piece of power from God can do against an Executioner type.”

Executioner type?

Are you talking about the executioner?

A type I don’t know. That is, a new type.

And it’s even more dangerous than the dancer type.

I burst out laughing without realizing it.

Kookung!

Lightning struck.

There is no one on the ridge.

There was only one cell phone on a tripod, shining a light from afar.

It looks like they’re also using cell phones as observation equipment.

There may be better equipment, but Jeju Island is not an island with that much leeway.

I cleared all unnecessary thoughts from my mind and went out of the outpost, staring at the monster that seemed to have stopped beyond the outpost.

In particular, the cell phone camera that was firmly fixed over my heart created a good composition to capture the guy.

The lack of light.

Kugu palace!

Mother Nature replenishes it.

Did the monster react to that light?

The guy who seemed like he would never move started moving slowly.

The bastard moves his human-like head and looks at me.

Although it has no pupils, the way it looks straight ahead at me and looks down at me is so creepy it resembles something a human would do.

“······.”

Hypotheses from the past flash through my mind.

Maybe monsters are trying to imitate us humans and ultimately replace us.

The monster moved.

thud!

More than fear, a morbid curiosity stirs.

What kind of power does this guy have to destroy us humans?

Unlike the Necromancer, who is said to resemble a human but has branch-like structures extending from his body to give the effect of floating in the sky, this guy moves using two legs like a human.

However, the movement does not break away from the monster’s larger frame.

Slow and stiff.

As I was watching the guy approach from behind the guard post, I heard Park Seung-soo’s voice.

“If the Executioner type had appeared in your time, you wouldn’t have been able to do anything. This guy is a death sentence for an old-fashioned hunter who boasts about childish wordplay that goes beyond the Dancer type. So, Professor, you’re just one of those lucky guys who was born in the right time.”

Who is talking to whom?

Aren’t the ones that really rode the wave of the times the best Awaken seasons 1 and 2?

Anyway, the monster has now reached the outpost.

Judging from his actions, he seems to recognize me and come looking for me.

Judging from his movements, which are noticeably slower than the dancer type, he doesn’t seem to be good at close combat.

Anyway, the fact that there’s a monster in front of you means that at least there’s no risk of being shot.

As long as there are monsters lurking on the diagonal line, Park Seung-soo’s soldiers won’t be able to do something foolish like shoot them.

“······.”

He appeared in front of the monster, holding a gun in one hand and an axe in the other.

The monster stared at me blankly with its faceless head, then raised one of its arms.

What do you want to do?

A pattern that doesn’t make sense.

However, there are some things that those who fight monsters should keep in mind.

There is not a single meaningless action among the monsters, who are merely manifestations of algorithms rather than living beings.

Especially in combat situations.

My eyes stared intently at the tip of the gray-white arm extended to me.

“?!”

Instinctively, he hid himself behind the wall.

The next moment.

Boom!

A burst of sound, incongruous with the gunshots, erupted right in front of me, and.

Thud! Thud thud!

You see grayish-white shards mercilessly crashing into the floor, unprotected by the walls.

“······.”

If my guess is correct, this is a shotgun.

It matches the shotgun attack exactly.

That’s what they say.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

That’s right.

What this monster is trying to imitate is none other than our old-time hunters who shoot shotguns at their own compatriots.

thud!

I feel him coming around the corner.

I hurried into the outpost.

thud!

The walls are shaking.

The guy is hitting the wall.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A slow but sure-hit attack.

The entire outpost was shaking as if an earthquake had occurred.

“Look! That professor is running away like a rat!”

bang!

He went up to the roof and opened fire.

Is it because of the distance, wind direction, and shaking?

Got off track.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

After five more shots, he destroyed the cell phone that was filming us.

You won’t be able to use that dirty mouth anymore.

If you have the courage to come this far, then maybe.

I feel the monster coming back to me from the rooftop.

“······.”

What should I do?

He recognizes me and tries to destroy me.

There is no doubt about this.

So, to survive here, you have to kill that guy.

Clank-

I picked up a shotgun I had previously captured.

A shotgun is a shotgun, right?

If you only look at the punching power of a single shot, a military shotgun is far superior to a rifle.

I went down to the second floor and kicked the bulletproof glass that had already been hit by bullets and cracked like a rag.

I leaned out the window and aimed my shotgun as I watched the shards of glass hanging down from the outpost, stuck to it like gum.

I can see part of his body.

The distance is 3m.

The reflective field cannot be struck in any way.

He fired with confidence.

bang!

A loud gunshot rang out as a shot flew towards the bastard’s body.

However, just before the bullet hit his body, an ominous shimmer appeared in front of his body.

“!?”

Reflector?

That’s the death I thought of at that moment.

After a split second, I realized that I was alive.

It’s not a reflector.

I looked at the surface of the monster rippling with wide-open eyes.

The bullet is blocked by an invisible barrier.

“Defense station chief?”

Defense station manager.

Unlike the reflective field, it is a type of defensive barrier that blocks only attackers with mobility using intangible power.

There have been reports of it being observed in some large species, but no actual proof has been provided.

Because the Indian government, the party that observed it, was destroyed.

But that phenomenon happened right before my eyes.

“······.”

thud!

The monster notices me and turns towards me.

He immediately hid his body.

thud!

The bastard stood right in front of the outpost.

I feel the gaze of a faceless head.

“······.”

Is this the executor?

Bullets don’t work, and instead, bullets are fired from the other side.

How on earth do I deal with this guy?

Is this monster really the executioner of our old school hunters?

I felt the sound of the pouring rain that I had momentarily forgotten, and became aware of the presence of my cell phone warming my chest.

Yeah, we were filming.

Live! Apocalypse! was a great success, and this skeleton was on full display.

I wonder what kind of comments are being posted.

Also, what kind of expression will the melon mask have?

I wonder if everyone will have fun.

I know what they want.

It’s a happy ending.

Most people want a happy ending.

Even people who hate happy endings want a happy ending for themselves.

I too want to end this fight with hope.

But how.

“······.”

okay.

Let’s fight in our own way.

Bam.

He put down his gun and picked up two axes.

Close combat.

This is Park Gyu’s favorite form of fighting.

What if he shoots a pseudo-firearm?

No one survived my dance of death.

Kugu palace!

It’s thundering.

At the same time, he jumped over the window that still had debris left and flew straight at the guy.

He swung an axe.

I see something swaying.

Ignoring him, I struck with both axes, using the recoil of my entire body.

The axe stopped without any feeling.

It is blocked by an invisible barrier.

I felt myself falling as I settled on the ground, the axe blade resting against my wrist.

It’s between his legs.

A hunchbacked guy moves his feet.

He quickly thrust the axe into the ground, making it seem as if he would trample me at any moment.

The intangible barrier blocks the axe again.

I won’t give up.

Ignoring it, he quickly attacked the other leg, the inner thigh if it were a human.

Phew!

“?!”

The attack worked.

My attack left a wound on the bastard’s body, though it was only a very shallow wound, not quite a blow.

That fact means one thing.

If you can hurt, you can kill.

I entered a state of selflessness as I felt the flames of fighting spirit and hatred that I had been holding on to rise.

In Jeju, a land that did not welcome me, I performed a dance of death with thunder and lightning as my companions.

There is no shortage of audiences.

Everyone in the world will be watching this dance.

“Hoo!”

All I can hear is the sound of impact and my controlled breathing.

I can feel the figure of the guy slowly collapsing inside.

Bam!

The monster’s leg was broken.

At the same time, the bastard’s body began to transform into particles of light as if it were on fire.

“······.”

It was the best dance move.

I took a deep breath as I felt a surge of emotion fill my chest.

A loudspeaker blared from the ridge.

“Oh, shit.”

A person’s shadow is visible on the ridge.

Are you finally here?

It doesn’t matter.

At least I danced my best today.

I saw the men occupying the ridge with axes in hand and gave them a faint, weak smile.

“······.”

They take up arms.

It gave me a small sense of satisfaction to see some people hesitate.

I closed my eyes as Park Seung-su shouted nervously.

It wasn’t a bad life.

I failed to become the last human, but if my ending is this wonderful, then maybe it’s not such a bad life after all?

It was while I was waiting for death, thinking like that.

thud!

I felt a shock wave.

This is no ordinary shock wave.

For a moment, a heartbeat that made it seem as if the world would stop shaking the world around me.

This is a beating I know.

I opened my eyes and looked back.

Someone I know was walking towards me.

A woman with a radiance that dispels darkness.

Her name is Na Hye-in.

“Park Gyu.”

She called me.

At that moment, I remembered her nickname and a bitter smile appeared on my face without me knowing.

Yeah, he was a savior.

The rain stopped.

As the clouds quickly passed by, the dusk that had been decorating the east before we knew it illuminated the world.

In that darkness I saw.

That the fog that had been obscuring my territory so much had now quietly cleared away.

Beyond that lies the fleeting beauty of fields and plains, and the cracks of the world rippling above them.

Yes, that’s right.

That is our destiny.

That fate won’t disappear just because you take it out of your sight or cover it with something.

It’s simple logic.