Rust - Chapter 994



Only Krnovel

RUST -994

The shelling from the new self-propelled howitzer was terrifying.

Starting with the explosion and sparks, debris flying everywhere and thick dust rising up, the small open space was turned into a wasteland in an instant.

yes-

The transparent barrier that had been unfolding around Leon Bonnard struggled to block the shockwave and debris before dissipating. He let out a hoarse voice, dripping with cold sweat.

“Cease fire.”

The command center was thrown into chaos by the unexpected artillery fire. Soldiers armed with exosuits poured onto the parade ground to the blaring sound of supply alarm sirens. Multiple rocket launchers and missile launchers began to move.

“Your Majesty the Emperor!”

“your majesty!”

“Find His Majesty!”

A desperate voice was heard from beyond the thick dust rising like a fog. And then a woman’s voice was heard from deep within the pit.

[You’re alive? You’re alive? You didn’t commit suicide, right?]

What the heck, what is this-

What the—

Even if it wasn’t a direct hit, it was a 240mm shell. You didn’t die from that shelling? Leon Bonnard jumped out of the dust pit with an eerie feeling.

The guards who had been standing behind with their bodies frozen were caught in the artillery fire and turned into chunks of meat. Underneath the thick dust, the soldiers caught in the artillery fire were dimly visible, their bloody bodies.

Srrrrrrrr-

And the blood scattered everywhere was moving. The blood that should have been frozen in the -60 degree cold was moving as if it were alive.

Ssruk-ssrurur-

Into the pit.

A drop of blood flows into the pit where the vampire was.

The red waves slowly cut through the snow and ice like flowing hot lava, creating haze.

A woman’s voice, as if absorbing the blood scattered around her, rang out brightly.

[You see. It was a bombardment, right? You wouldn’t have risked your life to stop me, would you? You’ve awakened, right? You’ve awakened and said you won’t be with us? That’s too bad.]

The bright feeling changed into a dull atmosphere in an instant. The tone seemed to go back and forth between mania and depression. Leon Bonnard shouted with murderous intent rising from his voice.

“Enemy. Missile and rocket units, retreat to D2 area. Exosuit units, deploy bunkers and barricades.”

“Supposed to be a high-level vampire. Planted bombs in bunkers and barricades. Disengaged after long-range attack.”

The soldiers gathered at the parade ground dispersed. The missile batteries and multiple rocket launcher units that had been conducting counterattacks moved toward the regrouping area.

Puhwaaaaaaaah-

[The bunker does not inflate quickly.]

[It’s because the temperature is low. Increase the pressure.]

Bunkers and barricades were set up, bombs were planted here and there, and in less than three minutes a defensive line was created around the crater dug by artillery fire.

“Automatic turret installation?”

“Done”

“The armored vehicle?”

“Waiting.”

“Your Majesty, you must evade. Then your soldiers will be able to fight properly.”

“It’s dangerous.”

Leon Bonnard’s eyes, glowing blue, turned toward the other side of the gradually settling dust. Why aren’t you attacking? Even now, with such a tingling sense of life flowing from you?

‘The vampire has absorbed the blood…’

Absorb blood?

Are you just wasting your life away? Why?

‘Pretend to be powerful?’

“Shoot! Fire!”

Leon Bonnard gave the order to fire again at the coordinates that had been previously bombarded. The bombardment began again. There was a huge fire and a loud noise. The dust that had just begun to settle rose into the air again.

A blurry afterimage was seen moving along with the gunfire. Troops armed with exosuits pulled the triggers relying on their motion detection sensors.

Crossfire from bunkers and barricades began to rage in all directions. Gun barrels darted toward the red dots indicated by sensors, like elementary school soccer players chasing a ball.

Tudadadadadada-

Doo doo doo doo doo doo-

The motion sensors stopped responding as something hazy emerged from the thick dust and hid itself back in the dust.

[Change the barrel.]

[Ammunition distribution.]

[What happened to the Javelin?]

[It’s so fast that it’s hard to aim.]

The soldiers were at a loss as to how to deal with the vampires that moved at high speeds. They had to tie their feet to pour out strong firepower, but there was no way.

Leon Bonnard, who understood the situation, said:

“Pointing fire.”

“Catch the point and create a net. Don’t try to hit it.”

“If he comes into the bunker or barricade, don’t stop him, just retreat.”

‘Blow up the bunkers and barricades.’

If that wasn’t enough to kill them, then bunker busters or tactical nukes were the only options.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

A bunker burst into flames with a loud explosion. Mortars and machine guns opened fire on the exploded bunker.

[Are you running away?]

[Do you think you can escape?]

Amid the gunfire and explosions, a voice echoed towards where Leon Bonnard had escaped.

‧

The Philadelphia recapture operation was halted even though it was more than 70% successful.

If they were prepared to lose troops, they could have pushed on, but the media reported that ‘the emperor prioritized awakening the soldiers’ abilities rather than recapturing them.’

But the truth was different. They couldn’t get through a single high-level vampire that suddenly appeared. A situation where a mere one high-level entity was in control of nearly 200,000 troops.

He was able to break through the siege with his strength. He couldn’t stop it with his newly awakened abilities. Even the concentrated bombardment that was effective was meaningless after he was hit a few times, as he was completely evaded.

If it was a tank corps or a large monster, it would have been possible to blow it away with a bunker buster or tactical nuke, but it was not easy to catch a human-sized vampire that could move at super speed.

It was too fast to hit with a bunker buster, and because it was so fast, if it got stuck in the encirclement and front lines, even friendly forces would be within the tactical nuclear range.

‘Is there no other way than a trap?’

The vampire was after his life. If that was the case, he could have set a trap.

‘The regenerative power and vitality are so good.’

Above all, the difficulty was that if there was a death, the vampire would recover quickly.

‘If Vladimir Kalin comes, it could be resolved quickly.’

He requested assistance from the Holy Kingdom through Prime Minister Dan Brown, but was refused. The Holy Kingdom only reaffirmed that it would not provide military assistance.

‘If we don’t fall into the trap, we’ll have to use tactical nukes.’

In the worst case scenario, we’ll have to use strategic nuclear weapons.

‘If you have that level of ability, why didn’t you attack directly?’

Leon Bonnard was unaware that the high-ranking vampires, including the Count-level vampires, were hiding after being slain by Maru.

In any case, Philadelphia had to be recaptured and Florida had to be taken over. Even if the attack on the Confederacy was postponed, it was necessary to get there before being able to focus on domestic affairs.

=====

=====

While the Empire’s campaign to retake Philadelphia was stalled by the arrival of high-ranking vampires and a spider-force counterattack, the Holy Kingdom was quickly solving its problem of feral dogs and cats.

The wild dogs either found their old masters or entered military service as war dogs. If not, they were driven back to the north. The packs of wild dogs that were determined to fight to the end were just fertilizer.

Whaaaaaah-

A vine that broke the sound barrier with a sound of tearing air. It cut the dog that jumped backwards into pieces. The pieces were scattered around the corn tree.

A bloody mist rose as if a bomb had exploded. A terrible sight unfolded all around. The air was torn apart, a loud explosion was heard, and the dogs were torn to pieces.

The dogs were all turned into manure without a single exception, as if they had been replayed over and over again. The tails of the surviving dogs were tangled between their buttocks.

Quaddukduk-

The vines of death, not paying attention to the pitiful squeaking sound, wrapped themselves around indifferently. A pack of wild dogs desperately ran away as their lives were sucked out in an instant and turned into a handful of fertilizer. The vines chased after them.

[Are you okay?]

“what?”

[That vampire that came out in Philadelphia. I think that one’s a little too strong.]

“If he was really strong, he would have destroyed the imperial army.”

They say that they survived the bombardment and even got caught in a trap that was set up double or triple, so they must be strong. But Maru wasn’t worried.

When catching wild dogs, I intentionally used only the vines of death. As a result, I was able to control the vines freely.

In the past, the vines moved like squid or octopus legs, but now they moved like whips. Vines that strike, tear, and wrap around in an instant.

When the dagger was attached, it could penetrate armor plates, and when the dagger was not attached, it could drain life as before.

Whether it’s a cannibal or a vampire, once you get caught, that’s the end. So, Maru wasn’t nervous even though the vampire who was playing tag with Leon Bonnard in Philadelphia was strong.

[But looking at the Battle of Philadelphia, it seems true that vampires have become stronger. You said it. If they become stronger by eating people, it would be better to get rid of them in advance.]

“That’s right.”

Break break …

The fleeing wild dog turned into manure with a shrieking sound.

Whirilirik-

I sat on a stump where the vines that had spread out in all directions had been cut off. The forest that had been densely packed with trees that were probably 40 to 50 meters tall was now emptied here and there.

“That’s right. Who was the one who suddenly suggested a ceasefire because fighting would only harm both parties?”

[······.]

It was hard to say that the Confederacy and the guerrillas had nothing to do with it. The technology to change from cannibals to vampires was clearly their technology.

“If you said not to interfere, then you are not interfering. If you said not to act like a fool in front of me, then you should do as you say. Unless you are about to die, then you should keep your word.”

[······.]

“If that old man really was going to die, he would have come flying in on a blimp. Since everyone is alive, he’s just making a video call. Pack the necessary items and send them. I won’t intervene unless they get too noisy.”

[I get it.]

They had a special ability to become stronger by eating people. So the Confederate cannibals and vampires who survived for over two years would have become quite strong, but Maru thought that there were others who had truly become stronger.

‘Things in China and India.’

If we had to do something, it would have been right to start with places with large populations like China and India. In China alone, four out of seven Chinese cities each had a population of over 100 million.

“Secure the combat materials in Philadelphia, and contact the forces connected to you in Japan and tell them about China and India.”

[······.]

If we continue to show that we need Ki-soon that much and that there is a lot to do, the frozen-type grace period will continue. Maru rolled Ki-soon.

Now that we’ve successfully raised the floating city, it’s time to focus on space expansion. We need to sort things out before variables arise.

“And check the sinkhole in Japan. Ask the PD uncle when he’ll be back. Is there any need to create a new teaching staff in Korea? We’re short on manpower here, so tell him to do something appropriate and come back. The old man’s position is being replaced by an AI. You don’t like that? Then you and the PD uncle will have to coordinate things on your own.”

[I get it.]

Ki-soon shrank down at Maru’s nagging.

Ugh-

Maru, who had risen from the tree stump, moved to his next target. Whirlwind – The vines shot out like harpoons and stuck in the tree.

Just as Spider-Man uses the elasticity of his web to move, the black vines attached to the tree expand and contract, causing Maru’s body to float up.

‧

Nyaaaa- (give me some food–)

Should I just shoot it?

Kim Yang-in’s nerves were tense. It was because of the runaway cat.

‘These crazy bitches.’

When I told him that the owner was looking for it, he said he would do it.

I miss the owner, but tell him to come and see me. Oh, and when you come, bring me some salmon sashimi.

what?

That was absurd, but what was even more absurd was that they asked me to give them something to eat while I waited.

Confidently. Stray cats who ask for the wet food they used to eat, along with the chewy treats.

The cats in the Japanese hospital had grown to the size of tigers or pumas, but the ones rolling around in front of Ms. Kim now were only slightly larger than the average cat. That is, they were about the size of a cheetah or a serval.

Hey? (Why aren’t you feeding me?)

Miewung- (Ami, clean up the poop-)

Ahh- this really.

Should I just say he’s infected with toxoplasmosis and shoot him?

Aaaah- (Are you straining your eyes? Right now?)

Aaaa …

okay.

Let’s shoot.

First shoot-

The moment Kim Yang’s pupils started to blur, a communication from Na Ju-yeon came in.

[The toxoplasma treatment has been completed. Just mix it into the food you feed your cats.]

Oh, I don’t know.

[They say he’s going that way.]

“Huh? When?”

Maru is coming? It was Kim Yang, whose finger on the trigger had changed to a standby position and whose dim pupils had returned to light.

[You must be almost there. You even saw the stray cat yourself.]

“Okay.”

These bitches are all dead now.

Dog bitches… no, cat bitches.

Is Maru a Baekjeong for nothing?

If I see cat bitches acting up, I’ll just cut them down.

“Oh, you’ve had a hard time.”

Maru, who arrived suddenly, congratulated Ms. Kim.

“What’s wrong with you guys? You’re like stray cats?”

And as if nothing had happened, the cats that had been nagging at Ms. Kim lay down in front of Maru and rubbed their heads and bodies against Maru’s legs.

Meow meow–

Yaaaaaaaong–

Ppajik – A vein appeared on Kim Yang’s forehead.

These bitches···.