Chapter 1465: Charging In (5) |
Click…
Kang Jin-Ho tossed away the spent cigarette and mouthed a new one, then used his lighter to ignite its tip. While puffing away at his cigarette, he stared weirdly at Wiggins.
“I thought you only wanted to test something out. But this is a bit…”
“Forgive me, my lord. But the experiment proved far more successful than I expected.”
Wiggins smirked triumphantly. However, it seemed he had spent an excessive amount of mana, judging from his pale complexion.
While breathing heavily, Wiggins narrowed his eyes and studied the destroyed formation of the distant armored division.
“Yes… It seems our magic was effective, my lord. Very much so.”
“Mm.”
“Unfortunately…”
First of all, he still hadn’t found the answer on how to deal with the artillery’s enormous range advantage.
Magic users needed visual confirmation, because that was how they calculated the coordinates of their spells. However, there was a limit to how far the human eye could see. That meant countering artillery bombardment coming from far, far away was pretty much impossible. And it’d be even worse if things like missiles or multiple launch rocket systems were introduced into the equation.
“Still, it’s hard to argue against the impact of a successful activation of this spell, wouldn’t you say? And now, the enemy can’t rely on their artillery anymore.”
“Mm…”
Kang Jin-Ho nodded in agreement.
Howitzers and tanks could theoretically fire their shells even if they were on uneven ground. But when the landscape was in utter chaos like that? They couldn’t fire anything even if they wanted to.
Did Wiggins come up with this countermeasure after a lengthy deliberation? Or was he simply acting on impulse, and everything still worked out favorably? Whatever it was, the martial artists now discovered a possible method to counter the armored division, which seemed like an insurmountable enemy until now.
Kang Jin-Ho tutted slightly. “Sure, if you can find a way to get close enough, that is.”
“Yes, my lord. That is indeed an issue,” said Wiggins while grinning wryly.
This result was only possible because various factors forbade the other side from attacking first. If this had been a real battle, the mages would’ve been turned into bloody chunks of meat well before they could get close enough to unleash their magic.
Actually, it’d be a miracle if there were any bloody chunks left afterward!
“Since we’ve confirmed that a successful launch will have an appreciable impact, I’ve achieved my goal today, my lord. As for how we’ll get close enough to launch the attack itself, well… That might take a little more research to figure out, I’m afraid.”
“So, are you finished, then?”
“Yes, my lord. I’m finished.”
Kang Jin-Ho nodded, although he was pouting unhappily while doing that. “I don’t enjoy cleaning up other people’s dishes, okay?”
Wiggins looked mortified just then. “My lord! You mustn’t say that in this day and age. Unless you’re prepared to deal with sponges and scourers thrown at you from the kitchen every day, you must get used to doing the dishes as quickly as possible.”
“…Sure, I’ll think about it.”
Kang Jin-Ho recalled something just then and chuckled helplessly. He then lightly shook his head before glancing at his companions.
“Okay, I’m off.”
“Will you be fine, my lord? Even though I’ve shaken them around a bit, their remaining firepower is still nothing to scoff at.”
“I’m sure that’s the case,” Kang Jin-Ho replied without much concern. “Talk to you later.”
“…Understood.”
Kang Jin-Ho leisurely headed toward the army in the distance while puffing away at his cigarette.
Lee Hyeon-Su sidled up to Wiggins and asked, “Do you think he’ll be okay?”
“I sure hope so,” said Wiggins while scratching his head.
Even he found it difficult to estimate the outcome this time.
“Comparison” was only possible between two similar things. For instance, one couldn’t compare elephants to whales.
Both the modern weapons wielded by the military and martial art techniques were developed for the sole purpose of taking lives, but comparing the two would never be a straightforward affair. Why? Because there were far too many variables to consider.
“Even if it’s my lord we’re talking about, this won’t be a walk in the park,” said Wiggins.
“You think so?”
Wiggins noticed the uncertainty in Lee Hyeon-Su’s voice and glanced at him. “Mm? Do you disagree, Mister Lee?”
“Well… I’ve already witnessed something similar once before, you see?”
“But you can’t compare those people with the American military.”
“Oh, sure. That’s true. Even then…” Lee Hyeon-Su casually shrugged. “One thing I realized back then was that it’s not about who’s stronger and whatnot, sir. No, it’s about whether they can keep up with him or not.”
“Mm?”
“Besides, look at him.”
Lee Hyeon-Su used his chin to point at the back of Kang Jin-Ho.
“It’s like he’s going on a stroll.”
Wiggins turned his head and stared at his lord. He couldn’t even spot a single hint of nervousness or tension from the figure of Kang Jin-Ho.
A smile sneaked up on Wiggins’ lips without him even realizing it.
“I see. My lord certainly cuts a dependable figure, doesn’t he? Perhaps the most dependable person in the entire world at that.”
***
A man was crossing the desert. The sun shone from behind him to create a lengthy shadow on the sand below.
Even though Mercer could barely keep his wits together after surviving that chaotic earthquake, that individual’s figure still vividly burned into his retina for some inexplicable reason.
This sense of inexplicable disharmony rapidly filled up Mercer’s brain.
He couldn’t understand it. Even though they weren’t separated by a huge distance, why did it feel like Mercer and that unknown individual existed in two different worlds?
The unknown individual maintained his leisurely gait. The area around him seemed so peaceful, yet the destroyed landscape filled with bizarre noises and pained groans surrounded Mercer. Maybe Mercer’s sense of disharmony stemmed from this extreme difference?
What is going on? What is this?
Mercer realized he couldn’t take his eyes off the unidentified individual getting closer and closer. The distance meant he couldn’t see the other man’s face just yet, but…
“Commander!”
The adjutant, who was also staring at the unidentified individual, called out to Mercer in a somewhat flustered voice. He probably wanted to know how they should respond in this situation.
Unfortunately for the adjutant, though, Mercer also had no idea what to do here.
Even a moron could tell that the unidentified individual didn’t have good intentions.
No one would be insane enough to walk alone in a desert. And considering that he had come from the location where that mysterious light show took place not too long ago…!
There was no doubt that the unidentified individual was an enemy. Mercer had no problem figuring that out. But the real problem was something else. And that was with figuring out what to do next.
The earthquake might have made an utter mess of this place, but the soldiers stationed in this location still belonged to the United States Army’s famed III Armored Corps. The firepower of combatants in this location should be more than enough to level a small nation.
That fact hadn’t changed at all, so what was that unidentified individual even thinking of while daring to approach this location by himself?
“Should we engage the hostile, sir?”
“…”
Despite the adjutant urging him, Mercer couldn’t immediately decide. Even though he was a soldier and would never show a shred of mercy to his enemies, this problem was not as simple as that.
I mean, come on. Think about it!
Could an army fire howitzers at a lone individual? Would the tank operators be able to point their guns at an individual that could either be a civilian or a combatant?
No, they wouldn’t!
No one would willingly do that unless they were insane!
“For now… Hold your fire,” said Mercer.
“Commander…!”
“I know what you want to say, okay! I get it, so hold your fire for now!”
“Understood!”
Mercer subtly chewed on his lips.
He hurriedly scanned the destroyed formation of his troops. Their losses would only become even astronomical if they got attacked by the enemy in this situation. Despite knowing this, Mercer couldn’t bring himself to order the guns to start firing.
He wasn’t simply being stubborn here, nor did he lose his mind to stupidity.
No, this was an act of pride. Pride of the commander of the United States Army’s armored division!
No matter how urgent the situation was, soldiers shouldn’t attack unarmed civilians first.
Soldiers existed to protect civilians. And true soldiers should have the mindset of protecting not only their fellow countrymen, but all civilians from harm. At least, that was what Mercer believed.
Issuing the order to fire at the unidentified individual would go against his beliefs. He just hoped that his subordinates would forgive him for his decision.
“Do not engage the enemy unless they attack first! Remember, we are the proud members of the 15th Armored Division!”
Mercer’s unwavering roar helped his adjutant and subordinates to regain their wits.
Dammit. I got too agitated just now.
We’re only dealing with one individual. Why did I panic like an idiot?
Even if the lone unidentified individual was some freakish alien and not a human being, it shouldn’t have the power to fight against an army of this size. It was just that the sudden, unexplained earthquake had put these soldiers on edge, that was all!
Suddenly, the leisurely walking individual stopped approaching at around the two-hundred-meter mark.
Mercer narrowed his eyes. Was the enemy trying to provoke the army? Or was it for something else?
Of course, it was impossible for him to guess the enemy’s intentions.
Never mind the artillery, even rifles could hit their targets two hundred meters away. Highly trained soldiers wouldn’t even need to rely on their scopes to hit the target’s head.
In short, it was suicidal to stop at such a distance away when confronting an army.
Maybe the enemy didn’t know anything about an army’s weapons?
Mercer’s assumptions and predictions all missed their mark, however.
Rumble…!
Mercer thought he heard a faint mechanical noise coming from the unidentified individual’s location. That was when the individual lazily extended his hands to left and right. The space near his arms wavered, then his hands… disappeared into the space itself?!
“What?!”
Mercer’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets from this bizarre phenomenon. However, his shock didn’t last for long.
His expression hardened when he saw the unidentified individual pull out a pair of lengthyobjects from the air.
Wait, are those things… swords?
Someone actually pulled out swords in front of an army? Seriously?!
“What the…?”
Before Mercer could express his astonishment, however…!
“Goddamn it?! That’s Jin-Ho Kang!”
Mercer was jolted awake from his thoughts by someone’s freaked-out voice. Wasn’t that Undersecretary Burton’s voice? He was still outside the bunker?
Burton yelled urgently. “Commander! I order you to kill that man right now!”
“What are you talking about, sir?”
“That man! That man is this training exercise’s goal! Fail to stop that man, and every one of you will die!”
Mercer’s jaw slightly fell in stupefaction. “What? Do you want us to engage that lone individual?”
“Goddamn it, man! Do not consider that man as a human being! Hurry and shoot your goddamn guns! Can’t you see him brandishing his swords?!”
Burton loudly gritted his teeth.
He was an anti-martial artist at heart. He simply did not believe in them. In his mind, American soldiers equipped with the latest weapons would always triumph against even the strongest martial artists.
As a matter of fact, he was 100% certain about the soldiers producing overwhelmingly superior results than martial artists if they received the same level of investment and manpower.
However, for his belief to be validated, the soldiers in this place needed to fight Kang Jin-Ho properly.
Burton was well informed of Kang Jin-Ho’s feats, so he knew that man should never be underestimated. Besides, he didn’t want to be one of those morons who underestimated an opponent—because he was far too confident of his victory—only to lose because of an unexpected low blow. That would be too shameful, now wouldn’t it!
“Commander, I order you to get ready for battle! Right now! If you don’t want to dump all of your achievements and records into a nearby trash can, that is!”
After shouting that at Mercer, Burton rushed back inside the bunker as quickly as his legs would carry him.
“…?”
Mercer stared in confusion at the bunker’s now-shut doorway, then turned his head to look at the enemy, now identified as Jin-Ho Kang. He was supposed to fight that man?
He dazedly observed Kang Jin-Ho, who was still standing in the same spot. That was when he saw Kang Jin-Ho lightly stabbing his swords into the ground, then pulling out a packet of cigarettes from his pocket!
Soon, grayish cigarette smoke drifted away above Kang Jin-Ho’s head.
“What the… f*ck…?” Mercer muttered, his expression hardening.
That was unquestionably a provocation.
“Everyone has lost their goddamn mind!”
Whether it was Burton or that crazy man, Mercer couldn’t understand any of them.The thing was, though… At least Mercer knew several great ways to deal with crazies!
So, that’s not a civilian. That’s what you’re telling me?
Now that he knew his opponent was not a civilian, what was there for him to hesitate? He respected the lives of civilians, not enemy combatants. And the only gift he gave to his enemies were bullets to their faces, not mercy!
“Colonel!”
“Yes, commander!”
“How many tanks are still operational?”
“Sir! We’ve managed to recover three units so far!”
“Very good! Time to hit that bastard with what we’ve got!”
“Sir? Do we engage the hostile?”
“I hope there really is an afterlife. So that he can learn how stupid he was today! If there is no place for your soul to go, you wouldn’t even get the chance to figure out how you died, right?”
“We’ll give him a quick, painless death, sir!”
“Don’t wait for my orders. Fire at will!”
“Understood!”
Mercer’s order was quickly conveyed to the tank operators.
The American military boasted a chain of command designed to be as efficient as possible in delivering reports and commands to the relevant parties. The effectiveness of such a system was on full display today. Only a short moment after Mercer had issued his command, the guns of the tanks at the front of the formation rapidly swung toward the target.
As they did so, raucous mechanical noises rocked the air.
And then…!
“Fire!”
KA-BOOOOOOOM!!!
The explosions of the war enveloped this unnamed stretch of the desert.