Chapter 70
3.
When Gate 7 stopped, all the Headquarters Bases on Planet Kingclench fell into chaos.
Of course, at first, that chaos was managed to some extent.
"The Gate will operate again soon! All Residents within the Headquarters Base, please stand by without causing a disturbance."
It wasn't that they were persuaded by those words.
"We have plenty of food. Furthermore, Planet Kingclench has sufficient systems for self-sufficiency."
They were persuaded by the fact that it was more abundant than any other planet.
"And there are no Mogs here. The biggest threat on Planet Kingclench is the disturbance we cause ourselves."
However, the justification for that persuasion soon collapsed.
"They're Mogs! Mogs have appeared!"
Suddenly, Mogs appeared at the Headquarters Bases, and in massive numbers at that.
From then on, control was no longer possible.
They fought the swarming Mogs, and those who lost the fight eventually abandoned the Headquarters Base and fled elsewhere.
Around that time, the only savior for the Survivors was none other than China.
- All Survivors, please gather at the Chinese Headquarters. We will provide sufficient resting places and supplies.
- The Chinese Headquarters is safe! Come here!
- Humanity is one in the face of Space!
The Chinese Headquarters repeatedly announced over the Public Wireless Channel that it would take in the Survivors.
Naturally, the Survivors were grateful for China's generosity and headed to the Chinese Headquarters without a shred of doubt.
And later, they realized.
- Do not be fooled, everyone! China is the culprit! China is currently luring and massacring the Survivors!
The survivors who lived through the massacre began to spread the word that everything was China's conspiracy.
Naturally, Resistance forces began to gather all over Planet Kingclench to fight back.
Of course, resistance was not easy.
Most of the Resistance could not withstand the offensive of the Chinese Space Force and eventually collapsed.
Now, only one place remained until the end.
- Those who wish to resist China come to the Japan Headquarters Base. We will fight to the end.
The Japan Headquarters Base became the Last Bastion.
It was no coincidence that it became the Last Bastion.
In fact, the Japan Headquarters Base on Planet Kingclench was considered a failure by the Japanese Government.
That is, fifteen years ago, the newly inaugurated Prime Minister of Japan planned several projects with the slogan 'Uchu Nippon!'.
One of them was the Space Lease Project.
It was a project where Japan would spend a large amount of money to build massive Headquarters Bases on Planets in space, allowing citizens of other nations to operate there, thereby accumulating new wealth.
The first attempt was Planet Kingclench, and Japan spent an absolutely absurd amount of money at the time to build an incredibly magnificent and massive Headquarters Base on Planet Kingclench.
Of course, it was a massive failure.
They built it well, but no other nations were willing to pay money to go in and live there.
So someone had said.
"The Japan Headquarters on Planet Kingclench is like Noah's Ark. It will only be useful when the place is destroyed."
Naturally, that was meant as a joke.
But that day had come.
The day when Noah's Ark was truly needed had arrived, and in that moment, the Japan Headquarters Base on Planet Kingclench became the Last Bastion for the Resistance.
Of course, they didn't hold out simply because they had a good Headquarters Base.
The Japan Headquarters Base on Planet Kingclench was the most desired destination for the Space Force, including Japan's Space Marines, and the same went for Psycher Agents.
There were many capable talents.
And among them was Lieutenant Colonel Matsumoto Hikari, considered one of the best Psycher Agents Japan had ever produced.
Akaoni, meaning the Red Ogre, was her nickname, and she was an extremely skilled Psycher.
At the same time, she was the owner of the Oni Suit, which Japan had poured its heart and soul into creating.
Exuding Superhuman Strength that couldn't even be compared to that of ordinary Psychers, she became the Vanguard Leader and eliminated the swarming Mogs and the Chinese Space Force.
She made indescribable contributions.
"How long do you think we can hold out?"
"Honestly, it wouldn't be strange if we collapsed tomorrow."
However, everything had a limit, and now she too had reached hers.
- W-We have a big problem!
And in that situation, an urgent message came from the Reconnaissance Unit scouting the front lines.
- M-Mogs are swarming in!
"Numbers?"
- I-I don't know. But it looks like there are over 1 million of them!
The moment she heard that message, Lieutenant Colonel Matsumoto Hikari could intuitively tell.
‘It's over.’
Any further resistance was impossible.
At that point, only one thing came to Lieutenant Colonel Matsumoto Hikari's mind.
"Gather the children."
"The children?"
"We have to save the children, at least."
Her choice was by no means a rational or logical one.
Aside from anything else, even if they gathered the children separately here, there was nowhere to send them.
They were the Last Bastion, so where could they live if they left this bastion?
Even if they were sent away, how long could those children possibly survive?
Nevertheless, no one questioned her choice.
They knew this was a meaningless act.
But at the same time, they knew.
"Yes, ma'am!"
As long as they were human, as long as they were beings who understood compassion, they ought to fight for the children.
They had to fight for the future.
"Send out a Support Request everywhere, even to China if necessary. Tell them we will surrender unconditionally."
Apart from that, Lieutenant Colonel Matsumoto Hikari intended to mobilize every possible means and method.
"Though it will be useless."
Of course, she thought there would be no one on Planet Kingclench who could support them now.
If there were people with the will and ability to support it, they would have already joined the Resistance.
She also knew that the Chinese side was not a group that understood enough mercy and reason to accept a surrender here.
So Lieutenant Colonel Matsumoto Hikari prepared for battle and told herself.
‘I will stop them.’
She would not expect anyone else's help.
She would not hope for a miracle.
And so the Countdown began.
"The Mog Legion will arrive in one hour!"
It was around then.
"Huh? Lieutenant Colonel Hikari!"
"What is it?"
"They say they are coming to support us right now. They say they aren't enemies, so we shouldn't attack!"
The moment she heard those words, Lieutenant Colonel Matsumoto Hikari made a dumbfounded expression.
To think someone would actually respond to the Support Request?
Then she soon realized.
"Relay a message!"
She hadn't explained the situation to those who were risking their lives to help them even in this circumstance.
"Tell them the Mog Legion is currently estimated at 1 million!"
It was a message sent to those who had responded to the support.
He was telling them not to come.
To turn back.
It was over anyway, so they shouldn't throw away their precious lives for nothing.
Her words were immediately relayed, and soon she was able to hear a reply.
"They say it doesn't matter."
Ten minutes later, the battle began.
4.
The moment they heard the Resistance's Support Request, Kim Seojun's Group moved quickly.
There was no hesitation.
"China has currently lost its control over the Mogs. If even the Resistance is annihilated in this situation, we will lose all rights to Planet Kingclench."
The moment Planet Kingclench fell, virtually all the Planets around Gate 7 and humanity on those Planets would fall into crisis.
"Enough with the explanations."
Of course, no one was listening to Kim Seojun's reasoning.
"Why are you overthinking it?"
There was only one reason that moved Noah Winston and all of Kim Seojun's Comrades.
"The kids' lives are in danger."
There was no weighing of options in the face of those lives.
So at this moment, there is only one concern.
"We have to stop them before the engagement begins."
Could Kim Seojun's Group arrive at the Japan Headquarters Base where the Resistance was in time?
They didn't bother calculating that.
To be exact, Kim Seojun's Comrades said so.
"Drop the idea of riding Uryong and running ahead alone. Right now, you need rest."
That Kim Seojun's resting was the most important thing.
"Yeah, Staff Sergeant Kim, trust me and get some good sleep. We'll be there when you open your eyes."
And there was no reason for Kim Seojun to overdo it here.
"Then just take out the transport plane."
Inside the expanded Inventory, a transport plane was now proudly taking up space.
Thus, the transport plane piloted by Brigadier General Lee Yeong-Jun began its sprint toward the Japan Headquarters Base, and when Kim Seojun opened his eyes after resting, he could see the sight Brigadier General Lee Yeong-Jun had promised.
He could see the Mog Legion charging toward the Japan Headquarters Base.
The sight was incredibly overwhelming.
RUMBLE!
The sight created by a Mog Group of 1 million sprinting through the forest was a tsunami itself.
The forest was being swept away by the movements of the Mog Legion.
Those massive trees, the giant ancient trees, were crumbling like cornstalks.
Just imagining facing that immense force was enough to make one's mind a mess.
"I hate to say this, but we're fucked."
In particular, this location where the Mog Legion was situated was very troublesome.
"The trees are too much in the way."
Just as Noah Winston said, the Mog Legion was currently receiving the protection of the giant forest.
It wasn't easy to just hunt Mogs on sight like on Planet Amotia, which was mostly wasteland.
That wasn't all.
"A Battle Tank would have a hard time too, sir."
In this situation, a Battle Tank was also lacking in many ways for proper performance.
But the deliberation didn't last long.
"We will deploy the Attack Helicopter."
Kim Seojun immediately took out the Attack Helicopter right there, and everyone's expressions stiffened at that fact.
Based on the battle situation, deploying an Attack Helicopter was indeed the right answer.
However, everyone knew.
There was a clear limit to the firepower a single Attack Helicopter could unleash when deployed.
Right now, the Chinese Space Force's Attack Helicopter Z-60 in Kim Seojun's Inventory is a powerful Attack Helicopter, but it only has two Heavy Machine Guns and eight missiles.
Even if Kim Seojun and Noah Winston put on a spectacular performance, the damage they could inflict on that Mog Legion of 1 million was merely on the level of spraying a person with a water bottle a few times.
"We'll be lacking firepower. Is that okay?"
So they asked back, and Kim Seojun raised a question to that counter-question.
"I don't think we'll be lacking."
"Huh?"
Everyone was puzzled by those words, and Kim Seojun instead threw a question back in response to their doubt.
"Did you all really think I was going to catch those Mogs with the Attack Helicopter's machine guns?"
"You weren't? Then what are you going to catch them with?"
To that, Kim Seojun answered.
"I'm going to drop the aerial bombs I packed from the Chinese Armory."
"Ah."
Only then did everyone finally understand.
"The ones you put in your Inventory."
Kim Seojun was going to do a bombing, not a shooting.
From then on, there were no more questions.
"This is why I like Seojun. It's thrilling just imagining it!"
They only had certainty.
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
And a moment later, the Attack Helicopter began to cross over the Mog Legion, and Kim Seojun, riding inside, began dropping the Aerial Bombs he took out from his Inventory, like giant grenades.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
A merciless destruction that a single Attack Helicopter could never produce began.
That wasn't all.
Kieeeek!
"Well, since Seojun is working hard, I should do my job too."
In the midst of that chaos, Noah Winston loaded her Gauss Gun and took aim.
"Leave the Tank Beetles to me."
Then she fired specially manufactured Explosive Bullets toward the Tank Beetles, those troublesome things.
Imbued with Penetration.
KABOOM!
Thus, the bullets Noah Winston fired began to eliminate the Tank Beetles swiftly.
"I've really seen all sorts of things in my life, but I never thought I'd see something like this."
Brigadier General Lee Yeong-Jun and Private First Class Park Boseop, riding in the passenger seat next to him, were mesmerized by that fact.
Of course, they couldn't just stay amazed.
"But even pouring it on like this, I can't see their numbers decreasing."
Kim Seojun and Noah Winston were pulling off something incredible, but 1 million was a staggering number.
By simple calculation, even if they killed one per second, it would take 277 hours.
"The Resistance will hold out."
Here, Kim Seojun believed in the underlying strength of the Resistance that had defended the Japan Headquarters Base thus far.
However, Kim Seojun knew.
"If there are no variables."
"That sounds like there is a variable."
"Yes, there probably will be."
It couldn't possibly end like this.
"A Special Individual appears from the Hatchery at a certain probability."
It made sense, as there was a probability of a Special Individual appearing.
And if you multiplied that probability by the number 1 million?
The possibility of there being no Special Individual was lower.
It was exactly as expected.
BEEEEP!
"It's a Special Individual!"
The Attack Helicopter's Detection sensor began to fluctuate wildly, and Brigadier General Lee Yeong-Jun shouted upon seeing it.
"It's a Fly-class! Thank goodness!"
Brigadier General Lee Yeong-Jun let out a hollow laugh right after spitting out those words.
"No, it's not a good thing. Damn it, since when did a Fly-class become a good thing? I'm crazy. I've gone crazy."
"General, what kind of individual is that?"
At Kim Seojun's subsequent question, Brigadier General Lee Yeong-Jun quickly checked the battlefield, and his expression completely stiffened.
"God damn it."
Soon, a curse slipped from his mouth.
It couldn't be helped.
"It's an Assault Beetle! An Assault Beetle has appeared!"
Assault Beetle.
One of the Mog individuals had an appearance similar to a rhinoceros beetle.
"Of all things!"
And from the perspective of Space Marines, it was a nightmare itself.
It couldn't be helped.
First of all, the rhinoceros beetle reached a whopping 30 meters in body length.
It was massive.
Furthermore, its outer shell was incredibly hard, comparable to a Tank Beetle, and the horn attached to its front was indescribably powerful.
It was impossible to inflict damage with ordinary bullets.
However, there were a few differences from the Tank Beetle.
"It looks like there are over a thousand!"
First, their population was much larger.
"If they start flapping their wings, even the Japan Headquarters Base won't be able to hold out."
Additionally, the Assault Beetles could fly for a short time by flapping their wings, and their flight speed reached up to 400 kilometers per hour.
That was why they were Assault Beetles.
The moment they accelerated in flight, the Assault Beetles could destroy everything placed in front of them.
Naturally, it was impossible to stop the Assault Beetles with their current combat method.
Even if Noah Winston could ignore their armor with her Penetration Ability, there was a limit to the number she could catch.
Therefore, everyone could picture it in his or her mind.
‘It's over.’
The sight of the Japan Headquarters Base being smashed to pieces in front of those unstoppable Assault Beetles!
At that moment, Kim Seojun did not hesitate.
"Please wait."
He went inside his Inventory.
In that moment, everyone intuitively knew.
‘The Xeno Suit!’
Kim Seojun would come out wearing the Xeno Suit, the ultimate weapon and Doctor Space's posthumous work.
The moment they imagined it, everyone bit their lips as if they had promised to do so.
They all knew.
The Xeno Suit possessed ridiculous functions.
‘If he takes another stimpack.’
In order to operate the Xeno Suit, he absolutely had to take a stimpack.
‘It's dangerous.’
The problem was that not even 24 hours had passed since Kim Seojun took a stimpack.
He had taken a rest, but a stimpack wasn't like a cup of coffee you drink after waking up from a nap.
But he was going to take another one here?
Furthermore, this Battlefield was no ordinary Battlefield.
It was a battlefield where a battle with no guaranteed end was foreshadowed!
Even so, no one could spit out the words, "No!" to Kim Seojun here.
Inside that Japan Headquarters Base, there was something they had to protect.
So everyone clenched his or her teeth, and in that state, everyone could see.
‘Huh?’
Kim Seojun suddenly reappeared.
"Seojun?"
"Yes."
"What about the Xeno Suit?"
Noah Winston threw a question at Kim Seojun about his appearance, and Kim Seojun answered that question.
"The risk is too great to use the Xeno Suit. I want to avoid taking a stimpack twice within 24 hours."
At that reasonable explanation, everyone's doubts only grew larger instead.
Then how on earth was he going to catch the Assault Beetles?
"Then why did you go in?"
"Combat Drones."
"Drones?"
"Yes."
Along with his words, Kim Seojun showed them.
"They are drones equipped with Monofilament Cutters."