Chapter 34
The Mog, the species Humanity faced, was terrifying enough to become Humanity's nightmare in many ways.
Among their most frightening traits was their absurd Proliferation Speed.
Mogs were born from eggs, and the time it took for them to hatch was incredibly short.
Under certain conditions, tens of thousands of Mogdogs could be created in just an hour—an utterly preposterous rate.
Space Marines heard countless times about the Mogs' terror during their Trainee Soldier days.
And there was always one Trainee Soldier who would ask that question.
“Excuse me, what do Mogs eat?”
Naturally, Mogs didn't consume regular food.
It would be impossible for them to survive in Space, where food was almost nonexistent in that manner.
So, what *did* they eat?
The answer was simple.
“Mogs eat Beta Gas.”
Beta Gas, a high-concentration energy source that could be mined in Space, was the Mogs' energy source.
“That's why Mogs and Humanity are destined to clash.”
For that reason, the conflict between Mogs and Humanity was inevitable.
Up to this point, it was a realm that was quite understandable upon hearing it.
However, at some point, things began to stray beyond this understandable realm.
That is, Doctor Space made an announcement.
“I have perfected Beta Gas Concentration Technology! Now, Beta Gas can be converted from a gaseous state to a solid state using a very simple and inexpensive method! Furthermore, by removing impurities in the process, highly Concentrated Beta Gas can be produced!”
He announced a very special technology that could process Beta Gas, and all of Humanity was ecstatic about the announcement.
The Nobel Prize Committee also gladly awarded Doctor Space another Nobel Prize in Chemistry, stating that his technological discovery had once again advanced Humanity's future.
Moreover, that technology changed the value of the Space Era.
In an era where logistics transport was prohibitively expensive, Beta Gas Concentration Technology eliminated Humanity's energy concerns and explosively expanded their scope of activity in Space.
Thus, Humanity cheered for the new technology.
Kiiieee!
And the Mogs cheered too.
In other words, the Concentrated Beta Gas created by Humanity was a groundbreaking technology for the Mogs as well, allowing them to produce more eggs.
Furthermore, Concentrated Beta Gas exponentially increased the probability of Special Individuals appearing.
As a result, it was often seen.
Mogs creating Hatcheries wherever Concentrated Beta Gas was present.
The scene Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun and his party were witnessing now was precisely that.
“Staff Sergeant Kim, this looks like a Hatchery, doesn't it?”
“That's right.”
The Planet Amotia US Headquarters, which had boasted the second largest size after China on Planet Amotia, had lost all its functions, destroyed and covered in Mog Eggs and the green liquid that oozed from them.
“My God, what in the world happened here?”
“It's quite normal.”
“Excuse me?”
“America has the most advanced Beta Gas Concentration Technology. And the moment things went south, they would have gathered as much Concentrated Beta Gas as possible from Beta Gas Mining Sites everywhere and brought it to Headquarters.”
“To Headquarters?”
“Energy is crucial for survival. On Planet Amotia, and even beyond Space.”
“Ah!”
Upon hearing the subsequent explanation, Private First Class Park Boseop understood.
“And America has an extraordinary obsession with energy. Even when they start mining on a Planet, they prioritize checking for the presence of Beta Gas over other resources.”
Furthermore, Kim Seojun was certain that there was far more Concentrated Beta Gas at the US Headquarters than anyone imagined.
Normally, there would be no reason to worry about such a situation.
For one, Humanity wasn't stupid, and they didn't carelessly manage Concentrated Beta Gas, thinking 'Let's just provoke those Mogs a bit!'
Also, Mogs didn't understand human language, nor could they possibly know the true nature of the storage containers holding Concentrated Beta Gas just by looking at them.
Crucially, the place they were looking at was America's Headquarters, not some other Nation's.
Although they were pushed back by China, that was purely due to numbers; technologically, China was still a step below America.
*But when problems arise, hell unfolds.*
Of course, none of that mattered now.
“Staff Sergeant Kim, what do we do?”
What was important to Kim Seojun's party was that Jennifer Jo's Rescue Difficulty had drastically increased.
And for good reason: a Hatchery was an area Space Marines were absolutely forbidden from entering.
They had heard it countless times in Training Camp.
If you find a Hatchery, don't look back, just run.
Don't even *think* about doing anything there.
Of course, even without being taught in Training Camp, no human would do anything upon seeing a Hatchery.
It couldn't be helped.
Kiiieee!
Kiaaaah!
While there might not be *no* crazy person who would enter that hell where Mogdogs and Thorn Snakes were hatching in real-time, at the very least, there was no chance such a person would make it to the Hatchery alive.
Kkeueooh!
“Crazy! A Tank Beetle has appeared!”
Moreover, among those eggs, there was a low probability of powerful Special Individuals emerging.
In many ways, it was not a good environment to respond to a Rescue Request.
“Staff Sergeant Kim.”
Therefore, Private First Class Park Boseop was certain that Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun would naturally say the operation was canceled and they would turn back.
“The Rescue Operation will proceed.”
“Yes, understood! Huh? What? Did I hear that wrong, sir?”
*At that moment, Private First Class Park Boseop stared at Kim Seojun in shock.*
Kim Seojun didn't look at Private First Class Park Boseop's expression, but he immediately understood his feelings.
“The Hatchery is safer than you think.”
So he explained.
“Newly hatched Mogs haven't fully developed their sensory functions. Also, freshly born Mogs don't just stay put; they immediately receive orders and move to a specific location to wait. It's much safer than encountering a Mog Legion on the road.”
Of course, upon hearing that explanation, Private First Class Park Boseop's expression spoke volumes.
It said, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
And 'Where's your proof?'
“I know it's hard to believe. But you can trust me.”
So Kim Seojun told him.
“Because I've experienced it myself.”
“Huh?”
“I've been inside a Hatchery before.”
As Kim Seojun spoke, memories he didn't want to recall resurfaced in his mind.
“Y-you've been inside a Hatchery, sir?”
“That's right.”
And it wasn't just one memory.
Kim Seojun, still speaking, held up three fingers.
“Three times.”
Upon hearing that, Private First Class Park Boseop no longer questioned him.
Kim Seojun was the same.
He offered no further unnecessary explanations.
Once they were resolved, there was only one thing to do now.
“Then the operation will commence in 10 minutes.”
Jennifer Jo, after exposing China's secret research, didn't send another radio transmission.
More precisely, she couldn't.
\[Radio transmission unavailable.\]
“What do you mean? Why can't I?”
\[Radio transmission unavailable.\]
The radio function in her Air-raid Shelter was broken.
In fact, it was highly unusual.
The Air-raid Shelter's function was survival, and the most crucial aspect for survival was the radio function, which could relay internal conditions to the outside.
Of course, Jennifer Jo knew to some extent by now.
“What in the world is happening outside?!”
That something unimaginable was happening outside the Air-raid Shelter, inside the US Military Headquarters.
\[Oxygen Supply will cease in 20 minutes.\]
The lack of oxygen was another sign.
Clearly, there was a high probability of some physical problem outside the Air-raid Shelter.
Of course, none of that mattered to Jennifer Jo now.
She could only pray.
“Please, please, anyone, just come rescue me. Anyone. Save me.”
However, as she prayed, she knew better than anyone.
That if there had been no answer until now, there was a high probability there would be no answer in the future either.
Even her brilliant mind had already calculated her Survival Probability at 0 percent.
Nevertheless, she prayed.
“Please, just save me.”
Desperately.
“If you just save me, I'll do anything. I'll worship you as a god. I'll really do anything, just don't let me die like this.”
The moment she, who had never once believed in the existence of God, uttered those desperate words, that was the moment.
Thump!
Suddenly, something knocked on the Air-raid Shelter's door.
“Huh?”
Startled by the sound, Jennifer Jo looked up in surprise.
She then heard a voice coming from a wired phone beyond the Air-raid Shelter.
- This is Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun of the Korean Space Force. I've come in response to your Rescue Request.
As Kim Seojun had predicted, the Hatchery was safer than expected.
Of course, “safer than expected” didn't mean it was truly safe.
Under normal circumstances, Kim Seojun wouldn't have even considered going near a Hatchery.
In other words, Kim Seojun now had something reliable that he didn't usually have.
*As long as I have Teleport, it's worth a try.*
The fact that he could use Teleport 32 times an hour.
Moreover, since he could even use Stealth in emergencies, moving within the Hatchery itself wasn't all that difficult for Kim Seojun.
There was only one problem.
*If only I can find her within the time limit.*
The US Headquarters was too vast for the given time.
Precisely locating Jennifer Jo's Air-raid Shelter within such a massive US Headquarters was no easy task.
Furthermore, Kim Seojun's abilities weren't omnipotent.
While Stealth and Teleport were excellent abilities, all of them required magic power to be used.
There was only one thing he could hope for.
*I can only hope she's lucky.*
Hoping that luck would be on Jennifer Jo's side.
And surprisingly, luck was on her side.
Kim Seojun was able to find Jennifer Jo's Air-raid Shelter much earlier than he expected.
Of course, it wasn't a situation like Kim Seojun randomly guessing and then finding Jennifer Jo in the first Air-raid Shelter he saw, thinking “How lucky!”
What brought Jennifer Jo luck was none other than the Space Marines who fought to the very end at the US Headquarters.
Instead of fleeing to the Air-raid Shelter against the swarming Mogs, some of the American Space Marines who chose to resist until the very end left a message on the wall.
\[Jennifer Jo is in there.\]
They left the location of the Air-raid Shelter where a genius, who could be called a treasure of Humanity, was located.
\[May God's Blessing be upon you.\]
Along with a desperate prayer.
Upon seeing the message left by the American Space Marines, Kim Seojun wasn't particularly surprised.
Because he had seen it before.
What nobility and desperation those who faced death could achieve.
And he was certain of one thing.
*She must not be a bad person.*
Those with contemptible conduct would never enjoy the ultimate luxury of receiving a message from those who faced death.
In any case, thanks to that, Kim Seojun was able to reach Jennifer Jo's Air-raid Shelter very quickly.
Whoosh!
And he was able to meet her.
“Th-thank you!”
Guided by Kim Seojun, she appeared in her suit and immediately approached him, expressing fervent gratitude.
“I'll really do anything for you. Anything I can do, I'll do it. Money, whatever, thank you so much.”
Vehemently.
“Thank you for saving me.”
She sincerely expressed her gratitude to her Savior, and Kim Seojun said to her.
“You haven't been saved yet.”
Kim Seojun's expression was very stern as he spoke.
It couldn't be helped.
*This is where the real challenge begins.*
Up to this point, Kim Seojun hadn't experienced any major crises, thanks to Teleport and Stealth.
And those two skills were only effective for Kim Seojun.
In other words, escaping with Jennifer Jo was an entirely different matter.
Meaning, it was far too early to say she had been saved.
“What? What do you mean?”
At that point, Jennifer Jo also sensed something was off.
“Are there no others?”
Most importantly, the only Soldier she saw was Kim Seojun, and that was utterly incomprehensible.
With the US Headquarters collapsing, only one Soldier had come to rescue her?
Of course, if that one person was a Psycher, the story would be different, but still, the atmosphere was far from good, and Jennifer Jo had enough sense to read such a situation.
To her, Kim Seojun said.
“The US Headquarters has become a Mog Hatchery.”
“What?”
“Mog Eggs are everywhere. From now on, the two of us must break through and get out of here.”
Upon hearing that explanation, Jennifer Jo could visualize the entire situation in her mind.
“W-what should I do?”
And here, she realized that instead of spouting useless nonsense, she had to follow whatever she was told.
Kim Seojun was surprised by her quick assessment of the situation, and at the same time, he said.
“You must follow the plan.”
At his words, Jennifer Jo nodded vigorously.
“Yes, I'll follow unconditionally. What should I do?”
To her follow-up question, Kim Seojun replied.
“First, get on my back.”
“Huh?”
“Your Mobility is too low right now. It's better if I carry you.”
At that answer, Jennifer Jo immediately nodded.
She wasn't so naive as to blurt out something like, 'Isn't it too embarrassing to get on your back when we just met?'
Furthermore, Kim Seojun's words were very reasonable.
The suit she was wearing wasn't a Battle Suit, and crucially, she was a civilian, not a Space Marine.
So Jennifer Jo quickly got onto Kim Seojun's back, and Kim Seojun used the straps he had brought to secure her even more firmly.
To ensure she wouldn't fall off his back even if she fainted.
“So, what do we do now?”
Jennifer Jo, now secured, asked the question, and Kim Seojun answered.
“We're going to run.”
“What?”
Thump!
After that, instead of answering, Kim Seojun began to run at full speed.
When Kim Seojun rescued Jennifer Jo, he didn't hesitate for long.
*I'll be discovered anyway.*
In a situation where he couldn't use Stealth or Teleport, he would eventually be discovered even if he moved quietly.
So, it was better to just run as fast as possible.
He also had confidence.
*With my current Strength Stat, nothing will be difficult.*
Kim Seojun's physical abilities were already far beyond the human realm.
So Kim Seojun ran, and naturally, the Mogs scattered throughout the US Headquarters reacted.
Kiiieee!
The Mogdogs were the first to react to Kim Seojun's presence and began to chase him.
“Aaaargh!”
And at that, Jennifer Jo screamed.
She had never imagined a rescue like this!
Moreover, what Kim Seojun was doing now was a Crazy Act.
It was true that his physical abilities transcended human limits.
Kiiieee!
But even so, from the Mogdogs' perspective, it was laughable.
The Mogdogs began to close the distance with Kim Seojun at an astonishing speed.
Too-too! Too-too!
Kim Seojun quickly eliminated the approaching Mogdogs, but the gunshots only drew in more of them.
In a generally unfavorable situation, Kim Seojun emerged from the cramped US Headquarters building.
Then he saw it.
Countless eggs, and the Mogs hatching from them.
And thousands of Mogs that had already hatched.
“*Fucking hell!*”
Jennifer Jo, upon seeing that, fluently cursed in Korean.
And that was perfectly natural.
Because even with Jennifer Jo's brilliant mind, she couldn't think of any way to escape from here.
So Kim Seojun didn't say anything to her.
Such cursing was only to be expected.
Of course, Kim Seojun didn't curse.
“Please get down for a moment.”
“Huh?”
After setting down Jennifer Jo, whom he had been carrying, Kim Seojun pulled out his prepared trump card.
“Inventory.”
Into the vast Inventory, Kim Seojun stepped.
“Oh?”
At that sight, Jennifer Jo wore a blank expression.
From her perspective, Kim Seojun had suddenly vanished.
She then saw it.
Wiiiiiing!
Kim Seojun appearing, riding the Uryong.