Chapter 51
1.
When Major Lin Jia'ai intended to use the Mog Legion to attack the Polish headquarters, the very first question that arose was this.
"Major, what if they use the Ugwang to eliminate the Mogs?"
They possessed an incredibly powerful nuclear weapon.
"I am hoping they do."
"Pardon?"
And that was exactly what Major Lin Jia'ai was aiming for.
"There is no chance that the Poland headquarters actually has a stockpile of nuclear weapons. That means the three they have are all there are."
Producing nuclear weapons on Planet Amotia was impossible, even in the Space Age.
In such a situation, they would fire a nuclear weapon for us?
And against the Mogs, at that?
It was something to be thankful for.
"If they don't use the nukes."
Of course, it didn't matter even if they didn't use them.
"We can just send the Mog Legion to another national base."
After that, they just needed to clean up the remaining nations.
After all, Major Lin Jia'ai's current goal is to wipe out everyone here on Planet Amotia.
To leave not a single survivor behind.
‘Make whatever choice you want.’
As she said that, she thought to herself.
‘They won't be able to abandon the Poland headquarters easily.’
They would do something to protect the headquarters.
They had no choice, because this was Planet Amotia, not Earth. It wasn't a place where you could become a refugee just because you wanted to. Usually, those who lost their headquarters base on a planet like this were not called refugees, but terminally ill.
But to give up the headquarters base?
It was not an easy thing to do.
‘They probably didn't expect us to come out like this.’
Furthermore, Major Lin Jia'ai was certain that the Poland headquarters side hadn't expected the Chinese headquarters to act this quickly and powerfully.
That was Major Lin Jia'ai's ploy, and so she was confident.
That good news would definitely arrive.
And news did arrive for her.
- The Poland headquarters has used a nuclear weapon!
"Is that so?"
The moment she heard that news, a very deep smile hung on Major Lin Jia'ai's lips.
"Excellent!"
And then she waited.
"Now, when the next nuclear weapon is launched, let me know immediately."
For the second or third to be launched.
And she thought that would happen soon.
Their having already used one meant their reason to protect the Poland headquarters was crystal clear!
‘One shot will absolutely not be enough.’
However, the Ugwang was not an overwhelmingly powerful nuclear weapon.
It was impossible to achieve a meaningful result by detonating just one.
‘Because they wouldn't have even been able to do an airburst.’
Above all, causing a nuclear weapon to airburst was technically impossible at this point.
If it wasn't an airburst, there was a high chance they wouldn't get a meaningful result even with three shots.
In any case, Major Lin Jia'ai waited.
For news of the second shot to arrive.
Or for news that the Poland headquarters had collapsed.
- R-Right now!
News soon came to her, and she smiled as she spoke.
"Did they fire the second shot?"
- N-No, ma'am.
"Pardon?"
At the reply, Major Lin Jia'ai tilted her head, and her subordinate spoke.
- The M-Mog L-Legion t-took a d-devastating b-blow.
2.
A long time ago, nuclear weapons were quite a spectacle.
Whenever a nuclear weapon test was conducted, scientists competed for good vantage points to watch them.
In Las Vegas, tourism packages were even sold to watch nuclear weapon tests.
There was even a time when it was trendy to drink an Atomic Cocktail while watching a nuclear explosion in Las Vegas.
Of course, that was no longer the case.
Humanity now knows to fear nuclear weapons.
However, they didn't know just how terrifying they were.
The reason was simple.
Not many people had actually experienced the power of nuclear weapons firsthand.
Kim Seojun's group was the same.
Of course, they used a nuclear weapon when eliminating the Queen. But that was an explosion that took place entirely underground.
Furthermore, they hadn't properly seen the process. They had absolutely no time or luxury to watch while running away.
That was why.
RUMBLE!
The moment a harsh roar erupted along with a pure white flash, Kim Seojun's group froze in place.
Faced with this sight for the first time, they couldn't share a single word of conversation.
Kim Seojun was no different.
‘To think I'd see this again.’
It wasn't his first time seeing a nuclear explosion, and he had experience with it, but even so, he couldn't help but pause for a moment before this awe-inspiring sight.
RUMBLE!
Even when the mushroom cloud, the proof of a nuclear explosion, finally formed, Kim Seojun remained frozen.
What spurred Kim Seojun into motion was none other than a notification.
[Eliminated 133,311 Mogdogs.]
[Point Settlement will be tallied in a Batch Tally after all combat has ended.]
The moment he heard that notification, Kim Seojun finally snapped back to his senses.
It wasn't because of that massive number.
Rather, it was the opposite.
‘There are still some left.’
The number of Mogs reported in the notification was just over 150,000 in total.
‘More than half of them.’
In other words, there are more surviving Mogs out there right now.
It wasn't strange.
Nuclear weapons were certainly powerful, but they weren't absolute.
Even in the past, when a nuclear weapon was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, there were more survivors than casualties.
Let alone the Mogs, who were incredibly resilient beings that couldn't even be compared to humans.
It was only natural that they endured.
However, that was it.
Even if they endured, there was no undamaged Mog left in the face of that powerful explosion.
Then what should he do?
The answer was obvious.
"Combat Start."
Cleaning up the remaining Mogs!
"Pardon?"
Everyone showed a surprised reaction to Kim Seojun's command, and Kim Seojun didn't answer his comrades.
"Inventory."
The moment he spat out that word, everyone's eyes changed.
Having spent a considerable amount of time with Kim Seojun up until now, everyone immediately snapped to their senses and realized.
‘Not yet.’
‘It's not over.’
This was what they needed to do right now.
With that, all of Kim Seojun's group entered the Inventory. Kim Seojun, after closing the Inventory, immediately rode the Uryong and moved.
He began the battle against the Mog Legion.
8 hours later, Kim Seojun could hear it.
3.
[Combat has ended. Starting settlement.]
[Eliminated 233,312 Mogdogs. Acquired 233,312 points.]
[Eliminated 24,515 Thorn Snakes. Acquired 122,575 points.]
[Eliminated 105 Tank Beetles. Acquired 52,500 points.]
[Over 200,000 kills were recorded in this combat. A Diamond Ticket is provided.]
The moment the combat ended, an incredibly distant-sounding notification rang in Kim Seojun's ears.
However, Kim Seojun couldn't pay attention to that notification.
He could only stare.
At the sight of hundreds of thousands of Mogs turned into corpses.
Before that overwhelming sight, Kim Seojun was speechless.
"Staff Sergeant Kim."
The one who woke Kim Seojun from his daze was Private First Class Park Boseop.
He also spoke with a surprised expression.
"Are you alright?"
At those words, Kim Seojun realized his expression was stiff enough to worry Private First Class Park Boseop, and he soon relaxed his face.
"There's no problem. I was just surprised seeing this."
"Pardon? Ah!"
At that, Private First Class Park Boseop was relieved and understood.
"It really is a nonsensical sight."
A sight where hundreds of thousands of Mog corpses were scattered about—such a sight was an unrealistic one from a space marine's perspective.
"I don't think we'll ever see anything like this again."
To the point where it felt impossible to experience it a second time.
Of course, in Kim Seojun's case, it was a little different.
This wasn't the first time he had seen such a sight.
He had seen a sight of hundreds of thousands of Mog corpses before—twice, in fact.
Even so, the reason he was surprised was simple.
‘To think I'd see a sight like this without worrying about my comrades.’
Back then, because of his dying comrades and the miserable situation, he couldn't view the sight properly like this.
And the memories of that time brought Kim Seojun back to his senses.
Thus, Kim Seojun realized.
‘It's not over.’
He accomplished something massive just now, but there was actually even more to do.
"How is everyone's condition?"
First, Kim Seojun checked his comrades' physical condition.
They had fought a battle lasting a whopping 8 hours.
"We're fine."
"Private First Class Park Boseop."
"Yes, sir."
Even without injuries, it was hard for their physical condition to be good.
"Raise your hands."
"Pardon?"
"Raise them."
"L-Like this? Uh?"
The moment Private First Class Park Boseop actually raised his hands as Kim Seojun said, he trembled like an aspen leaf.
"W-Why is this happening?"
Only then did Private First Class Park Boseop feel the fatigue rushing in.
His body drooped as if he had stepped into mud.
It wasn't strange.
For 8 hours, Private First Class Park Boseop had driven without rest.
And it wasn't just driving.
He drove the military truck, went into the Inventory, came out riding the battle tank, rode the Uryong, and repeatedly switched vehicles without a break.
It was far more agonizing than doing just one thing consistently.
Furthermore, Private First Class Park Boseop had an outstanding auditory sense, and because it was outstanding, his fatigue was bound to be even greater.
The only reason he had held out until now was because of the tension.
Conversely, the moment that tension unraveled, his limits engulfed Private First Class Park Boseop like a tidal wave.
Thud!
"Uh, uh!"
Private First Class Park Boseop collapsed onto the floor.
"S-Staff Sergeant Kim."
Kim Seojun helped Private First Class Park Boseop up and spoke.
"You worked hard. Get some rest in the Inventory."
With that, Kim Seojun looked at Major Lee Hyena.
Major Lee Hyena didn't say a word.
However, Kim Seojun knew.
"Major, you should rest as well."
Major Lee Hyena didn't answer those words.
"Don't worry."
Instead of her, Noah Winston answered.
"She fainted while standing."
With those words, Noah Winston hoisted Major Lee Hyena onto her shoulder and walked straight into the Inventory.
"Huh?"
As everyone came in like that, Jo I-Hyeon, who was already waiting inside, shouted in surprise.
"A-Are you hurt? C-Come here! I-I'll start t-treatment right away!"
From her perspective, not knowing the battle was over yet, she thought the two had come in injured.
"Don't worry. It's just because the tension wore off. She'll be all better after a good sleep and drinking about five cans of cola."
"Pardon? Tension?"
"Yeah, the battle's over."
"Ah!"
At that explanation, Jo I-Hyeon also slumped to the floor.
"U-Um, I-I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what? You worked hard all this time. Normally you'd faint after a battle like this, so it's amazing you haven't. Now, everyone go into the air tent and rest."
Like that, Kim Seojun and Noah Winston placed the three of them into the air tent inside the Inventory.
Crack!
"Kyah, this cola tastes killer!"
There, Noah Winston emptied a can of cola in one breath, then put his helmet back on and stepped out of the air tent.
"You can rest a bit more."
At Kim Seojun's words, she smiled and spoke.
"I'm hawk eye."
Someone was telling him not to worry about her.
"And someone has to look after you. If you die, it's over for this place too, right?"
Furthermore, the moment Kim Seojun died, all beings inside the Inventory would also be annihilated.
Someone had to protect Kim Seojun from the outside.
With that, the two came outside, and the moment they did, Kim Seojun closed the Inventory.
"What about you? You don't need to overdo it."
"I'm fine."
Kim Seojun immediately answered Noah Winston's concern.
"I'm really fine."
He emphasized it repeatedly.
And he meant it.
Kim Seojun's physical condition isn't bad right now.
For one, Kim Seojun's stamina stat was quite high.
"The combat itself wasn't as difficult as I thought."
Crucially, the Mogs they faced weren't completely unharmed Mogs, but Mogs swept up in the nuclear explosion, having taken a Fatal Blow and facing chaos.
When compared to the Mogs that usually charged at them full of malice, they were by no means difficult opponents.
Of course, it still wasn't an easy task.
"Really? For someone saying that, your expression doesn't look good."
"The Chinese Headquarters remains."
His worry was single-minded.
"Now the Chinese Headquarters will have learned our tactics and strategies."
The Chinese Headquarters they would now face would clearly be aware of Kim Seojun's Group.
Naturally, once it knew the abilities of Kim Seojun's Group, the Chinese Headquarters would seek countermeasures against them.
They wouldn't just helplessly suffer like before.
"The Chinese Headquarters's forces are still effective."
And currently, the Chinese Headquarters possesses incredibly formidable firepower.
In any case, his worries couldn't help but be great.
"You know it well."
Noah Winston didn't particularly argue against Kim Seojun's words either.
"Then you also know that resting very well here is important, right?"
"Yes."
Instead, she emphasized rest, and Kim Seojun nodded at her words.
She was right.
In the end, the most important thing for breaking through the upcoming hardships was bringing one's condition up to its peak.
The most certain way to do that was to sleep.
Even for 1 hour, or even 10 minutes more.
At that point, Kim Seojun prepared to sleep.
‘I'll use all my points.’
And then he carefully called out.
"Status Window."
[Kim Seojun]
- Strength: 66
- Stamina: 80
- magic power: 74
- Owned Skills: Clairvoyance (D), Inventory (S), Stealth (D), Teleport (A), Psychokinesis (C)
- Owned Talents: dynamic visual acuity (B), Hawk Eye (A)
- Owned Points: 409,645
- Owned Tickets: Diamond Ticket
And the moment he saw the resulting output, Kim Seojun was left speechless.
‘400,000 points.’
A number of points beyond common sense had been gathered.
Of course, Kim Seojun knew.
‘Even though there were no other bonuses at all.’
When using a nuclear weapon, other bonus points like one-shot-one-kill did not exist.
It wasn't strange.
Rather, from Kim Seojun's perspective, he was just thankful that it gave him a Point Settlement even though he used a nuclear weapon.
And naturally, he now had to use those points.
"Purchase 20 Silver Tickets."
First, he purchased Silver Tickets, and a notification immediately rang out.
[Strength has increased by 14 points.]
[magic power has increased by 6 points.]
[All stats have reached 80 points. You can no longer purchase Silver Tickets.]
The same notification as last time.
Here, instead of having useless thoughts, Kim Seojun immediately moved on to the next.
"Purchase 40 Gold Tickets."
He purchased all the Gold Tickets, which cost 10,000 points each.
Then, a notification immediately rang out.
[Strength has increased by 11 points.]
[Stamina has increased by 12 points.]
[magic power has increased by 13 points.]
Stats came out of 36 tickets.
However, Kim Seojun wasn't disappointed by that fact.
Rather, knowing that something special had come out of the other 4 tickets, he harbored expectations, and the answer soon appeared.
[3 Skill Upgrade Tickets (C) have appeared.]
At that notification, Kim Seojun's eyes gleamed.
[Congratulations! A Platinum Rank reward has appeared!]
[Apollo's Blessing (55 days) has appeared.]
[The existing valid time for Apollo's Blessing increases by 55 days!]
And the moment he heard the following notification, Kim Seojun's facial expression twitched.
‘To think this would come out!’
It made sense, as from Kim Seojun's perspective, the thing he was more desperate for than anything else had appeared!
Because of that, when he finished using the 400,000 points, Kim Seojun overflowed with more satisfaction than ever before.
Of course, Kim Seojun didn't forget.
"Use Diamond Ticket."
He used the last remaining one, and soon could hear it.
[The Haste (F) skill has appeared from the Diamond Ticket.]