Chapter 9
3. One of the terrifying aspects of the Mog was the existence of Special Individuals. Humanity categorized these individuals based on the energy waves they emitted, using the weight classes from the Olympic Boxing Class as a standard. From the weakest Fly-class to the strongest Super Heavyweight, there were 8 Ranks. That didn't mean the Fly-class was weak. It was like saying a magnitude 3 earthquake wasn't weak. In other words, these powerful individuals were disasters in themselves. Beings to be avoided rather than confronted! And this was why the Mog were so terrifying, why humanity had to grit its teeth and hunt them. If a mere Fly-class could make them tremble like this, what if a Super Heavyweight appeared? What if that Super Heavyweight wasn't just a Mogdog, but a Behemoth, a being whose very existence was a disaster? Then it was common sense to deal with them as soon as they were spotted. Of course, this wasn't common sense for Regular Space Marines. The only ones among humanity who held this as common sense were a single group of beings. The Psychers.
“Commence Fly-class Hunt.”
This was why Major Lee Hyena ordered the hunt for the Mogdog Fly-class Individual without a moment's hesitation. Of course, she knew. That this was beyond the common sense of Space Marines. So, as she gave the order, she prepared herself.
A frightened soldier is an obstacle. If they want to run, I'll let them.
She was ready to let the two of them go.
She had no regrets.
I'm grateful enough that they saved me.
They had done her a great service simply by responding to the Rescue Signal she sent when Headquarters was destroyed and getting her out. She had no intention of arbitrarily using such benefactors. In other words, Major Lee Hyena was certain that these two would show hesitation.
“Private First Class Park Boseop.” “Private First Class Park Boseop!” “Set up the Temporary Air Tent immediately and prepare a Battle Suit.” “Huh?”
However, contrary to Major Lee Hyena's expectations, Kim Seojun showed no such sign.
“The Major currently lacks her Exclusive Equipment. So, we must at least provide her with a Space Marine Battle Suit. Move quickly. There's no time.”
He even took the most necessary action for the situation.
Major Lee Hyena looked surprised by this.
“Yes, Sir!”
Meanwhile, Private First Class Park Boseop immediately pulled out the box containing the Air Tent and then pulled the pin on the outside of the box. In fact, Private First Class Park Boseop also knew. This was insane. However, Private First Class Park Boseop, having been with Kim Seojun, had now clearly learned one thing.
Let's just follow Staff Sergeant Kim's orders for now.
If he wanted to survive, he might not follow his parents' words, but he had to follow Kim Seojun's.
*Pshhhhh!*
As Private First Class Park Boseop activated the Air Tent, a specially made vinyl Air Tent popped out of the box and quickly began to inflate. It was for truly urgent moments, specifically, moments when one had to operate without a Battle Suit. It was exactly what Major Lee Hyena needed right now. While there were Psychers who could survive in the Space World without a Battle Suit, Major Lee Hyena was not that level of Psycher, and naturally, she needed a space to exit her Medical Suit and change into a Battle Suit. The necessary arrangements were made quickly. While Private First Class Park Boseop prepared the Battle Suit, Kim Seojun transported the Medical Suit, which had been loaded onto the Military Truck, back towards the Air Tent. During this process, Kim Seojun didn't ask any particular questions. He had only one question. Once the Air Tent was set up, and Major Lee Hyena emerged from the Medical Suit inside it, immediately donning a Battle Suit, that's when Kim Seojun asked his first question.
“Major, if I may be so bold as to ask a question. You don't have to answer. What is your ability?”
In response to his question, Major Lee Hyena, holding an axe instead of a Space Marine's rifle, replied.
“Superhuman Strength.”
*At that moment, they could hear it.*
*Kieeeerrrr!*
The cry of the Fly-class Mogdog.
4.
The Mogdog was quite large.
It was 2 meters long, and not only did it have four dog-like legs, but it also had an additional mantis-like leg.
To put it simply, it felt like a compact car.
Its presence was not lacking even against Space Marines, whose bulk was increased by their Battle Suits.
*Kieeeerrrr!*
And the Fly-class Mogdog's weight class was already on a different level from a Regular Mogdog. As mentioned before, if a Regular Mogdog was a compact car, a Fly-class Mogdog felt like a subcompact. Its aura was different. At the same time, its combat style was different. A typical Mogdog was a mad dog. That's why 'dog' was in its name. If they saw something, they would charge at it without hesitation. They didn't care if their own bodies were torn to shreds.
*Kieeeerrrr!*
However, far from charging, the appearing Fly-class Mogdog stood its ground and let out a cry.
*Kieee!*
It merely watched from behind as the other Mogdogs charged. It was an expression of confidence. And a display of power. It was a Special Individual in many ways. And such Special Individuals also existed among humans. Major Lee Hyena was one such individual. She charged towards the Mogdogs, those Mog Monsters that were fearless even in the face of powerful Space Marine gunfire, armed with nothing but an axe, not even a gun. Moreover, it wasn't a Weaponized Axe. Firstly, Space Marines were not typically issued weapons like axes. Wielding an axe against Mogs that couldn't be stopped by bullets was a Suicidal Act. There were cheaper and more portable things like cyanide to aid in a Suicidal Act than an axe. So, the axes usually issued were for Fortification Work or recovery efforts after sudden natural disasters. They were equipment focused solely on powerful destructive force and durability, and their size was formidable. And naturally, even Space Marines wearing Battle Suits with a certain degree of Strength Enhancement used their full power when wielding those axes. It was not uncommon for them to stumble with a single swing of the axe. Furthermore, the gravity on Planet Amotia was 1.33G, much heavier than Earth's. But Major Lee Hyena was different. She gripped the axe with one hand and swung it with that same hand. And she didn't just swing it. So fast that it was hard to follow with the eyes.
*CRACK!*
In other words, it was fast enough to smash two charging Mogdogs' heads with a single blow. It was an astonishing sight. It was a sight so unbelievable that one wondered if what one saw was real. What made it possible was the Prophet's Relic, inserted into Major Lee Hyena's chest through Modification Surgery. It granted Major Lee Hyena an incredible level of Superhuman Strength. It was Superhuman Strength that would make a gorilla seem laughable. That was why Psychers received the best treatment humanity could offer. Of course, not all Psychers were made into beings like Major Lee Hyena. Firstly, she was High Rank even among Psychers. She was Yellow Beginner Level, meaning she was capable of Group Missions on a Yellow Level Planet. On an Orange Level Planet, Solo Action was naturally possible for her. That was why she was here, and she demonstrated that reason with her entire being.
*CRACK!*
Mogdogs were pulverized by Major Lee Hyena's one-handed axe swings. Of course, hundreds of them were swarming, and fighting all of them while standing still like a stake was impossible. She moved too. With all her might. She jumped in particular. Her Jumping Power, imbued with Superhuman Strength, was naturally off the charts, and with such jumps, she could evade the Mogdogs' encirclement more easily than expected. In her eyes, the Mogdogs were no longer visible. She only saw the Fly-class Mogdog, still asserting its presence with its *Kieeeerrrr!* cry. That was all. She paid no attention to anything else. The two Space Marines were no different. They had no interest.
*Tat-tat-tat-tat!*
Gunfire rained down, but it was merely like spraying a fire extinguisher on a raging inferno.
However, that thought changed very quickly.
*Tat-tat-tat-tat!*
The incessant gunfire could be heard, the sound of Spray Fire that anyone could tell was just someone closing their eyes and holding down the trigger.
*Thump!*
Amidst those sounds, as Major Lee Hyena leaped, she could see it.
*The numbers are decreasing?*
The number of Mogdogs had significantly decreased. At first, she thought it was a hallucination, but with each leap, the number of Mogdogs was rapidly dwindling. At that point, Major Lee Hyena naturally couldn't help but notice.
*That Staff Sergeant?*
That Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun, whose name she hadn't even properly remembered yet, was doing something utterly absurd.
*Tat-tat-tat-tat!*
And he was doing it very overtly, openly displaying his skill. From Kim Seojun's perspective, it was natural.
There's nothing to gain by hiding it.
He knew very well that what he was showing now was beyond common sense.
*It's illogical, but...*
He also knew that displaying this ability would arouse suspicion.
Later, he might be captured somewhere and dissected. Life was unpredictable, wasn't it?
...All worries arising from this can wait until after I survive.
However, Kim Seojun knew well that such worries were a luxury in the life of a Space Marine. Anyway, this was no time for a Re-enlisted Space Marine to “hide his power”. Kim Seojun willingly unleashed his full capabilities.
*Tat-tat-tat!*
He pulled the trigger incessantly. Moreover, this was an excellent opportunity for Kim Seojun.
*Vrooom!*
Firstly, he currently has mobility thanks to the excellent Military Driver, Private First Class Park Boseop.
*CRACK!*
And all the attention of the swarming Mogdogs was focused solely on Major Lee Hyena. In this situation, Kim Seojun only needed to aim his gun and pull the trigger when the Red Line touched its target.
[Mogdog eliminated. 2 points acquired!]
[Eliminated with a single shot. 4 points awarded as One-Shot-One-Kill Bonus Points
Context: Seojun only needed to aim his gun and pull the trigger when the Red Line touched its target.
[Mogdog eliminated. 2 points acquired!]
[Eliminated with a single shot. 4 points awarded as One-Shot-One-Kill Bonus Points!]
And Kim Seojun intended to secure points reliably here as well. It went without saying that Kim Seojun was aware at this moment.
I have to catch the Fly-class Mogdog.
*That running disaster.*!]
And Kim Seojun intended to secure points reliably here as well. It went without saying that Kim Seojun was aware at this moment.
I have to catch the Fly-class Mogdog.
That running disaster.
Around that time.
“Staff Sergeant!”
He heard Major Lee Hyena's voice through the earphones inside his Battle Suit while she was smashing Mogdog heads on the Battlefield.
“It's Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun.”
At that, Kim Seojun first stated his name. Because he knew. That Major Lee Hyena didn't know his name right now. It wasn't strange. Fundamentally, Psychers were on a completely different level from ordinary people like Space Marines in every aspect. If she remembered the name of a Regular Space Marine she had just met, that would be stranger.
“Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun.”
So he willingly stated his name, and Major Lee Hyena, in turn, showed her own consideration.
“Don't mind me, just shoot.”
This meant she trusted Kim Seojun's skill.
At Major Lee Hyena's words, Private First Class Park Boseop, who was also listening to the comms, made a surprised expression.
*My goodness.*
Private First Class Park Boseop didn't know Psychers well, but he had received some advice from his Senior. The advice was not to expect to be treated like a human when encountering a Psycher. But that Psycher had now acknowledged Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun? It was surprising in many ways. Of course, Kim Seojun was different.
“Thank you.”
There was no emotion like gratitude or surprise on Kim Seojun's face as he uttered those brief words. Partly because he knew this wasn't the situation for such emotions, but also because this wasn't the first time for Kim Seojun. In other words, he had a few, albeit minor, experiences of being acknowledged by Psychers. Of course, it wasn't an acknowledgment of his combat prowess or anything like that. It was more like an acknowledgment of “Wow, he actually bought that?”, but he had been acknowledged nonetheless. More importantly, Kim Seojun knew this was not the time to be moved or surprised by such facts. In this battle, it didn't matter how many Mogdogs were caught.
If we don't catch the Fly-class Mogdog, we're all dead.
Ultimately, the outcome of this battle would be decided by the Fly-class Mogdog. And Kim Seojun wasn't confident in giving a positive assessment of that battle. He wasn't underestimating Major Lee Hyena.
*Major Lee Hyena, in my estimation, is at least Yellow Beginner Level.*
Far from underestimating her, Kim Seojun was surprised that such a Psycher Agent had come to a place like this.
A Fly-class Mogdog shouldn't be a problem.
Furthermore, he knew that under normal circumstances, with that level of power, the current situation wouldn't be a major obstacle.
If her armament were perfect.
The problem was that Major Lee Hyena was currently wearing a Regular Space Marine's Battle Suit, not her own equipment. Naturally, a Psycher would have Exclusive Equipment, made with all sorts of expensive, hard-to-obtain Special Material. However, in the urgent situation, she hadn't been able to retrieve her Exclusive Equipment, and that difference was quite significant. Especially, the durability of a Fly-class Mogdog was different from that of a Regular Mogdog.
My current gun will have difficulty dealing significant damage.
It was difficult to inflict fatal damage with the Assault Rifles supplied to Space Marines. That meant the axe Major Lee Hyena was wielding also presented several Penalty Factors. This meant it was bound to be a fierce battle in many ways.
There's a playable hand; there's no reason to shoulder the risk.
However, Kim Seojun had one decisive move here. a decisive move that could end this battle more easily than expected. It wasn't such a grand decisive move that only those with brilliant minds, like Doctor Space, could come up with. It wasn't difficult at all; there was a very simple method.
Even a needle can pierce if you stab the same spot multiple times.
Focused Fire. Of course, it was easy to think of, but impossible to execute. In a fierce battle, it was hard enough just to hit a target—to focus on a single spot on that target? Even with Kim Seojun's current capabilities, that was impossible. That's why.
*Kieeeerrrr!*
The Fly-class Mogdog, which had been silent until now, moved, and just as Major Lee Hyena was about to prepare for real combat in response, Kim Seojun spoke.
“I'll use a stimpack.”