The Discovery of Stium

8. Doctor Space discovered Gate Technology, and the Space Era began, but not everything went smoothly right away. Rather, after traveling long distances through gates and discovering new Planets, many problems arose. Everyone racked their brains over the question: “We want to mine resources there, but how do we do it?” That's when the element Stium emerged. Batteries made with Stium had several times the storage capacity and safety of the Solid-state Batteries, which were considered the best at the time. From then on, Humanity was able to embark on rapid Space Development using Stium Batteries. Furthermore, it was Doctor Space who devised the method to turn Stium into batteries, earning his 11th Nobel Prize, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, for this technological discovery. For these reasons, most of the transportation methods currently used in Space, especially those moving on planets, utilize Stium Batteries, and the Military Truck was no exception. Moreover, the Military Truck's wheels were motor-driven, allowing it to switch between front-wheel, rear-wheel, and all-wheel drive at will.

“Drift, you mean?”

“Can you do it?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. Of course, I can.”

In short, performing a Drift was not an issue. Of course, Drift required more driving skills than one might expect.

“It’s not difficult at all.”

However, for Private First Class Park Boseop, who was practically a Pro Racer, not just a hobbyist, it was laughable. Nevertheless, Private First Class Park Boseop had a question. He couldn't help wondering.

“But I don’t understand why we need to Drift, Sir.”

The skill a Military Driver needed on a Space Planet wasn't something like Drift, but rather avoiding obstacles at maximum speed. Even in Training Camp, that was the only training they did. If you tried something like Drift, the Instructor would immediately come over and say, “Trainee Soldier, do you think this is a game? Are you out of your mind?” Kim Seojun replied to that.

“From now on, we need to eliminate the Mogdogs that have occupied the destroyed Headquarters. Normally, we’d just drive straight. They’d follow us like dogs.”

At that point, Kim Seojun pointed a finger at the sky.

“But there’s a Cyclops above us right now.”

“Huh?”

Kim Seojun explained to Private First Class Park Boseop, who looked up at the sky in surprise at his words.

“With a Cyclops giving orders, the Mogdogs won’t just chase us. To catch the Mogdogs in such a situation, we’ll have to circle around inside the Headquarters Base. That’s why I asked if you could Drift.”

Private First Class Park Boseop immediately understood the explanation. And the moment he understood, he screamed in his mind.

9.

This is a Crazy Act.

In Private First Class Park Boseop's mind, as he gripped the steering wheel, the thought persisted: *This is a crazy act that even a stim-packed lunatic wouldn't attempt.*

How is this any different from tap-dancing in front of a rabid dog?

Indeed, Mogdogs weren't just rabid dogs; they were terrifying monsters that could treat a Space Marine in a Battle Suit as little more than a slightly tough chew toy. Drifting around the Headquarters with such monsters in tow was not something a sane person would do. Kim Seojun, preparing in the cargo hold, thought the same.

It's a Crazy Act.

Even Kim Seojun, who had faced all sorts of hells, had only done such Crazy Acts a handful of times.

“Hoo.”

That's why a sigh escaped Kim Seojun's lips.

I came here to make money, and what kind of hell is this on my first day of commissioning?

He had never expected things to unfold this way. In other words, that was the reason.

Whatever happens, I have to go back alive with a full bank account.

Kim Seojun needed money to cure his brother, and he had to return healthy at the same time. And for that, he had to rescue the Key Figure now. It was obvious, but even if hundreds or thousands of Space Marines died, the higher-ups wouldn't budge. To receive rescue, he ultimately had to save a Superior Officer's life.

I need to retrieve even a corpse.

If they were dead, he needed to have their corpses for the Rescue Team to Location Track them. In any case, the task was clear, and Kim Seojun didn't waste time worrying in such a situation.

“Status Window.”

He checked his Status Window.

[Kim Seojun]

- Strength: 12

- Stamina: 18

- Mana: 1

- Owned Skills: Clairvoyance (F)

- Owned Talents: Dynamic Visual Acuity (C)

- Owned Points: 257pt

- Owned Tickets: None.

This time, Kim Seojun naturally used the points he earned from catching the Thorn Snakes right then and there to purchase one Bronze Ticket. He didn't bother saving up points to buy something good later, not when a crisis could strike at any moment! And he received 1 Stamina Point from that one Bronze Ticket. Of course, he wasn't looking at the Status Window to check such things now. This was a resolution and a self-hypnosis.

I have a Status Window.

Kim Seojun, having instilled that belief in himself, spoke.

“Let’s go!”

Vroooom!

The moment he spoke, Private First Class Park Boseop stepped on the accelerator and began to charge. They quickly reached the area where the ruined headquarters stood, and the situation they encountered upon entering was even more desolate than what they had seen from afar. All sorts of buildings were destroyed, their debris scattered everywhere. Driving in such a place was difficult enough. However, for Private First Class Park Boseop, who was currently at the wheel, such things were not a problem. They couldn't be.

Kieeeeee!

The real problem had just appeared.

“Mogdogs!”

At his appearance, Private First Class Park Boseop shouted.

Tat-tat-tat-tat!

And Kim Seojun, instead of answering, immediately began pulling the trigger.

[Mogdog eliminated! 1 point acquired!]

Kim Seojun's Shooting instantly dealt with the 6 Mogdogs that appeared. It was astonishing. But they couldn't let their guard down. Because this was just the beginning.

Kieeeeee!

Hearing the gunshots, Mogdogs began swarming from all directions. At that, Kim Seojun said...

“If you think it’s too much, run immediately.”

Private First Class Park Boseop didn't reply to his words. Kim Seojun wasn't offended or upset by that. Rather, he was grateful.

*What a stroke of luck to meet such a Military Driver!*

It was truly rare to find a Military Driver who could focus all his or her attention on driving. Of course, Private First Class Park Boseop was more than that. He didn't just focus on driving; he was good at it. It was the same now. He was expertly dodging the debris and the Mogdogs swarming from all sides. That's when it happened.

Kieeeeee!

With about 30 Mogdogs on their tail, 13 more Mogdogs suddenly appeared directly in front of them. Blocked from the front and back, Private First Class Park Boseop's feet and hands began to move rapidly in that situation. He turned the wheel, deliberately skidded the vehicle, and then initiated a Drift with exquisite acceleration. After immediately changing direction with that Drift, Private First Class Park Boseop began accelerating again.

Tat-tat-tat-tat!

At the same time, Kim Seojun, having regained his balance, immediately pulled the trigger. At this moment, Kim Seojun's eyes were wide as lanterns.

He's good enough to stake his life on racing.

Without exaggeration, the Driving Skills Private First Class Park Boseop was displaying now were the best Kim Seojun had ever witnessed.

*He can do it.*

Moreover, from Kim Seojun's perspective, it was the best possible situation. Now, he no longer had to worry about Mogdogs getting behind them, and he could only focus on one thing.

Tat-tat-tat!

Kim Seojun's gun spat fire.

Kieeeeee!

Along with the gunshots, the Mogdogs' screams echoed.

Kwakwakwakwa!

Amidst those sounds, the Military Truck's wheels could be heard scraping against the ground. Soon, the chaos ended. When the Mogdogs' sounds ceased, Kim Seojun spoke to Private First Class Park Boseop.

“Drive to where the Rescue Signal came from!”

When the Space Era began, Humanity was confident. that no Alien Being would be a problem in the face of their overwhelming Scientific Civilization. However, the Mog shattered that belief. In the presence of the Mog, the weapons Humanity boasted about were not very effective. It wasn't simply because the Mog were strong. The terrifying thing about the Mog was that they weren't just simple monsters, but beings who employed strategy and tactics. At the heart of this was the Cyclops. Outwardly, it looked like nothing more than a balloon floating in the sky. The large, grotesque eye beneath its belly was eerie, but it didn't feel threatening. However, this Cyclops was one of the reasons the Mog became Humanity's natural enemy. Cyclops could communicate with other Cyclops, and they could summon other Mog with their unique cry. That's why the Space Marines said: The moment a Cyclops cries, that's when hell begins.

Woooooo!

And now, that Cyclops cried. More accurately, it wasn't a cry. Cyclops had no mouth. So, it was a sound produced by the Cyclops's body vibrating, a sound emanating from its very mass. In fact, it was closer to a vibration than a sound, and that vibration spread incredibly fast in all directions. It was that powerful. Naturally, Humanity created devices to detect that powerful vibration, and these devices were installed in the Space Marines' Battle Suits.

Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep!

[Emergency Alert! Cyclops Alert!]

Kim Seojun's and Private First Class Park Boseop's Battle Suits began to warn them violently. Furthermore, the warning meant they had to escape from their current location within 10 minutes. Normally, fleeing would be the appropriate action. But Kim Seojun and Private First Class Park Boseop did not flee.

Vroooom!

Private First Class Park Boseop diligently pressed the accelerator, driving hard towards the source of the rescue signal.

“Here it is!”

The moment they arrived at the source of the Rescue Signal, Kim Seojun, who was in the passenger seat, immediately opened the door and stepped out.

Thud!

The heavy Battle Suit made a thudding sound as it hit the ground.

Thud, thud, thud!

In that state, Kim Seojun began to charge at full speed towards the direction of the rescue signal. In truth, this was an extremely reckless act. It was certain that the rescue target was a high-ranking official because regular Space Marines' battle suits didn't have a rescue request function. The problem was the rescue difficulty. Currently, the Amotia Korean Branch Headquarters on Planet Amotia was in a state of utter collapse. Building debris was scattered everywhere. But what if the rescue signal was coming from within that debris? Without heavy equipment, rescuing the requester of rescue in the shortest possible time would be impossible. And naturally, most people wouldn't know that. It was absolutely impossible to determine the exact location of the rescue target with the naked eye. That was why Kim Seojun responded to the rescue because he had it.

“Clairvoyance.”

The ability to grasp the situation of the Requester of Rescue was crucial. As Kim Seojun used Clairvoyance, the collapsed building debris and what lay beyond began to appear in his eyes. It wasn't perfectly clear. It was faint, but that was enough to determine if there was someone needing rescue among these ruins. And luckily, the Requester of Rescue wasn't beneath the debris or underground, but in what looked like a Container Box rolling amidst the wreckage.

It’s a Shelter.

The Emergency Evacuation Shelter had fortunately not been crushed by the debris.

That was the moment.

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, as he suffered a severe headache, the translucent world returned to its original form. He wasn't surprised. Having used Clairvoyance incessantly during the battle, he found it natural that he could no longer use it. Moreover, this much was enough. There was no need to use Clairvoyance anymore, as he had already located the Shelter where the Requester of Rescue was. Enduring the brief headache, Kim Seojun approached the Shelter.

“This is Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun. I’ve received your Rescue Request. Please open the door.”

He immediately conveyed the message. But there was no reply. Kim Seojun didn't hesitate at that fact.

There was a Medical Suit inside.

Before Clairvoyance ended, he had briefly seen a white, cocoon-shaped suit inside the Shelter. It wasn't strange for someone to be injured in a situation where the Headquarters had been subjected to such an immense assault that it was completely devastated. So, there was only one thing to do here. Kim Seojun quickly pulled down the Emergency Button next to the Shelter door, or rather, the lever, and then spoke.

“The Requester of Rescue is not responding. Requesting Door Opening.”

That was the moment.

Whoosh-shoo-shoo!

With the sound of air escaping, the Shelter door began to open. A Medical Suit was visible in the small space, barely 10 square meters, and Kim Seojun immediately released the Wheel Lock attached to the bottom of the Medical Suit, then pulled it outside. He reached Private First Class Park Boseop's Military Truck, which was ready to bolt at any moment, and Private First Class Park Boseop, seeing Kim Seojun's appearance, immediately opened the driver's side door and stepped out.

“Staff Sergeant Kim!”

“Load it into the cargo hold.”

“Yes, Sir!”

At his words, Private First Class Park Boseop quickly activated the Military Truck's ramp, creating an incline for it to climb. Kim Seojun used the ramp to load the Medical Suit into the cargo hold. And both immediately got into the driver's and passenger's seats.

Vroooom!

Private First Class Park Boseop, not wanting to stay there for another second, stepped on the Accelerator the moment he got in, and then spoke.

“Um, Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun, who is it?”

There was a wish in Private First Class Park Boseop's heart as he asked that question. A wish that it would be a High-ranking Official. It was materialistic, but he couldn't help it. Private First Class Park Boseop had also come to this hell to earn money. Kim Seojun replied to Private First Class Park Boseop, who was filled with such anticipation.

“It’s not certain yet, but I think it’s a Major.”

“A Major?”

Private First Class Park Boseop was surprised by that answer.

“Could it be Major Lee Sunhyeok, Sir?”

Currently, Major Lee Sunhyeok, the Branch Commander, was the only Major-ranked officer at the Amotia Korean Branch on Planet Amotia. So, they had rescued the highest-ranking person here! Kim Seojun said to Private First Class Park Boseop, who was delighted by the situation.

“No, it’s not Major Lee Sunhyeok.”

“Huh? What do you mean, Sir? Isn’t there only one Major here?”

“The basic information displayed on the Medical Suit showed the rank of Major. However, the person inside was a woman younger than me.”

At those words, the confusion grew even greater. Kim Seojun, on the other hand, was different. He didn't feel confused or anything of the sort.

“Is that possible?”

“It is.”

He knew.

“It is because Psycher Agents are given Basic Major Status.”