Shhhhick! Shhhung!
Shrapnel, reminiscent of shotgun rounds, dissipated in front of us, leaving ripples of light as if they had fallen into an invisible pond.
That’s the power of an Awakened. Without it, King and I would’ve been torn apart, left in bloody shreds among the debris.
The fragments absorbed by the reflective field were redirected, hurtling back toward the monster through small dimensional rifts connected to the field. This is the core effect of the reflective field—it reflects.
The exit rifts for these fragments appear within the reflective field's maximum range. Thus, it’s impossible to create an infinite loop of reflected projectiles.
The torrent of fragments bombarded the monster's head, where its barrel-like aperture was located. Grayish-white flesh was ripped and shredded, but that was all.
The small shrapnel, effective against soft targets like humans, couldn’t inflict significant damage on the monster. It left only scratches before the rift opposite the reflective field closed rapidly.
Even as this occurred, we continued advancing.
Step by step.
The distance remained at 70 meters. We could close the gap with a sprint, but the Annihilator type could fire unpredictably in rapid succession.
“Skelton, shouldn’t we run?” King asked.
“Not yet.”
Once, maybe twice more, it would attack.
Meanwhile,
Scritch, scritch.
The Spidarlings that had temporarily disappeared began to reappear, noticing us and gathering again. Though still some distance away, they’d soon charge.
“You’re all going to die!” Son Minjoo’s sharp voice rang out behind us.
“Challenging God’s messenger head-on? You’re unbelievably foolish!”
Neither King nor I responded. Her words weren’t worth acknowledging.
But I saw Jeon Si-hoon beside her, watching us.
I kept my focus ahead while King remained steadfast behind me, trusting in my lead.
In silence, we pressed on as the Spidarlings began to swarm closer.
They were still far away. We maintained our pace, ignoring them. There was no need to waste energy on those creatures, knowing that the larger threat would soon come again.
Sure enough, a strange ripple shimmered near the Annihilator's barrel.
The second wave.
“Here it comes!”
At 50 meters, dodging bullets isn’t just about their speed; it’s also because they’re hard to perceive with the human eye.
But this monster’s shrapnel was different.
Though slower than gunpowder-based weapons, I only needed to track the medium and large fragments that stood out visually. The smaller ones weren’t worth worrying about.
Thud!
With another shockwave, the Annihilator spewed its grayish-white shrapnel in all directions.
As the fragments spread, I spotted a large, angular piece flying toward us with a sinister gleam.
“Evade!”
I threw myself to the side, diving toward the flank.
King, mirroring my movements, dove alongside me at nearly the same moment.
“Field!”
Thud!
King deployed the reflective field just in time.
Swoosh—
Some smaller fragments, already within the field’s minimum range, brushed past our clothes and hair.
“Damn it,” King muttered behind me.
“I got hit.”
“Can you still move?”
“I told you, didn’t I? My senses are dull. Honestly, I’m practically bloodless and tearless,” he joked.
“Let’s go.”
The area swept by the shrapnel was eerily empty.
The Spidarlings that had gathered were obliterated by the storm of fragments, leaving nothing behind.
We were now within the Annihilator’s reflective field’s minimum range.
For medium-sized monsters, this was about 15 meters.
We had to close in further.
But just as we prepared to sprint, the monster lifted its head skyward.
“Damn it.”
The worst-case scenario.
The death rain.
Detecting hostile entities at close range, the monster was preparing to launch its ash-like incendiary shrapnel in all directions, turning the surroundings into a hellscape.
“How long can you hold out?” I asked.
“Not much longer. It’s getting tough,” King replied, his breath heavy.
Even for an over-Level 5 Awakened, deploying reflective fields consecutively was taking its toll.
The sheer volume of shrapnel he had deflected—hundreds, not just a few—must have drained his mental strength considerably.
In that case, there was only one option.
I had to gamble.
I would end it before it could unleash its death rain.
King was reaching his limit. He wouldn’t last through the 30-second onslaught of the death rain while maintaining the field.
“Stay here,” I ordered.
Tossing my firearm aside, I sprinted with all my might.
My pace wasn’t exceptionally fast, but it wasn’t slow either.
Along the way—
Chomp!
A few Spidarlings lunged at me, only to be swatted aside with my axe.
Distance: 25 meters.
20 meters.
18 meters.
It wasn’t easy to gauge the exact minimum range of the reflective field by eye. A slight miscalculation could result in my own bullets rebounding toward me.
But with time running out, I had no choice but to take the risk.
Distance: 15 meters.
I wasn’t certain.
Even so, I drew the Harpoonizer and aimed at the monster.
Click.
Pressing the blue and green buttons simultaneously, I felt a slight vibration as separated chemicals merged, rapidly becoming volatile.
The Annihilator was already inflating its body, its head tilted skyward, preparing to unleash the death rain.
Half a beat faster, I fired the harpoon.
Ssssiiiing—
The projectile streaked through the air, leaving a trail of fire as it hurtled toward the monster’s massive body.
Direct hit.
But—
Thud!
The monster also released its death rain skyward.
As the shrapnel exploded, I saw the ash-like projectiles begin to rain down beyond the veil of dust.
For a brief moment, long-forgotten scenes flashed before my eyes.
Bodies draped in tarps, limbs dangling limply from stretchers.
The corpses of comrades, juniors, seniors—lifeless on the battlefield.
The overwhelming drowsiness of exhaustion crept over me as I gazed at the descending death rain with hazy eyes.
“...”
Unlike the heroic, fearsome finales I’d imagined back in school or the barracks, this moment felt neither grand nor terrifying.
It simply felt inevitable—a cheap resignation to fate swirling in my weary mind.
I was slipping into total fatigue.
“Skelton!”
A sudden shout rang out behind me.
It was King’s voice.
Thud!
A shockwave erupted behind me, and the death rain aimed at me dissolved into ripples of light.
Countless ripples shimmered and disappeared around us as I turned to look back.
“Skelton. Nice shot,” King said, pointing ahead.
I followed his gaze.
Under the dissipating death rain, the monster was disintegrating.
My harpoon had struck true.
But it wasn’t over.
The death rain still fell around us, leaving ripples in the reflective field.
And then, from the shadows of a nearby building, a massive spider-like creature emerged, surrounded by hundreds of its offspring.
The ruler of this eroded zone: the Spider Type.
“Damn it,” King muttered, gasping for air.
“You okay?”
“I’m a king. I can handle this much.”
Despite his bold words, his trembling body betrayed him.
Still, King had endured the death rain.
“What now?” he asked, slumping to the ground, drained of strength.
I remained silent.
We had no weapons left—just a pistol and two axes.
I looked ahead.
It wouldn’t be easy. No, it was nearly impossible.
One Spider Type could be handled with an axe, but the sheer number of Spidarlings—hundreds by my estimate—made the situation hopeless.
It wasn’t just a question of numbers; it was statistical inevitability. Their overwhelming numbers crushed any chance of survival.
“...”
Even so, I had no choice.
Quietly drawing my axes, I stepped toward the swarm of Spidarlings and the Spider Type.
They readied themselves to strike as I charged.
Dozens of Spidarlings leaped toward me.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
I emptied my pistol, tossing it aside.
Squelch! Slash!
Wielding my axes, I hacked and tore through the creatures.
Chunks of gray flesh were shredded and scattered in all directions.
Yet they kept coming.
Lacking intelligence, fear, or emotion, they were undeterred by the deaths of their own kind.
Likewise, I continued the slaughter without hesitation.
Slash! Squelch!
I didn’t count how many I killed.
My focus was singular: the distance between me and the Spider Type.
I had to end it in close quarters.
But the Spider Type, unlike its mindless offspring, seemed to possess some intelligence after three years of evolution.
Seeing my deadly dance, it retreated, shielded by hundreds of its spawn.
“...”
I felt the crushing certainty of defeat.
Thud!
A shockwave reverberated through the battlefield—not King’s, but something far deeper, shaking me to my very core.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to brighten.
There was no mistaking it.
This presence.
“Brother Si-hoon! What are you doing?!” Son Minjoo screamed.
I turned to see Jeon Si-hoon walking toward us.
His eyes burned with a fiery glow, and faint ripples of distorted space emanated from his entire body.
“I’m sorry,” Jeon Si-hoon said, nodding at me.
King, slumped on the ground, let out a laugh.
“That bastard. Finally decided to move.”
Jeon Si-hoon turned his gaze to the Spider Type and clenched his fist.
Thud!
An indescribably powerful shockwave rippled through the battlefield, crushing the Spider Type like an empty tin can.
*
The sweet aroma wafted from the end of the corridor, tickling my nose.
Women clad in alluring outfits, their figures accentuated beneath fox and rabbit masks, approached us with trays of milk tea.
I nodded slightly to express my gratitude and sipped the tea. Its sweet and deep flavor seeped into my body as I glanced around.
Beside me, Jeon Si-hoon sat with his head lowered, while Son Minjoo sat stiffly upright, maintaining a noticeable distance from him.
The battle was over, and we had escaped the eroded zone.
Despite Son Minjoo's vehement protests, Jeon Si-hoon’s determination had been stronger.
From beyond the corridor, a man in a lavish robe and a lion mask approached us with open arms.
“Skelton! And Jeon Si-hoon!”
It was time for a decision.
But it wasn’t mine to make—it was Jeon Si-hoon’s.
Though we had reached King’s palace together, Jeon Si-hoon still hadn’t decided where he stood.
King looked at me.
“Skelton, got anything else to say?”
I shook my head. My part was done. I had nothing left to say.
This content is taken from freёwebnovel.com.
King led us to his office.
Only Jeon Si-hoon and I were allowed inside. Son Minjoo was stopped by a rabbit-masked woman, despite her protests and sharp glare.
Under her wary eyes, we stepped into King’s office.
The room was lavish but suffocating, a mix of overpowering fragrance and the unmistakable stench of decay.
In one corner, an iron cylinder dominated the space, stark and out of place in its ostentatious surroundings.
“Jeon Si-hoon. I made you a promise earlier, didn’t I?” King said, walking toward the cylinder.
He opened it.
Inside was exactly what I had expected.
“Uuurgh...”
A zombie.
Its body was restrained by chains, a gag clamped tightly over its mouth, and an electric collar wrapped around its neck to neutralize its killing ability. The vacant, glassy eyes of the creature stared at us, devoid of any trace of intelligence, as its limp arms swayed aimlessly.
King stared at the zombie and spoke.
“This was my predecessor.”
Jeon Si-hoon’s face froze.
“Your predecessor?”
“Do you know how I became an Awakened?”
“...?”
“My predecessor, who sought to build a new city in Sejong, was captured and tortured by raiders. For three days and nights, they tormented him before bringing a zombie to tear into his dying body. As the raiders expected, he began turning into a zombie. But what they didn’t anticipate was the resilience of his life force. On the brink of death, as he transformed into a zombie, he awakened to a new power.”
“You mean...?”
“Yes. He became an Awakened. He killed every last one of the raiders and laid the foundation for this city.”
Jeon Si-hoon seemed overwhelmed by the story but not entirely convinced. Hesitantly, he voiced his doubt.
“Can someone really become an Awakened that way? I’ve never heard of such a thing...”
In response, King removed his mask.
Underneath, his face was gaunt, the skin around his eyes darkened with makeup. Yet his visage bore a striking resemblance to the creature in the cylinder—a face caught in limbo between human and zombie.
Undeniably, he was something in-between.
Jeon Si-hoon’s eyes widened in unconcealed horror.
“My father taught me this method,” King said.
“Your... father?”
King gestured to the zombie.
“Yes. This zombie is my father.”
Jeon Si-hoon fell silent, unable to argue against the undeniable proof standing before him.
“I chose to follow in his footsteps using his method,” King continued.
“...To think someone could awaken like this...”
“This method has its flaws,” King admitted, putting his mask back on.
At that moment, I felt a tension rise within me. Jang Ki-young had hinted at King’s methods before but never mentioned the final outcome.
In the silence, King spoke again.
“As you can see from my father, we eventually turn into zombies. My father, being old, lost his reasoning quickly. But even I occasionally black out.”
“Then why would you use such a method?” Jeon Si-hoon asked.
“I didn’t want to become a zombie either. But I had no choice. My father’s resolve was unyielding, and his plea was desperate. After much deliberation, I decided to follow his path, to carry on the dreams he could not fulfill.”
“...”
Jeon Si-hoon remained silent, not just from the shocking truth but perhaps from witnessing a father-son bond so different from his own. It might have stirred something profound in this still-young man’s heart.
“Sometimes, I wish I could become something else entirely. I wouldn’t mind fur, the face of a beast, or claws—anything would be better than becoming a zombie,” King said with a bitter laugh, turning to Jeon Si-hoon.
“You’re different from us. You were born with talent.”
“...”
“One day, the ruler of this city will be chosen by vote. But that day hasn’t come yet. For now, only those with power—Awakened—can sustain the city.”
“I...”
“This city has 30,000 people. To you, it may look like a place of oppression and thugs. But it’s improving. It will continue to improve, at least until the day I lose my sanity. When that day comes, this city will need you.”
“King.”
Jeon Si-hoon looked up at King.
Not with hostility or disdain, but with an emotion even he couldn’t define.
“Well, I’m not planning to retire anytime soon,” King said with a sly grin.
“So? Have you made up your mind?”
Jeon Si-hoon lowered his head, contemplating. Then he raised it again.
When he did, I noticed he seemed more mature—more of an adult than when I had first met him.
*
To cut to the chase, Jeon Si-hoon chose to return with me to Woo Min-hee.
It wasn’t as though he outright rejected King’s offer.
“I’ll go back for now. Watching Uhm Chang—uh, I mean, Skelton—I realized something. It’s incredible how someone without any powers can fight so fiercely,” Jeon Si-hoon said, giving me a thumbs-up.
“It really felt like you were a true warrior—or should I say, a true hunter. Seriously! You were cool, but in that moment, you were thousands of times cooler than I ever imagined!”
“...Really?” I replied.
“You reminded me of Commander Kang Han-min!”
King, who had been listening to our conversation, turned away with a faint, wistful smile.
“If that’s how you feel, I won’t stop you.”
Jeon Si-hoon clenched his fists and spoke confidently to King.
“We’ll be able to close the rift soon. Commander Kang Han-min said we’re on the brink of success!”
“Is that so?” King replied.
“Yes! Once the rift is sealed, I’ll return. In the meantime, please take good care of Minjoo. And don’t do anything weird to her!”
“Even if you delivered me a truckload of lunatics like her, I’d still decline.”
And that’s how Jeon Si-hoon ended up boarding the same armored vehicle as me.
Before the vehicle departed, King called me aside.
“Skelton.”
He had removed his mask, his face returning to something more human.
With a hearty laugh, King smiled at me.
“I hereby recognize you as an ally of the king.”
“...”
“If you ever need support or... women, just say the word.”
“...”
“And those mascot costumes—”
“I’ll pass on that,” I interrupted.
King let out another hearty laugh at my refusal.
“You bastard, Skelton! You know how to spin a tale, don’t you?”
The armored vehicle began to move.
Sitting beside Jeon Si-hoon, I stared out the window.
Looking between Jeon Si-hoon inside the vehicle and King outside, I had a sudden thought.
There are countless kinds of fathers in this world.
Fathers who abandon their children.
Fathers who burden their children with impossible weights.
As much as it pains me, my relationship with my father is somewhere in the gray, undefined middle.
Perhaps that’s not such a bad thing.
And so, I looked at the ruined city.
Markets were bustling, haggling echoed in the air, and people worked tirelessly in workshops and fields.
The thugs, laughing and causing their usual ruckus, didn’t stop the workers from holding tightly to what was theirs, refusing to let go.
Humans are strong.
Their will is even stronger.
As that timeless, cliché truth settled over me, I quietly closed my eyes.
Just a moment—I needed to rest.