Chapter 74: End of winter (Kerox hunt)
The wide-open field was covered with white snow, free of any kind of footprints. It would’ve been messy with dirt and mud if it were Seoul.
‘I guess snow on Halla Mountain will be clean like here.’
There were only occasional animal or monster footprints, but they were quickly wiped away as the wind swept across the snow.
“It’s coming.”
Joonbum narrowed his eyes as he heard Doral speaking in a low voice. There were blurry black spots approaching from the distance. It was hard to make out at first, but it soon grew in numbers. Joonbum took out his binoculars to watch.
“Wow.”
Over 300 Keroxes were running through the snow-covered field, creating an astonishing sight. It was like like a movie scene. Joonbum’s camera that was installed on his shoulder silently captured the scene.
“A Kerox that is that hungry cannot be stopped by anyone. I think the Gartz might be the only one with a chance at survival.”
“Is it common for that many to join?”
“No. That would’ve broken the balance. Guardians usually hunt them down to keep their numbers low.”
Doral seemed to be nervous at the sight. He wasn’t relaxed like he was from the past hunts.
‘So this is the result of Galfus not being able to look after her territory.’
The sound of the monsters barking was heard as they were agitated by the strong scent of blood. All of the Ainos grew tense as they closed in.
There was nothing on the field. The smell of blood was everywhere, but there was no meat. Some Keroxes began digging down into the snow, looking for the source of the blood, but they couldn’t find anything. As they began to grow more frustrated, they began killing the weaker ones near them. The Keroxes that were attacked tried to resist, but more of them jumped in, killing them. They ripped apart the prey and crushed their bones. Not even a minute passed after they arrived on the field and they were already fighting each other.
“That’s the Kerox. They don’t stop after filling themselves. They can wipe out the entire Bodua population with that number.”
“Ready!”
Howen rose from his cover and raised his flag. About fifty warriors and thirty women stood up from their snow covers and pulled their bows to shoot their arrows at the group of Keroxes. A group of arrows fired by eighty Ainos people flew across the air toward the group of Keroxes. About thirty of them lay dead on the ground as they had been hit by more than ten arrows. Other Keroxes moved without any injuries.
‘I guess that’s why they’re called monsters.’
A Kerox that was not wounded in its critical area moved about normally even with the arrow on its body. They began charging at the warriors. The sight of monsters dripping in the blood of its own kind charging toward them was on another level of horror.
‘It’s my turn!’
All of the Keroxes quickly ran toward the Ainos as they could run much faster than humans. Joonbum felt goosebumps all over his body and felt his mouth becoming dry. He readied himself with the ammo belt and pulled the trigger of the M-245.
The machine gun roared, spitting out hundreds of shells, and the Keroxes that were on the frontlines fell to the ground as their bodies were ripped apart by the bullets. The Ainos also pulled their bows straight at the Keroxes, but they could not hit their targets so easily this time.
The Keroxes did not back away as Joonbum walked out from the group to stand in front of the Ainos. A Kerox charged at Joonbum, but he fired his M-245 again. All of the Keroxes who jumped up rolled and dropped to the ground. The blood splattered all over and Joonbum was soon covered in blood.
The M-245 roared continuously and soon there were less than ten Keroxes left standing alive. The Ainos who had been shooting their arrows stopped. The area was filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood. It had only been five minutes from the beginning of the battle and all the Keroxes were laying in a blood bath on the ground.
There were some that that were still alive, but they were dying. There were no more vicious monsters that once laid waste to anything that stood in their way.
Joonbum glanced at the sight of the bloodied battlefield, then his M-245. He had just exterminated them.
‘I did it like Rambo!’
He still felt recoils reeling throughout his body. His body shivered with excitement.
“Joonbum! You’re crazy!”
“This is amazing!”
“Whoaa!”
People began shouting in joy and the young warriors and women approached Joonbum in excitement. Doral retreated as if he wanted to be out of such heat.
“Can you teach me?”
“Yeah! Teach me too.”
“That was so cool!”
Joonbum blushed in embarrassment from within his helmet.
‘I never thought I would be popular here.’
Joonbum never expected such popularity on Earth either. He was happy.
‘It’s a great feeling to be popular.’
While Joonbum was enjoying his popularity, the other warriors began walking around the field to make sure that all the Keroxes were dead. There were some who began skinning the dead Keroxes. Joonbum and the group also joined them.
“We’ll leave this place before sunset. Scouts, keep watch!”
Everyone hurried and they skinned a total of 278 Keroxes. It was already getting dark. The scouts reported various monsters and animals closing in. There were birds named the Deneth and Tezf flying above them already, which resembled a crow and a bald eagle respectively. There were also Odringos waiting by the bushes. There was also a monster Joonbum had never seen before. It was a bipedal monster about seven feet tall covered with long gray fur as if it was a bear in walking form. It was called the Bayrook.
Five Bayrooks had gathered to watch the warriors and the bodies of the Keroxes. There were more animals who were lured by the smell.
“This is very uncommon,” Doral mumbled after looking around. Joonbum also grew curious.
“Why are they not attacking or fighting with each other?”
There were all kinds of animals and monsters, but they did not fight. They just kept their distance and waited.
“They know it’s better to wait than to fight. It’s a harsh season. A small injury will lead to its death. They know it’s better not to fight in the winter.”
“Oh.”
There was a feast waiting for them. They just needed to patiently wait. When the warriors moved away after loading all the skins on the sleigh, monsters began closing in on the corpses. They occasionally bared their teeth at each other, but they did not fight. The Ainos did not pay much attention to them either.
‘Is this true wilderness?’ Joonbum thought as he saw the feast of monsters unfold in front of him.
“It’s okay. Other monsters and animals will get to survive thanks to all that Kerox meat,” Doral murmured. Joonbum’s excitement disappeared at such a brutal sight.
“Oh, don’t run naked around town today, okay? You do remember your mother’s words right?”
“Ugh.”
Joonbum frowned.
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