00046 --- The Little Prince in the Ossuary ---
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#Omens (5), Atascadero
Jeffrey's squad approached without knowing anything. Gyeo-ul could observe them through the convex mirror at the corner. Although Jeffrey and his soldiers were on guard to some extent, it was insufficient. Especially regarding the path they had already passed. Having confirmed that the doors were locked, they might have let their guard down.
Gyeo-ul borrowed a six-shot grenade launcher from a soldier.
In the meantime, Jeffrey walked right into the middle of the trap. From the darkness behind them, a faint figure descended along the wall. There was no sound in any of its movements. Moving slowly like a beast eyeing its prey, it approached the door leading to the auditorium.
"Jeffrey! Get down!"
Gyeo-ul leaned halfway out from the corner. The soldiers on Jeffrey's side were startled. A few bullets flew past. Two grazed him. Gyeo-ul shouted sternly.
"I said get down!"
His sight was aimed through the window beyond the auditorium. As he dragged the muzzle to the right, he repeatedly pulled the trigger. Thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk! Just as Jeffrey's side ducked down, a chain of explosions erupted.
The once-dark corridor was filled with blasts and flashes. Torn metal and shards of glass rained down like rain. Hellish sounds seeped out from the auditorium.
Gyeo-ul tossed the grenade launcher back to the soldier and rushed out, unleashing a hail of rifle fire. The soldiers joined in. A fierce barrage followed. The shadowy figure blocked and endured with one arm, clutching the doorknob with the other. Sparks flew. The door, as if it had never been locked, swung open.
Only then did they seem to notice the monster in their rear. From Jeffrey's side, half-reclining or lying flat, they returned fire. Metal clanged and blood spurted. The creature with torn flesh hurriedly fled. That void was soon filled by mutants spilling out of the auditorium, a number the six grenade blasts couldn't entirely wipe out.
"My God! What is all this?!"
Jeffrey screamed in shock.
"This way! Hurry!"
Gyeo-ul threw a grenade. It detonated inside the auditorium entrance, toppling a mass of them that were pouring out. As he transitioned to shooting, holding off those struggling creatures, his squad members followed suit. Grenades flew successively. Then one hit the metal frame and ricocheted out. In a state of panic, backward or forward, it was about to fall right over the wavering heads of Jeffrey's squad.
Ping! A bullet from Gyeo-ul struck the grenade. It was hit at an angle to prevent an explosion. This time the grenade sailed through the window, exploding once it was out. Gyeo-ul slapped the face of a dazed soldier.
"Get a grip!"
He meant it literally—to regain consciousness, not reprimand him. The soldier had let go of the trigger in surprise from his mistake. At that moment, every bit of firepower mattered.
Finally, Gyeo-ul joined with Jeffrey's squad. From beside them, he knelt down, targeting the waves of mutants.
"Are you alright?!"
He asked while maintaining his aim, and Jeffrey, taking a similar position next to him, responded.
"I don't understand what's happening!"
Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!
"But I'm fine!"
A bottleneck situation developed. As they were forced out through a narrow space, the mutants couldn't exert their strength. The piled-up corpses themselves became obstacles. Around the auditorium door, the corridor was filled up to halfway in height. Even for Gyeo-ul, it became an obstacle. Beyond it, he couldn't spot the special mutant that had fled.
"I'm going to pursue the prey! Cover me!"
"Hey, wait!"
Gyeo-ul began running. The mutants, attempting to add to the pile of corpses, targeted him. The retaliatory fire from his squad was cautious. Gyeo-ul might get hit, after all. Three enemies came rushing through the inadequate barrage. His magazine ran out. Instantly, he drew his pistol and fired precisely three shots. One was alive due to the hurried aim. He passed by, delivering a strike with the grip.
Changing magazines, he clambered over the wall. The wall built from the bodies of the dead and dying. One brick offered its last struggle. Gyeo-ul, caught by the ankle, rolled down the opposite slope. Ta-ta-ta-ta. In his swirling view, razor-sharp teeth flashed past threateningly.
Landing, Gyeo-ul steadied himself and dashed off again. Confirming the fleeing special mutant beyond the metal grille, it took him just a half-breath to capture it in his sights.
As bullets rained, the creature sought the nearest escape. A door led to the side, opening into a small clearing. Surrounded by special wards, only the sky lay open.
The boy slicked down and changed direction. The monster awaited him.
"Ugh!"
A rapid evasion prompted by the warning from the 「Battle Sense」. The whip grazed past. It was a grotesque arm composed solely of muscle, absent of bone. Lying back, Gyeo-ul aimed with one hand.
Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!
A few hits forced the monster on the run once more. Gyeo-ul, now on his feet through sheer momentum, entered the clearing.
Finally, the whole of the monster was revealed. The special mutant clung to the wall, lowering his remaining arm toward the drenched foliage.
Sparks erupted. Currents pulsed through the ground and water. While broader in range and thus less efficient, it was enough to make Gyeo-ul stagger.
Though the combat boots were insulating, the rain was problematic. Momentary paralysis. He struggled to aim. The creature began climbing the remaining wall amid this opportunity. Its ascent path was blood-stained. Gyeo-ul's belated shots tracked behind the monster, shattering concrete. Another bullet struck the mutant's calf.
This was the creature that had fled after taking a full magazine during their first encounter. Yet, it had climbed onto the roof once more.
"Prepare to toss me a magazine when I'm up there!"
There might not be enough ammunition. Yelling back to the pursuing soldiers, Gyeo-ul ran at the wall. Supplemented by 「Movement」, he bounded off the window frames and drainage pipes, overcoming the vertical 8 meters.
"Catch!"
A magazine flew. Clambering the roof, Gyeo-ul caught it mid-air as he resumed the chase.
The escaping creature was under fire already. Though they hadn't landed a hit, soldiers placed in a watchtower significantly slowed the special mutant. It sought refuge among the rooftop's entangled ventilation structures.
The ventilation system was deliberately complex and filthy. A design to prevent inmate escapes. Gyeo-ul navigated over it several times. Overcoming a barrier, the monster stood 20 meters away. A few low vents were between them as they faced each other.
As Gyeo-ul aimed immediately, something seemed off. The monster's upper torso had reddened, with its ribs glowing intensely.
Whoosh-!
A gust of heat swept past. The attack was so swift that evasion came too late. Gyeo-ul's immediate exposure resulted in him rolling on the ground, looking at the steam rising from his entire body in alarm.
'So that's it. It's a creature that manipulates electricity and electromagnetic waves.'
「Insight」 validated this assumption. It was akin to the principle of a microwave oven.
This was a mutant of a new kind, a pattern unseen before. Gyeo-ul had no choice but to confront it head-on.
Disarming a flashbang pin, he let go of the safety lever. Throwing it up, he crouched immediately, covering his ears and shutting his eyes.
The pitch-black world was, for a fleeting moment, washed white. The subsequent explosion resonated throughout his entire body. Gyeo-ul shifted his position, rising once more. The special mutant staggered, clutching its eyes. Even in this state, its torso began to heat up. The trajectory of ultra-high-frequency waves became visible through the slightly evaporating rain droplets, forming a thin, blurry curtain.
However, the aim was surprisingly precise. It stayed off course due to staggering, but the creature reacted accurately to Gyeo-ul's movements. Just as a bat perceives its surroundings through ultrasound, this creature might perceive via electromagnetic waves. Such was Gyeo-ul's thought.
He had verified the range and scope of its long-range attacks. The next step was to discern the timing. Gyeo-ul threw another flashbang.
Bang!
Though the mutant recovered faster than humans, it was powerless against the successive flashbangs. The heatwave it shot went astray again.
The verification was clear. Approximately 1–2 seconds to charge, around 5 seconds to discharge.
Gyeo-ul aimed at the creature's knee, firing until one kneecap shattered. Specifically, it was the same leg he had emptied a full magazine into during their initial encounter. He intended to make it entirely useless.
In the process, with seemingly aimless thrashing, the special mutant clutched its injuries with its spare hand. Sparks flew, and smoke billowed. The creature cauterized its wounds to stop bleeding.
The whip-like arm stretched resiliently. An electric current must have flowed there too.
'Getting caught would be dangerous.'
The monster, once its sight returned, glared at Gyeo-ul. Its anger was palpable. Yet its actions remained focused on escape. Even with a wrecked leg, it fled efficiently through an unconventional method.
Flailing an arm akin to a whip, it hurled it to grasp a distant anchor point. Contracting its muscles, the body followed. The speed surpassed most humans' full sprint. The other arm substituted as a leg, dragging along one ineffective leg, creating a bizarre sight.
Gyeo-ul tossed a grenade. With calculated timing, it detonated high above. The explosion capped the creature to the ground. Splayed and still on the wet surface, the special mutant bled profusely. Its grotesque form writhed like an insect. Its desperate escape now at a sloth's pace.
「Officer Han! Can you hear? Are you alive? Respond!」
The interference subsided dramatically. Proof that the special mutant was out of energy. As Gyeo-ul tried to steady his ragged breath while hastening after the creature, he responded.
"Yes, I'm intact. Please proceed."
A relieved sigh came through the receiver. It was Jeffrey.
「Hah, that's a relief. Where's your location? We're still en route to the rooftop.」
「Officer Mul! You're really safe?」
Sergeant Lieberman's voice overlapped with each other. The sudden opening of communication presented a problem; however, the message was still discernible. Gyeo-ul responded.
"Take your time. I've nearly suppressed it."
The special mutant could no longer flee. It merely nudged in place. Its tentacle-like remaining arm gleamed, reminiscent of a glistening worm on a rainy day.
It soon came to a halt, aside from a barely perceptible rise and fall of its chest—a near cadaver.
Gyeo-ul didn't risk approaching too closely. It was a cunning creature capable of feigning death.
Once the rest of the squad reached the rooftop after a considerable delay, the special mutant made an unexpectedly bright emission.
Screeeeech!
The muscular whip lashed out. It adjusted wildly while in motion, alive and unpredictable. Gyeo-ul leaped away from its perilous reach right from the start. The mutant launched a desperate attack with all its remaining strength, twisting its limbs unnaturally. Yet with its impaired body, catching up to Gyeo-ul was impossible.
In those brief moments, intense static noise sparked through the radio. Crossfire rained from Jeffrey and Lieberman's direction. The mutant's flesh raggedly hung like torn rags. Gyeo-ul abandoned his radio and yelled.
"Don't shoot! Cease fire! Cease fire!"
He directed grand signals toward the watchtower. Seeing his arms repeatedly crossed in an X shape, they too ceased fire.
But it was too late. The mutant was riddled with uncountable holes, inescapable from the surrounding pool of blood. Gyeo-ul stepped on and pressed down the tentacle's end, gradually edging closer.
No response. Given any remaining energy, its electrocution pattern would have surfaced. Gyeo-ul prodded the injury with the bayonet attached to his rifle. Still, no reaction.
"What's the status?!"
Out of breath, Lieutenant Jeffrey skidded to a halt a few steps away, unnerved by the monster. Oh, sh*t, he swore under his breath. Gyeo-ul kicked the mutant's body a few more times before finally pressing its nape gently to check for a pulse.
"It's dead. Sadly."
"Huh? Sadly?!"
"We were told to capture it. By the doctor, remember?"
"... Were you seriously going to? You're out of your mind."
It was a compliment in its own way.
After finishing a communication with headquarters, Lieutenant Jeffrey brought additional news.
"Rejoice, everyone. That doctor's getting disciplined. It's quite fulfilling, really."
"Discipline? For what?"
"For inadequate response. They've reassigned the position."
Detailed circumstances would be clear eventually.
Regardless, as initially promised, the helicopters arrived. From the transport helicopter crews, they learned new information. Just like during the 「Grumble」 shock, these new species appeared nationwide concurrently. Preparations for a large-scale response operation were underway.
"So we weren't the first ones?"
Gyeo-ul asked an officer from the medical service team. His rank was major, though he carried a more scholarly than military aura. Two already secured corpses of a similar type were bound within the helicopter. They were severely damaged, results of tremendous firepower exposure. The officer nodded.
"The damage was significant, yet not as severe as the 「Grumble」 incident. The air force was quite instrumental."
"Did the air force participate?"
When Jeffrey inquired, the officer affirmed.
"We initially suspected the disruption was foreign military interference. So we unleashed radio-homing missiles."
"Missiles? That must've been fiery."
"Regardless, it's regrettable. The specimen you brought is in relatively good condition. One could've been alive for study had things gone suitably."
The major appeared genuinely regretful. Though he offered a lift back via helicopter, abandoning their vehicles wasn't practical. Before leaving, the major extended his hand to Gyeo-ul.
"Meeting someone of your caliber and not shaking hands would be a regret later on."
With a smile and salute, he boarded the helicopter.
Watching the receding helicopter formation, Sergeant Lieberman proposed.
"Given our current state, continuing the mission is impractical. Let's withdraw."
The mission continuation Lieberman referred to implied the search for missing persons. However, their soldiers were fatigued, ammunition depleted, and time dwindling before sunset.
Acting as the senior officer, Jeffrey accepted the suggestion.
"Indeed. We've accomplished enough. Let's return. You agree, don't you?"
Gyeo-ul nodded in concurrence.
-------------= Author's Notes -------------=
1. I've received feedback indicating ethical concerns about transitioning from Noblesse to Premium. Considering the perspective, I've decided to ponder further. Regardless, I'll prioritize the readers' convenience.
// 1:06 AM update. For criticisms targeting a specific individual about this, I will initially request a revision. If ignored, deletion will follow. I'm concerned about hurt feelings, but it's an unavoidable measure.
2. Thank you for the reviews! To receive two within a day! I also extend gratitude to the first two who wrote them. Yes, I am fond of reviews. To what extent? Um...like Nutella?
3. Feedback on typos or inappropriate wording is typically applied immediately. Please don't feel displeased if I don't comment separately.
4.
Special Mutant: So, do I scare you?
America: Yes, you're terrifying. Let's call in the Air Force.
Special Mutant: ?!
-------------= Author's Notes -------------=
The military's response is very American. I chuckled at 4.
Also, I am liking the action more and more. And the special mutants appearing. Also, it was mentioned in the previous chapter that the electromagnetic special mutant didn't appear in the previous iteration of 「After the Apocalypse」, meaning this is the first time it appeared, hence Gyeo-ul had to learn its pattern. This made the story more interesting by giving Gyeo-ul unexpected variables.