SWNOVELXO Chapter 201
Episode 201. Monkey Spanner (1)
Lee Se-ah assessed the situation. The twisted beasts that had crawled out of the forest were unable to cross the barbed wire fence surrounding the facility.
If only they could mobilize heavy weapons or armored vehicles, the situation would have been resolved already. Most of the armored vehicles were probably damaged due to the nuclear explosion.
“This is Lee Se-ah. We’re holding the monsters at the barbed wire defense line. We’re focusing firepower on the Divine-Class Entity, but it’s unclear how to deal with it.”
The Divine-Class Entity that had appeared under the full moon earlier was still lingering.
Fortunately, the moon monster had been hit multiple times by a recoilless rifle loaded with mistletoe particles as soon as it appeared, slowing its movements. It’s the most effective weapon for divine slaying. Whether the monster was truly injured or not is unknown, but at least it wasn’t rampaging anymore.
[Yes.]
“Let’s use that.”
[Research Department Head, there seems to be a misunderstanding. You don’t have command authority over me.]
“Huh?”
Come to think of it, that’s true. Even if her rank is higher, Lee Se-ah has no reason to have command authority over the lab director here. Unless it’s Dr. Kim.
“Anyway, just listen for a moment. We have no drones, no vehicles to send, no helicopters. There’s no way to support Dr. Kim.”
[Is there any evidence that support is needed?]
“Why do you think the enemy Special Forces aren’t showing up at the facility? Dr. Kim is probably engaging them. If the facility were attacked, there would be casualties, so they must have lured them away.”
[Are you suggesting we deploy the dinosaurs again? No, I remember they didn’t achieve much and all died when we fought in Seoul.]
“Do you have any other combat assets tucked away?”
The lab director pondered for a moment. This time, Lee Se-ah was right. There were no other combat assets available for deployment in this situation.
And they couldn’t just send people in until the problem was resolved. Who knows how many allies would die before the situation was contained.
[Well… alright.]
The lab director, sitting in the command center, seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking.
[Noxiraptor-1, Noxiraptor-2.]
[Deploy as soon as you’re ready.]
Lee Se-ah let out a sigh of relief.
The Noxiraptor Series. One of the most powerful macro-biological weapons created by the Foundation. Even though they only drew attention before being annihilated in Seoul.
A murder machine the size of a truck, synthesized from the genes and tissues of creatures obtained from the Garden. It had already almost escaped the isolation room several times.
The world is already full of monsters. Some argued there was no need to create more, but Lee Se-ah eventually secured the budget.
There was one reason.
Even the Foundation’s bureaucrats saw the logic. It runs three times faster than a human, has the strength to flip cars, and jaws strong enough to chew through steel bars.
This couldn’t be a useless combat asset. The Noxiraptor might be a bit oversized, but it could be useful depending on the situation.
The dinosaurs didn’t fail in the Seoul siege. On the contrary, they proved that mini versions, prototypes, had their uses.
Cernunnos’s Garden is like the monsters’ home ground. Maybe this time, the dinosaurs will truly shine.
I gripped the monkey spanner tightly and charged in the direction where the enemy had just been. Where are you, bastards who launched a tactical nuke at my facility?
Now it’s my turn to hunt.
The Walpurgis Special Forces were fleeing into the tropical rainforest canopy. Upwards.
Idiots, why would you increase the angles from which you can be attacked while being chased? If it were me, I’d go down. Or maybe they don’t even realize they’re being chased?
Even though fog, smoke, and dust still obscured everything, the night vision goggles picked up the enemy’s movements and infrared signals.
Found one.
A brass feather cut through the branches, and a Special Forces member aimed a weapon at me, but I shielded my body with my wings and spun around.
The Special Forces member fell to the ground.
The landing was successful.
He didn’t seem injured, but the high ground was now mine. I descended as quickly as possible and struck the standing opponent’s head with the monkey spanner.
Thud!
A defensive magic circle flickered above his head, but after a few more strikes, it disappeared. The opponent stopped moving.
I had hit the helmet, not the head. I don’t know how injured he is. But since he’s not moving… is he dead?
I kicked the Walpurgis member’s staff far away and looked around again. There were still five enemies left.
Luna let out a sigh.
How can we be this overwhelmed by just one person? We have eight witches here, and one by one, they’re being killed by a hammer.
The dust thrown by the enemy, the dust and steam from the nuclear explosion, the fog spread by allies, the smoke grenades used by the enemy. Visibility was already low, but now it’s practically zero.
You’d see better swimming in ink. It’s hard to grasp the situation.
“This is Position-1. We’re retreating for now. Use detection magic to locate the enemy and raise physical defense to avoid getting killed.”
“Blessing of Zephyros.”
Luna cut through the trees, fleeing as fast as possible. There were sacrifices, but another Special Forces team was waiting in the Garden.
The witch, Luna, moved as if flying through the trees, using the fog covering the area as a shield.
Most attack magic requires seeing the enemy to use, but the same goes for guns. Isn’t it similar that Walpurgis’s adversary isn’t using firearms?
“This is Position-1. Luring the enemy. Kunai, pursue and eliminate.”
[This is Kunai-1. Moving.]
“This is Position-1. Change of plans. Find a way to limit the enemy’s mobility. I’ll prepare a means to eliminate the enemy.”
[Position-2. Confirmed.]
[Position-3. Position confirmed. Observed at 150 degrees.]
Meaning they’re approaching from the south.
“Corruption’s Gaze.”
The head of Luna’s staff glowed with a dark red power. This time, we can kill them. The Foundation’s long-standing civil war will finally end.
“Position-3. Forming an encirclement. Stand by with Binding Magic.”
[Kunai-1. Pursuing.]
More strange things followed from behind. The fleeing Walpurgis members slowed down. Would they form an encirclement and attack all at once?
We couldn’t afford to slow down.
[This is Lee Se-ah.]
“Yes.”
[We tried to support the Doctor, but most military vehicles’ electronic equipment is malfunctioning due to the nuclear explosion. So we can’t send vehicles.]
“Yes.”
What? Does that mean they can’t help?
[Reinforcements will arrive soon!]
Beep. The Research Department Head cut the communication. But soldiers can’t get here without vehicles, and even if they do, I’m not sure they’ll be of much help.
The enemies came into view.
The Walpurgis members seemed to have stopped fleeing. I hid behind a tree and looked around to assess the situation.
The enemy had finally set foot on the ground.
Now-
“Kieeeeeeeek!”
What the hell is that? I’ve seen countless bizarre sights working for the Foundation, but this level of weirdness is rare.
A massive figure burst out from the tropical rainforest. Teeth, feathers, and scales. One enemy Special Forces member was swatted away, and another disappeared between the monster’s teeth.
Ah, that’s it.
I remember reading a report about it before.
It’s a dinosaur. I knew the Foundation was using monsters as bioweapons, but I never imagined they’d be this big.
A beast easily over ten meters tall.
Feathers with a crow-like black gloss covered its body. Its mouth was full of blade-like teeth.
Why on earth would they create something like that…?
“Kieeeeeeeek!”
The enemy Special Forces members looked at the monster in disbelief, then, realizing the situation, raised their weapons. This time, they weren’t aiming at me but at the monster that had just emerged from the forest.
It was already too late.
The monster charged at the enemy with incredible speed. A speed hard to follow with the eyes.
Before they could react, another Walpurgis member fell, and another was caught in the monster’s claws. Gunfire was heard, but it didn’t seem to have much effect.
“Kieeeeeek!”
The gunfire continued.
The monster’s figure was faintly visible through the trees. I took advantage of the enemies’ distraction to approach. I’d be distracted too if something like that suddenly attacked.
A dinosaur, out of nowhere.
I faced the Walpurgis Team Leader.
“What the hell is that…?”
A common phrase.
One I often use too.
The Walpurgis Team Leader muttered in shock, but there was no time to listen to the enemy’s monologue. Nor was there any reason to.
The clockwork wings moved, and the witch’s staff was sliced into three pieces by the brass feathers sharpened like blades. Thud, thud, thud. The staff fragments fell.
“Uh-”
The Walpurgis Team Leader stared at me with empty hands. The helmet hid their expression, but I could guess without seeing.
The Walpurgis Team Leader’s goggles stared blankly at their empty hands before turning back to me.
It’s already over.