Tale of The Cursed Island: Beauty in The Beast

While his comrades continued running toward the second defensive line, Rour stopped his steps near those in the third. From the insignias on their uniforms, he recognized many of these soldiers as Mover Commanders and Sergeants.

Rour also noticed the missiles containing anesthetic substances were launched only after receiving their commands.

There were various types weapons that they used when in combat against the monster.

Starting from the smallest such as pistols, to the largest such as missiles.

From those that can be used up close like pistols or knives, to the most distant ones like the extreme range snipper rifle that capable of hitting targets two miles away. The only type of advanced snipper used by all Patrioteers regardless of rank or tier over the last decade.

The most impressive, however, were the combat drones. Operated exclusively by the Central Military.

These drones, though highly effective, were notoriously expensive to maintain, their repair costs rivaling those of small armies. It was said that they had to spend a lot of money on the assembly and repair of these drones after every war.

However, regardless of the type of weapon, the ammunition and missiles fell into two categories. 

The first, consisted of standard ammunition and missiles designed to injure and weaken the monster's self-defenses. 

The second, carried a special anesthetic substance. Which was created and developed several decades ago.

The anesthetic substances are inserted into a small and automated injection device shaped like ammunition and missile—depending on the type of weapon with which they're paired.

These special ammunition and missiles capsules were made of golden-colored metal Orichalcum. This metal was intended as a catalyst to speed up and enhance efficacy of anesthetic substances by binding quickly to the creature's central nervous system. So that the anesthetic effect could occur immediately.

For smaller monster—no larger than a Saint Bernard dog—or those that were not too strong, the anesthetic substances could worked almost instantly regardless of where it struck. On any part of the body.

But for large monster, especially those with great power, Patrioteer must targeting its Weak Spot to paralyzed the monster.

The most important thing is, the monsters there cannot be killed. They can only be weakened.

The scientists, until now, are still conducting tons of research to find a way to kill those monsters.

Therefore, it's very important to keep the monsters completely unconscious. In order to prevent unwanted things during the capture process.

Identifying the Weak Spot wasn't always straightforward. It was successfully discovered based on decades of research led by Dr. Cath Colbert. The legendary scientist who was also credited with pioneering anesthetic substances.

No one doesn't know who she is. For all the people of Neo Schao, especially the Patrioteers, she's like a national hero.

Her invention has saved countless lives over the past century.

Yet, even with this advancements, finding the Weak Spot during a chaotic battle remained a monumental challenge.

As for the current case, their strategy was limited to firing as many ammunitions and anesthetic substances as possible, while randomly searching for Weak Spot locations that were nowhere to be found.

The scientists at Ecliptica Biotech would conduct emergency research and in real time guide the Patrioteers on the battlefield to shoot at specific points.

But seeing as none of those shots had been successful until now, the research center must be just as chaotic as here.

"Damn it!"

The situation did not last long. It worsened. 

The monster slowly moved closer and went on a rampage, forcing the specially armored military vehicles to retreat in unison. 

Its growling sounds seemed to break the eardrums. Clashed with the increasingly intense sounds of relentless gunfire.

One of the Mover Commanders shouted an order to fall back.

Rour, however, didn't retreat backwards. 

Instead, he ran behind a stack of tall rocks that resembled a naturlal cave nearby.

He positioned himself alertly. Aimed his rifle at the monster through a narrow gap between the rocks, and continued to scan the creature's massive body through the rifle scope.

"What the hell! Fuck! Fuck!" Suddenly, Rour heard Sam shouting curses as he staggered backwards, on panic, past him.

By the time Rour turned around to see Sam, that man had already passed the Sergeants and still continued running backwards.

Their nightmare was clearly visible and so close.

About maybe less than half a mile away.

Really, really close.

The monster was now terrifyingly close.

Rour himself had never seen a creature this enormous with frightening appearance as that.

Making his stomach churned. 

Its size exceeded far above his earlier estimation. It was taller than a two-story house. Stood much over twenty feet. And at least three times, or more, larger than the biggest monster ever recorded in history.

No wonder they were out of control.

If the strength of all the beasts they had defeated before were combined, this one was probably dozens of times tougher.

The problem is, it wasn't just the size that makes the legs tremble. The monster's appearance was a terror come to life.

The monster had a walrus-like body, head, and forearms. Complete with two large fangs that jutted forward from its maw and curved forward. 

Its entire skin was jet black, glistening, and coated in slime.

Its eyes are bright red in color, scanned the field with predatory precision.

While its nostrils always flared up and down sniffing the air around.

On its cheeks, there were four barbels whose length exceeded its own height. So when the monster moved, the barbels would drag, wave, and sway violetly in all directions.

The creature had a pair of legs resembling those of an elephant. Thick, and covered in folded, fatty skin. Every time it walked, the legs pressed into the earth with crushing force, leaving deep imprints behind.

Its stone-like and bulged out toenail, also scraped the ground.

The ground around them trembled with each step.

And its mouth continued to emit deafening growls and roars that pierced the heart and sank in deep into the bones.