Chapter 175

Chapter 175. Dr. Kim and the Seven (3)

****

We’re going to lose like this.

Nanami calmly pondered the situation. Even while exchanging sword strikes, Nanami had enough composure to think.

Rather, it was the opposite problem. The sorcerer’s magic was holding Nanami’s feet in place, and red threads made of mana were tangling around Nanami.

Paradoxically, that gave Nanami time to think. The abilities of the Misteltein Swordsman weren’t anything special.

A weaker opponent than the Black we captured last time. But they were being supported by a sorcerer whose location was unknown. That’s what was holding Nanami back.

What to do?

Nanami slowly looked at the enemy’s approaching blade. The range of the sword energy. About 15 meters.

The range of the sword itself. Combined with the length of the arm and the sword, roughly within 2 meters.

There’s one blind spot.

The sword can’t block enemies that get too close. The sword is, after all, something held in the hand.

So, the actual range of the sword isn’t 2 meters. It needs to accelerate from the outer end of the lever to exert its power.

The sword’s range isn’t 2 meters, but rather between 1 to 2 meters around the enemy. Inside that, the sword can’t exert its power.

Maybe?

Having thought it through, it was time to act. Clang! The two swords clashed, but Nanami didn’t prepare for the next strike and instead pushed with force.

With a large motion, Nanami’s sword flew to the side. But the enemy’s sword was also forced into a position as far from their body as possible.

The enemy had a sword, and Nanami didn’t. Common sense would say it’s time to retreat, but Nanami took a step forward.

The red threads tangled around Nanami began to entangle the enemy’s path. Nanami hesitated for a moment.

There’s a small dagger at the waist.

It could be drawn and thrust in one motion, but maybe bare hands would be better. There’s no guarantee the Special Forces’ bulletproof vest would stop it.

It would probably be blocked by the armor plate.

Can sword energy be infused into a small dagger? Never tried, so I don’t know.

The enemy’s sword was still held, but it was pushed as far to the right as possible. Nanami let go of the sword and closed in to the enemy’s left side.

The enemy has no way to block the next two strikes.

They won’t be able to move the sword that quickly, and even if they do, the sword won’t have the right angle to exert force. Now-

A way to hit without pushing the enemy away.

Not really, right? Maybe an uppercut?

One effective hit to the head. Tried to hit the torso, but the armor plate has shock absorption, so it wasn’t very effective.

Nanami grabbed the enemy tangled in the same red threads and slammed them against the wall of the next building.

The Misteltein Swordsman also lost their sword. The enemy got up without a sword. This is it.

But the enemy couldn’t be tougher than Nanami. That wouldn’t make sense. With each effective hit, the sound of equipment breaking was heard-

Thud. After a while, Nanami put the enemy down. The bulletproof vest and the inside of the gas mask were soaked in red blood.

This should be enough to kill. Now, to find the comrades of the one just killed-

Nanami felt a chill and looked around.

Bang!

Nanami dodged a bullet that came from somewhere. If it had been any slower, the bullet would have hit the helmet directly. Might have died.

If the sound couldn’t be masked by a silencer…

It must be an anti-material sniper. If the enemy is lucky, they might be able to penetrate Nanami’s bulletproof gear.

****

The Misteltein Sorcerer of the Special Forces raised the barrel of the Gauss Musket. Since sorcery didn’t work, this was the next step.

This was a sure death.

That entity wasn’t Dr. Kim, and this isn’t a significant stronghold.

“This is Mist-4. Mist-3 is incapacitated. The entity fighting Mist-3 is presumed not to be Dr. Kim. Retreating.”

“This is Command. Continue the engagement.”

“Mist-4. Cannot continue the engagement. Contrary to the original plan, the Reality Anchoring Device and Misteltein artifacts cannot subdue the target.”

“Join Mist-1.”

“Dr. Kim isn’t here.”

The sorcerer stopped talking and turned their gaze back to the fleeing entity. Bang! Bang!

The Gauss Musket fired, but the angle for a snipe didn’t present itself. Should have just shot earlier.

Wasting time with sword fights.

It was something impersonating Dr. Kim. Maybe one of the Seoul Branch’s espers, but is there really someone that strong?

The high ground belongs to Misteltein. The Special Forces member climbed the building’s rooftop with parkour.

“Command! What is that thing?”

“Seems to be part of the Pygmalion Series.”

“Is it immune to magic?”

We’ve been throwing all sorts of curses and sorcery at that monster, but aside from slowing it down slightly, there’s been no effect. At least it seems scared of bullets, so that’s something.

At this rate, we’ll be caught.

The sorcerer jumped between rooftops. The God-Killing Misteltein Special Ammunition, the God-Killing Sword, sorcery—nothing worked as planned.

“Diana. Save me.”

“This is Mist-1. I’ll provide support.”

****

The weather wasn’t suitable for helicopters. Even if they took off, the current weather conditions in Seoul wouldn’t allow for accurate targeting.

Five collapsed buildings. Doesn’t seem like we succeeded in killing it, but we did manage to find the monster that wiped out two squads with six arrows.

Since the monster exposed its position, we can chase it with armored vehicles. No matter how fast parkour is, it can’t exceed tens of kilometers per hour.

“Got one!”

Dr. Yang took position on a building and aimed the composite rifle at the target. One person lying on a collapsed building.

“Commence firing!”

Dr. Yang fired at will. Grenades, rifle rounds. So far, double-digit soldiers have been incapacitated, but not a single enemy has been taken down.

Even two armored vehicles exploded.

Still. Caught in crossfire.

****

Misteltein-1, Team Leader Diana, cursed. The situation wasn’t good.

We’ve killed many enemies. But Dr. Kim still hasn’t been captured, and securing the surrounding area has failed. Even if we occupy Poi Station, there’s nothing we can do, and securing a safe foothold has failed.

The mage is dead, the swordsman is dead, the sorcerer is being chased. The other members seem to be alive, but they’re probably in combat.

All because we couldn’t catch Dr. Kim.

“Diana! Save me!”

“This is Mist-1. I’ll provide support.”

It’s the sorcerer.

“Here’s the thing pretending to be Dr. Kim. It’s not Dr. Kim! It’s one of the Seoul Branch’s hounds. A Pygmalion Series test subject.”

“Noted.”

Still being chased. Diana drew the bowstring again. This time, an arrow with explosives.

The arrow flew again—Boom! An armored vehicle chasing Diana exploded.

The rain prevented the flames from spreading, but it was a definite tactical kill.

Should we abandon the rooftop? It would be much easier to avoid pursuit, but we wouldn’t be able to destroy things as freely as now.

But, considering we’re on the defensive, that might be better. Let’s go into the building and join the sorcerer. That seems better—

Crash!

The rooftop floor Diana was standing on crumbled and disappeared. Another missile or anti-tank rocket? How many is that now—

Huh. This time it wasn’t.

The building didn’t collapse, but a crescent-shaped piece of concrete shot up from the ground—

Diana locked eyes with it. Not that eyes were visible, but the eye parts of the gas mask and the eyes met—

Need to create distance to survive, but it’s getting closer. Diana pondered.

Draw the bowstring? Run? If I turn my back, will I die immediately? This—

The monster charged again.

Through the debris of the collapsing building.

Diana raised the bow to block the sword strike. The bow, as tall as a person, broke, but it held for one strike.

It was too late to draw the bowstring again. Diana got as close to Nanami as possible and jabbed a punch into the torso.

The monster threw the broken bow and tangled sword aside and raised both arms to guard. In close combat, the monster would have the advantage, but the difference in reach—

Clang!

There was no difference in reach. Diana was kicked and slammed into the building wall.

Now there’s really no way out.

“Wait—”

The monster didn’t respond. Just brought down a gauntleted fist on the helmet. Diana lost consciousness without time to guard.

****

Nanami sighed.

No idea why this guy uses a bow, but I can guess. Maybe the arrows have something magical.

Could be made of mistletoe infused with sorcery. Diana alone caused 16 casualties.

Nanami raised the greatsword and confirmed the kill of the Misteltein Special Forces team leader.

Anyway… Killed. More sacrifices than when fighting in Yulje-myeon, but in some ways, it was more troublesome than anything we’ve faced.

Didn’t let the enemy take the Entrance to the Abyss at Poi Station, didn’t let them fight Dr. Kim, didn’t let them escape.

The Foundation’s strongest Special Forces, Misteltein.

Annihilated.

“Good work, everyone. Confirm the kill of the downed entity, maintain defensive posture, and check if any remnants remain.”

Misteltein wasn’t the only Special Forces deployed. The other humans might have survived…