Chapter 12: Not a Mutant, But a Creature!
*
Everyone was on high alert, senses heightened, and they focused on the external movements, even forgetting to breathe.
But then, the sounds stopped again.
As the brief silence lingered, Gang-ho asked the question that had been on his mind.
“So, what is that?”
Reina, who was nervously biting her lips, answered softly.
“Probably—”
But her response was cut off.
Thud. Thud thud.
Boom!
Creeeak!
Crack!
The reinforced shutter of the shelter tore open.
From inside the shelter, everyone could see the edge of the reinforced shutter being ripped upward.
And through that gap came a massive, rough scythe that felt like it was made of lime.
As everyone gaped in horror at the scene, a sound like a hammer striking a steel door echoed from all directions.
Boom! Boom Boom!
Then, Reina let out a sigh and spoke.
“Homogeneous mutant. A test subject mutant.”
Finally, she articulated what she was trying to say moments ago.
“……”
Gang-ho had no particular reaction.
He simply stood silently in front of the rapidly tearing shutter.
Then, he raised his right arm slightly.
Whooooosh.
Zzzzap!
A deep resonating hum with lightning.
Having undergone this all too familiar process, the plasma gas formed a chaotic whirlwind.
Whooosh!
It sounded like the roar of a massive aircraft turbine, as lightning branched out in all directions.
Pach! Zzzzap!
Gang-ho waited for the energy to amplify, then threw a punch.
Whoosh!
Boom!
The heavy impact sent vibrations throughout the entire shelter.
Thud thud thud.
Following a beat, a loud explosion followed.
Boom! Ka-boom!
Then came a howl from beyond the torn shutter.
Greeeek!
Yaaaah!
Thud.
Thud thud.
The sound of something falling echoed into the shelter.
Everyone focused on the movement outside.
Thanks to Gang-ho’s swift response, it seemed they had averted an urgent crisis, but tension still hung in the air.
However, unexpectedly, another problem arose.
“Uaaah!”
The scream quickly turned to a wail.
“Sa-save me!”
The group, who had been focused on the door where Gang-ho unleashed his power, was startled by the new sound and turned.
“What?!”
“What happened?”
The rear shutter, apparently opened sometime without notice, was half lifted.
And from outside, something lunged at Henry, who was curled up inside.
“Hi-hee! Uhuhuhuhu!”
Being dragged out, Henry lost his mind entirely.
Laughing crazily, he was soon tossed to the ground.
Thud!
Satoshi, not missing the moment, dashed out and slid.
Thud! Swish!
“Henry! Reach for me!”
In that instant, his ability activated.
His agility surged explosively, leaving behind afterimages in motion.
He moved quickly to reach Henry, but Henry didn’t extend his hand.
Moreover, being pulled again by a mysterious force, Satoshi found himself helpless.
“Ah!”
With his movements halted, Satoshi didn’t dare to lift his body.
“…”
While the front door slid horizontally, the rear door opened vertically, and the half-raised door displayed the view outside.
Grind, crackle, splash!
A creature of indescribable proportions, seemingly 2 or even 3 meters tall, gripped Henry by the torso with both hands, gnawing on his head.
“Uhh…”
Satoshi gasped.
Instinctively, he crawled backward.
Henry’s head was gone, and his torso was rapidly torn apart.
One arm dropped off.
Then, a mess of red blood spilled out, mixed with innards.
Splash!
The enormous monster, eagerly munching away, was emitting a red glow from its eyes.
It was a scene void of any sense of reality, truly pure terror.
Just as Satoshi pulled back, Henry’s leg fell off again.
Thud!
At that moment, Lisa, who had unknowingly been oblivious to what was happening outside, shrieked upon seeing the leg.
“Ahhhhh!”
On top of that, the reinforced titanium alloy front door started to show signs of disturbance.
Screeeech.
Crack! Crack!
What they thought was an unknown entity collapsed by Gang-ho’s attack began to stir again.
‘Not a mutant but a creature! Then what in the world is this?!’
In fact, until Gang-ho came to this World Species Repository, he didn’t know what a mutant or creature was.
He learned through recent updates to the disaster manual.
Both referred to beings that underwent genetic mutations from specific external conditions or were artificially created through genetic manipulation.
However, there was a crucial difference.
Mutants were human-like, exhibiting intelligence and self-awareness, depending on their type.
They also possessed mutation trait abilities.
On the other hand, creatures were a type of beast or monster, defined by cross-species mutation, lacking reasoning or intelligence, existing solely on instinct.
The creature devouring Henry’s remains right at the shutter was a prime example.
‘Once it finishes its meal, the next target will be the rest of us.’
The front door seemed on the verge of being torn apart as well.
Hah.
Gang-ho unconsciously let out a long sigh.
During his military service, he’d undergone countless diverse operations, but nothing compared to what he had experienced these past couple of days.
No, it was easier to think of this now as a dream.
‘It’s so absurd that I’m not even panicking anymore.’
He had shed his emotions and succinctly gave orders.
“Lisa, make that creature back off before the shutter opens fully.”
He didn’t specify how.
She already had enough experience to utilize her ability properly.
“Got it.”
Lisa, who had been surprised and flustered, quickly regained her composure upon Gang-ho stepping up.
“Satoshi, keep watch and look for openings while that thing reacts to Lisa’s attack.”
“Understood!”
Gang-ho’s instructions flowed nonstop.
“Wolf!”
Woof!
“Protect Lisa and Satoshi.”
Woof woof!
Afterward, Gang-ho turned to Reina.
She faced him, and they locked eyes for a moment, each lost in thought.
This was a precarious situation.
Even though they had fought their way up from the hordes of zombies below, creatures and mutants were entirely different beasts.
The power of the gigantic monster they had just witnessed was proof enough.
Though its identity remained unknown, its ability to tear through the defensive shutter designed to withstand explosions was evidence of its might.
In such a crisis, Gang-ho found it intriguing that he felt curious.
‘I’m finally getting to see a half-elf’s abilities.’
Reina felt the same.
Even for a brief moment, she realized he was no ordinary person.
Despite the unpredictable events unfolding around them, he never once faltered or panicked.
In fact, he always devised the best judgment and response strategy.
‘A soldier, or someone with equivalent experience. But even so, this man is…’
The fleeting exchange of glances between the two ended there.
“Reina, cover me.”
As she nodded, electricity coiled around Gang-ho’s shoulder.
Zzt.
Zap!
“Everyone, the operation starts with me bursting through that shutter.”
Gang-ho concluded as if issuing an operational command, his words concise and clear.
At the same time, he charged at the partially torn door, smashing through with his shoulder and disappearing outside.
Bam!
“Wait! You said to cover you! How am I supposed to manage if you suddenly disappear from my sight?!”
Reina yelled, dashing out after Gang-ho through the shutter.
Whoosh!
As the torn shutter was ripped completely away, the landscape outside came into view.
In that moment, Lisa and Satoshi could only widen their eyes in astonishment.
“……!”
“What, what is that?”
It was a massive scorpion.
No, like the creature at the rear shutter, it was another indescribable existence.
A creature with an unknown crustacean body, but with a human face attached.
Its arms were scythe-shaped like a mantis, and its eight spider-like legs were lined with sharp spikes.
“Ugh.”
At the grotesque and horrifying sight, Satoshi couldn’t help but let out a groan.
“No, where the heck do all these ridiculous things keep crawling out from?!”
The moment he shouted in shock, Gang-ho, who was running, soared into the air and dove toward the monster.
Whoosh!
Swoosh!
The beast swiftly swung its scythe-like arms at the human body hurtling its way, as if to slice it in half.
Swish!
Despite its large size, it moved exceptionally fast.
But—
Krack!
The moment Gang-ho’s fist met the monster’s scythe, an explosive sound of metal on metal echoed.
Soon, a blinding flash ignited from Gang-ho’s shoulder, coursing down his arm, wrapping around the creature’s body.
Zap!
Crackle!
In the meantime, Gang-ho landed on the ground.
Thud.
The beast thrashed about like a boar electrocuted by high voltage.
Zzzzap!
“Graaaah!”
Yet the beast did not fall.
Instead, it erupted in further rage, glowing ominously.
Grrroooar!
The monstrous roar seemed capable of shattering eardrums, forcing everyone to block their ears and grimace in pain.
Just then, Reina appeared, emerging into the air behind the creature.
With a weightless, feather-like descent and landing, she plunged a glowing machete into what seemed to be the monster’s neck.
Thwack!
“Kiiiaaaah!”
*
To be continued.
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