Chapter 7

7.

It's not a wrong statement.

But Yi Han had his doubts. The Union sending a transport ship? Is there any guarantee that it will be sent? Everything has already changed. Ever since the moment he became the Yggdrasil.

"Anyway, it's equally dangerous. It's better to clear the way when the enemies are focused on the barrier. The barriers around the ridges are weakening rapidly due to continuous attacks, right? It's more efficient to guide them to a predictable area rather than letting them surge from all directions."

Yi Han issued another command.

"Platoon Leader Elio, connect me to Billy!"

"Understood."

Elio's combat scene was vividly displayed on the hologram, and Billy's combat scene also unfolded before being reduced together.

Rat-tat-tat. Rat-tat.

The Space Marines were relentlessly pulling their rifles, slaughtering the Cractus.

Yi Han's expression stiffened for a moment before he spoke.

"Immediately leave the bunker and retreat using the path behind the barrier."

Elio, while firing, urgently replied.

Billy also responded.

Yi Han shouted at them with a fierce gaze, a level of intensity that even surprised himself.

"When the barrier collapses! Will you even have time to retreat? Retreat!"

The movement speed of the Cractus is incomparable to that of the Space Marines. Moreover, they don't have the form of quadrupedal movement, do they?

Elio hesitated for a moment before responding, and Billy did the same.

Yi Han issued another command.

"Whoa! Coordinate the destruction of the barrier with the Marines' movements. It would be great if they all die in the explosion, but there will definitely be more coming from behind. Use the explosives and construction robots installed in the base to protect the Marines as much as possible!"

Since it's being calculated by a super AI, it will be more precise than any human.

"Understood, Commander."

Yi Han spoke to Elio and Billy, who were still connected.

"Did you hear that? The explosives installed in the base will assist your retreat. Don't stop, keep retreating. If you stop to engage in combat, it's over."

If they were surrounded by the Cractus, who can chew through steel, the outcome would be obvious.

"Alright. I'll give the next orders from the control center. Execute immediately!"

As soon as Yi Han's command was issued, Elio and Billy's platoon began retreating toward the control center, using their boosters.

The Cractus crossed the barrier as soon as the firing stopped. Yi Han watched the entire scene with a tense expression. Despite the hologram, the scene was so terrifying that not even a single curse came to mind.

Boom! Boom!

Eventually, the sound of the barrier being destroyed echoed.

Yi Han clenched his fist and stared at the hologram. The hologram displayed the barrier and the Marines side by side.

"Damn!"

Despite the countless explosions of fire and flames, the Cractus were still numerous.

Yi Han could do nothing but watch.

'Is this something I have to continue doing? Ha. I'll go crazy.'

Yi Han, clutching his aching head, watched the retreating Marines with a nervous heart.

*

Squeal!

Rat-tat-tat!

Billy, running from behind, shot out the eye of a Cractus about to pounce on a platoon member and shouted.

"Run! Keep running, don't stop!"

Even though they were running at a considerable speed, it was nothing compared to these monsters. If not for the incomprehensible order to destroy the barrier, they would have all been finished the moment the base barrier was destroyed.

The same goes for now. The commander's arrangements were still ongoing.

Boom!

The Cractus following closely behind were turned into sizzling barbecues by the explosives.

"Ha! Die! You bastards!"

One of the platoon members deliberately shouted loudly to shake off the tension and fear.

Crack!

"Argh!"

Unfortunately, at that moment, his upper body was completely crushed by a Cractus that appeared beside him.

The smell of blood rose sharply, but Billy shouted with wide eyes. His eyes were as red as if they were on fire.

"Run! You bastards! Don't waste time and run toward the control center!"

*

The finely divided muscles and the heavy bones supporting them of the creature came into view.

Thud!

As the creature kicked the ground, the earth burst and scattered, eventually turning into a yellow mist.

The creature, breaking through the yellow mist, ran toward the Marine running ahead, its mouth wide open as if it were about to devour him.

'Now!'

Yi Han pulled the trigger as if he had been waiting for it. The bullet he fired turned the Cractus's face into a mess as it lunged forward with its mouth open.

Squeal!

Roar!

Truly an astonishing vitality. Even after such a hit, it was still writhing and not dead.

However, Yi Han was already looking at another one. To save as many Marines as possible.

Click!

As if it knew his thoughts, the rifle transformed into a form with a long barrel. Sniper mode.

It's not comparable to a sniper rifle, but it's sufficient at this distance. The visor and the rifle's scope synchronized, and the head of the dynamically running Cractus was magnified.

Whizz!

Yi Han pulled the trigger without hesitation.

The depleted uranium round passed through the barrel, rotating at an incredible speed.

Whizz!

Boom!

The Cractus's head was blown off instantly due to the powerful explosion upon impact. Considering the Cractus's defense, the power of the depleted uranium round was evident.

However, special rounds like high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) and depleted uranium (DU) rounds overheat the barrel excessively, so they cannot be used continuously unless it's a special weapon for heavy machine guns.

Therefore, Yi Han switched back to regular ammunition.

He pulled the trigger relentlessly. What was astonishing was how accurately he hit the Cractus, almost like a perfect shot.

'This isn't even a couch warrior. Who would have thought my FPS game skills would be useful? It's absurd.'

The aiming point and the impact point matched perfectly. The trajectory of the bullet would not be a straight line, and it was clearly calculating the impact point automatically based on the distance.

Without considering the surrounding environment, distance, and other variables, hitting the target by aiming at the aiming point was a sure hit. Even the movement of the creature and the impact time based on the distance were calculated, making it almost impossible to miss.

Of course, it's a difficult task, but his skilled FPS game experience shone through. It was absurd but also fortunate.

This bizarre experience saved several people who were about to be torn apart by the Cractus.

"Are we still far?"

"Still far."

Yi Han did not ask further. The calculation ability of the super AI was beyond his comprehension.

"Hurry up!"

Yi Han continued to fire and encourage the Marines amidst the chaos.

In a space war, does it matter if a Marine dies? It's just a number conversion. The mission must be accomplished regardless of the means and ends.

Perhaps this place is just a more complex and intricate system, but the essence might not be different.

'But they are clearly living people. If this is an illusion, then I am also a product of an illusion.'

Whether it's virtual reality, a dream, or an illusion, if a virtual reality that is exactly the same as reality exists, it becomes reality.

Or rather, the place where consciousness exists becomes the current reality of that person, whether it's the past, future, a game, a fantasy, or anything else. At that moment, the place where consciousness resides is the real world.

'I am here, and they are alive. At this point, there's no need to think about anything else. Save and survive!'

Meanwhile, the number of Marines entering the control center increased, and they began to provide covering fire for the Marines running behind.

Rat-tat-tat!

Rat-tat-tat-tat!

Elio, who joined and fired aggressively, shouted loudly.

"Commander! What's the next plan?"

Boom! Boom!

Explosions continued on the other side, and the sound of construction robots cutting the Cractus with saw blades could be heard.

Whirr! Screech!

Similarly, the sound of all the defensive facilities and robots being destroyed could be heard. It was a chaotic scene of destruction.

'Do you think there's an answer to this situation?'

A suffocating feeling, as if he had swallowed a hundred sweet potatoes, rose up, but Yi Han shouted calmly. He felt the immense pressure of his role as a commander.

He couldn't help but feel this way, as he had just witnessed a person being eaten alive by a monster right before his eyes. The unrealistically cruel scene cruelly reminded him of his role.

In fact, it was almost a miracle that Yi Han maintained his composure and didn't faint.

"Take your positions and keep firing!"

Squeal! Squeal!

The Cractus, stepping on the bodies of their fallen comrades, continued to surge forward and eventually surrounded the control center.

The explosives and defensive measures they had prepared were almost depleted. To make matters worse, the Marines' ammunition was also almost exhausted.

As the Cractus surged like a pack of dogs, Yi Han shouted.

8. 3-Minute Curry and Raw Cursing (1)