Chapter 8

8. 3-Minute Curry and Raw Garlic

As the Kraktus swarmed like a pack of dogs, Lee Han bellowed.

"Is it still now?"

‘Annihilation will be carried out.’

The moment War’s announcement fell, the control center revealed its heavy guns, which mercilessly tore apart the Kraktus surrounding it.

Whirr! Click! Click!

Rat-tat-tat. Rat-tat.

Lee Han shouted again.

"Inside the center!"

The moment Lee Han’s order was given, the surviving soldiers all entered the center.

Boom! Boom!

At the same time, thick blast doors began to descend continuously, sealing off all passages.

"Replenish the spent ammunition and prepare for the remaining battle! Has everyone secured their close-combat weapons?"

Following Lee Han’s orders, the marines, breathing heavily, began to reload their magazines.

At that moment, Erio approached.

"Even the Union has few super-AIs capable of constructing and operating a center. Given the resources and authority, it can transform into a flagship and even build a fleet on its own, so they will definitely send a transport ship."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Without your command, we would all be dead already."

"You want me to escape alone and leave the rest to you?"

Billy nodded and said.

"Yes, do that. We can’t hold out much longer with the center’s firepower."

Lee Han replied with a bitter smile.

"I wish I could, but... "

"It’s better for one to survive than for all to die. Besides, the commander must live to call for reinforcements!"

Erio paused, and Lee Han continued.

"Sigh... Listen to me first! There will be no reinforcements from our side."

Billy’s eyes widened in response.

"That’s impossible! As Erio said, the super-AI is rare even in the Union!"

"Let me finish! The Union fleet that pursued the Empire fleet was annihilated."

"Really?"

"They had a significant advantage. How could this happen?"

"Why are you asking me? War just received the last communication from our fleet. I know you don’t want to believe it, but it’s the truth. In this situation, does it really matter?"

Lee Han’s fears became reality.

In the tutorial, the Union defeated the Empire, and the protagonist was rescued by a returning fleet after the victory.

But the future has changed.

'Does it matter if I know the story of the original game? Anyway, the situation is insane. Really!'

No matter how hard life was, he never thought he would be torn apart by monsters. The absurdity of the situation was enough to make his anger boil.

Erio, who had been stunned, regained her composure and asked Lee Han.

"May I ask what the commander’s plan is?"

"Have you heard of ‘grinding it out’?"

"Excuse me? What does that mean?"

In response to Billy’s question, Lee Han sneered.

"Grind it out! That’s my plan."

"Hmm."

Erio narrowed her eyes and replied.

"So you have no plan. Well, given the situation... "

Would he have pushed the commander to escape if there was any hope? Was it out of selfless concern for the soldiers? No, it was simply because he judged that it was better to save one person with a higher chance of survival.

"Sierra Lieutenant."

War’s announcement interrupted Lee Han’s words.

‘The heavy guns are destroyed. Kraktus are invading the center. The outer walls have already collapsed. Be cautious.’

"Damn! Take your positions and hold out! How many are there?"

‘Currently, about 10 have invaded, and over 100 are surrounding the center.’

‘This is going to be tough. How can we possibly survive? Give me a cheat key! At the very least, some special privileges as the protagonist of a space war game! Damn it, really.’

After retreating, about 10 soldiers had fallen, leaving only about 40. Lee Han’s eyes flashed as he said.

"Our only remaining defense is the center. We must stop them before they destroy the center and expand their territory!"

Erio, examining the hologram, pointed to the western sector.

"We will defend this sector."

Billy pointed to the opposite eastern sector.

"Then we will defend this sector."

Lee Han nodded silently.

While he was skilled with rifle fire, it didn’t mean he was more combat-effective than a space marine. Most importantly, if he were to die in this situation, everything would truly be over.

"Good luck to all."

"I hope to see you alive again. Everyone, scatter! If you want to live, hold your ground! There’s no place to run now."

The soldiers fully understood the situation. It was a dead end. With grim expressions, they gripped their rifles. Billy also shouted.

"Even if we die, we’ll take as many of them down for our comrades! Let’s go!"

*

Crack!

A chilling noise was accompanied by the marines’ agonized screams.

"Arghhh!"

But even as he screamed, the marine thrust his hyper-vibration sword into the Kraktus’ head.

"You damn thing!! Die!"

Swoosh!

The legless marine, panting, picked up his fallen rifle.

"Die!"

Rat-tat-tat!

Squish! Squish!

The Kraktus, emerging from the darkness, retreated to the side with a screech.

The legless soldier looked around with a pale face. Many soldiers were already torn to pieces.

Rat-tat-tat! Rat-tat!

The rifles of the remaining soldiers were firing continuously, like the last flames, but they would soon die out. Their ammunition was about to run out.

Click! Click!

"Damn!"

One of the soldiers threw his rifle and drew his hyper-vibration sword.

Whirr!

Though sharp enough to cut steel, the sword’s durability was not outstanding. It was more of a tool for emergencies rather than combat.

More and more soldiers were discarding their rifles and drawing their hyper-vibration swords. The Kraktus, lurking in the darkness of the destroyed center, were gauging the right moment to attack. They were ruthless.

Erio’s life flashed before her eyes.

The danger had already escalated due to the unknown area, and this sector was rich in prozium and ceramics. She had known it was a disputed area before volunteering.

"What glory did I seek? Damn."

What good was regret now?

"Still, I never thought it would end like this."

"Me neither."

The marine, back to back with Erio, turned his head with a trembling voice. A legless marine was being devoured by a Kraktus.

Crunch! Crunch!

The scene was nauseating, but they couldn’t rush in. The comrade was already dead, and the Kraktus were superior in strength and agility. Without steel armor, they would have been torn apart long ago.

*

Snap!

The chilling sound of teeth clashing echoed close by. Billy quickly twisted his body and severed the Kraktus’ neck with his hyper-vibration sword.

Swoosh!

Red blood splattered over his helmet, but it didn’t obstruct his vision.

Relying on the strength from his massive frame, Billy had already taken down several Kraktus.

He had focused on close combat and trained consistently, or he would have become mere meat for the Kraktus.

Seeing the signal on his visor, Billy’s face darkened.

"Damn! Is this it?"

Sadly, all his squad members were dead. Despite their best efforts, they were no match for the endless horde of monsters.

Worse, the battery of his steel armor was almost depleted. Once it ran out, he would be helpless. Moving the steel armor with human strength was impossible, and even if he could, how could he dodge the Kraktus’ attacks?

Billy dodged a Kraktus falling from the air and swung his hyper-vibration sword.

Swoosh!

Clang!

The hyper-vibration sword broke after cutting halfway through the Kraktus’ head.

But Billy didn’t panic and drew another hyper-vibration sword from a dead soldier.

Sizzle! Click!

The newly equipped hyper-vibration sword hummed ominously.

But it would soon dull due to the Kraktus’ rough skin.

The control center was heavily damaged but still operational, indicating it wasn’t completely dead. Was this a stroke of luck?

Idrasil, despite his ambition, was a man with exceptional field skills. Even if his memory was impaired, his accumulated experience wouldn’t disappear.

"Grinding it out... Can we survive if we hold on?"

If only the communication hadn’t been cut, he would have asked.

*

This is ridiculous.

So, I’ve been dropped into a world that shares the same strategy game and universe? Fine, I’ll give it a hundred times.

Others can enter novels and games and live well, so why should I be threatened by these foul-smelling bastards after just starting?

When did I agree to this? Did anyone get my consent before shoving me into this place? Damn it!

Rat-tat-tat!

Lee Han quickly rolled forward, firing a burst of bullets into the Kraktus’ mouth that lunged from behind.

Squish! Squish!

Several Kraktus corpses already surrounded Lee Han.

Lee Han, sweating, scanned his surroundings again.

Click! Click!

His ammunition was already depleted. He had wasted bullets in his panic. It was frustrating. Losing his weapon, his lifeline, was...

At least he had sprayed bullets, right? How many people would refrain from spraying bullets when a monstrous creature lunged to bite them?

‘The marines have at least reduced their numbers and inflicted injuries. Damn. Still, this result is worse than the original tutorial.’

Boom! Mission Failed!! You couldn’t even pass the tutorial. Haha!

It felt like he was hearing this in real-time.

‘Ha. I wish it were that simple. Uh!’

Boom!

At that moment, Lee Han, startled by a sudden object breaking through the wall behind him, dropped his rifle and gripped his hyper-vibration sword.

9. 3-Minute Curry and Raw Garlic (2)