Ark the Legend 1-12

by Yoo Seong

  Kaekang!

  A dog had died

  ———————————————————

  “H-Hyung-nim!”

  Hegel looked around with a pale face. It had happened in an instant. After the Gigantic stepped on the electromagnetic mine and C-6, Ark had finally managed to destroy its other leg. While the Silver Hand and Royal Guards were burying the electromagnetic mine and C-6, Ark had distracted the Gigantic for 10 minutes. In other words, a single person had knocked down the Devil of the Battlefield. It was unbelievable even when he saw it with his own eyes!

  ‘That is Hyung-nim! The Hyung-nim I will follow for the rest of my life!’

  Ark’s existence was beyond that of a hero to Hegel. Yet Hegel witnessed a shocking sight in the next moment. 10 shells were flying towards Ark! They were sent by Valencia and the 10 armoured platoon. They were also rushing towards Ark’s location while shooting indiscriminately.

  ‘Fortunately Hyung-nim managed to enter the Gigantic through the hole and protected himself……’

  Valencia and the armoured warriors had immediately entered behind him. It was obvious what would happen!

  “I can’t just let this happen! I have to stop those bastards!”

  Hegel glared and ran over to the hole while pulling out his dagger. And just as he was about to jump in the hole!

  “Hey! Stop!”

  Someone exclaimed as they grabbed Hegel’s ankle. Hegel turned with amazement as he heard an unexpected voice. A pile of snow behind the Gigantic’s leg started shaking and a head emerged.

  “Are you trying to commit suicide? You can’t take care of those bastards.”

  “Eh? H-Hyung-nim! Ark hyung-nim!”

  “You’re going to burst my eardrums. Did you really think guys like them could kill me?”

  “Hyung-nim, how did you survive?”

  “Ha, do you think it is that easy to go to hell?”

  ……But he really was close to hell this time. Ark crawled out of the pile of snow and looked at a flickering gauge on the upper right corner.

  -Health: 32/990

  He only had 32 health left!

  ‘If I hadn’t loaded a recovery ampoule in advance……’

  Ark eyes an empty glass capsule.

  Recovery Ampoules (Medium)

  Item Type: Health Recovery Drug

  A special nutrients supplement refined at a high concentration using biotechnology

  In Galaxian, there are typically two types of recovery systems. One way is to load it on the Nymphe beforehand or to drink it directly. The recommended method is to load it on the Nymphe to use it. The absorption rate is slower than drinking it directly and the health recovered is lower. However, if it is loaded on the Nymphe then the supplement can be directly injected into the DNA and can raise the recovery rate of the body for a short period of time. Only one ampoule can be loaded on the Nymphe at a time.

  * If the ampoule is drunk: 300~400 health will be recovered in 3 minutes.

  * If loaded on the Nymphe and injected: 500 health can be recovered immediately.

  It was the recovery ampoule he picked up when escaping from the Rama’s bunker. It was loaded on the Nymphe beforehand and could be used like a bullet. In fact, at first he thought a method like that was too complicated. But there were some convenient parts when used directly. Unlike the other games that required swallowing a potion, if the ampoule is loaded on the Nymphe then it could be injected with a simple command. Of course, only one recovery ampoule could be used with that method in a battle. Mounting another ampoule on the Nymphe would take more time than drinking. However, this meant it could be used in battle while swinging his sword. Ark was able to survive thanks to that. He had come under fire from Valencia’s group. Ark’s health fell in an instant

  If he had to take out a potion and drink it then he would’ve died long beforehand. But the loaded ampoule on the Nymphe meant he didn’t have to go through such processes!

  “Recovery!”

  His health that had gone down to 10 points recovered by 500. Ark conquered the crisis and immediately hid behind the Gigantic’s leg to prevent further damage. And he used the shovel to conceal his body.

  ‘But even so……’

  He felt furious just remembering it. If he was discovered by Valencia during battle then he would be killed secretly. He was expecting that. However, actually experiencing it was different from his expectations.

  ‘He really tried to kill me?’

  Ark couldn’t stand it. He had no intention of letting them get away with it. Then Hegel tilted his head to one side and asked.

  “How did they find traces of Hyung-nim inside the Gigantic?”

  “Ah, that? That is……”

  “Ark!”

  Just as Ark laughed and was about to reply. A bike navigated between the federal army and approached the Gigantic. It was the rest of the detachment that had been spotted by Valencia. They found bikes abandoned on the battlefield and returned to Ark’s location. Clem jumped down from the bike and said.

  “What is going on? I saw Valencia and his thugs rushing here.”

  “He tried to kill Hyung-nim! I saw it!”

  Hegel quickly answered. Anger spread over the faces of the Silver Hand and Royal Guards.

  “I heard your words but…..I really can’t forgive a commander who tries to kill his own allies on the battlefield. They can’t get away with this!”

  “I have no intention of letting them get away with it.”

  Ark shook his head and his eyes looked away from Clem. Ark’s gaze was fixed on a circular object tied to the back of Clem’s bike. Ark looked at the metal sphere and laughed.

  “I’ll have to teach them a lesson.”

  “Perhaps…..?”

  “If that guy wants it so much then I’ll have to see it through.”

  Ark grabbed the handle of the bike that the metal sphere was attached to. He got on the bike before explaining to Clem and the other members. The bike roared like a beast and entered the hole opened in the Gigantic.

  Kuaaaaaaah-!

  The engine sound echoed through the narrow passage. It moved down the passage before some corpses caught his eye. The corpses of the Rama……

  It was clear that Valencia and the armoured platoon had moved down this passage. Valencia had thought they were chasing after Ark but he was actually hiding in a pile of snow. If they searched the area then they would’ve noticed the pile of snow. Then Rune Carving surfaced in his head! So he used it on the body of a dead Rama warrior and summoned the hell hound. And it left trails as it went inside the Gigantic! Valencia never thought about searching the area and chased after a dog. And Valencia realized he made a mistake after the dog died……

  Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu!

  Ark passed the corpse of the hell hound and heard shots. He had only travelled 50 metres from the ankle of the Gigantic. The Rama engineers wouldn’t just watch as the armoured federation warriors entered the Gigantic. The shots heard were due to a shoot-out between Valencia’s group and the Rama clan. However, it was engineers fighting against elite troops.

  ‘The result of the battle is obvious.’

  Not surprisingly, the shots stopped at almost the same time. The Rama engineers had probably been killed by Valencia. And they were in the midst of trying to seize the nuclear power reactor.

  Hak-!

  Ark continued until the narrow passage ended and a wide space unfolded. There was a complex instrument panel with a large black sphere rotating in the middle. It was the power source inside the Gigantic! Several Rama engineers were collapsed around the power source. Valencia and his henchmen were surrounding the power source.

  “Valencia!”

  “Huk, how did this guy?”

  Confusion spread over Valencia’s face as he saw Ark. However, he smiled and lifted his Gatling gun after a few moments.

  “You came here just to die!”

  “Shut up and eat this!”


  Ark jumped off the bike and shouted. But the accelerating bike didn’t stop. And……

  Teong!

  The bike crashed into Valencia. Normally Valencia would be crushed by the bike…..but he only flew back a few metres thanks to the battle suit. Valencia glared as he got a nosebleed from the bike and growled.

  “Kuak! This bastard!”

  “Leader-nim! The b-bike……”

  A stuttered scream emerged from Pedro’s mouth. Valencia who was about to run after Ark frowned and turned.

  “Now’s not the time to worry about the bike!”

  “T-that’s not it! The bike…..it has a nuclear fusion engine! And the self-defence mechanism……”

  “What?”

  Valencia’s face darkened as he paid attention to Pedro’s words. There was a metal sphere attached to the bike! Like Pedro said, the bike had a nuclear fusion engine attached to it. This was the reason Ark waited for the detachment before entering after Valencia. Ark might’ve created the electromagnetic mine and C-6 to trap and seal the Gigantic’s movements but there was no guarantee that it would work.

  ‘If only there was some way to give more damage……’

  Then Valencia used the self-destructing nuclear fusion engine to defeat the Gigantic. Therefore Ark discovered that the nuclear fusion engine could be used like bomb! He ordered the detachment to obtain a nuclear fusion engine and bring it back to him. That was only possible thanks to the Scavenger Heksu. Heksu’s profession meant he was well versed in mechanical engineering! Therefore a Scavenger was able to take out the nuclear engine without it exploding. However, unlike Ark’s concerns he didn’t have any difficulties sealing off the Gigantic’s movements. Therefore the nuclear fusion engine had become pointless. So……

  “I’ll give it to you guys.”

  Ark muttered and laughed.

  -The self-destruct mechanism of the nuclear fusion engine has been started.

 

  “Ah, no!”

  Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!

  There was a red flash and the body of the Gigantic exploded

  ———————————————————

  ‘Now!’

  A smile flashed on the face of a blond youth. The reason he played Galaxian was to meet Ark

  He had chased after Ark and arrived at Nephalim only to discover that Ark was arrested and sent away to the disputed planet Beltana. So he waited on Nephalim but lost his patience after a fortnight passed. He made a resolution. He killed some guards. Thus he became the protagonist of another incident in Nephalim. Therefore he was locked in chains.

  ‘I read in the news that the federation is lacking troops so they’ve been forcibly conscripting any pioneers who become criminals. And in the last few months, most of the prisoners have been sent to Beltana! Ark was sent to that place!’

  Naturally he would be sent to Beltana as well. That was what he thought. His head was only full with meeting Ark. And now I knew that they would meet soon. Yet…..yet…..

  “Yes, you really did an absurd thing.”

  A federal investigator questioned him after he was arrested.

  “This is the first time an incident like this has occurred in Nephalim. Ha, don’t make me laugh. You destroyed 3 androids and even injured a guard soldier? I investigated and discovered that you received the title of R-14’s mission related master. Why would a guy like that just snap and commit a crime? That’s funny. Do you think I would believe something like that? Do you think that all investigators belonging to the galactic federation are stupid?”

  He never thought they were stupid. He told the investigator that.

  “That isn’t true…… There is no denying that I committed a crime…… Just give me a punishment.”

  “Don’t worry. The penalty will be beyond what you imagined. But now right now.”

  “Right now……what do you mean?”

  “Tell me the mastermind.”

  “Mastermind……what mastermind?”

  “Didn’t I tell you? A federal investigator isn’t stupid. I’m not naive enough to believe a R-14 master suddenly went crazy and committed a crime. You clearly have some other purpose. Who is it? Who gave you instructions to do something like this? Is it the Tree of Life, the organization that opposes mechanical life forms and androids?”

  “The Tree of Light……I don’t know anything about that.”

  “Heh, you’re still not going to tell me? Think about it. The Tree of Life is just like a cult. Yes, I don’t know how you ended up with them but if you tell me then you won’t be conscripted into the military.”

  “That…..would be a problem…..being forcibly conscripted…..I did it in order to receive that……”

  “What? You want to be forcibly conscripted? Ha, you really are playing around. You committed a crime so that you would be drafted into the military? That is impossible. Do you know that the galactic federation has a special anti-terrorism act?”

  “Anti-terrorism…..special act?”

  “Suspected terrorist lose all human rights.”

  Since then, the blond youth’s human rights were ignored. He spent days being injected with the SMT-518 that caused itching. The torture had begun. Normal users would only be able to resist for a while.However, he was a user who had lived 1 year as a vegetable. This was nothing compared to the frustration he felt then. And no matter the torture, this was still a game. If he left the unit then it wouldn’t affect him. But he didn’t run away.

  “I…..I really…..don’t have any other plan……I just want to be conscripted……”

  He kept on claiming his innocence. He put up with the torture and claimed innocence for a fortnight. His patience made even the investigator sick of it.

  “This damn guy. Okay. If you really want to be conscripted. Bah, this stupid child. If you want to then go on the battlefield and see what it means to be prisoner!”

  ‘I-I did it! Finally! I finally get to meet Ark!’

  The blond youth had endured a fortnight’s torture in order to meet Ark! His face glowed with his accomplishment.

  “You will face hell on the disputed planet Hanan!”

  “H-Hanan? W-what about Beltana?”

  “Beltana? That has ended already.”

  “I-it has ended……w-what do you mean?”

  “I have to explain something like that to you? Shut up and walk!”

  “W-wait a minute……I……”

  He was dragged out of the prison by the investigator. A video started displaying some urgent news as he entered a hallway.

  -The galactic federation has defeated the Rama on the disputed planet Beltana!

  -The war for Beltana in the Bellin constellation has been ongoing for 1 year and finally the Rama has been defeated.

  –According to the military announcement, the Rama central base was discovered and reinforcements dispatched to Beltana. The army then stormed the Rama’s central base in a surprise attack. A bold hero blew up the Fairy and Star Gate and the federal army valiantly fought to defeat the Gigantic that had appeared. As soon as the federal forces return to Istana, an award ceremony will be held to hand out the awards for their achievements.

  –The amazing hero representing the Beltana garrison……

  ‘This is ridiculous!’

  The blond youth’s face darkened

  ———————————————————

  “This is ridiculous!”

  Valencia slammed his fist down on the table and shouted.

  “I was the commander in this battle! I also destroyed a Gigantic! The 1st armoured platoon and I should receive the most achievements in this war! So why is the guy representing the Beltana garrison……”

  “Now isn’t the time to be saying things like that.”

  Haman sighed and shook his head. Valencia frowned at his words.

  “What does that mean?”

  “I
received information from the prisoner unit commander Peratul after the battle ended and he returned to the base. The information about the central base that you brought. It seems another soldier sent the Carrier MR-II from a hostile area. The soldier’s Nymphe was checked and it was discovered to be true.”

  “T-that….”

  “That’s not all. I also received some testimonies that you deliberately attacked some allies on the battlefield.”

  “I was framed!”

  Valencia exclaimed anxiously as his eyes wildly rolled around the room.

  “Isn’t it common to injure teammates with splash damage from a bomb during a battle? And I wasn’t the one that deliberately attacked an ally! That guy deliberately blew up the nuclear fusion engine and killed me as well as the 10 people in my group!”

  “Is there any way to prove that?”

  Valencia closed his mouth at Haman’s question. In Galaxian, a person who committed PK would automatically become chaotic even if there were no witnesses. But there were exceptions. If the person killed first attacked the person then it would be justified as self-defence and they would receive immunity to the chaotic status. That applied to Valencia. Valencia and the 10 armoured warriors had been deliberately blown up by the nuclear fusion reaction inside the Gigantic

  But Valencia had damaged that person first so it wasn’t recognized as PK. Valencia and his group had died in the explosion. All the experience flew away and no evidence remained on the Nymphe. He could submit his Nymphe as evidence but there would be no data on it.

  “But there is a bigger problem.”

  Haman sent Valencia an uncomfortable expression and said.

  “You’ve been accused of using your position as the leader of the 1st armoured platoon to take bribes from the prisoners to protect them. Do you know what a serious problem that is? If the investigation results reveal that it is true then it will deprive you of your status.”

  “W-what! Who dared say such slander? That guy! Is it that guy?”

  Valencia shouted angrily.

  “It’s me.”

  He heard an answer from behind him. Confusion spread on Valencia’s face as he turned around.

  “You….why are you…..?”

  “She is the inspector dispatched by the galactic federation to grasp the situation in Beltana. She worked at the supplies tent for the prisoners and collected the relevant information.”