by Yoo Seong
The people gathered in the basin looked at it with a puzzled expression. And after a while, their faces displayed shock and excitement. It was because of the person who appeared in the light. The person inside the blue light…..
“Ark! Ark-nim!”
“Ohhhh! He came back! Ark-nim is back!”
“The saviour of Mt. Fargo! The prophet Ark-nim has returned!”
The pioneers were babbling unknown words while flocking around him. This was the reason why Ark stepped outside. Ark was confused after seeing the CCTV footage. The 100 pioneers had run out of bullets so he thought they would be instantly wiped out by the thousands of Kero. Yet they were still alive. It was incomprehensible!
However Ark soon figured out the reason why. The Elim Sanctuary was hidden inside Mt. Fargo. Ark woke up the sanctuary after hundreds of years, causing Mt. Fargo to shake like an earthquake was occurring. This was the reason why the pioneers were alive. The caves inside Mt. Fargo were divided into 3 layers. Then Ark had dug 100 holes while looking for the ruins. Mt. Fargo that was made of rocks starting shaking in that state. He saw what happened in the video.
Ku ku ku ku! Ku kwa kwa kwa kwa!
A landslide! The scarred mountain caused a landslide because of the shaking. And the Kero clan had completely covered the mountainside. The pioneers in the basin at the top were completely safe while the Kero were buried by the falling rocks. The Kero became disordered because of the landslide and were forced to retreat. It was good up to that point. He hadn’t intended it but it had saved his life. There was just one problem.
“What’s going on…..?”
The pioneers were saved by a natural disaster!
“Ark hyung-nim!”
Milan who had been absent-mindedly looking at where Ark disappeared suddenly shouted.
“This was Ark hyung-nim’s plan! Hyung-nim knew! He knew we couldn’t hold up until the guards arrived once we ran out of bullets. Even so, this was the reason why he came here and sacrificed himself!”
“S-sacrifice? Then perhaps?”
“Ark-nim was the one who caused the landslide?”
“Yes! Of course! Everybody saw it! Hyung-nim called down a holy light that burnt his body! And a landslide happened at the same time!”
“But even so……”
“You’re still doubtful?”
Milan scowled with teary eyes and said.
“No, rather than doubting……the landslide occurred because of all the holes dug yesterday……”
“Who do you think made the holes?”
“D-don’t tell me it was Ark-nim?”
“Yes! Of course! Of course! It was Hyung-nim!”
Dudong!
The mystery of the stone mountain was suddenly solved! But there was an even more shocking truth afterwards.
“At the time I also didn’t understand why Hyung-nim stayed up all night making the holes. I didn’t know! Yes, I didn’t understand! But this was the truth! A man called Noah did something similar a long time ago. He created the ark even when people called him stupid. And finally the time came. A flood. Right now we’ve witnessed a miracle! No, it isn’t a miracle! Hyung-nim knew this was going to happen! He knew that many people would be driven here to die. What would happen if he told everyone?”
“Of course……”
“No one would believe it! They would call him a fool! They would curse him and throw stones!”
“No, you don’t have to go that far……”
“So Hyung-nim had to prepare it on his own! He silently shovelled while his whole body was broken and in pain! He hid this until the last moment and sacrificed his body! All so he could save us!”
“H-he did that!”
“Ark-nim dug 100 pits for us……!”
“He even sacrificed his life for us!”
“He is truly Noah of Noah’s Ark!”
Milan’s next words made the pioneers even more excited.
“That is Hyung-nim! He also helped me the same way on Beltana! Hyung-nim silently obtained food by digging and gave it to the starving people! We were criminals who couldn’t stomach our anger against the world and he still gave it for free! I’m also a person saved by Hyung-nim. It makes my cry every time I remember it…..Hyung-nim!”
“Ehhhhh! Amazing!”
“There really is a user like that!”
“We have to be thankful! Our great martyr Ark Hyung-nim! We have to praise him! The great prophet Ark Hyung-nim!”
Milan shouted forcefully. This was the reason Ark immediately went outside. If he left the momentum like this then Milan would’ve created a fraudulent religion. Naturally Ark had no intention of being the founder of a religion. However he was a little too late.
“The great prophet Ark-nim!”
The pioneers had already been influenced by Milan. Of course, Milan was the one who believed it the most.
“Did you see? He came back without a Fairy! The miracle of resurrection!”
He continued babbling on even after Ark returned.
‘How do I solve something like this……?’
Ark sighed as he held his head.
“Ah! There! An airship! The guards are coming!”
A pioneer shouted as they pointed to the sky. 10 small airships were flying from the direction of the sunset. However they weren’t the airships of the Laius guards like the pioneers were expecting. They clearly had the mark of the galactic federation!
“What the? Isn’t that the federation’s battleships? Why are the federation’s battleships arriving before Laius?”
“One ship is coming down!”
Syu syu syu syu syu.
There was a storm as one ship descended to the top of the mountain. The door of the airship opened and people wearing uniform emerged. To his surprise, there was someone that Ark knew. Marquis Martin! Marquis Marin looked around and saw Ark.
“Ark, I was looking for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes, I need you to leave with me immediately. I’ll give you the details later.”
Ark was worried by Marquis Martin’s sudden words. He felt like something difficult would happen. But his worries didn’t last long.
“……I understand.”
Anyway, all the work here was finished. He didn’t know what was going on but he could ride the airship for free to return to the city. No, he wanted to quickly escape from the uncomfortable situation. Then Milan hurriedly came running and shouted.
“Hyung-nim, take me along too!”
“Yes…..I’ll have to bring you too…..come!”
Ark grabbed Milan’s collar and tugged. If the airships didn’t use photon movement then it would take some time to return to the city. He couldn’t refuse Marquis Martin’s offer so he would use the time to re-educate Milan. So Ark dragged Milan with him and was about to board the airship. This time Melina was the one who came running.
“Ark-nim, take me too!”
“Huh? Melina-nim?”
“It’s a request!”
“Eek? If Melina-nim is going then me too! Take me too!”
“Me as well! Ark-nim, don’t you know? We’re a set! If Melina-nim goes then we’ll come along!”
Slayer and Leon ran out next to Melina. Marquis Martin looked at them with an annoyed expression before saying.
“There is no time. Just ride! Captain, return to Tatuine immediately!”
Syu syu syu syu syu.
Ark, Milan, Leon, Slayer and Melina boarded and the airship took off. It was flying towards the headquarters of the galactic federation in Tatuine.
“As expected from Ark-nim. Even an aristocrat from the federation came to get him directly…..”
Someone’s murmur was scattered by the wind.
TO BE CONTINUED
Ark
The Legend
(아크 더 레전드)
Volume 07
Yoo Seong
(유성)
Space 1
Throwdown
In the centre of the galaxy that separated the federation and Rama. There was a diamond shaped constellation consisting of 12 planets that formed the border between the two forces. This was the Bellin constellation where the Rama were fighting with the federation over resources. The places where the fiercest battles were taking place was on the left and right of the Bellin constellation, on the planets called Hanan and Athamas. Hanan and Athamas were the richest in buried resources among the 12 planets and they were also important strategic locations for the war. Therefore both sides committed the most troops to these two planets and a fierce battle was contested.
–Hanan has been occupied by the Rama!
The news of the Rama’s victory spread throughout the galaxy! Finally one of the planets had fallen into the Rama’s hands. Thus all the attention was focused on Athamas. If the Rama captured Athamas then it was clear who would win. The federation would have nothing to stand on if they lost Athamas. Naturally the fierce battle moved from Hanan to Athamas.
Ku ku ku ku ku!
The roar of the artillery continued through the day and night! Athamas’ endless forests were filled with flashes and flames. The roar of the artillery echoed in the dark forests. Then a red flash of light separated the darkness. There was an explosion and one guy fell out of the bushes.
“…..You monster!”
The man wiped his lips wet with blood and raised his head. The middle aged man who painfully raised his sword was Baras. He was the leader of the 3rd guerrilla unit on Athamas and had achieved considerable military gain. He had confidence in a 1 on 1 battle. He had believed that. At least until he encountered ‘him’ on Athamas……
–I didn’t think you would purposefully come at me…..
‘He’ walked out of the forest towards Baras. The man was wearing red armour. His lightsaber was soaked in the blood of countless soldiers so it had a reddish tint. Baras knew who he was. Any federation soldier would know about him. He was the champion that caused despair to numerous federation soldiers on Hanan, the Rama’s strongest warrior. He was the subject of fear from the federation and awe from the Rama. A moan emerged from the mouth dyed with blood.
“…..The Red Slaughterer.”
–My nickname has become quite famous.
The Red Slaughterer said as he slashed a vine with the lightsaber and approached. He was walking at a relaxed pace towards the gasping Baras. There was no taunt more humiliating than this for a warrior.
“Dammit, take this!”
Baras tightened his grip on his sword and threw his body forward. But it was impossible for a desperately swung sword to cut the Red Slaughterer. Baras’ sword weakly bounced off the lightsaber. Then Baras switched his sword to his left hand and pulled out a machine gun with his right hand.
“Die!”
Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu!
The machine gun poured out countless bullets. However Baras was the one who ended up screaming.
“Kuaaak! T-this……”
Baras grabbed his thigh and fell to the ground. Blood was flowing heavily from between his fingers. Just as Baras had pulled the trigger of the machine gun, the Red Slaughterer had blocked the bullets with his lightsaber handle and cut him on the thigh.
–The gun isn’t as easy to handle as you think, Rookie.
“T-this bastard!”
Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu!
Baras clenched his teeth and fired the machine gun blindly. However the lightsaber was swung at a tremendous speed and deflected all the bullets. Even a bullet fired from a distance of 1 metre was blocked. The Red Slaughterer laughed and continued.
–And this weapon isn’t that great.
“H-how did you block the bullets……?”
–Are you a pioneer?
“Ah, no.”
-Then you won’t have a chance to know.
A red flash crossed the space. In the next moment, Baras’ neck was hit by the flash of light and blood came gushing out. It was the end of Baras, the leader of the 3rd guerrilla unit who built up a large number of war achievements over the past few months. But the Red Slaughterer showed no interest on his face. He wasn’t even pleased at the fact that he knocked down an unit leader. He turned away from Baras’ body and walked towards 20 Rama warriors.
-The remaining federation forces have been taken care of.
–Casualties on our side?
–Many people are injured but it isn’t enough to cause a problem to the strategy.
They were the Rama warrior squad that answered directly to the Red Slaughterer. While the Red Slaughterer was taking care of Baras, his squad were annihilating the 3rd guerrilla unit. The Red Slaughterer’s squad had chased the target through hundreds of kilometres of forest and wiped them out after 2 hours.
–The next target?
–There was a support request from area C-15.
-C-15? Isn’t there a Gigantic in that area?
-That’s right. Apparently there is an influential person controlling the federation’s defense turret. After the Gigantic received considerable damage, the engineer unit were left stranded inside the Gigantic.
–Considerably influential person? The name?
The Red Slaughterer asked with an interested look.
–He is a soldier called Rapid.
–Rapid? Rapid…..
–Yes, that is the nickname of the leader. He is the one who persistently challenged you on Hanan…..
–I remember. That guy was also sent to Athamas?
His interest turned into disappointment.
–Hmm, he still hasn’t come yet.
– …… You mean Ark?
–He is late. I deliberately sent him a challenge.
The Red Slaughterer’s deputy Keiko asked with a confused expression.
–I don’t understand the reason why Captain-nim is clinging to Ark. He might be a war hero but there are thousands with a similar status among all the battlefields the federation and Rama are fighting over. Captain-nim’s fame is 10 times more than his. Captain-nim is sending a challenge to a person like that…..
-He is the real thing.
-Really?
–Yes, and I have to a debt to repay to Ark.
–A debt? Didn’t Captain-nim say you haven’t met him yet?
–It is a relationship from a previous existence.
Keiko couldn’t understand even more after hearing his answer. But the Red Slaughterer didn’t explain anymore.
–Anyway, I have to meet that person. He has the title of the federation’s hero so he can’t ignore my challenge forever. No, I won’t let him ignore it. I’ll call him here even if I need to create a message with the federation’s corpses again. In order to do that, I need to annoy the federation members a little bit more.
–Just give us a command.
Keiko said was an expression overflowing with fighting spirit. Then an observer at the front exclaimed.
-Captain-nim, 10 flying objects have been detected at the 12 o’clock direction. Judging by the mass, it seems to be Gigantic interceptor missiles and will land in a minute!
–Our location seems to be exposed to the federation army.
–Chet, those federation brats.
The Red Slaughterer clicked his tongue and muttered. Baras seemed to have requested bombs from headquarters before confronting him. But the Red Slaughterer’s expression didn’t change.
–You think you can catch me with something like this?
The red squad had chased the guerrilla unit across hundreds of kilometres. The defeated guerrilla unit had consisted of hundreds of Athamas lizard men and soldiers. Yet the federation’s attacks were turned away repeatedly and they became disorganized once the defense lines were broken. And they had no way to stop it. The federation soldiers on Athamas couldn’t oppose the red squad. Therefore the federation’s headquarters would bomb the red squad with missiles every time their location was discovered. However that long range bombing didn’t have any success so far. Of course the missiles were powerf
ully but there was no meaning if they didn’t hit.
–Do you think we would just sit down and take it?
–Do they think we only have skills in hand to hand combat?
–It is annoying to avoid the missiles so we have to teach them.
The Red Slaughterer said to the observer.
–Calculate the orbit of the warheads and link them to the squad’s Nymphes. Everybody get ready to intercept!
The red squad members lifted their weapons with long barrels after hearing the Red Slaughterer’s order. It was the anti-missile equipment that targeted any missiles that came within range of 2km, the Stinger!
–It has entered the interception area!
–Launch!
Tutung! Tutung! Tutung!
20 Stingers were fired at the same time. The projectiles designed to destroy missiles flew through the night sky. And it hit the warheads that were approaching within several hundred metres! No, right before it hit the 10 warheads split into pieces and spread metal powder in every direction.
–It is the wide area Chaff!
–It is the Chaff that disturbs communication!
-What? What are these guys……?
The Red Slaughterer raised his head at the unexpected situation and muttered. Then several objects fell and mixed in with the Chaff. They were 10 soldiers falling several hundred metres!
–Federation soldiers! Air parachute! They weren’t missiles! The soldiers were disguised as the missiles in order to drop them to this location!
The observer burst out with confusion.
–All electrical equipments are jammed because of the Chaff! We can’t catch them using the automatic interception system!
–Sheesh! These federation soldiers are a little smarter! All members, switch the Stingers to manual intercept!
Keiko manipulated the Stinger and shouted.
Then the Red Slaughterer stepped forward and said.
–That’s okay. It will be difficult to reach that distance with manual launch. And…..
The Red Slaughterer grinned as he saw the soldiers falling into the forest.
–The guest that received the invitation has come.
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