Ark the Legend 1-12

by Yoo Seong

  “The enemy’s bullet trajectory prediction data has been uploaded!”

  Hegel shouted while fiddling with the dashboard. Dozens of dots appeared on the screen with numbers next to them.

  Once again, the Silver Star didn’t have a defense system like the GEM to intercept an enemy attack. Despite that, the reason why Ark didn’t mount a GEM system on the ship was due to Hegel.

  Hegel’s special racial skill was ‘trajectory prediction.’ However there were limits to this ability. Hegel’s ability wasn’t lacking. When using the skill, the limitation was due to the computer that was a required equipment.

  If Hegel used a Nymphe then he could only calculate 2~3 trajectories at a time. It was only possible to predict the trajectory. If the Silver Star’s computer was used, that ability was boosted 10 times but there was still a limit.

  But that changed after the Rama spaceship was integrated. The Rama spaceship had the same main computer as the Silver Star. And that computer was absorbed by the Silver Star during the Shape Decomposition Fusion. Therefore the Silver Star’s computer changed into a dual core CPU!

  The operation speed was vastly amplified. And Hegel’s trajectory predictions were also amplified.

  -Route 1: Hit probability 92%

  -Route 2: Hit probability 21%

  -Route 3: Hit probability 47%….

  Dots with numbers next to them floated on the screen. It was the estimated probability that he would be hit if he continued with his present speed and course. He was able to grasp the situation thanks to those probable routes. He instantly responded the moment the words left Hegel’s mouth.

  “Maintain our present speed and break through the bombardment using route 5!”

  Pepepeng! Pepepeng! Pepepeng!

  The Silver Star flew in a complicated orbit.

  Ark had selected the route where the hit probability was 5%. They wouldn’t be hit by the carrier’s guns unless a large mistake was made. It was difficult to predict the Hornet’s shooting and a fair number of bullets hit the Silver Star but he couldn’t ignore that level.

  “…..We penetrated!”

  They pierced through the bombardment and approached the front of the carrier. Ark looked at the tattered armour and yelled.

  “Drop 5 optical scanners! Spread them in 100 metre intervals and make them collide with the armour!”

  Tong! Tong! Tick! Tong! Tong!

  The optical scanners collided with the armour and an echo was heard. This was the reason he made the scanners collide. Once again, Ark had looked for mechanical parts in a swamp while on Nephalim. At that time he learnt the Metallurgy skill. He could figure out the status of the metal from the sound.

  ‘There is a different sound coming from the part that the third scanner bumped. There must be a crack in that area. This is the weak spot!’

  “Silver Star main gun, Thunderbolt launch!”

  Kwa kwang! Kwa kwa kwa kwang!

  At the same time, a pillar of blue light shot out! The moment the blue pillar touched it, the armour shone with a red light. And the smoke dissipated to reveal a huge crack hundreds of metres large! The Silver Star then disappeared into the crack.

  ————————————————————————–

  Bang!

  There was a resounding clap. The area turned red and the crack became increasingly larger. Smoke quickly spread as the black battleship entered inside.

  “We have entered the interior!”

  “Turning the battleship! Prepare the ship’s guns!”

  The battleship caused a large gust as it turned. Once it turned 180 degrees, it saw dozens of small flying objects approach the gaping crack. They were the small fighters, the Hornets.

  Once again, the small size of the Hornets meant it had the advantage in speed and mobility. They couldn’t deal fatal blows but the damage would pile up and couldn’t be ignored. The combat difference was like the sky and earth but they were a formidable opponent. But that was only when the Hornets were flying around the battleships in a wide space. The Hornets coming to the crack were exposed….

  “Fire!”

  Tung! Tung! Kwa kwa kwa kwang! Kwa kwa kwa kwang!

  A shower of ammunition was fired towards the crack. The Hornets headed towards the battleship continuously exploded.

  “The Hornets have been shot down! I don’t detect any other risk factors in the area.”

  “Have the crew convert the battleship to defense mode and stay alert!”

  The person giving the order was Hawk. And the battleship that entered the interior was the Death Knight. They were in the Hornet’s hangar.

  He finally managed to penetrate the armour after 1 hour and entered the interior. Even the Hornets chasing him was shot down! But Hawk’s face couldn’t hide how unpleasant he was feeling.

  He had no choice.

  “Ark….!”

  Hawk growled as he looked at another battleship. It was Ark’s battleship that came ahead of the Death Knight, the Silver Star. He didn’t know how Ark survived but the Silver Star had managed to beat him here. Now that wasn’t Hawk’s concern.

  “…..Making a fool of me!”

  Once again, he convinced the Rama and Aschulat to work together and the armour being destroyed was 99% due to Hawk. Yet the person who entered inside first was Ark. After the signal was given, he sneaked in unseen and dealt the remaining 0.01% before entering.

  Of course, there wasn’t a large meaning to that. There was an achievement for entering first but there was no guarantee Ark would become the final winner. But there was a feud between them so Hawk felt like his anger was exploding

  “That cheeky bastard, I won’t let you go!”

  Hawk led his subordinates outside the ship. However there was no one in the vicinity of the Silver Star.

  ‘What? These guys surely…..’

  “Hawk-nim, I can see Ark’s subordinates.”

  Harley pointed towards the opposite end of the hanger where two people could be seen. Hawk recognized them from Muratio Star. The hamster called Tori and the Kusan called Ellain.

  “Where is Ark?!”

  Hawk exclaimed as he reached them. Tori who was sitting down fiddling with something stood up with a surprised expression. He then looked at Hawk and hid something behind his back.

  “H-Hawk-nim! Hyung-nim isn’t here.”

  “Where are you hiding?”

  “Huh? Hiding? What? I have nothing…..”

  “Harley.

  Harley came forward as Hawk glanced at him. And placed his pistol on Tori’s forehead without hesitation.

  “Hawk-nim, what are you doing now?”

  Cheolkeok! Cheolkeok! Cheolkeok! Cheolkeok!

  Ellain came forward with his sword but the 40 troops behind Hawk simultaneously lifted their guns. Hawk looked at Ellain and smirked.

  “Don’t provoke me. I’m not feeling good right now. Hey hamster, answer me. What are you hiding?”

  “Nothing is being hidden!”

  Ellain exclaimed towards Hawk.

  “If you’re not hiding anything then there is no reason you can’t show it.”

  “No, I’m not going to show anything to a person suddenly threatening us with a gun. I am a Kusan warrior and Ark’s honourable subordinate! Do you think I fear death? Tori, it isn’t necessary for you to say anything!”

  Ellain shouted even with dozens of guns pointed at him. Tori clenched his fists firmly before showing it towards Hawk.

  “This! This is it! Save me!”

  “Tori, you!”

  “Damn! I’m different from a Kusan warrior! I’m just a hamster! I’m a hamster scared of death!”

  “This guy is my favourite among Ark’s subordinates.”

  Hawk smiled at Tori.

  The thing Tori was hiding was a Nymphe. No, to be exact it was a 3D image rising above the Nymphe. The device was connected to a terminal in the hanger and showed the internal structure of the carrier. There was a red dot on the upper part
of the structure in a section that looked like the bridge.

  “Ark has left already.”

  “Yes! Yes! He went with the rest of the team as soon as he entered the structure!”

  “You bastard, what are you babbling on about?”

  “So what? Should I go to the toilet in this situation? And he is Hawk, the head of the investigation team! Hyung-nim is a member. We’re on the same side so what’s wrong with talking about it?”

  “Same side?”

  Hawk frowned and muttered.

  “Hawk-nim, what are you doing now?”

  A sharp voice was suddenly heard from behind him. When he turned around, Irina was approaching with 20 soldiers. It wasn’t just Irina.

  This hanger contained 100 Hornets, the Silver Star and the Death Knight battleships but there were two other empty hangars. A considerable number of Hornets still remained outside. The Hornets had gathered around the crack in the armour to defend it against the 3 powers. Therefore it was easy for them to defeat the Hornets and enter the hangar. Hawk surveyed them before shaking his head.

  “Nothing. Just an exchange of information.”

  “You say that while aiming a gun at your ally?”

  “You are misconstruing it. It is different from my viewpoint.”

  –Ark left first?

  At that moment 150 soldiers approached from the right side. The soldiers holding swords, guns and RPGs were from the Rama clan. And leading them was the Rama warrior, the Red Slaughterer. Hawk nodded as the Red Slaughterer approached.

  “That’s right.”

  -Yes, as expected from Ark.

  A faint smile was on the Red Slaughterer’s face.

  –Hawk, it isn’t okay. Perhaps the alliance is already broken?

  “Why, do you want to try it here?”

  –It is possible.

  Wiiing! Wiiing!

  The Red Slaughterer’s eyes narrowed as he replied.

  Then there was a mechanical sound as 20 flying objects entered the hangar. The aliens resembling ET were riding flying objects that look like bikes but had a section where the passenger could fly in a standing position. These flying objects were called Valkyrie.

  It was the Aschulat’s representative strike weapon. 150 armoured Aschulats moved away from the Valkyries. And they looked at the Rama and Galactic Federation troops on the other side of the passage.

  –This isn’t the time to be playing around.

  “I agree. Should we move together?”

  -There isn’t only one path to the destination so there is no need to take that risk.

  The Red Slaughterer said as he turned away. And he led his men into a nearby passage.

  “Harley, we’re going as well. Check the necessary equipment and gather the troops.”

  Hawk commanded his subordinates with narrowed eyes.

  ‘There is a reason Ark didn’t wait for the other team members. He intends to obtain the antimatter information and get the reward himself. His intention is to monopolize the antimatter information. But it is impossible. What is he going to do with just 10 people? Furthermore, his independent actions will make him look greedy in the eyes of the other team members. I assure you. You won’t be able to get it. I won’t tolerate it.’

  “Let’s go!”

  Hawk led his soldiers through the central passage. And just as they turned a corner in the wide passage.

  Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu! Pepeng!

  A shower of bullets was waiting! They were the defense line waiting for any enemies. Gunfire could also be heard from other passages. The Rama and Aschulat had also encountered the enemy.

  Now the situation was simpler. The person who penetrated through the enemy first would obtain the antimatter.

  Weeeeeeng!

  A siren rang out.

  -Emergency! Emergency! Information all crew members of the Uranus! There are a number of enemies invading through the right hangar! They are currently going along passages 2, 5, 8! All combatants within the ship should arm themselves and move to the relevant passage to annihilate the enemy! I’ll say it again! Emergency! Emergency! Currently a number of enemies are invading the Uranus! Quickly arm yourselves…..

  An urgent voice could be heard through the loudspeaker. The interior was as noisy as a bee hive. The crew poured out of their cabins and accessed the bulletproof armour, machine guns and RPGs from the armouries scattered all over the place. The war between the soldiers of ‘X’ and the 3 powers’ had started.

  And at that moment Ark….

  ‘As expected.’

  He had a sullen smile.

  ————————————————————————–

  Let’s take a moment and revert to when Ark entered the hangar.

  The enemy protecting the hangar were quickly killed by the Silver Star’s weapons. There was just one problem. He had no idea where everything was.

  ‘Naturally the quest will require me to go to the bridge.’

  However the carrier that Ark entered was hundreds of kilometres large. He couldn’t imagine how many combatants there would be. There was a hole in the armour so naturally the inside would be in a state of emergency. Taking a few people through that many troops to the bridge would be suicide.

  Then there was only one method.

  “We have to attack with the investigation team members.”

  “Yes, but….”

  Rapid made an uncomfortable expression at Ark’s words. Attack along with the investigation team. If Ark fought with them then it would be a comfortable battle. However, the problem was that Hawk was the leader.

  Hawk had disliked Ark since the first time they met. And he declared that Ark was his enemy on Muratio Star. If he joined the investigation team then he would need to take orders from Hawk. He was Ark’s enemy. In such a situation, it wouldn’t be strange for Ark to be shot in the back and lose any more achievements.

  “Then there would be no meaning in overcoming danger to come in first. And there is no guarantee we can get information about antimatter even if we join the team. The Rama and Aschulat are also aiming for it. There is a 1/3rd probability that the Galactic Federation will acquire the antimatter information. The odds are low even if Hawk is the leader.”

  “So? What now?”

  “We need to collect something to increase our chances.”

  “Collect something?”

  “Yes, that is….”

  ————————————————————————–

  ‘…..Here!’

  Ark laughed as he placed his eye against a small hole. It was a hole in a large circular square that revealed the other side. Before there was only 20 soldiers but now many were rushing in like bees.

  There was an obvious reason why. Ark was overlooking an armoury. It was a place where the crew turned themselves into soldiers. Ark came here for one reason!

  ‘There are a large number of combatants on the carrier. In other words, there will be many weapons stockpiled. And a fair number of the crew are operating the Hornets or have been shot down. So there should be spare weapons!’

  Ark’s purpose was those weapons!

  The 3 powers came in → advance to the bridge → encounter the enemy en route → swarm to the battlefield→ armoury will become vacant → gulp everything up!

  This was Ark’s plan. The probability of acquiring 1,000 won would increase to 10,000 won. It wasn’t difficult to find the armoury. Ark hid in the vents with his team members while the crew swarmed out due to the emergency situation. They followed some soldiers and easily reached the armoury.

  Ark bragged to the team with a conceited expression.

  “How about it? Didn’t I tell you?”

  “You really are…..”

  Rapid shook his head with disgust.

  “Your brain is thinking about such cheap tricks in a situation like this?”

  “Cheap tricks? This is strategy, strategy.”

  “Strategy? Aren’t you jus
t stealing?”

  “Isn’t it just seizing weapons from the enemy Why do you have to call me a thief?”

  Ark murmured while pouting.

  “Damn, if you’re going to seize weapons then shouldn’t you do it quickly? Right now all the enemies guarding it has gone away. We should start.”

  “No, right now I’m dying from choking on dust!”

  Slayer and Kaya complained from behind him. Ark and his team had come here via the ventilation. Ark was used to it from his days on R-14 but his team members felt like they were dying. Of course, Ark had no intention of lying in the pipes forever.

  Ark smiled and nodded.

  “Okay, let’s get started!”

  Space 4

  Sudden Attack (Part: 4)

  Tong!

  The armouries were gathered in a circular plaza. There was a dull sound as a vent fell from the ceiling. A soldier inside the plaza reflexively turned around as the vent fell.

  “W-who are you?”

  “Ark!”

  The one who shot the soldier was Ark! Ark rushed towards 3 soldiers that were nearby. The soldiers were dressed similarly. They wore helmets, bulletproof armour and a large shield made of reinforced plastic. The only thing different was that some were holding machine guns and others rods. An intruder was identified so they immediately formed a barrier and lifted their machine guns.

  And the moment the muzzle aimed at Ark!

  “Bao!”

  Ark raised his left arm and shouted. The crystal wrapped around his wrist turned to liquid and flew forward. It rose into the form of the Baius Golem. Shortened to Bao!

  –Uh! Master, did you need my power?

  Bao folded its arm in a proud stance after appearing.

  Its appearance reminded him of the atmosphere whenever he looked at the magic lamp. However it didn’t have the invincibility of the magic lamp. Bao was just a walking and talking piece of crystal. It wasn’t polite and had the habit of complaining to its owner.

  ‘Is it really necessary to raise a guy like this?’

  It wasn’t the only time he felt sceptical as he looked at Bao. But Bao’s growth wasn’t a choice to Ark. Bao was the Baius Shield and also a growth type item. And the Baius Shield would level up as Bao did. Therefore he tearfully raised it.