Chapter 205: Smasher
Dust and debris flew into the air, along with splintered trees.
A colossal Mountain Boar was bearing down on the First Pioneer Village, Ralan.
“At that speed… it will reach us in less than thirty minutes!”
“We don’t have the power to stop that massive body! We need to evacuate—now!”
While it was unclear if the Mountain Boar was heading directly towards them, it was likely no more than 10 kilometers away.
The camera mounted on the Multi-legged Tank was positioned about 15 meters above the ground. From that height, it could see approximately 18 kilometers. Even accounting for the trees obscuring the view, the fact that the camera had detected something meant it was definitely within that range.
“Evacuating will be tough… Detecting movement ahead. Size: between 10 and 20 meters. Most likely a Hidden Player.”
The battle against the Shadow Players continued around the village. If they abandoned the village’s Barrier to retreat, they would be directly exposed to that threat. To make matters worse, a Hidden Player was approaching as if to add insult to injury.
“What the hell…! Damn it, did I misjudge the situation…?”
“It’s impossible to predict this situation based solely on prior information. There’s no point in lamenting it now.”
For the time being, the Hidden Player wouldn’t come any closer. That was the assumption they had made when choosing to hunt the Shadow Players, but they should have evacuated the village before the Hidden Player arrived.
However, could they have predicted that the Mountain Boar would appear from behind, driving the Hidden Player closer?
Cosmos calmly declared that it was impossible.
“In the worst-case scenario, we could hold off the Hidden Player while you escape, but—”
“There’s no way we can do that… If we survive but you suffer any casualties, we won’t be able to show our faces in daylight again. Even in the worst case, the defense squad will take the rear guard!”
Well, if they had any pride as defense officers, that would indeed be the case. Nodding at the Defense Officer’s words, Dsecta Cosmos returned her gaze to the monitoring screen.
“I appreciate your resolve. But first, we need to eliminate the threat in front of us. If we can manage the Hidden Player, there may still be a chance to retreat.”
“You’re right. If we can hold it down and concentrate our attacks with those who can use the Pierce attribute, we might not be able to defeat it, but we could at least scare it off.”
That said, they couldn’t ignore the Shadow Players that were still attacking. Of the three Multi-legged Tanks, two would engage the Hidden Player, while the remaining one and the Communicator would hold off the Shadow Players.
Additionally, it seemed that about five of the hunters using bows could imbue their arrows with the Pierce attribute. While not overwhelmingly powerful, it was significantly more effective than regular arrows.
The goal was to pierce or weaken the Hidden Player’s Magical Barrier with these Pierce attribute attacks.
The remaining hunters would focus on repelling the Shadow Players.
“We don’t have much time. We’ll hold out as long as we can, but be prepared for the worst.”
“Understood! Messenger, relay this to the front lines! Also, I’ll personally command those with the Pierce ability; someone guide me!”
The Defense Officer issued his orders and dashed out from the command center.
Dsecta adjusted her head-mounted display, which had been bouncing on her forehead, and prepared to join the counterattack with her anti-material rifle.
In the end, the worst-case scenarios envisioned by Dsecta Cosmos and the Defense Officer for Ralan diverged as they each took their positions.
The Defense Officer steeled himself with a grim determination.
Cosmos began transmitting environmental data for support bombardment to the Strategic AI Eremulus, which was mounted on Gigantia. This was to prepare for a cross-border attack should they fail to hold the current forces.
Behind the Barrier, two Multi-legged Tanks stood ready to intercept the approaching Hidden Player.
The view was secured by the Multi-legged Tanks positioned on the rocky outcrop behind them.
Due to their insect-like characteristics, Hidden Players moved silently and without emitting heat, making them extremely difficult to spot. Normally, they remained completely still, so it was understandable that they would be hard to find.
However, currently, they were moving at a considerable speed due to the pressure from behind. Perhaps for them, it was a full-speed escape.
Though difficult to see, the information processing capabilities of the Multi-legged Tanks easily captured the outline of the moving Hidden Player.
The Hidden Player was fully within the surveillance range.
After a moment, the Hidden Player’s head peeked over the Barrier. It looked unmistakably like a mantis, but its size was extraordinary—over a hundred times larger than a typical mantis.
The Multi-legged Tank raised its club, a long weapon prepared for physical attacks, known as the Smasher, which measured three meters in length.
Recognizing this as an attack, the Hidden Player climbed over the Barrier and approached the Multi-legged Tank. As the monster approached carelessly, the Multi-legged Tank swung down the Smasher.
In an instant, one of the mantis’s claws latched onto the club.
The mantis’s claw was not designed for cutting; it had protrusions on its inner curve to secure its prey and prevent escape.
Once the club was seized, the other Multi-legged Tank reacted. It aimed its railgun turret and fired. The projectile, traveling at 5,000 m/s, struck the Hidden Player directly.
Light exploded.
The Magical Barrier deployed on the Hidden Player’s surface completely absorbed the projectile. The metal warhead, colliding with an indestructible obstacle, converted its kinetic energy into heat, glowing white-hot as it shattered into pieces.
The impact of the projectile caused the Hidden Player to stagger. However, that was all it accomplished.
The kinetic energy of the projectile was dissipated through the joints of its body, and it turned its inorganic head towards the Multi-legged Tank that had fired.
Indeed, the combination of Magical Barriers and physical projectiles was highly unfavorable. The pressure generated was only momentary upon contact with the projectile, making it unsuitable for breaching the barrier, which required sustained shock pressure. While it would be effective to continuously hit it with multiple projectiles, the current forces available were insufficient for that.
However, there were local residents capable of using magic.
“Fire!”
At the command, the hunters with the Pierce attribute unleashed their magic.
With a swift sound, arrows imbued with magic power sliced through the air.
Sensing something, the Hidden Player attempted to move. But at that moment, the Multi-legged Tank, still holding the Smasher, applied pressure.
The high-performance motors embedded in its legs whirred to life.
Though it appeared smaller than the Hidden Player, it was still a mass of metal, its total weight far exceeding that of the slender monster.
As a result of being hindered from dodging or swatting away, the Hidden Player received five arrows directly to its abdomen, completely unprotected.
The arrows, charged with the Pierce attribute, glowed as they made contact with the Magical Barrier, attempting to penetrate it. However, as expected, they lacked the strength to breach it and quickly lost their power.
Even so, the arrows fulfilled their purpose.
Without delay, the main cannon fired again, piercing through the Magical Barrier and striking true.
Yet, the monster’s threat was not limited to its Magical Barrier. Its bodily structure was extraordinarily resilient.
The projectile struck the joints of its abdomen and chest, but it failed to penetrate the tough exoskeleton. Still, the impact of the direct hit was effectively transmitted.
While the Hidden Player managed to defend against the projectile, leaving marks on its surface, did the fact that it had been injured cause it to hesitate?
Still gripping the club with its left claw, it arched its body back with surprising strength.
Though it appeared far more delicate compared to the Multi-legged Tank, the force it exerted exceeded expectations.
The Multi-legged Tank was dragged forward.