41. Departure, Return. (1)

Well, let’s give it a try.

As I climbed onto Dalgaram, the headlight flickered on, illuminating the path ahead.

Vroom-

Dalgaram responded as I placed my hands on the handlebars.

Listening to the low growl of Dalgaram, I pulled the handlebars.

Dalgaram, with me on its back, sped forward.

It shot down the runway, slicing through the air as if it had been waiting for this moment.

The wind pushed my hair back.

I had no idea how it worked or what powered it.

All I could hear was a faint, pleasant hum amidst the wind pressure.

…This is amazing.

I raced Dalgaram down the runway.

The dust cloud kicked up by Dalgaram followed me.

“…Haha.”

It feels great.

I wanted to test how fast it could go.

However, the important thing was that Dalgaram had no dashboard.

No speedometer, no fuel gauge.

I had no idea how fast I was going or what its maximum speed was.

I just felt that it was incredibly fast, as befitting its name, Dalgaram.

After racing back and forth on the runway several times, I swerved Dalgaram to a sudden stop.

Screech-

The wheel scraped against the ground as it leaned to the side.

I put one foot down to steady myself and caught my breath.

“Phew.”

I’ve never ridden a motorcycle in my life.

Yet, as soon as I sat on it, I knew instinctively how to ride it, as if I had been doing it all my life.

Riding Dalgaram, cutting through the wind, was truly the best feeling.

After enjoying a thrilling ride, now…

I need to experiment with it.

I dismounted Dalgaram and opened the weapon storage space.

Dust seemed to be faintly sucked in.

I had no idea how it worked.

The appearance and disappearance of something as heavy as a motorcycle was already a mysterious phenomenon.

I took out two Ingrams from my thighs with both hands and placed them in the weapon storage space.

One was sucked in.

And the loop closed.

The other one?

Can only one fit at a time?

I tried putting in various weapons I had, testing what would fit and how many could fit.

The result was that only one could fit at a time.

But the size and weight didn’t matter.

From a sword over a meter long to a bow larger than it looked, they all fit into this small storage box, suggesting it could store one weapon regardless of size.

I couldn’t put anything else in.

Not shoes, not my phone.

Only weapons, or items I considered weapons.

Other than the storage space, Dalgaram was just a regular motorcycle.

Heavy and sleek, sharp and sophisticated, a snow-white motorcycle with a silver sheen.

I tapped the saddle, expressing my satisfaction with the motorcycle, even though no one was around to see it.

Next…

How do I put it back?

I can’t always carry a motorcycle with me.

How do I put it back…

While thinking about this, I slowly stroked the saddle, and Dalgaram began to swirl faintly, its form breaking apart.

Like the shadow warrior.

And then, it remained as a vortex in my hand.

I smiled.

It works according to my will.

When I placed it in an empty slot in my inventory, it was immediately stored.

The beautiful, snow-white motorcycle with a silver sheen.

Being able to put Dalgaram in and out whenever I wanted…

…I’m really happy.

Next, I needed to experiment with the Space Claw.

I needed to figure out how to use it effectively in combat.

The experience from falling earlier was enough to understand its basic use.

I needed to practice it a lot to get used to it.

“…Gripping the space…”

Muttering to myself, I extended my hand.

And slowly curled my fingers.

I was standing in the middle of the runway.

Around me were hangars and fields.

My extended hand.

About 30-40 meters ahead.

Something flickered in the exact direction I pointed.

It looked like air was gathering, or space was condensing, a strange phenomenon.

This must be the range of the Space Claw.

…I almost fell on the wild boar from that distance.

It was really dangerous.

I held my hand in a half-closed position and thought for a moment.

From what I remembered, gripping the space should move me to that location.

So, what happens in this state?

I tried walking forward.

Squish, squish.

My shoes pressed against the ground.

I couldn’t move forward.

I couldn’t move backward either.

The space between me and the target was completely fixed.

“…Ah.”

So, this is how it works.

…What about sideways?

I tried moving sideways while gripping the space.

…It moved.

Like drawing a circle with a compass, I could move in a circular path around the fixed point in space.

I smiled.

…This could be useful.

I nodded and tried opening my hand.

This was another thing I needed to figure out.

Was I activating the Space Claw just now?

I didn’t move.

I just gripped the space and walked sideways.

“Status.”

…I activated it.

Agility was reduced by 5 points.

Currently, 10 points.

Once I grip the space, the Space Claw is activated, whether I move to the target or not.

Good.

I understand the rules.

So, I have 2 uses of the Space Claw left.

…What should I try next?

I stood in the middle of the runway, looking around.

It was quiet and peaceful.

I looked up at the night sky, feeling the cool breeze.

The moon is really beautiful tonight.

…I had a good idea.

That would be fun.

“…Haha.”

I extended my hand toward the sky.

Slowly, I curled my fingers.

The stars in the night sky seemed to flicker and shrink.

I gripped the space.

Good.

I clenched my fist tightly.

“Suck!”

In an instant, I shot up into the sky.

The ground below me quickly receded.

I could see the hangar roofs!

I was floating, and I felt a bit dizzy.

Damn, I might fall!

I immediately summoned my inventory and grabbed Dalgaram, throwing it down below.

Whoosh!

The vortex unraveled, and Dalgaram formed beneath me.

Acceleration!

[Automatic Cast: Acceleration]

Damn, I’m falling, falling…!

Thud!

I landed and sat on Dalgaram.

I was now floating in the sky.

Dalgaram moved slowly in the air.

“…Haha!”

Yes!

Dalgaram is not affected by Acceleration!

While riding Dalgaram, I can activate Acceleration and move independently in the air!

I clenched both fists tightly.

A bright smile spread across my face.

I’ve discovered something really cool!

Getting Dalgaram and the Space Claw is the best gift I could have right now.

I looked down from the slowly tilting Dalgaram, watching the ground approach.

With one hand on the handlebars and the other gripping the ground, I clenched my fist.

Boom!

Dalgaram crashed into the suddenly enlarged ground.

Like an explosion, a shockwave spread out, carrying dust in a circular pattern.

And I was fine.

Collision Immunity!

“…Haha.”

This is really great.

People started to appear from the direction of the collapsed barracks.

They must have heard the explosion.

I put Dalgaram back in my inventory and walked toward the barracks with a calm demeanor.

A special forces member who had been helping with body recovery and debris removal approached me and asked:

“What was that noise just now? Are you okay?”

“Ah, I’m fine. I was just trying something out over there. Sorry for the loud noise.”

“Ah, okay. Sure.”

The special forces member translated for the murmuring U.S. soldiers and American civilians.

I raised my hand and smiled at the people.

Hey, you got a scare, didn’t you? Sorry.

I didn’t have the confidence to say it in English.

I remembered the words roughly, but I just didn’t want to speak.

Hey you! Surprise! Sorry!

…Hmm…

No, I won’t.

I asked the special forces member to guide me to the armory.

The armory, where an enormous amount of personal and support weapons were stored for the Chinook.

At the entrance of the armory, a U.S. soldier and a special forces member were discussing something.

“I just came to take a look. Can I see around?”

The special forces member translated for me.

“Of course. The commander has granted you unlimited access.”

Well, that’s good.

The armory at Pyeongtaek Base was much larger than the one at Yongsan Base.

Inside, a dazzling array of weapons filled the walls and shelves.

It was like the scene from the movie Matrix, with an incredible collection of firearms and ammunition stored here.

However, I didn’t see any explosives.

There must be a separate explosives storage area.

Anyway, I didn’t come here for explosives.

“I’ll take a look around.”

“Sure, Seong Hoon.”

The U.S. soldier and the special forces member stood at the entrance, raising their hands to me.

I entered the armory and looked at the displayed weapons.

Rifles, shotguns, pistols, and various firearms were gathered here.

Then, I stopped.

The gun displayed in front of me.

There were fewer of them.

And they were much longer.

I smiled and picked up the gun.

Compared to the Ingram, it was incredibly heavy.

What kind of gun is this?

I opened Google and searched.

…M107.

A heavy sniper rifle that uses high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds.

The weapon to store in Dalgaram.

…This is it.