33. Base Defense (3)

The attack began. Enemies were pouring in.

There was no time to assess every detail or consider all variables.

In a one-against-many fight, the only way to survive is to ambush them and reduce their numbers as much as possible.

Having already resolved to fight, I charged in without hesitation.

Twenty targets to kill.

Including the idiots in the cars, that makes thirty.

‘Die.’

Die, you fucking cockroaches.

Offer up your lives and vomit out those points for me.

CRASH–!!

As I smashed through the ceiling and landed below, I simultaneously drove my fist into the head of the guy right beneath me.

It was an instinctive punch.

The moment I spotted my target, my fist shot forward before my mind could even process it.

Magic power surged into my fist, releasing a shockwave on impact.

All of this happened in an instant. I poured murderous intent into my strike.

SPLAT!!!!

When the shockwave erupted from my fist lodged in the mercenary’s skull, his brain was violently shaken before exploding from within.

It completely scrambled his brain.

Instantly, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and pulverized brain matter-as if blended in a mixer-gushed from his eyes, nose, and ears.

Instant death. There was no surviving this. His brain was obliterated by the shockwave-how the hell would he live?

[30 Points Acquired]

One down, easy.

Four left. Their panicked emotions were laid bare. Though their faces were covered, I could tell from their eyes.

Eyes convey more information than you’d think.

‘Was the ambush successful?’

They were stunned. That delayed their reaction.

So yes, the ambush worked.

But I couldn’t stop here.

I had to keep the momentum going.

If I hesitated even for a second, I’d become their prey.

I had to move faster. Keep the combo going.

“Gyaaaaah!!!!!”

The mercenary in front of me shoved his gun barrel at my head, so I grabbed it and twisted it aside before driving my fist into his groin, detonating his testicles with a shockwave.

With a horrific scream, he collapsed. Immediately, I threw a needle at the chest of the mercenary behind me.

-THUD!!!!

It pierced the heart of the guy trying to smash the back of my skull. Three down.

[30 Points Acquired]

[30 Points Acquired]

Two left.

[Level has increased by 1.]

Perfect timing-my level went up. It hadn’t budged in a while, but today it finally did. Level 20 now?

[Level 20 Achieved]

[Additional Stat Points Acquired]

Yep, Level 20. Even better news.

Meanwhile, the last two survivors finally regained their senses and tried to unload their guns on me.

They were mercenaries trained for combat-they wouldn’t stay stunned for more than 30 seconds.

They recovered fast. Reacted fast.

“Light the way.”

So I moved half a beat faster.

Before flames could erupt from their gun barrels, I cast Photon Barrier.

I’d already drawn Archangel’s Baton and magic book, ready to cast.

Instantly, a translucent barrier of light formed in front of me.

According to what I’d read, the protagonist’s light barrier could block bullets.

So please, hold.

If it fails, I die.

-BAM BAM BAM!!!!

“Whoa…”

The bullets struck the Photon Barrier and instantly disintegrated into dust.

It looked like fireworks exploding-weirdly beautiful.

‘It worked. It blocked the bullets.!!!!’

Honestly, I hadn’t expected it to actually work… Seeing it happen for real made me gasp in awe.

This was insane. It really stopped every single assault rifle bullet.

‘Yeah, this is more like a protagonist’s ability.’

Now I had a perfect bulletproof defense.

Sure, it drained magic power like crazy, but with this level of performance, the cost was justified. What more could I ask for when it completely nullified bullets?

‘If Photon Barrier is this strong, how powerful must Light Sword be?’

I immediately followed up with another skill.

Light Swords materialized around me in an instant before launching at the two mercenaries firing at me-now stumbling back to secure an escape-and five new hounds who’d just arrived.

SWOOSH!!

-SHLUCK!!!!!!

The swords of light sliced through shoulders, wrists, thighs, waists, spines, sides, ankles, calves, elbows, and necks-some even diagonally cleaving heads-before embedding into walls and floors.

-CRASH!!!!!

The walls, shredded by the Light Swords’ supersonic cutting force, collapsed.

I barely had time to be stunned by the skill’s absurd power before points rolled in.

“Total of 300 Points acquired.”

That was the value of the lives lost in this hallway.

Pathetic, really. Even Mud Mites were worth more-350 points each.

-THUD.

The mercenaries’ pulverized corpses, stuck to the walls, slid down to the floor.

Chunks of flesh and viscera splattered across walls and ceiling.

A literal bloodbath.

Bodies hacked apart collapsed, spraying blood in all directions.

The hallway was thick with a mist of blood.

Pools formed from the blood gushing out of the scattered corpses.

I think the human body holds about 5 liters of blood.

Ten people bled out together-that’s 50 liters spread across the floor.

“Haah…”

Oddly, not a single corpse remained intact.

The Light Swords had carved them up, turning the place into something resembling a butcher’s waste disposal site.

So this…

This is a fraction of the protagonist’s power.

It even scared me.

I needed to get stronger.

“Over there!!!!”

“5th floor!!! He’s on the 5th floor!!!!”

The guys who’d entered the rooftop started descending.

‘My magic…’

The light-attribute skills were unbelievably powerful and awe-inspiring, but they guzzled magic power like water-I couldn’t spam them.

Still, at least I got to test them on these mercenaries.

Judging by their combat skills, they seemed like Pax Company’s second-stringers-not quite Hunter material, but still professional mercenaries.

Seeing how I massacred them, the Light Sword and Photon Barrier combo should handle most average foes.

‘For now…’

Out of Pax Company’s twenty hounds, I’d killed twelve.

Eight remained-five descending from the rooftop, three waiting outside.

“Then…”

I should prioritize the ones who could escape.

I smashed through a window and leaped down.

CRASH!!!!

Thanks to Multi Jump’s ankle support, I landed without fall damage-just in time to hear engines starting.

The two-and-a-half-ton trucks carrying survivors were trying to flee.

No one escapes.

I can’t let prey slip away.

“Clear the way! Clear it!! Clear it!!!”

I swung the baton repeatedly at the trucks. Electricity crackled from its tip as Lightning Strike fired.

-BOOM!!!!

Whether the car battery exploded or not, smoke billowed out. The truck lurched forward before crashing into a building and stopping.

Vehicle disabled.

Now, just the survivors to hunt.

“Guhh…”

“Oh shit… H-he’s coming!!!”

The civilians in the truck panicked as I approached.

They were new recruits about to undergo Pax Company’s initiation-now united in rejecting me.

“Widen the path.”

I rapid-fired Ice Bullets at the survivors. The tarp tore open, and the dozen or so inside were annihilated.

‘300 Points. Another acquisition.’

Truly satisfying. Already at 600 points.

“Guhh…”

I went to the driver’s seat and dragged out the concussed driver and unconscious assistant.

-THUNK!!!

“Guhh…”

“Ghk…”

I peacefully sent them off.

Six left.

I re-entered the building to finish the rest.

******

I fought like my life depended on it and won by giving my all.

The result? Around 900 points, three assault rifles, and a brewing conflict between Pax Company and Osung Group.

“A-attack. We were attacked. Suspect is a Hunter from Osung Group… Took out most of our squad alone and escaped.”

I tortured and broke the last survivor.

Repeatedly drilled the script into his barely functional mind.

That was what he just babbled over the radio.

“Ugh…”

“Good job.”

His usefulness ended here.

I twisted his neck, snapping that stubborn life thread.

“Hoo.”

Did I go too hard this morning?

Maybe I charged in without thinking.

But I got points, tested items and skills.

This outcome is more than satisfying.

‘Most importantly…’

After mastering five elemental spells, I checked my new quest.

[Quest: Kill 100 people within 3 days (32/100)]

[Reward: 1000P, Random Weapon]

This was why I charged at those expendable bastards.

A quest requiring human deaths? Clearly made for me.