Thick smoke billowed up as explosions continued without pause.
Kwaaang────!
Kwa-ka-ka-kang────!!!!
["Hey, Master... What the hell are you?"]
Esther spoke as if exhausted.
Of course, I didn't have the luxury to answer her.
Click—
Piiiuuuuuung─!!!
The Type-17 Warhead shot forward with a violent trajectory.
Even though I fired it roughly without aiming properly, it didn't matter.
With the sheer number of beasts swarming the Red Line front like land and sea combined, it was nearly impossible to miss.
By now, it would be impossible for the Ark not to know about my presence.
Actually, from the moment I made that deal with Quartermaster Gedwin, it was practically guaranteed that my existence would be reported to the Ark.
Kwa-ka-ka-kang────!!!!
["Hey, Master... What the hell are you?"]
Boom!
Kwa-ka-ka-kang!!
Countless beasts and monsters fixed their gaze on me.
The oppressive hostility they emitted was thicker than ever, causing the surrounding ether to tremble.
[S-Scary...]
[Don't come. Don't come. Don't come. Don't come. Don't come. Don't come. Don't come. Don't come. Don't come. Don't come.]
[Kiiik, kiiiik...]
At one time, these ethers had intentionally lured beasts and monsters toward me.
But as my ether resonance grew stronger, their attitude gradually became more favorable.
'It's about time...'
The swarm of beasts charging at me had almost reached my position.
I pulled out another bone tendril and slammed it into the ground.
['Ankelenth's Domain' has been activated!]
[Current duration: 27 minutes 51 seconds.]
Aggro reset.
This time, without any delay, I immediately deactivated Ankelenth's Domain.
['Ankelenth's Domain' has been deactivated.]
[Current duration: 27 minutes 46 seconds.]
Then I placed the overheated TITAN-17 Anti-Behemoth Rocket Launcher on the bone stand I had prepared earlier to cool it down quickly.
I grabbed the NOA-8 Heavy Machine Gun, which had cooled down a bit.
'There's still some residual heat, but... it's not to the point where I can't fire.'
I held the grip of the NOA-8 and aimed at the approaching beast horde.
Click—
Once again, the muzzle burst into a series of flashes.
This time, I fired in controlled bursts to manage the heat.
Kwa-ka-ka-ka—
Kwa-ka-ka-ka!!
Once again, the beasts and monsters fell like leaves caught in a storm.
[Grade-8 Beast Type: Starving Sabertooth has been slain.]
[Damage dealt to Grade-8 Beast Type: Starving Sabertooth increased by 0.05%.]
[Grade-8 Golem Type: Granite Golem has been slain.]
[Damage dealt to Grade-8 Golem Type: Granite Golem increased by 0.05%.]
...
[Grade-7 Plant Type: Mutated Trumpet Vine has been slain.]
[Damage dealt to Grade-7 Plant Type: Mutated Trumpet Vine increased by 0.05%.]
Rather than precise shooting, it was closer to indiscriminate bombardment—an overwhelming scene of destruction.
Whether it was beast type, golem type, or plant type, the 20mm bullets raining down like flashes of light ground up the monsters without discrimination.
Kwa-ka-ka-ka-ka!!!
The flesh of former beasts and monsters erupted into flames and scattered across the battlefield.
But that didn't last long.
["Master, over there!"]
Esther's urgent cry drew my attention to the ground, where a massive shadow was growing.
Something was falling from above.
I quickly aimed the muzzle upward and shredded the falling boulder.
Kwa-ka-ka-ka-kang!
Stone fragments rained down from the sky, reduced to fine powder.
"Block it."
["Ugh... So bossy."]
Grumbling, Esther easily deflected the falling stone dust.
For a specter like her, manifesting this level of physical force was as easy as pie.
'Hmm.'
I looked up to find the culprits who had thrown those cursed rocks at me.
[Krrr, krrr!]
[Kyaoooooo──!]
Maybe I had drawn too much attention.
Not only were the beasts on the ground rushing toward me, but flying monsters from the sky were also closing in.
'Not a chance.'
Taking the opportunity to cool down the overheated machine gun, I drew out another bone tendril.
Even if a bunch of them swarmed me, this would be more than enough.
['Ankelenth's Domain' has been activated!]
[Current duration: 27 minutes 45 seconds.]
Freeze—
Once again, the beast and monster aggro were reset, and their movements halted.
But not all of them stopped.
[Groooarrr...]
[Kyaa, kyaaa!]
There were still monsters that resisted the influence of Ankelenth's Domain.
That meant they were at least Grade-4 or higher.
'Hmm.'
I turned my gaze to the sky.
Of all the many beasts and monsters, only four remained airborne.
Grade-4 Golem Type: Gargoyle.
Grade-3 Flying Type: Sky Great White Shark.
Grade-4 Beast Type: Mutated Pteranodon.
Grade-3 Insect Type: Warlord Hornet.
Each one of them could easily crush me with a single strike—brutal and formidable creatures.
But there was no need to fear.
I was already prepared to handle them.
Click, click—
I opened the cover of the NOA-8 and swapped out the ammunition.
So far, I had been using 20mm standard rounds.
Now, I loaded it with 20mm High-Explosive Incendiary Armor-Piercing Rounds.
These rounds were infamous for being a chaotic blend of effects, earning them the nickname "Mixed Rounds".
Though most high-explosive rounds inherently possessed some incendiary effects, these rounds took it to the extreme.
On top of that, the core of the round was armor-piercing, making it especially effective against flying and insect-type monsters with vulnerable wings.
Just like now.
[Kieeeeeee!]
[Kieek!]
The first to rush at me was the Sky Great White Shark.
As expected of the sky's apex predator, it was by far the fastest among the four.
'If you're a fish, stay in the water where you belong.'
The NOA-8 Heavy Machine Gun unleashed a blazing barrage.
The target was the fins that served as wings.
Kwa-ka-ka-ka-ka─!!!
The 20mm high-explosive incendiary armor-piercing rounds were practically bombs that could pierce through anything.
Naturally, the only thing left where the bullets passed through were holes, and soon flames erupted from those holes.
It was the incendiary effect.
[Groooaaaaar!]
The Sky Great White Shark, having lost its balance amidst the blazing flames, plummeted from the sky.
Of course, a monster of its size wouldn't die just from a mere fall, but it was already in a state of incapacitation, so I could finish it off later.
'One down.'
Next to charge at me were the Warlord Hornet and the Mutated Pteranodon.
They utilized their mobility to dodge left and right, deftly avoiding the muzzle as they rushed toward me.
'With that level of mobility, aiming with the NOA-8 Heavy Machine Gun will be tough.'
Flying monsters and insect-type monsters.
Unlike the Sky Great White Shark, whose movements were simply fast, these creatures moved in patterns optimized for dodging bullets.
'If that's the case...'
I let go of the NOA-8's handle and gripped the Ark-15 Anti-Material Sniper Rifle.
The loaded bullet was the A-985 Explosive Round.
Although the targets were still hard to aim at, it wasn't as hopeless as trying to hit them with the NOA-8.
'The movement pattern of the Warlord Hornet is...'
Slowly, the path of the Warlord Hornet's movement traced itself in my mind.
'Left, then up to the right. A loop, and back to the left.'
Click.
The trigger was pulled.
Ta-a-a-aang!────
The bullet shot forward, carving a path through empty air.
But soon enough, the Warlord Hornet's head collided directly with the bullet, as if it had flown into death itself.
Kwaaang!
No matter how durable the Warlord Hornet was, it couldn't possibly survive a direct hit to the head with an explosive round.
[Tsst, tsst-tss...]
Yet, despite that, the Warlord Hornet was still alive.
Perhaps seeing this as an opportunity, the Mutated Pteranodon charged straight at me.
[Kiiiruooo───!!!]
There was no time to turn the muzzle.
But I still had one last trump card.
"Esther."
["You really do like ordering me around..."]
Of course, if it were just Esther's strength alone, she wouldn't be able to stop a Grade-4 beast-type's charge.
Likewise, even with my own ether, I couldn't block the impact of a Grade-4 beast-type.
But Esther was part of me.
Meaning, as long as I permitted it, she could freely use the power I possessed.
["Stop them, you bastards."]
At Esther's command, the ether around me and the ether within me began to violently surge.
[Stop?]
[Us?]
[Stop them.]
[Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop...]
Just before the steel-like beak of the Mutated Pteranodon could pierce through me—
[...Kiiru?]
The creature's body froze in midair for just a brief moment.
And that brief gap was enough time for me to aim the muzzle.
Click.
"Get lost."
Ta-aang!─
At such close range, with its vital point fully exposed, there was no way the Mutated Pteranodon could survive.
Two shots to each eye.
Then, for good measure, one more shot in each, causing the explosive rounds to obliterate its head.
[Grade-4 Beast Type: Mutated Pteranodon has been slain.]
[Damage dealt to Grade-4 Beast Type: Mutated Pteranodon increased by 0.05%.]
Psshhh...
Now, the only one left was the Grade-4 Golem Type, Gargoyle.
As expected of a golem-type monster, it moved slower than other flying monsters, but it had a rock-hard exterior.
'With its golem-type traits, the explosive rounds probably won't inflict significant damage.'
The A-985 explosive rounds were highly effective against most monsters and beasts, but against golem-types made entirely of solid rock, they didn't have much of an impact.
Click.
I switched the magazine to armor-piercing rounds.
Since aiming at a gargoyle wasn't particularly difficult, I calmly analyzed its movements.
'Now.'
I pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Bang!
Ta-ta-ta-tang!!!
Since armor-piercing rounds lacked the raw destructive power of explosive rounds, I couldn't take down a Grade-4 golem-type with just a few shots.
So, instead of focusing on precision, I relied on volume—pouring out bullets in rapid succession.
Click—
Click, click.
When the gargoyle's wings and body began to crack and slow down, I switched the Ark-15 to automatic rifle mode.
Without holding back, I unleashed a hail of bullets.
[Groooaaar!]
By the time the number of armor-piercing rounds fired reached triple digits, the gargoyle's body finally lost strength and plummeted to the ground.
Thud—!
[Grade-4 Golem Type: Gargoyle has been slain.]
[Damage dealt to Grade-4 Golem Type: Gargoyle increased by 0.05%.]
"Whew..."
["You reckless master... What were you planning to do if I wasn't here?!"]
"You were here."
["What kind of... No, never mind."]
Esther shook her head as if exasperated.
'Hmm.'
With the charging beasts and monsters mostly taken care of, I moved to secure what I aimed to obtain during this wave.
'I need a vehicle.'
Getting a soundproof hovering bike from the Ark would be too costly, and maintaining it outside the Ark would be a hassle.
Therefore, my choice of transportation was practically predetermined.
'First, I need to get that.'
I looked toward the Red Line front.
Thanks to my rampage and the indiscriminate bombardment of heavy weaponry, the Red Line front had regained some breathing room.
This brief respite allowed me to take it a bit easier.
'Found it.'
At the end of my gaze stood a massive centipede-like monster with bones protruding all over its body.
'Grade-7 Beast Type: Skull Centipede.'
The Skull Centipede was a creature formed when a bone parasite, usually infesting a Skull Hound's heart, completely took over the host body, triggering a mutation.
In other words, a bone parasite that had successfully mutated into a Skull Centipede was inherently stronger than one merely parasitizing a Skull Hound's heart.
'That one will do.'
I moved forward.
To claim the bone parasite nestled in that creature's heart.