Chapter 9

The team leader of the mobile squad, who had been leading the way, stopped and bent down.

The team leader, who covered his eyes with two fingers, gestured forward.

As I slowly pushed through the bushes and looked ahead, a landscape that could be called a real village unfolded before me.

On the land that had been flattened into terraces by cutting into the mountain, about ten mud houses were built.

I could also see a fence made of intertwined wood.

There were orcs in the village, busy with tasks such as maintaining weapons.

'Real village, huh. Just from a quick look, there seem to be about thirty of them...'

About 100 meters away.

When the team leader signaled, the squad member beside him retraced his steps.

We hid our bodies in the bushes again and crouched behind a large tree.

"No matter how I think about it, it's strange."

The team leader frowned and tilted his head.

"Huh? What is?"

"Logically speaking. We haven't seen a single animal so far, so how are they surviving? Also, what's with that fence? Who are they trying to keep out?"

The team leader hit the nail on the head.

"I'm curious too."

I shrugged.

'They look like they're just living well in another world.'

Why does the status window want us to kill them?

And why are they trying to kill us by crossing the portal?

It's full of questions.

Rustle.

"Let's go."

After a long time, a large squad member, drenched in sweat, appeared carrying his comrades.

"Good work."

"No, sir. Is it over there?"

"It won't be easy. If we leave here, we'll be discovered immediately. We have the advantage of distance, but we don't know how many there are or how many more will come out of the forest."

"It would have been nice if we had some grenades."

"Too bad. If you come into the portal next time, be sure to remember this."

The village was an open field, as if the land had been cultivated.

'Even I can see something's off.'

They gave up the advantages of concealment and cover to cultivate the land.

They even installed a fence on the flat land they created.

It's like they're inviting attacks from all sides of the forest.

The large squad member frowned as he glanced around the village.

"Team leader, how do we infiltrate?"

"It's hard to estimate the number of enemies. Our firepower is weak, so we can't form a fire net. You saw how they charged even when hit by bullets, right?"

"Yeah. They're not elephants or anything."

"Awakened one, do you have any ideas?"

The team leader looked at me with hopeful eyes.

In any case, they are just support.

In the end, I have to do it.

'This guy doesn't seem like he'll do anything.'

Kim Cheolsu, the National Intelligence Service officer.

He didn't even tell us what he awakened with and just watched as if it were someone else's business.

I activated Remote Construction.

I created another tower around the container.

'Learn Defense Tower Research and Explosion.'

In the end, I used all three remaining points.

I allocated the Explosion skill to the newly created Defense Tower.

With Defense Tower Research, it should now attack surrounding enemies without specific orders.

The team leader looked at me with a strange expression as I gestured enthusiastically at the air.

Kim Cheolsu was observing me with interest.

"Who would have thought the world would become so absurd?"

I chuckled.

"Even if I went back 20 years and explained that there would be something called a smartphone in the future, no one would believe me."

'Of course, if I went back then, I'd buy up all the coins.'

While making idle talk and thoughts, the preparations were complete.

"Team leader, do you have any grenades?"

"Yes... Why?"

"Give me one. How long does it take to explode?"

"About five seconds. Grenades are dangerous for civilians to handle. If you tell me your plan, I can..."

"It's a plan that only a civilian can't do."

The team leader stared at me and chuckled.

"Indeed, it's hard to call you a civilian anymore. Here you go."

I smiled as I took the grenade.

"Team leader, if there's a strategy that always works, no matter the situation, would you believe it?"

"Huh? Such a thing exists?"

"Yes. An immortal strategy that has succeeded three times in a row."

"Such a thing exists?"

Ding.

I removed the safety pin from the grenade.

"Bunkering. It always works. This is it."

Orc Warrior's Necklace

"Just in case, don't come close until I give the signal."

"Huh?"

"You might get hit by splash damage."

The Splash Tower causes an explosion to attack the target and surrounding enemies.

In the game, there was no damage to allies or outsiders.

But this is reality.

If someone gets hurt, it would be distressing.

"Still, isn't it too dangerous to do it alone?"

"If we scatter the aggro with gunfire and they all come here, we're all doomed. It's better to just watch..."

'Ah! I have a silencer.'

I pointed to the K2.

"About 100 meters, I think. If you can snipe as quietly as possible with the silencer, it would be a big help."

The team leader's face lit up.

"All our team members are excellent marksmen. Don't worry."

"Just like you saved us, this time we'll support you perfectly."

The squad members on the cliff had determined expressions.

"And Mr. Kim Cheolsu..."

The officer was still looking at me and the squad members with interest.

"Just do your best to survive."

"Don't worry about me."

'What is he, really?'

His abilities are different based on the last content he experienced, not the traditional tank, DPS, or healer roles.

You can't know what they are unless you see them in action or he tells you.

'He's from an intelligence agency, so maybe something related to information?'

He might watch 007 movies even when he's off duty.

The squad members took their positions and lay in the bushes.

"Alright, let's go."

'Strength Increase.'

Huff.

Strength surged through my body.

Ding!

I removed the safety clip from the grenade and threw it with all my might in the opposite direction of where we were.

The grenade flew high into the sky and disappeared.

When the sound of the grenade hitting the ground was heard, a few orcs moved in that direction.

'Now.'

I sprinted madly toward the orc village.

My stamina was almost non-existent from only using computers in my room.

But with Strength Increase, my stamina was on par with Usain Bolt.

As the village drew near.

Boom!

A deafening explosion shook the ground, and three orcs were instantly torn apart.

Men from the Korean training camp know the power of grenades well.

Even one can cause terrible shock.

The orcs were in panic, covering their ears and writhing in pain.

I leaped over the fence with the momentum of my run and hid behind a hut at the end of the village.

'No one noticed me.'

The orcs ran to the opposite side of the village.

Roar!

Ugh!

They shouted at each other, wielding weapons and running around in a panic.

'Territory.'

Thud.

- A 10m radius has been designated as a temporary territory.

- Remaining time: 9 minutes 59 seconds.

- Cooldown: 29 minutes 59 seconds.

The territory was set up with a slight shock.

'Facility Summon.'

- Select the facility to summon.

I chose the newly created Splash Tower from the status window map.

- Specify the location.

A grid pattern appeared in front of me, overlapping the landscape.

'Just like in the game.'

There's no need to build exactly on the grid.

As long as the center of the facility is on the grid, you can build it slightly outside the territory when the territory is small.

This is a tip for beginners that I wrote.

Praising the system for being implemented as expected, I summoned the tower at the edge of the grid.

Whirr.

Click. Click.

Materials flew from the air.

'One more.'

I installed another tower that shoots ice arrows using Facility Summon.

Even with a territory only 10m in size, I could summon two towers by placing them at opposite ends.

Whirr.

Click. Click.

Boom. Boom.

The sight of two towers being assembled simultaneously in the air was impressive.

'I'll hide my body for a moment.'

The hut the orcs had left.

I entered the place I had expected, crouched down where I could see the towers, and held a frying pan tightly.

'One recovery, and I can use Strength Increase again.'

I prepared an escape route.

The key is how long the towers can hold out.

Roar!

The orc village was in chaos.

The orcs seemed to be shouting at the sight of the two suddenly appearing towers.

Whizz.

Flash.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion was heard.

It sounded like a grenade had exploded.

'Is it this strong?'

Whizz.

Flash.

Far away, orcs ran toward the towers and were caught in the explosion.

Two of them vanished instantly, and the surrounding orcs were thrown to the side, covered in blood.

The orcs' judgment was quick, as their trained muscles weren't just for show.

When one orc shouted, the group spread out to the sides.

Splat! Splat!

A sound like high-pressure water spraying was heard.

The Ice Arrow Tower shot blue ice arrows at twice the speed of a regular Defense Tower.

Roar!

The orc hit by the ice arrow was covered in frost.

His movements noticeably slowed.

'Good.'

Splat! Splat! Splat!

It seemed to shoot twice a second.

Flash!

Boom!

The Splash Tower was a bit slower.

But the orcs running toward it were already slowed and suffered from the explosion shock.

Roar!

More orcs appeared from the opposite side of the village.

Though I couldn't see clearly from my hiding spot, it looked like at least twenty of them.

'Are they serious? To break this many?'

I wanted to ask the status window what content I needed to awaken to complete this mission.

'Time is running out.'

The orcs recognized the attack range of the towers.

Flash!

Boom!

Splat! Splat!

The orcs in the vicinity were all eliminated.

Whizz.

Boom!

A hut far away was completely blown away.

'As expected, it attacks buildings too. Good!'

Most of the system was the same as in the game.

I let out a sigh of relief, but the orcs started throwing axes at the towers from a distance.

Thud. Thud.

Axes hit the towers with surprising accuracy.

'Weren't they supposed to be marble? Why do they look like they're hitting wood...'

The white surface of the tower had axes hanging from it.

- The Defense Tower is under attack.

- Remaining durability: 98/100

'Damn... They implemented durability too.'

I became anxious as they stopped advancing.

Strength Increase was about to end.

'I need to take a risk.'

I made my decision.

I ran out the door with the frying pan and charged at the orc who threw the axe.

The orcs were momentarily startled by my sudden appearance from their hut.

I reached an unarmed orc in an instant.

I swung the frying pan vertically.

Clang!

The orc's neck bent strangely.

Thud.

The orc fell instantly.

I pushed through the momentarily stunned orcs, focusing on those who threw axes and swinging the frying pan.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

"Roar!"

The orcs regained their senses and charged at me.

Thud!

One orc stumbled as he charged at me.

'Support fire! Good.'

The squad members were sniping in support.

I hit the orc's face from below, causing him to lose balance.

Clang!

The orc's body lifted slightly, and foam flowed from his mouth.

The orcs, ignoring their fallen comrade, charged at me in a group.

"Good. Come after me, you bastards!"

I turned and ran between the huts.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

The sound of orcs running was close behind.

But I didn't have time to look back, pushing through the huts and gradually moving toward the towers.

Whizz.

'Got it. They're in range!'

The long range of 40 meters.

Before long, the orcs entered the attack range of the towers.

Flash.

Boom!

Splat! Splat!

The orc's breathing behind me stopped.

I glanced back to see them all covered in white frost, moving slowly.

I made eye contact with an orc who glared at me in anger.

Boom!

The orc disappeared in the following explosion.

With the Splash Tower, the orcs were instantly erased.

Before I knew it, the towers had stopped operating, and I was the only living being left in the village.

Just as my strength drained away.

'Huff... '

Thud.

I collapsed on the spot.

'About five minutes left, I guess.'

With Strength Increase over, the towers should have about half their maintenance time left.

'I need to reset the cooldown quickly. Recovery.'