Chapter 233 – Reinforcements
Movies and dramas dealing with war mainly depict daytime battles for the sake of entertainment, but in fact, many actual battles occur at night.
The biggest advantage the attacker has been that he can target the defender at difficult times and areas. In such a situation, darkness becomes your most powerful ally.
After the war entered a lull, it was humans who actively took advantage of the attacks of darkness.
This is for the purpose of securing supplies after a successful resurgence in the southern part of the country, where the infectious agent’s influence is weak, or to preemptively dispose of dangerous entities.
Since the military had reaped great benefits from night raids, they had fully prepared for the possibility of being hit back.
However, it was only assumed that individual surprise attacks or small groups would descend.
A rapid, large-scale night attack is unlikely to occur, and it is not something that can be prevented by predicting it anyway with the current weakened army.
“It’s terrible.”
A video of an urgently dispatched helicopter is being transmitted on the central control room screen.
As it is summer, the sun rises quickly and light is already spreading across the land even though it is early morning. The sight is just terrible.
“I guess I was completely helplessly pushed out.”
This is my impression of the outermost border where the first conflict occurred. There were countless corpses lying around, and the vast majority of them were infected.
“Huh. Considering the installed guard posts, deployed troops, and the fact that it was a nighttime raid, we captured quite a few.”
Even the color of the river turned murky due to the blood and bodily fluids they shed.
There are many bodies stuck here and there on protruding stones or in places where the flow speed is low. They are rotting, tossing and turning their limbs with the current.
Among the dogs, there was even one Juggernaut. He didn’t know what had hit him, but only the upper half of his body was left, his internal organs spilling out, and he died as he headed toward the guard post.
The guard post exploded cleanly, leaving only the ruins. It is presumed that, if he did not use explosives while escaping, he attempted to blow himself up while fighting.
Even after passing the outer border, traces of intense fighting appeared. Firearms scattered everywhere, countless shell casings spilled out, and pits that appear to have been filled with explosives can be seen everywhere.
A destroyed tank was also discovered, and the culprit is clearly Juggernaut.
The gun barrel was pulled out and the upper, side, and rear armor were randomly dented, giving the appearance of a crushed drink can.
“That thing must have died before it could escape.”
“It’s just as you said.”
Artemis showed me an enlarged picture of the tank, and there were pools of thick blood that seemed to have leaked from inside the tank through some cracks.
The crew inside must have been crushed like squeezed juice. May your soul rest in peace.
[Keueeek-!]
[Keyiyak-!]
As we entered the dense residential area, it became noisy.
The roar of countless infectious agents on the ground was so loud that even the noise made by the helicopter could be heard.
There are a lot of twisted figures moving between tents or invading buildings and alleys.
The shapes the children had drawn with chalk on the ground to play hopscotch were stained with blood.
Clothes that would have been cleanly washed and hung on a line until yesterday evening have turned into rags and are being trampled by infectious agents.
The only friendly presences are helicopters flying side by side at a distance.
“There’s nothing here. We have to go further south. “It’s probably the same for those guys, too.”
Each infected entity is looking around like a hyena, but overall they are heading south.
“Order all helicopters. Prohibit unnecessary shooting at infectious agents on the ground. There are so many of them that it’s just an overload. In the future, shooting is permitted only for certain variants that may pose a threat to the development of the situation. But give priority to the march south.”
A new battle policy was entered immediately.
“What is their final destination? Shall we go to the bottom of the Korean Peninsula? Or should I stop midway?”
I sat down on the chair and looked at Artemis.
“Honestly, even if I knew this much, I don’t think I could stop it.”
“The momentum that was pushing down through the night’s terrain has stopped for now. “There are a lot of entities wandering around like that, so you won’t be attacked unprepared.”
There was a space filled with several playground-sized charcoal sculptures, probably because white phosphorus was used.
Instead of being treated like a hunter, there were traces of continuous counterattacks and retreats. It seems like it was a pretty big blow each time, but it probably doesn’t mean much in the face of this much difference in numbers.
[This is Corporal Yoo Min-ho, 2nd Platoon, 9th Company. Damn, we’re out of gas and there’s no way to replenish it.]
Meanwhile, the radios of the scattered survivors are ringing loudly. Most of them were from the remaining military units.
[I will abandon the car and go on foot.]
[No. Somehow obtain gas nearby and retreat with the vehicle.]
The command stopped with a voice that seemed more urgent than a unit escaping while being chased by a monster.
A lot of supplies and equipment, including tanks, have been lost. As a former executive, I understand that each military vehicle is precious, but from the perspective of the person receiving the order, there is nothing crazy about it.
[Are you joking right now? We engaged the monsters we were chasing just an hour ago! The platoon leader died there too and everyone is scared! I can’t sit still for even a minute.]
[But are you throwing away an intact transport vehicle? Are you kidding me? Change the most senior person!]
[I am the most senior person. It means that everyone above me is dead. I won’t listen anymore. When you arrive, choose whether you want to eat it grilled or boiled.]
The argument, which left listeners dizzy, ended with Corporal Yoo Min-ho unilaterally ignoring the communication.
[Where is the confluence point? We are heading south.]
[What are all the soldiers coming down from the north now?]
[We have met several villages along the way and are persuading them. There are some people who stubbornly refuse to leave. What should I do with this? Should I leave it behind?]
In addition, numerous communications were sent and received from various places.
Did you feel anxious seeing the endless parade of soldiers and refugees coming down from the north? Concerning radio reports from settlers are increasing one by one.
“The last surviving group discovered. Being chased by infectious agents. “I will save you immediately.”
Artemis said.
Returning to our point of view, the images of the survivors who were left behind were shown on the screen.
There wasn’t a single vehicle. Everyone was moving on foot, and some men were even struggling to pull a cart. There were old people, injured people, and children on it. That’s why movement had no choice but to slow down.
The elderly seemed to have difficulty lying down, and many of the injured were soldiers and young people. Each of the injured young men was holding someone else’s baby in their arms.
[Keeeeek-!]
Infections that appear to be 10 times larger are chasing you from just a few hundred meters away.
The soldiers’ eyes become stained with despair as they look at the sandy dust created by hundreds and thousands of twisted feet and the mouth-watering maws of the monsters.
But soon, that despair turned into pleasant surprise.
-Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta
This is because their ears heard the distinctive sound of a helicopter rotor hitting the air.
The soldiers’ gaze moves away from the group of infected agents and rises to the sky. I discover the powerful appearance of a heavily armed helicopter cutting through the atmosphere.
[Wow!!!]
[Oooooh!!!]
The shouts of joy that came from the soldiers soon spread to the people in the evacuation procession.
The evacuation rule about not making noise because it would attract the attention of monsters faded from my mind, and there was no one to point it out anyway.
Boo!
The helicopter secured an angle to view the group of infected organisms and refugees from the side. The altitude was lowered to a significant level.
“Fire as soon as the optimal shooting angle is secured.”
A few seconds after my command.
Kwaaaaa!!!
The 30 mm cannon installed on the helicopter spewed fire.
It is easy to tear the guys running without concealment or cover to pieces.
“Firing their flanks is a rare experience. Because we have always fought alone.”
Artemis touched her chin with interest.
Whoa!
Every time a cannonball passed by, every piece of flesh in its path exploded like a firecracker.
Sometimes, when it hits the ground, dirt and weeds shoot up into the sky. Pieces of flesh and drops of blood are stuck in between them.
Ta-ta-ta-tang!
The soldiers who were retreating stopped and started shooting, perhaps to add firepower.
[Stop shooting! Stop shooting! Conserve bullets and focus on retreating!]
Then the executive who was moving at the front radioed.
It’s a wise decision. In a situation like this, it is time to rely on the help of our allies as much as possible and conserve ammunition for even one shot.
[Kwaaaaah-!]
A loud roar that shakes the battlefield.
“Were they mixed up too?”
While numerous walkers and mindless infectious agents were steadfastly pursuing the group of refugees despite being torn apart by cannonballs, some mutants began to turn their heads in the direction of the helicopter.
At their head was a juggernaut charging at the ground at incredible speed.
This variant was probably the biggest cause of the defense line collapsing during this night raid.
Immediately, machine cannonballs rained down on him, but with his incredible leaping power, he quickly flew in the opposite direction.
After flying tens of meters in a month, as soon as it lands, it lowers its posture and makes irregular movements.
It seemed like they were even trying to deceive by reacting in advance by watching the movement of the helicopter body and gun muzzle.
The helicopter began to rise into the sky belatedly and continued to fire.
However, it was not possible to combine the tremendous ability to change direction, the obstruction of appropriate terrain features, and a bit of bad luck.
“No way…”
An ominous feeling began to arise in my mind. Did we lower the altitude because we were too greedy to wipe them out all at once?
[Kaaaaang-!]
The roar of the Juggernaut was heard as it made another sharp change of direction. Unlike the first time, it feels very close. The shells were crossing 20 meters away from him.
A moment of ominousness for me, but a moment of joy for the guy preparing to take a leap.
Boom!
A strange noise, smaller than an autocannon shell, rang out.
Poop!
The running Juggernaut fell over and hit its head on the ground.
[Suppression complete.]
The stalker robot, with most of its upper body sticking out of the helicopter, is aiming an anti-materiel sniper rifle. The gunpowder smoke flowing out from the end of the gun disappears in an instant when hit by a headwind.
Even though it hits a critical point, the Juggernaut does not die from that single shot. The guy trembled and tried to get up, but the Shinigami had already caught up with him.
Numerous machine cannon shells pass through him. Like a dinosaur, the thick skin and bones were torn apart, and the creature was torn apart without even being able to scream.
Shwaaaaa!
A second helicopter joined from a different direction and began raining down rockets.
The earth explodes with refreshing fireworks and the corpses of infected organisms fly through the sky.
[Drop to 1 team.]
Stalker robots for separate ground activities descended from helicopters.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The robots landed on the ground from tens of meters in the air, and a large shock wave was emitted.
The half-stiffened knee joints and waist slowly straighten, and the blowing wind blows away the thick sand dust.
Between them, red eyes are revealed. A huge gun coming out from its sturdy embrace as if stretching.
That intimidating figure truly gave off the appearance of a hundred for one person.
The last line of refugees was saved by a narrow margin, but this was only part of the story. Refugees in potential danger are scattered everywhere.
Since the Korean army fought quite steadily and retreated, if we get the time right, we will be able to save many people.
Shelter’s reinforcements began moving towards them all.
