It was the Withdrawal skill that he learnt from a pardoned prisoner. It was a skill where hiding among the topography decreased the chances of being detected by an enemy.
‘The probability never exceeded 10% when I was hiding among the rocks. But a 15% chance is nothing to worry about.’
Ark checked the kennels while flat on the ground. Thousands of Carack were inside the barracks.
He only found out now but the Carack was a herbivore. Hay was strewn on the ground in order to feed the Carack. Some of the Carack were eating the hay now. It was unexpected but fortunate for Ark.
‘Now, let’s get started!’
Ark crawled like a c.o.c.kroach along the ground and followed the fence. And he finally managed to approach the kennels. Ark built up a bunch of hay and finally pulled the trigger of Fading Steel. There was no sound because the hay acted like a silencer.
Tung-! Tung-! Tung-!
There was a dull ringing sound. Flames started among the hay. The bullet loaded in the Fading Steel was the Fire Bullet! The hay instantly caught fire. Once the dry hay caught fire, it instantly spread to the rest of the food.
‘That’s it! It was successful!’
This was what Ark had aimed for. Using the Fire Bullets to light the Carack’s food on fire! The trapped Carack instantly panicked as the hay caught on fire. The Carack were important troops to the Rama so it was natural for the chaos to spread! It wasn’t surprising for turmoil to spread through the base.
Kararara? Kararara!
-What is going on? Fire! The Carack’s kennel has caught on fire!
-Dammit, why? Ring the alarm before the flames spread even more!
‘But there is still something lacking.’
Ark laughed after escaping from the flames.
Tang-! Tang-! Tang-! Tang-!
Subsequent shots were heard around other kennels.
–S-shots! The enemy! The enemy troops are attacking the Carack’s kennels!
–Ack! I-is it the federation? Everybody gather! Shoot all of them!
–Captain-nim, the infrared scopes hasn’t detected them!
-It doesn’t matter! Those guys are hiding near the kennels! Just shoot!
Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu!
The Rama warriors ran to the kennels and started firing their machine guns blindly.……It was useless.
‘Heh! I didn’t think I would fool them so well.’
Ark laughed as he saw the flashes of light in the darkness. This was the reason Ark set fire to the hay. Ark had ran around the kennels and placed a handful of Fire Bullets. Once the fire spread through the hay and reached the Fire Bullets…..Tang! Tang! Tang! The bullets exploded in every direction. The Rama thought it was a surprise attack by enemy troops…..
Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu! Tang! Tang! Tang! Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu!
There was an intense gunfight between the flying bullets and the Rama warriors. A gunfight occurred. His mind wanted to watch the ending to the fascinating battle but…….
‘There’s no time! I must escape before they notice!’
Ark ran like a c.o.c.kroach through the base. It wasn’t necessary to explain but he hadn’t done this for fun. He had discovered if from above the hill! The attention of the Rama guards were now focused on the side of the kennel.
‘It’s a success! There’s no one here!’
Ark looked at the object……
‘Bike! It is a federation bike!’
Ark had discovered it when looking from the hilltop. Like he said before, there were many collisions between the scouting units on Beltana. However, the overall length of the battlefields in Galaxian wasn’t only several kilometres. Sometimes there were dozens of hundreds of kilometres between the base and the strategy area. When moving to a strategy area, the federation used the Memeod tank for transportation. However, that wasn’t the only way to move troops. There were also motorbikes for personal transport of individuals in scouting units. It was different from movement in the medieval ages. Ark had discovered the federation’s bike that the Rama warriors had probably taken as loot after killing the scouting unit. The reason he hid in the base and lit the hay on fire was to obtain the bike.
‘The OS is different so a user affiliated with the federation can’t use a Rama bike.’
However, this was a bike from the federation. Of course, the federation didn’t allow just anyone to ride the bike. A key was needed to start the bikes in Galaxian. However, a key wasn’t the only way to start the bike. The Nymphe was a multipurpose device where all the user’s information was registered! A registered owner could just connect their Nymphes to move the bike……
-This memory chip is protected with a security device.Enter the security code or use Invaders to hack and release the lock.
Attempt to hack? Y/N
‘Indeed!’
The message flashed as soon as his Nymphe connected to the bike. Ark had learnt the hacking skill from Tori.
‘The remaining problem is if I can finish hacking before the Rama notice……’
-The current lock accessed is ‘Galloway: Level 3.’The airship located on the bottom is your hacking program ‘Invader.’ You have to move Invader and wipe out numerous hostile programs to protect the lock. If Invader is destroyed then the hacking attempt will fail and you will have to start again.
Now, display your newly learned hacking capabilities and try to destroy the protection program!
‘How lucky.’
A smile formed around Ark’s mouth. It was the small airship game Galloway! This was one of the cla.s.sic games that Ark was the best at.
‘I don’t have a lot of time. I don’t know what will happen if I don’t release the lock on time!’
Ark focused all his concentration on hacking.
Byong! Byong! Byong! Byong!
He was playing Galloway in the middle of a hostile area! Anyway…..he felt tension but this was Ark’s life. No, he was more concerned with the game. If he managed to seize the bike then he could return to the base alive! If discovered by the Rama then he would be a beggar! It was a risk that would either be a jackpot or turn him into a beggar!
Byong! Byong! Byong! Byong!
So Ark was busy while the shooting was continuing.
-Hey, you!
The voice of a Rama was heard from behind him.
–What are you doing by yourself? Haven’t you noticed the uproar on the base?
When he flinched and turned, he saw 2 Rama warriors approaching him. Ark was surprised but he sharpened his mind.
‘I can’t let them know I’m from the federation!’
Ark had worn the battle suit before entering the base. Ark’s battle suit belonged to the Rama so it would decrease the likelihood of being caught. Even if Ark was spotted, the Rama wouldn’t know he was an enemy straight away. But if they used the infrared scope then his ident.i.ty would be discovered. If he also replied in a different language then he would be discovered.
‘I have to release his lock before that!’
Byong! Byong! Byong! Byong!
Ark focused on the Galloway game on his Nymphe again.
-What? This b.a.s.t.a.r.d, why aren’t you saying anything? Do you want to be shot?
–Besides, why are you wearing a battle suit in a place like this?
-Eh? What? This jerk, why are you playing a game by yourself?
–Ha, it really is outrageous. Hey, you! Who are you?
The Rama warrior grabbed Ark’s shoulder.
-You have finally surpa.s.sed all the firewalls and the lock on the bike has been released!‘That’s it! The bike’s lock is released!’
The enormous ship that was the boss exploded and the message appeared. Ark took out his Fading Steel and smiled pleasantly.
“Set Bullets Shooting!”
Cheolkeok, cheolkeok, cheolkeok! Pepepeng!
Set Bullets Shooting shot out three bullets in one blow! The Rama warrior was. .h.i.t by the bullets and stumbled back. Meanwhile, Ark quickly got on the bike and turned the handles. There was the sound of an engine and the bike flew forward at a tremendous speed. Yes, he flew away! The bikes in Galaxian weren’t normal and were actually a hover bike! It was a futuristic flying bike with a comfortable riding position and a maximum speed of 300 km/hr.
Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!
The bike instantly left the Rama base.
–Kuak! That guy!
–That b.a.s.t.a.r.d, he isn’t a Rama! Sound the alarm…..!
–There’s no time! Besides, the base is already being attacked so the perimeter alert is useless. There is no time to let the other soldiers know so we have to chase him ourselves!
The two Rama warriors grabbed their bikes and pursued him. Three bikes rushed through the raging snow storm. Ark departed first but the Rama warriors still caught up. Ark was new to the bike while the Rama warriors were experienced.
“d.a.m.n! I have to lose them somehow…..heok!”
Ark cried out as he saw the Rama warriors that caught up with him. One of them was carrying a RPG on his shoulder and aiming at Ark.
“H-heavy weapon!”
–Lock on! Now take this!
Tutung! Syuuuuuuu!
Smoke blew out as a small warhead was fired.
‘If that hits me directly then I’m dead!’
Ark screamed and turned the handle sharply. There was a strange sound as the bike turned perpendicularly. The Rama’s artillery had a tracking function so the trajectory stayed with the bike. And the moment it was about to hit! Ark quickly turned the handle in the opposite direction. The homing feature couldn’t follow such sharp movements.
Kwa kwa kwa kw.a.n.g!
The sh.e.l.l that missed its target hit something else and exploded. However, he didn’t have time to sigh with relief as the other Rama warrior fired.
Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu! Pepepepeng!
There was an explosion to the rear of the bike as it turned and a red warning message appeared.
-The engine has been hit and the output is rapidly decreasing.
If the engine is. .h.i.t again, there is a risk that it will explode.
This was why it was difficult to use a bike on the battlefield. The benefits was that it was quick and easy to handle but the fatal weakness is its weak defense!
‘Dammit, it is impossible to lose them like this! If so…..’
He grabbed the bike’s handle firmly and looked at them with the infrared scope. The chasing Rama warriors were level 41 and 42. And Ark was now level 43 thanks to the pyramid!
‘It is worth a try!’
There was no gap to hesitate. Ark rotated the bike 180 degrees and pulled the accelerator. The bike made a roaring sound like a scream and rushed towards the bikes of the chasing Rama warriors.
–That guy! Is he trying to die with us?
–Smash the bike!
The two Rama warriors lifted their guns to stop the bike.
Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu! Tung! Tung! Tung! Tung!
The warriors relentlessly attacked with their machine guns. Sparks flew from Ark’s bike and smoke started to spread. And when it was a few metres away from the warriors’ bikes!
Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!
It exploded and smoke and fire spread in the sky.
-It’s over.
–Sheesh, I wanted to capture him if possible…..
-We still don’t know. That guy might be breathing still.
–We should check it…..
The two Rama warriors got off their bike and took out their hammers. And they approached the vortex of smoke and fire.
“Come out, Shire!”
They suddenly heard shouting in the midst of the smoke.
Hwakak!
At the same time, the swirling smoke was split in half. A hand surrounded by blue light moved through the air and drew a complicated pattern. It was the Rune Carving skill that he learn from the ancient Murat alien civilization
“Rune Carving! Ikram rune invoked!”
The pattern of light was completed.
TO BE CONTINUED