Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 62 (Part 1): Let You Down (10)

I observed the enemies’ approach through the drone, igniting explosives from a distance. The gunpowder, combined with magic, dealt significant damage.

Their numbers dropped by about 40%. Less than I’d hoped. I expected at least 50%, maybe even 60%.

No matter.

I infused mana into the remaining steel plates. *Krrk. Krrk.* The steel folded once more.

This time, I crafted a dozen or so ‘mass-produced’ drones, embedding explosives within them.

As long as I didn’t link the drones to the sequence, they wouldn’t burden my nervous system, allowing me to operate dozens simultaneously. This meant I could use the drones themselves as guided missiles.

Additionally, I prepared a foundation for sniping.

*Clunk. Clunk.* Dragging my inconvenient leg, I etched sorcery into the rocky hill to ensure my safety. Each stroke was infused with mana, crafted with care.

“…This is exhausting.”

*Zzzing.* A piercing pain stabbed at my temples, but I brushed it off with a grumble.

Preparations were complete.

Now, all that remained was waiting for *you* to come.

“Haaah…”

I sat on the chair I’d brought. Brewing black tea, I gazed up at the night sky.

So many stars. Battlefields are always like this. Whether on the silent sands of a desert or beneath the cliffs where waves crash, the stars in the sky always seem to watch over us.

With a battle looming, memories flood in, but I bury them.

A battlefield where we kill and are killed can never become a fond memory.

* * *

Kang Hyun reached the primary objective. From close range, he surveyed the mining site. Unmanned combat helicopters, turrets, searchlights, and roughly a hundred rangers on high alert.

─ “Standby. Confirm your positions.”

It was Sindra’s voice over the comms. Kang Hyun checked his allies’ locations via GPS. Their numbers had dwindled to nearly half since departure, but about a hundred still surrounded the stronghold.

Their forces remained superior.

“Hyun-ah, over there.”

Kim Dong-ha gestured with his chin. Between the bushes, a towering figure over two meters tall stood, his neck replaced entirely by machinery.

“Looks reliable, doesn’t it?”

“…Maybe.”

Kim Dong-ha seemed to view him as some kind of Robocop. Sensing Kim Dong-ha’s admiration, the cyborg gave a faint smirk, seemingly proud of his half-mechanical form.

─ “Move in.”

No reason to waste time.

“Let’s go.”

Sindra’s forces moved toward the mining site. It wasn’t a covert operation, so they were quickly spotted, and the battle took on the chaos of urban warfare.

*Ratatatatat!*

Rangers on the rooftops fired machine guns.

*Whooosh!* Kang Hyun unleashed a blade of wind, deflecting the bullets. Kim Dong-ha infused mana into the shield in his left hand.

“Hup!”

Repelling the gunfire, he hurled the hammer in his right hand like a shot put. The heavy weapon smashed into the rooftop where the rangers were positioned, half-collapsing the building.

A-tier strength at its finest.

—Bzzzt.

In an instant, electricity sparked in the air.

A prelude to a surge of mana.

Kang Hyun kicked off the ground, and Kim Dong-ha slid behind a wall.

*Shweeeeek!*

Kate’s spear—a weapon forged purely of mana—surged forward.

“Urgh…!”

It pierced straight through the core of the two-meter-tall Robocop.

“Guh, gurgh…!”

Clutching the spear, he convulsed before collapsing limply.

Not a bad outcome. In fact, a valuable sacrifice.

Thanks to it, Kate’s position was revealed.

Kang Hyun traced the spear’s trajectory and prepared to charge in that direction when—

*Whiiiir.*

An ominous sound cut through the air. Instinct screamed a warning. A chilling shiver ran down his spine.

Kang Hyun twisted the step he’d already taken, using just the strength of his toes to leap aside.

*─*

A blue mana bullet pierced the pavement. Had Kang Hyun not changed direction, it would’ve struck his heart. The attacker was easy to guess.

Seol Ha-woon.

Right after Kate’s spear throw, he’d anticipated Kang Hyun’s reaction and pulled the trigger.

*Shweeeeeng─*

A metallic screech followed, tearing through the air with a steel descent.

Kang Hyun looked up. A wry smirk tugged at his lips.

An airstrike.

Unidentified flying objects plummeted from the sky.

*BOOM!*

A drone exploded midair.

A sorcery designed to disrupt formations without damaging the underground mining site.

*Boom! Ka-boom! Boom!*

As the explosions erupted, steel fragments scattered, and blue flames spread, incinerating the limbs of modified humans. Amid the acrid smoke, enemy bullets and spears flew.

Kang Hyun faced a choice.

Kate’s spear and Seol Ha-woon’s shot had come from different trajectories.

In other words, Seol Ha-woon wasn’t with the main force.

Kate, however, was.

Kang Hyun’s gaze shifted upward.

Atop the rocky hill, a sorcerer leaned on a staff, long hair fluttering in the dark wind. Seol Ha-woon.

*…Deep breath.*

Kang Hyun prepared to charge toward him.

* * *

Dangun

I'm currently Translating the following novels: "Labyrinth Exploration 101" & "The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring " If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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