Here's an Opportunity-Chapter 200: Entry (2)

After the S-Class Hunter confirmed the arrival of the final A-Class Hunters and Kim Ki-Rok, he declared the start of the operation, prompting the others to spring into action.

They were divided into three different teams.

Team One would storm the castle and head straight for the First Mechanical Monster, aiming to take it down as quickly as possible. Team Two was tasked with eliminating the mid-bosses, an Aberrant Animaloid and several Humanoids, whose absence so far suggested they were lying in ambush deeper inside the castle. Team Three would remain outside, holding off any additional mechanical monsters attempting to enter the keep.

Kim Ki-Rok parted ways with the Korean A-Class Hunter who had been leading the team, then made his way toward the castle gates, slowly turning his head to take in the structure and the Hunters gathered before it.

The S-Class Hunters, along with the A-Class ones on the verge of ranking up, stood assembled before the gates. Even after breaking through them and crossing the outer walls, they would still have to fight their way through the inner garden to reach the keep's entrance.

"There are more guards than I expected," Kim Ki-Rok remarked thoughtfully. "Oh! There's also an Aberrant..."

Mechanical monsters waited in the garden ahead, as if stationed there to repel intruders. Among them stood a never-before-seen Aberrant Animaloid with three heads, posted at the center of a crowd of thirty Humanoids and Animaloids.

Kim Ki-Rok immediately named the new Aberrant Animaloid. "So there's a Cerberus and thirty other foes."

Hearing his description, several Hunters peeked through the castle gates to glimpse the mechanical Cerberus inside.

Normally, when an S-Class Gate appeared, a top Hunter from the host country would lead the raid. Ishimura Ken, one of Japan's S-Class Hunters, specialized in direct combat rather than teleportation-aided reconnaissance, which was why he had been chosen as the raid leader.

"In order to minimize casualties, two S-Class and five A-Class Hunters from Team Two will remain to deal with the enemies in the garden. Four squads from Team Three should also move in as reinforcements."

As Ishimura gave this order in Japanese, a group of Hunters from Team Two stepped aside, preparing to face the enemy.

"Team One and the rest of Team Two will advance, leaving the squad from Team Two and the four squads from Team Three to handle the mechanical Cerberus, while the others rush through the garden to enter the central keep."

As Ishimura punctuated his order by swinging his sword through the air, he was suddenly left standing with an awkward look on his face. The gesture was a habit from his usual battles against normal monsters. At the end of every fight, he would swing his katana to shake off any blood and gore. But with mechanical monsters, there was neither blood nor gore, making it look rather foolish.

Several Hunters stifled laughter as Ishimura let out an awkward cough. Regaining his focus, he slowly raised his katana into the air with both hands, drawing everyone's attention once more.

"Hah!"

With a short war cry, Ishimura raised his sword high and brought it down in a powerful slash. He didn't wrap the blade in aura, but the sheer speed and force of the strike split the castle gates in two without a single wasted motion. As the gates fell backward, leaving a wide opening for everyone to pass through, Ishimura sheathed his katana and drew the spare he had prepared.

"Let's go," he said, stepping first into the opening that led to the garden surrounding the central keep.

The S-Class Hunters entered the garden first, followed closely by the A-Class Hunters. Together with three squads from Team Three, the two S-Class and five A-Class Hunters charged at the waiting mechanical monsters.

The mechanical monsters and Hunters clashed with a loud clang. Everyone in the first and second team instinctively turned their eyes to the Cerberus at the center, which was powerful enough to be considered a mid-boss.

Their attention snapped back to the keep's entrance as Ishimura shouted, "Advance!"

At the head of the assault force, Ishimura charged forward with Hunters from Teams One and Two close behind. Mechanical monsters in the garden moved to block their path but were quickly held back by the A-Class Hunters. The two teams ignored the explosive clash beside them, shoving aside any stragglers as they raced toward the keep's entrance.

"Watch out for the Cerberus!"

A sharp shout from the S-Class Hunter battling the mechanical Cerberus made the advancing Hunters snap their heads toward the warning. As its middle head blocked the S-Class Hunter's strike and its right head and tail engaged the A-Class Hunters, the Cerberus's left head turned toward Teams One and Two.

"Look out, it's about to spray flames!" Kim Ki-Rok shouted in warning, having spotted the fire gathering at the back of the Cerberus's throat.

Ishimura realized that this attack was meant to force them to scatter and slow them down, so he decided to try and outrun it instead.

"Everyone, speed up!" he ordered loudly in Japanese.

As the two teams drew on their mana reserves to enhance their movement speed, the Cerberus unleashed its breath attack.

A wave of flames chased the escaping Hunters. Though they had already put some distance between themselves and this Aberrant Animaloid, they could feel the heat of the flames catching up to them. Driven by the rising heat on their backs, the Hunters of these two teams ran even faster, squeezing out every bit of speed they could muster.

As the Cerberus's left head followed, the wave of flames tracked the teams as well. Some Hunters gritted their teeth, preparing to endure the flames, while others drew on even more mana to increase their speed.

Just then, Kim Ki-Rok loudly reminded everyone of something they had forgotten. "Pastera flames aren't something that exist in this world!"

Realizing what he had meant, an S-Class Hunter specializing in long-range water combat slowed and fell to the rear before activating his skill.

Water surged from the jug at his waist, weaving through the air under his control to form a barrier that blocked the Cerberus's fire breath. Flames and water clashed in a burst of steam, but the S-Class Hunter pulled the vapor back in, reinforcing the barrier. Though it steadily shrank under the assault, it held long enough for the Hunters to reach the central keep's entrance.

"Hunter Jeong Man-Kook!" Ishimura shouted, still leading the way.

At the call, a burly man charged forward and swung his fist at the heavy gate barring their way.

With a thunderous crash, the gate was blown off its hinges, flying back into the keep. The mechanical monster guarding behind it was thrown back as well, but quickly regained its footing.

"There sure are a lot of them," Kim Ki-Rok commented.

The first-floor lobby was also guarded by a group of mechanical monsters. There were only five, far fewer than in the garden, but the giant Aberrant Mechanical Monster leading them would surely be a problem.

"Squad Two[1] from Team Two will stay behind to face these mechanical monsters while the rest of us continue," Ishimura immediately ordered.

Just as he was about to charge forward, Kim Ki-Rok called out, "Commander Ishimura, a moment?"

Ishimura turned. "Yes, what is it, commander of Team Two?"

"I'd like to leave both Squad Two and Squad Three behind. I believe both will be needed to deal with the Giant Mechanical Monster," Kim Ki-Rok suggested, to which Ishimura agreed with a nod.

Kim Ki-Rok had expected to face the Giant in the garden where there was more space, but instead, the Cerberus had been lying in wait.

"Since there's a chance of being ambushed by reinforcements from the rear or deeper in the castle, we can leave two squads in the lobby," Ishimura said decisively.

"Understood," Kim Ki-Rok replied with a nod.

He immediately ordered Squad Two and Squad Three to step aside. Once both squads were ready, he reported their status to the commander of Team One.

"Then let's set off immediately," Ishimura replied calmly.

***

"Mid-boss" was the perfect term for these Aberrant Mechanical Monsters. Scattered throughout the keep in lobbies, massive corridors, and even individual rooms, they waited with supporting Animaloids or Humanoids, ready to ambush.

Since Team One needed to face the First, their numbers remained the same as when they had entered. However, Team Two's numbers gradually dwindled as they pressed deeper.

"Haaaah, haaaah."

As a massive set of doors came into view, the remaining Hunters slowed to a stop in front of them, panting for breath.

"Phew."

Team One's Hunters took the opportunity to mentally prepare for the coming battle, as did their commander. As if steeling himself for whatever awaited beyond the door, the final room of the keep, Ishimura drew two katanas from his subspace pocket, strapping one to his waist and hanging the other across his back.

Once finished, he turned and asked, "Will you be leading Team Two elsewhere now?"

Before the operation, the number of mid-bosses was unknown. Following protocol, Team Two had trailed behind Team One, splitting off members to handle each mechanical monster they came across. Now, only three S-Class and five A-Class Hunters remained.

After checking his team, Kim Ki-Rok nodded. "I'm planning to lead the rest of my team to support those fighting the mid-bosses we left behind, but there's something I need to do first."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Shouldn't I try to use Discernment to examine the First or anything else that might be in this room?"

"Ah..." Ishimura murmured, frowning slightly.

The raid team had developed two hypotheses for clearing this Gate. One was that killing the First Mechanical Monster would immediately shut down all others. The other was that it wasn't the monster itself, but some device in the room it guarded, that could be used to deactivate the rest.

Although Kim Ki-Rok commanded Team Two, he stayed to help Team One set up defenses at the final room's door before leading his remaining Hunters elsewhere. Once preparations were complete, they would open the door, allowing him to use his Discernment skill on the First Mechanical Monster and anything else inside.

Initially, Ishimura had refused, unwilling to risk Kim Ki-Rok's life. But after hearing his reasoning, he understood why Kim Ki-Rok needed to be there when the door opened.

"In that case, I'll leave it to you to decide when to open the door," he said at last.

"Yes. If I identify a weakness, I'll report it immediately," Kim Ki-Rok promised.

Ishimura nodded and turned back around. The Hunters of Team One gave Kim Ki-Rok a slight bow in thanks. He returned the gesture, then addressed Team Two. "You already know your orders. If it gets too dangerous, fall back."

The Hunters of the second team nodded and headed back the way they came. Then, almost as if waiting for their exit, the doors to the final room began to creak open with a metallic screech.

As Kim Ki-Rok slowly turned toward the widening gap, the other Hunters looked up to see what lay beyond. A massive mechanical monster stood in the doorway, its body covered in what seemed like hundreds of thick cables. The one-eyed creature lowered its gaze, locking eyes with the Hunters assembled before it.

"Commander Kim Ki-Rok," Ishimura called.

"I've already examined it," he replied.

The Hunters waited expectantly, hoping they could shut down all the mechanical monsters by reaching a device the First guarded, instead of having to defeat it.

However, Kim Ki-Rok shattered their hopes. "The First Mechanical Monster must be defeated to shut down all the others for good."

"How many cores does it have?" Ishimura asked.

"Just one at the center of its chest, but it's well-protected and embedded deep inside."

"Haaaah..." Ishimura sighed in disappointment.

So, to clear the Gate and stop all the mechanical monsters, they had no choice but to deal with the First. After composing himself, Ishimura straightened his back, and the other S-Class Hunters readied themselves for the coming battle.

The First Mechanical Monster continued to stare down at them with its single eye, but everything changed the moment one Hunter stepped forward. Hundreds of arms suddenly extended from the walls. At the same time, the cables detached from the walls and whipped toward the Hunters, the other ends remaining anchored to the monster's body.

"Use the cables as footholds!" Ishimura shouted.

Following his advice, the Hunters of Team One leaped into the air. The First was not relying on the cables alone, as the arms extending from the walls activated too, striking at the airborne Hunters.

***

When the Gate to the Last City of the Pastera Dimension first appeared, Earth's Hunters tried to clear it. Their efforts failed, and the Gate eventually broke, unleashing monsters onto their country, and eventually the whole world. Even after repeating his life countless times in search of a solution, Kim Ki-Rok's eventual strategy still came at a steep cost.

The moment the Hunters entered the final room to face the First, a hidden door leading to the basement would appear in the hallway behind them. The trap would then spring open, and hundreds of mechanical monsters would pour out to attack the Hunters from behind.

"That's why I had to stay behind..." he muttered to himself.

After briefly spectating the fight between the Hunters and the First, Kim Ki-Rok used all his strength to pull the heavy doors of the final room shut, then turned around.

The floor in the hallway slowly slid aside, revealing a huge door leading to the basement. The door swung open automatically, exposing a corridor wide enough for dozens to stand side by side. His ears picked up the heavy tread of Animaloids climbing up from the basement, soon joined by the footsteps of Humanoids.

"Oh?" Kim Ki-Rok raised an eyebrow. "It seems their numbers have shrunk quite a bit."

In all his previous Attempts, far more mechanical monsters had emerged from the basement. The reduced number now was likely due to securing the mineral veins and mines earlier.

"Maybe about three hundred," Kim Ki-Rok estimated from the sound alone.

Once the number went past a hundred, though, it hardly mattered how many.

Kim Ki-Rok pulled out a thick plate of Pastera from his subspace pocket and placed it in front of the final room's doors. Then he donned some gauntlets, drew two maces from his subspace pocket, and turned to face the mechanical monsters emerging from the underground corridor.

He knew it would be impossible to defeat all three hundred alone. However, holding out until Team One defeated the First was definitely possible. If things became too dangerous, he could use Guardian as a last resort, even if it meant his level would drop significantly.

"Heh, that's a problem for tomorrow's Kim Ki-Rok," he mumbled with a grin.

Leaving the consequences to his future self, he swung his mace at the first mechanical monster that came within reach.

1. The author initially used "Units" for the three large groups and "Teams" for smaller ones, but later switched to "Teams" for the large groups. We've decided to go with "Squads" to consistently refer to the smaller groups. ☜