Ark the Legend, page 196
…..This was Ark’s resolution. Ark wanted to show off his skill and indicate that he wasn’t inferior to Hawk.
“Units 2 and 3, switch to a defense posture and slow the charging speed. Unit 1 will maintain your rush!”
The militia slowed and formed a formation in the shape of a △ that was focused around Hawk. In other words, it was converted into a wedge formation. After Hawk and his subordinates took the lead and concentrated their firepower, the rebel army started to be pushed back.
But that was only the camp at the front. The power of the left and right wings started weakening under the rebel army. The size of the rebel army was 5 times the militia so it was natural. Nevertheless, the reason the militia’s formation didn’t collapse was due to Ark.
–Like I said, our objective isn’t to annihilate the rebels. Even if all the troops are killed, it will be our victory if Kuhwen operates the Abraxas control device. Therefore we only have one strategy. Once the battle commences, everyone will use all of their power to penetrate through towards Tri-Force. But Kuhwen’s defense at the back will weaken if we concentrate our breakthrough power in the front. So your mission is to protect Prince Kuhwen in the back. If Kuhwen dies then it will mean nothing if we break through the enemy.
Those were Hawk’s words.
‘It is Hawk’s instructions but…..’
“Defense Break! Khafra Fencing 3rd style! Galaxy Sword!”
Ark wielded his lightsaber and pushed back the enemy. Dozens of swords spread out in a vortex and hit enemy lines.
Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!
‘Concentrate on the quest! Don’t worry about Hawk!’
Ark wielded his lightsaber in a trance. Sword Defense struck the flying plasma bullets as he plunged into enemy lines. A bright trajectory of light dealt with 10 enemies. In the midst of all that, he didn’t forget about Kuhwen who was the key NPC.
“Ferguson, A, and B, protect him! If something happens to His Highness…do you understand?”
“I-I’m aware of that!”
“Stop! Stop! Throw your body on the battlefield!”
The 3 monkey brothers ran around and blocked every shot heading towards Kuhwen with their bodies. Meanwhile Ark quickly and accurately attacked the enemies aiming for Kuhwen!
“Slayer, concentrate on protecting Prince Kuhwen along with Ferguson, A and B. Expand a circle around Kuhwen to receive the enemy attacks. Don’t forget. The purpose of this battle is to escort Kuhwen safely to Tri-Force.”
“I know! DNA transformation!”
“Lightning Spear!”
“Bring it on! Wahhhh!”
Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu!
Ark’s team formed a circle around Kuhwen and relentlessly knocked back waves of attacks. Prominent among them was Basak and Ellain.
…..Of course, there was a reason for it.
“I’m more loyal to Hyung-nim!”
“Don’t make me laugh! That is the purpose for my existence!”
Basak and Ellain had competed against each other as soon as they met for the title of Ark’s most loyal subordinate. Their argument didn’t end even when the battle started. In the end, they agreed that the person who was more useful in the battle would become the most loyal subordinate.
Thanks to that…..
“Iron Wall! Burning Shield!”
Basak stopped the attacks heading towards Ark with his shield. And ‘heh, how about that? Isn’t it good? Now will you admit it?’ popped onto his face as he looked at Ellain wielding a sword. And Ellain destroyed a few enemies in front of Basak while his expression said ‘Heh, I was waiting for you to finish.’
This loyalty competition between Basak and Ellain resulted in a great synergy effect. Thanks to that, the pile of bodies around them was so high that it looked like a wall! But when looking at a similar scene, Hawk’s reaction was different from Hawk.
“Yes, there needs to be this much if you want to be my opponent.”
Hawk smiled as he looked at Hawk while raging behind enemy lines. But the military situation started becoming difficult over time despite Ark and Hawk’s efforts.
Apart from Hawk’s team in the lead and Ark’s team gathered around Kuhwen, the rest of the militia started to collapse under the onslaught from the rebel army. The enemy forces breaking through the formation made it difficult for Hawk to maintain his rush.
This was the inevitable result. The difference between the rebel army and militia was 5 times. 1 to 5 or 10 to 50 wasn’t a large difference to excellent users like Ark and Hawk. However it was different when talking about the thousands.
“Hawk-nim, any more is impossible!”
“40% of the militia has been killed!”
“If we delay any longer then we won’t be able to retreat and will be wiped out!”
“As expected, is it impossible to break through the defense?”
Hawk bit his lip and muttered as he heard the incoming reports. So far Hawk had never retreated against an enemy. But it would be stupid to insist on advancing when it was impossible. A superior commander needed to know when to retreat. And Hawk knew that time was now.
“…..Retreat.”
A sigh emerged from Hawk’s mouth.
“From now on, all troops switch to defense.”
Thus the first and last battle Ark and Hawk would fight together ended in failure.
———————————————————————-
“Kuhahahaha! Those ridiculous bastards.”
Deep within the rebel camp stationed in front of Tri-Force. A middle aged bearded man laughed as he looked at the militia running away. He was Nemet who was in charge of the troops stationed at Tri-Force.
“They intended to penetrate us for Prince Kuhwen but it is impossible with their numbers. Indeed, it is natural. Set has already occupied 25 of the major cities. And the remaining 5 will soon enter our hands. So the space fleet won’t dare go against Lord Set even if Abraxas is turned off! Then….”
Nemet’s eyes narrowed like a hawk.
“I will rise even higher.”
Nemet was dissatisfied with his status. A person who assisted in a rebellion always hoped for a gain like that.
Nemet and others participated in the rebellion because that profit was guaranteed. But once the rebellion started, he was placed in charge of the 2nd Corps and stationed at a Holy Land. Set explained that it was an important duty to stop the release of Abraxas but there was no guarantee that Kuhwen would come.
He might be caught by other troops or the Abraxas control device was at another Holy Land. If he did nothing then his compensation would be minimal compared to the rebel leaders that captured the major cities. He had become really depressed until Kuhwen’s army appeared.
‘My mission is to defend Tri-Force. The militia is defeated here so my mission is accomplished. But there are only 1,000 of them. It is impossible for such a militia to penetrate through 5,000 troops. This is enough for me to be proud. But it will be different if the militia is wiped out and the Prince captured alive.’
He had no room to think about it during the fight. But the power of the militia wasn’t enough to cause Nemet worry.
The rebels had only suffered 10% damage during the fighting. On the other hand, the militia had lost 40% of their troops. In such a situation, he couldn’t just watch the enemy running away.
Nemet was about to give the order to chase when he flinched.
‘Wait? Isn’t something strange?’
Nemet’s intuition stopped him.
Kuhwen coming here meant that the Abraxas control device was hidden somewhere in Tri-Force. The only way for Prince Kuhwen to stop the rebellion was to release Abraxas. In other words, there was no future for the militia if they failed to recapture Tri-Force. They had to use every type of method to regain the Holy Land.
‘But they gave up too fast. Even if 40% of their power is wiped out, that is still sufficient for Kuhwen to send them to capture Tri-Force. Yet they still ran away…..’
Nemet raised his head and shouted.
“Scouts, send the Fly Rangers to search every corner!”
Dozens of Fly Rangers flew through the desert at Nemet’s command. After 10 minutes, Nemet was able to confirm his hunch.
“There is an ambush prepared about 3 kilometres behind those sand dunes!”
“…..That’s right.”
A smile formed on Nemet’s mouth.
The 3D image showed 100 soldiers hiding behind the sand dunes. There was also a small body with a cloak wrapped around the face.
The cloth made the face hard to see but he could easily guess who it was. A small physique was mixed in among the burly physiques of all the other soldiers. Nemet knew of only one person in the militia who would have such a physique!
“Prince Kuhwen, he is using petty tricks.”
Now Nemet was able to understand the situation. The militia gave up attacking and ran away as a lure. Prince Kuhwen was hiding among the soldiers behind the sand dunes. While the militia was luring Nemet, Kuhwen would try to enter Tri-Force. Nemet admired the strategy once he grasped it.
“If it was any other leader then perhaps they would be fooled. But I, Nemet am different from everyone else. Prince Kuhwen, your greatest misfortune is meeting me here. I’m sorry but I’m going to use you as a stepping stool for my rise.”
Nemet turned and shouted.
“Hajas, I will give you 3,000 troops. Chase the militia and wipe them out immediately. And all the remaining troops will follow me. Hurry. We have to slaughter them!”
While the main unit entered the desert, Nemet led a smaller force to the sand dunes. But there was one thing Nemet hadn’t noticed. Hundreds of bodies were scattered on the field from the battle just then. There was a red viscous liquid like gum on the ground.
And…..
———————————————————————-
-A strategy to lure them.
Hawk said just before the attack.
-The troops stationed at Tri-Force outnumber us by 5 times. We are also lacking time. It is impossible for us to deal with those numbers. But it is different if we trying to allow Prince Kuhwen to enter Tri-Force.
–So the conclusion is a luring strategy?
–Are there any other strategies?
-No. The thought just made me annoyed.
–I’m also annoyed hearing it.
Hawk gave Ark an unpleasant look.
-Whoa! Whoa! Relax. We still have to fight a war. Now isn’t the time for us to be fighting. I agree about the luring strategy. But as with all strategies, it will be no use if the opponent isn’t fooled.
–Are you saying I can’t deceive properly?
–I don’t mean that. You’re definitely good at lying. You made the factions strike against each other and hid the self-destruct mechanism on the grey planet from me. You’re a gifted guy in that respect. I guarantee that. Excellent.
Ark gave a thumbs up while talking. Then Hawk smiled while clenching his swords.
-Aha! Yes, I understand now. Let’s end this here.
–No, I’m talking seriously. Anyway, if you made up your mind then you can get away with scheming. But this battle doesn’t just have lives at stake. Our spaceships might be lost. So shouldn’t there be a safety device?
–What do you want to say?
–You might now know this but I’m also an expert at tricking people. In my experience, people think they are cleverer than they are. And those guys have a habit of searching deeply. So I’m talking about a hidden answer.
Hawk nodded after Ark’s words and replied.
–If they start doubting then the answer is to hid something in a key spot.
–You understand. It is the right answer.
–I know what you’re saying. It is better to trick the people on that side. The problem remaining is where to hide it. –Is there a place you’re considering?
-There is.
Ark smiled and nodded.
–Darkness is hidden under the light. Do you know what that means?
The darkness under the light that Ark spoke about…..
———————————————————————-
Shake, shake.
While Nemet was leading his troops. The red liquid on the ground of the battlefield suddenly rose and one person emerged.
The person was Ark! Ark used the new skill from the Myutal DNA ‘Hide’ in order to move across the battlefield unnoticed.
‘For the time being, it seems like the enemy leader Nemet has been tricked…..’
“Ah, you! Who are you?”
“The enemy!”
‘….Just like I expected.’
Nemet hadn’t left Tri-Force empty. He had left 100 soldiers and 2 Sphinx behind. And Ark had appeared in front of them. An ‘!’ floated above the heads of the soldiers as Ark suddenly popped up on the battlefield.
Pajijijik! Pajijijik!
And the moment the plasma bullets were fired!
“Come out, Shire! Rune Carving, Hwairam!”
Ark’s hand moved through the light and formed a complex pattern. In the next moment, the rune formed the shape of a giant foot and hit the ground.
Kwa kwa kwa kwang!
There was a roaring sound as the ground shook. The sudden shaking caused the enemy to lose their balance and stumble.
“Come out, Shire! Rune Carving, Kuem Radon!”
Meanwhile Ark had drawn a new rune without any delay. A light shot up from the rune like fireworks and formed a giant eye in the sky. At the same time, a small window showing the battlefield appeared in Ark’s vision. Kuem Radon was a scouting skill that allowed him to observe the surrounding area. The piercing eye glanced around Tri-Force from the sky.
‘Now there are only 100 soldiers remaining at Tri-Force. And I can’t see it from the bottom but there are two snipers hiding in the upper part of the pyramid. It will be difficult if I’m under attack from the enemy sniper without any cover.’
“There is one on the right hand side in the 3 o’clock direction with a height of 20 metres! Another at the same height on the left hand side at 7 o’clock!”
Tutung! Tutung! Tutung!
Ark pointed to the locations and yelled. The sound of gunfire continuously rang out from between the corpses on the battlefield. He could confirm the result with the Kuem Radon eye.
Ark saw blood flying from the head of the snipers before falling down the slope of the pyramid. At that moment, Ark took out his sword and ran towards the enemy troops while shouting.
“That’s it! Everybody, strike with full force!”
It was at that moment. Ark rushed to the enemy lines. Sand rose up and dozens of soldiers appeared behind Ark. The two people that ran out first were Slayer and Basak who were holding huge shields.
“Hyung-nim is always next to Basak! Iron Wall!”
“Damn, if you speak first then it is like I’m imitating you! Iron Wall!”
Basak and Slayer used Iron Wall at the same time and a small fortress was formed. The plasma shots pouring towards Ark were stopped by the shields while Kurakan, Rapid and Kaya started shooting the enemy.
Meanwhile Sadain, Ellain and the rest of the team approached. They attacked the enemy troops stationed at Tri-Force like a thunderbolt.
“Ugh! W-we were tricked!”
“These guys, they didn’t run away at all!”
The enemy burst out after receiving a surprise attack out of the blue. But Ark and his team that popped out of the sand only numbered 15 people. On the other hand, Nemet had left 100 troops stationed at Tri-Force. The enemy quickly regained their stability.
“There are only 15 of them! We can handle them immediately!”
‘That’s what they think…..’
Ark grinned and laughed at the enemy. Dozens of sand pillars suddenly welled up behind the enemy troops. 50 soldiers were revealed after the sand pillars soared up. And the man at the head of the soldiers was Hawk!
This was the last stage of the operation that Ark and Hawk developed. Once again, the difference between the power of the militia and the rebel army was 5 times. It was 5,000 to 1,000. Ark and Hawk weren’t foolish enough to have a frontal confrontation with such a large power difference.
So they considered a luring strategy. They used camouflage to lose the main Tri-Force army. The issue was how to conceal the troops from Nemet’s eye in the desert.
The problem was settled surprisingly easily.
———————————————————————-
-Kuahahaha. The militia, they’re not my opponent!
Nemet declared with high spirits after the previous battle. Only dozens of minutes had passed and approximately 400 people had been killed in the militia. But that was Nemet’s mistake.
No, it was more accurate to say that Nemet was tricked. It was impossible to guess the number of enemies that fell down on the battlefield. The easiest way to check the power difference was to make a head count of the soldiers still fighting. This was the part that Ark and Hawk aimed at.
–Reduce our number while fighting?
–Of course they would think we were dead.
–Yes, there is no special terrain to hide out troops here. If the number decreases then naturally the enemy would think that they are dead. The commander might think that an ambush is planned but he would never expect us to be hiding right there at the front.
–If there is a way to hide there….
–There is a way.
Ark smiled and replied.
It was digging! While Hawk was fighting intensely and caught Nemet’s eye, Ark was working at the rear. In the early stages of the battle, he had poured water over the sand and had people dig! Dig! Dig!
People dug places in a few places. Then soldiers would hide in the pit with a shield above them and they were covered with corpses and sand. The militia sequentially disappeared so Nemet judged that he was winning. But there were only approximately 300 militia soldiers killed.
Ark’s team, Hawk’s team and 70 militia had hidden in the sand.
–But there is no guarantee that the enemy will chase after the militia.
–That’s right. So we will throw a bait.
–Prince Kuhwen?
–There is no better lure to the rebel army then the Prince. Their mission is to desperately defend Tri-Force. There is no reason for them to chase us if we retreat. Those guys will win if they keep defending Tri-Force. But if they pursue Kuhwen then they won’t protect Tri-Force. That will be a chance for victory.
