Ark the Legend, page 197
This was Ark and Hawk’s plan. And Nemet took the bait in front of him. He thought that Kuhwen’s party only consisted of 100 soldiers.
Of course, Kuhwen wasn’t actually used as bait. The person Nemet regarded as Kuhwen was actually Tori wearing a cloak since his body shape resembled Kuhwen. The actual Kuhwen was hiding under the sand with Hawk and Ark. This was the Unclear Lamp operation!
“Hiding in the sand….”
“Dammit! Tricked again! We’re surrounded by them!”
“There is no need to panic! There are still only 60~70 of them!”
“We also have the Sphinxes! Sphinxes, those guys…..”
Fushu! Pepepepeng!
Before the enemy could finish, a column of flame shot up from the Sphinx. Hawk’s lieutenant Harley was kneeling and aiming a tank destroyer that he had fired at the Sphinx.
Ark learnt that Harley was a NPC that specialized in hijacking and destroying tanks. But there was also a user in Ark’s team who specialized in tanks.
“Park, the remaining Sphinx is left to you!”
“Okay! Leave it to me! I am the original professional autobot controller! Go Car, Kum!”
The dinosaur and autobot forms rushed towards the Sphinx. The autobots were a weapon specializing in fighting tanks. The autobots had high defense and their armoured attack meant they would deal more damage than general users.And the general enemies…..
“Khafra Fencing 3rd style! Galaxy Sword!”
Ark threw his body towards the enemies. Dozens of swords swirled out and shredded the enemy. And Rapid rushed to the centre behind Ark. Rapid’s pistol revolved like a spin top and fired all over the place. The revolving pistol was Rapid’s specialty.
Tang! Tang! Tang!
The gun seemed to be firing wildly but every shot hit an enemy! The bullets flew all over the place and passed through the enemy’s forehead.
Kurakan’s M-620 also shone in this battle. The hit rate wasn’t accurate in a 1 on 1 battle but the machine gun could wreak havoc in a wide battle like this. Its strongest use was the random shots!
Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu! Tu tu tu tu!
“Wuhahaha! Take this! Take this! Take this!”
Kurakan exclaimed with a satisfied expression.
The enemy was busy trying to escape the hail of bullets. However there was no place to flee to. Hawk’s team had created a battle formation. While Ark’s team was charging, Hawk’s team members were attacking from behind.
100 against 70. The enemy still had the advantage in numbers but numbers already meant nothing. Once Ark and Hawk simultaneously attacked from two fronts, the enemy rushed back and forth as their formation collapsed. The one sided disadvantage had been wiped out.
While Ark and Hawk took care of the troops, Harley and Park took care of the two Sphinxes. The time it took was only 10 minutes!
‘Certainly…..’
Ark glanced at Hawk.
Hawk had done a dazzling job when fighting against Nemet’s main army. But Hawk hadn’t shown 100% of his power then. There was no reason for him to do his best when they had the luring strategy in mind.
But in this battle they needed to exterminate the enemy as quickly as possible. Now Ark could see the true combat power of Hawk and only a sigh emerged.
‘Hawk had more subordinates and his team is stronger than mine. I hired Slayer and Kaya’s team for a total of 6 users but there is a large difference. And he declared openly…..’
Unlike the first game, Ark had felt a little easy.
Ark had encountered Lucifer a few times. And the result of the fight against the Red Slaughterer, or Lucifer was enough for Ark to conclude that they had similar combat power. There was no reason for him to become hasty. But it was different when a strong user like Hawk was aiming at him. Now that Hawk had declared himself, he counted as an enemy along with Lucifer.
‘I can’t relax anymore. Hawk’s power is enough to interfere and make it difficult to grow on the space frontier. I have reinforce my power base before the different becomes too large. I need to survive and become stronger.’
Ark once again became irritated. But this was a different time and space. If he failed the quest then he would lost the Silver Star and his growth. Ark turned his back to the enemy and shouted.
“Prince Kuhwen, now!”
Kuhwen exited the sand with Tot.
“Come out, Shire! On the order of a blood relative of Horus, break this seal…..”
And he began to draw runes in front of the pyramid. This was the sacred rune passed down through the generations of Horus in order to open the doors of the Holy Land that contained the control device of Abraxas.
‘This long quest will end now!’
Flash! Kwa kwa kwa kwang!
Then a light suddenly exploded from above the pyramid. Shock waves spread as an airship exploded. The player on the airship threw his body towards Kuhwen while Ark and Hawk jumped in front of him without hesitation. At the same time smoke started to blow from the airship.
Kwa kwa kwa kwang! Kwa kwa kwa kwang! Kwa kwa kwa kwang!
“Sword Defense!”
“Flow Sword! Return! Bullet!”
The swords belonging to both of them scattered the bullets. But it was impossible for Ark and Hawk to stop all the bullets coming from the airship.
Ark embraced Kuhwen’s body and rolled to the ground as a few bullets hit him. At the same time, a black object fell where Kuhwen used to be and a huge sand pillar welled up. Ark and Kuhwen rolled several metres along the ground.
One man then jumped down onto the sand.
Basak grabbed his shield.
“Hyung-nim, it is dangerous!”
“A Casain dares interfere!”
A man wearing a black helmet yelled as his arms moved violently. Basak went flying like he was hit. Meanwhile Ark and Hawk raised their swords and stood in front of Kuhwen. The man stared at Kuhwen with red eyes after hitting Basak.
“I finally met you Prince Kuhwen.”
“Set…..”
Kuhwen said with a moan.
-The Elite class leader of the rebel army ‘Set’ has appeared.
A red warning message floated in front of Ark at the same time.
Space 8
The Murat Saga (Part: 2)
“Set!”
Kuhwen ran forward and shouted.
“You were such a loyal subject so why did you commit such a terrible sin?”
“Loyal subject…..”
The sound of laughter emerged from Set’s voice.
“Yes, loyal subject. I once believed so as well. I was a loyal subject of Horus. I worked to protect Horus and ensure peace on Muratio Star. I never doubted the mission that the Great God gave me.”
“Then why?”
“Because I realized that I was mistaken.”
Set raised his voice and continued.
“I heard the voice of God. And I came to know. The Great God doesn’t want peace. Destruction! And death! That is what the God wants.”
“Nonsense! Who would hope for such a thing?”
“Your Majesty, there is no point.”
Then Tot shook his head and spoke from the rear. He looked at Set with incredulous eyes and moaned.
“I don’t feel any light within Set anymore. The only thing swirling inside him is a dark aura. The force of the dark aura is so incredible it is hard to believe. I don’t know when the darkness entered Set’s body but his heart has already been swallowed by the darkness. He already can’t be convinced with words.”
“Indeed Tot. You understand.”
Set laughed while scratching his head and replied.
“But you misunderstood an important part. The dark aura didn’t enter me. I embraced the dark aura. That’s because I recognized the true will of God. Your expression says you can’t understand. It is natural. No one can understand unless they heard the voice of the Great God directly. But it isn’t necessary to worry. I’ll make sure you guys soon hear the voice of God. However, you will hear the voice of the death god.”
Set dropped his shoulders and spoke quickly. At the same time, a small rod fell from his sleeve towards his hand. A black ray shot off from the rod at the same time. It was a black lightsaber.
“This guy is Set….”
Ark went out in front of Kuhwen.
“This crazy person. The voice of God? You should go to a mental asylum. There are many who had the voice of God like you. No, I’ll send you there.”
“Jed?”
Ark seemed to be someone called Jed in Set’s eyes. But he had no intention of correcting that idea. Ark nodded blankly and Set laughed before continuing.
“I haven’t seen you in a while but the guy who always hid behind Prince Kuhwen is now standing in front of him. It is worth understanding. That sword tells me that you are the Elim’s Heir. Perhaps your confidence is coming from there. But it is better not to strain yourself. Haven’t you heard? The late Elim was killed by me. Do you think that you who just became the heir can take care of me when the formal Elim couldn’t?”
“It is possible!”
Ark raised his lightsaber and shouted. Then Rapid and Hawk simultaneously rushed forward on either side of him. And in front was Ark! It was the attack from an alliance of three warriors!
“It is impossible for you guys! Right now I’m unbeatable!”
Set opened both arms and shouted.
A huge aura of darkness swirled around and focused on Set. Ark felt his breath clog and body stiffen as he was wrapped in the dark aura. Set slowly raised both arms and Ark’s body floated into the sky like he was pulled by something.
It wasn’t just Ark. Next to him was Basak, Hawk, Rapid, Kuhwen and Tot. The people around him were captured by an unseen force and floated up. At the same time an information window appeared.
-You have been captured by Set.
‘Oh my god! I can’t move? This is….’
Ark looked at the information window with astonishment. He knew that Set was the leader of the rebellion on Muratio Star. Ark had expected Set to be strong. But to not be able to move? Was this a problem of strength anymore?
“Huk! W-what is going on?”
“I don’t know but Hawk-nim is in danger!”
“Damn! Help Hyung-nim!”
Hawk and Ark’s team watching from afar started clamouring. No, they tried to jump up!
Pepeng-! Pepeng-! Pepeng-!
Sand pillars soared up between Ark and his team. The sand pillars exposed 100 soldiers wearing black armour. They were subordinates of Set who dropped down from the airship. Set looked at his subordinates before moving close to Ark and muttering.
“Didn’t I tell you? You aren’t my opponent.”
‘Is Set really a NPC?’
He looked at the approaching Set holding the black lightsaber.
This sometimes occured in a game. A user’s ability couldn’t beat the NPC. Did this mean the
‘No, that is ridiculous! I thought I was killed when caught by the black hole! I worked hard over 3 days and now they’re saying ‘Huhuhu, Set can be beaten?’ Is this a joke? If I die here then it isn’t just experience and skills that will be lost. Even my spaceship will be lost! No! I will never die! I won’t let it end in vain like this! There must be another way!’
And there really was!
“You can’t stop us with such sorcery!”
There was a cry from the back and the black aura immediately scattered. The unseen force around Ark, Hawk, Rapid, Basak and Kuhwen disappeared and they fell to the ground. Ark turned around at the sudden situation with an astonished expression and saw Tot floating in a meditation posture.
“I know the force! The powers of darkness won’t affect me!”
The one who invalidated Set’s skill was Tot!
He looked like Yoda but he had been no help in battle so far! He was the Elim mentor but only taught Ark Break Kinesis! Ark honestly hadn’t paid much attention until now! This was the famous Elim spiritual mentor! He was still a NPC.
But this scene clearly showed Tot’s skills.
“Ark, now! I’ll block this guy so accomplish the Elim’s mission!”
….In the end, it was a war between disciples. But fortunately Ark wasn’t alone right now!
“Basak, they are charging!”
Ark shot forward like a bullet the moment he landed on the ground and shouted.
At the same time, Set’s subordinates surrounding Kuhwen and Basak took out their weapons. There was the thunderous sound of gunshots as Ark and Hawk’s teammates conflicted with Set’s soldiers.
And Ark…..
Wiing! Wiing! Buoong!
A trajectory of light rushed towards Set. The moment the sword was about to reach Set!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sparks flew out continuously. Set had considerable sword skills. He was the leader of the troops on Muratio Star so it was natural but he managed to block dozens of sword attacks with one hand.
But this much was expected. The two swords violently collided with each other!
“Defense Break!”
Ark’s sword slipped towards Set’s wrist and struck. Defense Break was a technique to deal with the opponent’s defense stance! It was a useful skill in close combat. Set hadn’t expected it and a wide gap appeared in his posture.
“Take this!”
Ark’s sword went through Set’s neck without any delay. No, he thought it pierced through but Set’s body scattered like fog. And he appeared behind Ark as the black lightsaber fell vertically.
“It is still crude. Vacuum Wave!”
“Damn, Sonic Sword!”
Ark ducked and rolled his body. The black and blue swords collided in the air and there was an explosion of smoke. A huge impact that it Ark’s body. He reflexively strengthened the power in his leg but Ark still flew back several metres.
While Ark was driven into the sand, Set laughed and approached.
“Kukukuku! Didn’t I say it was impossible for you?”
“Your opponent is me!”
The sparkle of two swords plunged into Set. It was Hawk who had been waiting for a chance. Hawk wielded two swords like lightning and seemed to push back Set’s one sword. However Set pushed his leg deep into the sand and turned his body, causing a circle of black light.
“Not a chance! Destruction Zone!”
Hawk raised his pair of swords with confusion. Black sparks continuously flew until Hawk was thrown back 10 metres. Rapid instantly fired his pistol when Hawk was pushed back after Ark.
“Continuous Fire! Quick Fire! Chain Fire!”
Tang! Tang! Tang! Tang!
The pistol revolved in Rapid’s hand and fired off successive bullets! But Set just waved his lightsaber from side to side and the bullets scattered everywhere like Ark’s Sword Defense. Rapid changed locations and rapidly fired the bullets. Set stretched out an arm towards Rapid and a black sphere formed on the palm.
“Air Bomb!”
The sphere moved forward at a speed that was impossible to see. Rapid used evasive behaviour but the sphere caught up to him like it was a guided missile and exploded. There was black smoke and the bloody Rapid fell to the ground. This happened in the few seconds that Ark was pushed back by the Vacuum Wave.
“U-unbelievable…..”
Ark stared at Set with a flustered expression. It wasn’t just Ark. Hawk who had been waiting for a good opportunity while Rapid was firing also had the same expression.
‘It’s different if I was careless. However Hawk and Rapid aren’t careless. Yet the 3 of us couldn’t face him directly?’
This was Galaxian but Ark was still a legendary gamer. His power was inferior to Hawk’s but he wouldn’t be pushed back in personal skills.
And Rapid was a rival that competed with Ark equally. He had a considerable physical obstacle but he overcame that weakness with a pistol. Hawk was one of the Seven Swords so there was no need to talk about his skills.
Yet Set had defeated 3 such users instantly. Tremendous skills!
‘Impossible! It is impossible to defeat him with our abilities right now!’
Ark came to this conclusion. However he had no intention of giving up this fight.
‘There is no reason to give up yet. Obviously Set is strong. It will be difficult to defeat him with my own power. And the other team members are fighting against Set’s subordinates so they can’t help. But I’m not alone. For me….’
Ark raised his body and looked at Hawk and Rapid. They were his former rivals Rapid and Hawk. Now these two rivals were next to Ark. No matter the problem, currently they were people with the same purpose. They couldn’t match Set but that was when they were facing Set separately.
‘If I team up with them….’
Anyway, it wasn’t necessary to express such ideas. Ark could read the same idea in Rapid and Hawk the moment they made eye contact.
–That is the only way remaining!
Hawk reached the same conclusion as Ark. Ark, Hawk and Rapid’s movements changed significantly since then. Ark moved forward to control Set’s movements. Then Hawk and Rapid moved slowly behind Set.
Tang! Tang! Tang!
Rapid started shooting. 3 bullets flew accurately! These shots were a signal so Hawk and Ark rushed forward with their swords. Set felt like that atmosphere of the party had changed. Set’s sword exploded towards Ark and Hawk like a wild animal protecting himself. However Ark had already expected Set’s response.
‘Swamp Walking!’
Ark lowered his body and used Swamp Walking. Ark’s upper body lowered enough until it almost touched the ground. And he kicked out the moment he was close to Set. But unlike New World, his kicks didn’t have an effect in Galaxian. Moreover, Set was much higher levelled than Ark. His position was also enough to make Ark fall. And this attack revealed a gap in Set’s posture!
