Chapter 14
Sangjin's party arrived at their first strategic point after approximately twenty minutes of movement. Having secured their position on the second floor of a four-story commercial complex, Sangjin immediately began barking orders.
"Jang Daejin. Reconfirm monster positions using Mapping."
"On it. Mapping!"
Daejin activated the skill the moment Sangjin finished speaking.
"Status report?"
"One block ahead. Visual's currently blocked by buildings, but securing proper sniping nests should make luring feasible. However-" Daejin adjusted his glasses, holographic maps flickering across the lenses. "The two aberrations remain dangerously close. Any timing discrepancy between our squad and Team Seungnam's could cause target convergence. Precise synchronization of initial snipe volleys is critical."
Sangjin nodded once before pivoting to their trapper. "Jicheol. Traps here, here... and this intersection." His finger jabbed at three choke points visible through the dusty window.
"Roger that!"
The lanky trapper saluted with exaggerated flair before bolting downstairs, toolbelt clattering.
Sangjin's attention shifted to their lead ranger. "Yejin. Sniper position Alpha - villa rooftop northeast."
"Deploying."
The black-clad archer vanished before the last syllable faded, quiver rattling faintly down the emergency stairwell.
"Yongwook, Building C third floor. Donghyuk, our current structure's third level."
Both mid-range specialists snapped identical salutes before diverging - one leaping across adjacent rooftops, the other ascending via rusted fire escape.
Sangjin turned to the remaining members. "Hyesu maintains here. Cheolmin, Wonjin - with me."
Healer Moon Hyesu adjusted her staff's luminescent core, the second-floor vantage allowing cleaner sightlines than the cluttered upper levels.
"Understood. At least it's just a Truedecker today." Her smirk carried dark amusement. "Though I'll need resuscitation if I hear one more DPS whine about shield burnout."
The mentioned damage dealers groaned in unison. Cheolmin kicked an empty stimpak canister across the room. "Truedecker? We'll be chipping at that shield till next solstice!"
Wonjin slumped against corroded shelving. "My wrists ache already just thinking about it."
Sangjin ignored their theatrics, locking eyes with their rookie defender. "Junhyuk. You're on Hyesu watch. I'd prefer you observing from third, but..."
"Understood, sir. Lifeline security takes priority." Junhyuk's grip tightened on his tower shield's leather straps.
As the main force descended, Junhyuk peered through cracked windows at the narrow alleys below - a tactical maze perfect for bottlenecking the lumbering Truedecker.
Outside, Sangjin's boots crunched on debris while mentally rehearsing engagement vectors. Trapper Jicheol came sprinting, dust cloud trailing.
"All shock traps deployed, Captain! Awaiting restraint protocol orders!"
"Hold at secondary position. Be ready to cage it if the pull goes sideways."
Their comms crackled.
: In position. Awaiting countdown.
"Synchronize to channel 125. Team Seungnam's syncing now." Sangjin's thumb hovered over his transceiver. "Cheolmin, Wonjin - flanking positions Delta and Gamma. Now."
The two melee specialists melted into the urban canyon's shadows - textbook rear assault vectors Sangjin had calculated during approach.
"Seungnam-hyung. Confirm readiness."
Static hissed before the veteran's gruff reply:
: Locked and loaded. Your show, kid.
Sangjin inhaled sharply. "All snipers - three! Two! One! Fire!"
Twang!
Yejin's shot pierced the Truedecker's cranial plating in a shower of sparks. The beast's shield flared electric blue as it roared, seismic footsteps triggering Jicheol's proximity mines in chain detonations.
: Target acquired! Rotating to nest Beta!
<Seungnam's sniper>: Mantis lured! Moving to secondary!
The dual success separated the entangled monsters. Seungnam's final transmission cut through celebratory cheers:
: Clean split. Don't die before debrief.
Sangjin hefted his bulwark as the enraged Truedecker emerged - a walking fortress of alloy and malice. Its hammerfist swung in a deadly arc.
"Brace!"
Shield met hypercarbon in a thunderclap. Sangjin skidded backwards, boots carving trenches in asphalt.
"Shield Bash!"
His counterstrike rang against the monster's chestplate. Aggro meters spiked crimson on party HUDs as the Truedecker's optics refocused.
The dance began - ducking piston-arm jabs, deflecting hydraulic stomps. Each evasion strategically herded the beast into tighter quarters.
"Pressure phase! Melee engage!"
Cheolmin's vibro-blades and Wonjin's power maul lit up the Truedecker's rear shielding. "Eat plasma, you overgrown tin can!"
"Ranged - light it up!"
Yejin's squad painted the monster in crossfire. Particle bolts from three angles overloaded shield sectors, each impact meticulously timed to prevent aggro spikes.
"Hold sustained fire! We drop the shield in layers!"
Sangjin's command cut through the bedlam. Twenty-three minutes in, the first shield segment failed with a glassy shatter.
Endurance Trial: Phase 2 - Commencing...
