laulau20

Chapter 72: Floor Completion

Added 2025-04-18 06:24:28 +0000 UTC

“Protect the gun! The metal beast is coming,” James’ new friend—he dubbed the orc captain—gave an order. But James was not the one who followed orders; he had other business to attend to, namely killing those beasts that came at him from the wall.

“Agh!!”

The top of the wall was in chaos as the Nirvok focused their attacks there. To James, that meant more experience points. But more and more people died as the enemy wreaked havoc.

“James! Protect the engineer!” the orc leader shouted to James, but he didn’t listen. He was busy. The Nirvok before him was better than the rest. Even when atop a raptor, this particular monster was able to use a spear skill. A golden glow shot toward James from the back.

James used his tail to hold the golden shield. The Nirvok thought he could easily penetrate or kick the shield away with a weapon skill. However, what James had was not a normal shield but an artifact. The spear bounced off the shield as the shield let out a shockwave. James smirked as he turned to the monster. Using his axe, he cleaved that monster in half with a weapon skill.

[Elite monster remaining: 2]

“Well, thank you,” James sarcastically said. It would be nice if the system also pointed him toward those elite Nirvok, but the system stayed silent, of course. He never expected much anyway. After James killed one of the generals, he turned toward the gun.

“What’s taking you so long? You loaded the shell ages ago!” James hissed at the engineer. “That thing has missiles, you know.”

“It is still out of range! They need to get closer!”

“We’re going to be cooked by their missiles by then!” James cursed.

As James had feared, the HUMA had opened its missile launchers. Then, dozens of missiles spat their flame out from its back.

James had half given up. Even though this world had stats and magic, modern weapons like missiles and guns still reigned supreme. James might be able to handle a handgun, but a rifle? Despite his high level, James definitely didn’t want to meet a missile or machine gun head-on.

“Release the mangonels!” the orc general rallied the soldiers. Soldiers then started to flee as the Nirvok drove them over the wall.

“James! You must stay here and protect the gun!” the orc boss said.

“Are you nuts? The missiles are coming!” James was about to flee, but—

“The rocks and several mages will protect us! Look!” The orc general pointed to the sky. As the missiles came raining down toward James, rocks and bow skills met them head-on. The resulting explosion created a chain reaction, painting the sky with a golden-orange hue.

Nevertheless, some missiles still went past the volley of rocks and bow skills and hit nearby towns and towers around James. James was immune to fire, but he couldn’t help but flinch when a missile exploded just a dozen meters from where he stood.

“Sobyat!” the orc general exclaimed as a raptor and a Nirvok climbed over the wall and ate the goblin engineer. His attention had been distracted for mere moments, but it was fatal. The Nirvok that had dismounted and engaged him managed to use a spear skill and skewered him in the chest.

“Shit!” James also rushed toward the anti-tank gun. The raptor that ate the goblin engineer was about to wreck the gun, but James managed to stop it with his sword skill [Vorpal Lunge].

Its rider soon joined in after he disposed of the orc’s body that had lodged into its spear. But James was above him in terms of stats and skill. Golden lightning shone from his axe. James then threw the axe, and it spun around like a boomerang, splitting the Nirvok’s body in half.

James didn't need to look twice at the goblin engineer to know that he was dead, as he was missing a head. He then went to the gun, trying to use it himself. The system kindly let him.

“Shit,” the orc general groaned as he propped himself up to sit. Despite having a hole in his stomach, he was quite lively. “The engineer is dead. James, kill the metal beast or we all die. I believe in you.”

“You don't need to tell me that.” James aimed the gun at the giant robotic monster. The Huma had come closer, and the missile launcher on its back sent out a second volley of missiles. The mangonels and catapults released their second volley—this time, it was scarcer than the previous one—but James helped out with his ice spears. Thanks to his new mana core, he now had a boost in casting time and volume.

Hundreds of ice spears flew at the missile swarm. In addition to that, James built an ice dome around the gun and himself for good measure. That did the trick. The ice spears collided with the missile swarm, and they exploded midair. The few surviving missiles went off and hit a nearby tower and the catapult stationed there. The town was set ablaze by the stray missiles.

As the smoke cleared, James aimed the gun toward the monster. After aiming just a bit higher, he pulled the trigger, and the cannon roared with an explosion. James could see the black shell fly at almost supersonic speed toward the Huma.

A loud clunk of metal could be heard from the Huma even across the battlefield. A hole was formed in the head of the Huma, but it still walked as if it was nothing. James looked at it agape. He thought the system was too nice for giving him five bullets against such a large target, but now it all made sense.

“It is still alive!” James started to panic. He then looked at the cannon shells next to the gun. He had seen the goblin engineer reload the cannon. It was simple. He just needed to open the breech, take out the spent shell, and insert the new shell. It only took several seconds, but it was enough for the third volley of launchers to kick in. Despite being simple rockets, those Huma launched their missiles really fast.

James realigned his aim. A loud burst came from his anti-tank cannon, hitting its head. The shot blew another hole in Huma's forehead, but it didn't impede its march. A machine gun started to deploy on its shoulder. James summoned ice spears with his magic to shoot down the missiles that were coming for him. The rain of rocks that protected him had visibly decreased compared to before.

[Elite Monster Remaining: 1]

James was still safe; his ice dome protected him and the gun from shrapnel from the missiles that exploded nearby, but he was increasingly agitated. Those missiles didn’t recognize friend from foe. James could see raptors and Nirvok bodies scattered about. The raptors fared better due to their steel bodies, but the lightly armored Nirvok didn’t fare so well.

The Huma was still going strong. This would be his third shot. This time, instead of aiming at the head, he decided to aim at its legs. His anti-tank gun let out another deafening roar as the black shell flew straight to its target.

The bullet hit it squarely on the knee, penetrating its right leg and even going as far as glancing off another leg behind it. This time, James’s shot bore fruit as the mecha limped and fell over. Due to it falling, the missile pod on its back exploded as the missiles were jammed.

“Yeah!” The crowd began to cheer. Now that the scary metal monster was out of the picture, they could focus on the opponent.

“Alright. Now I’ve got to find that remaining elite.”

[Warning. The Huma is still operational. The mission will not be completed until it is completely disabled.]

“Huh?” James looked back at the monster. He could see several Nirvok climbing out from the hangar with toolboxes and approaching the leg. He could tell just by looking that those monsters were not there for a fight; they were there to repair the monster.

“But how do I kill it?” James complained.

[By hitting the reactor core in its stomach, the Huma will explode.]

Again, James was not the sharpest tool in the shed. Thankfully, the system had provided him with the crucial information. Even though he had been briefed about the anatomy of a Huma just a floor ago, he had forgotten where the important bits were. Finally knowing what to do, James immediately went into action. He loaded his fourth shell.

This time he aimed for its guts. The cannon roared, and the shell drew a black arc, penetrating the beast’s stomach. It created another hole, but no explosion.

“Fuck it! It didn’t explode!” James cursed as he took out the spent casing and reloaded a new round. This was the last round. If this one didn’t kill it, that meant James had to physically walk there and disable the Huma himself while somehow avoiding a machine gun barrage.

James was sweating as he aimed his last round at the monster.

Boom!

Just before he could pull the trigger, the Huma burst into a big ball of flame. Along with it, a system notification appeared, confirming the success of the mission.

[Elite Monster Remaining: 0
The Huma has been disabled.]

[Congratulations! Quest succeeded. You have earned 500 coins. You have leveled up to level 49. Your Attacker class has leveled up to level 26. You have obtained a random armor chest.]

[Random Armor Chest has been opened. You have obtained a Helm of Darkeye.]

Then, a golden portal spawned. Not in front of James, but beside the exploded mecha. James sighed as he had to walk over the distance.

[Name: James]
Age: 35
Sex: Male
Level: 48 (↑2)
Coins: 600
Merit: 2

Stats:

STR: 152 (↑5)
DEX: 150 (↑5)
MAGIC: 107 (↑6)
MANA: 1020 (↑40)

Skills:

Novice Axe Mastery Level 5 (Powerstrike, V-slash, Boomerang)
Novice Sword Mastery Level 1 (Hurricane, Vorpal Lunge)
Beginner Bow Mastery Level 8 (Quickshot) (↑1)
Beginner Dagger Mastery Level 1

Magic:

Mind Flay
Sense Alteration
Mana Sonar

Class:

Attacker (Level 25) (↑2)
(10% bonus when attacking, STR & DEX +1 per level)

Shop (Level 2):

Health Potion (100 Coins)
Hematonic Potion (50 Coins)
High Potion (300 Coins)
Antidote (50 Coins)
Sell Function / Repair Function
Bullets (10 Coins / Round)
Grenades (50 Coins / Piece)
Arrow (50 Coins / Dozen)
Metal Pocket Arrow (100 Coins / Dozen)

Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2:

Goblin Stomach (Iron Guts) (Stomach Slot)
Minotaur Leader’s Left Arm (STR +25%) (Left Arm Slot)
Eyes of Mana (Mana Sense) (Right Eye Slot)
Golem Arm of Valhalla (STR +30%, Physical Resistance +30%, Negative Trait: Repairable, Mana -200) (Right Arm Slot)
Ratking's Legs (STR +25%) (Leg Slot)
Flaming Tiger’s Fire Lung (Fire Breathing Skill, Negative Trait: Mana -100, Magic -10) (Lung Slot)
Golem Core (Poison Resistance, Negative Trait: Mana -250, Magic -10, Repairable) (Heart Slot)
Orc’s Torso (Torso Slot)
Orc’s Head (Head Slot)
Shadow Snake Fang (Intermediate Life Leeching) (Mouth Slot)
Flaming Tiger Lord’s Firefur (Fire Cloak Skill, Fire Resistance, Physical Resistance +15%, Negative Trait: Mana -100, Magic -10) (Skin Slot)
Elite Nirvok’s Tongue (Two-Meter Appendage, Medium Paralysis Poison) (Tongue Slot)
Land Shark's Ear (Echolocation: 10 meters) (Ear Slot)
Mana Core (Water Spells: Ice Spear, Water Manipulation, Magic +60, Mana +1000) (Extra Slot)
Jumping Spider’s Spinneret (Thread Creation) (Extra Slot 2)
Kraken’s Arm Tentacle (Reach: 5 meters, Negative Trait: STR -10%) (Extra Slot 3)
Mana Core (Wind Spells: Wind Gust, Wind Wall, Magic +20, Mana +300) (Extra Slot 4)