Chapter 134 – Comparison

Chapter 134 – Comparison

The Great Lakes, vast bodies of water like seas, with surging waves, were said to contain about one-fifth of the world’s fresh water.

These five massive lakes, spanning between the United States and Canada, should have been a beautiful blue sanctuary for countless life forms, but…

“What is this? Industrial wastewater?”

“Isn’t it like radioactive water?”

Now, it was covered in a purplish-blackish-brown color.

I narrowed my eyes at the sight of the man.

‘It’s about to begin.’

This was why I quickly secured water ability users like Sua. Right now, the man’s water had only changed color slightly and had a strong stench, but soon, that water would not only be toxic, but also harmful, rapidly corroding water lacking mana.

And it wasn’t just the water. The ground often turned into crumbly, rubber-like dirt. In severe areas, the air itself would become polluted.

In other words, the monster invasion wasn’t simply monsters arriving. It was more accurate to say that the monsters’ dimension itself was invading our Earth, as if it were being eroded.

East Asia, which had eliminated the giant nests from the very beginning and kept the monsters in check, hadn’t reached this point, but the situation in the United States was bound to be different.

They had been exposed for a longer time and more intensely.

‘The situation in Europe must be even more severe.’

Although the giant nest in Siberia had been removed, I remembered there was another giant nest in Africa. So, it wasn’t for nothing that they were struggling.

Furthermore, since the villain ‘Head Hunter,’ who could manipulate fire, was said to be laying waste to Europe, there probably wouldn’t be many survivors.

And it was obvious that a significant number of those survivors would have become refugees and come to the United States due to its humanitarian measures.

‘In my previous life, they even came to Korea.’

Now, on the contrary, I was crossing the Pacific Ocean to protect the United States. It was quite ironic.

Also, thanks to me clearing up East Asia, in this timeline, the United States largely focused on Europe. Because of this, more Europeans and Africans who had fled to Europe also survived.

‘That’s a relief.’

But I couldn’t rest easy yet. There were still a considerable number of villains and monsters, not to mention giant nests. Even stronger monsters were yet to appear.

Among them, the most impressive species was the giant monster, Hydra, with eight legs, three tails, and five heads.

They were about 40 meters tall, comparable to a 12-story building. What’s more, their numbers were only slightly less than that of regular monsters.

Dragon Worms, which only came in groups of a dozen or so at most, were no match for them. Adding their strong regenerative power, fire manipulation, and gills that spewed mountain fortress…

This was the very entity that had driven humanity to extinction in the previous timeline.

‘No matter what I did, it wasn’t enough.’

At that time, my entire force consisted of Colossi and Magitech Artillery Units, fighting bare-handed without even weapons.

Although I recognized the true value of my abilities late…

It was because I was trapped in a vicious cycle: I couldn’t secure territory, so I couldn’t secure mana facilities, and without mana facilities, I lacked troops to secure territory.

‘Well, this time it’s different.’

Kuguguuuung-

I soothed myself, watching the Photon Destroyer flying nearby. Furthermore, with what I’m currently researching-.

[Rate of Fire Amplification Research in progress… 31%]

added to that, there would be no shortage of firepower in the future.

‘Let’s eliminate the Giant Nest before the Man.’

It was common sense to capture the opponent before they could fortify their castle.

* * *

The Giant Nest’s location was in the middle of Canada’s vast wilderness. I admired the Man’s expansive forest of tundra pines from high above.

‘It’s truly immensely vast.’

At first glance, it was similar to the Giant Nest in Siberia. But looking closer, there were many distinct differences.

First, unlike the area around Lake Baikal, which was dotted with several mountain ranges, Canada’s wilderness was almost entirely flat.

And the lakes!

As expected for flat land, there were an insane number of lakes.

Michigan State in the United States, which borders this region, had the nickname ‘Land of Ten Thousand Lakes’… but in reality, there were not ten thousand, but eleven thousand lakes larger than five thousand pyeong.

Upon seeing this terrain, Sua and Seongjae shook their heads.

“Wow… this really reminds me of Siberia.”

“Just looking at it is horrible……”

If we had to travel by land again this time, it was obvious we would have suffered terribly in a muddy swamp even worse than Siberia.

But unlike then, we were now leisurely flying through the sky in an Assault Landing Ship, enjoying the Man’s comfort.

The situations were incomparable.

“So that’s why everyone talks about air units.”

I grinned.

* * *

Of course, I wasn’t the only thing that had changed.

“Screeeeech!”

This time, even more and stronger monsters were rushing in than during the Siberia incident…

Ziiiiiing- Kwaaaaaang!

They were easily eliminated by the Photon Destroyers’ gunfire and the one-sided attacks of the Invisibility Interceptors. The number of Aerial Motherships escorting me was also much greater than before. In the first place, ground monsters that couldn’t attack from the sky were simply ignored.

When the mana quantity accumulated a bit, I would deploy Rye, who would happily collect mana stones as if placing a ‘product order.’

Although the resistance grew stronger as we approached the nest, it was still just resistance. It was insufficient to stop me or push me back.

About an hour after my fleet passed through their resistance like flowing water, the Giant Nest came within range of the Photon Destroyers.

Before, I would have had to do all sorts of things to break through the thick mana shield, but now it was different.

“Photon Destroyers, prepare for volley fire.”

Ziiiiiing-

First, the Photon Destroyers gathered their turrets together-.

Kwaaaaaang!

All they had to do was fire simultaneously.

After that, it was a foregone conclusion that only a large crater would remain where the Giant Nest once stood.

It was almost anticlimactic. Seeing this, Sua tilted her head, as if she couldn’t believe it.

“What? Is it already over?”

Knowing how much trouble they had gone through last time, she was astonished by the difference between this time and the last.

Meanwhile, Seongjae, who had been snoring on the bridge, was startled by the bright flash of the Photon Destroyers’ volley fire on the screen, and then-.

“Siwoo, I’m going back to take a nap…”

He headed to his private quarters.

It was clearly different from the last Expedition, where everyone had to focus on what they had to do.

‘Well… Did I overdo it a bit with the Man?’

Perhaps it was natural.

The Photon Destroyer, with its overwhelming firepower, was a given.

At the time, there were also Assault Landing Ships that could instantly deploy troops that were unimaginable, and Factory Ships that could directly produce and repair machines on-site. The firepower of the Aerial Mothership and the amount of water accumulated were also on a different level than before.

So now, all that was left was to deal with the Ground Monsters piled up around and retrieve the Mana Stone from the Giant Nest.

I slowly began to lower the Assault Landing Ship to the ground.

Thud! Crash!

And the Colossi began to descend from the sky.

It wasn’t called an Assault Landing Ship for nothing; it had enough water to quickly clear out the monsters.

I grinned and gave them orders.

“Let’s finish this quickly.”

And soon, it happened just as he said.

***

At the same time, White House. Oval Office.

“Did you feel that just now?!”

The Mutants were agitated. The mana reaction from the Giant Nest, which had been supporting them in the Northern Region, had disappeared.

“The Giant Nest is gone! And instantly!”

“What in the world happened?!”

Even though there were veterans among them who had conquered numerous dimensions, this phenomenon was new to them. Among the agitated Mutants, Archmage Villain, Eugene Fitzgerald, explained in a calm voice.

“It was eliminated instantly with strong firepower.”

Yujin had a rough idea of how powerful the Magitech Legion’s Fleet was, based on information gathered from various magic and observers, including Apoin.

However, the Mutants, who came from another dimension and were unfamiliar with human civilization, had incredulous expressions.

They soon began to blame him.

“Damn it, this is driving me crazy.”

“Do you really think that makes sense, sir?”

Yujin steadfastly pushed his own argument.

“It’s possible if it’s you, sir.”

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

“Do you even know how thick the Giant Nest’s Mana Shield is?!”

“You stupid, low-level dimensional being who never had mana in the first place. If it weren’t for your Anomalous Phenomenon, I wouldn’t even have to come to this backwater place—”

These men, who spoke confidential information without hesitation, were the highest-ranking Mutants, actively utilized in Expeditions, unlike most Mutants who were used and discarded.

But Yujin, as if in response to their words, drew up his own mana. The blue mana swirling in his grasp was an amount they couldn’t even imagine.

Whoooosh!

“Say that again.”

Most of them bowed their heads, but—.

“Oh, no… that’s nothing, sir.”

“C-calm down.”

“You’re just faking strength with a fake ability you got like lightning from an Anomalous Phenomenon!”

One Mutant, who looked like an octopus, was not among them.

“I’m on a different level than an inferior species like you! As for me, I’ve been training mana since ancient times—”

It was when he was shouting that.

“7th Circle. Soul Extraction.”

Kwakwaaaaaak!

With a strong, ear-piercing sound…

Thud.

He fell to the floor, gurgling.

He was dead.

Is there anyone else who wants to speak?

As the Man and Yujin growled, looking around, all the Mutants were as silent as dead mice. It was a moment later that the Men spoke.

Don’t be too much of a Man. After all, our role is just to wait until Those Beings arrive.

Giant Nest and Monsters are ultimately just tools. Once you become a Man, you’ll be a respectable high-ranking Mutant-.

At the Men’s words, Yujin cried out in frustration.

Didn’t I tell you last time? He’s getting stronger and stronger. If we continue like this… we’ll all die before Those Beings even arrive.

Hahaha… There’s no way that’s true.

The Mutant, who had been awkwardly laughing and denying it, completely shut his mouth at Yujin’s resolute glare.

However, half of the Mutants still looked uncomprehending, and only the other half looked vaguely fearful.

Only Yujin accurately knew the danger of the Magitech Legion. And he was doing his best to somehow respond.

Since it has come to this, we must avoid a direct confrontation with him. We must somehow survive and endure by continuously transferring the Monsters.

He began to explain the detailed strategy to the Mutants. At first, the Mutants had reluctant expressions as Yujin explained calmly, but…

Oh, my… How interesting.

It’s a brilliant idea. A brilliant idea…

Soon, they began to nod repeatedly.

It was the moment when the future began to change significantly.