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Chapter : 12
Battle (4)
The Calcutta gorilla’s vengeance was legendary. Once it was wounded, it fought relentlessly until either it or the hunter was dead. That’s how persistent a Calcutta gorilla could be.
The gorilla’s blood-red eyes stared at Suhyeon. Meeting its gaze, Suhyeon smiled awkwardly and said,
“Even if I say I didn’t do it, you wouldn’t believe me, right?”
Kwaaaaang!
Instead of an answer, a roar filled with rage echoed.
Grrk!
Its roar wasn’t like a normal animal’s. It was literally eardrum-shattering. Anyone who heard it properly could temporarily lose their sense of balance. It was a skill to prevent prey from escaping.
Yet, the squad members endured it with just a groan. Suhyeon had briefly put up a telekinetic barrier. Even he hadn’t expected it to work…
Something’s happening to my ability!
Normally, his power wouldn’t be able to extend so broadly or strongly enough to completely block that roar, let alone deliver an attack capable of piercing the gorilla’s back.
He should have realized it when he first extended his threads. The output of his telekinesis had become abnormally high.
Damn it, I should have tested it beforehand!
He hadn’t experimented with his telekinesis because he never had to—and now it was biting him in the ass. Gritting his teeth, Suhyeon stared at the Calcutta gorilla.
No matter how terrifying the situation, he never looked away from his enemy. He studied how to fight while maintaining eye contact. That was the result of experience accumulated over his lifetime.
It seems…
The gorilla wasn’t paying attention to anyone else—it was focused entirely on Suhyeon. If it weren’t for the unfamiliar pain it felt, it would have charged immediately. Even from the shots fired behind it, its instincts had already singled out Suhyeon as the culprit.
“We’re screwed.”
“What do we do now?!”
The squad didn’t even realize Suhyeon had used his powers. Calmly, he said:
“Split up.”
“What?!”
“It seems it’s decided to hunt me. Retreat on your own! If you survive, we’ll meet back later!”
With that, Suhyeon surged forward. Enhancing his physical abilities with telekinesis was a technique he had mastered in his past life. The crucial point, however, was…
Grrk!
His power had become stronger than he imagined. His leap rivaled the distance of the Calcutta gorilla’s jump. Feeling the strain in his body, Suhyeon quickly averted his gaze.
Right now, the gorilla had clearly marked him as its target. Fighting alongside his squad was pointless. The black bear had some offensive power, but combined with its mediocre performance and Lee Sohee’s control, it might only get in the way.
It was better to break off, shake it off, and return later than risk everyone dying together.
Bang!
“Sharp eyesight, huh.”
The gorilla didn’t lose track of him. With monstrous destructive power, it smashed through trees and followed. He thought the terrain might slow it down a bit, but it was still formidable.
“But I’m not just going to take it lying down.”
Under normal circumstances in his past life, Suhyeon could have hunted a gorilla like this with weapons, equipment, and teammates. Now, he had nothing but his powers. Bitter taste.
No equipment, no allies—only his abilities. He decided to see just how strong his telekinesis had become.
Focus.
The enraged Calcutta gorilla charged, but losing composure would be fatal. Telekinesis relied on mental strength; it required precise, focused concentration to work effectively.
Bang!
The gorilla was knocked back. Suhyeon had unleashed his telekinesis at full power. Even when dispersed over a wide area, the energy still sent the charging gorilla flying.
Crazy!
Even Suhyeon was surprised. Such power. Compared to his abilities in his past life, it was like comparing a cannon to a toy gun.
Uh…
A warm sensation prickled under his nose. A nosebleed. The side effect of overusing his ability. He realized that even if his powers had grown stronger, he couldn’t use them recklessly. No matter how powerful, he was still human.
Alright. I think I know what to do now.
The gorilla’s ambush and his suddenly enhanced powers—both were extraordinary, and his mind hadn’t processed them properly until now. He could finally cool down and assess the situation.
The opponent: the Calcutta gorilla. Suhyeon’s weapon: potent telekinesis. Most people would have rushed in, trusting their new power. Suhyeon did not. The more advantageous the situation, the more he pressed the opponent.
If I exhaust myself in a head-on fight, it’s over. No allies…
He was an excellent soldier and an exceptional monster hunter. No one could match him when hunting monsters.
Humans are weaker than monsters, but humans are more persistent.
A phrase he often told new recruits. No matter how relentless the gorilla was, it couldn’t outmatch human persistence.
“Come on, try to follow me!”
If it ran, fine. If it chased, it was being hunted. Suhyeon prepared for a long game. Leaping between trees, he vanished into the distance. The Calcutta gorilla followed with a furious roar.
He seemed to go too far, but in this situation, there was no room to worry about that. He could think about that once the mission ended. Returning was just a matter of navigation.
For someone inexperienced, surviving alone in the Calcutta region would be like surviving hell. For Suhyeon, it was as easy as breathing.
Once the nosebleed stopped and his body recovered, Suhyeon paused atop a tree. In the distance, he saw the gorilla charging.
This time, a spear.
Earlier, he had wasted too much power measuring his total output. Now, he didn’t need to overuse it—just enough to wound. Sharp, precise, concentrated…
Go!
Like a spear thrower, but the effect was far beyond a spear. The gorilla sensed something sinister mid-charge and twisted its body.
Thud!
A second, unfamiliar pain. The gorilla’s scream shook the jungle. Suhyeon had aimed for the legs, but it twisted, and he pierced its side instead.
Damn. I aimed for the legs.
Its regeneration was impressive. Not troll-level, but most wounds would heal. That was why he aimed for the legs—to create distance…
Kraaaang!
A rock flew. Suhyeon flipped into the air to put space between them. The gorilla was adapting to his powers rapidly. He leapt using telekinesis, creating footholds midair to leap again—a skill any other psychic would admire.
Now, a gun.
Once the gorilla left his line of sight, it relied on senses other than vision to locate him. That gave him a momentary window, which he exploited.
Perched atop the tree, he aimed for a sniper shot.
Thud!
Not enough to harm the gorilla normally, but with telekinesis…
More efficient, more effective.
A stealthy telekinetic strike followed by a second attack while the gorilla was disoriented. A cold, calculated plan under pressure.
The plan worked. A bullet pierced the gorilla’s right eye.
—————-!
A scream beyond description. Suhyeon grimaced. His telekinetic shield saved him from eardrum damage.
Its weakness… it’s too sensitive to pain.
Naturally strong, it rarely got hurt. Other monsters would have tolerated it, but this one was thrashing in pain. Suhyeon was no weakling—he was a hunter who could end its life at any moment.
Boldly, he descended from the tree. Sniping from afar had limits, so he aimed for the eye…
Step by step, slowly. Amid debris flying from the gorilla’s rampage, he advanced without blinking.
One more step.
Stop.
He lifted his rifle and aimed for the gorilla’s brain. Penetrate the forehead and detonate telekinetic energy inside. No monster could survive that.
One shot to end it.
The gorilla was no pushover. If he failed, it would realize someone had dared approach it.
Thud!
Blood spurted from the gorilla’s forehead. Suhyeon’s bullet pierced through, and though unseen, he sensed its brain was shattered.
Huff…
Its arms, which had been tearing thick trees, flailed uselessly. It toppled backward. Suhyeon exhaled, lowering his gun. Always risky, but this was one of his tensest missions yet.
Tch. I want the corpse… but that’d be greedy.
Carrying it with telekinesis would require facing a horde of monsters. No choice. Suhyeon wasn’t reckless.
Grrooo…
“….”
Just as he turned, another Calcutta gorilla appeared. Quietly approaching, Suhyeon thought he was dreaming.
Its mate?
Without warning, it struck. Cursing inwardly, Suhyeon was sent flying.
