Chapter 185

Training Fight (3)

The route of the assault planned by the Union command, excluding the Adgons, was quite roundabout.

They planned to dispatch thousands of meticulously picked Awakened into a planet each time, but there was not enough stock of Leap Tickets to move them all at once.

Since they didn’t have such an item, naturally, they had to move through the dungeon Gates.

However, the problem was that the Adgons, who strengthened the planet’s security measure, had already expected that.

Thus, they concentrated the Adgon forces deployed at each target around the Gates.

If the Union forces entered the portals in the usual manner, they would be destroyed by revealing themselves to the lines of enemy fire.

– So, we decided to move through an open Gate on another planet at the target dimension. The plan is to fly back to the target planet from there.

The ruined planets and dimensions controlled by the Adgons were very old by objective standards.

Therefore, most of the time, the species that previously lived there expanded their territory by creating colonies on different planets before their destruction.

And since the planets used to have residents, Dungeon Gates or Red Gates opened in its atmosphere as well.

– Since there are no longer inhabitants, most of the Gates have collapsed, but the remaining ones can be used as a pathway.

Listening to the story that followed, it was a bigger plan than I thought.

The Union planned to move various materials and parts through the Gates of the wrong planet and build a huge spacecraft there that could carry thousands of individuals.

And then we were to get on board and sail over to the target planet.

But…

I pointed out that there was something unclear.

“So, how long would that take?”

Bachurka spoke with a shadow cast on her face.

– That’s the problem. It varies slightly from dimension to dimension, but it is expected to take at least three months based on Earth’s time.

“That’s too slow.”

It had already been more than two months since Adgon prisoner’s handover to the Union was done.

Even if I were to consider that the delay so far was inevitable because they were trying to secure testimony and evidence and locate the target planet…

It would still take another three months for everything to be completed.

That’s almost half a year wasted.

“Will you be able to prepare as covertly as you are now for three months? What if the Adgosn notices?”

– We will only have to do our best. There’s no other way at this point.

I pondered for a while and finally made up my mind.

It was the Union’s goal to strike the Adgons, but above all, it was a stepping stone needed for my long-cherished desire.

The fragment of the god that they hid…To free the things that corresponded to Igras-Sho’s leg was also a duty that I had to fulfill to get rid of Mercadius.

With that in mind, I decided to disclose what I had kept away from the Union so far.

“Let’s change the method.”

– What do you mean?

After the tutorial quest and having entered the Main Quest…

When I was invited to go to another dimension or visit the Union Headquarters, despite the fact that I had a much better method, I used the ‘invitation,’ in other words, the teleport scroll bundles they sent, instead.

I tore a scroll, moved to the front of the Gate, crossed it, ripped another scroll again, and repeated the process until I reached the destination.

That was because I didn’t want to let them know that I had the [Door to Hope].

If nobody could observe our movement routes, for example, when sending the Celestial Dragon Guild members to a Gateless dimension, we pretended to use a ‘Leap Ticket’ but really sent them through the [Door of Hope]. Other than that, we moved similarly to others.

‘Now that we have found a common enemy called the Adgons…’

The enemy’s identity within the Union had been identified. The time was right to disclose it to our allies, whom I had to work together with to destroy our target.

I told Bachurka about it.

– Is it true? Do you have such an item?!

“Yes, I haven’t used it properly until now because the consumption of Mana Core is great when moving through dimensions. But I think the Union can procure as many Cores as the operation would require. Cores are a much lower price than the experience points you’ll spend on Leap Tickets.”

– Of course! That’s great. A lot of holes in our plans can be covered that way!

*

Due to my initiative, the scheduled date of the assault had been shortened by more than two months.

A total of five planets have been targeted.

The Union’s Awakened units were divided into five groups, and not all of them gathered in one place before the assault.

It was to reduce the chances of catching the Adgons’ attention as much as possible.

I stood in front of the troops who were aiming for one of the planets.

“Then, I’ll open the door.”

It felt like the air was being pulled tightly because of the tension.

Despite being selected as the best at each dimension, there was solemnity in their eyes, perhaps because they knew the importance of the mission.

A war that would be the key to exterminating a race with horrible mental control… a race that could destroy innumerable dimensions if left unchecked.

A war to strengthen the influence of the exiled gods.

Whoooooong!

The ring on my finger turned into a hoop, expanding its shape.

The moment the space inside the frame was filled with cold light…

– Please enter the coordinates.

Theoretically speaking, the most efficient way was to open the door right in front of the black hole where the fragment of the god was sealed.

However, as if the Adgon people had been prepared for the small percentage of intruders that might be sent through Dimensional Leap Ticket, they had covered the black hole with an infrastructure.

It was confirmed in advance that a portal couldn’t be deployed to its proximity because of the artifacts installed in it.

Therefore, I had secured the coordinates of the nearest possible location to the black hole that the influence of any artifact hadn’t reached.

– Coordinate verification complete.

The enormous amount of Mana Core provided by the Union had been absorbed, so all that remained was to charge.

I nodded, looking at the commander.

Then the person responsible for the assault shouted in a heavy and sharp voice.

“All troops, forward!”

Awakened aliens ran in a row into the blue Gate.

I couldn’t afford to relax even after the last individual threw himself inside.

The news that a battle had begun on that planet would be delivered to the Adgons’ mother dimension. It wouldn’t take long for it to the other worlds.

I changed the coordinates inserted in the [Door of Hope] and then appeared in front of the other waiting troops, doing the same thing repeatedly.

And finally, the fifth one.

The troops would be moving in with me from that point on.

“I’ll now open it.”

Those mobilized from Earth for that operation were Genograche and me, only the two of us.

Only those who met the minimum level of force required for the operation were selected.

After everyone rushed to the door, I threw myself inside the last.

The blue light surrounded me.

Thanks to having completed entering the destination’s coordinates in advance, I immediately appeared at the destination without the artificial intelligence having to ask me questions.

With a strange sky surrounding me, the tearing wind struck my body.

*

The Union’s planned assault structure was fully predictable for the Adgons as well.

The strongest defense facilities around the black hole were all aimed at high altitudes because they thought they would approach it either by spaceship outside the atmosphere or through a Gate.

Likewise, their fortified structures aiming beyond the horizon were also strengthened to prevent enemies approaching from the ground through the Gate.

Nevertheless, a network of weapons with relatively weak firepower was installed against the Awakened transmitted from close range via Leap Tickets.

There was a reason for it. They knew that regardless of race, there was a limit to the experience points that the Union could mobilize at once for Leap Tickets.

As a result, the Adgon commander was forced to feel despair when the “Gate,” which hadn’t existed before, opened only 200 meters above the structure’s surface that was covering the black hole, and Awakened beings began to pour down like a waterfall from it.

– Emergency, emergency!

Around the black hole, there was a powerful surface-to-air weapon that could destroy dozens of spacecraft once fired, but the barrel couldn’t face the blue Gate.

That was because they would hit ally artillery and facilities that covered the black hole in doing so.

Taking that into consideration, the altitude at which the Union appeared was low.

Furthermore, 200 meters was low enough to reach the ground in no time even when left to the natural drop speed. In fact, as proof, the assault troops who threw themselves first had already reached the roof and were focused on the barrier destruction.

They also couldn’t be targeted, much less attacked. It would be no different from attacking the outer walls of the base.

Thus, the Adgon infantry jumped out and began to attack them, but the numerical advantage was with the Union troops.

“Damn it. They’re flooding out of that Gate endlessly!”

For Adgons, not only did they have to defend their mother dimension, but there were five other planets that they had to distribute their forces to.

Naturally, they would be pushed back by the ace troops of each Union’s dimension that had joined the war.

However, the Adgons were not fools either, so they had prepared a shield for contingencies.

“The barrier line is too sturdy!”

Since there was no accurate information about the barrier due to the Union’s spy’s inability to get closer, its strength was more powerful than expected.

Seo Jin-Wook, who was the last to cross the portal, appeared while the Barrier Destruction Division was struggling.

“What, are you still held back by that?”

The shells fired by the Adgon infantry on the ground couldn’t even brush against him while falling.

Seo Jin-Wook stepped on the roof of the base and shouted.

“Get out of the way, everyone!”

Knowing his reputation, the aliens stopped what they were doing and made way for him.

Seo Jin-Wook observed the roof surface through [The Successor’s Eyes].

It was a very sturdy barrier, but the critical point could be found if one was to look through the structure.

Creating a Mana wave that painted the floor as it drew flashy patterns, Seo Jin-Wook’s gaze reached a spot.

‘Here it is!’

He unsheathed the Holy Sword.

The broken blade was filled with Mana, creating a long beam of light as branches stretched out.

Without hesitation, he pierced through one point in the barrier!

Bang!

Shatter!

Following the heavy sounds of shocks reverberating, a sharp, shattering noise echoed.

Next, the floor cracked open like an egg’s shell, and a dazzling flash was emitted.

“Ugh!”

A colossal energy storm, one enough to baffle the Awakened beings that had not only gone through high-intensity training but experienced all kinds of situations, struck through the top of the roof.

Boo-boo-boom!

When the storm calmed down, the aliens realized that something had changed.

“The barrier!”

Seo Jin-Wook shouted.

“Going in!”

He and the chosen aliens made holes on the base’s roof under his colleagues’ cover and flew inside.

The assault unit for that planet, which Seo Jin-Wook participated in, operated under a slightly different strategy from the other units.

They had the same goal of neutralizing the Adgons and taking control of the planet, but there was an added operation to cover Seo Jin-Wook to let him enter the black hole while others were fighting.

That was a critical aspect of their plan.

In doing so, at least Seo Jin-Wook could escape and return after recovering the god’s fragment if they lost the battle itself on the planet. That would be enough to call a strategic victory.

If there were four more individuals like Seo Jin-Wook, they could have used the same strategy on other planets, but unfortunately, he had only one body.

“Now, next floor!”

Jin-Wook continued to proceed downstairs, breaking the barriers set up on each floor, and Genograche protected his back, moving together with the Union’s Awakened.

After several iterations of the same operation, Seo Jin-Wook finally reached the first floor.

“Intruder!”

The Adgons that guarded the black hole covered by the building walls shouted, but…

“Kill them all!”

It didn’t take long for them to become minced meat due to the Union troops’ relentless assaults composed of skills, magic, and artifacts.

“Well, that’s it for us.”

Considering the hole where Igras-Sho’s leg was sealed, it could have been counterproductive for many people to rush in recklessly.

Genograche, who was vulnerable to divine power, couldn’t get any closer as well.

Seo Jin-Wok spoke with a nod.

“Well, I wish you good luck.”

The Awakened of the Union replied with trust in his eyes.

“Don’t worry about us. Good luck.”

Leaving his wishes behind, Seo Jin-Wook threw himself into the dark portal.