Ark the Legend 1-12

by Yoo Seong

  He understandably had this thought. However, that situation changed little by little after coming to Beltana. At first his hopeless situation continued on Beltana but he slowly managed to escape and began to regain his previous self. His rusty head was slowly being cleaned. His head was slowly going back to its previous state. He was Ark of New World!

  ‘Yes, this feeling. I had forgotten for a while…..this is who I am. This Ark.’

  Beltana was the worst environment that Ark encountered. This worst environment wasn’t only in the game. His real estate property had suddenly fallen to 1/10th of the price. If an accident with the nuclear power plant really occurred then his real estate would fly around. The real estate price wouldn’t go up unless Lucifer’s threat disappeared. If he thought about it like that then Lucifer’s threat extended to reality.

  ‘I have to do something!’

  Ark’s sleeping survival instinct woke up thanks to the situation in reality.

  “Anyway, I can’t stay in a place like this forever. There is a limit to this battlefield. If I can’t escape from my status as a prisoner then I can’t go any further. And it isn’t necessary to speak about Lucifer.

  So I can’t waste time being captured.”

  Ark looked around with gleaming eyes. He had already perfectly grasped the movements of the scouting unit. He could sneak out of their search network.

  “First I need to fill my stomach……”

  Snap! Munch, munch, munch.

  Ark inserted a bug into his mouth and chewed it. Ark had collected 20 Space Foods from the supplies box but he was still eating the bugs. The reason was simple. It was in order to raise the skill proficiency of Steel Stomach through experience. If he ate the bugs then he could increase the proficiency of Steel Stomach. But it wasn’t that easy to raise. No matter how many bugs he ate, the degree of proficiency only went up by 1. Furthermore, he couldn’t catch the bugs everywhere. And Steel Stomach only helped with insects that gave lethal doses of poison. He needed the maximum amount to raise the skill. It didn’t feel good eating the bugs but it helped his mental growth so Ark endured it.

  -Achievement + 100.

  -Satiety has reached 100%.

  His satiety was full just by eating 6 bugs. Steel Stomach also gave an extra 3% satiety with every food eaten.

  -Distance to the galactic federation’s base: 243 km.

  “Now the remaining distance is 243 kilometres……”

  He hadn’t even travelled half the distance from when he first left the pyramid. If he travelled 70~80 km a day then it would take 3 more days to reach the base.

  “But the snow storm is dying down. Communication will soon resume.”

  If communication was resumed then he could use wireless contact if he was within 100 km. He would be able to request help from the base. In other words, the base was only 140 km away and he could get there in two days.

  ‘Yes, the next two days! That’s no problem! I can return alive!’

  Ark energetically stepped forward. Of course, he was still being pursued so he couldn’t be careless. The snow storm was dying down. Therefore he would leave footprints in the snow. However, he had already found a way to solve that.

  Sasasasa! Sasasasa!

  He distributed his weight like he was walking on a swamp! At first he applied this skill to prevent from slipping on the snow. Once it was used steadily, an unexpected information window appeared.

  -A new ability has been added to the ‘Swamp Walking’ skill.

  Some skills have special ‘secrets’ that can be acquired. This secret can be obtained when the skill reaches intermediate level or the user realizes there is another application for it

  You have applied Swamp Walking and mastered walking on snow.

  + Snow Walking: Your movement speed when walking on snow can increase if you apply the same principles as Swamp Walking.

 

  * You won’t leave any footprints when walking on snow.

  He gained the additional ability Snow Walking! That was how Ark was able to leave no traces when walking over the snowy mountain. The problem was it consumed his stamina……

  Snap! Munch, munch, munch.

  There were plenty of bugs so it wasn’t a problem. He chewed on the bugs like it was popcorn and walked through the snowfield. He calculated that he had been walking for over 30 hours since escaping from the bunker. Sometimes he would become dizzy with sleepiness but Ark bit his lip and persisted. In the meantime he had travelled 90 km. He had probably already escaped the Rama’s search net but he couldn’t be careless. Ark had been captured when he entered hibernation state. He couldn’t guarantee his safety if he rested in a place like this.

  “Pant pant pant, there is 150 km left. Damn, it is still far away. Pant pant pant, but if I travel 50 more kilometres then I can send a request for help. Pant pant pant! 10 more hours. I have to somehow hang on until then!”

  Ark fought with his sleepiness and looked at the Nymphe to confirm the distance. Suddenly a blinking icon on his Nymphe caught his eye.

  “Eh? This? Why is it reacting in a place like this?”

  Ark clicked the icon with a bewildered look.

  -New GPS information has been entered.

  A message he couldn’t understand rose in front of him

  —————————————————

  “How wonderful.”

  Valencia smiled as he looked around. Enormous armoured vehicles were advancing behind him. 5 Memeods were advancing forward while surrounded by dozens of bikes! It was the federation army marching towards the Rama base.

  “If this surprise attack succeeds then the Beltana war will end!”

  Valencia wasn’t just glad that the war was ending. After being sponsored by the galactic federation, he had been appointed as the leader of the 1st armoured platoon on Beltana for around two months. In the meantime, Valencia had raised his income quite a bit from users sent to Beltana as prisoners. He couldn’t be happy about the war ending since he would lose his extra income.

  “But that will change if I become a distinguished person.”

  The best person who led the army to victory on a disputed planet! Needless to say, the rewards would be colossal. Furthermore, this would be the first victory over a disputed planet since Galaxian was commercialized. In other words, he could become the first war hero. A hero! It was a word that indicated a user who grasped money and honour in both hands. And it was 90% confirmed that Valencia was the main character with all the glory.

  ‘The remaining 10% is anxiety that Ark will revive……’

  Valencia looked at the bikes moving around busily and smiled. The 1st armoured platoon on the bikes had a secret order to directly execute the deserter Ark. Then he would be 100% confirmed as a hero!

  “It was worth being sent to a planet like this.”

  Valencia murmured while smiling with satisfaction. Then a bike approached him.

  “Platoon Chief Valencia.”

  Valencia’s face shone as he turned his head.

  “Hoh, it is unexpected for you to initiate a conversation with someone. Do you like me?”

  “I just had nothing to say to others.”

  The woman who answered with an emotionless face was Irina. She was the military officer in charge of distributing supplies to prisoners.

  “Then you must have a reason to talk to me.”

  “Will they be left in that situation?”

  “They…..”

  A cold laugh emerged from Valencia’s mouth and he winked at Irina. Behind the advancing Memeod were 10 people painfully walking. They were breathing harshly and staggering while walking. They were Ark’s Royal Guards.

  “What’s the problem?”

  “Why are they the only ones walking instead of riding on the Memeod?”

  “There is no more room on the Memeod. You know that we mobilized all of our troops. The mercenaries als
o joined us. Some of them have their own transportation but others have to take the Memeod.”

  “I’m aware of that. I’m asking why they of all people have to walk.”

  “What are you implying? The core power of this mission is the regular troops and mercenaries. Marching would consume their stamina. Isn’t it natural for the prisoners to walk?”

  “But they haven’t even eaten properly. Some of them are starving and have probably reached their limit. If they have to march hundreds of kilometres in that state then they will collapse before arriving at the battlefield.”

  “Then so be it.”

  Valencia replied with a grin.

  “We can’t have weak soldiers on the battlefield.”

  “Are you deliberately trying to kill them by making them march?”

  “Is there such a thing? Like I said, there is no room in the Memeod. It is my duty to only bring soldiers in the best condition onto the battlefield.”

  “But there are still some spaces on the vehicles of the mercenaries. If you ask them…..”

  “Let’s see. I’m not a storyteller. They weren’t willing to do it.”

  The Royal Guards didn’t find it that funny as they examined the vehicles. In fact, there were no vacancies in the Memeod but room could be made for 10 people. But Valencia made the Royal Guards walk. The Royal Guards were Ark’s subordinates. If left alone then they could adversely affect the prisoners paying Valencia money for protection. Valencia felt he needed to make an example of them.

  “If you’re so worried about it then you should give them some food.”

  “That….it is against the regulations.”

  “Indeed.”

  Valencia burst out laughing. Irina frowned at Valencia’s attitude. Pedro who was a member of the 1st armoured platoon then approached on his bike.

  “Leader-nim, an accident has occurred in the rear.”

  “Accident?”

  “Yes, one of the mercenaries’ vehicle has fallen into a hollow and can’t move. It looks like the vehicle will need to be repaired. The mercenary members aren’t enough to pull it out of the hollow so they request the support of 10 extra soldiers.”

  “10 soldiers……”

  Valencia looked at the gasping members of the Royal Guards following the vehicles.

  “This should be suitable labour for them.”

  ————————————————————————————

  “This really is terrible.”

  Mellin sighed with a gloomy face. They had been dying of starvation ever since Ark and his food supply disappeared. And they only had 40% satiety when mobilized for the mission. However, they were pulled onto the battlefield without being given any food or allowed on the Memeod. While the other soldiers were resting in the Memeod, the Royal Guards had to waste their energy walking to the battlefield. Therefore their satiety had fallen to 25%. Cupa who was part of the Tobil Clan was gasping with every breath.

  “Now we have to do the difficult task of pulling this truck out of a hollow…..”

  Valencia had given the task of pulling out the truck to the Royal Guards. They sighed at the sight of the huge truck stuck in a hollow in the middle of the snow field.

  “That bastard, does Valencia want us to drop dead?”

  “It can’t be helped.”

  Mellin muttered with no willpower.

  “Valencia has become the leader of the regular troops thanks to his achievements while we are just prisoners. If we disobey him then won’t we be penalized even more? This won’t change even if we go onto the battlefield. Valencia is in command so we will just be shields for the bullets. We’ll either die from starvation or being hit by bullets.”

  “Dammit!”

  Berad bit his lips and spat out curses.

  “This is all because of Hyung-nim……”

  Hegel murmured as he lowered his head. Someone in the crew flinched and turned at the voice.

  “What did you just say?”

  “Hyung-nim…..Hyung-nim did it! Why? Did I say something incorrect? Isn’t it right? Valencia is annoying us because he disliked Hyung-nim!”

  “You’re saying that now? Did you forget what Hyung-nim did for us? Did you forget that Hyung-nim just handed out food to us while we were fighting with the other prisoners for even one piece? Huh? Now you’re blaming Hyung-nim for Valencia’s harassment? What type of person are you?”

  Berad shouted as he grabbed Hegel’s collar.

  “But…..he is gone……”

  Tears flowed from Hegel’s black eyes.

  “We had a great time with Hyung-nim. I was forcibly drafted here but it was fun. I hoped that we could someday return to Istana with Hyung-nim. I was going to ask Hyung-nim if I could still be his subordinate when we leave this place. I’m willing to die if it is for Hyung-nim. But…..but…..Hyung-nim deserted us……”

  “You idiot! You’re becoming upset because of Valencia’s words. Hyung-nim wouldn’t abandon us!”

  “Then why hasn’t he returned? It has been a fortnight since Hyung-nim disappeared. But why?”

  “T-that….”

  Berad stuttered with a puzzled expression. After a while he sighed and retreated. The other members also held their tongues and sighed with heavy expressions.

  “Hey, you guys! Why are you chatting for so long?”

  Then a rough voice was heard from the rear of the truck. A huge figure covered in fur and smoking a cigar approached. His eyes surveyed the spiritless Royal Guards and he clicked his tongue.

  “Sheesh, you look exactly like a zombie.”

  “Are you the leader of the mercenaries?”

  “Yes, I am the leader. Are you Mellin?”

  “Yes but…..how do you know my name? Did Valencia tell you?”

  “I will give you a detailed explanation later. Let me do a staff check first. Hegel, Kalliben, Beleol, Berad, Ralph, Cupa, Hedro, Reben, Konsed and Mellin. 10 people right?”

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  “It is like that guy said.”

  “Huh? That guy? Platoon Chief Valencia?”

  “Sheesh, we wouldn’t follow a despicable child like that platoon leader. Anyway, the main force is quite a distance away so we can get started.”

  The leader of the mercenaries approached the truck.

  Buaaaang! Kukong! Totong!

  Suddenly the truck released some fumes and quickly got out of the hollow. The eyes of the Royal Guards popped out at the unexpected situation.

  “T-the truck that fell into the hollow……”

  “Bah, this truck carried dozens of tons of metal parts through swampland for several years with no problems. It is impossible for the truck to get stuck in a hollow like this.”

  “T-then why?”

  “Get in. We’re going somewhere.”

  The leader opened the container of the truck. Then 20 mercenaries poured out and thrust the Royal Guards into the container. The truck then raced over the snow at a breakneck speed. The Royal Guards were uneasy but they sat down opposite the mercenaries. The truck clattered on for 1 hour.

  Kiiiiiiii-!

  There was a sharp noise and the truck stopped. Then the door of the container opened and the leader’s voice was heard.

  “We’re here. Everybody get down.”

  “Where are we? Where did you bring us?”

  “Don’t worry about it. You’ll understand once you get off.”

  The mercenary leader laughed and replied. With a bandage covering one eye, the man gave off a bloody impression. It was a face that couldn’t be trusted but they couldn’t just stay inside the container. Mellin and the Royal Guards got off the container with a worried expression. They looked around restlessly until they saw someone standing 10 meters away. It was getting dark so the sunset was obscuring the face of the person. The members looked at him with confusion.

  “U-unbelievable!”

  Kalliben suddenly let out a scream.

  “What’s wrong?
Do we know him?”

  “Hyung-nim? That guy…..is Hyung-nim! Ark hyung-nim!”

  “Ark? Ark hyung-nim? Such a thing? It is impossible. How could it be Ark hyung-nim?”

  “I didn’t tell you?”

  The mercenary leader smirked and spoke with a sly expression.

  “I know that guy from before. He was a prospective member of the Silver Hand.”

  The large man blowing out cigar smoke was Clem. He was the head of the government recognized Silver Hand

  —————————————————

  Let’s return to several hours ago.

  “H-how did my GPS catch this here? And the distance is 50 km?”

  Ark looked at the Nymphe with a confused expression.

  -You have received the GPS signal of the mercenary group Silver Hand.

 

  Surprisingly the Nymphe had caught the GPS signal of the Silver Hand. Before Ark was sent to Beltana, he had been tricked by a wicked hamster and hired out to the Silver Hand mercenary group. But unlike his worries, the Silver Hand was a surprisingly decent mercenary group. Ark worked hard and was able learn various basic combat methods from Clem. He also cultivated a strong relationship with the Scavenger Heksu and could learn miscellaneous information. He had spent a fortnight with them. Meanwhile, his intimacy with the mercenary group became high and Clem inputted the GPS data of the truck into Ark’s Nymphe when their contract ended. But this was Beltana. The Silver Hand was supposed to be on Istana. Yet the GPS said they were 50 kilometres away?

  “Is the Nymphe broken again?”

  It was an uncomfortable thought. However, he decided to try communicating with them.

  –This connection ID code…..Ark! Oh my god! Is it really Ark?

  “This voice is? Leader Clem-nim?”

  –That’s right! Ark! What on earth happened to you?

  “That doesn’t matter. Why is the Silver Hand on Beltana?”

  –We accepted the galactic federation’s request and were dispatched to Beltana. We don’t really are about things like this but we heard that you were sent to Beltana when we dropped by the city. Heksu and the other members were in an uproar once they heard and couldn’t understand what happened. Well, well.