The Genius Mecha Pilot Wants to Survive - Chapter 10

Gaspaeng Defense Battle (3)

If someone asked me if I was a good driver in reality, I would have said no.

Because I’d been a dormant license holder for 8 years. The fact that I was piloting the Titan better than expected was actually quite surprising.

And today, I learned an even more surprising fact.

‘Why is driving actually doable?’ To toot my own horn a bit, “doable” might even be an understatement.

Kki-i-ik-!

I was pulling off a drift I’d never done before. As I took the corner that fast, the Keppers, unlike our car, couldn’t slow down and slammed straight into the wall.

One of them must have hit at a bad angle, because it collapsed with its neck snapped. However, the others stumbled from the impact, shook their heads, and tried to charge again.

“Shoot!!!”

I slowed down and kept the steering wheel as steady as possible. Gunshots and sparks flashed from behind. I wished it would be cleared up like that, but maybe hitting moving targets from a moving car wasn’t as easy as I thought.

Jordoni was putting up a good fight, but even for him, shooting while leaning back from the passenger seat in a shaking car didn’t look easy.

The surviving Keppers kept chasing us. All I could do was maintain stable driving to make it easier to shoot… but even that wasn’t going well.

Teong. Teong. Teong.

Heavy footsteps, different from the Keppers. A lighter sound compared to a Titan. It pierced through the gunfire and struck my ears.

And with that sound, what appeared in front of us was… a Big Eye.

Ji-ing. With a loud noise, a huge purple eyeball glowed.

“Hold on tight!!”

Kki-i-ik-!

The car moved in an S-shape. With a Kwa-ang sound, a purple explosion occurred beside us. Whether it was the shockwave of the blast or the inertia of the rough evasive maneuvers, the personnel in the back stumbled and fell.

In the midst of that, Jordoni almost fell out, so I had to grab his waist with one hand. Seeing him hanging precariously by his stretched-out pants was truly an eyesore.

‘I can see your butt.’

“Drive straight, you…!”

Before the shout from behind could even finish, I turned the steering wheel again. It looked painful as he rolled and hit his seat again, but he surely felt it was better than dying.

“Ugh. I’d rather die.”

The soldier’s lament from the back was buried by Jordoni’s gunfire. Thanks to me swerving to the side, he managed to get back into the car safely and started shooting again, leaning his body out the window.

Thanks to the target being large, yellow sparks flew from the Big Eye’s eye. In the shooting range, a burst of fire would have taken it down, but reality was very different. An ordinary soldier’s rifle was too weak to strip that shield in just a few shots.

“Hold on!”

In the end, I had no choice but to drift again.

For a moment, we could disappear from the enemies’ line of sight. All I could do was floor the accelerator to put some distance between us, and the soldiers quickly started “maintenance.” Maintenance didn’t amount to much. If they dropped a gun, they picked it up, and the guys who fell over just sat back in their seats. That was it.

Before they even finished that, Kilugs popped out of the passage we had just exited and chased after us.

And I realized the problem with running away from the Big Eye.

Kwa-ang!

Attacks flew from behind. I looked at the side mirrors and rearview mirror to somehow track its position and eye, but it felt much more precarious than before.

“Big Eye! Someone take that bastard down first!!”

The thought of being aimed at from behind meant I couldn’t keep the steering wheel still. Maybe that’s why, even with concentrated fire, it wasn’t going down quickly. Meanwhile, as a few Keppers flew in close, some guys dropped their guns, and

“Ugh!”

some even vomited from the rough driving.

“Ammo! Need some ammo!”

This is a total mess, seriously.

Kwa-ang! Ka-ga-ga-gak.

Another beam of light exploded, and the car, which I had been turning roughly, scraped against the wall and barely regained stability.

I felt like we were doomed at this rate.

“I’ll make it face you head-on, can you take it down?”

“…It’s possible, but hold on a second.”

Jordoni suddenly smashed the windshield with the butt of his rifle. Shards from the passenger side flew, and spiderweb-like cracks covered my view.

“No, you crazy…”

“This is the only way to be sure!”

He was even breaking the lower part of the windshield and clearing away the shards. Yeah, this would be more certain than leaning out the side to shoot.

Watching the side mirror, seeing the glowing eye, I turned the steering wheel once more.

The car, which had been turning to avoid attacks, didn’t stop. I turned the wheel more than usual. I didn’t unwind it back to the center, just kept turning, slowing down with a scraping sound.

It spun half a circle and stopped. Meanwhile, Jordoni, who had leaned his body forward from the passenger seat and rested his arms on the hood, pulled the trigger.

Du-du-du-du-du.

Even though it was rapid fire and the distance was far, the stable firepower struck the Big Eye’s eye. And the bullets pierced the weakened shield and slammed straight into the eye.

Kki-i-i-ik.

The car came to a sudden stop with the brakes.

The car’s condition was literally a mess. Thick smoke was coming from the hood due to the reckless driving, and there was no windshield left. Even the side mirrors were gone. I wanted to give myself a compliment for using my device’s selfie mode to replace the side mirror.

Besides that, there was severe damage here and there on the sides and front. Still, I had to find meaning in the fact that we arrived safely.

I wanted to take a break after the long march, but I couldn’t. Everyone, including me, scrambled out of the car.

The reason was obvious. We hadn’t shaken them off…

Keppers were running after us, drooling. I rushed to the opening mechanism. I had peeked over someone’s shoulder to steal the password when we all came out earlier.

I entered the password, and I heard the machine moving. Now, when the door opens… it’ll be dark, so I’ll have to tell them to turn on the lights and run straight to the Titan to climb on.

‘It’s not fully finished yet, but it’s in a state where it can move.’

It was a shame I couldn’t attach the equipment to the shoulders, but it couldn’t be helped. I had no choice but to fight well with just the shotgun.

With a Ku-ung sound, the huge door opened. For some reason, bright light was leaking through the gap.

‘Light? Why?’

And beyond that… I saw the maintenance crew holding monkey wrenches and crowbars.

“Eh? Mitchell-ajussi?”

“Brill?”

“How are you here…?”

“Ah, let’s talk later! Everyone, get in quickly!”

I took command of the personnel amidst the confusion. The troops scrambled in, and a few turned back to provide covering fire. Seeing the troops entering, the maintenance crew quickly started closing the door.

However, before the door could close completely, a Kepper threw its body at it.

“Kieeeeek!”

The Kepper, stuck in the door, screamed in pain. However, for safety, the opening mechanism stopped, and the door wouldn’t close the rest of the way.

Other Keppers tried to rush through the gap.

“Block it!!”

Bullets concentrated on the gap. Another person was injured by the Kepper thrashing while stuck in the door. Even though that Kepper died, new ones were trying to break through the gap over it.

“Close it! Close the door!”

The maintenance crew closed the door by force. They pushed with all their might, but it wasn’t easy due to the weight.

“Mitchell! You, go to the Titan quickly!”

I was about to help close the door, but at James’s words, I gritted my teeth and turned around. Yes, that was the better judgment.

Brill followed me.

“I’ll prepare the boarding crane for you!”

“Yes, please! But why are you here…?”

As I asked why they were here, I found the answer. On the two shoulders of my Titan that had arrived, two weapons that hadn’t been there before were attached.

“We were staying nearby. As soon as we heard the war alert, we ran over and decided to finish the assembly. I had a feeling you’d come this way, Ajussi. Ah, more importantly, board! Board first!”

I got on the boarding crane for now. It would be nice if the Titan were lying down like last time, but usually, it’s quite high. Generally, Titans are put in a kneeling position to make it easy to get on and off, but it was standing for modifications. To board comfortably, this auxiliary device was needed.

As I climbed up near the cockpit, I shouted to Brill, who was operating the crane.

“Thank you!”

“Then go kill those fucking Kilugs.”

To her, who was holding up a monkey wrench, I shook my fist in return and entered the cockpit.

I had been terrible until just a moment ago, but from now on, I was confident.

As I sat in the chair, the moderately soft seat enveloped me.

I pressed the buttons to start the engine and other control buttons. Lights turned on on buttons and screens throughout the interior. Soon, the view was captured on the screen as well.

I lightly gripped the two levers in front.

‘Ah, this cool and heavy sensation.’

Now it was time to return as the hero of the Norbaem battle.

Ka-ga-ga-gang.

In my view, I saw a Kilug forcibly prying open the huge iron door.

A Heavy Beetle, a heavy armored tank type among the medium species. Huge hook claws replacing both hands. A heavy weight comparable to a Titan. A huge horn that pierces through while charging. And unlike the Big Eye or Giant Mud, its core is inside, and it gathers energy through that horn to conduct long-range bombardment.

‘So one was here.’

These are boss-level entities during the Gaspaeng defense battle in the game. They invade last during the defense, and fortunately, in the game, you only face one. Later, in the content after the base defense, you find out that several invaded.

It’s not even something you fight alone. You win if you just hold out for time. Unlike the Big Eye, it’s not something ordinary infantry can handle.

For the Big Eye, even ordinary infantry, not super soldiers, could sufficiently take it down with sniper rifles or RPGs. However, the Heavy Beetle’s heavy armor can only be taken down if you continuously deal damage with such weapons.

Ku-gu-gu-gu.

It was prying the door open with its two front legs. The soldiers and maintenance crew seemed to have judged they couldn’t hold out any longer, so they were abandoning the entrance and fleeing. Keppers that had entered between the Heavy Beetle’s legs were chasing after them.

I manipulated the levers. In the previous battle, the weapon on the shoulder was fixed, but since I had attached a machine gun and could aim, it felt slightly awkward.

Nevertheless, the machine gun spewed fire, blocking the Keppers’ advance.

U-ung.

Just then, light gathered on the Heavy Beetle’s horn. Soon after, a purple beam flashed and flew.

The energy barrier on the left arm I had raised in advance deployed. Even though I blocked it well, I felt the weight of the impact through the cockpit.

White steam rose from the energy barrier. It was a heavy attack, but I was able to block it properly without damage to the machine.

Keppers rushed in through the gap. With the barrier still deployed, I controlled the two weapons on the shoulders.

The machine gun kept firing at the Heavy Beetle to keep it in check. On the other side, it spewed fire toward the ground, creating a sea of fire. The charging Keppers burned and rolled around.

Meanwhile, the Heavy Beetle’s attack flew again. A heavy vibration rode through the machine and shook my body. Still, I could endure it.

The Heavy Beetle’s attack feels like a double-barrel shotgun. It shoots two shots after charging, and it takes a little while to recharge.

If it were a Big Eye, I would have killed it right then, but because of its sturdy body, I wasn’t sure if I could take it down immediately.

But the Heavy Beetle’s movement was also different. Instead of charging up, it charged at me.

I tilted the barrier. The horn and the barrier scraped, and sparks flew. The Titan was pushed back several steps by the weight of the charge.

“Run away!!”

The soldiers who had taken cover behind screamed as the Titan was pushed back. Fortunately, I was able to stop without stepping on anyone.

Just then, the Heavy Beetle’s left arm was lifted. Before the sharp tip could strike down, the shotgun on the right arm spewed fire.

Unlike the machine gun, the advantage of the shotgun was clearly revealed. Even though I didn’t aim exactly, blood, bullets, and flesh scattered, and the sharp arm fell to the floor.

Then, the Heavy Beetle tried to lift me up with its horn. I could endure it if I forced it, but I also lifted the Titan’s legs, folded them, and jumped.

Kwa-ang!

With a monstrous cry, the Heavy Beetle threw its head back, and with that, my vision spun. I didn’t quite manage a cool landing, and the Titan rolled on the floor.

However, I didn’t stop and hit its back with the machine gun. The Heavy Beetle slowly turned around, and the sight was a bit comical.

Because the Heavy Beetle’s main legs are its front legs. Not the front hook or arm that flew off just now. The front legs mainly support the weight. Supporting itself with the front legs as an axis, its hind legs moved busily to turn.

As a result, its body came up over the place where I had been standing just a moment ago.

The creature didn’t see it, but I had dropped something there. That item that’s useful for defense battles. That item I had filled every empty slot with.

A triggered sticky bomb.

Press.

As I pressed the button, Kwa-ang!

With an intense explosion, flames and shockwaves soared from beneath the abdomen, one of the weak spots on the Heavy Beetle’s body. The body or butt, whatever it was, soared toward the sky, then hesitated due to the weight of the upper body. It would be better to finish it off if it flipped over, but I wondered if the trigger timing was a bit fast.

Before it could flip back over, I approached, grabbed one of its hind legs, and pulled it over. The huge body thrashed.

There was almost no strength in that movement. It was natural since the bomb had exploded right under its weak spot. Still, it would be a big problem if it fired beams while I waited for it to die, so I sprayed the machine gun at its belly.

Soon, thick blood flowed from the Heavy Beetle’s mouth as well.

The maintenance shop, now filled not with the smell of iron and oil, but with the stench of gunpowder and Kilug blood.

There, the soldiers and maintenance crew muttered.

“He’s really good at piloting…”