Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of Glory

It was D-day for the Garuda Raid.

Around a hundred civilian AI drones scanned the Sky-Touching Mountain Range. High above in the sky, the military medium-altitude drone KUS-FS5 circled over what was believed to be Garuda's location, tracking its every move. Before long, the report came into the command vehicle for the Unified Strike Force.

"Garuda sighted."

"Where exactly?"

"At the summit of Nampo Taesan."

Nampo Taesan was a towering 2,485-meter mountain located about 40 kilometers northwest along the (Sky-Touching) Macheonryeong Mountain Range from Baekam. It was a critical point in the defense line connecting Cheongjin and Hyesan. This mountain was the eighth-highest peak in South Korea, and it had steep slopes, making it difficult to approach.

"Can we confirm the location?"

"Getting the coordinates and video feed now."

The screen inside the command vehicle, modified from a large bus, lit up with a map as the coordinates were sent through. They pointed straight to Nampo Taesan in the Machunryeong (Sky-Touching) Mountain Range. As the map shifted left, an aerial view of the mountain peak appeared on the screen.

"Zoom in."

"Yes, strategy leader."

Following Kang Mu-hyuk's request, the operator, dispatched by Slayer, twisted the dial to zoom in on the footage.

At the summit of Nampo Taesan, seven ridges of almost equal height extended in a cross formation. The camera zoomed further onto the tallest ridge. There it was---Garuda---a massive figure huddled up with its huge wings wrapped tightly around its body, looking like an enormous egg.

The remains of monsters, likely its prey, lay scattered across the area. Some of the remains appeared to be human. The ground was smeared with blood and guts. It seemed Garuda had feasted and was now resting in sleep. This behavior was typical for a top predator ruling its domain.

The operator, watching the scene unfold, muttered under his breath without even realizing it.

"Why is it staying there?"

Kang Mu-hyuk had the same question in his mind, even if he didn't say it out loud. He was curious why Garuda hadn't moved further south and decided to settle in that spot.

While research was being conducted worldwide on monster behavior, many mysteries still surrounded named monsters, especially those that evolved under rare conditions.

In Garuda's case, there had only been two confirmed sightings in India, so information about it was incredibly limited.

'It evolved from a harpy, so it has similar traits, but unlike other named monsters, it doesn't form groups and even practices cannibalism. Could it have just chosen the mountain peak as a preference, or is there another reason behind it?'

At first glance, it might seem that Garuda was simply staying in a high place to spot enemies from a distance. Since it can fly, escaping would also be easy. However, looking at it from another angle, Garuda wasn't the type of monster to run. It was a predator through and through, built for hunting. A high vantage point that provides a wide field of vision would be ideal for its predatory needs.

Depending on how one viewed it, the interpretation of its habitat could vary. But this wasn't the kind of information that would immediately affect the raid.

Kang Mu-hyuk shook off the unnecessary thoughts and relayed his orders.

"Deploy the attack squads. Helicopters, take off. Parties 1 and 3 from the south, 2 and 4 from the east, and 5 and 6 from the west. Special ops, stand by at the base of North Taesan. Keep the UAV locked on the mountain peak, and use the drones to scout out the Hunters' paths along the slopes."

Although Sung Seonjae would take over command once the attack teams were on the ground, Kang Mu-hyuk was still in charge since the deployment hadn't started yet.

The helicopter icons on the map moved in real-time on the left side of the screen. As all seven helicopters neared their designated positions, something changed on the right-hand screen.

"Huh? The Garuda is...?"

At the operator's words, Kang Mu-hyuk turned his head sharply.

Garuda was now standing upright with its wings fully extended. It lifted its head, glaring into the sky. Its bloodshot red eyes seemed to focus on the UAV, even though it was too high to be seen with the naked eye.

'It knows we're here. How?'

Kang Mu-hyuk immediately realized that Garuda had sensed the UAV's presence. Whether it was due to heightened instincts, exceptional eyesight, or perhaps some kind of skill, it was clear that Garuda was aware it was being watched.

The operator, breathing heavily as if facing Garuda himself, asked Kang Mu-hyuk, "Strategy Leader, should we pull the UAV back?"

"Garuda's known flight range is between 7,000 and 8,000 meters. It shouldn't be able to reach the UAV flying at 11,000 meters."

"But if our estimates are wrong, we could lose the UAV."

The operator, displaying the experience expected from a Slayer veteran, expressed a reasonable concern, and Kang Mu-hyuk nodded in agreement.

"Alright, raise it to maximum altitude and keep it on standby for support."

"Yes, sir. I'll take it up to 15,000 meters."

Kang Mu-hyuk kept his gaze locked on Garuda as he lifted his earpiece to inform the raid teams.

"H1 to C2, relay this: The target has spotted the UAV. It may detect the raid teams as they approach, so proceed with caution..."

Before he could finish, Garuda disappeared from the screen.

The operator monitoring the radar cried out in alarm.

"It's moving west!"

Garuda flew toward the western helicopters with terrifying speed, as if it were launched like an anti-air missile. Each team's operator scrambled to warn their helicopters, but there was no time to react.

A flurry of simulations raced through Kang Mu-hyuk's mind. He quickly made his decision.

"All teams, abandon the initial strategy. Land immediately and regroup with the main force. From there, C2 will take command of the field. Everyone else---"

"C5 and C6 have vanished from the radar!"

"We've lost GPS on them too!"

Kang Mu-hyuk clenched his teeth. He knew Garuda had evolved to a new level, but detecting and closing the distance from so far away was beyond his expectations.

There was no choice now but to play his trump card.

"C7, Hunter Go Eul-ji."

"Is it already time for the hero to make his entrance? Over."

"Commence the interception mission. You're backing up the west. Further orders will come from C2. Receive the Garuda pulling point."

"Yes, sir. This first raid is really fun. Over."

"There's no need to say 'over.' Just keep communication open with the party leader and move out."

"Got it. Heading out now."

"C5! C6! Garuda's closing in fast!"

The operator's warning echoed through the comms.

Kim Jinsung, leader of party 5, calmly addressed his team.

"Hey, Yuk Sungju. Long-range snipe. You can do it, right?"

"I may not be as good as Slayer Go Wonmae, but I'm as good as Moon Ilsu."

"No matter how infamous Moon Ilsu is for being a troublemaker, he's still a member of the Green Wings. Don't get too cocky against a Tier guild."

"Let me show you why I was picked, even though I'm not in a Tier guild."

Party 5 wasn't part of a Tier guild; they were Hunters from an A-rank guild. But that didn't make them any less formidable. They might be one rank lower, but their skills were on par with the Tier guild Hunters.

Among them, Yuk Sungju's role was sniper. He opened the side door of the helicopter and leaned halfway out. With his left foot on the skid, he pulled the bow from his back.

As his mana infused the bow, it expanded dramatically. The main rotor was almost within reach, causing the pilot to shout in alarm.

"Don't let it hit the rotor!"

"Don't worry. Focus on angling the helicopter toward the monster!"

At Yuk Sungju's command, the helicopter repositioned. With the helicopter in place, he knocked an arrow. His Eagle Eye skill activated, and Garuda, racing toward them from kilometers away, came into his view. He charged the arrow with aiming, enhancement, sniping, and piercing skills before letting it fly.

The mana blast from the arrow shook the helicopter.

Moments later, Yuk Sungju cursed.

"Damn it! I missed it!"

From Party 6's helicopter, another arrow flew. This one was ablaze with fire, unlike Yuk Sungju's piercing shot.

Yuk Sungju prepared another arrow, quickly realizing the flaming shot missed as well. Garuda was still heading their way, barely slowed by the earlier shots. He gritted his teeth and loaded a wide-area shockwave skill into the next arrow. The helicopter shook again as the arrow fired.

"How about this time?"

"It's too damn fast. Missed again."

Kim Jinsung frowned at Yuk Sungju's report. Party 6 launched another attack, but the same reports continued---Garuda was still closing in.

Kim Jinsung made a quick decision.

"Land the helicopter."

"There's nowhere to land!"

Below them was nothing but dense forest. There was no clearing in sight.

"Part Leader, I can fire one more shot. I'll use the auto-tracking skill. In the meantime, everyone else, prepare to evacuate."

Yuk Sungju shouted as he aimed.

Kim Jinsung gave the pilot an order.

"Drop the helicopter as low as you can!"

As the helicopter descended, another arrow flew. However, judging by Yuk Sungju's grim expression, it wasn't a success.

"It's coming!"

Yuk Sungju jumped out as he shouted, and the rest of the team followed.

Kim Jinsung and another party member grabbed the pilot and co-pilot, broke through the door, and leaped out. Something massive ripped through their helicopter, which exploded moments later. A deafening roar followed, and following that, Party 6's helicopter crashed.

Party 5 Hunters had landed safely. The pilots were shaken from the fall but unharmed.

Kim Jinsung saw that Party 6 had also safely made it out, but they hadn't been able to save their pilots. They had been delayed by taking that final shot, following Party 5's lead.

Noticing this, Kim Jinsung cursed.

"Party 6 leader... Oh Seyoon, you idiot! Why the hell were you so slow? And you call yourself part of a Tier guild member?"

"Save the cursing for later and keep an eye on that fucking bird!"

Oh Seyoon's warning refocused the Hunters. But Garuda only hovered above them, watching, without making a move. Then suddenly, it turned its head to look elsewhere.

"What's that rascal bird doing now?"

A Hunter with detection skill quickly reported new intel.

"Something's flying in from the north! It's fast... Almost as fast as Garuda..."

Garuda spread its wings and shot into the sky. Something pierced through the spot where the monster had just been. The air screamed as a shockwave shook the trees.

Using his enhanced vision, Yuk Sungju identified the incoming figure.

"The Special Ops kid?"

"What?"

"That telekinetic girl. That was her just now."

Kim Jinsung finally remembered Go Eulji.

"She's... That fast?"

As he watched the aerial battle between Garuda and Go Eulji, Kim Jinsung was left speechless. He had never heard of telekinetic Hunters moving at such speeds. At best, they could match a fast sports car. At least, that was the limit of what he knew. But Go Eul-ji was keeping up with Garuda, matching the monster's speed in the sky.

Not only was she fast, but she wasn't falling behind in terms of attack or defense either.

"What guild is she from again?"

"Iron Will."

"So Iron Will doesn't just have Ju Se-ah and Jang Deukgoo, huh?"

"Looks like it."

The Hunters shared the same thought as they watched the intense aerial battle unfold between the human and the monster.