Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 267

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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267. Australia Subjugation (3)
—Bang!
—Bang!
Gunfire erupted as we charged forward. It proved that Seo Seung-yeon hadn’t obtained the rare Sniper class for nothing.
Even while descending under a parachute and aiming from the sky, the bullets flew true toward the Lion-Human.
—Clang!
Yet they dealt no damage. The Lion-Human had swung his spear and deflected the bullets.
My jaw dropped despite knowing this was an enemy I needed to capture.
‘Is this bastard insane?’
Deflecting bullets? Bullets fired by a Sniper? That was a feat I’d struggle to accomplish even if asked to do it right now.
It already looked far from ordinary, but I mentally raised its danger rating by two levels.
“Going in first.”
However, I was charging alongside Shin Chang at this moment. I couldn’t stop just because it was dangerous.
If I stopped, the allied Hunters would be skewered by thrown spears.
Shin Chang, who had gone first, was three steps ahead of me. Before the creature could throw its spear again, Shin Chang closed in.
The beast seemed motionless at first, then moved in an instant. At tremendous speed. Spear clashed against spear.
—Crash!
With a thunderous metallic sound, Shin Chang was driven back. About three meters.
‘Damn it.’
Fast and strong.
It made sense that ultra-large boss-class monsters required teams of level 70 or higher.
Even Shin Chang and Choin couldn’t guarantee victory in a one-on-one fight against this opponent.
If I had to compare it, I’d say it was a boss-class monster from an 80-level dungeon, or perhaps even an 85-level one?
—Whoosh!
Knowing this, I still advanced. I had to exploit the opening created when Shin Chang was pushed back. I thrust Essirel toward the creature’s exposed flank.
It simply rotated its arm and blocked with its spear.
—Clang!
And I too was driven back about four meters.
‘Ridiculously strong.’
One clash. Even though the creature had blocked my blade with just its arm, a tingling sensation ran through my palm.
Shin Chang exploited the opening I created. Then I did the same.
A natural combination attack unfolded. We’d never used it in actual combat, but our coordination wasn’t bad.
We’d sparred frequently, and during this joint training, we’d kept such scenarios in mind.
“Grrrgh!”
The problem was that even if the creature was strong, it was far too strong.
The God of Play hadn’t guided me toward the Twilight Mane for nothing. I’d thought it was a gift, but S-rank equipment couldn’t be obtained so easily.
Of course, I’d expected difficulties, but I hadn’t anticipated the opponent would be this formidable.
Part of it seemed to stem from past experience.
‘I’ve captured Ja-tan before, and similar Lion-Humans as well.’
Even if Ja-tan had favorable matchups, this creature was a different tier entirely despite being the same species.
The difference is like that between a Goblin and an Ogre.
-Screech!
And then it began to move in earnest. The initial clash had been nothing more than a probe against us.
‘Damn, damn!’
Had it perceived my side as easier prey than Shin Chang? It thrust its massive spear forward, driving Shin Chang back, then pivoted its body toward me.
It charged straight at me. Could I withstand it?
Based on what just happened, I thought I could manage—but the fact that it was now moving in earnest troubled me. There had to be another trick up its sleeve.
I didn’t have much time to think. I possessed several cards, and I’d prepared for moments like this.
‘The order in which to deploy them.’
I immediately opened a Subspace.
-Whoosh!
The creature charging at me slammed into a broad wall of space.
Whether it circled around the Subspace or leaped over it, it couldn’t maintain its previous destructive force. It was the most effective means of halting an opponent.
‘Subspace is open now.’
What remained were Territorialization, Severance, Incineration, and Leap. I had many cards, but I couldn’t use them carelessly.
Each one could become a trump card for a critical moment.
‘According to plan.’
From the start, I never thought I could end this battle in such a short span of time.
We’d all wear it down together, then deploy our true strength.
-Clang!
Shin Chang, pushed back, rushed to protect me. I assisted by deactivating the Subspace.
I glanced upward briefly.
‘It’s almost here.’
Just a little longer to endure.
* * *
[How did the Space Mage become a legend?]
The Advance Team received full national support over the past several years (skills, elixirs, equipment, Gate priority, etc.)
In such circumstances, for the later arrivals to surpass the Advance Team? It should be impossible.
Yet the Space Mage achieved it. In just one year, no less. That’s why people praise him.
-Well, that’s true, but why suddenly?
┗I’m a Space Mage fan too, but this is confusing
┗Where did this post even come from?
“lol just take a pic with some makeup on and the recommendations pour in”
-(Author): Someone asked why the Space Mage became famous
┗Then just reply in that thread, dumbass
┗Seems like he just wants attention
┗Lol it’s funny but is it really worth complaining about?
┗Since they’re not broadcasting the Australia subjugation, people are getting really sharp
Since the Australia subjugation operation began, the attention of the entire world had been focused on it. At workplaces, most people were glued to their smartphones.
But those who knew the internal situation were extremely few. Unlike other emission-type Gates, the Australia operation was not being broadcast.
First, it wasn’t a place where broadcast helicopters could safely operate. Flying monsters aside, wasn’t a military operation already underway?
And in the worst case, I had to consider the psychological impact on civilians.
[(Breaking News) Australia Subjugation Team, Operation Commences]
[(Breaking News) Choin Encounters Catoblepas]
[(Breaking News) Fist King Encounters Trimbo]
That’s why receiving news only through articles was the best option. Still, there were people who could witness the live situation in Australia—the strategy team members stationed on-site to assess the Hunters’ conditions and provide support.
They could monitor the situation through satellites and body cameras worn by the Hunters.
“The Fist King’s situation looks manageable.”
“He’s fighting the best among them.”
“Trimbo appeared relatively recently, so it seems weaker than we anticipated.”
This assessment was based on the hypothesis that Awakened Beings emerging from emission-type Gates grow stronger over time—a hypothesis that was half right and half wrong.
They don’t grow stronger with time; they simply can’t exert their full power immediately after emerging from the Gate.
Awakened Beings face an adaptation problem regarding the mana density they experienced when bursting forth from an emission-type Gate.
They needed some time to adapt to Earth’s mana density environment.
“As for Catoblepas….”
“That notorious reputation for destroying Australia didn’t come from nowhere.”
“Will we be alright at this rate?”
The Hunters assigned to Catoblepas were mostly those with exceptional speed and specialization in ranged attacks.
A walking, massive fortress. There was almost nothing a conventional vanguard could accomplish against it.
However, the strikes from the Advance Team Hunters didn’t seem to be producing significant effects. Even when magic landed directly, Catoblepas stood unmoved.
Even Choin’s thermal vision had the same result. Damage was being inflicted, but by no measure was it enough to bring down the enemy.
“If we had time….”
“We’d need a lot of it. At this rate. But do we have that kind of time?”
We had to defend against monsters closing in from all directions while fighting Catoblepas.
The probability of Hunters falling was higher than Choin bringing down Catoblepas.
“It’s a judgment error. We should have sent the Space Mage to the Catoblepas front.”
“Right. I thought Choin would be enough. Half the Advance Team Hunters went in.”
The Space Mage had made a request, but the truth was we disregarded it. We even welcomed the decision.
We didn’t know what kind of creature the Lion-Human was, but we’d heard that similar ones were encountered in the Gate.
“As for the Space Mage….”
“This front doesn’t look easy either.”
“Right. If Shin Chang is being pushed back, then whether we have information or not doesn’t matter.”
A heavy atmosphere settled over the UN Gate Countermeasure Committee War Room.
“Shouldn’t we abandon the Lion-Human and send the Space Mage to the Catoblepas front?”
“What?”
“The urgent matter is Catoblepas. If we send the entire Lion-Human team to Catoblepas, then with Shin Chang, we might be able to find a way….”
“Did you not see the helicopter explode earlier?”
“Ah….”
“We can’t pull out until we’ve dealt with that one.”
It wasn’t simply a matter of a helicopter being destroyed. In a situation with no answer, we could always sacrifice casualties and withdraw the Hunters.
However, in the current situation, if we tried to retreat the Hunters, they might end up caught in the helicopter’s explosion.
“We have no choice but to wait for Shin Chang and the Space Mage to capture the Lion-Human as quickly as possible.”
“Please….”
* * *
-Boom!
-Crash!
Thunderous sounds erupted from behind—the mages on the ground unleashing their magic just before the descent.
The greatest problem on this battlefield was… we weren’t just facing this one creature.
Though we’d set up defensive lines with fire across Australia and the military helicopter moved at tremendous speed, we couldn’t avoid drawing the monster’s aggression.
Creatures rushed at us from all directions in considerable numbers.
-Screech!
Yong-yong, carrying Mister on his back, was already helping clear the ground. Right—first priority was getting the Hunters landed safely.
After that, we’d split into the rear guard unit and the Lion-Human hunting unit as planned.
“Hold on just a bit longer!”
Shin Chang shouted.
The vanguard was already cutting their parachute lines at a reasonable altitude, just like Shin Chang.
Once we cleared the landing zone and stabilized the rear, our situation would improve as we descended.
The plan had deviated slightly from the original, but nothing fundamental had changed.
“Hah!”
-Clang!
Shin Chang and I fought defensively rather than aggressively. After exchanging a few initial blows, we’d determined that the two of us couldn’t easily capture it.
It stung our pride, but this creature was faster and stronger than both of us.
-Roar!
I used the Subspace to defend appropriately, while Shin Chang maneuvered to harass it using the reach of his spear.
-Growl!
Seeing the creature snort in frustration, I could tell our strategy was the right call.
“Rear secured!”
As we held our ground briefly, the landing zone stabilized somewhat.
At the cry from Saebyeokbit’s vanguard, Shin Chang and I simultaneously fell back.
-Whoosh!
-Bang!
-Crackle!
The moment the Lion-Human was exposed, attacks poured in from all directions—magic, bullets, and even Yong-yong’s breath from above.
The creature’s form nearly vanished beneath the barrage of multicolored assaults.
Of course, I could sense it through my spatial awareness. I was likely the first to realize the creature was unharmed.
Where the light faded, a strange barrier had unfurled across its body.
‘Divine power….’
I could immediately identify it as divine power. Wasn’t this creature abandoned by the God? It could use divine power?
Had it actually met the Goddess out there? That wasn’t the immediate concern. I drove my feet into the ground first.
-Thud!
This spear-throwing technique was our highest priority threat. The speed and destructive power were formidable enough, but it returned after being thrown?
Even with Twilight’s Mane in our arsenal, we lacked comparable equipment.
Shin Chang seemed to share my thoughts, striking the ground almost simultaneously. Every nerve tensed. If he threw that spear, we’d need to seal it in the Subspace.
In that instant, something flashed through my mind like lightning.
‘Wait.’
Come to think of it, I had once confined a divine arrow in the Subspace back in Arachne’s Labyrinth.
There was no reason I couldn’t do the same with his spear.
His primary weapon is the spear. The thrown spear is one thing, but he wielded it as masterfully as Shin Chang. He definitely possessed S-rank spear mastery.
Seizing his spear from him? That would mean the tide of this entire battle shifted decisively in our favor.
“Wait!”
I needed to create an opportunity for him to throw that spear. But even at my call, Shin Chang didn’t stop.
“San!”
Only after calling out like this did he startle and glance back. I’d always addressed him respectfully as Shin Chang before.
“I have a plan!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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