Chapter : 76
Hunting the Stone Giant (4)
After their rest, the members of Uncle Joe’s Company continued exploring the Outerf region. By now, they had somewhat adapted to the slow pace of the expedition.
“What a breathtaking view. Absolutely stunning.”
“I didn’t even have time to enjoy the scenery back in Calcutta… Is this why everyone comes to the Outerf region?”
Even explorers who had traversed remote areas of Earth couldn’t help but gape at the scale of Cameron’s landscapes. So it was only natural that the team marveled at the Outerf mountains.
The valleys and canyons, carved steep and deep, brought to mind the Grand Canyon. Above them stretched mountain ranges that seemed to extend endlessly.
While the team admired the scenery, Suhyun’s thoughts were elsewhere.
To think they left such a vast region untouched just because of one Stone Giant… The trauma must have been immense.
As in the past, once the Stone Giant was dealt with, the winds of development would inevitably sweep through this mountainous area. Companies had only hesitated because of the Stone Giant; otherwise, the conditions were perfect.
Let’s just check a few spots before we leave.
Suhyun didn’t recall the detailed development maps of the area, but he vaguely remembered a few famous mining sites. Once he confirmed their locations, he could come back and claim them.
Money isn’t exactly a problem…
Considering the rewards he had already earned and the government support he would receive, finances wouldn’t be an issue. Still, money was always better in abundance.
“Huh? Why are you looking at me?”
“Nothing. Let’s get moving again.”
Deflecting Shaina’s question, Suhyun climbed back into his power armor.
“Aren’t we going down into the canyon?”
“No need to risk it unnecessarily. We can find it without going down.”
From the beginning, Suhyun had thought that encountering the Stone Giant on the outskirts of the mountains was unlikely. If they did, they would fight it in the usual way. But if the giant forced them deeper, he would use the terrain to their advantage.
As the team marveled, the Outerf mountains repeatedly featured steep cliffs and drastic elevation changes. There was no reason to go down. Suhyun’s plan was to locate the Stone Giant from a higher vantage point.
If they spotted it from above, the fight would be far easier. While the relatively slow giant spent time trying to reach them, Suhyun could retreat as needed.
“The scenery is really…”
“Wait, I’ll be right back.”
“…This guy.”
Park Suyong, admiring the terrain, glared at Kim Changshik for breaking the mood.
“Go ahead.”
Kim Changshik walked calmly to the cliff’s edge. Anyone with acrophobia would have panicked, but to him, this was nothing.
Compared to Calcutta, this is paradise. Paradise.
In Calcutta, dense vegetation and narrow sightlines kept him on edge even for a quick break. Here, the vast wilderness stretched before him, and a sudden surge of exhilaration filled him as he unbuckled his belt.
Then, the sound of running water. Looking down, Kim Changshik instinctively followed the stream’s direction toward a small patch of foliage below. Though the canyon wasn’t completely barren, most of it was dry rock with no greenery, so the patch immediately caught his attention.
“Ah, refreshing…”
Shivering slightly, he turned around, suddenly wanting to take one last look at the scenery.
“Huh…?”
But what entered his eyes wasn’t a breathtaking view—it was foliage rising suddenly from below.
“St-St-Stone Giant!!”
“?!”
The moment Kim Changshik shouted, Suhyun immediately activated his foresight ability.
They say it’s darkest under the lamp… Was it down there?
Suhyun’s scouting method involved first using drones to observe the surroundings and then sprinkling water on sizable rock formations to check for movement.
Though Suhyun checked obsessively, he didn’t spray water everywhere—only along the intended path and areas the giant could approach. The bottom of the canyon, which would take time to climb, was not a priority.
The Stone Giant exploited this weakness perfectly. It had grown plants across its upper body, including its back, shoulders, and head.
From above, it only looked like a clump of bushes. Since it wasn’t along the expected path, Suhyun hadn’t bothered with water there.
Kim Changshik prepared to use his abilities with a curse under his breath. Somehow, the giant’s gaze felt unusually menacing. Most monsters weren’t friendly toward humans, but this one had an especially foul aura.
Whether it’s because of the water or urine I sprayed…!
“Take this!”
In this urgent situation, though the other team members were nearby, the priority was forcing the giant to retreat.
With a roar, flames engulfed the air. The Stone Giant, trying to climb the cliff, flinched and stepped back. That brief moment changed the situation.
“Fall back.”
“Team leader…!”
Suhyun’s calm voice felt like a lifeline.
“Good job, Kim Changshik. Thanks to you, this will end faster.”
If they had missed it here, the operation could have dragged on weeks, even months. By that measure, Kim Changshik’s action was pure luck, though he would hardly admit it himself.
“Shall we attack?”
“Yes. Let’s irritate it. It’s large, but disadvantaged. It can’t jump up immediately and will probably only throw rocks. Watch out for blind throws.”
“Yes!”
Suhyun signaled Lee Sohee with his eyes. In this situation, the best way to annoy the Stone Giant was with their power armor.
The medium machine guns in its arms, loaded with monster-grade shells, and the added Inferno Missiles could annoy, if not harm, the giant.
With a deafening roar, bullets began raining across the giant’s body. The two power armors maneuvered swiftly, irritating the Stone Giant.
“Don’t get too close. No damage occurs by moving a bit closer.”
While the giant could be dodged with power armor, Suhyun didn’t fully trust Lee Sohee’s piloting.
Bang! Bang!
Blocked from climbing the cliff, the enraged Stone Giant began hurling boulders. But the team had already prepared—each rock struck empty space.
Good. Perfect so far.
Even a clever monster would eventually expose its position when provoked. The Stone Giant realized rocks alone wouldn’t reach them and resumed climbing. It could withstand attacks, so it would continue regardless.
“Missiles and smoke—activate everything. We’ll need it here. Kim Changshik, Shaina—use your powers.”
Each missile cost money, but this was funded by government support. Following the command, Suhyun activated the Ring of Confusion. He felt something channeling into the Stone Giant along with his power.
Exploding missiles, flames obscuring vision, and lightning strikes disoriented the giant, preventing it from making sound judgments.
It was Suhyun’s turn.
He activated his artifact, the Stone Spear. From the solid ground, thick, pointed conical spears formed. Instead of firing them directly, Suhyun fixed a spear to the side of his power armor.
Boom!
The armor lifted into the air using boosters. Below, the Stone Giant had climbed halfway up the cliff.
Still no scratches… Incredible durability.
If left unchecked, the giant would eventually reach the top of the canyon—disaster. It had to end now.
All previous attacks had merely held its attention. From above, Suhyun dropped behind it, channeling psychokinetic energy into the spear.
More, more, more…
Like pouring water into a cup, the spear vibrated dangerously as he infused it with power.
Suhyun had never considered the Stone Giant a real threat. For someone like him, with powers strong enough to penetrate its defenses, the slow giant was an easy target. Agile, unpredictable creatures were far trickier.
Farewell.
Dropping perfectly onto its back, Suhyun used the boosters to drive the spear into its weak point. To observers, it would look like booster-assisted movement, but Suhyun explosively amplified his psychokinesis.
At that moment, the orb in his possession shook violently.
“?!”
The Stone Giant, climbing the cliff, screamed silently, clenching its fists. Even a normally unmoved monster reacted in ways unimaginable.
Damn.
But Suhyun gritted his teeth. The strike had been thrown off by the orb’s sudden vibration, deflecting the spear’s tip slightly.
The giant was hit off-center—it wouldn’t die in one blow. Suhyun was right behind it, ready to thrust.
The enraged giant swung its arm. Too close to evade fully.
Crunch!
At the last moment, Suhyun twisted the armor, dodging the attack—a maneuver that would have impressed any observer.
Yet the power of an injured monster was terrifying. Its swing tore the armor plating apart.
Should I have blocked it?
He could have, but eyes were watching from above. It would be suspicious if the armor remained intact after a direct hit.
And the fight wasn’t over. Suhyun wanted to minimize psychic power expenditure.
Focus.
Almost done, but no room for carelessness.
One more strike.
The upper armor was destroyed, the right arm’s weapons and cockpit canopy gone—but mobility remained.
Suhyun activated the artifact again to create another spear. Even in killing, he needed to report exactly how it was done.
Damn. Need to reveal I’m a magician ASAP… This is inconvenient.
The spear formed. Suhyun equipped it on his left arm and gained distance. The giant’s punch landed where he had just been.
“Are you okay?!”
With the smoke clearing, Lee Sohee’s alarmed voice reached him. Suhyun’s armor was nearly half-destroyed.
“Communication still works.”
“Support’s on the way!”
“No, I can handle it alone.”
The Stone Giant raised its fist slowly, then slammed down with all its weight. Powerful, yet avoidable with skill. After dodging a few strikes, the giant rolled its eyes—realizing it couldn’t hit Suhyun.
Hmm…
A subtle stalemate emerged. The back-pushed giant pressed against the cliff, showing no weak points. Suhyun mirrored this. He could topple it psychokinetically, but that would be too blatant.
The deadlock ended by the giant itself. Though Suhyun’s armor was damaged, the giant had already been pierced in a vital spot. Over time, the disadvantage would shift to it.
“?!”
The Stone Giant spat something out and hurled it. Suhyun grew suspicious—the information he had came from the U.S. side.
Did they omit something intentionally?
Thwack!
The giant had thrown a clump of vines teeming with venomous insects and snakes. With his cockpit exposed, it could have been fatal…
…if not for psychokinesis.
