Chapter 955

EP.955 Part 2 Chapter 9 Section 12 High School Girl =

Whenever the new power of Special Abilities awakens in modern times, there’s always a recurring question.

Of course, cold weapons are outclassed, but can centuries of human advancement in firearms truly hold up against these Special Ability users?

Yes, they can.

With a powerful shotgun that boasts immense stopping power, you can hinder an ability user.

But that’s all it does.

Once an ability user wraps themselves tightly with Magic Power to shield their body, no matter how advanced the firearm, it won’t be enough to take them down.

Someone once said this:

If you’re at D Rank, even police from the local station can’t handle you.

At C Rank, riot squads armed with guns will find it hard to stop you.

By B Rank, not even an anti-terrorism special forces team could contain you.

And as for A Rank and above? These beings become equivalent to an entire military division just by existing.

At S Rank? It wouldn’t be exaggerating to say they match the strength of a whole nation’s army.

That’s why Monsters and Villains have always been controlled and managed by Heroes with similar Special Abilities.

However, conventional weapons haven’t disappeared entirely.

Even if bullets don’t work, nations have developed new types of weapons to either drive monsters away with blinding light barriers or disrupt enemy sight to assist allied heroes.

So while we might be in the era of Core Weapons, the hundreds-of-years-long history of firearms—dating back to muskets—won’t vanish so easily.

Most countries still maintain vast arsenals of guns.

Primarily used for monster control, but…

Kaaang!

Like this.

On an eight-lane road, tanks tear up asphalt, rotating their turrets menacingly.

“Kim Snake, aren’t we totally screwed?”

“Shut up… I don’t know…”

The two young men operating the tank whispered quietly so the shouting officer behind them couldn’t hear.

“This is really martial law. Some kind of emergency measure.”

“Damn, it’s not like it’s the ’60s or ’70s anymore…”

“What do we do, Kim Snake?”

“Hell if I know. Just watch your back.”

The sergeant adjusted his helmet firmly—not worried about injury from a flipped tank, but terrified the K-5 pistol held by the tank commander might blast his head clean off.

“…Doesn’t that guy know who he supports?”

“……”

Both turned their heads simultaneously.

Inside the tank, the face of a certain man was hung on the wall. This commander, known for openly endorsing specific politicians within the army, was none other than Sun Icheol’s ardent supporter.

“…Oh.”

“What? Why are we stopping?”

“There’s a crowd ahead.”

As shown on the electronic monitor, a large group of people had gathered opposite them.

Dressed in black as if attending a funeral, they carried torches in their hands.

“Damn, who’s protesting with torches in the 21st century? And what’s that over there?”

At the front of the protest stood a dark-haired woman with her arms crossed.

Her tie matched the black theme, but her suit revealed subtle red-and-green checkered patterns.

“Is that…a high school girl…?”

“Our country is doomed. Damn it, everyone’s being swayed by those commie bastards into rebellion. Unbelievable.”

The tank commander stormed over to the gunner and smacked his helmet.

“Aim!”

“Huh?!”

“What, you didn’t hear me? Focus, damn it!”

“Ah, yes sir!”

“Are we inside a tank or outside? Hurry up! Aim at those armed rioters right now!”

Totally unreasonable.

But could a mere tank commander casually order the execution of innocent civilians—or protesters disillusioned with Sun Icheol?

“The higher-ups declared martial law! Killing them won’t be your fault. Got it? You like tank games, right? It’s the same thing. Aim, press the button, BOOM! Easy peasy, right?”

“But sir, that’s a game! This is reality!”

“That’s reality for you. Think of every game you’ve played as official Defense Ministry simulations. Now hurry up.”

Madness gleamed in the commander’s eyes.

Behind his sunglasses, bloodshot red eyes seemed to ooze a sticky purple substance.

“Or how about we just charge forward and crush them? The road’s wide enough. Go!”

“That…that’s…”

[To the brave warriors defending our nation:]

A somewhat rigid but deeply resonant voice began to echo.

“Is that…an ability user…?”

[Please discern carefully: Is true patriotism about slaughtering innocents and ruling through violence? Are these monsters truly the leaders of our country?!]

“Shoot her! Silence her!!”

Though the commander shouted, neither the gunner nor the loader could move.

Whoosh, whoosh.

The number of torches grew uncontrollably, spreading like real fire.

[You stand here under the call of the nation to protect it. We too fulfill our duty to excise the cancer corroding our land!]

“That bitch, shut her up!”

[What kind of person is Sun Icheol?! Warriors protecting the nation!]

“Fire already!!”

Did someone respond to the commander’s cries?

BOOOOOM!!

The cannon of a nearby tank erupted in flames.

It wasn’t their own tank, but one of the accompanying units had fired directly at the high school girl.

“F***ED!”

KAAANG!!

A sharp sound.

Like hitting a baseball with an aluminum bat, everyone froze in shock.

“…What?”

“She…blocked the shell with her hand?”

The leading high school girl deflected the projectile effortlessly.

Like a head smashing into thick concrete, the shell crumpled and fell to the ground.

[I won’t kill, but I will defend myself if attacked.]

Thud, thud.

One by one, more high school girls stepped forward.

Armed with swords and blunt weapons, they marched toward the tank, completely unfazed by its firepower.

KAAANG, KAAANG, CRACK!!

Ignoring the shells aimed at them, the girls pressed on.

If a tank charged, they were ready to block it with their bodies.

“There’s a legend in this country.”

The gunner wiped his nose, twisting his lips.

“One high school girl has the combat power of three tanks.”

[No matter what!]

The lead girl screamed angrily.

[How can a national leader only have 3cm?!]

WAAAAH!!

KABOOM.

High school girls leaped onto the tanks, escalating the protest further.

[Sun Three must resign!!]

At the center of the protest,

A particularly intense-eyed high school girl raised her voice.

[Sun Three, step down!!]

* * *

Meanwhile, in Seoul’s Yeouido district.

“Holy crap, chaos everywhere.”

A cosplay high school girl-led protest in New Seoul quickly spread among Special Ability users and civilians alike.

Their systematic movements suggested this wasn’t something hastily organized.

Knowing martial law would come, Special Ability users boldly stood before tanks and gunfire, suppressing those willing to fire on civilians.

“No matter how much officers threaten them with pistols, soldiers won’t really shoot people.”

Even though they’re soldiers, each has their own thoughts.

But soldiers fundamentally follow orders.

Who would disobey when an officer wields a gun and gives commands?

“Isn’t New Seoul dangerous?”

“Don’t worry. The heroes and hunters there will join the citizens and suppress the soldiers.”

The soldiers won’t resist too strongly unless forced.

There may be some extremists, but…

‘Those are the ones we’ll neutralize first.’

Not only does Yun Yuhwa possess a massive SkyNet-like presence; political heavyweight Baek Hee-a, opposing Yun Yuhwa, holds similar influence.

‘Good that things are going according to plan.’

I gave her a rough outline of the operation.

And I asked her for just one favor.

If Sun Icheol crosses the line, she should act decisively.

After much deliberation, perhaps Sun Icheol’s decision to protect Seoul instead of New Seoul with his famed Light Blade became the catalyst for her resolve.

Unless…

“Guess the president isn’t exactly ‘three-something’ after all.”

Unless it involved a major sexual scandal, the issue of “three” strikes at the pride of an entire nation.

A man with something unworthy of his status.

Sorry, but it’s time for you to exit the story.

“Commander, is New Seoul really safe?”

“Of course. Don’t worry about that. Let’s focus on Seoul.”

New Seoul will be handled quietly by Baek Hee-a and Yun Yuhwa.

“Hikari, what about the monsters north of the Han River?”

[Uh…]

Hikari hesitated to speak.

Her voice sounded somewhat disheartened, and I understood the reason better than anyone.

“How many?”

[…At least fifty thousand.]

“Rank?”

[Each is only D Rank, but they’re too small… Each one is roughly 30cm…]

“Perfect timing.”

I realized this was the moment.

“Run!!”

Snakes often harbor many parasites.