Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

Leeha raised the Black Bass in reluctance, aiming through the scope and observing the targets, but soon lowered the rifle.

“If the speed is like this… it won’t even take 10 minutes to break through the 210th point.”

Killing Bantal alone did not achieve the Pre-Emptive Attack’s success. He fidgeted with something in his left hand while looking at them. At this moment, there was one person that came to mind.

“Luger, you also received a lot of hints thanks to me… Don’t be too upset that I’m using it to this extent.”

The noon sun had passed a little further. Checking that around 10 minutes had passed, he raised the scope once more and looked at the giant army.

“Wow, there are still troops pouring out from Hamina Castle.”

There were still giants pouring out from the north gate of Hamina Castle, totaling around 30,000 troops. They were not continuously streaming out but rather troops that started late. Considering that the leading tanks had already passed the 2.6km point, it was certain that the troops were spread out over a vast distance.

“If the head is seized… it’s not because they are giants of Shazrashian but because according to the quest information Jin Gonggong-ssi provided, there’s no way they’d be wiped out. The natural strategy is to break through quickly with a thorough offensive.”

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There was no need to slow down the speed. Leeha had a strategy, so they must have their own strategy too.

“Quick and decisive. Without sharing enough information about me, you will come running.”

Now the distance between the lead and Leeha was only about 2km. Leeha lowered his head. A slightly, very slightly apologetic expression crept onto his face.

“I didn’t want it to come to this extent, but if you have money and skills, what else can you develop?”

Then he quietly pressed the button of something in his left hand.

“War technology.”

『You have leveled up.』

『You have leveled up.』

“Well, that makes sense. Treating each other as monsters, huh?”

Leeha glanced at the leveling up effects and notification windows, while admiring the giant red flower blooming outside, 2km away. A timed bomb with remote control technology granted by Luger’s technology. Even with the addition of Bottleneck’s technology, it’s an item with an extraordinarily high production cost. But, who was Leeha?

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“Don’t underestimate the Lord of Gaza City,” he muttered under his breath as he turned away. How many people just logged out due to the explosion moments ago? Even with a conservative estimate, he believed it would be over 1,000.

Babang!

The achievement displayed before him directly referenced that.

『Achievement: Giant Slayer (B)』

Impressive! Your relentless efforts against the Giant race have driven them to anger. Over 100 Giants have fallen by your hand, prompting the fiercest Giants to rise in search of you. But rest assured, Middle Earth’ world knows that you have not engaged in indiscriminate slaughter, merely completing your task.

Reward: Strength +7, stamina +7

『Achievement: Giant Executioner (A)』

Impressive! Even the archenemy of the Giants wouldn’t stoop to such deeds! With over 1,000 cumulative kills, opinions among the Giant race are divided between needing to find you and listening to your words. Your strength is so formidable that it even prompts the Giants, who prefer fighting and competition over anything else, to consider ‘different opinions.’ We may not cheer for you, but we will be watching your path.

Reward: Strength +8, stamina +8 Movement speed +5% in combat against Giant race

You are the first registrant of the achievement: 『Giant Executioner』.

The first three registrants of the achievement will be recorded in the Hall of Fame, and an additional 200% of the existing effects will be applied.

Effects: Strength +16, stamina +16 Movement speed +10% in combat against Giant race

“A thousand cumulative kills…”

Leeha chuckled, looking at the description window of the achievement. When he had killed 100, the Giants had been fervently searching for him, but now that the number had reached 1,000, they seemed to fear finding him instead.

‘But if you slaughter 1,000 on the first day of battle… Hm, it’s a strange feeling.’

The infamous White Reaper began to make a name for himself during the previous war. Back then, he had earned the title of ‘Human Flesh Hunter,’ with a record of 542 kills. And that was over a hundred days. In comparison, isn’t the accumulated 1,000 kills in just a few hours on the first day of this hundred-day period an incomparable achievement?

“It must be because I had a prohibited item,” Leeha said as the explosion gradually faded away in the distance. The process of creating a bomb of this magnitude was far from smooth sailing. It wasn’t due to a lack of money or technology.

“No, it must be done.”

***

“It’s absolutely necessary! It cannot be contained at the level of a standard bomb—”

“Lord, I’m different from other dwarf blacksmiths. I know how to handle gunpowder and even dynamite. I can work with divine and cerebral gears. That’s why we need to be even more careful,” Bottleneck said quietly and firmly.

Leeha bit his lip slightly, and as he closed his mouth, Bottleneck opened his again.

“These ‘weapons carry no will within. It’s not magic. Just think about how dangerous it is to create chunks of gunpowder that only repeat killing, especially making it so convenient to use them from a distance. Do you realize how risky it is if someone else other than me learns to make them? If items infused with time and skill are utilized later?”

“Well, then…”

“The Gaza City might be blown to pieces, Lord. This isn’t something you create recklessly.”

Bottleneck discouraged Leeha, mentioning ethics at times and the potential for reverse threats.

Of course, Leeha understood more than just that.

“That’s right, it’s a basic rule. In Middle Earth, the standard for bombs is limited to lighting the fuse and throwing it within range. Using that extensively from a distance? Then I could easily turn into a terrorist who swiftly blows up all the city walls. Bottleneck’s firm attitude was, in contrast, a warning from Middle Earth’s ‘system’ and ‘developers’.”

“Still, you have to do it. This time. It’s crucial.”

“What, after everything I’ve said, you still say that?!”

Leeha understood everything, but this time was unavoidable. To face a giant whose number was unknown, a long-range bomb was crucial for his ambush strategy.

“Yes. You promised. Even if it meant risking your life to receive a favor.”

The legendary blacksmith’s face contorted. And the devout NPC follower who kept his promise was speechless. In the end, this time, he had to create an overbalanced item.

“Well, even if I wanted to make it again, I don’t have the money… It’s a shame, a waste. No, not the time for such thoughts.”

Normally, this would be the point for a strategic retreat. But until everyone, including Leeha, anticipated the unexpected item, they couldn’t afford to back down.

“Keeping the armored forces in place and the reinforcements later would be a hassle.”

If there’s a time, it’s now. With the enemies still not fully alert, they needed to act decisively. Leeha’s figure vanished in an instant.

“Armored vehicles! Check the armored vehicles first! Brothers, is everyone alive?”

“What, cough, what’s happening?”

“… We’re dead once Bantal comes back.”

Watching the huge explosion from behind, the Amunsan Trio trembled in fear. It was a stroke of luck that the armored vehicle wasn’t caught in the blast, but most of the giants that were chasing behind the armored vehicle had completely evaporated.

“Pilot! What’s the situation up front?”

– We’re okay! Thankfully, everything seems to be fine!

The individuals steering the vehicle from within were Rangers belonging to the 『Pack』 guild, where Bantal and the Amunsan Trio were members.

“It was a bone-crushing hit, but since the armored vehicle is still intact, let’s keep moving, Amunsan Trio!”

Of course, there were quite a few people inside the armored vehicle.

As the driving force behind the Amunsan Trio, as long as the armored vehicle’s tracks remained intact and the terrain didn’t collapse, the vehicle could keep running.

“Whew-!”

“Haaargh!”

The Amunsan Trio began pushing with all their might against the giant vehicle, feeling the immense pressure of having to push creatures larger than themselves, but they didn’t earn their reputation for nothing.

The infinite tracks of the armored vehicle started spinning again, and on the low-friction snowy terrain, they believed they could quickly pick up speed.

Crash-

That was until the sound of shattering glass echoed!

“What the… What’s going on!? Pilot! Grab the wheel!”

It was at that moment that the leading armored vehicle on the far right started veering off in a strange direction.

The eldest of the Amunsan Trio shouted towards the interior of the armored vehicle, but the chilling reply came back.

– The, pilot, is dead!

“What? What? What are you saying!”

However, the Pack guild member who had been reporting the situation to the Amunsan Trio soon fell silent.

“What’s happening, you bastards! You need to tell me-”

“Taaaaaang————…

Damn it!”

I can’t see inside.

But the sound of something breaking, the sudden turn of the steering wheel on the armored vehicle, and the silence of the guild members who were reporting on the situation.

Adding gunfire to the three, everything was perfectly understood.

“Anyone grab the handle! Just turn the handle back to its original state! Don’t worry, I’m here to drive!”

From the outside, it might seem like an easy task, but for those inside, it was like hell.

“T-That’s—impossible—damn it!”

“Reverse! Reverse! Get away from the window! Don’t push, you bastard!”

There was no room to dodge. Inside the armored vehicle, the only view of the outside world was through a glass window that was barely over 200mm in diameter.

There was a ‘hole’ right in front of the steering wheel, and how could they catch the bullets coming in a hail through that opening.

“Hey! Why are you coming this way!? We’ll die if you keep coming!”

“I’m not going because I want to!”

Bang!

As the far-right armored vehicle lost control and veered to the left, the central vehicle’s glass window exploded outwards as if bursting.

Once again, through the small window measuring less than 2000mm in width and height, the driver faced a fate similar to the glass window, struck by bullets flying in.

“Grab the handle, grab it!”

“You too, hurry! Can you go any faster?”

By killing the driver of the frontmost armored vehicle and rendering it immobilized when it lost its direction, they went on to neutralize the second armored vehicle.

Since they hadn’t yet picked up speed, they couldn’t suddenly accelerate. The leftmost and rearmost armored vehicle, which had started the slowest, would eventually be blocked by the two previous vehicles losing their sense of direction.

“How can we speed up now!?”

“If we could, we would have! But that’s—”

Bang—!

What if the driver also died there? All three armored vehicles lost their drivers.

The giant users of the 『Pack』 guild, who were known for their bravery in battles, could not step up to take the wheel.

Because this was not a battle.

It looked more like a street fight leading to a tomb than a battle.

It took just 4 minutes for the lone sniper to completely neutralize the three armored vehicles.