Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 212

The remaining 17,000 or so creatures continue to bring mineral fragments and drop them for me. However, because the minerals are often buried in the dirt, consuming thousands of fragments at once creates a lull before they can absorb more.

Since I’ve decided to build a defensive base, I want it to be aesthetically pleasing, well-constructed, and highly functional. But right now, it’s turning into a haphazard shanty town. Moreover, building defensive towers behind the Nexus leaves too much open space between the structures.

So, I’ve decided to build the Gateways, defensive towers, and Nexus in a dense, zigzag pattern.

This might take a little longer, but I also need some time to replenish my mineral reserves. If I can quickly finalize the building layout and defensive formation, I can construct the defensive base at a more relaxed pace.

It’s approximately 2km northeast from where I initially discovered the mineral deposit.

Gateways, defensive towers, and the Nexus are being built to my left and right, creating a long defensive line with me at its center.

I’m covering roughly 2km per day.

If I cut down on sleep, eat quickly, and reduce the time I spend playing with the six Zerglings still trailing me, I could probably manage 4km a day… but why bother?

There’s no real reason to push myself that hard.

I don’t know when the final battle that Sara mentioned will take place, but when it starts, I plan to observe the situation from here and escape with the Shuttle if things get too dangerous.

Flying through the air and responding with summoned units should be sufficient to protect myself.

Nevertheless, the real reason I’m building this defensive line is…

…actually, it’s because Sara’s nagging is annoying. Ahem.

It’s been 4 days, 11 hours, and 40 minutes since Sara dragged me into this goddamn world.

I wake up to the groaning of those dog bastards, which serves as my alarm after another night of sleeping on the dirt floor. I eat quickly and take a hasty… well, you know.

I desperately miss the Clear Team guild member slaves.

With only food as dungeon clear loot, my fingers are my chopsticks, and my hand is my toilet paper.

Well, they say in India they use both their right and left hands, but this isn’t India. I’m just glad there’s plenty of water; otherwise… ahem.

By the way, why isn’t Sara showing up?

314km southwest from the initial location Sara mentioned is a distance that the Shuttle could easily cover in 5 hours, even at a leisurely pace.

If I were Sara, I’d be curious about what happened if there was no news for 4 days on a 5-hour trip, and I’d come to check it out.

Since she obviously knows where I am as her subordinate, why hasn’t she shown up until now?

That damn bitch… I mean, could something have happened to Sara?

Is she too busy preparing for battle or something?

But why am I worrying about Sara right now?

This feels like a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black…

“Sigh… the one who needs it digs the well. Sigh… Sara.”

…….

“Hey, Sara Matilda!”

…….

Huh?

What’s going on now?

Why isn’t she showing up!

The one who used to answer my call immediately isn’t responding at all.

Hmm… could this be a place where skills can’t be used either?

“Summon 1,000 Zealots.”

[Ding! Summoning 1,000 Zealots (Defense + Attack 200%).]

“Target, the giant rock at 2 o’clock ahead. Intensive Storm!”

‘Kuwowowowo.’

‘Kuwow… Kwowooo.’

In an instant, a white light surrounds the bodies of the 1,000 Zealots, and they rush towards the giant rock in front of them.

Soon,

‘Kwarararara….’

The massive, dark red rock, reaching a height of 30m, shatters and collapses.

“Hmm… skill usage is possible? So, is she just ignoring me right now? Huh?”

It’s been 5 days, 18 hours, and 20 minutes since Sara dragged me into this goddamn world.

It’s not fun.

It’s incredibly boring.

I’m bored.

I’m incredibly bored.

After creating nothing but Nexus, defensive towers, and Gateways for nearly four full days, I don’t even know why I’m building these anymore.

Should I go to the place Sara told me to go?

Eh, a man’s gotta have some pride. How could I give up after just three days… well, it’s been longer than that. Ahem.

Should I really go?

Seeing as she’s not responding to my calls despite skill usage being possible, something must have happened.

Could the final, ultimate battle have already begun?

No way, she said there was still time….

No. Judging by the fact that she’s not appearing when I call, it might really be the case.

“Damn it! I don’t know what the hell I’m doing because of one goddamn self-destruct skill! Shuttle, land.”

I land the Shuttle that was floating above me and try to get inside, but I hear strange noises from behind.

‘Keueung. Huff huff.’

‘Kieeehk. Kiehk. Huff huff huff.’

“… Ugh… fine. You guys get in too.”

Now I’m even putting dog bastards on the Shuttle.

I shouldn’t have thrown them canned food from the start.

As soon as I finish speaking, the six dog bastards miraculously climb into the Shuttle, wagging their tails.

How do you guys understand Korean?

Well, considering even summoned units listen to my commands, why should I be surprised?

Whatever. Whether these guys live or die is their dog destiny.

“Shuttle, take off. Direction southwest. Full speed ahead!”

Let’s go as fast as possible for now.

I hope nothing really happened to Sara.

An unknown sense of unease and anxiety washes over me.

It’s been 5 days, 20 hours, and 50 minutes since Sara dragged me into this goddamn world.

I’ve been flying at maximum speed for nearly two and a half hours.

A little further and I should see something. Once I pass the hill in the distance, maybe… huh?

“H-huh? W-what is that?”

While flying, I see something approaching at an incredible speed from the 3 o’clock direction far to the right, like a swarm of bees. It seems to be getting bigger and bigger, and it’s moving at least twice as fast as the Shuttle’s speed.

‘Kuaaaak. Kuaaak.’

‘Kuak… Kuaaaak.’

“W-Wyverns?”

Thousands of Wyverns, seemingly obscuring the dark red sky, pass over the Shuttle and fly far away.

What was that just now?

What the hell is going on?

Thousands of Wyverns moving together is….

A moment later.

“Huh….”

As I pass over the hill and approach the place Sara mentioned, I am speechless at the sight from the Shuttle.

Hundreds, thousands of adult Nexus fill the horizon, and the outer Nexus are burning.

So many Mutalisks and Wyverns, Overseers are flying in the air that the thousands of Wyverns that just passed seem insignificant. In the distance, things that look like dots, presumably Ultralisks, are moving in groups of thousands, and blue beams of light are constantly firing in front of them.

Hmm… that’s.

“Magic Lightning from a Lightning Shaman!”

I understand why Sara didn’t answer my call.

Their final, ultimate battle seems to have already begun.

I continued to move forward.

In between, thousands, tens of thousands of Zerglings, Hydralisks, Lurkers, and Ultralisks were busily moving, and I even spotted a few humanoid units….

‘Kiaaaak. Kiaak!’

‘Kiaak… Kiaaaak!’

‘Kiehk. Kieeehk.’

‘Kikik. Kiaak. Kikuiak.’

What are you doing?

What the hell are you guys doing… huh?

A humanoid unit with a pair of wings on its back, like Sara, flies into the air and approaches the Shuttle I’m in.

‘Kiaak. Kiaak.’

What?

Are you an idiot?

Speak. Say something I can understand. Don’t just make weird noises.

‘Kiaak. Kikiku… Aiak.’

“…….”

So what?

If you can’t communicate, can you please get lost?

Or bring an interpreter.

Sigh… I’m the idiot for even thinking this.

“Sara. Sara Matilda. That bitch is my exclusive skill. Bring her, or….”

‘Kiaak. Kiehk. Kikua… Kiaak.’

Goddamn it.

The guy who was just making strange noises goes back down, and they keep making ‘kiehk kiehk’ noises among themselves. Suddenly, one of them quickly flies up and disappears towards that giant Nexus.

Did they understand me?

Are they going to find Sara? If so, that’s a relief.

Then, until Sara comes, shall I watch a live movie?

‘Zz… zz… zzjeok! Pachijik!’

‘Kwaaaang. Kwang.’

‘Kieeehk. Kiehk.’

‘Kkurwara. Kkurureuk!’

A real-time SF movie with incredible CG is broadcasting 1km ahead.

Thousands, tens of thousands of Zerglings and Hydralisks rush in like waves from the left and right, and blinding blue beams of light explode from the sky. Tens of thousands of Zealots and Dragoons push forward, but the Spine Crawlers, Lurkers, Wyverns, and Ultralisks surrounding them attack, and thousands of additional Siege Tanks, Lightning Shamans, and Dark Templar are added, continuing to maintain the battlefield.

The Zerglings’ and Hydralisks’ bodies explode, and green blood soaks the ground. As the Zealots and Dragoons are reduced to black smoke, the Siege Tanks spew fire, and the Ultralisks’ cries can be heard from here.

It’s utter chaos, a complete mess.

It seems the bio units, with their inferior individual combat power, are compensating with sheer numbers, while the mech units can’t push through because of those numbers.

The battle situation in front seems likely to remain the same for the time being.

But, but you know.

Why are you guys fighting?

Whether you’re mech units or bio units, weren’t you originally units belonging to the same dungeon?

Why are you fighting each other?

Ah, ah!

Could it be… hmm….

Is it because of that scene that flashed through my head when I entered the Primordial Dungeon and when I was transported here?

But even in that scene, the reason why you guys were fighting each other wasn’t revealed. Hmm….

Let’s skip that for now. So, is this the early stage of the battle?

Later on, a massive number of mech units will be replenished from the rear.

Is this like a preliminary battle? Something like that?

Hmm, then what should I do?

Clearly, the scene that flashed through my head ended with the mech units continuing to push down and replicating the winged humanoid unit in the giant Nexus.

By the way, a winged humanoid unit….

Like Sara.

The winged humanoid unit that shares a body with my self-destruct skill Sara, who is made up of three bio dungeon humanoid units like Therapies that absorbed three dark elixirs.

These guys definitely seem to be intelligent beings capable of communicating with me, and furthermore, the phrase ‘His Choice’ that makes my stomach churn.

‘His Choice’ probably refers to that unit sitting in the fancy chair….

Hmm… then!

I carefully observe the battlefield for a while, then land the Shuttle, move to the large Nexus at 10 o’clock to the left, and summon 10 Probes.

“Summon 10 Probes.”

[Ding! Summoning 10 Probes.]

“All Probes, create a Nexus. Create a Gateway!”

‘Pa… chi…jijik. Pajijik.’

…….

I don’t know why these guys are fighting.

I have no idea what they’re fighting for, what reason so many units are grappling with each other.

But still.

Still!

I know that I’ve already stepped into the battle unfolding in their world, given the scenes that have been imprinted in my head several times, the dark purification, the dark elixir, and the process of obtaining Sara.

Just as there is no result without a cause, if someone chose me, they must have been able to predict how I would act in advance.

Furthermore, the very fact that I am here right now is telling my heart that I must do something.

And if possible… if possible, I want the victory of this place where the bio units, not the mech units, belong.

That might be a goddamn mess for you guys,

But that’s only relevant to you.

I just want to finish this battle quickly and go home.

A moment later.

“All Probes, create defensive towers! Create Gateways, create Gateways. Create defensive towers!”

‘Pa… chi…jijik. Pa… jijik.’

Loud explosions and bizarre cries continue to echo from the front, but I diligently build Gateways and defensive towers with an attitude that I don’t care.

Thanks to the pointless actions I took there for nearly five days, I’m quite familiar with building defensive lines to my left and right.

Until I arrived here, everything I did except eating, sleeping, shitting, and playing with the dog bastards was that, so there’s no reason to be flustered here.

To the left, that is, the line that will be the first line of defense from the perspective of the mech units, the Nexus and Gateways will tank [act as a buffer], and to the right, that is, the defensive towers will be built in a double layer. And with the delicate sense to create passages with 5-8m intervals between them so that the units produced from the Gateways can move easily.

I haven’t even built 1km yet, but judging from the battle situation in front, there’s still plenty of time.

The problem is….

“That damn Sara bitch, why isn’t she showing up! How long has it been since she went to get me! The minerals are running out too….”

“I’m here.”

A large lump of mineral emitting blue light suddenly appears in front of me.

“… Where have you been? I couldn’t find you no matter how hard I looked.”

“You know the situation. And I know you arrived a while ago.”

“Ahem. I came to practice building a defensive base. I definitely wasn’t playing around.”

“Sure, you were. Take this.”

Oh, sure, I was?

What? Take this?

Her words are quite short?

And if she gives me the mineral in a lump like this, am I supposed to break it up and absorb the fragments myself?

She should break it up and give it to me, or divide it into fragments. Can’t she see I’m damn busy right now? Huh?

Who the hell am I doing this for right now!

“If you need anything else, you can tell these guys. And you guys.”

Three humanoid units were standing politely behind me, and at Sara’s call, the six dog bastards run to her.

Ha….

I knew you shouldn’t raise or take in black-haired beasts… but is that dog bastard’s head really black?

“Can you break this up for me?”

The dog bastards, who were wagging their tails as they ran over, start chewing on the lump of mineral that Sara held out.

Seeing the dog bastards, who were desperately chewing on the spam I threw them and giving me pitiful looks asking for more, betraying me at Sara’s words, a slight sense of futility and disappointment washes over me.

I still treated them like dogs for nearly five days… sigh.

As the mineral fragments that the bastards chewed on start to pile up on the floor, Sara quickly says.

“Is that enough? I’m busy, so I’ll be going now. Later….”

“Wait a minute! The minerals are fine, but what about the gas? Do you have any gas?”

“That’s managed by Him….”

“Bring me a full load of gas. There’s a limit with minerals.”

“… I’ll ask Him.”

“If you save this and that, it’ll turn into shit [become useless]. In a little more time, those guys will push in additional units. In huge numbers too.”

Sara hesitates for a moment at the direction I pointed and the explosions that still echo around us, then opens her small mouth again.

“… Is that really the case?”

“Do you think I’m joking with you in this situation?”

“Okay. How much do you need?”

“Don’t you know the word ‘full load’? A lot, a lot. Bring as much as you have.”

“…….”

“Minerals too.”

“…….”

“Hurry!”

“A-alright. Just a moment.”

As Sara hurriedly flies away to the giant Nexus in the distance, the three humanoid units remaining behind are also restless.

They seem to understand my words after all.

But, did Sara ever act so flustered?

She always just spat out simple words, but now that I see the expression on her face, she’s definitely an intelligent being.

But, but you know.

I quietly approach the place where the dog bastards are wagging their tails and chewing on the minerals, and kick one of them in the side.

‘Thwack!’

‘Kiehk. Kieeehk.’

“You goddamn bastards! How dare you betray me? Come here. Let’s start by applying some soybean paste [a form of punishment].”

It’s been 5 days, 21 hours, and 10 minutes since Sara dragged me into this goddamn world.

“Is this enough?”

Sara holds out a strange stone that emits black vapor the size of my head.

“Is this gas?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm….”

I’ve never seen anything like this before.

Gas is supposed to spring from the cracks in the rocks near the Nexus or adult Nexus where minerals are buried, and you build a gas extraction station to mine it with Probes… I guess that’s not always the case.

“Wait. Summon 200 Probes.”

[Ding! Summoning 200 Probes.]

As 200 Probes are summoned to the floor with a white light, the humanoid units waiting in the back let out strange screams.

Cool, right?

Is it because I’m so cool? Ahem.

“Absorb the gas.”

At my command, the Probes rush to the black stone and disappear inside.

Huh?

I thought it was a stone, wasn’t it?

And the guy comes out and brings a gas fragment that emits black vapor to my feet and spits it out.

[Ding! Absorbed ? Grade Gas Fragment. Gas Fragment increased by 1.]

[Ding! Absorbed ? Grade Gas Fragment. Gas Fragment increased by 1.]

…….

Hmm….

It’s gas after all.

Okay, that’s settled, but the problem is the capacity….

“What’s the capacity of this?”

“It’s 50,000 liters.”

“… What? What did you say?”

“50,000 liters.”

“5, 50,000 liters?!”

“Yes. Is there a problem… is it perhaps not enough?”

Ah, no. Wait a minute!

If it’s 5, 50,000 liters, how many gas fragments is that?

Since there are nearly 3 fragments per liter… 1, 150,000 fragments?!