# Chapter 8
There was no way a large variant would move carefully considering the city’s circumstances. It was only a matter of time before the residential area would become a mess with just a little movement. Iyeon quickly looked around.
Chohosi, being a planned city, had created massive battle zones throughout the city where superhumans could fight freely in preparation for unexpected battles with large variants like this. There would certainly be a battle zone in this vicinity.
Fortunately, he could faintly see an empty gray area not far from here. The number 32 was written large and thick on the ground.
“See over there? Zone 32.”
Sano, who turned his gaze following Iyeon’s words, nodded lightly. Getting the Blue Tiger over there was the priority. Sano’s body sprung like a coil and headed toward the Blue Tiger.
Before the Blue Tiger could recognize the tiny creature rushing toward it, there was a thud, followed by a thunderous roar that spread widely. It seemed like he had definitely caught its attention.
Left alone, Iyeon ran below the rooftop and quickly left the building. While Sano was luring the Blue Tiger, Iyeon also had no time to waste.
By the time Iyeon arrived at Zone 32, his entire body was already drenched in sweat. He’d been exercising properly since last night. Panting and staggering toward the battle zone, Iyeon took out his phone and opened his superhuman registration card page. After placing it on the pad at the entrance, a clear guidance voice was heard.
[Mugunghwa Tier 2 Jung Iyeon, superhuman confirmed. This is Battle Zone 32. Please note that using the battle zone for purposes other than variant combat without special permission may result in severe punishment. Would you like to enter?]
“Yes.”
With his answer, a transparent booth rose from the ground just inside the entrance. The word <Control Room> was engraved on the transparent, solid wall. Iyeon immediately entered the control room.
The basic form of a battle zone was just an empty space with a gray asphalt floor. There were at least boundary lines marked on the outer floor, but there were no fences or walls distinguishing the inside from the outside. It was literally an empty space.
However, this battle zone was the essence of Chohosi’s scientific technology.
When an authenticated superhuman enters a battle zone, a control room is generated. The control room allowed various functions such as external isolation, support requests, and entrance blockade, but the most important function was essentially one.
Terrain setting.
Not all superhumans could exhibit their maximum abilities in an empty field. Some superhumans needed appropriate objects, and some created tremendous synergy when there were terrains like mountains or rivers.
Fighting in terrain favorable to combat increases the winning rate. This was an obvious fact.
The developer of the terrain setting function had this point in mind. After setting the entire battle zone as a kind of virtual space, they allowed superhumans to create their own favorable maps to fight variants. You could freely choose the desired terrain features, and they would be generated and applied throughout the zone. It was like a game system.
The terrain features created this way were a kind of materialization ability, like Iyeon’s, and were real, not mere holograms. Unfortunately, the developer who created this had currently disappeared… It was no wonder the committee elders were so excited about Iyeon’s appearance.
‘The utility is definitely worlds apart.’
Looking somewhat glumly at the sling bag containing bundles of blank paper, Iyeon soon shook his head. There was no time to whine about what couldn’t be done. He needed to do what he could now.
Je Sano would be fine with any type of field. Metals and minerals were abundant everywhere humans stood on earth.
But Iyeon was not. He wasn’t suitable for such urgent battles because he didn’t have many physical means to immediately defend himself. Originally, Iyeon would never have been mobilized for a Level 2 variant battle.
Even if he couldn’t help… in Sano’s battle, at the very least, he shouldn’t become a burden.
From Level 2 variants, at least six Mugunghwa Tier 4 superhumans would need to respond. Not eliminate, just respond.
Sano wouldn’t have the capacity to fight while protecting Iyeon. In fact, it was uncertain whether he would even provide protection.
So Iyeon decided to set terrain features favorable to himself. A block lined with tall abandoned buildings with many obstacles to hide behind and good visibility. Additionally, wide roads where Sano could comfortably fight the large variant.
[Would you like to complete the terrain setting? Once set, the terrain is difficult to change until exit.]
It was natural for Iyeon to find his own way to survive. Better still if it helped with the battle.
“Yes.”
With a vibrating sound, the ground shook slightly. Through the transparent wall, Iyeon watched as tall, sparsely arranged buildings rose in the battle zone.
Looking at the opposite side, a giant blue beast fighting with thick iron ropes was approaching. The timing was appropriate.
Then, with a thud, Sano fell in the middle of the road generated in the battle zone. The ground was deeply dented, but he appeared uninjured.
As soon as Sano entered the battle zone, he confirmed Iyeon in the control room. Iyeon’s response was just a faint nod that was barely visible, but it would have been clearly seen by Sano.
The Blue Tiger following Sano jumped in quickly too. The Flock Phoenixes that followed circled in the air as if cheering. As soon as Iyeon confirmed that the Blue Tiger had fully entered the zone, he touched the setting pad.
[Activating protective wall. Please note that once activated, the entrance will be sealed until deactivation.]
With the warning, walls began to rise around the perimeter of the zone. They wouldn’t break under ordinary impact, so citizen safety was secured. Iyeon left the control room and ran toward the nearest structure.
Now the real battle was about to begin.
As soon as the boundaries were established, Sano’s aura changed. Large spikes, much thicker than those that attacked Iyeon’s house, grew through the floor. They attacked the Blue Tiger’s legs with lightning speed, but when the Blue Tiger violently swung its foreleg, they broke helplessly. It was an incredible power, considering that Sano’s spikes wouldn’t have been made of simple wood pieces.
Sano wasn’t flustered at all despite his attack being blocked. It seemed like he already knew that there would be no significant damage to the Blue Tiger. Instantly, several long spears appeared around Sano. The spears, with long and thin bodies that looked like giant toothpicks, sparkled in the sunlight, regardless of what they were made of.
Before one could gauge their identity, the spears were pulled back slightly and then fired all at once with explosive momentum. The sound of the spears tearing through the air was so clear that even Iyeon, who was far away, could hear it vividly.
Bang! Boom!
A series of large collision sounds were heard. Through the murky dust, Iyeon could faintly see the sparkling spears losing direction and hitting the ground. Sano narrowed his eyes. His thick eyebrows came down, casting an ominous shadow over his eyes.
Surprisingly, the Blue Tiger blocked all those spears by jumping up and swinging its feet. Considering that this variant was as big as a bus, its movements were remarkably agile.
Top-tier variants weren’t top-tier for nothing. It had physical abilities that surpassed common sense. Iyeon, who had just entered the building, stood at the wide-open window frame and observed the battle. It didn’t seem like it would end easily.
That’s when it happened. With a sharp howl, the Blue Tiger suddenly jumped. The ground where it had been standing was deeply dented, and the crumpled floor became bumpy like waves. Rock powder fell copiously from the jumping Blue Tiger’s claws. Iyeon quickly caught on to the situation. Sano had tried to bury the Blue Tiger’s feet in the ground to block its movement.
The Blue Tiger that recognized the trick showed considerable judgment. The tiger that escaped Sano’s domain stayed airborne as if flying in the sky. It was a movement so graceful it felt elegant despite being in the guise of a beast.
This was exactly as planned.
A slight wind seemed to wrap around Sano’s head, and then the surrounding floor rose up. What was created by gathering all the asphalt and whatever was underneath was a giant javelin. The spear, shaped like those used in medieval jousting that thickened toward the back, was much more than three times Sano’s size, but it was perfect for catching a house-sized tiger floating in the air.
His upper body leaned back significantly, and a sharp light flashed across his consistently expressionless face. The moment his vividly glowing green eyes blinked, the javelin flew.
There was no way for the Blue Tiger to avoid this vicious weapon.
A terrifying ripping sound echoed throughout the zone. The variant in the air was pushed by the force of the javelin and flew together, crashing. One of the abandoned buildings standing in a row on the street collapsed, scattering large and small fragments in all directions, and tremendous dust rose from the landing point.
After that, there was silence.
“…”
Did it work? It was the moment when Iyeon was cautiously trying to approach Sano.
