Chapter 166: Blacktail
[Phase 4 Long-Range Shooting Evaluation Complete!]
Lieutenant General Kim Dae-hoon alternated his gaze between our side and Ahsung’s camp before continuing.
[Based on the results so far, I declare Dojin Frontier the winner of this WSPI project evaluation.]
“Whoooooa!”
At the announcement of our victory, everyone, including me, erupted in cheers.
“Does this mean we’re skipping Phase 5?”
“Aw, I wanted to see Phase 5.”
“Yeah, that’s a bummer.”
Whether he heard the murmurs or for another reason, Lieutenant General Kim still held the microphone.
[Phase 5 will proceed as planned. However, since Dojin Frontier’s victory is confirmed, it will be conducted privately without Ahsung Defense’s observation.]
The room stirred again.
“Private test?”
“What’s going on?”
Truthfully, with the results already decided, Phase 5 was unnecessary, but it was pushed through due to Lieutenant General Kim’s insistence on testing the limits of the AGE-01.
Soon, he elaborated.
[The final Phase 5 test will be a live exercise involving the Ministry of Defense’s Special Operations Unit.]
“Are you referring to the elite unit within the 7th Mobile Corps, the very best of the best?”
[Correct.]
Lieutenant General Kim’s lips curled into a mischievous grin, like a child with a new toy.
But Captain Jo In-hyeok’s feelings were entirely different.
What the… Are they expecting me to take on the entire Blacktail unit alone?
Blacktail, an unofficial special forces unit under the Republic of Korea’s 7th Mobile Corps, was an elite force directly operated by the Ministry of Defense’s Strategic Planning Division.
Blacktail operatives were an all-weather team capable of handling any situation, from counter-terrorism to high-stakes urban combat. Each member was rumored to match the strength of an entire special forces platoon from other units.
This can’t be right…
Anxiety gripped him as he bit his lip, wondering if he’d be humiliated with a headshot the moment the test began.
Then, someone gently tapped his shoulder.
“Don’t worry.”
I smiled and handed Captain Jo a small box.
“What’s this?”
“Paint rounds. Prepared specifically for the AGE-01. Looks like we’ll need them after all.”
During the NCC project bid, I saw the final test involved firing a Taurus missile. I anticipated a similar live-fire scenario and prepared accordingly.
As expected, Lieutenant General Kim mentioned it.
“…So these paint rounds will automatically hit the target?”
I nodded quietly at Captain Jo’s whispered question.
“Even against Blacktail, with these, you stand a chance.”
“Hmm… Can I really handle a 12-man Blacktail squad?”
“We’ll see, but I think you can. Unless they’re Superman, dodging homing bullets will be tough.”
Perhaps today, Captain Jo In-hyeok would become a legend in the Republic of Korea’s military.
Private Test Site
Captain Jo took a deep breath, gripping the AGE-01 tightly. Though loaded with paint rounds, its weight felt unchanged.
[Phase 5 will begin shortly. Twelve Blacktail operatives are free to move and engage targets within the designated firing zone.]
The faces of the Blacktail operatives on the large screen showed no tension, as if they were merely hunting rabbits.
“Hey, be careful. They hit a target 3km away.”
“Seriously, squad leader, who can’t hit a stationary target?”
“Heh, this is more like it. Sneak up behind them, slice—they won’t even fire a shot.”
“Let’s wrap this up and grab some food.”
Their casual banter contrasted sharply with Captain Jo, who felt like the rabbit in their sights.
All he had was his marksmanship. He never imagined facing an elite special forces unit alone.
[Test start!]
At Lieutenant General Kim’s signal, the Blacktail operatives dispersed, spreading out to encircle Captain Jo.
One operative quickly closed the distance.
Sergeant Moon, where are you going?
The squad leader’s question was met with Sergeant Moon’s radioed response.
Why set up a formation for one guy? I’ll take his head. You guys wait.
With a sinister grin, Sergeant Moon moved silently, like a shadow.
Spotting Captain Jo, he raised his rifle to aim—
Bang!
A paint round from the AGE-01 struck him squarely in the chest.
[Target 1 eliminated]
“What…?”
The Blacktail operative stared in confusion at the paint on his chest. It was an impossible shot.
Hiss.
“Squad leader, looks like Sergeant Moon’s buying dinner tonight.”
Despite losing a man instantly, the Blacktail team remained unfazed, assuming it was a reckless charge.
The remaining operatives, however, began to pressure Captain Jo, unlike the fallen Sergeant Moon.
Stay calm. I can do this.
Captain Jo steadied his breathing. Eleven remained.
Perhaps learning from Sergeant Moon’s fate, the Blacktail operatives no longer approached recklessly. They utilized perfect concealment and cover, advancing methodically.
Two pairs flanked him from three directions. Captain Jo quickly calculated their movements and retreated, lowering his stance.
Suddenly, he sensed a sharp presence behind him.
Damn, from behind too?
A Blacktail operative had appeared behind him. A knife glinted as it flew toward him.
“Gah!”
Captain Jo rolled, narrowly avoiding the knife, and turned to fire from the ground.
Bang!
The bullet perfectly traced its path, striking the operative’s shoulder.
Thud!
[Target 2 eliminated]
“Unbelievable…!”
The operative’s shocked expression showed his disbelief at being hit by a non-direct shot.
But there was no time to react.
“Now!”
Two teams emerged from both sides, two on the left, two on the right, with another team closing in from the front.
Five elite operatives pressed him simultaneously.
“Damn, too many!”
One miss would mean failure. Captain Jo gripped his rifle with both hands, swiftly turning and firing in a semicircle.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The paint rounds seemed alive, adjusting mid-air to strike the Blacktail operatives’ chests, shoulders, and arms with precision.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
[Target 3 eliminated]
[Target 4 eliminated]
[Target 5 eliminated]
[Target 6 eliminated]
[Target 7 eliminated]
“What…?”
“How is this possible?”
Though they didn’t see the bullets’ trajectory, it was clear Captain Jo hadn’t aimed properly. Yet, every shot hit its mark, as if by trickery.
He definitely didn’t aim properly.
The first to fall, Sergeant Moon, had witnessed it clearly: his comrades being hit from impossible angles.
“…”
With seven down, the remaining operatives changed tactics, taking deeper cover.
Their mindset had shifted completely. The pressure intensified Captain Jo’s breathing, his body numb from tension and fatigue, yet his mind remained sharp.
Then, a low sound came from behind him.
Behind me? When did they get there?
He spun, instinctively pulling the trigger.
Bang!
His paint round hit an operative’s thigh, but the operative’s shot hit Captain Jo’s shoulder simultaneously.
Thud!
[Target 8 eliminated!]
[Captain Jo hit, non-critical, test continues]
Fortunately, the hit was in a non-lethal area.
“Damn, that was close!”
Captain Jo staggered back up. His left shoulder throbbed, but the fight wasn’t over.
The remaining four operatives waited, concealed more thoroughly. The sudden loss of eight comrades heightened their tension.
Damn, we can’t let one guy take down all twelve of us.
Such a failure would disgrace the Blacktail name, a source of eternal shame.
Unlike them, Captain Jo felt a slight relief.
They’re waiting for an opening.
He slowly crouched, steadying his breathing. The hunter had become the hunted.
Captain Jo fired a shot into the air and quickly moved.
Bang!
The paint round exploded mid-air.
“Now!”
Startled by the shot, two Blacktail operatives reacted, standing up. Captain Jo swiftly turned his rifle toward his predicted target.
Bang! Bang!
The paint rounds pierced both operatives’ chests.
[Target 9 eliminated!]
[Target 10 eliminated!]
“Impossible!”
Only two remained. They froze in silence.