Nearly ten days had passed since then.
I was summoned by the demon officer and was walking through the city with his entourage. I didn't know where we were headed, but it seemed like we were leaving the city.
The demon officer led us straight into the forest. Where were we going?
After walking through the forest for a while, the scenery suddenly brightened, and we emerged into a wide, open clearing.
It was a vast, forested area where a large group of aliens were engaged in combat training.
As I stood there blankly, the demon officer gave a command.
The aliens quickly gathered, each carrying their weapons, creating a menacing atmosphere.
Even at a glance, it was clear they relied heavily on analog weapons.
Swords, axes, spears, clubs, and bows and arrows. Some even had wands—magic catalysts—or amulets, appearing unarmed. Me? I had a kitchen knife, an apron, and a paper bag.
Some wore armor, but many were lightly clad in just clothing. They hardly looked ready for a battlefield filled with bullets.
But that's what makes them so dangerous—they're genuinely strong. New recruits often underestimate their appearance, either getting hurt or never returning home.
Aliens have incredibly high defense. Their clothing can stop pistol bullets, and some even use what seems like magic—an invisible membrane that deflects bullets back at the shooter. It's almost unfair.
To kill them, you need at least an assault rifle or shotgun. Against heavily armed aliens, you'd need something stronger than a .50 caliber machine gun.
Their attack power is no joke either.
If they charge through defenses, it turns into close combat. Their swords, axes, spears, and clubs are brutally efficient at killing human soldiers.
To begin with, their physical build is unmatched. In close combat, no matter how you resist, you're helplessly cut down.
At close range, large-caliber guns can work against aliens, but they're not stupid.
They'll hide behind cover or sneak up from blind spots, and that's it for you. Especially those with shields—they're the worst. In this fight, a shield is somehow more advantageous than a gun. What a joke.
Their magic—an incomprehensible forceis also deadly. What even is that?
Why does just waving their hand start a flamethrower? Since you can't predict who'll attack how, selecting sniper targets in battle is pure gambling.
Even if you manage to hold your ground, guns have limited ammo. If you can't take them down with one magazine, you're done. They won't give you time to reload.
After becoming a Butcher, I realized humans are fragile. Without guns and bullets, we're too weak.
That's why humans always form squads and try to lay down suppressing fire, but the aliens figured out that tactic long ago.
To counter human group tactics, aliens destroy heavy weapons from long range using magic. They then close in quickly under magical protection, turning the battle into chaos and picking off humans one by one. This strategy is incredibly effective against physically disadvantaged humans.
Aircraft and tanks are effective against aliens, but the cost-benefit ratio is terrible. It takes an insane amount of money and time to build one aircraft or tank, and even then, they're only on par with a group of ten unarmed aliens. It's unbearable.
If aliens are prepared, they can intercept missiles and planes flying at Mach speeds with magic.
It's simple: they create a membrane in the air—probably the same one that stops bullets. That's it. But planes and missiles disintegrate and crash upon even grazing it. Aircraft need to be lightweight, so their bodies are actually thin.
Worse, the membrane deploys instantly, is invisible, and doesn't show up on radar. If they deploy multiple membranes, it's like flying into a spider's web. Jet planes aren't designed to navigate obstacles blindfolded.
Tanks, slow and bulky, are essentially moving coffins unless operated extremely skillfully. Aliens just elegantly wave their arms from a distance, and light rains down from the sky—BOOM. You think it's a glowing, seven-colored arrow? BOOM. An alien sneaks up, touches you gently with their bare hands? BOOM. It's a nightmare.
Nowadays, such large weapons are reserved for countering the aliens' own "big guys"—dragons, giants, and mythical beasts—or for decisive battles around fortresses.
Instead, humanity turned to a different weapon: heavy artillery. Artillery is the god of the battlefield.
It turns out that simply firing lead bullets is far more effective against aliens than flames, poison gas, or lasers.
They have absurdly high resistance to heat, shockwaves, and poison but are surprisingly vulnerable to kinetic energy.
Considering they fight with swords, axes, and bows, it makes sense. If you can penetrate their mysterious membranes, clothing, and armor with kinetic energy, aliens take damage like anyone else.
In the end, fighting aliens is more efficient with cheap, portable heavy weapons and guerrilla tactics than with expensive, advanced weaponry.
So, humanity built fortress cities called Forts, with sturdy walls that withstand alien magic attacks. From inside, they rain lead bullets onto the battlefield using powerful artillery for defense.
This makes it extremely difficult for aliens to attack Forts.
Even they can't withstand a barrage of shells and targeted artillery fire. Since aliens lack long-range weapons like cruise missiles, they're at a disadvantage because they must get close to fight.
During the construction of these crucial defensive Forts, there was one moment when the heavens seemed to side with humanity—before I was born.
In the early days of the war, before Forts existed, alien attacks were swift and merciless. Humanity couldn't keep up, suffering horrific casualties and being pushed back. It was a desperate situation—a lightning-fast invasion that could've led to our extinction.
But then, for nearly two decades, the alien frontlines suddenly withdrew, and they stopped actively attacking.
What happened in the alien camp during that time remains unknown.
For a while, rumors spread that they retreated out of fear after humans used nuclear weapons earlier. But that was wrong. Aliens aren't afraid of nuclear weapons. Later, it was concluded that using nukes only harms humanity, and their use is now forbidden.
Regardless, during that lull, humanity built numerous Forts and military bases called Strongholds, establishing a strong frontline.
When the alien invasion resumed, humans fought back with guerrilla tactics. With support from Fort artillery and Stronghold reinforcements, the battle situation stabilized, though still unfavorable, reaching a stalemate with the aliens.
And that's where we are now—
As I looked at the aliens' infuriatingly analog equipment, I reflected on this war's history.
The demon officer spoke to the warriors gathered there, then led me forward.
Ahead stood about twenty humans.
On closer inspection, the targets used in the aliens' combat training were humans.
Some were thrown into cages, others tied to posts. About half were already reduced to scattered chunks of flesh. They were all silent.
From their clothing, they seemed to be from Tango Team—probably survivors from the group that attacked Ferris's home recently. Were they still lurking around? They should've fled sooner. Or were they preparing for another attack?
Among them, one in the cage looked like an alien. Maybe it was a disguised spy—an Earth Pint.
Given the situation, this seemed to be an execution, but why here? They could've done it in the city. The fresh meat would've sold well. Killing them here and transporting them would ruin the freshness.
As I internally showed my butcher side, one human was dragged from the cage and thrown at my feet.
She was a leopard-like beastkin with tabby-patterned ears and a tail. Was she an Earth Pint too? Impressive disguise.
The demon officer's hand landed on my shoulder.
"Your prey. Do as you please."
Oh… this demon officer is a telepath. He placed his hand on my shoulder and spoke to me without a control terminal. His voice was husky—quite nice.
…Another cliffhanger, maybe…
Still slightly affected by the incident with the orc officer, I felt a bit suspicious of his words.
At the same time, the phrase "your prey" caught my attention.
I slowly looked down at the leopard-patterned woman lying on the ground.
…I see.
She was the one tailing Ferris recently.
I see… Lydia must have shared the information smoothly. She was probably captured based on that.
Hmm… so, the people captured here are humans who were caught in a chain of arrests after infiltrating?
Good. They rounded up everyone targeting Ferris. Nice work, demon officer.
Humanity has already used nuclear weapons, but only in limited areas. This is not a dystopian world.