82 – At the End of a Life Swept Away (2)
[The destination is near the Mirsiss headquarters, a high-rise building. A unit consisting of numerous CI units entered, confirming the commencement of the conflict.]
[Among them is a CI unit without a main body, the core is included.]
“…Phew.”
Various pictures appeared and disappeared in succession on the briefing screen in front of me.
5 units forming a squad, 4 squads in total.
Behind the waves of steel was Ilyana.
Companion Editions in both hands – wielding our revolver.
[The sniper is currently on protest inside the building with the soldiers. The path of the assault team has been set to the floor where the conflict is taking place.]
The assault team was called the Steel Tube.
Even though we didn’t know what was inside the building.
If there was an ammunition depot when we opened the door,
Or if, due to the impact, the gas pipes were ruptured,
Or if the building was unstable, and the floor was collapsing –
The guys inside with bullets would be either dead or close to it.
[Ilyana, an independent entity, uses expressions of wishing luck for psychological stability and affection, regardless of the success probability.]
[Warning. Miguel Dennis has an unofficial contractual relationship with Mircis, and documentation of his existence is sparse.]
[The measurement of danger is hindered by the lack of data -]
“Iliana Nana, at least know that much.
Prepare properly for this damn assault team.
Ilyana still has no response?”
[That’s correct.]
Nevertheless, I injected myself here.
Familiar interior, yet with a protective device firmly securing my shoulders and a new helmet.
Looking at the empty seats, faces that came to mind were there.
All of them, soaked in blood, with holes in their bodies.
The Mirsis soldiers, who were left on the battlefield.
Not only my comrades, but also the fellow soldiers I encountered briefly.
But now, no one is left.
…Except for Iria.
Miguel, pulling the trigger without hesitation –
Well.
[Prepare for impact.]
The accelerating force pressing against the body.
And, it feels like I’ve missed something important.
When that precariousness, as if throwing my heart into the air, flows through my throat –
– Bang, clank, clank…
The shock of getting into two traffic accidents in one day.
The fatigue that rushes in, making me want to close my tired eyes immediately.
But when the fallen CI units appear on the screen that is still floating.
The moment when I see the bodies lying in pools of blood, coughing and sprawling on the floor –
– Whooosh.
“Huh?!”
A needle is deeply inserted into the back of my neck, pushing in something cold and stiff.
It feels similar to the sensation of warm water spreading throughout the body when they overlap, but this one is tingling…
[Injected with an experimental combat enhancer obtained from the facility. Estimated operational time due to the drug’s effects is 30 minutes.]
Eyes open, stiff as if unable to awaken.
Though strength flows into the hands, the hand holding the gun appears steady, devoid of any tremors.
And the fatigue that just moments ago had the body sprawled out is now completely gone.
[Dispatching additional forces. Expected arrival within 15 minutes if no interference occurs.]
[Automatic door opening in 10 seconds.]
Pushing aside the device gripping the shoulders, the sensation of the lightened body wavers as it is seized.
Just reaching out with the arm,
Just attempting to grasp the handle, the sound of the glove’s surface crinkling is heard.
And,
“Cough, Mersis training line…? Did the company send support?”
The man right in front, pushing away the faintly settled dust with his hand, furrows his brows.
Not Migu-en.
However, they…
“Hey, you, com—”
-Thunk.
The sound immediately following the swing of the fist. A brutal noise.
A dull impact felt in the gloved hand.
Similar to the nausea induced by morphine.
But,
“What the hell?!”
“An android? No way, this is a joke!”
His breath became even more ragged.
His lips cracked, and his tongue twisted from dryness.
Then, the scene in front of him began to slow down.
The barrel gradually aimed at him.
The pulled trigger returned to its original position, visible enough.
Then, his breath finally escaped quietly.
For the first time, without pain in his ears.
– Click… Bang.
As the trigger was pulled, it seemed like Gongi spat fire behind the bullet.
But it was slow.
The trigger was slow. So,
– Bang, bang, bang…
Backward, and then forward with his hand.
The returning trigger made all the bullets in the cylinder shoot.
A speed that made him doubt if he had ever been this good.
Yet, his hand firmly held the gun and reached accurately towards the enemy.
“Hoo, hoo, click, hoo, hoo…”
This time, the sound of an empty gun came through clearly.
With each pull of the trigger, the cylinder turned, making a distinct click.
And on the wall, stains marked by blood.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Click, cough…”
Among them, one lay on the floor, still alive.
But the bullets were spent.
…It had to be killed.
“Center dot, intruder – huh?!”
The space between the helmet, an empty void where the neck should be.
I wrapped my arm around it and pulled it up.
The seemingly easy man’s body writhed, scraping the floor, then soon began to stomp his feet.
There was no agony.
“Cough, heh, heh…”
It was noisy.
Trying to push me away somehow with hands, hitting me with my arm,
But eventually, along with the body that fell to the ground, the helmet revealed a bluish face.
Somehow, my foot was strong enough to crush concrete fragments.
Strong enough to make sticky blood ooze out.
…Ah, it was the prosthetic. Yes, it wasn’t hurting because of the prosthetic.
Dully, in the distance, the sound of gunfire could be heard.
What was I trying to do by coming here?
I –
[Taehyuk. Independent entity Ilia is currently engaging in combat on the second floor.]
[Internal cameras show Ilia’s right arm disabled. Hurry.]
Who was talking? Ah, Ilia?
Ilia. I came because of Ilia. But why isn’t the voice Ilia’s?
[Displays a path inside the helmet.]
Keep killing the ones blocking the way?
No, get a grip. You’re breathing too fast.
I came for Ilia, so why is there talk of killing?
Strangling? Shooting? There’s no ammo in the gun. It needs reloading.
[Taehyuk. You are under the influence of combat enhancers. Follow the text on the screen.]
Combat enhancers. Right. That injection.
Ilia. Let’s find Ilia.
That’s why I came. Yeah.
Sniper, arm. Mi – Miguel.
Protect Ilia, capture Miguel.
…My throat is too dry.
***
[Activate accident module.]
– Situation Assessment
ㄴ Total annihilation of two platoons.
ㄴ Two surviving units from the third platoon.
ㄴ Correction: One.
ㄴ Fourth platoon, three surviving units.
ㄴ Outcome: Negative
– Lover: Taehyuk’s situation update.
ㄴ No contact since the traffic accident.
ㄴ 25 missed calls.
ㄴ Call retry… failed
– Gunfire detected.
ㄴ End of the corridor, Miguel Dennis.
ㄴ One unit lost.
ㄴ Detecting large-caliber rifle ammunition.
“You’ve become a fool under a foolish person. Still, I thought you were good at listening.”
ㄴ Insulting remark
ㄴ Miguel Dennis’s information update: Dead =＞ Alive =＞ Hostile =＞ Elimination Priority 1
“I thought it suited someone ignorant, stupid, emotional, and out of control.
And sure enough, the conclusion from the scrap metal’s mind seems to be the same.
Rather than going to my possible surviving owner, what’s the thought behind stepping directly into this place with my own feet?”
– Firearm Retrieval Required
– Right Arm Damaged, Taehyuk’s firearm, Companion Edition – Chrome, retrieval required using the left arm
– CI Unit Usage: Tactical damage acceptance required, consider efficient options:
– Ignore efficient options, proceed with forceful action
“Companion Edition. Specially crafted. Silver and black symbolizing a pair with the gunner.
Seems fit for that fool’s imagination.”
– Firearm damage confirmed
– Firearm damage confirmed
– Firearm damage confirmed
– Firearm damage confirmed
– Critical Outcome: Valuables damaged
“…One more.”
– 3rd Platoon Annihilated
– 4th Platoon: Confirmation of 3 units surviving
“The way he vents his anger resembles that ‘gunner.’
Inefficient, noisy, and foolish.
How much does he intend to disappoint me?”
– Forceful suppression firing, entry
– Units 1 and 2 damaged, no response from Unit 3
“Do you not think about the reason I bother talking to you?
I remember you never used to succumb to provocations.
Keeping your mouth shut, unlike those guys with tacky nicknames like ‘gunman,’ is commendable.”
ㄴ No entry, high risk of operation shutdown
ㄴ Revision: Survival of Mr. Taehyuk unconfirmed – no reason to maintain operation
– Action initiated
ㄴ Left arm damage confirmed.
“HQ, target neutralized. Approaching.”
ㄴ Target elimination failed
ㄴ 28th attempt to contact Mr. Taehyuk failed
ㄴ Data erasure and removal attempt through energy overload
“…Huh? Ah, he’s alive – “
ㄴ Gunfire, target in cover
ㄴ Confirmed gunfire origin
ㄴ Confirmation of Taehyuk’s survival, halt overload
ㄴ Voice output
“Mr. Taehyuk, I’m relieved you’re alive.”
ㄴ No response
ㄴ Pupil state check
ㄴ Excessive contraction
ㄴ Additional confirmation of respiratory issues
– Full-body scan attempted
– Confirm excessive muscle activity
– Confirm shoulder injury
– Despite the injury, detect abnormal range of motion
– Suspect drug use
“Taehyuk?”
– No response
– Confirm abnormal signs