9 – Ruins, Albion (9)
The sensation feels the same as when I was human.
But burrowing into the ground feels different. Everything that brushes by crumbles away.
The body of a Titan. It feels as if the body itself has grown enormous.
I move my hand. The hilt of the knife burrowed into my palm moves more vividly than ever.
Synchronicity rate 95%.
The significance of that number was clear.
I could do anything with this body. Anything I could do…
—And beyond.
Krrr!
I take in the resistance I feel with my whole body. I rip apart the enemy’s Titan.
I conserve ammunition. I conserve fuel as well.
I adjusted to a quantity enough to escape…
Relying only on the knife in my left hand, I maneuver through the situation.
“Dracan!”
Black fuel splashed like blood from the headless enemy’s body. I turned my head.
With this, the enemy’s Titan 3 unit was destroyed. Thanks to Scarlet Peridot catching my attention.
By intruding at the right moment, I was able to end the enemy’s life at the right moment.
“You shouldn’t step forward yet…!”
“There’s no time to waste!”
I look up at the crumbling city of Albeon. The sky was covered with numerous dark clouds.
I heard a sound.
The metallic noise of the machines that began to rush in endlessly.
“Move!”
“…Kuk!”
The position naturally changed. I tore apart the approaching cleaners with my bare hands.
Those I couldn’t stop with the knife, I pierced with my body. Flame Tail is a medium-sized Titan among the Titan units.
Like a foot soldier on the front line, its durability is as solid as the rest. A high-class and durable shield soldier.
“Tactical shield!”
“Over here!”
A huge tactical shield flew towards me, breaking part of the building.
I immediately turned around and shoulder the attack of the Harvest Titan.
A tactical shotgun is attached to my right hand. I caught the flying tactical shield.
In one hand, the shield.
In the other hand, the sword.
The position changes. Scarlet Peridot ran towards me. Her staggering movement and swinging fist struck the Harvest’s Titan with force.
Kwaaah!!
The overwhelming destructive power that bursts out from the heavy weight, despite the awkward posture.
“aaahhhhh!!!!”
I push forward with my strength. I pay no attention to the cleaners clinging to my body.
I smash the broken face of the Harvest Titan with a shield. I trample the sparking electricity and move forward.
I take the lead.
Scarlet behind me.
Continuing as is.
Continuing relentlessly.
Facing one of Harvest’s Titans head-on. Bullets rain down, covering the tactical shield.
An immense shock. Under synchronized senses, even the perception of touch is felt. The body trembles and quivers. In an instant, ankle is caught.
“Lower your head!”
Scarlet Peridot’s giant assault rifle spews fire. Casings endlessly rain down onto the shattered street.
Traces of bullets in a straight line. Half missed, but the other half strikes the Titan of Harvest directly.
However, there is no explosion. Only chillingly loud noise springs forth.
Kaaah!!!
Some of the successful shots scatter in all directions. The defense system. The Titan of Harvest roars loudly while trampling the debris, executing evasive maneuvers and aiming to the right.
“I will handle it!”
Scarlet Peridot rotates violently. Reloaded bullets make a metallic click sound.
The building explodes. The distance shatters. Glass windows that remained in the debris shatter at once.
Noise and explosion. Explosion and noise.
“aaah!!!”
Amidst sharp screams, Scarlet Peridot’s right arm explodes. However, she immediately snatches the fallen weapon with her left arm.
Evasive maneuvers identical to the enemy’s Titan. From within the building debris, Scarlet Peridot’s barrel spits fire, having discerned the enemy’s position.
Kagagagagak!!
Excessive impact momentarily pierces through the defense system. The Titan of Harvest’s chest is pierced by a bullet for an instant.
Explosive roar. A powerful wind sweeps through the battlefield within deafening explosions.
“Are you okay?!”
“I’m… fine…! Clear the path…! I’ll follow!”
If Scarlet Peridot’s synchronization had been perfect, the opponent would have collapsed long ago.
But there was no time to hesitate even now, having sustained losses. Inserting a knife, she holds a tactical shotgun in one hand.
Flametail’s characteristic sturdiness.
She boldly rushes towards the enemy Titan that appeared in front. Clearing the path and simultaneously sprinting on the ground.
Kwagagagagagagagagak!!
The tactical shield trembles and wavers under the baptism of countless bullets. Yet it endures. Clenching her teeth, she overcomes the recoil.
She moves forward. The shoulder area of the enemy Titan jumps violently.
Sequential missile system.
A massive explosion burst in front of my eyes like a flash.
Kwa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ng!!!!
My body was pushed back. In an instant, the tactical shield bounced fiercely from my unbalanced body. But I immediately flipped my body.
Using a collapsing building as a stepping stone, Flame Tail landed on nearly a 90-degree slope, stably, amassing strength in its legs.
Scarlet Peridot’s astonished voice overflows in my ears.
“What is this…?! Unbelievable aircraft control…!”
Several times.
Dozens of times.
From Noble mtl dot com
Thousands of times, I repeated the tutorial.
Flame Tail’s aircraft proficiency, which I have dealt with within it, shines.
Spatial perception ability. Detecting terrain obstacles while moving. Utilizing everything available.
Gadadadadadeuk.
The wall of the building used as a stepping stone makes a loud noise as if it’s about to collapse. Before it completely breaks due to the impact, jump on the stepping stone.
Soar.
Fly up.
As a Titan without an aerial flight system, I fly through the sky.
Severe air resistance sticking to the entire body. Seizing the enemy’s rear for a moment with high-speed mobility jumping through the buildings.
The enemy aircraft reacts belatedly. But it’s too late.
The drawn knife cuts the air resistance. And the enemy’s head is thrown around in the accelerated body.
The target is the core.
Kwa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ng!!!
The Titan of Harvest, hit directly on the energy source, exploded with a loud blast.
Even in simulations, it’s not this intense…?!”
“Move! Scarlet!”
The outskirts of Albion’s city fly by. The cleaners that had been attached started to fall behind.
Some enemy Titans rushed in, but I ignored them. If it didn’t block the front, I didn’t confront the enemy at all.
Scarlet Peridot’s groan is heard from beyond the hologram screen. But it’s okay.
If I just get out of the outskirts of this city, clearly…!
“Flame Tail. It’s an organism with high durability, but I thought precise mobility was impossible due to its unique roughness of movement…”
A voice is heard.
The building debris blocking the way in front of him collapsed.
Kwaaah!!!!
In an instant, a cloud of dust erupted. From within the rubble of the building, a gigantic titan revealed itself.
A large titan even bigger than the Flame Tail.
The compound eyes on its head sensors detected me.
“Intelligent life form. Who are you…”
The god of metal and steel.
The commanding titan of Harvest loaded its massive gun.
“How far do you think you can surpass my expectations?”
A sharp sound echoed. Weapons sprouted from the entire body of the Harvest’s commanding titan, as if its entire body was a weapon.
I knew that figure. That physique.
It’s…
“Pre…viss…?”
The wall I had never been able to overcome.
An entity that took away countless Drakons’ lives at the end of the tutorial.
The Harvest’s commanding titan known as the inevitable death.
It’s the titan of ‘Previss.’
“Your chances of survival are 0%.”
The black titan roared at me.
“But fight nonetheless. For my entertainment.”
. . .
Kwaaah!!!!
In an instant, my body slammed against the wall. The consciousness that soared away returned with a shock.
The massive wall spanning the outskirts of the city. I crashed into it.
…Why?
I raise my gaze. What’s in front of me? One of my eyes is malfunctioning.
Damn it. Even the titan’s movements are partially damaged.
The left arm is destroyed. Completely shattered. Hanging on by a thread, barely moving.
Something has happened.
What has happened?
I turned my head and saw the enormous tactical shield I was holding with my peripheral vision.
The shield I was holding with just one clash has shattered into pieces. It seems I can no longer use it.
An overwhelmingly massive gun.
The bullets that burst out collided with the surface of the shield…
In an instant, my field of view collapsed.
How much of a firepower difference am I facing…?
“Dracan! Are you okay?! I’ll hold them off, so run away…!”
“No!”
I coughed and choked. A Titan pilot shares all the senses with the Titan.
Maybe that’s why. There was a sensation as if the brain was somewhat suppressed by sensory overload. The nasal congestion that escapes through the nose is probably for the same reason.
It’s the pain that goes beyond the limit. If Flame Tail wasn’t sturdy, it would have collapsed long ago.
Previs.
Previs.
Damn it… It’s causing me trouble not only in the game but also in real life…?
“…Alright.”
My head is dizzy. So instead, I raise my fervent body. The remaining weapons are a tactical shotgun and a knife.
The core technology of Flame Tail that consumes fuel in large quantities, high-speed mobility, is everything.
“…hahahaha.”
Laughter spilled out. I’m undoubtedly insane too.
But isn’t it better than crying?
There are people to protect behind me. There are people to surpass in front of me.
The situation is clearer than ever before. It overlaps with the past and makes me look forward.
“Oh, oppa…”
This time, I don’t pretend not to see.
Somehow…
“Let’s give it a try… you piece of sh*t…!”
Somehow, let’s give it a try.