Chapter 590: Amidst the Scattering Radiance
Author's Preface
I really want to write ShanFro.
───A Certain Comm Log
『Well, well. It seems she blew up quite spectacularly. How are things on your end?』
『You really did it, Home Appliances King... I suppose it was indeed our mistake for rushing for results, but... Even so, it appears we've bought ourselves some more troublesome bugs than we imagined.』
『I'd have been perfectly happy if they merely had the value of flies. My, my, they skipped right past honeybees and are putting in work like hornets...』
『Indeed, a truly unexpected result. From here on, the role of free-to-play players specializing as mercenaries might actually become crucial, it seems.』
『Returning the favor to your lord... To think technology would advance only for culture to regress like this.』
『Now then... Since you went out of your way to use a private channel, can I expect a favorable answer?』
『Ah... About that, I am truly sorry. This transmission... is a death sentence. Breast Meat.』
『Oh?』
『The canned food and the inn aren't much of a threat, but you won't do. I'm crushing the central core right here. How about starting over from a beginner's mindset?』
『.........You sure talk big. If you think you've already won, you won't mind if I completely flip the table on you?』
『The young bark loudly. I'll come hear your last words once more at your final moments.』
Transmission Terminated───
※They aren't actually on bad terms.
◆
This is a battlefield. The deepest depths of Pandemonium, a massive labyrinth constructed on prime real estate in Hell. Players like us, who don't own Teraton-Class ships and whose personal spaceships don't amount to any real combat power, have no choice but to repeatedly bet our own lives on the table. Therefore, I knew it would happen, and I was prepared for it, but...
"So Fox died, huh."
Fox's name itself has vanished from the member list indicating our party. While comms are jammed inside this Teraton-Class ship, this is a display from the game's system side. Meaning, it points to the undeniable truth that the player named Fox has disappeared from within this ship.
"See ya, Captain. Hope we meet again in our blue homeland."
That said, I can't exactly afford to act all laid-back myself. Compared to the Hexagon Palace and the Queen's Throne, the NPCs here are clearly more skilled. Fundamentally, NPCs are treated as consumables, so the fact that G-Cup Breast Meat-shi is maintaining NPCs with this level of proficiency is a direct testament to his high player skill.
In the early stages, I managed somehow just by plowing through on this monster bike... but now, their AI has learned enough to set up wire traps aiming to make me wipe out.
"Insolent fools!"
I twist the handle grip and execute a jumping maneuver, then activate the boosters in mid-air to rotate 180 degrees... And this is where gravity control kicks in! I stick to the ceiling and jump right over the enemies along with their wire traps!!
......I managed to avoid a death trap that would've grated me against the floor had I gotten caught, but it's not like I have a ton of leeway to spare either.
The "Asterios" enables completely free directional movement via gravity control... but that's only if you meet the required skill values. Since I'm slightly under the requirements, I have to handle the minute adjustments manually. Apparently, if your skill values are perfect, it'll drive itself even if you take your hands off the handlebars, but I have to pilot this thing myself.
"Dammit, how long am I gonna be wandering around... Wait, that's totally it! There's no mistaking it!!"
The massive closed gate I caught glimpses of through my multiple teleports. It's not completely physically sealed off, but the multilayered security and the sheer, absurd size of the object itself make it the final wall blocking intruders......... Even a monkey could tell, that right there is the last hurdle before the boss.
Up until now, Fox had been handling the security, but it's not like the rest of us can't do puzzle-game security, we're just bad at it. It's just that Fox had the highest correct answer rate......... Above all, the only reason it worked out was because the rest of us were defending the one solving it. Meaning, trying to do it solo is gonna be a bit tough.
No, it's not that I can't do it. Knowing this, we all brought a certain item from the Queen's Throne, and using it would probably let me break through............ Ahh, yeah. In short, it's a self-destruct. Given its nature as an item, the portable directional impact bomb used for blowing holes through battleship outer hulls requires you to hold it with both hands and manually control the vector of the impact. I initially thought, *'Are you telling us to take the initiative and die, Galaxy Traveler devs?!'* but any sane player would normally just have an NPC hold it. I guess players holding it themselves puts us in the minority... No, but even Fox, who acted all cool, was totally down for it and we all unanimously grabbed one, so really, this assault squad is full of nothing but idiots.
"If someone opens the door, someone else can move forward. I know I said let's take the initiative and go to hell, but..."
It's not that I've lost my nerve, it's just that their AI learning is way faster than I expected, and I can't shake them off. If I leisurely try to prep the bomb for activation here, I'll be surrounded in the blink of an eye and beaten to a pulp. Yet, the only reason I made it this far was because we scattered and wreaked havoc, thinning their security......... I have my trump card, but a self-destruct is a bit......... No, but stopping here and causing trouble for the others is also......... Dammit, thinking is getting too bothersome, should I just go for the self-destruct?!
"Here goes, char───"
"Uwoooooooooo!! Get out of the way, Gazelleeeeeeeeeeee!!!!"
"Ooooooh!?"
That voice, is it Rhino? As I realize this and turn around, I see a massive frame charging toward me in a battered set of powered armor, pushing it to the absolute limit as if daring it to overheat. It seems he forcefully broke through countless enemies on his end as well... but unlike me, who couldn't completely shake off a hint of hesitation, his resolve has been set from the start. Seeing him completely abandon the brakes and boost toward the solid gate, holding the impact bomb in his left arm where the armor had peeled off to expose his player avatar, I understand exactly what he wants to do. If so, then this is what I need to do!!
"Catch this, Rhino!!"
"You got it!! Sorry, but I'll be takin' the bike with meeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!"
As I back away from the gate and Rhino charges toward it, we pass each other. In that instant, I toss the impact bomb I have directly into Rhino's hands. I see, as expected of a real-life rugby man. He catches it flawlessly and just keeps charging right in............
"Touchdowwwwwwwwwwwwn!!!"
"No, that's American foo—"
A massive explosion. I won't forget your sacrifice, Rhino......... Also, sorry to ruin the moment, but you genuinely messed that up. It's a 'Try', yeah.
"See ya, sworn friend. The path's definitely been opened.........!!"
I've got a lot of lingering regrets about the bike, but riding the hype of the moment takes priority over future profits. That momentary sense of achievement is the true essence of gaming. Regrets are something you deal with later, which is exactly why you're allowed to completely mess things up right now.
"It seems Wolf and Python are still alive, but......... guess I'll head on ahead."
Closing the party member window where yet another name has vanished, I set my sights on the inner citadel......... To put an end to this battle, I must move forward.
Author's Afterword
Wrapping this up quickly.
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