Chapter 12
I bolted toward the building of death and lust, but the gap in mobility between that thing and me was just too damn wide.
[Dodge!] Artemis's warning had me rolling sideways without even checking behind me. Boom! At the same instant, a massive body slammed down right where I'd been standing. The impact was so brutal it shook me off balance. I scrambled up and ran, but I felt its hand swing at my back. It missed by a hair, but the foul wind pressure clawed at my neck.
Clang! Thud! Cars bounced around like pinballs as the pursuing variant plowed straight through them. Then a flying car from behind smashed into the sedan ahead of me, blocking the road—I had to stop too.
Crash! No time to catch my breath—I dodged, and it charged past like a bull eyeing a red flag. The sedan crumpled like paper and flew a good ten meters from the destructive rush.
"GRRAAAAAH!" The variant bellowed in rage, having missed its target twice in a row. Just a bit farther ahead, and I'd reach the building.
I flattened myself to the ground, and a car sailing from behind grazed my back. Thud~ Thud~ Boom! It bounced twice before slamming sideways into the building entrance and dropping. Then came the increasingly familiar sound of it leaping from afar. Boom! No need for Artemis's warning—I rolled aside like a skipping stone.
Crunch. "Ugh." But this time, I was too slow to escape. It had grabbed my ankle.
"GRRAAAAAH!" It seemed pissed at everything I'd done to annoy it so far. Before killing me, it wanted payback—holding me upside down, it roared right in my face. My eardrums throbbed, but those two seconds of payback bought my life.
Thanks, you dumb beast bastard!
Bang! Dozens of lead pellets tore into its mouth and shredded its throat. Tough as it was, even it couldn't withstand that. In the moment it released me and howled, I charged the building and dove over the car blocking the entrance. I cracked open a flashbang and a tear gas grenade, tossing them at the doorway before retreating deeper inside.
Boom! An explosion rocked the place, followed by roars, the crunch of a car crumpling, and then hacking coughs. Thud— Thud— The vibrations of its heavy body finally faded into the distance.
I'd survived.
"The subway guard bots were a joke compared to that. Thought I was really done for this time."
Just as you said, surviving the battlefield comes down to judgment. You did exceptionally well.
"Huuuuh." Deep breaths didn't calm my chest.
"That's a real monster. Even though it's hideous, facing something that size gives a whole different pressure than dealing with human-sized ones I can overpower with strength."
My hand on my chest felt my heart pounding like mad. That hand was trembling too.
It's only natural to fear something like that up close. You fought incredibly well—no panic, always making the best calls and moving decisively.
Artemis was genuinely encouraging me.
"I know. Just reflecting, that's all. Honestly, my veteran soldier pride from all those battles made me a bit complacent on tension."
Up till now, I'd been projecting my military experience onto this situation. But this battlefield—and its enemies—were a different beast. Now I was facing that reality head-on.
Hoo! Short deep breath to refocus.
"Alright, enough downer talk. Time to move."
Caution. There are some infected on the second floor of the building.
I didn't know how far that variant had gone. Heading straight outside now was risky.
"If I'm holing up here even briefly, better clear out the threats. And I should check the labor supervisor's office. That self-preserving bastard probably left something useful behind."
I checked the PDA minimap and headed upstairs. Three confirmed contacts, all separated.
First one: I waited around the bending corridor and timed an axe swing perfectly. Splat! It burst with a pop and crumpled—I followed up with another chop for the kill confirm.
The next was in the women's restroom, apparently failed an escape through the window. "Kieeeek!" Her miniskirt revealed black panties, coffee-colored stockings wrapping her legs in stark detail. Couldn't see her face, but her waist looked slim at a glance, and her outfit screamed refined style. The kind of beautiful figure you get from dieting and exercise. Before shit hit the fan, she must've been popular in the office.
"After dodging death, all sorts of thoughts pop up."
Her grotesque head was stuck outside, so her lower body looked almost human. They say near-death spikes libido—spot on. Even as she thrashed and screeched, she was jammed tight in the narrow window, no progress.
So I decided to help.
"Kiek?" She felt someone grab her lower half and struggled harder, but no use. I'd pinned both legs from the start, and infected or not, a woman's got limits on strength. I shoved outward with force.
Crack crack. Buttons scraped off the frame and rained onto the restroom floor with a clatter. "Kieeeek!" Pushing more, she finally slipped through and plummeted outside.
In that brief moment, rags of her blouse, glimpses of her bra beyond, stocking-clad feet—all snapped into my brain like photos as she fell. Thud! Headfirst impact snapped her neck; she just twitched without rising.
Hey.
"I know, I know."
Artemis tracked my hormone shifts, heart rate, blood flow—everything. She'd noticed my state, obviously.
"Not getting distracted by some monster. My body's just reacting on its own after life-or-death."
I'm not judging. You're the one pushing through pain and danger here.
"Generous of you?"
I know the stress you're under is immense. Breathing patterns, hormones, nerves—all nearing limits. I can overlook some irrationality.
The last one was right in front of the labor supervisor's office. "Kieeeek!" Open area, no ambush possible—had to go head-on. Problem: It wore the same riot gear as me. Infected guard who made it here? Or the supervisor's bodyguard? Shotgun ammo was low anyway, and not sure it'd land solid hits. Axe duel was risky too.
Whoosh! A thin, sharp net flew out, wrapping it tight and toppling it.
"Brought it for times like this."
It writhed like a maggot, bound head to toe—couldn't break free. I stomped its helmet to tilt its head back, exposing the throat. "Kieeeek!" Crunch! Two axe strikes severed the neck, bringing silence to the building.
That's when I spotted the door with the "Labor Supervisor" nameplate.
"Alright, let's see that ugly mug. Building's trashed, so probably not alive."
Creeeak. Handle was busted. I pushed the half-open door and stepped in—lost for words.
Long story short: The supervisor was a corpse. Head smashed beyond recognition, but that obese body? Unmistakable. Naked, sunk into the wide, plush executive chair. In front: A toppled first-gen android in a suit. Specifically, a sex android. Black suit, tie, stockings, heels—perfect secretary getup.
"Even then, he had this in his office?"
Hers was smashed too. Oral functions pegged it as a late first-gen model. Why so sure? Eh... I shopped around back in the day.
Anyway, this Labor Supervisor ditched escape and subordinates for one last thrill.
Spotted a PDA on the desk. Picked it up—last video recording. Click.
"Knew he was nuts, but this level of psycho? No idea."
Deleted it from my memory. No idea what it was, but don't bring it up again.
I genuinely envied her.
Quick rummage through the office turned up nothing useful. Hoped for hidden weapons like mine—nope. What prep would a guy in his position do, abandoning everything for one last shot?
"So now what? Wait here, and that variant might pop up en route anyway. No guarantee."
Ambush on the road? Game over. Waiting here? Slow death.
I've got a good idea.
"What is it?"
Let's use the sewers. We can get there safely that way.