Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Masquerade (24)
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***
Click, click, click click—
‘Convenient.’
[Right?]
From a full-speed sprint all the way outside to Underdome, then from the Underdome residential area to the central power plant, including the battles along the way. My stamina had been depleted long ago. In my haste, I’d clung to the wall, but separate from the strength in my left arm, my body had no energy left, so I couldn’t climb up quickly.
Hyde, unable to stand watching me struggle to crawl up, took control of my left arm and,
Click, click, click, click—
Began scaling the wall by alternately digging in his fingers. The massive hand crawling up the wall like it was playing piano, with the body dangling from it. Sure, I wasn’t expending any effort, so it was comfortable for me, but...
‘That... doesn’t look a bit weird?’
[Not really? Doesn’t seem so to me?]
No, it did. The inspection department guy watching from below was rubbing his eyes like he’d seen a ghost, and now he was scribbling furiously in some notebook. Anyone could see it was the face of someone who’d discovered something utterly astonishing!
Well, there was that minor issue of not being treated like a person anymore, but in any case, this finger-climbing gear safely traversed the ceiling horizontally and brought me to the spot with the maintenance equipment.
‘That must be the thing the inspection guy mentioned.’
[There’s a bunch of stuff that looks important. Which one sends power to the city?]
‘Do we need to think about it? Just flip them all on. It’s not like it’s our home electricity. So what if it wastes a bit.’
Clunk! Clunk clunk!
Whirr—
The Professor flipped every lever he could see without a second thought and pressed every button that was protected by something. There was no time to hunt down manuals and study this complex facility, and honestly, in the current situation, turning something off might cause problems, but turning things on didn’t seem like it would.
Whirr—
Whirr whirr whirr—
Zzzt zzzt zzzt!
“Oh!”
“It’s working! Electricity’s back on! We did it!!!”
The dim cavern lit up as the central generator, which had been quietly flickering, roared to life with powerful sounds and lights.
Clunk—clank!
Rumble rumble rumble—
“Uh... what’s moving now?”
[It’s the administrator panel, right? Looks like it activated a ton of stuff needed for managing everything!]
Dust poured down from the ceiling, and cool night air rushed into the stuffy, musty cavern.
“The ceiling... it’s opening?”
[Outside! That guy said this tower connects to the outside!]
“I heard it connects to the outside, but...”
I hadn’t expected it like this.
Electricity from the central power plant spread through the city, and lights began flickering back on one by one in the pitch-black streets. And then,
—Flash!
Directly above the opened hole, the power tower stretched endlessly into the sky. It wasn’t connected to the ground; the tower started from this underground cavern and was one continuous structure all the way to that towering skyscraper on the surface.
“W-Wait a sec. That thing...”
[It’s... no, splitting apart?]
The massive spire connecting the power tower and the skyscraper—its top eight floors or so were splitting open like shedding skin.
“No way... I’ve never seen Dome’s main gun in action, not even heard rumors of where it was, and it was here of all places!”
Thinking about it, it made perfect sense. The main gun that gathered and fired the central power plant’s entire daily output of stored electricity. Naturally, that insane structure would be close to the central power plant.
From the top 30% of Dome’s tallest modern skyscraper— one of the few— emerged a massive, futuristic structure straight out of a sci-fi movie.
“That’s why Dome was built here...”
Even during the Great War, only a handful were made: a deranged superweapon that, with sufficient power, gave 99.9% dominance in any anti-air or anti-ground defense—not figuratively, but mathematically calculated—against anything short of a nuke. In this post-nuclear apocalypse, 47 District was the only city outside nuclear fallout with one installed, making it the world’s last surviving stationary strategic weapon.
“Mayor Zeus.”
Rattle rattle rattle—
Clank!
“This is...”
[It says come up?]
A ladder descending right on cue, connected to an elevator at the end.
On second thought, this administrator panel had slightly tighter security than the power control device at the base of the power tower. You had to pass the power control security first, enter, call the elevator, and come up here.
“If the administrator panel is for ‘Zeus’ management, then yeah, it’d be that hard to access!”
The Professor grabbed the temptingly dangling ladder in front of him and began crawling up.
“I gotta fire this thing.”
[Let’s fire it!]
“P-Professor!! No, not the main gun! It could roast the whole city if mishandled!!! Outsiders can’t touch—”
Bang, bang, bang.
Ignoring the inspection guy’s shouts from below, the Professor vigorously climbed the stairs.
“Sorry, but we’ve come too far to worry about procedures!”
Reaching the elevator, the Professor pressed the button above the top floor, flashing in the shape of a lightning bolt.
Ding—!
Whoooosh!
The elevator carrying the Professor began ascending toward the highest point in Dome.
***
Bwoooong!
[KT-05! Took down one tank!]
[No need to kill it—just hit the tracks! If the tracks are no good, aim for the right rear armor! The coolant tank’s thin and blows easy!]
Bursting into enemy lines with his subordinates, Ralph Monclar rampaged like a wild beast. Retreat was off the table long ago. He and his men ignored defense entirely, focusing only on keeping enemy tanks from reaching the city.
[MJ-06! Report your squad’s status!]
[...]
[MJ-06! Jackson! You fucking dead?!]
Ralph gritted his teeth at the darkened comm panel ID. Not many names left.
‘Five totaled, fourteen half-wrecked... nine. Still nine intact tanks left...!’
If they could stop the tanks, maybe they could hold off the infantry and combat vehicles. Even without execution, inspection, or admin department affiliation, drafting reserve militia like failed applicants or city police might give a slim chance...
‘But without stopping the tanks, it’s meaningless. It’s over. 47 District Dome falls to the Raptors.’
Hoping they evacuate in time.
Ralph thought of his wife and kids in the city. She’s tough; she’ll raise them fine without me. The youngest is just two. Will he remember my face? Probably not. Guilt crashed over him like waves at the thought of his kids growing up fatherless in this harsh world.
So,
“I’ll buy one more second before I die.”
Zzzt—
His battery died from the relentless barrage of the large-caliber Gatling gun, but Ralph charged forward undeterred.
“If I don’t, I’d be too ashamed to even face my ancestors!!!”
Clank—
Behind the Gatling-wielding mob, an RPG soldier perfectly sighted on him.
Raptor infantry tactics: If you can take out an enemy—especially hard-to-replace gear like exosuits—even friendly fire from above is allowed.
Seeing the RPG launcher tracking him precisely, Ralph threw himself into the center of the Gatling infantry.
‘...Please, let my life stall their advance, even for a moment...’
Noticing his intent, infantry ebbed away like the tide. Ralph closed his eyes.
—Zzzt!
KABOOM!
Explosion.
Impact.
And tickling his ear in between,
‘Shield... repulsion sound?’
The sound of a shield, shrieking from air friction loud enough to ring his ears.
Ralph swallowed hard and opened his eyes.
A round, blue-glowing shield protected him without a single gap. Every other part of the exosuit, and all auxiliary gear shown by his trembling HUD, flickered back to green.
“No way... no fucking way!”
Flash—!
In that instant, intense light sliced through the moonless night. The central tower beamed like a pillar of light, channeling current from tower to city outskirts, outskirts to electric poles! A lifeline of electricity reconnecting.
Zzzt—
[RM-01! Power’s back!]
[It’s... the central power plant reactivating!]
[We’re saved! Fuck yeah, we’re alive!]
Not the noisy emergency channel, but clear, joyous cheers from surviving squadmates.
And—
Zzzt—
[Ah, hello, inspection department folks. Remember my voice now? You get it, right?]
A smug, grinning 20-something guy’s voice on the exosuit-only channel—impossible.
`ZEUS-00?`
[Yep, it’s me, BDSM Professor. Sorry you had to scrap with those lizard shits on empty batteries. As of now, Dome’s central power is fully operational...]
‘The ID wasn’t newly registered—it was always in the comm channel. Zeus... wait, Zeus?’
Screeeeech—!!!
Zzzt—
[If you don’t wanna get caught in it, send friendly coordinates NOW. Over!]
The moment Ralph realized something and turned toward the city, a sun-like blue glow gathered at the light pillar’s end, and a bizarre sound he’d never heard echoed across the battlefield.
***
Boom!
“Incompetent! Useless! Trash rats of Dome not worth keeping! I even sent you cyborg freaks because I couldn’t trust you, and you still failed! My hunt! The sacred Raptor hunt!!!”
Sol Amar shrieked from atop the Noiji Pack’s toughest armored vehicle among all tanks here. The suddenly lit-up city. Exosuits that were nearly dead now rampaging full throttle.
‘Power’s back in the city. Those trash failed to hold the generator! Utter incompetents!’
Truth be told, the traitorous execution agents planned to blow the power tower the moment they seized the central plant, obliterating 47 District and cutting off counterattack chances—but Sol stopped them. He coveted the city’s infrastructure and the world’s last city-scale superweapon, Zeus, too much to just destroy it.
Of course, now with that monstrosity about to scream at them, Sol had long erased that fact from his mind.
“...Aaaargh! Damn it! Retreat!”
“P-Please calm down, Pack Leader! It’s not over yet! Sure, they’ve got power back, but most enemy exosuits are neutralized, and their electromagnetic net needs time to reach us, so concentrate fire, mop up the exosuits, rush into the empty Dome at top speed...”
Bang!
“Urk, why... why...”
Thud.
“Hmph! Idiot. Did I look that stupid? Questioning your superior! Trash! Insolent scum! Sure, your plan might work! But that crazy super plasma cannon’s aiming here! What if I get caught and die?!”
Sol, who’d just shot his new Noiji Pack adjutant from ten minutes ago, kicked the corpse while spewing curses.
The soldiers, Sol excluded, fell silent like ice water had been dumped on them.
Fat, incompetent, brutal boss who treated soldiers’ lives like flies.
Soldiers’ faces grew fierce; one suddenly stood, raising his muzzle.
“...Fuckin pig... know when to quit, you—”
Bang!
“This bastard’s mutiny!!!”
Bang!
Incredibly, the soldiers who’d drawn on him dropped with headshots before they could even aim.
“...There’s the answer to why we’re losing this sacred hunt. Traitors so ideologically corrupt they’d aim at exalted superiors—crawling like maggots.”
Without turning from kicking the fallen adjutant, Sol drew and perfectly headshot the two soldiers. He slowly scanned the surroundings with his smoking barrel.
“Before becoming Pack Leader, everything in quals was barely passing—except ideology and pistol, always perfect. That’s a Raptor Pack Leader. Beyond you grunts’ wildest dreams. Aaaah! Who’s next?! Anyone unhappy with my orders, step up NOW! Raptor rules! Kill me, take my spot! Come on!”
Sweat pouring, Sol swung rage and murderous intent like a sticky club, but unlike his jiggling body, his gun barrel scanned steadily without a tremor.
Clack.
“...No complaints? Execute orders. Our tanks are isolated in enemy territory, so Noiji Pack and central forces detour right flank, north for retreat. Tank forces hold position, delay them.”
“T-That! You’re sacrificing all tanks and central forces as bait?!”
Clack!
“Sit. You’re a driver; one pass. Tanks hold, central draws fire—meanwhile, we head to Dome!”
“T-To Dome, sir?”
“Yeah. Noiji Pack command vehicle has camo function, right?”
“It does, but can’t evade Dome radar, and using it means stripping all armor...”
Slap!
“Then go strip it NOW! With that massive power output, radar’ll be blind! While others bait, we sneak into Dome!”
After slapping the backtalking soldier, Sol rummaged his personal box as orders relayed.
Civilian clothes fitted to him. Similar to Dome citizens’, scouted via spies beforehand.
‘Higher-ups blocked my public ops, saying my look hurts Raptor image. Annoying, but my face is unknown in Dome. Ram this APC at the entrance, let remnants handle uniformed us—meanwhile, I slip in as a citizen!’
Sol stripped his medal-laden uniform top, grinning slyly. He’d survive. Survive and see Raptor glory scatter worldwide.
***
Scraaaape!
“Damn! Fuck! Why now?!”
Ian leaped from the armored car refusing to move despite flooring it, finally blasting off external armor and wrecking the tracks on a Mini Shooter.
Splaaat!
Clank—
Leather pouch bursting, thick bulletproof plates and all, the Mini Shooter flew with a gaping chest hole.
“Urgh! A few more shots and my right hand’s done for life, but damn, best hand-feel ever.”
The hand cannon from the inspection armory lived up to its name. Half barrel, half arm-mounted auxiliary, firing insane 24.1mm ship rounds—but the recoil hammered the user’s arm and joints raw.
Zzzt!
The battle wasn’t bad. Crushing infantry with APCs, slamming tank barrels aside—plenty exosuits down. The near-dead ones now bounced like Hoobgoblins with fresh heads.
Cause? Obviously the city tower stabbing eyes even from afar.
“Kuh hah hah, the man I approve of, Professor! You pulled it off!”
Splaaat!
Ian one-shot two charging infantry, relaxing. Regretted not getting revenge personally, but enough dead. Now wait for that main gun to finish his old foe...
“...Ah, lighter. Shit.”
Fumbling pockets, cursing forgetting to borrow Anne’s lighter, Ian spotted enemy forces moving oddly. Veteran of endless military strategy.
“These bastards... ditching everything? Tanks first. APCs, combat vehicles, infantry... all dead weight? Insane? Commander panicked—”
Beyond absurd fuckup left him dumbfounded, then he recalled the commander.
“...Sol’s the commander. Forgot—image didn’t fit. If that pig throws bait, enough to fill the pond...”
Simple MO: absolute self-preservation. Safest spot normally. Closest to escape in risky ops. In defeat like now...
“Opposite of dead weight’s easy. Kuh hah hah, there they go!”
Ian’s eyes caught dust kicking up in empty wasteland. Faint, shimmering shape.
‘APC’s toast... combat vehicles all opposite side, nothing to chase—’
Vrooom!
Pew pew! Pew pew pew!
“Found you! The bastard mowing down our guys! Capture for credit!”
‘Damn, kill and kill, endless...!’
Vroooom!
Spotting the sidecar bike the two soldiers rode, a thick grin spread on Ian’s face.
‘Heaven helps those who help themselves!’
Moments later, a black Raptor-painted motorcycle sped toward Dome.
***
Zzzt zzzt zzzt!
Screeeeech—!!!!
[Shell, you sure we can fire this?]
“Heh heh heh, what? Scared? Thought you’d love it most.”
The Professor sat in Zeus’s cockpit atop Dome’s tallest building, even higher.
[No, I like it... but...]
Zzzt!
Whirr! Whirrr!
[Condition’s iffy... doesn’t look great.]
Next to Zeus gathering massive power, the cockpit sparked with thick arcs even now.
“Of course... it’s not fine? Let’s see. Blue dots are exosuits, Mong said Ian’s biking out, Azel’s got Vex safe...”
[‘Not’ fine? You just said not fine?]
“Duh. It was pooling city power to fire, then we cut plant-to-city flow. That backlog surged back through pre-set charge path. Heavily overcharged now.”
[Firing that...]
“Sting a bit?”
The Professor crammed Ralph’s coordinates and enemy paths into Zeus’s sights best he could. Near-world’s-endgame weapon, mostly auto—but insane discharge fried radar, so manual aiming.
‘Sometimes think scientists are the smartest retards. Build this brute, but manual aim only.’
Zzzt—
[Zeus ready. RM-01, count us down.]
[Hey! Park... ZEUS-00! Why’re you there?! Know how huge this is?!]
[I do. Head’s baking like a sun crashed beside it.]
[Not that! Zeus is Dome’s top weapon! Ally or not, hands off! Like US nuke sub comms suddenly: allied colonel says ‘nukes ready, count down?’ Nuclear key from prez’s pocket in foreign hands!]
Screeeeech—!
[Won’t? Timing off, friendlies grazed—you want that?]
[Damn! No chill! Count to five, blast! We’ll prone at sent coords!]
[La—]
Zzzt!
All prepped. Hand on Zeus stick, eye to scope, Professor’s mind rang with nagging.
[We won anyway! No need to fire—win without?]
“Won, yeah... but their move’s off.”
Dunno the mood shift, but enemies detoured from hot zone to reengage.
“Suicide for sure, so some order like ‘die holding.’ Raptors brainwashed good—really charge if told.”
Victory sealed, but heavy unrelated casualties looming.
“War casualties sound like numbers, but each one’s a life. Like you or me. Someone to bury, pray for daily maybe.”
Professor shifted right hand to fire button—switched to left.
“What’s this material?”
[Uh... dunno. Strength matches your body, hardness from my gene base, Edeorna. How mutant virus sees it? No clue.]
“Hm, yeah?”
Scritch, scritch!
Rubbing fingertips: hard friction, not quite metal.
Eh, whatever—about to press when mom’s phantom voice echoed: survive, any way.
“...You?”
[N-No! Not me! Obvious suicide! Your imagination!]
“Yeah?”
Crunch.
Pondered briefly. Survival. Repay parents who gave all—for him, one way.
Professor eyed left hand. Sharp, jagged, mutant-like arm. Nagger in head. Brother-like friends. 47 chat folks, inspection, Dome, countless survivors met.
Snort.
“Yeah, gotta live. Any way.”
Professor’s left arm slowly lifted from fire button.
As Hyde sighed relief, Professor continued.
“But Mom, tried living—ain’t just living. Gotta live ‘well’!”
Then slammed fire button hard.
Pop.
Pop.
Pew pop.
City center, Zeus tower origin—city sinking into blackout darkness.
Gathered like a blazing solar flare of current scattered—
Szzzzt—
A thin line of light stabbed groundward. Pathetic speck vs. that energy.
Zzzt—
Zzzzt zzzt—
Blue current rampaged along line, breaking silence. Thickening, fiercer, solidifying,
KRRRZZZZZT—!!
KAAAAAA BOOMMM!!
Into a massive electric tornado sweeping the earth.
***