Tortuga
Blood kept pouring out endlessly. From my eyes, nose, ears—any orifice available! It didn't particularly hurt. If anything, this was what happened from being too healthy. Blood is normally just fuel to move the body. But not for me. I'd infused mine with the power of the P.V. Virus. To me, blood wasn't mere life essence—it was a weapon!
When I drew out power, my veins thickened. My body naturally ramped up blood production! Just like your heart pounding in a crisis! Anyway, the reason I was bleeding was simple. I was just expelling the excess. Hmm, "expelling" sounds kinda embarrassing. Better to play it off as the frail beauty being sickly.
"Cute little miss, are you really okay?"
"Yes... mmph."
Damn, it's coming from my mouth too.
"It's just my unique constitution."
Unique constitution? Or different species altogether? Anyway, something's different, Carmen!
"Sigh... okay, lookout? How's the little miss doing? Still holding steady at 2.5 stage?"
"Yes, sis! If anything, less like a virus rampage and more like a side effect from the Star Adaptation Procedure."
Yeah, yeah, the lookout knows his stuff. With his words, the tension around us started to ease bit by bit. They finally got it—I was just "sick" (?), not turning into a cadaver.
"Little miss, take a breather."
Carmen let out a small sigh. The tension broke, and the hostile fan club that had guns trained on me finally lowered them. But the newbie was awfully quiet. I'd figured he'd scream or have a full panic attack.
"It's... because of me..."
Hmm, not panic, but full-on mental breakdown mode. Tricky, tricky. I wasn't exactly dying to watch a guy spiral like that. If it were cutie Nova clinging to me, I'd welcome it a dozen times over!
"Dillan."
Carmen called the newbie in a low voice. Wait, first time she'd used his name? She was always so sweet, calling everyone "kids" or "newbie." Was she using this chance to chew him out?!
"Don't whine."
Whoa! Carmen! I was thinking the exact same thing. Seriously, who likes a guy going full emo?
"Didn't she risk her life to protect you? Your job isn't self-flagellation."
"Then..."
"Say thanks first. And! You know what I always say—outside the sector, anything can happen."
The newbie, Dillan, flinched hard.
"If a comrade saves your life, you save theirs next time. You weren't planning to just coast on a kid inspector's mercy, were you?"
"No, ma'am—!"
This felt like a military docu-drama. Should I narrate, 'The newbie finally discovers his manhood—his voice booms with newfound resolve.'?
"Good! Now you get what you need to do!"
Carmen slapped the newbie's back with gusto. It looked light from a squad leader's view, but his body legit bounced into the air for a second. Dude... his shoulders were shaking like crazy. Must hurt like hell. But he'd snapped out of it! Tears welling up, but he staggered toward me anyway.
"Inspector! Thank you!"
Dillan bowed at a perfect ninety degrees. Thing is, this kinda stuff made me awkward. Hell, I hadn't even risked my life—I was bored enough to yawn. But yelling "Unnecessary!" would kill the vibe. Nineteen years in a lab didn't kill my social skills completely. Hmm! And everyone was smiling like proud parents!
Seeing this, I get how the squad got their big-sis worship. In this brutal environment, they had no choice but to lean on each other. Classic suspension bridge effect!
Anyway, time for me to say I'm fine?
"What... mmph, I'm okay. Happens all the time."
Hard cleaning blood in secret from the doc. Emma even brought me pads, thinking God knows what.
"All the time...?"
Carmen narrowed her eyes. Crap... slipped again? Screw it, whatever~
1st Squad had left camp, chasing the beacon signal. But even riding nonstop, cadavers were scarce. The beacon pinged rarely. When they pursued blindly, it vanished like it was taunting them. This loop had repeated endlessly.
"Luring us..."
The cadaver wasn't just rampaging wildly—it was using rudimentary intelligence. Obvious trap. Yet Carlos followed for a simple reason: if it was targeting them, perfect. Clean takedown, no civilian casualties.
"Ugh! How many times is this?! Can't it just show up already?!"
Rira twisted her head slightly, sky gear equipped. Expecting a cadaver ambush any second, she couldn't move her arms. Basically handcuffed for hours.
"It'll come soon. The reveal cycle's shortening."
Carlos glanced at the vehicle's nav screen. Dots appeared and vanished in seconds.
"Nova, activation index?"
"5.0 stage. Disaster confirmed."
"Alerted 3rd Squad?"
"No issue."
As Rira kept twisting her head, Carlos quietly gripped Finisher.
Beep, beep, beep.
Hours-apart pings now hit every few seconds.
"Alright, get ready."
"Ready for wha—?"
-Rumble rumble rumble!
"Looks like the thing's patience ran out too."
-Roooaaar!
Carlos yanked the wheel hard. The vehicle couldn't handle the speed and flipped. It tumbled across rough dirt before a massive cadaver burst from underground, flinging it aside.
"Finally!"
No squad members trapped inside. Rira slammed her sky gear gauntlets together, grinning fiercely. Nova balanced midair on her qubit. Carlos planted his feet solidly, aiming Finisher at the cadaver.
A grotesquely warped turtle loomed before them. Similar shape, sure—but house-sized, crushable with a few stomps. Its "face"? Green skin slathered with red chunks, like a mad patchwork of rotten corpses.
"Commence extermination."
-Boom!
Freezing rounds flew toward the cadaver. It stomped furiously—a mere tantrum. Rock walls erupted from the ground. Residual shockwave hit 1st Squad as a gale.
"Not on my watch!"
Facing the dust storm, Rira punched forward.
Whoosh!
Fist sliced air; sky gear hummed. Next instant—space itself tore. The storm split, shockwave sweeping everything ahead. The cadaver hiding behind the rock wall was exposed.
"Blocked it, huh."
No problem. Just dumb luck blocking the shots with its tantrum. Still full of openings: legs, shell, neck. Carlos could target anywhere for lethal hits. Headshot for sure kill.
"Nova, cover fire."
"Confirmed."
Nova rode her qubit, controlling three orbs.
"Max output."
-Zzzzt!
Orbs locked together, condensing blue light.
"Fire."
Simultaneous beams merged into one, bombarding the cadaver.
-Bang!
Photon cannon pressure rocked its body. It steadied its feet; impact rippled through the earth.
-Thud, boom.
A mere step felt like an earthquake.
"Rira."
But not enough to shake 1st Squad. Ignoring the quake, Rira closed in instantly, right under its steadying foot.
"Brace yourself!"
She punched. Sky gear met massive foot.
-Craaack!
Superhuman fist plus gear's shockwave shattered the ground beneath her. Rira didn't budge. Instead, the cadaver's balance twisted; all four feet lifted as it toppled.
"Well done."
Opening exposed. A 5.0 stage cadaver was strong—beyond biological limits. Overwhelming size, mismatched regen. But not fully shed its form.
-Boom!
Freezing round slammed into the turtle-cadaver, Tortuga's head. Weak point meant it was just prey to Carlos.
-Rumble crash.
Massive body flattened the ground; tough shell caved it in. Head frozen solid, no movement.
"What, boring. Already over?"
"Rira, no slacking."
"I know, boss! Just... after chasing so hard, it ends sudden. Kinda anticlimactic."
The three cautiously gathered before Tortuga.
"Nova, readings?"
"Gone. Death confirmed."
"Good. Mission over now we've traced the beacon loss..."
Its eye snapped open.
"Shit... how?!"
Carlos shoved his squadmates back.
"Reactivated. Stage up. 5.1 stage."
-Zzzt, zzzzt.
Electricity arced from the shell, converging into its mouth, compressing.
'Not too late.'
Carlos, ever vigilant, had already channeled his virus power.
"White Frost."
-Groooar!
Frost clashed with lightning. Current split around the ice wall.
"Ngh...!"
Mismatching forces exploded massively. Carlos was hurled back amid rising dust. Rira cleared it late, revealing only a huge crater before 1st Squad.
"Escaped."
"Evolved mid-fight. Highly unusual."
"Maybe it had that power all along."
Nova tilted her head, then nodded in acceptance.
"Possible. Acknowledged."
"Worse now. We just poked the hornet's nest."
Carlos steadied his breath carefully. Frost rimmed his lips faintly.
"Boss! Let's chase! I'll upright the car!!"
"Yeah, thanks."
"You good?"
"Fine. Should recover by catch-up."
"Confirmed."
Rira, who said she'd fix the car, instead hoisted the whole thing and ran over.
-Thud, thud, thud.
"Boss? Rest a bit?"
"Nah. Depart now."
Rira's gaze followed the frost on Carlos.
"Always telling me not to push..."
She muttered softly, then hopped in after him quick.
Me? Fully revived. Supreme tier confirmed. Or rather, I was never sick to begin with! Too healthy, they say—but no one believes me. Nera is so hurt. If I weren't healthy, would this much blood pour out? Huh! Skin's pale, no color—ain't that how it should be?! Back when my complexion was killer... no point saying it, just sore mouth.
But my uniform soaked red? Minor issue. Wanna wash and rewear, but no spares.
"Little miss looks better."
"I was fine all along."
At my earnest words, Carmen squinted. She bonked my head, forcing me onto the truck bed.
Ugh, anti-beauty violence!
"Attention all! Word from 1st Squad! They've confirmed a 5.0 stage cadaver signal. Regroup at camp, then launch disaster-class extermination op! Got it?!"
"Yes, sis—!"
Whoa, 5.0 stage. Cadavers balloon in size per stage-up. How big at 5.0? Last one my size was 4-5m... tens of times stronger? 40-50m maybe? Hmm! This truck's toast. Forget fighting—one step from it and we're paste.
As I daydreamed, the truck rolled out. Lying down, only sky in view—not bad. Cool breeze perking me up? Empty wasteland vs. cloudy sky... sky wins?
-Rumble rumble rumble!
But what's that racket? Someone fart? Kinda earthquake-y.
"Uh... something's there—!!"
Dillan, guarding rear, yelled. Then boom! Cadaver burst from underground. Ugh, block my sky. Not into cadaver close-ups. Another linker? No nearby pings... Newbie's face ghost-white. Guess facing absurdity leads to numb resignation? Disappointing. Thought he was a fear-junkie joy boy. Just normal.
"Damn! Driver, max speed! Lookout, index now!"
"Sis! This is top speed! It'll catch us!!"
"Sensor caught... got it! 5.1 stage!!"
In the chaos, Carmen grabbed the truck's machine gun.
"Ammo, all in!"
Squad ditched rifles, becoming her loaders, stacking belts.
"Keep feeding, no jams."
With that, she pulled the trigger.
Oho, showing off here?
-Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Bullets rained. Chain clinked like vacuum-sucked. 5 minutes? Nah, 1 and done? Still packs punch! Hit spots swelled red like zits. Skincare, dude.
-Groooaaar!
Oof. Ears ringing worse than the gun. But squad's morale sky-high. One might crack, but newbie plugging ears aside, they stood rigid, ammo flowing!