Electro Turtle Survival
“Thud.” As soon as the thing lumbered closer, bullets poured down like they’d been waiting. It must’ve hurt—the beast faltered in its steps. The vehicle seized the opening to widen the distance. This had already happened five times.
We were hanging on somehow... but the ammo was looking scarce. It had filled the entire truck at first, yet now we were down to about one magazine. Call it five hundred rounds, give or take? With the machine gun’s fire rate, though, that’d vanish in seconds.
-Grroooaaargh! The beast let out another guttural roar. The Third Squad members were starting to tremble, their bodies twitching in distress. Dillan had collapsed entirely, out cold and unresponsive.
That said, I’d never seen a turtle that huge before. They call these things Tortuga, but since when did turtles shoot electric cannons?
-Zzzt, zzzzt-zzzt. Flashes everywhere. And the light seemed to be converging in its mouth. A Super Electro Turtle!
“Damn it!”
Startled by the Electro Turtle’s menace, Carmen gripped the machine gun tight and unleashed a barrage. The bullets slammed into its shell, detonating in a chain reaction. Smoke billowed up with the heat, shrouding the beast’s body.
Hmm, impressive firepower as expected. But great power comes at a great cost. That volley had burned through our last rounds.
And then...
-Zzzt, zzzzt. The smoke didn’t clear, but everyone knew we were screwed.
“Everyone! Run!!”
Carmen’s call was swift. The instant the ammo ran dry, she tossed the machine gun and yelled. But there was one dimwit who couldn’t keep up with her quick thinking. Or maybe an extreme masochist treating this as another thrill!
Carmen reached for me, but I swatted her hand away. Well, since I was closest, picking between me and the newbie made sense. Still, poor kid. He’d get another allergic reaction, but aside from getting soaked, no real issue!
“Ngh...!”
Squad leader’s got sharp instincts, moment to moment. She must’ve realized the newbie was in my path and smoothly transitioned into a leap. Lighten up on the face, though. It’s really just an allergy.
I couldn’t tell them that, which was frustrating.
—Whiiiirrr!!!! Fire!!
BOOM!!
The Electro Turtle’s plasma cannon fired alongside the destruction of our trusty military jeep. Even with its tough build, it couldn’t withstand a plasma blast packing at least 100 million volts.
“Aaaargh—!!”
The newbie thrashed wildly in my arms, grief-stricken. He’d probably die the second I let go. Fine, I’ll admit it... you’re the ultimate ‘Joy Boy’ I’ve ever seen.
The best deserve a gift. I’d pretend to slip and let him go naturally—while hurling him as far as possible. Private Start Booster Pack, activate! Why booster? Because a grand survival game was about to begin.
Game title: ‘Nimble Turtle’. Failure reward: death. Success? Surviving’s prize enough, right?
But how many could outrun an Electro Turtle? Newbie was toast without my toss—he’d be first out. The rest turning into rat poison was inevitable too.
Carmen could outpace the truck, so she was benched. Effectively a nine-player survival match.
Oh, and I’d used Linker to mask my presence. Nera here wasn’t raised for such active games. But sitting out completely felt lonely... So, decision made. I’d be the game master from now on. Specifically, balance adjuster.
Alright, let the fun begin. Everyone, run! Unless you wanna lag behind!
Thud, thud, thud. Coincidence? Right as I declared it inwardly, the plasma-firing Electro Turtle started moving. The newbie bolted too, desperately scanning for me mid-sprint. Good instincts.
If he overcame his extreme fear, he’d make a top Third Squad member. Hah... so this was Dillan’s story of becoming the world’s best Third Squad elite?!
“Aaaargh—!!!”
The newbie was so thrilled he could barely control himself.
Thud! Every time the Electro Turtle stepped...
“Aaaagh—!!”
...he bounced off the quaking ground like it was a trampoline. Kid was having a blast. The others deftly absorbed the shocks, but he used them as rhythm for his dance. True dancer talent—too bad he aimed for enforcer.
Impressively, he was holding steady. I figured he’d trip, but even clumsy, he kept balance! Speed was lacking, though. He’d led at the start, now dead last.
In just a minute, the Electro Turtle loomed right behind him. No glance back, but the ground ahead shadowed over, his movements growing frantic.
Hmm, too tough? Time to show some power. That’s why I peeled off anyway.
Perfect. Time to reclaim all that humiliation!
‘Blood Star’ Nera, return! Compress the blood max... add some heat... Blood Cannon Enchant Version! Sangre... ¡Fuego...!
‘Pew!’ A red streak shot far ahead. My blood cannon burrowed into the Electro Turtle’s head. The compressed blood detonated, igniting the scattered droplets and engulfing the area.
Half its head vaporized instantly. Brain? Obliterated! Its actions halted abruptly, like a severed thought stream. The turtle toppled.
Newbie face-planted from the shock but spotted the fallen beast and scrambled away in terror. Murmurs from the Third Squad—probably bummed the game ended early.
“Don’t stop! It’s still alive!!”
The squad, catching their breath, looked stunned. Fair—I thought it was dead too. But its head was regenerating!
Head blown off and still kicking? Should I grind it to paste? But that’d make hiding my power tough.
-Grrooogh, grraaagh! The turtle revved up. Head not even fully regrown, greedy thing. No need to rush—I could smash it repeatedly.
Still, killing it outright was problematic. First shot was fine, but nonstop blood cannon focus would raise flags.
Aaah, isn’t it about time for First Squad? Nah, not that long, but they’re competent. This must be the cadaver they were chasing. It fled here scared—did First Squad dump their mess on us?!
Bang! Familiar gunshot. What? They actually came? Retract everything. Nera’s always loved First Squad. As precious comrades, that is.
“Fled all the way here? We’ll finish it for good this time.”
Tracking the Tortuga led to Third Squad sprawled out. Their breaths ragged, uniforms caked in dirt.
‘No bloodstains.’
No serious injuries, at worst minor grazes. Some looked spooked, but nothing more.
“Captain Carmen, my apologies—we let it slip away.”
“No, no. I’m the one who should apologize. I lost the inspector... Nera...”
Carmen’s fists clenched, her body trembling. Carlos scanned the surroundings.
‘Gone...’
Normally, you’d assume dead. But Carlos couldn’t easily accept that brazen inspector vanishing. Or rather, she didn’t seem the type to die here.
Always needlessly relaxed, whiny. Like she mocked death itself.
‘...She’s shaken.’
Carlos blinked faintly. Just the doctor’s spy gone. An unwelcome pest lifted from the squad.
“Hmph, what? She’s really gone. Actually dead?”
Rira looked dazed too. Nova showed no reaction, eyes on her sensors, qubits aimed at the Tortuga.
“5.1, activity decreasing. Damage?”
Nova’s gaze shifted to Carlos.
“Captain Carmen, did it take major damage?”
“...Something odd happened. An unknown sniper shot pierced its head, then it exploded... probably used fire or something.”
“I see.”
Not unusual—cadavers fought each other often. Besides, the Tortuga was moving again, slower but active. No time for chit-chat.
Carlos advanced. Carmen bellowed orders, reforming the squad.
“Nova, just keep its attention. I’ll end it for sure.”
“Confirmed.”
Four qubits zipped forward, circling the Tortuga and peppering it with laser blasts. Smoke rose from its body, but it didn’t flinch. Distracted, it thrashed pointlessly.
“Good.”
Carlos gripped Finisher two-handed. Frost bloomed from his heart, coating the gun.
Bang! First shot hit the head. Frost spread instantly. It froze like before, but Carlos stayed vigilant. It soon stirred again.
Bang! Next to the heart—the vital pump. Frost encased it relentlessly. The entire beast whitened and locked solid: shell, skin, all frozen still.
“Always impressive. Hard to believe such power exists.”
Carmen, squad reformed, marveled. The frozen cadaver shattered, scattering into the air.
“But wasn’t that overkill? Your power’s strong, but not this refined before?”
“Hoo... It’s... fine...”
Carlos matched it—body frosted white, exhaling ice.
“Aaaah, Captain!! You’re all white!!”
“Rest needed.”
Rira and Nova moved efficiently. Rira hauled the vehicle; Nova vented heat from her qubits.
“I... know my... state... Hoo... Not... fatal...”
“Yeah right— you’re half-dead!!”
Her retort was gruff, but laying him in the vehicle was gentle.
“Stay put. We’ll handle the rest, no matter what.”
“Agreed.”
“Yeah... I trust... you...”
The protagonist showed up, and the cadaver dropped dead. Obvious from the frost. Time to saunter back naturally?
Too pristine might raise suspicion. What to do—cough blood? Nah, not major damage. Just a little(?) bounce. Child’s play for a Star-adapted inspector.
I strolled leisurely to the squad’s spot. Ah, fresh air.
“Urk, she’s alive.”
No warm welcome? Even pros get hurt by that.
“Nera...!”
Only Mama Carmen greets me right. Do I need First Squad? Transfer to Third? Please?
“No major wounds. Thank goodness.”
She squeezed my hand. From behind, Dillan’s voice murmured.
“Inspector...!”
I glanced—tears welled in his eyes. First Squad’s blind, but my rep’s rising. No eviction talk now. Carlos’s delusion, obviously. So cute and pretty! Plus, I’ve won hearts! Never made sense I’d get kicked.
“Glad... you’re... alive.”
Yeah yeah, serve me forever.
“Nera, but... how exactly?”
Complicated expression—baffled with a hint of doubt. No worries.
“Strong cadavers like that get drawn by even stronger ones.”
Basic knowledge, right?
“True, but no one pulls that insane stunt...”
Huh? Not kingly enough?
“Drawn doesn’t mean targeted for sure.”
Carmen sighed, then pinched my cheeks, shaking vigorously.
“Suicide play. Not worth trying on a disaster-class. Even if you luckily escaped like now, what if other cadavers were around? Or crushed underfoot?”
The longer she spoke, the wilder I flailed. At this rate, I’d turn into a supersonic holy relic. Moe girl demise!
“Uuuuugh.”
Whoa, am I dying? Also, lovely paint on Carmen’s uniform.
“Wait—! It’s fine... fine...?!”
She panicked hard. Me too, a bit. Meant to preempt long lectures with tactical puke, but miscalibrated.
“Just... urp, allergy... urp, reaction.”
Mission: Joy, accomplished.
“You’ll drive me mad...!”
Carmen finally swore sincerely. Thought mammas didn’t curse—disappointed. My one true mama’s Emma. Brainwashed by the doctor, quirky at times, but her care’s unmatched.