Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Chapter 7 - Encounter #2
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A deafening crash echoed as the wall was punched through, leaving a hole—but just a hole, nothing more.
Luther didn't panic. He shoved his right arm even deeper into the gap and shouted.
"Integra!"
[On it!]
At Integra's response, a drone launched from his right wrist.
Not the coin-sized recon drone from before, but a triangular combat drone.
"Huh?!"
The thug, startled by the explosion behind him and whipping around, tried to swat the incoming drone away—but it was futile.
Easily dodging the thug's swung dagger, the drone charged straight in and latched onto his neck.
[Pika-pika!]
It was the drone's new combat feature: electric shock.
Exposed defenselessly to the high-voltage current, the thug convulsed violently before collapsing motionless.
But this was only the beginning.
[Master! Enemies approaching from the window—]
Before Integra could finish, Luther yanked his fist from the wall and used the momentum to thrust his left arm toward the window.
-Papapap!
"Argh!"
The thug bursting through the window took an energy round to the chest and was flung back.
Until now, he could only fire the Energy Gun from his right arm, but things were different now.
At Level 2, both hands were usable.
[Master! More coming!]
The moment Integra shouted, Luther spun around and extended both arms toward the door, unleashing a barrage from the Energy Gun.
-Papapapap!
"Urk?!"
The thug kicking in the door ducked low to evade the Energy Gun, but that was all he managed.
Before he could react, Luther's follow-up came.
-Pbeok!
His knee rocketed out like a cannon shell, smashing into the thug's face.
"Kehek!"
A choking gasp escaped, but Luther didn't stop.
He grabbed the thug's head and slammed it into the floor, then kicked his gut, sending him flying into the wall.
-Kung!
With a dull thud, the thug slid down the wall, twitching feebly but otherwise still.
Black mask, black clothes.
Anyone would peg him as an assassin—his outfit made identifying any affiliation or identity impossible.
And then—
[Master, the intruders in the building are converging.]
[The thugs are approaching the woman in the next room again—]
But once more, there was no time to listen to the end.
The drone had taken down the assassin with one shock, but that was a one-time use.
Any more enemies meant Luther had to handle them himself.
[Master! Front!]
"I know!"
Bursting into the hallway, Luther raised his left arm.
The nanosuit's forearm split open left and right, instantly forming a broad shield.
-Tangtangtangtang!
A mechanical crossbow.
Devastating up close—even plate mail couldn't stop it—but piercing the nanosuit's armor was impossible.
Blocking the shots with his shield, Luther charged and fired his Energy Gun at the one blasting away from the opposite end of the hall.
-Pat!
"Ugh!"
Just one shot, but Luther's aim was true.
Passing the thug clutching his gut, Luther twisted his right arm toward the woman's door.
It was shut tight, but he knew exactly where the assassin was.
-Papapapap!
"Kerhek!"
The door shattered, and the assassin hiding behind it sprawled out.
Thanks to Integra's drone scouting the interior.
[Master, another assassin breaching via the window!]
Five assassins down so far.
Yet the assault continued, meaning their numbers were no joke.
And they all wore matching outfits.
Some assassin organization was definitely involved.
'Who the hell?'
Not the assassins.
The identity of the woman on the bed, the target of their assault.
Who was she to draw this kind of force?
'Is she finally a key character?'
He hated to get his hopes up amid the chaos, but his heart raced anyway.
Kicking through the half-broken door into the room, Luther first sprayed the Energy Gun at the window.
-Papapapap!
But this time, only the window shattered.
The assassin trying to infiltrate had held back, just giving off presence without committing.
Biding time.
Waiting for the shooting to end before striking!
[That's what you think!]
The moment the assassin entered, the drone waiting on the wall charged.
Its shock depleted, but it had one more weapon.
-Shk!
With a sharp slice, the blade on the drone's head slashed across the assassin's throat.
Caught off-guard, the assassin clutched his neck desperately—but a bowlful of blood had already poured out.
"Guhk... guk...."
Gurgling as he staggered back, the assassin tumbled out the window.
[Master, no more assassins inside the inn for now.]
The drone that slit the assassin's throat returned to Luther's arm like a bird to its perch.
Securing the drone, Luther turned to the bed and asked.
"Integra, how's the woman?"
[She's fine.]
[Just sleeping.]
"Good."
Letting out a brief sigh of relief, Luther examined the woman on the bed closely.
A beautiful girl with sky-blue hair cascading to her waist.
Her white negligee was high-end, but the necklace around her neck was something else.
A blue gem, nearly two finger-widths thick, embedded whole.
'Rich girl, at least.'
Fine threads on her body, noble air about her face.
But that was all he gleaned.
Stunning beauty, but no memory of her from the game.
'No way. I'm in the game—how haven't I recognized a single character?'
Lilia and Kafu were there, but Lilia only existed in lore, and Kafu was a named NPC with zero story weight.
Luther let out a hollow chuckle, half-sigh, half-lament. Integra chimed in.
[Master, stop staring at her chest.]
[Pervert.]
"I was looking at the necklace, not her chest?"
[Same di— Master! Incoming!]
Integra wasn't just shouting.
Along with her voice, Luther received the data and spun toward the window, firing the Energy Gun wildly.
-Papapapap!
-Kwaang!
A roar swallowed the Energy Gun's shots.
A massive brute burst through, demolishing the wall beside the window. Crossing his arms to block the energy rounds, he charged like a tank.
"Kuoooo!"
[Master!]
Too close.
And the brute was enormous.
Dodging those long arms seemed impossible.
So Luther charged instead.
Getting inside the reach of a long-limbed foe was always effective.
-Kwaang!
Right then, the brute swung a fist.
The whoosh made Luther's hairs stand on end, but he didn't stop.
Key was dodging the first strike.
'Counter!'
The brute's right arm was fully extended.
Luther was already inside, so smash that exposed gut!
-Kwang!
A punch that could shatter walls.
But aside from the boom, no effect.
The brute didn't budge. Luther sensed his attack was pointless.
Not flesh—hitting an iron block.
[Master!]
Luther rolled diagonally aside. The brute's fist cleaved where he'd stood, then he turned, mouth gaping wide.
Too frantic to see his face clearly, but his mask differed from the others.
A black mask exposing the mouth.
And Luther knew why.
-Hwaruruk-!
Flames spewed from the brute's maw.
Reflexively raising his left shield, Luther blocked—but the brute's goal wasn't burning him.
Just pinning his feet briefly.
-Kwaang!
Flames cleared, the brute kicked Luther shield-first.
[Master!]
Damage wasn't bad. The shield took it—no real injury.
But the direction he flew...
Through the gaping window hole.
Hurled by monstrous strength, Luther plummeted like a ragdoll.
About 8 meters up.
Third floor—not lethal, but too low for midair countermeasures.
-Kuwung!
Landing on his back, Luther's face twisted in pain.
Integra injected painkillers and started self-repair, but recovery took time.
[Master! Snap out of it!]
[The brute's moving!]
Right then.
The brute, woman slung over his shoulder, leaped high and landed far from Luther's crash site.
"Urk...."
Groaning, Luther turned toward the man.
The brute grinned at him, then bolted away.
[The brute's fleeing.]
[Snatching the woman was priority one, looks like.]
[He's lost interest in you, Master.]
[You've done enough—better pull back.]
Harsh words, but laced with desperation.
Worried he'd get hurt meddling.
But Luther couldn't comply.
Not anger at the taunt.
Not just watching the woman get kidnapped.
Both true, but he had a far bigger reason.
'Hecatoncheires.'
The ones dooming Dragon Hunter Origin's world.
The brute was a Hecatoncheires Dragonkin—and the Chapter 1 boss kicking off the west arc with the 'Glaston Count Household Massacre': Dragonkin Balboa.
Main story hadn't started yet.
So Luther didn't know why Balboa was kidnapping the blue-haired woman, what he planned, or her identity.
'But one thing I do know.'
Balboa causes the Glaston Count Household Massacre.
Triggering the 'Beast King Balakia's Descent' that razes half the western zone.
He'd planned to reach Venus City, then figure out stopping the massacre.
But plans changed.
Disrupt whatever Balboa does.
Derail the Glaston Count Household Massacre from the start.
"Integra! Axe!"
"Ughhh... Understood!"
Luther reached out, and Integra grumbled but complied.
A large axe, trailing flames, thudded down beside him.
[Commencing pursuit!]
Integra quickly launched a drone.
An arrow and distance appeared before Luther's eyes.
[Target heading for Anes River.]
[Alone—probably because his squad got taken out by you, Master.]
[At your speed, you'll catch up in under 10 minutes.]
"Good."
Scooping up the axe, Luther drew a deep breath.
Dragonkin Balboa.
Chapter 1 boss.
Hecatoncheires Dragonkin.
Slung with the axe on his back, Luther sprinted out of the village.
Unintended, but the main scenario had begun.