The Lab (6)

Broken scanner, coolant dripping onto the floor, limbs and armor torn away bit by bit. That was the price Zero—Tin Can—had paid for holding the front line without retreat, battling the hunting dogs and taking down one Seeker.

In human terms, it was like losing an eye, massive blood loss, and amputation of a limb. He was a critical patient who should be rushed straight to the ER, but the stubborn bastard was throwing a fit.

- Absolutely not. It is unacceptable. Even now, with the remaining power, I could repair the elevator...

"Does that sound like a request to you?! Or do I have to use up all your remaining power myself to seal off our escape route before you'll get it?!"

Weeeeng...! Drrrrrrrk---!!

"You fucking...!!"

Aiming for the explosive weak point, he'd been pouring concentrated fire from the Goliath's flamethrower connector when I used the turret to peel off the burned Seeker.

- But...!

"Where the fuck is 'but' right now?!"

The moment bullets were raining down and rockets exploding left and right, even the Seekers had been too busy dodging. But now, they'd noticed something off about our thin fire net and were calmly pinning down the Goliath while destroying the remaining turrets.

Kwajik!! Kwajik! Kwaang---!

Apart from the occasional mutterings, they weren't even communicating out loud, yet their teamwork was flawless. Then it hit me—they were using implants in their brains for closed-circuit chatter.

Injustice welled up like tears. Because the Seekers were too strong? Hell no. These fuckers were actually weaker than expected.

In the game, early-game Seekers were weak too, but there was an even more fundamental difference. These weren't proper ultimate cyborgs. Not yet.

The real, perfected Enama Corporation Seekers were lunatics who'd sold even their emotions to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠company. Faster and stronger, as expected. Not brute-forced like these guys, but designed as weapons to complete any mission in any situation.

These were just lookalikes, missing key functions. Proof? No system hack attempts even after their underlings died, just like I'd feared earlier.

It's because of me... I'm so goddamn useless that's why the battle's turning against us.

Peng!! Peng! Peobang!! Thudong!!

Goliath's 85mm rocket ammo remaining: 6 rounds.

Miss Anastasia...! The value of a human and a machine is not equal...! Please judge coldly...!!

"I know that damn well...! You're a hundred times more precious than those fuckers!!"

Emotions. Emotions were the problem.

If the op failed, running was the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠obvious call, but watching that stubborn idiot android get wrecked on the monitor, I couldn't prioritize self-preservation.

......Wait. No hack attempts, and the enemies have emotions...?

I manipulated the camera to check the burned Seeker. Unlike the others methodically clearing turrets from the outfield, this one seemed fixated entirely on the Goliath and Zero.

If that's the case... maybe...!!

"Tin Can! Grab that guy in front of you tight...!! I'm heading out from the control room now!"

- ...Good luck. Miss Anastasia.

Thinking I'd chosen to escape, he tossed a farewell like he was in some drama. Sorry, but I never said I was taking the elevator.

Weeeeng.......

"Hm...?"

The Seeker looked baffled as the external turrets, drained of power, went limp. I was controlling them via cyberware from inside the control room, so fine control was impossible... but I didn't need it now.

Chilkeok...!

Keeping watch on the outside via camera, I yanked the issued Peacemaker autopistol from its holster and bolted toward the lab's main entrance like my life depended on it. One eye showed the camera feed, the other the corridor—fucking disorienting.

Not that I'm bragging... but most Korean guys have military service under their belts. I might not know fancy pistol grips, but point-shoot and suppressive fire? Easy.

Tang! Tadang!! Tangtang!!

"!! Contact! Lab entrance! Suspected cyborg or intruder...!"

"Hah! Enama's almighty Seekers ain't shit after all!!"

- !! Miss Anastasia?!

Feet, knees, shoulders, head. To draw attention, but I clustered the shots like a marksman anyway. Then I deliberately lowered the passage bulkhead slowly, charging back into the lab.

"!! You fucking little rat bitch...!"

Finally, a non-robot enemy showed up, and after some cheeky potshots and a head start on fleeing, what judgment ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would the Seeker make...?

Especially with the only path slowly vanishing...?

Come on in. Fancy cyborg who dodges explosive shells like a pro. Doesn't your pride sting getting played by a little girl like this?

Even that cool customer couldn't resist my bait in the end.

Kwang---!!

The ground in front of the main entrance exploded, the Seeker closing the distance in a near-flight. He might think he'd timed his lab entry perfectly... but now you're trapped inside playing my game, dumbass...!

Chyarararak......!

Sparks flew between combat armor and floor as only the reacting Seeker slid inside. The camera caught Zero, ammo depleted, now mounted on the Goliath trading blows in close quarters with the remaining Seekers.

Hold on just a bit longer...!

"Ha! You think I'll just keep running till I drop dead from frustration on my own?!"

"Haa... haa...!"

I wanted to tell him to fuck off, but with this bottom-tier body's stamina, my breathing was already ragged; had to hold it in.

I kept dropping walls just barely passable for him. Thanks to that, he kept tumbling and sliding without closing the gap—success so far.

From the entrance here already: 4 bulkheads. Way too late for him to turn back and help his buddies now. Not that he seemed inclined...

"! You son of a—...!"

Thudong!!

The final bulkhead before the control room corridor slammed down at high speed, separating me from him.

If it were a game showing Seeker damage and wall HP, calculating time left would've been easy... but reality doesn't work that way.

"Haa... haa...! Hoo...!!"

Thud...

If he busted through the wall, he'd have a perfect view. Exhausted, I slumped against the control panel.

My ragged breathing kept messing with my focus. Zero, my body—nothing listened to me instantly except implants and cyberware.

"You fucking &*^*)^& bitch!! %@^##...!!"

Wow... pissed enough that I could hear him cursing through the bulkhead?

Tadang!! Tadadadadang---!! Thud thud!! Thud!!

"Huaa......"

With one last glimpse of the dented bulkhead crumpling gleefully, I caught my breath and solemnly closed my eyes.

The mind follows the body.

That was my final conclusion after being tossed around by this flesh since waking in the tube. Up till now, it meant helplessly curling up, screaming, tears welling, or freezing like an idiot.

But now was the perfect chance to draw out this body's strength.

Abyss Dive. The skill existed in Neo Haven. Not player-exclusive or rare in the main story—it was one of the futuristic ultra-advanced hacking techs that popped up often. Fit Anastasia's profile perfectly, so I'd used it a ton.

While normal net hackers hammered keyboards at monitors or wrestled code on retinal implants, top-tier Abyss Dive needed peak brainpower and compatibility: converting the hacker's consciousness to electric signals for direct infiltration.

...Of course, in-game, that process got boiled down to annoying minigames...

A top Emerald City hacker in the story warned: Body goes fully defenseless during Abyss Dive since consciousness leaves the flesh. Sever the connection before ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it returns? Vegetable state.

Honestly... fucking terrifying.

Even with traits preventing veggie risk from disconnects, ahead lay unknown territory I'd never seen. Nobody sane chooses death over life.

But for some divine whim, when another's life hangs in the balance, humans get "courage" to conquer fear and push forward.

"...Initiating consciousness transfer. Executing Abyss Dive protocol...!!"

And so, I hurled myself into the world's deepest, darkest electronic sea.