If You Flinch, You're Screwed
Silvera slowed its descent after several hours of silent flight, beginning its controlled descent.
As the cockpit pierced through a hazy layer of clouds, the vast land below came into view.
While Terminus Station had resembled a lawless city hidden inside a massive underground cavern, this place was like a sprawling mega-corporate metropolis straight out of a futuristic movie.
Buildings formed colossal complexes.
Towering spires that pierced the sky and enormous dome-shaped research facilities.
Transparent tube-style transit corridors weaving through the buildings like spiderwebs, along with maglev trains speeding inside them.
Everything was so overwhelmingly large, meticulously detailed, and perfectly ordered that it seemed impossible for mere human technology to create it.
The station's outskirts were ringed by powerful defense systems, including laser turrets and missile launchers installed alongside high barriers.
*Just like I'd seen in the game, I was really seeing it in the real world.*
It reminded me once again that I had truly entered this game world.
"Over there is the headquarters complex of Icarus Technology's Far East branch."
Yuna said, staring straight ahead.
A faint note of pride colored her voice when she spoke of this place.
Silvera approached the enormous landing pad right at the center of the complex.
Dozens of Icarus transport ships and fighters, along with mechs that looked just as advanced as or even more sophisticated than Silvera itself, stood lined up in perfect order.
We descended silently and smoothly onto the designated landing pad number seven.
"Step down."
The cockpit hatch opened with Yuna's command.
I followed her and set foot on the landing pad.
The air here was infinitely cleaner and fresher than the stale atmosphere of Terminus, and I suspected a powerful air-purification system was running.
The moment we stepped out of Silvera, several security officers in crisp white uniforms and a few scanning drones hurried over.
Their movements were precise and soldier-like, and their expressions were stern.
"Beginning identity verification and security search."
I tensed instinctively, but Yuna lightly tapped my shoulder to signal that it was fine.
She scanned her own ID chip into the device with the ease of someone who was used to it.
[Authentication complete. Pilot Yuna. Rank Alpha. Full access to all zones.]
Her authentication completed, the security officers' vigilance eased slightly, yet their gazes remained locked on me.
Clear wariness toward the outsider was evident in their eyes.
It was my turn.
"Hmm…"
The leader among the security officers frowned at the scan results.
His eyes sharpened again.
"No records on this individual. Pilot Yuna, regarding this person's identity…"
He was about to add more restrictions when Yuna stepped forward.
"This is my guest."
Her voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
"I am vouching for his identity and have authorized temporary access to this facility. All procedures will proceed under my responsibility. No further unnecessary measures are needed."
"However, Pilot Yuna, according to regulations…"
The security chief looked troubled and tried to protest, but Yuna cut him off.
"It is a formal invitation issued under my Alpha-rank authority. If there are any procedural issues, report them formally later. For now, please clear the way."
Her decisive attitude left the security chief with no choice but to fall silent and retreat.
The other security officers also stopped eyeing me suspiciously and returned to their posts.
I was once again amazed by how much power one individual pilot of a corporate mercenary unit possessed.
It was hard to believe a mere corporate mercenary could hold such authority.
She seemed more than just a pilot.
"Don't worry."
Yuna turned to me and said.
As if she had read my thoughts.
"Since I brought you here, I will handle any unnecessary issues. Just follow me for now."
She began walking forward naturally.
I watched her back for a moment before following in silence.
We left the landing pad and entered the interior of the massive building.
The inside was just as overwhelming as the outside.
The wide, high corridors gleamed brightly, and most walls were made of transparent material, revealing the research labs and facilities inside.
"This is the main research and development complex of the Far East branch."
Yuna began briefly introducing the surrounding facilities.
"Everything from mecha design to new material development and energy research is concentrated here. The dome over there is the latest simulation center, and beside it…"
Her explanation flowed smoothly, like watching a perfectly scripted commercial.
I nodded absentmindedly and looked around.
It really was impressive.
The very embodiment of technology compared to the junkyard alleys of Terminus.
If Scarlet had been here, she probably wouldn't have been able to take in all the sights even for a whole week.
At that moment, three figures walking toward us came into view down the corridor.
They wore silver-white pilot suits like Yuna's, but their atmosphere was quite different.
"Oh, Yuna. You're back."
The first to speak was a sharp-featured man with green hair.
He spotted me and scanned me with obvious interest.
"So this is the so-called 'Driller' I've only heard about in rumors. Unlike the stories… you look pretty ordinary."
A hint of mockery laced his words.
"Glad to meet you, buddy."
The massive black man raised his sunglasses and said gruffly.
"The data on you is interesting."
The nerdy-looking man with glasses approached me and openly scanned me from top to bottom.
His eyes sparkled like a scientist who had just discovered a rare insect specimen.
"Your abnormal energy patterns, reaction speed… and biological data. I'd really like to analyze them in detail sometime."
Yuna stepped in front of them and introduced me.
"These are my colleagues. Laser, Titan, and Doctor. And this is…"
I cut her off after her introduction and gave a simple nod.
"I'll be staying with you for a while. Since I invited you, there will be no unnecessary friction."
Her final words carried an implicit warning to her colleagues.
"By the way, what the hell is with that skull T-shirt, Yuna?"
His gaze fixed on the skull print of Yuna's black T-shirt.
"You brought it as a souvenir or something?"
Yuna's expression stiffened for a moment at Laser’s taunting remark, but she quickly brushed her long silver hair aside as if nothing had happened.
"I changed into this because my pilot suit got dirty, so I borrowed a temporary one."
She answered casually.
She even ran her hand down her own T-shirt, which had the skull print drawn on it, without hesitation.
"But wearing it feels pretty comfortable, doesn't it?"
"Did it get dirty? What did you do to change so urgently?"
Laser's narrow eyes darted between me and Yuna, making his lascivious thoughts obvious.
I could see all sorts of impure images flashing through his mind.
*What the hell is this guy imagining right now?*
I frowned instinctively.
"Just a bit of coffee spilled on it."
Yuna shut down his imagination with a cold tone.
But Laser let out a snicker.
It was clear he didn't believe her at all. He soon put on a fake smile again.
"Anyway, it's good that you're here. I actually have a mission to head out soon. Timing's perfect."
"A mission?"
Yuna poked her terminal curiously.
"There was no such order. What mission, Laser?"
"It'll come down soon."
Laser ignored Yuna's question and approached me slowly.
He then placed a hand on my shoulder as if we were close buddies.
But his eyes and the smile on his lips were anything but friendly.
"Hey, Driller."
He called me in a low voice.
"No, wait."
He corrected himself right away and flashed a lecherous smile.
"It's Kang Jinwoo, the former low-ranking mercenary from Chronos."
The smile brimmed with clear mockery and contempt.
Yuna glanced sideways between Laser and me, reaching out to stop him.
But I acted first.
"What do you want to say?"
I roughly shoved his hand off my shoulder and glared at him.
I could read the intent of challenge in his eyes.
"I've seen all your combat records. Yeah, I'll admit it—you fought like a pro with nothing but scrap metal. Must've been luck on your side, huh?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Perfect timing. Since I'm heading out on a mission soon, I need to loosen up a bit. How about a light mock battle?"
His voice was gentle, but the meaning behind it was crystal clear.
"To check if that amazing skill of yours hasn't rusted at all. How about it? Sounds like an honor?"
His proposal was nothing but a blatant provocation.
To challenge the Icarus top ace pilots in mock combat right after arriving?
The result was obvious.
It was clearly an attempt to test me, crush me, and humiliate me.
[Random Quest Triggered]
Quest: Ace's Challenge
Description: Icarus Technology ace pilot 'Laser' doubts your skill and proposes a mock battle. Humble his arrogant pride and prove your worth.
Objective: Conduct a mock battle with Laser
Base Reward: 10,000 CR
*Additional rewards if special conditions are met:
- Deal 10%+ damage to Laser's mech: +10,000 CR
- Deal 30%+ damage to Laser's mech: +30,000 CR
- Render Laser's mech combat-ineffective: +50,000 CR
I widened my eyes and checked the system window.
A quest? Right now?
This wasn't just a quest to prove my skill.
The system was practically daring me to crush Laser outright.
It wasn't about simply defending or holding out—it meant to actively attack and inflict damage.
"Interesting. But the scrap metal you mentioned is under modification. With a company like Icarus, there should be plenty of mass-produced machines, right?"
Laser's eyebrows shot up.
"Don't worry about that. We'll use mock-battle mechs for our sparring…"
I cut him off sharply and continued.
"No, take your own mechs. Why should I use a mock-battle one?"
"Huh? This bastard."
Enraged by my provocative statement, Laser shot up and veins bulged on his forehead.
"Are you scared?"
I laughed and answered, and a new system window popped up.
[Hidden Quest Condition Met]
[New objective added.]
*What the hell? I didn't think of that.
The moment I confirmed the new objective, a smile naturally formed on my face.