Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Territorial Dispute (14)
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A crimson flower bloomed in the empty air.
The slender flower, composed of bright red lines, couldn't maintain its form for even a few seconds, but that alone was enough to freeze the surroundings.
Pajijik.
The plasma thermal energy positioned atop the single-edged blade relentlessly scorched the dry air.
The scorching heat venting from behind the katana through its cooling system made the cat wielding the weapon shimmer like a mirage.
The Ignis series heat katana—developed with Megacorp's astonishing technology and produced in limited quantities—made its grand debut right here.
"...Don't hesitate—attack!"
Owl's command came out reflexively.
His flustered voice sounded almost like he was trying to convince himself.
"We're using Megacorp's latest tech too! All tactical squad members—disengage the safeties on your Nano Cells!"
"""..."""
Nano Cell.
Megacorp's prototype implant, capable of selectively manipulating molecules under 1nm to shape designated materials into razor-sharp blades or impenetrable armor.
It had the minor flaw of power varying wildly based on the user's computational ability, but through grueling training that carved into their very bones, most tactical squad members could wield their Nano Cell implants freely as they wished.
In sync with Owl's attack signal, the squad members morphed their armor into blades and charged at the cat with blinding speed.
The cat, clad in clothing woven from Nano Cell tech, knew full well how terrifying it could be.
But.
Hwaak!!
The explosive burst of heat warped the air in an instant.
All that lingered was the acrid stench of charred matter.
The bodies of the tactical squad members—who had rushed in banking on their Nano Cell defenses—began slicing apart one by one.
"...Kuhk!"
"Hot—it's hot!!"
The cross-sections of their wounds, blackened like coal, showed no trace of red blood.
Nano Cell tech that shrugged off 5.56mm rounds with ease, yet it couldn't withstand the heat katana's edge.
Pushushu....
The cat flicked his wrist, and a popping sound echoed from the crimson-stained blade.
An unavoidable, one-hit-kill strike.
Owl couldn't fathom how gear fit for Megacorp contract mercs had fallen into a traitor's hands.
The cat murmured in a low voice.
"The same latest tech.... Half right, half wrong."
Confirming firsthand that the prosthetic arm Walter had repaired performed admirably.
"If Nano Cell tech were truly battle-ready, they wouldn't offload it at premium prices to trash outfits like Hakuga-gumi. Megacorp mercs would wield it themselves."
"...What do you know, yapping away."
"Ignoring plain-as-day results...."
He shook his head.
"Just sigh-worthy."
"...Damn it."
They needed him alive, but with the traitor's resistance this fierce, options were slim.
Owl bellowed at the other squad members frozen in awkward stances, just watching.
"...Anyone with guns—shoot him now!"
"Yes, sir!!"
They trained their pistols and assault rifles on the cat blocking the club entrance.
This wasn't some incomprehensible mess.
"...Fire!!"
"Blow him away!"
Overwhelming firepower converged on the cat.
Dududu—!!
But the cat didn't fling himself aside to dodge.
He simply.
Yanked his muffler long with his other hand.
"Cowardly bastard...."
"No idea what you mean by that."
Nano Cell couldn't block the heat katana, but swatting assault rifle rounds? Child's play. It finally shone.
The cat's strikes menaced; Hakuga-gumi's inflicted zero damage. A nightmare standoff.
Torn badly in the church clash with Abel Anderson, yet still ample coverage for one body.
Untouched, the cat brushed dust from his shoulder.
"Right tool for the job, they say. I griped, but Nano Cell's not worthless."
Just one guy.
This mess for failing to overpower him.
No AP rounds prepped—regrettably, no heavy ammo here.
The cat hoisted the katana again.
"Won't chase runners. But these stairs? Step over my corpse."
"...Filthy traitor."
Owl gnashed his teeth at the calm demeanor.
"Why show up here!? Why block the path? Traitor? Scram like a rain-soaked mutt!"
"Block the path why."
The cat didn't know what "incident" brewed inside the club.
But the boss—Abel Anderson—demanded it.
Handle solo.
Truth: to avoid XP loss. Unaware, the cat admired Abel's solo-risk gambit.
"Who knows."
No value explaining to Owl.
"Leashed dogs don't need to know."
In that brief exchange.
Katana, cooled sufficiently, glowed red anew.
"Act the part."
"...You bastard!!"
Ducking low, razor claws grazed my hair by a hair's breadth.
Swaeng!!
Sound trailed belatedly.
I glanced at Hakuga-gumi's squad leader—now a genuine tailed beast cub, Bansho Takemaru.
Reach outstripped claw length slightly.
Already a gap; magic power widened it.
Blue aura lingering midair.
Fresh traits assigned, yet a direct hit now? Limbs severed clean.
Dodging once? No complacency.
"Krreung—!!"
Bansho Takemaru, morphed like Black Kellogg, assailed relentlessly.
'Black' or 'Dark' prefix? Multiplied strength.
Cat more than tiger, ferocity undiminished.
"...Tch!"
Tongue clicked, I plunged into the claw whirlwind.
"Stay. Down!!"
Abdomen. Solar plexus. Throat. Jaw—
Punches flew sequential.
Tungtungtung!!
Drumbeats echoed sharp.
Bipedal beast's hide? Bulletproof tough.
Yet fight prolongation attuned me to moves—not me alone.
Anticipating hits? Ceiling-gazing, jaw unhinged, instinctual backhand.
"Damn."
Elbow barely parried.
Couldn't halt corridor bounce, stone-skipping.
Teoreung!!
Joints creaked.
Body blood-slick.
Wind pressure shredding skin? Foul play.
Bansho took hits too.
"Tut."
Rubbed numb jaw, spat tooth shards.
Beast eyes slit narrower vertically.
"Far stronger than back then. How, this short time...."
"Solo beast brawler chatty."
Weight class to power.
Landed multiples; damage even.
Should've grabbed box weapon.
Regret lags.
Checked bones, rose creeping.
My rise drew beast's eerie grin.
"Kuhu, but that's it. You've twigged: that power can't beat me."
Indeed, beast regen superior.
My ragdoll state.
"Kudos rising intact, fired up...."
Blood-saliva dripped fangs.
"Quit now, painless meal."
Victory assured.
Scoff-worthy.
"Ha, bullshit."
Dizzy stagger steadied; glared.
"If I meant it, fight ends now—know that?"
"Hoo...."
"Going easy, nonsense flows."
Bansho roared laughter.
"Yes, show me! 'Meant it' ends it—source?"
World holds cruelties beyond death.
Discard pride, dignity, conscience dirt-cheap....
"You said do it."
"Kkuk.... Clumsy bluff. Kitten vibe."
Slow approach began.
As wished.
Psychokinesis engaged.
'Cams dead too.'
No eyes needed.
Subordinate power-cut order? His doom.
Instant.
His something whirled dozens turns.
Silent.
"...Hoo."
Sigh guilt-shake.
Fight done.
Victory mine.
Yet.
"...??"
"Issue? Said show something?"
Steps unhalting.
Despite tied nuts sure.
Odd; called.
"......Hey."
"Life-beg late."
"Not that...."
Reverse dozens.
More turns.
Approach serene.
Painless vibe—
Memory flashed.
"Can't feel pain now?"
Pain sensors.
Ninja's pre-torture word recalled.
Adrenaline? No bearing this.
"...Calling coward sudden?"
"Uh...."
Beast frowned.
Body state? Clueless.
"This, well.... Fortune or curse...."
Unfortunate ultimately.
Result spoke.
Awkward trail-off.
"What you on about?"
Clueless retort.
Then snap.
"Ah."
Psycho fail thought; spun on.
Max-twist dropped pants-floor.
Tuk.
Pain-block temp; ears fine.
Sound full-heard.
"......"
"......"
Head drooped.
Body statue-froze.
Silence brief.
Head jerked mechanical-creak.
That look.
Friend's cat post-neuter same gaze.
"......You."
Voice quaked fierce.
Little to say.
"Just feel pain—"
"Kill you!!!"
Rage peaked.
Speed multiples clearer.
Reason snapped; no claws.
All-fours launch.
Fist reflex-jaw.
Kwaduk.
Bad pick.
Fangs crunched fist.
Whole-arm swallow intent; gnashed.
Senses-back: forearm gulped.
Pull? Bone-rattle risk, finger-flesh gone.
'Bastard....'
Pain-adrenaline surge.
Thus.
Arm deeper thrust.
"...?!"
Slit pupils shocked.
Animals chew mouth-entrees poor.
Vomit reflex.
Elbow-deep; expel struggle.
Fingers gripped unknown; nerves-muscles tore functional.
"Bite where...!"
Multi-weight flung back.
Bloodspray omnidirect.
Whose? Dunno.
Kwaang!!
Arm yanked impact.
Rear-neck clamped vise.
Bare strangle.
Painless? Living—brain blood-cut, powers-down halt inevitable.
"...Kek!! Vermin...!!"
Swollen arm shredded claws.
Ring ironclad.
Kung!! Kung!!!
Twist-wall bash shake-try.
Brief.
Thrashing waned.
Arm numb total.
Kung.
Forward flop.
......
Choke held.
Ten, twenty minutes.
Finally.
Body fullness bliss.
Finally released.
"Hoo...."
Exhale labored.
But.
Proof alive.
Flopped atop fur-settled corpse.
Tremble-fingers terminal-dialed.
Moments later.
"Finally calling. Business wrapped?"
"...Yeah, done here. Smooth there?"
"Cleared here too."
Elites oblivious forever.
City-sector dominator boss dead; tactical squad halved overnight why.
"Ugh, fuck. Body screams. Arms pure rags. No comp after this? Unfair—anything for our build repairs?"
"Haha...."
...A mere building nudge cause.