Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Beast of Z Zone
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We moved through the secret passage the researcher had used.
Thanks to the researcher's high position, the path opened easily with just an ID card scan—no need for the double and triple layers of complex security protocols.
"How much time left?"
-About 14 minutes!
"Can't they do anything from their end?"
-They're trying, but it looks like they haven't found a way yet.
The moment I heard they were targeting an overload at the geothermal power plant, I dispatched the facility management team.
I figured since the main body was here, maybe they could control it somehow.
But as expected, they hadn't half-assed their plan—the result was negative.
'Should I just run while I still can?'
If I went to stop this and failed, I could get buried along with it.
700,000 people versus me.
Someone might call it selfish, but between the two, my life mattered a hell of a lot more.
Even so, the reason I was pushing deep into the research facility to stop this mess...
I didn't know.
"...Damn it!"
Was I the idiot here?
I'd cursed out characters in other novels for sticking their noses in like this, and now I was doing the exact same thing.
Honestly, saving just 700,000 people wouldn't make or break the world's fate.
Aliens were already killing people by the billions every year anyway.
And thanks to reviving the combat machine early, I'd probably saved way more lives than that already.
We reached the sector housing the researchers' quarters.
A few wandering test subjects bared their teeth and lunged at me, only to roll across the floor.
"Out of the way!"
But they popped right back up like Weebles, as if no impact had hit them, and charged again.
Same type as the ones the superhumans had been fighting earlier.
No time to deal with them fully, so I kept running with the pursuers on my tail.
Graaaar!
The numbers swelled, turning the noise into a racket.
"Which way!"
-Straight ahead, then right at the next intersection.
The test subjects kept multiplying—now dozens strong.
Some types I hadn't seen even when infiltrating with the spybot earlier had shown up too, from who knows where.
"...Ugh!"
Right after turning a corner, one test subject blocked the entire passage with its body and pounced.
It looked like its whole form was melting, and when I barely dodged, it vomited up something blood-red from inside.
Sizzle!
The splattered liquid ate through the floor.
My core detected the danger and automatically deployed a barrier, sealing off external air from entering my body.
-Countering!
I kicked it flying.
R3D3 timed it perfectly, unleashing a barrage of high-output energy rounds.
Holes punched through the flung body—then it slowly knit back together.
This one had self-regeneration too.
'This guy or that one.'
I decided to ignore it again.
Luckily, it was slow; it couldn't keep up as I ran.
Actually turned out helpful.
It clogged the passage chasing me, blocking the other test subjects behind—which sparked a fight among themselves.
"Nice!"
I seized the chance and cranked up my speed.
About 30 seconds later, Z Zone—where the overload generator sat—was just one block away.
Fortunately, the test subject the researcher mentioned hadn't shown up yet.
'Had it gone somewhere else?'
Maybe it got drawn to the superhumans fighting in the passage connected to the residential area.
Whatever—as long as it didn't appear, it was good for me.
I hustled and finally reached the entrance.
The doorway to Z Zone was sealed by a thick triple-layered door.
I pressed my ID card to it.
-Beep! Unauthorized user.
Tried again.
-Beep! Unauthorized user.
"What the hell?"
No change no matter how many times.
'Did he lie?'
No.
Unlikely.
If so, we'd have hit issues passing through already.
More likely, the other evacuees he'd mentioned had pulled some trick beforehand.
"...Gotta force it open."
-Projected time to overload: 12 minutes 18 seconds!
"Hold the rear for a bit? Keep everyone out."
-Roger!
R3D3 peeled off.
It blocked the corridor, plump round body on full display.
The T-junction had paths in three directions, so it felt precarious, but it could hold for a short while.
I clenched my left fist.
Even hidden under the long sleeve, the tattoos packing my fingers stood out.
The tattoos stirred slowly.
Four lines etched straight from wrist to knuckles to fingertips deepened, then slowly extruded from my skin.
I gritted my teeth against the pain, waiting for them to fully emerge.
"...Ngh, this never gets easier."
Moments later, razor-sharp 1-meter blades protruded from my four fingers, thumb excluded.
These were the original Red's claws.
Strength and cutting power incomparable to standard-issue weapons.
Pulling them out always brought searing pain and that stinging sensation—not super familiar, so I didn't use them much, but nothing beat them for slicing security doors.
"Hmm..."
I thrust my hand back, then jammed it in hard.
Metal screeched, a eardrum-shredding noise echoing down the corridor.
I endured the racket and kept cutting.
'Tough stuff.'
Even grinding my teeth and pouring strength in, it barely budged.
I pressed my right palm flat against the door, leaning in to maximize force.
Beep! Beep!
Suddenly, red lights flashed around, blaring alarms.
-Intruder detected! Intruder detected!
-Eliminating intruder. All security personnel, arm up and deploy!
The ceiling split open, automated turrets descending.
-Cease intrusion immediately.
-You are trespassing on private property.
I ignored them, kept cutting—the turrets opened fire.
Dozens of energy rounds per second hammered me.
When that failed, plasma emitters and live ammo followed in a barrage of attacks.
But none of it worked.
To breach a Core Weapon's energy barrier, they'd need tanks, not these turrets.
Machines didn't know quit, though.
They kept blasting until R3D3's counterfire shredded them all.
But the real problem started now.
The commotion drew test subjects, gathering one by one.
R3D3 got busier.
Its six legs shifted fluidly, spewing high-output energy rounds by the dozens per second.
"Ngh...!"
I'd sliced through two of the three layers.
Seven minutes left.
I jammed the claws into the final layer.
-Master!
Then R3D3 warned me.
I whipped my head around on reflex.
Something filled my vision, closing in right up to me.
"Gah...!"
Claws stuck in the door, I couldn't move—had to take the charge head-on.
The force was insane; even with the energy barrier guarding my body, it crushed me against the door, choking the breath out of me.
But the assault didn't stop.
Like an orangutan with elongated arms, it swung both like windmills, pummeling me.
'What power...!'
I curled up, enduring as best I could.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Each hit drove me deeper into the door.
Even amid it, I reflexively twisted to deflect the impacts.
The beating sharpened my mind instead.
I held firm, observing the foe.
'Just like a beast.'
Seemed like mindless venting.
Not trained fighter moves—just brute force to smash me to pulp.
When I weathered it, it tried teeth, then kicks.
Finally, a shoving kick hurled me back; the door caved inward and collapsed, tumbling me inside Z Zone.
Roooaaar!!
It pounded its chest, bellowing.
I yanked my claws free mid-fall and rose.
'...Brute. Whole body aches.'
I gulped healing fluid, checking myself.
-Master! You okay?
"Forget me—hold off the ones outside!"
-Roger!
R3D3 hadn't been idle.
Just like how I'd ignored the turrets, it hadn't fazed it.
The thing's eyes locked solely on me.
'Is this the one?'
I sized it up.
Covered head to toe in thick, tough-looking fur.
Arms dragged the floor even standing, back hunched like a hunchback with spines jutting along the spine.
Only its face looked almost human, unlike the severely mutated body.
"Thanks to you, I'm in... but..."
I checked the time.
Six minutes left.
Could I drop this thing and shut down the overload device in that?
'Body's not in great shape.'
But no backing out now.
I clenched my fist.
It quit roaring and bared teeth at me.
"Let's end this quick."
I moved first.
As I closed in, it reflexively swept its floor-dragging arm—I sidestepped, circling behind.
'Keep it short-range.'
My Roze-style certified red belt right hook packed power no flesh-and-blood could tank.
But this wasn't ordinary.
It staggered, absorbing the shock, then wheeled on me.
'And fast too.'
I dodged its strikes again, slipping to blind spots for attacks.
Sometimes fists, sometimes claws.
But nothing landed solid.
Dodging its long reach and raw power forced short trades—no real damage.
From its side, though, it wasn't thrilled.
Tired of taking hits, it suddenly leaped high.
Kicked off the ceiling, diving at me like a bullet.
"Tch...!"
Its fists cratered where I'd just been—shattered the reinforced floor like paper.
Overkill power leaves openings, though.
'Gap!'
I snagged its exposed head, rerouted, and closed in.
Poured everything into a left hook.
It ragdolled out of Z Zone with a crash, head torn ragged to the neck by claws.
"Hah, head split and still kicking?"
The wound bubbled, healing.
Felt like fighting John Werewolf.
Monstrous physicals plus regen.
Downgraded version, sure, but no quick takedown.
Its kit had more, apparently.
"Huh...?"
Head healed, it shook it furiously, slamming the floor in rage, then craned its neck out, arching forward till its back showed.
Spines from the lower back started glowing, creeping upward.
The light brightened, climbing.
"...No way, you're kidding."
Glanced behind.
Overload device inside.
Sweat beaded—or felt like it.
"You bastard, stop!"
Had to close the distance.
I bolted forward.
Right at its feet, I maxed the energy barriers.
Horn-powered one inside, core-powered outside—double-layered shield.
Then its maw unleashed a massive beam.
"Urgh...!"
Immense shockwave hit.
Held, barely.
Recoil dragged my braced legs across the floor.
Teeth gritted, I summoned every ounce to push forward.
'Cancel it all!'
Small destroyer-grade main gun power, point-blank.
Shock was secondary; power drain was killer.
If just the Core Weapon, barrier would've shattered.
Luckily, I wasn't the first to falter.