Chapter 364: A Twist on the Familiar
Chapter 364: A Twist on the Familiar
It didn't feel like I’d been unconscious for very long.
The only thing that had changed was that I was now lying flat on the grass. The phone I pulled from my pocket confirmed that not much time had passed since the duel.
If I’d been left where I fell, I would’ve been sprawling on the dirt. Someone must have moved me to the grass while I was out.
First, I checked my condition.
I was covered in a bit of dust, but there were no major issues. My forehead, where the bullet had struck, throbbed slightly, but it was nothing serious.
…Still, just how expensive was the bullet he used to knock me out? Unless it was a heavily reinforced round, it wouldn't have even left a scratch. Well, that’s Meteor’s business, so I’ll let it slide.
The red paint from the Paint Bullet, which I’d been worried about, had vanished cleanly from my body. Meteor had claimed it wouldn't come off because it was "Meteor," but seeing how it was gone, it must have been made of some material—chemical or magical—that evaporates after a certain amount of time.
A miserable, desperate possibility crossed my mind—that someone might have stripped and washed me while I was out—but seeing as my clothes weren't disheveled at all, that seemed unlikely.
Alright then. My body was fine. Next, the surroundings.
The vast empty lot stretching out before me immediately caught my eye. Before the fight, it had been a well-leveled space, perfect for training. Now, it looked like the middle of a sprawling battlefield. The ground was churned up, dotted with small craters as if it had been bombarded. Innocent roadside trees had their roots half-exposed, leaning at sixty-degree angles. Plastic and metal shards were scattered everywhere across the dirt. It was a gruesome sight.
…Hmm.
It looked like the shockwave from my rage had blown everything away. I hoped they wouldn't try to use this as an excuse to send me a bill later. If this ever came up, I’d have to insist that Meteor caused it all with his explosives.
Once I confirmed that there were no other major issues with the environment, I turned my head.
Voices had been drifting in from a short distance away for a while now. I could hear three women engaged in a friendly conversation.
"You're a Hero focused on sniping, so I didn't realize you were so skilled in close-quarters combat."
"When you've spent enough time rolling around on battlefields, you run into unexpected situations all the time. It's a combat style you naturally pick up just to stay alive."
"The way you fought with those two pistols was so sharp!"
"That was just for show. If I’m backed into a corner where I have to use pistols in close combat and I start making sloppy movements, The Enemy will realize that close quarters is my weakness. By using disciplined, martial-arts-like movements, I’m projecting the image that I’m not cornered yet and that I can still fight effectively in this situation."
"So… it’s psychological warfare?"
"Exactly. As you saw from my fight, I don't possess the overwhelming strength your master has. I use everything at my disposal. That is my fundamental way of fighting."
"…Does that work on giant monsters or mindless entities too?"
"It’s difficult with giant monsters. They tend to flatten everything around them based purely on their physical mass. For beings with such overwhelming physical specs to take notice of someone smaller than them, you’d have to be someone like your master—someone who has transcended the limits of size. However, that doesn't mean psychological warfare is useless against typical monsters or creatures."
"Through a charge! Overwhelming dominance! I am stronger than you!"
"…I suppose you could call that psychological warfare too. Regardless, they have intelligence and their own patterns of behavior. In that sense, while they differ from humans, psychological influence definitely applies to combat with them."
"I see. Our master’s method is…"
"…That guy is a case where his mere presence on the battlefield is the psychological warfare. I will never fall. I will never retreat. If you want to pass, kill me. I am stronger than you. In that sense, Ha-ram built a combat style and personality for his own brand of psychological warfare, but since it’s based on overwhelming power, it’s hard to teach to others."
"So in the end, overwhelming power is what matters!"
"…I won't deny that."
The conversation continued without pause.
…They sounded like they were having fun. So much so that they hadn't even noticed I was awake.
The fact that they were chatting away from me was likely out of consideration—so that their voices wouldn't wake me while I was unconscious. Still, a wave of sadness hit me, seeing how they were too engrossed in their talk to realize I’d opened my eyes.
Feeling a bit slighted, I looked at the other Sentient Being positioned behind me.
The one who had been at my bedside while I was down and was now behind my back.
The Terminal Tentacle.
Before I woke up, it had been peering down at me with its body bent like a bowed head. Now, as if happy I was awake, it was swaying its body side-to-side in a slow rhythm.
I couldn't sense a hint of hostility or strange intent from its actions. A tentacle that was friendly toward me. I still couldn't quite believe such a thing existed, and the seeds of doubt hadn't been fully uprooted… but in this moment, this little tentacle felt more familiar than anything else.
While my so-called disciples were laughing and chatting with The Enemy who had humiliated their master, only this former enemy remained to guard my bedside. What a strange irony.
This was all Meteor’s fault. Using all those cheap tricks in a fair duel. I knew Meteor had his ways, but this duel hadn't been fair.
For example… those Claymores… and those special rounds…
…It was hard to put into words, but it just wasn't fair.
And so, after giving the tentacle a light pat as a thank you, I stood up.
"Hey. Let's go again."
I immediately grabbed my hammer and stood behind Meteor.
"Eek!"
"Master! You're awake!"
As my two disciples cried out in surprise, Meteor spoke.
"Yep. I won~."
Had he realized I was awake already? He spoke in a voice devoid of any fluster, not even bothering to turn his head. Those obnoxious words grated on my nerves.
"Yeah, fine. I messed up by releasing my limiter and all that, but let's seriously go again. I'll restrain myself as much as possible. Just guns and hammers, for real this time."
Honestly, I was just a big target in that last duel. So, for the kids' sake, let's do this properly…
That was my intent, but—
"Sorry. My body isn't in top shape because of what someone did to me."
Only then did Meteor turn toward me with a smirk. He stood up and held out his arm. His right arm was broken, reinforced with metal pipes he’d either brought or scavenged from the area.
"A certain someone went and broke my arm, so I can't duel. What ever shall I do?"
"…."
Anger began to simmer.
"Then I'll break my right arm too—"
"My side hurts, too…"
"…."
Fine. I get it.
"I'll pay the dispatch fee for a healing-type Hero, so—"
"Ha-ram, look at this. The barrel of my rifle is bent. I must have hit it against something."
Suddenly, a long stick of a sniper rifle was thrust in front of my face. Now that he mentioned it, the gun did look slightly warped. Maybe by about 0.5 degrees.
"…I won't use my hammer, just my fists—"
"Sorry, it's snack time, so I have to go. I've been craving sweets lately…"
"You son of a bitch! Fight me!"
I immediately threw a punch. My target was his left arm. I’d break both of Meteor’s arms and make sure he suffered all day.
Or so I thought.
"I believe I told you to work on that temper."
Along with a chilling voice, I heard a sound like compressed air being released.
Phut.
This time, I felt a sharp pain right in the center of my heart.
"…."
I stopped my fist and stared down blankly. A small dart was embedded in my chest. It had been fired from Meteor’s right arm—specifically, from the pipe splint strapped to it.
"That makes it two wins for me."
"…Mother… fucker…"
And once again, I lost consciousness. The last thing I saw was A-bin’s pathetic, judging gaze.
* * *
"Dammit."
When I opened my eyes, I was in an unexpected place. A space swirling with mana, furnished with a sofa. In other words, the place where my Doppelgangers kept appearing.
I’d expected one to show up soon since I’d defeated the third, but I hadn't expected it at this exact timing. I figured they’d just say whatever they wanted and leave again, so I looked around for my opponent.
My Doppelganger hadn't appeared yet. Thinking she’d show up eventually, I threw myself onto the usual comfortable sofa.
The sofa felt soft as it enveloped my body. About a minute passed as I enjoyed the sensation.
Zzzzt. Bzzzzzt.
With a sound like static, a chair appeared across from me. It was a rocking chair, crudely welded together from various metal scraps and pipes.
Sitting comfortably upon it was a being who looked exactly like me, staring at me with her fingers interlaced.
"You're late this time," I said.
"Those who surpass the third are rare. It took some time to decide who would come out," she replied in a stiff, formal tone.
That was a first. I’d seen several of my Doppelgangers now, and I was starting to realize they each had their own personalities.
"Is this our first time meeting?" I asked.
That was when the change began.
The appearance that looked exactly like mine quickly washed away. Her form shifted rapidly, as if she were revealing her true self.
The woman sitting in the metal chair had short black hair instead of twin-tails. She wore a beret, with her hair held in place by black pins. Her eyes were still red, but that wasn't the most striking thing about her.
"…What the hell are you wearing?"
The design of the outfit was definitely that of a Magical Girl. It had frills, a skirt, and nonsensical decorations. In terms of design, it was a Magical Girl outfit.
The problem was the color. It was military olive drab with a camouflage pattern.
What was she supposed to be? A soldier Magical Girl?
While I tilted my head in confusion at the absurd design, she spoke words that far exceeded my expectations.
"I am Meteor."
"…Huh?"
"There was a Phoenix in our world as well. However, there were only two final survivors. Me, and Meteor. Thus, I intercepted and watched the video record intended for the next generation's Meteor, and the two of us fused. Into a being that is neither Meteor nor a Magical Girl."
What the actual fuck. No, wait—could that thing be used by just anyone?
"Normally, it is impossible. However, I intervened by force. I believed it to be the optimal solution."
…She’s insane.
As I sat there dazed, resting my chin on my hand with my mouth agape, she continued.
"What kind of being I am is irrelevant. I am merely here to convey information. Let us finish this quickly. Time is plentiful, yet no matter how much there is, it is never enough."
Despite my bewilderment, she maintained an expressionless face and kept talking.
"The third has fallen. Now, only the fourth and the final remain. However, before that, you will go to see him."
"…What are you talking about?"
I was still lost.
"The Irregular of your world. The next step in the journey you have chosen. By leading those you share bonds with to see and speak with that person, you will walk a different path."
As if it didn't matter what I said, she pressed on.
"In your world, which has walked a path we could not, the fourth will arrive along with The Final Act."
She stood up and approached me.
"However, that is not The End. Even if you surpass that, the final remains."
She looked into my eyes.
"From here on, it is your path. A path unknown even to us. A path walked by no one, neither those stronger nor weaker than you."
She met my gaze. Her hollow eyes stared into mine.
"The fourth and the final will both depend entirely on your choices. The path you have walked, and the path you will take. Upon those choices."
Starlight shimmered within her eyes.
…I felt like I’d seen this somewhere before.
But the thought was fleeting.
"This is the reward for this occasion. The fragment of The End you have touched is an illusion. Do not chase it. The End is The End because it is at the end. The moment you reach it, every end begins. That is the path we have walked, the answer we have built upon countless corpses. You have earned the right to know this."
"Wait, what does that—"
Startled by her final words, I stood up from the chair. Everything turned black.
I closed my eyes.