Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Survival of the Fittest
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Shin-ju wore a grim expression after hearing what Restprime had to say.
He sat still, arms crossed, letting out a low groan.
He tilted his head with a look of displeasure.
Speeder, sitting beside him with a whistle in her mouth, also had a furrow in her brow.
“Haa…”
Shin-ju’s eyes darted around as he cocked his head.
It was hard to believe what Restprime had shared.
According to him, Bio Vanguard was planning to move the DRG-3000 Dragonkin residential area to the heart of downtown LA.
“Then what about the people who were already living there?”
Restprime said nothing in response to Shin-ju’s question.
He remained silent for a moment before speaking.
“Our race is currently consumed by immense dissatisfaction.”
“What kind of dissatisfaction?”
“Since immigrating to Earth, a thought has been growing within us, one that differs from our initial feelings.”
Restprime looked at Shin-ju and spoke calmly.
“Why are we listening to beings weaker than ourselves?”
He then continued.
“Why am I listening to someone I could kill?”
Shin-ju shrugged, as if he didn’t understand.
“Hmm… Then why have people like you remained quiet until now?”
“We learned something after our civil war. That violence isn't the solution to every problem. But that realization didn't last long.”
Shin-ju maintained a blank expression.
Inside, however, he was burning with anxiety.
*So, it’s finally come to this.*
The so-called Dragonkin, a race mentally and physically superior to humans.
Deep in their hearts, they had been walking a tightrope with humanity, precariously balanced on the law of survival of the fittest.
In the midst of it all, the powerful organization known as U.C.I.D. had served as a deterrent, and while no one showed it outwardly, the tension was constant.
Shin-ju recalled the words of a mercenary from several months ago.
[Not all Dragonkin are bad? Sure, it might seem that way for a little while!]
At the time, the mercenary had been shouting his lungs out in front of the Wyvern, Kandora, and Shin-ju.
[But do you really think those Dragonkin see us as equals? They probably just see us as a mouthful of meat!]
The mercenary had pointed a finger at Shin-ju.
[Hey, U.C.I.D.! Mark my words! If the Dragonkin decided to, they could wipe out every living thing on this planet! You think that damn ‘Peace Act’ is going to protect us forever!]
The mercenary’s roar echoed in Shin-ju's mind.
The desire to live comfortably with abundant resources is a perfectly natural instinct that no living creature can refuse.
But resources are limited, forcing all life into a constant state of competition for their own survival, development, and independence.
It is the law of nature for the strong to thoroughly suppress and oppress everything around them to obtain what they desire, without hesitation.
Survival of the fittest.
However, the Dragonkin hadn't initially resorted to the logic of power.
At first, they possessed the magnanimity and mercy of the strong.
They even accommodated the weak in order to coexist with humans.
But now, their way of thinking had changed.
They had decided to become conquerors and rule over humanity.
Bio Vanguard understood this psychology of the Dragonkin and exploited it well.
They were actively using the power of the Dragonkin to achieve their own goals.
Shin-ju stared intently at Restprime.
“So… have you also decided to attack humans now?”
“If necessary.”
Restprime answered firmly.
“But…”
Restprime looked over at his son, Kendro, sleeping soundly on the sofa.
“We were once helped by a human.”
Large and small scratches were visible all over the sleeping Kendro’s body.
“After the terror attack, my family has been persecuted by our own kind, the Dragonkin.”
Restprime lowered his gaze.
“It’s entirely my fault that we were driven into a garbage dump like this containment zone.”
Shin-ju and Speeder listened in silence.
“Truthfully, we were given an expulsion order. But a human helped us, allowing us to at least reside here.”
Shin-ju nodded slightly.
“That was Jason Kim.”
“Yes.”
Restprime paused for a moment before speaking again.
“I find myself hesitating.”
He gazed at a distant mountain.
“The attack on LA is a good opportunity to wash away my dishonor, but it is also an act of betrayal against the human who helped me.”
Shin-ju asked bluntly.
“So, what are you going to do?”
He said nothing.
Shin-ju let out a disappointed sigh and leaned back against the chair.
“I should correct myself. You haven't become more flexible; you've become indecisive.”
“This isn't a problem that can be decided so easily.”
Shin-ju leaned forward again.
“A moment ago, you asked me to protect your family, didn't you?”
“Doesn’t that indicate your intention not to attack humans?”
As Restprime remained silent, Shin-ju raised his voice in frustration.
“So, to put it simply, you're afraid of being ostracized if you turn your back on your own kind! But joining them means betraying the human who helped you, which goes against your principles. Isn't that it?”
Shin-ju sighed.
In any case, he had found out about the plan Bio Vanguard was orchestrating.
In two days, there would be a Dragonkin invasion of LA.
He stood up from his seat.
“Do as you please, Restprime. The negotiation is off. If you’re going to be so indecisive, what grounds do I have to trust you and proceed with a deal?”
Shin-ju prepared to leave.
“I have no obligation to protect your family. Your choice from here on out will determine whether we meet as enemies or allies. Goodbye.”
Speeder also stood up, following Shin-ju.
Shin-ju stepped out of the container and looked up at the night sky.
A thought seemed to occur to him, and the corners of his mouth began to twist.
*Bio Vanguard must have known all along that I would meet Restprime.*
But the fact that there were no particular restrictions meant they didn't care who Shin-ju met or where.
On the other hand, perhaps it was Bio Vanguard’s way of giving the humans, whom they still needed, time to evacuate.
That way, they could naturally push humans to the outskirts without bloodshed, all while flexing their power.
Suddenly, thinking of the Dragonkin, Shin-ju recalled a line from a movie he had seen as a child.
*Life does not forgive weakness. So-called mercy is nonsense. Compassion is the eternal original sin. To feel compassion for the weak is to go against the laws of nature. Only the strong can annihilate the weak and achieve victory.*
Shin-ju and Speeder departed.
*If the Dragonkin have decided to attack LA, then we have no choice.*
*Having come this far, all consideration must be thrown away.*
*That's the only way to win.*
Shin-ju reported the Dragonkin’s impending actions not only to LA and South Korea but also to the U.C.I.D. headquarters in the UK.
He stressed that they needed to prepare for the Dragonkin invasion.
The LA U.C.I.D. naturally sprang into action, and the South Korean U.C.I.D. promised to spare no support.
Korea decided to send Silverfire from Frontline and Jekovic from Grius as support to the LA headquarters.
Sharin Tankobichi, upon hearing about her sister's condition, threw a fit and insisted on joining the LA mission, saying she had to see for herself who was responsible.
Meanwhile, the UK maintained a neutral stance.
They were a nation that received extensive support from the Dragonkin.
They wanted to avoid any decision that could have an unpredictable impact on public opinion or political activities.
While respecting their decision, Shin-ju requested that the UK headquarters at least provide support for evacuating citizens.
In response, the UK promised to send two U.C.I.D. headquarters employees who were optimized for evacuation operations.
Meanwhile, the LA headquarters went into a state of emergency.
Along with Jason, the director of the LA U.C.I.D. began actively preparing for the Dragonkin invasion.
Bolstered by Silverfire's support, they formed a suppression team with machine races from Frontline.
Soon, organized profile data was displayed on a beam projector.
[Suppression Team 1]
Machine race from Frontline. Three members in total.
- ‘Gogo Arc,’ who specializes in drill weaponry.
- ‘Area87,’ a fighter jet machine race specialized in flight technology.
- Cousin of the steel Jeg, the machine race boasting the largest physique in America. ‘Big Five.’
Machine race from Frontline. One member in total.
- ‘Silverfire,’ capable of both flight and land modes.
[Support Team 1]
U.C.I.D. LA Headquarters. Two members in total.
- ‘Speeder’ from the Kepler-2538b Traffic Safety Division.
- With experience in medical support missions to Bluerobic, commonly known as the Archangel, 'Ernest'.
*Click-*
The data switched to the next section.
[Special Team 1]
A special team to restrain and arrest the Bio Vanguard executives behind the Dragonkin.
Scheduled to infiltrate Bio Vanguard’s interior while the Suppression and Support teams are deployed in the field.
Five members in total.
- South Korea’s Negoti-alien, Park Shin-ju.
- LA’s Negoti-alien, Jason Kim.
- ‘Jekovic’ of Grius.
- ‘Sharin Tankobichi’ of Bluerobic.
Shin-ju, who was reporting the list of participants, looked up at Sharin Tankobichi’s profile picture.
Enri Tankobichi had also expressed her intention to participate and was scheduled to be deployed to the field as soon as she was discharged from the hospital.
They had been notified that support from the UK might be slightly delayed.
For now, most of the preparations were complete.
It was a clear autumn day.
The skyscrapers of Los Angeles (LA), the largest city in the American West and the second largest in the entire United States after New York City, stretched out under the blue sky.
The American citizens, as if nothing was amiss, formed a sea of people, each focused on their own lives.
WEEEEEEEE—
Suddenly, an air raid siren began to wail.
Countless people stopped dead in their tracks, as if by a silent, mutual agreement.
“What’s going on?”
*Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud—*
A formation of massive transport helicopters appeared in the distance.
A moment later, four helicopters flying in a two-by-two formation became clearly visible.
The helicopters were carrying something with giant steel cables.
Soon, silhouetted against the brilliant sunlight, two magnificent machine beings appeared.
A massive shadow began to fall over the people below.
The expressions on people’s faces turned grave.
The two machine beings were ‘Gogo Arc’ and ‘Big Five.’
A machine being in the form of a fighter jet weaved precariously between the helicopters and circled around.
‘Area87,’ who needed no transport, soared through the skies above the city of LA.
Speeder appeared from somewhere.
She pointed in one direction with the edge of her hand, guiding the city's people to a shelter.
The people, though anxious, followed her instructions with bewildered expressions.
*Flap, flap—*
Ernest also flew above the people, flapping his white wings.
“This way!”
He watched over the evacuating citizens, remaining vigilant of the surroundings.
*Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud—*
The four helicopters came to a halt in mid-air.
*Ping— Ping—*
The steel cables connected to the helicopters snapped.
Two massive, heavy machine beings fell from the sky.
*CRASH— CRASH—*
Gogo Arc, with his sharp eyes, and Big Five, with yellow light leaking from his square eyes, slowly rose from the smoke in the middle of the city.
“What do you think, Gogo? Will the Dragonkin really attack?”
Big Five glanced at Gogo.
“That investigator, Park Shin-ju, said they’re desperate to prove their strength, so I doubt they’ll avoid a fight. Well.”
The sharp-featured Gogo replied cynically.
“What about Silverfire?”
“He and his comrades will arrive in ten minutes.”
“Gogo!! Big!! They’re coming now!!”
‘Area87’ shouted as he flew above them.
*Ruuuumble—*
A rumble echoed from the clear sky.
The two robots looked up.
*Flap— Flap—*
Far in the distance, the violent beating of wings parting the clouds slowly became visible.
Spotting the approaching Dragonkin, Gogo and Big Five each took their positions.
In the distance, the figures of the titan-class red dragon ‘Alexian Doom Protutsura’ and his subordinates grew clearer and clearer.
And so, a tense standoff between the machine race and the Dragonkin began, on the brink of explosion.
The Frontline machine races prayed that this situation would be resolved peacefully.