We've Arrived at the Special Forces (3)
We've Arrived at the Special Forces (3)
Our capsule was pulled taut behind the catapult-shaped amusement ride by a giant robotic hand.
The vibrations transmitted through the capsule made it predictable that we'd be launched at unimaginable speeds the moment the robotic hand released us.
"This is safe, right?"
Yun Seol-ha looked at me with anxious eyes. I grabbed her trembling hand and answered in a cheerful voice.
"I don't know."
"Huh?"
My unexpected answer made her flinch adorably.
"It'll be fine."
I tightly held Yun Seol-ha's hand to prevent her from unbuckling the safety belt and escaping.
"I-I'm scared. Can't we go another way?"
"Don't worry. I'll save you if things get dangerous."
The vending machine robot finished its task by closing the capsule door.
"Capsule launching now. Welcome to the Honor of Brothers."
"Kyaaak, Kelrot-ssi!!!!"
"Launch."
Whoosh-.
A crisp sound pierced through the air layer. Surrounding objects whizzed past at high speed as we soared into the sky. Buildings looked like miniatures from this height. We were flying toward the 3rd District's frontline unit at tremendous velocity.
"Hmm?"
The hand holding Yun Seol-ha's went limp. She'd fainted with foam at her mouth.
She kept mumbling "No, let me down" in her sleep. No need to wake her until arrival.
As the city disappeared and desert terrain appeared, the monotonous scenery made my eyelids grow heavy. The capsule's vibrations felt pleasantly soothing.
So sleepy... Let's sleep...
I dreamed of riding a bus to some destination. It felt like a university MT trip - Yun Seol-ha, Baek Wol-hyang, and Reni sat nearby.
Yun Seol-ha slept with her head on my shoulder. Her voluptuous augmented breasts peeked through her unbuttoned shirt. The sweet strawberry scent from her hair made me gulp.
Reni was feeding blindfolded Baek Wol-hyang snacks while poking her cheeks and nostrils, cackling at her reactions.
They seemed scary at first but have cute sides too.
In the back sat Eden surrounded by red-eyed Oists. Ogres and Ghouls appeared before them.
Huh? What's this?
As I struggled to comprehend the situation, the bus took a sharp turn nearly throwing me into the aisle.
"Kyaak!"
The jolt made Yun Seol-ha bump her forehead painfully against the front seat, while Baek Wol-hyang and Reni got covered in snacks.
Furious, I yelled at the driver's seat in an irritated voice:
"What kind of driving is this?!"
The driver slowly turned around after hearing me. Her outfit was unusual - long yellow hair and a full-body catsuit. A familiar figure.
"Huh?? You?"
The perverted masochist woman I'd met at the arcade. Why was she driving the bus?
She grinned maniacally and jerked her head forward. The bus suddenly accelerated with engine sounds ready to explode.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
I urgently unbuckled and rushed toward her, but by the time I reached her, the bus was already at the guardrail.
Crash!!!
The guardrail flew away like paper. The bus plunged down a cliff so high I could see clouds below.
"Aaaaaaaaah-!!!!!!"
"Kelrot-ssi, what's wrong?!"
"Ugh!! Huck!! No you crazy bitch!!!"
"Huh?"
I woke up screaming, eyes wide open. After frantically looking around, I realized I'd been dreaming.
"Sorry. Nightmare."
The memory of that lunatic's insane eyes as she crashed the bus made me shudder. Trying to calm the worried Yun Seol-ha, I spoke casually.
"Just a dream. Rest while you can."
Seeing Yun Seol-ha's anxiety fade, I closed my eyes again, praying not to revisit that dream.
"Kueeeek-!!!!"
Bam bam bam!! Kaboom!!!
Soon after, monster roars and explosions forced me awake again. The capsule's transparent front made it easy to locate the noise source.
Humans and monsters were fiercely battling ahead, creating a desperate battlefield directly in our path.
Alongside Ogres and Ghouls, I spotted a familiar figure - a giant bird-shaped monster. Garuda. Our capsule was heading straight toward it.
"Don't wanna fight that bastard."
Having witnessed Garuda's overwhelming power and regeneration, I wanted to avoid it if possible.
"Can't we adjust the capsule's direction?"
No control lever in sight. We'd collide with Garuda at this rate.
It noticed us too, spreading its beak wide to spew crimson flames.
"Damn."
I urgently equipped X and shielded Yun Seol-ha for impact. Just before collision, I locked eyes with Garuda through the transparent front. Murderous bloodlust radiated from its slaughter-drunk eyes.
Thud!!!
The capsule pierced through its head. At our velocity, even something that tough couldn't withstand the impact.
But the capsule's surface got covered in flesh and blood, blocking our view. Wind cleared some away, partially restoring visibility.
"Cliff...?"
The collision must've altered our trajectory. Our capsule now flew toward a cliff face. Impact would fatally wound Yun Seol-ha.
"Kelrot-ssi!! This!!"
Yun Seol-ha pointed at a red switch labeled 'Emergency Escape' on the wall.
The cliff filled our view. Without hesitation, I shouted:
"Press it!!"
The moment Yun Seol-ha pushed the button, we ejected from the capsule still strapped to our seats.
After countless sky-ground flips, I barely stabilized midair using boosters.
Seol-ha?
She was plummeting below me. At maximum speed, I barely caught her wrist.
"You okay?"
"Y-yes, Kelrot-ssi. I'm fine."
Holding her close, I descended toward the ongoing monster-human battle below. The Honor of Brothers insignia on combat suits identified them as frontline unit members.
I'd ask them the unit's location.
Garuda seemed to be the monsters' leader. The tide turned toward humans, with some monsters starting to flee.
"Was it always this easy to defeat?"
As always, words are the root of trouble. A massive explosion sent multiple suited soldiers flying everywhere. Zooming toward their origin point revealed a 3m-tall humanoid monster with crimson skin.
"This bastard."
Its vicious eyes confirmed this was the same Garuda whose head we'd blown off.
Garuda flew up, sniffed the air, then glared at me murderously. It shot toward me, skewering intervening soldiers like kebabs.
"Tch."
Garuda was a high-grade monster. Last time, its bloodlust overwhelmed me, forcing a grueling battle.
"Kelrot-ssi..."
"Don't worry. I'll win."
This Garuda seemed more mature than before. Its aura and eyes revealed extensive battle experience.
Yet I felt neither fear nor doubt about winning.
I flashed a V-sign and bright smile at Yun Seol-ha before charging at Garuda full speed.
It threw a punch, which I answered with my own fist.
"Kieeeeeee-!!!!"
"Huaap-!!!!"
Bang!!!!!!
Tremendous pressure exploded between us, scattering debris.
"Kiii, kiiiik."
The explosion came from Garuda's arm muscles and tendons. It retreated in panic, rapidly regenerating its ruined arm.
"Huh? You got weaker."
One exchange revealed our level difference. Garuda couldn't match me now.
With 255 strength/stamina and X equipped, I'd become something beyond standard measurements.
"Kiiiiik-, kiiiiik-!!!"
As if understanding me, it shrieked furiously and began grotesquely swelling. Its already massive muscles ballooned impossibly.
"Round two?"
"Kiiiiiii, kieeeeeeeek-!!!!"
It charged with arms three times thicker than before.
"That kind of power-up always fails."
Though stronger, its bulk made it slower - almost boringly predictable.
I dodged its punch and kicked its crotch, sending it airborne.
"Kieeeeeek-!!!"
It shrieked midair before transforming back into a giant eagle, realizing human form couldn't win.
As it prepared to breathe fire, I asked X:
"Where's its core?"
Garuda's regeneration required destroying its core for a permanent kill.
[The monster's core is in its left eye.]
"Okay-."
I felt capable of anything. Gripping the Hardcore Saw like a javelin thrower.
"Target: Garuda's left eye."
Though over 200m away, the distance felt trivial. Concentrating all nerves into my weapon-wielding arm muscles.
Grrrrk.
Muscles expanded with extreme activation.