Greenblood (3)
If it had happened before, Taylor might have stopped him, but now that Allen was perfectly fine, there was no need. Allen fetched a box filled with small parts and began piecing them together in various combinations.
"I get why they kidnapped you now. A magitech engineer would've become a mage back in the day, talent or no talent. In a word..."
"Talented people, so they dragged you off for human experiments? Whether it's some backwater with zero public security or a superpower like the Saldos Federation, it's all the same everywhere."
Taken aback by the overly cynical response, Taylor asked cautiously.
"Has something like that happened to you before?"
Allen explained about Nobak Clinic. His tone was so detached it felt like he was describing someone else's ordeal from a third-person viewpoint.
"I figured your life hadn't been easy..."
Taylor patted the shoulder of the much younger man. Then, noticing the machine gradually taking shape in Allen's hands, he asked.
"What's that?"
"I told you about the toy I used to scout Nobak Clinic, right?"
"The cat toy that looked like a mouse?"
"I saw a puppy at Yuta's place, and it gave me an idea. No need to sneak in close to plant bombs the hard way. Just scatter these little guys, and it's done."
"Hold on—your inspiration from a cute puppy robot was explosion robots?"
Taylor made a bizarre face for a moment, then rubbed his palm over his features.
"Better than those cringing cowards, I guess... Yeah, in Maze City, you gotta hit back exactly as hard as they hit you. Let 'em think you're soft, and more will come piling on."
For the prototypes, Allen had selected forms like mice and spiders—common, inconspicuous creatures that could navigate anywhere easily.
Watching the number of finalist spiders multiply, Taylor asked.
"You're really going for it, huh? You've been singing the praises of exoskeletons lately—is this from seeing that Dali photo?"
"Two birds with one stone."
"Two birds my ass. That's the goal. Blowing shit up is fine, but what about the people they have captured inside?"
"Ah..."
Taylor nodded slightly at Allen's small gasp of realization. His terrifying focus made it easy to overlook details, but that was what Taylor was there to cover.
Preparations complete, Allen and Taylor arrived in the old industrial district. The "old" prefix came from the city's expansion leaving it behind, with corporations moving out for bigger plots.
The floating population had plummeted, casting a desolate air, but operating factories still puffed white smoke from their towering chimneys.
Climbing to the roof of a nearby abandoned factory, Allen observed the Greenblood hideout.
"Machine gun turrets, surveillance cameras, rooftop sentries. Tighter security than I expected."
"It used to be even beefier. If Jake Marshall hadn't touched them, they might've been a real powerhouse. Smashing through the front is an option, but smart people play it smart. Through the secret passage Kiria told us about... What? Something wrong?"
Allen was fixated on one spot, so Taylor turned. A familiar figure walked the sidewalk.
"That's the rookie Kiki or whatever, right?"
"Why's she here? The orc next to her is wearing a holoskin."
"Sharp eyes."
"Magitech gear shimmers like heat haze."
Allen zoomed in his vision and attempted to pierce the orc's illusion.
Beneath the unassuming facade lurked a fierce face, bald head, and scalp tattoos.
"The orc's with Greenblood."
"Even a goblin-shit-sized runt like her is in on it? Knew it from the first impression."
"Let's head down for now. Glowing eyes mean they're streaming, but no gangbanger streams around here."
Touching down, Allen tailed them swiftly from behind. At the same time, he hacked their neural expanders with his eyes, severing external connections.
His eyes, densely inscribed with Star Letters for treating Taylor, were far more enhanced now—they never even noticed the hack.
Only Kiki let out a bewildered voice as her stream cut out abruptly.
"What the? Why'd it crap out?"
"Kiki. Fancy seeing you here."
"Eh? Allen?"
While Allen stepped forward to hold Kiki and the orc's attention, Taylor slipped behind the wall and circled to their rear.
"We talked on the phone a few days ago, but it's nicer seeing you in person."
"What brings you here?"
"Shooting viewer participation content—repairing magitech gear. But it just died on me. What's up with this?"
"Sounds fun. Where you headed?"
"Over there."
Kiki pointed without hesitation at the warehouse Greenblood used as their secret passage entrance.
"Oh, and this guy's a fan—'GoblinSlayer.' Scary name, but he's nice."
"Hoo..."
Allen let out a deep sigh. Watching oblivious Kiki walk right into the lion's den made his chest tighten.
The orc was in the midst of effortlessly kidnapping the naive—stupid, in Taylor's words—Kiki.
Crack!
Before the sigh finished, the sharp snap of a neck breaking rang out—like a big rooster's. The sound was thunderous.
"What? What the hell!"
Kiki yelped and ducked behind Allen at the sight of the orc's head twisted full circle. Then her eyes met the culprit's.
"It's that grumpy old fart."
"You green-shit bastard. Where'd you sell your manners?"
"Ah, sorry. Slipped out..."
"Looking at your punk ass, I don't even know if I should be mad."
The trio—plus one corpse—headed back into the abandoned factory. Kiki, finally calming her pounding heart, asked Allen.
"Why'd you kill him?"
"Did he sell out his country in a past life or something?"
"Why?"
"How does someone this twisted even exist?"
Allen explained Greenblood's kidnappings. And that today's target had been Kiki.
"Dodged a bullet there. Well, I'm outta here..."
"Where you think you're going? You're staying put till we're done."
Kiki went limp like a baby animal, grabbed by the scruff by Taylor.
"You two need to go in through the secret passage together."
Kiki freaked out at Allen's words.
"No way! Are you nuts?"
"Using the orc's holoskin? Smart. The passage won't have many guards. Show up with 'prey' like he promised his buddy, and they'll open right up."
"Blowing the whole thing sky-high would be easier, but then loot goes up in smoke, and anyone inside gets risky. So bear with it."
Taylor stripped the orc and donned his clothes and holoskin. Their builds matched well enough that he looked identical if he kept quiet.
"Please don't kill me."
"Who said anything about killing? Relax your face. And Allen, you're on the hot seat. Draw eyes at the front while we sneak in."
Greenblood (3)
The abandoned factory stood empty, people and machines long gone. Sunlight poured through shattered windows and crumbled walls.
Where thin curtains of light converged into a canopy, Allen—gas mask on—checked his gear in the brightest spot.
'Magic bullet launcher, staff—all good.'
He strapped the launcher to his thigh and swung the staff horizontally once. Dust motes, vivid in the sunlight, swirled in the gust.
Two objectives here: free the captives, eliminate Greenblood.
'Just like the clinic.'
The clinic kids had endured in the slums for a better future. Nobak's safe fence was really a pot, and they were simmering frogs unaware.
The difference? The kidnapped here sensed their doom and trembled in terror.
'Might as well solve it all at once.'
Knowing their target was a magitech engineer meant he couldn't ignore them. How could he explore the Labyrinth with malice itching at his back?
Allen beckoned, and the crouching leopard padded up silently, blending so seamlessly into the scenery that anyone but its master would pass it by.
Its patterns—the Rune Letters—adorned its body more elaborately now.
[Reinforcement], [Acceleration], [Power]
Durability, speed, strength—like a human's.
Allen's skills had advanced; the leopard, benefiting from the trio's linkage, was vastly improved. Against the right foe, trickier than any gatekeeper.
Feeling a vibration from his pocket, Allen pulled out his phone. Taylor had scanned the hideout and sent an approximate headcount.
[25]
Max 25 inside. They had to eat too—couldn't all huddle in the hideout.
Exiting the factory, the leopard led, followed by a boxy metal cart on tank treads—an automaton hauling supplies and small machines, unlike a passive wagon.
Thud thud, rumble.
The walker and treads clattered loudly on the sidewalk blocks. Who'd run a factory near a gang hideout? The emptiness made it echo.
Round the next corner, and the front gate came into view. Allen paused, tapping the box's top lightly with his staff.
The stacked, lunchbox-like top layer slid open, spilling out spider-like robots—like hatchlings awaiting orders.
"Move."
He'd mapped all power lines to the hideout. Assigning coordinates, the spiders split into groups and advanced.
Soon, confirmation of arrival. Allen sent a mana signal. Only lines to the hideout—other factories safe.
Boom!
With the distant explosion as BGM, he resumed walking.
Turning the corner revealed drooping autoturrets and snarling orc gangsters amid the sudden crisis.
Someone bellowed, sending a low-rank runt dashing inside.
'Calling the tech guy? No backup power, huh.'
Ridiculous. Lawless tax-dodgers freeloading on society's grid.
Of course, Allen didn't laugh. Cold eyes and cool mind analyzed as always.
'Turrets and cams neutralized. No repair crew.'
Gangs couldn't handle perfect response—music to his ears. Even if they restored power...
'It'll be over by then.'
Spotting him, veterans ordered three up front to charge the intruder.
Might've been fierce once, but now a shrunken gang. Still, orcs were threatening by race alone—armed with exoskeletons, more so.
Thud thud thud!
Back-alley workshop make, but mass plus orc charge packed punch.
Each step cratered the sidewalk, spraying cement chunks.
No wonder ancient heavy orc infantry terrified. 1.9m averages in armor charging was pure horror.
But Allen stayed calm.
"Layer 2, forward."
Labyrinth counting in mind, second from top was "Layer 2." Spiders poured out again.
Palm-sized, long-legged—nine scampered across ground and walls.
"They're tiny—no damage. Stomp 'em!"
Wild—or dumb—orc logic. Exoskeleton's magic resistance backed it.
A spider finally latched onto an orc's chest and popped!
Pop!
Like uncorking a bottle—cute sound. The bluish shield would protect them, the orcs thought briefly.
"Fuck!"
"They're crawling inside!"
Room