Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 092
Chapter Title: Doppelganger
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"First off, grab these."
Before attempting the illegal descent, Mickey pulled two infrared night-vision goggles from the sports bag she'd brought.
Walter took them and let out a small gasp of admiration.
"Whoa, these are some high-end specs."
"We're heading into the darkness from here on out. Visibility in the lower levels isn't great, but these are a hundred times better than nothing."
Kyle took his pair and slipped them over his head as well.
'I have [Nebras's Heightened Senses], so I don't really need them...'
But there was no need to advertise that ability to everyone around.
Besides, wearing goggles might lead them to assume he'd be blind as a bat the moment they came off.
The lower levels ahead were uncharted territory.
No deep web connection, completely cut off from the surface—a world unto itself.
Which meant it was best to keep his own weapons under wraps as much as possible.
In addition to compasses and the like, she pulled more items from the bag.
"Oh, and put on these bracelets too."
"What are these?"
When Kyle asked, Mickey slipped one over her glove and explained.
"Location trackers. Wear it like this and press this button here..."
A bright white dot appeared on her terminal screen.
"When moving through the dark with a small group, you never know what might happen. Trackers like these are practically mandatory."
From what she said, it seemed people vanished into thin air all the time down in the lower levels' darkness—friends gone without a trace.
Kyle gave an incredulous scoff.
"...How the hell did anyone even think to develop a place like this?"
Walter took his bracelet and replied.
"Most of the shitty stuff in the lower wilds cropped up after people started developing it."
"...?"
"Even the surface of the 8th District is like that."
Walter nodded as if to say, think about it.
"You think man-eating chimeras were crawling around the deep sewers from the start?"
"......"
It was hard to imagine a more straightforward example.
"The original ecosystem in the lower levels wasn't that dangerous, aside from the pitch blackness," Mickey said as she shouldered the sports bag again.
"But then zones started popping up everywhere, and all sorts of things cast out from the surface started crawling in..."
She shrugged without finishing the thought.
"I see..."
In the end, humans gonna human.
Once Kyle downloaded the tracking program onto the old terminal Joseph had given him, the positions of all three showed up.
'...Though Uncle's been tracked from the start anyway.'
When Kyle glanced at Walter, the man pointed ahead as if to say, not now.
The cops had planted a separate tracker in him after removing the bomb collar.
But explaining would take time, so Kyle just nodded in agreement.
"Everyone ready?"
Activating the infrared goggles turned the darkness into a black-and-white vista.
Standing before them was Scott, wearing a cheap pair, staring back.
"Yeah, we're good."
"Then let's move. Nightfall would be a problem."
Kyle shot Walter a glance at that.
"The lower levels have a concept of night?"
"They do."
"...What's the difference from daytime?"
"It gets darker."
He tapped his goggles.
"Dark enough that even these cut visibility noticeably."
"Ah."
"And the shitty things get more active too."
Walter made a face like he didn't even want to think about it.
That was probably why escort teams hunkered down for camp at night.
As long as you built a big fire and stuck together, nothing would attack unless you encroached on its turf.
"You know a lot about the lower levels," Mickey said.
Walter snorted.
"I'm from here. Of course I do."
"Eek..."
"Why does everyone react like that?"
Do I know you? No!
Walter protested with a hint of grievance.
Mickey shrugged.
"Woman's intuition? You just seem weaker than your average lower-level scavenger."
"You little...?"
In other words, he didn't even seem like floor-mat material.
A vein bulged on Walter's forehead as his lip twitched.
"At least I'm stronger than you in that ridiculous hazmat suit, so don't worry..."
"Oh my. If comparing yourself to a fragile girl like me makes you feel better, be my guest."
"Damn it, I oughta kick you ass over teakettle."
"Hey! Hey! Don't! I said don't!"
"......"
Kyle scratched his head.
At least with these two, boredom wouldn't be an issue.
How far had they walked from 'Porta' into the darkness?
A massive white barrier loomed into view ahead.
But the checkpoint was smack in the middle of Porta.
No one following proper procedures would come here.
"...It's the interlayer boundary."
Scott, crouched behind a dirt mound, whispered.
"If we're spotted, we're screwed. Just follow me and stay quiet."
He turned to Kyle.
"No chit-chat. No solo moves. One slip and the security goons turn us into Swiss cheese. Got it?"
"Got it. Let's go already."
At Mickey's urging, Scott moved forward with practiced cover, swift and silent.
As if he knew every camera sweep and blind spot along the barrier.
There were two ways to sneak into the lower levels.
One: bribe a barrier company employee.
Simple enough, and you could use the checkpoint road.
But the asking price could be outrageous, and they might stab you in the back after the cash.
The other: use a specialist smuggler's route.
Not cheap either, but reliable—you'd make it across for sure.
Reputation was everything to those pros.
Downside: no checkpoint road, so accidents lurked in the dark.
Whoosh, whoosh.
The man whistled faintly with hand signals.
He led them to a dirt mound near the barrier.
Nothing visible at first glance, but brush away the soil...
And there it was: a cleverly hidden dog hole.
Scott gripped the handle on the iron-reinforced hatch and pulled gently.
It creaked open with a rusty screech.
"Through here."
The man whispered and slipped inside first.
Peering in after him revealed a ladder stretching down.
"...They sure built this well."
Human ingenuity knew no bounds.
The tunnel clearly extended beyond the barrier.
"Let's set the marching order before we go in," Kyle said, eyeing Mickey and Walter in their full hazmat suits.
"I'll take point, then Mickey, then you, Uncle. Sound good?"
"...Can't leave rear guard to that punk."
Middle was safest, but Walter sighed in resignation anyway.
Mickey shot him a glare.
"What?"
"Sigh, whatever."
"Someone who looks like you."
"Wanna die?"
"Shh."
Kyle warned them and slid down the ladder with ease.
Suddenly, Mickey called out.
"W-Wait, Kyle."
"?"
She peered down the ladder, face flushed.
"Sorry, but this suit... I can't see the bottom well..."
Walter shook his head.
"What a hassle."
"Eek."
"Just jump down then."
"Pardon?"
Kyle nodded.
"I'll catch you. Go on."
"...!"
"Hurry."
"O-Okay!"
She took a deep breath and hurled herself down with a squeak.
At Kyle's command, 'Ancient Wind' caught her safely.
"Whoa..."
For a moment, she blinked in awe at the floating sensation.
She landed softly and instinctively wiggled her fingers up at Kyle.
"Th-Thank you..."
"Hey, if you're down, move."
Walter grumbled as he descended the ladder feet-first.
Mickey flipped him the bird.
"I oughta just—"
"Let's keep moving."
Once Walter was down, Kyle looked to Scott, who nodded.
"Watch yourself. This tunnel connects to other spots too. Follow close and stay sharp."
'Connects elsewhere, huh.'
Kyle narrowed his eyes and followed.
How long had they trudged through the tunnel?
Suddenly, instinct hit Kyle.
'We just crossed the barrier.'
The air felt heavier all of a sudden.
He wasn't the only one who sensed it—the tension rippled back to the others.
A bit farther, stairs came into view.
Scott stepped forward.
"Climb those, and you're in the lower levels."
He fiddled with his goggles like checking the battery.
"It'll be darker than you think outside. Don't panic. In simple terms..."
Scott's lip curled.
"Just think of it as another realm."
Unnecessary scare tactics—pure bad taste.
"Get climbing."
Kyle didn't flinch, so Scott clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"What a buzzkill."
They ascended the stairs and pushed open the door.
True to his word, utter blackness unfolded.
Mickey, following behind, let out a groan.
"Urgh."
Kyle flicked on his old terminal and asked.
"Didn't you come and go from the lower levels all the time?"
"...I did, but usually via the checkpoint road."
"Ah."
That explained the nerves.
She'd always used the roads to Zone 20 before.
Walter chimed in, smirking.
"What, so this is your first time walking through actual darkness?"
"Grr..."
"Hah, figures."
He shook his head like he'd known.
"Five years experience and it's worthless."
"Shut up."
'We must've come out farther from the barrier than I thought.'
No sign of the barrier's floodlights behind them.
'Or maybe visibility drops off faster than expected.'
But the lower levels weren't total void.
Glowing mushrooms dotted the place faintly.
'Mushrooms aside...'
Kyle brushed the underbrush at his feet, cocking his head.
'How do grass and trees grow without sunlight?'
Scott urged them on.
"Hurry. Night's closing in."
Standing amid the glowing fungi, he turned.
"Zone 20 is this way."
"Is it?"
Kyle said.
"But not in that direction."
"Hm?"
"What?"
Scott halted, and the group froze.
Scott scowled.
"What makes you think that?"
"I've been tracking the checkpoint road's direction since the start."
The tunnel had twisted, but Kyle had kept oriented.
"And if my sense of direction is right..."
He pointed the opposite way from Scott's path.
"Zone 20 is that way, isn't it?"
"!!"
Mickey gasped in shock—
"You bastard...!"
Scott leaped back as a solar-bright lightning bolt crashed down on his head.
Krraaa-boom!!
"Aaaargh!!"
The bolt flashed like it was banishing the dark itself, crackling with mana.
Then, astonishingly, Scott's face peeled away like torn leather.
Walter's eyes bulged.
"That's...!"
Doppelganger...!
"A doppelganger?!"
Ignoring Mickey's startled cry, Kyle summoned his draconic aura.
"!?"
In the blink of an eye, Kyle closed the distance.
He slammed a point-blank fist into the doppelganger's solar plexus.
[Internal Force Fist Punch]
Massive shockwave unleashed
Thud, krraaa-boom!!
Dirt blasted everywhere from the shockwave as the doppelganger flew back several meters.
"Grraaagh...!"
Mickey gaped at the raw power up close.
The doppelganger clutched its chest, vomiting thick blue blood, and glared at Kyle.
"You bastard...!"
It coughed and gnashed its teeth.
"When did you catch on?!"
"When?"
Kyle activated his skill and replied.
"From the beginning."
"...What?!"
He hadn't known it was a doppelganger specifically, but he'd pegged it wasn't 'Scott' right away.
He'd let it slide, figuring it'd make its move after crossing the barrier.
"Round two."
"Damn you!"
'What the hell is this guy?!'
Fugitives snuck down sometimes, but George Brockett's memories portrayed Scott as too cautious for risky gigs like this.
The doppelganger regained composure despite the surprise powerhouse.
'Doesn't matter. This is the lower levels.'
A labyrinth where you couldn't see an inch without goggles or a lantern.
'So...!'
It donned another victim's skin and unleashed its power.
Walter sensed danger and yelled.
"Kyle!"
As the thing wildly swung its arm, Kyle's goggles ripped off instantly.
Walter's eyes widened.
'Telekinesis...!'
Doppelgangers could copy their prey's abilities too.
'No matter how skilled...!'
Blind, and you're done!
The doppelganger streaked forward like lightning, claws extended for Kyle's throat—
But Kyle's fist shot out faster, smashing its face to pulp.
[Internal Force Fist Punch]
Enhanced shockwave
Thud, krraaa-boom!!
"Guhk?!"
It slammed into the ground, shock ripping through its spine and body.
Power enough to kill a normal human outright.
Madly spewing blood, the doppelganger's eyes nearly popped out.
"Y-You...!"
Its eyes told the tale.
No night-vision prosthetics there.
Yet it had reacted as if it saw perfectly in the dark.
"How...!"
Kyle smirked at it.
"Sorry, but these goggles? Just accessories to me."
"Th-Then why wear them...?"
"So idiots like you..."
He scoffed.
"...Would bite."
"!!"
The doppelganger gaped, realizing it'd been played.
'As expected...!'
Unshaken poise, prepared contingencies.
Mickey covered her mouth in awe.
'Incredible...!'
As Kyle stepped forward to finish it—
Whish... whish...
Something spine-chilling brushed past their ears.
"...?"
They looked up at the eerie sound.
Kekeke.
The doppelganger laughed.
"Kuh, heh, hahahaha!"
"......"
It burst into mad cackles.
"...Looks like the commotion drew company."
The mangled thing grinned.
"You didn't think I led you here without a plan, did you?"
Doppelgangers couldn't grow stronger than their prey.
To overcome that, they'd need something stronger to devour—a paradox.
Walter caught on and yelled.
"...! You didn't...!"
"Kyahahaha! Idiots."
Sudden grotesque noises closed in rapidly.
"There's a Heteromorphic Medusa nest nearby."
"What?!"
And that dark beast hungered only for humans.
"Go on, thrash all you want. Fools."
The doppelganger bared fangs at Kyle.
"Especially you! I'll devour you for sure! Kyahahaha!!"
The presence loomed right up—
Walter bellowed.
"Everyone, heads down!!"
Flash!
Four dim lights pierced the dark, bathing their midst.
"R-Remember!"
Walter's voice shook as he warned.
"Never... never look at the lights!"
The Heteromorphic Medusa lurked in the lower darkness, luring travelers with its four glowing eyes.
A weary wanderer, exhausted by the gloom, who gazed into those lights...
"Would lose consciousness instantly!"
And that was it.
All mana and life force sucked dry by the Medusa.
'Got it.'
Kyle narrowed his eyes in understanding.
The Medusa left intact corpses after feeding.
'And this thing scavenged the scraps.'
What else to call it but sewer rat?
"Uncle."
"Wh-What...!"
"How do we kill it?"
As the massive shadow neared, Walter answered.
"...Heteromorphic Medusa has hearts in its eyes and chest."
Miss destroying them all at once, and it'd regenerate endlessly.
Blind in the meantime? Nightmare difficulty.
Kyle muttered.
"All at once, huh."
Then he said.
"Sorry, doppelganger."
He reached into [Subspace] and continued.
"You've been misunderstanding one thing since earlier."
"...What?"
The goggles being mere decoration didn't mean—
"I can see fine without them."
Kyle slowly raised his head.
Panicked, Mickey cried out.
"No! Kyle! If you look up...!"
"It's fine."
The doppelganger flinched.
"I've been 'watching' from the start—not looking."
"?!"
His eyes were closed.
In his hand gleamed a razor-sharp long sword.
Whish... whirrr...!
Furious at being ignored, perhaps.
Shrieeeek!!
The enraged Medusa launched sharp tentacles at Kyle—
Ting!
The pale purple hilt quivered slightly.
The blade slid free like silk—
Five arcs slashed the dark simultaneously.
Shraaaack!!