Exose Shock
Beep— Beep— Beeeeeep—
Rioters have breached the store premises. All visitors, please remain in a safe location until support arrives. All staff, follow procedures per the manual...
“Kyaaaaah—!!”
“What the hell is going on? What are the security team doing?!”
“W-We definitely sent the order to dispatch the riot squad, but we can't get through...”
“Just hurry and guide everyone to the panic room! The rioters will break in at this rate!”
A real emergency had broken out. And of all places, this department store was the target.
The party guests were shoving people aside without a shred of dignity or decorum, scrambling desperately to reach the panic room even a second sooner. Even the Security Chief, who was supposed to be controlling the situation, was mixed in with the crowd.
But the Shareholder wasn't in that line. Where the hell had he gone?
Weeeeeeng—
Thick barricades dropped into place throughout the store interior and exterior to block the rioters' entry. Armed staff and automated drones were hurriedly deployed everywhere, standing guard alongside the VIPs' personal bodyguards to secure the route to the panic room.
“Lord William!”
A voice calling my name from somewhere. I turned to see Kate Coleman and Veril running toward me.
I pointed toward the direction where the VIPs were rushing. “Ms. Coleman! I was planning to head to the panic room with them.”
To the rioters' eyes, I was just another oppressive noble scum. Which wasn't exactly wrong, of course.
I'd planned to slip quietly into the panic room and signal Bell as planned, but Transco's guards had other ideas.
“No, Lord William. Please come with us. We'll escort you to safety.”
“Pardon? Isn't the panic room that way?”
“That area's overcrowded and might reach capacity, so we have orders from Ms. Owen to take you elsewhere.”
“And they say not to put all your eggs in one basket. There are other panic rooms. Let's go.”
No wonder I hadn't seen her—she'd already evacuated. Quick on her feet.
The guards grabbed my hand and urged me along. In the end, I decided to follow them to another panic room.
Regardless of the suspicious vibes from the Shareholder and Transco, judging by the VIPs' reactions, this wasn't a planned incident. Staging something like this just to nab me would be pure paranoia on my part.
First things first, I need to signal Bell to come get me.
But Bell's signal wasn't connecting. Something was distorting outgoing transmissions from the store grounds.
What the hell?
“Ms. Coleman! Can you get through to the outside?”
“I checked, but no luck.”
“Looks like electronic warfare gear's in play. All outbound signals from the building are jammed.”
Veril explained with a grave expression.
Something was off. For mere rioters or terrorists to deploy that kind of equipment? Normally, Transco's countermeasures would neutralize it instantly. A force bold enough to hit a megacorp's key facility like this...
Chills. No, please don't let it be.
There were plenty of other VIPs here besides me. They wouldn't go that far just for one guy.
For now, all I could do was hope Bell found a way to track me down. Once she got inside the building, the signal should connect.
Vroooooom—
Hm? What was that rumble?
“Hey, everyone. You hear that loud noise?”
As soon as I spoke up, the two stopped and perked up their ears.
A deafening engine roar, like it was about to burst our eardrums, came from ahead. Felt like it was coming from outside the building.
Ms. Coleman confirmed it. “...Yeah, I hear it too. Sounds like an engine. Considering we're on the eighth floor, probably an aerial vehicle.”
“Maybe reinforcements from your company? They're about due.”
Vrooooooom—!!!!
If Veril's optimistic guess was right, the craft should've slowed as it neared the building. But that unidentified engine noise was growing louder and more ferocious, hurtling closer like a missile launch.
The two exchanged tense glances, faces hardening, then turned to me.
“The noise is getting closer—we should move!”
“We'll guide you to the emergency exit. Even if there's collapse, it's relatively safe—”
Boom—!
“Ugh...!”
Before Veril could finish, the impact hit.
A smoke-shrouded object had smashed through the wall dozens of meters from us.
“Shockwave incoming! Get down!”
Even at this distance, the blast wave rocked the area. We had to drop flat to avoid being thrown.
The guards flung themselves over me amid the chaos, shielding me from debris and the wave. It hit me—they were real bodyguards. Made me feel a twinge of guilt.
Craaaaaash... Thud!
The grotesque craft finally screeched to a halt after tearing through the building's interior, stopping not far from us at all.
****
The crashed vehicle looked like some kind of aerial assault craft by its size. Slamming it straight into the wall? Could be an overly aggressive rescue op, but intruder seemed more likely.
“......”
We rose slowly. The two guards shed their dust-covered suit jackets, then tossed their white-stained sunglasses aside.
Ms. Coleman rolled up her shirtsleeves and said to me, “It was our mistake to reroute you. We'll handle this—Lord William, find a safe spot and evacuate.”
“Or would you like to watch us fight? We can show you we're worth our salt.”
“Cut the crap. The lord's safety comes first.”
Hiss! Screeeeech—
A hatch opened on the smoke-obscured fuselage, a silhouette shimmering within. Spiky augmentations—no medic, that was clear. Hostile assault force, most likely.
Tension thick as gunpowder. Then a voice rang out.
“The hand of fate holds an inscrutable absoluteness! The thrill of battle is the lantern lighting my path, the signpost to my sworn nemesis!”
“““...?”””
What the hell was that?
We exchanged baffled looks at the cryptic, jubilant proclamation. Highfalutin nonsense, impossible to parse.
But the owner didn't appear right away. Instead, three monstrosities burst from the smoke, flapping wings.
Flap! Flap! Flap!
They resembled Renaissance cherubs reimagined in biomechanical style—half-organic drones with mechanical wings fluttering like they were prepping a stage.
One sprayed glitter from a nozzle on its hand. Another blared faux-Latin poetry from a speaker via parchment scroll. The last piped a marching tune on a tiny brass trumpet.
We just stared, dumbfounded at the surreal scene.
Bum-ba-bum— Bum-bum Bum-ba-ba-baaaaam—!
Thud thud thud—
And out crawled the intruder at last.
A perverse parody, like a knight sculpted with whimsy and sensuality. Leotard base with patchy white armor plating. A medieval knight's face guard covered half her face. Behind trailed horn-like antennae, cable bundles, and a long braided dark blonde ponytail swaying with her movements.
“Parked like an asshole—hope you got insurance. Who are you? State your affiliation.”
Ms. Coleman deployed the guns grafted to her arms and demanded answers.
The foe ignored her, glancing around before locking eyes on me and grinning.
...Knew it. She's here for me.
The white-armored knight spoke up, voice absurdly chipper like before.
“Oh, William Wentworth, Earl of Straford, where hills cradle lush forests and rivers flow in beauty!”
“London born and raised—never even been there.”
“Fate has led us to this field of strife; let us settle it as knights! Take up arms, Earl. Prove yourself with resolve and valor!”
“Whoa...”
Holy shit. Spouting lines straight out of chivalric romance lit. Already cringeworthy, but in that half-assed plate—not even full harness—it was downright bizarre.
She leveled her right-hand lance at me, chest heaving with rapid breaths. Looked downright aroused. Sent chills down my spine.
Ms. Coleman, who'd been glaring, spoke up. “Don't engage. Fall back. Gear and signals scream Anastasis operative.”
“Affirmative. Over-aug'd psycho bitch. Head back to the panic room that way. We'll follow shortly.”
“Got it. See you soon.”
I answered promptly and bolted down the hall without a backward glance.
Not deserting in battle—just not getting in the pros' way unarmed.
Shortly after I turned, gunfire erupted behind, followed by vibrations underfoot. Metal clashing, something splintering, slamming into walls, then a symphony of explosions. Flashes lit the corridor like strobe lights, ears ringing.
Then something bounced down the hall like a ball.
It rolled past me, nearly tripping me up.
What the hell flew by?
“...!!!”
I froze, cold sweat beading. No choice.
There, soaked in red blood and black oil staining her light purple hair: Kate Coleman's severed head.
Whoosh—!
I whipped around.
The horrifying sight: the blood-and-oil-smeared white knight deploying panels on her back, jet flames propelling her straight at me like a missile.
From the slits below her face guard, manic blue eyes gleamed as she bellowed.
"I am Exose! One of the five daggers of the Scream Harvester! Duel me with honor, Earl—or get skewered through the back like the worm you are!"