Second Phase
“Kuh.”
I winced the moment I opened my eyes. A Transco security robot's flash had hit me square in the face. Scanning via electronic signals instead of my eyes, I saw five headless dog-shaped robots clustered around me. It might've looked cozy at first glance. Except they were packing machine guns and missile launchers on their backs—lethal weapons. Hell, I was lucky not to freak out.
'Kinda reminds me of Bell.' That bad thought cut itself off quick. Given how she'd been acting lately, she wouldn't get offended at the dog comparison—she'd probably be terrified I'd make her wear a collar and hand me the leash.
Come to think of it, her signal was coming in strong now, pretty close. I tried pinging her comms, but the jamming waves around us were still screwing with it. No big deal; at this distance, she'd be here soon anyway.
“...Speaking of which, what about the knight bitch?”
I had no idea how much damage I'd dealt. But judging by the situation, Exose hadn't woken up first. Best case, I'd one-shot her. Or maybe she was out cold and the robots had finished her off. Unlike me, the invited VIP, she was a clear hostile intruder.
I tried to get up and check, but my whole body ached like fire, too stiff to move easily.
'Just lie here till Bell shows?'
That lazy thought vanished as chills crawled up my spine from my toes. From somewhere across the first-floor lobby, a familiar trumpet blast and Latin recitation echoed.
It was Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 mixed with Romans 8:11 from the Bible. From my brief time at Eton College, I recalled they shared a core theme: resurrection.
“.......”
Pain be damned, I shot to my feet and glared around like a madman. In a pile of debris nearby, three cherubs spun wildly. Two kept blaring noise as before. The third was spewing some liquid from its mouth downward. Golden and unfamiliar, yet weirdly nostalgic.
Either way, I had to stop it now.
“Fire! Fire, you mutts!!”
I touched each robot dog, forcing their firing signals. Jamming had them glitching, so I had to lock targets manually. Machine-gun fire and guided missiles rained down on the defenseless cherubs. Blood, oil, and metal splattered into mush on the floor.
Did I stop it? Nah, too late.
A presence stirred in that debris pile. Probably the worst thing that could happen at a funeral was happening.
'Kill her before she fully revives...!'
I reached to trigger another salvo. But she was faster.
Shwaaaaa-!!!
A blue beam lanced from over there. I dodged on instinct, but the poor doggos melted in place, rolling on the floor.
“Let there be light! Let there be light! Holy radiance shall accompany the path of courage and honor!”
A mad laugh echoed as the revived knight slowly emerged. Half her face was wrecked, chrome exposed with blue glows in empty sockets. The other half had its crumpled faceguard embedded in her mug. Her lance had bloomed like a flower, spewing white smoke—probably the laser source.
What kind of knight is that, you psycho bitch?
“Ahh! Impressive, Viscount! You are truly my worthy rival, the great foe of the millennial kingdom to come! Without His divine grace, it would've been insurmountable hardship!”
Exose threw her head back in rapture, babbling nonsense. I wanted to rush and smash her again, but that burst of power from before wouldn't gather right. Already drained? Was it uncharged?
My feet backed away involuntarily. The pressure squeezing my body doubled.
But apparently, I wasn't dying yet.
Shring- Boom-!
A metal-slicing sound from outside the department store. Looking back, someone was dismantling the entry shutter meant to block rioters. The thick metal barrier split like tofu and exploded forward from the impact.
And then, the voice I'd been dying for—sweeter than ever today—rang through the lobby.
“Young master! Are you alright?! I'm here!!!”
****
“Bell!! You made it!!!”
Even to me, my voice sounded like pure panic melting into relief. Lungs half-empty, wheezing like a punctured bellows. At least I skipped the pathetic sobs like “Waaah” or “Why'd you take so long, you dummy.”
Bell rocketed over with her boosters, closing the gap in seconds.
“I'm so sorry for being late. As you said, someone attacked the safehouse— Ah, no, are you okay?!”
She cut off, eyes wide, hands over her mouth. Probably shocked by my ragged state.
Hmm. Better reassure her before she blames herself.
“Just my clothes are trashed; I'm fine. Anyway, so the thing we planned for happened? More importantly, glad you're safe.”
“...No need for that. And someone else came too.”
“Huh? Who besides— Master?!”
Turning where Bell pointed, my eyes went wide. Wasn't she in treatment...?
“How? Are you okay? I heard you were hospitalized...”
My revered master approached, black ponytail swaying, a faintly bitter look on her face. Her lips twitched, then parted heavily.
“Worry not for me. I boasted I'd save you, only to fall defeated—speechless with a hundred mouths. Ashamed to show such ugliness.”
“Don't say that. You taught me not to dwell on the past or let it shake me.”
She softened a bit at my words, expression easing.
“If you say so, I shan't wallow unduly. For now, focus on the foe before us.”
-Shring-
My esteemed master drew her odachi, glaring ahead. The mangled knight finished her monologue and turned toward us, head creaking as she scanned us curiously.
“Quite affectionate with the ladies, aren't you? All rough words for me.”
Like a scolding aunt. I dropped my voice as deep as possible.
“I know not what you mean. But white knight, surely your honored self scorns not cowardice in numerical disadvantage?”
“No, what.... Ahem. The battlefield ever flows; 'tis my failure to complete the mission before reinforcements. I complain not of such trials.”
Damn... tough cookie! Better than some knights who'd squeal from a thigh stab through armor gaps. No more “knight bitch.”
-Flash!
Wordplay over, Exose extended her empty left arm. The forearm guard unfolded into a pentagonal blue energy field around a circular core—like a shield.
Unfazed by her wrecked look, eyes blazing mad zeal, the over-augmented knight bellowed through static.
“Then let us proceed without delay. May that shining moon bear witness to the warriors' valor! Allez!”
“I shan't betray expectations this time.”
“Young master, leave this to us!”
Master and Bell stepped forward protectively, assuming stances. Melee master and ranged ace holding the line—rock solid.
What about me? Phase 1 drained me dry. Cut me some slack. Least I could do was stay safe till I recharged.
Whoooosh-!
Exose unfurled her panels, orange flames erupting as she took flight. No immediate charge; instead, her banana-peeled lance aimed at us, blue energy gathering at the golden tip.
“Laser!! Dodge!!!”
I yelled, but Bell was faster. She leaped airborne, boosters propelling her to Exose in a blink. Red flash gleamed from her outstretched right hand.
“Such...!”
Too soon for the lance to charge; first hint of shock crossed the knight's half-ruined face. She canceled, shielding her head with her left arm.
Kwaaaaa-!
Red plasma beam direct hit. But the left arm device was a shield as expected—Bell's laser scattered in prismatic colors off the blue field.
Exose smirked like she'd taken a hit.
“Elson's toy packs a punch. Better than sims— ”
-Sssht!
“?!!”
She couldn't finish. Master had appeared behind, gripping her heat-blade sword two-handed for a neck chop.
Clang!! Zzzzzing-
Shield blocked again. Heat edge met energy field—sparks flew into actual flames. The blue shimmer flickered faintly, soon to fade. Heat-blade was made to slice shields and armor; couldn't hold forever.
Thus, before shield failure, Exose reformed her lance to a cone, aiming to counter Master.
Problem: not one-on-one.
Bell thrust her glowing red hand again.
“Head-cracked doll, forgot me already?”
“Tch!”
Shwaaaaa-!!
Exose clicked her tongue, flames blasting from her back to evade instead of counter. My two guardians pursued relentlessly—Bell boosting, Master bounding floors.
Shwaaa-!!
Exose twisted mid-retreat, firing lasers backward. Master dodged all, anticipating to appear ahead and halt her with heavy slashes. Bell laid suppressive fire with red beams and gyrojet rockets.
The battle—androids, superhumans, over-aug—looked like shooting stars tangling in flight.
Boom! Kwang! Puff-bang-!
Red, purple, blue flashes wrecked the store in explosions and cuts.
****
Concrete chunks, glass, rebar, plastic shards rained like hell. Intense enough to worry the whole building might collapse.
“...Was a bit worried, but they're pushing hard.”
Of course, I couldn't just spectate. Thought cherub ketchup would end the jamming, but that golden goo emitted waves blocking interference. Linked to my power somehow?
Anyway, needed another plan.
“First... rally the guard bots for fire support.”
I'd scanned the doggos' signals earlier. Same freqs should work for suppression at least.
Decision made, I closed my eyes to map signals in the area.
Seconds later, eyes snapped open, head whipping around for weapons. Another presence besides us.
No convenient arms appeared, and calling the fighters mid-battle was iffy.
“Hah, what now...”
I ignored the pain wracking me, leaping from first-floor lobby to third in one go.
And soon, footsteps climbing after me. Someone else hunting me down, clearly.