The Rookie Who Toppled a Ranker
The soldiers of the power plant defense unit watched the two Nexus units clash in tense silence. A ranker from the Hermes Network against a rookie with no such title. What would the outcome be?
Buildings crumbled, flames erupted in multiple spots several times. The shockwave from a massive explosion even rattled their position.
Unexpectedly, Rabe wasn't being pushed back by the ranker. She seemed not just evenly matched, but overwhelmingly dominant at times. Anyone would have been impressed by that fact, but overwhelmed by the spectacle before them, they could barely squeeze out words.
Rabe's Nexus moved with terrifying ferocity, evoking a chilling unease just from watching. It wasn't maneuvers any normal person could pull off with rational thought.
But heroes were never truly understood by the masses, were they? Suppressing their involuntary awe, the soldiers watched as Rabe pressed the ranker relentlessly. Their ally was driving back the enemy.
Ku-gu-gu-gu!
The battle dragged on for a while, marked by especially fierce explosions sweeping the area.
Kwaaaang!
Then, a colossal blast erupted, flames soaring as the enemy Nexus's signal vanished.
Cheers exploded across the comms channel, as if pent-up tension had finally burst.
As everyone cheered, someone suddenly piped up.
Everyone checked Rabe's Nexus. After the brutal fight where she'd demolished the enemy, it stood frozen in place. Like it was dead.
If consciousness remained, there'd be at least faint movement, but now it just loomed motionless amid the flames, like a statue.
Silence fell briefly.
Immediately, voices erupted across the channel without order. Soon, crowds rushed toward the ragged yet steadfast Nexus.
They cleared debris together, pried open the cockpit, and pulled the girl from the blood-red alarm-lit interior. Many hands gently lifted her fragile body.
"She's smiling."
"Yeah."
Blood trailed down her cheek, her right eye bloodshot and inflamed. Yet the girl, dragged from the cockpit with unfocused, slack eyes, wore a faintly smirking expression.
I'd killed the player's rival character. Or so I thought—today, or maybe yesterday. Fortunately, it wasn't true.
Apparently, escape pod ejection was faintly visible amid the flames just before the unit exploded. Security footage from the distant guards reached Hermann directly.
"Watched the combat footage. Still fighting like you're chewing through your own flesh."
I lay wheezing in bed. After such an intense clash, being unscathed would be the real anomaly.
Even the brief machine-gun barrage at close range had overloaded my nerves massively. The aftereffects left me unable to distinguish objects properly for a while—I had to stay put until recovery.
Hermann sighed. "I'd love to tell you to quit that style... but you won't listen. Not sure it's even the fixable kind."
"......"
"If you're set on it, what can an outsider do? Won't say more."
I dimly sensed light from the ceiling, listening quietly to Hermann.
He summarized recent events concisely.
"Power plant got reinforcements, but our external allies want to work with you more. Know who piloted that Nexus you fought?"
"Scarab."
My throat cracked like drought-stricken earth, voice hoarse and fading.
Hermann sighed deeply again before continuing. "Right. You might not know, but he's Rank 32."
"I know."
"Then you get what beating him means. Corps might eye you soon."
"Then..."
Then I'd give the same answer as before to Hermann. I had no intention of being bound to anyone.
"Yeah, low chance of hostility—just watch your back. Higher you climb, more annoyances pile up."
"Haven't... completed enough corp jobs yet..."
Not enough data to rank up. That's what I'd planned to say.
Hermann cleared his throat knowingly. "Anyway, allies sent a love call to team up more... Turned 'em down. Not my call."
"...Thanks."
"If you're interested, I'll intro you. Those guys..."
"No, it's fine."
Hermann stopped as expected. Awkward silence followed as words dried up.
Now was the time. "Hermann, planning two more jobs then out."
"......"
"Debt's mostly paid... Got something I wanna do..."
"Something you wanna do?"
"......"
I didn't know what he made of my silence. He just expressed discomfort with an overt sigh.
Instead of answering, Hermann lectured. "You know we've covered Nexus repairs so far, right? Recall how you've fought."
"That..."
"Only two battles, but both times durability was under 10% on return. Teetering between scrap and Nexus. Mission pay minus repairs, ammo, sundries—barely breaks even."
"......"
Sounded like he was trying to retain me. I ignored it; he dropped the explanation.
"Pointless anyway. If you want out, that's that. Just testing. Your work so far covers costs fine."
"Right?"
"You hear this stuff well. Anyway..."
Hermann placed a rough hand on my forehead. Warmth touched my skin. I grimaced at the vague discomfort, but he didn't pull away.
"Take care these last gigs. Come back if it's too rough."
"Won't, cough, need to return."
"Do as you like. At least tone down that fighting style a bit."
Couldn't see him, so I stuck out my tongue blatantly. No clue his reaction.
Took about a week for vision to normalize.
"That damn bastard...! Cough."
A man wrapped head to toe in casts and bandages lay in bed, just like Rabe. Scarab trembled with rage, grinding his teeth despite immobility.
"Fucking team lead—shit intel, can't do jack right. That thing human? Beast."
He wasn't just bloodthirsty for any fight. Preferred human vs. human.
But that day... it wasn't.
"Fuck..."
Shivers hit just thinking about it. Less human, more beast. Mindless beast. No—intelligent, but so ruthlessly cold it sacrificed its own body strategically. That might be the terror.
Scarab glared at the ceiling lights with his one remaining eye.
"Think... I'll stop here, you fuck...?"
As he stewed in bed, click.
The ward door suddenly opened. He'd warned everyone off harshly—who dared?
Scarab rolled his eyes to the bedside. An unfamiliar man stood there.
"Who're you."
Not a face from B2B interactions, short as they were. Unless high-up employer, no reason to visit—unknown identity, unknown affiliation.
The man smiled amiably at Scarab's hostile glare.
"Backend Neural Engineering Lab pilot, Scarab, correct? Cleared with your superiors. You'll end your B2B contract soon and join us."
"Barging in spouting bullshit..."
"Afraid of that pilot from that day?"
Scarab flinched. Knew exactly who.
"What do you know, you prick—!"
"We'll give you a shot at revenge. Join us."
Scarab's sole working eye fixed on him. Eyes calm, as if knowing all the world's secrets, stared back.