On an ice satellite (11)
Crash!
The monster tram filmed by an external camera shot out black spikes. Those gathered in the shuttle gasped as its rear armor crumpled under the fierce attack.
"What on earth is that...!"
"That's a monster too!"
When we shouted that we barely escaped its pursuit, the broker urgently asked.
"How do we deal with it?"
"We don't know!"
Without any long-range weapons, unlike the pureblood fanatics, we had no choice but to desperately flee from the monster tram.
Boom-!
The shuttle's armor was pounded continuously by projectiles. Each impact shook the interior, causing screams to erupt everywhere.
【Warning. The rear auxiliary armor has been damaged by external impact.】
"Can't you go any faster?!"
"I already told you, this is the best we can do! The boosters are too damaged to speed up!"
The man was indeed doing his best. The shuttle was barely maintaining its balance as it was. Unstable attacks from the rear left it teetering, as if threatening to crash onto the tracks below.
【Warning. Booster no. 4 damaged. Power output decreased.】
"Damn it! We're slowing down!"
The black spikes fired from the monster tram ultimately destroyed the right booster. With each booster being destroyed in turn, the shuttle briefly regained some balance but noticeably slowed.
The monster tram closed in behind the shuttle. It repeatedly opened and closed its gaping maw, undulating with its biological structure.
The creature's grotesque form was laid bare after the flames had finally died down, its deadly aura focused solely on us.
"We could repel it with the shuttle's weapons...!"
"That's impossible. This shuttle is barely flying as it is. No, technically, it's not even flying since it's scraping along the tracks."
A blue-eyed woman named Celestia dismissed the suggestion made by the survivors. She explained that the shuttle had crashed during an emergency repair because both the engine and weapons were malfunctioning.
Rapid maneuvers would only strain the engine, potentially triggering a chain reaction that could cause the shuttle to stop. Obviously, turning the weapons around was not an option.
Despite Celestia's calm demeanor, it didn't help in calming everyone else.
Anxiety spread easily. Once coiled around a situation, it didn't disappear until resolved, and even then, traces of it lingered.
At that moment, the man in the military suit spoke.
"Who owns these robots?"
"I do. Why do you ask?"
"I'm asking for cooperation."
"What cooperation?"
The broker's eyes sharpened. And then, as if confirming her own thoughts, someone on Celestia's side, Eric, suggested.
"I'm sure you recognize that we can't fend that thing off in our current state. There's no one willing to sacrifice themselves, but we do have security robots capable of doing so."
"So, you're suggesting we use my robots as bait."
"It would be a waste to use the robots only as bait. It would be better to have them cross over and stop the tram from pursuing us altogether. Better certain than half-hearted."
"......."
The broker fell silent at Eric's words. Her eyes shifted to her robots. She typically relied on the robots over people, even if her frame were to break, because they faithfully carried out her orders.
Telling her to use her robots was likely to spark resistance, especially when it came from those she didn't trust.
Even though she said she'd sell anything for credits, the situation was different now. I doubted she'd agree to sell them now even if she were offered anything.
Considering the robots she'd already lost and the mistrust among people, it was even less likely.
Boom-!
The monster tram's black spike punctured the shuttle's rear armor entirely, seemingly urging a decision. The armor had become a ragged mess, easily torn.
The sight of the black spike embedded in the shuttle's ceiling disturbed the passengers, uniting them in pressuring the broker. At least they would have, if she hadn't silenced them with a glare before shifting her gaze to me.
"... Hyun-woo, can you really protect me?"
I didn't know why she asked me, but the answer was simple.
"We're already doing that, aren't we? Just like we've done several times before."
As I spoke, Nadia perked up her ears and lifted her head while Carry lightly waved her auxiliary arm. The broker's eyes trembled briefly.
That subsided as she adjusted the respiratory mask fitted on her, murmuring,
"... Right, you have. Alright, I'll cooperate. But I'll keep at least one of them intact."
"I think that's wise. We don't know what might happen next. The security robots could become invaluable."
"No, be clear. It's us, not just you. Don't try to take control. You haven't earned our trust yet, especially those with that symbol. This cooperation is just repayment for saving my life."
The broker's gaze shifted to Eric and the others on Celestia's side, specifically the pureblood fanatic symbols on their shoulders.
By warning she would provide no further cooperation beyond the life-saving debt, she set her boundaries. Eric looked at Celestia, who nodded in understanding.
"Everyone, move close to the cockpit. We're opening the rear door now."
"What? But then we won't be able to block the attacks anymore!"
"Do we have any other choice? Clinging to this state might result in another booster failure. Then we'd be unable to escape the residential area. Sometimes, we have to take risks to survive."
Eric's calm voice resonated inside the shuttle. Amidst the external explosions and monstrous screams, I gently nudged Nadia and Carry toward the cockpit while pressing the button to open the rear door.
With a grinding sound, the door began to open and the impatient cold wind rushed in, clearing the enclosed air.
"Damn it...! How can you open the door without coordinating!"
"Is there more to discuss? What time do we have for a dispute? I'll fend off the spikes as best as I can, so step back and don't obstruct."
I found their constant second-guessing irritating, especially when they were safely hiding in the corner, making my manner naturally rough.
I—no, we—needed to survive. We had reasons for doing so. Even if death suddenly came, we wouldn't stop struggling until then.
The broker chuckled disparagingly at my expression. Her eyes no longer wavered. As she controlled her security robots, she asked me,
"There's no program designed for this situation, so I'll manually control them. What do you need?"
"This will be enough."
I raised the armor plate given to me by Carry. It wasn't perfect equipment, but in the current situation, it was more reassuring than anything. I didn't dare wish for more. Just a few more attacks had to be withstood.
"When did you remove that?"
"Carry specializes in things like this."
"Specializes... I see, then let me show you something too. Let's start."
The broker's security robots shifted from standby to combat mode. They flaunted their sturdy metal frames while checking the weapons attached to their arms.
Riot suppression wave emitters. No longer riot suppression, but lethal. They aimed them at the monster tram, relentlessly pursuing us with its gaping maw.
【Screech!】
The shuttle's rear door was fully open by then. We could see the scarlet embers from the shuttle scraping the tracks, and the monster tram appearing ready to devour them.
Air was sucked in. It was being drawn into the gaping maw, where sat black spikes. Lodged into its biological structure, they made grinding sounds, threatening us.
"Roxy! Align with that monster! Make it so the robots can cross over!"
"Easier said than done! You'd better make this worth it...!"
Despite his crude grumbling in the cockpit, the man adjusted the controls with care. As the screeching metal signaled the shuttle's center of balance shifting, the monster tram became clearer, its details more visible as the boosters' output was recalibrated in real-time.
The armed shuttle and the monster tram raced down the same tracks. Howling winds whipped up and cleared the dust, sharpening the landscape around them.
'How many have you killed?'
Seeing the bloodstains and flesh sticking to the monster tram's body, I grabbed the armor plate to use as a shield. The timing to launch the robots was when the spikes reloaded.
Before then, the fired spikes needed to be blocked by me. Gathering tension, I swallowed dryly, and the thumping of my heart became audible.
In the fleeting moment of a blink,
Boom...!
Blocking the projectile with difficulty, I felt my securely planted legs giving way, inching backward. The impact beyond the shield made my insides churn.
It felt as if my insides would turn out, but I bit back a curse as I saw the metal composing the armor plate shatter into fragments.
"Now...!"
Almost simultaneously, the broker-controlled security robots pushed off and leaped toward the monster. The robots clung to the tram using their strong metal hands.
Their charged weapons released shockwaves. Thump—the shockwave seemed to push the air itself, swirling around inside the tram. The monster writhed, releasing a wretched scream.
People's faces brightened, seeing the effects of the attack. But soon regained their gloom. The monster tram abruptly clamped its maw, cutting the security robots in half.
The force was so great that the metal frames were nearly severed.
"Again!"
The broker watched the shattered security robots fall and gritted her teeth, immediately dispatching another set. The cycle repeated, offering no stroke of luck.
Seven security robots remained. They were an inadequate force to defeat the monster tram, which had closed its mouth.
"How much farther do we have to go?"
"We're nearing C-zone! Just beyond the next zone, we'll quickly reach the outer perimeter."
The shuttle needed to clear the D-zone and leave the residential area. Without tracks, the monster couldn't chase us further.
【Warning. The residential area management system has been forcibly terminated. It needs rebooting. All zone quarantines will be lifted until rebooted.】
"What?!"
Everyone perked up at the sudden residential area announcement. But it wasn't just the message, but also the thumping on the shuttle ceiling that caught everyone's attention.
【Kiyaaaaak!】
【Kiyaaaaak!】
"Monsters...! They've climbed onto the roof!"
Once humans, now monsters due to grotesque transformations. Freed with the quarantine lifted, they tore at the shuttle's auxiliary armor with monstrous strength.
Pieces of the external shock-absorbing armor peeled away rapidly. As they pried open the door gaps, foul saliva dripped through. Sticky fluids splattered on the floor, causing panic as people recoiled.
The door groaned ominously, threatening to detach. It was the last line of defense. Should it be breached, the unarmed interior would be open in an instant.
As the broker moved to pull her standby security robots back,
Tsk—
Bang...!
From where he got it, no one knew, Eric inserted a firearm through the door gap and pulled the trigger. The gunshot reverberated, startling everyone into screams. The sharp ripping sound irked numerous nerves.
Evidently effective, the creature trying to force the door open vanished. Soon another replaced it, but the first was undoubtedly felled.
Nadia, tentatively gripping a tool, slack-jawed in shock, belatedly reacted by clutching her head and crouching down.
Sensing the attention focused on him, Eric, maintaining his guard, checked the remaining ammunition and spoke.
"I'll handle things this way. Ah, don't mind the firearm. I found it on the street."
"......."
Insanity seemed pervasive. Wondering if there wasn't a single sane person around, I fixed my gaze on the monster tram below.
There wasn't time to focus on anything else. As Eric suggested, it was best to entrust the cockpit defense to him. If either side was breached, it would all be over anyway.
"Prepare for the next!"
"Already ready!"
The broker and I concentrated all our attention on dealing with the monster tram. I used the armor plate as a shield against projectiles, ensuring the security robots weren't lost in vain. As I warded them off, the security robots pounced on railings, clinging to the monster tram.
Adhering stubbornly like leeches, the security robots relentlessly discharged shockwaves, indifferent to their frames bending. Yet, their initial effect had waned.
Only scratching the surface of the tram merged with twitching biological structures, they failed to deal any further damage. The tightly closed maw was an impenetrable fortress.
While no black spikes could be fired with the maw closed, the issue remained it wouldn't perpetually stay closed. By exploiting the predictably brief pauses in shockwave dispatches, the tram managed to detach the robots clinging to it.
Even if the intervals weren't short, such little time barely sufficed to hold its frenzy at bay.
'A gap.'
A gap was what we needed. A breach to turn the tide of this situation.
At that moment, my eyes settled on a massive blue crystal core within the tram. nestled like a pearl inside a shell. It seemed revealed in a lapse of shockwave's assault.
I felt a sudden sharp intuition. That was the core driving the monster tram.
'If we attack that...!'
Noting the singular, clustered blue crystal unlike other monsters, I scanned for a viable weapon to inflict damage. I considered borrowing Eric's firearm, spewing flames at monsters clinging, but soon dismissed the notion.
An outdated relic it may be, the firepower was indisputable. Yet borrowing it risked compromising the shuttle's defense with absurd ease. Besides, I lacked experience with firearms.
The shockwave emitter meant little now too. Instead of the expansive force, concentrated penetration was essential.
'... Nothing?'
No, there was one thing. A piece sturdy and heavy enough to reliably transmit force—a black spike.
I locked my gaze on the black spike embedded in the armor plate. Spurred into action instantly, I banked on the suit I wore to safeguard against potential infection risk.
"What are you doing now?"
"I aim to hit the blue crystal inside it."
"What? Is there really such a thing inside? You seriously expect that to work?"
The broker eyed me and the black spike warily, skepticism evident in—
'... Or maybe not?'
Her eyes reflected concern—was she worried about me? The broker, crazed for credits?
A chill crept down my spine, spontaneously drawing a shiver.
Retaining a neutral tone, I replied,
"There's no other solution, even sending more robots won't work. We put an end to this with this thing."
I didn't step up blindly. Somehow, it felt doable at that time.
The plan was simple—the monster tram's maw would open, allowing security robots inside to hinder closure, granting me a chance to throw the spike and shatter the blue crystal.
"There's only one shot. We can't afford further loss."
"I know."
With a deep, deliberate breath, I grasped the black spike extracted from the armor plate. Its alien texture provoked unease, the blackness almost crawling up to encroach my glove.
Was it merely perception, painted by suspicion? Was it just me seeing it that way? Who knew?
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Opening and closing repetitively, akin to a meat grinder crushing everything within, stood the monstrous maw. When learned that shockwaves inflicted no further damage, the robots surged in under the broker's guidance.
Sensing intruding robots, the monster tram opened its jaws wide to decisively crush them. My opportunity lay in that instant of it opening wide.
Mind this—another chance wouldn't come easily. Despite the abundance of black spikes, any miss would elevate its vigilance. Experiencing one fumble, the monster wouldn't provide a second opportunity.
Creak...!
Foregoing attack, the security robots set their frames ablaze to keep the maw ajar, albeit for a fleeting moment, as I positioned myself, prepared to throw the spike in my grasp.
My entire body tensed. The hand clutching the black spike emitted a crackling sound, conveying the raw force exerted. Drawing my right foot back, left forward, lowering my stance, I concentrated my power entirely in the arm, raising the spike.
Swish-!
Directly after aligned paths brought the armed shuttle overlapping the monster tram thoroughly, I hurled the black spike, severing the air, lodged it right into the tram's core. A flurry of blue particles erupted into the air as the blue crystal shattered.
Bang!
Frantically, the monster tram shut its maw, striving to preserve what was already destroyed—its gem. To ensure its end, the broker transmitted specific commands to the robots lodged within.
Simultaneously, a crimson blaze burgeoned from the monster tram like a spouting dragon.
【...】
Could it perceive through sight? Engulfed in flames specked by blue particles, the tram struck with an undeniable impression—it gazed upon me. Enveloped in what felt like murderous rage, I speculated it could very well have already killed me had that alone sufficed.
Not one to back down, I met its gaze. There was no fear left within me. A single fact permitted me to stand my ground.
"... I won."
Whether the monster heard or not, its feral gaze faded gradually, diminished like a dying lamp. Following a secondary explosion, a storm of flames spread in all directions.
A spectacular finish.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Fuck yeah!