242 超人
アキラとエルデが互いに相手の何かが切り替わったことに気付く。
そこでエルデが違和感を覚える。
アキラの両手に銃は握られていない。今も格闘戦続行の事前動作を見せている。拳を引き、次の一撃を放つ。その予備動作の最中だ。エルデはそれを見て、これならば自分の反撃の方が早いと瞬時に判断し、次の攻撃に移ろうとしていた。そこに先ほどの違和感が割り込む。その瞬間、エルデは回避を選び、飛び
今現在、アルファの操作は強化服だけではなく、アキラの体にまで及んでいる。アキラの意思を介して身体の操作に介入し、その動きに極めて微細で精密な補正を加えている。それにより、着用者の殺害を目的にしているような強化服の動きに身体を対応させていた。
アキラの体は超人を目指していると誤解されるほどの過酷な訓練と実戦を経て、常人の限界を超えて鍛え上げられ続けていた。その体がアルファの補正により更に高度な動きを見せる。超人との戦闘に
『何らかの奥の手、なのでしょうね。戦闘能力をあそこまで向上させるとは、私としても少々意外だわ』
『意外って、アルファ! 本当に大丈夫なんだよな!?』
よ。アキラ。泣き言を言う余裕があるのなら、戦闘に割り振りなさい。駄目だと言われて慌てるようではまだまだよ?』
死線を駆け抜けながら軽い雑談を挟む。その異常性を正常として精神を保ち、動揺を抑え、勝率を引き上げる。殺し合いを日常に組み込んでしまった者の精神構造を、今は生き残る
(この状態の俺と互角か! 坂下も良い護衛を付けている!)
エルデは身体強化拡張者だ。生体ベースだがナノマシンによる細胞単位のサイボーグであり、その身体能力は超人の域に達している。加えて生体
していた。アキラの動きは別人と化していた。少し前の動きならば、この戦闘中にAF対物砲を使わせる余裕など与えなかった。
余りにも長く濃密な1秒の中を、2人の超人が技と力を駆使して荒れ狂う。その闘争の場と化している隔離室が戦闘の余波の内圧に耐えきれず、
それでも均衡状態ではない。現在の身体能力に慣れ始めたエルデが僅かずつではあるが押し始める。そして契機が来る。エルデの放った蹴りの衝撃波が、アキラの両手から銃を奪った。
エルデがそれを勝機と見て間合いを詰める。飛ばされた2
横たわるアキラと、立ったままのエルデの目が合った。そしてエルデが笑う。
「......。お見事」
エルデはそう言い残して崩れ落ちると、その生涯を終えた。
アキラはまだ警戒したままだ。何とか身を起こして相手の状態を確認しようとする。そこでアルファが笑って告げる。
『アキラ。大丈夫よ。勝ったわ』
勝利を告げられてもアキラは険しい顔のままだ。敵は胸に穴が開いただけ。四肢も頭も残っている。とても勝ったとは思えない。
頭だけでも平然と笑っていた者がいた。その頭を潰しても、後で襲ってきた者もいた。その経験がアキラに勝利を疑わせた。
『大丈夫。死んでるわ。最低でも戦闘続行は不可能な状態よ』
『......アルファ。周辺の状況は?』
『周辺に敵らしい存在は確認できないわ』
その後、ヒカルが閉じ込められている大型ロッカーまで何とか戻ると、扉を軽く
えず、ヒカルを襲っていたらしい3人は倒した。他にもいるかどうかは分からない。悪いが、俺も限界だ。もう1人来たら、もう無理だと思ってくれ」
『アキラ。危ないからその場から動かないで』
天井の穴から拡張粒子気体が一気に四散し、その濃度が急激に低下する。同時に通信障害も回復した。それに気付いたヒカルが即座に警備側と連絡を取りながら叫ぶ。
「アキラ! 警備側との通信が回復したわ! すぐに応援を呼ぶから......」
「あ、うん。もう来てるぞ」
タツカワの声が響く。
「そこに誰か隠れているのか? 扉が
「おっと、悪かった」
ヒカルが我に返る。そしてアキラと目が合った。アキラは黙ってヒカルに背を向けた。
で一仕事終えたハーマーズが険しい顔で息を吐いている。
「......全く、結局俺だけで潰す羽目になったのか」
「施設の方は旧領域経由で、司令室の方は通常の回線経由だからな。拡張粒子気体による通信妨害にも違いが出るんだろう」
シロウの言い訳に一応納得したハーマーズは、軽く息を吐いて自分を落ち着かせた。
「鋭意やってる最中だ。もう少しかな? でもこれだけ騒げば警備側も気付くんじゃないの?」
「おい、何でそんなタイミングバッチリなんだ?」
「世の中そんなもんさ。探し物は、必要だから探している間は見付からず、不要になった途端に出てくる。同じ同じ」
Ch 242
Both Erde and Akira noticed that something had changed inside their respective opponent. The aura seeping off from the other person gave a sense of an unknown. It was as if everything that they had learned during their last exchange was all meaningless. It was as if they were challenging each other, two skilled fighters, into melee combat without any prior information. Even so, they were not as sheepish enough to show hesitation. As a matter of fact, both thought that they might use that situation for their benefit.
That was when Erde noticed something strange.
Akira's LEO multi-rifles were nowhere to be found although they were on his hands in the last exchange and before this confrontation. Akira had pulled out his fist and moved to throw another punch. Seeing that, Erde instantly knew that his attack would reach Akira first, but the moment he shifted his stance to strike Akira, an ominous feeling assaulted him, he immediately jumped back.
At the moment, Alpha was not only controlling Akira's augmented suit but also his body. She inserted herself in Akira's mind to do the detailed adjustments to his movements. Thanks to that, his augmented suit could move around as if it was trying to kill its user.
Akira had gone through harsh training before. Training so harsh that it made others misunderstand him, believing he was trying to be superhuman. Now that Alpha was actively adjusting his movements as well, he had become even stronger. Strong enough to fight against an actual superhuman.
"I bet it's from some kind of trump card. Personally speaking, I didn't expect his trump card to boost his fighting power by this much."
"You didn't expect that?! Alpha, are we really going to be okay?"
"Of course. Akira, if you have the time to complain, it's better to use that leeway to focus on the fight, you know? You still have a long way to go, seeing that things make you waver when you know that it doesn't work right away."
Exchanging words like that in the middle of an intense battle helped Akira to regain some calmness. That helped boost his chance of winning. His mental state was built from a world where life and death battles were normal. It had turned into strength to help him survive. While he was dodging the shock waves, Akira readied his AF anti-material cannon.
[We're evenly matched even in this situation!? Sakashita Heavy Industry has an excellent escort!]
Erde was an enhanced human. Although he did not replace his body parts with mechanical parts like cyborgs, he used nanomachines to enhance his cells to the level of those cyborgs. His physical strength is already well within the realm of beings considered to be superhuman. And with the help of forcefield armour technology, he could easily rip through powered suits and tanks with only just his body. That was also the reason why he was able to block Akira's AF anti-material cannon.
His guess was wrong. Erde was surprised at how powerful Akira was since he thought that Akira had run out of trump cards. Akira suddenly moved like a completely different person. If Akira fought like how he did during their initial exchange, he would not even have had the chance to use his AF anti-material cannon.
In such a short span of time, both sides rampaged around with their superhuman strength. The room could not contain their rampage and was turned into a mess. The decorations on the floor and on the ceiling were all destroyed and the frames of the transport vehicle were in full view.
Unfortunately, even after going that far, it was still not enough. Erde, who was getting more familiar with his enhanced strength bit by bit during the battle, tilted the scale little by little. Eventually, his chance came. Erde's intense kick threw Akira's rifles off his hands.
Erde saw that as an opportunity, and he quickly closed the distance between them. The 2 LEO rifles that were thrown out of Akira's hand spun and went behind him. But they suddenly stopped and fixed their aims toward Erde's back.
As Akira was lying on the ground, his eyes were fixed on Erde, who was still standing there. Finally, Erde smiled and congratulated him.
"...Well done."
Erde could only use his final words to plead for forgiveness before he crashed onto the ground and remained motionless.
Akira was still vigilant. He managed to push himself up and checked on Erde. That was when Alpha spoke to him.
"Akira, it's okay. We won."
Even after he was declared victorious, Akira still had a stern look on his face. Although Erde had a hole in his body, he still had his head and four limbs. So, it did not feel like he had won.
After all, there were people who could still laugh only with a head left. There were also people who still could fight without a head. Akira had already experienced both situations, so he was still doubtful that he had won.
"Don't worry, he's dead. Or at least, he's in no condition to continue fighting."
"...Alpha, how's the situation?"
"There is no enemy signal in the area."
After that, Akira managed to return to where Hikaru was locked and lightly knocked on the door.
"...Anyway, those 3 guys that were trying to kidnap you are already dead. Though, I don't know if there are more out there or not. I'm sorry, but I'm already at my limit. If another one comes, I don't think I can fight anymore."
"Akira, don't move, it's dangerous."
The ripped-off ceiling allowed the enhanced dust particle to quickly disperse, lowering its density in a short time. Thanks to that, the jamming also weakened. Hikaru, who noticed that, immediately contacted the escort team and shouted.
"Akira! The connection is back! We need to call for help..."
"Ah, yes, it's already here."
Tatsukawa's voice echoed.
"Is there someone inside that locker? If you can't open the door, I can help you."
"Whoops, sorry."
Hikaru turned to Akira. Akira did not say anything and just turned around.
Hammerz, who just finished his job, was standing in the middle of that rubble and sighed.
"...Good grief. In the end, I'm the only one who had to work hard, huh?"
"That's because I was using an old-world line connect to the facility while I can only use a normal line to contact HQ. So, the effect of the jamming particle is different."
Hammerz accepted that excuse and sighed to help himself calm down.
"I'm still trying. Maybe it will work after we wait for a while. But still, as expected, the escort team should have noticed it after making this much ruckus, no?"
"Why did it return at this time?"
"That's just how the world works. Just like how you never find the thing that you're looking for but can easily find it when you're not looking for it."
Rebuild World (WN)
リビルドワールド
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/rebuild-world/
Action Adventure Drama Harem Mecha Mystery Sci-fi Seinen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alternate World Anti-social Protagonist Apocalypse Artificial Intelligence Beautiful Female Lead Cautious Protagonist Child Protagonist Dense Protagonist Determined Protagonist Distrustful Protagonist Futuristic Setting Gangs Gunfighters Harsh Training Lack of Common Sense Male Protagonist Manipulative Characters Monsters Near-Death Experience Older Love Interests Poor Protagonist Poor to Rich Ruthless Protagonist Shota Sudden Strength Gain Survival Twisted Personality Unlucky Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9736dt/
非公開