後方を警戒していたシカラベ達も動く死体に襲われていた。しかし慌てて被弾までしたアキラとは異なり、シカラベとカナエは事態に問題なく対処していた。これは死体の強化服が遠隔操作されることを予想していたのではなく、想定外の事態への対応力の差だ。
シカラベとカナエは周辺の敵をすぐに片付けると、通路を少し戻ってエレナ達を襲いかねない死体も順に片付けていく。
シカラベも既に強化服の遠隔操作に気付いていた。険しい表情で
「全く、認証の甘い強化服を着やがって。良い迷惑だ」
強化服には外部からの操作入力を受け付ける製品も多い。例えば自動照準補正機能を持つ銃など連携する製品だ。銃側が持ち手の腕を操作して照準を修正するのだ。
強化服の種類によっては着用者が死亡すると外部入力の受付が緩くなる場合がある。理由は様々だ。
カナエが笑って話す。
「いやー、驚いたっすね。どうやって認証を突破したのやら。まあ、ここは旧世界の施設っす。旧世界の演算力なら現在技術の認証程度は
メイド服を着て格闘戦に特化した武器を装備している女性で、戦闘狂で、変人。シカラベの人生経験でも珍しい人物だ。実力は申し分ないが、付き合いを避けたい人物だ。
カナエは戦闘を楽しみすぎている。その手の人物と一緒に行動すると、戦闘に対する危機意識が鈍っていく。戦闘狂に付き合えるのは同程度の戦闘狂だけだ。無理に付き合うと、巻き込まれて死ぬ。シカラベはそう考えていた。
カナエがシカラベの視線に気付いて笑って答える。
「悪いが、俺も相手は選ぶ。戦闘狂を、特にメイド服を着てモンスター相手に格闘戦を挑む狂人を誘う趣味はねえよ」
「銃を使うよりも接近して殴り飛ばす方が性に合っているだけっすよ。仕事柄、銃を持ち込めない場所での勤務も多いっすから黙認もされているっす。
トガミとレイナは通路の隅の安全な場所に押し込まれていた。トガミ達は死体が起き上がった時に反応が遅れてしまい、シカラベ達に助けられていた。その後は邪魔にならないようにその場から動かないように厳命されていたのだ。
レイナが様子を
「トガミ! ぼさっとしてないで彼女を引っ込ませろ! それ以前に状況の確認はお前がやれ! 彼女にさせるな! お前には彼女の護衛を割り当てただろうが! 護衛の意味も分からねえのか!」
トガミが少し身を乗り出していたレイナの肩を
「護衛対象に、状況の確認やら、護衛がやるべきことを気遣われないと駄目なほど、俺は役に立たないのか?」
否定してくれと、無意識の願いがトガミの表情に
「......違うわ」
「......そうか。なら下がっていてくれ。さっきの奇襲もシカラベ達が全部対処して、俺は何もできなかった。今は俺がお前の護衛だ。死ぬ気はないが、最低でも、お前より先に死ぬのが俺の仕事だ。......それぐらいはさせてくれ」
レイナが大人しくトガミの後ろまで下がる。トガミが前に出て周囲の状況を確認する。
「......大丈夫よ。気にしないで」
謝ったのは、トガミがレイナを強く引き戻しすぎたことか、
アキラ達が動く死体達の対処を終える。アキラは更に2度被弾して、辛うじて敵の撃破を終えた。エレナ達は全く問題なく対処していた。この奇襲で負傷したのはアキラだけだった。
エレナが通信機越しに皆の状態を尋ねる。
「全員無事?」
アキラが痛みに耐えながら答える。
「大丈夫です」
エレナが少し心配そうな声で尋ねる。
「アキラ。本当に大丈夫?」
「大丈夫です。......強いて言えば、強化服の設定を短期決戦用にしてあるので、エネルギーパックの消費が大丈夫とは言えません。すみませんが、エネルギーが切れそうになったら、交換のために一度下がらせてください」
アキラはアルファのサポート無しで戦うことになった時点で強化服の設定を変えていた。そのおかげで被弾の被害は最小に抑えられた。その代償として強化服のエネルギー消費効率は最悪になった。予備のエネルギーパックも消費してしまい、アキラが役立たずになるまでの残り時間は、
エレナがアキラを気遣うように答える。
「分かったわ。危ない時は遠慮なく下がって。他の人は?」
シオリ達もエレナ達も問題ないことを皆に伝えた。
エレナが皆に話す。
「全員無事で良かったわ。では私から残念なお知らせよ。小型機の一部が挙動を変えたわ。恐らく
続々と現れる甲B18式達の一部がビルの外には出ずに大型固定機の援護に回っている。先ほどの奇襲でアキラ達を殺せなかったので、方針を切り替えたのだ。
「出し惜しみをせずに、全力で行きましょう。金の掛かる切り札や奥の手を持っている人は遠慮なく使ってちょうだい。それが億単位でも経費にできるように交渉するわ」
エレナは最後に冗談のようなことを言って通信を終えた。
アキラが苦笑する。アキラの切り札と奥の手は席を外したままだ。
(......いや、違うか。切り札や奥の手は気兼ねなく使うものじゃないしな。アルファのサポートがなければ俺はこの程度。借り物、
「アキラ。本当に大丈夫なの? かなり動きが鈍っているように見えるけど」
キャロルが表情を変えないように注意する。以前キャロルを
「被弾する前に、既に大幅に動きを鈍らせていたように見えましたが」
アキラが表情を険しくさせる。シオリもキャロルも戦いながらアキラの様子を観察していたのだ。
いになっているなら謝る。適当に見捨てるなり見殺すなりしてくれ」
キャロルが敵への攻撃を緩めずに少し慌てながら答える。
シオリが敵への攻撃を緩めずに、アキラの真意を探りながら尋ねる。
も考えておりません。しかし御自身でもアキラ様の動きを鈍らせる要素に、他に心当たりが全くないと?」
アキラが敵に大量の擲弾を放ち再び遮蔽物に身を潜める。シオリは返答を待つようにまだアキラをじっと見ていた。
「......強いて言えば、30階の戦闘で回復薬を使いすぎた。強化服を全力で動かすと生身の方の負担がかなり大きくなる。その負担を抑えるために多用したが、これ以上の使いすぎは
は言っていない。完全には納得してもらえないとしても、疑問の追及を止める程度の効果はあってほしい。そう思いながらアキラがキャロルとシオリの様子を確認する。
キャロルとシオリはある程度の納得を示していた。アキラの説明をそのまま
みにしたわけではない。自分の知識と経験から説明をいろいろと補い、納得できる内容に加工した上で納得したのだ。
キャロルが無意識に軽く
キャロルがアキラに半ば確信して尋ねる。
「アキラは体感時間の操作とかに結構慣れていたりするの? ほら、周りの時間がゆっくり動いているような感覚のやつよ」
アキラがかなり驚いた様子で聞き返す。
アキラの強さの一端を聞けたと思ったキャロルが不敵に
「まあね。これもハンターの知識ってやつよ」
キャロルは加速剤の効果だと思っているが、アキラは自力で体感時間の操作を行っている。アキラはそれを見抜かれたことに驚いたのだが、キャロルは薬に関することを見抜かれた驚きだと考えている。認識の食い違いがあるが、それを指摘する者はどこにもいなかったのでそのまま流された。
シオリが真剣な表情でアキラに尋ねる。
現状のアキラの動きが鈍いのは、単に本来の実力が未熟なだけだ。この状況でその誤解を解くわけにもいかないので、アキラは黙っていた。
シオリはアキラの沈黙を不機嫌、不愉快と捉えたが、その上で頼み込む。
を恐れずに追加で薬を使用した場合、敵の攻撃を10秒引きつけることは可能でしょうか? 可能であるならば、10秒時間を稼いでいただければ、あれは私が必ず撃破いたします。追加の使用を考慮していただけないでしょうか?」
アキラとキャロルが驚いてシオリを見る。シオリはアキラの返事を真剣な表情で待っている。我に返ったキャロルが少し非難気味な口調で話す。
「いや、10秒って、1人であれの攻撃を全部10秒も引き受ければ、十分
シオリはキャロルへの返事を省いて、じっとアキラを見て返答を待っている。シオリはアキラを得体の知れない人物だと評価している。だからこそ、この少々無謀とも言える要求も、可能ではないかと思っているのだ。
追加の回復薬を使おうが使うまいが、アキラがシオリの頼みを引き受けるのは不可能だ。アキラの実力が絶望的に足りていない。自分の命を顧みずに試みても
どう言って断るべきか。アキラがそれを考えていた時だった。
アルファがアキラの視界に再び姿を表した。
『ああ。寂しかった。できればもっと早く帰ってきてほしかったぐらいだ。だからこの状況を何とかしてくれ』
アルファが自信満々に
『任せなさい。期待して良いわよ』
アキラがアルファの返事を聞いて余裕を取り戻す。過度な緊張が薄れ、戦闘に適した精神状態に近付いていく。表情の険しさを少し緩めてアルファに尋ねる。
『そうか。で、シオリから10秒
「5秒ぐらいに減らせないか?」
「5秒、ですか......」
シオリが提示した10秒は、アキラに時間を妥協させて要求を引き受けさせる意味合いも多い。だが5秒もそれはそれで難しい秒数だ。
(5秒......、恐らくアキラ様が譲歩した限界値......、これ以上は望めませんか)
シオリが真摯に頭を下げる。
「アキラ。本当に良いの? 5秒でも十分危険、普通なら死ねる時間よ?」
「ああ。さっきも言った通り、このままだと強化服のエネルギーが尽きかねないんだ。戦闘が手早く終わるなら我慢するよ。この状態で俺だけ生身と変わらないってなったら、それはそれで死ぬからな」
急に自信を取り戻したようなアキラを見て、キャロルが僅かに不思議そうにしながらも笑って答える。
アキラ達が配置に付く。アキラはシオリ達から離れた場所にある遮蔽物に身を潜めている。CWH対物突撃銃とA4WM自動擲弾銃をそれぞれの手に持ち、左足で立って右足の裏を
を遮蔽物にしながら、それでは防ぎきれない銃弾の射線の隙間を通り抜けていく。アルファの補助による敵の弾道の見切りがなければ不可能な芸当だ。
無数の銃弾がアキラの横を駆け抜けていくが、アキラに命中した銃弾は皆無だ。装備品にも当たっていない。アキラは体勢を崩すことなく突き進む。
アキラが左手のA4WM自動擲弾銃で乱射するように擲弾を放つ。目標を見てもおらず、
みの中では、正確な時間経過などアキラには分からない。分かるのは、まだ敵が健在だということだけだ。
アキラの代わりに経過時間を正確に測っていたアルファが答える。
『5.14秒ぐらいね』
アキラの意識に疑念と困惑が混ざったものが生まれる。アキラは約束通りの時間を稼いだ。しかし敵は健在だ。シオリはまだ約束を守っていない。それがアキラの視線をシオリがいるであろう方向に移動させた。
アキラが驚きの表情を浮かべる。視線の先にはアキラと同じように遮蔽物から飛び出して大型固定機へ向かっていたシオリの姿があった。シオリは居合いの体勢で今まさに刀を抜こうとしていた。刀身の長さから考えると、敵に刃が届くことは絶対にない位置で。
も角として、あの大型固定機は腰に差せる程度の長さの刀身で対処できる大きさではない。シオリもそれは理解している。
シオリは加速剤と別の切り札を切ることにした。シオリがアキラに頼んだ時間は、その切り札を使用する
大型固定機を横に両断したシオリが続けて刀を振るう。大型固定機が今度は縦に両断される。シオリが続けて刀を振る。大型固定機が近くにいた甲B18式達を巻き添えにしながら縦に横にと刻まれていく。
アキラは大型固定機が巨大な光の刃で刻まれていく光景を
『アルファ。今のって、あれか? クズスハラ街遺跡で俺が使ったナイフのような、旧世界の遺物か?』
『あるいは、その原理を解明して製造した装備でしょうね。切断範囲も切れ味も微妙だけれど、まあ、使い捨てにするには十分ね』
『アキラがクズスハラ街遺跡で遺物強奪犯に襲われた時は、ビルの柱や壁ごと斬られるところだったでしょう? 物にもよるけれど、旧世界の遺物ならもっと
『あら、そんなことないわ。私が指定する遺跡を攻略するためにも、アキラにも同程度の性能の物をその内に手に入れてもらうつもりよ?』
アルファの発言が正しいなら、旧世界にはあの程度の物はごろごろしているようだ。アキラは旧世界の恐ろしさを再び
としながら広場を見ていたが、すぐに我に返って行動に移る。退路を確保しながらシカラベ達に連絡を入れて合流を待つ。トガミとレイナがすぐにアキラ達に合流する。僅かに間を置いて、向こうで甲B18式達を押さえていたシカラベとカナエが合流する。
シカラベ達も広場の光景を見て驚いていたが、質問等を全て後回しにして脱出を優先する。全員の無事を確認したアキラ達は、すぐにセランタルビルから脱出した。ビルの外が比較的ましな状況であることを期待して。
Shikarabe's team in the flank was also attacked by the dead Hunters, but unlike Akira who responded in panic, Shikarabe and Kanae were able to calmly handle the situation just fine. It was not because they expected someone to control the dead Hunter's augmented suits, it was more because of the difference in their ability to handle a sudden turn of events like that.
After Shikarabe took care of the dead Hunters around him, he went back to the hallway and shot down the dead Hunters that might attack Elena's team.
Shikarabe had already noticed that those dead Hunters were moving around because someone took control of their augmented suit. He had a grim face as he mumbled.
"Good grief, this is exactly why you shouldn't buy cheap augmented suits, what a huge pain in the neck!"
There were many augmented suits that could be accessed from the outside. It was to help it to work in tandem with other equipment like an aiming device so that the augmented suit could help stabilize the aiming.
Depending on their users, some augmented suits could be set to be more open to external access, there were many different reasons why they did that. For example, it was so that the other Hunters could control and use the dead body as a decoy. Some Hunters forced the other Hunters to use that kind of augmented suit to make use of the other Hunters even when they were badly injured.
Kanae lightly smiled and said.
"Well, this is a huge surprise. How did they hack into the dead Hunter's augmented suit? But well, this is an old-world ruin after all, in front of their eyes, our technology might be nothing but primitive. While on the other hand, these might be augmented suits that use their users' biological signature as a key, so their safety feature is significantly lowered down even when the users get killed."
A young girl in a maid outfit, equipment tailored for CQC, loved fighting, a total oddball. She was a rare kind of person even for Shikarabe. Although he had nothing to complain about her fighting strength, Shikarabe had no plans to associate too much with her if it can be helped.
Kanae loved fighting too much. Associating with someone like her would dull one's sense of danger. Only battle maniacs could get along with the other battle maniacs. If someone else tried to get along with them, he or she would get killed in no time, or at least, that was what Shikarabe thought.
Kanae noticed that Shikarabe was looking at her, so she just smiled back and said.
"Sorry, but even for me, I would choose who I want to hit on. I have no wish to try to hit on a battle maniac. Especially when she's fighting monsters in close range in a maid outfit."
"Ah, this is just because I enjoy punching them directly more than shooting at them, you see. There are a lot of cases where I can't bring rifles with me during my job. You look pretty strong yourself, want to do some light duels some other time?"
Togami and Reina were evacuated to a safe hallway. When the dead Hunters started to move, Togami and Reina reacted late, thus forcing Shikarabe and Kanae to help them. After that, they were escorted to a safe place and they were warned not to go out so as not to get in the way of the battle.
Reina checked her surroundings and peeked out, Kanae who noticed that immediately warned her.
"Togami, don't just stand there! Get her back in the hallway! It's your job in the first place to keep your eyes on your surroundings!! And don't let her get out from there! I put you there to guard her you know?! Or is it that you don't know what's the meaning of guarding someone?!!"
Togami grabbed Reina's shoulder and shoved her back.
"Am I really that bad to the point that my escort target would just ignore me to check the situation themselves? Am I really that useless?"
Togami's expression was asking Reina to deny it. When Reina saw that, it reminded her of herself.
"...That's not it."
"...Is that so? Then please step back. During that surprise attack just now, we could not do anything at all, we let the other two Hunters take care of everything. I'm your escort at the moment. Although I have no plans to die, at the moment, it's my job to get killed first before you... So please at least let me do my job."
Reina obediently walked behind Togami, who peeked out and checked the situation.
"It's fine, don't worry about it."
Reina did not know if Togami was apologizing because he shoved her back too hard or it was an apology for something else. But in the end, Reina did not ask him either.
The vanguard team finally took care of all of the moving dead Hunters. Akira got shot two more times, but he was still able to repel the surprise attack. While Elena, Sara, Carol, and Shiori did not face any trouble at all. The only one who got injured in that surprise attack was Akira.
Elena tried to confirm everyone's situation.
"Is everyone alright?"
Akira answered back while enduring the pain.
"I'm alright."
Elena immediately replied with a worried tone.
"Akira, are you really alright?"
"I'm okay... If there's anything, it's just that I set my augmented suit in battle mode, so it's consuming more energy than usual. I'm not so sure if my energy reserve is okay. I'm sorry but when I run out of energy, please let me withdraw temporarily to put in a new energy pack."
When Akira knew that he would be going into a battle without Alpha's support, he set his augmented suit to battle mode. Thanks to that, it was able to absorb most of the impact from the bullets that hit his body, but in exchange, it was actively using a lot of energy. It was only a matter of time before Akira ran out of energy and rendered useless in that battle.
Elena then worriedly said to Akira.
"Alright. There's no need to hold back, just quickly retreat when things get too dangerous. How about the others?"
The other Hunters told Elena that they were fine.
Elena then said to the whole vanguard team.
"I'm glad that everyone is okay. Well then, I have some bad news here, it seems that a part of the monster swarm started to move differently. It seems that they're avoiding us while trying to reach Shikarabe's team. If we don't take care of them, we might get attacked from both sides later... Or more like, we're already in that situation."
Some of the B18 monsters that were heading outside the building changed their aim to support the big monster. It was as if they changed their plans after confirming that the Hunters survived that surprise attack.
"There's no need to hold back, use everything you have, you can use any trump card that you still have hidden up your sleeves. I'll handle the negotiation later to make sure that you'll get compensated for that even if those cost you a few million aurums."
Elena mixed a bit of a joke there before closing the communication.
Akira smiled bitterly, his trump card was not with him at the moment.
[...No, that's not right. A trump card is not something that you casually use all the time. Without Alpha's support, I only amount to this much. I'm just someone who is fully reliant on a borrowed power, on something that is only lent to me.]
"Akira, are you really okay? It seems that you're moving slower than usual though."
Carol tried to be careful not to change her expression. She had seen him get shot when he covered her, but back then, it did not seem to have affected Akira's movements at all. So in short, he was lying and Carol knew that.
"To be honest, it seems that your movement was slowed down even before you got shot."
Akira frowned. Both Shiori and Carol were keeping their eyes on him even before he got shot.
"I apologize if I'm slowing everyone down, feel free to just abandon me."
Carol did not stop shooting as she flusteredly said.
Shiori also did not stop shooting as she tried to probe what might be behind Akira's words there.
"I'm not suspecting you for cutting corners, not at all. But I could not find any reasons that might cause your movement to worsen."
Akira shot out a couple of grenades at the enemy before he hid again. Shiori was still staring at Akira as if she was waiting for an answer.
"...If I have to say something, it seems that I consumed too many medicines since we returned from the 30th floor. When I use the full power of my augmented suit, it puts my body in immense stress and I'm compensating that with medicines. But I feel like it's a bad idea to keep consuming medicines at this rate. The last time I overused medicines, I fainted for 3 full days out of exhaustion. I thought that it would be really bad if I faint in this situation, so I decided to reduce my medicine consumption."
Akira was not lying, even if that was not fully convincing, it should at least be enough to hold back their suspicions. As Akira thought so, he glanced at Shiori and Carol.
Carol and Shiori seemed to be somewhat convinced by that explanation, but it was not like they just accepted Akira's explanation as it was.
They added extra guesses based on their experiences and knowledge on top of the new information that they just received from Akira.
Carol unconsciously nodded lightly.
Carol was definitely sure of half of her guess as she asked Akira a question.
"Akira, do you usually modify your time perception? I mean like, you know, when things around you run on slower time than they should."
Akira was surprised by that question.
Carol smiled satisfied thinking that she opened one of Akira's secrets.
"Well, pretty much, this is a common knowledge for Hunters, you see."
Although, unlike what Carol guessed, Akira actually was controlling his time perception with his own power without help from a drug. He was surprised since he thought that Carol had guessed that out, while Carol thought that Akira was surprised since she was able to guess that he was using accelerator drugs. They misunderstood each other and no one there could point that out.
Shiori then asked Akira with a serious look.
The reason why Akira was moving slower was simply because he was still inexperienced. But since it would be bad if he tried to explain the truth to both of them, Akira chose to not say anything.
Shiori thought that Akira's silence was due to him getting annoyed. But even so, she made a request to him.
"Akira-sama. I know it's rude for me to ask this. But, if you take extra medicines without worrying about the kickback, is it possible for you to stop that monster for at least 10 seconds? If it's possible, if you can give me 10 seconds, I guarantee that I will destroy that monster without fail. So please, will you consider taking extra medicines?"
Akira and Carol inadvertently turned at Shiori, they were completely surprised. Shiori kept staring at Akira, waiting for an answer. Carol, who just returned back to her senses frowned and opposed that plan.
"Whoah, wait, 10 seconds? If a single person gets the full attention of that monster for 10 seconds, it's more than enough to turn that person into minced meat, you know? You basically want him to get its attention off of you, right? Isn't that just impossible?"
Shiori did not reply back to Carol, she kept staring at Akira, waiting for his answer. Shiori thought that Akira had never shown his full power yet until now. That was why, she thought that if it was Akira, he might be able to accomplish her impossible request.
No matter whether he was using extra medicines or not, it was impossible for Akira to do what Shiori just asked him to do. Akira's own skill was nowhere near enough to do that. He was sure that he would definitely be turned into minced meat before 10 seconds even passed, there was no question about it.
Right when Akira was thinking what he should say to refuse that request...
Alpha suddenly appeared in Akira's views.
"Yeah yeah, I really missed you. To be honest, I really wished that you would have returned back sooner, so, can you do something about this situation?"
Alpha was smiling confidently as she said.
"Just leave it to me."
Akira regained his composure after he heard Alpha's reassuring reply. His mental state was freed from excessive anxiety as it returned back to its optimal state for fighting. His stern face relaxed for a bit and he started explaining to Alpha.
"I see. So, Shiori asked me to be a decoy and buy her 10 seconds though. If I can do that, it seems she will take care of that thing. Honestly speaking, I really want to get out from here as soon as possible, so, 10 seconds, can we do it?"
"Can you make it 5 seconds less?"
"5 seconds, huh..."
When Shiori asked for 10 seconds, she was expecting that Akira would try to make a compromise before eventually accepting her request, but 5 seconds was a lot to ask.
[...5 seconds... That might be the limit of how far Akira-sama could go... I guess it would be meaningless to ask more than that, huh.]
Shiori earnestly bowed to Akira.
"Akira, are you being serious here? It's still really dangerous even if it's just for 5 seconds, you know? That 5 seconds is long enough to get yourself killed out there."
"Yeah, but as I said before, if this situation continues, my augmented suit will eventually run out of energy. If this will end the battle, I can at least do that much. Without my augmented suit, I'm the same as dead in this situation anyway."
Seeing how Akira seemed to have suddenly regained his confidence, Carol found that rather suspicious, but she then smiled and said.
Akira, Carol, and Shiori repositioned themselves. Akira was hiding behind a pile of rubble away from Shiori and Carol. He had his CWH anti-material rifle in one hand and his A4WM automatic grenade launcher in the other. He was standing with his left leg on the ground and his right leg against the big rubble in front of him.
Akira was running while using the rubble in front of him as a shielding, he kept repositioning himself to make sure that he would not get hit by the bullets that passed through the small openings and cracks on that big rubble. It was an impossible feat to execute without Alpha's support.
Countless bullets flew right next to Akira, but none of them hit him, not even his equipment. Akira did not slow down at all as he kept on charging forward.
Akira raised his A4WM automatic grenade launchers and pulled the trigger, he did not even aim, it was as if he was just shooting grenades randomly. But thanks to Alpha's calculation, all of the grenades that he shot flew in a parabolic trajectory and landed at the big monster.
Since he was in compressed time perception, he did not know how many seconds had passed. What he knew was that the big monster was still alive and kicking.
So Alpha who was measuring the accurate elapsed time in place of Akira answered back.
"It's already 5.14 seconds."
Akira started to feel doubt. He had already bought enough time as he had promised, but the enemy was still alive and well. Shiori had not fulfilled her promise. Because of that, he could not help but glance at where Shiori was.
When he saw Shiori, Akira was taken aback. Shiori jumped out from behind rubble and charged straight at the big monster. She placed her hand on her sheathed blade, ready to pull her blade anytime. Judging from the length of that blade, she should not be able to reach that big monster from that distance.
But leaving the smaller monsters aside, Shiori's blade was not even close to being big enough to take care of that huge monster. She herself knew that.
Shiori had decided to use her other trump card other than her accelerator. The time that Akira bought for her was for Shiori to use her trump card.
After cutting that monster horizontally, Shiori then cut that monster vertically. But she did not stop there, she kept flinging her sword, cutting the big monster and the B18 monsters around it to smaller pieces.
Akira was dumbfounded watching that scene of this monstrosity being sliced and diced by a gigantic sword of light. Suddenly, his left hand started moving on its own and shot multiple grenades from his A4WM automatic grenade launcher at the monster. It was Alpha controlling Akira's augmented suit.
"Alpha, that one just now, is it that thing? Old-world technology thingy just like the one that I used with that knife back in Kuzusuhara ruin."
"In a sense, yes, I believe that blade was created using the technology recovered from analyzing old-world relics. Although the length of the blade and the sharpness is not that good, it's at least good enough for a single-use weapon."
"Back in the Kuzusuhara ruin, you were able to easily cut through pillars and walls, remember? Although it depends on the items, old-world relics are way more amazing than that."
"Oh my, that's not true at all. In order for you to accomplish my request, you will have to get similar level of equipment, you know?"
If Alpha's statement was true, it sounded as if Akira should be able to easily find that level of equipment. He was once again reminded of how scary the old-world ruins were.
The other Hunters watched what happened with wide eyes, but they quickly returned back to reality and started moving again. They returned to the hallway while making sure that their escape route was still safe and waited for Shikarabe's team to come too. Togami and Reina quickly grouped back with Elena's team. Not too long after that, Shikarabe and Kanae, who were holding the B18 monsters back, finally grouped up with Elena's team too.
Although the other Hunters also saw that flash of light and had some questions about it, they just shelved it for now and prioritized more on escaping the building. After confirming that everyone was alright, they immediately headed to the building's entrance, hoping that the situation outside would be better than what they faced just now.
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/
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