Chapter 55
For Shiroinu Reina, one-on-one combat is second nature. Having learned military martial arts and weapon handling, there is no one who can defeat her when she unleashes her full specs, and not a single memory exists of her losing in actual combat.
That’s precisely why she is stunned by the current situation.
Reina’s knife slices through the air. The timing was perfect. That crimson flash, intended to sever Greg’s wrist, fails to capture any flesh. By the time the knife lunges in, Greg has already moved beyond its range, and he retaliates by swinging his blade.
In an instant, the blade’s edge splits into 20 segments. Connected by steel wires, they rapidly unfurl, generating a reach of 20 meters, attempting to shred Reina along with Momiji and Aika. Reina avoids it by deftly kicking up one of the dispersed blades, but her expression remains grim. The building behind her, sliced apart, collapses.
「It’s not a snake sword… There’s no bending at all, and it can destroy buildings even in parts without a blade. So the core is inside the steel wires, and the blade gimmick is just for control. It’s a type of monoatomic heavy blade, but those were supposed to be discarded due to low stability. Ah, I see, cooling and stabilizing inside the blade, then activating it for just a moment.」
「…So you do know about them. But you seem awfully relaxed. The difference in our abilities shouldn’t be that big – in fact, I should be slightly superior.」
「Yeah, your perception is correct. It must be really tough for a third-generation kid with those specs.」
「?」
Greg’s statement is accurate. Reina has stepped into range three times so far, and each time she’s swung and missed, taking counterattacks twice. Unstoppable blood flows from both of Reina’s shoulders, exposing red flesh and a mixture of blue and silver underneath – the same artificial heavy metal muscle fibers that generate the capabilities of a Machine Beast.
Moreover, the quality is far inferior to what Reina originally possessed. It’s a degraded copy, using materials derived from Machine Beasts rather than a Strain core. The physical abilities of the third generation are at a level that Cyborgs can rival.
That’s why even Greg is questioning this situation.
There is indeed a difference in skill, and the gap only widens between Greg, who is fully equipped with specialized gear, and Reina, who is using a heat knife obtained from the market.
Yet Reina has considerable leeway and has reacted to every attack. In other words, if she has a hidden trump card that can shatter everything in one move, she might be able to hit Greg with it.
That fact dulls Greg’s blade and creates equilibrium. Reina’s foot slams the ground again, instantly closing the 20-meter distance. Greg once more evades this approach, generated not by a martial artist’s flash step but by sheer leg strength.
The trick is in the prosthetic leg. The sharp, blade-like protrusions on it are for controlling blasts of wind. The mechanism is simple: ultra-high-pressure gas is loaded inside, and a single operation of the auxiliary brain opens the valve, blowing the entire body away.
If Greg can handle that with his skill…
The knife looms. But having honed his one-on-one combat skills since birth, his anticipation is in time. From muscle movements and gaze, he can predict when and where an attack will come.
So he expels the high-pressure gas from his leg diagonally forward, evading the lethal zone without moving his feet, then kicks his left foot to take a large backstep while swinging his monoatomic expansion blade. The steel wires visible between the split blades soundlessly and smoothly sever the surrounding buildings.
Amidst the collapsing buildings, however, Reina is still avoiding it. It’s not her in-game ability but her real-world ability as a second-generation Beastkin, which Greg doesn’t know.
They return to a stalemate. Reina glances behind her, seeing that the other two’s match is nearly decided. Aika has taken considerable damage, while Momiji is unscathed. But the high heat of her psychic power makes her cautious due to its wide range and high potency. I hope Kanji is okay, I need to go help him soon, Reina thinks as she catches her breath and speaks.
「I see, so you’re a protector. No wonder you’re strong – the combat unit established to smoothly carry out the Reformist’s resets. Those who didn’t participate in the 2055 operation and live only for the handover.」
「I ain’t saying that to be snarky. If you put it that way, the ‘Prophet’ also has protectors in the name of the ‘Order’, don’t they?」
「Of course. That’s why it’s not sarcasm, but praise for you still fighting even after understanding you’ve been reduced to quoted information.」
「You don’t know how to talk to your elders, do you?」
「I’m not a fan of stiffness.」
「Isn’t that something the older one should be saying…?」
The conversation breaks off. Both ready their weapons again, but the battle does not resume.
「Sorry for the wait.」
Because instead, a red Apollyon comes flying in. The Apollyon, using an NMM to land forcefully, scatters rubble as it turns to face Greg. It doesn’t spare a glance at Aika.
「It’s been a while, Greg. Though the you I remember is from last time.」
「Professor Nakamoto…」
『Greg』
He remained with the Reformist as a protector until 2060, securing the handover information. Having been raised as a protector, he specializes in one-on-one combat, and his skill is on par with members who participated in the 2055 operation. He is in his late 20s, born after Orange and the others.
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