Chapter 66
The strength of the cyborgs, manufactured for counter-invasion, lies in their adaptability to physical modification. Designed to reduce rejection when replacing body parts with machinery, they harbor far greater expandability than ordinary humans.
『This is headquarters! Currently engaged in battle with a group of cyborgs, requesting backup!』
『Bzzt, beep, beep』
『Damn it, external communications are being jammed!』
『We can’t hold out any longer!』
That’s why the Japan Self-Defense Forces in 2040 are no match for them. An Air Self-Defense Force base in Fukuoka Prefecture is under attack by the cyborgs. They overwhelm the JSDF with their formidable combat capabilities.
The hand of Aiden, the highest-ranked cyborg, opens. Instead of a normal hand, it contains a beam convergence device. With a flash, a heat ray is fired.
Sound disappears. The 3 tanks and 12 infantry soldiers surrounding him melt in a red glow, collapsing inward like they’re being crushed. But their goal isn’t to attack the JSDF.
「How’s the fighter jet seizure going?」
『It will be completed shortly. Greg, your aircraft is number 343.』
「Roger that, I’ll keep them occupied here a bit longer. Don’t screw this up.」
『Understood.』
It would be problematic if it became clear that this is a terrorist act by cyborgs. That would lead to aversion towards new technology, planting the seeds for the failure of the 2055 operation. That’s why an excuse is needed. A situation where we can insist it was done by mere terrorists.
Therefore, a kamikaze attack on the National Diet Building will be carried out using fighter jets, weapons from 2040. In reality, they’ll escape at the last moment and carry out the assassinations in that manner.
There’s also a reason for not relying on assassination alone. It’s simply too unrealistic to hide the evidence and cleanly assassinate the targets. Even for cyborgs, it’s difficult to grasp the internal structure and security system of the Diet Building and assassinate without being noticed.
More accurately, it may have been possible, but the existence of the Strains made it impossible. Under this time limit, if a clean assassination can’t be carried out, the only option is to push through by force. Ironically, it’s easier to cover up a larger incident.
There’s one more reason. They didn’t want to diminish the military strength of Tokyo, which will become the stage for the beginning of the 『Scorch War.』
For those reasons alone, they were trying to carry out this operation. For those reasons alone, the JSDF soldiers at this base will die.
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On the other hand, cyborgs heading to Tokyo also face a wall standing in their way.
「You guys have never experienced a real battle where your lives are on the line, have you?」
「I’m sure you have, but it’s so much less pure than ours.」
It would be more accurate to say that they had been standing in the way. Several figures lie collapsed in the back alley. But one of them, a man wearing powered armor, musters his last strength and stands up. Utilizing 2060 technology, his weaponry demonstrates leg strength that pierces through building walls and shatters human bodies, piercing the cyborg’s body.
Which didn’t happen.
「Huh?」
「You’re too slow. The guy from Hereafter that you probably absorbed betrayed you and leaked information, but you thought you could do something with that level of preparation? We’ve been preparing for 20 years.」
Even faster, a kick pierces the abdomen of the powered armor suit with the speed of light. With a simple step-in kick, in that instant, Lucas had switched positions and completed three attacks.
His slender body, specialized for speed, reaches subsonic speeds with sheer velocity and crushes the enemy. Speed alone becomes the ultimate weapon.
Behind him are 8 cyborgs. The other cyborgs are heading towards their destination, Tokyo, from different directions to avoid being noticed.
They had anticipated that the initial point designation might not go smoothly. That’s why they had the 『Reformists』 of 2040 prepare vehicles for them. According to the communications, the fighter jet has been secured and will launch shortly, plunging Japan into chaos.
But these four – Lucas, Aiden, Durand, and Greg. The top 4 cyborgs and 143 other cyborgs. A combined force of 147 launching an assault. There’s no way the current Japanese government, complacent with peace and caught up in internal strife, could win against them.
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And the final unit, consisting of Greg and 20 cyborgs, was heading to the northern part of Osaka Prefecture. Their target is Orange. Unlike the other groups’ targets, the current Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto Toru and the current leader of the People’s Guardian Party Eda Taiji, he is merely a private citizen. That’s why they thought the handling would be easy, which is why they were heading there with this many numbers.
But that level of force is no problem. In this era, it’s nearly impossible to assemble 21 combat-specialized cyborgs. Even countries have yet to reach triple-digit numbers in their possession.
Yes, the handling will be easy.
「To be honest, it was quite embarrassing. Despite boasting in front of him, I had to borrow the help of an upperclassman to take care of you alone. Fortunately, it seems to have gone unnoticed, but my pride has been wounded.」
「Who are you!? Why is this happening!?」
「It goes without saying. I’m Orange’s underling. And why? Because you tried to kill someone, so you got killed, no? Moreover, it’s a game. Come on, loosen up a bit. The people you guys kill will never come back to life forever however.」
A single girl stands in the way of Greg and the 20 cyborgs. A beautiful girl with white hair and white eyes. However, her hands are covered in gauntlets and stained with blood. As if discarding garbage, she throws two lumps of flesh at Greg’s feet.
They were the severed heads of Durand and Lucas.
68 minutes have passed since the start of the operation. 41 cyborgs remain.
Shiroinu Reina has already killed 106.
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