Estimated reading time: 6–7 minutes
Chapter 40
『30 minutes remaining until the match begins.』
「I’m grateful for the short wait time, but I wonder if I should have checked the message boards for strategy tips…」
After muttering to myself for those 30 minutes while facing the terminal, a rattling sound accompanies that display. Did my monologue cause a problem!? But that’s not the case. From the outside, a transparent lid-like object is fitted into the iron bars of the prison cell. I feel the vibration as that object, which reminds me of a microwave window with diagonal metal lines, is fastened in multiple places.
And then the prison cell itself starts moving. Various passageways pass by the window. I see, in this game the house itself moves to transport you to the destination. After a short while, it moves into a huge transparent cylindrical space, and I can see the individual cells moving about like elevators. The sight of the square rooms coming and going like squares on a go board is spectacular. The cell continues descending through that space, the total size of which I can’t discern.
At the center of that cylinder, there was a cross-shaped structure. That floating object feels familiar somehow. No, I don’t actually recognize this specific shape, but I’ve seen something with a similar vibe—
「Ah, the second sun.」
If I recall, during the artificial planet event, there was a second sun floating around, with partially destroyed rails surrounding it. I sense a close atmosphere to that, with its cross-like appearance yet possessing artistic curves in strange positions. Just a vague feeling.
『2 minutes remaining until arrival at the destination.』
『20 minutes until match start. Please make preparations.』
But how did things end up like this? Before the update, it was just a high-quality crappy game, but now it’s become unwinnable. This goes beyond demands for refunds—after all, if it uses the same system as before, losing results in login restrictions. And you’ll starve to death if you don’t earn money in the arena. Plus, there’s no combat training or anything.
I open the terminal. This arena has a betting system where the house takes 20% of the wager and the winner gets the rest. Originally there were various betting options like winning within 10 minutes, but for F-rank matches there are only two choices. Simply who will win. And the odds are 1.2x for the opponent’s victory, 4x for mine.
「They’re underestimating me way too much.」
I defeated the Strain and Moon UYK. There’s no way I could lose to some random F-rank player. The vibration subsides and I see a passageway outside the window. As the cell fully connects, the window is removed and the iron bars open. The passageway seems uncleaned, with garbage piled up including bullet casings and device parts.
Then something arrives to the right of the passageway. With a clank, it connects. No doubt about it, it’s the hangar containing my unit. Let’s go, my Apollyon!
『Hangar usage fee: 100,000 yen.』
…Could you not dash my high spirits with cold water like that?
『Things are getting fired up now! The 107th match of the day will begin shortly! The live commentary will be provided by yours truly, and—』
『—I’ll be handling it too, nice to meet you!』
The arena was a mountain of wreckage. That space, which was probably originally covered in pure white floor panels, now has heaps of rubble and broken weapons accumulating into a dull sand. Strangely, not a single corpse-like object could be seen anywhere.
The circular arena seems to be located far below that cylindrical space I saw earlier. Looking up, I can faintly make out that cross. Well, through the vision of the Apollyon, that is.
The Apollyon I tearfully paid 100,000 yen to retrieve has hardly any damage, being in a repaired state. And here I thought the parts damaged in the battle with the Strain would be left as is, talk about a letdown— or so I thought, until I was billed 400,000 yen for repairs, so it really is the worst after all.
The leg parts and balancers seem to be secondhand, but they’ve been replaced with higher performance components than before. Moreover, the very structure of the Apollyon has apparently changed, with commands I didn’t see previously. That’s right, it’s unexpectedly using a parts swapping system!
For example, if you try to directly install parts from a Honda into another car, problems may arise. This is because the premise is not swapping to different types of parts, but rather the car is made up of a specific set of parts. Of course, there are also vehicles known as custom cars, but naturally you can’t install every single part.
On the other hand, the updated Apollyon can use any parts. All parts are manufactured to be installed onto the base frame made by Kōmitsu Motors. In other words, you can rip off Apollyon parts lying around anywhere, tinker with them, and swap them in – it’s become a unit premised on modification. I will absolutely win here and show off my parts swapping. Absolutely.
「Now then, appearing from the west is a player who has the gall to call himself a prophet, Orange! And coming from the east is a fellow Apollyon user with 3 wins in 3 matches, the passenger Arahata!」
I step into the arena aboard the Apollyon. Metal walls extend up to about 10 meters, beyond which is a transparent area for the spectators to watch and scoff at our deaths. But there are few people. The place that could easily hold tens of thousands now has a considerable number of empty seats.
Nevertheless, while I’m distracted by their loud cheers, a garishly purple unit appears from the opposite side. Then a communication comes in from the opponent’s unit. What’s this? As I wonder, the voice calling itself the commentator offers an explanation.
『For those new here, allow me to explain. Battle begins as soon as communication is connected, and ends with a surrender declaration or death. Anything goes as long as it doesn’t affect the ark.』
Talking is a pain, but I guess that sentiment doesn’t get through. With no choice, the instant I click 「Allow」—
—The purple unit double jumps.
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