Estimated reading time: ~11 minutes
Chapter 94
In the end, we were doomed. Surrounded by countless Apollyon Fusions, with only the three of us left standing. Shattered plastic and fabric fragments, likely undigested remains, litter the gaps between the cracked tentacles beneath our feet. Among them lie pieces of our own torn clothing and even parts of the cockpit levers. Everyone died here. I recall the details Teo explained while we were walking.
「Is this the result of the ‘synchronization’ you mentioned…?」
「No, it’s not in my handover data. This is probably the first time for this version. The proof is the large NMM device operating on its waist. …It makes sense, if Fusion types are an amalgamation of Machine Beasts and Strains, then humans aren’t the best at manufacturing them – ‘UYK’ is.」
The horde of Apollyon Fusions slowly closes in. At the same time, the hills dotted with crystal trees on the gray earth bulge and new Apollyon Fusions emerge, ripping through layered metal with the sound of tearing. No matter how far I look to escape, there are always more hills.
Yet even as hell manifests, Teo’s voice remains cheerful while ‘Kurage’s’ becomes strangely flat. That’s right, if ‘HAO’ is real, they are about to die. Unlike me, they will become silent corpses, forgotten by all.
My emotions are shrouded in an indescribable black haze. Ignorance was bliss until now. Even after learning the truth, I tried to deceive myself, thinking it was already over. But I know the meaning of what’s about to unfold before my eyes.
An Apollyon Fusion charges forward with great force. Enduring the impact of its sprint that nearly topples it, I watch death approach them without looking away. The swollen metal parts on its waist glow blue as the enemy Fusion accelerates with bullet-like speed, defying its huge body, and slams its fist into Teo’s unit.
「Now it’s time for a durability test. I see, even with a counter-attack at normal output, it still takes this much damage. Did they skimp on the armor, or did it devour itself?」
However, with movements far more refined than the ‘UYK’ Apollyon Fusions, Teo’s unit delivers a powerful punch that decimates the chest area. In that spot where the pilot should be, countless metal sponge-like brains of Machine Beasts squirm. As Teo retracts his fist, they plummet to the ground with force. Blue metallic fluid flows to my feet. Teo’s unit appears to specialize in close combat, lacking extra equipment. Instead, it is slightly slimmer compared to other Apollyons, with enlarged arms.
Beside him, ‘Kurage’ extends tentacles from her back in multiple directions, reporting to Teo over the comms, 「…3 units activated at 20 degrees right, 1 unit activated at 15 degrees left. 1 unit starting long-range armament targeting 4km directly to the left.」 I unconsciously let out a hoarse voice I’ve never made before into the mic.
「Why…?」
「Come on, why ask now? It’s the same as the ones before. Those who are about to die should pave the way for those living in the present, that’s all. Besides, Kanji doesn’t seem to understand, but this is an incredible breakthrough.」
3 more Fusion types charge in at high speed. With this size and the ability to use NMM, the unit itself is the ultimate weapon, more so than swords or hammers. The excessively armored fist meant for striking attacks Teo’s unit once again. However, Teo effortlessly deflects the blow that distorts the earth, laughing it off. He deflects the first fist with his arm and forcefully drives his elbow into its chest. With a single strike, he pierces the cockpit and incapacitates the unit. Teo mercilessly kicks the defeated machine towards the second one as a shield, then brings his knee down on both of them together. Brutal, he crushed their legs with one hit, rendering them unable to walk.
The last unit, likely judging that it can’t win with strikes, tackles Teo’s unit with great force, attempting to grab its waist. At that moment, Teo’s 40-meter unit gracefully spins in the air and precisely caves in the Fusion’s cockpit along with its head. Teo pulls out the metal organs from the corpse, making a sickening sound, and starts playing around, saying, 「I could play ring toss with these guts!」 It’s not that he’s doing it for fun, but undoubtedly to demonstrate strength and possibility. He’s trying to convey a message through the broadcast. There is no despair. The enemy is not an absolute monster.
「Until now, there was hardly any data on the 2055 operation. I mean, how do you retrieve data after going to the Infinite Horizon and leaving it behind? Although Shiroinu was apparently able to single-handedly recover damaged data, well, that’s too much of an exception, so let’s ignore it. So, this time there was a possibility of retrieving information with a base remaining near the Infinite Horizon. Yet the information we have only goes up to the fog. I was genuinely worried that we might have wasted this cycle. I mean, I ended up in a mutual kill with 3 Strains in front of the fog and had to withdraw. I didn’t lose my life, but I couldn’t obtain any information either. I was agonizing over how to face you.」
「It’s fine, at least with me. Besides, didn’t you raise the success rate to around 7%?」
「No way. You know, that’s the result of the two main organizations for future alteration coming together and cooperating. Only 7%. But this series of actions has further expanded our options.」
「?」
「Until now, it was unknown how to leave information in the Infinite Horizon and what to do next. What kind of enemies are there? From what distance do they appear? If this is being streamed, analyzing the footage will yield various information. There’s a possibility of surpassing the evolution of ‘UYK’ again. Oh, the communication analysis data should be output from the Analysis command, so make sure to show that too. And capture my heroic figure as well.」
A window expands on the right side of the cockpit. Seeing that image, I unconsciously gasp. It was supposed to be Teo. However, half of his face is invaded by gray metal, the skin and metal cracking and oozing blue blood. The hand gripping the control stick is no longer human, with sharp blue crystal claws and gray metal scales tearing through his clothes. In other words, the form of a Machine Beast, a Strain. The sound of ‘Kurage’ grinding her teeth is audible even through the speakers.
「In the end, Apollyon Fusions are Machine Beasts, so only half-breeds like us, part Machine Beast and part human, can pilot them.」
「…That’s why I couldn’t forgive them. The ugly humans who sacrificed Teo to change the future.」
「A hidden love behind the terror!?」
「Don’t tease me! …But now I understand. You chose the future over me, even though you knew, didn’t you?」
「I forgot what you’re talking about, it’s been over 20 years after all.」
While displaying the communication log, I also deploy my UK-14 and continue firing at nearby enemies. With each shot, my posture gradually crumbles. As I exhaust the magazine, I finally manage to take down one. However, I feel no sentimentality or joy. Behind the Fusion I just defeated, hundreds more are activating, ready to raise their fists at us.
Only 30 rounds left. And Teo, despite his strength, won’t last long in that state. As my expression darkens, Teo calls out cheerfully.
「When you log out, make sure to take the medicine to suppress the ‘synchronization phenomenon’ and get some sleep. And don’t get discouraged, this is a losing event. No matter how we strategize, there’s no room for us to survive. Above all, the cause of the previous update isn’t you, it’s the ‘Reformists’ who put together the ‘Inverse Dive Citation Information Project.’ It’s not Kanji who created this situation or failed to avoid it.」
「…Then, until now…」
「Until now, it wasn’t much different. What Kanji did was just spreading information ahead of time that each company would eventually obtain through handover, and the people around him just exaggerated the story. If anything, Kōmitsu and Shiroinu are responsible for things turning out this way.」
「So what if I ended up causing a fatal change in the future…?」
「That would be the responsibility of the two who put you on a pedestal, no doubt. After all, they placed an uninformed civilian at the center of the turmoil, even if there were circumstances. Caring for you is their obligation.」
With those words, the legs of Teo’s unit are blown off. The bullets from an Apollyon Fusion equipped with long-range armaments easily destroy the layered armor, causing him to lose everything below the knees. The deafening roar makes me instinctively cover my ears. Yet even in that situation, Teo doesn’t stop putting on a brave face and charges at the next Fusion with a smile. Even under these circumstances, Teo continued to move, demonstrating the tactical superiority of Apollyon Fusions and the enhancement of combat power through skilled pilots.
「…I’ll ask again. How can you still think about what’s next?」
「Let me answer from a different angle. It’s your fault.」
「Mine?」
「Yeah. You’re someone called a grand prophet. You know, the future you kept standing at the forefront. Saying things like, ‘If I use my powerful precognition ability in a ‘fixated’ future, this world will perish.’ You kept leading the charge even though you couldn’t use your ability. So when I saw that, I thought… That’s why Orange, who could use precognition, was able to change the future so much. It’s precisely because he could see ahead that he was able to risk his life.」
「It turned out to be a big lie, though. The shock when you told me that…」
「Yeah, I never even thought about it. The fact that an 18-year-old who understood nothing changed the future as a result of his recklessness, and even kept up the bluff until his death. Ah, how ridiculous.」
The second shot from the Apollyon Fusion hits. Although the cockpit is protected, this time the left arm is completely destroyed, hanging down as a tattered ornament. Still, Teo was smiling. A bright, clear smile.
「–Even though changing the future was such a simple thing.」
Teo’s unit, having lost its balance and fallen, grabs the leg of another Apollyon Fusion trying to follow up with a kick. Using only the strength of his waist and right arm, he forcibly twists it off. With a sickening sound, liquid metal flows from the unit to the severed leg, forming a makeshift connection. At the same time, the metal invades up to 70% of Teo’s face. Both of his eyes probably no longer function. Yet, relying on the visual data sent from the unit to his brain, he seizes the left arm and connects it to himself.
「Changing the future is a simple thing, and to accomplish it, you have to fight through until 2060. …Ah, I admire you. I can’t help but respect you for being able to use your life with the premise of your own disappearance. So that’s it, this is imitation. I desperately want to imitate the you of 2055. Now that I know the truth behind your back, I want to get closer to it. I want to boast that I did the same thing. Hey Kurage, you’re cooperating instead of interfering because you feel the same way, don’t you?」
「…Shut up.」
「You’re not honest at all. It’s nostalgic. I remember you had a similar reaction when I found that hardcore porn mag hidden in the second drawer.」
「That’s because you were rummaging through my things without permission!」
「Hahaha, sorry, sorry. …I guess this is the last of such conversations.」
Even his voice was beginning to transform. Instead of a voice through living flesh, cold, distorted noise starts to mix in. Yet he continues to swing his fists. Teo, talking about a me I don’t know, seems somehow cheerful. Can I really do such things? Can I continue to challenge even after knowing about the destruction? Can a fool who knew nothing become the real deal?
I don’t know. But I understand one thing: what I should do now is not to sink into despair. Finally discarding my empty UK-14, I take up a blade that’s no more than a toothpick to the Fusions and take a stance. To let them meet a death they can be satisfied with, even a little, I leap out with vigor.
May 27, 2040, 19:00. The human-side Apollyon Fusions fall completely silent, and at the same time, all units begin to withdraw.
Infinite Horizon Conquest Operation — Success.
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