episode_0015

Kalia was breathing heavily. The giant in front of her, unlike her, showed no signs of fatigue. In the very short break that opened up during the fight, a sudden question popped into her head. ‘What were those strange guys, anyway?’

She kicked open the door, using a guard who was just entering as a shield to knock him down. Even though her body hadn’t fully recovered, she fought like a maniac. She punched, swung, threw, and stabbed. Despite being unarmed, she could easily take down unawakened soldiers. Yet, just as she was about to be pushed back by the security team leader…

‘The wall suddenly exploded.’ Thanks to her sensitive Awakener senses, she clearly perceived that brief situation. The wall suddenly exploded, and she could see a helicopter beyond it. It was a rigid shape, the kind typically used by the military. And the helicopter unleashed a barrage of rockets. She moved quickly to dodge, but the floor collapsed from the impact of the explosion. She fell to the floor below.

When she came to and got up, she saw the lab guards being shot down from the ceiling above. ‘What about Violet…?’ It must have been the work of those who unleashed the rockets from the helicopter. But why, exactly? She didn’t know. Laplaxhia was a notorious biotech corporation. They had too many enemies.

‘No, stop thinking about other things. I need to focus on the enemy in front of me first.’ As she tried to find a way to climb back up, dragging her exhausted body, that giant blocked her way. She understood why Violet called him an ‘Ogre’. A brute.

“Damn it… Hey, can’t you just let me go? It looks like you guys were attacked by those weirdos too. Shouldn’t stopping them be the priority?” The giant in black shook his head. “You, first.” His frustrating attitude made her explode with anger. “Damn it… Did you eat bricks? You stubborn idiot! Get out of my way!”

Kalia charged at the Ogre. Flames blazed around her legs, closing the distance at high speed. Footprints of fire were left on the floor. She dodged the hammer flying horizontally. She dodged the handle swinging vertically once again. He was merely an Awakener with increased physical abilities. If she found an opening, she would surely gain the upper hand. Or so she believed.

‘Then, and now, there’s just no opening!’ She thought she had dodged, but the hammer strikes came in succession again. There was no delicate technique, no subtle psychological warfare. It simply flew in a standard parabolic trajectory. Fast and strong. That was all there was to it.

“Ugh!” She ducked to avoid the hammer strike. The magic-infused hammer swung across her face. The sharp sound of it tearing through the air pressed down on her. Taking it head-on would be certain defeat. In their first fight, she had been instantly subdued by a single surprise hammer blow.

The swung hammer slammed into the wall. She didn’t miss the brief moment the Ogre lifted his hammer. She quickly scaled the adjacent wall and leaped, delivering a kick. It struck his head. Sparks flew, and he flinched.

Kalia burrowed inside the sledgehammer’s handle. A flurry of punches struck the Ogre. Once, twice, thrice, please just fall! Please! “Kuargh!” She quickly crossed her arms to block the incoming kick. Once again, flames erupted fiercely. She took a step back, the impact on her arm still throbbing.

‘If only I had a proper sword…’ He didn’t budge. It felt like hitting a fortress wall. Her bare-handed attacks had no effect. Her physical condition wasn’t good either. Thanks to the recovery potion Violet gave her, her injuries were mostly healed, allowing her to move, but that was all.

“Cough…!” The opening caused by fatigue and injuries led to a mistake. She couldn’t properly dodge his attack and was grazed. She flew through a glass wall into the office. She picked up a few glass shards, infused them with fire, and threw them. The reinforced glass shards exploded upon hitting his body, but that was all. Kalia stumbled to her feet. She was slowly sensing the end.

But then, “Kalia! I’m here!” A blonde, red-eyed girl rushed towards her.

***

Good heavens, Kalia was being severely beaten. Was it because she didn’t have a sword?

‘I forgot that this was before the main story!’ The Kalia in the main story was an adult woman, but the Kalia now still showed traces of youth. I hadn’t considered the time gap that couldn’t simply be dismissed as a few years.

Right, I remembered. That Ogre security team leader, there were giant hammer-wielding soldiers among the enemy characters who looked similar. In the game, they were tough field bosses encountered early on. Once your level increased a bit, you could just beat them down, but unfortunately, we were at a beginner level right now. Could we really win?

‘What does that matter? That damn bastard is right there, so I have to fight!’ I swung and threw the one-handed sword I had brought.

“Here! Take it! It’s a new sword!” Kalia caught the sword I threw. “Ah… yes, this heavy, cool sensation. It’s been so long.” She spun around fiercely, drew the sword from its sheath, and tossed the sheath aside.

“Wait! I have this too!” I injected the remaining recovery potion into Kalia’s body. Now there was only one recovery potion left.

“Thanks! Now this might be doable. Stay back now.” When Kalia tried to make me stand behind her, I annoyedly pulled out my hammer. “I can fight too! If you try to fight alone like before, I’ll hit you!” Kalia watched me for a moment, then nodded.

She resumed her fighting stance. “Round two, you blockhead.” I stepped back behind the wall for a moment. Flames gathered on the sword Kalia held.

The Ogre charged with the momentum of a dump truck. Kalia calmly faced him, swinging her sword. She dodged the incoming hammer strike once again. The moment she got close, he retreated and unleashed a kick. However, she wouldn’t fall for an attack she had already experienced. Kalia twisted her body to evade the incoming leg. The instant an opening appeared, several bright violet arcs were drawn in the air.

“Urgh…!” The Ogre flinched and stumbled backward. It worked! Clearly visible were the burning scars etched on his thighs and belly. He wildly swung his hammer, seemingly enraged, but she had already leaped back.

“Eat this!” This was exactly what I was waiting for. Two clones, having moved around the room to the back, aimed for his head. The rifle and pistol spat fire. -Rat-a-tat-tat! -Bang! Bang! [Attacking from behind activated Synchro Trait: Backstab. Damage increased!]

‘As expected! It applies to ranged attacks too!’ Several bullets struck his head. The Ogre flinched his head from the impact on his helmet. Kalia charged again, unleashing sword strikes. Several exchanges continued. The flame-infused blade continuously thrust.

The Ogre swung his sledgehammer fiercely, but “I see everything, you bastard!” Kalia never met it head-on. She dodged the hammer’s head. She cunningly stabbed and pulled back. Once again, wounds appeared on his arm and shoulder.

Perhaps sensing danger, he became entirely defensive. Then, clones 2 and 3 continuously moved around him, firing bullets. “Just fall down!” I kept pulling the trigger, but it had no effect. However, I could draw his attention. If he tried to go on the offensive even a little, I would immediately unleash a barrage of bullets. When Kalia attacked, I retreated.

But my limits were slowly approaching. “Stop this meaningless struggle.” The Ogre, having regained his composure, spoke. Minor wounds had increased on his body, but that was all. Kalia was exhausted again. Recovery potions were meant to drastically increase wound healing speed, not to replenish stamina.

-Click! The sound of the empty firing pin echoed in the chamber. The rifle’s magazine, my only means of inflicting effective damage on him, was empty. “This is driving me crazy. When is he going to fall?!” I desperately fired my pistol, but it had no effect.

Now he openly ignored me and refocused on Kalia. “Ugh…!” Her previous injury seemed to have flared up again as she gasped roughly and retreated. What could I possibly do?

I temporarily pulled my clones back and started rummaging through my bag. Something useful, I need something useful! A hammer, a hacksaw, a utility knife, a Phillips head screwdriver? Useless! Kalia’s attack power was sufficient. However, there was no opportunity to land a critical hit. Something, it would be great if there was a way to temporarily paralyze him…

Something long and flapping caught my hand inside the bag. I pulled it out. Something familiar and black appeared. “That’s right. This is what I took off Kalia’s neck earlier…” I held it and, with my two clones in front, charged toward the Ogre team leader’s back.

Once again, it was time to use the Violet Stream Attack. I injected the last remaining recovery potion into my body. [* The recovery potion’s analgesic effect is activated. Pain is reduced by 30%.]

‘One hit..! Just one more hit!’ Just then, Kalia, trying to dodge his attack, stumbled and rolled on the floor. My two clones and I ran in a line, close together. The Ogre turned his head. “Violet Stream Attack!” The second clone, at the very front, shouted and swung the utility knife it held. The Ogre delivered a kick as if it were nothing. It hurt more than before!

Grabbing the shoulder of the falling second clone, the third clone held on and leaped up. The Ogre seemed slightly surprised. As it soared into the air with a hacksaw, he swung his hammer horizontally. “Gaaah…! Haaah…!!” A pain so intense it was hard to breathe washed over me. In mid-air, the third clone was hit by the sledgehammer. It was carried along by the hammer’s head and slammed into the wall. With a loud bang, its waist was cleanly split in two, half-bursting apart.

Kalia screamed when she saw my shattered clone. “Violet! No!” Despite the 30% reduction, an unimaginable pain spread through my spine and throughout my entire body. I gritted my teeth and charged through the clones.

“There was another one.” His hammer had just struck my clone and stopped. I quickly clung to his arm. “A mere child, how amusing.” As he swung his arm, I was sent flying with a whoosh.

“Aaaargh!” I crashed into the wall. I wished I could just pass out, but perhaps due to the potion’s effect, I couldn’t. The Ogre glanced at my disappearing clone, then approached Kalia. “Your little friend was of no help. It’s over now.” The Ogre raised his sledgehammer.

“Ugh! Kalia! Now!” “?” I activated the electric switch. Maximum output! -Fzzzt! “Ugh! What is this…!” The Ogre dropped the sledgehammer’s handle due to the shocking electric current that struck his right arm. It was the power of the last remaining electric shock collar, which I had attached when I clung to his arm earlier!

He immediately tore off the electric shock collar. But it was too late. A huge flame had already surged from Kalia’s body. -Crunch! “Choke… choke…” With a single charge, the blade pierced through his chest. I defeated him…!

“Aargh!” Kalia let out a short scream and was pushed back. No, he didn’t die even with a sword in his chest? He thrashed, trying to pull the sword from his chest. Is this even possible?

My second clone and I staggered up and clung to him. “Ah! Just! Die! Die already!” I repeatedly stabbed the Ogre’s neck with a screwdriver. The clone joined in, stabbing and hitting the back of his head wildly. -Thud! Thud! Thud! “Please! Have some conscience! Just! Die already! Aaaargh!” I kept yelling and stabbing for a long time.

He stopped moving, then collapsed forward with a thud. [Level up!] [Level up!] [Level up!] [* Experience points are boosted for facing a strong opponent!]

“We won…!” I immediately helped Kalia up. “Ah… that’s right. That was a clone, wasn’t it? You really have a knack for surprising people…” “Yeah, that’s right! Whatever! We won! Let’s get out of here quickly!” We supported each other and headed toward the elevator.

-Rat-a-tat-tat! -Catch him! -Help me! The noise, presumed to be made by those terrorists from earlier, was getting closer. We arrived in front of the elevator platform. Here too, all the fire doors were down, except for one entrance.

“But how do we open the elevator door?” “I have this!” I pulled out the bald director’s wrist from my bag, which I had taken earlier. Kalia saw it and made a disgusted “Ugh” face. Please, this has to work.

I pressed the palm onto the elevator’s recognition sensor. A light pulsed back and forth on the screen, scanning the palm, then a beep sounded, and the door opened. “Finally…!” “Hooray!” We immediately got into the elevator. The door closed, and the sound of it descending was heard.

“Surely, there’s nothing else below this, is there?” “It shouldn’t be!” I really hoped it wasn’t.

When the door opened, a spacious room resembling a lobby and a corridor greeted us. It was smaller than expected. A glass door was visible straight ahead. Beyond the glass door, parked cars could be seen. “A parking lot? Then it must be outside!” “Let’s go!”

We just ran out blindly. We ran through the parking lot corridor lined with columns. As we passed the parked cars toward the exit, we saw a researcher panting and getting into a car.

“Ugh! I can’t die here…!” -Thud! [Attacking from behind activated Synchro Trait: Backstab. Damage increased!]

“Violet is taking this car now!” I immediately got into the driver’s seat. Kalia and clone 2 got into the passenger seat and back seat, respectively. Wow, now that I look, this was an electric car. This was the first time I’d driven one, let alone as a girl, when I couldn’t even drive one in my previous life.

“You… you know how to drive?” “Believe it or not, I have a Class 1 regular license! Trust me!” “…Class 1 regular? Was there such a license? This is the first I’m hearing of it…”

I adjusted the gear and pressed the accelerator. The car immediately slid out into the passage. “Yahoo!” We drove through the passage and up to the main gate.

“It’s the sky…!” The bright morning sunlight and blue sky greeted us. It had been so long since I’d seen sunlight, it was incredibly moving! Even Kalia, who rarely smiled, opened her mouth for a moment, seemingly moved.

“But, Violet. What are those motorcycles behind us?” Kalia pointed to the rearview mirror. Two motorcycles were rushing fiercely from afar.

Oh no, those Obsidian Legion guys who broke into the lab earlier were chasing us. “Get down!” They were shooting at us with submachine guns in one hand. The car instantly became a mess. I yelled wildly.

“This is insane! Please! Just let us go!” They were approaching at a furious speed. Were they not going to leave a single survivor from the lab? My body ached, and my head spun. I was so angry I couldn’t bear it. Drastic measures were needed.

“Kalia! You know how to drive too, right?” “Yeah, to some extent…” I immediately moved to the back seat. I balled up a piece of cloth, useful as a gag, in my mouth and hunched over.

-Waaaang! Clone 2 opened the door. Wind rushed into the car. The fiercely roaring motorcycle sounds grew closer.

“Hey, Violet, are you going to do something weird again like before…? Wait, that’s not what I’m thinking, is it?” “Hmm… what do you think it is?” As I grinned, she frantically waved her hand as if to grab me. “Hey! Wait, that, absolutely not. Don’t do it. Don’t do it!!”

Clone 2 leaped straight out of the car. The motorcycle wheel was right in front of its nose. Here’s a question: what happens if a human-sized object gets sucked into the wheel of a high-speed motorcycle? -Screech! Answer: A traffic accident!

The motorcycle tumbled forward. Unable to overcome its inertia, the pursuer was flung forward and flew through the air. “Uwaaaahhhhh!!!!” I screamed, feeling my entire body shattering. Clone 2 had definitely disappeared. It’s okay…! The opponent will be shattered too!

“Hey!!!!!” Kalia screamed again. I, with tears and snot streaming, gave a thumbs-up to signify I was okay. She scrunched her face and glared at me.

Wait, what about the remaining pursuer? The moment I looked back, something astonishing happened. The pursuer, who had seen his lead companion become a human rocket and fly away, drove his motorcycle closer to us, then drew his sword, stood up, and leaped.

“He was an Awakener?!” The guy who jumped from the motorcycle landed on top of us. “Kyaaaah!” “What? Up there?” Kalia quickly drew her sword, but the enemy was faster. We ducked. As the pursuer swung his sword wildly, the car roof instantly split and tore away.

“Whoa! We’re in a convertible now!” The wicked motorcycle driver tried to swing his sword at us. -Bang! “Huh? What was that?!” The motorcycle driver was suddenly hit by a flying baseball bat and sent flying backward.

When I looked up, I saw a yellow pickup truck driving beside us. An uncle with a muscular, mohawk hairstyle, a bushy beard, and only a denim vest was leaning out of the passenger side window, holding a club.

“Damn it! Kalia! Sorry I’m late! Things got pretty messy around here, you see!” “Uncle Marco! Why didn’t you come faster?!” Kalia’s face brightened when she saw them. “Violet! They’re people from the Brotherhood!” “Introductions later, hey, little lady, get in quickly!”

I thought, “How do I get in?” when Kalia lifted me from the passenger seat. “Huh?” “Hold on tight!” She leaped into the bed of the pickup truck. We landed with a thud on the floor.

The ownerless electric car rolled away into the distance, then tumbled over the railing and crashed below. I slumped onto the bed of the truck. As the tension released, body fatigue and pain rushed over me all at once. Only then could I feel it.

“Freedom…!” I closed my eyes. So sleepy…