A communication signal arrived, distinct from our Imperial identification codes.
It wasn't from a pirate, either.
Both Sariel and Aoi had utilized Imperial protocols and identification signals.
"Fairy, they might try to crack the system through the voice call. Stay alert!"
"Oka—y!"
They would hide executable scripts disguised as noise within the voice packets, then trigger them at will to crash the Humanoid Fighter's systems.
Recovery would take an hour even with Fairy’s help, giving the enemy time for a counter-offensive.
That’s exactly how I would flip the board if our positions were reversed.
Fortunately, we had Fairy on our side.
As long as we stayed mindful of the risk, we had nothing to fear.
As if I’d fall for such a textbook move!
"I’ve prepared it. I’ll play it back inside a sandbox environment."
"Got it."
The voice came through the comms.
"This is First Lieutenant Joaquin of the Republic Commando Squad. Leo Kamishiro, I wanted to speak with you."
"I have nothing to say to you."
Negotiating with the Zork was a waste of time; they were completely beyond reason.
"I wanted to test myself against you!"
See? They didn't listen. They couldn't even maintain a basic conversation.
That was why I hated talking to these guys. It was a pointless waste of energy.
"I want to fight... but before that, I have been ordered to recruit you. How about it? Won't you defect to the Republic?"
"I have no desire to become a crab, so no thanks. Besides, believe it or not, I’m a married man. My Wifey is the Emperor, for crying out loud. There’s zero chance I’d ever betray her."
Besides, there was no benefit to defecting anyway. The Republic didn't have any boobs or butts—just female-type Zork that used to be old men! I'll kill them all! (I thought, fuming at the memory).
"Haha... a quick answer. But I know the truth. You’re just a monster who happens to side with humans because you were born as one!"
That was easily the worst insult anyone had ever thrown at me. What kind of logic was that?
"That’s cold! Hey, guys! He’s wrong, right!?"
"Ah, um... I think the Captain... probably... isn't a monster?"
Melissa, why did you sound so hesitant? Hey, answer me!
"Well... if Leo-kun were a monster, that would be a bit... problematic. Ahaha..."
Fairy... could you please stop talking in a way that makes me this nervous?
"U-Um... I’m pretty sure Leo is... mostly... human?"
Claire... why do even you lack confidence? And what's with the archaic phrasing?
"Ah—... yeah, well, it's Leo, so..."
Kevin! Even you!
"M-My Lord is... a h-human!"
Why?! Even Ren doubted my humanity!
"Honestly, I don't think Leo is human at all."
Eddie... meet me behind the gymnasium later.
"My... Lord Groom is... simply Lord Groom?"
Even Wifey! Everyone was being so cruel!
I told you, I'm human! Why is everyone so unsure?!
Fine then! I'll just kill them all! I'm going to wipe out every single one of these bastards who claims I'm not human!
"Hahahaha! Leo Kamishiro! Have you been abandoned by your allies as well?! Now, let us rule the world together! Since you are a monster—Gah—!"
I cleaved Joaquin in two with a single strike. For a crab shell, he cut surprisingly smoothly.
"Wh-What? I didn't even see him move!"
"What was that just now?!"
"No one told us he was this fast!!!"
I performed a chiburi to flick the blood from my blade, then leveled it at the rest of the commando squad.
"I... WILL... KILL... YOU... ALL."
"K-Kill him!!!"
The commando squad charged.
My combat ability had been bolstered by that hellish special training with Katori-sensei. On top of that, I was in an anger-fueled Berserk Mode.
"Uh-oh, our Idiot Lord finally snapped."
Seeing my transformation, Eddie joined the fray.
"Man, they went and pissed him off. Even though the Captain is one of the strongest in the galaxy..."
Melissa joined in as well.
And so, the genocide began with peace of mind. I would show them hell!
The enemies fired their Death Blasters.
But there was no way they would hit. I was a man who could face hundreds of Linear Blazers at once! (Not that I’d actually won, mind you.)
"H-He's fast!!! The Death Blaster isn't hit—Gyabaaaaaah!"
That was one! I carved right through his torso.
"S-Slash him with your chainsaws! S-Stop his movements!!"
Space made Satsuma Martial Arts tricky, so I settled things with Imperial Style Swordsmanship.
I drifted forward on pure inertia. Brakes? I didn't need any brakes!
"U-Uwaaaaaah, don't come any closer!!!"
I took another head.
Melissa and Eddie were also cutting them down effortlessly.
"Whoa, they're soft! I guess they couldn't replicate that crab armor!"
"No! Our skills have just shot up! Leo! Just keep cutting and slashing until there's nothing left!"
Eddie and Melissa were saying whatever they wanted.
It was hard work for me, too! Look, even now.
Two enemies were moving to flank me from the front and back.
I grabbed the head of the one approaching from behind, circled around it, and slashed it wide open. I was about to parry the sword of the one coming from the front when its head suddenly blew off.
Ah, Ren's sniping.
"Y-You monster!!!"
Being called a monster by a Zork who had literally abandoned humanity was the height of irony. But it didn't matter. You guys were heading for a dead end either way.
An enemy charged at me. I supposed they didn't care about strategies or tactics anymore.
They fired a Death Blaster, but I dodged it with a hop. You missed~.
He swung a chainsaw at me, so I caught his arm and severed it—blade and all—then drove his own weapon right into him.
"Geez, how stupid. The crab swarm was better."
They were just incredibly tough, devoid of intellect or fear. That alone made the crabs a threat. Yet they made fakes of us and even prepared pilots. Of course they would get weaker.
The reason we stuck with manned pilots was actually quite simple: hacking. Manned machines were more stable in combat. It wasn't that human pilots were inherently superior.
Then, a communication came in from One-oh-one and Kevin.
"Major! Something is strange over there, sir!"
"Something's out there!"
It was a rocky asteroid.
I couldn't tell if it was the Zork Mother, but a commander was definitely lurking there!