I’d been smashed through two layers of wall.
The Zork, clearly fed up with my refusal to follow its lead, had finally snapped and attacked.
I’m not doing a single thing you want me to!!!
I drew my sword.
My beloved machine's paint was scorched black, and the frame was warped from the impact of plowing through those walls.
I mean, sure, it gets wrecked every single time.
But when I thought about how much I was being put through the wringer here, I started to get genuinely pissed off.
So, I stopped playing the gentleman.
"Gishaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
"Shut up!"
The insect tried to skewer me with its razor-sharp legs.
But its movements were far too linear.
I was faster.
I dodged the strike and slashed at its leg.
My blade carved right through.
Unlike the Crab or Despair, I couldn't sense any specific telegraphing for its movements.
That meant there probably wasn't a human pilot inside.
The cross-section was pretty grotesque, so I decided it was best not to look too closely.
Insects are fast because they're light and have plenty of legs.
The ones outside were quick, but they hadn't stood a chance against a Humanoid Fighter.
By comparison, this thing was massive and powerful enough to demolish walls; there was no way it was light.
It was slower than me.
Its legs were thin enough to be severed.
Hell yeah. I could see the path to victory.
Just as I let my guard down, its face-plate glowed red.
It spat something out with a heavy thud.
"Whoa!"
I scrambled to dodge.
Acid? Some kind of formic acid?
No, wait.
It was a standard Plasma Cannon.
"This guy's firing a Plasma Cannon!"
"Captain, it’s just like the Crab! Ahahaha! This is great!"
Melissa was going wild with her Katana.
She was way too good against these types of opponents.
I needed to take notes.
"Gishaaaaaaaaaaaa!" the enemy shrieked.
Another Plasma Cannon shot!
"Hyaaah!"
I dodged, closed the gap, and slammed my blade into its shoulder.
It didn't seem to feel pain, as it swung a leg down toward me immediately.
I stepped in, pivoted, and slammed into it with my back.
The fighting game classic—Iron Mountain Lean-Whatever!
"Gishaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
The impact was even more devastating than I’d expected.
The enemy was sent flying back through the wall into the room we’d just come from.
"C-Captain... are you really pulling moves like that in a real fight!?" Nakajima stammered.
"I just chose the move that seemed the most effective."
Hmph... my fundamental skills as a martial artist are still lacking.
(Though, technically, I’m a soldier, not a martial artist.)
But I have this dexterity!
"Come on! Bring it!"
"Gishaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
The enemy seemed to have learned its lesson after that hit, as it hesitated to get close.
Serves you right!
"Leo! I’ve freed the hostages! I’m moving them to a safe area... well, the corner of the sector!"
Eddie was putting in some solid work behind the scenes.
As always, he was the kind of guy who handled all the little details.
Good man!
"I'm still busy over here!"
The enemy lunged at me.
But then, Claire’s machine appeared from the side... oh, a dropkick.
A high-flying dropkick slammed into the enemy.
She used the Zork as a springboard, spinning through the air before sticking the landing.
Such incredible mobility...
That’s the Brawling Spec for you.
Maybe I should look into a customization like that.
The enemy was stunned, likely because it hadn't expected an attack from its blind spot.
"Leo! Now's your chance!"
All right!
Take that, Zork!
Witness the power of love!
Cowardly? I don't know the meaning of the word! (Grin)
"Go to hell!"
I thrust my sword deep into the enemy.
While I don't exactly have much Faith in the Gaming Monk, that’s neither here nor there.
I found a vital spot near its chest, and it went limp instantly.
Melissa, meanwhile, was finishing hers off even more efficiently.
She lopped off its limbs and then its head.
"Compared to Despair, the Flesh, Planet-class Zorks, or Sariel... these guys are bottom-tier, aren't they?"
I muttered to myself, making Melissa laugh.
"Ahahaha! Typical Captain! You’re the only one who thinks that!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! We’re all working ourselves to the bone just to keep up with you. You are the Empire's Strongest Pilot, after all!"
"Even though Katori-sensei beats me to a pulp every time?"
"Ahahaha! Well, Katori-sensei is the Empire's Strongest Swordsman! She’s even stronger than my old man..."
"Leo, you're special," Claire added as she walked over.
"True! Back when we were fighting at Ren's Family Home, I was actually stronger than you, Captain... but now I don't feel like I could win at all," Melissa said wistfully.
It was as if a Yankee who’d joined the army had come home reformed...
Is that really how Melissa sees me?!
"Don't make that face. Melissa’s just trying to praise you," Claire said with a giggle.
"Hey, you lot! I'm glad you're enjoying the flirting, but help me out here!"
Nakajima chimed in over the comms, sounding like he was on the verge of tears.
It looked like he was having a rough time.
"Good grief, I suppose I have to."
I slashed the enemy Nakajima was wrestling with from behind.
I was able to focus properly this time.
Cleaving in Two.
Hahaha. It's a piece of cake if you don't panic.
"Lord Groom! Everyone! Over here too!"
Ren was firing her shotgun, but the pellets were just bouncing off the armor.
A bad matchup!
Melissa sliced through its legs.
Claire delivered a high kick that ripped its head clean off.
Finally, I dove in for the finishing blow: Cleaving in Two.
When the three of us teamed up, it was a total walkover.
I guess they only posed a threat in one-on-one situations depending on compatibility.
As long as they aren't expensive to produce, these things would be pretty effective weapons.
Though, considering we’d just wiped out about twenty of them, the manufacturing cost was probably low.
Once the last of the enemies was dealt with, the communications were restored.
A call came in from Wifey.
"Lord Groom! Are you alive!?"
"Loud and clear! We’ve rescued the hostages! Is One-oh-one ready to go?"
"Ready and waiting-de-arimasu!" One-oh-one answered energetically.
"Got it! I’m counting on you!"
"Going-de-arimasu!"
In the next instant, the entire facility lit up.
What?! Are there lights embedded in the walls?
"Leo-kun! Zork Network Takeover initiated. How are things on your end?"
The Fairy appeared on my terminal.
"Everything just lit up!"
"It's probably the same as a wireless device! I think it's pairing!"
The facility shook with a heavy thud.
"Wh-wh-wh-wh-what was that!?"
"I have successfully completed the Zork Network Takeover-de-arimasu!" One-oh-one declared.