Chapter 15: Chopped into Pieces
Facing the imposing Genos, Mosquito Girl merely crossed her arms and let out a disdainful snort.
"You're just a measly robot, yet you dare to talk big here? Since I can't suck your blood, I'll just dismantle you into scrap metal! Get him, my little ones!"
With Mosquito Girl's command, the tidal wave of mosquitoes behind her surged forward, enveloping Genos almost instantly.
Seeing Genos trapped in the encirclement, she flapped her wings, preparing to turn and leave.
In her eyes, her countless minions were more than enough to tear this human-looking robot into a pile of spare parts.
Inside the swarm, Genos's mechanical eyes, equipped with human-like pupil functions, rapidly scanned and analyzed everything in sight.
[Target: Mosquitoes. Current count within visual range: 655,865. Count outside visual range: Unknown. Solution: Utilize Incineration Cannon at 38% output.]
The sharp proboscises of the mosquitoes were strong enough to pierce human skin, but against his steel body, they couldn't even produce a spark before snapping in half.
Genos raised his hand. The Incineration Cannon, already fully charged, fired instantly. A torrent of violent crimson flame engulfed the black tide.
Sensing the sudden spike in energy, Mosquito Girl turned her head in surprise and retreated dozens of meters.
A flash of fire lit up her vision. Genos stared coldly at the humanoid creature before him, his golden hair fluttering brilliantly amidst the flames.
Without wasting another word, two booster vents extended from the back of Genos's arms, erupting with intense flames.
Propelled by the powerful thrust, Genos arrived in front of Mosquito Girl with speed that looked like teleportation. His mechanical eyes trailed a streak of cold light through the air as the incinerator port in his palm aimed directly at her body.
The blue core in his chest pumped energy continuously. System output reached 78%.
"Incinerate!!"
Mosquito Girl's expression changed. She hurriedly blocked, and her entire body was swallowed by the orange beam.
When the energy dissipated, the forelimbs she used to block were charred black, and her body emitted the smell of burnt insect.
Believing in the principle of "kicking a dog while it's down," Genos pressed his advantage. His rear boosters fired again, shattering the ground beneath his feet into a spiderweb of cracks.
Using the recoil, he flanked to Mosquito Girl's left with lightning speed. A heavy punch tore through the air, aimed straight at her face.
Relying on her acute insect instincts, she sensed the danger beforehand. Her blade-like forelimbs slashed toward Genos's head.
But in the next instant, accompanied by the whirring of gears, Genos's mechanical joints twisted and shifted, allowing him to move behind Mosquito Girl in a way no human body could achieve.
"Machine Gun Blows!"
His arm joints shifted again, and Genos's fists became a blur. A storm of punches rained down, layering over one another.
Mosquito Girl couldn't dodge in time. She took dozens of heavy hits in succession, shards of her exoskeleton flying into the air.
With a cry of pain, she was launched backward like a cannonball, crashing straight into the cloud of mosquitoes hovering above.
"Trying to hide inside the swarm to escape? Foolish!"
Genos scoffed. He brought his hands together, charging both incinerator ports simultaneously. The energy output from his core spiked violently.
"Maximum Output: Incinerate!!"
A beam far larger than before, carrying dazzling brilliance and unparalleled heat, blasted into the sky. It tore through everything in its path, detonating inside the massive swarm of mosquitoes.
Instantly, the buzzing turned into the crackling sound of burning organic matter. Countless charred mosquitoes fell like rain, carpeting the ground in black soot.
Stepping on them produced a crunching sound that echoed in the silence.
Genos scanned his surroundings. The burnt-out swarm revealed no sign of his target.
"Was she completely erased by the Maximum Output Incineration Cannon...?"
Detecting no life signs, Genos relaxed. He prepared to power down his arms.
Clang!
The sound of metal being sheared apart exploded in his ears. Genos's mechanical pupils constricted instinctively as a massive energy spike appeared on his radar.
What?! Her energy level increased by that much?!
Half of a mechanical arm flew into the air and crashed heavily onto the ground.
Genos stared at his severed arm, then shifted his gaze to the figure in front of him.
Or rather, the humanoid creature.
It was still Mosquito Girl, but her appearance had deviated significantly from her previous human-like form.
Her once pale skin had turned deep crimson. The insectoid parts of her body now covered more area, making her look less and less human.
Genos analyzed her energy signature. It was at least double what it had been before, and her speed and strength had increased drastically.
To sever my arm... before my sensors could even complete the scan... This is trouble.
Genos wasn't stupid. He immediately realized he was no match for this opponent.
But escape was impossible. Her speed far exceeded his. The only option left was a fight to the death!
With that thought, Genos's eyes steeled with resolve. He raised his remaining arm, the incinerator port in his palm charging rapidly.
Mosquito Girl looked at her crimson skin and felt the boundless power flowing through her veins. A cruel smile curled her lips.
Seeing the cyborg still trying to resist, she couldn't help but mock him.
"What an idiot. You thought you destroyed my swarm? You didn't realize they were just bait.
"While you were busy attacking the mosquitoes I left in the city, I recalled all the ones feeding in the outskirts! They offered up all the blood they collected to fuel my glorious evolution!
"And you... you will be the first to die under this perfect body of mine!"
Hearing her arrogant words, Genos's gaze turned cold. He pushed his core to full power, intending to fire another Maximum Output Incineration Cannon.
But his vision blurred. Mosquito Girl licked her sharp forelimb and vanished, reappearing behind him before he knew it.
Slash.
His last mechanical arm was sliced clean off.
Genos didn't give up. The boosters in his knees fired, and he launched a powerful kick straight at Mosquito Girl's face.
Another sharp flash of light cut through the air.
Genos froze.
The leg he had used to attack... had been chopped into several pieces in an instant.