High Gear (HIGH GEAR)(4)
Those who were laying down crossfire on Shirone were thinking the same thing.
What is this?
He wasn't especially fast, nor was he graceful.
Just a very small difference.
Tenman 10, who led the Tenmen squad, watched the situation from a high vantage.
A very minute gap.
A gap of a few centimeters the AI's auto-aim couldn't detect.
We should report it and dodge. But is that even possible? Even with a level‑10 AI…
Seeing bullets—that makes no sense.
System error. Should I file an official report? I don't want to get tangled up with the admins.
Hunting newbies was, in a way, an exploitation of the system.
Tenman 10 barked an order.
"Eliminate the blind spots! Don't aim at targets—spray predictive fire into the space!"
As the bullets cut off his lane, Shirone's step toward the objective began to falter.
What the—?!
The moment he twisted his body, he saw black bullets spinning a meter in front of him.
Shirone sharpened his focus.
Spirit Zone was out of the question, but his focusing mechanism was peerless.
His 11‑sensitivity spiked to the extreme and the bullets' rotation slowed enough to be seen.
Almost blocked.
Giving up the hilltop, Shirone threw himself toward the only open path.
When he dove into a hollow among the scrap, countless rounds pinged the edges.
The sound of metal cracking rang in his ears.
Hoo!
Time snapped back into normal flow, and Shirone, with his back to the enemies, began to count.
One, two—
Focus again.
Three!
He sprang up and turned; the slowed scenery was studded with black dots.
Shirone raised his rifle.
Before the AI could lock on, he aimed at the head of an enemy twenty meters away.
A single shot threaded through the volley and punched through the steel helmet.
Gah!
With a clang the man toppled backward and rolled down under the scrap heap.
Tenman 10's brow twitched.
Penetration?
The struck Tenman froze, then after a moment vanished back to the start point.
Huh.
Something was wrong.
Even if it's a system error, this is excessive. According to the Tenmen's report, Yahweh2's level is three.
That comes just from how many creatures he'd killed.
Only twenty percent recoil compensation—that's all. With even a slight arc, penetration would be impossible. Did he really aim precisely at a penetration point in the middle of a hail of bullets?
No conclusion fit.
While Tenman 10 pondered, Shirone was taking the Tenmen down one by one.
When the number fell to seven, the strongest codename hiding behind cover spoke up.
"Let's fight too."
DesGongju wasn't keen.
"You're crazy? If they mark us, we won't even get out of the start point. That codename's worth a hundred million galactic."
"He's already marked us. If we can't break through here we'll have to launder our codenames. If Tenmen Squad 1 returns to the start point, we can get out of Iron Home."
"And if we die doing that, we'll just restart at the start point anyway. Better to watch and wait for Yahweh2 to wipe them. If that happens, we run."
Destroyer Demon 707 agreed.
Right. Too risky. No need to fight. Besides, that guy owes us.
"You don't see how he's dodging bullets?"
The strongest codename looked at his friends.
"Do you really think the three of us could take him if we charged? And what if Yahweh2 kills us?"
"Just do it. Let's go. If we miss this chance who knows how long we'll be stuck here."
Destroyer Demon 707 scowled.
Damn it…
On that cue, the three of them simultaneously popped out from cover and opened up with their rifles.
"Take this, you bastards!"
Gunfire from an unexpected direction split the Tenmen's attention.
Amid the casualties, Shirone landed a headshot on a fallen Tenman.
Accuracy one hundred percent?
Tenman 10's face contorted.
Annoying.
With level‑10 AI as their limit, the Tenmen couldn't suppress Yahweh2.
We'll see about that.
Leaping down from the top of the scrap heap, Tenman 10 ran back toward his hideout and ended the recording.
A video file was created.
Illegal program… A major guild must be involved. Eastern country? Or the West?
Money talks either way.
Tenman 10 used the Selective Option's comms to contact someone.
Comm level 10: user codename Sancho.
"Boss."
He spoke in a low voice.
"Block the exit."
Destroyer Demon 707 was panting.
Quick! Quick!
The ammo belt clattered, and a loose chin strap made his helmet bang against his head.
Shirone caught up and asked, "Why so urgent?"
"We have to get out of Iron Home before the Tenmen regroup! From now on, no more fighting. Run straight for the exit—no matter what."
"And if they chase?"
DesGongju asked.
"If we get out of Iron Home, that's it. After that, even if we die we'll respawn at a different start point."
Ah.
It all came down to a single step.
"We're almost there. But—"
A racket of gunfire erupted from the exit side and the strongest codename's face darkened.
This will be hard to break through.
There were already more than ten Tenmen, even though some who'd just died should still be at the start point.
Shirone made a decision.
"I'll hold them. You guys get to the exit."
"What? Then you—"
"I can die and fight again. This is a good chance for you. Do as I say."
They exchanged glances.
What a ridiculous guy.
To sacrifice himself in High Gear for total strangers. Shirone smiled and said, "That means you owe me nothing afterward, right?" In High Gear, stealing hunting prey was common under the law of force.
"Tch! Don't make me the bad guy." Destroyer Demon 707 pressed his helmet tight, surged forward and shouted, "Just get out! If you make it I'll boost you aggressively!"
"Please, hero," the strongest codename muttered, then followed, while DesGongju looked back at Shirone.
"Thanks."
Shirone felt his chest swell.
It wasn't fake.
Even if this whole world were built on lies, people still lived inside it.
Then I can fight.
Shirone pulled out three grenades, biting the safety pins free with his teeth as he ran.
"Here!"
As he shouted, the grenades flew and Tenmen opened fire from every side.
KRAAAASH!
Amid the explosions, Destroyer Demon 707 and his group zigzagged and scattered.
Aaaah! Aaaah!
Even in a simulation, the tension of sprinting toward the goal was beyond imagining.
I'm getting out! I'll get out! If I die here it'll be humiliating—I'll quit High Gear for good!
Grenades detonated and the ground shuddered. Destroyer Demon 707 hurled himself and crawled along the earth.
I planned to half‑ass it and quit, but it's all because of that guy. If he came at you that sincerely…
It stops being fake.
Rising from the smoke where nothing could be seen, he ran without thinking.
Please! Please!
For a moment he caught a human silhouette beyond the haze.
"Ah!"
He stopped short, but a collision was unavoidable and the two of them rolled on the ground.
"Hey! You okay?"
Opening his eyes, he saw DesGongju's face, and the strongest codename was standing beside him.
No way.
Location info flashed across Destroyer Demon 707's retinal display.
The frontier wasteland.
"We made it out."
He shot upright, but had no time to celebrate before looking back toward Iron Home.
Where's Yahweh2?
Among the Tenmen who vanished one after another, Yahweh2 lay bleeding from the thigh.
Damn! Anyway—!
As Destroyer Demon 707 prepared to run, the strongest codename gripped his shoulder.
"Stop. If we go in now the start point will reset. We have to stay here."
"Are you crazy? We can't beat that guy." Destroyer Demon 707's eyes landed on codename Sancho.
It's just parts.
Sancho's right arm was a massive machine, barely human in appearance.
A unique item: the Crainer.
A level‑10 exclusive part obtainable at extremely low odds in Iron Home.
Gasping, Shirone glared as Sancho looked back at Tenman 10.
"Is that the one you mentioned?"
Tenman 10, clutching his abdomen and kneeling on one knee, nodded.
"Quick. I'm dying. Before they hand me to the admins, try to capture him. He'll fetch a price."
"Heh. Money's nice."
Sancho raised his right arm and dozens of cylinders mounted on the Crainer began to move in unison.
Yahweh2, huh. Nice codename. Kneel for now. Crawl between my legs and I'll let you go.
Shirone asked, "Why play like this? Fighting's content, but there's no need to humiliate people."
Sancho spread his arms.
What's different once we get out of here? Honestly, who among us hasn't been crushed by a ranker?
They all nodded.
They execute kill orders, scrap years' worth of items, groom bootlickers. How are we different?
Maybe. But the user who did that to you isn't here.
Is that so.
When Sancho activated his level‑10 High Gear, the enormous Crainer felt feather‑light.
"This is fun," he said, gripping a vehicle weighing over a ton.
"What, surprised? Never seen parts before?"
The scrap deformed and locked into his grip; explosive energy surged.
Waaaaah!
As the iron mass hurled like a cannonball, Shirone's eyes widened and he threw his body.
Ugh!
He rolled and fired, but the Crainer's knuckles deflected every bullet.
"Hahaha! I'm king here!" Sancho tossed massive objects at anything in range.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shirone dodged with everything he had, but the feeling in his legs was quickly fading.
This is bad. You can't shoot through that mechanical arm. The only option is a rear strike…
The problem was the power differential.
Damn! If Yahweh2 had been level 10—no, if he'd at least been level 8—we'd have won. The Crainer is a heavy part.
When power concentrates in one part, output from other areas normally drops.
DesGongju pointed across the battlefield.
There—!
Sancho, who had cornered Shirone, hoisted his arm with a bestial roar.
"It's over!"
At maximum output the Crainer slammed forward at incredible speed.
I can't dodge.
In slow motion, Shirone saw scratches etched into the steel fist.
Those scratches began to tremble, and the punch veered off its original path.
Vibration.
At the same moment Sancho twisted his waist and the Crainer smashed the scrap behind it.
Now!
For the first time Shirone got behind Sancho and immediately raised his rifle to the head.
Tatatatatatatang!
An unmistakable headshot.
Ugh!
The huge Sancho collapsed. Shirone panted, thinking it over.
Why had the part wavered?
He realized the reason: Sancho, locked into his assault, had missed a critical timing cue—an auditory/feedback cue—and that momentary mistiming made the Crainer vibrate and throw the punch off line.
"Yahweh2, you okay?"
Shirone snapped his head around.
You guys—
Destroyer Demon 707, the strongest codename and DesGongju had entered Iron Home.
Smoke rose from their rifles.