𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟑: 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞 (3)
Vatory had the ability to use her body’s resources to generate blades from her palms. She shot out crescent blades in rapid succession toward Asher as he charged at her.
Pew, pew, pew!
The claws of the beast-like blades flew towards Asher, spinning at high speed. Asher quickly dodged the blades by rolling to the side and retaliated with his energy shotgun. It was the same type of shotgun that had previously ripped Vatory’s face apart.
Vatory changed the direction she was running in and raised both arms in front of her face and body to protect herself from the widely scattered shotgun blasts.
Thud, thud, thud. . . !
The organic tissue covering Vatory’s body momentarily changed into an exoskeleton-like structure, blocking most of the shotgun blasts. And as she reached a point five steps away from Asher, a flashbang grenade flew right in front of her.
Boom!
The flashbang grenade exploded, but Vatory’s movements didn’t change at all. Her dark blue reptilian eyes still stared intently at Asher.
Asher, instinctively realizing that the flashbang had failed to affect her, made an immediate decision. Now that the distance between them was so close, he planned to shoot a double explosive bullet to knock her down and then use the recoil to create some distance between them again.
However, Vatory was a step faster.
Clang!
She slashed Asher’s left shotgun with her blade and knocked his right shotgun away at a different angle. The explosive bullet that was fired into the air flew far behind Vatory and only managed to crack the wall.
They continued their battle, their shotgun muzzles pointed at each other’s noses. Every time Asher managed to get a bead on Vatory, she would narrowly dodge his body or the muzzle of his gun.
Explosions erupted behind Vatory in quick succession, and as Asher dodged her blade swings, he pulled out the pistol from his waistband and fired.
Bang!!!!
At that moment, a gaping hole was blown into Vatory’s abdomen, and. . .
“This bastard. . . !”
A blade pierced Asher’s chest.
Vatory grabbed Asher’s shotgun with her right hand and tried to push the blade embedded in Asher’s chest further in with her left hand.
Grrrrrr. . . !
In response, Asher held on tight with his left hand, which was holding the shotgun, and his right hand, which was gripping her wrist.
“Heh. . . Asher. When are you going to take off that mask?”
“How many times do I have to tell you I’ll take it off when I retire?”
“There’s no retirement for human resources. It’s either death or. . .”
“Shut up.”
Vatory’s strength didn’t seem to be waning, even as her abdomen gushed out blood and entrails. And the organic tissue that was both her clothing and armor was rapidly repairing the gunshot wound.
“I feel like I’m gradually getting my strength back. Heh heh heh. . .”
Asher grimaced at her sinister laughter.
“Is this why you became a human resource? Are you going to live as the same monster under those monster bastards?”
“We’re nothing but weapons, no matter where we’re sold. Killing someone is the same now as it was before.”
“I don’t think Gnox would agree with that.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to join the side that you can enjoy? And the side I’m on doesn’t treat me like a mere weapon.”
“Damn it. Did you develop some new sense of camaraderie?”
“There’s a very important ability that only our entire species has. . . They treat us as trustworthy members. Plus, they make our bodies stronger.”
“You’ve been brainwashed by them.”
Vatory finally burst out laughing.
“Hahahahahaha!!! You’re the one who’s been brainwashed! I’ve faced our truth! So if you can’t understand, then get lost!”
At her madness, Asher loosened his grip.
Whoosh!
The blade plunged deeper into Asher’s chest, and Vatory put more force into it, intending to kill him.
However, at that moment, Asher’s right hand, which had regained its freedom, pulled out the cutter from his waistband.
Clack. . . Click. . .
Vatory, momentarily surprised, quickly backed away.
Her right arm. . .
To be precise, everything below her elbow was gone.
“You reacted to that. . .”
“Asher! What the hell? I felt my heart getting stabbed, so why are you still alive?”
Asher’s chest had her right arm, which was still holding the blade, dangling from it.
“The same as how are you still alive after losing your entrails and one of your arms.”
A deadly silence fell between them.
The two of them, covered in blood from their fatal wounds, stared at each other. If one of them made a move, the other would immediately respond.
However, in the midst of their intense stare-down, a wave of communication entered Vatory’s mind.
➖Vatory. Gnox has taken all the data from the Sealed Archives. Escape the facility immediately.
Vatory and Asher were both unaware that while they were fighting, a tendril from Gnox’s colony had made its way through the walls of the Sealed Archives and had already made contact with the server equipment.
‘Why? We’re winning, so why are we escaping?’
Kaboom. . . !
The entire facility shook from an impact that seemed to come from somewhere outside.
➖ Hurry up and get out. If you delay any longer, you will be annihilated.
‘Just give me a little more time! Kreion-nim!’
➖ The UNF fleet has arrived. This is an order. Get out now.
“Seriously. . . Why are things turning out like this?”
Screeeech!!!
Hounz had once again broken into the Sealed Archives.
“I thought I was lucky. Asher.”
“Do you call this luck?”
“What?”
Screeeech!
The pack of Hounz ran past Vatory and charged at Asher, who then re-engaged in combat.
Leave a Reply