• "The outside is in chaos. Start preparing slowly."

• "Position at the designated location completed. Surely, no one’s been detected, right?"

 

The explosions were drawing closer, and shadows poured in like a flood.

It wasn’t through a screen, nor indirectly observed. This was happening in real-time, approximately 700 meters away.

Artemis was literally being pushed back relentlessly.

The artillery struck the barrier, and as ropes and anchors were pushed into the cracks, the massive fortress wall, weighing tons, fell like a domino when winched and pulled. As the artillery was fired through the gap, even unmanned drones had no chance to hold their ground.

However, even though retreat was necessary, how far could they fall back? - This thought lingered across the network as those observing the situation from a step behind continued to watch.

• "The fortress self-destruction function is being reclaimed. Unless it’s a pressing matter, please refrain from making calls."

• "About… 10 minutes until our forces arrive. Can we just wait quietly until then?"

• "Ah, the order’s just been issued to this unit. We’ll soon head outside and join the mobile strike force fighting outside the fortress. Good luck."

• "Understood. Temporarily removing River from the available forces."

 

Task force, and lasers.

Before the complete destruction of the third gate, those who had been actively participating in operations were linked to remote controllers and consciousness synchronization. By now, they had successfully infiltrated the armed base, disguised their own units with false IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) signals, assassinated enemy units, and naturally initiated internal sabotage under the guise of their own sending codes.

At the final moment, they blocked Artemis’s orders to detonate the fortress and ammunition depot by creating fake orders, redirecting them to positions where they could defend the ammo storages and control the turret systems managing the gates, as well as surveying the enemy’s distribution and selecting high-value targets.

On all their UIs, the shadow, slowly creeping closer like a tsunami, was visible.

• "I’ve inserted some variable coordinates into the artillery’s firing orders. We should be able to guide our forces."

• "Artemis forces are retreating. In about 15 minutes, all major enemy forces, except some drones and self-guided and remote-controlled units, will have completely withdrawn."

• "Deploying non-explosive magnetic interceptors around the first defense line. A kiloton EMP release is scheduled upon activation. Everyone, be careful not to get caught in it."

 

Boom!

The fortress’s main and auxiliary guns continued firing. The attacks coming from the shadows were repeatedly blocked by the thick shields. However, even that seemed close to being insufficient. The weapon base and factory platform had not yet moved far enough away.

Because of this, Artemis planned to self-destruct the main and auxiliary guns to prevent them from falling into enemy hands and had ensured the thermite in the ammo depot was set to trigger at any time—but—

• "Artemis attempted to self-destruct the ammo depot. Naturally, it failed, but... it doesn’t feel good. It seems like we need a countermeasure before they proceed with manual procedures."

• "We have turret control authority here. Let me pass you a few."

• "We need to be faster."

 

Bang!

The sound of gunfire, clear and heavy, echoed through the communication channels. As the shared screen continued, the scene became visible. A humanoid unit with its head deformed lay sprawled on the ground.

Leaving that behind, the partition wall near the ammo depot was lowered, and the minigun for blocking the passage was set up.

A half-mechanical voice followed the action.

• "It seems a bit late now."

• "…It can’t be helped. We’ll accelerate the execution time. From now on, act on your own judgment."

• "Non-explosive magnetic interceptors activating in 10 seconds. Prepare for the EMP."

• "Damn it...! We’re hiding now!"

• "Turret control authority seized. Guess I’ll get to watch these robots doing the tap dance."

 

Ten seconds passed, feeling like eternity.

However, it wasn’t as if nothing happened in that time—first, the medium machine gun turrets installed inside the base fired on the same side as the allies, nearly a hundred units rushed toward the main and auxiliary ammo depots, and the artillery guns, due to incorrect coordinates, fired on the allied forces.

A horrific chaos erupted, sweeping across the entire weapon base. Because of this, the distance between the shadows and the Artemis weapon base, roughly 500 meters, was filled with forces stationed at checkpoints and defensive positions, all moving toward the perfectly orchestrated disorder.

Should they reroute some of their forces to handle the chaos inside the base?

Or should they direct everything to block the shadows advancing from the front?

But time wasn’t on their side, and awaiting those robots was Logan’s shield slash, tearing apart the enemy-occupied zone at the front.

• "Why are these guys losing their minds?"

• "It seems something’s gone wrong inside the base."

• "Let’s go find out. We’re a little over halfway there, so let’s hurry."

 

The shadow and sabotage from behind.

Caught between these two massive pressures, Artemis forces quickly became prisoners to the shadow and changed their course of action. It was no longer about who could fight better, but who could run faster.

And the two combatants racing toward the entrance of the weapon base were confident they wouldn’t lose to anyone.

The main and auxiliary guns, constantly firing, fell silent. As their speed increased, no one cared anymore, charging straight ahead. The rapid-fire support that had been targeting them hit the shadow’s own forces instead.

How much time passed?

• "The… the door..."

• "The door is opening!"

• "The door is automatically opening-!"

 

And thus, the "Irasshaimase" began.

The minigun mounted above the gate and the anti-tank missile pods capable of taking down tanks were completely silent, and a massive alloy door, as if mounted on a bunker, slowly opened, leading hundreds of users into the chaos of the weapon base inside.

People began flooding in. With at least one-third of the base paralyzed, there was no way to stop them, and within the turmoil, a new user, closer to white than the shadows, with a snake-like tail, dashed through a gap in the building and into the fray.

The skirmishes continued in parts. But even that didn’t last long.

And how much time passed?

• "IFF signal in front… it’s our forces?"

• "Eh, our forces?"

• "I wondered where they’d gone off to, but here they are."

 

The signal updated quickly.

When the Artemis-disguised signal was removed, Kato and Dice’s expressions shifted. Just days ago, the Dagger Team and Laser Team had been on a convoy mission together, but now, in an area previously sealed off from human entry, they were sabotaging the inside.

Logan and Eugene had already known this, and they lowered their guns, set the shield against the wall, and greeted them. Despite many things changing, it was still an oddly familiar humanoid shape.

Before they even thought it resembled Jin and Rain in some way, the Dagger Team operating the remote controllers turned on their voice synthesizers and spoke.

• "We’ve left the main and auxiliary guns in good condition. Pass on the control rights."

• "You’ve been a great help. Thanks."

 

Eugene greeted, and Logan took the authority.

Raising his hand to the comms, Logan quickly adjusted the controls for the main and auxiliary guns according to the coordinates Lorentina had provided and the factory platform.

The shells were cluster rounds filled with thermite powder, capable of turning an area the size of three soccer fields into a sea of flames, melting even armored vehicles—when they loaded onto the turret, she muttered under her breath.

• "We’ve done what we could. Surviving is your responsibility."

 

Boom!

At that very moment, the main gun, positioned far off, fired multiple shells toward the sky.

As it flew in an arc, users nearby were startled or horrified as they realized the shells were headed miles away. Logan checked the message indicating just five seconds left to impact and exchanged glances with Eugene.

• "Do you think we’ll make it?"

• "I don’t see myself dying just yet."

• "That’s what I thought."

 

Only Kato and Dice looked at the two with dumbfounded expressions.

And—

• "Hold on tight, Newbie—!"

• "Kyaaah—!"

• "This is Danger Close, you crazy bastards!"

• "Ugh, we’re gonna die like this! Hahaha!"

• "Sharksfin Grilled?! Hahahahaha!"

• "Logan’s gone completely nuts, hahahaha!"

• "Madness... our long-time friend..."

 

Flames engulfed the two.

• "At this time, we’ll begin artillery support. The impact point will turn everything into a sea of flames. Artemis tanks are the only things that won’t melt, so get out while you can."

• "Ha, you crazy bastard, isn’t this a little too intense?"

• "If you’re riding something like that, you should be able to handle it. If you die, I’ll make sure you get your name engraved on the coffin."

• "Big one coming…?"

• "Big one (no IFF)."

• "Shit, this thing’s too big, Logan you crazy bastard!"

• "That thing won’t fit! Hahahaha!"

• "Big and fiery... kinda sounds lewd, huh?"

• "The coffin nameplate joke is really insane, hahahaha."

 

In the distance, the main gun turned, and as it aimed at the location of the two, the ground was immediately painted bright red.

It looked like the ground was about to split open, with lava bubbling up, but that visual was only temporary. In reality, the situation might not have been as extreme as it seemed at first; it could have been worse, even.

Lorentina’s burden grew heavier. She carefully observed the situation with the booster and polyurethane lamp displayed on her UI. There was only one way to get out of the thermite shell’s impact zone.

At least one thing was fortunate: aside from the two, there was no immediate danger to the rest of the team.

• "It seems we’re the only ones here, Harmony."

• "Everyone else must have gone to the rear for repairs, or they’re watching us from hell."

• "I prefer the latter. But we don’t want to dine with them, right?"

 

Boom!

Despite the chaos around them, Lorentina pushed the bike’s speed higher, keeping a constant distance from the enemy detected by radar. With every second that passed, she hoped to get just one more enemy hit by the incoming fire.

And at the same time, Lorentina spoke. She wasn’t the type to leave her small companion in the dark about what was coming.

• "Do you know what a swing bar is, Newbie?"

• "Isn’t that something for space shuttles?"

• "Well, it’s something similar we’re doing today. If we stretch the rope on the bike to its limit, we might just survive the incoming fire."

• "Is there somewhere nearby for that?!"

• "Of course."

 

She marked the waypoint on the display.

Before them stood the factory platform, towering over them at a height of several meters. The waypoint was clearly marked on the factory wall. At that moment, Harmony immediately understood what was about to happen, and from then on, she couldn’t shut her mouth.

• "Oh, no… ah..."

• "Don’t worry, Harmony, you won’t be involved from start to finish. But... you’ll have to hold onto the bike tight so we don’t fly off."

• "Kyaaaahhh—!"

• "Haha, nice scream! But it’s already too late!"

• "Hey, isn’t that just some crazy Indiana Jones stuff?"

• "Why are they doing Tarzan stunts on bikes? Hahahahaha!"

• "I don’t get it, what are they doing? Explain again!"

• "Just watch with your eyes, hahahaha."

• "Crazy stuff."

 

Boom!

And that’s when "too late" truly meant something.

Something shook the world heavily, and Harmony saw the thermite shells burning through the factory platform’s shield. One, two, three shells struck the shield, and as the flames burst in midair, they began to pour down like molten lava.

The ground turned bright red. Everything before and to the sides of them turned a deep red, with only a few areas untouched. It wasn’t fire. The Icarus Gear was marking the impact zone, and that alone was enough to turn everything around them into enemy territory.

As the number "5" floating in the air dropped rapidly, Lorentina pressed the button under the bike’s throttle. Polyurethane foam and hardeners popped, forming a ramp. The bike twisted and shot upwards, crushing the ramp beneath it.

The bluish flames erupted as the bike shot into the air, and time seemed to slow to zero.

Flames soared.

Boom!

"Wow!?"

"Raise the shield to max! Before we burn alive!"

• "What… what am I looking at?"

• "If you wanted to fly, you should’ve just taken a fighter jet, you crazy bastard! Hahahahaha!"

• "I’m not flying, but... nah, never mind."

• "They’re swinging from a bike, these insane people, hahahaha!"

• "Harmony’s having a complete meltdown, hahahaha."

 

The intense heat surged from the ground.

At the same time, the bike’s rope scraped against the corner, and the rebound caused the bike to accelerate even faster. Leaving the flames erupting beneath them, Lorentina and Harmony swung from right to left like a whip wrapped around a cylindrical object.

Naturally, their path led straight to the back wall of the factory.

Lorentina fired her .50 caliber machine gun, and as Harmony poured oxidizer on the predicted target area—

Boom!

The bike they were riding crashed through the factory wall like a spear.

Time seemed to stretch out forever, but when it snapped back to reality, Lorentina, still in a daze from the impact, carefully patted Harmony’s head, who was letting out a loud, surprised cry.

Climbing off the completely wrecked bike, Lorentina spoke.

• "Shall we try a late factory tour?"

• "...Can’t we just rest for a bit?"

• "Well, if you want to rest..."

 

Even someone as tough as Lorentina found the situation overwhelming.

That day, Harmony's viewer count briefly surpassed Eugene’s.