Whirring…
The helicopter rotors churned, the low-flying aircraft bucking slightly. The cabin was silent, filled with the smell of cigarettes and sweat.
Several heavily armed soldiers checked their equipment; occasional coughs punctuated the silence.
Ryan sat by the hatch, experiencing a strange sense of detachment. Yesterday, he was a lab rat; today, he was on a helicopter heading to the front lines. Fortunately, he was adept at switching roles; he simply lowered his head, observing himself.
Ryan wore a black combat suit and a full MKII combat exoskeleton. He didn't need to flaunt a white coat; it would make him look foolish.
Or perhaps, he felt this equipment wasn't strong enough. As a powered exoskeleton, its coverage was limited; it couldn't fully encapsulate the wearer like a mech suit.
"Aside from the alloy chest plate, its primary function is to enhance the soldier's strength and endurance. The hydro-lithium battery provides ten times the normal human strength, crucial for sustained effort, allowing a person to run over a hundred kilometers without stopping."
Ryan stroked the black metal. This had advantages and disadvantages compared to mechs. The advantage was its versatility; it directly enhanced the 'human' conductor.
High-concentration stimulants eliminated pain and suppressed fear. The helmet was also interesting.
He pressed a button on the fully enclosed black helmet. Tactical displays flickered on the HUD: night vision, thermal imaging, aiming assistance, even ammunition counters and tactical maps—identical to a first-person shooter UI.
With these technological aids, combined with a 3000 meters-per-second electromagnetic rifle and alloy weapons, it was no wonder Fire Moth could secretly handle so many Honkai events. It made him think of a saying:
The rich rely on technology; the poor rely on mutations.
'If it weren't for Mobius and the Warrior Fusion Project, wouldn't technological development have focused on this path, culminating in a massive technological showdown against Honkai?'
Ryan smirked; this candid comment made Himiko cough slightly.
"Dr. Ryan, is this your first time using a combat exoskeleton?"
"Just call me Ryan. There are no doctors on the battlefield." Ryan turned, his HUD instantly displaying her vitals, heartbeat, and even her restricted weapons. "I used a prototype model years ago. Honestly, it was useless."
He recalled that this equipment was developed by Fire Moth's second research institute, funded by the Pureblood faction. They advocated using technological advancement to counter Honkai, rejecting all research involving Honkai 'assimilation.'
"Technology is always rapidly developing, like a race against Honkai. Whichever side progresses faster wins." Himiko chuckled, taking a drag of her cigarette and tapping her armrest. "Unfortunately, compared to those monsters, we scientists still have a long way to go; the equipment is only as good as the user."
The human body was too fragile. Normal body augmentation had reached its limit. Few could fully utilize exosuits like this one.
Slow reaction time, muscle tears, wavering willpower—Fire Moth prioritized unmanned combat drones.
"Right. Ignoring the soul and brain for now, this body of bones and muscles is indeed fragile. But Lieutenant, have you considered…" Ryan suddenly lengthened his tone, mirroring Mobius's smile. "Why can't we become monsters?"
A gust of wind rushed into the cabin; everyone felt a sudden drop in temperature. Himiko stared, speechless, before putting on her helmet.
"Approaching the combat zone. Everyone, prepare yourselves."
No one responded to Ryan, making him feel the same alienation as Mobius, but he didn't provoke them; he understood their feelings.
Humans were stubborn, believing they were in control. Without a harsh push, they never moved forward.
As he pondered, the hatch indicator turned green; the helicopter began to descend. Ryan looked out, seeing a quiet town below, the streets littered with corpses and burning police cars.
The area was already consumed by Honkai. A red warning flashed on his tactical HUD, advising against entry without protective gear due to high Honkai contamination risk.
"Zombies and Honkai Beasts everywhere. This town is lost."
He saw human figures flicker in the shadows, heard the rumbling footsteps of Honkai Beasts. Soon, a Chariot-Class, the size of a three-story building, appeared, immediately met by armed helicopters.
Whizz… whizz… whizz…
Two-meter-long missiles left pale trails, exploding in the distance. Fire erupted; buildings collapsed; several houses were engulfed in thick smoke.
Rat-a-tat-tat…
The cannon fire roared, shaking the ears. Honkai Beasts were shredded, then white figures darted through Nagazora.
The armed helicopters swerved to avoid them. One, reacting too slowly, exploded in mid-air. The others flew low to the ground, Ryan clearly seeing the pursuing Sudden Advance types.
Biological missiles, huh? Those things are fast, but Fire Moth's tactics haven't changed much.
"Alright, landing zone ahead. Watch out for hidden Honkai Beasts and zombies."
Himiko yawned, crushing out her cigarette.
"A-squad secures high ground! B-squad provides fire support! C-squad follows me! Go, go, go!"
She was the first to jump from the hatch. As Special Response soldiers, they didn't need ropes. Ryan followed, seeing the ground spread out below before landing with a thud.
The exoskeleton's shock absorption system activated; he barely felt the impact. He raised his head, seeing rhombus-shaped icons in his vision.
The landing startled the zombies. Like Resident Evil, hundreds of zombies emerged from buildings, alleys, and even sewers.
Ryan stood calmly, not even drawing his weapon, listening to the relentless thudding footsteps, followed by the high-pitched whine of electromagnetic rifles.
The oncoming horde fell like wheat before a scythe. Severed limbs flew through the air. High-powered rounds tore through walls. No zombie could withstand this metallic storm.
This was a massacre. Overcoming the hesitation to kill their fellow humans, the zombies were barely worth using as target practice.
Ryan looked around. Kevin's icon appeared on his HUD; the young man was using his rifle, precisely taking down a father and son.
"Looks like I don't need to counsel him." Ryan breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Kevin's first kill would be painful, but the killing would numb him. In the Pre-Honkai Era, pacifism was a death sentence.
The gunfire continued relentlessly, joined by the cannons overhead. Ryan watched, knowing that if Honkai only possessed this level of power, Fire Moth wouldn't exist.
Then it came.
The ground trembled, the tremors growing stronger, as if a train were approaching underground. Ryan grabbed his alloy rifle; Himiko simultaneously holstered her pistol and drew her sword.
"Strategic retreat! A-squad, target ground-level threats!"
No one hesitated. As the gunfire ceased, the concrete ground heaved upward.
BOOM—
A colossal Chariot-Class, nearly ten meters tall, burst forth, sending up clouds of dust and debris. No one knew how such a huge creature could move underground.
Several soldiers were flung into the air; their jetpacks provided brief flight. Countless rounds slammed into the Honkai Beast, sparking explosions, and dozens of 'Knights' emerged from the hole.
Rat-a-tat-tat…
The firepower intensified; over a dozen Honkai Beasts were obliterated, but their lances pierced several soldiers. The stimulants took effect; the impaled soldiers fired wildly, shredding the monsters.
Bullets flew everywhere; flames erupted on all sides. Ryan, at the rear, stopped, aiming at two approaching Knights.
Shoot, switch, reload!
The actions were fluid, faster than a spear thrust. The Honkai Beast on the left was sent flying, knocking over its companion. The one on the right was flung into the air, spinning like a ragdoll.
Ryan focused ahead, watching the dense swarm of 'mosquitoes' approach. He didn't bother dodging, thrusting his rifle forward, impaling a falling Honkai Beast.
Time for a dance.
Honkai energy roared, engulfing him in light as he spun like a top.
Boom… boom… boom…
Dull thuds merged into a continuous roar. The smaller Seraph-Class Honkai Beasts couldn't withstand this power; those that collided were flung like baseballs, smashing through walls and the ground.
This energy overwhelmed the gunfire, attracting the attention of the retreating soldiers.
They couldn't see clearly, only a red vortex moving forward, creating an impenetrable wall, repelling the Honkai Beasts.
"This combat exoskeleton depends on the user. This guy is simply unstoppable." Himiko, remembering her earlier words, changed the magazine in her rifle. "Suppressive fire! Don't let those Honkai Beasts get back up!"
A hail of bullets rained down; any repelled Honkai Beasts were instantly destroyed before hitting the ground.
At that moment, the colossal Chariot-Class blocking their path took a step forward. The movement seemed slow, yet covered tens of meters. It raised its fist high, slamming it into the red vortex.
BOOM—ROAR!!
The entire town shook; buildings collapsed instantly; a crater spread outwards.
Himiko covered her face, her head swiveling. That single punch could destroy a warship; that monster should retreat.
Swish—
Before she finished that thought, a figure burst from the dust cloud. He swung his rifle, pulverizing the remains, charging towards the Chariot-Class's right arm. His speed was too great for even the friendly markers to keep up.
Ryan's legs blurred; with the exoskeleton, he moved even faster than usual. He seemed to be scaling a cliff face. He saw another sweeping attack coming.
The movement was slow, yet felt inevitable. Sparks flew from the hardened exoskeleton as Fire Moth provided covering fire.
"This Kevin… is he using his rifle like a flamethrower? Actually—" Ryan paused, abruptly stopping as the massive sweep came; he leaped.
Honkai energy surged, his two-meter rifle expanding many times over. He stamped down on a suddenly appearing rhombus-shaped energy field, accelerating himself instantly.
Extreme-force. Nightjar's Dive!
To others, it was like a shooting star; the rifle and the man vanished; only the Honkai Beast's head and much of its chest were gone. Its massive body slowly toppled backward.
Wow…
Kevin's reloading hand froze. He saw the man standing still in the road, his exoskeleton steaming from the overload, a gigantic corpse behind him.
Ryan glanced at his melted rifle, listening to the heavy thud of the falling corpse, then clapped his hands lightly.
"No need for such drama."