Fated to Die to the Player, I’ll Live Freely with My SSS-Class Ship!

Eva started falling, her flight out of control. Without delay, I moved right below her, diving to catch her before she crashed against solid ground.

"Eva!" I called out, popping her helmet open to reveal her pale, strained face, while shaking her body lightly.

As I waited for her response, I examined the wound. It was a clean shot—straight through her right chest, piercing the powered suit's armor like paper. If her body had been mirrored, the impact would've been right where the heart was. This kind of accurate "mistake" wasn't something ordinary.

'Smart Laser Rifle!'

A specialized type of laser weapon outfitted with advanced AI targeting modules, capable of predicting target movement. Once locked on, you could zigzag all you want—there's practically no avoiding the hit.

That means as soon as we flew up and entered the rifle's range, we became targets!

"Stop… shouting..."

Finally, Eva responded. Her voice was faint, brittle—her breathing short and labored. But she was alive. I smiled softly in relief, shaking my head at her resilience.

"Can't do that. My voice'll get drowned in all these explosions if I lower it."

Of course, this wasn't the time for banter. Eva's wound had been seared by the laser blast, but not fully cauterized. Blood still oozed from the entry point, steadily weakening her. If we didn't treat it soon, her life would be in serious danger.

And making things worse—no first-aid kit. I didn't bring one with me, and I had nothing to treat the wound on the fly.

But wasting time here wasn't an option. The longer we stalled, the more soldiers would arrive, overwhelming us and jeopardizing the mission.

My mind raced, analyzing the situation and juggling priorities, until I devised a solution that could accomplish all three objectives—

"Nyssra! Take the Primula and escape with the entire fleet!" I roared through the comms. "Don't wait for me and Eva! We'll be fine down here!"

Then I switched frequencies and shouted to the rest of our ships. "To all units—protect the Black Halberd and the Primula with your lives! Even if they're the only ones left, they must survive!"

Without waiting for acknowledgment, I immediately cut the radio feed.

The longer we stayed connected, the greater the risk of being traced. Radio signals could be used to pinpoint our position. Eva, though injured and barely staying conscious, also reached for her panel and disconnected her radio.

"Now what..." Eva murmured, weak but trying to stay sharp.

"Well, first," I groaned, pulling her arms over my shoulder, "we move out of here."

If Nyssra followed my order, then they'd be extracting the Primula any second now. Staying in this area would be suicide—heavy machinery and random debris could come crashing down during the process.

And so, with Eva leaning on me, we started heading down a nearby service shaft that led deeper into the base.

Our top priority was stopping the bleeding. Since this was a military facility, first aid kits should be stashed around key checkpoints. Thinking about escape would come second to stabilizing her.

CRACK!

Right as we reached the bottom of the shaft, a thunderous metallic creak echoed through the air. It was so loud it shook the floor and rattled our bones.

"Looks like Nyssra successfully beamed up the Primula," I grinned.

At the very least, one of our primary objectives had been completed.

"Ugh..."

But that didn't mean we could rest easy. Eva was still in critical condition—her blood loss was worsening, and one of her lungs had been hit. Her breathing was shallow and wet, and pink, bubbly blood was starting to leak out of the wound. It was a terrible sign.

"Hang on, we should be close…" I whispered, doing my best to encourage her while scanning our surroundings.

"HALT!"

"...!"

Suddenly, a shout rang out from ahead. Several shadows stepped into view, dropped into a kneel, and raised their weapons in sync.

I didn't hesitate—backpedaling several steps and pressing our bodies tight against the wall at the corner, using it as cover.

*ZIIIN!*

*PEW!* *PEW!*

A storm of projectiles raced past, slicing the air. I swatted instinctively, dodging some of the hot energy bursts.

But it wasn't blind fire. Their rhythm told me otherwise. Some of them were firing cover while others advanced, slowly closing in on our position. If they succeeded, we'd be surrounded—and finished.

"Stay here," I whispered, pulling out a weapon I'd snatched earlier along the way.

"Do I look like I can run laps by myself...?" Eva grumbled in a half-joking tone, but still raised the laser rifle strapped to her side. "I'll cover your back. Go."

"Don't push yourself."

That wasn't just for her—it was a reminder to myself as well. Taking a deep breath, I centered my mind, then threw a random piece of scrap down the corridor.

*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*

Just as I anticipated, they fired immediately, reacting to the movement.

Taking full advantage of the distraction, I dashed toward the opposite end, rolled behind cover, and aimed my laser rifle. I had only a moment to align my shot—then I pulled the trigger.

*ZIIIIN!*

A concentrated laser burst cut through the air and seared through a soldier's skull instantly. I didn't let up—keeping it in single-shot mode, I held the trigger and swiped the beam like a glowing blade. Head after head dropped like overripe fruit on discount, tumbling to the ground.

Then I dropped low and rolled back into cover, heart pounding.

"Haaa...! Haaaa...!"

My breathing was ragged. Adrenaline was surging through every vein in my body. I'm probably suffering from tunnel vision right now—my nerves stretched taut, my awareness narrowing dangerously. A single wrong move could spell the end.

I forced myself to steady my breath, slowing down the rhythm and refocusing my thoughts. Then, I cautiously peeked out from the side and pulled back immediately. I confirmed there were at least a dozen more soldiers at the far end of the corridor, pouring steady streams of fire in our direction.

"Alright..." I exhaled slowly, then peeked above cover and pulled the trigger once more.

Like before, I avoided burst mode, opting instead for a concentrated single laser shot—a precise, deadly beam that carved through space. A solid line of death. I swept it left, right, then left again, ensuring none of them slipped past my aim, before ducking behind cover once more.

For a brief moment, a strange silence enveloped us...

"...Did I get them?" I muttered, inching to the side to try and confirm the outcome.

"GET DOWN...!"

Eva's voice rang out just in time.

A heartbeat later, I heard the distinct whine of a laser bolt searing through the air—passing mere centimeters above my skull.

If she hadn't spoken up when she did, that shot would've torn through my forehead without mercy.

Before I could react, Eva had already taken the initiative. With one crisp, focused shot from her borrowed rifle, the last bit of enemy resistance was silenced.

"...Clear," she murmured in a breathless, pained voice, letting the rifle drop beside her as exhaustion overtook her arms.

"Eva!" I rushed over, catching her as she slumped down. "You pushed yourself too hard again..." I muttered, lightly scolding her.

"You'd be dead if I didn't..." she replied with a faint snicker, smiling despite her fragile state.

I didn't hesitate any longer.

There was no time to waste now. I didn't even let her walk. Scooping her up in my arms like a princess from a fairytale, I sprinted down the hallway, desperate to find a med-kit.

And just as we rounded the fifth corridor, we saw it.

"Hold on!" I shouted, leaning her carefully against the wall.

Shattering the emergency glass, I grabbed the kit and pulled out the syringe containing Medical Nanobots—a glowing green liquid similar to what you'd see inside a standard Medical Pod.

Without a second of hesitation, I pressed the tip against a vein on her right arm. Her suit automatically adjusted, peeling back just enough to expose her skin. The syringe came equipped with minor auto-aiming, ensuring the needle struck the vein precisely and without delay.

Moments after the injection, the gaping hole in her chest began to mend—regenerating back into its original, flawless condition. Her unblemished white skin returned, replacing the bloody wound, and I finally let out a long breath of relief.

"Thanks..." Eva murmured, her voice weak but thankful. "But my blood's still low... I feel lightheaded. What do we do now...?"

Right. We weren't out of danger yet.

We were still stranded in the heart of an enemy facility, surrounded on all sides. Our fleet had likely retreated by now. I didn't know how many of our allies remained after the extraction, but if I had to guess, there should still be a decent force somewhere out there.

But practically speaking, we'd been abandoned.

"It's fine..." I smiled at her, hiding the cold grip of fear tightening in my chest. "We'll get out of here safely. I promise."

Yes... Now's not the time for despair. I'll fight until the bitter end, and I'll never give up—no matter what.

---

{Nyssra! Take the Primula and escape with the entire fleet! Don't wait for me and Eva! We'll be fine down here!}

The moment she heard that command, Nyssra's heart sank.

She realized instantly that Arthur and Eva were in deep danger. But before she could even form a response, his voice rang out again—this time over the open comms, audible to every last ship and soldier in the fleet.

{To all units—protect the Black Halberd and the Primula with your lives! Even if they're the only ones left, they must survive!}

It was then that Nyssra fully understood. Arthur had willingly prioritized the mission—the successful theft of the Primula—over his own safety.

The weight of that sacrifice made her bite down on her lip, hating herself for the small flicker of relief she had felt deep within. Relief that Arthur prioritized the mission over his life.

But she couldn't let his sacrifice—or Eva's—be in vain.

"Clear the surroundings! Cover us! I'm beaming in the Primula now!"

With that, she carried out his orders without hesitation.

The locks had already been disengaged. The Primula, a titanic cannon measuring over 500 meters in length, now sat dormant atop its launch pedestal. It was completely inactive, unable to move or defend itself.

The next moment, she engaged the tractor beam—its invisible pull wrapping around the weapon—and began reeling it in, inch by inch, into the Black Halberd's vast cargo hold.

The operation took time, but eventually, she succeeded.

The Primula was secured!

"RETREAT!"

She gave the command without a hint of hesitation.

Within moments, the Black Halberd's warp drives spun up, generating a spatial rift that opened a portal to the furthest reach they could access in a single jump. The retreat was swift, decisive.

But just before crossing the threshold of the portal, Nyssra turned the external cameras back toward the Primula's base. Her gaze trembled, and unshed tears threatened to blur her vision.

With a voice cracking in silent anguish, she whispered—

"…Eva... Arthur. Please be safe..."