NOVEL WEB Chapter 20: Not enough
Ryan moved swiftly through the night, traversing rooftops and alleyways with ease, his movements fluid and precise.
Years ago, he'd trained in urban combat techniques in the Middle East; complex city environments were a perfect playground for assassins.
He spun, using a metal pipe to launch himself upwards, vaulting over obstacles, landing on a rooftop. Looking at the faces in the windows below, he realized he was smiling.
She must be furious…
He didn't know why, but he'd felt a strange satisfaction watching Mobius's frustration and desperation.
Wait, what do I want from her?
Slapping his face, Ryan regained his composure, looking at the empty street below; a flashing beacon was visible.
'The cameras must have recorded my movements. If she's not an idiot, she can trace my activity through the signal interference. But what to do with Vill-V?'
He wasn't acting for Mobius; Vill-V was the key: a leading engineer and the primary designer of the God Keys.
Killing her would be a waste, and he sensed Fire Moth's internal complexities; distinguishing friend from foe was difficult; the higher-ups clearly didn't trust him.
He lacked Elysia's casual approach of using lies to cover up other lies. He couldn't entrust such exceptional talent to Fire Moth.
'This distance should work. I'll lure the machines; she shouldn't be bringing many.'
Ryan scanned his surroundings, activating his headset; this specialized communicator could withstand interference.
"Mobius, have you hacked into the city network?"
"Just a moment. This computer is no match for the ones at the Research Institute." Mobius's fingers flew across the keyboard; camera feeds flashed past. "Found it. Those machines are using the underground waterways; they're converging on you."
"She's not stupid. Find her terminal; I'll handle the rest." Ryan pulled out a black box and pressed a button. Invisible electronic signals spread; the signal would be intercepted, then traced back to him.
This rooftop was ideal for helicopter extraction; it was plausible. Ryan pulled out his white coat, stroking his knife.
"Don't die; I need your cooperation."
Ryan paused, thinking that Mobius was truly persistent, but didn't dwell on it, refocusing.
He saw a streak of light arcing across the night sky, heading towards him. Before he drew his knife, he felt the ground tremble, vibrating erratically.
Sonic resonance; direct demolition!?
No flames, no explosions; the six-story building disintegrated like stacked blocks. Debris rained down. Looking up, the missile trails were above him.
Boom— Boom—
Perfectly calculated. Two fireballs erupted in the collapsing building; a plume of smoke shot into the sky. After a moment, a red figure burst through the dust cloud, landing precariously from a height of several meters.
Even saturation bombing couldn't defeat a Herrscher; the Honkai energy swirling around her formed a protective shield, deflecting debris and shrapnel.
Ryan knelt, his hand tightening on his knife.
Bang— Boom!
The blade flashed; the ground heaved and cracked; six powerful machines burst from the earth.
Powerful computing power, precise control; everything seemed magical. Ryan didn't pause; he couldn't unleash the same inexhaustible Honkai energy as a Herrscher.
But you're not strong enough.
Crimson optical sensors, giant circular saws, hydraulic clamps, high-velocity cannons…
Ryan planted his foot, concentrating Honkai energy beneath him.
Bang!!
The ground shattered; shells tore through the dust, riddling the nearby wall with holes.
[Target not acquired. Searching.]
The machines didn't stop; their optical sensors scanned for infrared signals. But then—
Boom!
A crimson beam erupted from the ground, engulfing the black machine in flames; steel melted at a visible rate; the crimson optical sensors flickered and died.
[High-energy reaction detected. Evading. Initiating area bombardment.]
In the storm drain, Ryan looked up, seeing the jetpack's trail, the Gatling guns firing; these AIs were intelligent, maintaining distance.
Why do I focus on Honkai energy? Because this energy originates from Imaginary Space—
The rain of shells was like a barrage, instantly creating countless craters. Ryan moved forward, hearing the explosions behind him. Twisting his wrist, he unleashed the accumulated energy on his blade, forming a crescent.
"Surpassing human civilization!"
Energy, like a tidal wave, enveloped the shells, detonating the explosives in a burst of fireworks illuminating the night sky, even interfering with the sensors, causing the AIs to lag.
Before they could recover, a spinning circular saw soared through the air, slicing through the thick steel plates like tofu, bisecting the central machine.
[Evacuate! Evacuate!]
Steel disintegrated in mid-air, showering sparks. The remaining three machines scattered, deploying small wings for short bursts of flight.
But above them, in the darkness, a streak of light condensed, instantly slicing through the air, exploding the left machine.
"That's insane!?"
Vill-V's eyes widened. She'd tested her creations; they could barely handle Templar-Class Honkai Beasts. Then she realized something.
The target was too small; powerful weapons were difficult to accurately deploy; intelligence was key; the Honkai Beasts hadn't used a brute-force approach.
"Is this a humanoid Honkai Beast developed by Fire Moth? Interesting." Her eyes lit up; she switched to direct control mode. "My intellect surpasses AI."
Wolfram rods, let's see how you block this.
A machine's chest opened, unleashing dozens of black alloy Wolfram rods under high-energy explosives. Buildings in their path were instantly pierced.
Fire Moth's method against the Herrscher of the Reason.
Ryan frowned. Honkai energy shields had limits. The Herrscher of the Reason had been worn down; of course, that battle was on a scale hundreds of times larger, even using tactical nuclear warheads.
He had no time to think, pressing forward.
He crouched, drew his knife, focusing his energy, his swing like a wall.
Clang clang clang clang…
Bright sparks erupted; energy dispersed; Wolfram rods deflected; the alloy blade cracked and shattered.
Time slowed for Ryan. Fragments of the blade and the meter-long Wolfram rods spun through the air. A distant machine's shoulder cracked; miniature missiles were arming.
Breaching defenses, targeting the core. Without Honkai energy protection, flesh and blood couldn't withstand the steel storm, but—
Skill and tactics could surpass those limitations.
Inch-Fist. Thunderbolt.
Ryan raised his fist. He lacked the Herrscher of the Reason's power, yet his punches and kicks were precise, striking each Wolfram rod's tip.
Thud thud thud!
The projectiles rebounded; amidst the dull thuds, armor buckled; machines toppled; sparks erupted from the penetration points. Before they could recover, the man landed, crushing the steel with the force of a falling meteorite.
Exhale—
Looking at the scattered remains, Ryan exhaled. Honkai energy was truly incredible; it could unleash attacks, create shields, and enhance physical abilities to superhuman levels.
Strength, speed, senses—all enhanced. He felt stronger than ever, though he hadn't acquired the Honkai Emperor's teleportation ability.
"Terminal location acquired. Dock C3."
Mobius's voice, heavy with breathless exertion, reached him—she was ecstatic.
Ryan didn't hesitate, sprinting, Honkai energy forming a rhomboid foothold beneath his feet.
"Understood."
A roar echoed; a streak of light shot forward.
Is this even human?
Vill-V, a young woman, stared at the screen, her mouth agape.
She wouldn't believe it if she hadn't seen it herself—a human, without advanced weaponry, reducing her creations to scrap metal.
No, that energy from Imaginary Space surpassed human technology.
Vill-V was deeply involved in Honkai energy research; her delayed-control technology used quantum information, but that energy was usually used to enhance projectiles, not for direct human control.
Is that a Herrscher? But the two Herrschers were far stronger, even capable of altering the terrain. My firepower wouldn't scratch them even after three days of bombardment.
Curiosity led her into contemplation, then a jolt of realization.
He's coming for me!
Monitors showed a vague figure, traveling at a speed exceeding 100m in five seconds, "gliding" through the air, a precise Sudden Advance.
"Damn it, a hacker's tracing me. I need to run."
A skilled 'magician' knew to flee after a failed performance. Vill-V didn't hesitate, rapidly pressing buttons on the control panel, followed by the whirring of gears.
Defensive mechanisms on the tanker's deck were activating; they should buy her a few minutes.
She grabbed her computer, stuffing her data into a bag. She'd barely taken a few steps when the ship shuddered; then, she heard the tearing sound of metal.
The metal container twisted, like a bursting bubble, then a robotic arm smashed through, sparks showering from the break.
"Your toys are interesting."
The man's voice echoed with the moonlight. Vill-V lowered her hands, seeing a man standing on the robotic arm; his dark hair ruffled by the sea breeze.
"But not enough."