Chapter 184

[ All units, first-grade response posture. ]

The automaton beside the president issues orders, causing the atmosphere of the robot legion charging toward us to shift dramatically.

[ Commence attack. ]

[ I will eliminate you. ]

Flash of blades and barrels aimed at us.

The restrictions binding the human robots seem to have been lifted as they immediately respond to the enemy’s actions by spreading their arms wide.

“Release collection!”

A rough halo of light surrounds us.

Flames erupt from the barrels of all the automatons.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Ting, ting!

Bullets ricochet with sparks.

A brilliant white light gradually materializes, revealing a dark invader tank, becoming the barrier that protects me and Ms. Simonia.

[ ?! ]

The human robots freeze at the appearance of the armored weapon.

The invader legion, which had not been utilized because of the need to be mindful of people’s gazes while eradicating the crime organization in the Outland, has no such restrictions here with only us and the enemy present in this dilapidated factory.

This means there’s no need to hold back.

[ ST-05 Clarent mobilized. Please issue commands, Commander. ]

“All surrounding human robots are enemies! Blow them all away!”

[ Command confirmed, excluding enemies. ]

The tank turret rotates.

[ All units, output restriction lifted. ]

As the automaton beside the president gives another order, smoke billows from the joints of the human robots.

The automaton’s hand reaches out towards us.

[ Charge. ]

Enemies approach at a speed much faster than before.

The tank cannon and heavy machine gun unleash fire.

Kaboom!

Drrrrrr-

The automaton is shattered into pieces from the shelling.

Large-caliber bullets fired from the machine gun tear apart the limbs of the automaton that was dispersing its bullets.

Despite being subjected to a furious barrage, the enemies do not retreat; instead, they scatter and change direction sharply, evading fire and approaching.

I confirm the rapidly approaching footsteps and prepare for the attack.

“Summon enhanced humanoids! Baby! Girl! Guy!”

Thud.

A heavy noise resonates, and a few automatons leap from atop the tank.

Bang-

Accompanied by gunfire, the eyes of the automatons shatter.

They weren’t powerful enough to have significant stopping power, but the attack precisely pierced a weakness, destabilizing the automaton’s stance.

“Indeed, it seems they’re not combat models.”

Saying this, Ms. Simonia raises her left hand.

A robotic arm stored inside her clothing emerges from underneath her red coat, aiming at the automaton.

[ !! ]

As she jumps upward, a beam is shot towards the exposed abdomen of the defenseless automaton.

The white beam instantly melts the automaton’s exterior and soon creates a large hole in its body.

The light in its eyes extinguishes, and the automaton falls.

While my comrades are being attacked, another automaton, having closed the distance, lunges at Ms. Simonia with its weapon extended.

Simultaneously, something swiftly darts out from the edge of her coat.

The automaton’s weapon strikes down.

Clang!

No sound that can be made by human skin.

[ !! ]

Just as the automaton’s attack is blocked by a suddenly appearing round flying object, Ms. Simonia aims her firearm.

Bang-

With the shot piercing its neck, the motor cables are torn, and the automaton’s movements become sluggish.

“I don’t particularly like close combat, but—”

Ms. Simonia is already up close to the automaton.

Metal parts that had emerged from her coat quickly fit together in her left hand, forming a sturdy iron fist that resembles the gauntlets of knights.

“Now isn’t the time to be picky!!”

She unleashes a punch.

Whoosh!!

[ !!! ]

With a heavy noise, the automaton’s movements halt, and the upper part of the iron fist splits open, revealing a rough black muzzle.

Bang!!

Gunfire bursts forth at close range.

The two rounds of shotgun shells and gas pressure pierce the automaton, creating a large hole.

Using various equipment freely to eliminate the enemy, Ms. Simonia.

The moment all the enemies that charged first are subdued, reinforcements rush in.

“Baby! Girl! Guy! Intercept!”

Three summoned beings jump toward the enemies.

[ !! ]

The automaton delivers a close-range attack resembling gears, but the girl evades it with a flexible movement.

In the meantime, Baby, who was clinging to the girl’s back, rushes at the exposed automaton.

Spinning around, Baby’s hands reveal muzzles, showering bullets onto the enemy.

[ ?! ]

The automaton quickly becomes a beehive, destroyed.

As Ms. Simonia said, the armor of a regular model, not a combat model, was too vulnerable to attacks.

Bang!

Guy crashes down with heavy hands, slamming the automaton into the ground.

Another automaton strikes at Guy, but the attack is blocked by his sturdy armor, and in retaliation, Guy’s fist crushes the automaton.

The resounding explosions and gunfire persist.

The number of automatons being shot by the tank’s assault rapidly decreases as well.

And then, there are metal sounds ringing from afar.

Instead of clapping, the president claps his hands, creating clanking metallic sounds.

[ Is this level of power really not enough? Truly impressive combat strength. ]

“You should have at least prepared a combat model. Did you think you could defeat Edu with just this? What a grand dream you have.”

[ I see, it seems my thoughts were indeed short-sighted. ]

The president nods in acknowledgment of Ms. Simonia’s sarcasm.

His nonchalant demeanor, even amidst the annihilation of his troops, narrows my eyes.

It seems there’s something else he’s relying on besides human robots.

“So, is the surprise show over with this?”

[ How could it be? ]

The president thumps his chest.

Having rummaged through the crumpled armor, he pulls out something.

A circular object glowing with blue, thick wires attached to it.

“A power source…?”

[ That’s correct. There are still many usable items from the old era. ]

The color of the power source turns red, and ominous beeping sounds begin to echo.

Could it be that he intends to self-destruct?

“Ms. Simonia!”

Bang— bang!

Instead of a reply, gunfire rings out.

The shot bullet hits the motor behind it, causing the power source to tumble to the ground.

Beep. Beep. Beep—

“Girl! Baby! Guy!!”

Baby climbs onto Guy’s hand.

With his stance set, Guy pulls back his hand to the limit before flinging it sideways.

Accelerated, Baby rushes toward the president in an instant.

Baby picks up the discarded power source from the ground and tosses it back, while Girl, jumping into the air, catches it and throws it back to Guy.

The power source lands perfectly in Guy’s large hand.

Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep—

As the ominous tones quicken, Guy twists his body dramatically and hurls the power source into the sky.

The power source vanishes in an instant.

Soon, a flash illuminates the sky above the outskirts of the Outland.

Boom!!

With an explosion, flames and smoke erupt.

It seemed to be using quite a powerful power source as the scale of the explosion was remarkable, but due to our quick response, there was no damage.

“Phew.”

“Is that it? It turned out to be less thrilling than I thought.”

Though she said this, Ms. Simonia keeps her guard up, surveying the surroundings.

I nod in response to her words.

“That is true, but there is something that’s bothering me.”

“Bothering you?”

“Yes, the actions of that thing at the end seemed a bit strange.”

“Are you referring to the self-destruct attack?”

“Exactly.”

The last actions of that thing seemed ambiguous to be targeting us.

The explosion caused by the power source was sizable, but it wouldn’t be enough to damage the armor of the tank protecting us.

There are too many doubts surrounding its intent.

“Hmm, I didn’t get the impression that it had attacking intentions either. It felt more like it was aiming for something else.”

“Did you feel that way too, Ms. Simonia?”

“Yes.”

I gather my thoughts.

In AOE, the president fails in his plans, desperately struggles at the end, and then is no longer seen. That is the proper flow I know.

However, comparing its behavior and atmosphere to that time, it felt less like a desperate struggle and more like it had something it was banking on.

‘Could it be that there was a change in the enemy’s actions?’

So far, changes in the flow I’ve seen have been limited to events, but I realize now that changes don’t necessarily have to be confined to events.

As this fact crosses my mind, a thought strikes me.

Given that it went through the trouble of transforming its body into a robot, is there a need to cling to its physical form? If it had a spare body prepared somewhere….

“Hmm.”

“Edu?”

“It feels like this isn’t over yet. Let’s take the remains of that robot back and investigate.”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

….

Buzzing—

A low sound reverberates in the dark space.

Rectangular rough objects are lined up in a row among the intricately tangled machinery.

Amidst the eerie atmosphere, a large steel box that looks reminiscent of a coffin and the glowing red light underneath it come into view.

The light of the box at the end changes to green with a beep sound.

[ Regular communication disruption, Code 0 situation occurred. Activating reserve according to legal procedures. ]

A guiding voice echoes throughout the facility.

Chiiick—

Steam rises as the steel box opens and what was contained within stands on the ground.

Clang.

The sound of metal scraping against metal.

A skeletal face glows with ash-gray sensors as it surveys its surroundings.

[ Hm, Code 0 situation…. I see, it has already failed. ]

The voice of the president flows from within the robot.

Having grasped the situation, the president strides confidently forward into the depths of the facility.

The robot president faces the blue light that radiates from the large power conduit.

After tapping the control panel attached beneath it a few times, the guiding voice rings out once more.

[ Warning. Warning. Entering facility destruction procedure by the highest authorized individual. All personnel must evacuate the facility immediately. Warning. Warning. ]

The president turns on his heel without hesitation.

The lights of the power conduit turn red, and sparks fly from the complex machinery as the facility begins to collapse.

[ With this, it’s 1:0. What method should I use next…. ]

The president taps his metal jaw.

[ No, first I must analyze the cause of my defeat. I’ll have to think about the details afterward. ]

Muttering to himself, the president exits the facility, while the hidden robot manufacturing facility crumbles with a tremendous roar.