With a shattering crash, an arrow flies through the broken shutter, piercing the cannon barrel of one spider and triggering an explosion. Its back half-destroyed, the spider slows dramatically. A blue knight leaps in, thrusting a one-handed sword engraved with a rose emblem into its exposed internals.
Unlike organic enemies, the robot sparks and explodes. The other two seem momentarily rattled—or maybe that's my imagination.
"Heroes depend on luck, but comrades always show up in a pinch. Right?"
"Heh, still cool as ever, huh?"
Diavel lands his catchphrase while flanking another spider, unleashing the sword skill Vertical Arc. Shinon targets the cannon barrels, likely aiming for another explosion. It seems the blast only triggers right before a shot, but her attacks keep the spiders from using their cannons, serving as a deterrent.
"Diavel! Shinon! The leg attacks don't hurt much, but watch out for the mouth lasers! Duck to dodge them!"
"Got it!"
"Understood! Damn it, there were no laser attacks in the beta!"
Ignoring Shinon's complaints, I re-equip my war pick. I've got enough STR to wield it one-handed, but most of its sword skills require both hands, so I can't unleash its full potential with my arm gone.
"No way! This is what leveling was for! This is what proficiency was for! This is what Warhammer was for!"
Robots, with their sturdy armor, are weak to blunt damage. My war pick, with both blunt and piercing attributes, is their natural enemy.
It smashes through armor, its dull but sharp tip piercing deep. As long as I'm not surrounded, I can hit their flanks freely. Their leg attacks are weak and easy to read. Best of all, their underbellies are wide open.
Seconds after Diavel downs another spider, I shatter the one I've been pummeling under its belly.
"God, I'm exhausted! I seriously almost died!"
Slumping to the ground, Shinon mercilessly extends a hand. Fine, fine, I'll get up.
Gripping her oddly cold hand, I stand and grin at Diavel as he approaches.
"No need for apologies or thanks. I'm your comrade, too. Maybe not a hero, but I'll protect my team."
"Got it. But I'll thank you later—with my special blend."
"You're gonna make me drink your failed puke-water again? At least give me the decent stuff like you gave Shinon!"
Diavel's coffee obsession is fine, but his brews are awful. The beans available can't even mimic coffee flavor. I just want something drinkable, but he keeps giving me the toxic sludge. It practically drains my HP!
"Enough chatter. Let's treat you first."
Shinon pulls a syringe filled with yellow liquid from her inventory.
"Whoa…"
That color screams danger. It looks like something packed with T or G viruses.
With a devilish smirk, Shinon flicks the needle, letting a drop of the yellow liquid splash onto the metal floor. It hisses and smokes, clearly corrosive.
Wait, is this legit poison? I instinctively back away like a cockroach.
"Baron Baland's Lizard Reagent. It regenerates severed limbs over eight hours. But I heard from the seller it's got a rough reputation."
Of course it does. That madman wouldn't give us a convenient early-game item without some nasty drawback.
Steeling myself, I extend my severed arm. Shinon grabs it with unsettling gentleness, as if declaring I can't escape.
Oh, right—my STR is lower than Shinon's now, isn't it? The Spirit Bow Akatsuki has a decent STR requirement, so I'm really trapped.
The needle's intrusion into my stump feels vile, followed by the strange sensation of the drug being injected. Shinon's efficiency wraps it up in five seconds.
Then the anomaly hits. A burning heat spreads from within, like I'm melting. Yeah, this is rough.
"Why the hell did over 10,000 people log into this shitty game?"
"The beta was way milder. No severed-state discomfort, and this Lizard Reagent only caused an hour of paralysis."
So that lunatic used the beta to test how much despair, pain, and fear he could inflict? That'd explain these detailed changes.
"Ku, can you move? I know it's tough, but we shouldn't stay here."
"There's a monster-free zone ahead if it's still like the beta. Diavel, carry Ku. I'll take point."
As Shinon said, a few dozen meters down the corridor, we reach a room labeled Rest Area. But unlike the beta, it's locked, and the automatic door won't budge.
Minutes ago, I'd have told Diavel to use Codebreaking without hesitation, but after that trap, I'm wary. And I doubt Kayaba's successor left such an obvious trap spot untouched.
"Shinon, what's past this corridor? We might need to take turns keeping watch."
"The next area should be a huge warehouse district. It's full of patrol robots that only attack if their cameras spot you. There are plenty of blind spots for hiding."
Still, Shinon seems reluctant to abandon the rest area. Honestly, I'd prefer a safer spot over one where we're exposed to attacks.
"No use being picky. I'm not as bad off as I thought, so let's go with Diavel's plan."
I hop out of Diavel's arms, staggering but walking on my own. Honestly, being carried like a princess by another guy feels gross. If you're gonna carry a dude, do it right—sling him over your shoulder like luggage!
Ignoring Diavel's oddly wistful look, I let him watch our backs while Shinon and I scout the warehouse district. With Presence Concealment, we're suited for recon, though it's less effective against robots' sensors and cameras. Still, it's better than nothing.
As Shinon said, the warehouse is patrolled by meter-tall robots—cylinders topped with balls, each sporting a large blue mono-eye. I wonder if this matches the beta info, but Shinon nods slightly, confirming it.
The warehouse is stacked with containers, mostly blue and red, though peeling paint reveals dull gray underneath. The scratches look like a monster rampaged through.
Could this be a clue about the boss? I don't know how Shinon interprets my glance, but she points to a gap behind a container—a safe spot.
It's about 10 meters away, with two patrol robots in between. They'll probably call for backup if one's destroyed. Our only option is to slip through when both cameras aren't looking.
"Snake. Great Snake. Snake. Snake. SnakeSnakeSnake!"
Great Sneaking God Snake! Grant me your power! I clasp my hands in prayer, ignoring Shinon's creeped-out stare.
I dart through, weaving to avoid the robots' gazes. The Sneaking God blesses me, and despite my burning body, I slide into the container gap.
Shinon follows effortlessly, and Diavel, unbelievably, strolls through, calmly staying out of the cameras' view. Apparently, the Snake blessed these faithless heathens, too.
"You guys better thank Snake! Praise him! Build an altar! Offer sacrifices!"
"Your head's gone loopy. Is this the drug's side effect?"
"Probably. Let's knock him out with a level 1 sedative. Keeping him awake's just cruel."
Hold up, I heard something ominous! I need to prepare a counterattack…!
But before I can, Diavel pulls out a knife dripping with viscous, translucent blue liquid and lightly grazes my neck. It barely dents my HP, but it's definitely bad news.
"Goodnight. I'll have food ready when you wake."
Shinon's ominously cute, satisfied smile is the last thing I see before my consciousness fades to black.