Chapter 55: Exposure
Just as Roland was about to carry the man on the ground away, his eyes narrowed—and in the next instant, he vanished. Two Maelstrom members, cursing as they approached, came walking straight toward the spot.
They immediately noticed the figure lying on the floor.
“Damn, this guy’s still not dead? Tough bastard… tch tch.”
“I don’t know… something feels wrong.”
The other Maelstrom member stepped closer, noticing that the man’s once-mangled jaw was now sprouting patches of uneven, newly grown skin. His pupils shrank sharply.
“Hey—”
His companion turned his head at the sound. “What is it?”
But no answer came. Frowning, he stepped forward—just in time to see a thin red line spreading across the center of his partner’s body. A flash of red light followed.
A Thermal Katana had already pierced his throat. He instinctively grabbed the blade to pull it free, but all he managed to do was burn his own hand, filling the air with the smell of seared flesh.
Roland dragged the blade upward, then sheathed his weapon. He didn’t notice that among the corpse pile nearby, one cybernetic eye had slowly begun to move.
At that same moment, an anonymous email with a corrupt sender address arrived on Andre’s device while he was resting inside the factory.
As he read, his brows twisted into a deep frown. He rose to his feet.
“What’s wrong, boss?”
A Maelstrom member next to him stared, confused.
“Goddammit—someone got inside the factory and none of you idiots noticed?! Move! Get your asses to the processing plant and butcher that bastard for me! I’m turning him into a meat patty!”
Andre slapped the man hard across the face, grabbed a massive shotgun, and pointed at another group. “You—take some people and check the surveillance room.”
White, watching all this unfold, went pale. “Get out of there, now! We’ve been exposed! They’re heading your way!”
Hearing that over comms, Roland’s expression sharpened. He looked down at the injured figure on the floor, drew in a deep breath, and said, “White, you all fall back first. I still have things to finish here.”
He plugged the virus USB Kiwi had given him into a nearby computer, then walked toward the door. He shut off the recording function—what was about to happen wasn’t something to keep on record.
“What do we do now?”
Rich looked at Kiwi, unable to contain himself.
“Go back them up. If necessary… forget about Yi.”
“You serious?”
Tina frowned sharply.
“Yes. If we stay, we’ll just weigh him down.”
Kiwi let out a bitter smile.
Hearing that, Tina didn’t argue further. Instead, she began hacking into the factory’s automated defenses—turrets, mines, and other security systems.
BOOM!
Andre, charging toward the processing workshop, froze at the sudden explosion. Seeing his stunned subordinates, he exploded in rage: “Don’t just stand there—help them!!”
“Y-Yes!!”
Bang!
Another deafening crash. Andre turned just in time to see an iron door hurtling straight at him. He crossed his arms and stopped it, metal screeching under the impact. His glowing red lenses locked instantly onto the figure behind the door.
But the moment he recognized the silhouette, it disappeared again.
Instinct took over—he swung his enormous arm at empty space.
BOOM!
A metallic shriek rippled through the air—the blow struck nothing.
“Arrgh!!”
A Thermal Katana plunged into his shoulder. Roland had appeared behind him in a blink. Just as Roland prepared to sever the man’s arm—
A gun barrel extended from Andre’s calf.
Bang! Clang!
A red flash sliced the bullet cleanly in half. Roland narrowed his eyes. That modification… was unexpected.
Clang!
A massive Mantis Blade tore through the air, carving brutal gashes into the walls.
“Better finish you quickly.”
“Arrogant brat!!”
Roland’s body flared with orange light, a green shield slowly forming around him.
Szzzt—
In the dim room, the orange streak vanished instantly.
Roland frowned. His Thermal Katana… had broken.
The blade was embedded in Andre’s chest, trapped between his muscle fibers.
“Cough… ha! You’re dead now, kid!!”
Andre spat a mouthful of blood and grinned viciously as he threw a punch.
“Tsk… annoying.”
Roland twisted his waist and counterpunched.
BAM!
A massive force surged through Andre’s fist. His vision blurred as he was sent flying, crashing into nearby equipment and denting it deeply. Sparks burst from his Gorilla Arms, one limb now twisted and smoking.
Andre stared in shock—he couldn’t understand how Roland had produced such overwhelming strength.
Roland simply thought: Damage reduction plus fighter-class strength. Simple.
He ignored the now-helpless Andre, activated acceleration again, dashed into the processing workshop, picked up the injured figure, and charged out.
Outside, chaos erupted. Golor sniped Maelstrom members with precision shots from range.
Vilet hefted a rocket launcher, aiming at the main gate.
Meanwhile, the Maelstrom’s own heavy turret—now under Kiwi and Tina’s control—suppressed them relentlessly.
White took advantage of the confusion, triggered his Sandevistan, and sprinted back. The overload left him panting heavily, nose bleeding.
Then they all saw it: a figure wrapped in green Light bursting through a storm of bullets. Every round struck the shield without even causing a ripple.
They froze.
“What are you staring for?! Move!!”
“O-Oh! Right!!”
Vroom—
Engines roared to life. The group sped away, leaving the Maelstrom gang stunned in the dust.
But they quickly recovered, storming toward their vehicles with fury and giving chase.
“Who is he?”
Kiwi asked, staring at the disfigured figure in the back seat.
“A vengeful wraith. From now on… his name is Pyke.”
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