Chapter 48: Nail Punch
Summary of the Previous Episode
Scarlet has turned into a quirky "Yumekawa"-loving lady!? (No, she hasn't.)
"Now, now. You should really direct that murderous intent toward our opponent instead."
"Phew... phew..."
"Hey, I'm just getting caught in the crossfire here!"
"Well, you were enemies to begin with. Moving on. Scarlet, you have to give your thoughts direction and make sure they reach the target. Think of it like a psychic power—forcing your will on others. However, the catch with this method is..."
"Freeze."
"!!"
The enemy girl... and Scarlet both stopped in their tracks.
"Since you're just taking a portion of your own neural signals and amplifying them to feed into the opponent, your own movements end up restricted as well."
"Isn't that... a bit of a fatal flaw!?"
In an instant, the woman broke free from the paralysis and sprayed bullets toward Scarlet. She took several hits, and it's fair to say the tide was turning against her.
"I told you, you have to think for yourself. It’s like being forced to participate in a debate while you're in the middle of a warzone; of course you’re going to struggle. So..."
I pulled back my long white hair to expose the nape of my neck and tilted my head slightly to show Scarlet.
"Try connecting with me. Wired, wireless—I don't care which. Learn what it’s like to have multiple consciousnesses in one body."
"!!"
"Like I'd let you!!"
"Look, it even comes with a mini-game where you dodge flying beans! Have fun with it."
"Understood!"
I didn't deflect anything except what was coming straight for me. Scarlet closed the distance, her body twisting repeatedly as she brushed off the bullets that struck her.
"This... is the end!!"
The opponent went into Full Burst mode, unleashing everything!
She can't parry them all—
"Then!!"
Scarlet's consciousness linked to me remotely.
"Oh?"
"Forgive me, but I'm going to trace your movements!!"
"...Ah, I see where this is going."
My vision synchronized with Scarlet's, and I swung my arms to slice through the bullets flying everywhere.
However, that was only the information Scarlet was seeing. From my perspective, I was just swinging at empty air.
Mimicking those movements, Scarlet displayed perfect synchronization and deflected all the bullets... or rather, she didn't deflect them all, but she managed to keep the damage to a minimum.
...I know why it turned out that way.
"You're... just not tall enough."
No matter how much Alter might have envied my height, I'm still shorter than Scarlet...
"I'm connecting!"
"Sure thing. Come at me with everything you've got."
Now then, I suppose I should give her a lecture on how I usually utilize the sub-memory Esil.
"Do you understand now?"
"Yes. However... it's completely impossible for me right now."
"Be happy you went from zero to one. Once you've got a foothold, the rest comes quickly."
"Yes... here I go!!"
Now, it's time to wake up.
"You think I'll let you take the lead!?"
"Freeze."
The same verbal attack as before. But the difference this time... was that despite her awkwardness, Scarlet was able to run.
"Gah! But no matter how much you stop my movement, it's pointless if you can't break through my armor!!"
"True... which is why!!"
—Bang!
A shot.
—Bang-bang!
One shot followed by another.
—Bang-ba-bang!
Shot, shot, shot!
Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!!!
Maintaining precise, pinpoint fire without a single millimeter of deviation, the first bullet acted as a pilot, penetrating deep inside like a nail being driven home.
"Wait, hold on—"
"This is... everything I've got!!"
—Bang!
"Is it over?"
"Yes."
Seeing her still buzzing with adrenaline, there's one more thing I can do for her.
"It's time for an upgrade. Take this."
"This is...!"
Mythic Weapon: Russian-style Tokarev Model, Universal-Class Electronic Handgun—the Dot Note Laser Pistol.
"It's a trump card. If you use it now, your arm will fly off."
"I'll... treasure it."
"Heheh. I wonder if the newbie's going to be okay?"
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