Глава 7

Would you shut up already—

You are not.

You want to stop Reunion. You want to stop the attack on Lungmen. Those are your intentions.

W, W... You're all too easy to read. I didn't even need to make any plans to investigate you. You came here wearing your heart on your sleeves.

That's a load of bullshit.

I'll turn you into a puddle of gore and have someone dump you down the waste chute, assuming there's anything left.

I press the button on the device in my hand. A simple Originium detonator switch, remotely operated, chained explosions.

A blazing light of destruction mixing with a deliriously pungent aroma. Waves of heat carrying fragments of debris, overturning everything in front of me. Just as I planned, everything reduced to cinders, even the most thick-skinned Sarkaz...

Wait...

Wait, wait... Didn't I have a detonator mechanism for the explosives?

Why did she plant her sword in the ground?

Was this your trap?

Try me, W of the Sarkaz. Try again.

Hold on, you...

No fire. No burning.

The hundreds of Originium explosives I painstakingly twisted into the steel foundations of the city... are all gone.

Where are the explosions? The heat? The shrapnel?

Nothing.

The place where I planted the Originium is deformed, melted, and warped. Drips of iron and the burned oil paint covering it gives off nasty smell. But that's it.

My shrapnel. My blast waves. My light show. It's not going to happen.

The cataclysm that I pictured in my mind a million times over... isn't going to happen.

The cunning dragon lady must have poured her Arts into her sword and channeled it deep into the steel beneath us.

The heat radiated to each of my traps, melting them away.

You figured it out. You're so smart, W.

The world-ending explosion from all directions that should have blown her into a billion little pieces... is nothing but a big, wet fart.

All right, I've been thoroughly played.

*Cough,* *cough...*

Dragon lady, you're... not half bad...

Was this result also part of your plans?

Let me guess, your backup plan is, you'll show me an improvised suicide bombing spectacle, isn't that right?

Let's not waste each others' time.

Don't get too cocky... *cough*, *cough*... little girl. Say, are you... even the same person? Right now, even I... don't really wanna know.

I don't need you to define me.

Choose your death. Die by my flames, be thrown from the city walls, or be run through by my sword.

Can you really... finish me off?

Steel must endure a thousand trials in the forge before it can become a sword. A sword is destined from birth to be a weapon.

But you... are just a mortal shell that has not yet died.

Ah, that... would be an honor.

To be impaled by this sword... Would I be... the first one?

Unfortunately, you'll have to accept second.

Now... If we're talking people I've blown up... You, well...

...wouldn't even have a number.

Am I going to die? I guess so.

But what's so bad about death? There are many things worse than dying.

So, when you feel like you're done for...

As long as you've prepared for the stuff worse than death, you'll even manage to surprise yourself.

Now... I think, it's about time I also blow this joint.

*cough*...

You blew yourself apart right in my hands...? I thought you'd be more afraid to die.

Though your defection didn't surprise me, you, yourself, did... surprise me a little.

You had some potential... as the opening act of a farce.

I hope your death was painful enough, W of Victoria.

After the battle, 31 hours until impact, 6:30 P.M.

Leader.

Sir. Your return gives me great peace of mind.

Formalities, unnecessary. There was a battle here. Just now.

It was between me and W, who tried to assassinate me. Don't worry, I'm fine.

From the reports I've received, she was already showing signs of rebellion when she occupied Chernobog.

She made her own decision to let the enemy escape, instigated the Sarkaz mercenaries' rebellion, and murdered her superior.

These series of actions were likely caused by outside political forces.

Where is she now?

She should have, stood trial.

She detonated the explosives hidden around her body and fell into the core area.

I will dispatch someone to search for her body. Sir, you need not worry yourself.

That, does not concern me.

And her Sarkaz? What of them?

I will deal with it. Now that the core city is steadily moving on track, I'll need to stabilize the situation immediately.

...Leader. This core city... was activated. Without my knowing. Why?

Even the comms. Have been broken.

We're out of options. Ursus may attack Chernobog at any time and slaughter our compatriots. For their sake, we must first take down Lungmen.

Right now, all energy must be used to support the operation of the core city, and we have no excess power to support tuning the ingoing and outgoing channels.

The Originium left behind by the Catastrophe is so potent that we cannot endure it.

The order to recall you exhausted the last of our backup supply. Now, there is only one place that can provide us with enough refined Originium.

Even then, if time is tight. Please discuss with us.

What you say may be correct. I'm sorry, Sir. I should have given it more thought.

But... What's done, is done.

This Key. How will you use it?

It can stop the city.

This city... can be stopped?

Many things, once started. Will not stop.

So, I'm entrusting this key to you. You'll decide when we stop.

I apologize for giving you such an arbitrary command.

You seem more subdued today than usual, Sir.

No. I will go. To guard the core city.

Someone will attack. They will try.

And I will stop them.

Excuse me, Sir.

Crownslayer, FrostNova, Mephisto, and Faust are still waiting for our help. We must not let any outsiders interfere with our plans.

...Talulah.

What's the matter, my champion?

Leader.

Any evil, no matter how great. Will always come, to an end.

This, I firmly believe.

Yes, I share the same conviction.

...Goodbye, Leader.

Go, Patriot.

To end this war and regain the status of the Infected, Reunion will crush all enemies standing in our way.

What's this?

A kind of, Sarkaz talisman. Two pieces.

This one, is for you. The other one, I will keep.