30 minutes later, the bombardment hadn't stopped at all and there were already two instances where the ruin we were in was hit. Luckily, the screen covering us wasn't damaged.
There were also sounds of Metagens flying above us that were scouring the place. I once used the Orb of Concealment to see the situation outside.
Our supposed patrol area indicated by the mission details was already surrounded. They're just waiting for the bombardment to end before they march inside to look for us on foot.
Tough luck, eh?
We were really put on a chopping board.
Rearranging the events that occurred which led to this, it started with that Darkgen scout. What was it doing an hour away from the Black Market anyway? Instead of retreating after seeing Pasuta, he shot at him when he's currently alone. If that wasn't stupid, then what was?
I know I also made some kind of stupid decision when I had that stall owner go berserk. But I had to do it. If nothing happened, we would've gotten more information but the result was as expected.
And it would still lead to this point even if I didn't do anything in there.
When I told what I found out to the five Elite Members, they all turned gloomy as if their graves were already dug.
Haa... Cheer up, will you? The strongest Plot Armor we can ask for at this moment is coming for us.
Ah. Not exactly for us, but for me.
As if I could tell them that. But really, to think that these guys will suddenly decide to surround us and kill us without a second thought.
Is this possibly a normal occurrence? A whole Patrol Team getting wiped out? Or an Assault Team going MIA from their mission?
If it's like that then the three factions were too lax or these guys were too good at erasing any traces that could point to them
Ah, the League could be said as lax as well but I'm being biased about it since it's not as large as them and Nysia wasn't that eager to manage her executives.
I guess I'll suggest to Nysia to reform it and have someone she could truly trust to become something like a CEO who could manage the Executives and below with her and her Core Pilots as the figureheads and main military force.
That way she could be lazy all she wanted and she could also leave this world with me without the League disbanding because of her absence. Win-win, eh?
"Reinforcements are coming, chin up guys. You'll be able to go home and if you did well, I'll recommend all of you to get more incentives to aid those who wanted to become Core Pilots or a clear future for those who wanted to have a stable retirement."
Giving them promises like this was a known tactic to raise morale, even if it wouldn't have that much effect, they would start to think that a miracle could happen.
Well, their survival was already confirmed unless something unexpected happened. If not for my connection to Nysia, I'm not confident at keeping them all alive.
After hearing my words, they looked up and somehow cast away some of their gloom.
As long as this place holds, we wouldn't move.
But yeah… Even if we didn't move, that's not the case for our enemies.
Soon enough, the bombardment stopped and the march of the Metagen and Darkgen alike started to fill our ears. I counted them earlier and there were at least 5 times our numbers and that number was only those who were already in their Metagen and Darkgen, there were also those in Powergen that would sweep every ruin to look for us.
There's really no one in this area but us and that was confirmed by Nell with her ability so it was already almost 90% certain that we're their targets. There are still other possibilities we couldn't rule out but yeah the possibility was too low for it.
"An hour at best. She will arrive in an hour. Follow my lead and I'll ensure that you all will be able to go home."
Though I'm the strongest, I have skills that could empower and support them. As long as they don't mess up, I'll make sure to keep them alive.
"We're at your command, Sir."
The five of them saluted and shouted in unison. No matter what, they really didn't have a choice now.
"Alright. Get in your Metagen, everyone"
After commanding them, they all released their Metagens from its compressed state and entered it.
The same as them, I released the Purple Haze and jumped inside.
I had Nell to use her ability to observe the enemies through her Enhanced Hearing. Using the result of her observation, I drew out a plan for us to avoid being encircled completely.
Incorporating their abilities into the plan, if everything goes well, we'll be able to keep moving and stall for time. The only unaccounted variable was the enemies' abilities that's why I put in the Dispelling Arrow as a key skill. It will be used to stop them from disrupting my plan.
"2 minutes."
Nell reminded me. I nodded through the screen where everyone was connected to.
"Pasuta. Start in 1 minute."
"Roger!"
After saluting, his Metagen went in front of us. The damage his Metagen got from the Darkgen was already repaired. As long as the regeneration property of the regenium wasn't damaged, it would continue to regenerate itself.
Apart from the regenium mine, every ore they mined has the possibility to have the regeneration property to be damaged and removed. If that happened, that's the time for the Metagen to be manually repaired by replacing the damaged regenium plates.
Using his ability, a variation or should I say a lower version of Earth Control and Terrakinesis which Matthew has, he melted the ground into a lump of clay and absorbed it in his Metagen revealing a hole in the ground.
Well, he's not burrowing but only getting his ammo. That's his ability; melting, absorbing and dispersing. By absorbing it, it didn't mean it would become a part of his armor but it would only be stored somewhere which could form projectiles he could shoot, be it balls of soil or stakes made from it. It was strengthened with his Meta Energy so it's a bit stronger.
One minute soon passed and without ordering, Pasuta pulled the screen down which revealed the surprised Metagens approaching our location. Right on time according to Nell's ability.
"Scram!"
He shouted and started shooting whatever he had towards them while speeding forward with the five of us following behind him.
With him at the front, we waded forward without stopping, leaving those Metagens as they scrambled to follow behind us right after composing themselves.
However, Sen being the one in the rear used some add-ons from his Metagen. The backside of his Metagen opened and released bombs that exploded on contact.
With Pasuta's projectiles as our vanguard and Sen's bombs as our rearguard, we became an unstoppable group temporarily swimming through the battlefield while the predators were trying to circle and gang up on us
Energy Field, Physique Boost and Spirit Boost didn't have any use when using a Metagen so I couldn't buff any of them. Psyche Boost could only refresh their minds, it could temporarily boost their Intelligence but it uses Psyche Energy.
I'm stingy about Psyche Energy. It will be hard if I need it later only to find out that I already used up my reserves.
That's why… my buffs were pretty useless this time.
They were all useless, weren't they? Only now did I feel like my accumulated Support Skills were meaningless. Even the orbs. Concealment could be used but one stray bullet could reveal someone, it's not ideal to be used during a close chase like this. Ailment also needed a lot of Flux Energy to cover a small area and that didn't ensure a 50% reduction on their stats. Enhancement only buffs Strength and Endurance,Metagens have no use for that, they only rely on Brain Capacity and the Metagen itself.
I would just have to come up for something new next time to cope with this glaring problem.
And that shouldn't be my focus, in a few seconds, Pasuta's projectiles would run out. We already passed through to at least 10 Metagens but they're all flocking towards us due to that.
"I ran out!"
Pasuta shouted before moving backwards, Oni replaced him to become the vanguard and used his ability. It wasn't that good during combat but upon using it to surprise the enemy, it was surprisingly effective.
His ability is called Illusion Wave, literally just a wave of illusion that can put those unaware of it or those who were surprised in a hallucinatory state where they would be paralyzed for a bit while they drifted off to dreamland.
The two Darkgens at the front who were propping up a cannon on their shoulders froze upon being hit by it.
Using that as an opportunity, the Purple Haze I was riding in went past from the middle straight to the two Darkgens using Flash Step along with Flash Draw upon touching the ground. With how fast it was, it could only be seen by the others as my Metagen which spewed out the purple smoke went past the two frozen Darkgens.
And when the smoke covered the two. It stood frozen there like idiots as our group passed by them.
However, moments after the purple smoke dispersed, the two Darkgens' front areas burst open before the two fell to the ground, severely damaged.
The cutting power of the Flash Draw wasn't enough to cut through a Dark Energy-enhanced Darkgen completely.
Though regrettable, the outcome was already more than enough.
"Sir Daisuke, are you sure you're not the original owner of that Metagen? That was fast and amazing! Even back then when the Confederacy stopped us!"
Suddenly, the voice of Nell and the faces of the five Elite Members appeared on my screen, awe written on it while they waited for my answer.
I guess they're trying to increase their morale by asking this.
"Don't sweat it. If my own Specialized Metagen was successfully made, we wouldn't even need to move from our position."
Answering them with enthusiasm, it really raised their morale even for a bit as we went ahead and continued dodging and counter-attacking all the while stalling for time, waiting for Nysia's arrival.
We need an hour however, the enemies only needed to plan it well to corner us. And right at that moment, the Specialized Metagens which only watched the spectacle earlier started to move. There were three of them and by judging through their build. They're all of balanced variation.
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by (f)reew𝒆b(n)ovel.com