Chapter 210
Current flashed at the fingertips of the Model Prisoner. Electricity, converted into deep blue light energy, flew in and zapped Samsao.
Samsao convulsed as if having a seizure. Along the current on his skin, a wound split open, forming a Lichtenberg Figure.
It was a serious situation at a glance. However, none of the Companions panicked. Even Cheonchilbaek, who had the least resistance, remained calm. It was because they had gotten used to it.
In terms of role-Playing Game roles, Samsao’s class was the Tank.
His supernatural ability was super regeneration and physical ability enhancement.
The red burns inflicted by the current faded as new flesh sprouted. Samsao let out a bizarre roar and charged at the Model Prisoner who was using Electric Discharge.
Terrified by that ruthless, berserker-like charge, the Model prisoners were knocked away.
This was the result of holding back just enough to avoid being chased by the inquisitor. Samsao’s supernatural ability was truly powerful.
In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Samsao practically carried the fight against the Model prisoners, doing more than half the work alone.
The next to shine was Osai.
He leaped at a Model Prisoner who had grown into a brute, single-handedly blocking the passage. The Giant Model Prisoner snorted and lightly snatched Osai with one hand.
In that state, he violently slammed Osai down.
Even if he was a giant, he had merely grown larger and slightly stronger, so throwing someone wouldn’t outright kill them, but Osai’s body scattered like dust and vanished.
While the giant flinched in surprise, someone slipped between his legs.
Stab-!
The sound of a vital spot being struck. The Giant Model Prisoner instantly rolled his eyes back, foamed at the mouth, and collapsed. Because he was so large, the sound of him crumbling was also deafening.
Osai was also the one slipping out from behind the collapsing body.
His supernatural ability, Clone Generation, was extremely useful in this kind of chaotic battle situation.
Due to the inquisitor, generating just one clone was his limit, but utilizing it in the right place at the right time was enough to throw the Model prisoners into confusion.
[This friend would make a perfect barricade. Everyone, cross over!]
Paradox’s voice echoed in their heads. His supernatural ability, telepathy, wasn’t directly helpful in combat.
However, Paradox himself fought exceptionally well despite his chubby body, and perhaps due to the power of telepathy, he intervened brilliantly at every dangerous moment to help, thoroughly fulfilling his role.
The only one failing to pull his weight was Cheonchilbaek. He didn’t think he was bad at fighting, but the vicious criminals of Glitch Hall were on a different level.
On top of that, didn’t all the Model prisoners possess powerful supernatural abilities?
On the other hand, Cheonchilbaek’s supernatural ability was of little help in battle.
It was an ability specialized only in surviving, making him bounce this way and that, running away like a lone squirming bug.
He considered his ability to be a kind of danger sense.
“Fucking hell!”
While he was frantically running following Paradox’s instructions, an invisible telekinesis snatched his leg. The illusion of tripping and simultaneously having his head kicked by another Model Prisoner flashed vividly in his mind.
Cheonchilbaek shouted urgently.
“Huh? Over there!”
Shouting like that, he pointed his finger into the distance as if he had discovered something amazing.
Naturally, there was nothing there.
An obvious trick to draw attention that only a child would fall for.
“”
GM
:
If you wish to attempt a [Trick]
check, please roll the dice.”
Cheonchilbaek tossed the dice while sprawled on the floor. He couldn’t even see them rolling.
He just hoped for a good roll.
“”
GM
:
[Trick]
Adding the modifier <0 1 0 0> to the stat 3 makes a total of
4 (Excellent)
, so the result is…
Success
! The enemies' attention is momentarily drawn.”
In that instant, the eyes of the Model prisoners, who had been about to gang up and beat the easy target, gathered in one spot as if bewitched.
By the time they realized they had been tricked, Cheonchilbaek had already slipped away and joined the Companions.
“That was good improvisation, Cheonchilbaek. You’re utilizing the dice quite well now.”
“Still, you’re managing to keep up somehow. If you had held us back here too, I was seriously planning to ditch you.”
Paradox and Osai each said a word.
Was it because they had grown somewhat attached after suffering together in this simulation?
Paradox aside, the latter remark was incredibly gentle coming from Osai.
Just as Cheonchilbaek was about to say something while catching his breath, one person stepped forward from the group of Model prisoners.
It was a standoff with the fallen Giant Model Prisoner acting as a wall between the two sides. The one who looked like a veteran Model Prisoner crossed his arms and spoke.
“Why are you doing this?”
A voice filled with incomprehension.
“I get that you pulled some trick so the control chip doesn’t work. I get it… but what the hell are you four doing with just that? Do you even know where you’re heading right now?”
His tone was laced with irritation and anger.
The place they were heading was Sector 1. The Companions planned to escape through the Core Room, but to the Model prisoners who didn’t know that, they must have looked ridiculous, like moths flying into The Deep of Glitch Hall.
When the Companions didn’t answer, the veteran Model Prisoner snorted.
“You think you made it this far because you’re so great? You think everything will work out just because you teamed up and cheered each other on? Wake up. You think we’re struggling like this because we can’t catch you? We’ve been going easy on you to somehow handle this on our end. But we’re slowly reaching our limit.”
Words spoken like a final declaration.
“If you’re going to act like this, we have no choice but to release our limiters too.”
It meant they would utilize their supernatural abilities beyond the restricted level meant to avoid drawing the inquisitor’s attention.
And all of the more than ten Model prisoners would be doing so at that. If they did, they could easily wipe out the Companions.
“We were holding back as much as possible because once the inquisitor moves, there’s no turning back, but if you enter Sector 1, the inquisitor is bound to wake up anyway, so we have nothing to hesitate about either.”
Think carefully. Even if you break through us, do you think you can do anything once you cross over? Ace has already gone ahead and is waiting in Sector 1. The strongest supernatural ability user in Dusk City, who once burned down an entire Megabuilding, is waiting for you.”
Cheonchilbaek recalled the perceptive Model Prisoner who had been lying languidly on the massage bed when they were hiding in the rest area.
That guy’s name was definitely ace, though he never dreamed he was the strongest supernatural ability user.
“So surrender peacefully. You won’t even be able to dream of living as a Model Prisoner again and will have to roll around like a slave for a few years, but it’s better than dying right here. Once we unleash our full power, we can’t guarantee we’ll be able to keep you alive.”
The Flow of Energy streamed from the eyes of the veteran Model Prisoner as he spoke. Not only that, but the other Model prisoners behind him also manifested their respective abilities, creating pressure.
Objects flew through the air out of nowhere, someone charged a bright red laser from their eyes, and the air froze as frost formed on the walls.
A hair-trigger situation.
Of course, surrendering was never an option in the first place.
If they did, the simulation would immediately fail. It would be better to clash with them, even if it was like hitting a rock with an egg.
The problem was how they were going to clash…
Samsao, Osai, and Cheonchilbaek looked to Paradox.
At a time like this, the only person who could come up with a brilliant move to save the Companions from the crisis was their leader, Paradox.
Sure enough, Paradox stepped forward.
He stroked his chin, looking as if he were deep in thought, and spoke.
“You said you wouldn’t be able to keep us alive if you unleash your full power?”
The Veteran Model Prisoner replied.
“Yeah. We’ll kill every last one of you. It’s a pity because I understand your frustration as fellow prisoners, but it can’t be helped. Those who can live should live, shouldn’t they?”
Paradox agreed.
“Right. Those who can live should live.”
With that, he snapped his fingers.
“So you guys will have to die instead.”
Snap!!!
A bizarre resonance spread down the corridor of Glitch Hall. The veteran Model Prisoner contorted his face in surprise, but soon put on a mocking smile when nothing happened.
Or he would have, if an ice pick hadn’t flown in and lodged itself into the back of his head.
Crunch!
The veteran Model Prisoner died right then and there with a hole in his head.
Behind him, the other Model prisoners had all gone crazy, their eyes completely rolled back as they fought among themselves, firing off their supernatural abilities wildly. It was pandemonium where the ground split and the air burned.
Cheonchilbaek’s jaw dropped in awe.
It was Paradox’s ability. He had undoubtedly released his limits without worrying about the inquisitor.
Since it was a situation where they had to release their limiters anyway, he had just launched outright a powerful preemptive strike. Right into the enemies' minds, no less!
When the Companions all stared in surprise, Paradox shrugged.
“What are you all staring at? It’s an application of telepathy. It won’t last very long, though. We need to get out of here quickly while we have the chance.”
He spoke calmly, but driving more than ten Model prisoners completely insane couldn’t possibly be easy.
No matter how incredible a person Paradox was, it had only been a few hours since he became able to use this supernatural ability. Dark red nosebleed was streaming down his face.
Whoosh!
An ice pick and deep blue flames narrowly brushed past their heads.
“Be careful. They’re just running wild without distinguishing friend from foe among themselves, but that doesn’t mean they’ll go easy on us. If you get hit by a blind attack, there’s no saving you.”
It was when they reached the very front of Sector 1, leaving the rampaging Model prisoners behind.
Rumbbbbble―――.
An incredibly unholy cry shook Glitch Hall. The lights flickered, and the vision was dyed red.
Even the Model prisoners, who had been firing off their abilities, out of their minds, seemed to snap back to their senses from instinctive fear and shouted in this moment.
“…I-Inquisitor.”
“The inquisitor is coming!”
The inquisitor is coming.
As soon as those words ended, the empty air split open in pitch black.