Violet No. 312, in charge of security, judged the situation as the worst.
First, Irene’s house was engulfed in flas. The penthouse located at the top of a 60-story building was currently covered in smoke and fire.
Fortunately, Irene had swiftly broken a window and jumped out just before the explosion occurred.
She slowed her descent by driving a blade into the wall and landed safely. So far, so good.
The problem was that so lunatics had barged in and started a shootout. In the middle of the city!
From the rooftop of the café near the penthouse building, I could see everything clearly.
「Ahhh! Irene is in danger!」
「A shootout in the middle of the city! In broad daylight!」
Whoever they were, they were definitely lunatics.
The central district housed nurous major corporations, the headquarters of the four major clans, federal offices, and the main institutions of Academy City.
In comparison to my previous world, this act of terrorism was equivalent to starting a shootout in the middle of Gangnam Avenue!
「Security team, assemble!」
I created a sniper team on the rooftop and jumped off the building without hesitation.
The Violet snipers observed the scene.
Ard soldiers and hunters were relentlessly attacking Irene, surrounded by several ard vehicles equipped with machine guns. The sight of a large number of people lynching one person resembled a school bullying scene.
Drones circled the air like bald eagles hovering over corpses.
These were undoubtedly their equipnt.
「Snipers! Any sign of Crosell or that treasurer bastard nearby? Oh, maybe even that vice-president punk. Find them!」
「It’s Caym! That cocky guy’s na is Caym. He’s not here at the mont!」
Violet No. 312 shook her head. Were they commanding from behind? If not them, who else could be responsible for this?
Everything was escalating rapidly. People scread and ran in all directions. Police officers on patrol clung to their radios, frantically calling for reinforcents, but to no avail.
「Violet temporary command center ready! Field teams, move quickly!」
As the Violet temporary command center was swiftly set up, Violet No. 1, holding the command baton, began issuing instructions to all conscious Violets, both tangible and intangible. ŕÄꞐՕꞖÈṥ
「All units ready for deploynt!」
「Good. Then, field team, prepare smoke grenades!」
Descending quickly to the sidewalk, Violet No. 312 pulled out several objects resembling tin cans.
The sudden appearance of a black-masked Violet drew everyone’s attention. Violet No. 312 ignited the smoke grenades and threw them to the ground.
「Deploying smoke!」
Several cans rolled along the ground, and the smoke from the improvised grenades quickly blanketed the sidewalk.
“What’s this now?”
“It’s fire!”
Thick smoke, rendering visibility almost impossible, filled the area in front of the building. Now, there was no need to worry about prying eyes.
「Begin deploynt!」
Violet No. 312 swiftly created clones. Violets clad in black combat uniforms erged from the smoke and ran outside.
From an outsider’s perspective, it would have seed as though an ard force had suddenly appeared from within the smoke. It was a tactic to conceal and distort the ability to generate clones.
「Disruption devices operational. All systems normal!」
「Violet Security Battalion, deploynt complete. Comncing operation!」
Seventeen Violet fire teams spread out, while ninety Violet assault units sprinted across the streets.
They leaped over vehicles and dashed through the middle of the road.
Police officers, hastily communicating over their radios, were startled when they saw us.
“HQ! There’s a shootout happening on 12th Street… Argh! Who are you people?!”
Oh no, civilians were still present.
They needed to be evacuated.
Planning to use high-powered weapons, there was a risk of collateral damage.
The command center issued an order for civilian evacuation.
“Hey! Get out of here now! This place is about to beco a warzone!”
“Aahhh!”
Violet No. 122 pulled out a federation-made automatic rifle and fired into the air.
Other Violets grabbed nearby citizens and police officers, shooing them away.
「This is No. 1 from the command center. The operation begins now. Objective one: rescue Irene! Objective two: annihilate the enemy! Final objective: secure an escape to the safe zone!」
「Acknowledged!」
The objectives were clear.
The command center, linked to the field personnel, declared the assault. Now it was ti to act!
Violets infused with magic moved toward the sound of gunfire.
The Violet battalion witnessed the grim scene.
Inside the lobby on the first floor of the building, Irene could be seen. Her clothes were tattered from the gunfire and explosions.
Although she had no major injuries, her exposed skin was riddled with small wounds.
Blood was dripping.
「First and second squads, target the enemy forces’ rear and flanks! Third squad, secure Irene!」
「What about us?」
「The fire team stands by. You’ll deal with the enemy hunters! Sniper team, take down those drones hovering above first!」
The sniper team set up anti-materiel rifles and combat rifles on the café rooftop.
The drones promptly crashed to the ground.
The fire team picked up grenade launchers and rocket tubes. It was ti to test the weapons purchased from Armas!
「This is the first squad! Engagent initiated!」
The first and second squads, which had advanced first, launched a barrage of gunfire at the enemies’ backs.
Simultaneously, the third squad stord into the building with shields to surround Irene.
Irene, taken aback by the sudden appearance of the black-clad forces, couldn’t hide her bewildernt.
“Who… are you guys?!”
“It’s , Violet! Don’t you recognize ?”
Violet No. 45 whispered.
“How did you…”
“We’ll talk later! Let’s get out of here!”
The enemy leader, seemingly recognizing us, pointed a finger and shouted.
“What the hell are those things? Take them down!”
A large humanoid chanical weapon at his side charged at us.
Strangely, despite being a robot, its arms were radiating magic!
Recognizing the weapon, the Violets were visibly shaken.
「Wait, did that appear in the main storyline?」
Robots capable of using magic were extrely rare in Academy City!
Machines were naturally incompatible with ether.
That was a human-chanical weapon used by the four major clans—Stregonix. A cyborg awakened being!
The pinnacle of sinister ether science, combining chanical strength and awakened intelligence. To think I’d encounter one here.
「Fire team! Prepare rockets and grenades! Fire imdiately!」
Half of the third squad rushed to confront the awakened enemy and the Stregonix.
At the sa ti, as they escorted Irene out of the lobby, the fire team unleashed rockets inside the building.
「I’ve always wanted to say this line. Broken Arrow!」
The awakened ones panicked at the sight of the rockets. They shoved the Violets away and quickly retreated.
The Stregonix was slower to react.
The machine took a direct hit and was sent flying into the wall.
「Did we get it?」
「No, it’ll get back up! Those things can’t be destroyed with just rockets. Retreat for now!」
The third squad hastily fled the building with Irene.
“Irene, here! A communicator! Put it in your ear and follow us!”
“Alright… ugh…”
Oh no, Irene had collapsed from exhaustion.
The third squad carried their friend on their back and dashed away.
anwhile, the first and second squads were locked in combat with the rcenary forces.
“Gahhh!”
“An ally is down! It’s an ambush!”
rcenaries wearing exoskeletons were mowed down by the barrage of machine gun fire.
Though the rcenaries were also masked like us, their emotions of shock and panic were palpable.
Unfortunately, our enemies weren’t fools.
“Take cover!”
Although the initial surprise attack killed many, the remaining rcenaries quickly took defensive positions.
So of the machine gun turrets mounted on their vehicles swiveled toward us, and a few of them responded by tossing smoke grenades or fragntation grenades.
「Whoa! Their level of response is on another scale!」
「Argh! These guys have heavy weaponry!」
The air above us was streaked with grenades and rockets. I quickly analyzed the situation.
These weren’t simple thugs like the last gang we faced.
These were professional combatants.
The command center rapidly adjusted its orders.
There wasn’t ti to waste on a drawn-out firefight here.
「We’re out of ti. Transmit this to the first squad: authorization granted to deploy the shock troops. Break their formation!」
「Ready!」
While the second squad advanced slowly, laying down suppressive fire, the first squad completed their weapon switches and activated magic throughout their bodies.
The first squad charged with incredible speed.
“What the… Why are they so fast?!”
“Are they awakened?!”
The shield-bearers, wielding riot shields and war hamrs, charged headlong into the hail of bullets at astonishing speed. Behind them, Violets ard with single-handed swords, automatic rifles, and shotguns followed.
The rcenaries, unprepared for the magical energy radiating from the blades, were thrown into chaos. But that wasn’t all.
「Rember this!」
The Shield Team hesitated montarily, and in that instant, Violet’s leg muscles coiled like springs, launching her swiftly off the ground.
From behind the shield, the Shock Team, strapped with heavy explosive vests and bags, leaped into the enemy ranks.
“Su…suicide charge! Get down!”
One of the rcenaries shouted, pointing at the vest and bag strapped to Violet.
Violet No. 78 smiled and pressed the switch.
“Hold !”
-Boom!
The explosives weighing dozens of kilograms obliterated the encirclent of the non-Awakened forces.
“Ahhhhh! Argh!”
Although a significant number of enemy ard troops survived, the 1st and 2nd squads, waiting nearby, charged in imdiately.
There was no ti to let them recover.
“This is Eos-1! …They’re all Awakened! Arghhh!”
Starting with slashing the neck of a screaming rcenary, we proceeded with the slaughter.
Violet No. 462 emptied the magazine of her automatic shotgun with precision, turning three enemies into shreds.
Impatient No. 221 threw away her gun and rushed in, her mana-fueled sword slicing her opponent cleanly in half.
The rcenaries resisted with all their might, but they were rely non-Awakened. Even to , their movents appeared slow.
“Where the hell did these monsters co from?”
A rcenary equipped with an exoskeleton tried to fight back with a dagger.
The power unit of his exoskeleton roared loudly as it activated. No. 126 dodged the dagger and swiftly cut him down.
A few of the Awakened who survived the explosion turned their attention to us.
There were five of them.
“A company-level unit of Awakened? Is that even possible?”
“Leave them to us!”
While the apparent leader and one other engaged the 3rd squad, the five charged at us.
“Encounter with enemy Awakened!”
“Fools! They just handed over their forces so easily.”
“We don’t need to fight them! Do we still have more explosive vests?”
We pretended to overexert ourselves while fighting and closed the distance. Soon, we were impaled or lost limbs, but it was already too late.
The injured Violets clung to the enemies.
“Let’s go together!”
“N…No! They’re going to self-destruct! Stay away! Get back!”
The hunters, belatedly realizing the presence of the explosives, tried to flee. The Violets pulled the switches.
-Boom!
Four of the Awakened were caught in the explosion and blown to pieces. Four Violets sacrificed for four enemy combatants—a staggering cost-efficiency.
“Ahhhh! I can’t take this anymore!”
A hunter, terrified after witnessing his comrades dismbered, started to run away.
“Sniper Team!”
“Got it.”
From a rooftop café, the sniper team’s anti-materiel rifle aid at the fleeing target.
A suppressed, dull gunshot echoed. The hunter’s head vanished.
“Target neutralized!”
The second objective was nearly achieved. However, variables remained.
The leader of the enemy hunters and one subordinate were still alive, locked in a standoff.
“A vehicle will arrive in 10 minutes. For now, withdraw from your positions!”
No. 56, the leader of the 3rd squad, protested.
“That’s too long! Other clans or even the Inspection Bureau could show up!”
“Then steal a nearby vehicle and escape!”
While we quickly exchanged information, the battle continued.
“Get lost!”
“Hiyaah!”
No. 45, wearing an explosive vest and charging, was struck by the leader’s flail and sent flying into the air.
Perhaps unnerved by our suicidal tactics and firepower, the enemies refrained from a frontal assault.
Instead, they leaped between lampposts and vehicles, observing us from all directions.
They neither attacked directly nor retreated. What were they waiting for?
As the situation unfolded, a new report ca into the command center.
“This is the Sniper Team. Stregonix is moving!”
The command center observed through the sniper team’s visuals. Stregonix, flung by a rocket, erged from the building, dragging its tallic mass.
Its armor was dented, but the machine remained operational.
Fierce mana flas flickered around its arms.
So, we were lucky earlier! If this monster is what we think it is, a single rocket shouldn’t have been enough to destroy it.
“To all field personnel, focus fire on Stregonix! One squad, secure a vehicle and evacuate Irene imdiately!”
The fight seed far from over.
Two Awakened lingering nearby retreated behind the cyborg.
The sniper team pulled the trigger of the anti-materiel rifle, and the firepower team unleashed rockets and grenade launchers.
The middle of the road resounded with deafening gunfire.
Unlike before, Stregonix deployed a defensive shield while advancing, firing mana beams from its hands.
It appeared to have adapted to our attacks.
“This is 1st Squad, 2nd Unit! We’ve intercepted a radio! It’s enemy communications. Listen!”
As we shared the audio, new information erged. Soone on the other end of the radio shouted angrily.
[Respond! This is HQ! Did the ‘Princess’ escape? Answer ! Permission to kill her! Reinforcents are on their way. Hold the line! Catch her before the Inspection Bureau arrives!]
Hearing the transmission, I felt a surge of disgust. Whoever this person was, they were likely the mastermind. No. 2, the leader of the 2nd unit, activated the voice modulator.
[Shut your mouth!]
[Eos-1? No, who are you? What bastard are you!]
[Your grandfather in the afterlife! You brat. Who told you to live like this!]
[What? You little s—]
Before they could respond, I crushed the radio. While the rest stalled for ti, the 3rd squad leader loaded the unconscious Irene into a stolen car and hit the gas.
According to the radio, more enemies were on their way. We had to flee quickly.
The 1st squad engaged the cyborg and the two hunters in close combat.
At that mont, fire rained from the sky. Looking up, I saw a swarm of drones with propellers buzzing towards us.
“Ahhh! Is this magic?”
“They’re suicide drones!”
“Sniper Team, all gunners, aim at the sky!”
Even the enemy leader wielding the flail was startled.
“Stop! There are allies here! Can’t you hear?”
“These maniacs! They’re firing indiscriminately, even with allies around!”
The 1st and 2nd squads scattered.
The drones also targeted the car carrying Irene.
The guards sticking their bodies out of the windows managed to shoot down a few, but one drone eventually crashed near the car.
The tires burst, and the vehicle overturned.
“Ugh!… Violet! What’s going on?”
“Ugh! The car flipped!”
“Irene is safe! Evacuating now!”
As the 3rd squad leader and the others pulled Irene out of the car, two sedans appeared, blocking the road.
New enemies ard with swords and axes stepped out.
“Ugh, this is endless. More enemies?”
I gritted my teeth. Drone bombardnts and reinforcents?
“Fine, if this is how it’s going to be. Full-scale battle begins now!”
The command center Violets, enraged, downed mana supplents. Determined to end it all, the 3rd squad leader and surviving Violets prepared to create clones.
And then, a piercing noise tore through the air. A jet flew across the sky.
“Wait, that’s…!”
That plane—it was the vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that had appeared at Aegis Academy. A new convoy also entered the city.
[This is the Inspection Bureau. Surrender imdiately!]
A warning announcent echoed.
Agents bearing the Inspection Bureau’s emblem disembarked from armored vehicles, surrounding the area.
The enemies blocking our path panicked and raised their hands.
We looked around in bewildernt.
The plane hovered above us, and its rear ramp opened. A black figure leapt down.
-Clang!
Even amidst the drone bombardnt, Stregonix, still intact, was split in two. It was the Chancellor’s doing.
“It’s the Chancellor!”
“What do we do?”
“1st and 2nd squads! Deploy any remaining smoke grenades quickly!”
The Violet squads deployed smoke screens. The agents rushed in, but it was too late. We vanished into the haze.
“What about us?”
The 3rd squad leader asked. After a brief deliberation, the Violet command made a decision.
“If it’s the Chancellor, we can trust them. Leave Irene to them.”
“What about us?”
“We can’t reveal ourselves yet. Hand over Irene and retreat swiftly!”
We saw the Chancellor approaching us. Carefully, we placed Irene nearby and retreated quickly.
“Wh…where are you going?”
“We have to leave now!”
I tapped the earpiece in her ear.
“I’ll explain later. Those people are from the Inspection Bureau. You can trust them!”
Irene, looking at us with exhausted eyes, seed to understand and nodded.
“Alright, you can’t reveal yourselves, right? Got it. Go quickly…!”
The 3rd squad leader and the remaining Violets withdrew swiftly.
“Miss Irene! Are you alright?”
The sniper team, the last to remain, watched as the Chancellor escorted Irene away before disappearing.
We weren’t discovered… right? Surely not?
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