Driving a flying pod for a Mech Scientist like Declan?
It was as simple as breathing.
But getting out of the forest...that wouldn’t be simple.
Looking at the map, he found a designated route showing the path the pods had taken on their way there.
If he followed it, he would most definitely end up at the Organization, and that...was a problem.
He had worked for the Organization and knew well just how heavy the security is.
Whilst he had been able to easily take care of the 4 men squad, he wasn’t arrogant enough to think he could take on the entire security of a top three Mech Organization.
He needed to find another way out.
Placing the pod on autopilot, Declan opened the map dashboard and began analyzing it rapidly.
With a few button presses, he connected to Mordran’s lower satellites, allowing him to see the true scale of the forest.
It was rectangular in shape, with nearly eighty percent of it barricaded under the Organization’s territory.
But then...he noticed something else.
The remaining twenty percent of the forest wasn’t under the Organization’s control.
According to the satellite data, that portion belonged to some...
"Gevueden House?"
Declan muttered the name, but it didn’t ring any bells.
"To think a house could actually keep part of its land from being swallowed up by such a large Organization."
"Definitely not ordinary."
His eyes narrowed as he studied the satellite image.
"But judging from this, it looks quite abandoned."
Whatever the case, that was his chance to get out.
Declan refreshed the map, switched off autopilot, and grabbed the controls.
His legs slammed onto the accelerator as he violently swerved the steering to the side.
VROOM!
A powerful ripple of energy rumbled through the air, and the pod immediately burst forward at full speed, flying toward the only open section of the forest.
It wasn’t too far.
Twenty minutes later, Declan could already see the wide, unbarricaded walls fifty meters ahead, but then his eyes narrowed.
Something about the walls looked strange.
’Wait, are those...’
WHHIIIIIRRRR!
The sound of machinery suddenly rang out, and Declan’s eyes widened as two objects resembling elongated bazooka muzzles emerged from hidden openings in the walls.
WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIR!
Another mechanical whir followed, and green laser beams locked onto the approaching pod.
Two seconds later...
BEEP!
BEEP!
WHOOOOOR!
The green lasers suddenly turned red.
"You’ve gotta be kidding me..."
THROOOOOOOOOM!
The air violently rippled as shockwaves spread outward, and a meter-long missile shot forward like a spear, heading straight for the pod.
"Fuck!"
Declan immediately yanked the controls to the side.
BOOOOOOM!
The missile missed, slamming into the ground instead, but the resulting explosion sent the pod spinning chaotically through the air.
THROOOOOOOOOM!
Not even a second later, the second wall turret fired, its missile locking directly onto the pod.
SHATTER!
The pod’s glass shattered, as Declan smashed a fist through the glass.
HIs hand followed after, gripping the energy pistol.
THROOOM!
The shot fired, and it slammed directly into the incoming missile.
The two collided midair and exploded, canceling each other out.
With one hand extended through the shattered glass, Declan repeatedly fired shot after shot.
His other hand and his legs worked the controls, forcing the damaged pod toward the gate.
The closer he got, the more aggressive the turrets became.
Their shots came faster, their reload times grew shorter, while smoke and explosions ripped into the pod, tearing away pieces of its outer shell.
Finally, he broke through the middle section of the barrier and was nearly out of the forest.
Then one of the turrets suddenly fired two missiles at once.
Declan managed to destroy one, having anticipated the attack, but the other slammed directly into the center of the pod.
BANG!
"Shi..."
The impact was like being hit by a speeding train.
The pod went flying, crashing violently into the ground and bounced repeatedly, shedding chunks of metal with every impact.
Finally, it smashed down hard and sent Declan flying from the wreckage.
He bounced on the ground more than a couple times before smashing straight through the window of an old building.
BLERGH!
Blood burst from his lips, and veins bulged in his eyes as he forcefully tore himself free from the iron beam that had impaled his stomach.
He landed heavily on both knees; both of his hands twisted unnaturally.
His body was covered in soot, while countless shards of metal had embedded themselves into his flesh, making him look like some bloody porcupine.
║HP: 1/200║
The panel blinked, and in the next instant, Declan tumbled around, struggling to hold his consciousness, only to pause and collapse face flat on the ground.
The world quickly faded into darkness, but before it completely swallowed him...
STEP!
STEP!
STEP!
He faintly heard footsteps approaching, and they stopped directly in front of his face.
The last thing he saw was a woman’s high-heeled shoes, before the darkness took him.
"Taking a direct hit from an advanced-caliber turret shot and getting impaled straight through by sharpened Nodia steel..."
The woman’s voice echoed through the dusty, dark room, followed by a puff of cigarette smoke drifting through the air.
"Yet somehow, you’re still breathing...Just what kind of treasure has the devil sent into my hands this time?"
A gloved hand grabbed Declan by the back of his neck and lifted him from the ground, dragging his limp body away.
All that remained was a trail of blood stretching into a corridor so pitch-black that, eventually, even the bloody stains disappeared into the darkness.