Author's Notes:
"The only way humans are truly magnificent is by battling what surpasses them." ─ Albert Camus ─
----
The moment was more simpler than I had imagined.
Moore, gripping the machine gun barrel connected to the arm extending from her waist, thought vaguely.
At that moment, her expression, visible only on the right side of her face, was filled with astonishment.
Where are you looking? I'm right here.
He needed her to aim properly.
Just as he had this thought, a fragment resembling the sharp tip of a tentacle collided with her face at an unimaginable speed, blowing away her slender limbs, leaving behind a few silver streaks. Moore was briefly dragged along as if caught on something, but when the gun barrel slipped from his hand, he fell backward onto the ground.
"..."
It was hard to breathe.
Strangely, there was no pain, yet he felt suffocated.
Despite having a large hole pierced in his side, it was a strange sensation.
As the blood soaked into the ground, his vision gradually became unclear.
In his hazy vision, he looked up at the sky, where the light trails of tracer bullets flying in one direction and the particles of dirt thrown up by the exploding grenades were clearly reflected.
Is the world really slowing down at the moment of death?
... I'm tired.
An overwhelming sense of fatigue weighed heavily on his entire body.
Even moving a single finger seemed daunting.
In a moment of weakness, his head turned slightly with a soft sound.
In his fading vision, his subordinates were reflected, each of them aiming their weapons and closing in on the position where he had fallen, firing shots.
"…Rapi…?"
Amidst the world losing its clarity, red stood out prominently. Her hair, which should have been light brown, was now dyed in red, gradually returning to its original color. He witnessed something happening to her.
He understood that much, but it was becoming difficult for his thoughts to go beyond that.
"...But it's not a bad color. I don't dislike it."
Words woven in his mind. He was about to close his eyes after voicing them silently.
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---Is this the end for you?
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A familiar voice echoed in his mind.
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---How pathetic. Satisfied with such a meager accomplishment.
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In a low, composed tone, a voice tinged with disdain was cast down upon him.
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---At least I'm not satisfied with something as trivial as this. You can still fight.
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What words can one utter to a person with a large hole pierced through their left side, with some of their organs spilling out?
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---...Probably just the intestines that popped out. Your hands and legs are still intact.
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Is that why he can still fight?
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---Until my final breath ceases, I must keep fighting. That's how I was made. How we were created.
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With a voice laced with self-derision, a snort echoed out—sounding unnaturally loud.
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---...I don't mind dying here, but you'll lose the chance to talk to her forever.
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That pistol shot had no effect. It didn't even hit. He was at a dead end now.
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"No. She has already been released. I can guarantee that."
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He didn't know who it was—no, he knew better than anyone. But it felt like a hallucination. Something heard in the dying moments.
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---If that's what you believe... then try putting some strength into your body one more time. If you can't move, I'll help you.
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Who is it? Who are you?
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"I am THE something you forgot."
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"Commander!!"
"Commander-sama!!"
"Master!!"
"Ugh!... A...g...ah!!"
The voices of his subordinates resonated in his eardrums, jolting his consciousness with a pain so intense it defied description.
When he came to his senses, he found himself surrounded by Rapi, Anis, and Neon, each pointing their firearms in different directions.
"Ugh... Damn it...!"
"No! Commander-sama, you can't move!!"
Anis shouted, attempting to stop Moore, but he exerted his abdominal muscles and raised his upper body. Despite the excruciating pain that shot through him, he didn't care.
A dull, wet sound echoed—followed by a soft thud as something fell to the ground, caught by his ears.
"Dammit..."
His intestines had spilled out. A mix of bright red blood against the white backdrop, the squishy mass lay on the ground. Fortunately, there were no visible signs of significant damage to the intestines.
With his left hand, he forcibly pushed the spilled intestines back into the gaping hole in his side. The sensation was far from pleasant, even through the glove he wore.
Blood continued to pour out profusely from the wound on his left side, forming a pool on the ground.
Above all, he had to keep it under control.
Moore propped himself up, using his left hand to press against the hole, attempting to stop the intestines from falling out. He struggled to breathe, inhaling sharply multiple times.
"Command...er...?"
---A sudden voice rattled his eardrums. When Moore heard it, his face lifted, aligning his gaze with the person standing at the end of the barrels where his subordinates aimed.
"What!?"
Her face was painted with astonishment, lips trembling. Swiftly, she rushed toward him, her figure blurring in Moore's fading world.
"Commander! Y-Your abdomen...! You're bleeding...! Are you okay!? Please hold on!!"
Her reaction was clearly different from moments before. She ran straight toward Moore and immediately dropped to her knees, her hands busy examining the bleeding wound on his left side.
"...Maria...n...?"
His words slurred, barely audible. Moore tried to address her while she knelt beside him, visibly distressed. In response, she raised her tear-filled crimson eyes, nodding vigorously.
"Y-Yes! It's me! Marian! Can you hear my voice!? Commander!? Lieutenant Moo...re!?"
Though his rank had significantly advanced since just a few months ago, hearing her refer to himself that way filled Moore with a sense of nostalgia.
"Are you... back...?"
Anis muttered in disbelief, her voice distant. Moore, struggling to speak, managed to ease the tension at the corners of his mouth.
"...Wel...come... Ba...ck."
"Please, don't talk! The bleeding won't stop!!—Rapi, Anis! Prepare the first aid quickly!!"
While they remained skeptical about her return, it was evident that Moore's life was at stake if they didn't act swiftly.
With a determined push, Rapi, Anis, and Neon sprang into action.
"Neon, get the body armor and headset!"
"Yes! Anis, do you have the medic scissors!?"
"They're in the pouch! I've got it covered here! Marian, help me lay the Commander down!!"
Under Neon's guidance, Moore's body armor and headset were removed, and he was carefully laid flat on his back. Anis swiftly cut through his combat suit and the black short-sleeved shirt beneath it with the medic scissors she held.
His eight-sectioned abdominal muscles and the well-built chest were revealed, ready for treatment.
"Commander, please let go of your hand... Ah..."
"...How is he, Rapi...?"
"...He'll be fine. We can only provide first aid here, but once we get back to the Ark, he'll be treated immediately."
"...That's... good... Rapi, sorry, but... do it... there...!"
Moore's brow furrowed as Rapi gently released his hand, which he had been pressing against his left side. She checked the wound slowly, her expression showing concern. It was undoubtedly a fatal wound, but any comforting words were appreciated at this point.
Nevertheless, he was losing a significant amount of blood and was on the verge of losing consciousness. Perhaps death would come first.
Either way, it was dangerous to leave it like this.
With trembling hands, Moore pointed to the backpack he had dropped on the ground.
Seeing his gesture, Rapi recalled the favor he had asked her just before the operation began—
"But... that is... unknown medicine."
It was supposed to temporarily block pain, as Moore had explained, but Rapi hesitated to administer it.
"Please... I beg you..."
His complexion pale, lips trembling, Moore pleaded with her.
Watching him, Rapi stood up and brought over the backpack that had been lying on the ground. She opened it and took out a plain metal case that gleamed with a metallic luster. Opening the lid, she picked up one of the slender metal tubes lined up inside.
"Where should I inject it?"
"...He didn't... explain... Ah... anywhere is fine..."
Clearly in excruciating pain, his face contorted with agony, he urged her on.
Summoning her determination, Rapi pressed the metal tube—a needleless syringe—against the large wound Moore had sustained. She pushed the button at its apex.
A faint sound of release echoed—the proof that the medicine filled in the ampule inside had been injected into his body.
"...Commander, it's done."
"...Tha...nk you..."
It would be good if the pain was relieved a little with this, but first, they needed to stop the bleeding urgently.
As Anis broke the vacuum seal of the emergency bandage pack, Marian slipped her arms under Moore's armpits, lifting him slightly and settling his head with short black hair on her knees.
"Commander... Please stay with us...!"
"I'm alri...ght... I'll be fine..."
"It's not fine at all...!"
"...They say ...beautiful women look beautiful even when... they cry, huh..."
"Making jokes at a time like this...!"
"...More importantly... can I have a smoke...?"
"—No, you can't. Please endure it."
"For a smoker, that's... Ah...!"
Multiple layers of bandages were wrapped around his abdomen. The pain must have surged when they were securely wound. He gritted his teeth and endured it.
The bleeding persisted. Amidst the white fabric of the bandages turning red, Anis activated the functions integrated into her own body and checked his heart rate.
"Commander, hang in there! We'll transport you to the Ark right away—... Huh?"
She kept talking while checking his heart rate and blood pressure.
Fortunately, he wasn't in critical condition. They felt relief, thinking they could manage somehow.
"...It's... rising...?"
Moore's heart rate suddenly spiked.
That wasn't the only thing. His entire body—more precisely, his torso covered in exposed muscles—was experiencing abnormalities. Veins protruded from his skin like swollen earthworms, clearly displaying a different condition than usual.
Gradually, his breathing became erratic, and steam rose from his body due to profuse sweating, indicating a rise in body temperature.
While hemostatic agents had been applied—there was no recollection of such side effects occurring. That left only one possible cause.
"Rapi! What did you inject him with!?"
"I don't know! The Commander just told me to do it...!"
"Master! Please stay with us! I'm arranging transport now!"
His muscles tensed, making a creaking sound.
Amidst his rough breathing, Moore suddenly widened his eyes. His organic left eye turned red—a color even more vibrant than Marian's or Rapi's irises. It seemed to be due to congestion. He shouted as he directed his eyes skyward.
"They've come...! IT finally come...!"
"What—?"
Rapi was drawn to look up, and the moment she did, she readjusted her assault rifle.
"Anti-air combat!!"
"Chatterbox!?"
Rapi aimed her gun upwards and pulled the trigger of her assault rifle, creating a barrage.
Anis and Neon, a bit delayed, also grasped their grenade launchers and shotguns, starting to fire into the sky.
The talkative bastard Chatterbox, who was supposed to be engaging with Snow White, was falling from the sky, his massive figure split in half—only his upper body remained, dropping towards them.
"─Marian! Take the Commander!!"
Rapi instructed Marian, and she nodded, dragging him backward. However, Moore tried to get up despite her attempts to stop him.
"No, please! Commander, don't get up!!"
She restrained Moore, who was trying to rise, but he paid no attention to her.
Using all the tension in his muscles, he stood up completely. His left eye was bloodshot, and his right eye remained a deep brown. He focused both eyes on the falling Chatterbox.
"It come.YOU finally come."
Indescribable joy blossomed in Moore's heart.
With every shot fired by the women into the sky, the monstrous creature's body was crushed, torn apart, and dismembered mechanical and biological parts scattered as they fell. Moore, looking up at the scene, pushed away clinging Marian.
"─Commander!!"
She was pushed away with one arm and stared up at him, having fallen on her back. Under normal circumstances, he couldn't move—rather, he shouldn't move at all.
As if to illustrate this, blood dripped from Moore's bandaged left flank, soaking through the fabric.
"You...won't...take...anything...from...us!!"
He seemed to struggle in desperation. Despite his impending demise, he continued his incessant talking.
Finally, only the head, human-sized, remained of the grotesque figure, everything else crushed to pieces by bullets. Even the armor that covered its face fell off.
With gleaming crimson compound eyes, Chatterbox, though wounded, focused its descent on Marian.
─Nothing will be taken from us.
Information and itself, it would sacrifice everything to erase it all, even if it meant giving up itself. it focused solely on this goal, and the once monstrous figure before her turned into a pitiful sight, its gaze once again directed at her.
"─My precious subordinates have been by your CARE...!"
Twisting his lips into a deranged smile, Moore joyously grabbed his left shoulder with his right hand, his eyes filled with delight.
He forcefully tore off the combat uniform and short-sleeved shirt that had been cut by the medic scissors, exposing his upper body completely. Two identification tags dangled from his neck.
His body was covered in taut muscles, veins protruding like earthworms all over his face, neck, and upper body. Steam rose from his body, indicating his rising body temperature.
From his left upper arm to his left shoulder, a black tribal tattoo of a wolf, carved with ink, was visible. The design depicted a roaring figure with sharp fangs, which, to Marian's eyes, appeared eerily similar to Moore's appearance.
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"─Fucking Remnants of the past!!"
"─You talkative BASTAAAAAAAAAARD!!"
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Breaking through the wall-like anti-aircraft fire, the monster reduced to only its head and the half-dead man roared at each other.
Their roars, resembling the cries of fierce predators, echoed across the wilderness.
Moore's mechanical right leg lifted its knee high against his body, pressing it tightly against his side. His left leg, the pivot, stayed straight, ensuring minimal movement in all directions.
He focused on the falling Chatterbox, aiming for Marian who was sitting on the ground. Without tilting his upper body backward, he raised his right knee high, keeping it in front of him.
The armored muscles, despite their appearance, seemed quite flexible. Rotating from the heel of the pivot leg to the waist, Moore prepared himself. The toe of his right leg, which had become his kicking foot, rose higher than his head.
His shin, as it descended, caught the falling Chatterbox's head.
"─I'll take it back!!"
The kicked right leg not only mercilessly caved in the monster's head's organic components but also released a catalyst reminiscent of thick black waste fluids.
A dull, wet sound, akin to crushing overripe fruit. That was the last sound the monster heard.
Its deformed head slammed into the ground, creating a cloud of dust. Beyond the dust, the red compound eyes lost their luster, and the mouth, lined with sharp teeth, hung open weakly. The monster, its mouth gaping wide, breathed its last.
Various parts of different sizes rained down from the sky like droplets of rain. Moore approached the remaining carcass, the head, and began to step on it casually.
Two wins and one loss—it was his victory.
As if to declare that, he continued to stomp on the head with brute force, soaking his entire body in the splattering black catalyst. He seemed intent on thoroughly delivering the finishing blow, ensuring it would never rise again.
His organic and mechanical eyes glowed brightly, filled with what seemed like ecstatic madness, and his mouth stretched wide, almost tearing to his ears.
With each stomp of his boot-clad leg on the head, a dull sound echoed. Each time, his face and upper body were stained black as if bathed in the creature's spattering blood.
"─Hahahahaha!!!"
─I killed it. I killed him. I did it.
Driven by impulse, he let out a roar of delight from the depths of his throat. It was akin to a fierce beast that had successfully captured its prey, bellowing proudly in victory.
However, the impact from his vigorous movements rebounded on his body.
The bleeding that had been held back behind the layers of bandages finally exceeded its limit and began to flow down. Despite his combat pants and boots being soaked in fresh blood, he showed no sign of stopping his finishing blow.
"─No... Please stop...! Stop it!"
Marian, who had been sitting on the ground, got up and stumbled towards him. With all her strength, she hugged him from behind.
She clung to him, her thin arms wrapping around his body. In this desperate embrace, Marian pressed her forehead against his back and let out a sob.
"…Please... Stop... Commander...!"
Her voice trembled with tears, and the moment she pleaded, Moore's movements came to a halt. He turned his shoulder slowly to acknowledge Marian's presence.
"…Marian…?"
"…Please… Stop this…! At this rate… the Commander…!"
As his eyes, once consumed by madness, gradually regained composure, the veins that had surfaced on his skin began to retreat back beneath the surface. His entire body went limp, and he slumped against Marian, his eyes rolling back.
"─C-Commander!? Commander!!"
"W-What's happening!? What's going on!?"
Such a sight—something utterly unbecoming of a leader—left them astounded. However, having no choice but to witness his series of insane actions, they rushed toward him, finally freed from the grip of the situation.
"It's alright. He just passed out."
Considering the amount of bleeding and the extent of his injuries, it would be strange if he didn't faint. With a sigh of relief, Rapi spoke, trying to calm the others.
But Marian continued to call out to him in a panic. He looked like a lifeless body, with his eyes rolled back and no movement whatsoever.
"Shifty, quickly arrange for a transport. The Commander is seriously injured..."
[Understood! The transport will arrive in 5 minutes! Please secure the LZ! The situation is over! All Rapture reactions in the vicinity are retreating! The mission is... the mission...]
An operator had to remain composed. The operator's job was not done yet. Shifty moved her hoarse throat and tangled tongue, delivering the final words, mixing jubilation with tears.
"─Mission accomplished!!"
-----
Author's Notes: From here on, the story will deviate into an alternate scenario (though the entire work itself is one).
Author's Notes:
"The only way humans are truly magnificent is by battling what surpasses them." ─ Albert Camus ─
----
The moment was more simpler than I had imagined.
Moore, gripping the machine gun barrel connected to the arm extending from her waist, thought vaguely.
At that moment, her expression, visible only on the right side of her face, was filled with astonishment.
Where are you looking? I'm right here.
He needed her to aim properly.
Just as he had this thought, a fragment resembling the sharp tip of a tentacle collided with her face at an unimaginable speed, blowing away her slender limbs, leaving behind a few silver streaks. Moore was briefly dragged along as if caught on something, but when the gun barrel slipped from his hand, he fell backward onto the ground.
"..."
It was hard to breathe.
Strangely, there was no pain, yet he felt suffocated.
Despite having a large hole pierced in his side, it was a strange sensation.
As the blood soaked into the ground, his vision gradually became unclear.
In his hazy vision, he looked up at the sky, where the light trails of tracer bullets flying in one direction and the particles of dirt thrown up by the exploding grenades were clearly reflected.
Is the world really slowing down at the moment of death?
... I'm tired.
An overwhelming sense of fatigue weighed heavily on his entire body.
Even moving a single finger seemed daunting.
In a moment of weakness, his head turned slightly with a soft sound.
In his fading vision, his subordinates were reflected, each of them aiming their weapons and closing in on the position where he had fallen, firing shots.
"…Rapi…?"
Amidst the world losing its clarity, red stood out prominently. Her hair, which should have been light brown, was now dyed in red, gradually returning to its original color. He witnessed something happening to her.
He understood that much, but it was becoming difficult for his thoughts to go beyond that.
"...But it's not a bad color. I don't dislike it."
Words woven in his mind. He was about to close his eyes after voicing them silently.
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---Is this the end for you?
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A familiar voice echoed in his mind.
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---How pathetic. Satisfied with such a meager accomplishment.
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In a low, composed tone, a voice tinged with disdain was cast down upon him.
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---At least I'm not satisfied with something as trivial as this. You can still fight.
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What words can one utter to a person with a large hole pierced through their left side, with some of their organs spilling out?
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---...Probably just the intestines that popped out. Your hands and legs are still intact.
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Is that why he can still fight?
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---Until my final breath ceases, I must keep fighting. That's how I was made. How we were created.
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With a voice laced with self-derision, a snort echoed out—sounding unnaturally loud.
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---...I don't mind dying here, but you'll lose the chance to talk to her forever.
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That pistol shot had no effect. It didn't even hit. He was at a dead end now.
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"No. She has already been released. I can guarantee that."
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He didn't know who it was—no, he knew better than anyone. But it felt like a hallucination. Something heard in the dying moments.
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---If that's what you believe... then try putting some strength into your body one more time. If you can't move, I'll help you.
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Who is it? Who are you?
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"I am THE something you forgot."
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"Commander!!"
"Commander-sama!!"
"Master!!"
"Ugh!... A...g...ah!!"
The voices of his subordinates resonated in his eardrums, jolting his consciousness with a pain so intense it defied description.
When he came to his senses, he found himself surrounded by Rapi, Anis, and Neon, each pointing their firearms in different directions.
"Ugh... Damn it...!"
"No! Commander-sama, you can't move!!"
Anis shouted, attempting to stop Moore, but he exerted his abdominal muscles and raised his upper body. Despite the excruciating pain that shot through him, he didn't care.
A dull, wet sound echoed—followed by a soft thud as something fell to the ground, caught by his ears.
"Dammit..."
His intestines had spilled out. A mix of bright red blood against the white backdrop, the squishy mass lay on the ground. Fortunately, there were no visible signs of significant damage to the intestines.
With his left hand, he forcibly pushed the spilled intestines back into the gaping hole in his side. The sensation was far from pleasant, even through the glove he wore.
Blood continued to pour out profusely from the wound on his left side, forming a pool on the ground.
Above all, he had to keep it under control.
Moore propped himself up, using his left hand to press against the hole, attempting to stop the intestines from falling out. He struggled to breathe, inhaling sharply multiple times.
"Command...er...?"
---A sudden voice rattled his eardrums. When Moore heard it, his face lifted, aligning his gaze with the person standing at the end of the barrels where his subordinates aimed.
"What!?"
Her face was painted with astonishment, lips trembling. Swiftly, she rushed toward him, her figure blurring in Moore's fading world.
"Commander! Y-Your abdomen...! You're bleeding...! Are you okay!? Please hold on!!"
Her reaction was clearly different from moments before. She ran straight toward Moore and immediately dropped to her knees, her hands busy examining the bleeding wound on his left side.
"...Maria...n...?"
His words slurred, barely audible. Moore tried to address her while she knelt beside him, visibly distressed. In response, she raised her tear-filled crimson eyes, nodding vigorously.
"Y-Yes! It's me! Marian! Can you hear my voice!? Commander!? Lieutenant Moo...re!?"
Though his rank had significantly advanced since just a few months ago, hearing her refer to himself that way filled Moore with a sense of nostalgia.
"Are you... back...?"
Anis muttered in disbelief, her voice distant. Moore, struggling to speak, managed to ease the tension at the corners of his mouth.
"...Wel...come... Ba...ck."
"Please, don't talk! The bleeding won't stop!!—Rapi, Anis! Prepare the first aid quickly!!"
While they remained skeptical about her return, it was evident that Moore's life was at stake if they didn't act swiftly.
With a determined push, Rapi, Anis, and Neon sprang into action.
"Neon, get the body armor and headset!"
"Yes! Anis, do you have the medic scissors!?"
"They're in the pouch! I've got it covered here! Marian, help me lay the Commander down!!"
Under Neon's guidance, Moore's body armor and headset were removed, and he was carefully laid flat on his back. Anis swiftly cut through his combat suit and the black short-sleeved shirt beneath it with the medic scissors she held.
His eight-sectioned abdominal muscles and the well-built chest were revealed, ready for treatment.
"Commander, please let go of your hand... Ah..."
"...How is he, Rapi...?"
"...He'll be fine. We can only provide first aid here, but once we get back to the Ark, he'll be treated immediately."
"...That's... good... Rapi, sorry, but... do it... there...!"
Moore's brow furrowed as Rapi gently released his hand, which he had been pressing against his left side. She checked the wound slowly, her expression showing concern. It was undoubtedly a fatal wound, but any comforting words were appreciated at this point.
Nevertheless, he was losing a significant amount of blood and was on the verge of losing consciousness. Perhaps death would come first.
Either way, it was dangerous to leave it like this.
With trembling hands, Moore pointed to the backpack he had dropped on the ground.
Seeing his gesture, Rapi recalled the favor he had asked her just before the operation began—
"But... that is... unknown medicine."
It was supposed to temporarily block pain, as Moore had explained, but Rapi hesitated to administer it.
"Please... I beg you..."
His complexion pale, lips trembling, Moore pleaded with her.
Watching him, Rapi stood up and brought over the backpack that had been lying on the ground. She opened it and took out a plain metal case that gleamed with a metallic luster. Opening the lid, she picked up one of the slender metal tubes lined up inside.
"Where should I inject it?"
"...He didn't... explain... Ah... anywhere is fine..."
Clearly in excruciating pain, his face contorted with agony, he urged her on.
Summoning her determination, Rapi pressed the metal tube—a needleless syringe—against the large wound Moore had sustained. She pushed the button at its apex.
A faint sound of release echoed—the proof that the medicine filled in the ampule inside had been injected into his body.
"...Commander, it's done."
"...Tha...nk you..."
It would be good if the pain was relieved a little with this, but first, they needed to stop the bleeding urgently.
As Anis broke the vacuum seal of the emergency bandage pack, Marian slipped her arms under Moore's armpits, lifting him slightly and settling his head with short black hair on her knees.
"Commander... Please stay with us...!"
"I'm alri...ght... I'll be fine..."
"It's not fine at all...!"
"...They say ...beautiful women look beautiful even when... they cry, huh..."
"Making jokes at a time like this...!"
"...More importantly... can I have a smoke...?"
"—No, you can't. Please endure it."
"For a smoker, that's... Ah...!"
Multiple layers of bandages were wrapped around his abdomen. The pain must have surged when they were securely wound. He gritted his teeth and endured it.
The bleeding persisted. Amidst the white fabric of the bandages turning red, Anis activated the functions integrated into her own body and checked his heart rate.
"Commander, hang in there! We'll transport you to the Ark right away—... Huh?"
She kept talking while checking his heart rate and blood pressure.
Fortunately, he wasn't in critical condition. They felt relief, thinking they could manage somehow.
"...It's... rising...?"
Moore's heart rate suddenly spiked.
That wasn't the only thing. His entire body—more precisely, his torso covered in exposed muscles—was experiencing abnormalities. Veins protruded from his skin like swollen earthworms, clearly displaying a different condition than usual.
Gradually, his breathing became erratic, and steam rose from his body due to profuse sweating, indicating a rise in body temperature.
While hemostatic agents had been applied—there was no recollection of such side effects occurring. That left only one possible cause.
"Rapi! What did you inject him with!?"
"I don't know! The Commander just told me to do it...!"
"Master! Please stay with us! I'm arranging transport now!"
His muscles tensed, making a creaking sound.
Amidst his rough breathing, Moore suddenly widened his eyes. His organic left eye turned red—a color even more vibrant than Marian's or Rapi's irises. It seemed to be due to congestion. He shouted as he directed his eyes skyward.
"They've come...! IT finally come...!"
"What—?"
Rapi was drawn to look up, and the moment she did, she readjusted her assault rifle.
"Anti-air combat!!"
"Chatterbox!?"
Rapi aimed her gun upwards and pulled the trigger of her assault rifle, creating a barrage.
Anis and Neon, a bit delayed, also grasped their grenade launchers and shotguns, starting to fire into the sky.
The talkative bastard Chatterbox, who was supposed to be engaging with Snow White, was falling from the sky, his massive figure split in half—only his upper body remained, dropping towards them.
"─Marian! Take the Commander!!"
Rapi instructed Marian, and she nodded, dragging him backward. However, Moore tried to get up despite her attempts to stop him.
"No, please! Commander, don't get up!!"
She restrained Moore, who was trying to rise, but he paid no attention to her.
Using all the tension in his muscles, he stood up completely. His left eye was bloodshot, and his right eye remained a deep brown. He focused both eyes on the falling Chatterbox.
"It come.YOU finally come."
Indescribable joy blossomed in Moore's heart.
With every shot fired by the women into the sky, the monstrous creature's body was crushed, torn apart, and dismembered mechanical and biological parts scattered as they fell. Moore, looking up at the scene, pushed away clinging Marian.
"─Commander!!"
She was pushed away with one arm and stared up at him, having fallen on her back. Under normal circumstances, he couldn't move—rather, he shouldn't move at all.
As if to illustrate this, blood dripped from Moore's bandaged left flank, soaking through the fabric.
"You...won't...take...anything...from...us!!"
He seemed to struggle in desperation. Despite his impending demise, he continued his incessant talking.
Finally, only the head, human-sized, remained of the grotesque figure, everything else crushed to pieces by bullets. Even the armor that covered its face fell off.
With gleaming crimson compound eyes, Chatterbox, though wounded, focused its descent on Marian.
─Nothing will be taken from us.
Information and itself, it would sacrifice everything to erase it all, even if it meant giving up itself. it focused solely on this goal, and the once monstrous figure before her turned into a pitiful sight, its gaze once again directed at her.
"─My precious subordinates have been by your CARE...!"
Twisting his lips into a deranged smile, Moore joyously grabbed his left shoulder with his right hand, his eyes filled with delight.
He forcefully tore off the combat uniform and short-sleeved shirt that had been cut by the medic scissors, exposing his upper body completely. Two identification tags dangled from his neck.
His body was covered in taut muscles, veins protruding like earthworms all over his face, neck, and upper body. Steam rose from his body, indicating his rising body temperature.
From his left upper arm to his left shoulder, a black tribal tattoo of a wolf, carved with ink, was visible. The design depicted a roaring figure with sharp fangs, which, to Marian's eyes, appeared eerily similar to Moore's appearance.
.
.
.
.
"─Fucking Remnants of the past!!"
"─You talkative BASTAAAAAAAAAARD!!"
.
.
.
.
Breaking through the wall-like anti-aircraft fire, the monster reduced to only its head and the half-dead man roared at each other.
Their roars, resembling the cries of fierce predators, echoed across the wilderness.
Moore's mechanical right leg lifted its knee high against his body, pressing it tightly against his side. His left leg, the pivot, stayed straight, ensuring minimal movement in all directions.
He focused on the falling Chatterbox, aiming for Marian who was sitting on the ground. Without tilting his upper body backward, he raised his right knee high, keeping it in front of him.
The armored muscles, despite their appearance, seemed quite flexible. Rotating from the heel of the pivot leg to the waist, Moore prepared himself. The toe of his right leg, which had become his kicking foot, rose higher than his head.
His shin, as it descended, caught the falling Chatterbox's head.
"─I'll take it back!!"
The kicked right leg not only mercilessly caved in the monster's head's organic components but also released a catalyst reminiscent of thick black waste fluids.
A dull, wet sound, akin to crushing overripe fruit. That was the last sound the monster heard.
Its deformed head slammed into the ground, creating a cloud of dust. Beyond the dust, the red compound eyes lost their luster, and the mouth, lined with sharp teeth, hung open weakly. The monster, its mouth gaping wide, breathed its last.
Various parts of different sizes rained down from the sky like droplets of rain. Moore approached the remaining carcass, the head, and began to step on it casually.
Two wins and one loss—it was his victory.
As if to declare that, he continued to stomp on the head with brute force, soaking his entire body in the splattering black catalyst. He seemed intent on thoroughly delivering the finishing blow, ensuring it would never rise again.
His organic and mechanical eyes glowed brightly, filled with what seemed like ecstatic madness, and his mouth stretched wide, almost tearing to his ears.
With each stomp of his boot-clad leg on the head, a dull sound echoed. Each time, his face and upper body were stained black as if bathed in the creature's spattering blood.
"─Hahahahaha!!!"
─I killed it. I killed him. I did it.
Driven by impulse, he let out a roar of delight from the depths of his throat. It was akin to a fierce beast that had successfully captured its prey, bellowing proudly in victory.
However, the impact from his vigorous movements rebounded on his body.
The bleeding that had been held back behind the layers of bandages finally exceeded its limit and began to flow down. Despite his combat pants and boots being soaked in fresh blood, he showed no sign of stopping his finishing blow.
"─No... Please stop...! Stop it!"
Marian, who had been sitting on the ground, got up and stumbled towards him. With all her strength, she hugged him from behind.
She clung to him, her thin arms wrapping around his body. In this desperate embrace, Marian pressed her forehead against his back and let out a sob.
"…Please... Stop... Commander...!"
Her voice trembled with tears, and the moment she pleaded, Moore's movements came to a halt. He turned his shoulder slowly to acknowledge Marian's presence.
"…Marian…?"
"…Please… Stop this…! At this rate… the Commander…!"
As his eyes, once consumed by madness, gradually regained composure, the veins that had surfaced on his skin began to retreat back beneath the surface. His entire body went limp, and he slumped against Marian, his eyes rolling back.
"─C-Commander!? Commander!!"
"W-What's happening!? What's going on!?"
Such a sight—something utterly unbecoming of a leader—left them astounded. However, having no choice but to witness his series of insane actions, they rushed toward him, finally freed from the grip of the situation.
"It's alright. He just passed out."
Considering the amount of bleeding and the extent of his injuries, it would be strange if he didn't faint. With a sigh of relief, Rapi spoke, trying to calm the others.
But Marian continued to call out to him in a panic. He looked like a lifeless body, with his eyes rolled back and no movement whatsoever.
"Shifty, quickly arrange for a transport. The Commander is seriously injured..."
[Understood! The transport will arrive in 5 minutes! Please secure the LZ! The situation is over! All Rapture reactions in the vicinity are retreating! The mission is... the mission...]
An operator had to remain composed. The operator's job was not done yet. Shifty moved her hoarse throat and tangled tongue, delivering the final words, mixing jubilation with tears.
"─Mission accomplished!!"
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Author's Notes: From here on, the story will deviate into an alternate scenario (though the entire work itself is one).
