Chlorine Sodium's Arknights

Chlorine Sodium was the only figure in the crimson viewfinder, nothing else, charging forward relentlessly.

The metallic armor on its body began to peel away with the giant's charge.

The already scarred armor on its surface continuously shed, and the remaining intact parts were constantly squeezed and peeled off by the movement of its bones. The current giant no longer resembled a humanoid weapon at all.

It was more like a massive beast.

And now, the beast bared its fangs, roaring and pouncing towards the girl.

Inside the pitch-black cockpit, the buffer fluid had already boiled over. Mixed within the rising foam were eyes filled with killing intent.

"Kill her, kill her... Kill her!!!"

Even though it felt like being submerged in boiling water, with the scalding liquid searing its skin, the pilot felt nothing due to the excessively high dosage of painkillers.

The pilot's frenzied state mirrored that of the machine, growling like a wild beast.

"Interesting... I didn't expect there to be someone who could come back from the dead."

Seeing the black giant fully enter its savage state, Chlorine Sodium suddenly grinned.

It was a smile that could chill anyone to the bone, much like a hunter at the top of the food chain spotting its desired prey.

"I thought you were just a rabid dog, but it turns out you're just a resurrected ant...

But unfortunately, a resurrected ant is still just an ant.

Purple light flared intensely on her fully Herrscher-transformed right arm, Honkai Energy churning and surging within her blood, causing the very air to become incredibly viscous.

This was a localized, miniature Honkai phenomenon triggered by the eruption of Honkai Energy.

Yet, even this minuscule amount of energy was enough to unconsciously warp the surrounding space.

The Gate of Reason, spanning half the sky, opened completely, resembling a purple dome.

"Let's see how durable you are. I hope you don't die too quickly~"

With a wicked smile, the girl lightly waved her palm.

The next moment, a purple "downpour" descended from the sky.

It was countless Subspace Spears, flying out from the Imaginary Space.

The chaotic Honkai Energy contained within each Subspace Spear, upon detonation, possessed the power of a battleship's main cannon.

And this torrent of Subspace Spears, forming a rain across the sky, was essentially enough to transform this entire area into a deep crater!

"BOOM!!!!"

A scorching sphere of light exploded at the center, its white shockwave instantly severing all the surrounding trees.

The orange-red ground was in a semi-molten state, with partially melted Originium crystals, previously buried underground, now exposed to the surface and rapidly solidifying in the cooling air.

Most of the frozen earth had been completely vaporized, and the entire land looked as if a portion had been scooped out. White smoke billowed profusely from the deep crater.

If that beast were in this terrain, it would be impossible for it to continue fighting.

But!

There was no sign of that guy on this ruin.

Only then did the sound of the whistling wind emerge. Despite its immense size, it nimbly landed on a thousandth of a second window for takeoff, leaping up the moment the countless projectiles hit the ground. It used its back armor to withstand a wave of attacks from above, then used the widespread smoke generated by the explosions as cover!

This was no beast; it was clearly a top-tier warrior!

Could a mere mad dog fighting purely on instinct achieve this level?

The colossal humanoid weapon plummeted rapidly through the air!

It utilized the terrain and the opponent's attacks to gain an advantage in its battle, all with an unyielding will.

A truly indomitable fellow.

Upon realizing that ranged attacks were completely ineffective, it resorted to any means necessary to close the distance, utilizing everything it could. It had clearly gone to great lengths.

"Alright, then I'll reluctantly re-evaluate you."

"A rabid dog with a brain, reaching this level is somewhat impressive...

But unfortunately, you're not the protagonist. Your fight ends here, rabid dog!"

Countless Void Doors opened around the girl once more. This time, instead of Subspace Spears, countless weapons that looked incredibly valuable poked their heads out, their targets fixed on the humanoid weapon hovering in the sky.

Innumerable weapons soared into the air, and the rapidly descending giant weapon was indeed incapable of changing its course. Everything it had done was to get close to Chlorine Sodium, so why would it alter its flight path?

But its descent speed had reached its limit. In just a few seconds, it would reach its opponent!

Just a few seconds!

Even if it had to endure the barrage of countless weapons thrown by its opponent and land forcibly, it would be enough!

Just a few seconds!!!

And it did reach its destination. The first wave of weapons pierced deep into the machine's vitals, yet the colossal body did not fall. The giant crashed to the ground with a thud!!!

"██████＆*……＆……＆%!!!!!"

A silent roar accompanied the swing of its iron fist.

He was just a stone's throw from victory...

Yet, a stone's throw felt like worlds apart.

Because the giant's limbs, raised to strike, froze in place...

The trembling sound of metal chains was jarringly loud in the silent battlefield.

They were golden chains shot from countless Imaginary Gates, coiling around the giant!

No matter how it struggled, it couldn't break free from the forced restraint!

Judas's chains, a special bonus against colossal beings.

The girl grinned sinisterly, and the two Subspace Spears behind her instantly dissolved into golden light whips.

Their tips, having already surpassed the speed of sound, sliced through the giant artificial weapon's limbs.

Cutting metal was as easy as cutting butter.

With a mocking smile, the girl asked, "How does it feel? Despair...

Or have you finally understood the absolute gap in power?"

ps: Second update.

Speaking of which, the perspective in Just Cause 2 feels so weird, and the car controls are insane. Did the developers of Ubisoft's The Crew collectively go into hiding? How could they create such terrible driving mechanics????

And even after selecting offline mode, I still had to register a uplay account. It's truly disgusting. I just want to play the game, I don't want to become a Ubisoft user. They're forcing users, damn it.

Section 37 Chapter Thirty-Seven [The Curtain Falls]

"We've lost contact with the Cargo!!"

"What! How could this happen?!"

On the plane, the man, who was the deputy director of the Sarcophagus Research Institute's project department, wearing a white lab coat and usually exuding an air of superiority, was now acting like a madman, his composure shattered. He slammed his fist onto the liaison officer's table.

His wide eyes were bloodshot, staring blankly at the communication terminal that had lost its signal.

No matter how furious he became, how much he pounded on the intricate, multi-million dollar machine, the screen would only display "NO SIGNAL."

This machine had a very long transmission range, more than enough to reach the drop-off location. How could it possibly be out of contact?!

There was only one conclusion, but the deputy director, a man in his middle age, refused to believe this absurd conclusion no matter what.

How could it be!

How could it have been annihilated!

Impossible, absolutely impossible!!

It must be a problem with the machine.

It must be!!!

However, regardless, the machine had lost its signal. To check for problems, they would have to return the way they came and fly back to the drop-off site for an on-site inspection.

But flying back would be suicide. The skies above the battlefield weren't a place you could just fly back into.

The crew members looked at each other, and finally decided not to mention anything, placing their hopes on the deputy director not having lost his mind.

Especially seeing how erratic the deputy director's mental state seemed, the crew members were even less likely to speak carelessly and risk upsetting him.

However, they had underestimated the man's madness.

"Turn back."

"Did you... say...?"

The cabin was deathly silent, with only the muffled sounds of breathing from within their helmets.

"I said... turn back!"

The man's eyes were bloodshot, raging like a maddened lion.

His former refined and reserved demeanor had long since been thrown to the winds.

Of course, this was also quite normal, like a gambler who had lost everything after going all-in.

He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Stubborn and persistent in self-deception.

But while this man had gone mad, the crew members had not.

Going back would be seeking death.

However, if the man insisted on returning, they would indeed be in a difficult position. After all, no matter what, he was the deputy director, a person closest to the pinnacle of power.

"Let's head back for now, but not along the original route."

Seeing the stalemate, the pilot finally gave the order to turn back.

But it wasn't to return along the original path, which would lead them directly back over the battlefield. His intention was to skirt around and take a distant look at the situation.

This would minimize the danger while also shutting up the deputy director who was on the verge of madness.

This is the best way to compromise.

The enormous aircraft began to tilt slightly in the air, altering its course to prepare for its return.

It hadn't flown too far out in the first place, so returning wouldn't take long.

Soon, the plane descended below the clouds, and the scene below appeared before everyone's eyes.

It was... a sight like hell.

"What in the world... happened?!"

Vast plumes of white smoke and enormous ravines billowed from the ground, making it seem as if they were flying over a volcano.

The land, evaporated over a large area, was completely scorched black, and the permafrost beneath had turned into steam filling the sky.

This had completely altered the terrain of the previous battlefield.

The deputy director's eyes were fixed on a corner within the ravine.

It was... a colossal arm, encased in remnants of metal armor.

"No..."

However, a large area of bloody mist at the center of the deep pit added another color to this black chasm.

Crimson red; it was fresh blood, slowly flowing from a massive corpse, seeping into the earth.

"No... No! This is impossible! Why did we lose?! How is this possible!!!"

The man roared hysterically inside the aircraft cabin, as if shouting at his subordinates would somehow revive whatever had been lost.

"Take me down! I want to go down and see the actual situation!!!"