-Screech!

The bike that had been speeding forward came to an abrupt halt, sliding sideways. With the motion, the white hair flowing from beneath the helmet rippled dramatically.

[Damn it! What the hell is that!]

[Shoot to kill!]

Elite guards equipped with the latest steam-powered weapons fired at Lupona. It was enough firepower to turn even a heavily armored vehicle into tatters.

Seeing the bullets raining through the air, Lupona immediately maximized her motorcycle's output. The engine roared loudly as the black figure cut through space.

The Black Knight, moving at a speed difficult to follow with the naked eye, pushed through the rain of countless bullets. She sped along, then ran up along the factory's outer wall. The guards' gun barrels followed, but they hit only the empty space where Lupona had already passed.

A black mist-like substance left traces in the air along her trajectory.

[This is insane! What the hell is that!]

[What? No matter how modified that bike is, that kind of movement isn't possible!]

The guards exclaimed in shock at the sight. Setting aside Lupona's motorcycle skills, this was close to physically impossible maneuvering.

Not only did the stationary bike accelerate unbelievably fast, but it also showed evasive maneuvers that seemed to ignore inertia. Even if it was a special model using Ether Water as fuel, such functions shouldn't be possible.

What made it possible was Lupona's own power, the peculiarity of [Killing Star].

She had infused her vehicle, the black bike, with the power of Killing Star, strengthening all its internal components, including the engine.

This wasn't something Lupona had learned to use; rather, it was an intuition that activated instinctively the moment she mounted her vehicle.

She was a Dark Knight. Even though she might have been imitating that appearance, there was no denying that the power she wielded was that of a knight.

Seeing the black trajectory drawn in the air, the elite soldiers hastily set up makeshift barricades. The folded metal barriers expanded with a clatter. Bluish electric currents swirled above them.

These were special barriers designed to subdue even mana users in one go. They intended to electrocute and kill Lupona as she approached.

Seeing this, Lupona still didn't stop but rather increased her bike's speed further.

-Vrooooom!

The motorcycle's engine had now reached a level that sounded like a monster screaming. From the bike's exhaust came not steam from vaporized Ether Water, but dark red flames imbued with the power of Killing Star, jetting out like rockets.

Riding at top speed, Lupona didn't turn or slow down even with the barrier right ahead.

'Stupid fool! You're going to charge into a barrier with high-voltage current? Go ahead, smash your head and die!'

The expression of the guard who had been inwardly mocking Lupona's actions changed. This barrier boasted enough durability to stop a charging truck when stacked three or more layers deep. Moreover, the high-voltage current flowing over the barrier could even burn people alive.

But that seemingly impenetrable wall-like structure was crumbling.

-Boom!

With a massive explosion, a huge hole opened in the center of the barrier. And the bike trailing black energy, with the Black Knight riding it, infiltrated the very center of their formation.

[Capture her alive!]

[Tie her up so she can't escape!]

Firing from the center would hit their own comrades so those closest to Lupona took metal wires from their waists and threw them at her.

Lupona struck down most with her Killing Star sword, but one managed to grasp her wrist.

[Got her...!]

The guard who was about to shout in triumph was suddenly yanked forward. Lupona had pulled the elite guard wearing special armor with just the strength of one hand. The guard, flying through the air as if his body were a paper doll, collided with others and they all fell like bowling pins.

Lupona watched this scene, then gripped the wire on her wrist.

-Whoosh!

Flames of Killing Star ignited along the super-alloy wire that was over 7 meters long.

-Whoom! Whoom! Whoom!

The wire rotated in a circle above Lupona's head with fierce momentum. At that moment, the end of the wire blurred, and then one side of the formation exploded with a boom.

As Lupona swung the wire again, another explosion occurred elsewhere. Guards caught in it flew in all directions along with scattered debris.

[Cr-crazy.]

The wire they had prepared to capture her had instead become a more terrible weapon in Lupona's hands.

-GRROOOOOAAAR!!!

The black monster rejoiced that its master had obtained a suitable weapon, letting out a roar of joy. The massive bike charged forward, drawing brilliant and dazzling dark red trajectories around it.

The trajectory continued unbroken, like a brush that never stops painting. To annihilate the lives of all beings around.

[D-damn it! Where's the defense unit? At this rate, we'll be wiped out!]

The guard who became the next in command after the captain's death shouted into the radio. The reinforcements that should have arrived a minute ago still hadn't come.

[Bzzt... bzzt.]

[Damn it!]

He threw away the radio and ran to escape the scene. He needed to meet up with the reinforcements first before deciding what to do.

With that thought, he reached the rendezvous point but froze in place.

The troops that should have already arrived were lying on the ground. And in the center, Asmer stood proudly, holding twin star swords in both hands.

His gaze, clad in a suit, detected the newly appeared enemy and turned in this direction.

"What is the armored corps doing!"

The reinforcements who arrived at the scene after hearing that the main gate had been breached looked at five intruders wearing silver suits.

They were generally large in build. Especially one of them seemed to be a head taller than the others and had a bulky body. It was remarkable that he managed to wear a suit with such a body.

The field commander gave instructions.

"Leave no survivors. Anyway, the fact that they've come this far means they already know what's here. There must be no witnesses."

"What are you waiting for! Subdue them all!"

As they fired their prepared weapons, the five knights brought out shields as if they had been waiting for this. They formed a line with round shields the size of upper bodies and began running toward them.

"Crazy bastards. Are they charging in just trusting their suits?"

While the rear units maintained fire coverage, those in the front took out electrified batons from their waists. They acknowledged that the suits gave the other side an advantage in individual combat power. But they had sufficient numbers to overwhelm them.

The first engagement with this thought ended in a one-sided victory for the knights.

"Uoooooh!"

"Push forward! Don't stop!"

"Anyone who falls behind, I'll remember and give you the most painful training!"

Their bodies already in the realm of knights, they continued charging forward behind their shields.

It didn't matter how many were in front of them. They just stubbornly ran forward.

Guards hit by the shields flew away without offering meaningful resistance. It was as if they had been hit by cars.

"This is crazy! What are those things!"

"Surround them! Encircle and attack!"

The guards quickly surrounded the knights who were breaking through their formation.

"Hey. They've surrounded us, what now?"

"What else? From now on, it's picking them off one by one!"

"More like individual combat. Hey, no one fell behind just now, did they? If not, whoever takes down the fewest gets hell training!"

The knights laughed heartily, considering it an even better opportunity. Seeing them laugh joyfully despite being surrounded, the guards unconsciously retreated a step back.

The knights' eyes gleamed ominously from inside their suits at this sight.

"Look at these guys."

"Timid bastards, getting scared before even fighting?"

"If you're defending this place, at least show some resolve to hold out until the end!"

The knights charged with shields in one hand and swords in the other. No matter how excellent the suit's output, who wouldn't be overwhelmed by these madmen charging with swords instead of guns?

"What the hell is this!"

It was a completely one-sided slaughter. Every time a knight's sword swung, guards fell, spraying blood. Those hit by shields flew away with broken bones. Those who had charged in proudly all lay on the ground with their eyes rolled back.

Were they weak, to be crushed so miserably? No, that wasn't it. These knights, each one's combat power was simply too strong.

"What the hell are these crazy bastards!"

-Waaaaaaaang!

Emergency sirens blared throughout the underground facility. The researchers inside panicked, not knowing what to do in the sudden situation.

"W-what is this?"

"Is this okay? Shouldn't we be running away?"

"Calm down! The security personnel outside will handle it. Don't worry and focus on the test!"

Some experienced researchers tried to soothe or scold others, but the problem was that the alarm lights showed no sign of stopping even as time passed.

Surely an announcement should have come by now saying the enemies had been subdued and the situation was over, but instead, the commotion continued.

By this point, even the senior researchers sensed that something was going wrong.

"What's happening out there? Where are the outside forces?"

"What are they doing that the situation still hasn't ended?"

"Who on earth attacked us?"

Just as the researchers were beginning to panic, the internal security team, Beta One, moved.

[Everyone quiet. It's just chaotic outside; inside is fine. This laboratory's interior has much more important security designs than the outside, so it doesn't matter how many of them come.]

"Who exactly is outside?"

[Don't worry about it and just focus on the test.]

"But!"

[Do my words not sound like words to you?]

Beta One beat up a researcher who talked back as an example. Wearing a steam suit, just a few pats were enough to leave the researcher bloody and collapsed.

[Don't forget your roles.]

Silence fell due to fear. Everyone looked at Beta One with fearful gazes.

[Shut up and move quickly.]

The test that had stopped resumed at those words. Seeing this, Beta One swallowed his irritation and approached his deputy.

[How's the situation outside?]

[Still ongoing.]

[Could it be Antique Gear? Nothing else would explain this.]

[Yes. That seems highly likely.]

If it was Antique Gear, it made sense. They were rival companies that had been at each other's throats for some time.

They had briefly joined hands against a common enemy, but no one thought the alliance was sincere. In fact, Battle Trench had interfered with Antique Gear's activities and even arbitrarily took Neo away.

They already knew that the other side was moving to take Neo from them in return. Knowing this, they had strengthened their defense systems and troop deployments.

[Stupid fools. I don't know how many are coming, but they don't seem to realize that this inside will be their grave.]

Of course, if they kept pouring in manpower endlessly, those inside who couldn't receive supplies would be at a disadvantage. But it was Antique Gear that lacked time.

The moment the ongoing artificial intelligence test ended, the tide would instantly turn. So until then, they just needed to hold out.

[Of course, I don't intend to just defend. Responding by cowering against those who are clearly causing problems doesn't sit well with my pride. Are the preparations ready?]

[All defense systems have been activated.]

[Deploy all the soldiers too. I won't say it twice. Make hell for anyone who comes in here.]

[Understood.]

Just then, a radio message came with static.

[What is it?]

[Intruders detected in corridor 5. It seems they've broken through the entrance.]

Broken through the entrance? The entrance to the underground laboratory consists of several layers of thick special alloy material. It would take an entire day of work with an industrial-sized cutting machine to barely break through, yet they've already entered after attacking for how long?

Beta One considered the possibility of a spy inside who opened the door for them. He vowed to conduct a thorough investigation after this was over and exterminate all the rats.

For now, eliminating those who had entered corridor 5 was the priority.

[Bad luck for them. To come through the one corridor they shouldn't have.]

Corridor 5, more than anywhere else, was prepared with the most stringent defense systems. It was actually designed as a path to deliberately lure enemies in anticipation of attacks.

The fact that they entered that place without any effort was, from his perspective, quite fortunate.

Beta One firmly believed that in less than a minute, he would receive a radio message that the attackers had been subdued. After 2 minutes had passed without any word, he began to wonder.

[Well? Is the suppression complete? It took longer than I expected.]

[N-no! Corridor 5 has been broken through in an instant!]

[What?]

Beta One had to doubt his own ears.