Chapter 4

Gunfire and explosions resounded across the battlefield. The 155mm cannon on the tank aimed at the enemy machine but was instead pierced by a beam and exploded. The attack helicopter, the Chomper, initiated an aerial battle, but its mobility was far inferior, and it was easily shot down.

The anti-aircraft beam cannons and missiles installed at the facility targeted the enemy machines, but the buildings were used as shields to evade the attacks. The enemy further exploited their superior mobility to toy with the Union's private soldiers and mercenaries.

"Too fast! Can't keep up with the targeting!"

"Set up a barrage! Don't let them get close, mercenaries! Move up quickly!"

"Shut up! You're useless and still acting all high and mighty!"

Amidst this chaos, a heavily armored machine emerged from the underground hangar. It was one of the Union Corporation's AWs, the TZK-9 Gigant. It had thick frontal armor and a massive shield mounted on its quadrupedal front. Its arms were equipped with 35mm Gatling guns, and its shoulders carried twelve-tube missile pods. Additionally, it was armed with a 30cm cannon.

"What a bunch of wimps. Leave this to me. I'll tear that pretty armor to shreds! And if the elf is a woman, I'll make her mine!"

The Gigant launched a barrage of missiles and 35mm rounds at the enemy machine. In retaliation, beams were fired back but were deflected by the thick shield.

"Hehehe, that attack won't work!"

The 30cm cannon on the Gigant fired, targeting the enemy machine. However, the enemy evaded and hid behind a building.

"Come on! Keep pushing! If we take that one down, we win!"

The Gigant continued its bombardment, and the tanks and beam turrets joined in, as if to say, "Follow the Gigant's lead."

If this were a regular AW, you could say, "With those sunglasses, I would have won."

"Hah, we've got this."

At this moment, the commander confidently murmured, or so it was said. Checking the radar, he saw the enemy machine still reacting, even though it was enveloped in smoke. Despite the smoke, it was clear that the enemy was still alive, but it was surrounded by a blue light.

And it was unscathed.

"Oh, great. It's like one of those devices that activate when the protagonist or heroine is in trouble."

A weapon that resonates with the pilot's spirit? Ugh, no. Don't bring such super weapons into war! Seriously.

"Wh-What? Unscathed...?"

"Stop messing around! Die, die, die!"

At close range, the 30cm cannon fired. But the blue light surrounding the enemy machine deflected the attack. The enemy machine's beam rifle detected high energy. At that moment, using my Gift to see three seconds into the future, I made Salagan jump as far as possible.

Three seconds later, a fierce beam storm from the enemy's beam rifle destroyed our AWs, tanks, and the facility. Checking the radar, almost all of our allies were gone.

"Wow... This is catastrophic. More like a total annihilation."

I landed Salagan and aimed my assault rifle at the enemy machine. The moment the enemy machine spotted me, I saw another nightmare-like scene.

"Damn! Seriously? I have to face this? Command, we're in a state of annihilation. I'm retreating now, it's dangerous."

Beams shot at the spot I had just been in. I fired my 45mm assault rifle in retaliation, but the enemy evaded by flying high. Still, I continued to fight while seeing the future, but when I saw another intense beam attack, I quickly used the boosters to evade and retreated to the underground passage.

"Phew, facing that thing would be too dangerous. Thank goodness for my Gift."

My Gift is "Three-Second Future Vision." It's not very useful in daily life, but it's quite helpful on the battlefield. It was especially useful when I was an infantryman.

Just three seconds, but they make a big difference.

"Command, respond! Command! Damn it, no response. Did they flee? If so, I'm out of here too."

I fired my 45mm assault rifle to cover my retreat and used the boosters to move through the passage. I should find a transport aircraft on the other side of the facility. The explosions and vibrations continued as I moved through the passage. Either the automatic defense systems were active, or the Union's private soldiers were holding their ground. Though, I don't know if they have any loyalty.

I finally reached the back side, where several transport aircraft and Chompers were waiting. I moved Salagan onto a transport aircraft, secured it, and disembarked. I then boarded the transport aircraft and activated the system.

"At a time like this, it's good to have a hacking device. Let's get out of this hellhole quickly!"

I hacked the transport aircraft and tried to start the engine, but it wouldn't start.

"Come on, not now. Just start already."

Finally, the transport aircraft's engine started. I ascended and began to retreat. At that moment, I saw the enemy machine appearing above. I moved the transport aircraft to the left to gain distance, but the enemy machine mercilessly aimed its beam rifle at me.

"No way! Give me a break!"

I saw the future where the transport aircraft would be destroyed, so I quickly activated the ejection seat. The cockpit ejected, and immediately after, the transport aircraft was hit by a beam and crashed, engulfed in flames and smoke.

"Ah, I broke Salagan. Do I have to pay for it?"

I slowly descended to the ground with a parachute. As I landed, the enemy machine landed nearby.

"Tell me, mercenary, where are our kin? Answer me."

A woman's voice came from the enemy machine's speaker. The pilot seemed to be a woman. Kin? So, the Union messed with someone they shouldn't have. Thanks to them, I'm in a bad situation.

"I don't know about your kin. I'm a mercenary from Smile Dog. I was hired by the Union to guard the facility. You can ask the headquarters later. I have nothing to do with your kin."

"…You don't seem to be lying. Fine. I'll spare your life this time. Now, get lost."

"Yes, ma'am!"

The enemy machine moved to another location. It seems they really let me go. Today, I was lucky in a way. I boarded a waiting Union Maddock and activated it.

"Sure, a mid-level company like the Union has a fast system startup. Salagan's generator was always slow."

It seems the Union's Maddock has superior internal mechanisms and OS compared to Smile Dog's Salagan. I tried to move the Maddock to a transport aircraft, but another vibration hit. This one was quite strong.

"What's this? Is there something at the mining site?"

Another explosion occurred with the vibration. I was curious, but sticking my neck out would only get me involved.

"So, goodbye. Let's see how the Union holds up."

After all, this was the Union's mistake. They should clean up their own mess. I activated the transport aircraft and connected with Smile Dog's headquarters.

"This is Sergeant Shu Kusaragi of Smile Dog. ID number N-67834. Repeat, this is Sergeant Shu Kusaragi of Smile Dog."

"This is Operator Nanai of Smile Dog. Sergeant Kusaragi, you're safe."

"Hey, Operator. I managed to survive and escape. Send me the return coordinates. By the way, I'm in a transport aircraft and a Maddock."

"What happened to Salagan? By the way, I'm Nanai, not Operator."

"Salagan was destroyed along with the transport aircraft. The others are missing. If they're alive, the Union will contact us. Most likely, they're dead. And you're Operator, right? No problem."

"Understood. I'll send you the return coordinates. And I'm not Operator, I'm Nanai."

"Thanks. See you, Operator. Ending communication... Ugh, what a mess."

If this were just a loss for Smile Dog, we would have to accept minimal compensation and move on. But there were mercenaries from other companies too. If I pass on the information I have, the mercenary companies will definitely take a strong stance against the Union.

"People will keep fighting, no matter how long it takes."

Not just humans, but elves, anthropomorphic animals, and even movie-like aliens and artificial humans. I predicted that the next conflict would be on a large scale as I switched the transport aircraft to autopilot and closed my eyes.