Chapter 10

Stage 7 turned out to be an unexpected underwater map.

It seemed to be in the middle of some sea, with no land in sight. The water wasn't very clear, probably due to the shallow depth, and visibility underwater was poor. The light filtering through the waves looked like curtains, creating a somewhat surreal atmosphere. I think this phenomenon is called the Tyndall effect, right?

It seems that several players have already reached this stage. As information spreads, the strategy board is starting to look like a festival. The game is indeed unreasonable and difficult, but in this case, it feels like it's nothing new.

The first thing that troubled me was buoyancy. Links is surprisingly light, and if I don't do anything, it floats a bit in the water. The density must be slightly less than that of water.

Fighting while floating up in the water is difficult, so I equipped the Tomahawk (laughs) on both legs as ballast.

The Tomahawk (laughs) is a weapon that looks exactly like an axe. It's a rare item that occasionally drops from gacha, and it has a self-repair function, so it can be considered a rare weapon. The weird name is probably due to the first person who found it; I would have called it something cooler like Thor's Hammer.

The problem is its low performance as a weapon. The blade is dull, and the only way to use it is to swing it with its weight, but the attack power is extremely low. Compared to the Buster Sword, it has a shorter reach and is harder to use, and the damage it deals to enemies is less than 10%. The high durability is good, but it's not very useful.

I bought a few of them at a very low price from the auction to try them out. They can defeat the enemies in Stage 1, which don't counterattack, but it takes a considerable amount of time, so it's a waste of clear time bonus. It might be a key item for some event, and with such poor performance, it might get a buff in the future, so I kept them in storage. I didn't expect they would be useful as ballast.

For underwater movement, you can use the Boost Dash, but it's much less efficient. To save energy, you could swim with a flutter kick, but I think the best way is to walk on the seabed with weights. Links can also move using the wire anchors built into its arms, so it's relatively well-equipped.

There are external launcher pods for the wire anchors that can be purchased from the store, so if your unit has weapon racks on the shoulders, you can equip them.

I think the weapon rack is a better version of the simple rack, but unfortunately, Links only has simple racks, so I don't really understand the difference. The simple rack just fixes the weapon, while the weapon rack is an advanced version, and the weapon bay is even better. I guess the better racks have energy connectors and trigger switches.

Most robots, except for Links, have two weapon racks on each shoulder, allowing them to equip powerful weapons. One reason for Links' low evaluation on the strategy board is that it doesn't have weapon racks on its shoulders.

Maybe the wire anchors built into Links' arms are a compensation for not having weapon racks on the shoulders? But I don't really need weapon racks anyway. They would just make movement more difficult if they were on the shoulders.

Just moving underwater is a challenge, but the biggest problem in underwater combat is that most weapons can't be used. Beams, beam swords, and projectile weapons like missiles, rockets, and guns are all unusable. Mines and grenades work fine, but that's about it. It's no wonder the strategy board is in an uproar. They might be aiming for realism, but it's pretty messed up as a game.

The Buster Sword, a real sword, can be used, but it's recommended to thrust. The resistance of the water makes it impossible to slash quickly. It's a real headache.

I can hear a high-pitched sonar sound, like a dolphin's call. The sonar seems to have a wider detection range underwater than my scanner, so I'll be attacked unilaterally by an invisible enemy.

But I can roughly tell the enemy's position from the direction of the sonar sound.

The enemy that rushes at high speed is called a Torpedo, a missile-like underwater torpedo. It's a specialized enemy weapon that isn't available in the store.

I lure it as close as possible and then dodge. At the moment it passes by, I carefully destroy only the fins with a sword thrust. If left alone, it will stubbornly chase me forever.

The finless Torpedo drifts away. There are three more. The fact that the Torpedo only has four shots is a bit of a relief.

There are two enemies in this stage: a mermaid-like Pissy and a crab-like Cancer.

Pissy is equipped with Torpedoes and is a troublesome opponent that can swim freely underwater. If it were only Cancer, I might be able to win.

Pissy is also equipped with a javelin-like weapon, an underwater laser gun, and wire anchors built into its arms.

The laser gun's damage decreases significantly with distance, so if you dodge when it hits you at long range, it won't do much damage. Sometimes it does no damage at all, which might be a bug.

Pissy sometimes initiates close combat with the javelin, which is a good opportunity for me. However, unfortunately, I lose in terms of mobility underwater. The javelin thrusts are also quite troublesome.

The biggest problem is that Pissy can throw the javelin even during close combat. It's not difficult to block with a sword, but Pissy ends the close combat mode without trying to retrieve the thrown javelin. After that, it just swims around and occasionally attacks with the laser gun, which is a passive strategy.

The clear condition is to destroy both enemies, which is too strict. If I can't defeat Pissy during close combat, it's almost impossible. If I can find a way to prevent Pissy from throwing the javelin, I might have a chance.

This time, I ignore the fast-swimming Pissy and look for Cancer. Cancer just keeps coming closer, so that's easier.

If the crab-like robot in Stage 3 was a hermit crab, then Cancer is a fiddler crab. The two-legged design is rather grotesque, like a crab monster.

Cancer's weapons are simple, with only built-in weapons in its arms. The right arm has a powerful laser gun, and the left arm has a large wire anchor.

The arms themselves are weapons, like weapon arms. There are no fingers, so it can't handle general-purpose weapons. I wonder if this unit is even given to players? It seems useless outside of the underwater stage.

I try to block Cancer's laser gun with the Buster Sword. It seems that the laser gun sometimes does no damage even on a direct hit, which is a bug but helpful. I won't report it in case it gets fixed.

The most frightening thing is Cancer's huge wire anchor. It's several times larger than Links' and has a long range. Cancer uses it as an attack weapon, not for braking, and it can change direction mid-flight. It's like a wired missile.

Hmm? Can the wire anchor change direction after it's launched?

I tried it, and it seems that Links' wire anchor can do the same. I've been using it without knowing, and it might be useful.

While repeatedly changing the direction of the anchor rushing through the water, our wires got tangled. Perfect, I'll reel it in. It's a chain death match.

The enemy also reels in the wire while aiming with the laser. The trajectory looks like a long, glowing sword. It's easier to block with a sword if it keeps the laser on continuously.

As we both reel in the wires, the distance between us closes quickly. The enemy's figure grows larger. It's more than twice the size of Links, but I'll treat it as a big target.

I thrust the Buster Sword into a seam-like part of the head unit. It was a critical hit, but the shock broke the sword.

Was it weakened by the laser? Unfortunately, I didn't bring the X-Carver. I have no weapon left.

No, I do have weapons. I equip the Tomahawk (laughs) on both feet to my hands.

Two-handed axes. I recently fought a player who used two weapons, so it's easy to imagine. I hit it like a drum. The key is to keep attacking in a fierce rush without giving the enemy a chance to counter. It was annoying when I was on the receiving end, but it's actually quite fun to do. However, the effect seems to be poor. Is Cancer's armor too hard, or is the Tomahawk (laughs) too weak?

The enemy doesn't just sit there and take it. It starts to counterattack by swinging its spiky arms, looking for an opening in my rush. Is my attack too monotonous? After all, it's just a makeshift two-handed style. I should read the enemy's movements and change the rhythm, but I'm getting my timing thrown off by the enemy's feints.

Still, I'm overwhelming the enemy in terms of the number of attacks. Despite having the upper hand, I'm gradually losing because of the damage difference. The Tomahawk (laughs) seems to be weaker than the spikes.

I quickly press the eject button, but it's a bit too late. No challengers interrupt until Links' shield is depleted, and it's game over.

Well, whatever. I'm exhausted in every sense. I don't have the energy to play against other players. Let's just leave it at that.

I crawl out of the cabinet and relax for a while. I watch the battle scenes on the large display on the wall. Everyone has gotten much better recently. Players who specialize in close combat are still a minority. The close combat version of the Scutum I fought before is called Leo. It's a variant, but it's treated as a different model from the Scutum.

I should go home soon. Before that, I'll change the weapons at the terminal. I could do it in the cabinet before the next mission, but it would make the waiting players wait longer. It's a matter of etiquette.

By the terminal, Jimmy and his friends are gathered. Their manners are a bit off.

One of them has dyed his hair a bizarre color and is wearing a lot of silver accessories. It's a typical mistake of youth. I used to be quite intimidated by such people in my student days, but why was I scared? If I observe them with clear eyes without preconceptions, I can see that their flashy tropical parrot-like fashion is their own style. They still have childish faces and are trying their best to act grown-up.

"Hey, old man! Don't stare at us!"

Oh, I'm being confronted. What should I do? Is he a rebellious teenager who thinks he's the strongest? No, his smirking eyes are like those of a child who enjoys teasing a chained dog. He has the same smell as the kids who go after adults under the protection of the juvenile law.

Salarymen don't always refrain from counterattacking, you know.

"Jimmy, isn't he a friend of yours?"

Let's start with a conversation with someone I know.

"Sorry, hey Kimura, let's leave this guy alone."

"What, is this old man a friend of yours, Endo? Make him buy us a meal."

No, I won't. I only treat people I feel like treating. Why pay to be in a bad mood? Besides, his method is almost extortion.

They are the monster children raised by human rights lawyers and the juvenile law. When a smart kid makes a mistake and gets carried away, they become like this. They don't really have bad intentions. They're just playing at being bad guys.

Still, most of them turn into decent adults who can read the room after their coming-of-age ceremony, so they're not completely hopeless. Some of them face the consequences of their reckless behavior, but they find their place in society. When they have subordinates, they laugh and talk about their wild youth over drinks.

In the end, the ones who suffer the most are the victims who are quietly attacked by these monster children. A salaryman working for a decent company would just have to accept the victimization. If he retaliates and hurts the attacker, it would be considered excessive defense.

There are some bottom-of-the-barrel workers in black companies who gleefully engage in excessive defense. After all, the law in this country is lenient on offenders. They say that life in prison is more humane than outside if you don't mind a criminal record.

"No, this guy is strong. He's beaten even ranked players. He's still in the tournament after three rounds."

"I'm still in the tournament too. Look, I just won my 438th match out of 520."

Kimura takes out his pilot card and shows it to me. The shiny part displays his battle record.

I take out my pilot card, but the numbers are confusing.

"You're slow, old man. Let me see. Oh, 1 win out of 3 matches. You're not even worth talking about. You're just a beginner."

I've only tried the player battle mode a few times in the beginning. The battle records from CPU battles and tournament matches are in a separate category.

"There are guys who only play against CPUs and get cocky."

The salarymen waiting in line glare at us. Most of the players at this time are salarymen after work. They should learn to read the room.

I'm a bit annoyed by the way he threw my pilot card back.

"Be careful with it. It has a memory chip."

"Hey, who are you talking to? Let's get our hierarchy straight."

Hey, that's my line, kid.

"Let's have a match. If you lose, you'll be my junior."

"What do I gain from that bet?"

Having him as a junior would just be a hassle.

"Did you hear that, his chicken talk!"

Kimura makes an exaggerated gesture like a theater actor and seeks approval from his friends, but they shake their heads. They are regulars here.

"Let it go. He's really strong."

"I once beat a close-combat player by hit-and-run, but I think it would have been dangerous if I had fought seriously."

Hit-and-run is a strategy where you shoot once and then run away. It's not very commendable, but it's not against the rules. I wouldn't do it if I were recording a battle video because it would look bad.

"You're just at Ushi's level. You're not that great. I'll beat you up."

This is getting out of hand. I don't really want to have such a match. It's troublesome whether I win or lose. I feel like I've been provoked, but a fair fight is better than being ambushed in a dark alley on the way home.

A player waiting in line gives up his cabinet for our match.

"Go for it, close-combat old man! Teach that brat a lesson!"

When I got into the cabinet, I was cheered on by a tough-looking middle-aged man. Who's the old man here, anyway?