TN: And we're back! sorry for the week long hiatus, it was not intentional since I had to get my right leg in a cast after tripping 3 floors down a stairwell (like an idiot ://) and be unable to use my PC setup upstairs BUT I should be OK now.
Anyways, Thanks for Arcanic Madness, WeissAkumu and WolfWTF for becoming as Supporters!,
===BREAK===
Sentinel Protect was a military company based in the Rose Line, primarily focused on civilian security and personal defense equipment. While its size wasn't especially large, it was nonetheless a legitimate defense company situated in the very heart of the Rose Line.
Naturally, the permanent garrison and defense systems of Sentinel Protect's headquarters were not to be underestimated.
The very fact that Tarkov had launched a direct armed assault on such a company in the center of the Rose Line was a clear indication of how extensively they had prepared.
"Unidentified hostiles are currently engaged in a firefight with Sentinel Protect's security personnel. But their firepower is overwhelming. At this rate, they won't be able to hold out much longer."
"I figured as much."
If Sentinel Protect's defenses couldn't be penetrated, Tarkov wouldn't have attempted such an overt assault in the first place.
And just as Carmen had noted—referring to them as unidentified—Tarkov clearly had no intention of leaving a trace behind in this operation.
'They don't want to leave any political leverage for the Rose Line.'
No matter how much protection Tarkov enjoyed from the White and Red Lines, even a megacorp couldn't get away with outright terrorism in the middle of a major city.
BOOM!
"There's not much time. I need to secure the disciples and data. Will you be okay on your own?"
"No need to worry."
I switched the Ark-34 Automatic Conversion Rifle to automatic mode.
Clack—
The rounds loaded were tranquilizer rounds.
No matter how hostile the enemy was, as long as they were Ark's people, I had no intention of killing them.
Even if not now—someday, when the final moment arrives, I may very well need the hands of those who had once fallen.
"Tranquilizers, huh… Carl Marcus, your reasoning is more mechanical than even I am."
"Maybe."
Carmen said that, but I already knew.
Once you've seen Ark's skies burn with your own eyes, anyone would make the same choice I have.
"Then I'll go first."
"Please take care."
As Carmen had said, time was short.
Sentinel Protect's headquarters, as a military company, boasted decent defenses—but not nearly enough to withstand the overwhelming firepower Tarkov was unleashing.
BOOM!
BOOOOM—!
The research floor shook constantly.
Using the elevator in this situation wasn't exactly smart, but unfortunately, it was the only exit from the sealed-off research sector.
'At least under normal circumstances, that is.'
As I approached the elevator, I quietly summoned Ether.
[Hehehe…]
Zzzap!
Sparks erupted as a number of the surveillance devices within Sentinel Protect were disabled.
It was an obvious anomaly, but given the current chaos, no one would question it.
'Now then…'
The surveillance was down.
There was nothing left to hold me back.
['Rift Shift' has been activated.]
Leaping several floors in a single bound, I executed a few more shifts, and in what could only be described as an instant, I reached the rooftop of Sentinel Protect.
"Rooftop breach complete! Gamma team moving in!"
In emergencies, Sentinel Protect's windows were sealed with steel barriers to lock down the building entirely.
To break through such fortifications, Tarkov had opted for a simple yet effective method: punching through the rooftop.
"Who goes there?! Drop your weapon and surrender immediately!"
Finally noticing me on the rooftop, Tarkov's soldiers surrounded me with guns raised.
Naturally, surrendering was the last thing I was about to do.
Clack—
"Unidentified intruder detected!"
"Open fire!"
Even before my hand touched the Ark-34, Tarkov's soldiers opened fire.
It was a commendable response—but unfortunately for them, their opponent was all wrong.
Tatata-tang—!
I didn't even need to shield myself with Ether.
The defense and shock absorption of the Janus armor I wore was so formidable, it could endure direct hits from Ark's own heat-pressure bombs.
Honestly, I might survive a nuclear blast and come out whistling.
Ping!
Clang-clack!
Bullets bounced harmlessly off my body without even the faintest impact.
A few of them ricocheted—striking back at the shooters themselves.
"Gah!"
"Ricochet! Watch out!"
"Target appears to be wearing an unregistered high-grade protective suit! Switch to armor-piercing rounds! Also possible high-level Ether compat—!"
Not wanting Ark's precious assets to die from their own stray rounds, I took aim with my tranquilizer-loaded Ark-34.
Clack—
Without a moment's hesitation, I pulled the trigger and unleashed a flurry of tranquilizers.
Whsssh!
Ssshhhht—!
I could strike them, but their attacks were completely ineffective against me.
In such an unfair scenario, the outcome had been decided from the start.
"Gah!"
"Ugh!"
The soldiers dropped like leaves in the wind.
However, tranquilizers were tranquilizers.
Designed with zero lethality, even the most precise shots couldn't easily penetrate high-tier Ark protective suits.
"Tranquilizers! Raise shields!"
The moment they realized what I was using, the soldiers quickly adapted.
Rather than retaliate with scattered gunfire, they raised reinforced shields and began closing in.
'Oh?'
I didn't stop firing, but my tranquilizers were no match for the shielded formation they'd established.
Clank!
Claaaang—!
My shots bounced off the shields and rolled pathetically along the floor.
Some soldiers tried to shoot from between the shield gaps, but a few well-aimed shots from me neutralized those attempts.
It was a bizarre stalemate.
'Hmm.'
Killing them would be effortless.
With minimal power, Janus could obliterate them without a trace.
And if Esther activated her Ether, only a handful of high-grade adaptors would survive.
'But still…'
I took this shootout seriously precisely because I didn't need to reveal myself openly to them.
Of course, with Tarkov's intel network, it wouldn't take them long to deduce who I was.
But as long as I didn't remove the visor of my suit, they had no proof.
Like them, I was playing a game of pretend.
"Reloading soon!"
True to form, Tarkov's soldiers had calculated the exact capacity of my Ark-34's magazine—but there was one thing they hadn't considered.
That to me, the concept of ammo limit was meaningless.
Whssshhhht!
"Argh!"
"Fall back!"
"He still has rounds!"
Thinking I was out of bullets, they charged—only to be met with precision tranquilizers piercing through the gaps in their armor.
Being able to slow down the world at will made such targeting trivial.
"Form up!"
"Raise shields again!"
As they hurried to reform their defense, I had no intention of allowing another stalemate.
"He's coming!"
"Brace yourselves!"
I launched myself forward, charging into their formation.
No assistance from Janus, no Z-74 Jetpack, no ether—just raw, unassisted physical power.
Even so, my body—having crossed countless near-death scenarios and enhanced with combat serums—was more than enough to demolish their shield line.
BOOM!
One kick sent a shield flying.
With that, the muzzle of the Ark-34 naturally found the vulnerable joints between their armor.
Bang!
Designed for non-lethal use, tranquilizer rounds only carried the bare minimum propellant needed to fire.
A slight miss would mean a blocked shot.
But hitting those gaps was child's play for me.
Thok!
Thok-thok!
One after another, the soldiers collapsed.
And in moments, no one on the rooftop remained conscious.
'That takes care of this side.'
Currently, Sentinel Protect was being attacked from two directions.
The rooftop, which I'd just secured—and the ground-level entrance.
Where I needed to go next was obvious.
'Esther.'
["Yes."]
Without hesitation, I jumped from the rooftop.
Rather than work my way through the building, it was much easier to retrace their entry path and strike from behind.
[Ready?]
[I'm ready─────]
With Ether's aid, I landed lightly on the ground—only to be met by dozens of barrels aimed my way.
"Unidentified suspect matches reported description. Engage!"
Dozens of muzzles flashed simultaneously as a barrage of rounds surged toward me.
Clang!
Clack-clack!
Naturally, the overwhelming defense of Janus allowed not even the slightest shock to reach me.
Not even a hint of impact.
"…He's wearing an unidentifiable high-grade protective suit! Deploy the Armor Breaker!"
Armor Breaker.
A name I hadn't heard in a long time.
It wasn't a weapon for monsters.
It was made specifically to counter the unique defensive fields produced by protective suits—meant only for use against humans.
The fact that a megacorp like Tarkov developed and deployed such weapons said everything.
'Tsk.'
Of course, Armor Breakers couldn't pierce Janus—but I had no reason to let them know that.
A suspiciously high-grade, unidentified combatant.
That was all the information I intended to give them.
Whssshhh!
Tranquilizers scattered once more.
But unlike the rooftop, here on the ground they had more tools at their disposal.
Clunk…
A long-barreled tank rolled into view.
Deploying a tank…
Considering how rare tanks were in Ark, this showed how serious Tarkov was.
'Now what…'
Obviously, tranquilizer rounds couldn't pierce tank armor.
I'd need another method to handle it.
'Rose Line's defense force will be here soon anyway…'
This was the heart of the Rose Line.
Even the White and Red Lines had limited influence here.
With this much commotion, the defense force would arrive soon enough and shut everything down.
Just by stalling, Tarkov's plan was doomed to fail.
And then—
CRUNCH!
CRACK-CRACK!
The tank's frame began to crumple right before my eyes.
It was a blatant anomaly.
'Esther?'
["Not me. Actually… this isn't Ether."]
In this world, Ether was the only force capable of such phenomena.
So, I turned to Esther—but her reply was denial.
'What is this…?'
The answer revealed itself quickly.
Advanced science becomes indistinguishable from magic.
And proving that sentiment true, Carmen appeared confidently at Sentinel Protect's entrance, wearing a gentle smile.
"You're not too mad I'm late, right?"
===BREAK===
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