"Give me a break. Do you think everyone's a muscle-bound monster who hacks with their fists like you? I'm speechless! How did they even decide to classify you as a Legend back in the day?"
"Hahaha! Because I smashed all of their repeaters! Every last one!"
"Badass."
A comical scene was playing out in the middle section of the Legendary Tower. Two "Legends," one large and one small, were using a steel plate to block the passage to the lower floors. Behind the plate was a horde of other "Legends" who had been completely turned into mindless zombies under the Stellaron's control.
That's right, "Physical Ascension," being the one with the most bizarre thought process and the most unconventional of all the Legends, had figured out a way to help the Express crew. It was simple.
The Stellaron's control prevented them from having any rebellious thoughts, nor could they harbor any intent to harm the other "Legends." Therefore, all he had to do was block the door with a steel plate. He was just pressing against the plate; he wasn't technically obstructing them. If they had a problem with it, they could try jumping out the window!
The Legends who had lost their consciousness were complete zombies. Without an enemy in sight, they were more like sheep penned in an enclosure...
And the only thing the two of them, who were still relatively lucid, had to do was wait for the people who could save Punklorde to awaken from their sweet dreams. Then, they would blow this place up to clear a path. What came next was no longer the concern of two dead men...
"Hurry up... Punklorde doesn't have much time left."
"Physical Ascension" looked up at the dome of the Legendary Tower and muttered to himself.
---o---
"It's been so long... They should have arrived by now."
On the front lines of the Old District, Veyl stood on the roof of a tall building. Her red eyes were fixed on the Legendary Tower in the central district, filled with worry.
"Boss, we held off this wave, but according to the drone footage, the next one is on its way..."
Jack, covered head to toe in blood and grime, his eyes bloodshot, spoke to Veyl in a hoarse voice.
Although they had repelled this offensive, it had come at a great cost. Phantom Light had less than half of its able-bodied members left, and the casualties were innumerable. The hospitals in the rear could no longer accept new patients...
If those Nameless were any slower, he feared they wouldn't last until the day Punklorde was saved...
"The children have been moved to a safe place. The New District... it's a bloodbath. They've dragged out all their last resorts. Some of that weaponry is older than my great-grandfather..." Jack shook his head, complaining.
"And the Scrapyard..."
"That masked merchant showed some kindness, but it's not much better than the New District. Fortunately, there aren't many normal people there to begin with. Plus, that bunch of hackers who were holed up in the underground reservoir came out to help. Looked like they were forced out... but at least they're helping a Punklorde on the brink of destruction..."
There was a hint of helplessness in Jack's tone, but there was nothing to be done.
The tide of monsters... it had always existed. The only variable was the Legendary Tower...
"Little Nolan has done his best. That executive from the Corporation has done her best, too. I mean, who would have thought someone from the IPC would fight shoulder-to-shoulder with common soldiers..."
Veyl smiled with equal helplessness. The drone feed showed Topaz and Numby in the thick of the fight. Five system hours ago, they had made contact with the New District and shared all their drone usage data...
At this moment, the Neon Metropolis was no longer divided into the so-called New District and Old District... or even the Scrapyard...
All of them, without exception, were fighting for the survival of Punklorde...
Perhaps the spirit of Punklorde wasn't just about treating reality as an unbeaten game and death as the end screen. When faced with the survival of their entire home, the people here were still fighting to protect it in their own way.
---o---
"Boss! Another huge wave of monsters is charging from the front!"
"Hmph! I'll hold the line myself!"
Nolan, who had been defending the rear, drove his massive mech straight to the front line. Ignoring the enemy's various attacks, the fortress-like machine solidly blocked the entrance to the Cinder Gang's base.
"Sir, can we really survive this disaster?"
On the front lines of the Survivor Base, the old town mayor held an old laser gun, his face numb as he spoke to the masked merchant beside him.
"Of course. You must believe in them. Most importantly, believe in yourselves."
The Masked Fool gazed at the endless sea of monsters before him, a faint smile gracing the corner of his lips.
"Believe in ourselves? I hope so... Everyone! Prepare for battle!"
---o---
"They're all awake?"
"Awake!"
"Then we can begin!"
"Wait!"
"Mechanical Ascension" suddenly stopped "Physical Ascension," looking directly into his clear eyes with a hesitant expression.
"If you have something to say, spit it out! Don't get all weepy on me before we die!"
"Physical Ascension" shot an annoyed look at "Mechanical Ascension's" expression. How could he have a descendant who was nothing like him?!
"Are you sure you want us to just die here anonymously? With no one knowing the contribution we made?"
"You'd better detonate the bombs before I get the urge to kill you myself. I don't want to experience being a puppet right before I die! Especially because of you, you little whelp!"
"Physical Ascension" looked at the disappointing "Mechanical Ascension," suddenly regretting why he hadn't just gotten himself castrated back in the day! What kind of trash had he sired!
"Fine, fine! If there's nothing, there's nothing! I was just hoping for a bit of glory after death. Looks like we're destined to be Punklorde's invisible guardians..."
"Mechanical Ascension" shook his head helplessly, then activated all the self-destruct devices hidden on this floor.
"Beep... beep... beep..."
"Actually, I kept a little something back. We can't do all this for nothing, right?"
As the countdown ticked away, "Physical Ascension" suddenly smiled in acceptance.
"Hahaha, I knew you old coot weren't playing by the rules!"
"Watch your mouth, you disrespectful little thing!"
"Tch... thanks, though..."
"Finally, a sincere word out of that mouth of yours..."
"Haha, was there?"
"Beep..."
The timer ended, and with the final tick, silence.
"BOOM!!!!!"
A massive explosion ripped through the middle section of the Legendary Tower! The entire structure began to tremble! But the tower, built with all of Punklorde's manpower, resources, and wealth, still stood tall... and the passage to the upper floors... had been blasted open.