The Only Chance (2)
Maron Parts Shop.
The automatic doors slid open and Shirone's group's data was transmitted remotely to the company.
"First, buy a large quantity of buckshot—"
As Destroyer707 explained to Shirone and stepped into the shop, a commotion broke out on the second floor.
"Huh?"
A man in a tuxedo hurried down with several robot attendants.
"Welcome! I'm the Atogram branch manager of Maron Company!"
He was a robot too, but so finely made that he looked indistinguishable from a human.
Users murmured among themselves.
"What, it's the branch manager? I only saw him back when High Gear first launched. Haven't seen him since."
"Right. Is there some kind of sale?" Shirone stared at the branch manager's smug smile.
'This is probably why.'
Next to the Gold Coin Wheel guild mark, the serial number of an unlimited credit card was registered.
Destroyer707 said, "We're buying parts and some equipment. There's a lot — can you have it ready quickly?"
"I'll run as fast as I can."
"Three Baekjang sets, one Maron integrated unit, fourteen boxes of Baekjang armor-piercing rounds, and one auxiliary charger. That's all."
The branch manager's eyes lit up and every attendant in the shop scattered in every direction.
Users were dumbfounded.
"They're buying Baekjang sets from the shop? Buying from other players would be three times cheaper."
"Look at the mark. It's Gold Coin Wheel."
"Oh, right. So they laundered a codename?"
"No, must be new members. Gold Coin Wheel wouldn't launder codenames. Those guys are probably the ones Aegis dragged in from Free Square earlier."
Before the conversation finished, the branch manager had neatly stacked the ordered items in front of them.
"Here you are. For payment—"
Destroyer707 said, "I'll handle it."
The instant he said it, the credit card flashed and a payment-complete notice appeared.
'It doesn't even show the balance. That's insane.'
A literal blank check.
Realizing the scale of Gold Coin Wheel made the time pressure even sharper.
'Two days to hit level 100. This is insane.'
Snapping back to focus, Destroyer707 laid out the plan.
"Okay. Yahweh2 and I, and DeathGongju take the Baekjang sets. Strongest Codename takes the Maron integrated unit."
When they touched the boxes, an "Instant Swap" prompt appeared.
"Just approve it. Selling existing parts back to the shop takes time; instant replacement won't be available otherwise."
It was to prevent errors from rushed decisions.
Moments later, their bodies changed and Maron package parts clattered to the floor.
"Move. Move. No time."
They left without even looking at the discarded parts; the branch manager bowed after them.
"Please visit again anytime." The other users stared vacantly between the scattered parts and the exit.
"…What are they in such a hurry for?"
Margo's lair.
A place with creatures averaging level 20 — a hunting ground that would be challenging at Shirone's level.
"Listen up. We picked the Baekjang set not just because it's the most expensive, but because its default ammo is buckshot."
Thud. Thud.
The three frames were heavy like mid-infantry armor, their upper arms puffed out like balloons.
"Weapon systems online."
The forearms opened and muzzles popped out; Shirone aimed forward in that stance.
Auto-aim calculated hit chances over the area.
"Hmm. The program switches automatically. The area is much wider but the range is shorter."
"Its power is a bit weaker than a bolt gun, calculated per single projectile," said Strongest Codename.
"That's why we use armor-piercing rounds."
His Maron integrated unit looked more like an armored transport than a humanoid frame.
"Ammo types are pricey, and AP rounds are top-tier. Even without a penetration check they'll shred most armor. Usually players buy a single 20-round mag and save them for emergencies. But we have fourteen boxes — 1,680 rounds."
DeathGongju said, "We'll lure the creatures in and Yahweh2 will finish them. Strongest Codename will keep resupplying. That cuts down on round-trip time. The problem is power—"
Destroyer707 said, "The auxiliary charger is only a stopgap. It only restores up to ten percent. We use it to drain what's left here and get back. A full 100 percent charge can only be done at a Mid Gear station."
That was why Mid Gear charging was important.
"Understood."
They reached the center of Margo's lair where the trees opened to a vast clearing.
Countless users were firing at machine-gorillas surging in from every direction.
Shirone realized instantly. 'These are strong creatures.'
At least in High Gear they were. Aside from lacking ranged attacks, their speed and armor durability matched the users'.
"Let's start."
Destroyer707 stomped toward the forest edge and raised his arms.
'Spraying AP rounds as buckshot… I imagined it before, but now it's real.'
"Kraang! Kraang! Kraang!"
The Margos charged with guttural cries like a looping recording.
The AI calculated the spread radius, and the moment a Margo's body came under the wide aim—
"Fire."
Kraaaang!
A thunderous explosion shredded the metal gorilla frame like paper.
"Done! Operation success!" Destroyer707 cheered, and the twenty users gathered in the clearing stared at him.
"What? Killed it in one shot?"
Strongest Codename put down a box of AP rounds. "I'll run back to Atogram once more. One more trip and we'll hit the target level."
His Maron integrated unit sped off, and Shirone and DeathGongju, having watched the demo, jumped into the fight.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
No matter where they came from, the buckshot could not be dodged, and it was instant death without question.
'Fast. My level's already gone up.'
Shirone watched the experience gauge tick upward with each level-20 Margo they killed.
Margo lairs were normally places where users enjoyed the tension of surrounding prey, but now—
"Kraaaang!"
The Margos were nearly wiped out; most of the other users were just spacing out and watching.
"Level 15."
The growth rate was exhilarating, but Shirone's expression turned serious after a quick calculation.
'Can we do it? If required experience keeps scaling up, two days will be really tight.'
They needed even greater efficiency.
A user who had only recently entered the area shouted at Shirone.
"Hey! Let us hunt too! How are we supposed to get anything when you guys kill fifty and everyone else gets one?"
A nearby player tried to calm him.
"Shut up, idiot. They're Gold Coin Wheel. If you mess with them they'll purge everyone."
"Huh?"
The newcomer checked the mark next to Yahweh2, blinked, then put on a tough front.
"Tch, Gold Coin Wheel and they think they've got it all? Order the purge. I can just launder my codename."
"That's your problem. If it drags us in—" Shirone started.
"Sorry. We have circumstances. We'll hunt for a bit and then leave," Shirone cut in.
From afar an engine note sounded as Strongest Codename returned and set another box of AP rounds down.
"You good on time? Fourteen boxes."
"That was close."
Reloaded with AP rounds, Shirone's group resumed slaughtering the gathered Margos.
"Level 20."
The hunt ended.
"Let's head back. How much power left?"
"Two percent."
Destroyer707 opened his chest armor and attached the auxiliary charger as he spoke.
"That brings us to twelve percent total — enough to reach Atogram. We picked this spot on purpose. If we full-charge at Mid Gear we could go ten kilometers."
With the auxiliary battery attached, Shirone's group left Margo's lair at once.
"They're gone."
All that remained were the boxes of AP rounds worth about one million galactic coins.
On the way back to Atogram, DeathGongju said, "Let's buy the selective options soon. Turbo activates at level 20, so hunting will speed up."
Shirone bought Communications and Turbo from the electronics shop.
Destroyer707 said, "Selective options are tied to parts a lot. So even if you enable Communications in the menu, you can't use it unless your parts have a comms module. Same with Turbo."
"Yeah. But we can use both right now?"
"Of course. It's a Baekjang set — that much is standard. But it's something to consider down the line."
Strongest Codename said, "You guys take Turbo. While Yahweh2 charges at Mid Gear I'll work on my level. DeathGongju will handle transport."
Shirone activated Turbo, felt double output, and shot forward like a bullet.
"Phew!"
He could see the power drain, but it looked like they'd make it to Atogram.
Arriving in the city, Destroyer707 located a Mid Gear charging station and requested rapid charging.
DeathGongju said over comms, "Once you enter Mid Gear, external info is cut off. It's basically a reset. Normally people disconnect while charging, but we don't have time — we'll come out immediately."
"What do you mean 'come out immediately'?"
"Literally. Fast charging takes twenty minutes in High Gear time, but you can skip the process. Enter and exit, and twenty minutes will have passed." Shirone blinked.
'Time speeds up? Maybe this world's…'
The connection cut, and cables descended to link to their frames as Shirone climbed into the capsule.
—Would you like to skip the charging process?
He selected agree, the world went dark, and a surge of energy moved through him.
—High Gear charging complete.
"Huh?"
Before he could frame a thought, the capsule opened.
DeathGongju was waiting.
"Slept well?"
It hadn't felt like even a second, so Shirone looked around.
"Twenty minutes passed?"
"Yep. In High Gear time. Let's go. We need to upgrade parts again."
Destroyer707 grinned.
"Heh heh heh, this is real luxury at our level. Designer stuff, really."
They arrived at the most upscale building in the shopping district.
Shirone checked the sign.
Metal Genome.
Through the glass he could tell high-level users were shopping inside at a glance.
"They're a company whose tech covers up to level 300. They rival Hwayoung Company — Hwayoung's minimum part specs start at level 40. The highlight here is the Grim Reaper series: it covers from level 20 all the way to level 60. If you push it to a full 60 it's not the absolute best among equals, but it's still proud specs anywhere."
"So a part you equip at level 20 still works at level 60? Amazing. Maron's bolt guns fell out of balance with just a ten-level gap."
"That's why it's designer-level. But it's expensive. Not just expensive — ridiculously expensive."
They shook their heads and went in. Again the branch manager rushed up to greet them.
"Welcome to Metal Genome!"
Five minutes later, Shirone's group had their entire frames swapped to the Grim Reaper series parts.
The design concept was a tropical black wasp — sleek torso, narrow waist, functional legs.
"This… is really nice."
The output was on another level. Durability was seven thousand, and the weapons used beam-type energy rounds.
"Haha! Now you see why it's designer stuff. This will carry you to level 60. No one can touch you."
DeathGongju packed equipment into a bag.
"Even among energy rounds, beam-types deplete fast. I'll keep replenishing. Let's head back to the hunting ground."
At that moment Destroyer707 received a comm.
"Support request. Hostile activity in Destroy-02 region. Group 'Five Minutes to Chaos' involved."
"Got it. Wait here."
Destroy-02 was a vast hunting zone with creatures averaging level 47.
'Those bastards were doing a party hunt.' He ran the numbers on the hunting ground's efficiency, smiled, and looked back at Shirone.
"Wanna run a performance test?"