The Only Chance (1)
The silence that had seemed endless suddenly shifted into a noisy murmur.
"What—what is this? Why is Aegis here?"
It was extremely rare for a user to actually adopt that stance inside High Gear.
Even if a ranker threatened them, most would change their codename rather than sell their pride.
"Who is Yahweh2? Have you heard of him?"
"No, never. And his parts are a mess. A bolt gun with the Maronsa basic package…."
While people gaped at the junk-like appearance—as if he could be picked up and sold for scrap—Shirone asked.
"I thought he would come in person."
From the moment Fermi had been called "boss," Shirone had guessed Aegis's identity.
'So she's the real Golden Coin Wheel in reality.'
Aegis bowed her head again.
"I'm sorry. Yahweh2 said it would be better to keep things quiet while resolving his issues."
Shirone understood.
"All right. Let's go."
Aegis turned away in military fashion and walked toward the northern exit of the square.
Shirone didn't care about the stares, but the Destruction Demon 707 party felt different.
'Ugh, it's my first time getting this much attention. But Yahweh2—what the hell is he?'
They'd never expected an ordinary user from the start, but that was still within High Gear.
'What's going on? Who is this boss? Could we be dragged into something huge that reaches beyond our virtual world?'
'Is it okay to go along with this?'
When Destruction Demon 707 glanced at his friends, he saw the same unease on their faces.
"Uuuu… ahh…"
The groans pulled them back to reality; they were already in the slum alleys of the city's north.
Drugged junkies rolled on the ground like it was their home, making strange noises.
Shirone asked, "Those people?"
"They're hooked on a drug program. High Gear is basically a battle simulation, but because it's in the Under Coder, the scope for applications is huge. It's also hard to chase here as a Floor Coder. The boss ran clinical experiments in places like this."
The drug was Angel—Angel's Tears.
"Kiyaaaa!"
A bald-headed couple collapsed against a wall and stuck out their tongues at Shirone, screaming.
Seven mechanical eyes crackled with electricity.
'Here you can quantify responses to drugs. It's more effective than biological experiments.'
Shirone could guess why Fermi had chosen High Gear.
Soon they saw a shabby motel with half the neon burnt out. Aegis went straight to room 307.
"Boss, he's brought him."
When they opened the door, a man with a chilling aura sat on the bed.
"Fermi?"
User codename: Yolga's Son.
His red hair was shaved on the sides, and black dye formed a tattoo that made his face look monstrous.
His eyes were white with no pupils. He wore a leather fur coat like something a demon cultist might wear.
"…What, like some villain boss?" In reality, Fermi played the clean-cut businessman, but the inner self looked very different.
"R-really, he's Yolga's son?"
Unlike the stunned Shirone, Destruction Demon 707 and his companions could hardly believe their eyes.
'Kill him. Xenos' flawless ocular ATX. Matte finish, too.'
His look alone was threatening; having no visible pupils made him excellent in close combat.
Fermi gestured to the table.
"Sit. By the way… you came with a group?"
Forgetting even that it was a virtual world, Destruction Demon 707 didn't know what to do.
"Ah, hi. We're—" Shirone answered briefly.
"They're my friends."
That was enough. Fermi, nodding as if satisfied, offered them seats too.
"All right, good to meet you. Sit down."
"Yes."
Even sitting some distance from the bed, Destruction Demon 707's group felt dazed.
'What kind of plan is this?'
Codenames can be changed. Meeting a new user in a major guild required caution.
'Can we really not ask anything?' Even if they couldn't define it clearly, the balance of power felt like it tipped toward Yahweh2.
Fermi cleared his throat.
"Well then—"
"Hey! You!"
Shirone jabbed a finger.
"You didn't tell me a thing! Tenman and that wasteland before were enormous! You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Ah, do players get mad at each other over stuff like that? Honestly, it wasn't a big deal."
In hindsight, that was true.
"This much has to be done to be called Yahweh. Listen. I wasn't idling either. Beating an Operator—your mind hasn't changed on that, has it?"
The Destruction Demon 707 party exchanged looks.
'He's actually going to do it?'
They'd heard as much, but Yahweh2 knew nothing about High Gear.
'Right now the leader of the Golden Coin Wheel is speaking.'
There was a gravity to his words they couldn't imagine.
Shirone said, "Think all you want, there's no choice. We have to beat the Operator to get things done."
"Just so you know. Now that you understand the system a bit, you know how tough it is, right?"
"...Yeah."
Shirone couldn't deny it.
"Then it'll be easier to talk. That's why I didn't tell you sooner. Your insight beats my explanation. Ever heard of the Ascension Guild?"
"No."
"It's the West's top-ranking guild led by an Operator. They have many rankers and public figures like me. They hardly do public activities. They hunt in the highest-difficulty areas general users can't reach."
Fermi pointed west.
"They're eccentric and probably female. She likely won't come to meet you, so you'll have to go to her hunting grounds. I think you'll be killed by creatures before you even get close—no offense to your pride."
"It won't hurt my pride."
Shirone cut him off.
"Just tell me how. How do I meet her?"
"The Sun Tournament."
The Destruction Demon 707 party groaned.
"Ah—"
"It's the core event of High Gear. You know the setting a bit, right?"
"Dr. Martin stole the sun."
"Right. More precisely, the Sun Palace. It's the only place in this world with a Low Gear."
"Low Gear?"
"A device that converts solar energy into electrical energy. The electricity produced there flows across the continent through Mid Gears. Mid Gears are capsule-like devices that charge High Gear's energy."
Fermi looked at Shirone.
"You won't feel it now because your level is low, but once you pass level 100 energy management becomes difficult. You recharge at stations with Mid Gears or buy auxiliary devices. Think about it: every user in High Gear uses that."
Shirone understood.
"And the country that wins the Sun Tournament…"
"Yeah, they take everything. Especially the guild that captures the Sun Palace can charge High Gear for free until the next Sun Tournament. Other countries have to pay fees for energy. You know that High Gear is the users' lifeblood. In real terms, it's a fight where you risk your life."
"The Operator will definitely enter."
"All guilds enter. This is the only way you can meet the Operator."
"Um…"
Death Princess raised her hand.
"May I ask a question?"
"The princess's interest is always welcome."
She gave a small laugh.
"I've watched a lot of Sun Tournament broadcasts. The strategy is insanely fierce. The Operator will, of course, enter, but Yahweh2 won't get to meet him. Honestly… unless you're around ranker level, you can't even get inside the Sun Palace."
"That's our problem too."
Fermi nodded.
"Sun Tournament results are close between East and West, but by chance West won the last Sun Tournament. So we're the attackers and they're the defenders. To get inside the Sun Palace you'll have to push through crowds and rankers. Especially, you won't be able to break through the Ascension Guild's first line."
The Strongest Codename added, "They run a command center not just for member tactics but for guild-versus-guild strategy. In a fight to seize the sun, it's impossible to carry out a personal mission. I don't think this is a good method either."
"I can do it."
Shirone didn't give up.
"Solve the problem—that's your job. You brought a method, right? Tell me what to do."
Fermi dropped his shoulders and sighed, then lifted his head.
"Give up the Sun Tournament."
The Destruction Demon 707 party's faces hardened.
"To be honest, we can't worry about winning a war while transporting you. So we'll abandon that. We'll use every guild in the Golden Coin Wheel to move you to the area near the Sun Palace. After that…"
Fermi glanced at Aegis.
"Golden Coin Wheel members will mobilize to disrupt the Ascension Guild's first line. It's a fight we don't care to win. The key is to separate you as far away as possible."
Destruction Demon 707 looked stunned.
"But that's betraying the East's guilds. Leaving the Sun Tournament aside, the guild network will collapse."
Fermi didn't flinch, and Shirone didn't either.
"What are the odds?"
"One hundred percent. Or zero. We'll body-mark Ascension's first line nonstop. Even if we lose everything, we'll get you inside the Sun Palace. Up to that point is my responsibility. Afterward is yours. Capture the Operator by any means necessary."
Destruction Demon 707 gaped.
"No, wait…"
The first thought that came to mind was simple.
'Why go that far?'
He checked Aegis's expression—she too wore a look of murderous intent.
Shirone asked, "How much do I need to raise it? Even if the odds are low, to make it not impossible, how much stronger do I have to be?"
"Hmm. Didn't anything feel odd since you came here? For example, your senses being a bit different."
"My intuition still lingers. It feels less like reality, but the signal system is identical."
"Ha. I figured."
As if he'd already anticipated it, Fermi calculated immediately.
"At least level 300. The higher the better, but matching the Sun Tournament will be hard. You wouldn't like it if it took too long either."
A day in reality was critical.
"From level 300 on, the experience required to level up becomes absurd. So 300 is ideal, and for the rest you'll have to win with parts."
"But parts are affected by level. They said this bolt gun's output is too much for my current power."
"That's true for prototypes. You'll have to compensate with legendary or artisan parts that boost energy efficiency. Either way, even if you do everything, your win rate will never exceed five percent. It's a fight of proximity—how close you can get." Fermi stood.
"In the same sense, there's a limit to what I can give you now. For level 100 and below, leave it to your friends. Get Yahweh2 to 100 within two days."
Destruction Demon 707's eyes widened.
"What? You want Yahweh2 to reach level 100 in two days?"
"Equip top-tier parts and hunt high-level creatures. It's not always the strongest creatures that're best, but in this range you're faster than me, right?"
Of course they were.
"B-but if we do that, won't we have to keep buying new parts as the level rises a bit? What about the existing parts?"
"Throw them away. I'll send a Golden Coin Wheel–approved credit card. Buy whatever you need. Use the credit limit as much as you want. Get Yahweh2 to level 100 within two days. Can you do it?"
Destruction Demon 707, who had been staring blankly at his friends, nodded.
"...Yes."