Punishing : Gray Raven (Official)

Chapter 13 : Gray Raven (Prologue 0-1)

Gray Ravens : The Graffiti Arc [Main Story]

Chapter 13 : Gray Raven

-Punishing Virus Catastrophe-

-Originating in our most prestigious laboratories-

-In a few short years the virus wiped out thousands of years of human civilization, forcing us to seek refuge off-world...-

-The courageous choices you make today will light a new flame, a glittering star in the darkness.-

-May every child of humanity be able to return home safely.-

-Hassen, Leader of Humanity, speaking at the start of the Reconquista Age.-

As the hundredth Corrupted signal is extinguished, the surrounding area becomes quiet for the time being.

The wounded Lucia lays disheveled over the heaps of broken Corrupted parts. Her chest heaving irregularly in an attempt to calm her own breathing.

Lucia : "Commandant..."

"What's the... situation...?"

Commandant : "The Corrupted are still gathering this way..."

Lucia : "Is that... so."

Lucia emptily stares at the dancing embers before her.

Lucia : "The Anti-Punishing Serum for this mission... How many do you have left?"

In truth, the one just now was the last...

Commandant told Lucia it was the last serum they've used

Lucia : "I suspected as much..."

"If we run out of serum, Commandant, your human body will not be able to survive here."

"The other members of Gray Raven have yet to arrive... I'm the only one who can buy time for you to retreat..."

"But the pain reception is affecting my performance, Commandant."

"Please authorize the temporary disabling of my pain reception and allow me to continue fighting."

Commandant : "... "

Lucia : "What's the matter...? Are you worried that if I continue on like this, my M.I.N.D. will permanently deviate from the human consciousness model?"

"You're always one to care about these..."

"It's fine, Commandant, I believe in you. As long as we keep our consciousness linked, your Mind Beacon will allow me to stay human."

"As for this rash decision... I'll report back to you for disciplinary actions when we return to HQ."

Commandant allowed to turn off Lucia's pain receptions.

System : "Authorized. Recalibrating neural link parameters..."

"M.I.N.D. deviation coefficient increased by 0.021..."

Lucia : "Wait, Commandant! The enemies-augh!"

System : "Initializing Sensorium..."

"Construct:Lucia, offline-"

Corrupted : "Deconstruct... Rebuild..."

Until Lucia's consciousness comes back online, she will have to be protected.

So, there is only one thing left to do-

Commandant loads his Gun

Corrupted : "Exterminate-Humans!"

And Shoots the corrupted

The Corrupted frames are riddled with bullets all over, yet they show no signs of slowing down.

And the next instant, the scintillating blade of the Corrupted is already raised high-

An attack slides past-

Before the Corrupted could stabilize itself from the missed leap, its head is detached by a roundhouse kick. The body then quickly collapses.

Even so, the remaining Corrupted continue to converge...

Corrupted : "Urgh-!"

The Corrupted shamble, rushing toward-

System : -Pain Reception Succesfully Deactivated.-

Lucia : "Stay away... from... my commandant..."

Corrupted : "Urgh-!"

System : "Initialization complete. Consciousness: Lucia, online-"

Lucia : "Report. Construct Lucia is now ready for battle."

"Commandant... Thank you, I'll handle this from now on."

No longer fettered by pain, Lucia spins through the battlefield-

-destroying Corrupted with an almost terrifying alacrity...

Alas, the countless Corrupted that surround them began to diminish in number...

And-

Connecting-

Liv : "Commandant! Lucia!"

"We're ready here. You guys go look for shelter nearby!"

System : -Warning: Extreme high-density energy source detected-

Lucia : "Commandant, hit the deck!"

-to be continued-