What was this? Why was it pitch black again? Was I dead, or was I still dreaming? Dread consumed me as I grappled with the unknown circumstances.

"Tsuyuki… Tsuyuki…"

This was the same hazy voice that seemed to repeat in my ear whenever I was in a coma.

"Tsuyuki… Tsuyuki!"

The voice echoed, gaining volume with every syllable. I shook my head vigorously, trying to clear the fog from my mind. My head and eyes were pulsing with a crushing weight, as though a thousand invisible anvils were pressing down on them.

But all of a sudden...

"TSUYUKI! Stop sleeping for god's sake!"

I felt a wave of shock run through me, and I nearly jumped out of my skin after someone shouted my name right in my ear.

I dozed off in this Osprey's cargo while waiting for our arrival to the Harimal Forest for a gathering mission in here, where I had a mission to gather 30 poisonshrooms and 24 dead androids's parts prior to the director's order with the 2 new-type Authonoids, which were similar to me.

The osprey's cargo door swung open as I leaned against the cool steel wall, revealing a view of lush green grass lit up by the golden sunlight. With a stern voice, Katoki reprimanded me through my communication channel and slightly deafened my hearing from his stern voice.

"Tsuyuki! You're the leader of this Black Vulture unit and the only experienced new type! And it's your responsibility to be the role model for these two new types!"

As I was about to respond, a tall, muscular, attractive male Autonoid with a blonde side cut, light blue eyes, and a white uniform with light blue accents came up to me and worriedly asked me in a gentle voice as he patted my right shoulder.

"Tsuyuki? Are you okay?"

That male Authonoid is indeed Axel. My old middle school classmate. He converted into a tanker-type Authonoid due to his excellent defense-breaking combat technique. But as I was about to respond, the osprey's pilot suddenly turned his back and retorted at me.

"Hey kid! Do you even pay attention to the mission briefing at all, eh?!"

As the pressure mounted, a wave of exhaustion cascaded over me, dragging my muscles into a heavy slumber.

"Yes, yes, yes! I fucking know! I'm just…"

But suddenly, a petite Authonoid girl, with wavy, shoulder-length black hair, green eyes, and an eye patch on her left eye, cushioned my left arm and expressed her sympathy.

"No need to push yourself too hard. If you're feeling unwell, we could help you."

That petite female Authonoid is indeed Christine. My old middle school classmate, who studied medicine, transformed into a supporter-type Authonoid, a healer with an otherworldly healing ability.

I then nodded and whispered, finding solace in the trust of my old middle school friends, who had always believed in me more than anyone else.

"Fine…"

Without wasting any time, I got up from the seat and got out of the Osprey's cargo.

We have finally reached the safe zone of the Harimal Forest, its lush greenery stretching out before us with the sun twinkling through the tropical trees.

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"The weather looks clear today."

As Axel spoke, the rustling of the trees harmonized with his voice, blending his words with the natural melody of the forest. Christine meticulously studied her GPS, analyzing the potential threat level in the surrounding area and demonstrating her strategic awareness and proactive approach.

"Infected love lurks in the dark, as it'll surround us if we let our guard down."

I tightened the straps of my backpack, ensuring everything was secure, before responding.

"We'll just hope the threat level in this area is lower than we've predicted."

The two Osprey's pilots pulled the scorch arc box from the cargo bay, and we could hear one of them calling to us.

"Hey, kids! Don't forget your weapons to slash those infected fools!"

We heard the other pilot's voice as he approached in the Osprey, echoing off the walls.

"Don't forget your mission aim, and be careful out there!"

"We're on it!"

The osprey left the safe-zone area with its engines hummed in the distance as we approached the scorch arc box. We hovered our hands over the scanner at the top of the box and watched as it opened with a click.

When we opened the box, there were six scorch arcs glinting in the light.

There is my brand-new blue revving blade named Nakajima, a sizable hammer with a V-Twin engine, a tall spear with a massive point, my brand-new desert eagle-like pistol named Kiryu, a white AR-styled SMG with a drum magazine, and a futuristic dark green bow.

After I picked up my brand-new scorch arcs from the weapon box, I sheathed my Nakajima on my back. I placed my Kiryu into my right knee holster and the ammo magazines into my waist holster.

After equipping myself, I looked around and pointed at my teammate's arcs with a query.

"By the way, whose arcs are these?"

Axel effortlessly lifted the massive hammer in one hand and cradled his SMG in the other, his confidence palpable in his every move.

"Oh, these are my babies: Bulldozer and Coolio."

I nodded and formed my lips in an "o" shape. After that, I curiously inquired about the tall spear with its huge, sharp end and the dark green bow.

"Christine, these are your arcs?"

Christine reached for the arcs, and the weight of them in her hands was reassuring.

"Yes. This is Aubrey, and this is Leda."

She hefted her Lancer, Aubrey, and her bow, Leda. Her strength amazed me when she effortlessly hoisted the heavy arcs, almost as if they weighed nothing.

She tested her bow by shooting one arrow at a single leaf on the highest branches of a nearby tree, testing for any issues with her bow. And she broke it cleanly with one shot at the stem.

With caution, I retrieved the carefully concealed secret weapon from the depths of the weapon box, its significance known only to me. It was a cyborg gauntlet with three claws for my left hand.

As I inserted the gauntlet into my left hand while tightening the belt, Axel and Christine curiously looked at my unusual weapon as Axel approached me with a query.

"What is that on your left hand?"

As I brandished my left-hand gauntlet to my friend, I answered.

"It's a claw."

"Claw?"

Hearing their simultaneous confusion, I elaborated on it when I tightened up my claw's belt on my left wrist.

"It's a grapple hook gauntlet you wore on your left hand. Even you can use it as a weapon."

All Christine and Axel could do was bobble their heads in understanding. Until Axel suddenly asked us.

"By the way, did you guys already maintain your weapons before the mission?"

Listening to the faint hum of her weapons, Christine inspected them before responding.

"Mine's working fine."

"Well, the only way to find out is—"

I suddenly stabbed my Nakajima above the soil and revved it three times with crisp 2-stroke sounds coming from the exhaust.

BRAAP BRAAP BRAAAAAAPAPAPAPAP

BANG

The exhaust suddenly burst into flames. Axel beamed with anticipation as he heard the rev of my Nakajima, and he was eager to join in with his hammer.

"Nice one. Let me try it."

Axel swung his hammer to the front, and the gruff roar of the V-Twin engine echoed in the air.

VROOM VROOM VROOM

Axel Hammer's exhaust spouted fire like a dragon's breath, and I was in awe of its menacing growl.

Christine felt a surge of adrenaline when she joined the revving competition with her Lancer.

"I want to try it too!"

She pointed her Lancer forward, and the engine roared with a low rumble from its two cylinders as she revved the throttle.

BRUUMM BRUUMM BRUUUUMBUMBUMBUMBUM

BANG

Her Lancer exhaust let out a loud pop and a flame that was brighter than mine.

But there's no time to waste! It's time to plunge into the depths of the Harimal Forest and begin our mission! I took charge and firmly commanded everyone.

"Is everyone ready?"

Everyone secured their weapons, the clang of metal echoing through the air, and tightened the straps on their backpacks.

"Let's dig in!"

Christine nodded in response; her backpack belt pulled tight, and the buckle clinked.

We ventured deeper and deeper into the Harimal Forest until the air was thick with the scent of wildflowers and decomposing leaves.