Piss. I'm lying in my own piss. What the fuck is happening here? This was supposed to be some simple fucking D-Tier job! Nobody said the convoy was guarded by… that thing! I put my elbows on the ground and lift myself enough to look around. The smoke was suffocating. Squinting, I see the towering figure that caused all of this death and destruction. My HUD was flashing 'X-Rank' on the figure and there was no health bar where there should have been. I have to get out of here before he sees me! Willing my legs under me, I pause for a moment to consider why only one leg manages to reach its destination. Where did my other leg go?
The screams weren't allowing me to dwell on that question as an explosion of blood sprays onto one of the fires dampening the flames and filling the air with the smell of burnt iron. I pull my shaky breath forcibly into my pain-filled lungs and begin crawling across the pavement. Fuck my leg… I need to get away!
"Which worthless endo has the fucking chip." An amplified, robotic voice echoed out. The chip? Oh my god… this is all for that little fucking chip?! Damn you, Sergei! Why didn't you know this chip was actually important? Reaching up, I quickly pull the tiny blue and white chip out of my leftmost chip slot and shove it into one of my pockets.
Another scream cut short. Another friend dead. Another round of gunfire going off behind me. Another scream cut short. Another friend dead. Sirens in the distance. I keep crawling towards an alleyway, not daring to look behind me. The deafening sound of an explosion and a flaming hand landing in front of me filled my nose with the scent of cooking meat. I vomit. Nose... Nose shutoff! Reaching up desperately, my fingers find the button on the inside of my nose and push it down. Sweet relief from that scent.
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"There you are, Endo… Looks like you have the chip." A metallic mass shatters my ribs and I feel a kick fling me across the street into a roll that ends with the familiar sight of the cloud-covered sky. The comforting sight didn't last long as the mechanical skull of Inquisitor Cain came into view.
"You're… guarding a shitty little convoy?" I spit alongside some blood at the horrific metal monster standing above me, HUD still flashing X-Rank. What the fuck am I saying..?! He's going to kill me! I'm dead! I'm so fucking dead! I didn't stop him, I couldn't stop him, as the cold metallic fingers reach into my pocket and pull out that tiny blue and white chip.
"It's not that shitty. Lets me rip apart some dumb fuck D-Tier Endos. None of you are a challenge, but I'll never get bored of watching a meat-bag explode." The chilling tone sent a shiver down my spine.
"You got the chip…! Please let me-" The sound of a car engine revving interrupts me, the bright headlight painting my vision white. Yes! Get him! I gaze hopefully at the car approaching at ramming speed, but my heart suddenly drops into my gut. I watch Inquisitor Cain stand and simply turn towards the approaching car, holding up a singular mechanical hand. In an instant, the car crumples against the air merely a few feet from Cain, and the three men inside explode into bloody chunks. The crumpled car reverses direction in the blink of an eye and goes skidding down the road in a shower of sparks, leaving behind a sickening trail of blood.
Unable to speak, I look up at Cain in pure shock and horror. My HUD continuously flashing 'X-Rank' as Cain turns towards me. I simply keep staring up at him, my mind wandering to the absurdity of it all. I watch, unable to do anything to stop him as he lifts his foot and stomps down. How doesn't he have any blood on hi-