Bad Born Blood - Chapter 67



Only Noblemtl

067

Fight!

Shock Pistol Ruina roared repeatedly. Energy particles swirled and mixed with smoke.

Rick moved around, leaving behind an afterimage, trying to get out of my line of sight.

‘Rick’s protection level is not enough to stop a concussion bullet.’

A shock bullet can even hit a full-body armor. A full-body combat suit, no matter how high its protection level, cannot withstand a shock bullet.

Whirl!

I jumped up in place, performed a trick, and swung my sword around, delivering a weighted blow.

Wood crunch!

My sword, Crucis, shatters concrete and easily cuts through metal.

Both Ruina and Crucis prioritize firepower and destructive power. Because of this, Rick cannot block my attacks and can only dodge them. This completely blocks one of the enemy’s behavior patterns.

If you rule out one pattern, it becomes much easier to read your opponent’s moves.

Too- Woong!

You have to go faster, Luca.

My nervous system and senses expand. My mind sharpens, and the information from my sense organs is pushed into my brain. In my head, chemicals and hormones overflow like a broken dam, flooding my brain. Unnecessary emotions are numbed. Compassion disappears. There is no fear. A grotesquely enlarged aggression and hostility have turned me into a fighting machine.

Only battle thoughts and logic piled up in my mind like puzzle pieces. I’m putting the puzzle together.

And on the other hand, through double thinking, I separated only the tactical thinking. I became a me who sees myself.

Okay, the condition is the best. Today I am giving it my all.

Wow-!!

As I pushed the output to its limit, my combat body let out a pleasant scream. The tuning and maintenance were perfect, so I didn’t feel any foreignness or interference, even for a moment. Even the dull sensation characteristic of cybernetic bodies disappeared. For this moment, this lump of metal seemed to be innate blood and flesh.

I can do it.

I stepped back and slid. Finally, I bent my knees and upper body and caught my breath.

Kwa- Jik!

I pushed forward, kicking the ground as if I was hitting it. A crack appeared where I was.

I held Rick’s movements back while pulling Ruina’s trigger until the magazine was empty. The office, which had received six impact bullets, was empty with holes here and there like a fruit eaten by bugs.

Whirlyrick!

My feet were barely touching the floor. I kept up the momentum by jumping forward and backward with minimal movement. I got faster and faster as I crossed the wall and ceiling.

‘Get out, enemy of the empire.’

And Felix’s share too.

… …Crucis caught up with Rick.

Kiiiiiing-!!

There was a sound of iron cutting iron. Sparks flew brilliantly. I stepped forward and let out the breath I had been holding as I slipped past Rick. My hot breath flowed out.

Fight!

Rick’s left arm fell to the ground. I cut off his shoulder with the Crucis.

Swish.

A shiver ran down my spine. It was exhilarating. I had never felt more exhilarated than this. If cutting off an arm was enough, how much more exhilarating would it be to cut off Rick’s head? My brain would probably melt with the sense of accomplishment.

“haha…….”

I may look like a crazy person, but I let out a laugh of pleasure. Then I straightened Crucis again and stared at Rick, who had lost his arm.

Click.

He turned the gun with one hand and also changed the magazine. The refrigerant cartridges that fell out while firing were still glowing red.

“You are now an undeniably complete guard.”

Rick said, feeling the cut surface of his shoulder. A small piece fell off with a snap.

“I judge you on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor and the people of the Empire, Rick Silva Nunez.”

I spoke mechanically, barely suppressing my excitement. I observed Rick without being complacent even though I had seized the opportunity.

There was something that bothered me. He didn’t use any weapons like swords or spears. Moreover, he didn’t seem to be hiding any weapons.

There’s no reason for him not to use a weapon. A warrior like Rick would be much stronger if he were armed. If he still hasn’t used a weapon even after losing his arm, then there must be a reason.

“Luka, as a gift for your growth, I will show you one of my talents.”

With those words, Rick’s battle suit glowed.

Woohoo!

Thin wisps of light rose along the seams and edges of the combat uniform.

My eyes try to analyze the phenomenon, but countless errors come to mind. I have seen this phenomenon several times.

Pot!

Rick disappeared. Not by high-speed travel or anything. He literally physically disappeared from existence!

“Luka, I won’t say anything obvious. The Empire isn’t worth loyalty to, or the voice of the people, or anything like that. You’re an extremely individualistic person.”

The voice came from about five paces behind me. I felt a chill down my spine. It was a completely unexpected ability.

‘Force ability?’

Rick teleported. The energy wave pattern was similar to the technique used by the Paladins of the Holy Nation of Korra.

Whoosh!

I turned around and swung my sword. Rick disappeared in a blur. My sword cut only an afterimage of light.

Rick returned to his original position. My mind was in disarray. The existence of variables was far beyond my expectations. I had to discard all the combat thinking and logic I had prepared so far and build anew.

… … It’s hopeless. No matter how many times I review it, it’s the same. There’s no way to defeat Rick, who has the ability to teleport.

Rick looked at my stern expression and scratched the back of his helmet.

“Now that you’ve seen this, I can’t just let you go. Don’t hope for luck. This isn’t like last time. I’ll crush your brain and kill you for sure. This is my last offer, Luca. Live as a machine, or as a human. You still have a choice.”

Rick extended his remaining arm to me and held out his palm. I am not a machine or a human, so I don’t understand difficult things.

I closed my eyes in desperation. My thoughts were fleeting. The odds were slim. My heart was pounding. Rick had sworn that if I refused his offer, he would kill me.

My loyalty to the Empire was pure, like the innocence of a child who believes that his parents are always right.

But now I know.

The Empire is not always right. There is a lot of darkness and ugliness. But the Empire acknowledged me. Heilas accepted me. Iley Kartika is my friend. Giselle is… …family, for one. Well, there is also Gabriel and Gilda.

No matter what anyone says, the empire is where I belong. I create and protect the place where I belong.

“My name is Lucius Custoria, Sword and Shield of the Empire. The enemies of the Empire are my enemies.”

I put Ruina in. I extended Crux forward and supported the blade with my other arm.

“Are you planning to spend your whole life doing dirty work and then get disposed of?”

Rick grumbled.

There will be no wavering in my pupils. I glared at him. Don’t give up on the possibility, Luca. You have to trust in the fighting skills of Archie, no, in the skills I have built up.

“If anyone has to do the dirty work for the Empire… … it’s my job.”

I didn’t think I had any grand ideas or beliefs, but maybe I have something like that now.

Rick put his one remaining hand on his hip, looked at the floor, and sighed. He slowly looked up.

“That’s what happened? Did you hear? Kinuan, I know you love her, but she’s full of shit.”

My heart, which had been built like a rock, shook as if it would break.

Why, here, does Kinuan’s name come up?

I followed Rick upstairs and opened my eyes wide. There was a man there who shouldn’t be there.

Kinuan stood on the broken window frame, his clothes fluttering in the night breeze. He fell feet first, free-falling.

widely.

Kinuan, who had fallen as high as a crane, stood beside Rick. He opened his eyes sullenly.

… … The first emotion I felt was betrayal. Yes, I know. That Kinuan would become my enemy someday. But even though I knew it in my head, my heart wasn’t ready yet.

“You too… …were you also an enemy of the Empire?”

I tried to suppress my emotions. I’m not sure if I did a good job of suppressing them. There was no way for me to see my own expression.

* * *

Kinuan stood beside him, obviously on Rick’s side. Kinuan’s eyes were cold as he looked at me.

“Luca.”

My name leaked out of Kinuan’s mouth. I flinched as if responding to a superior and focused on him. Habit is a scary thing.

“Are you an enemy or an ally? Other than that, there is no need for any other conversation.”

“I want to be on your side.”

Kinuan gave an ambiguous answer. He always did. But today, he couldn’t just let it go.

Rick interrupted, seeming annoyed by the conversation between Kinuan and me.

“Kinuan, why did you choose this guy? Wouldn’t Kartika’s Ilay be better? It would be easier to bring someone who has resentment toward the Empire.”

As expected, Rick and Kinuan were in cahoots. And Rick even knew a lot about Ilay. How many subversive elements are there within the Empire?

“Ilay is excellent, but he is not suitable for Akiess.”

“Are Archie’s fighting techniques that important?”

“To perform the role of a double agent, you need the mindset of Archie Victima. Excellent candidates like Luca are rare. The fact that you found your way through this chaos and made it this far is proof of that.”

Kinuan lightly spilled a big secret to me. I learned a lot today. Rick has teleportation powers. Kinuan is a double agent.

Now that I’ve heard this, I can’t get out of here alive.

… … Or, although it’s a slim possibility, there’s also the option of killing them all with my own hands and leaving.

Well, it is no longer a question of whether it is possible or not. I have no other way. Even though I know it is a dry well, I have to do my best to squeeze out the possibility, even if the result is meaningless. Hoping for a miracle.

“Rick, I’m going to talk to Luca a little more. Please wait a little longer. I’m asking you as a friend.”

Kinuan said, sitting loosely on the tattered sofa. I didn’t want to talk to Kinuan. But it wasn’t a bad situation for me to waste time.

Rick took a step back so Kinuan and I could focus on the conversation.

“Let’s not talk too long, Luca. I need someone to succeed me. I don’t have much time left.”

“I have no intention of becoming a traitor to the Empire. Don’t you know me well?”

“I know you are constantly wavering. If you continue like this, you will become a member of the Royal Guard. The most honorable soldier in the Empire… … You will receive honor, status, and even material support. However, in return, you will become ‘part of the machine.’”

The guards are equipped with high-performance full-armor Legion armor.

“Becoming part of the machine is just… … a difference in perspective. We are not part of the Legion, we use it. As tools, like any other body.”

Rick snickered at what I said. Kinuan glared at Rick and continued.

“It’s not a difference of perspective. It’s a clear fact. The Legion is different from other armored vehicles. It’s not a weapon that can be controlled by the human brain. Simply put, training guards is a process of reducing humanity and leaving only the individuality and thoughts necessary for a weapon of war. The core component of the Legion, the ‘biological computer,’ is the brain of the guards. Because artificial intelligence cannot immediately respond to the diversification of phenomena.”

Suddenly, Haylas’ words came to mind.

‘You can only last long if you have irrational and inefficient impurities inside you. That’s the key to opening the box called humanity.’

Captain Heilas, my father was truly concerned about me and gave me advice. He hoped that I would not be eaten by the Legion in the future.

“You’re smart. You’ll know what I mean. Judging from the look in your eyes, I can tell you already understand.”

“Even if that’s true, that’s no reason to betray the Empire. And it’s something I have to do to not lose to the Legion.”

I made up my mind.

“Kinu-an, that’s enough. Let’s end it. He’s not the type to be persuaded. I like that about him, but it’s a shame.”

Rick stepped forward and said. Kinuan also stood up.

“It’s a shame, it’s really a shame.”

Kinuan said sadly. He passed by Rick, leaving him to his own devices.

Pot!

It was at that moment. Kinuan’s arm moved smoothly. His palm opened and a sharp blade emerged.

“Ugh, ugh!”

Kinuan’s dagger pierced Rick’s jaw and came out through the crown of his head. Rick trembled and rolled his eyes, bloodshot, as he looked at Kinuan.

“Rick, I have to kill you here… … . It’s just a shame.”

Kinuan twisted his arm. The dagger pierced Rick’s brain.

Bam.

Rick’s body sagged. Only occasional tremors occurred in his limbs. Kinuan withdrew the dagger and took his arm away.

Rick fell to his knees and slumped forward.

… … The Empire’s most wanted fugitive, Rick Silva Nunez, is dead.