Within the door lay a labyrinth. Intricate passageways and seemingly innumerable doors vexed 13. Occasional patrolling soldiers and ceiling-mounted cameras oscillating left and right also presented obstacles. After navigating for approximately ten minutes, he entered a vast chamber. Surveying the surroundings: a completely sealed structure, impervious to external sound. Less a room, more a repair workshop. Likely due to off-duty hours, it was deserted. Spanning roughly 300 square meters, with a height of 10 meters, various repair tools and instruments littered the floor, comparable to Nie Yun's garage. Yet, perplexingly, within the expansive room, the area surrounding a square container remained conspicuously empty. As if intentionally isolated, or perhaps shunned. Taking it as the origin point, within a radius of 150 meters, even dust seemed sparser. This peculiarity heightened 13's suspicion. A sense that something peculiar resided within that container...
Approaching fearlessly elicited no particular reaction. Yet, within the container, a red light illuminated. Countdown initiated...
Standing before the three-meter-high container, just as he contemplated attempting to open it, he noticed a report sheet suspended before the container—perhaps a damage assessment. 13 perused it thoughtfully.
"Serial Number 0075.
Model: Beast-type Combat Armament.
Normal Operational Time: 2786 hours.
Combat Results Summary: Destroyed one Korea conventional submarine.
Damage Cause: Explosion shrapnel damaged primary control computer; self-defense system malfunction, excessively sensitive. Unable to distinguish friend from foe; any living entity approaching within a 150-meter radius will be summarily executed...
Self-Preservation System Activation Time: 1 minute
Temporary Identification Code: ktdawnb..."
Before he could finish reading, a metallic arm pierced through the container and the report sheet upon its surface.
Executing consecutive backflips, he stabilized twenty meters away, already assuming a combat stance—purely instinctual reactions. Because at the container's rupture point, the arm had already retracted. A pinpoint of blood-red light from within scrutinized him. Reminiscent of a predator assessing its prey, inducing profound unease...
"Boom!" At the initial breach point, four additional, identical arms emerged, tearing outwards. The heavy metal container proved as fragile as thin paper.
13's body trembled faintly. Because that red light held not a trace of human emotion, merely conveying information of slaughter.
The beast struggled against its shackles, bursting forth from the container's rupture point seemingly in agony. A black monstrosity revealed itself under the lights. Two metallic legs bent, supporting an equally curved torso. In place of hands were four colossal metallic arms, resembling a mutated chimpanzee. Yet, the head consisted of a spherical orb, the familiar red light situated precisely at its center.
After observing, 13 sighed, lowering his arms. The opponent appeared excessively vulnerable, almost entirely exposed. Connections between limbs and torso were all external; armor covered only essential areas, similar to the half-armored Special Operations units. Yet, Special Operations units sacrificed full-body defense for enhanced mobility, whereas this metallic beast relinquished full armor for only one reason!
Contemplating this, 13's scalp began to tingle.
Quantity! Absolute quantity! If USA's mechs were handcrafted luxury sedans, then Japan's Beasts were assembly-line produced, inexpensive civilian vehicles.
Beast computer system fully activated...
"Final confirmation of identification code..." a synthesized metallic voice emanated.
"Eliminating you renders it unnecessary..." 13 sprinted towards the Beast. The identification code, barely glimpsed, had been destroyed by this monster. This was the only "identification code" 13 knew—equally capable of pacifying the Beast.
In combat, 13 disdained hesitation, nor did he favor holding back.
Halting before the over-two-meter-tall colossal body, 13 crouched and leaped, executing a spinning straight kick targeting the spherical head. If his estimation was correct, that was its "eye."
The instant before contact, he strangely froze mid-air. One of the Beast's arms firmly grasped 13's extended right leg.
"Identification code error. Initiating self-preservation system. All biological entities... execute." The synthesized metallic voice sounded again. 13 harbored an ominous premonition. With a casual flick of its arm, it hurled 13 away. Unfinished! Simultaneously, the Beast initiated movement, lunging forward, throwing a punch aimed at the incapacitated 13.
Unable to regain balance in time, executing an extreme body contortion. The massive fist grazed past his chest, tearing the voluminous clown suit, drawing blood. Landing awkwardly, his gaze fixed upon the stationary Beast. Disregarding its own movement speed, that arm was incredibly fast! The arm that just seized him—at least, 13 perceived no distinct sensation. As if vanishing into thin air, then abruptly materializing upon his lower leg.
"Enemy count confirmed: one," the synthesized metallic voice stated. "Classification: A, exceptionally dangerous. Eliminate with full force."
The monotonous utterance carried a sanguinary undertone.
Perhaps 13 should feel honored; within the Beast's computer system, the threat level of USA mechs barely reached S. 13, even unequipped, attained A.
"Should I thank you for the 'compliment'?" 13 stood contemptuously, shedding the cumbersome clown suit impeding his movement, revealing only a form-fitting black and white gymnastics leotard. Encasing 13's slight frame, it appeared exceptionally peculiar.
Breathing slowly. 13 felt a self-deprecating urge to laugh. It had to be acknowledged; he actually felt fear. Because the adversary was a metallic monster. Because he wore no 'Night,' carried no COOL-FIRE5. Because SEED was absent. Hence, the fear. Unbeknownst when he had become so frail...
"Afraid?" 13 questioned himself, charging towards the Beast. "I am not afraid!"
The Beast initiated movement simultaneously. At the moment of contact, an iron fist swung diagonally, shattering the ground where 13 previously stood. At this instant, 13 had already executed an aerial flip, vaulting over the Beast's head. Rotating his body, he directed "Wing" with full force towards the exposed nape. Yet, that accursed hand reappeared, firmly grasping the fist within its palm. Initially assuming the back was its vulnerability—after all, human arms typically lack such maneuverability behind the back—yet its range of motion seemed omnidirectional, implying no blind spots.
Compelled to stand upon the Beast's dorsal armor plating, attempting to break free.
Suddenly, the spherical head rotated, the red light fixing upon the enemy on its back. Other arms activated, preparing for capture. 13 leaped again; the arms grasped empty air. Suspending vertically above the Beast, "Wing" remained ensnared, yet 13 appeared unhurried, a smile even playing beneath the mask. In truth, 13 needn't fear, for at all times, 13 carried a terrifying weapon: Nie Yun's masterpiece, his own "wings"—Wing!
Exerting force from his left hand, his entire body contorted to the extreme. The 'Wing' character upon his left arm protruded, unlike before, displaying a vivid crimson hue, the color of blood.
"Eeyah!" Releasing with a recoiling motion, the rotational force transmitted through to the captured fist. The metallic palm was blasted open, fingers twisting into grotesque angles. Were it human, the hand would be utterly ruined.
Lightly tapping the Beast's back, executing an aerial flip, landing on the ground behind it. His left hand hung limply, blood dripping continuously. No matter how formidable Wing was, its surface remained flesh and blood.
"If equipped, I possess one hundred methods to slay you," 13 stated with a sigh.
The Beast turned its body.
"Enemy possesses capability to damage unit! Danger! Danger!" The synthesized voice seemed to tremble slightly.
Charging forcefully towards 13. In truth, this monster wasn't overly difficult to handle. Aside from the exceptionally swift arm movements, its overall mobility couldn't even match a well-trained soldier.
Sighing, shifting sideways to evade. The Beast lacked even the opportunity to make physical contact. Relying solely on his own stamina, he could completely lead it on until its energy depleted, provided it didn't utilize nuclear power.
"Mobility: Average..." Evaded a punch.
"Attack Power: High..." Leaped over the Beast's head.
"Vulnerable Area: Arms. Low battlefield survivability. Sustainable combat duration unknown. Defense: Medium. If estimation is correct, greatest characteristic is quantity." Standing thirty meters away, 13 analyzed calmly. The tormented Beast lacked human emotions; otherwise, it would have long since expired from anger, saving 13 the effort.
Forgetting how many times it had charged towards 13, yet unlike previous instances, 13 showed no intention of evading. Crouching on the ground, posture resembling a sprinter at the starting block.
"I lack further time to analyze you. 'Rest' now!" 13 initiated movement, bursting forth at maximum speed. Though failing to achieve the standard of "vanishing," the velocity honed through "seabed weighted running" training absolutely surpassed human norms.
Ten meters before contact, "Crack!" The sound of forcefully stepping on the ground echoed, remarkably familiar—the very signature move 13 had learned: "Three-Step Kill!"
The figure, post-velocity change, began to blur. The final sound emitted. Velocity change complete. The attack came not from the foot, but the left arm, 'Wing' character manifest. Just as the Beast's four limbs were about to contact 13's body, the main computer unexpectedly entered a crashed state; the red camera sensor flickered. A full-force punch struck directly upon the chest armor. The Beast's massive body flew backward, sliding eight meters before landing.
13 sighed, lowering his fist. Blood flowed more copiously; his entire hand turned crimson. Yet, upon the Beast's Titan metal chest plate, only a red imprint remained.
After a momentary pause, the monster stood up again. Yet, 13 felt not a trace of fear. Strolling calmly towards the large door behind the Beast...
The Beast began acting strangely. Arms detached one by one, like withered leaves fluttering to the ground. First the arms, then the legs. Finally, only the torso and head remained connected. 13's preceding violent punch had shattered the fragile metallic connections at its joints. The entire internal system could be considered paralyzed. The red light dimmed...
Casually retrieving the discarded clown suit, 13 departed from the repair workshop...