People believe they are in control of their situations; it's a natural trait of the powerful. The invading troops begin taking amateur shots—at first, they moved in organized formations, but as they advance, they attempt to clear sections of the levels within specially prepared environments. Level Five features waterfalls with a natural flow designed for those with great lung capacity; underwater enemies are notoriously difficult. I watch a dozen foes firing wildly, failing to realize that water deflects or refracts thermal impacts, and their projectiles are useless ten meters below the surface.
The twins didn't want to stay behind. Why would they? They were Level 6; they only wanted to know what was down there.
"Release them all. Let the enemies meet our targets without any restrictions."
"Mr. Topec, the international media is horrified."
"But no one is saying we're losing," I counter. Everyone watches the screen I broadcast from; it's clear they trust my results more than their own logic. "Our company is known and feared by all. Let's show them what we're made of." Eyes turn to me, gleaming. How many will be alive by the end of the day? "We have a home. Let us defend it!"
The night becomes our ally. The solar batteries make it simple to plunge the complex into darkness. The enemies proceed to use night-vision gear and thermal sensors, exactly as we expected.
Thermal sensors detect several of my inventory beings, but Level 0 emits nothing. It is a shadow. Then come the Level 7 and 8 terrors—ten agile, armed warriors, cunning and protected. The enemies begin to deploy, but seeing one of their own with a shattered skull from a rock thrown from a blind spot takes a heavy toll on their morale. If one of them throws a net, the Level 7s dash between the trees, making them waste precious shots.
Level 8s are harder. The brothers entered those grounds, both clad in armor and energy fields designed by their company for space travel—generators on their backs, hydraulic supports in their spines and legs, laser pulse weapons. Real bastards. But we aren't playing fair today. The microphones transmit everything clearly:
"Contact... they're fast! Hit them! No, no, don't use the rocket launcher in the subway—"
I'll never know if the brothers died, though a handful of their assistants certainly did. Finally, from the cloud of debris, five soldiers emerge gray with dust. Behind them comes one of the twins, holding the severed limb of the partner who will never join him again. They have no time to react; a double blade cuts through the communications officer. Yuho, a two-meter-tall Asian man, awaits them clad in ceramic plate armor. Each blade is fixed with electromagnetic welding so it doesn't hinder his movement. The twin's shots eliminate the remaining soldiers; despite being able to resist the impacts with his armor, Yuho uses his blade to deflect them. The last survivor in that zone screams frantically until the moment his throat is pierced—not by Yuho, but by the Snow Bitch. The samurai merely grunts in recognition. Then, they simply begin to feed.
"Zone 8B clear." "Zones 7D, J, and H clear." "Enemies clear from zones 34, 27, 25."
I have a strange feeling of dread. Screams begin to echo through my speakers—it's my staff, those resisting the Level 0s inside the safe zones.
"Status!" I shout. I can't see; the cameras are falling one by one. "What is happening?!"
"We are under attack, sir! The defenses will fall! Run!"
"Stop this nonsense! Who is it?" Before he can answer, a hole appears in his face.
"Don't let them touch the maps!"
"Who is targeting my personnel?" The answer comes from the muzzles of multiple weapons, including an ice cannon pressed against the back of my neck. Lute's gaze is crazed.
"I want to know where my father is. This is where he disappeared."
"You wish to know the whereabouts of Lute Senior. May I suggest another deal?"
"I don't care about your machinations! Who are you? Your last name doesn't exist. How old are you?"
"Ah... difficult questions. The Flayed Lord—that is how I am known. And believe me, you will want to hear the deal I am offering."