Chapter 31:

Chapter 31

Hanabi of the Steel Curtain


“Nanomancy Foundry activation conditions met…”

“Processing……..”

“Prefab-03 unlocked”

“Initiating metamorphosis sequence………..”

The liquid metal formed on one of her arms, replacing the fist with something that seemed resemble a massive handcannon built directly into her arm. Its cylinder spun rapidly at sparks of electricity arced around her.

“Prefab-02 complete.”

“Designation: Sun-Eater

The barrier broke, and as soon as the Apex group saw a hair on Hanabi’s head, they all opened fire. However, as the smoke cleared, Hanabi kneeled there, Sun-Eater Prefab raised to the sky. It glowed and the sparks grew more dangerous. She glared at Apex with renewed determination, then took aim.

A beam of light blasted out from the barrel and decimated two of the clones, they tried to scatter but it was useless. She dragged the beam along, every Apex it hit was disintegrated, until there was just one. He took the beam straight to the chest and fell from the sky.

The beam dissipated as its energy ran out. Hanabi breathed heavily as Apex laid there on the ground. But then he disappeared. That one was a fake. So where was the real one-

That sound again, from behind her, too close!

She took the beam straight to the back and was knocked back to the ground. Unlike last time, this was a full powered blast.

“Danger. Danger. Critical damage sustained!”

“Frame Integrity at 5%”

“Please exit the battlefield”

‘Shut up already!’ She tried to get up but that hit really hit her hard. Any normal human would’ve been disintegrated. Her auto-repair functions were quickly going about repairing the damage, but even with the upgrades, it couldn’t fix everything. No, she’d need a full repair at some point.

She struggled to get to her feet as Apex stood there. “Come on, you think I don’t know these tricks by now? Though, I’ll admit… that really hurt. If I hadn’t switched places with a hidden clone, that might’ve actually got me. But, I think we’re about done with this game.”

She flipped him off.

“Heh, of course that would be your last action. Wish you’d have gone out with more dignity but…” He raised his palm, energy gathered again. “This was only ever gonna end one way.”

And the sound heralded the beam of death, it raced towards Hanabi, soon it would atomize her into nothingness.

“Shield Emitter Integration complete”

“Deploying”

The hexagonal-shaped shield of light formed between her and Apex’s blast.

“Shield Integrity 99%... 92%... 85%...”

The shield was falling fast, she needed to hurry up and make her counterattack. Against the force of the beam, shield emitting from her arm, she pushed forward.

“Overhaul… conditions met”

“Prefab overhaul commencing…”

“Initializing…”

“Shield Emitter - Barricade - Function Unlocked”

“Activating Energy Drain”

She felt power flowing in from the shield emitter, likely the more power Apex shot out, the more power it was absorbing. Meanwhile, the liquid metal around her arms and legs were forming around one arm. In the corner of her vision, she saw a gauge filling up as the gauntlet formed around her fist glowed and shook.

She stepped closer, the shield cracked, she needed to pick up the pace. After this, she didn’t have anything left. She was going to make him remember, make him regret what he did. Even if she didn’t kill him, she’s already humiliated him. The great and powerful Apex, losing to some living-dead cyborg girl. That thought alone, that his unbreakable image will shattered, made her smile.

“Shield Integrity 21%... 15%... shield breach detected”

The shield was breaking, and streaks of energy were getting through, cutting into her artificial skin layer. Just a bit further, she only needed to get a little bit further.

“Shield Integrity 7%... 2%... 1%...”

“Warp Relay Unlocked… command authorization override… connecting to relay…”

The hexagonal plates shook and shattered, she felt the intense heat of the beam as it grazed her cheek, arm, and side. She thrust out that hand forward as a device warped into her palm. She shut her eyes as a bright and loud flash exploded in Apex’s face.

It was a distraction, but a welcome one. Likely, a final gift from Sparrow Regiment. She saw Apex hold their hands in front of their face, they were likely blind from that hit, so their attempt at a counter-attack swung wide and missed. Hers on the other hand… it didn’t miss.

Her gauntlet’s fist came down with explosive force, the strike was completely soundless. And then… the sound barrier broke as Hanabi drove her fist into Apex, cratering him into the ground as the earth around them crumbled, cracked, and fractured. The force of the hit created a sonic boom which shattered windows, doors, and already damaged walls.

Hanabi was knocked back by the force as Apex was driven into the ground. She skipped along the ground like a stone on a pond, before finally stopping.

“Frame Integrity critical”

“Energy Reserves Depleted… minimal functions active”

“Auto-repair in-progress… efficiency low”

“Nanite reserves depleted”

“Frame in danger of destruction”

“Please retreat from the combat zone”

Her head fell to the ground, her vision was fading…