Zero Kelvin

"Time to meet your doom, dirtbag!" General Hernamidos and the Reaper Squad stormed into Xneong's office in Korea with guns ablaze.

They fired into the chair where the High Envoy of Korea should be sitting.

"Heh! I bet you weren't expecting that!" Hernamidos swiped the revolving chair around, expecting to see Xneong's corpse. "What the?"

A hologram of a man with a cybernetic eye wearing a dark suit and turquoise tie sat.

Xneong snickered. "Missed me, you fool!"

"You snake! You got some nerve to betray the Supreme Herald!"

"Betray? You're mistaken. Don't you realize Fanghui's plan with the Revelation Concerto will bring armageddon? I'm doing this for all our sake, moron!"

Hernamidos threw a cigarette bomb at the chair. "Frying my brain with that crap won't work!"

He then heard the roar of a motorcycle outside and stomped with fury when he saw Xneong escaping on his eagle-beaked vehicle. The High Envoy sped past the guarding brachyura terrortanks into the bustling streets of Seoul.

"Dacos! What the hell happened? I told you not to let anyone out!" Hernamidos yelled into his earpiece.

The noise of a flushed toilet sounded from the other end. "Ah, I feel much better. Oh, sorry, General! Nature calls, you know. What did I miss?"

"Get your frickin butt outside and kill Xneong!" The General and the Reaper Squad marched to the hangar. "Kumiciel! Track that vehicle!"

"Warning! High Envoy Xneong Hoon-Jing has been deemed hostile to the Global Federation of World Justice," The sailfish enforcer drones blared sirens across the city streets. "Please remain inside your homes until the threat has been eliminated. Thank you for your cooperation."

I hate to leave my people behind. Xneong bolted through the highway. But if Iagen gets Shien, the end will be upon us all.

***

The SHRIKE tanks and MLRS surrounded the Samsara Crinoid as Federation droid forces rolled out the barracuda hovertanks to fight back. Misuna's team blended with the Reaper Squad commandos and snuck into the superweapon. They walked into the metallic hallways with glowing red sirens where crusader droids marched into formation.

"To accomplish our mission, we need to find Zeruqkchiyion's control bay," Misuna led Dorian and Isrina.

They navigated through the hallways and staircases. There were rooms full of Syanic Earth pods where Reaper Squad commandos lay deployed to carry out Project Zeruqkchiyion while crusader droids guarded their bodies. Soon, they found the control bay, which had restricted access via card reader.

"My regular card won't work since I'm no longer part of the Federation," Misuna huffed.

"Maybe, it's my turn to shine," Dorian opened her laptop and plugged her adaptor into the card reader. "Give me your card."

She scanned Misuna's identification into her computer and began the hack. Misuna and Isrina guarded Dorian as she typed in codes they couldn't understand.

"We're in!" Dorian smiled.

The card reader blinked green as the sliding door opened. Inside the Zeruqkchiyion control bay were tall rows of computerized panels with many levers and colorful buttons. There were computer screens that monitored Syanic Earth players within the virtual world. The room was full of chatter from the scientists who communicated with the Reaper Squad agents using their mics.

"Reaper Squad?" One of the guarding commandos approached the trio. "But we don't have an inspection scheduled today."

"We have an emergency U283. We believe SHRIKE intruders have infiltrated the Samsara Crinoid," Misuna told the commando. "The Reaper Squad has orders to investigate the matter. That includes searching this room."

"But Cyroid didn't tell us this."

"I'm afraid we have our orders. You know how Cyroid is."

"True. Just keep your eyes open."

"Not bad, Misuna," Isrina commented.

"Let's see if I remember correctly," Misuna led them down a row of computers.

She examined the computer screens until she spotted a large screen in the corner. Beside it were a few Syanic Earth pods. A scientist was typing on a blank, unmarked keyboard that glowed blue with each button pressed.

"That one," Misuna pointed.

"Okay, but what do we tell that guy?" Dorian worried.

"I can talk to him and-"

The room shook as barracuda hovertanks launched warheads that exploded outside.

"Covinski's army can't hold out forever. We don't have time," Isrina snuck behind the scientist.

She looked around to make sure nobody was watching and silently snapped the scientist's neck before he could scream. While Misuna hid the body inside one of the Syanic Earth pods, Dorian sat in front of the computer and plugged in her laptop.

"Can you find out how Shien is doing the game?" Isrina asked.

"Give me one second," Dorian typed codes into the mainframe to activate a map of the Syanic Earth. "Shien and the gang are at the Dynastiotron temple. Looks like they just beat the Empress. Thank God they're alive. One more boss and they will activate my antiprogram to escape."

"Is he safe?"

"So far, I think," Dorian examined the Dynastiotron village. "Oh, God."

"What?"

The trio saw a record of Cyroid's orders including Sarin Alpha, the droid force that tried to gas Mivangeline's party. A new terrifying order named Zero Kelvin appeared. It made the trio shudder.

"Dorian, get me into a pod now!" Isrina begged. "Shien is not safe!"

***

Inside the empty boss room, Mivangeline's party sat and waited.

Ritom lay on the ground lazily. "So, why are we not teleporting like before?"

"It's a possibility, but perhaps the game is damaged," Phoenicia scratched her head.

Mivangeline sighed. "Then we walk the long way home."

"But we had a fight for our lives with the Empress!" Elysia stomped. "Fine, stupid cybertrap."

As they walked out of the boss room into the dark hallway with antimony torches, Shien elbowed Phoenicia. "Hey, you feeling okay?"

"I find it relieving to be on my feet again," She elbowed Shien back. "My experience with the Empress was traumatic even for an android."

The party walked towards the giant blue doors until Phoenicia froze with antennas standing on end.

"What's wrong, Phoenicia?" Shien asked.

"Greetings, players. Congratulations on beating the Empress," Cyroid's hologram stood before the party. "Commander Mivangeline Shuruuko, it's a pleasure to meet the enemy face to face. The name's Cyroid and I am here to report that your beginner's luck has run out."

Shien and the group huddled, recognizing the red-goggled man with neat purple hair adjusting his blue suit. This was the robotic man who ordered Sarin Alpha.

"So, you're the one who sent those droids to gas my friends!" Mivangeline tightened her hands with Shien's. "Leave us alone!"

"I'm afraid Colonel Maika finds your interference quite annoying. Thus, we have prepared a gift for your victory over the Empress."

Cyroid snapped his finger as the blue doors opened. "Let's begin Zero Kelvin!"

A girl in a blue yukata walked in, chanting in Japanese. "Panthereal Shiva: Enkindled Nirvana!"

Kyrinna dashed for Zirconessa with her icicle katana, severing the android's head.

"Zirc!" Shien cried as Zirconessa's body disintegrated into blue hexagons.

"Panthereal Shiva: Roar of the Yaksha!" Kyrinna's roared with barred icicle fangs, making the party shiver. "Panthereal Shiva: Panthyos Dharma!"

She smashed her fists on the floor to summon her icicle panther that charged at Mivangeline.

"Avian Form: Avocet Lancer!" Shien protected his girlfriend by lunging his palm like a spear to shatter the summon.

"Panthereal Shiva: Ire of Vishnu!" Kyrinna attacked Shien with icy claws.

As Shien parried with rolling punches, a giant, muscular droid swung his beefy fists to send the entire group flying. Ritom flashed his flamethrower at Azuroid, but it did nothing. Phoenicia jumped onto the droid's neck, punching Azuroid with jer jet-powered gauntlets. Azuroid brushed Phoenicia off and chucked her into Elysia.

"What's the matter? Scared to throw down with Azuroid, weaklings?" He slammed Enshiron to the ground.

"Why don't you fight someone close to your size?" Ruddigus hit the robot's four-eyed face with his muscular fists.

"So, not everyone here is a weakling after all," Azuroid chuckled, pounding his chest. "Come here! I'll destroy you!"

"You're not the only one with muscles, you fat robot!" Ruddigus pounded his chest. "You can't hurt my friends because I got the heart of the cards on my side!"

"Bring it, big boy, if you think you're so strong! No guns! We settle this with smash style!"

While Ruddigus took off his jacket for a duel of muscles, Shien and Kyrinna held a fist and palm together in Bao Quan Li.

"Qing!" Shien greeted before charging at the Cerulean Countess.

As Kyrinna dueled Shien and Azuroid dueled Ruddigus, an army of Reaper Squad commandos marched inside. The black-clad secret police faced their bayonetted rifles at the party, ready to terminate the young adults.

"Protect us, God!" Mivangeline prayed. "Deliver us from evil!"

"Kill them all!" Cyroid's hologram roared as the Reaper Squad opened fire.