Clearing the Game at the End of the World

Chapter 104: Masquerade Party (18)

Long ago, when I didnt consider people as humans.

The battlefield was my school, my playground, and the only place that made me feel alive.

Its outstanding power. The indiscriminate fear that falls upon all. How could he not love the beautiful cries as the earth tore apart? Although he did change after meeting his wife, Ian still felt nostalgia sweep over him when he heard the sounds of those tank shots. Even when those shots were flying past his head at the moment.

Vex will probably be deep in the enemy formations, and the most heavily guarded location within them will be near the tanks. They should have left the hatches open when the railguns were still active to dissipate what impact they could, but now that they have started the advance, those hatches are going to be shut tight like clams. Is there something I can use to open it without hurting the ones inside?

Charging through the battlefield alone without the other guys trailing behind made it feel like he was back to the old times again. He fought a lot tamer until now because of those two, but his normal style was to just charge into a crowd alone like a maniac and shoot everything down.

But because he had one thing missing, Ian was unable to fight in his usual style and instead quietly sneaked through the dust storms of the battlefield and managed to find a crater made from artillery fire, the tanks barely in sight.

The reason he was so nervous before he headed out here.

The reason why he was talking about his will and whatnot, acting weak!

Hyde, that little parasite rascal blew up my car at an important moment like this!

That was the reason. It was none other than the absence of a vehicle that turned Metal Jaw-Ian, the spice merchant who massacred hundreds of Psycho Gangs throughout the Wastelands, into this sorry state.

Pa-pat!

As another shot fired and Ian used the new billow of dust to move forward a bit more, he collected his breath as he roughly calculated the distance between him and the enemy base.

This is the limit. Any closer, and Ill become a beehive. Even if I go all out like a maniac, Ill turn into minced meat the second any of those Mini Shooters see me.

My car! He couldnt move discreetly even if his life depended on it, so he needed to at least move forward quickly.

But his car went up to heaven with that other dads head. Guess hell need to find a new one then.

Ian sharply scanned the enemys movement. Thankfully, they had a bunch of cars.

Theyre planning to advance the tanks on each flank and surround the Investigation Bureau guys in a U shape. Since T-7s cant turn, thats probably the best they can do to destroy the siege.

A familiar formation and a familiar tactic. Thanks to that, he was easily able to spot the weaknesses in the plan.

This is a formation to finish off the captured prey to begin with. So enemies that are circled around inside get annihilated without even a chance to fight back

Crack!

Ian tore off the cap of the nearly perfect spherical grenade he got from the Investigation Bureau. Under the plastic cap was a big red button. He didnt know who the amazing creator of this grenade was, but they sure were wise for making it so intuitive.

Vwooooooom

He pressed the switch. With a sound similar to a jet plane starting up, the grenade in his hand started to vibrate vigorously.

His target, the two combat vehicles, quickly came in his direction, oblivious to the hidden Ian in the crater.

Whoosh

Its biggest weakness is the overly protruded vehicles on each flank in order to create the circle. A tiny pea bomb like this wont do anything to the T-7s, even if it is criticized for being a retarded mod vehicle, but

Plunk!

The grenade created a perfect arc and landed squarely in the drivers seat of one of the vehicles.

Hm? What is.!

Second Lieutenant, sir! Its a gren

.

.

.

.

Blink!

Booooooooooom!!!

A massive explosion occurred, one difficult to believe came out of such a small blue orb.

Cough cough!

The soldier that flew out of the car from the explosion ran towards his superior, ears ringing to the point his head felt like exploding. His superior was normally a man who cursed at him and beat him cruelly, but watching him hold his ground even in the midst of such an explosion caused a splurge of respect to rise up in him. He needed to tell them. He needed to report the enemys attack and call for assistance from the others!

C-Commander, sir! Its an attack! Vehicle 3 has been completely destroyed! We need to dispatch assistance

Ah, yeah. Ill dispatch assistance.

Bang!

Ill go assist my friend, so you go report to your commander in the afterlife.

The grenade was named Atom. People that see the weapon for the first time might think that the name was given because the blue, rounded exterior reminded them of the toy for the old superhero character, but once they see it in action just once, no one will be able to think of it as just a toy.

Its a neat little thing that has enough firepower to take out a combat vehicle and then some, making the people standing near it knock out like flies.

The survival against a bomb is not decided just by the initial damages from the explosion. Its sound and impact rattle the human brain and consciousness. Even if they dont faint, theyll temporarily become dumbos.

Opponents defenseless from the aftermath of the explosion, and a killer with a machine gun.

Its already been a long time since Ian shot the enemy closest to the radio, the commander, and then finished off the rest of the soldiers.

Dont blame me too much. Were all going to meet in hell anyway, so dont bother embarrassing yourselves arguing over whos worse and all.

After a short moment of silence, Ian roughly pushed aside the corpses, then got in the drivers seat and placed his hands on the wheel.

Hmmmmmm

Ahhhhhh~

Now this is what Im talking about.

The texture of the leather wheel that fit snug in his hands. An engine quietly roars, signaling that its ready to start galloping at any moment. A gear handle polished to a shine from usage.

The moment he got into the car, he automatically felt he was back.

Mlady, what do you think about going on a drive with me?

Vraaam! Vrrm! Vrrm!

Oh, really? Youll need to be prepared if you want to handle me. My drive

Kragkgkgkgk!

Doesnt use brakes!

As if responding to Ians gleeful voice, the combat vehicle spit out a rough exhaust sound and shot forward. The destination of the black vehicle that had broken formation was the innermost part of the encirclement, at the center of the front row of tanks.

Bangggg!

Another artillery shell fell, and thick dust blew against the front glass pane. As the partially melted sand granules shot down, it replicated the sound of hail raining down.

Wont be able to clean that off with a wiper.

Kragkgkgkgk!

Skreeeee!

He leaned his body towards the opposite side of the car that was tipping over and aggressively turned the wheel. Cars are like people. No, theyre a lot better than people. Cars listen when you tell them to do something.

Bang!

He started the drive at the tip of the U-shaped tank formation and decided to take the longer way around to the center. It would be suicide to charge straight in. Crossing past a line of tanks side by side at this close of a range. That wasnt the type of suicide he planned on doing.

The best method is to fall in a straight line with the artillery and dodge left and right. Although it was impossible because there were too many of them

So I need a little bit of a distraction.

If they turn their attention to the shield bundle of Investigation Bureau members in the middle, then hell have a gap to work with.

Vraaaaam!

Booom!

The shot landed a little closer than the last. Even if he was going around, he did admit that hoping that the enemy wouldnt notice this pitch-black car was a little too much

But you dare shoot me? Thats some guts they have there. Lets see how well the kids these days are trained.

It was easier if the enemy was aware of him. Its better to have shells drop at semi-predictable places than completely random ones. Its more than obvious how the guys in those tanks think.

Hm~Hmmmhm~

He felt oddly elated. Is it because he got a new car? No, he feels even happier than that. Its the feeling that hes actually achieving something.

Ian held onto the wheel with one hand and rummaged through the glove box with another. The Raptors had a rule to carry around at least one military song tape.

The guy back there called the other guy Second Lieutenant If theyre about that rank, then, theyll have

Clack!

Something like this instead!

A rectangular piece of plastic with two holes on each side. It was a cassette tape.

Its funny. These guys are going around squeezing out oil from people, and they still try to make tapes so they can listen to music.

Of course, you cant say much different for a guy thats humming happily to himself as he charges into the middle of artillery fire. Keheheh!

Click Chrrrrrr

Oldies pop started to gently flow out of the player.

[That`s Life~ that`s what all the people say~]

Bannngg!

In between the rhythmical melody of a 70s pop song, the roars from the tank shells crashed down like a chorus.

Vrrraaam!

A car drifted through the battlefield, battered and bumpy from the hail of artillery.

[you`re riding high in April Shot down in May~]

And the bright, hopeful voice of a middle-aged man who seemed to speak of a completely different world.

Keheheheh. You have good taste, Second Lieutenant!

Vrrraam!

Thunk!

The area surrounding the Exosuit squad was carved into deep craters by the concentrated attacks.

On the battlefield was a vehicle leaping across the hill of artillery fire.

Ian, sticking his head out the window and waving hello.

And Ezel and Ralph, standing behind a sparking blue shield, mouths agape, pointed at the man in astonishment.

A car rugged and battered from all sorts of debris continued to race through the field like it was some sitcom.

[But I don`t let it, let it get me down~]

Bang! B-bang!

The closer he got to the enemy, the sharper the shots became.

His windows shattered from the shock, and pieces of melted sand and glass sprayed across Ians face.

Cause this fine old world, it keeps spinnin around~ Wahoo!

But Ian smiled. In this spanking hot car, surrounded by the sound of gunpowder he loves so much, running towards his beloved comrade, how could he not be happy?

Kehahahahah! Wow! Try and hit me, you bastards! Shoot at me!!!

Like the man from the song said, this was his life. Even though it was full of pain, there was not a single spot of regret. He will make it that way.

[I pick myself up and get back in the race~!]

Vrrrrrraaaaaaam!

He had a small belt around him that he had put on earlier. And he turned on the power of the latest model personal shield that Anne handed him, claiming that he could never die while it was on.

Ians car shot through the explosions and continued charging towards the tanks. His target was one that he had been keeping an eye on

Hey, you in the middle! You havent fired a single shot for a while now!

The only tank that wasnt letting out smoke from its muzzle. So Ian continued in a straight line towards the only escape route he didnt have to worry about getting shot from.

A bad tank crew that doesnt take care of the vehicle!

Vraaaaaam!

Needs to get their asses beaaaaaaat!

The bumper of the combat vehicle collided with the massive metal shield, which blocked even railguns.

[That`s life!]

Crunch!

The bumper fell off, and while a white airbag was pushing away Ian, the massive wheels of the offroad vehicle touched the tanks shield

Grrrrrrvvvvvmmm!

And the car climbed up the steep slope of the tank and flew upward.

Klabaaaaam!

The car gracefully flew up and exploded in the middle of the enemys formation, and Ian was flung out of it under the protection of the blue shield.

D-d-d-d-d-d-d-du!

Even before his feet touched the ground, he heard a shower of bullets raining upon him.

Damn it! Whats with a crossfire in the middle of their own base?

After immediately taking cover, he felt something was off about this situation.

Logically speaking, what he just did was outright crazy. What sort of madman would drive through that killing field with a single car and jump over the tank line?

In other words, it was impossible to predict that this would happen.

But the enemy was already responding even before he finished falling. Theyre in the middle of their own base, created a crossfire towards the tanks, meticulously took cover, and even set up their stationery machine guns?

Theyre not targeting me. Someone came in here before me and fought them. No, theyre still fighting them.

Above anything else, there was solid proof right below his feet. The location that he determined as his destination was the armored car located behind the main tank and a carpet of corpses scattered on the ground.

Hey

Clack!

Ian jerked his gun toward the voice that suddenly appeared behind him and almost dropped the gun.

Youurhghhh, late

God damn it! Vex!

The familiar voice came out in a fragile tone that he had never heard before.

As if proving that he was the cause of all these corpses, Vexs entire body was covered in blood.

You, you!!!

I-I tell you every time Its not mine just a lil splat

Stop talking! Hey! Wake up! Get a hold of yourself!

The man had normally always appeared in front of him after facing the enemy, shocking him with blood splattered all over him, then relieving him with a smile that it wasnt his blood.

Ian desperately prayed that this would be the case once again, but reality was cruel.

The one that the enemy had been targeting was not the one that suddenly dropped out of the sky, but the man called Vex, who was aiming at the enemies as he stopped his intestines from spilling out of his side.