Chapter 22 - UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3

The data pads scattered around Ash all flashed green at once, signaling that optimization was complete.

Ash slowly rose from his cross-legged seat and pulled out the cables plugged into various parts of his body. The connection ports on his new ink-black torso clicked shut one after another.

It really was a cutting-edge model. It even had outer armor covering the connection ports. Its refinement was on an entirely different level from his previous torso.

"Mmm..."

The noise made the sleeping Akina stir. She lay on a cot in the corner of the workshop. Having devoted more than a full day and a half to the replacement work, she must have exhausted herself mentally.

"..."

Ash stepped down from the modification pit as quietly as possible. Unlike the old one, his new leg balanced him perfectly, supporting his body steadily.

After watching the sleeping Akina for a moment, he headed to the yard behind the rest stop to put his body through some light exercise. There was only one day left until his appointment with Ifrit, so he intended to test his new body as much as possible.

The middle of the night.

Or was it early morning?

Cold air seeped over his steel skin.

"Pleasant."

Apparently enjoying the coolness, Ash voiced his brief appreciation. Then he drew the steel blade he always carried as though it were part of his body. The sequence of movements flowed as naturally as water.

It was a wondrous experience every time. His torso and right leg had been replaced, yet he felt not the slightest unfamiliarity. This was probably the result of Akina's exceptional skill combined with the forced synchronization achieved through his Neuro Internal Art.

Everything felt natural and smooth, as though this had been his body from the beginning. If anything, he felt lighter on his feet than before.

That left Ash somewhat bemused. He found himself wondering whether this was how someone felt after undergoing a complete transformation of flesh and bone.

It was rather comical to speak of such a transformation with a mechanical body, but what better comparison could describe how he felt now?

Ash chuckled softly.

"... To be precise, I suppose it would be a partial transformation?"

Holding his blade upright, he activated his Neuro Internal Art. Lightning energy began surging through the newly installed artificial neural network matrix in a circulating torrent.

"Oh?"

He immediately noticed several differences. First, sparks no longer flew from his joints. That likely meant the replacement artificial neural network was that much more robust. Without electrical leakage, his energy efficiency had improved, and the peculiar resistance he felt whenever he drew on his power was gone.

Second was his maximum energy capacity. His new torso served as a power reservoir so vast that his old one could not compare.

Third, of course, was the contribution of KERS.

[K.E.R.S. ACTIVATED]

[ENERGY RECOVERY READY]

The text appearing in the corner of his optical sensor display announced that the KERS system was running. Responding to his every movement and constantly recovering energy, this new technology would clearly increase his combat endurance by leaps and bounds.

His optical sensors shining, Ash began swinging his sword in earnest. Sword forms embodying Kunlun's sublime mastery unfolded in his hands. His swordwork continued without pause, flowing gracefully one moment and raging like a storm the next.

At times, he ranged freely across the clearing, employing the principles of Dragon-Form Steps and Flying Dragon Shrinks the Earth. The more vigorous his movements became, the higher the KERS system's energy recovery rate climbed.

[ENERGY RECOVERY RATE: 53%]

On his first expedition, a single technique had sent his power plunging. Now, things were entirely different. It stirred a curious delight in Ash.

"Splendid!"

The electronic exclamation escaped him unbidden, utterly sincere. This felt distinctly different from before.

Since awakening in a body of steel, Ash had never been free of the pressure of his power supply for even a moment.

Limited power.

It was an invisible shackle restricting his every action. He had to exercise caution even when performing a single technique, and could not dream of executing an unbroken chain of sword strikes. Maximum efficiency and minimal movement always had to come first.

But now things were different. His ample power supply and the support of the KERS system gave him a sense of liberation.

Ash adjusted his grip on his sword. His turquoise optical sensors shone brighter than ever, and he soared high into the sky using the principles of Soaring Shadow over the Sea of Clouds.

The tremendous leap carried him all the way up to the rest stop's rooftop in one bound. This was a lightness technique enhanced by Neuro Internal Art, something he would never have dared attempt before.

Spiraling upward, he twisted at the waist and swung his sword. His Gore-Tex cloak fluttered like wings with the rotation.

The sword form did not end with a single strike. His airborne body seemed to pause for an instant, and then three streaks of sword strikes burst forth at once.

A chain of sword strikes embroidered the air. The sequence was better called a sword dance.

A humanoid's sword dance, performed in a clearing in the dead of night. The sight possessed too much quiet elegance to dismiss as a mere feat of a cold steel body.

[ENERGY RECOVERY RATE: 82%]

The KERS system's power-generation efficiency rose sharply. They had said the recovery rate increased with movement, and that was indeed true.

By the time his chain of sword strikes ended, Ash had used less than two percent of his power. Compared with his previous body, that represented an efficiency increase of dozens of times over.

He landed in the clearing without making the slightest sound.

"... Ha ha."

What Ash felt went beyond satisfaction into exhilaration. A thrilling pleasure washed over him, as though he had reclaimed something forgotten.

Perhaps it was the sensation of his briefly forgotten instincts as a martial artist awakening.

At this level, he felt he could readily overcome any danger he might face during the Nexus reclamation campaign.

Just as he tightened his grip on his sword again to savor the feeling, the stormlike force surrounding him dissipated in an instant.

Something had suddenly come to mind.

The girl named Nangnang.

What had that recording been?

Who was Nangnang?

How did he know her name?

And why did a corner of his chest seem to ache whenever he thought of it?

Ash set his blade down for a moment and connected to his main core system, attempting to access his memory storage.

It was useless. Only the message [ERROR CODE: 88X1_FRGMNT] repeated. He could not even replay the recording.

'Truly strange.'

Ash pondered for a moment, then shook his head, forcing aside the thoughts passing through his main core. There was barely a day left until the Nexus reclamation campaign. If he became absorbed in unanswered questions and failed to prepare fully, the price would be terrible.

'Everything has its priorities. For now, I must devote myself to preparing for the expedition.'

Ash took a fresh grip on his steel blade. Then he swung it vigorously, as though pouring his distracting thoughts into his swordwork and casting them away.

The midnight sword dance continued.

The girl with the crimson smile gradually faded.

* * *

They said the second time was different from the first.

The next day, Ash and Akina arrived at the central hub.

Although it was early morning, the central hub was packed with people. Unlike last time, however, Ash and Akina did not stop to look around.

Their first expedition as Pathfinders had left them with more than credits. They had gained experience, too, however limited it still was. With fairly practiced steps, they made their way through the throng of Pathfinders and reached the gate.

"Akina Greenwood and Ash Blade, correct?"

The TIME-man's tone was as mechanical as ever.

After passing through the gate, the pair headed not to the hangar where the limousines waited, but to Halloween Entertainment's private pit stop. The steadily growing thump of music suggested they were headed in the right direction.

"Oh! There she is! Ifrit!"

Akina waved. The flamboyantly dressed Ifrit turned to look their way.

"Oh! You're here!"

She greeted them with hearts shining in her eyes. Dullahan, standing beside her, also gave a small wave.

[hey]

The brief greeting appeared on his visor, then vanished.

"Wow, kid. Nice gear!"

Ifrit whistled and pointed at Akina's bulletproof chest rig.

"Of course! I'm a proper Pathfinder now!"

"Good. Very good."

Her gaze naturally shifted to Ash. Unlike Akina, his outfit was little different from before. A steel blade and black exploration clothes. That was all.

"And you..."

Still, his entire torso had changed, so she could hardly say there was no difference.

"You really went all out on the upgrades, huh?"

"I merely made the necessary preparations."

"Just so you know, if you need to charge, do it here. Don't go plugging cables into someone else's body."

With that, Ifrit thumped the armored vehicle behind her twice. Apparently, this was what they would be riding in.

"Hey! Come on! I told you not to hit it like that! I only just got it!"

The vehicle spoke.

"Shut up and get out here to introduce yourself. These are the guest members coming with us this time."

At her words, the armored vehicle's rear hatch opened with a dull clunk. A boy emerged from inside, thin and wearing a leather jacket.

But something else stood out far more: his helmet, shaped like a ripe pumpkin. Orange LEDs flickered inside its painted eyes and grotesque mouth.

"Oh, seriously! Why do I have to introduce..."

The grumbling boy's gaze stopped on Akina. For a moment, he said nothing.

After a brief silence, he spoke in an incongruously deep voice.

"Hey. My name's Jack O' Lantern. I'm an Assault with ROA. So, how old are you? You're really pretty. Are you an idol trainee, by any chance? Got a boyfriend? If not..."

Dullahan, who had somehow moved to his side, smacked him on the back of the head. The pumpkin head rocked back and forth.

[sry he's a little nuts pls bear with him]

"Ow! Don't hit my head!"

Then Ifrit, who had also drawn close, kicked Jack O' Lantern in the shin.

"Aaargh!"

"I told you to introduce yourself. When did I tell you to hit on her?"

"Hey, wait! That really hurts! You hit bone! Don't you know your body's a lethal weapon?"

"You little shit. What did you call this cute, adorable idol? A lethal weapon?"

"Adorable, my ass. You're practically a washed-up has-be—Ow! That seriously hurts!"

The beating continued for a while. In the meantime, Ash spoke. At some point, he had wrapped an arm around Akina's shoulders.

"Miss Akina."

"Hm? Yes?"

"I suggest you keep your distance from that pumpkin-headed young Master."

"Why?"

"... Have we not only just met him? One must never neglect one's guard."

"All right. But, Mister?"

"What is it?"

"What does 'hit on' mean?"

Ash did not answer.

As this little farce played out, the music filling Halloween's pit stop gradually faded.

"Happy! Halloween! Attention, all idols in the pit stop!"

It was a familiar voice: Chatterbox, Halloween Society's signature DJ.

Dullahan and Ifrit stopped beating Jack O' Lantern.

"The greatest celebration in Sanctum, the one you've all been waiting and waiting for! The Halloween Festival is about to begin! All participating idols should finish getting ready, shouldn't they?"

As he spoke, every screen around them switched to a flashy poster. The enormous words 'HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL' appeared throughout the pit stop, backed by a rapid-fire montage of spectacular battle footage featuring the company's idols.

It was an abrupt change, but Ash and Akina were not surprised. Ifrit had told them beforehand.

["We're setting out for this reclamation campaign under the guise of a festival. If most of our idols suddenly head to the same location, the other Societies are bound to get suspicious."]

Ordinarily, a Halloween Festival meant a large-scale expedition in which idols flocked to a particular area to produce various kinds of content: Grotesque hunts, penalty missions, snuff videos, and the like.

This expedition took advantage of precisely that. To the other Societies, it would all look like a festival no different from usual. In reality, however, it was a secret mass deployment to secure a Nexus Port known only to Halloween before anyone else could.

"All right! I'll assume everyone's ready! Idols participating in the festival, please depart for your designated locations immediately! Shall we shout it together? Happy! Halloween!"

No sooner had Chatterbox finished his cry than the Pathfinders preparing in the surrounding pits erupted in cheers. They hurried into their respective vehicles. The music reverberating through the air grew louder still, filling the area with festive fervor.

Ifrit clapped her hands energetically.

"All right! Let's enjoy the festival! Time for us to go, too!"

[go go go go go go go go go]

"Let's goooo!"

"Miss Akina. Let us go as well."

"Right!"

Following the boisterous trio, Ash and Akina climbed into the armored vehicle.

A short while later, the armored vehicle carrying all five of them left the central hub with a mighty roar of its engine.