Footsteps trailed the floors the group ran through. It had only been a few minutes of running at full speed—Yoru was already tired.
"Look out!" Stelle abruptly yells, bat ready in hand as a large group of the Antimatter Legion block the pathway.
Without wasting a beat, Himeko and Dan Heng leap into the fray.
Dan Heng's spear aims true, piercing and ripping through the members of the Legion.
Himeko, along with her drone, cleave through hordes of the Legion, the force of the drone sending some of them hurling off the railings.
"That's an Erudition unit for you." Yoru can only cheer from the back. He can't use his face to fight. That would be absurd!
Beside Yoru, March fired off arrow after arrow, piercing the heads of the Reavers as they encroach behind Dan Heng, letting him keep his focus on the horde.
Behind the horde, a Distorter floats mid-air. It raises its hand, pointing to March.
[Target Locked.]
"Huh?"
Above March's head, his system floats. The words, 'Target Locked' flash above her, before the words vanished abruptly. The blue screen remains above her head. "March, did you see that? Above your head?"
"What's above my head?" She takes a quick glance above her head. "I don't see anything. You're trying to distract me, aren't you?"
Shock fills Yoru's face. "This system... is smart?!"
[Keep Yourself Safe.]
Words flash in front of Yoru. His eyebrow twitches. He instinctively knew these weren't words of goodwill.
Stelle briefly flashes a glance behind her, finishing off a Reaver that head leaped behind her. The bat bashed the Reaver's head in. Glancing up, her face twists into an unclear expression. "March, why is Yoru hitting air?"
"I don't know! I think he's crazy."
Yoru refocuses, looking back towards the danger at hand—the lock on. "March. In the back, the floating one. Can you shoot that one?"
Not even a second after Yoru asks, the Distorter charges up a blast.
Yoru's face scrunches up into a look of panic.
Just as Yoru does that, the Distorter stops charging the blast. It's hands drop for a brief moment.
"Ugh! That's creepy!" March gags at the look on Yoru's face. "That was so... ugly it was creepy!"
Yoru had never looked more depressed. But his face did something. Perhaps that, in itself, could be a blessing. Only he didn't like it.
Thankfully, in the time that the Distorter was stunned by Yoru's abhorrent face, Himeko's drone had already slashed at the monster, taking it out.
The horde had been demolished in only a couple of minutes. The team was hardly injured, save for a few scrapes here and there.
"Everyone alright?" Himeko looks around, making sure everyone was alright. Once she made sure, the group continued onward.
Like last time, Yoru trails behind the group. But this time, he was more concerned about the system.
"Hey. Talk to me."
There was no response.
He shakes his head. This system was making him mad. It was a Gacha system, sure, but could it be more?
"At least tell me something useful."
Perhaps out of pity, the system flashes in front of Yoru.
[Function Unlock!]
[Credit Exchange - Exchange Credits for Ability Rolls.]
"... it's literally just telling me to gamble."
Whatever. Yoru had a goal now. Money. Surviving would take money. He needs money to rack up enough pulls to get an ability good enough to survive in this world.
"Thanks for being useful, at least."
[You're still ugly.]
"Oh, SHUT UP! You gave me this!"
Yoru's outburst only got a strange look from the group.
[Sucker! Just use your face. You'll scare away everything.]
The path to the railway was still blocked by many Legion members. However, having 80% of the Express crew beside Yoru worked wonders.
"Aww, yeah, it's the platform!" March cheerfully exclaims, rushing forward towards the area.
"...The Express isn't here." Dan Heng warns March, his voice tinged with caution.
"It has to be nearby!" March responds, not taking his caution seriously. "Let me go take a peek with my sharp eyes!"
Yoru stays further in the back. He knows what happens here, and he wants nothing to do with it.
"I don't have a good feeling about this. Shouldn't you be more cautious?" Yoru tries to subtly warn her of the danger, but to no avail. March continues forward towards the platform.
"Wait, March!" Dan Heng suddenly calls out, reaching forward to try to stop her. He was too slow as she bursts forward, away from his hand.
"Huh?" She turns around to look at Dan Heng.
As March turns around, a strong wind blows from behind her, whipping her hair around. She suddenly turns back towards the platform.
The Doomsday Beast had flown in from below, now circling above the platform. It was watching the group, like a predator waiting for it's prey.
"The Doomsday Beast..." Himeko starts, her voice containing traces of awe and danger. "It's really here."
"Hey! Get down here!" March had her bow drawn, an arrow already notched, pointed at the Doomsday Beast.
The Doomsday Beast, as if heeding her call, dove down, flying straight towards the platform.
"Careful everyone!" Himeko cries out as beast lands on the platform. Dust is kicked up as the impact shakes the platform.
The Doomsday Beast spreads its wings, roaring with a loud noise.
Yoru covers his ears, staring up in awe and fear as the Doomsday Beast looms over them.
"Hey system," Yoru starts, his eyes never leaving the face of the Doomsday Beast. "What did you think an ugly face was going to do against this?"
[Ha. Good Luck.]