<clear>
<bgm src="M07" mode="fadein" time="5" option="Loop">
<background src="ev_sv">
<wipe effect="fade" time="20">

<se src="SV_042_@̐U" mode="on" option="single">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//ԗ̒B̓X`OtBɈCĂA
//VAlpӂ<R ALT="XXgB[O">SV</R>͏邾łSȂ㕨B
//炩ɂ̂KX^[rGW̕sKȚX肪A
//ԑ̂sȂقǂɐUB<k>
  Taoluo had left finding a vehicle to Stugrev and his crew, but he thought twice before boarding the SV the Russians brought to the rendezvous. The irregular groaning of a gas turbine engine clearly past its prime sends disconcerting vibrations through the SV's frame.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[⍞" face="fR" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//u{ɂA
//Ί݂܂œn񂾂낤ȁHv<k>
"Can this thing really make it to the far shore?"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//̊OA
//sȂقǊԋ߂ɔтĂY]̍ʂ𒭂߂ȂA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͉ACȌłڂ₭B<k>
  Taoluo mutters darkly, staring out the window at the black water of the Huangpu River passing uncomfortably close beneath them.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stX`Ot" face="j" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//u匾ȂBWNEĂ
//pԂȂ񂾁B΂悤ɂȂ܂
//i邾łJ񂾂v<k>
"Don't bitch. We grabbed it from a junkyard. It was hard enough finding the parts just to get it flying."

<clear>
<background src="ev_svVO01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//X`OtEĂSVgbŃA
//H΃xЂ̌Rpf̕iB
//{̋@CAEg̓w{[̂ɏĂ̂A
//ÕI[i[̓RbNsbgƃJ[S[uĂԎd؂蕥A
//}CNoXɃAWĂ炵B<k>
  The SV had once been a military truck that was sold off by the government. Although it originally had a layout similar to that of troop transport helicopters, the previous owner had torn out the partition separating the cockpit from the cargo bay and turned it into a sort of makeshift microbus.

<clear>
<background src="ev_sv">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//x́A
//5̂̃ATgMAςݍނ߂ɏqp̍Ȃ蕥A
//ĂуJ[SXy[Xɖ߂ĂB
//X`Ot<R ALT="^I["></R>̓hCo[V[g̔wƐςׂ݉̃ATgMAɋ܂`ŁAɒڍ荞ŋ@̂̐kɎNĂB<k>
  In order to accommodate the five assault gears, the Russians tossed out the passenger seats and restored the original cargo bay. Sitting on the exposed deck in the cramped space between the driver's seat and the packed gears, Stugrev and Taoluo can feel every shudder that rocks the machine.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stX`Ot" face="\" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//uccd˂BԂZfՋɂ͓˂v<k>
"......What choice was there? You can't get into the Financial District in a stolen SV."

<BOX TYPE=0>
//L֎ԗȏ<R ALT="͂"></R>ȓo^KvSV́A
//񍇖@ɒB̂B
//܂<R ALT="}jA">蓮</R>^]͍̂xÔ݂ŁAssł̉^p͌ʊǐZ^[ɂēOIɃj^OB
//o^ԍƉ΁AkԂ͈ꔭŘIĂ܂B<k>
  SVs are not only more expensive than wheeled vehicles, but also require a lengthy and complex registration process that makes them difficult to acquire illegally.

  Making matters worse is the fact that they can only be driven manually outside of the city. All traffic within city limits is thoroughly monitored by the central control system. A stolen SV would be discovered as soon as the traffic computer checks its registration.

<clear>
<background src="B_̏CVOΊ">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//閶Ps݂͂߂ƎvƁAsӂɐꂽ̌<R ALT="v[h">Y</R>̃C~l[VE̒ɗB<k>
  Just when Taoluo thinks the fog has begun to glow, the air suddenly clears and the brilliant shine of Pudong leaps into view.

<se src="SV_042_^]" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_svVO02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//ƑOサSV͊ɂ₩ɌA܂łȂnɑ~낵̂悤ɁA^]Ȃł̖͂T̈芴ɗB<k>

//Ɍʊǐǂ̒gAiEXA̎ԗSǗGAɓƁAȌ̉^s͊ǐǂ̃irQ[VƃI[ghCuɈC|ĂB<k>
  The SV has already started to decelerate, quickly settling into the unshakable stability characteristic of automatic flight. The change is so sudden that one might think for an instant that they had landed.

  The standard announcement from Traffic Control plays over the speakers, informing them that they have entered a controlled area and that all flight henceforth will be managed by the central navigation system.

<se src="SV_042_@̐U" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_svRNsbg_01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//hCo[̖͂ړInIŏC`i{Ѓrw肷ƁASVgbN͏ŝ܂܃[fAŒZ̗UOɍB<k>
  Using voice input, the driver designates the headquarters of Shanghai Cybernetics as their destination. Now on autopilot, the SV cruises across the lane and merges with the guided skyway that will get them there in the least time.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//unĂv<k>
"Take this."

<BOX TYPE=0>
//<R ALT="^I["></R><R ALT=""></R>dꂽJ[ĥЂƂSVI[ghCűvO߂{AhCo[ɓnB<k>

//g΁Aǐǂ<R ALT="C^[Zvg">荞</R>ubNĎԗ̃Rg[߂B
//UOȂǂ\Ȃŏɓ悤ɂȂ邪A
//ɃGA|Xł̂͌܂łȂB<k>
  Taoluo pulls out one of the memory cards Ran gave him - the one containing the SV interrupt canceller - and tosses it to the driver.

  Once activated, this program will block the intercepts from the city traffic computer and return control to the driver, thus enabling them to fly wherever they please without having to use the guided skyways. Needless to say, however, the air police will be on them in minutes.

<clear>
<background src="ev_sv">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stX`Ot" face="j" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//uĂƁAp[eB[ꂪ߂Âėȁv<k>
"Alright, looks like we're almost at the dance."

<se src="a_eɃ}KW" mode="on" option="single">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//ȂX`OtA
//gˌJ[re̋@֕ɑeq@ށB
//SVɂ͕Ȃ߁A
//̎ɂ͏炪Ki[ɂȂ邵ȂB<k>
  While smirking at his own wit, Stugrev slaps a magazine into his assault carbine. As this SV has no weapons, the passengers will have to double as gunners if it comes to a fight.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[e" face="ڐO" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//<R ALT="^I["></R>p̘`͉ɌʂĔw։􂵁A
//nĂJ[reɏe𑕓UB
//eɊւĂ͐OAł炢͒mĂB<k>
  Taoluo follows suit, slinging his <I>wo dao</I> over his shoulder and loading a round into the chamber of the carbine Stugrev hands him.<se src="a_eɏe𑕓U" mode="on" option="single"> Firearms are hardly his specialty, but he at least knows how to use one.


<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//ɁÃxgɋꌂe`FbNĂB
//KX30m̋ɍ׃C[ƃn[Pv[uˏoȈՂȑuŁAEC`Ȃ΍đUȂĝĂÂԂRpNgɌgsłB<k>
  Next he checks the grapple gun stuffed into his belt. The gun uses a simple gas-powered mechanism to launch a harpoon trailing 30 meters of ultrafine wire, and although it has no winch and cannot be reloaded, its compact size allows it to be carried easily.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stX`Ot" face="\" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//uȕAɎgĂ񂾁Hv<k>
"What're you gonna do with that?"

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[e" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//u̎ԂɂȂA
//ŗׂ̎Ԃɔшڂv<k>
"If it looks like this car's going down, I'll use it to jump to the next one."

<BOX TYPE=0>
//^ŉ<R ALT="^I["></R>̌́AkƂ{CƂȂB<k>
  Taoluo's expression and voice are too flat to tell if he is serious.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stX`Ot" face="\" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//̔w̓ꌂeׂX`Ot́A
//ƂłԂUB<k>
  Stugrev looks back and forth from the grapple gun to the sword on Taoluo's back, then shakes his head like he doesn't know what to say.

<BOX TYPE=2>
//uĂv<k>
"There it is."

<clear>
<background src="ev_svVO03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//hCo[̌ĂтɐU΁AC`ir͐ʂ
//Lms[tɂ̈ЗeNė͂ĂB<k>

//ʊǐǂ瓞ԗ̏Ɖꂽ̂낤B
//Ɏt삩̒MA
//ȌŗKړIƃA|Cgg̗LĂB<k>
  At the driver's call, Taoluo looks up to see the towering majesty of the Shanghai Cybernetics building filling the entire canopy.

  Traffic Control must have told Shanghai Cybernetics about the approaching vehicle. The voice of a female receptionist comes over the speakers, asking them politely for the purpose of their visit and if they have an appointment.

<se src="SV_042_@̐U" mode="on" option="single">
<bgm src="M07" mode="fadeout" time="5" option="Loop">
<background src="ev_svRNsbg_02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=2>
//un߂邩cc傢Ɨh邺Bqv<k>
"Let's begin. Buckle your seatbelt, sir. It's gonna get bumpy."

<se src="SE_01_PDA01" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<BOX TYPE=0>
//ĎOɓn`iřĂт𖳎āA
//hCo[<R ALT="^I["></R>󂯎@vONB<k>
  Ignoring the repeated queries coming from the building, the driver executes Taoluo's illegal program.

<bgm src="M12" mode="fadein" time="5" option="Loop">
<se src="_01_kj" mode="on" option="single">
<BOX TYPE=0>
<background src="ev_svRNsbg_02">
//r[Ɏԑ̂傫kƎvƁAY]nĂƂƓlA
//܂ōrgɝ܂鏬M̂悤ɗh͂߂B
//@̂̎p䂪ǐǂ̃Rs[^hCo[̑cɖ߂̂B<k>
  The SV lurches abruptly, then begins bouncing like a boat on stormy seas. This sudden return to the conditions they experienced flying over the Huangpu is the signal that they have taken back control from the traffic computer.

<se src="SE_02_A[g" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_svRNsbg_03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//Ɋǐǂ̌xđɖ苿B
//I[gpCbg̑r̃}Vgu̗ނł͂ȂƌĎÃbZ[W͌W̓ɎđB<k>
  Alarms immediately sound throughout the cabin as warnings pour in from Traffic Control. As soon as they realize that this is no mere autopilot failure or machine trouble, the computer's messages are replaced by the voice of a traffic officer.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uԑ̃io[KYVB4862AȂ͋Hʖ@ɒGdȈᔽƂĂBJԂccv<k>
"Vehicle number KYVB4862, you are in serious violation of aerospace transit law. Repeat......"

<BOX TYPE=2>
//uICECE[CI
//C̓łi@v<k>
"Well, fuck me! I'm sorry to hear that!"

<se src="SV_042_s04" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_sv{Ѓr03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//hCo[N߂΂ňRAXbgB
//UO󂷂̂Ƃ͂ĕςrXŁA
//SV͏C`ir߂ēːiB<k>
  Howling with maniacal laughter, the driver cuts the transmission and opens the throttle. The SV streaks towards the Shanghai Cybernetics building, its berserk speed a dramatic change from the smooth cruising of the skyway.

<clear>
<background src="ev_svReinb`">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uoԂAYǂ!!v<k>
"It's showtime, men!!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//X`Ot̓[o[ɒ͂܂ĐĝxȂ@̂̍Ō܂ňړAJ[S[ɂЂ߂ւƈꊅȂA㕔̉ݕpnb`JB
//<k>
  Stugrev grabs the rollbar and works his way to the back of the cargo bay. With a shout of encouragement to the metal balls waiting there, he throws open the rear loading hatch.

<se src="SV_042_snb`J" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_svReinb`J">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//wAłƂĂȃbx<k>
"Hell yeah! Drop us any time!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//o͂ŉ~[VɑA
//ٌ`̃TC{[OXɗYтグB<k>
  Following Misha's reply, the other cyborgs send up fierce war cries from the speakers on their terrible bodies.

<clear>
<background src="ev_sv{Ѓr01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//SV̓rɗ݂悤ȋO`ĕǖʂꂷтȂA
//XɍxグĂB<k>
  The SV spirals its way around the building, practically touching the glass as it climbs.

<clear>
<background src="ev_svReinb`J">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//܂ŌɏĂATgMAA
//X`Ot̐U邤ToCoiCtŁA
//@Ƀ{fBŒ肵Ăn[lXؒfꂽB<k>
  With a swing of his knife, Stugrev cuts the rearmost assault gear free from its harness.

<clear>
<background src="ev_sv{Ѓr02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<se src="SV_042_s02" mode="on" option="single">
//@񂪏ԂASV̎ԓɂ͊ɂX΂ĂB
//x`̃{fB́ǍX΂dX]Ȃ
//ݕnb`̉zAn100m܂̋󒆂ւƕoB<k>
  The SVs nose is pointed slightly up, putting it at a shallow angle. No longer secured, the heavy ovoid assault gear rolls down the slope and through the loading hatch, popping into the air 100 meters above ground.

<clear>
<background src="ev_ATgMA˓">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//RԂɊׂƂŁA
//ATgMA͋@̑ʂ̃XX^[_΁B
  It ignites its thrusters at soon as it enters freefall, becoming a raging ball of flame that<se src="AG_" mode="on" option="single"> crashes through the wall of the headquarters building.

//<se src="AG_" mode="on" option="single">
//ʂCe낵΂̋ʂƂȂāA
//`Ѓr̕ǖʂւƓ˓B<k>

<se src="SV_042_r˓" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_x13">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//dx̃xAOOkɐgł߂܂܁AXX^[iœGvǂւƓ˓BOǂ˂j͎lWJēǰscc
//ꂪ37^ATgMA̐݌vvzɊÂ^p@łB<k>
  The Type-37 Airborne Assault Gear is designed to break into the enemy fortress propelled by its thrusters and protected by its ultradurable outer shell, then upon penetrating the outer wall unfold its limbs and destroy everything in sight.

<clear>
<background src="ev_svReinb`J">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//ԂuX`Ot2{ڂ̃n[lXؒfA
//̃ATgMAւƑoB<k>
  Stugrev cuts the second harness without pausing, sending the next assault gear hurtling into the air.

<se src="SV_042_s03" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_x12">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//`ir<R ALT="Ƃ">吋</R>ė݂ւ̂悤ȋO`Ȃ
//㏸𑱂SVB
//̌㕔nb`玟XƓ]ẮA
//N[U艺낳jӓS̔@A
//Xグărɓ˓ĂATgMAB<k>

//5̂̓Sc炸rɓ˓܂ŁAvԂ2B
//łɓ͈@̒nG}ɂȂB<k>
  The SV circles the building like a python winding itself around its prey. One gear after another falls from the rear hatch, thrusters roaring as it smashes into the target with the force of a wrecking ball.

  It takes almost two minutes before all five gears have penetrated, but Taoluo has no doubt that the inside of the building has already devolved into utter apocalyptic chaos.

<clear>
<background src="ev_sv02">
<bustup name="stX`Ot" face="\" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//u悵AEccv<k>
"Good, now we withdraw to......"

<se src="" mode="on" option="single">
<se src="a_e\" mode="on" option="single">
<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[e\" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//u܂v<k>
"Not yet."

<BOX TYPE=0>
//X`Ot̐ɁA<R ALT="^I["></R>₩Ɋ荞ށB
//̎ɍ\J[ȑéA
//҂ƃX`OtɐĂB<k>
  Taoluo's cold voice cuts into Stugrev's excitement. The carbine in his hand is aimed right at Stugrev's face.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stX`Ot" face="ڊJ" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//ucc!!v<k>
"......!!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//{ɖڂ𔍂̂̊ԁA
//X`Ot͓hBĐ̃g[𗎂ƂB<k>
  Stugrev's eyes bulge with fury, but he quickly suppresses his shock and speaks in a low tone.

<BOX TYPE=2>
//ułȂ̃ubA
//MlĖς܂񂼁v<k>
"You shoot that in here, you're not walking away either."

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[e\" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//uBNlȂB
//ccĂȂRȁv<k>
"Right, we all die. Now that you understand, do exactly as I say."

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stX`Ot" face="\" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//uccv<k>
"......"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//X`Ot܂A
//XgbvŘeɒ݂̏eӎȂłȂA
//E肩ec܂ł̋AecSu܂ł̋cc
//ǂƂĂ<R ALT="^I["></R>̏ȇOɂ͉B<k>
  Stugrev also has a gun hanging from his right shoulder, but he knows that the distance from his hand to the grip - not to mention the distance from the grip to the safety - is much too far with Taoluo's muzzle staring him in the face.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[e\" face="ڐO" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//uƐڋ߂Ȃ獂xv<k>
"Take us closer and higher."

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stX`Ot" face="ڊJ" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//unYI
//ɂsx̃GA{[񂾁B
//ƂĂ!?v<k>
"Are you crazy!? The airborne cops'll be here any second! You wanna get shot down!?"

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[e\" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//uȂ}BԂ͎点v<k>
"Then hurry. This won't take long."

<clear>
<se src="SV_042_s01" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="ev_sv{Ѓr04">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//ZԎɂ͉畏ȂB̐ɖ{C̋𕷂hCo[́AX`Ot̋𓾂邱Ƃ҂c𑀍삵B@ŏe𗐎˂΁A@̐lԂ͈lƂĖɂ͍ςނ܂B<k>

//SV̓r̕ǖʂr߂悤ɂĐɏ㏸A
//40Kӂ̍xōĂуzoOɖ߂B<k>
  Taoluo's clipped reply is devoid of hesitation. Realizing that he is dead serious, the driver obeys without even waiting for Stugrev's permission. If a gunfight starts in the cramped cabin, no one is making it out of here alive.

  The SV rises vertically, hugging the wall. It only stops once it reaches about the 40th floor.

<clear>
<background src="ev_sv02">
<bustup name="st^I[e\" face="ڐO" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//EɃJ[rAɋ@ʂ̃[o[͂񂾂܂܁A
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͖fȂジA󂢂܂܂̉ݕnb`̉܂łɂB<k>
  With the carbine in his right hand and his left hand holding the rollbar, Taoluo fearlessly backs up until he reaches the very edge of the open hatch.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stX`Ot" face="\" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//ucclĂ₪Hv<k>
"What in God's name are you thinking?"

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[e\" face="cȏ΂" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//uꂩn`ĂB񂽁A
//ɕt͂Ȃ񂾂Hv<k>
"I have a rendezvous in hell. You don't want to come along, do you?"

<se src="_00_R[g02" mode="on" option="single">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//ɓޗJĂɂS炸A
///<R ALT="^I["></R>̓[o[獶A
//wnb`̉ɉăoXۂȂA
//ɍꌂeB<k>
  Taoluo releases the rollbar, unperturbed by the gaping mouth of the abyss only a step away. Pressing his back against the bulkhead to maintain his balance, he draws the grapple gun from his belt.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//u΂Auv<k>
"Farewell, comrade."

<clear>
<background src="ev_sv02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ʂ̎dɏeUĂA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͎΂ߓ̃r̕ǖʂւƌăn[PˏoB
//<se src="SE_042_n[P" mode="on" option="single">
//WJƋ͔S܂̃JvZgݍ܂ꂽˏôA
//ŃC[JoȂ狕fA
//r̕ǖʂɐH炢B<k>

//SV̋@̂˕ɗhAɓnꂽC[VтB<k>
  With a little goodbye wave of his gun, Taoluo fires the harpoon diagonally up towards the wall of the building. <se src="SE_042_n[P" mode="on" option="single"> Carrying an adhesive capsule and expanding hooks, the high-speed projectile flies across the gap with wire spooling behind it and embeds itself in the wall.

  As a gust of wind rocks the SV, the wire goes taut.

<se src="_00_wɒ" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_t13">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//̓r[A<R ALT="^I["></R>̓C[̒͂Ɉ
//ւƔ΂ĂB<k>
  Taoluo is instantly yanked out of the SV into the open air.

<BOX TYPE=2>
//uN\b^b!!v<k>
"Motherfucker!!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//Ĉn肾܂܂Ǝ蓦āA
//VX`Otݕnb`̉甭CB
<se src="a_}VKea2" mode="on" option="single">
  Stugrev fires wildly out the hatch, enraged by the escape of the man he had planned to kill at the first opportunity.

//xB
//hbv[ʂŉ{Əe𕷂ȂA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>̓C[̖[ŉS͂ɐgCA
//΂߂ɌXUq̋Oōx150m̋󂵂B<k>
  But he is too late. As the sound of Stugrev's roar fades into the distance, Taoluo gives himself to the centrifugal force, gliding through the air like a pendulum 150 meters above ground.

<se src="SE_00_؂" mode="on" option="single">
//d͉ƃr̕ǖʂŉQ˕A
//R[g̐΂ɖ|MB
//ɎH΂̂̊ԁȀKX̕ǖʂvIȐ<R ALT="^I["></R>ɓcc<k>
  The wind beats at him mercilessly, threatening to tear his coat to shreds as gravity accelerates his fall. Yet he need only grit his teeth against the pressure for a moment, and then the darkened glass wall rushes up to meet him with terrifying force......

<se src="a_}VKea3" mode="on" option="single">
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<background src="#ffffff">
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<wait time="1">

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//@ƂOɁA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͉Eɍ\J[re𗐎˂B
//wz̓˕̂ƂȂKXA
//eȇOł͕atRBق̐ŋT􂪑A
//Ƃ͓ŐCꂽʂ؂[oɐ΂B<k>
  Moments before he is smashed to pieces, Taoluo unloads with the carbine in his right hand. Although the glass is reinforced to withstand winds at high altitude, the bullets pass through it like paper. The window cracks after only a few shots, and then the difference in air pressure shatters it to pieces.

<bgm src="M12" mode="fadeout" time="5" option="Loop">
<se src="_042_eKXj" mode="on" option="single">
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<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="B_{ЃrEItBX">
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//_Ch_Xĝ悤ȔjЂ̒蔲A
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͗lq肩łȂtA̓ɓ˓B<k>

//܃C[ẽObv獶𗣂A
//f̂悤ɏ]ĒñVbN𕪎UB
//̂܂ܐSɎEOɏRėオA
//J[retč\܂łꓮcc
//pƂƂċɌ̏CƂς񂾎҂Ȃł̗͂|łB<k>

//f͂Ɏ炵Aэ񂾏ꏊmFȂA
//܂<R ALT="^I["></R>͎߂ȎՕ̉AւƐg񂹂B<k>

//͖Ĥ悤Ƀp[eBVԃ[NXe[VB
//˂񂾔qɓOقǃu[XRU炵Ă܂ĂB
//ɖ肪ȂƂ@Ă͂A
//cƑgȂ͍̂KB<k>

//TdɌxAłɕʂ蔲ĘLɏoB<k>
  Passing through the diamond dust-like fragments, Taoluo finds himself on a floor whose current situation he knows nothing about.

  He immediately releases the grapple gun's grip and tumbles across the floor to dissipate the shock. Using the remaining momentum, he then rolls to his feet and brings the carbine to his shoulder. These actions are all part of a single smooth movement, a testament to the ability of one who has mastered martial arts.

  Even as he swiftly scans the area, taking in the details of his new environment, Taoluo's first action is to get behind the nearest cover.

  He has landed in a veritable labyrinth of cubicles, two or three of which he happened to knock over when he made his entry. As he expected from the dark window, there are no employees present.

  Staying alert, he proceeds cautiously yet rapidly through the office and out into the hallway.

<bgm src="m08a" mode="fadein" time="5" option="Loop">
<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEL01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//𐟂܂ĂÃtAɑ̋Cz͂ȂB
//xx̔ḾA͂邩̃tAB<k>

//͂邩̊Kɓ˓ATgMA5@邽߂ɁA
//ۈ̑唼͊KւƌĂ锤B
//A𚙂ɂāA<R ALT="^I["></R>Ƃ͂x͎RɍsłB<k>

//VAlz̖ʂԂ͂ȂB
//A͎ГLANɃCeWFgE[𒍓A
//XɓP邾낤B<k>

//~[V͉̕ߏƌāA
//̂Ƃ͊yςłقǂ̂̂ł͂ȂB
//̃r̕ۈł΁A
//[ɑΏł邾̑Ă\͋ɂ߂čB<k>

//PɂAhoe[W_ŁA
//P͈ۂƌ؂邾낤B<k>

//ڎw<R ALT="EEBV">Đ</R>AɒZԂŌB
//݂AГVIP͌qɌĈSȏꏊւ
//UĂɈႢȂB<k>

//̒<R ALT=""></R>A
//Čx̒o񂾌ďPƂȂƁcc
//WIT̂͑ɏ悶āA
//Ďd߂͎̂ԂÉŁAƂƂɂȂB<k>

//̓VAl̖\悾BƒĂ邪A
//܂x߂\ẮA
//<R ALT=""></R>rދ邩ȂB<k>
  He strains to listen, but hears no sounds of battle on this floor. The explosions and alarms are all coming from far below.

  Right now, most of the security forces should be on their way downstairs to deal with the five assault gears. By using the Russians as decoys, Taoluo has gained some freedom to operate alone.

  He will not be able to count on them for long, however. As soon as they dump their intelligent worm into the building's LAN, they will likely withdraw with all haste.

  Although the Russians' weapons might seem excessive, the truth is that they cannot afford to be overconfident. There is a strong possibility that the building's security forces will have the equipment necessary to fight off Misha and his comrades.

  Once they have lost the advantage of surprise, the raiding team will probably decide to pull out.

  The question is how quickly Taoluo can find his target, Ng Wing Shing. Even now, the building's VIPs are doubtlessly being escorted to a safe place by armed guards.

  If he intends to attack Ng when he is least protected...... then the best plan is to find his target during the confusion, then kill him once everything has calmed down.

  Everything depends on just how much chaos the Russians cause. It will be a problem if they get suppressed too soon, but Ng and his staff might leave the building if their rampage continues for too long.

<se src="SE_01_01" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEGz[">
<wipe effect="fade" time="20">


//lĈȂGx[^[z[ɏoƁA
//K\ł悤₭݈ʒuB
//39KB\z̃tAɔэł炵B
//ЂƂ܂ڎwׂ͍ŏKcc55K̎ВtAB<k>

//ʃGx[^[ŏ荞ނ̂Ԃ₷A
//ł̓hAx炵ĖKRB
//ЂƂ܂Kiŋ߂ÂāA
//GA_NgłTĔEэގ肾낤B<k>
  Entering the deserted elevator hall, Taoluo finally learns that he is currently on the 39th floor. He appears to have entered higher than he expected. For the moment, his goal is the 55th floor, the president's office at the top of the building.

  The easiest route would be to take the direct elevator, but that would be like ringing the doorbell and announcing his arrival. He decides to use the emergency stairs to get closer, then find an airduct or something to sneak through.

<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEKihA">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">


//z[؂ĉ܂LɓA
//˂ɂKĩhAmuɐGꂽƂŁcc
//̃mu̗₽ł͂ȂAȏ̈w؂𐖂B<k>

//o[^̃muɃJ[rẽXCxA<R ALT="^I["></R>g̘͂eɐgނ܂܁Aƃxgămu𓮂B<k>
  He runs past the elevators and down the hall on the other side. Reaching the emergency exit at the end, he grabs the door handle...... and feels a shiver race up his spine, a shiver not caused by the cold metal alone.

  Hooking the handle with the butt of his carbine, Taoluo moves to the side of the door and slowly pulls the lever down.

<bgm src="m08a" mode="off" option="Loop">
<se src="a_}VKeb" mode="on" option="single">
<WHITEOUT time="1">

//\Ă̂́A
//łv킸␂߂قǂɐȏeA
//ΑhAȊɂB<k>
  Although it was expected, Taoluo still ducks back as a sudden hail of gunfire shreds the door from the other side.

<bgm src="M10" mode="fadein" time="5" option="Loop">
//̃hAuł悶ꂽSɂȂĒԂB
//Ȃς3ȏ̃}VKɂWC΁B
//G͂łɔKi<R ALT="^I["></R>҂Ă̂B<k>

//cc
//܂܂39Kߕӂɋ킹ۈ`[낤B
//oK̈WJB<k>
  The door falls limply from its hinges, reduced to scrap in the blink of an eye by concentrated fire from at least three machine guns. The enemy was already waiting on the other side to ambush Taoluo.

  It's too soon. They must be a security team that happened to be in the vicinity of the 39th floor. The battle has just started, and Taoluo's luck has already taken a turn for the worse.

<background src="B_{ЃrEKi">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//̏er؂ꂽƂŁA<R ALT="^I["></R>͔goA
//lɌ߂x̐leɌăJ[re̗˂𗁂тB<k>
  As soon as the gunfire stops, Taoluo leans out from cover and sprays bullets at the human figures he instantly spots on the landing.

<se src="a_}VKea" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="ev_x05">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//߂Èł^ɖ\Ăn[V̔@eB
//e͋ԂɔA
//rȂƂȂ<R ALT="^I["></R>̌ۖ𒼌B<k>

//܂̍ƑMɌ܊𝘗ꂽ<R ALT="^I["></R>́A
//ɑĂ͂̐leACzɎ܂ŌĂ܂B
//ނ񌂂êOꂽ̂ȂB<k>
  In the gloom of the hallway, the violent muzzle flash of his gun turns his vision white. Its unbelievable roar smites upon his ears, made louder by the cramped space of the hallway.

  With his senses disrupted by the deafening noise and blinding light, Taoluo loses all reckoning of the men whose position he thought he'd confirmed by sight. Needless to say, he has no idea whether any of his shots have hit.

<se src="a_}VKeb2" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="B_{ЃrEKihA">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//܂炸gނĕǂ̉AɉBꂽƂŁA
//x͂ȏɑsȏeẻVA
//xꂩԗƂ΂藁тB<k>
  He swiftly ducks back behind the wall, and this time is answered by an even more intense fusillade than before.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gcc!!h<k>
(Damn!!)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ł͚ȂB
  This will get him nowhere. <se src="SE_01_02" mode="on" option="single">Angrily tossing aside the still-loaded carbine, Taoluo races back down the hallway and retreats to the elevator hall.

//<R ALT="^I["></R>͘L삯߂ăGx[^[z[܂őދpȂA
//܂e̎cĂJ[re՗܂ɓ̂ĂB<k>

<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEGz[">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//ЂƂьƂɁA̍Ɣcc
//g\ΑSgdA؂ĒOc̟B
//ȖȕgĂĂ͓głȂB<k>
  What sound and recoil! Each shot forces the whole body to stiffen, causing inner breath to lose rhythm and disrupting the <I>qi</I> in the
<I>dantian</I>. Such a cumbersome weapon makes it impossible to use
<I>neigong</I>.

<se src="_00_blade01" mode="on" option="single">

//m链̘`w甲A
//Gx[^[z[ɖ߂<R ALT="^I["></R>͎x̉eɐg߂āA
//AAC̍sȂ<k>

//l𑊎HڂɂȂ̂͒肩łȂA
//ɋ킷Gɑ\͔B
//ۈ̎͂͂܂K̃ATgMAƌ풆̔B
//VȐN҂<R ALT="^I["></R>Ƃƒm΁A
//lȏ̕𓮈Ă邱Ƃ͂܂B<k>
  As he draws the familiar <I>wo dao</I> from its sheath at his back, Taoluo melds into the shadow of a pillar and begins the breathing process to channel his <I>qi</I>. 

  He is unsure how many enemies he will have to face, but at least the possibility that they will receive reinforcements is slim. The main strength of the security force should still be engaged with the assault gears below. If they know that this new intruder is alone, they are unlikely to divert more troops than are already here.

<bustup name="stx" face="\" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//͂ēG͂قǂȂpB
//KiւƑLA
//܂l̐leŃz[ɐNĂB
//c͘Lɐ񂾂܂܉̑̐̂낤B<k>

//퓬TC{[Oł͂ȂɂAv[g̖hexXgɃTCo[TCg<R ALT="bpav">ZΊ</R>Ƃd́Arxǂ납R̓ꕔɑB<k>

//wbg̉̊ʂ𕢂̂́A
//̃Y̗pɕ񂾏WwoCU[B
//ÎłȂeMA}CNgA
//ɃTCo[TCg瑗Ə܂ł摜A
//҂̖ԖɒړeVXeB<k>
  Taoluo does not have to wait long for them to appear. First, two men emerge from the far hallway, moving at the half-crouch as they enter the elevator hall. The others must be hiding in the hallway, ready to provide cover.

  Although not cyborg warriors, their plated bulletproof vests and cyber-sighted Close Quarters Battle Weapons are more suitable for a heavily-armed special forces team than a group of building security guards.

  Beneath their helmets, their faces are covered by the insect-like lenses of focused optical visors. These provide not only night vision, infrared, and microwave sensors, but also impose targeting data from their cyber-sights directly onto their retinas.

<clear>
<background src="ev_t17">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//gcch<k>
(You're mine.)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//nCeNɐgł߂mOɂāA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͏@̊mMɂق΂ށB
//ɗ荇𑊎ĂA
//gdh̐^Ƃ̂B<k>

//Ocɒ߂ɗB
//藈Oq̓ĺA炩ɌxÂB
//<R ALT="^I["></R>LɎ̂ĂeāAłɂɐӂȂ̂
//Ă̂낤B<k>

//C[삵<R ALT="^I["></R>̒móA
//łɓlƏɓݍ~낷C̉܂ŒĂB
//܂ňt΂[낤B
//܂́A̓lcc<k>
  Taoluo smiles. Faced with soldiers wrapped in high-tech armor, he is nevertheless certain of victory. It is when fighting those who depend on just such toys that Electromagnetic Discharge shows its true worth.

  He continues to channel <I>qi</I> from his <I>dantian</I> as the men approach. Their level of caution is clearly low. Having seen Taoluo's discarded gun, they probably think that they have him running scared.

  With <I>qi</I> coursing through his body, Taoluo's senses have already discerned the men's position from the sound of their boots creeping across the floor. This should be close enough. First, these two......

<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="B_{ЃrEGz[">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

<BOX TYPE=3>
//ub!!v<k>
"Ha!!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//sfCƂƂɕӐǵwxB
//<R ALT="^I["></R>̉u𒆐SɁA
//ӂʂւƔUꂽdpX̏ՌǵA
//̌ɑdq@j󂷂B<k>

//񂻂̉aHƂȂ̂́A
//sx̌woCU[B
//ێɒڊւTC{[Ȏ̋@\ɔׂƁA
//̎̕IȌgё̓V[hOꂵĂȂB
//wdx̎wpXg܂łȂ͉łB<k>

//͂ēl̑Oq́A
//̑OGȂłɕċQɊׂB<k>
  With a single sharp exhalation, Taoluo uses the full power of his body to unleash the Thunderburst technique. Surging outwards from his diaphragm, the electromagnetic pulse covers the entire area, destroying everything in the vicinity with a circuit.

  This time, the Thunderburst claims the optical visors of the first two guards. Compared to a cyborg's parts, which directly influence life support, such secondary equipment rarely has shielding built in. He does not need the focused pulse of the Lightning Palm to neutralize them.

  Thus the two soldiers are horrified when their vision suddenly goes dark.

<se src="_00_blade01" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_t03">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<se src="_04_" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="ev_t16">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//Е͂̂܂܎v߂ƂȂcc
//ĂƂ́A͂ƂoCU[O
//wbgɎƂŁcc
//ǂn̉aHƉ܂łɁA0R}b̎ȂB<k>

//Lɑҋ@Ăc3ĺwx̌ɂȂA
//ʑꂽ̒ňꕔnI͂邱ƂɂȂB<k>

//˔@AtA̎x̉eo̓ɁA
//s2̔A
//ĎRq̂悤ɖ_̂܂ܒ@aĺA
//kƂvȂ낤B<k>
  One never recovers from his shock, the other dies just as he desperately reaches up to remove his helmet. In less than a fraction of a second, Taoluo's blade has taken both their lives.

  The three men standing by in the hallway, out of Thunderburst range, see it all happen in light-enhanced detail.

  It seems like a bad joke, the sight of the intruder suddenly leaping out from behind the central pillar and cutting down the first two men while they stand petrified like scarecrows.

<se src="a_e\" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="B_{ЃrEGz[">
<bustup name="stx" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//̂łʂ܂܁A
//ł3ľx͘Lz[ɖoāA
//UJɏe\B
//͓lB
//đ|˂Ŏd߂Ή狺Ђ蓾ȂB<k>
  Although they still have no idea what just happened, the three guards charge into the hall without even spreading out and aim their guns at Taoluo. The enemy is a lone man with a sword. They need only mow him down with concentrated fire.

<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEGz[">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//3l̔ɁA<R ALT="^I["></R>͕ǂ납ċ΂B
//މ̋A悻15[gB
//킸ꂾ̊ԍ̍ŁA
//eeɌRzオƂłv̂낤H<k>

//ɐ_odqAeۂ𒴂悤ƁA
//ꋓꓮ𔻂hS̑xh܂ł͕ςȂB
//b͓̂Ƃ̌v݂̂łB<k>

//Ĕނ́A킢ɗՂ񂾂̎_ŒvIȃnfBLbvǂ킳ĂRȂ̂B
//gbN[XɚgȂ΁A<R ALT="^I["></R>Ƃ͂łɑon_ႤB
//̒eۏxł͎ԂȂقǂɁB<k>

//Ocɓ͖ƂAĝ͗̎Ⴍ؛Ԃ𒴂A͎{ɗVB
//ꂪƌ@́gyphcc<k>
  Taoluo smiles wryly, feeling disbelief - even pity - at the guards' response. The distance between him and them is about 15 meters. At such a close range, do they really think that their guns have the advantage?

  They can augment their nerves and fire supersonic bullets, but they cannot eliminate the time lag between intent and action. Only training in internal kung fu can accomplish that.

  Thus the men are saddled with a fatal handicap from the moment they enter battle. If this were a track race, Taoluo's starting point would be leagues ahead of them. No mere supersonic muzzle velocity can close this gap.

  When <I>qi</I> fills the <I>dantian</I>, one can leap like Lingxu over Hua Mountain and soar to the Lavender Palace in a single breath. This is the <I>qinggong</I> of <I>neijia</I> martial arts.

<se src="R" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="ev_t15">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//܂ڂ̓ݐ؂͉E΂ߑOB
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͐ĝɌXȂCɕǂ܂Œ􂷂B
//瑱ĕǂRA]Ȃ炳ɓցB<k>
  His first move takes him forward and to the right. He clears the distance to the wall in a single bound, tilting to the side as he goes, then uses the wall as a springboard to vault high into the air.

<se src="a_}VKeb" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="ev_t20">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//悻lԂƂėL蓾ȂɁA
//x̏Ə͊Sɘf킳ꂽB
//ቺΐቺɌȂA
//p̓Vnt]<R ALT="^I["></R>́A
//̂܂ܒܐœV𓥂ňC3B<k>

//y̒BlɂΏd͂Ȃǉ̑ɂȂȂB
//łtłAڗ͂߂ē߂鑫|肳΁A
//ꂾŎB<k>

//spSɂWĂx͊SɋՂꂽB
//܂\炵Ȃ^ォ̊PB
//U|ɋÂB
//R[g̐|AォP<R ALT="^I["></R>̎ṕA
//܂_̎p̂̂낤B<k>
  The guards' aim is completely thrown off by the inhuman movements. As their bullets pass harmlessly beneath him, Taoluo rotates in midair until his body is inverted and then dashes across the ceiling in three rapid steps.

  Gravity cannot bind a master of <I>qinggong</I>. Whether perpendicular or inverted matters not - as long as there is a surface to accept the energy of the legs, that is enough.

  Foolishly standing in a tight group, the guards are taken completely by surprise by the sudden attack from above. They look up in terror as Taoluo comes upon them, his streaming black cloak none other than the wings of Death.


<BOX TYPE=3>
//gҁcch<k>
(Fools......)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ތɏe\Ă΁A܂ĤB<k>
  If they had raised their guns instead of staring in fear, they might have had a chance at survival.

<se src="a_3Aab" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="B_{ЃrEGz[">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//^삯܂Ɉlڂ򓮖􂫁A
//̔wɐ]Ȃ痎rœlڂ̔wガA
//nƓɕ˂ŎcOlڂd߂B
//hȂǕ̐ɂȂB߂ĕՓV
//Ԃ̐ʑbfĂ̂B<k>
  He lays open the carotid of the first guard as he runs past overhead, then severs the spine of the second from behind while performing a spinning dive. Immediately upon landing, he finishes the third and last with a thrust to the heart.

 Their plated vests are meaningless. When charged with internal energy, the Daitian sword can cut even tank armor like paper.


//▽x܂dȂē|̂cS͂ĂA<R ALT="^I["></R>͘`U肵ďɎ߂B<k>

//C𔲂Ăɂ͂ȂB
//܎E5l̐S͕ۈ̎iߎŃj^[Ă邾낤B
//SłƂȂ΂39Kɂ͑勓ĉ񂹂ĂB<k>

//ӂȂ΁Au܂̂Ƃ͗}ĂB
//<se src="SE_01_02" mode="on" option="single">
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͈ypŎ삵ȂA
//KiCɋ삯オB<k>
  Taoluo returns to his basic stance, maintaining readiness as the lifeless corpses fall on top of each other, then <se src="a_Ɏ߂" mode="on" option="single">clears the blood from his <I>wo dao</I> and resheathes it.

  There's no time to relax. The vital signs of the five men he just killed are probably being monitored by security command. With this squad annihilated, heavy reinforcements will shortly storm the 39th floor.

  If he maintains breathing control, he can keep the pain of his internal injuries suppressed for now.<se src="SE_01_02" mode="on" option="single"> Still using <I>qinggong</I> to speed his steps, he races down the hall and up the emergency stairs.

<bgm src="M10" mode="fadeout" time="5" option="Loop">
<clear>
<background src="#000000">
<wipe effect="fade" time="30">

<clear>
<bgm src="M12" mode="fadein" time="5" option="Loop">
<se src="a_e" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="B_{ЃrEL02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="20">

//21K̗ĺAʂƉĂB<k>

//ɕۈ̕RȂ݂ƂǁA
//΂̌xɎxĂΗ͎͂e܂łxłB
//@Ƃ̌܂ł͑z肳ĂȂB<k>
  A war is raging on the 21st floor.

  The security forces might be armed with military-grade weaponry, but there is only so much a regular guard can do with his automatic rifle. They're not normally prepared to deal with assault gears.

<se src="cyborg_04_^[bg" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_x10">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//P҂̑37^d@bcc
//ɂC`i̐iłB
//̃XybNӂ݂邾
//xłłȂ͖̂B<k>

//̂̃ATgMAA
//QȂۈv𒎂瓯Rɓガ|ĂB<k>
  Ironically, the Type-37 Heavy Mobile Armor used by the attackers is a product of Shanghai Cybernetics. Considering its specs, it is obvious that the guards stand no chance.

  The lone assault gear stalks through the office, scattering guardsmen like insects.

<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEL02">
<bustup name="stx[K" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//uނI@ނ񂾃b!!v<k>
"Fall back! Get out of the way!!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//RׂgĂ悤₭ɁA
//x͋̒ŊтԁB<k>

//20mmgs[KB
//8000m/sŗ򉻃EObeˏodΊłB
//ȂΑb{ꂽATgMAɂʗp悤B<k>
  The guards throw up a silent cheer as reinforcements finally arrive with the proper equipment - a 20mm portable railgun. This heavy weapon propels a depleted-uranium armor-piercing shell at 8000 meters/second, enough firepower to punch through the armor of an assault gear.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//u엊ށIv<k>
"Give me cover!" the gunner roars, steeling himself for battle.

<se src="a_}VKeb3" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="B_{ЃrEL02">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ÂKi[̎BɁA
//cĂx̓oP[h̉AgoA
//藈ATgMAɂ̒eۂŏWC΂𗁂тB<k>
  At his command, the surviving guards pop out from their barricade and unload their magazines on the approaching gear, showering it with concentrated fire.

<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<se src="cyborg_00_arm02" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="ev_x10">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
//ĂȂx̒e𗁂тāA
//ATgMAZT[Ɗ֐ߕh䂷B
//݂̓̌ɁAKi[̓[K̏ƏXR[vG̒jbgɌccŔނɂݕԂX}[gOl[_[̖CƖڂ킹Ă܂B<k>
  The gear covers its sensors and joints to shield them from the unprecedented strength of the barrage. With its movements slowed, the gunner trains his railgun's sights on its central unit...... and finds himself staring right down the barrel of its smart grenade launcher.

<se src="a_Ol[ha" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="B_{ЃrEL02">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
//񂶂ĉ΂𕬂ATgMÃ`[́A
//ɃT[`ς݂̒n`ɂœKʂ̎iƂāA
//FAE֎UeIĂB
//ˏoꂽếA܂qRlߍ񂾃JvZŒe
//ɎTU炵Ačd̃Xp[NU炷B<k>

//ŒeUAłɒʘH̊poP[h̗ɂ܂ŏ[ĂqRɈ΁BoNĕӂʂ̃F[ŕݍށcc<k>
  The gear's launcher fires first, sending an FAE grenade hurtling towards the guards' position. Automatically selected for maximum effectiveness based on the terrain, the grenade sprays capsules containing powdered fuel out in a fan-like wave, then releases a cloud of high-voltage sparks.

  The capsules have already scattered their particles of solid fuel behind the barricade and around the corners of the hallway. Ignited by the sparks, these erupt in a thermobaric chain reaction that covers the entire area with a veil of flame.

<se src="_01" mode="on" option="single">
<WHITEOUT time="1">

//ωΐ{fBA[}[𒅗pxɑ΂ẮA
//jО֒eقǂ̒ڎE͂Ȃ̂́A
//ՌgɂX^ʂUʂB
//킹S΂ďe藎ƂA
//ƂƂ͉B<k>
  Although a fragmentation grenade would have caused more injuries against the guards' heat-resistant armor, the stunning power of the shockwave is tremendous. Blown back by the force of the explosion, the guards fall like stones among their dropped weapons.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uccv<k>
"Guh......"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//hċCƂꂽKi[́A
//ɓ][K̖Cg͂񂾂̂́A
//jfp[P[uĊFB<k>
  The gunner barely kept from blacking out. He grabs his railgun from the floor and pulls it to him, only to go pale when he sees the severed power cable.

<bgm src="M12" mode="fadeout" time="5" option="Loop">
//cȓd͂v郌[ḰA
//Oobe[pbN̋₽ἈSłȂB<k>
  Because of its enormous power requirement, the railgun is nothing more than a lump of metal once cut off from its external battery pack.

<se src="cyborg_00_arm03" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_x10">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//čĂъグɂ́A
//ڂƕ@̐܂œĂATgMAA
//i푕̍gUoCX܂ɐU艺낳ƂĂB<k>

//g̐lԂ𑊎ɔ܂ߏEccwnsxƂ
//lïꑤʂ̂́A̍|S̉܂Ȃ
//]glԁhł؂Ƃ悤B<k>
  And when the gunner looks up, he finds himself face to face with the assault gear, its close-range high-frequency vibrovise poised to come crashing down on his head.

  The use of such excessive force to kill a single human is utterly irrational. That it can show the personality trait called sadism is undeniable proof that the metal monster is human.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uЃBccv<k>
"Ah......!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//|Ɛ]ɐg𓀂点Ki[A
//̂Ƃڂ̓ɂ̂́cc<k>
  Fear and despair freeze the gunner's blood, and then he sees......

<se src="_00_d" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="ev_tw02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="3">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="ev_tw04">
<wipe effect="fade" time="3">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="ev_tw05">
<wipe effect="fade" time="3">

<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="fade" time="14">
<background src="B_{ЃrEL03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//ûɋ}Ƃ}j󂳂A
//؂ꂽ悤|S̎c[B<k>
  The gear collapses like a puppet with its strings cut, every vital point destroyed in the blink of an eye.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uccHv<k>
"Eh......?"

<bgm src="m04melody" mode="fadein" time="5" option="Loop">
<bustup name="stZU" face="\" align="left">
<bustup name="stU" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=1>
//u<R ALT="厖Ȃ">厖Ȃ</R>B<R ALT="S߂">S߂</R>v<k>
"Fear not. The situation is under control."

<BOX TYPE=0>
//̒獚RƌꂽA@p̃TC{[OB
//ɒʒBꂽ΂́A_񂩂̗pS_B<k>
  Two cyborgs suddenly emerge from the flames. From their martial artist's clothing, the gunner recognizes them as the Qingyun Society bodyguards who arrived yesterday.

<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEL03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//ނ炪Ɍg<R ALT="ケ"></R><R ALT="ӂւ">ʉ</R>A
//ł͕@Śoxcc
//ȂOIȕ킪RpATgMA
//uEĂ̂íA܂܂ƖڂɏĂĂB<k>
  One holds a pair of hook swords, the other a set of <I>guai</I> sticks. The security guards laughed at them yesterday, but now the sight of these outdated weapons taking out a military assault gear in a split second is burned into the gunner's eyes.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stZʏ푫" face="\" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//ůK͈SB
//₩ɔ퓬̗Uv<k>
"The upper floors are safe. Hurry and evacuate the non-combatants."

<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEL03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//uAccv<k>
"Y-yes......"

<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEL02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//ςɓE܂ꂽ悤Ȗʎ̂܂ܓPނn߂xȂAo͉߂āAj󂵂ꂽ21K̎SnB<k>

//ɓ]͕̂̂΂ł͂ȂB
//xꂽ]ƈ̂̂B<k>
  Still looking dazed, the remaining guards begin their withdrawal. As they watch them go, the Twin Yuen Heroes take in once again the horrifying destruction that has been wrought on the 21st floor.

  Not all of the scattered corpses are armed. The bodies of employees who were slow to escape are also numerous.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st푫" face="ւ̂" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//uccv<k>
"......"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//݂AƁA<R ALT="E\[C">p</R>̎̒ŉ̕a݂グB<k>
  Yuen Sheung Ying's <I>guai</I> rattle in his clenched fists.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stZʏ푫" face="ւ̂" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//u<R ALT="\[C">p</R>ccv<k>
"Sheung Ying......"

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st푫" face="ւ̂" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//ûׂĂccv<k>
"Is this......"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//Eɂ́A
//BȂقǂ̓{CɔRĂB<k>
  Though his voice is low, it burns with undisguisable fury.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uׂāA<R ALT="RE^I[">E</R>߂̍H
//cĉׂĂccv<k>
"Is this Kong Taoluo's doing? All of this......?"

<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEL02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//Z̎ɏ悹āA<R ALT="\[C">p</R>͊߂B
//{ɓۂ܂Ăꍇł͂ȂB̏ł̖߂͑ɂB<k>
  Feeling his brother's hand on his shoulder, Sheung Ying brings his emotions under control. This is no time to drown in rage. There is more work to be done.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stZʏ푫" face="ւ̂" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//uKɍ~邼Bɂ͂܂Gv<k>
"We're heading downstairs. There are still enemies left."

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st푫" face="ւ̂" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//uccv<k>
"......Understood."



<bgm src="m04melody" mode="fadeout" time="5" option="Loop">
<clear>
<background src="#000000">
<wipe effect="fade" time="30">

<clear>
<bgm src="M09" mode="fadein" time="5" option="Loop">
<background src="B_{ЃrEВ">
<wipe effect="fade" time="20">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//В̒[Õlbg񂵂A
//<R ALT=""></R>͌Ȃ鍑̖H𒭂߂ĂB<k>

//Kɓ˓5@̃ATgMA͕ۈ̕ɂĊT˒ꂽ̂́AAГLAN̊ɒڒCeWFgE[ccƂIɌoc̃_[W^悤ꂽNbNAÍAUɂĎГpjbNɊׂԂ̂ɁAނl̑ȂvIȔQ炵ĂB<k>

//ׂẴ[쒀ACT[o̎xzГ̃Iy[^[̎ɖ߂܂łɗvԂ200bB
//3]̊ԂɁAi͋Mdȃpeg̑唼񑩎Oœ肵AĖ\r̊sǍ蓖莟ɍwĂB<k>

//ɕ̓BBSɕЂ[JꂽVi̊J}ʂ␔X̋@B
//͍ČĂԂɂ}]̉𑱂ĂB<k>

//ГɐH񂾃X}[g[ƁA炩߃lbgőҋ@ĂnbJ[BƂAgāAvȓd𐋍ŝB
//Qz͂͂zȂBSPʂł܂邩ǂB
//͂C`i͊ƂƂĂ̖fꂽRB<k>
  Surfing the net from his office terminal, Ng beholds the collapse of his empire.

  The five assault gears that penetrated the lower floors have been mostly suppressed by the efforts of the security force, but not before they inserted an intelligent worm directly into the company LAN.

  In the minutes of chaos bought by the gears' raid, the AI cracking program, tuned for maximum financial damage in the least amount of time, dealt a far heavier blow than the loss of materiel and personnel.

  It took 200 seconds for the operators to purge the worm and regain control of the main server, but in that scant interval Shanghai Cybernetics sold off nearly all of its most lucrative patents at a fraction of their value while buying up every crashing stock and bad asset in sight.

  To make matters worse, countless trade secrets and blueprints of current projects have been posted to anonymous message boards all over the net. Even now, the company's stock price is plummeting right before Ng's eyes.

  Supported by teams of hackers standing by online, the smart worm's ravenous attack on the building's computers was the perfect cyber-blitzkrieg. Ng can hardly imagine what the final tally of damages will look like. It could easily end up in the tens or hundreds of billions.

  As of now, the Shanghai Cybernetics Corporation is as good as dead.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//gcch<k>
(......Damn!)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//<R ALT=""></R>ɂƂẮAƂERВ̈֎qB
//̏I͖cɂAȏ̊S͂ȂB
//ނCɂ̂́A
//̍Œ39KŔ̕񍐂łB<k>

//15قǑOccВ̌xɌĂі߂ǂAړr
//39KŐVȌx@mAN҂ƌ킵̂ɑSłB
//l߂̕̕񍐂ɂ΁A
//̍Ղ炵ăATgMAɂPł͂ȂB
//}EK[h}Bׂ͂ē̗ނŎaEĂƂB<k>

//N낤A܂Ȃ<R ALT="RE^I[">E</R>̎dƂB
//̒j͂̃r̒ɂB<k>
  As far as Ng is concerned, this president's seat is just something he happened to come into. He is sorry that the honeymoon is over, but otherwise feels nothing over its downfall. Indeed he is far more concerned about the report of an encounter that took place on the 39th floor during the confusion.

  About 15 minutes ago, a squad that had been called back to defend the president's office responded to a new alert on the 39th floor, engaged the intruder, and were wiped out shortly thereafter.

  The unit that was sent as reinforcements reported finding no signs of assault gear activity. Rather, the KIA guardsmen had all been cut down by a bladed weapon.

  It could only have been Kong Taoluo's doing, which means that he has already infiltrated the building.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gꂾ̑cc
//܂OFƂ̂߂̗zĂ̂H
//<R ALT="R">E</R>!!h<k>

//gccl_Ă̂ƂHh<k>
(All this chaos...... It was all a diversion for you, Kong!?)

(You unleashed hell...... just to get to me!?)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//lقǂɈw؂IށB
//܂ł̎OāÂǂƂ̂H<k>

//ǂɂĂo邱Ƃ͉ȂB
//C`i͂I肾B
//<R ALT="E"></R>̂B
//̒j<R ALT="R">E</R>ûB
//<R ALT=""></R>ɂĂ݂΁A䂪gə߂͂ȂB<k>
  The more he thinks about it, the more he feels his blood turning to ice. What can possibly do in the face of such obsession?

  In any case, there's nothing more he can do here. Shanghai Cybernetics is finished. Everything is Liu's fault for refusing to go after Kong. In Ng's mind, he has already absolved himself of blame.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gƂȂẮAĂ̕cch<k>
(Now that it's come to this, I need to worry about saving my own skin.)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ƌ߂<R ALT=""></R>̔f͑B
//̏͑ގUɉzƂ͂ȂB<k>
  With that decided, Ng moves swiftly into action. The best plan is to get out of here right now.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uyg[VJAŁccv<k>
"Petrouchka, come here."

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="styg[VJ" face="\" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//eɍTĂKCmCh𑤂ɌĂъ񂹁A
//fXN̒lgp̌eoȂA
//<R ALT=""></R>͍Gx[^[ВtAւƌĂъ񂹁A
//łɎВ̌xɏWĂŠx
//m΂B<k>
  Summoning the waiting gynoid to his side, he grabs his pistol from the desk drawer and calls the high-speed elevator to this floor. While waiting, he issues orders to the fully-armed guards who've already gathered to defend the office.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="stObN\Q" face="j" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//u39K̐N҂́A炸̊K
//ڎwĂĂBƂĂ}āB
//͖̏ꍇɔĂ̏𗣂v<k>

//uccAOv<k>
"The intruder from floor 39 will try to make it here soon. Make sure you kill him! I'm getting out of here, just in case."

"......Hey, you."

<BOX TYPE=0>
//Ô߁Ax̒ɋȈlIŁA𖽂B<k>
  Ng singles out the toughest-looking guard and commands him to provide escort.

<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEВ">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">


//sȊ፷Ō鑼̌xڂɁA
//<R ALT=""></R>͓Gx[^[ɁA
//qlƃhX̏l`Aď荞񂾁B<k>
  Leaving the remaining guards to worry about the future, Ng gets on the arrived elevator with his one bodyguard and a doll in a dress.

<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEGx[^[">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//ڎw45KA󃔃B[Op̑2ԏB
//̃w|[gĝ͕spSB
//d|Ămꂽ̂ł͂ȂB<k>
  His destination is the Number 2 SV Parking Lot on the 45th floor. It would be foolish to use the helicopter on the roof. Anything at all could be waiting for him up there.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gȂ<R ALT="r">k</R>A
//ȒPɂ܂Ȃ낤ȁh<k>
(Bin's not gonna take no for an answer now.)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//<R ALT="r">k</R>咣ʂA
//͂<R ALT="R">E</R>ɂĂ͑}Ɏłׂ̂B<k>

//a<R ALT="E"></R>̐ӔCA؂͓OꂵĒǋyɈႢȂB
//Λ̓gbvl̊Ԃŕ􂾁B<k>

//RX̂́A̂̂̍słB
//<R ALT="E"></R>̐ɂāA_͎v̊Ղ
//قڊSɗTColeBNXsւƈڍsĂB
//ꂪɂāAjƂC`Ђ̂B<k>
  Bin was right. They should have dealt with Kong swiftly when they had the chance.

  Liu hesitated, and now the Advisor is sure to hold him accountable for this catastrophe. This struggle between the top two could even tear the Society in half.

  But it is the Society's very existence for which things are looking the worst. Under Liu's leadership, the Society shifted nearly its entire profit base into black-market cybernetics. And now Shanghai Cybernetics, the very rope binding that enterprise together, has been lost.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//g႟A_񎩑̂Ԃׂꂽĕsvc͂˂B́AƉ_Bꂷ肩Ȃcch<k>
(Worst case scenario, this could take down the whole damn Society. Maybe I'd better just get my ass into hiding......)

<bgm src="M09" mode="off" option="Loop">
<se src="_042_˂j2" mode="on" option="single">
<WHITEOUT time="1">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//<R ALT=""></R>̎vlcc
//˔@Gx[^[P[W̉˂jĖzo
//fB<k>
  Ng's thoughts are suddenly cut short when a flash of silver light stabs through the elevator's ceiling.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uȁccv<k>
"Wha......!"

<bgm src="M08b" mode="on" option="Loop">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//ÑRƖڂJƂɂ͂A
//ׂɂxwbgƔ]VhɂĂB
//gɗ₽gł`Ȃł͂̐nA
//݂݂錌򖗂ɐ܂ĂB<k>

//̏P҂<R ALT=""></R>̒EozāA
//Ƃ̂ȂꏊɖԂ𒣂Ă̂B
//ccВʃGx[^[̃P[W̉ŁB<k>
  By the time Ng's eyes go wide in shock, the blade has skewered his bodyguard's skull, helmet and all. The <I>wo dao</I>'s characteristic temper pattern glitters coldly as it drinks the man's blood.

  The attacker was in fact waiting for Ng to make his escape, ready to ambush him where he would have no way out - on the roof of the president's personal elevator.

<se src="a_e\" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="ev_n03">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//<R ALT=""></R>͙lɁA
//ɂeT̃yg[VĴ߂݂ɓ˂B
//̋ǖʂ}Ƃ̍sA
//\ߌ߂Ă̂B<k>
  Acting fast, Ng grabs Petrouchka and sticks the muzzle of his pistol against her temple. His forethought in preparing this last resort ahead of time has saved his life.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//u񂶂˂bIv<k>
"Don't fucking move!"

<clear>
<background src="B_{ЃrEGx[^[">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//uccv<k>
"......"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//͂ē̏P҂́Aȏ̍sNȂB
//Ɖ̏Ɉ߂A
//x̊[P[W̕ǖʂɊ肩܂B
//<R ALT=""></R>̎vȂe𓪏ɌĂ΁A
//ǂɗׂɂx̌ǂĂ낤B<k>
  As expected, the man on the roof does not continue his attack. The bloody sword is pulled back through the ceiling, and the guard's corpse slides down the wall to the floor. If Ng were to carelessly aim his gun at the ceiling, he would no doubt find himself swiftly joining his bodyguard.

<clear>
<background src="ev_n03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//uցAւցcc]RCcɂSȁB
//dv<k>
"H-heh...... You're awfully attached to this doll, aren't you, Lightning Palm?"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//邢P[W̒́A
//ɂ<R ALT="R">E</R>̂ǂ̌ԂP[WMĂ̂ȂB
//GƂɂݍA<R ALT=""></R>̊`B<k>
  From inside the bright elevator cage, Ng has no way of knowing through which crack Kong is observing him. Sweat rolls down his face as the standoff with his invisible foe continues.

<se src="SE_01_hAJ" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//₪ăGx[^[͂₩ɌA45KɓB
//J둫ŏoԂA
//<R ALT=""></R>͐l`ɏe˂܂ܗȂB<k>

//xł̃RN[goSVԏ́A
//nɂ݂̗̓L֎ԗpԏƂقǕςȂB
//tAꏄ`ŕ~ꂽ^LVOʘH̍Eɒԃu[X
//敪AFƂǂSV҂҂ĒĂB<k>

//B̑͏o̊Oɂ̂nHւƌXΘHł͂ȂA
//eXɂofbLɂȂĂ_B<k>
  Soon the elevator gradually slows down and arrives at the 45th floor. Ng backs out as the doors slide open, still keeping his gun pressed to the doll's head.

  With its exposed concrete walls and pillars, the SV parking lot is not very different from the familiar underground garage used by wheeled vehicles. Parking spaces line both sides of the taxiing lane, and in them a variety of SVs silently await their passengers.

  The only difference is that the exit is not a ramp leading up to the ground level street, but a terrace-like landing platform sticking out into the sky.

<se src="SE_01_01" mode="on" option="single">
<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stObN\" face="\" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//<R ALT=""></R>͒ʘH̐^񒆂܂ŏoƂŁA
//yg[VJɗ܂܁Aɒԃu[X܂ŌނB
//ނ񌝏ȅƏ̓yg[VJ̓ɐꂽ܂܂B<k>
  Once Ng reaches the middle of the taxiing lane, he leaves Petrouchka to stand there while he continues to back towards a parking space. Needless to say, he keeps his aim fixed on her head all the while.

<se src="_03_R΂" mode="on" option="single">
<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[g" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//<R ALT="^I["></R>܂A삩<R ALT=""></R>ƂŐpnb`RjAP[Wւƍ~藧B
//g̘`ɒ񂰂܂܁AGx[^[甼ݏoāAe\<R ALT=""></R>ÎB<k>

//҂͂傤ǃyg[VJ^񒆂ɋŒɑΛ`ɂȂB<k>
  As soon as Ng vanishes from his narrow view, Taoluo kicks out the elevator's maintenance hatch and jumps down into the cage. With his naked <I>wo dao</I> in hand, he takes a half-step out of the elevator and glares at the gun-wielding Ng.

  The two men find themselves staring each other down with Petrouchka in the exact center between them.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stObN\" face="j" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//u炽߂ďЉ邺B
//̎́gyg[VJhv<k>

//û܂܉΁cc
//Ỏ<R ALT="C["></R>̃f[^́A
//؂[oɐԂv<k>
"Allow me to introduce you. This is my darling Petrouchka."

"If I pull this trigger...... your precious Ruili's data gets blown to pieces."

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[g" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//ûƂ͋Ml𗎂ƂB
//܂ĂƂ悤ȎɕŁv<k>
"At which time you will die, in such a way that you'll wish you'd never been born."

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="stObN\" face="j" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//unnnA肢ȁv<k>
"Hahaha, we wouldn't want that!"

<se src="a_e\" mode="on" option="single">
<bustup name="stObN\Q" face="j" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//l߂΂𒣂グA
//<R ALT=""></R>͕sGɌc߂ďe̍\B<k>
  Ng manages a strained laugh, then lowers his gun with a fearless grin.

<BOX TYPE=2>
//uႠ˂Aܘ_B
//ĉ̑厖ȃ{fBK[hȁv<k>

//uȂ낤yg[VJH
//낻뗊ƂĂv<k>
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna shoot. After all, she's my number-one bodyguard."

"Isn't that right, Petrouchka? Time to show me what you've got."

<bgm src="M08b" mode="fadeout" time="5" option="Loop">
<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="styg[VJ" face="ɂ" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//uccv<k>
"u......"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//܂ŗR<R ALT="^I["></R>Ăyg[VJA
//ӂɏșR炷B
//̖ڂɂ͂͂Ƌɂ̐FccvOꂽliłȂA
//܂ܕ߂ꂽ̍Ղcc_ԌB<k>
  Petrouchka has been staring blankly at Taoluo all this time, but now she suddenly lets out a little moan. There is clear suffering in her eyes, an unmimicable trace of the living soul sealed inside her.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uAAccb!!v<k>
"Uh, gu, uuuuuu......!!"

<clear>
<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//N̂Ayg[VJ͂܂ŋ}Ȓɂ݂̔ɂłꂽ̂悤ɁAk錨~ȂAĂ̏ɂւ荞ށB<k>
  For some unfathomable reason, Petrouchka clutches her shoulders and falls to her knees, shaking violently as though experiencing a sudden and intense onset of pain.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[g" face="fQ" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//uȁccv<k>
"Wha......?"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ウꂵސl`ւƁA炸삯<R ALT="^I["></R>B
//ł<R ALT=""></R>̏e͗]ĂBْ̎ƁA
//<R ALT="C["></R>zSÂȎvɗB<k>
  Aghast, Taoluo runs to the suffering doll's side. Ng's gun is pointed elsewhere. With that danger gone, concern for Ruili overwhelms Taoluo's caution.


<bustup name="st^I[g" face="f" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//u<R ALT="C["></R>Aǂccv<k>
"Ruili, what's......"

<se src="_042_łȂ" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ01">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//k錨ɎG悤Ƃ̒OA
//̂悤Ȑn̈M̍AւƖzB
//̑OGȂꂽA
//̓yg[VJ̌JoꌂB<k>
  Just before his hand touches the doll's trembling shoulder, a blade flashes towards his throat like a bolt of lightning. Petrouchka has attacked without the slightest warning.

<bgm src="M12" mode="fadein" time="5" option="Loop">
//̘r̊ԍł́AfėL蓾Ȃ͂̊PUB
//<R ALT="^I["></R>ł̂́A
//ЂƂɓƕ|҂ƂĔ|Ӗz̖h{\ɂ̂B
//̐̂\킸E܂ŌւƔԂA
//̂܂܈]ĕGɋNB<k>
  The sudden strike should have been impossible given the length of her arms. Taoluo is only able to respond because of the defensive instinct, independent from conscious thought, that he possesses as a <I>neijia</I> master. He throws his upper body back, sacrificing his balance, then continues through a backwards roll and rises to one knee.

<bustup name="st^I[퓬" face="fQ" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//ccܔނPĎ<R ALT="^I["></R>́A
//̏ŋÑRƓB<k>
  But when he sees the weapon that just attacked him, Taoluo freezes on the spot.

<clear>
<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//AłB
//̓yg[VJɎł͂ȂB<k>

//Al`̏͘r̂̂ĂB
//܂ŉEꏊׂ͍r߂LъgA
//͂̐[ɒtĂB<k>

//܂奂܂łOLъĝ悤ȁcc
//Ayg[VJ̘r̂̂WJA
//ĂnIɂ̂B<k>
  The weapon is a sickle, but Petrouchka is not holding it in her hand.

  Indeed the doll's right arm itself is gone, and from where her shoulder was now extends a long, thin, segmented limb, at the end of which is attached the sickle.

  Like a praying mantis unfolding its front claws, Petrouchka has transformed her entire arm to reveal the blade hidden inside.

<se src="ygQϐg" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ01">
<bustup name="styg[VJό`" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//uЂb!!v<k>
"Hiiiiiiiiii!!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ߒɂȐ⋩ƂƂɁA
//x̓yg[VJ̍rcɂ͂B
//hX̐􂢂Čꂽ̂́A͂EƓr߂ƊB
//̃KCmCh͓[퓬^̂B<k>
  With an agonized shriek, her left arm now splits apart along its length, tearing the sleeve of her dress as it unfolds into the very same segmented limb and sickle as her right arm. This gynoid is a battle model, built with weapons hidden inside her body.

<se src="_00_blade01" mode="on" option="single">
<WHITEOUT time="1">

//̋тグȂAyg[VJ
//{ȏɉꂽrU肩<R ALT="^I["></R>ɏPB
//̌łIȋ́A
//捏܂ł̐IȊ炩Ƃ͎ĂȂB
//l쓮hCovÔ̂サ炵B<k>
  Still screaming in anguish, Petrouchka attacks Taoluo with her bladed limbs, now twice as long as before. Stiff and linear, these swings have none of the animal smoothness that she showed before. The program controlling the motion of her limbs must have been swapped out.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[퓬" face="fQ" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//̎â̂͊ȂȂ]킵̂́A
//\zȂGɂǂΏĂ̂画fłʂ܂܁A
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͎̎pŌނB<k>
  Although he has no trouble evading the sickles, Taoluo can only defend and fall back as he tries to figure out how to deal with this utterly unexpected enemy.

<clear>
<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//f点΁Ał<R ALT=""></R>̎p͌ȂB
//ꂩSVɏ荞ł̂낤B<k>
  He shoots a quick glance around the parking lot, but sees no sign of Ng. Could he already be in one of the SVs?

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[퓬" face="{" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//ĝ܂܂ł͎蓦cch<k>
(At this rate, I'll lose him!)

<se src="_00_blade01" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ01">
<bustup name="styg[VJό`" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//ĂѕXƂƂɍE犙B
//ɓ]<R ALT="^I["></R>́A
//EP銙̂`̕łȂA
//ԂŎc̕tf؂B<k>
  The sickles come howling for him once more, but this time Taoluo decides to counterattack. As the blades close from left and right, he deflects one with the ridge of his <I>wo dao</I>, then severs the other at the base with his backswing.

<se src="_00_]" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ01">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">


<BOX TYPE=3>
//uL@@@b!!v<k>
"Kyaaaaaaa!!"

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[퓬" face="f" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
<BOX TYPE=0>
//A􂭂悤Ȑ⋩KCmCh̍A瞂B
//́A܂<R ALT="C["></R>fiƂߒɂȐɁA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͜RƓB<k>
  An ear-splitting scream immediately surges from the gynoid's throat. The pain in her voice, so much like Ruili's, freezes Taoluo in shock.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="styg[VJό`" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//ub!!@b!!v<k>
"Ahhhh! Aghhhhh!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//<R ALT="^I["></R>՗ȘAUŗe͂ȂǂĂyg[VJB
//͔̓U藐A
//邵eɁXc߂ė܂U炵ĂB<k>

//r􂢂ĊoƂ̋ꂵ݂悤A@ׂB
//炭́ccʃvOɃ{fB̐A
//Ɋo͂̂܂܂ɔޏ̐_oԂ𒼌Ă̂낤B<k>
  As Taoluo falters, Petrouchka mercilessly presses her attack with a series of violent slashes. Her head, however, seems to belong to a different person, hair flying wildly about as tears stream down her face, its once-pretty features now twisted in agony.

  He should have guessed from the way she suffered when her arms were torn apart by the sickles. In all likelihood, her sense of pain is still feeding directly into her nerves even as her body is controlled by a different AI.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[퓬" face="{" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
<BOX TYPE=2>
//uccv<k>
"Kuh......"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ꂪ<R ALT=""></R>̗pӂA<R ALT="^I["></R>ƑΛ邽߂̔􂾂B
  So this is what Ng had up his sleeve, his last resort against Taoluo.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="left" mode="off">
<bustup name="styg[VJό`" face="\" align="right">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//yg[VJ̃{fBOIɉĕA
//ɌX̗L@Ƃ͕ʂɐ퓬h[p̐헪AIςŁA
//Lɂ͊荞ݐ䂳B<k>

//]̒Ɋo_ô܂܂Ɏĉ́A
//ЂƂ<R ALT="^I["></R>̐ӂނ邽߂B<k>
  He remodeled Petrouchka's body, stuffed her full of weapons, and installed a strategic combat AI that would take control from the organic memory in the event of a crisis.

  The reason he left her pain receptors untouched was simply to take the fight out of Taoluo.

<clear>
<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//<R ALT=""></R>̖ژ_ʂA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͊Sɐӂ킪ēɓO邵ȂȂB
//GƌȂĐqɓn荇΁A̐n̒ɂ݂󂯎~߂̂
//l`̒Ɏꂽ<R ALT="C["></R>̍鮂Ȃ̂B<k>
  Just as Ng planned, the completely demoralized Taoluo has no choice but to fall back. If he does battle with the doll as an enemy, his blade will only hurt the fragment of Ruili's soul trapped inside her.

<se src="a_e\" mode="on" option="single">
//ԍ傫JƂŁA
//yg[VJ͔j߂jB
//ɓ̘r߂xWJA
//x͍肷铛̕킪oB<k>
  When he puts a far amount of range between them, Petrouchka purges the damaged segment from her arm. She then unfolds a new segment, from the end of which slides a shiny black tube.

<bustup name="U摜" face="U\" align="right" mode="off">
<bustup name="st^I[퓬" face="\" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=2>
//u!?v<k>
"!?"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ꂪMWPbg킹egƌĎۂA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͖Tɒ܂ĂSV̉AւƐg点B<k>
  The instant he recognizes this new weapon as the jacketed barrel of a gun, Taoluo throws himself behind a nearby SV.

<se src="a_}VKea" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="ev_p03">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//ԈꔯAȀeƂƂɏe炫A
//@e|˂̒e͈ʂɓfoB<k>

//юU钵ẻΉԂ̉Ag߂ĎՕ̌Ԃ삯ȂA<R ALT="^I["></R>SV̊Ԃ삯ĔΑ̒ʘHɂ܂œoB
//ˑRA͂<R ALT=""></R>̎p͌ȂB<k>
  A split-second later, the roar of automatic gunfire fills the air, muzzle flashes lighting the room as a hail of bullets sweeps the area.

  Staying low as bullets ricochet and sparks fly overhead, Taoluo dashes from cover to cover until he makes it through the parked SVs and to the aisle on the other side.

  He still has not seen any sign of the fled Ng.

<clear>
<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//`ĝɈtč\܂܁Aԑ̂̉AɐgBB
//퓬`Ԃɕό^KCmCh͒ǂĂȂB
//ɂ܂T苃̐RN[gɔA
//ƂȂɓ͂B<k>
  He hides in the shadow of an SV, holding his <I>wo dao</I> tight against his body. The battle-gynoid has not caught up to him, but he can hear her pained whimpers echoing through the concrete room.

<BOX TYPE=2>
//gcch<k>
(Calm down......)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ɉēh΁AHB
//SŋpA
//̔@SŋC𒲂A͂߂Č͐Ƃ́B
//ɌɂĂƂ̐ŜB<k>

//ڂĒɐOȂA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͑Sg_o̐jɂĒԏTB<k>

//L`cc
//@L`cc<k>

//ɕAr߂̗₽Gꍇcc
//킶Ƌ߂ÂĂB
//<R ALT="^I["></R>ڎw꒼Ɂcc
//񂵂ĒԂSV̕тA܂ŖĈړĂB<k>

//QĂA<R ALT="^I["></R>͓B<k>
  To panic in the face of death is to lose all chance of survival. He must enter the state of oblivion, make his soul as calm and clear as the glassy surface of a lake. Only then can he master his breathing and wield true kung fu.

  While closing his eyes and concentrating on his breathing, Taoluo focuses every nerve in his body to scan the parking lot.

  *Click*......
    *Click......

  Faintly, he can hear the sharp sound of segmented limbs moving against each other. The sound is getting closer, moving towards Taoluo on a straight line. Its movements seem to be ignoring the lines of parked SVs.

  Cool and calm, Taoluo looks up.

<se src="ygQw偕" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_p02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//yg[VJ͂ɂB
//XJ[g̉ɉBĂ삵̐ߑ忂AV𔇂zǂɂ݂ȂAw偂̂悤<R ALT="^I["></R>ւƔEъĂ̂B<k>

//ȏeƖڂ߁A
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͍lɓĂB<k>
  Petrouchka is there. She has snuck up on him like a spider, using the countless segmented legs that have sprouted from beneath her skirt to scuttle along the ceiling pipes.

  The moment his eyes meet the black void of her gun barrels, Taoluo moves faster than thought.

<se src="a_}VKea" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//eB
//eہB
//MΉB
//ׂ̂Ăʌɔقǂ̐ؔ̊ԁB<k>
  Roar. Bullet. Muzzle flash.
  Time compresses until he can recognize each as a separate entity.

<background src="ev_p03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//g|<R ALT="^I["></R>̔wŁA
//̎c̔@xĂ͂߂R[g̕znA
//XԒeۂɖDĎU炷B<k>

//ђʂ̒eۂ́AwɂSV̎ԑ̂тA
//̂ꔭ̉geR^N𒼌cc<k>
  Taoluo leaps aside, the rain of lead tearing through his coat as it streams behind him like an afterimage, scattering fabric everywhere.

  A few bullets penetrate the SV he was using as cover, one of which - a tracer - makes a direct hit on the gas tank.

<se src="_01" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="ev_x14">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//ƉԊJւ̔B
//ɓ]<R ALT="^I["></R>́AƂƂŔMgƏՌ߂B<k>

//KsKAΉ͒ƂȂė҂𕪂A
//yg[VJ̒ǂł𖢑Rɖh`ƂȂB<k>
  With a thunderous boom, the SV blossoms into a massive fireball. Taoluo throws himself to the floor just in time to avoid the brunt of the explosion.

  As luck would have it, the inferno forms a curtain between the two combatants, preventing Petrouchka from pressing her attack.

<clear>
<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͂NA
//Ăюd؂蒼ɂȂ킢̎̋ǖʂɔcc<k>
  Taoluo swiftly gets to his feet, preparing himself for the next round of battle......<K><se src="SV_042_n" mode="on" option="single"> but just then, he hears something besides the roar of the flames - the escalating rumble of a gas turbine engine turning over.

<se src="SV_042_n" mode="on" option="single">
//R͂Ή̉Ƃ͕ʂɁA˂Ȃ特KグĂ
//KX^[rGW̋쓮𕷂߂B<k>

//̃tÂǂɁAً}nĂSVB
//܂̒ԏꂩً}i悤ƂlԂɂ́A
//̈lvȂB<k>
  Somewhere in this room is an SV in quick start mode, and there is only one man who would be trying to execute an emergency launch from this parking lot.


<se src="_01_kj" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_svːiԏ01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//ґRƒʘHɋ삯o<R ALT="^I["></R>A܂ő҂\Ă̂悤
//̃Abp[Cg␂߂B
//^LVOHɂS炸XX^[_΂ēːiĂ
//SVB̋}炵<R ALT="^I["></R>瀂EӐ}͔RłB<k>
  Taoluo races into the taxiing lane and is immediately speared by an SV's headlights, as though it was lying in wait for him. Though still indoors, the SV ignites its thrusters and charges him, its sudden acceleration making its intent to mow him down obvious.


<background src="B_Xsi[ԏ02">
<bustup name="st^I[퓬" face="{" align="left">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//]lȂ炢m炸AEӂ̒ł͒xƂȂ<R ALT="^I["></R>́AłɊ@ɗ␂ނ悤ȓO̐Ȃǎ킹ĂȂB
//ЎCgȂĖڂ𒼌镪ՂA肭ԑ̂ɐ^痧͂B<k>
  Yet Taoluo's bloodlust is no less. Another man might have faltered, but he no longer possesses the normal animal instinct to freeze in the face of danger. He simply raises his hand just enough to keep the light from shining right into his eyes, and stands tall as the SV barrels towards him.

<se src="_042_~01" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="ev_svːi02">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//Ԉꔯcc
//tgop[̐ĝ𑨂钼OŁA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>̓{lbg̏ɐg𓊂oAh̉ɂ݂B<k>

//т̒ɁAނ͈aɜɑRƂȂB<k>

//Abp[CgɖڂῂŔʂȂcc
//OɒƂ낱ł́A
//<R ALT=""></R>̎LvCx[gSV̓WK[B
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͂܂Ă̂́A
//X|[c^Cvł͂邪AVgGSVB<k>

//ڂὂ߂ăX[N̂h̉̂΁A
//ɐ}ccpCbgV[g͖lB<k>
  A hair's breadth before impact, Taoluo throws himself onto the hood and clings to the lip of the windshield.

  But just after he latches onto the SV, a sense of wrongness sends a shiver up his spine.

  According to his investigation, Ng's private SV should be a Jaguar. He couldn't tell the difference through the glare of the headlights, but this sports SV is clearly a Citroen.

  When he peers squinting through the smoked windshield, he finds to his shock...... that the pilot seat is empty.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//g!?h<k>
(A decoy!?)

<bgm src="M12" mode="fadeout" time="5" option="Loop">
<se src="SV_042_s01" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="B_Xsi[ԏo02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//CtƂɂ͂xASV͉ɏ܂
//fbLʉ߂ċւƖoĂB
//҂󂯂ĂƂ΂ɁA
//x̖җȃrh̏<R ALT="^I["></R>PB<k>
  But he realizes it too late, for the SV has already continued its acceleration off the landing deck and out into the open air. The violent high-altitude wind immediately assaults Taoluo, as though to tear him from the windshield into its waiting embrace.

<clear>
<background src="ev_WK[">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//H΂炵̋ɂ́A
//܂ɗfbLїSVB<k>
  Gritting his teeth against the pressure, he looks behind him just in time to see another SV leaving the landing deck.

<bgm src="M12" mode="fadeout" time="5" option="Loop">
<clear>
<background src="#000000">
<wipe effect="fade" time="30">

<clear>
<se src="SV_042_@̐U" mode="on" option="single">
<bgm src="M08a" mode="fadein" time="5" option="Loop">
<background src="ev_n01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="20">

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uNNbAnccv<k>
"Heh, dumbass......"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//xĔiWK[̃RbNsbgŁA
//<R ALT=""></R>͉S̏΂݂ݎEĂB<k>
  In the cockpit of the Jaguar, Ng grins with satisfaction as he follows the Citroen out of the lot.

<clear>
<background src="B_SV06">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//Oサċ`i̒ԏꂩ甭i2SV́A
//ǐǂ̃Rg[ɐgCAቺsSV̌Qcc
//r̒JԂ𗬂UOւƍׂ~ĂB<k>

//<R ALT="R">E</R>悹VgG͏ԐB<R ALT=""></R>̃WK[͉ԐB
//łɗ@̋200m΂JĂB
//ɗUOɓ̂́A
//ỎԐւƓWK[̕낤B<k>
  Under control of the traffic computer as soon as they leave the Shanghai Cybernetics building, the two SVs descend towards the lanes that feed into the vast fleet of SVs winding between the skyscrapers along the guided skyway.

  Kong's Citroen joins the inbound lane, Ng's Jaguar the outbound. There are already about 200 meters between them, and the first to enter the guided skyway will likely be the Jaguar in the closer outbound lane.

<clear>
<background src="B_SV03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//㕔xJ̉摜Y[āA
//<R ALT=""></R>͔ΎԐւƍ~ĂVgGB
//̉ɂ͈ˑRA
//R[gp̐leĈ悤ɒtĂB<k>

//͂B
//<R ALT="R">E</R>^qSV̕hɊJ΁A
//ꂾňSuċ]VȂB
//ƂāÂ܂܎ԊOɒtĂ΂ȂߎSB<k>
  Ng magnifies the image from his rear-mounted camera and watches the Citroen descend into the opposite lane. He can still see the black-cloaked figure clinging to the roof like a newt.

  The victor has been decided. If Kong forces his SV's windshield open while it's on autopilot, safety protocols will automatically force it to land. That said, it'll be even more tragic if he keeps hanging on to the outside.

<clear>
<background src="B_SV02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//UOɓŌA<R ALT="R">E</R>͏qx200km/hŕԗ̗ɏāA<R ALT=""></R>Ƃ͔ΕւƘAꋎĂB<k>

//Oɂ͒ʍsԗ̔Rグ邽߁A
//ǂ̐lHCCR𑊎EĂB
//s̕Ő΂邱Ƃ͂Ȃ낤A
//łg𔘂Ăꏊł͂ȂB<k>

//͐s邩A
//邢͔R؂@mI[ghCunꏊU܂ŁA
//ĉɂ݂Ă邵܂B<k>

//xJ̉𑜓xł́A<R ALT="R">E</R>̊܂ł͔ʂłȂB
//<R ALT=""></R>́A̒jׂpȂ̃WK[Ă
//zŁANオ΂}ȂB<k>
  Once he enters the guided skyway, the flow of traffic will carry Kong away from Ng at the cruising speed of 200 kilometers per hour.

  In order to raise the fuel efficiency of vehicles on the skyway, an artificially-generated tailwind is employed to cancel out air resistance. While he is unlikely to be blown off by the wind force alone, an unprotected body can't remain exposed to it forever.

  His only choice will be to stay glued to the roof until his strength gives out, or until the SV automatically seeks a landing point when its fuel gets low.

  The camera's resolution isn't clear enough to make out Kong's face, but Ng can imagine his expression as he helplessly watches the Jaguar vanish into the distance. He is unable to hold back his laughter at the thought.

<clear>
<background src="ev_n01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=3>
//unccqnAnbY@b!!v<k>
"Dumbass! Haha! Stupid motherfucker!!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//̎<R ALT="W"></R><R ALT="`E"></R>EA
//C`ǐxԂ܂œ˔j𑊎A
//<R ALT=""></R>͏߂̂B<k>

//ɒnʂ_DꂽB
//ނ́A̎ɐ_̂悤ȒjOɂāA
//Ă܂܂Ɛi炦B
//ꂾŊтłB<k>
  That monster slew Zhang and Zhu with his own hands and even penetrated Shanghai Cybernetics's security, but Ng has emerged victorious.

  Yes, he has lost his power and prestige, but he faced Death in the form of Kong Taoluo and escaped with his life. That alone is worthy of triumphant acclaim.

<clear>
<background src="ev_WK[01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//xIWK[́A
//UHs̎ԗƕɓׂA炩ɉn߂B<k>
  Having completed its altitude adjustment, the Jaguar smoothly begins to accelerate to match the speed of traffic on the skyway ahead.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//g΂B<R ALT="RE^I[">E</R>h<k>
"See you later, Kong Taoluo."

<BOX TYPE=0>
//҂̗]Tɋ点ȂA
//<R ALT=""></R>͂ꂪ[߂Ƃ΂ĂьJɒӂ߂B<k>
  Feeling invincible after his victory, Ng takes one last farewell look through the rear-mounted camera.

<bgm src="M08a" mode="fadeout" time="5" option="Loop">
<clear>
<background src="B_SV07">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//̃TCY܂ŉVgGB
//ɂ̏<R ALT="R">E</R>͂B<k>

//f̍rꂽ]摜łڂȔn̏ƂԂB
//˕ɂȂтR[g̐A
//܂œ{C̉̔@荂ʒu𕑂ĂB<k>
  The Citroen is already the size of a pea, but he can make out the shape of Kong atop it.

  Even in the fuzzy telephoto image, he can see the brilliant shine of Kong's blade. Whipped by the wind, his black coat billows behind his head like the flames of rage.

<se src="SV_042_SVɗ" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_t21">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//ācc
//Ăǂ悤Ƃ̂H<k>

//n120m݂̍ɂȂAjȂɗオācc
//AǂH<k>
  He's standing...... So what if he's standing?

  He's 120 meters above ground with no tether. What could he possibly do?

<clear>
<background src="B_SV03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//l<R ALT=""></R>́AJ̉pőY[ɂ܂ň΂B
//摜؂ւ̙߁cc
//߂<R ALT="R">E</R>̎ṕARƏĂB<k>
  Ng hastily brings the image to maximum zoom, but in the split second it takes for the image to resolve...... Kong has vanished from view.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uccv<k>
"......"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//⊮SɖlƂȂVgGA
//JXƏԐ̗ɋz܂ĂB<k>
  Now completely unmanned, the abandoned Citroen melts into the flow of inbound traffic.

<bgm src="M13" mode="fadein" time="5" option="Loop">
<clear>
<background src="ev_n06">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uccH@Yccɍs!?v<k>
"Where is he? That son of a bitch...... Where did he go!?"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//<R ALT=""></R>͑TAjbg犪莮̃P[uoƁA
//WK[̃R\[plɐڑB
//ssԗlbgւƐ_o[qWbNCB<k>
  Ng pulls a cable from the TA unit implanted in his temple and plugs it into the Jaguar's console, jacking his brain directly into the citywide network.

<se src="SE_01_PDA01" mode="on" option="single">
//ڂȃf[^nCEFC߂KڂɓssʊǐT[rX
//ANZXAȂIy[^[̃pXR[h𓐂ݏoāA
//ʃj^VXeɐNB<k>
  With only a brief glance at the dazzling glitter of the information highway, he accesses the Traffic Control service, effortlessly cracks an operator's passcode, and breaks into the traffic monitoring system.

<clear>
<se src="SE_01_d}02" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="ev_n05">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//̍lqA
//펖ԂNĂ͈̂ڂŒmꂽB
//<R ALT=""></R>̃ANZX𐳋KIy[^[̂̂ƔFVXéA
//݂₩ɗvɉB<k>

//]ôقڂׂĂgďł̃EBhEJA
//ԐԂׂĂSV̌xJ񂹏W߂ꂽ
//摜CɃuEYB<k>
  From the chaotic state of the data channels, it is instantly clear that a serious crisis is taking place. Recognizing Ng as an official operator, the system responds promptly to his demands.

  He opens as many windows as his brain can handle, using almost his entire visual cortex to browse camera images from every inbound SV all at once.

<se src="SE_^I[ĉ" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_t09">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//ccB
//<R ALT=""></R>̃WK[ƓԐA͂邩𑖂SV̉ɁA
//_̔@eB<k>

//C̍Ƃ͎vȂB
//~r̃VgGэ~肽<R ALT="R">E</R>́A
//<R ALT=""></R>ƓԐsSV̉ւƒn̂B<k>

//̉eAӂɂ܂摜ƎvƁA
//ĕʂ̃JACA
//̗̂悤ɖ|R[g̐߂B<k>
  ......He's there.<K>
  Far behind Ng's Jaguar, on the roof of an outbound SV, is the black shape of Death.

  What madness is this? After diving from the Citroen in the middle of descent, Kong has landed on the roof of an SV in Ng's lane.

  Kong suddenly vanishes from sight again. Moments later, a different camera captures his coat streaming behind him like a raven's wings.

<clear>
<background src="ev_n04">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uccȁccnȁccv<k>
"Wha...... No way......!"

<clear>
<background src="ev_t09">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//Ă邾ł͉}炸A
//SV̉牮ւƔшڂȂA
//ԗ̗삯Ă̂B<k>

//sԗɎ玟ւƒ􂵂čx҂łA
//XbvXg[̂߂Ċ󂵁A
//͂邩ssԗ̉ւƒnB
//̌JԂł肶ƑO֐i݂ȂAƂɍE𔲂Ă
//ǂzԗΖڕq߂ĔшڂB<k>

//㉺EɌĕ閳SV̌QƂƂƂ
//pȂA<R ALT="R">E</R>͒<R ALT=""></R>̃WK[Ƃ̋l߂ĂB<k>

//ƕ|̌ypcc<R ALT=""></R>ƂČmʂ̂ł͂ȂB
//Ax100m܂SV̏ŋgł̂Ɩ΁A΂ɕ낤B
//̈̂悤Ȍiڂ̓ɂĂȂ΁cc<k>

//^̋|Ƃ́A@𗝉邱Ƃł͂ȂB
//𒴂@ɒʂƂAl͂̈Ӗm邱ƂɂȂB<k>
  Not content to simply stand still, Kong bounds from roof to roof, dashing down the river of light.

  After gaining altitude by leaping to higher and higher cars, he waits for a slipstream, then glides to the roof of an SV far below and ahead. By repeating this process, he slowly but surely advances down the lane, at times jumping with perfect timing to faster vehicles as they pass.

  The air is filled with SVs flying above, below, and to the sides - and every one of the swarm is a foothold for Kong, each step bringing him closer and closer to Ng's Jaguar.

  <I>Neijia qinggong</I>...... Even Ng has seen it in action before, but if someone were to claim that it could be used atop SVs racing at high speed 100 meters above ground, he would laugh in their face - that is, if not for the nightmarish scene now unfolding before his eyes.

  True terror comes not when you understand your peril, but when you are faced with a danger <I>beyond</I> your understanding. Only then do men learn the meaning of fear.

<clear>
<background src="ev_n07">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uyg[VJb!!v<k>
"Petrouchka!!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ߖɋ߂BŁA<R ALT=""></R>ٌ͈`̐퓬̌^̂܂܃gN[
//ҋ@Ă퓬KCmChB<k>
  On the verge of hysteria, Ng cries out to the battle gynoid sitting in the Jaguar's trunk, still in its misshapen combat form.

<se src="SV_042_WK[nb`" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_WK[02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//<R ALT="">m</R>^ꂽyg[VJ́A
//JꂽWK[̔oۂA
//̐ߑƃhXLċCɏA
//藈G}ׂԗ̗ĂB<k>

//̌p<R ALT=""></R>̔]ɂ́A̎Zi藐ĂB<k>

//sȑł{̂𔭊鑽r@h[B̌`Ԃ͂yg[VJȂAx̒jɈnȂB
//łȂĂAĊǐǂ̃VXeɊ荞݂܂܂ȂÃWK[̃I[ghCuđS͂Ŕы邱ƂłB<k>
  With new orders, Petrouchka pops the trunk and bursts into the air, spreading the pleats of her dress and her countless segmented legs as she rides the airstream back through the fleet of SVs towards her approaching enemy.

  As he watches her go, Ng's mind sorts furiously through possible courses of action.

  The multilegged drone is most effective when fighting on uneven terrain. Having taken that form, Petrouchka might finish Kong once and for all this time. Even if she fails, Ng could easily use his command over the traffic control system to disengage his Jaguar's autopilot and flee at top speed.

<clear>
<background src="ev_n06">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//邱̏𓦂тāAłׂĂÎH<k>

//ɐg𓊂Ă܂ŒǂĂ߂̎pB
//̋|₦₦<R ALT=""></R>̋𓀂ĂB<k>
  But if he escapes with his life tonight, will that be the end of it?

  The sight of the black-cloaked figure leaping into the void just to pursue him has turned his blood to ice.

<clear>
<background src="ev_t17">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
//͂͂lł͂ȂBO킵cc
//_ld߂邽߂̎҂B<k>
  Kong is no longer a man. He has become something utterly unnatural, a hunter whose sole purpose is to catch and kill his prey.

<clear>
<background src="ev_n06">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//B
//Zǂœq邾̏Ɂcc
//܂ŗaĂ̂H<k>

//킢̋AɔCāAňƂĂǖʂ
//Ƃ̐̂ɏÎB
//A邾ł͑ȂB<k>
  The question is...... does Ng have the nerve to risk his life on a possible chance for victory?

  The time when he could sit in safety while leaving the battle to others has long passed. Running away won't solve anything now.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gEccz͂̎ŎE!!h<k>
(I'll kill him...... I'll kill him with my own hands!!)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//YĂ֖҂ȏՓɗNオB
//<R ALT=""></R>͛̍łAƂ̎ВłȂAH̓d]ƍߎҁwԗŁx<R ALT="EEBV">Đ</R>ɖ߂Ă鎩ɋCB<k>
  As a long-forgotten lust burns hot in his chest, Ng realizes that he is no longer an officer of the Society nor the president of a major corporation. He has returned to being the legendary cyber-criminal, Ng Wing Shing the All-Consuming Poison.

<clear>
<se src="SE_01_d}01" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="ev_n05">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//ǐǂ̃VXeɋ܂܁A<R ALT=""></R>͔ނƓlɃOIĂ
//SIy[^[IDAɔ钆̔ƂׂR[h
//lbgŌB<k>

//ڎwvO͂ɌB
//ĎႫ<R ALT=""></R>gݏグAlbgւƉAIvOB
//͒NɋCt邱ƂȂlbg[NVȂÃEBX⃏N`ÂAȂ̒ŋHJԂŒ̂悤ɁA𑱂ĂB<k>

//lĂŁgԗŁhB
//̂<R ALT=""></R>̓ƂȂ̎^[EvÓAlbgɌ\ꂽf[^UEhiA^Cŉ͂A郋[`ɕ҂ݏoĂ̂B<k>

//̎iŋ쒀邱Ƃ͎s\łA
//҂ł<R ALT=""></R>̈Ï؃R[hɂ̂݉āA
//w肳ꂽVXeOIɔj󂵐sB<k>
  Still jacked into the traffic control system, Ng steals the IDs of all other operators logged in. At the same time, he searches the net for his most secret of secret codes.

  He soon finds the program he's looking for, the AI he created in his youth and let loose on the net. It has wandered the datastream undetected all these years, consuming countless viruses and vaccines.

  Like a deadly insect thrown into a pot to feast upon and absorb the venom of its fellows, Ng's creation continues to grow and evolve even to this day.

  The All-Consuming Poison. This autonomous worm, from which Ng later took his alias, deconstructs and analyzes in realtime every attack and defense program released on the net, continually updating its routines to neutralize them.

  It is essentially impossible to eliminate the worm by existing means. Responding only to Ng's encrypted code, it utterly annihilates whatever system its creator designates.

<se src="SE_01_PDA01" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="ev_n02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//gAvX̏oԂB
//̉gǂcch<k>
(Long time no see, my little familiars. Time to show you've still got it.)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//i炭ĂȂɐgCȂA
//<R ALT=""></R>͔鑠̃CeWFgE[ɍUΏۂwB
//cc<R ALT=""></R>AUOǐVXeɃOȊS[U[B<k>
  Tasting anew the excitement of his youth, Ng sends his treasured intelligent worm its orders - to attack every user logged into the traffic control system, save himself.

<se src="SE_01_d}02" mode="on" option="single">
//scc
//ɃVXẻɁAXƐȂ⋩nB
//_CNgăWbNC̃Iy[^[A
//TCo[_on𒼐ڍUɎNāA
//l܂lƎEl[̉aHƂȂĂB<k>

//̔ߖ͉ƂĕȂĂA
//pXƉďĂ͐MA
//AG[R[hƌx̑卬Af̋ɂ𕨌B<k>

//<R ALT=""></R>͖Ȏg̎ŎElƂƂ͂ȂB
//Aălbg삯߂鈢@̎cɂ́A
//xARƕƂmȂB<k>

//ڂIEl[ɂ́A
//ĐVKOI҂ւ̖ʍUw߂B
//łN̎זȂB
//<R ALT=""></R>͗IXƃVXẽNbLOɒ肵B<k>
  He executes the command, and immediately the network erupts in a chorus of wordless screams. Directly connected to the network, the operators' augmented nervous systems take the full brunt of the attack. One by one, they succumb to the venom of the killer worm.

  Although he can't actually hear them scream, their tortured deaths are illustrated by their input signals, devolving into chaos before vanishing entirely, and by the error messages that spring up like jumbled gravestones.

  Ng has never killed a man with his own hands, but he has listened enraptured to such echoes of agony any number of times.

  Once the worm has completed its slaughter, he orders it to carry out indiscriminate attacks against all who login henceforth. Now certain that he won't be interrupted, he casually begins to crack the system.

<se src="SV_042_SV퓬" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_p05">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//ЎԂɊĎj^Ɉӎ΁A
//ł<R ALT="R">E</R>ƃyg[VJ͌ɓĂB
//vɈڂȂ<R ALT="R">E</R>́A炩ɕB<k>

//ɑr@[hŉғ̃yg[VJɂƂāA
//̑̕sȐ͂܂ɓƒfꂾB<k>

//̐ߑ͓Iɑ삵Ċ󒆂ɂOςA
//шڂSVł́A
//ǂ납ʂʂɂ܂ł݂đƂB
//΂<R ALT="R">E</R>Ƃ͉^i̎RxiiɈႤB<k>
  Glancing briefly at the camera monitor, he sees that Petrouchka has already engaged Kong. Unable to decisively counterattack, Kong is at a clear disadvantage.

  Furthermore, this unstable battlefield is the perfect environment for the multi-legged Petrouchka.

  She can use her segmented limbs as airfoils to change her heading in flight, and can cling to the sides and undercarriages of SVs in addition to their roofs. Kong, on the other hand, has far less freedom of movement.

<clear>
<background src="ev_p03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//̈ɓOWIǐՂȂA
//Xɋ@e̒eۂ𗁂тyg[VJB
//<se src="a_}VKea" mode="on" option="single">
//e͗e͂Ȃ͂SV̎ԑ̂PĔj󂵂ĂB<k>
  As her target continues to fall back, Petrouchka pursues with an unflagging stream of machine gun fire.<se src="a_}VKea" mode="on" option="single"> Stray bullets tear mercilessly into the surrounding SVs, swatting them from the sky.

<clear>
<se src="SV_042_01" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="ev_sve">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//XƐA邢͋󒆂ŔUȂEĂ
//߂ȂʎԗB<k>

//E~MƁAAHx@S҂̖₢킹
//ẾA͂ǐZ^[ɂ
//ĂɉłX^btȂǂȂB
//<R ALT=""></R>͕@ŚoĒʐMՒfAxmۂB<k>
  One after another, innocent vehicles spiral out of control or explode in midair.

  Distress signals and the panicked calls of police officers flood Traffic Control, but there are no staff alive to answer them. Ng laughs with contempt, then cuts the transmissions to secure bandwidth for his purposes.

<clear>
<se src="SE_01_PDA01" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="ev_n01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gcc悵h<k>
(......Looking good.)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ԂȂNbLO͊B
//Ԑ̗UOɂSSṼI[ghCu𓝊
//VXeAۗ<R ALT=""></R>̑OɎNĂB<k>
  His cracking proceeds smoothly, and in moments he has unrestricted access to the system that manages autopilots for all SVs on the outbound skyway.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gý݂ccꂩ炾Fh<k>
(Now then...... Let the fun begin!)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//c񂾗VѐSɂƂꂽ<R ALT=""></R>́A
//܂eSV̎ԊOɐ݂ꂽxXs[J[ɊB<k>
  Overwhelmed by a twisted playfulness, Ng starts by taking control of every SV's outer speakers.

<bgm src="M13" mode="fadeout" time="5" option="Loop">
<clear>
<background src="#000000">
<wipe effect="fade" time="30">

<clear>
<bgm src="M11" mode="fadein" time="5" option="Loop">
<background src="B_SV01">
<wipe effect="fade" time="20">


//킢̒<R ALT="^I["></R>́AXƋɗNłɉłB<k>

//ꂾsȏ󋵉Ő퓬KCmChƑ΂ẮA
//hɂȂ炴𓾂ȂB
//<R ALT=""></R>̃WK[Ƃ͈ɋl߂ꂸA틵Pcc
//ނA<R ALT="^I["></R>ɕsB<k>

//ܔނ<R ALT="W">g</R>SVȏʂɍ{łԂ牺A
//̋@ȅƏgBĂB
//yg[VJ͎ԑ̂񂾔Α𕹑SV
//ꂩɏāA<R ALT="^I["></R>̔MTĂ̂낤B
//ƂA̍߂@͂ł瑤ɉ荞ł邩cc<k>

//̏o𔻂˂ĂƂŁA˔@A
//oʂɂXs[J[z[}悤ș΂n߂B
//ccقǑN<R ALT="EEBV">Đ</R>̉ŁB<k>
  The embattled Taoluo struggles to suppress the anxiety burning in his chest.

  He's at too great a disadvantage against this combat gynoid, having no choice but to focus solely on defense. With Taoluo unable to close the distance to Ng's Jaguar, the battle is at a stalemate - and it'll only get worse for him if it drags on.

  He is currently hanging by his left hand off the side of a Geely van, using its bulk to hide from the gynoid's guns. Petrouchka is probably perched on an SV somewhere on the other side, scanning for his heat signature - or perhaps using her insectine mobility to flank him.

  As Taoluo tries to discern his foe's next move, a storm of maniacal laughter bursts without warning from the van's side-mounted speakers. To his shock, he clearly recognizes it as the voice of Ng Wing Shing.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//wĊF񂨗Ix<k>

//w䗗ɓ܂̂́Awdx<R ALT="RE^I[">E</R>܂ꐢ̋󒆑T[JX!!@Ƃƌ䗗!!x<k>
"Ladies and gentlemen! May I have your attention please!"

"What you are about to witness is a once-in-a-lifetime aerial circus performed by none other then the Lightning Palm, Kong Taoluo! Feast your eyes one and all!"

<BOX TYPE=2>
//uȁccv<k>
"Wha......!?"

<se src="_01_kj" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="B_SV08">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ԂȐɐg\A͂܂Ă<R ALT="W">g</R>˔@A
//悤ȃo[JnB<k>
  Before he can figure out what Ng's words mean, his Geely suddenly spins into an insane barrel roll.

<BOX TYPE=2>
//u!?v<k>
"!?"

<clear>
<background src="B_SV05">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//U藎ƂꂩŒ􂵁AׂSVւƔшڂ<R ALT="^I["></R>B
//֍x͕gbN^SV
//}ē˂łB<k>
  Taoluo barely avoids getting flung off by jumping to a neighboring SV, but this time the truck one lane over turns to ram him at high speed.

<se src="SV_042_02" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="#ffffff">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">
<wait time="1">

<background src="ev_t19">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

//ĂєёނቺŁA˂Ĕシ2SVB<k>
  He springs into the air, and below him the SVs collide in a tremendous explosion.

<BOX TYPE=2>
//g<R ALT=""></R>b!!h<k>
(This is Ng's doing!?)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//qrnbJ[̖{ɗ߂wԗŁxA
//̓ZȂł͂̎iŉ𔍂Ă炵B
//UOɏĂSṼI[ghCû̂ɊA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>ė镠B<k>
  The All-Consuming Poison has returned to his roots as a master hacker and brought those skills to bear, seizing control of the skyway's autopilot system itself to bring Taoluo crashing from the sky.

<se src="SV_042_02" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_sve">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//nXSVA
//ƂƂލrn̂悤ɐU藎ƂɂA
//邢͂ƂɎł悤ƂB
//͂<R ALT="^I["></R>͈uƂ܂邱ƂȂSVSVւƒѓn邵ɂȂB<k>
  Each and every SV upon which he lands tries to shake him like a wild horse its rider, or otherwise rams the nearest object in an attempt to take him with it. Now Taoluo is unable to stand still for a single second, with no choice but to keep jumping from SV to SV.

<clear>
<background src="B_SV06">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//<R ALT=""></R>g̏\͂ł͓łSV̐Ɍ肪̂ƁA
//ނ<R ALT="^I["></R>шڂSV\ł邾
//퓬ZXȂƂA߂Ă̍KB
//n_ɂSV̋@WQĂA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͂ЂƂ܂ȂėĂ낤B<k>
  Taoluo's only salvation is that there is a limit to how many SVs Ng can control simultaneously, and that he lacks the battle sense that would allow him to predict Taoluo's moves. If he could disrupt the next landing point's maneuvers in advance, Taoluo would have plummeted to his death already.

<BOX TYPE=2>
//gȏ́AۂȂcch<k>
(I won't last much longer.)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//f̂ƂB
//<R ALT=""></R>d߂邻̑OɁA
//܂<R ALT=""></R>yg[VJǂɂȂ΁B<k>
  It's time for decisive action. Before he can put an end to Ng, he has to do something about Petrouchka.

<se src="SE_^I[ĉ" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_t09">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//ʂ`Ē􂵂ȂA<R ALT="^I["></R>͎͂Ɏ߂点B
//܎ɑyg[VJ́A
//ቺsSV̉ɂB
//̈꒵тɟӐgŗՂ߂΁cc͂B<k>
  Vaulting high into the air, Taoluo scans the area and quickly finds Petrouchka on the roof of an SV below him. He puts his whole body into his next jump...... and makes it.

<clear>
<background src="B_SV07">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//nSV<R ALT="VGu">嶕</R>ɍ\ÄbԂCB
//ԑ̂<R ALT=""></R>ɂĐ]n߂钼OɁA
//CɃyg[VJ̓߂Ė肩B<k>
  Landing in <I>xie bu</I> atop the SV, he takes a fraction of a second to channel his <I>qi</I>. Then, before Ng can interfere with this vehicle's flight, he leaps towards the space above the gynoid's head.

<se src="_00_wɒ" mode="on" option="single">
<clear>
<background src="ev_t15">
<wipe effect="noize" time="0">

<BOX TYPE=3>
//ubIv<k>
"Ha!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ɎẮA邵ȂB
//]vȒɂ݂^͔̂EтȂA
//߂Ĉꑾ̂ƂɌz𗎂Ƃ΁cc<k>
  Now that it's come to this, he has no choice. He is reluctant to inflict unnecessary pain upon her, but if he can at least take her head in one strike......

<clear>
<background src="B_SV09">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//󒆂<R ALT="^I["></R>ガƂ̐n̑OɁAɂăyg[VJ́Aԓ̂悤ɂē˂oĂB<k>
  But just as Taoluo lashes out from midair, Petrouchka herself thrusts her own wailing head into the path of his blade like a shield.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gccb!!h<k>
(Kuh!!)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ł𙆂˂ǂ납̂̂𗼒fĂ܂B
//<se src="_00_blade΂01" mode="on" option="single">
//SOɐn݂̓`Ayg[VJ̊eԂB<k>

//L@[߂́A
//<R ALT="^I["></R>ɂ͌čUłȂꏊłB
//ő̖hiƂĊp悤A
//퓬`h̓vOĂB<k>

  At this rate, he'll cleave her skull in two, never mind taking her head.<se src="_00_blade΂01" mode="on" option="single"> Hesitation slows his blade, and Petrouchka bats it aside with a sickle.

  The doll's head, with its organic memory, is the one part that Taoluo can't possibly attack. The combat AI has been programmed to wield it as the ultimate defensive measure.

<clear>
<background src="B_SV03">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//yg[VJƓԗ̉ɁAw킹ɒn<R ALT="^I["></R>B
//ǂł悤ƐUl`ɔw܂܁A
//<se src="R" mode="on" option="single">
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͂ɕԗ̉ւƒ􂵂B<k>

  Taoluo lands on the roof with his back to Petrouchka. Without turning to face the doll as it wheels around to attack him, <se src="R" mode="on" option="single">he then leaps to the roof of a car in the next lane.

<se src="a_e\" mode="on" option="single">
//̔w𓦂܂Ƌ@ȅeǔB
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͑RƓɁAd́wxĂB
//˂ꂽEMP̓yg[VJ̃V[hꂽ_oHĂقǂ̏o͂͂ȂȂɂĂSV𐧌s\Ɋׂ点ɂ͏[B<k>
  Petrouchka's guns track him, seeking to prevent his escape, but at the moment of his jump he unleashed the Thunderburst technique of Electromagnetic Discharge. Although the EMP is not powerful enough to fry the gynoid's shielded nerve circuits, it is sufficient to disable the SV beneath her.

<clear>
<background src="B_SV02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//SVsӂɃoXŁA
//yg[VJ͏Ə킳ΐ<R ALT="^I["></R>𓦂B<k>

//ɐl`܂􂵁AėSVƉ^ɂƂ͓ꂽ̂́AVɔшڂ̂͂͂邩ɉw𑖂ԗB
//񂶂Ėɒ<R ALT="^I["></R>Ƃ́A܂啝ɍx󂢂ĂB
//ĂѓĂɂ́A􋖂̗]T邾낤B<k>
  The sudden loss of balance throws off Petrouchka's aim, allowing Taoluo to escape her line of fire.

  The doll immediately makes her own leap to avoid sharing the crashing SV's fate, but her landing point ends up being a vehicle far below. Having completed his own jump safely, Taoluo has finally put a good amount of altitude between them. He should have a brief interval before the gynoid re-engages.

<clear>
<background src="B_SV05">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//ȂKȂƂɁA<R ALT="^I["></R>nAXg}[`SVN[ýAhČJĂB<k>


//炭yg[VJ̎TU炵eɂ̂낤B
//̃pCbg▽ĂBԓňُ̔SV
//ً}̂ʂAǂǐVXe
//<R ALT=""></R>ɏꂽňSuȂ炵B<k>
  And in a stroke of good fortune, the Aston Martin coupe Taoluo jumps to next turns out to have a shattered windshield.

  It must have been struck by one of Petrouchka's stray rounds. The pilot inside is dead. Normally any SV that encounters trouble on the skyway would be forced to make an emergency landing, but it appears that Ng's hijacking of the control system has disabled the safety protocols.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gIh<k>
(This one!)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͑fAꂽh̉Ɋ荞ŃV[gɂ݂B<k>
  Making a snap decision, Taoluo slides in under the broken windshield and hauls himself into the seat.

<clear>
<background src="#000000">
<wipe effect="fade" time="30">

<clear>
<background src="ev_n02">
<wipe effect="fade" time="20">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ɎāAvSVɏ荞<R ALT="R">E</R>̗ĺA
//ނ<R ALT=""></R>̊ĎɂB<k>
  Ng is perfectly aware, of course, that Taoluo has for some unfathomable reason chosen to enter an SV.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gH@OF̊I񂾂̂Hh<k>
(What's this? You picked out your coffin already?)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//UOsׂĂSV<R ALT=""></R>̈ӂ̂܂܂ɂȂĂ鍡A
//Ă̈ɏ荞ނȂǎEsׂRłB
//ɓΐU藎Ƃ邱Ƃ͂ȂɂA
//Ȃ΃r̕ǖʂɂł@Ă΂B<k>
  With every SV on the skyway under Ng's control, entering one of them is nothing less than suicide. He may not be able to shake Taoluo off, but he can just send the Aston Martin straight into wall of a building or something.

<se src="SE_01_PDA01" mode="on" option="single">
//A<R ALT="R">E</R>SṼRg[낤ƂƂŁA
//̃N[y͊ĎVXe̊荞ݐM₷B<k>
  But when he tries to take control of Kong's SV, he finds that the coupe is rejecting all commands from the traffic computer.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gH@cc͂͂h<k>
(Hm? ......Ah-hah!)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//̊ɋyŉƎv΁cc
//<R ALT="R">E</R>͏荞SV̑cnɃveNg͂ĂB<k>

//ǐǂ̗Udĝ̂Ւf<R ALT="C^[Zvg">荞</R>LZ[ł͂ȂAԂƊǐZ^[̊Ԃɖhǂ点BqxȒΏƂB<k>

//ȂΉ̂Ƃ͂ȂB
//hǂjčĂёcD悷邾̂ƂłB
//̓ɒʂ<R ALT=""></R>ɂĂ݂΁A
//您قǋŒɁXRB<k>
  Of all the tricks Kong could pull...... he's put a protect on his SV's controls.

  It's not even an intercept canceller, which would block the guidance signals themselves, but a simple firewall set up between his car and the control center. No better than child's play.

  There's nothing to it. All Ng has to do is break the wall to regain control. Against someone with his experience, Taoluo's last resort is so foolish as to invite pity.

<clear>
<se src="SV_042_@̐U" mode="on" option="single">
<background src="ev_t12">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=2>
//wȂȂ<R ALT="R">E</R>B
//ʃ[͎ĂȂƁx<k>
"Now, now. We can't have that, Kong. The rules of the road were made to be followed."

<BOX TYPE=0>
//IXƃveNgj̃[`TЎԂɁA
//<R ALT=""></R>͎ԓXs[J[ɊĎԓ<R ALT="R">E</R>ɚ}𗁂тB<k>
  As he calmly searches for his anti-protect routines, Ng patches into the Aston Martin's speakers and treats Kong to his mocking laughter.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uԂƖ񂾗lqȂB<R ALT=""></R>v<k>
"You certainly seem to be enjoying yourself, Ng."

<BOX TYPE=0>
//}jAɖ߂@őc<R ALT="R">E</R>́A
//Ȃ̖^mĂm炸AבRƕԎԂB<k>
  Now flying under manual control, Kong responds calmly to Ng's taunts, as though he has no idea the fate that awaits him.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//u͂Mlɂ͎В̈֎qȂ񂩂A
//eXg̕Ăv<k>
"I knew you were better suited to being a terrorist than the president of a company."

<BOX TYPE=2>
//wnnnAႥ˂x<k>

//wO̎o̎ɂASV
//fGȂƂɓ˂܂Ă낤ȂB
//dƂa@Ƃȁx<k>
"Hahaha, you got that right!"

"For my final gift, I think I'll crash that SV somewhere particularly nice, like a power plant or a hospital."

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uccĵH@̖hǂv<k>
"......Can you really break this firewall?"

<BOX TYPE=2>
//w̎qĂȂB
//ccقA̒ʂx<k>
"Piece of cake, my friend......<se src="SE_01_PDA01" mode="on" option="single"> See? Just like this."

<BOX TYPE=0>
//<R ALT="^I["></R>̈鑀csӂɎ艞A͂ɔȂȂB
//ԑ͍̂ĂсA<R ALT=""></R>ׂǐZ^[̃Rg[
//߂̂B<k>
  The control column in Taoluo's hands suddenly goes slack as the SV stops responding to its input. The vehicle is once again under the command of Ng's traffic control system.

<BOX TYPE=2>
//wAcƂ͂邩H@d悧x@<k>
"So any last words, Lightning Palm?"

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uŌɒʐMĂꂽƂӂB<R ALT="EEBV">Đ</R>v<k>
"I have to thank you for calling me at the end, Ng Wing Shing."

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ɍŝɂ͕sȕsGŁA<R ALT="^I["></R>͗RƚoB<k>
  Taoluo chuckles coldly, rather fearless for a man on his way to a fiery end.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//uMl̎ɗl͌͂ȂA
//Ŕߖ͕Ăv<k>
"I may not be able to watch you die, but at least I'll get to hear your screams."

<BOX TYPE=2>
//wccHx<k>
"......Huh?"

<clear>
<background src="ev_n05">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=0>
//<R ALT="R">E</R>̌t𔻂˂<R ALT=""></R>́Ał悤₭ٕςɋCB
//<se src="SE_01_d}01" mode="on" option="single">
//VXeŜɊgӎA
//܂ŕX̐Ĝ悤ȗCݍłB<k>
  At first Ng is confused by Kong's words, but then he finally realizes that something is wrong.<se src="SE_01_d}01" mode="on" option="single"> His consciousness is spread throughout the system, and now a freezing cold is encroaching upon it like tentacles of ice.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gȁcc܂cch<k>
(Wha...... It can't be......!)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//[hǁBȂCȂ̂B
//<R ALT=""></R>Hj͂̃veNgR[hA
//<R ALT=""></R>̑̃VXeōč\zʂ̌`ɉĂB
//܂ɂݐ[̍\̂́cc
//ȂʁAނ̕҂ݏogԗŁĥꂾB<k>
  A fake wall. How could he have missed it? The code that Ng cracked through should have been a protection routine, but now it has reconstituted in a different form within his system. Its structure, so familiar to him...... is none other than that of his own All-Consuming Poison.

<clear>
<background src="ev_n04">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">
<BOX TYPE=3>
//gӁAӂȃbIh<k>
(N-no fucking way!)

<se src="SE_01_PDA01" mode="on" option="single">
<BOX TYPE=0>
//<R ALT=""></R>Ï؃R[hŃ[̒~݂cc
//AȂB
//̃vO<R ALT=""></R>̃IWił͂ȂB
//NO҂ĂB<k>
  Using the encrypted code that only he knows, Ng orders the worm to cease functioning...... but the command is rejected. This isn't Ng's original program. Some third party has has modified it.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gȁccȁcc!!h<k>
"Wha...... Wha...... No!!"

<BOX TYPE=0>
//܂䂪gŖ키Ƃ͎vȂA
//X}[g[gԗŁhɂ_oUB<k>
  Ng never imagined that he himself would taste the wrath of his smart worm, the All-Consuming Poison.

<clear>
<background src="ev_n06">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

//<R ALT=""></R>̓OAEgA
//WK[̃R\[ɌqP[uƂB
//Ar悤ɓȂB
//łɎEl[̐G<R ALT=""></R>̐_oԂ̉[ɂ܂ŐHłB<k>
  He hastily logs out and tries to unplug himself from the Jaguar's console, but his arms are frozen solid. The killer worm's tentacles have already penetrated deep into his neural net.

<clear>
<background src="ev_n07">
<wipe effect="fade" time="7">

<BOX TYPE=3>
//ukccv<k>
"No wa......"

<se src="_022_rdpX" mode="on" option="single">
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//䩑Rƙꂫ̂ƂA
//z₷錃ɂ<R ALT=""></R>̔]Ă͂߂B<k>
  Before he can finish his stunned exclamation, unimaginable pain erupts inside his brain.

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//͂≽̊댯ȂI[ghCuŏqAXg}[`
//ԓŁA<R ALT="^I["></R>͔A
//Xs[J[瞂ߖɎXĂB
//Olڂ̋wcc̎ŒXɎEĂꂽ킯ł͂ȂA
//HƂĂ͏B<k>

//<R ALT=""></R>Ƃ̑ΌɔāÂƂ낤<R ALT=""></R>dĂ
//Γd]̔A܂Ō̌ߎɂȂ낤Ƃ́B<k>

//ĂȂ`̐킢ɔ敾<R ALT="^I["></R>́A
//v킸N[ỹV[gɐ[gaēfB
//ƂΚxԂ肻ɂȂ鋹̋ꂵ́A
//xɓnċgwx̉e낤B
//܂AƎk߂悤cc<k>
  As the Aston Martin cruises along on autopilot, now free of danger, Taoluo listens dispassionately to the screams pouring from the speakers. Although he was not able to kill his third foe with his own hands, he is willing to settle for this end.

  He asked Ran for the worm in the off-chance that he might have to defend against Ng's cyber-attacks, but he certainly did not expect it to deal the finishing blow.

  Taoluo slumps back in the coupe's seat with a sigh, exhausted by a battle different than any he has experienced before. The choking pain that blooms in his chest is no doubt the result of his second consecutive Thunderburst. It would seem that he has sacrificed a fair portion of his life this night.

<se src="_042_~01" mode="on" option="single">
//yՌAN[y̎ԑ̂sgɗhB
//܂Ŏԑ̂̒ʂɉՓ˂悤ȁB<k>
  A light shock runs ominously through the coupe, as though something has struck the bottom of the fuselage.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gcc!!h<k>
(......!!)

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//l<R ALT="^I["></R>ёނcȂ̃V[g^˂jA
//s̐؂`B<k>
  Taoluo leaps aside in the blink of an eye, just before a sharp sickle stabs through the pilot's seat from below.

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//ق̂ƂӎOĂ퓬KCmChA
//yg[VJB
//ޏɑgݍ܂ꂽ퓬AÍAˑRA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>^[QbgƂĔF܂ܒǐՂ𑱂Ă̂B<k>

//V[gтsӑłhꂽ<R ALT="^I["></R>A
//N[y̎ԓɂ͍ŝ낤ȂB
//KAꂽLms[̊J]o`ƂȂ<R ALT="^I["></R>́A
//̂܂܎ԑ̂痎ɂȂB<k>

//͂|͂މɂȂB
//f<R ALT="^I["></R>́Al̔ˉ^
//AXg}[`̑ʂRA͂Ƃ^ւƒ񂾁B<k>
  He had forgotten about the battle gynoid Petrouchka, if only for a moment, but the combat AI inside her never stopped tracking its target.

  Although he barely avoided being skewered from below, there was nowhere to run inside the cramped coupe. Forced to dive out through the cracked canopy, Taoluo finds himself moments away from rolling off into the abyss.

  Realizing instantly that there's no time to look for a target, he reflexively kicks off the Aston Martin's side and into empty air.

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//͂⊮Sɉ^C̒̉ʂĂɁcc
//jV̐]Ƌ|ɕ܂ȂA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͑S_o𓮈đƒnT苁߂B<k>

//L΂肪A
//ǂĂSV̗ʂɈB
//̓r[Aɒ񂾐ĝɐVȊpx̃xNgA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͋̂悤ɉ]Ȃԑ̂̐isւƓ΂B<k>
  Nothing but luck can save him now. Fighting against the despair and terror of falling powerless through the void, Taoluo devotes every fiber of his being to finding his next foothold and landing point.

  An SV catches his outstretched left hand as it darts past overhead. Added to his sideways jump, this new vector starts him spinning like a top as he is sent flying in the same direction as the car.

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//̗̋OɕʂSVB
//n͖łR邱Ƃ͂łB<k>

//͂̂Ȃ<R ALT="^I["></R>́AɐVȒѐTA
//N񐶂̌ypŎSṼAtF_[RA
//_߂nn_ւƑ̋𒵂΂B<k>
  Another SV enters the path of his fall. Even if he can't land on this one, he should be able to use it as a springboard.

  There's no other hope in sight. Staking everything on one last burst of <I>qinggong</I>, Taoluo kicks off the SV's rear fender and propels his body towards his only chance for survival.

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//lɌ߂cc
//͂ЂƂ^̃ReigbN^SVB
//LJ[S̉Ɍ猃˂悤Ȏpŗ<R ALT="^I["></R>́A󂯐g炵󂯐gꂸRei̔ւƓ]ĂB<k>
  The refuge that he spotted in the last moments of his fall turns out to be an enormous SV container truck. Taoluo strikes the trailer's wide roof shoulder first. Unable to dampen the impact, his momentum sends him rolling towards the rear of the vehicle.

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//̂܂ܓ]ɂȂƂA
//ł̂Ƃō肪ˋN͂݁A
//<R ALT="^I["></R>̓Reỉꂷ̏ꏊŐgxB<k>

//㎀Ɉꐶ𓾂̂́AƂl̂̍\́A
//̂ÓAu͂̊Sɑς鋭xĂȂB
//łȂƌmɌ̉^͂𔭊̂́A
//͂ɂđDA𗥂钲̌Ă̂ƂB
//CA͂̎U܂܌Ȇ̋Zɗ΁cc<k>
  He desperately seizes a protrusion in his left hand, bringing himself to a halt at the trailer's edge just before plunging off the roof.

  Although he has managed to escape from the jaws of death, the human body is not actually designed to withstand its own full speed and strength. <I>Neijia</I> practitioners are only able to wield the body's maximum power by shielding their organs with internal energy and mastering their blood flow through breathing.

  If one pushes himself to the limit while his breathing and internal energy are disrupted......

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//GɂȂ낤Ƃ<R ALT="^I["></R>̎삪A
//₨璠ɕꂽ悤ɈÂȂB<k>
  As Taoluo tries to rise to his feet, his vision suddenly goes dark as though a blindfold has been drawn over his eyes.

<BOX TYPE=3>
//gccI舁Ih<k>
(Damn!)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ubNAEgB
//AGɎN퓬@pCbgǏłB
//}ɂ茌ւƕ΂ĈN]nB
//Ɍ̏󋵉<R ALT="^I["></R>gýAɃWFbg@
//@ɕCG̓ISĂ̂B<k>
  This is blackout, the same condition experienced by combat pilots exposed to repeated high-G maneuvers. The sudden acceleration forces blood towards the feet, depriving the brain of oxygen. Indeed the stress placed on Taoluo's body by his desperate use of <I>qinggong</I> rivaled that of a fighter jet in supersonic flight.

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//łɕꂽE̒ŁA镗̗₽A
//<R ALT="^I["></R>ɉ䂪g̈ʒuFB
//x100m삷AfR̓˒[ɂSVԗ̉B
//Ȃǂ낤ȂB<k>
  With the world gone dark around him, the cold wind blowing past is Taoluo's only clue to the position of his body. He is at the edge of an SV racing through the sky, behind him a sheer drop into 100 meters of empty space. There is nowhere left for him to run.

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//Reỉɐk`B
//<R ALT="^I["></R>̔ΑAԑ̂̐ʑɂ́A
//ꂴ֏҂я̂B<k>

//ނ₤܂łȂyg[VJcc
//̉ʂĂɁAɖKꂽ@KÊ̂ƂׂA
//퓬AII肵<R ALT="ނтイ">T</R>̍U|WVB
//ṒAɂƂĂȂߋ̋@eˌ
//悤Ƃ̂낤B<k>
  A tremor runs through the container's roof. Another uninvited passenger has landed at the front of the vehicle, opposite Taoluo.

  It can only be Petrouchka. Having reached the battle's climax, her combat AI has chosen the perfect position to make this chance for victory certain. No doubt she intends to finish this with gunfire at a range too close for him to evade.

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//^SV̐擪ƌŁA
//҂͒ReiԂɋŌB
//̐▽̋nɂāA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͓̋₢Ζʂ̂悤ɐÂB<k>

//̋|Aْ̋B
//܂܂Ɗ̂́A
//̐gN@m邪̂낤B<k>
  The combatants face off at the fore and aft of the large SV, separated by the length of its cargo container. Death is coming to swallow him whole, and yet Taoluo's heart is as calm as the surface of windless lake.

  This fear, this tension - he can feel them with such clarity because he knows the danger that he faces.

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//ڂĂȂm肤̂́cc
//̂ڂ΂ł͂Ȃ炾B<k>

//OȂԂ镗̉B
//ʉE̘`ȂĂ݂΁cc
//ق̔ȍƂ͂A̕FςB<k>
  That he can know this even with his eyes closed...... is because he does not perceive it through his eyes alone.

  Take the sound of the wind whipping his hair. If he raises the <I>wo dao</I> still in his right hand...... that sound changes, though it be only a miniscule difference.

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//ccC̗ɐSv΁Aʂɗ͂KCmChA
//̔wɎՂꂽC̗ꂪB<k>
  Behold...... If he joins his heart to the wind, he can detect the disruptions caused by the gynoid's body blocking the airflow.

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//<R ALT="^I["></R>̎ɁAܑNɓG̈ʒuяオB
//MWPbgɂ܂ƂMCAēSƏɉ̓cc
//@ȅƏ́A܂Ȃ<R ALT="^I["></R>̔ԂɐĂB<k>

//Ƃ莋͂őeł͂ȂB
//ȂΎEŁA̕ss낤B<k>

//̐FɁg݂炸hƂA܂ȂG͂Ɂg݂hB
//̐ɁB
//@̍ɁB
//̖Ɛg̐GɁccĈӂ̖@ɁB
//ÉAXۂ͕fƕςʎpłɁg݂ĥB<k>
  In his pitch-black field of vision, the enemy is revealed to him in vivid detail. He can feel the heat emanating from its cooling jackets, smell the steel and the smoke...... he knows beyond a doubt that her guns are aimed at his head.

  Her bullets are too fast to follow with his eyes. What disadvantage can there be, then, in having merely lost his sight?

  Even if absent from the domain of sight, the enemy is nevertheless there.<K> In the domain of sound.<K> In the domain of smell.<K> In the domains of taste and touch...... and in the domain of the soul.<K>

  The world is <I>there</I>, as it always is, every last particle.

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//߂AOcɏ[삷B
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͐ÂɕGグA̗͂𔲂Ę`\B<k>

//KCmCh̉x閳̐ߑA͂Ɂcc
//ق̋͂ɂłReỉށB
//̉AkA܂ƂȂ<R ALT="^I["></R>ɍB
//@e̔ɔAˌ̂߂̗\B<k>

//Ɍ܂ō܂韆Bꙋ߂͂ȘZ̊ԁA
//Ȃׂ̏uԁcccc
//Ȃcc
//Ȃcc
//肻̉ʂĂ̏̋ncc<k>

//<R ALT="^I["></R>͓ݍ񂾁B傫OւƁB<k>

  With his inner flow restored, Taoluo's <I>dantian</I> fills with energy. He smoothly lifts his knee and readies his <I>wo dao</I>, letting the tension drain from his shoulders.

  The hard roof of the container lets out a tiny, barely perceptible groan under the weight of the gynoid's segmented legs. Captured in their entirety by Taoluo's senses, the delicate vibrations tell him that his enemy is bracing to fire.

  His <I>qi</I> reaches its ultimate peak. Time collapses to an interval of surpassing minuteness, a single breath in the void...... and beyond.<K>
  From void to oblivion......<K>
  From oblivion to peace......<K>
  And from peace to the uttermost purity......<K>

  His stride long and fearless, Taoluo steps into the unknown.

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//łɎ͂Â𔻂xɂ͖߂ƌāA
//M̋Cz͊mɂB
//̘֌ēːiȂA
//Ŕ藈ECIA`̐؂ŕ̂B<k>

//傫ȓ͕KvȂB
//AOAlƑāAECI͘AB<k>
  His sight has already recovered its ability to discern light and dark, enabling him to just make out the flashes of Petrouchka's guns. He dashes towards that faint light, using the point of his blade to deflect the first tiny fragment of bloodlust as it streaks toward him at supersonic speed.

  No wide swings are needed. A second deadly pellet is unleashed, and a third, and a fourth.

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//̎łȂA悤₭<R ALT="^I["></R>͏e𕷂B
//܂ł̎lAǂ特葬炵cc
//ȂƂ𖟑RƈӎȂAȂ<R ALT="^I["></R>́A
//I𗎂Ƃx߂ȂB<k>

//EۂẐׂĂA]<R ALT="^I["></R>͑ĂB
//삪ʂɑłƂɂA
//ɂ͋CtȂقǂɁB<k>
  As he strikes down each bullet, one after the other, Taoluo finally begins to hear the roar of the guns. His first four moves must have broken the sound barrier, he thinks idly to himself while continuing to swat bullets aside.

  So deeply is he attuned to the six domains that form the perceptible world that he does not notice, at first, that his vision has regained its ability to form shapes.

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<BOX TYPE=3>
//gAh<k>
(I've done it)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//ՓV@鉜ZAwZoUDxB
//ɁccZAJB<k>
  Here, at last, he has realized the ultimate technique of Daitian Swordplay - Seamless Sword Scatters Soul in Six Domains.

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//bԐ\̉]xŎTU炵eeA
//ꔭ̗OȂ`̖hɒeꂽƂԂA
//yg[VJ̐퓬AI͂ǂ̂B
//ɂAːi<R ALT="^I["></R>ɓ܂œݍ܂ꂽޏɁA
//ł͂ǂΏpȂB<k>
  Petrouchka's guns spit fire at the rate of over 10 rounds per second. How does her combat AI judge the fact that each and every one of those bullets has been deflected by a single <I>wo dao</I>? Whatever the case, no action can save her now, for Taoluo's charge has already taken him inside her range.

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//nMA˔΂ꂽl`̎񂪍XƒɒԁB
//̔̂悤r̃ulbg̓A<R ALT="^I["></R>͕Ԃ̕ŗߎB<k>

//߂`ƓႢɁAJöꌂB<k>
  A flash of light and the doll's head sails high into the air, her hair streaming behind her like a comet's tail. With his return stroke, Taoluo catches the blonde tresses around the flat of his blade.

  Pulling his sword back, he simultaneously unleashes a palm strike with his left hand.

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//Ƃǂ߂ɑł܂ꂽwdx́A
//yg[VJ̃{fBƂ𓝂ׂ퓬AISj󂵁cc
//Aȋɂ̌ƂłɕẮA
//ߒɂȐ⋩ƂȂB<k>
  The decisive blow of his Lightning Palm devastates Petrouchka and the combat AI controlling her. No tortured scream erupts from her head, however, for it has already been separated from the body's pain.

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//e΂ꂽyg[VJ̎c[A
//ቺ̒n\ւƗĂlA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͎߂܂܌B
//΂Ă͂́Aœ_⋗܂ŉ񕜂ĂB<k>

//Eɂ́Aƕςʘ`B
//̈꓁A
//Nǂ߂ߊ̔錕̂ɂƂ́cc
//kƂvȂB<k>

//ウꂵ݁A]ɚLقǂɉs̍ႦB
//ťOƂ͂܂ɂꂽɁA
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͉m炸΂R炵B<k>
  With the retrieved head dangling from his hand, Taoluo watches as the doll goes flying over the edge and plummets to the earth below. His eyes have already recovered their focus and depth perception.

  In his right hand is the familiar <I>wo dao</I>. Just now, he used this blade to accomplish the secret technique he had sought zealously for years...... and yet it seems like a poor joke.

  The agony and despair eating at his soul have only served to sharpen his skill. Finding reality nothing like his master's teachings, Taoluo cannot suppress a cynical smile.

<BOX TYPE=2>
//gꂪ̗Ƃ̂Ȃcc
//Ă̏CƂ͉̂Hh<k>
(If this is the true way of the sword...... then what were my years of training for?)

<BOX TYPE=0>
//tȂ炫Ǝז@Ɣl邾낤B
//̌AǑA͌ȎgH炢S̋ZƁB<k>

//AłB
//͐laAB
//₪āA҂܂łт̂́ccނ듹ł͂ȂB<k>

//c񂾏΂݂ɓ\܂܁A
//<R ALT="^I["></R>͊ቺщ߂X̓𒭂߂ĂB<k>
  His master would surely decry this as profane. The sword that burns with hate and obsession is the demon's sword, he would say, fated to consume even its wielder.

  So be it.<K>
  The sword is a weapon, a tool forged to take lives. He who takes up the sword must himself one day perish...... what could be more reasonable?

  Taoluo watches the lights of the city flow beneath him, still smiling that twisted smile.

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