MTLNOVEL Chapter 98: Miscalculation, It Has Blink
Under the pitch-black night sky, Shu and the dual-wielding Honkai soldier faced each other.
He didn't know what the soldier was thinking, but Shu felt pretty good.
Gun in hand, power coursing through him, no burdens or worries—though also no backup…
This feeling of control, of everything depending on his choices, was quite satisfying.
Stretching, Shu began to recall information about the soldier. While the reliability of this intel had plummeted in Nagazora City—about as trustworthy as Otto's words—it still held some value.
Uh… so, is there any other intel?
Shu suddenly realized the only information he could reference was this garbage.
He suspected Otto was holding back, but his gut told him Otto didn't have anything useful either. Trusting himself was a better bet.
"Sigh…" With a sigh, Shu raised his gun, aiming at the soldier who seemed rooted in place.
It was said the soldier could dodge bullets, but how exactly, Shu was curious.
Should I… test it with a shot?
Could he still escape safely after firing? Though confident, Shu preferred the "effortless escape" approach.
Sensible people didn't rush into life-or-death situations!
So, how do I get out of here…?
Shu took a step back; the soldier took a step forward. He retreated another step; the soldier advanced again.
After a pause, Shu sidestepped like a crab, a considerable distance to the left, then focused intently on the soldier.
The soldier remained still, only its head turning to follow Shu's movement.
Well, well… looks like its neck is quite flexible.
A preliminary plan formed in Shu's mind.
The soldier maintained a consistent distance. One step back for every step forward, the gap between them just right.
If this continued, Shu could slowly edge towards a nearby corner and then bolt.
The question was whether the soldier would speed up once it lost sight of him. If it was as fast as a Chariot-class Honkai beast, things would get tricky.
Shu's gaze fell on the pistol in his hand, and he fell silent.
…If it can dodge bullets, its speed probably isn't slow…
Shu winced, silently holstering the weapon. He realized the safety was still on, ever since Bronya handed it to him. If the soldier had charged just now, he'd probably be…
A sudden shiver ran down Shu's spine, a chilling sensation at his neck.
Without a moment's hesitation, he ducked, crouching low to the ground.
Only then did he catch a flash of white in his peripheral vision, a cold glint streaking past from above.
A sharp crack echoed, and Shu's face paled. He threw himself forward without a shred of dignity.
A second flash erupted. Shu rolled twice, springing to his feet, his eyes locked on the soldier now only ten paces away.
One of the soldier's swords was still mid-swing, the other half-buried in the concrete, being slowly withdrawn.
Shu stared at the soldier, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
If he hadn't reacted that split second, he'd likely be headless. Similarly, if he hadn't lunged forward, he'd be pinned to the ground.
For a terrifying moment, Shu had seen both gruesome scenarios play out.
Blood spurting, his headless body collapsing, the soldier calmly flicking blood from its blades before turning towards the station.
Shu grunted. From that moment on, his eyes never left the soldier.
Relying on muscle memory, he expertly flicked off the safety, chambered a round, and aimed.
The soldier wasn't maintaining distance; it was actively confronting him. The tension was so high that the slightest lapse in focus would result in a swift, deadly attack.
And that's precisely what had happened when Shu focused on his gun.
Look away for a second, and it's in your face with a blade! You're not a Honkai soldier, you're a teleporting peanut monster from the SCP Foundation!
Shu cursed internally, the chill at his neck lingering, intensifying his focus. Every fiber of his being was attuned to the soldier's movements.
And… was it his imagination, or had that strange power within him diminished?
The soldier settled into a stance. This time, it didn't return to its passive confrontation, but instead, began walking towards Shu, as casually as if strolling down the street.
Shu's eyes narrowed.
Was the standoff over? Or had it simply entered a new phase?
He didn't have time to think. The distance was only ten paces. Any closer, and he wouldn't be able to react!
Shu retreated, no longer hesitating. He fired at the soldier, now seven paces away.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Three shots—a sign of respect.
Beyond seven paces, guns were fast. Within seven paces, they were fast and accurate!
Or so Shu thought. The next instant, the soldier flickered, blurring into a streak of white as it shifted sideways.
The movement barely disrupted its advance. It remained on its original path, continuing its casual approach.
Retreating, Shu's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
Hacks! Cheating! Hacker!
That's how you dodge bullets?! With that kind of speed, why even bother with a standoff?! Just blitz and stab!
Shu's retreat accelerated, his eyes glued to the soldier, terrified that a single blink would result in a fatal stab.
But… if it's choosing to confront, that speed can't be sustainable… right?
Gritting his teeth, Shu aimed again. "I don't believe you can dodge every bullet!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Another three shots. This time, he deliberately spaced them out, anticipating the soldier's ability to dodge multiple shots at once.
Then, Shu watched as the soldier flickered three times, like a glitching video game character.
Its path remained unchanged.
Shu: "…"
Fine, you win. You're invincible.