Han Xiao changed into the guardâs uniform before leaving Lin Wei Xianâs laboratory.
It was likely that people knew he had been taken to Lin Wei Xian, so a disguise was necessary. There were usually four people in the base that he had to watch out for â Hila, No. 1, Lin Wei Xian, and Baltar. As Hila was not in, No. 1 had left, and Lin Wei Xian was a non-factor now, Han Xiaoâs escape would proceed smoothly as long as he did not encounter Baltar.
The main gate to the base was a reinforced steel door almost one metre thick. Even if Han Xiao used all the explosives in the armory, it would still not be enough to blast it open. The only way to escape would be through unlocking it, and only three people possessed the security pa.s.s to do so. One of them was none other than Lin Wei Xian, and, naturally, Han Xiao had already acquired his pa.s.s.
However, as the main gate was heavily manned, and everyone knew exactly who possessed a pa.s.s, escaping was not that straightforward.
If Han Xiao so much as appeared at the main gate, he would be surrounded by heavy fire in mere seconds. One bullet would do only 10 damage to him, but add them all up and he would be lucky to last for even a second.
Mm, not a bad way to go, he thought, but I think Iâll come up with a better idea.
Han Xiaoâs plan was to cripple their communications in order to gain a few hours of time. This was the safest option. Currently, he was heading back to the tuning room to retrieve the mecha arm first.
As the tuning room came into sight, Han Xiao was suddenly pushed from the side. To his horror, the person who had pushed him was none other than Baltar.
Why am I so unluckyâ˝ he groaned inwardly.
âWhich squad are you from?â questioned Baltar. âWhy have I never seen you before?â
Han Xiao lowered his head and pushed his cap down.
âIâm new here. Iâm from squad B.â
âWhy was I not informed of new guards? Hold on, your voice sounds familiar. Raise your head and show me your face.â
Han Xiao noticed that Baltar was slowly reaching for his handgun. Three guards nearby had also sensed that something was amiss.
What should I do now?
If Han Xiao were exposed now, Baltar would definitely send guards to look for Lin Wei Xian. That would be disastrous.
âThis is a problem⌠I didnât want to have to resort to plan BâŚâ muttered Han Xiao.
âWhat did you say?â
Suddenly, Han Xiao raised his head to reveal his face to Baltar.
âIâve always wanted to tell you this: go see a shrink, psycho!â
âZeroâ˝â
Han Xiao took advantage of his confusion and thrust his knife into Baltarâs chest.
Unfortunately, Baltar dodged on reflex, and Han Xiaoâs knife only grazed his chin.
âFire!â
The three guards hastily reached out to draw their guns. Unfortunately, they were too close to Han Xiao, and Han Xiao managed to close in on them before they could fire. He sent a fist smas.h.i.+ng into the nearest guardâs face.
-48!
The punch sent the guard flying backwards into his comrades.
Han Xiao gritted his teeth as he turned around to make a dash for the tuning room.
Baltarâs face darkened as he felt his chin. As he gave chase, he shouted into the transmitter on his collar, âAll agents, listen up! Come to the tuning room on the second floor at once! Test subject Zero has gone rogue!â
All the guards who heard the news were stunned.
âZero? Gone rogue? Are you sureâ˝â
âWasnât he brainwashed?â
âIs this a drill?â
âAre you dumb? Didnât you hear the gunshotsâ˝â
Han Xiao became strangely calm under the a.s.sault of Baltarâs gunfire. As his brain began to process all the variables and data in his surroundings, the world before him astonis.h.i.+ngly changed. Han Xiaoâs surroundings began to be reduced to 3D lines, as though his mind were filtering out all the clutter â making everything look clear to him. Somehow, he had entered a state of mind in which all his brainâs functions were heightened.
â2.0 seconds to reach the tuning room. 3.7 seconds for Baltar to catch up. The three guards will not pose any threat for another 4.2 seconds. Roughly 30.0 seconds before reinforcements arriveâŚâ
Han Xiao had been through countless battles before. Although they were all from his time in the game, it was still experience. And it was precisely experience that enabled him to tap into this special state.
He started to run in an irregular pattern to dodge the bullets.
âInteresting. The toy wants to resist,â mused a frenzied Baltar. âYou asked for it!â
Baltar was an elite agent with over 20 years of experience. No matter how terrifying Han Xiaoâs learning capability was, he had essentially trained for only 6 months. To him, the outcome was already decided.
As soon as Han Xiao neared the tuning room, he jumped inside and locked the door.
Baltar burst out in maniacal laughter as he paused to reload his gun.
âHiding in a room? You have sealed your fate!â
Suddenly, the door was blasted into smithereens by what appeared to be a gigantic mecha arm that appeared out of nowhere. It followed through to smash into Baltarâs chest.
-95!
Baltar was sent flying into the wall. 4 or 5 of his ribs were broken by the force of the impact. As he got up, he coughed a mouthful of blood and looked at the newly emerged Han Xiao in disbelief.
âWhat the h.e.l.l is thatâ˝â Baltar stared in shock at the gigantic mecha arm that was enshrouded by the black smoke it was pumping out.
The three guards raised their guns to fire, but Han Xiao was a step quicker. With his right hand, he drew his enhanced 73-WASP and fired two consecutive shots.
With the accuracy bonus provided from his skills and DEX, Han Xiaoâs current shooting abilities were extremely frightening. Each bullet hit either guard squarely in the throat.
The third guard opened fire, but Han Xiao simply raised the mecha arm.
Clank!
The bullet deflected.
_____________________
Lightweight Mechanical Arm (Left) has lost 8 durability.
The guard collapsed to his knees with an expression of disbelief.
The corridor quietened down. Han Xiao and Baltar faced each other off.
âThe nearest guard will take another thirty seconds to arrive,â calculated Han Xiao.
Han Xiao flexed his mecha arm tauntingly.
âI really feel like crus.h.i.+ng your throat with my bare hands to thank you for all four hundred and twenty cuts.â
Baltor furiously spat out some blood and laughed coldly as he unsheathed a dagger that had been concealed within his boots.
âThat was quite a punch, but donât think that you can defeat me with a piece of junk like that!â
âWeâll see.â
âI can kill you ten times in thirty seconds!â howled Baltar as he suddenly pounced forward.
Han Xiao charged forward to meet him.
Sparks flew as Baltarâs knife clashed with Han Xiaoâs mecha arm.
In the moment that they pa.s.sed each other, Baltar bent down and aimed a kick at Han Xiaoâs knee with his foot. To trip the enemy from behind was an extremely effective tactic that Han Xiao had learnt from Hila, and, unfortunately for Baltar, Han Xiao had antic.i.p.ated the move. Seemingly with superhuman reflexes, Han Xiao swung the entire mecha arm back to smash into Baltarâs foot.
Baltarâs foot was fractured by the blow. He crumpled to the gruond.
-87!
The Mechanical Arm had a power level of 38. Added onto Han Xiaoâs own power level, the might of blow was already at the level of an E-grade Superhuman. It had essentially doubled Han Xiaoâs damage.
Han Xiao estimated Baltar to have a max HP of 300. Coupled with that destructive blow from earlier on, Han Xiao knew that he was probably at half health already.
Baltar was indeed extremely weakened. However, he endured the pain and continued to attack. Unfortunately, his actions had grown dull, and Han Xiao easily caught his arm.
âImpossible⌠How could I⌠YouâŚâ
Baltar howled indignantly as he struggled to break free from the grip of the mecha arm.
Suddenly, the world before him darkened as Han Xiao wrapped the mecha arm around his head and slammed him into the wall.
Splat!
Baltar was no more.
Han Xiao dragged the already unrecognizable Baltar against the wall.
âSorry, I lied. I didnât crush your throat. Why donât you get up so I can do it properly?â
Baltar did not reply, not that he could.
_____________________
You have killed Baltar, Vice-commander of the Valkyrie Lab, gaining 1,500 experience!