TL/ED: Hamsterminator

Jin hadn't relied solely on R&D's support.

Im t⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠he half-day of break.

Jin, who endured the pain alone.

And now.

A man wreathed in purple lightning charged forward.

His tightly clenched fist struck into Taha’s abdomen.

Centered around the point of impact, Taha’s body curled and lifted off the ground.

The sight of a massive body weighing over 100kg defying gravity looked like a scene straight out of a scripted wrestling match.

Bang!

Just as it seemed Taha’s body would be flung far away, it suddenly came to a halt in midair.

It was thanks to the hammer handle gripped in his right arm.

The massive weapon, weighing several hundred kilograms, acted as a support, and in the next moment, the guy kicked upward.

A knee aimed at Jin’s chin was blocked by his elbow.

Immediately, Jin stepped in close and slammed his other fist into Taha’s face with a loud ‘crack’.

This time, even Taha couldn’t hold out by sheer force.

His right arm let go of the handle, and his body flew backward.

Jin pursued him.

With the momentum of his charge, he kicked the fallen Taha.

Taha raised both arms in parallel to block the incoming shin, but the force behind it dragged him across the ground on his back.

Jin’s pursuit continued. While Taha was digging his nails into the ground to slow down, Jin mounted him and struck down with his fists.

Fists wrapped in thunder pounded down on Taha like lightning strikes.

His strangely tough body trembled repeatedly until finally blood splattered. Thick, dark red liquid, abnormal blood, dried instantly upon contact with the tempest. It hardened into black crusts and scattered in all directions.

In this moment, Jin was the storm itself, unleashing lightning.

A storm with will, crushing its enemy.

That violent intent.

The mana he had saved up until the climax burst forth in explosive force.

Accompanied by a roar like thunder.

“Uwaaaaa--!!”

Taha’s body began to sink deep into the cracking concrete.

Jin didn’t stop.

As if determined to turn his opponent into mush, he rained down punches without rest.

Evaporating blood, endlessly erupting sounds of impact.

Then, something burst through the barrage of fists and slammed dully into Jin’s chest.

The arc was small, but the power within it was enormous, Jin’s body shook.

At the same time, his thighs were forced apart. The opponent’s upper body, which he had been holding tightly, began to swell.

Then a pure white pillar struck Jin’s jaw as his stance faltered.

A shock that rattled his entire skull. His brain, shaken back and forth inside the skull, blew a fuse.

Jin’s pupils vanished above his eyelids for a moment, then instantly snapped back.

It was a tremendous recovery, overcoming a concussion, but in that brief moment, the follow-up strike was already flying toward his face.

Slash!

When a sharp sound tore through the air, Jin was raising his head at a distance of 5m away.

“Ah, shit...”

A mutter full of annoyance, followed by blood pouring down from his lower jaw.

There was so much that not only did it soak his chest red, it left vivid red blotches on the floor as well.

Then, Taha rose to his feet.

“......”

Naturally, Jin’s gaze rose upward.

Before he knew it, their eye level had grown more than a hand’s width apart.

The massive upper body, not clad in a single thread, was now covered in pure white fur. Above that loomed the face of a white lion with a full mane.

A Beastkin who had undergone Shedding, the white beast that had plunged Mute Town into chaos finally revealed his true form.

Shit.

Jin furrowed his brow deeply.

He’d planned to finish it before the transformation, but things hadn’t gone as planned.

He thought he could get away with an easy win. Fuck.

Just as a sigh was about to escape him.

“What’s your relationship with the Resistance?”

At the sudden question, Jin tilted his head.

He thought the guy would charge in without a word, but no?

He was pressing a hand over his jaw, trying to stop the bleeding from where a chunk of flesh had been torn off. Thinking this was a chance to buy time, Jin opened his mouth.

“We don’t have much of a relationship.”

“But you came all the way here?”

“What, is that not allowed?”

Then Taha slowly shook his head.

“No, on the contrary, this is perfect.”

The guy’s blue eyes gleamed.

“Join us. You have what it takes.”

“...Hm?”

At the sudden recruitment offer, Jin narrowed his eyes.

“You want me to join TB? Just like that?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not a Beastkin, though?”

“That doesn’t matter. You, of all people, could more than withstand the Beast Serum.”

Ah, so that’s what this is about?

Jin had an utterly dumbfounded expression.

In the corner of his vision, a tiny window floated up like a scrolling screen.

[A branching path! A new choice has been added.]

[You can betray the Resistance and join forces with Taha.]

[You have gained the opportunity to become a Beastkin.]

[Your decision could bring change to the world.]

[Do you accept?]

As the messages appeared clearly and then gradually faded away, Jin’s eyebrows twitched.

Before he knew it, his mouth opened.

“Are you insane? Beastkin, seriously?”

It was a muttered remark aimed at both the status window and Taha.

Beastkin? Really?

I’m human, a human being.

I won’t even allow a tiny chipset to be inserted into my body, and now I’m supposed to be okay with my head turning into that of an animal?

No way, not even if I’m dying.

And besides, it seems like the form of Beastkin you get differs from person to person. What if I end up with some trash animal?

An ostrich Beastkin, a donkey Beastkin, a hippo Beastkin, a camel Beastkin.

Just thinking about it is horrifying.

What if it turns out to be an orangutan or a chimpanzee?

That’s literally voluntary devolution.

Humans are the kings of primates, aren’t they?

Jin gave a shudder through his shoulders.

If there ever came a day where he saw his own beast-head in the mirror.

He might just lose the will to live on the spot.

Anyway, absolutely no way.

And Beastkin supposedly sometimes get fits of madness, right? I’m already having a hard enough time, am I crazy?

"Rejected!"

At Jin’s firm shout, Taha bared his gums in a sneer.

“...You’re rejecting the chance to become a descendant of a great ancient race?”

“You were human once too, weren’t you? Aren’t you even ashamed when you think of your parents? Just because you became a Beastkin doesn’t mean you should forget your roots. Bastard.”

As Jin spoke, he removed his hand from his jaw.

Since the bleeding had stopped, he naturally pointed at Taha with his fingertips, adding in a cold voice.

“And I don’t sit at the same table as little tyrant wannabes like you.”

Called out so directly, Taha slowly opened his mouth.

“If your wish is to die while remaining inferior, then I’ll grant it.”

Jin gave no reply.

What more conversation was needed with a lunatic obsessed with Beastkin supremacy?

As long as the bleeding had stopped, that was enough.

With his fighting spirit renewed, he took up a stance o⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠nce more.

Bzzzzzt!!

Once again, Tempest wrapped around his body.

As output increased, the intensified bioelectricity heightened his physical response speed.

A power containing Zahad’s unfulfilled wish, to stretch an instant into eternity.

And so, in Jin’s slowly flowing field of vision.

The only thing moving at normal speed was the white lion striding forward and letting out a roar.

“Kuhohohohng-!!”

As if he had been waiting for it, Jin kicked hard off the ground.

In the next moment.

Lightning descended to earth and the beast of war collided.

---

“Get...! ...up... Albus... get up!”

A buzzing sound pierced his ears.

When he barely opened his eyes, the ground swayed from side to side.

His vision shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.

“Urgh...”

With severe dizziness, Albus clenched his eyes shut, but then a fragmented voice pierced his ears again.

“Wake... up! ...damn it!”

Then, a rough hand grabbed his arm and pulled.

Feeling his body shoot up from where it had been buried in the ground, his legs flailed unconsciously until they managed to find footing. Half-forced to his feet, Albus slowly lifted his eyelids.

What he saw was a bearded man, half of whose face was covered in blood.

“...Den?”

“Move! Hurry!”

As the sharp shout finally pierced through his ringing ears.

Thunk-, roll.

A grenade, safety pin removed, rolled to a stop at their feet.

At the same time, Albus’s body was flung sideways.

It wasn’t of his own volition.

Den had kicked him hard in the chest.

In the midst of chaos, with no time to think, Albus clamped his ears and nose shut with his hands.

Naturally, he also closed his eyes and mouth.

It had to be, because what had rolled in underfoot was a high-explosive grenade designed to kill with sheer blast pressure.

In the next moment, with a deafening explosion, Albus’s body was flung backward and slammed into a wall on his back.

“...Guh!”

A cry burst from him as if the air in his lungs had been vaporized by the shock.

There were footsteps approaching him as he lay face-down on the floor, flailing helplessly.

“He’s down!”

“Target neutralized!”

“Finish him off!”

At that, Albus struck his left chest with a trembling hand.

As combat stimulant was injected through his veins from within the unseen suit, his pupils suddenly dilated, and the body that had felt on the verge of breaking apart instantly forgot pain.

Click.

Still lying on the ground, Albus twisted his body around and pulled the trigger of his SMG.

TB-side mercenaries collapsed in droves.

Caught off guard by the sudden retaliation from someone they had assumed was incapacitated, they didn’t even have time to scream before their faces slammed into the floor.

Of course, Albus didn’t come out unscathed. The rounds fired for a finishing blow struck his faceguard, bulletproof vest, and ankle.

But he didn’t feel pain, only urgency, as he forced himself to his feet.

He limped toward Den, who was lying motionless.

The bearded man lay still, blood streaming from his ears and nose.

He had clearly taken the full brunt of the blast pressure.

“Den? Den!”

Shaking and calling out didn’t earn a response. Albus slammed his fist into Den’s left chest, then dragged him into the nearest room and shut the door.

That was all he could do for now.

With help from the exo-skeleton, Albus started walking again.

Gripping the railing, he staggered up the stairs, and a thought briefly flickered through his mind.

How did I end up here?

Because of a sense of duty to the Resistance?

To take down a rising warlord faction that treated human lives like trash?

For the comrades who died first?

He didn’t know.

And honestly, it didn’t seem that important anymore.

Albus cleared his head of those distractions.

Then, mechanically, he moved one foot in front of the other.

Just like the others before him had done.

12F.

Rounding the landing, he reached the next floor, and his eyes took in the brutal battle unfolding.

It was a many-on-one fight.

And of course, that "one" was Fenrir.

Blocking the path to the 13th floor, he swung a massive sword, and the ground beneath him was littered with dismembered corpses. Among them were even three officers with beast heads.

Just how many troops had he been holding off alone?

They must have been sending reinforcements again and again.

Rather than calculating that, Albus raised his Kill Beast.

Then began the charge-up.

Uuuuuung-

10, 20, 30, 40...

The number displayed on the tiny screen below the sight began to rise.

80, 90...

And 100.

His index finger pulled the trigger with all its strength.

Bang─!!

The barrel kicked upward, and the fired penetrating round tore through the right temple of a Beastkin who had his claws buried in Fenrir’s side, exiting clean through the other side.

“Wha⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠t?!”

One of the officers pressing Fenrir suddenly flinched and turned his head at the unexpected death of his comrade.

And that was his last mistake.

Shhk!

His head was sliced off for turning his eyes away in battle. Blood spurted from the severed edge as the body dropped to its knees.

Soon after, the fallen deer head rocked back and forth on the ground like a wobbling toy.

“Grooooar!!”

Now only one remained, the bear Beastkin charged at Fenrir with his massive bulk.

Albus, watching the scene, raised his gun again, staggering all the while.

“Faust! Grab it!”

Fenrir, now in close combat, roared in broken bursts.

Albus spotted the heavy weapon lying on the floor.

He instinctively dashed over and scooped up the rocket launcher.

Its brutal weight nearly made him stumble, but thanks to the exo-skeleton, he barely managed to hold on.

Dodging the fierce fight between the two Beastkin, Albus began moving toward the final floor.

His abdominal wound must have reopened, his lower stomach felt wet.

But he ignored it.

Extreme adrenaline and the combat stimulant flowing through his veins were pushing his body past its limits.

Before he knew it, 13F.

“Ah...”

Albus’s jaw dropped.

He had fought through a living hell to make it this far, but the battle before his eyes now surpassed it all.

Lightning flashed, and a massive iron hammer tore through the air.

Fists collided, and the resulting shockwave shattered every window.

Immediately after, the two figures retreated in opposite directions.

For a moment, Albus clenched his fists at the sight of bloodied Taha.

Then his eyes trembled as he caught sight of Jin, whose right arm was twisted at a grotesque angle.

Jin, panting heavily, turned his head and looked this way.

Their eyes met.

It was only for a brief moment.

But Albus clearly read the shape of Jin’s mouth.

Shoot there.

His pointing finger indicated beyond the shattered window, but Albus didn’t question it.

He simply trusted Jin and lifted the Faust α onto his shoulder.

His right leg, riddled with bullets, couldn’t move, so he was forced into a kneeling firing position.

At the same time, Jin twisted his broken arm back into place with a loud crack, then sprinted forward, shattering the floor beneath him with full force. Just as the hammerhead flew in dangerously close, he narrowly dodged and grabbed Taha in a tight embrace.

And then- f⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠lash!

The moment they vanished from the spot.

BOOOOM!!!

Albus fired the round.

Even though no signal had been exchanged, the timing was flawless.

Whoooosh!!

The projectile passed through the broken window.

At that very moment.

Jin and Taha appeared together at the designated location.

“...You bastard!”

Holding the struggling Beastkin with all his might, Jin spoke, eyes bloodshot.

“Let’s see who’s tougher.”

And t⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠hen a massive explosion erupted.