OD-8 Infiltration Battle

Rangers's map stops here.

It's all up to us now.

Who knew this cave would be so big?

It's like the ground beneath the town is completely hollow.

Are the explosives okay?

We've got the strongest batch from the safehouse here.

I hope Lord's plan works.

I'm afraid it won't be that simple. Look there...

...I hope it's not what I think it is...

Gaa...

That's... a person?

Gaa...

Whatever it is, it's going to die and that's enough.

I won't be surprised at whatever *profanity* showing up now...

Keep moving! Don't get caught up in a fight with them. We don't have time to waste in here!

Understood.

...Why would Long Spring have a facility like this underneath it?

Cohen... Where are we?

I knew it! *profanity*, I knew it!

So this is where most of the lab ended up.

Now that I think about it, we were too careless.

We've lived in this town for so long and we had no idea at all.

It's that psycho behind all this.

What's that smell...?

What else could it be? That's the smell of death.

......

Stay frosty. And close.

What are these?

Cages? So many?

All corpses... people and beasts together...

This is the work of Lev Klitschko, a man both mad and cruel beyond imagination. I never should've tried to take him alive. He should have a bullet in his head.

Your typical madman wouldn't do something this awful.

Wait.

...There's someone alive in that cage.

Heh.

Look who's here?

......

It's that Drudge character.

I'd recognize the *profanity* anywhere.

Oh, it's you. The mercenaries.

I'm so glad to see you.

I know we've had our differences in the past... but let's set them aside for now.

I have a feeling you're looking for that scientist... and I know where he is.

We've got a common enemy. And the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

So brazen I'm sick to my stomach.

That Feline over there, I know you.

Your skills are pretty easily recognizable. And one can hear a lot in the mercenary market in Columbia.

You are a killer, aren't you?

......

Rhodes Island hired you, meaning even they have quite some dirty work to do.

Compared to others, you must know better how to weigh up the pros and cons. Let's have a talk, shall we?

Shut up. Or I can help you with that.

Shame. I thought people like you would be more realistic.

Open the cage.

What...?

Don't worry about it. Just open the cage.

......

Got it.

Good call. We all know the score.

Yeah. I sure do.

Hold on, what are you doing?

Agh!!!

Hey! You crazy...

You...

Help me......please......

Please...

......

Please... stop.

Hah. You can still talk. Guess I'm not done.

And this one's for Dr. Miarow.

Okay, okay, he's had enough.

Phew...

You went a little overboard there.

What... you feel bad for him?

Man, you almost killed him.

Totally rearranged his face.

Save your strength. We've still got work to do.

You're right.

Pfft.

What happened?

Nothing. I'm just feeling a lot more relaxed.

You know what? Me too.

If he's locked up in here, he must be part of Lev's plan.

I'm not surprised.

I don't see anyone here...

Might be an ambush ahead. Keep cautious.

Well well well, look who it is. More visitors to my laboratory?

It's been a while, my friends from Team Rainbow.

You're just in time.

No... you always come at precisely the right time.

Tch.

Don't bother. It's bulletproof glass.

I applaud your decisiveness, squeezing the trigger without hesitation. Don't even wait for an end to our little prologue here.

But we have a show to put on. A great opening requires a great audience, and a complete opening dialogue.

Today is a day of praise for the great work of the Creator. And that Creator is none other than yours truly.

Creator? That's quite a title you've given yourself.

You're a *profanity* psycho!

Psycho... hah. The mediocre always use this word to describe ideas and concepts they cannot understand.

Behold this world!

Completely different chemistry... totally inverted laws of physics... the flower of science blooms in exploration and doubt. And the most fertile soil lies in the land of the unknown!

And now, I have succeeded.

Do you see? Can you feel? The surface appearance is similar, but it all functions on radically different principles!

This is the evolution of life. This is the iteration of existence.

Originium is the truth of this world. You should accept that. Don't fear it.

Welcome to the future.

Don't you have even the slightest moral compunction over what you're doing?

What does human life even mean to you?

Human nature is weak, good and evil are subjective definitions of weakness, and what we call guilt is but one of the myriad cognitive signals produced by the brain.

And the science I pursue is never swayed by such flimsy concepts.

Don't delude yourselves that even in this world you still bind your minds with these meaningless ideas.

Even electronic information technology and nuclear energy were originally designed to help us kill each other more effectively.

Would you add a new layer of definition to science? Force everything to fit your fragile spiritual needs?

Nonsense.

But I forgive you.

You don't have to understand. I'll allow you to go on, unknowing. Primitive thinking is a common form of ignorance. It's not your fault, and I forgive you.

That's the end of my speech. And in addition to my forgiveness, I also offer you my thanks for waiting so patiently.

Now it is time for praise. Give your praise to this entirely new life form.

Praise be! Praise be! Praise be!!!

No matter what, we absolutely can't let that thing make it to the surface.

You stall it! I'll get the bomb ready!

It's still moving!

Bomb deployed! Time to go!

It... looks like it's budding?

What on earth... is it?

Whatever it is, it doesn't belong in this world.

We have to evacuate. We need to get out before the bomb goes off.

This way!

I'm out of ammo.

Rangers?

I'm still here...

You don't look so good.

I'm old, so old... phew...

What happened to your hand?

I couldn't dodge. That's all.

What do we do now? Should we go to the shelter?

No news from the mine?

None.

Hahaha...

I never thought we'd hold out this long... but we're almost to the end of the road.

What are you doing?

Making a shield. I always wanted to try, actually.

Hahaha...

What a trip down memory lane. Back to the glorious good old days.

The young rangers all gathered at the edge of town.

Knowing the overwhelming odds stacked against them, knowing most would spill their blood in the wasteland after the war.

But they laughed and sang war songs, as if they were facing down bugs to be easily squashed.

War is cruel, and merciless. Some backed down. Many more held the line.

The fallen became legends. The survivors were tasked with remembering them.

And the last one standing in that bloodbath, after all that time, started to feel the fear of death set in.

Because he doesn't want the dead to be forgotten?

Hahaha... maybe that's why.

It's been an honor to fight alongside you, Alexsandr.

The honor is mine, Rangers.

But don't be so gloomy. I haven't given up the fight.

I'll smash a few to death.

Wait... what's that?

The cavalry's here! Hahahahahaha! We're saved!

This technique... Must be that young person.

I picked up a Rhodes Island distress signal and figured it was a normal rescue mission.

I didn't think I'd run into you.

Old Ranger.

You're back in business, huh?

Haha, at my age? You're making fun.

What about your sword, Ranger?

I'm too old. I haven't been able to swing it for years.

If it weren't for you, today would be the end of these old bones.

You sell yourself short, Old Ranger.

Listen up, squad. The objective is the Lord's manor.

The enemy is an extremely dangerous form of Originium organism.

Keep your location updated.

Be careful. There's many of them. Try not to let your folks fight alone.

Also, be mindful of the ground. They are good at drilling.

Understood.

It's an honor to fight beside you.

'Scimitar of the Bloody Valley'.