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Downgrade Hero

In the world of science, in the world of swarming Kaijus, in the distant future, Ravagers are the one who's on the frontline of the humanity's defensive force. But what would happen if the strongest of them wish to become an NPC instead? This is the story of Dani, and his desire of not even once to become the center of this world. Bad luck for him, that good fortune is always with him since he was a little. However, even when all the humanity is against him, even when the world is in danger, Dani's quest to become an NPC had just begun!

Cahyaism · ไซไฟ
Not enough ratings
14 Chs

Bad Days Aren't On The Calendar

If all the holidays were already marked on the calendar a long time ago, sorry to tell you, but even in the future, bad days are still out of scientists' reach to predict, the world's biggest mystery.

Hell, even the weather and your crush's feelings are still changing abruptly at their will and left you hanging to worry over nothing on the other side. Clowning your antics.

There's no reason for anyone to be full of themselves with the plan they've made way ahead of time.

That's the case with me today and this runaway plan. Feels like I'm in a sitcom show, with hidden cameras somewhere and the universe as the audience laughing at me. Too bad, this is an action story.

*BOOM!*

The bridge suddenly blew up and rocketed sky-high from the water pressure below. Throwing everything in every direction. I didn't have any time to react, let alone the ability to get out of this mess of a crowd between vehicles.

While people screaming for their life, vainly holding tightly onto something to stop falling, I sweep my eyes to the surrounding.

The biggest catfish I've ever seen rises like a skyscraper before my eyes. Another Kaiju has appeared.

But, where is Odin the mech? Where is Luna, that Ravager girl? Seriously, that girl came like a silly falling star and then skedaddling away as any responsible father should…

"LUNA! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

Do I gonna end my life without even starting my modest and miserable new life waiting for me on the other side of the ocean?

"Whoa?!"

I grunted when something grabbed my body. The cold steel clutching around my torso, the same thing for the other 3 people nearby. I raise my head, looking upward. A mosquito-like drone is holding onto each one of us. And then I just realized, that we're in a fleet of evacuation drones.

But amongst all of that, one particular thing attract my attention.

On the water body, only the severed heads of Hydra are still floating, with no sign of its main body. Defeated it seems. Truly a terrifying power to control such a mech.

On the other hand, why do catfish shed their scales? Do catfish have scales, to begin with?

For God-knows-how-many-times-this-is, this isn't looking good…

One by one, those scales grew some legs and landed on the drones, on this one also. I can see faint smoke coming out of it. If only I have an arm like Pinocchio's nose, I'll shout about how much I feel proud and sorry for my father right now and punch the hell outta that creature.

*ZING!*

But suddenly, a green ray of light struck down the giant catfish. Cleanly cutting it in half, revealing Odin hovering behind it, while the scale creatures riding on the drones are falling over one after another from the swift impulses trailing behind the quick movement, like zapping thunder.

"Luna! What took you so muc- eh?"

Bad luck, the damage sustained by this drone is already too great. Releasing us from its clasping limb midair. In the end, again, we begin a second session of screaming contest.

Or, lemme rephrase it, her strike doesn't help solve my problem at all.

Crap, I can't hold onto anything solid to slow down my fall or use it as a shield for landing. Everything is out of my reach and theirs. If only I have my suit on me, I could just warp them all together to the ground, to safety. But, I'm no different than these civilians.

Think! Think of something, me! I'm running out of time! Should I just call for an Isekai funeral service?

"Ugh!"

Something delicate yet firm holding my body from beneath, and I know I wasn't dead yet upon lifting my head. The same goes for those people from the same drones, they're caught by robot crabs.

"Hey, are you all right, Daniel? Sorry, I was late but managed to make it in time somehow."

The worried look in her eyes, the swaying blonde side ponytail of hers, and the warm smile she gives are in contrast to her twin's cold stare. It's Lucy, coming in with a clutch and reverse princess carrying me out of the blue.

This… is kinda okay, I guess??

"Ahem… thanks, Lucy." I hurriedly sprang back to my feet. Somehow, my ears feel warm. "Did you… bring all of these mechs on your own…?"

The sight of an entire brigade of hundreds of mechs, consisting of Crawlers and helper automatons like those crab robots, with fleets of drones filling the space in the sky, is just amazing. Relentlessly evacuating people to somewhere safe.

Every one of them follows the orders given, both SKEF troops and automatons alike. Almost surreal even to think all of this is because of her, the strongest Pilot that the SKEF has, Lucy the Mechromancer.

Reading her mind thoroughly, calculating the action needed, then acting accordingly, like any human should.

"Big sis! Can't you evacuate sooner?" A voice calling out for her. From behind, Luna just jumped off Odin and approached us.

Behind that gigantic mech, the comically large catfish hit the ground hard, with its mouth and scales burning violently, still trying to regenerate. Despite the achievement she gained today of taking a Kaiju down all on her own, Luna doesn't seem to be fond of it.

"This is getting troublesome to subjugate Kaijus and protect the civilians at the same time! What excuse do you have for being late, Lucy?"

"Ehh… I couldn't find all of my arrows to match today's lucky number. I only got 16 of them, need one more…" She sulked, and Luna groused inaudibly.

"Reporting in. Dragoon, Mechromancer, and Vanguard-6 are all together. Targets down. Confirm extermination, over."

"Whoa, hold up, Luna. I didn't remember signing up for this mission." I step back immediately.

*ZING!*

In a blink of an eye, she's already thrusting her impaling spear to my head, slicing my now-split-into-two hat as I duck.

"Bold of you to think you could just waltz out of here, dumbass!" She abruptly pulls her spear back, almost cutting my neck with its curving blade on the edge now. "Daniel, the warning isn't lifted yet! Another Kaiju might be appearing seconds after this, and a sloppy attempt like that won't do a thing next time!"

"Heh… I'm amazed you say it was a sloppy one when you hate it if I say it." I scoffed at her, teasing. "Aduh!" This time, she hit me with the handle.

*KABOOM!*

Like a meteor strike, a shot landed right behind Odin. Not leaving a thing except a crater after. More than enough to make every single soul startled. That catfish exploded to nothingness. Burning to ashes, and scattering its enormous scales in every direction.

[Caught y'all lackin' with the core. Gotta double-check, the corpse is a corpse. Y'all know better than anyone, Oceanicean is a pain in the ass to deal with, ya hear me?]

A raspy voice entered our comms module. I whip my eyes, staring at one of the buildings from afar. Over there, a glint caught my attention, the same place where the shot came.

So he's here also… Like always, watching from afar.

[Base to Pilot-11, as per your request. Nearby Bioforce activity is still high, with a wide radius. Confirmed extermination for one target. One Kaiju still remains. Please be cautious.]

We exchanged glances immediately. Luna is the one in shock the most.

There's still one more?

But, where is it? Is it gonna jump on us anytime soon? Is it gonna pull the ground off our feet, or tear the sky apart, like Bahamut and any Stellarean beings would?

I haphazardly whip my eyes around. Any of those possibilities could be happening, unless this faint tremor suddenly becomes clearer on our feet, with each rumble turning into a quake in a short period.

From below!

*SKREE!*

The ground cracked and opened up, the Hydra burst out of the ground right in the middle of the evacuation. Extending its already regenerated heads to everyone in the vicinity, killing civilians and troops alike. It's pointless, the objective of this evacuation is a bust.

Even so, I was able to jump in the nick of time, only to be the next crushing target for one of its heads.

Crap, why me?! Why are you chasing me, when all of your heads are already rained by arrows and diced to pieces? Not to be bragging, but does my muscular body looks that tasty for this particular head?

"Dani! Over here!"

Someone is calling me out.

Sasha? I completely forgot about her in this situation.

Far ahead, she's already on the back of a tactical vehicle, the surviving evacuation convoy is about to drive away. Surrounded by SKEF troops and Crawlers firing their weapons at Hydra tailing me, at least she's already in a safe spot, and not have to do cardio training with a fudging Kaiju as a personal trainer here!

I really need my suit right now, this is getting too complicated than just moving to another people's country.

I left a message for Michelle after failed attempts to contact her. The situation back home must be as dire as on my end right now, busy with interviews and journalists to replace my position. Hopefully, she's able to respond to it on time.

But, who am I kidding by putting such a hope, when I tripped on my feet, in a CLICHÉ style nonetheless. I charge my right arm and land on my back immediately. Clenching my fist, aiming to blow its jaw in this poor attempt of mine.

*SKREE!*

I swiftly extended my fist upright, and Hydra screeched with an ear-rupturing noise. But, it ran past me.

I was so sure I was gonna hit its jaw, yet my fist is out of my reach to blow it away. Completely ignoring me. Tailing the already moving convoy instead, where Sasha is.

The sound of troops stationed being trampled and Crawlers exploding under its boney limb, that Hydra is moving too fast even after destroying the stationed troops behind the convoy. Slowly catching up with already regenerated heads.

Now what??

[Daniel! I'll leave you with Phobos, is that okay? Derrick just sent out a distress signal, a Zero-class entity ambushed him just now. Luna is already on her way, and now I'm following her too.]

A Zero-class? At this time?? No wonder they're nowhere to be seen after Hydra ambushed.

Lucy's voice came at the same time a mech gently put me on its back. A giant wolf, pushing its feet at maximum speed. Closing the distance to that Hydra. I quickly adapted to the rough galloping on its back, giving it a light pat on its cold steel shoulder.

It understood my intention, hastening its four limbs. I straighten my body, standing on top, then a high burst of wind coming from beneath launches me into the air, straight to Hydra.

Phobos swiftly follows up, shooting a shock harpoon at one of its heads. Going under and around its heads, tying it all together in one bundle before electrifying energy comes down pouring to Hydra. Electrocuting and paralyzing it.

This is it, this is my only chance.

"Initiate Partial Dimensional Rift."

.

<Energy Charge Level: 70%>

<Required energy reached. Please discharge immediately in 5 seconds>

.

The swirling yellow impulse has gone crazy on my right armpiece. Overflowing with energy ready for discharge.

With only the right armpiece on me, the impact won't be as big and strong as the full suit version. But it should be enough to cover the space to remove all its heads in one go. Severed by sudden changes of dimensional and spatial energy.

*TAP!*

"That won't do, sweetie."

Someone suddenly stopped my fist. Emerging from Hydra's nape with an eerie smile and ivy crawling on my arm. More than enough to run down the chill on my spine, feels like my entire body is freezing under the scorching desert heat.

She canceled my Dimensional Rift.

With only one swing, she threw me like a dirty piece of rug. I can't even perceive where I'm going because of how fast it all happened, and how effortless it looks on her face.

.

*PING!*

<A request for file transfer. Sender: Michael>

<Accept? Yes/No>

.

"Yeah, give it to me, dammit! Instant decrypt!"

From my back, the flowing yellow synapses crawl all over my body. Forming a complete armor suit, and now also comes with pants, not like yesterday's operation. With the modules activating, I regained my balance and managed to plant my feet. Skidding on the ground.

But, it's all meaningless. It was already too late when the carnage before my widened eyes is revealed.

The convoy, the troops, the evacuation vehicles, everything is destroyed. With Cerberus and Behemoth already standing on top of it.

Sasha… must be there, right…?