Sword Art Online 05: Phantom Bullet Part 7

While thinking, Sinon again moved her rifle, she lowered the magnification to see the full enemy party in the scope. The four front line men hurriedly jumped behind a close rock or concrete wall to hide, behind them the rear guard with the large laser rifle and that large man in the cloak - "Ah...!!"

Sinon unconsciously let out a sound. Just then the large man moved both arms, throwing the camouflage cloak from his body.

The man's two hands had no weapon. His waist didn't have a weapon either.

What his broad back was carrying, that we had been thinking of as an item transport backpack, was revealed.

Between his broad shoulders, a metal rail curved and extended. From that hung an uncouth and precise metallic object.

Inside the Y-frame support, was a cylindrical machine component. Its top part had a big carry handle, below that extended a six barrel cl.u.s.ter gun body. Its length was easily over one meter.

The machine component had a belt link built in, it connected to a large capacity ammo box that hung from the same rail.

That so called gun's huge size and vicious shape, Sinon had only seen it once on the GGO information site's weapon list.

Its name seems to be "GE M134 Minigun". Cla.s.sified under heavy machine guns. One of the largest firearms to debut in Gun Gale Online. The six linked barrels turn at high speed for loading, firing, and sh.e.l.l ejecting, spitting out 7.62mm bullets at a crazy speed of 100 rounds per second, nightmare was a subst.i.tute name for this gun - no, this weapon.

Of course, its weight is also tremendous. Just the main body is 18kg, together with so much ammunition, it should be more than 40kg. No matter what type of pure STR player he is, it's impossible to be within his max weight limit. Of course, being overweight means there should be a movement penalty.

The reason why that party was moving so slowly, was not because of extending the hunt. That was the man's maximum walking speed.

While terrified, Sinon peered into her scope, in the middle of Sinon's field of vision, the big man reached behind his back with his right hand and grabbed the handle of the Minigun. The large machine gun smoothly slid on a rail and rotated 90 degrees to the right side of the man's body. Both legs wide open, with a stance where the six gun barrels facing forward - the man's mouth below his goggles moved for the first time, forming a fierce smile.

Sinon hurriedly adjusted the dial, reducing the scope's magnification to the minimum.

From the left-side field of view, Ginrou's group of three attackers, holding sub-machine guns, were moving forward. The light bullets from the Laser Blasters that the enemy party's vanguard prepared drew pale blue tails as they met the a.s.sault, all of them left ripples, like those on the surface of water, about one meter in front of Ginrou and the others, then disappeared. That was the high performance "Protection Field Against Light Bullets" effect.

Simply because they returned fire with a spray from live ammunition based sub-machine guns, one of the enemy blaster users, who was leaning out from behind a rock was covered in crimson impact effects with a 'pa pa' sound and collapsed. Ginrou and the others pushed forward again, toward the shadow of a concrete wall close to the enemy - At that time, the big man quickly lowered his waist.

The Minigun's barrels spun at a high-speed, a belt of sparkling light spurting out for as much as 0.3 seconds or so.

Just like that, along with part of the concrete wall, Ginrou's avatar disintegrated, then disappeared. Too quickly, like a sand doll exposed to a water current.

Sinon bit her lip then stood up. She picked up Hecate II from the ground, folded the two legs and slung the strap over her shoulder.

The Hecate II, with a total length of 138 cm, dug heavily into the shoulder of Sinon, whose height wasn't even 155 cm, but was still within her weight limit. Her sidearm, the "H&K MP7", was an ultra-compact type sub-machine gun that somehow didn't go over her weight limit, since Sinon's high STR value was just enough to allow her to carry seven magazines for the Hecate II.

Even with the naked eye, she could see the bloom-like muzzle flashes on the battle field nearly one and a half kilometers away. Sinon remained silent, and ran full speed ahead.

Since it had come to that, the flow of the battle had overwhelmingly turned against Dyne and the others. If the Minigun user was alone, then by maintaining at least mid-range distance and constantly moving at high speeds it would be possible to beat him. However, with the Laser Blaster users providing the Minigun cover, once you closed in to the short range that made defensive field less effective, you could not avoid the opponent.

Although she was a member of the squadron, even if she were to withdraw, she expected that n.o.body would complain. After all, she had carried out the objective she was commanded to perform as a sniper.

However, Sinon ran in a straight line toward the battle. She was not thinking of helping her companions. Just that Minigun man's smile that floated made Sinon's feet move forward.

That guy could smile on the battlefield only because he had strength. The play time required to obtain the Minigun, that was similar or rarer than the Hecate. The equipment demanded perseverance to pile on enough STR to be formidable. In addition, the courage he had to calmly deal with Sinon's sniping.

To fight such an opponent, by killing him, the other too weak me - the always sobbing, immature "Asada Shino" would be extinguished.

For that alone, she invested herself in this crazy world. Escaping here, then everything acc.u.mulated so far would have been in vain.

Kicking off the dry ground at the highest speed her parameters allowed, tearing through the dusty air, Sinon was at full gallop.

She moved about on the gravel laden sand, avoiding and jumping over protruding rocks, crumbling walls, and others obstacles, rushing into the battle area in just a few tens of seconds.

Her AGI parameter was opened full throttle to a.s.sist in making a fierce dash in a straight line. She didn't even slightly consider seeking cover. The enemy group probably already caught Sinon's approaching figure.

Compared to the beginning, the two parties' battle area had shifted significantly. Of course, the ones retreating were Dyne's group. With the Minigun forcibly providing backup with strafing fire, the enemy group's vanguard was pressing the distance steadily. In order to escape the effective range of the optical guns, the four people, including Dyne, were constantly falling back, moving from cover to cover.

Rushing straight into the wilderness to escape was no longer possible. If their figures were exposed, they'll be instantly bathed in the Minigun's bullets like a waterfall and honeycombed. Moreover, the concrete wall Dyne and the others now entrusted their backs to was mostly missing in their escape route. That only left the remains of the more than half collapsed building that their initial approach utilized. If they fled there, they would just be trapped like rats in a bag.

Sinon, who instantly understood the situation, tried to jump into the shadow of the wall where Dyne and the others were taking a breather. At that moment, three thin red lines of light appeared right in front of Sinon.

"Ku..."

Clenching her teeth, she entered an evasive stance. These are trajectory lines from the enemy attackers that use Laser Blasters.

First, Sinon lowered her body to the limit and slipped under the first Bullet Line. Immediately after, precisely tracing the line overhead, a pale blue heat ray scorched the s.p.a.ce. Before her eyes, the second Bullet Line extended. She kicked the ground with her right foot using all her strength and jumped, her body danced in the air. A laser pa.s.sed right by her abdomen, and for a moment her vision went white.

The third Bullet Line crossed slightly above Sinon's jumping path. She shrunk her head as much as possible to avoid the incoming heat ray, but the tip of her thin blue short-cut hair was slightly touched by the ray, with a cracking sound light particles dispersed.

Somehow managing to avoid the continuous Laser Blaster fire, Sinon landed on the ground, in front of her eyes - A horribly thick, about 50 cm diameter blood colored line bathed her.

No mistake, this is the Minigun's Bullet Line. A few tenths of second later, that storm like burst attack would come.

Sinon whipped her body that was paralyzed by fear, she bent her right foot that just touched ground, and again jumped with all her strength. She turned her body in the air, at the top of the high jump her body was laying flat.

Right after, a gale of energy waves pa.s.sed by, barely below her back, where she felt its turbulence. After the cl.u.s.ter of shining white live ammo pa.s.sed by her view, another part of the broken wall of the ruined building a little distance away was blown apart.

Just before her back landed on the sandy ground, she turned her body again, landing on hands and legs. At the same time she threw her body forward as hard as she could. After rolling several times, she reached the shadow of the concrete wall where Dyne's group was hiding.

The squadron leader stared with consternation at Sinon who suddenly appeared in front of him. No matter if this looked like good intentions, his eyes did not shine with grat.i.tude, just doubt for someone who stuck her head in a deadly place on purpose.

Dyne soon turned his face, looking at the a.s.sault rifle in his hands. His muttered voice, sounded low.

"...Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, they called a bodyguard."

"Bodyguard?"

"You do not know? He's that Minigun user. He is called "Behemoth", a brainy muscular guy that is based in the north continent. He is hired as protection-like things by squadrons with money but no perseverance."

That is a way more respectable play style than yours, Sinon thought, but of course didn't say it. Instead, she turned to look the three attackers beyond Dyne, who stuck their heads once in a while out of cover to fire blankly at the enemy group. She said in a volume that barely reach their whole group.

"If we continue hiding like this we will be wiped out soon. - The Minigun's remaining bullets is a bit dubious, if everyone attack at the same time he will just mow us down without any concern. We have to eliminate that option. The two with SMG go left, Dyne and I will go around right side, M4 stay here for backup..."

Saying up to here, Dyne interrupted with his husky voice.

"...It won't work, there are three Blaster users left. If we rush in the defense shield effect will..."

"Blaster continuous fire rate is slower than live ammo guns, we can avoid half."

"Impossible!"

Dyne repeated stubbornly and shook his head.

"Rushing in will get you blown away by the Minigun anyway. ...Although it is regrettable, let's give up. If you are too proud to see them win, then logout here...."

Even if you logout in a neutral field, you won't disappear immediately. Your avatar without soul will stay there for a few minutes, vulnerable to being attacked. The probability is low, but weapon or armor random drop could happen.

Thus far, she thought that the leader's retreat timing was way too early, but with this kind of desperation, not mentioning a child's temper, she had never thought he would make that kind of proposal. Sinon stared while half dumbfounded at Dyne's supposedly veteran soldier's face.

At the moment, Dyne showed his teeth and shouted.

"What, don't take the game so seriously! Either way is the same, even if we rush we will die in vain..."

"Then die!"

On reaction, Sinon shouted her reply.

"At least in the game, to try to die facing gunpoint!"

Really, why should she say that kind of thing to a man that's just a target. Before that, it meant she would be cutting ties with this squadron.

While part of her heart was thinking that, she took Dyne's camouflage jacket collar and forcefully pulled it. At the same time, she quickly said to the remaining wide eyed three.

"Three seconds will be fine, get the Minigun's attention, I will finish him with Hecate."

"...Un, understood."

The man with goggles on his green hair struggled for a long time then finally responded, and the remaining two team members nodded.

"Ok, we will split in two, left and right go at same time."

Sinon pushed the sulking Dyne's hip, and they moved to the shelter's end point. She took her sidearm MP7 from her left waist, and started a countdown with hand sign.

Three... two... one, "GO!!".

At the same time, she kicked the ground hard and entered one second ahead, the battlefield where continuous death awaited.

At that moment, a few Bullet Lines appeared in front of her. She lowered her body, while sliding to avoid them, the enemy group entered her field of view.

In front to the right, behind a wall about twenty meters ahead, were two people with Laser Blasters. A bit to the left was another. The Minigun man "Behemoth" was in the center about ten meters behind them, he was aiming for her teammates that went out from the left.

While Sinon was running to the right, she aimed the MP7 in her left hand at the Blaster users. Pressing the trigger slightly made a Bullet Circle show up, there was no way she could control her heart rate, it pulsed around the men's bodies.

Even so she fired. She felt the recoil shock that was nothing compared to Hecate II in her palm, and she emptied the 20 round magazine of 4.6mm bullets in one go.

The reckless counterattack made them panic, and the two Blaster users tried to hide behind the wall, but a few bullets still hit their bodies. It was not enough to drop their HP to zero, but it would buy her a few seconds of time.

"Dyne! Support me!"

Sinon shouted and threw herself on the ground, at the same time removing Hecate II from her back and holding it in her two hands. She didn't have time to extend its two leg stand. Enduring its terrible weight, she peered through the scope.

As it was still set on low magnification, she could see all of Behemoth's upper body. That face instantly turned to look her way, Sinon pulled the trigger without waiting for the Bullet Circle to shrink.

A roar and certain kill flash tore through the s.p.a.ce - it pa.s.sed by right next to Behemoth's head. The attack blew away the goggles from Behemoth's head, turning into powder and disappearing.

She missed - !

Sinon bit her lips and was going to stand up, then her vision in the scope crossed with Behemoth. Behemoth who exposed his real face, his two grey eyes were blazing with light, his lips had another fearless smile on it.

Sinon's whole body was covered by a huge red light.

Impossible to avoid, she instantly came to the conclusion. From her prostrated firing position, getting up and jumping left or right, there's no time for that.

At least, face the gun muzzle - .

Follow her own words, Sinon stood up and looked straight at Behemoth. Suddenly, a few places in that huge body, "Papaa!" sound with light burst.

It was Dyne. While kneeling with one leg on the ground and holding his a.s.sault rifle, he fired with high accuracy. In this situation, at this distance, the fact that he can score so many hits means no matter what his personality was, his skills were amazing, while thinking that Sinon jumped with all her might to her right side. Right after, the place she had just been was cut with tens of rounds of bullet storm.

"Dyne! Move to the right more...."

At that point in her shout.

The two Laser Blaster users again appeared from their cover, aiming at the standing Dyne and firing without mercy arrows of light.

The range was way too close. The heat rays pa.s.sed through Dyne's defense field and hit his body one after another.

Dyne looked at Sinon for an instant. The he faced forward - "Uooo!!"

With that single cry, he started running straight forward.

A rain of light bullets attacked Dyne. He dodged, slipped through, while fiercely dashing. But of course, he couldn't avoid all the shots.

The last few seconds, Dyne pulled the protection talisman replacement Plasma Grenade from his waist and threw it at their cover. At the same time his HP was all gone, while his avatar was still facing away from Sinon, he broke into numerous polygon pieces and scattered away.

Subsequently, the world was dyed in white flash.

A giant hammer of G.o.d impacted the ground. Green white energy flow went crazy, a huge dust storm went up. Mixed in that, a Blaster user's body flowed in the air, before it reached ground, it was smashed and annihilated.

- Nice Guts!

She gave a short elegy to Dyne who exited the battle, then squinting her eyes from the dust and quickly checked the battle field.

One of her two teammates who took the left wing seem to have been killed by the Minigun, and the Blaster user over there seem to have disappeared.