Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison

Chapter 172

Chapter 172

'Seriously, why is the Captain always like this?'

"Sorry, sorry, Emotion."

Inside the Queen Bee, Kait had been trying to calm Emotion down for some time now.

Meanwhile, the Queen Bee continued to be bombarded without pause. The light blades fired by Kissinger χ couldn't even shake the Queen Bee's barrier, merely wasting energy.

Kait's goal was to let off steam and to make Dan and the others realize their own powerlessness. That's why he kept the Queen Bee anchored in space and let them shoot at will.

'Damn it, you bastard—!'

"Since we're at it, why not use the Vengeance's cannon too, Captain Giolgu?"

'The fact that you're saying that means even the Vengeance's cannon can't break through that barrier, right?'

"That's right. But I want to make it clear that it's not because Emotion was slacking off."

Fundamentally, it's a matter of output. The barriers of the Queen Bee and Di-Kigaia Zarmos differ from conventional weapon barriers; they are the very will to reject attacks. What's needed is a powerful will that can even crush the opponent's heart. The Space jellyfish's analysis suggests that weapon attacks don't work because there's no emotional connection.

If the target is limited to the Queen Bee, direct claw attacks might have a better chance than bombardment.

'It's not like I doubted you.'

"Is that so? Like I said before, if you'd undergone body modification, there was still room for further upgrades."

'That's not possible. As I said before.'

"Good grief, no trust at all."

'I do trust you.'

"Doesn't seem like it. You won't accept it because you're afraid the modifications might influence your thinking. Am I wrong?"

'......Not everyone can trust others as completely as you do.'

In the end, deep down, they harbored anxiety or distrust toward the Federation. Perhaps it was because Divin had originally belonged to it, or because of the negative image associated with the term body modification.

Well, let them do as they please. If the Vengeance isn't participating, so be it.

"Now then."

'Captain?'

"Keeping the barrier up like this probably won't satisfy them."

Kait issued instructions to the Worker Bees clinging to the hull. They changed formation, taking the shape of arms.

If he closed the distance too quickly, Dan wouldn't be able to react. He approached slowly and took a fighting stance.

'What are you trying to do?'

"Boxing's not really my thing. But in a shootout, there's no sense of impact."

'Don't mock me!'

Kissinger χ let go of the cannon and lunged to punch. Kait smoothly dodged the wide hook and drove his right fist into Kissinger χ's face. Maybe he forgot to activate the barrier, as his face snapped back.

'Gah!'

"Hey, hey, hey now."

Right, left, right. Even though they were shaped like arms, they were originally steel plates. The hull didn't sway left or right, so it was quite different from a human punch. With the three-dimensional angles, Dan couldn't keep up rather than Kissinger χ.

The claws flailed but didn't land, only the Queen Bee's fists did. Kait paused and said with a wry smile,

"How about putting up a barrier?"

'Ah!?'

A barrier deployed at Kait's words. Now it might be a fairer fight.

When he drove his right fist in, it interacted with the barrier. Good, this would work. He dodged the counter-swinging arm by slightly drifting backward.

'Damn it! You don't even have legs, so how—!'

"What good are legs in space?"

Kait figured that Kissinger χ's legs were necessary for working on the moon's surface, but in space combat, they were mostly a hindrance. He hadn't added legs to the Queen Bee because he wasn't interested and couldn't envision a use for them.

Just then, as he dodged a hook, a leg came flying in. Clever. But enhancements don't just increase physical strength. He had enough time to dodge after seeing it.

"I take that back. Looks like there is a use for them."

'Acting all smug!'

"I'm not acting smug."

He backed off slightly and curled his finger in a beckoning gesture. In short, a provocation.

"I just actually have the upper hand."

'You bastard—!'

Kait countered in a flash, careful not to hurt Dan as he lunged. The head—not the cockpit—shook violently.

'Captain. That's too much. If you hit it anymore, the head will come off.'

"Oops, hard to find the right balance."

'Whoa!'

Seeing Kait hastily stop his follow-up, Kissinger χ took that as an opening and lunged. The barriers clashed.

"Whoa, not good."

The difference in barrier output was too great. To avoid shredding Dan and the others, he dialed down the output. Then, for some reason, Kissinger χ pressed both hands against the barrier as if to grab it.

"You shouldn't use too much force. Your arms will explode."

'Captain! Fire now!'

"Whoa now."

A suicide attack? Dan seemed to genuinely view Kait as his enemy. That was truly unexpected.

'Let's die together, Kait Crouch!'

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to pass on that."

Now, what to do?

He could increase the barrier output and blast him away, or punch him and create distance. Or he could just teleport.

Just then, the Vengeance began to move behind the Queen Bee. Seriously? He's really going to fire? Judging by the position, he must be trying to use the Queen Bee as a shield to avoid hitting Kissinger χ.

Pretty clever. But if Kait moved recklessly, Kissinger χ would get hit too. He was about to raise the barrier output when suddenly the Vengeance turned its cannon toward him. It hadn't moved, yet it was about to fire. Thinking he'd be used as a shield, Kait hesitated for a split second.

'Fire! Lieutenant Carter, your sacrifice won't be in vain!'

"Are you stupid?"

Light was released. Kait spat out coldly and focused his consciousness on the light just before it fired.

'Huh, it's not firing......?'

"Heave-ho."

Dan's attention turned to the Vengeance's silent cannon. Not missing the chance, Kait used the Queen Bee to push Kissinger χ away hard.

'Wha—!?'

The distance between them grew. Kait turned his focus back to the Vengeance's cannon. In that instant, the barrel lit up. Light pierced between the Queen Bee and Kissinger χ.

A shivering chill ran down his spine. Forcing it down, Kait teleported the Queen Bee behind Kissinger χ.

"Don't forget attitude control."

'Ugh!?'

He grabbed Kissinger χ's spinning shoulder with one hand.

In that moment, even though he hadn't used much strength, Kissinger χ's shoulder burst apart.

"!?"

Kait was the one surprised. The chill in his back had completely vanished. Feeling something strange, he stared at the Queen Bee's left hand still gripping Kissinger χ.

'Captain! The Vengeance is—'

"Oops. Launch the Psionic Launcher. One shot is enough."

'Roger.'

The Psionic Launcher was deployed from the underside of the Queen Bee. A Worker Bee flew out, docked it, and attached it to the right hand.

While holding Kissinger χ from behind with the left hand, he aimed the cannon at the Vengeance.

"......Still want to fight, Zion Georg?"

'......No, I surrender.'

Perhaps sensing the murderous intent that slipped into Kait's words, Giolgu raised both hands. Confirming the energy dispersing from the Vengeance's barrel, Kait also lowered the Psionic Launcher.

"What about you, Dan Carter?"

'I'm not done yet......!'

"Let me tell you something."

Kait let out a deep sigh. If Dan wanted a kamikaze attack, fine. Maybe dying together would satisfy him. But for Federation citizens, that didn't mean much.

"We in the Federation have permanently solved the problems of lifespan and resources. In other words, my life has a backup."

'What......!?'

"If you want to die with me, go ahead. But even if I die here, the Federation will immediately regenerate a new me. Still want to go through with it?"

'Don't lie! Then why haven't you—'

"It's not like I want to die. Besides, if you die here, that's the end for you, right?"

Kissinger χ stopped moving.

Did Dan believe Kait? In a deeply sunken voice, he asked,

'......What about that Emperor Divin or whatever—does he have a backup?'

"Not in the Federation. He was exiled. But it's a fairly common item in the Federation. Even the older models have been shipped out beyond the Federation."

At the very least, as far as Kait knew, resurrection devices had circulated through the Tarlmache fleet. He wouldn't be surprised if Divin had a few. Kait suspected that Divin had purchased ones that had slipped into the black market using money obtained by selling off survivors from the now-extinct Earth.

Dan let out a voice filled with agony.

'Uwaaaaaah......!'

Kait quietly cut the transmission.

The technological gap between the Federation and Earth was beyond comprehension. No matter how deep the anger or hatred, it was a gap that could not be crossed.

Could Dan accept this absurdity? Perhaps it would be difficult alone, but he had comrades. Kait gently pushed Kissinger χ toward Vengeance.