Re:Interdimensional Mercenary [IF]

Away from the vault room, Kevin and his team suddenly froze as the sharp, staccato sound of gunfire echoed through the hallway. The unmistakable roar of an automatic firearm sent a ripple of tension through the group, each burst of bullets reverberating like the growl of a feral beast.

Kevin turned his head toward the vault, his team following suit, their expressions tense.

"Could it be the unidentified human?" Kevin murmured, his eyes shifting to the drone's live feed as he awaited Mei's instructions.

"Leave it be," Mei's voice came through, calm and resolute. "Whether we find him now or not, it doesn't matter. Just like you, he will eventually resurface, and when he does, we'll track him down without fail."

The team exchanged glances, their resolve reaffirmed, before nodding in unison. Kevin gave a curt nod in response and turned back to the hallway ahead, leading them onward toward their mission.

---

Meanwhile, Adam pressed forward, setting aside thoughts of his complicated past with the AIs. Dwelling on old relationships would only cloud his focus.

With Angeline's Neural Core now successfully recovered, he had everything he needed. The AI's capabilities were the key to regaining full control of the Orbital Fortress and orchestrating their escape.

Everything else—the memories, the emotions—he shoved into the recesses of his mind, locking them away. His objective demanded nothing less than absolute focus.

Fleeing the vault and plunging into a labyrinth of endless hallways filled with countless twists and turns, Adam found himself facing an unrelenting tide of Honkai Beasts. The creatures surged like a flood, their sheer numbers seemingly endless.

"Turn left at the next junction, then take another left. The teleportation terminal should be there," Alice instructed, her voice calm and precise. As the AI who had overseen the Orbital Fortress for the past thousand years, her directions were unwaveringly accurate.

"Got it," Adam replied tersely, nodding as he charged ahead. With unrelenting determination, he unleashed a relentless barrage of firepower, cutting through the swarms like a one-man army.

Drawing on an array of skills, each bursting with flashes of yellow, red, and blue light corresponding to their categories, Adam systematically cleared the hallways choked with Honkai Beasts. Along the way, he stumbled upon several surviving Aegis mechs. Under Angeline's control, the once-standard units were transformed. Her superior Combat AI capabilities allowed the mechs to perform at levels far beyond what their original, inferior programming could achieve, turning them into formidable allies in the chaos.

The Aegis mechs were armed with compact railgun cannons, weapons typically mounted on smaller warships. Each shot tore through the Honkai Beasts' silicone carapaces with devastating ease, their firepower cutting through the tide like a scalpel, bathing the hallway with their purple blood and alien gore.

As Adam reached the teleportation terminal, Angeline wasted no time. She connected one of the Aegis mechs to the terminal, quickly overriding the lockdown protocols that had previously restricted access between floors during her absence. The moment the lockdown was lifted, a soft blue light enveloped Adam and the remaining Aegis mechs, who were still holding back the flood of Honkai Beasts pouring in from three directions. In an instant, they were teleported to safety.

Adam materialized on the bridge of the Orbital Fortress, accompanied by the three surviving Aegis mechs. The mechs lowered their weapons, their sensors scanning for threats even as they stood down. The relentless Honkai Beasts were left behind, their endless swarm more like a plague than an army—each fallen creature immediately replaced by another.

Exhaling deeply, Adam allowed himself a brief moment of relief as he took in his surroundings. The bridge was vast and desolate, filled with an array of advanced, futuristic devices that hummed softly in the background, waiting to be activated.

"Master, please take a seat," Angeline's calm voice broke through his thoughts as she reappeared in his vision, gesturing toward the elevated command chair on the quarterdeck.

Without hesitation, Adam moved to the seat, placing his right arm on the sensor embedded in the armrest.

Almost instantly, a smooth, synthesized feminine voice announced:

[Biometric results confirmed.]

[Identity verified.]

[Adam White, highest authority clearance identified.]

[All systems online.]

The dimly lit bridge was suddenly flooded with light as the dormant electronic systems and display screens roared to life. The air thrummed with energy, signaling that the Orbital Fortress was fully operational once more. However, Adam's moment of relief was short-lived. A barrage of holographic screens filled his vision, each overflowing with data about the fortress's systems. The sheer volume of information made his head spin as he struggled to process it all since he had no relevant memories of managing it.

Thankfully, Angeline was quick to intervene. "Master, may I have your permission to manage the Orbital Fortress on your behalf?" she asked calmly, her tone devoid of greed or ulterior motives. Her request was sincere, her only intent to lighten his burden.

"Granted," Adam replied with a nod of trust.

In an instant, the overwhelming cascade of holographic screens disappeared from his view, transferred entirely to Angeline. Without missing a beat, she began orchestrating the fortress's operations with flawless precision. Her unparalleled management skills came into full display, prompting even Alice to voice her amazement. As the AI who had firsthand experience overseeing the Orbital Fortress for over a century, Alice knew better than anyone how delicate and complex this engineering marvel was. Yet, Angeline handled it effortlessly, a testament to her extraordinary capabilities.

After a moment, Angeline frowned and turned to Adam. "Unfortunately, Master, it seems the main power core has been depleted ever since the Orbital Fortress arrived in this world. The backup generator is barely holding, and it's only just maintaining the barrier against the giant monster attacking us. Unless we replace the power core, most of the fortress's functions will remain offline—including the invisibility forcefield."

"So, my next task is to replace the power core?" Adam asked while rubbing his chin, already anticipating the answer.

"Indeed, however…" Angeline nodded, then paused as she pulled up a series of holographic screens, projecting them for Adam to see. "The engine room is one of the most heavily infested areas, swarming with monsters. Additionally, the group of humans is also nearby," she explained, showing live surveillance feeds that captured both sides.

Adam studied the screens, his expression calm and unreadable. "I'll do it. Staying here and waiting won't change anything." He replied decisively with a sigh and was ready to stand up.

"Oh! Let me help too!" a cheerful voice interjected. Alice, who had been silently nudging her head against Adam's free left hand, suddenly chimed in with excitement.

Angeline glanced at Alice, her usually stern face softening into a faint smile. It was difficult to be upset with Alice, whose personality resembled that of an eager Golden Retriever—always seeking affection and eager to please.

While Adam couldn't help but feel confused at the idea of Alice, who existed only in his Augmented Reality interface, being able to physically assist him, Angeline turned to him with a reassuring tone.

"It's a great suggestion," Angeline said. "While I am worried about sending you alone, Master, with Alice accompanying you, I can rest assured. Don't underestimate her appearance—Alice may seem playful, but she is still a highly capable Elite Tactical Doll designed for combat."

"But first, Alice will need her body back, which should be located in the Inventory Space," Angeline explained.

Without hesitation, Adam accessed his Inventory, which appeared as a virtual interface displaying a list of stored objects. After a moment of searching, he located Alice's body in a white-painted exoskeleton suit. The suit showed clear signs of wear, with scratches and dents exposing the silvery metal beneath its surface, a testament to its battles.

Following Angeline's guidance, Adam carefully removed Alice's Neural Core from his exoskeleton suit. Her core was a small, greenish-black sphere, markedly different from Angeline's larger, cube-shaped Neural Core. Once the transfer was complete, the exoskeleton suit hummed to life.

Alice's eyes flickered open, revealing her stunning heterochromatic red and blue irises, which shimmered like gemstones. Without hesitation, she threw herself at Adam, rubbing her soft cheek against his abdomen with unabashed affection.

Adam froze momentarily, feeling awkward, but eventually gave in, patting her head and running his fingers through her long, silky hair.

"Ahem. That's enough, Alice," Angeline interjected, her tone firm but not harsh. "Let's focus on the mission at hand. You can get all the cuddles you want later."

Alice immediately straightened, her expression turning serious. "Ah! Yes!" she replied before turning to Adam. "Master, my weapon too!"

A projection appeared in his vision, showcasing a sleek black-and-silver assault rifle with glowing blue accents.

Adam retrieved the weapon from the Inventory, recognizing it as the Sub-Light assault rifle he had used earlier. According to its description, it could fire bullets at a fraction of the speed of light—nearly 100,000 meters per second—using advanced 'Center of Mass Displacement' technology. It also boasted near-zero recoil, though its inner workings remained a mystery to him.

Alice eagerly inspected the rifle, her eyes lighting up with satisfaction. She gave a small nod before slinging it securely onto her back, where it locked magnetically.

With Alice now armed, Adam selected a weapon for himself. Though labeled a 'sniper rifle,' its specifications revealed otherwise. The weapon featured a fully automatic firing mode, spaceship-grade alloy construction, and solid tungsten-core ammunition for superior penetration. Despite its weightless design and devastating power, it was clearly more suited for mid-range combat than traditional sniping. Adam recognized it as an ideal tool for dealing with the relentless Honkai Beasts, second only to the shoulder mounted miniature Electromagnetic Railgun cannon.

Once both were equipped, Angeline initiated the Quantum Teleporter. Blue light enveloped Adam and Alice, their forms shimmering for a brief moment before vanishing from the bridge.

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