I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun-Chapter 797: Washington D.C (13)

"Balloon deployment complete. Aurora moves in first. Head to the center."

"I'll follow. I'll go to Bravo. Owens, what about you?"

"I'm heading to Charlie. Hope everyone makes it back safely."

"Of course."

Click, tsk tsk!

As soon as the thin steel cable was inserted into the winch and the button was pressed, the entire team of Dagger members shot upwards, following the balloon that soared into the sky. Even bodies weighing over 200kg were lifted by the overwhelming power of the winch.

In an instant, the view of the Pentagon became small enough for all of Dagger team members to see. Of course, this didn’t mean they could only see the walls. It literally meant that the Pentagon, the five-sided building, was visible in its entirety.

Since the construction of the government building in the capital, such a structure had never been built, and more than ten operators rose 700 meters into the air, and once they reached the top, the winch detached and the wingsuits unfolded.

This was the moment when the Dagger team’s signature wingsuit infiltration technique was put into play in the capital, just as it had been in Manhattan.

The method of infiltration was not as a sport, but as operators.

Therefore, there were no smoke bombs used for trajectory checks, which would normally be attached to the tail. Instead, the team confirmed the lead using the green hexagon markers, which signified allied forces.

Their destination was the Potomac Park.

"How's the situation?"

"Just as expected. It's a mess. There's a massacre going on down below. Looking at the way they've neatly blocked off the entrance, it’s clear they’ve sealed it off to prevent reinforcements..."

"We’ll open it from there."

"I’ll open it. Eugene, go with Chester. Got it?"

"...Yes."

Although still somewhat inexperienced, Eugene was already a valuable member of the Dagger team, and there was no choice but to trust her.

However, on the flip side, this meant Eugene had to meet the expectations placed on her, and she had to participate in the mission with a sense of tension, as though walking on a knife's edge. This was no different this time.

It was unavoidable.

And how much time had passed? The moment all of them landed on the ground.

They noticed, with the sound of screams, that the previously functioning Icarus gear suddenly began crackling.

-[Notification: Unauthorized master code recognized. Unauthorized connection detected.]

-[Notification: Continuous connection attempts detected. Blocking the port... Block unsuccessful. Some Icarus gear functions are limited.]

-[Notification: List of functionality restrictions. // Unable to recognize allies // Skills unavailable // Low-level communications cut off // Physical ability enhancements partially restricted.]

-[Notification: Would you like to attempt to reboot the gear?]

"...Cute move."

"...I can't hear the comms, Chester."

"Don’t worry. We did a backup briefing with an analog method just in case. You’re familiar with the mission plan, retreat routes, and escape plans, right?"

"Of course."

"Good, then let’s think about how to deal with those bastards."

At that moment, Eugene, Chester, and Logan all witnessed the same thing.

Under the faint moonlight, about four heavily armed threats revealed themselves. The silhouettes of individuals fully armored from head to toe appeared, eerily facing Dagger team members. They were even wearing bulletproof masks.

Compared to Olivia, their night vision ability was significantly weaker, but even so, some of them could roughly discern the identities of those standing in front of Dagger team members, piercing through the thick darkness.

Exo-suits connected all over their bodies, electronic devices mounted on their backs, and interference signals radiating from these devices.

These were beings specifically created to kill Icarus operators.

Chester took a slow breath and carefully spoke.

"Let’s test their durability first. Let’s hit them once. It’s likely the situation is the same elsewhere, and Olivia will have a lot to check, so don’t expect any support."

"Understood."

Clink!

Eugene casually lifted the firearm strapped to her back. It was an M107 CQ. The armor-piercing rounds were loaded in. Unfortunately, the enhancements to her physical abilities and targeting calibration were virtually nonexistent compared to before.

But it didn’t matter. This was exactly why she had practiced countless times without any compensations, so without hesitation, Eugene inserted the box magazine.

At the same time, Chester tossed three smoke grenades onto the ground, and as smoke billowed up, Eugene quickly turned from behind cover, firing her sniper rifle at the enemy silhouette releasing intense heat beyond the smoke.

Whether the target was dead or not couldn’t be confirmed immediately. However, Eugene witnessed a red marker indicating one enemy falling backward as soon as she pulled the trigger, and the battle started instantly.

The deafening sounds erupted. Gunshots and the sounds of smoke grenades exploding.

Though Dagger team had relied heavily on Icarus gear, even with the significantly reduced performance, they were still excellent warriors.

However, the enemies had come well-prepared as well.

—Crunch!

"These crazy bastards!"

The enemies, not backing down, also detonated their smoke grenades and quickly closed the distance with a speed that made one wonder what method they had used. They approached so fast that guns could no longer be used to stop them.

Thanks to the enhanced reaction speed, the two Icarus operators stopped their actions of drawing pistols and shifted into defense.

However,

"What...!"

The close combat strike that couldn’t be stopped once it was too close came flying in.

The punch came at her, and she felt the hairs on her body stand on end as it made contact, the slight tingling sensation as it brushed against her. What was certain was that if it had hit directly in the center of her body, the pain would have been the least of her concerns.

But conversely, when the ‘contact’ failed halfway through, the mysterious enemy quickly pulled back.

—'Paralysis' doesn’t work well.

—What? Wasn’t the Icarus gear fully disabled?

—Unknown. Unexpected situation. Is Lancer 4 still fully disabled?

—The 50-caliber armor-piercing round hit the face. Lucky not to be dead.

—Bad feeling. Let’s stall, and then separate the suit.

Alejandro Webb’s final authority as the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the master code.

Even though Secretary Solomon had erased all traces and schemes of Secretary Webb, who had almost betrayed the U.S., not all of Webb's schemes could be fully blocked.

Considering this, Webb had done his job and provided as much help as possible to the Black Eagle, and it had worked to some extent.

However, not everything had worked.

—The Icarus gear for the Dagger team was not fully disabled by ‘hacking.’ This information needs to be reported to HQ.

—The effects of the EMP are still lingering. If we retreat now, we might be overwhelmed without resistance.

—We’ll have to endure that. This information takes priority.

Even Alejandro Webb, who didn’t know everything about the Icarus gear, especially about its energy limitation grades, was unaware of this fact.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen

Because he wasn’t the head of Icarus, but the Secretary of Homeland Security.

While he knew of Icarus gear, he didn’t know everything about it.

Because of this one fact, Dagger team’s Icarus gear wasn’t fully disabled, and the gap between the operators and hunters, who should have entered the battle at a disadvantage, didn’t change much.

Of course, there were no people around who acknowledged how remarkable this outcome was.

Or perhaps they knew, but didn’t want to admit it.

—Target the ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Mutant first!

—Damn it, catching up is the least of it! These bastards are fast!

The goal was simple, but achieving it wasn’t easy.

The Black Eagle soldiers experienced, for the first time, the gaze of a mutant, and the mutant members of Task Force Dagger understood what it meant to fight for their lives.

The battle began amidst the bodies of dead American soldiers.

"...Damn it. Communications are completely cut off."

"Is it okay not to check on them?"

"They won’t be the ones falling over there. I’m leaving the sniping to you guys."

"...Wait, Captain. What did you see above the Lincoln Memorial...!?"

"Just go."

Boom!

Olivia kicked off the spire and jumped down, forming wings in the air. She flew toward the still-floating helium balloon, attached the winch, and soared back up into the sky.

It didn’t take long for her to land on the Lincoln Memorial, about 2.25 km away, and only then did the Eagle team realize what Olivia had seen with her naked eyes from that far distance.

A unique appearance that, because it resembled a human, made it seem even less human.

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A mutant was there.

"I’ve thought about it before. There have been quite a few mutants in the U.S., but there must be at least a few in other factions as well."

"...But that’s not why you came here, right?"

"Exactly, Black Eagle."

Clink.

Olivia leisurely aimed her gun. In front of her was one of the strangest-looking mutants she had ever seen among all the people she’d met.

Bathed in moonlight, their hair and skin were so pale it seemed light would pass through them, and their eyes glowed a faint ruby color, like illuminated rubies. They resembled Lorentina in some ways.

But the most unique aspect was that, except for their head, the rest of their body was completely covered in strange armor.

"This is the perfect place to confirm what’s going on over Potomac Park. And usually... among all the enemies we’ve faced so far, those who wear clothes or gear that don’t fit the occasion tend to hold decent positions."

"Interesting theory. So?"

"I’ll tell them to cooperate, but I don’t think they’ll listen..."

Whirring, Boom!

The sound of a click from below, and the next moment, Olivia vanished with an explosive sound. The entire rooftop where she stood exploded, but like a bird taking flight, she wasn’t harmed in the slightest.

To be precise, she was slightly injured by debris and the shockwave, but it wasn’t even enough to bother her.

After avoiding the booby traps and flying up into the air, Olivia slowly landed again and spoke.

"I expected this."

"Too bad. Failed, huh? Ridiculous reaction speed."

"Such impudent behavior. Looks like you’re wearing something interesting, but you better hope it’s something that will stop your limbs from flying off while it still helps you with blood loss."

"Been there, done that? Go ahead, try it if you can."

Vroom!

In that instant, a large number of drones flew up like hornets. Drone hangars placed on the ground opened simultaneously, and hundreds of drones were launched into the sky.

But Olivia had known that such a bad situation was coming. Strictly speaking, she had infiltrated the enemy's heart alone. It was something that should have been avoided at all costs.

However, she had confidence she could return, and the technological source that made it possible was hanging from her left wrist.

Before the swarm of drones could surround Olivia and target her with the guns mounted on their undersides, she decided to endure the overload of her gear.

She lightly tapped the gear, and the tremendous power inside the gear released in the form of an electromagnetic pulse, spreading forward.

The drones turned into scrap metal and fell to the ground right after.

—Crack!

"Crazy people...!"

"Do you think we have time for that?"

Just as the prepared trap was completely destroyed, Race's expression twisted grotesquely.

Olivia didn’t miss that gap and kicked off the shattered ground, approaching quickly. But unfortunately, Olivia had underestimated her first combat against a mutant she had never seen before.

She had obtained the ability to see clearly and possess sight beyond what humans could handle, and just as she could see through the night, the enemy had abilities of their own.

Of course, Olivia hadn’t just rushed in without considering that.

However, the next moment, what Olivia saw was not just a simple observation.

A red liquid, boiling from the ground, narrowly missed her abdomen right after.

"...!?"

"...You didn’t get skilled overnight."

"Playing according to the looks. If you show this in a DARPA lab, it might be more acceptable."

"Eat shit, you bastard."

Thud thud thud!

The moment Olivia landed on the ground, the red liquid, which looked like blood, seemed to split into hundreds of tiny droplets and quickly formed into sharp needles.

When they shot out at a tremendous speed, Olivia ducked behind cover and, while evading, managed to grab one with her fingers, throwing it to the ground.

It didn’t take long for the red needles scattered on the ground to turn into droplets of blood.

"Unbelievable."

"...Who the hell says that?"

Olivia and Race.

One was bewildered by the appearance of an ability they couldn’t have foreseen, while the other destroyed all the hidden cards right on the spot and lost their composure due to the unexpected ability.

Today, the world was taking another step toward the unknown.