Chapter 60: Disaster Coming

Lucia relayed the observational data from Fran to the event staff.

They dared not be careless, fearing it might be a prelude to an attack. Immediately, they ordered everyone to stay away from the Black Pyramid and called for tow vehicles and bomb disposal units over the walkie-talkie, preparing to carry out a hazard inspection.

However, the Radiant Hero Festival was about to begin.

“What are we going to do about the expo?”

Lucia asked, “There are so many visitors queued up outside the Exhibition Center. Are we going to cancel?”

“They’ll probably issue an announcement first, to either terminate or postpone…”

The staff on site looked troubled. If things went wrong, he’d likely have his salary docked.

“No, the expo will continue as planned!”

A boy, who had been listening nearby without anyone noticing, stepped forward. Dressed in a tight suit resembling a pilot uniform, wearing a vividly painted, stylish half-helmet, he looked every bit like a hero.

“I heard all your conversation! But this expo is a crucial promotional opportunity for me and the Heroic Mech! So leave this mess to us!”

As he spoke, a massive mech on display powered up. It moved to the center of the floor and attempted to lift the Black Pyramid from the ground.

But given the pyramid’s shape and the thickness of the robot’s fingers, it was difficult to pick up. After a burst of frustration, it finally pried it free — damaging the exhibition floor in the process.

“Sorry… where should I take it?”

A girl’s voice came from inside the mech. The staff hurriedly gave directions:

“There are bomb disposal modules in the Exhibition Center’s storage. Just put it there for now.”

“Understood, please lead the way.”

“If there’s danger, I’m coming along!”

The boy in the pilot suit said, and the humanoid mech bent forward, opening the cockpit at the chest. He was helped inside and seated.

“Huh? Wait, wasn’t there no pilot in the mech before?”

Lucia asked. Fran explained:

“That voice just now was the mech’s high-performance AI.”

The robot named Heroic Mech actually had a female AI voice.

“…Wait, if it can move without a pilot, then what’s the pilot’s role?”

“He provides the heart of justice,” Fran answered.

“Ah?”

Lucia looked puzzled. Fran elaborated:

“The pilot is the Heroic Mech’s heart of justice… Their official website says without that boy, the robot can’t unleash its full power.”

“Wow, so even robots can be idealistic.”

Heroic Mech lifted the Black Pyramid and prepared to leave the hall with the staff. Lucia turned to look at the Sigma series exhibition booth.

“Let’s find Senior Clara first and then go to排——”

But before she finished speaking, the Black Pyramid in Heroic Mech’s hands suddenly unfolded upwards, spewing energy that tore through the exhibition hall’s ceiling.

“Is it going to explode?!”

Lucia quickly moved away to avoid falling debris from the ceiling panels.

“No, this is… some kind of beacon signal?”

Fran was able to recognize the function of the Black Pyramid.

“Huh? What kind of beacon?”

“A wormhole…”

Before Fran could finish, a series of bombardments tore through the ceiling.

Clearly, the Radiant Hero Festival was about to be terminated.

And the disaster had arrived.

“What are those things?!”

Clara, her makeup still on, rushed out from behind the Sigma booth.

At the far end of the exhibition hall, a massive hole was being drilled through the ceiling by a continuous energy pillar. Figures were climbing in through the hole.

Inside the hall appeared shadowy figures as dark as silhouettes… monsters?

Though their shapes varied, they all shared strikingly feminine figures, but their fingertips were like sharp claws — creatures that blended danger and seduction.

“Are these guys some organization’s combatants?”

All female fighters? That went against industry norms.

If they weren’t monsters, these suddenly appearing enemies might even be considered cute…

[They are Shadow Soldiers, lacking full intelligence but much stronger than regular combatants.]

That much was clear.

Heroes on site had already started battling these mass-produced soldiers. Despite it being a gathering of heroes, the heroes were not gaining the upper hand — indicating just how difficult these foes were.

[Fight, Clara.]

Nyx seemed to know the origin of the monsters and urged Clara to join the battle.

But Clara was not ready to fight. Just then, Sista, who had just changed into her performance outfit, came up behind her and pushed her toward Damo Ogata.

“Stop looking. You all need to evacuate first.”

Relieved that she wouldn’t have to fight, Clara let out a breath.

But then grew tense again: “Wait, my sister… my colleague is still in that direction!”

“Don’t worry, leave Miss Lucia to me.”

With her back to Clara, and under the surveillance of an uncounted drone swarm that had arrived unnoticed, Sista activated the transformation device on her wrist.

“Access code: Σ, attire.”

No sooner had she spoken than another laser beam descended from above, tearing through the ceiling over the Sigma booth, shining on Sista and completing the donning of her exoskeleton armor.

“Whoa? That’s dangerous! Don’t transform indoors!”

Clara ducked backstage just in time to avoid debris from the collapsing ceiling…

Even heroes’ transformations could be destructive.

“Pure White Storm, entering battle.”

The white-clad hero spread her mechanical wings and flew straight toward the energy pillar.

“But really, there are evil organizations bold enough to attack the Radiant Hero Festival?”

At least Naitmel wouldn’t carry out such operations. Evaluating mission risk, this was an unprofitable venture. Even if the Supreme Leader wanted to do it, the strategic department would restrain him…

“Is this the ‘Fourth Calamity’ madman? No, is it really an evil organization’s assault?”

“Time to evacuate, Miss Clara.”

Shadow Soldiers would inevitably reach here. Without argument, Damo Ogata grabbed Clara’s wrist and led her and the other staff out of the exhibition hall.

Outside, they looked up.

“…What is that?”

Above the hall, a halo-shaped wormhole tunnel was visible, with black Shadow Soldiers drifting out of it endlessly…

[That is the portal connecting to the Dark Realm.]

Nyx explained, but Clara couldn’t comprehend.

Huh? How could such a thing appear in Central City?

Besides, “wormhole technology” should have been banned…

[Not sure, but clearly someone facilitated this. We must stop it before the situation becomes irreversible… Clara, are you going to wait here for the other heroes to solve this?]

Nyx asked, and Clara furrowed her brows, countering:

“How do we close it then?”

[Destroy the beacon.]

The beacon means… that energy pillar?

[Yes, there must be a device generating the beacon.]

With so many heroes on site, they should be able to do it…

Still, Clara hesitated. Years of experience made fleeing an instinctive reaction.

But Nyx knew how to awaken her fighting spirit.

[Lucia’s destination upon leaving was that giant robot. That booth is very close to the beacon. Lucia hasn’t undergone any modification or prosthetic implants; she’s in grave danger.]

“…Tch, Miss Damo, you all run first!”

Clara gritted her teeth and turned back into the exhibition hall.

Even if she wasn’t officially debuted, even if she was just playing a role… she was still a hero.

No, maybe only a half-baked one.

But as a brother, I’m serious about this!

[Emotion rising, ready to take off?]

“Ah, Nyx, fly a round with me!”