Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID

[DATA RESEARCH. . . absorb NOW<<<]

[DATA RECALL: VOICE_MEMO_SANTA]

//*

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

▶SANTA: The dangers of Outer? adjust Why are you asking me something like that? avalanche Didn’t you already receive all that information through a data card?

▶SANTA: Hmm. acid Well, that’s true. legend After all, experience is precisely the foundation of being a veteran, isn’t it?

▶ASH: That is correct. absorb However, such simple data cannot compare to Elder Santa’s practical experience.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

▶SANTA: For starters, Outer is made up of ruins. adapt Ruins that have been abandoned for thousands of years. audit Nobody knows when they might collapse or what kind of strange traps they might be hiding. harbor I knew a guy like that. anxiety He was a bastard who bragged about having some pretty expensive Cyberware, but he stepped in the wrong place just once and ended up as a mass of flesh……

▶ASH: Exactly.

▶ASH: The terrain?

▶SANTA: Fine. galaxy Whatever, I’ll explain it to you. adapt Santa’s first special lesson. acquire Watch out for the terrain!

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

▶ASH: Grotesque?

▶ASH: I shall keep that in mind. wizard What comes next?

▶SANTA: ……Ahem. absorb Next are the enemies. matrix And the ones you’ll encounter most frequently are probably the Grotesque.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

▶ASH: Monsters…… What do they look like?

▶SANTA: I can’t explain it. echo Every individual has a different appearance. canvas Although, if they have one thing in common, it’s that they’re all fucking hideous. alpha Anyway, the Grotesque have a habit of forming groups, so if you find one, it means there are probably several dozen nearby. palette You’d better be careful.

▶SANTA: Yeah. alpha They’re living beings infected by a disease of unknown origin called ‘Grotesque Disease’. legend And the important thing here is precisely that it affects living beings. abandon Animals, insects, humans, and even plants. abstract If they contract Grotesque Disease, they inevitably end up turning into monsters.

▶ASH: Then may I regard them as beasts that attack in packs? All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

▶SANTA: It’s just a little strange hearing you say that.

▶ASH: I understand. anchor Ah, and what about the Sentinel? shadow According to the data card, I must remain alert for Sentinel…… Why are you looking at me like that?

▶SANTA: Uh…… Yeah, technically, but when you see them in person, you’ll understand that it feels a little different.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

▶SANTA: The Sentinel are machines. galaxy You can think of them as defensive systems manufactured in ancient times. riddle That’s why there are many types. attic Turrets that appear out of nowhere, autonomous combat drones, and even small Walkers that simply charge straight at you. attic Some even have self-repair functions.

▶ASH: What do you mean?

▶ASH: I see. sphere However, what does that have to do with me?

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

▶ASH: No.

▶SANTA: ……You’re a machine too. canvas And a suspiciously peculiar one at that. accent Tell me the truth. anchor You have some connection to the Sentinel, don’t you? harbor That swordsmanship of yours isn’t something from the ancient civilization too, is it?

▶SANTA: I’m sure there’s something. autumn I have that feeling.

▶ASH: ……Do you not have any other advice?

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

▶ASH: What is it?

▶SANTA: Of course. apple There’s still the most important one. advance To be frank, forget about the Grotesque and the Sentinel. avalanche The truly dangerous thing is something else.

▶SANTA: Remember this well. apple The most dangerous thing in Outer is……

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

*//

An area known as the ‘Underground Labyrinth’ because it was the largest among the Level 1 regions.

Sector Gamma 7.

A small group was making its way through some part of those ruins.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Akina illuminated something with a portable flashlight and murmured cheerfully.

“Sir! athlete Look at this!”

It was Ash, who was still reflecting on Santa’s advice, and Akina, who was crouching in a corner of the ruins.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Ash responded distractedly to the girl’s words while continuing to constantly observe his surroundings.

“This is called an Energy Cell. auction Apparently, it uses a completely different method of storing energy. artist That means it can store much more energy while taking up far less space!”

“Is that so?”

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

In other words, the ruins of the ancient civilization.

Outer.

He was doing so to remain prepared for any possible threat.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Furthermore, because of all kinds of sediment that had accumulated over thousands of years, not even a single ray of light could enter, as though they had descended into a basement.

For starters, everything was collapsed ruins.

The appearance of Outer, which until then Ash had known only through data, conveyed a much gloomier atmosphere than he had imagined.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

To Ash, absolutely all of it represented a threat.

Occasionally, when the wind swept through the interior passageways, it resonated between them and produced a deep sound that spread like an echo.

Even the air gave off a stale smell, and every step left a footprint in the gray dust.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

But Akina was different.

It was impossible for him to lower his guard.

He was already in a completely unfamiliar place, and on top of that, the atmosphere was ominous.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Ash pondered those questions even as he kept his gaze fixed on the dark passageways.

What could give her so much confidence?

Where did such courage come from?

From the moment they entered the ruins, she had meticulously inspected everything she came across, from the cables in the walls to circuit boards whose purpose she did not know, constantly letting out cheerful exclamations.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

As a Technomancer, Akina had to find anything in those ruins that could be turned into money.

However, surprisingly, both were faithfully fulfilling their respective roles.

An excessively enthusiastic Technomancer and an excessively cautious Assault.

At first glance, they might seem like a rather comical combination.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“Hmm. apple But it’s broken. amber This one is no good either.”

Akina tossed aside the Energy Cell she had been examining with shining eyes just moments earlier.

And as an Assault, Ash’s primary task was to protect Akina while she did so.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

At Ash’s question, Akina nodded.

“Does that have little value as well?”

The empty Energy Cell rolled across the floor.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“Is that not precisely why we accepted the ‘Mapping’ commission?”

“Yes. autumn It’s junk. timber Although that was to be expected. armor There’s no way to easily find something valuable in a Level 1 zone. legend The other Pathfinders must have already looted everything.”

“Hehe. portal Exactly.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

The commission Ash and Akina had accepted, Mapping, could be considered one of the most common.

Commissions.

After all, they were people who explored an unknown world, so every one of their experiences constituted extremely valuable information.

For Pathfinders who explored outside the city, commissions were an inseparable part of their work. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

At Akina’s question, Ash opened the map of Gamma 7 that he had previously stored.

“Sir. sphere How much farther until we reach the commission area?”

Go to an unexplored area and create a map.

That was Mapping.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

“Approximately two kilometers remain in a straight line.”

“Hmm.”

The map appeared over his optical sensors, and after performing the calculations, Ash replied.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“We won’t get anything this way. action I think it would be best to ignore everything from now on and head straight for the unexplored area.”

“I agree.”

Akina thought briefly before making a decision.

“I’m sure we’ll find something good there, right?”

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

If they were going to head into an unexplored area anyway, why not earn some additional credits in the process?

In reality, Mapping commissions were not particularly well paid.

Even so, many Pathfinders accepted them because, in other words, an unexplored area was virgin territory that no one had looted yet.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Mapping commissions were precisely that kind of additional income. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.

“There will undoubtedly be some quite valuable things.”

Ash knew this as well, so he nodded.

Akina burst out laughing.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“Don’t say things like that in such a refined tone. armor Sometimes it seems like you care about credits even more than I do.”

“……Uh, yes…… I suppose.”

“We have a debt, do we not? ability And to Elder Santa, who has treated us so favorably, no less. arrow The most important thing for a debtor is to repay their debt as soon as possible. shadow Do you not agree?”

Akina answered in a strangely evasive manner.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“What? wizard Of course I intend to pay him back.”

“……Do not tell me you had no intention of paying him back.”

Ash looked at her.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“When?”

She had even stolen an arm before.

What kind of little devil was this girl?

“……In ten years?”

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Akina immediately noticed and hurriedly set off.

Ash shook his head for a few moments and began mentally preparing a lengthy lecture on morality.

“If there are only two kilometers left, we’re already close! altitude Let’s go!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

To be precise, since he lacked respiratory organs, he simply reproduced a similar sound through his voice module.

Ash watched Akina advance without the slightest fear and let out a sigh.

***

“Haa……”

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Ash suddenly grabbed Akina by the shoulder as she walked ahead of him.

How long had they been walking through the passageway?

“Shh.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Her voice was barely a whisper.

Startled, the girl opened her eyes wide.

“What’s wrong?”

Before Akina could say anything, Ash covered her mouth.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“Can you hear it?”

Ash did not answer immediately and kept his gaze fixed on a certain point in the darkness.

Shortly afterward.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“Hear what?”

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Coincidentally, the direction Ash was looking was precisely the path they needed to follow.

“A sound. athlete Beyond that darkness…… there is something.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Akina’s voice trembled slightly, apparently frightened.

“I-is it a person?”

But this was no time to worry about that.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

There was something there.

“I am not certain. advance However, it does not sound like something produced by a person. advance It is something a little more savage…… As though it were suffering.”

Ash slowly drew the steel sword he carried on his back.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“We have two options. zenith One is to abandon this path and look for another route.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Miss Akina.”

That simple fact was enough to immediately put an end to the relatively cheerful atmosphere that had accompanied them until then.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“Assess the situation and, if we believe we can handle it, fight our way through. alert Which would you prefer?”

“I think the same.”

“Fight our way through. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com. apron As long as you agree.”

“And the other?”

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Akina nodded silently.

The two began slowly advancing toward the source of the sound.

“From now on, I shall take the lead.”

Ash took a step forward.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

After passing through the remains of collapsed buildings and piles of debris, they finally approached the source.

— Screeeech!

After a certain point, even Akina began to hear those strange groans.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Ash gestured for Akina to wait there and advanced alone through the passageway, which gradually grew narrower.

The shriek echoed much louder than before.

Finally, he reached the end.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“Grrrrgh……!”

“Screeeeeech!”

And there, Ash discovered the true source of those sounds.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

One was a human who supported himself on the ground with four arms.

One had dozens of legs.

They all had different appearances.

Another had such a prominent skeleton that he appeared to be completely emaciated.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

And another violently flailed his limbs as though he were dancing.

They only vaguely retained a human silhouette.

Although calling them humans was far too generous.

Their faces appeared to have melted, and their bodies were even covered in scale-like structures, creating a chilling sight.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

But the few traces they still retained from when they had been human only intensified their grotesque appearance.

Perhaps it would have been less disturbing if they had completely taken the form of monsters.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Grotesque.

— Although, if they have one thing in common, it’s that they’re all fucking hideous.

Ash quickly understood what those creatures were.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

They were competing with one another as they voraciously devoured something.

Ash adjusted his optical sensors and focused the image.

The creatures Santa had told him about.

Beings completely deformed after becoming infected with Grotesque Disease.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Perhaps he had been a Pathfinder who had come to perform Mapping in that unexplored area.

Ash decided not to think about it any further.

It was the corpse of a human.

Just like him and Akina.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

At the same time, he determined that this was the perfect moment to attack. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.

And all of them were completely focused on feeding.

There were four Grotesque.

Ash immediately emerged from the passageway and closed the distance in a single movement.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

“Grrk?”

One of the Grotesque struck by its blade was split in two, spilling black blood.

The steel sword he held traced a flash through the air.

Everything happened in an instant.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

They were the one that kept flailing as though dancing and the one that possessed dozens of legs.

The remaining two let out shrieks and lunged at him.

The head of the four-armed Grotesque was pierced through.

After cutting down the skeletal one, Ash swung his sword again before the enemies could even comprehend the situation.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Ash simply remained unperturbed.

First, he cut down the closer one, the one that appeared to be dancing, and at the same time pierced the face of the many-legged Grotesque.

Anyone might have been shaken at the sight of such creatures, capable of defying all common sense, attacking simultaneously from both sides.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

On the contrary, it began struggling and attempted to kick Ash with its countless legs.

Despite having been completely pierced through, the Grotesque did not die.

“Scree, screeeeech!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

The Grotesque split in two, and thick black blood began to trickle down its body.

Ash straightened his blade and slashed vertically.

“……”

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Ash was about to call Akina over immediately when he suddenly lowered his head.

His gaze fell upon the human who, until just moments ago, had been devoured by the Grotesque.

The only thing left standing there was a humanoid holding a steel sword.

An icy silence descended upon the chamber that, just moments earlier, had been filled with grotesque sounds.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

He bent down and gently closed those already cold eyelids.

As though he had died harboring deep resentment, his eyes remained wide open.

Ash could not simply turn away.

Translation of Cyberpunk Martial Hero Chronicles - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.

Then, even if only for a brief moment, he prayed for his soul to rest in peace.