Alicization Lasting by Reki Kawahara

Author:Reki Kawahara [Kawahara, Reki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, Light Novel
Publisher: Yen On
Published: 2019-12-25T00:00:00+00:00

Lieutenant Colonel Kikuoka wheezed with ragged breath. A cascade of sweat discolored his shirt and seeped into Higa’s clothing.

Higa wanted to tell him he could get down on his own from here, but he kept stopping himself from doing so. Yanai’s bullet had penetrated Higa’s right shoulder, which still throbbed despite the maximal level of painkillers, and his body felt as heavy as lead after losing so much blood. He didn’t feel capable of supporting his own weight.

And more importantly, Higa realized, it was a bit surprising that the lieutenant colonel would be so desperate in this situation.

The final goal of Project Alicization, acquiring the limit-surpassed fluctlight code-named A.L.I.C.E., had been met. All that was left was to analyze Alice’s structure and compare it to that of other fluctlights, and they would be well on their way to mass-producing true bottom-up AI. The purpose of Rath’s existence—to establish a foundation for Japanese defense in the coming age of drone warfare and to escape the control of America’s military industry—would be fulfilled at last.

That was the dearest goal of Seijirou Kikuoka. He had gone to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, gotten involved in the SAO Incident, and maintained a connection to VRMMO players through his own avatar, Chrysheight, for that very reason.

So in terms of Kikuoka’s priorities, keeping the pressure-resistant barrier sealed and protecting Alice’s lightcube until the defense ship could arrive should be the obvious choice. Even if that meant the collapse of the fluctlights of Kazuto Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki. And if Dr. Koujiro protested against it, he could confine her if needed.

“Do…you find this to…be a…surprise?” Kikuoka asked out of the blue between heavy breaths. Higa actually gurgled in alarm.

“Er, I…uh…I guess I’ll admit…that it seems a bit out of character for you…”

“No…kidding.” Kikuoka groaned, rushing down the rungs—only a few dozen feet to go. “But…let me tell you…this. I’ve got a…good reason…for doing this.”

“O-oh yeah…?”

“I make it…a point to always consider…the worst outcome. And for now…I want the enemy…to think…they have a chance at taking…Alice back.”

“The worst outcome, huh?”

Could there be anything worse than the enemy finding out about the cable duct and attacking from below while the barrier was open?

Before Higa could extrapolate that idea any further, Kikuoka’s soles finally landed on the titanium alloy of the hatch. While the commanding officer stopped and panted, Higa pressed on the intercom and said, “Rinko, we’ve made it! Open the barrier lock!!”

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