Chapter 34

Standing in our way were the security guards who had gathered at the main gate. They unleashed a barrage of gunfire and magic, aiming squarely for the golem car in a desperate attempt to halt our intrusion.

“Hey now, that’s quite the welcome.”

I wrenched the steering wheel left and right to dodge the incoming attacks. Bullets and fireballs grazed the chassis, but they didn’t carry enough impact to slow us down. I maintained our speed and charged straight through.

“Stop! If you get any closer—”

“What happens then?”

I answered by plowing the hood into the shouting guards as we burst into the estate. We sped recklessly across the vast lawn. Before long, the shrill clang of a bell echoed through the air, and red lamps began to spin atop the headquarters. No doubt a signal to report intruders. Honestly, it was a bit too grating on the ears.

“I could use some music. Can you put something on?”

“Yes, I can.”

As Alice manipulated the controls, hard rock began to blare from the rear of the vehicle. The rhythmic beat successfully drowned out the sound of the alarm bell. This was much better. It got my blood pumping. I could feel the rush of adrenaline.

Ignoring the storm of bullets flying from all directions, we drove straight toward the main building. Built with dragon materials, the golem car boasted staggering durability. Half-hearted bullets and magic weren’t enough to leave a scratch.

“Hey, you left your forehead wide open!”

I leaned only my arm out of the window and fired my rifle. The head of a man twenty yards away popped. Anyone attempting to block our path with vehicles was promptly blown away with a bomb. The sight of them erupting into bright red flames was quite a beautiful thing.

The organization members, hit by this sudden raid, didn’t seem to be in peak condition. The number of people intercepting us was small, and they lacked coordination. It seemed a high-mobility frontal breakthrough was beyond their expectations. So far, things were going smoothly.

Our objective was to assassinate the organization’s leader. I wanted to drive up to the building quickly and finish the job while the enemy was still in a state of confusion.

Just as I was thinking that, a large vehicle approached from the side. It looked exactly like a truck. Someone must have started it up from the parking lot.

“Jack.”

“I know.”

Immediately after our short exchange, the truck rammed into us. A violent shock rocked the interior. The truck stayed pinned against us, continuing to push with sheer force. Because of this, the golem car couldn’t move forward and the steering wouldn’t respond. I could see sparks flying from the strained drive system even from inside the cabin. The magical lights imbued into various parts of the car flickered unnaturally.

They likely intended to push us all the way to the stone wall and crush us against it. They really didn’t want us getting close to that building. They were desperate to protect their leader. I had to admire their loyalty and guts.

“We can’t move like this. What do you want to do?”

“It’s fine. For now, open the top.”

While adjusting the wheel to keep us from flipping over, I gave Alice instructions. The golem car’s roof immediately retracted, exposing the night sky. I scrambled out and climbed onto the exterior.

“Quite the guts you’ve got. I don’t hate it.”

As I spoke, I leapt onto the truck pinned against us. I grabbed hold, bracing my foot against the side mirror.

“Wha—!?”

The stunned driver reached for a rifle. Before he could level it, I kicked through the windshield.

I dragged the driver out of the cabin and tossed him aside, watching him tumble to the ground. In the same motion, I claimed the driver’s seat of the truck for myself.

“Not a bad ride.”

I wrenched the steering wheel hard, veering away from the golem car we had been ramming. The golem car spun momentarily but quickly regained its footing. As it stabilized, I caught Alice’s eyes through the glass.

“Follow my lead!”

Once I saw her nod, I swung the truck around. We resumed our charge toward the headquarters.

“Stop them at all costs! Don’t let them go any further!”

“Mages, aim for the tires! Disable their movement!”

“It’s no use! They’re moving too fast to aim!”

The organization members unleashed a concentrated volley of fire. An avalanche of attacks poured into the driver’s cabin. I kept my head low while expertly maneuvering the wheel.

Glancing in the side mirror, I saw flames erupting from the cargo bed. Sequential popping sounds reached my ears. They must have been carrying gunpowder or something similar, and the enemy’s own attacks had ignited it.

“—Perfect. Let’s make this the second gift.”

I smiled and slammed the accelerator to the floor. The engine was making a strange noise, but it would hold for another minute. That was all the time I needed. Despite being pelted with fierce attacks from all sides, the truck forced its way forward through sheer momentum.

“Oh? What’s that…?”

In front of the headquarters building, multiple layers of glass-like walls were manifesting. They were positioned specifically to block my path. A group of people holding staves had gathered and seemed to be performing some kind of ritual. I didn’t need Alice’s explanation to know what it was—magical barriers. They looked similar to the golem’s shields used during the dragon battle. It seemed they had scrambled to put them up to stop our advance.

However, I wasn’t about to flinch at the sight. I kept my foot pinned to the accelerator, gathering even more speed. Seeing this, the mages scrambled to get out of the way. They realized the high-speed truck had no intention of slowing down; in fact, it looked like I intended to crush them all. Apparently, they valued their lives after all.

“Well then, time for my exit.”

Just as the barriers loomed directly ahead, I kicked the door open and leapt out. I hit the ground and rolled, focusing on breaking my fall. As soon as my momentum stopped, I looked up to see the results.

The driverless, flaming truck slammed head-on into the magical barriers. It pulverized the defenses even as its front end crumpled. The truck lost its balance, flipped onto its side, and plowed into the building before erupting in a massive explosion.

Flames roared upward, and thick black smoke began to lick the sides of the building. The entrance area, which had taken the brunt of the impact, was completely demolished. The walls and doors were gone, leaving a gaping, jagged hole. The surrounding area was a scene of pure pandemonium, filled with screams and the groans of the injured. No one had the luxury of attacking us anymore.

“Splendid. I feel like popping a bottle of expensive champagne.”

While I was admiring my handiwork, the golem car carrying Alice approached from behind. It began to slow down, but I laughed and shook my head. I gave her a “come on” gesture. The enemy was in total chaos; now wasn’t the time for leisure—we needed to keep the pressure on. Speed was our greatest ally right now. To overcome a numerical disadvantage, the best strategy was a relentless, overwhelming offense.

Catching my drift, the golem car accelerated again. Just as the vehicle drew level with me, I grabbed the door handle and vaulted onto the roof with a light hop. From my perch, I spoke to Alice inside.

“We’re going in. Let’s blast right through them.”

“Leave it to me.”

The heavy bass of the engine let out a roar. It blended with the piercing hard rock music still blaring from the speakers. To put it simply, it was magnificent. The truck hadn’t been bad, but this vehicle was truly in a league of its own.

Leaving trails of blood from its tires as it ran over the remaining members of the organization, the golem car lunged into the heart of the building.