Inside the Nestor Industrial Park, a pre-war meeting was in progress.
"The Chainsaw Angel who traveled here 30 years ago founded her own gang single-handedly," Lila read from the public report, her tone calm, her demeanor indifferent, casting a solemn atmosphere over the entire meeting.
Looking at Lila, the witches sat upright and still, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Compared to Xu Yang and Farosa, Lila seemed more difficult to approach, as she used her meticulous nature to sort through problems, easily bringing order to the complex and intricate affairs of the company.
Moreover, Lila had established a tracking report file for every member of the Witch Division, collecting and managing records of their growth, and also conversed with the witches privately to understand their psychological states.
Witches were a unique group; if they failed to develop a sound personality, they could cause immense destruction to the world.
Lila was deeply convinced of this, with Farosa being a compelling lesson from the past. Farosa’s childhood was spent in pain and hatred, leaving her spirit forever on the run, seeking refuge in any hard-to-come-by haven, for fear that her small sanctuary would be utterly shattered.
"Here are some basic files," Xu Yang opened a report, which he had downloaded by hacking into the local municipal service company’s subnet in Aizu City, "From the beginning, the Chainsaw Angel crushed several local gangs with her brutal and bloody methods. Personally, her combat skills were outstanding, well-rounded, proficient in a variety of fighting techniques. According to company analysis, even when compared horizontally to other high-ranking Battle Witches, ’Chainsaw Angel’ was considered a cut above the rest, without a single weak spot. In the last 10 years, as the Chainsaw Angel Gang had established absolute dominance in Hui City District, she herself gradually receded into the background and vanished from the public eye."
Lila activated a holographic projection device on the smart screen surface of her desk, outlining the Chainsaw Angel Gang’s current largest hideout, a 3D model of a large-scale nutrient paste canning factory floating mid-air, slowly rotating, casting a dark blue halo of light and shadow.
The entire factory covered an expansive area, easy to defend but hard to attack, with a cargo passage at the top connecting to the surface. Therefore, even under siege, they could still transport supplies through this vertical cargo tunnel.
"This is a factory locally invested in by the Apple Orchard Food Company," Lila zoomed in on the factory model, "About 1200 members of the Chainsaw Angel Gang are stationed here, and she herself is likely hiding Setsuki here. Your mission is to break into the target location, rescue Setsuki safely, and after confirming the hostage’s safety, completely dismantle the Chainsaw Angel and her gang, leave no survivors, and defeat our last enemy in Aizu City."
"All members of the Witch Division will deploy?" Mizuiro Yoshioka inquired.
"Correct," Xu Yang confirmed, "Combat can refine your control over magic power. Even if Farosa can quickly elevate you, you must still accumulate experience with the use of magic power, otherwise you will not be able to progress."
Facing the upcoming mission, the witches were half anxious and half excited.
They had to fight well and cleanly.
Xu Yang could tell from their expressions that their mood had gradually shifted from initial nervousness to a combative eagerness, like a pack of wolves in the dark, catching the scent of their prey.
"To secure victory," Lila pointed out, "certain battle standards are necessary. Soon, you will be connected to the Nestor Corporation’s unified combat system."
"What is that?" 102 asked, puzzled.
"Miyazato Kazama will demonstrate for you," Xu Yang stood up, "Come on, let’s go to the weapons laboratory newly allocated in the industrial park. Your equipment has been comprehensively upgraded."
They passed through the metal grating corridor, into a large warehouse with an area especially demarcated and converted into a spacious weapons testing ground.
With a flat smart screen in hand, Miyazato Kazama nodded at them slightly, as five modified Witch Armors slid before them on an overhead guide rail.
"Based on the Witch Armors previously used by the company," Miyazato Kazama explained, "they have been reasonably modified, incorporating auxiliary methods from previous combat strategies, to bring you all a new combat experience."
These armors, now freshly painted, were coated with a black matte paint, featured low-reflectivity effects, and looked more stable and elegantly discreet, like works of art.
During their previous raid on Sun Biotech, when they clashed with Yahara Masato, they had already decorated their armors with different masks to signify their identities. Now, these monster masks were better integrated with the armors themselves, equipped with night vision modules and thermal sensors, and upgraded with anti-scan firmware, so they served more than visual decoration and concealment.
Thanks to these masks, they easily found their respective equipment and began to suit up: 101’s Snow Maiden Armor, 102’s Mountain Ghost Armor, Shallow Dream’s Ghost Face Armor, and Mizuiro Yoshioka’s Zashiki-warashi Armor.
"If you want to be like them, here are other spare options," Miyazato Kazama showed Du Qianqian an assortment of specter masks.
"I want this one." Du Qianqian selected a terrifying mask without facial features to fit onto the remaining armor. She donned the Witch Armor completely, transforming into a faceless specter.
"The other concealment programs have also been upgraded," Miyazato Kazama continued, "The armor itself has now integrated an anti-magic power leakage module that absorbs the traces of magic power released when you use your magic power, allowing you to wield your powers without any worries. Moreover, I have installed a commercial invisible stance generator, which can also consume the armor’s electricity to create an optical invisibility stance, lasting up to one minute."
"It’s like a whole new feeling." Mizuiro Yoshioka carefully savored the new experience of the Witch Armor—a comprehensive upgrade.
"Following the design pattern of the Single Combat Armor, it now has an inbuilt combat data collection system," Miyazato Kazama pointed out, "During combat, this system will learn and record your fighting style, although it hasn’t achieved autonomous growth like the real Single Combat Armor. By the end of this year, I should be able to design a set of upgrade specifications adapted to the Witch Armor."
"I can’t wait to start punching people," 102 said, eager to try.
Compared to punching people, I’ve already suggested she modify and upgrade a brand-new weapon for you," Xu Yang said, "This was something 101 thought of before, and after hearing about it, I felt there was a lot of potential."
"Oh?" 102’s voice came from beneath the armor mask, sounding somewhat muffled but still joyful.
Miyazato Kazama led them to a corner of the weapon testing area, pulled off a tarpaulin, and underneath was a huge metal gunlance lying there.
"Though it’s a fantasy weapon, it perfectly suits your infinite power," Miyazato Kazama activated the smart guidance module of the gunlance. The small panel on the back featured a simplified navigation system specifically designed for 102, which could switch between long-range bombardment, grenade launching, and flamethrowing modes, while also indicating ammunition status and having an assist lock-on system to improve accuracy. The lethal blade at the end was made of Fenrir metal, with the entire weapon measuring 3.2 meters in length and weighing 60 kilograms.
"It’s... it’s big..." 102 muttered, "And cool..."
"I bought the prototype from the market and then made my signature modifications," Miyazato Kazama said confidently. "Try it."
looked at it eagerly, quickly lifting the gunlance. She expected to struggle with such a colossal weapon, but it was surprisingly fitting. With her magic power enhancing her physical abilities, she swung the gunlance and could feel her magic power starting to deplete.
Using any other lightweight weapon, she never felt the need to tap into her magic power, but only with such a genuinely heavy weapon could 102’s potential be fully unleashed.
"Bombardment is the key," Miyazato Kazama encouraged.
raised the gunlance, aimed at the metal target at the end of the range, and pulled the trigger.
In bombardment mode, the extraordinary firepower unleashed, shaking the ground violently, creating a tremendous roar and swirling blast waves. 102 stood unmoved, and the metal target at the end was blasted into smithereens, the destructive power was terrifying.
stared at the massive destruction she had caused. 101 could not help but walk towards her sister but then stopped, letting her experience it herself.
"Does it have its own name?" 102 lifted the gunlance high.
"Short Spear," Miyazato Kazama was also immersed in the design of her own weapon. "Use it to smash all enemies, destroy at will!"
"Can we have our own unique weapons too?" Shallow Dream also wanted one.
"As long as you provide viable designs," Miyazato Kazama nodded. "I can help you create any kind of weapon, though most of the parts need to be outsourced and purchased."
"Additionally, the internal communication modules and network interfaces of the armor have been redesigned," Xu Yang said, "As long as you wear the armor, no matter how far apart you are, you can communicate seamlessly, including receiving commands from the high-ranking Lila. Under normal circumstances, Mizuiro Yoshioka will be the team leader, responsible for making emergency decisions. Moreover, once you infiltrate the target territory, simply connect on the smart terminal, and you will be able to sync with the archives I’ve obtained, mastering the information environment around you."
With such a large-scale, multi-dimensional equipment upgrade, the members of the Witch Division were itching to try it out.
"Don’t worry!" Mizuiro Yoshioka nodded, "The Chainsaw Angel Gang, we’ll crush them!"