“Electromagnetic Catapult, deploy.”
With ＜Ringo＞’s words, the upper hatch of the Multi-legged Ground Carrier displayed on the monitor opened. The rod-shaped Electromagnetic Catapult rose with a smooth motion. It was about 10 meters long. As it stood vertically, the Wide-Area Surveillance Drone was fixed to the launch position.
“Wide-Area Surveillance Drone, launching.”
With an electromagnetic oscillation sound, the drone, accelerated in an instant, was launched from the Ground Carrier. The reconnaissance drone reached an altitude of about 50 meters and deployed its four propellers, beginning its search.
“Tactical link with the drone established. Displaying analysis map.”
The Ground Carrier’s computer, receiving data from the drone, analyzed the surrounding information. Electromagnetic Wave map, time analysis, Sound Wave detection. 30 meters behind the Delegation, directly under the road.
“Mark. Estimated Worm. Movement speed decreasing. Detected vibrations are rapidly attenuating. With this vibration, it would be impossible for ordinary human sensory organs to notice. It is moving underground, but there is almost no sound of excavation.”
“You noticed that?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Each Multi-legged Tank was continuously detecting underground vibrations. I was thinking about detecting approaching footsteps, but I was late in noticing because Worms were not included in the search targets. I apologize.”
＜Ringo＞ said, but it was originally an unknown Monster. Due to the characteristic of moving underground, it was expected that the moving speed would be slower, or that it would make a lot of noise, so it was an unexpected contact.
Rather, it was a fluke that the Worm was quickly detected from the slight vibrations.
“It’s okay, since we weren’t caught off guard. More importantly, what should we do from now on?”
She followed up with ＜Ringo＞, showing an attitude of reliance to further uplift her mood, performing advanced information warfare (appeasement). This delicate consideration stabilized the Superintelligence’s mind.
“Yes, Ma’am. It is moving with no change in depth. It will probably launch a surprise attack from directly below.”
“It feels like it’s going to swallow us whole from below when its prey stops moving… That’s awful.”
However, the opponent’s position was grasped. With this, there would be no surprise attack.
“At this point, the mechanism by which the Worm detects position is unknown. Sound, vibration, or something else. However, if we stay like this, we will be taken directly below, which is very disadvantageous.”
“…Should we move? The Multi-legged Tanks are one thing, but the carriages can’t accelerate quickly…”
“At worst, the carriages can be moved by pushing them with the Multi-legged Tanks. However, there is no guarantee for the people and luggage inside.”
“Hmm… For now, let’s have the Ground Carrier hold the carriages. The members of the Delegation can move to some extent, right? Wouldn’t it be better to get them out of the carriages and have them move on foot?”
“Yes, Ma’am. Then, we will do so.”
Therefore, a proposal was made from the Communicator Doll. The carriages would be secured by the Ground Carrier’s work arms, and they would have to give up on the luggage to some extent.
Fortunately, important luggage was stored in the Ground Carrier’s cargo space from the beginning.
Of the 10 members of the Delegation, 2 horse-carriage drivers and 6 people not riding horses stood on the ground in light clothing so that they could move immediately. The 4 guards continued to be vigilant while riding their horses.
As expected, no one had experience fighting Worms, but they had heard stories. There were anecdotes of people being eaten whole with their horses by Worms that suddenly jumped out from under their feet.
Fortunately, we now know where the Worm is. It is moving silently, but surely, underground towards us.
It passed directly under Multi-legged Tank (MLT-E-01) Unit 2, which continued to idle so that it could move at any time, and was moving straight towards the Delegation.
“It seems that they are detecting their position. It’s heading straight for them.”
One Communicator Doll was lowered to the ground to see if it would become bait, but it didn’t seem interested. There was no change in the Worm’s moving speed or direction.
So, while pointing out the position of the Worm, the Communicator Doll was also moved.
“…Should we scatter them…?”
As expected, the members of the Delegation were shrinking back from the threat of the Worm moving towards them. They were told that it was better not to move, but their feet were moving back step by step as the Worm approached steadily.
“It may cause unnecessary stimulation, so it’s better to have them wait a little longer… But it seems difficult. Yes, let’s evacuate them. First, everyone should move together.”
The Delegation members were moved. One Communicator Doll was merged with them, and they were moved slowly so as not to make any noise.
“Change in moving speed and direction. It is clearly detecting the group and moving.”
“I see… What if we split them into two groups?”
Next, they were divided into 4 mounted guards and a group of walkers. They were moved slowly in opposite directions. From the Worm’s point of view, the prey was divided into left and right.
“…The Worm has stopped moving. It seems to be able to detect that they have been separated. Let’s have the guards move.”
The 4 mounted guards were moved as they were, and the remaining 6 people and 2 horses were made to wait in place. For the time being, they were prepared to run immediately.
And then.
“The Worm has started moving. It is heading towards the 4 guards. Should I warn them?”
“Let them escape.”
＜Ringo＞ told the 4 guards to escape slowly through the Communicator Doll. If they created too much distance at once, it would be a problem if they headed towards the 6 members of the Delegation.
“The Worm has increased its moving speed. It’s targeting them.”
As the horses began to trot, the Worm also increased its speed. Furthermore, it seemed to be approaching the ground slightly. While having the Communicator Doll follow alongside the Worm, instructions were given to the 4 fleeing guards.
If they escaped too linearly, the distance from the main body would become too great. They were made to circle around the Multi-legged Tank.
“Vibration sound increasing. Excavation sounds can now be heard.”
“…This sound? Scary. Are those people running while listening to this?”
A low-pitched rumble, a grinding sound, began to echo with a sound that could be heard by people on the ground. A slight vibration could be felt from the feet placed on the ground. The 6 members of the Delegation seemed to have noticed this, and unconsciously huddled together.
The 4 guards were now running their horses at almost full speed. They were probably going 50 km/h. Even so, the Worm increased its speed further and was approaching them.
“Approaching the ground. They will be overtaken within 10 seconds.”
The ground behind the 4 galloping horses began to swell. The earth was being pushed away by the Worm, which had increased its speed and approached the ground again. The distance was visibly closing.
The Commander (Eve) swallowed hard while watching the view from the Communicator Doll running alongside them, and the overhead view from the drone.
Just watching was nerve-wracking, so what must the people who were running be feeling?
“Abnormal noise from the Worm. Speed decreasing… Dangerous.”
“Disperse!!”
＜Ringo＞ detected an abnormality. In an instant, she gave an order to the Communicator Doll and made it shout at the limit of its volume. Although there was a time lag, the warning somehow made it in time.
The 4 guards were, as expected, people who made their living by fighting. They reacted immediately to the voice. They controlled their horses, making 2 horses jump to the left and right.
And, almost at the same time.
The ground exploded, and the giant body of the Worm emerged from it.
The reddish-brown head stretched out diagonally, blowing away even the dust.
At the tip, uneven black fangs were lined up, and the center was wide open.
The soil and rocks that had been swept up were sucked into the oral cavity, which was covered with a large number of sharp things like cilia or fangs.
The diameter was probably over 3 meters.
It was far too huge to compare with a person.
“Uooooooooh!!”
The guard, who had narrowly avoided the charge with his beloved horse, was shouting loudly enough for us to hear.
Of course, such a huge Monster had attacked from directly behind.
It was commendable that they were not panicking.
The Worm that jumped out drew an arc in the air with its momentum. Scattered fragments of stone were hitting the guards and the Communicator Doll with a crackling sound, but that was a trivial matter.
If that Worm’s giant body had even grazed them, their bodies would have been torn to pieces.
And, there was no way that ＜The Tree＞’s Artificial Intelligence would miss it.
Though its torso was not yet fully emerged from the ground, the head, which would likely be the most mobile part, was in the air.
The targeting was already complete, and the four guards, as well as the Communicator Doll, were outside the blast radius.
The Tactical AI installed in the Multi-legged Tank determined it was the perfect opportunity.
A massive current from the capacitors flowed into the cannon’s barrel (rail), which was already loaded with a Cannon Shell. The Cannon Shell, accelerated by the Lorentz force, shot out of the barrel at an initial velocity of 5,000 m/s, trailing a tail of plasma.