Machinist of Mana Chapter 108 The Man I Should've Been

I'd never managed to own an M2 back in my previous life, but the Ma Deuce was legend. A weapon that had served in war for almost a century with no sign of stopping any time soon. This weapon wasn't exactly that gun, sizes between worlds were certainly a bit different, and I couldn't remember the design exactly, but it was damn close.

With a heave I brought the machine gun to my side, the strap tightened, the sights... well not usable from this angle, but at this range it wouldn't matter. I thought back to the poster I'd had mounted on my old workshop wall, the one demonstrating how this worked, and smiled. This world didn't yet have the laws to deal with what I was bringing to the table.

“Cover your ears.” Was the only warning Kaylee got before I squeezed the slightly altered trigger.

The first burst erupted the barrel in fire and thunder and shredded a small group of the approaching goblins. The gore hadn't even touched the ground before I adjusted my stance, aimed again and fired. Short bursts, aimed at one group then the next, blasts of death, one after another. I needed to conserve ammunition, only having a limited number of rounds.

My aim at first was imperfect but soon I got the feel for it, with few shots going wide. Without the power magic had infused in my body this would probably be impossible, the power of the round and weight of the gun rendering this operation inefficient at best and inconceivable at worst. That power was there though, absorbing the kick from the weapon, allowing me to keep it on target, letting me process faster than any man of Earth could, empowering me to shift my aim smoothly and accurately in ways I'd only dreamed of in my previous life. Even without the benefit of long practice this was possible. I could do it, I could win.

First one side cleared, enemies dead, dying or fleeing, then I swung around, facing the other direction. They seemed to sense their incoming doom, and the goblins backed off, diving behind pieces of broken masonry or carts, hoping for some cover from the death I'd brought. It wouldn't be enough.

More bursts, more light clinks as brass scattered across the ground at my feet. Behind me my sister was curled up, close to the ground, hands over her head. Even with the earplugs I'd given her this was still insanely loud. Another group of enemies went to red stains.

Click

It only took a single look down to get it. The box of ammunition, the only one I had, was empty. Frankly I couldn't have hoped for much better, this weapon wasn't even tested, that ammo had been for the testing, and while I could now call it quite tested that was all I had.

With a flip I pulled off the strap I'd used to hold the weapon up, letting it clatter to the concrete, the slightly glowing barrel clattering against the pave-stones.

I let my eyes flip from the far side back towards the duke's castle. There were still a few goblins hiding, but most were dead. Now was the time to go though, so I turned to my sister. Before I could scoop her back up though I saw another enemy enter the arena.

The goblin that came for us now was easily twice the size of the others, covered in rippling muscle, and familiar. He smiled as he saw me, the one who I'd fought in the sewers, who'd tried to take that girl. This was the same goblin who'd trounced Lucas those few years ago.

He'd even brought friends. Behind what I could easily call a leader were his two companions, smaller than the first, but still a head taller than their other lesser kin. All three were covered in gore, as it seemed they too had been having a time of it.

“Well well, I wondered who was causing so much noise. You know when Father sent me to lay waste to this place I was so excited, but had I known I'd see you again I would have thanked him even more.”

“Why? Why are you doing this?” I asked, hoping to get some information while I reached for my waistband and the pistol I had there.

“Hmm? Oh, Father wants something, something that he thinks will ensure our spread forever across these lands. Honestly I don't really understand, but he told me there's a new place where we can build a nest, somewhere where we'll be impossible to be dug out from. Doesn't that sound nice? That's not my job though, my job is to do as much damage as I can, make the soldiers come here to fight me, like you.”

I drew, and before he could make it to me began to fire. The first was at his head, which he ducked, the bullet missing my inches. Then came his two helpers, one at each. Perhaps I could take him down if I shot everything I had, but maybe not, and I couldn't fight three at once. My second shot went into the eye of his first lieutenant, coming out the back of his head in a spray of blood. The third clipped the other attacker, ripping through his shoulder muscles.

Then they were upon me. Two verses one and they fought like rabid dogs. The big one had an ax he slashed and chopped with, trying to take me apart, while his companion had only his fists, his weapon lost when his shoulder became unusable. One crossing, then another, with all of us ducking and weaving. He'd improved, but so had I, leaving both of them covered in cuts even as my clothes ripped from the combat.

Just as I lined up a stab to finish the larger of the two the smaller leapt forward, grabbing my arm and twisting. There was a popping sound and I screamed, feeling the moment the bone was pulled from the socket.

It was enough to turn the tide and they were upon me. I fought, with my one good arm and feet but against two it was futile. Blow after flow fell upon my face, and I felt my nose shatter, a spray of blood dripping down everywhere. I was out of tricks, out of things to try as they rained punches upon me. A hand wrapped around my neck squeezing.

“Good, good fight, when I'm done with you I'll...” he spoke as my vision began to fade, the edges creeping in. I needed to scream to Kaylee, tell her to run, if she went maybe she'd have a chance to escape.

“GET OFF OF HIM YOU MONSTER!” The shrill scream was accompanied by a blast of light and heat, followed by the sound of broken glass.

I gasped air in as she stood, the wand I'd given her in hand and trailing just a bit of flame. The smaller goblin was singed, but not gone and charged at my sister before I could act. She brought her hand up, the bracelet forming a shield before her that stopped him dead, if only for a moment.

Then with a flick of her wrist Kaylee formed the trailing fire from the wand into a whip, wrapping it around the stunned goblins neck, and with a feral scream pulled, her flaming lash sawing through the flesh of its neck like a hot knife through butter and sending the beast's head tumbling to the ground.

I blinked, because that was not at all what that wand was supposed to do. For a moment my brain stuttered, trying to figure out how she'd managed to do what she'd just done, then I watched her stumble, all strength seeming to leave her body.

“Kaylee!” I rushed forward to catch her, as her eyes unfocused.

“Are you okay?” she asked, looking worried.

“I'll be fine.”

“No you will not,” came the furious voice from the side. The goblin she'd sent flying pulled himself through a house's broken window, bits of glass and shards of brick falling away.

His scowl was deep as he walked towards us, and then he was gone. A blue flash struck him like a freight train, sending him flying down the road, and walls of shimmering force sprang to life around us, harder, stronger feeling than any I'd ever seen. I could feel the tingle of magic on my skin and looked towards the castle.

My father strode down the road, his bandoleer of potions quickly emptying as he chugged one after another. His eyes were cold as steel and full of hate, and literally glowing with magic. Across what skin I could see pulsing blue veins began to spread. He grabbed another vial, emptying it into his mouth before tossing it over his shoulder like it was nothing. In his wake was only destruction.

“Father?” I asked, looking at him as if he were someone different from the one I'd known.

“That beast isn't dead, damn durable,” he said.

“I've got her, we just need to.” I'd thought I was out of surprise, but I wasn't ready as he pulled us both into a hug.

“Kaylee, daughter I'm so sorry, so sorry for everything. I hope one day you'll forgive me,” he said to her. “But for now you need to go to safety.” Then he turned to me, pulling a letter from his breast pocket and shoving it into mine. “Percival, take your sister and go, give that to his Grace, he'll know what to do. Go now, the way is clear.”

My sword floated up, pulled back into the cane and shoved itself into my belt, the pistol I'd had doing much the same as he split from us. The magic was so clear, so pure, arcs of power leaping off of him invisibly.

“Father?” Kaylee asked, looking worried.

He kissed her on the forehead and helped her into my arm, a difficult carry with a dislocated one, but possible.

“Time to go dear, trust your brother.”

“If you can keep the way clear as we move,” I began.

“No, I need to clean up this mess.” As he spoke I could see the goblins regaining their fury, pounding on the walls he'd put up. “I'll be right behind you.”

I recognized the lie for what it was as he pulled another potion out and drank it, the last of the ones he had. I also saw the tightening of his jaw, as pain wracked him. Whatever those were they were hurting him badly, and he needed a priest now. Still I couldn't stop him, and as he smiled at us gently I began to run, a blast of power clearing all visible enemies from my path as I did.

“Time to be the man I should've before,” I heard on the wind, barely a whisper as leapt, bouncing up walls and up a building.