Long-term salvation

The beautiful girl put her arms around Rhodes' neck and was held firmly in his arms - very light, just like an ordinary human girl, it seemed that she was using an ordinary machine.

NIKKE, the goddess of victory.

Although the Korean game was a mess, it was okay for playing with the game. Of course, even the poor game settings were useful to Rhode. So the question now was, what was the difference between the Nikki given by the system and the one in the game?

In the game, Nikki's body is divided into combat and everyday uses. The former, like YoRHa's humanoid form, carries a heaviness that belies its appearance, while the latter is just like an ordinary girl. And then there's the weapons. While many of the weapons in NIKKE games are based on real-life sources, their power and appearance are far from realistic. Take, for example, Nikki Marian's weapon, called "First Affection," which looks like a machine gun (MG), but actually resembles an L85A3 rifle with a drum magazine, which is a bit of a headache.

When he saw Marian, he thought the system would assign him a tactical humanoid or something, but it didn't seem to have that intention. This was a good thing, though, as it saved him from having to limp downstairs with no one to help him later... Although Nikki's storyline had only progressed to around twenty chapters when Rhode arrived in this world, and the pace wasn't particularly outrageous, he still sincerely hoped that Nikki wouldn't become a complete idiot.

"Commander, you've been holding me for too long," Marianne said softly. She didn't dare turn her head to look at the eyes of Gideon and the others beside her.

"Oh, my apologies."

Rod quickly put Marianne down, and although he was not wearing a blindfold, he could still see Marianne's message:

Marianne (Nikki)

【Original: NIKKE】

Description: Kind to others, but hates injustice and rudeness. Willing to speak her mind, but also has a resolute side. A commander who wants to protect her. Can be revived/strengthened.

[Attitude: Trust/Loyalty (Locked)/? ]

Being able to be resurrected is indeed good news - but what does the "?" in the [Attitude] column mean?

Rhode didn't delve too deeply into the issue. Instead, he turned to Gideon and the others, whose cigarette butts had fallen to the ground, and said,

"This is Marian, my subordinate. Please feel free to report her presence. And one more thing, take one of the camera devices from the car and give it to her."

Gideon didn't reply immediately. Instead, he looked up at the sky, shone the flashlight upwards several times, and then said dryly:

"How did she...how did this Miss Marianne appear..."

"Because He will command His messengers for you, to protect you in all your ways—I simply found a helper for myself," Rhodes replied calmly. He stepped forward and patted Gideon's shoulder. "Gideon, there are times when you shouldn't seek out things you shouldn't know. I believe you, having served in the SAS for so many years, should understand this."

"How did you know I served in the SAS?!"

"Ah, yes, there's an officer named Price in the SAS... huh? Really? Okay, close your jaw. I know a lot, but there's even more I don't know. Don't treat me like a prophet," Rhodes sighed. He reached out and took the handheld camera from the clown, checked the power level and the backup battery, and then continued, "Report your experience to Irons honestly and let him make the judgment."

After that, Rhode didn't say anything more. Instead, he took Marian to the front of the Cherokee Jeep. He rolled down the window and said to Gideon, who was still a little stunned outside:

"What are you waiting for? Get in the car, time waits for no one!"

Gideon, as if awakened from a dream, quickly called out to the rest of the team and followed Rhodes' car into the darkness ahead. The team members following Gideon began writing reports and making multiple copies of the video they had just filmed of Rhodes speaking to Marian. Before entering Silent Hill, they would place these items in a pre-determined recycling area to prevent loss of records.

Sitting in the car, Rod breathed a sigh of relief, and out of the corner of his eye he noticed that Marian in the passenger seat was quietly looking at him.

After thinking for a moment, Rod said to Marian while driving:

"Next, we will encounter a battle. The enemy is not only difficult but also very disgusting in appearance - at least more disgusting than those Letchers, or maybe not."

"Okay, I'll be mentally prepared, Commander Rhodes,"

"Do you know my name?" Rhodes raised his eyebrows slightly. He paused for a few seconds and continued to ask:

"Do you remember your experiences before you came here, and what do you know about yourself?"

"Well, before I came here...Niki would periodically erase her memories after completing a mission, so I don't know much about my past experiences, but my latest order was to obey your command," Marian said calmly, her lips curled slightly upward, a pure and beautiful smile between her eyebrows. "As for me...I can seamlessly switch between combat and everyday bodies. While I can still fight in my everyday body, it's still quite different. There's not much else—ah! One more thing, I was told you need to exchange ammunition for me."

Exchange ammunition? Seamlessly switch between combat and daily use? It seems that the characters produced by the system are different from the settings in the original game. Okay, let's cut it off.

While Rod was thinking about all these things, he turned on the headlights to illuminate the road ahead.

The convoy drove silently through the Pennsylvania winter night, with only the dim glow of the widely spaced streetlights lining the wide asphalt road. But as Rhodes followed the sign and turned onto a fork in the road, the streetlights completely lost their brightness. Even the pillars bore visible signs of rust, revealing they had been neglected for years.

A thin mist slowly emerged from the dense forests on both sides of the road, mixed with some ashes from the flames that burned down the buildings, making the mist even more turbid.

"Commander," Marian spoke cautiously, like a fawn wanting to drink from the river but afraid of crocodiles. She looked out the window, watching the fog approach as if alive. "The surrounding environment is changing."

"I know."

Rhode held the steering wheel with one hand and placed the rifle across his thigh. He then picked up the walkie-talkie and asked Gideon and the others in the car behind him:

"Gideon, how's the situation over there? We're about to enter Silent Hill."

"You can't hear... the fog... the radio... the interference..."

"Tsk, Gideon, get your men ready for battle!"

"..."

Only the noisy sound of electricity could be heard.

Rhodes glanced at the rearview mirror. He could no longer see the headlights of Gideon and the others in the mirror. There was no light at all, as if darkness and ash fog had swallowed up everything in the world. Rhodes sincerely hoped that they would not enter Silent Hill, as it was not a good place to deal with.

The car's radio automatically turned on, emitting a harsh, metallic noise that made Rhodes frown in disgust. Marian tried several times to turn it off but failed. She looked up and saw Rhodes motioning for her to grab her weapon.

"Be prepared for impact," Rhodes said, gripping the steering wheel with both hands. He watched the road ahead begin to become dilapidated and twisted. Ashes came like a blizzard, sticking to the front windshield. "Fasten your seatbelts! If I get thrown out, I don't know where I'll end up!"

"I understand!" Marian reached out and grabbed the seat belt tightly, her face showing more tension.

Just as the noise reached its peak, a bright yellow light suddenly flashed into Rhode's sight from the side. He only had time to swerve to the right, barely avoiding the oncoming vehicle. The sound of metal scraping against metal pierced Rhode's ears, accompanied by a woman's scream!

With the help of the flashing light, Rhodes saw a woman with short golden hair sitting in the car that hit the vehicle. Her face was full of worry and fear. It was obvious that the car crash was not her intention.

Is this... Rose? Rose Da Silva (also translated as Rose, Ruth is used to distinguish her from the protagonist), the heroine of the movie version of Silent Hill. If this is true, it is one of the few good news.

Rhodes thought so and let the car plunge into the thick fog.

In an instant, the sky spun and the darkness was gone.

[Pollution points in the other world increased by 1]

Rhode suddenly opened his eyes, and after seeing Marian's worried look, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he reached out to flick the ashes off Nikki's shoulder:

"Hello, beautiful lady, could you accompany me for a walk around Silent Hill?"

"Eh?"

Chapter 7: Appearance and Inner Feeling (4K)

Gideon and his team did not enter Silent Hill; they were stopped at the intersection.

The heroic female police officer Cybil Bennett looked at the six strong men in dark clothes and quietly picked up the walkie-talkie from her waist.

"Wait! Officer!"

Gideon rushed forward and reached out to hold the policewoman's hand. His action made the policewoman almost draw her pistol, but only just. Sybil saw that the strong men who got out of the car later had already put their hands on their waists or reached behind their waists.

A dagger? A pistol? Or a submachine gun?

"Calm down," Gideon said in a low voice, temporarily putting aside the annoyance of losing track of Rhodes. "We are security personnel from Atlas Corporation. The company director we were escorting just disappeared. The company doesn't want to cause public opinion problems, otherwise, I, we, and you will all get into trouble. In fact, we will not interfere with your duties here...Okay, the missing company director is a young man with a beautiful female companion. Wait, they are not eloping!"

It was not an easy task to let a soldier like Gideon lie to this meticulous female police officer, but after the former's clumsy explanation, Sybil temporarily gave up the idea of ​​pursuing the truth. After all, she didn't want to lose her job.

Of course, necessary duties still need to be performed.

"I'm looking for a blonde woman driving a car with a little black-haired girl," Policewoman Sybil described Ruth's appearance. She was feeling rather troubled by the situation, but her sense of justice and responsibility compelled her. "She might be a kidnapper or a victim of domestic violence. I need to ensure their safety... Are you going to Silent Hill?"

"Yes, officer."

"Silent Hill has been completely sealed off since the fire. Rumor has it that the fire ignited the coal mines beneath the town, leaving it enveloped in flames and ash. While that's a story, there's nothing worth exploring there." Sybil watched as Gideon's team members got back into the car, leaving Gideon alone outside. "Over the years, there have been many idiots who have wanted to explore, and the missing persons reports transferred to our police station are all about these people."

"Even so, we still need to go. The mission is there."

"Forget it. I'll go with you. As a patrol officer, I need to report my situation to the officer on duty every hour. You know what I mean."

"Yes, officer. You can ride your motorcycle in the middle of our convoy, but I'll have to keep your walkie-talkie," Gideon said, reaching out and taking the walkie-talkie from the female officer's waist. "We're not criminals who bury people in the ground. In fact, if something really happened, Mr. Irons would bury us himself."

Sybil nodded slightly. She had heard of that prestigious tycoon, the spokesperson for the military-industrial complex and multinational conglomerates. He embodied all the stereotypes of old white men in Hollywood movies: tough, arrogant, and protective. He was ambitious, yet had the passion and ability to change the world. Many people were proud to work in his company.

After nearly ten minutes of delay, the convoy continued its journey, but Gideon, sitting in the front car, was troubled. The fog had only lasted less than three seconds, and Rhode and his car had vanished?! Right before his eyes, on this very straight asphalt road!

In the world.

Gideon chewed on the word, sighing slowly without an answer, his heart filled with melancholy and uneasiness.

Twenty minutes further up the road, they'd reach Silent Hill. No one knew what they'd encounter there... would it harbor a deranged cult like the ones in Jonestown? Or countless monsters only found in bedtime stories and movie theaters?

Damn it, he and his soldiers were not some demon hunters from the Westward Expansion era. To this day, there were still legends in the Midwest of the United States of North America about hunters who were inherited by blood and would kill each other for the bounty of demon hunting. There were even similar stories in some Indian reservations.

"team leader?"

"Let's continue our journey to Silent Hill. If Rod hadn't lied to Mr. Irons, he would definitely be there."

After adjusting his mood, Gideon reached out to take the cardboard handed to him by the team member in the back seat. He then picked up the report with dried ink and continued writing along the same lines:

[Mr. Irons, we lost track of THE ONE just before reaching Silent Hill. Specifically... we will... remain vigilant... entering Silent Hill...]

What's in Silent Hill?

Rhodes also looks forward to the answer to this question.

Whether it's a game or a movie, the various areas and monsters in Silent Hill are concrete manifestations of the psychological trauma of those who intrude. Some can seek redemption here, but many more are lost, becoming a speck of dust in this dilapidated town.

Rod and Marian stood on the street of Silent Hill. The surface of the jeep behind them was covered with a layer of gray, and the road to the outside world had long been cut off, leaving only cliffs and thick fog that covered everything.

Dirty snow drifted endlessly from the gray sky, the remains of the town's fire. Rhodes caught a handful of ashes, spread them with his fingers, and spread them unevenly in his palm.

"The environment here is very strange, Commander," Marianne blinked. She had switched to her combat form and was observing her surroundings vigilantly. "But I haven't found any enemies, and there doesn't seem to be any trace of humans."

"It will be, be patient, Marianne."

Rhode said casually. He breathed in the turbid air and noticed that it took longer here than in the "Inner World" to gain one Inner World pollution point. It seemed that the degree of "pollution" in the Inner World varied depending on the area and depth. Could this be considered just a limbo? Only after the transformation from inside to outside, like in the movies, could one officially enter the Inner World?

Come to think of it, many monsters in the Silent Hill movie can be dealt with by bullets, which is easier than what Rhodes experienced in those three days of hell... But most people who come here don't have any decent weapons, and what they have to face is the nightmare that comes from their own hearts.

After putting on his chest harness, grabbing a rifle and carrying another on his back as a backup, Rhodes took a moment to fully arm himself, putting on his eyepatch. As he hid his dagger under the canteen on his waist, he noticed Marian looking at him secretly.

"Boom!"

Feeling a prank, Rhode yelled at Marian, causing her to leap back like a frightened deer. Her back slammed into a dusty pile of debris, sending a cloud of dust cascading down onto her smooth hair, coating it in the same color as the sky above them.

"Haha," Rhodes laughed, took out a handkerchief and stuffed it into the girl's hand, and without paying any attention to the shy Marian, he walked towards the Silent Hill town.

They hadn't walked forward for a few minutes when Rhode heard a faint female scream. Was it Ruth's voice? Had the internal and external exchange within Silent Hill already taken place?!

"Marian, do you see that tallest building up ahead? It's where the two streets intersect. Go up to the roof and take up the high ground to provide cover for me. One more thing, remember to use your handheld DV to record whatever we encounter... You know how to use it? Great."

Rhodes threw two grenades to Marian and quickly rushed towards the direction of the sound.

"Commander, you are alone..."

"Follow my orders."

"Yes!" Marian no longer insisted. She ran forward for a while and found a suitable position. After stepping on the ruins of a building next to her that looked like a hotel and confirming that its structure could bear the weight of her body in combat, the girl jumped lightly onto the ruins and ran along the roof.

The girl saw Rhodes running wildly on the street, so fast that she even thought her commander might have been transformed. Of course, it was definitely not Nikki's transformation.

A panicked woman ran down the foggy street across from them. Her long, stained dress made her look particularly disheveled. Ruth's eyes were filled with surprise the moment she saw her, but then turned to worry.

"monster!"

"Uh, are you talking about me?" Rhodes looked at the woman running towards him, and his eye mask also timely marked the latter's information:

Ruth da Silva

[Origin: Silent Hill]

[Description: Sharon (Alessa)'s adoptive mother, in order to relieve her daughter's sleepwalking,

Despite her husband's objections, Ruth decided to take her adopted daughter back to Silent Hill, where she would complete a dark deal.

【Attitude: Caution/Expectation】

"What? No! I mean - monsters! Those monsters are right behind me, chasing me!" Ruth felt a lot more secure when she saw the military uniform on Rhodes and the weapons in his hands. She staggered behind him and tightly grasped the back corner of the chest hanging filled with magazines. "Some look like babies, and some are like the mentally ill patients in mental hospitals who are bound by straitjackets... They have no heads and no arms!"

The first is the Armless Man, and the earlier ones are the Grey Children. In the movie, they are all manifestations of the horrific tortures Aretha suffered in the past.

The twisted figures of the staggering monsters were vaguely visible in the fog. They were numerous and unscrupulous.

"They're coming, what should we do?!"

"What should we do?" Rhodes raised his eyebrows slightly. "Of course, we should talk to them with bullets, ma'am. Don't grab me and don't stop me from getting these gentlemen with challenging looks to get out of here."

Rhodes raised his hand and waved it forward.

The roar of a machine gun suddenly rang out, piercing through the fog. The bullets spun and tore through the air, tearing apart the skin and the filthy flesh underneath, causing the corrosive liquid flowing inside to splash onto the ground, making a terrifying hissing sound.