[Threat Level: Extreme. High-speed combat capabilities detected. Possible adaptive AI behavior.]
Heart's warning only made Max's smirk widen. "Perfect. A good fight before cracking open this ruin sounds fun."
The obsidian beast turned its head toward them, its crimson-lit optics locking onto Max's group. A low, mechanical growl rumbled from its core, followed by a sudden burst of movement—so fast that even Max barely had time to register it.
"Incoming!" Heart blared in his mind.
The machine lunged, covering the distance in a fraction of a second, its energy-bladed tail slicing through the air like a guillotine. Max barely dodged, flipping backward as the blade carved a deep gash into the ground where he had stood. The shockwave sent dust and debris flying.
One of the Titans raised its arm and fired a plasma burst. The creature twisted mid-air, dodging with unnatural grace before slamming its claws into the Titan's chest, carving deep gashes into the reinforced alloy. Sparks erupted from the wound, and the massive mech staggered backward.
Max clicked his tongue. "Alright, so it's fast and strong. Heart, analyze its weak points."
[Analyzing… Structural integrity suggests core power nodes along its spine. Disabling them should weaken its speed and energy output.]
Max activated his wrist-mounted energy blade, its violet glow humming with deadly power. He dashed forward, weaving through the chaos as his Titans engaged the beast in full force. Bullets and plasma bolts filled the air, but the machine was an artist of movement—dodging, parrying, and countering with surgical precision.
Max grinned, adrenaline surging through him. "Let's see how you handle this!"
He blinked forward in a burst of speed, appearing just behind the beast's exposed back. His blade struck true, slashing at the first power node along its spine. Sparks and energy arcs erupted from the wound, and the machine let out a screech of pure digital rage.
Before it could retaliate, a second Titan slammed into it from the side, pinning it against the canyon wall. With a roar, the machine unleashed a shockwave, sending the Titan crashing into the dirt. Max barely had time to react before the beast turned its attention back to him, eyes blazing with a newfound fury.
He wiped a smudge of dust off his face and smirked. "Oh, now you're mad? Good. Let's see who survives this, you overgrown toaster."
The obsidian machine roared, its deep, guttural sound echoing through the vast canyon. Its form, a twisted fusion of alien elegance and brutal efficiency, flickered with violent energy. Red-hot vents along its body hissed as it recalibrated its tactics, adjusting to Max's speed and the firepower of his Titans.
Max rolled his shoulders, his blade humming with violet energy. "Heart, give me a breakdown. What are we dealing with?"
[Designation: Apex-class War Machine. Combat priority: Extreme. Capabilities: Adaptive AI, high-speed movement, plasma-coated weaponry, self-repair functions, and limited energy shielding.]
Max clicked his tongue. "Figures. It couldn't just be a normal rogue machine. Alright, new plan—overload its repair systems. The moment it starts regenerating, we burn it down faster than it can fix itself."
The Titans responded instantly, shifting their tactics. Plasma cannons switched to rapid-fire mode, sending a relentless barrage at the beast. It dodged most of the shots with its unnatural agility, but the sheer volume forced it into a defensive stance.
Max capitalized on the moment, dashing forward with a burst of speed. His energy blade sliced toward its second power node. The machine twisted, but he was faster this time. His blade carved through the reinforced plating, sparks and energy arcs flaring outward as the node was severed.
The machine shrieked, its movements glitching for a brief moment.
[Warning: Enemy repair protocols activated.]
Max's smirk widened. "Yeah, yeah. Now let's break it for real."
A Titan on his left unleashed a concentrated railgun shot, the sheer force of the impact sending the machine skidding across the canyon floor. As it attempted to rise, Max lunged, driving his blade straight into its chest. The feedback from the impact sent a jolt up his arm, but he didn't let go.
The machine's optics flickered wildly, its AI struggling against the damage. It lashed out with a desperate strike, its plasma tail aiming straight for Max's torso.
[Defensive countermeasures activating.]
One of Max's Titans intercepted, shielding him with its reinforced forearm. The impact sent tremors through the battlefield, but Max took his chance. He twisted his blade and overloaded the machine's core with raw energy.
A deep, echoing hum resonated through the air—then silence.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then, with a deafening explosion, the war machine collapsed, its entire system shutting down in an eruption of light and debris.
Max stepped back, breathing heavily as the dust settled. His Titans recalibrated, scanning for any remaining threats.
[Threat neutralized.]
Max exhaled and wiped sweat from his forehead. "Damn thing was persistent."
He turned toward the ruined battlefield, watching the remains of the fallen machine spark and flicker. A sense of satisfaction filled him—another Apex-class machine down, and another step closer to his goal.
"Alright, let's salvage whatever's left. There's no way this thing doesn't have some valuable tech inside."
As Max and his Titans approached the wreckage, Heart's voice echoed in his mind.
[Scanning… Detecting residual energy signatures. Core integrity compromised, but partial data retrieval is possible.]
Max cracked his neck, crouching beside the fallen Apex-class machine. Its frame was still faintly glowing, plasma vents hissing as they cooled. He tapped his gauntlet, activating a data spike.
"Heart, extract whatever logs are left. Even if it's corrupted, I want to know what this thing was doing out here."
[Affirmative. Data extraction in progress…]
As the spike drilled into the war machine's remains, Max let his gaze wander across the vast landscape.
The canyon stretched endlessly, its jagged rock formations shaped by time and the relentless force of nature. Golden sand dunes rippled in the distance, illuminated by twin suns that bathed the world in an ethereal glow. Further beyond, towering crystalline spires jutted from the ground, their surfaces shimmering like liquid glass.
A flock of winged creatures, their iridescent scales catching the sunlight, soared through the sky. They moved in perfect synchronization, almost as if guided by an unseen force. Max had seen them before—Sky Hawks, apex predators of the upper atmosphere. Majestic, but deadly.
The wind carried with it a strange, almost melodic hum. It was the sound of the world breathing—a mixture of shifting sands, distant waterfalls, and the occasional thunderous echo of tectonic movements beneath the surface.
[Data extraction complete.]
Max's focus snapped back to the present. "What did we get?"
[Core logs partially retrieved. There's a pattern in its movements—this unit was patrolling specific coordinates, circling a location 80 kilometers southeast.]
Max narrowed his eyes. "So it wasn't just roaming randomly. Something's there."
[Affirmative. Probability suggests a structure or hidden facility.]
A grin spread across Max's face. "Perfect. That means there's something worth finding."
He stood, dusting off his coat, and turned to his Titans.
"Alright, boys. We're heading southeast. Time to see what our late friend here was guarding."
***
Support me at
patreon.com/boring_world
It's 22 chaps ahead