Part (1/5) "Storm of Steel: The Third Assault"
The destruction of Uncle Pong still lingered like a ghost over the team.
Grief and unease clung to them, wrapping their hearts in a suffocating grip. Even as the scoreboard flickered to life, revealing the end-of-mode rankings—with Uncle Pong, Mirelle, and Little Eve at the top—no one celebrated.
What did high scores mean when their enemy could erase anyone at a mere whim?
The creeping terror of true mortality settled in—a suffocating weight none of them had prepared for.
And before they could even breathe, before they could recover—
Zekhtau's voice shattered the silence.
"Now then… Entering the third mode."
He stood motionless at the center of the battlefield, his halberd raised high above his head.
Then—
BOOM!
The distant crack of artillery fire.
A piercing, mechanical shriek sliced through the air, sharp enough to send chills crawling down their spines.
Projectile tanks.
Akira's eyes widened in shock. "GET UNDER ELINA'S BARRIER! NOW!"
No hesitation. No second-guessing.
The team sprinted, throwing themselves beneath Elina's protective shield. Chaos erupted for a brief moment, but their training, their instinct to obey and survive, kicked in.
Akira didn't stop there. "Reinforce the defense! Form a CONE structure!"
Mirelle, mid-casting, frowned. "Why a cone? Why not a sphere?"
"The attack is coming from ABOVE!" Akira explained urgently. "A sharp cone will DEFLECT the impact, while the circular base will absorb lateral shock!"
Understanding clicked into place.
Elina immediately reshaped her barriers, stacking multiple layers from smallest to largest, forming an inverted cone. Mirelle froze the joints between the shields, reinforcing the seams. Yue enchanted the barrier with additional energy fortification, while Akira infused Yue's spell with light energy, enhancing its resilience.
Draco, thinking ahead, manipulated gravitational pressure, anchoring the ice reinforcements so they wouldn't shatter on impact.
Meanwhile—
Osiris and Lunar worked rapidly to predict the incoming trajectory of the artillery shells. Through MR projections, they mapped out the impact zones, allowing the team to make real-time adjustments to their defense.
And then—
The sky screamed.
FWEEEEEEEEEEEE—
Then—
BOOM! BOOM!
The impact was monstrous.
Unlike anything they had faced before.
These weren't normal explosive shells.
Instead, monolithic metal spikes plummeted from the sky, their sheer mass alone shaking the entire battlefield upon impact.
Each strike sent tremors rippling beneath their feet, as if the ground itself were caving under the relentless assault.
Dust exploded outward, choking the air, blinding their vision.
Within the suffocating haze, they could only see the dark silhouettes of the towering metal spears, still quivering from their descent, embedded deep into the battlefield—
A silent, menacing reminder…
That this phase of the battle was unlike anything they had ever known.
And it was only the beginning.
The metallic projectile spears slammed into the battlefield, their devastating impact shaking the very earth beneath their feet. Dust exploded in every direction, thick plumes of debris swirling through the air like a raging storm.
Though most of the projectiles had scattered across the field, two of them struck the team's barrier dead-on.
The force of impact rattled their defenses, sending shockwaves rippling through their formation. But the cone-shaped shield—painstakingly constructed by Elina and the others—held firm.
Instead of piercing straight through, the projectiles deflected, embedding themselves at the edges of the barrier rather than tearing through the core.
A small crack splintered across the protective field, but the structure remained intact.
Akira exhaled sharply, his grip on his weapon tightening.
"Good work, everyone! We're almost through this—stay focused!"
A moment of relief washed over them—
Until Zekhtau's voice echoed through the battlefield.
"Impressive… I commend you for handling that so well…"
For just a fleeting second, it almost sounded like praise.
But then—
His tone turned glacial.
"…But we're not done yet."
Hope shattered.
The suffocating weight of realization settled over them.
They weren't safe. They had endured the barrage—but the storm wasn't over.
Still huddled beneath the barrier, no one dared to lower their guard.
Elina bit her lip, hands trembling slightly as she reinforced the shield's weakened points.
Yue closed her eyes, channeling more mana, weaving additional layers of protection over the defenses.
Then—
Zekhtau moved.
Amidst the swirling dust, his towering silhouette began to emerge.
Step.
The heavy clang of his armored boots against the steel floor echoed through the silence.
Step.
Each movement carried a measured, unshakable certainty—as if he had already foreseen the outcome of this battle.
The rhythmic metallic reverberations seemed to match the frantic beating of their hearts.
The battlefield still pulsed with unrelenting tension.
No one knew what the third phase held.
No one knew how much more he was capable of.
But one thing was certain—
Zekhtau was far from finished.
And whatever came next…
Would be even worse.
Part (2/5) "Storm of Steel: The Thunderfall Gambit"
Zekhtau walked toward the center of the battlefield, his steps slow, deliberate.
Every eye remained locked on him, watching, waiting.
The tension was unbearable—like staring at a ticking bomb, knowing it was seconds from detonation.
Then—he stopped.
Without warning, he raised his halberd high, then slammed its hilt into the ground.
BOOM!
A violent tremor rocked the arena.
The force sent a jolt through their bodies, making them feel as if the ground itself had lifted beneath their feet.
Yue, standing close to Akira, instinctively bit into her sleeve, her fox-like canines tearing the fabric. Her wide eyes betrayed the fear she struggled to suppress.
Zekhtau wasn't done.
He turned, his towering form silhouetted against the storm of dust still hanging in the air.
With an unsettling smirk, he strode toward one of the metallic spikes embedded in the ground—the very projectiles from earlier.
"Kids, want to see some fireworks?"
His voice was almost playful.
But in this moment, those words were nothing short of terrifying.
He placed a hand on the massive spike.
CLICK.
A soft, mechanical hum filled the air.
Blue light pulsed from the base of the projectile, traveling upward like a creeping vine until it illuminated the entire length of the structure.
Then—
"FOOMPH!"
A sharp, shrill sound—like a firework igniting.
Followed by a sonic boom that rattled their very bones.
They could only watch as the spike launched skyward.
Osiris's eyes darted across her MR display, scanning its trajectory. "It's not going far, but it's way too close to us!"
Then—
FWOOOOSH!
It came hurtling back down.
"BRACE!"
A deafening crash shook the arena.
CRACKLE!
Bolts of electric blue energy erupted from the impact site, spreading across the metal floor like a living storm.
Lightning ripped through the battlefield.
BAZZZT!
Every single one of them was hit.
The barrier shattered instantly, its structure collapsing under the overload.
Their bodies convulsed, muscles locking up as raw voltage coursed through them.
One by one—they collapsed.
Like puppets with their strings cut.
Draco was the first to stir, groaning as he clutched his numbed limbs. His fingers twitched, static still crackling along his frame.
His frustration exploded. "This is INSANE! How the hell are we supposed to fight this?!"
Zekhtau chuckled. "Exciting, isn't it?"
Then, with an almost casual movement, he approached another spike.
CLICK.
The ominous hum returned.
The glowing pulse.
The rising panic.
Their bodies—still sluggish from the shock.
They needed a plan. NOW.
Then—
"AKIRA!"
Every gaze turned to him.
The one who always found a way out.
Akira inhaled sharply.
This was it.
The moment to act.
"MIRELLE! Flood the battlefield! Make sure the water is PURE—no dust, no debris!"
Mirelle blinked in confusion. "Why? Wouldn't that make the lightning WORSE?!"
She didn't have time for answers—only trust.
So she moved.
Gathering mana, she began weaving a massive water spell, coating the battlefield with a thin but pristine layer.
"DRACO! Get airborne! Divert or destroy those spikes BEFORE they hit us! OSIRIS, LUNAR—support him!"
Draco, still shaky, gritted his teeth.
No time to complain. No time to hesitate.
Flames ignited beneath his feet, launching him skyward as Osiris and Lunar adjusted their MR projections, feeding him real-time data.
"YUE!"
His sister's golden eyes snapped to him.
"Heal those who are still stunned—but DON'T get hit yourself!"
"Understood, big brother!" Yue's hands glowed with divine light, rushing to aid their fallen teammates.
"LITTLE EVE, CHENLONG CYBORG!"
He turned to their sharpshooters.
"Blast those damn spikes out of the air!"
Without hesitation, Eve leveled her rifle, while Zhao Yun Chenlong—the battle-hardened cyborg—charged his energy cannon.
Their combined firepower lit up the sky.
Then—Akira turned.
His target?
Deputy Li Changyuan.
"Deputy! What's your specialty?"
Li met his gaze. "Close combat."
Akira's lips curled into a determined grin.
"Good. We're stopping Zekhtau before he launches another."
With no further words, the two charged.
Zekhtau stood waiting, his colossal form glowing with electric energy as his hands remained on the next spike.
They weren't just attacking.
They were intercepting.
But even unarmed, Zekhtau was still—
Lethal.
Akira knew this.
One wrong approach. One wrong move.
And he wouldn't just fail.
He wouldn't get another chance.
"Strike fast—avoid his back legs!" Akira shouted.
Li nodded.
Zekhtau chuckled.
"So, you intend to stop me? Good… I was hoping for a real challenge."
His voice was icy.
But the heat of his energy was overwhelming.
And in that instant—
Akira and Li charged.
No more hesitation.
No more second chances.
This had to work.
Part (3/5) "Storm of Steel: The Final Resistance"
Akira's mind raced as he watched his strategy unfold.
His coordinated assault with Deputy Li had managed to delay Zekhtau's deployment of the lightning spears, but it was far from enough.
Without Mirelle's water infusion, Akira's blade waves lacked the destructive force needed to break through Zekhtau's armored hide. The most he could do was carve shallow scratches along the centaur warrior's reinforced plating.
Meanwhile, Li Changyuan—his form fluid as flowing water—dodged Zekhtau's devastating kicks, targeting the warrior's joints and center of gravity with precise, well-placed strikes.
Akira saw the opening and attempted a blindside attack.
Yet—even with their combined effort—
Zekhtau remained an unshakable wall.
Above the Battlefield
Draco pushed higher into the sky, desperately trying to intercept the spears mid-air.
But his lack of aerial precision led to several failed attempts, his energy disks missing their marks.
Below, Lunar—who rarely showed emotion—finally lost his patience.
"You've gotta be kidding me! Just get out of the way!"
With a growl of frustration, he abandoned support duty and went for the targets himself.
Lunar soared forward, hurling precision-calibrated explosives toward the ascending spears.
BOOM!
Direct hits.
Several spikes deactivated mid-flight, crashing harmlessly into the battlefield.
Osiris, still tracking everything through her MR projections, let out an involuntary remark.
"How… how the hell are you this accurate? I can predict movements, but actually executing it flawlessly… that's insane."
Lunar smirked, his voice tinged with amusement. "Guess that means we make a good pair, huh? Ever consider teaming up?"
Osiris felt a strange flutter in her chest.
Something unexpected, something that had never been part of her calculations before.
Draco's Retaliation
Still in mid-air, Draco—frustrated by Lunar's interference—refused to be outdone.
Instead of using precision he wasn't suited for, he switched strategies.
If he couldn't hit the targets accurately…
Then he'd just ram into them.
Activating Elina's reinforced barrier, Draco tucked his body in, then rocketed toward the projectiles with erratic, high-speed maneuvers.
To everyone's surprise—
It worked.
By striking them at their highest trajectory, Draco was able to alter their descent, redirecting them far from the battlefield.
For the first time since the battle began, he smirked.
Below the Battlefield
Mirelle channeled her most intricate spell—the purification of water.
The process required intense concentration, filtering the air of all impurities while ensuring maximum conductivity.
Knowing she was vulnerable, Elina reinforced her barrier, shielding her from falling debris and residual energy bursts.
Then—the spell was ready.
A wave of pure water rippled across the arena, coating every inch of the metallic ground.
"Now what?" Mirelle panted, exhausted.
Akira's voice came through the communicator.
"Stand on one foot—or keep hopping. Just DON'T plant both feet at the same time. Then move to the edges of the battlefield!"
No one questioned him.
When Akira gave an order, there was always a reason.
The Turning Point
Akira turned back to Mirelle.
"Can you freeze Zekhtau's legs?"
She shook her head. "Not from this distance! And what if I hit you guys too?"
Akira narrowed his eyes.
"What if you had a buff?"
Mirelle hesitated—then nodded firmly. "Then no problem."
She had recently developed a new skill—enhancing moving targets, an ability that had previously required stillness.
With Mirelle's buff and the Leviathan Runes he had acquired before—
Akira unleashed his full strength.
His blade, now charged with water energy, howled as he swung.
The shockwave was unlike anything before—shaped like the dorsal fin of a shark, slicing through the battlefield with lethal precision.
WHAM!
The attack connected.
For the first time—
Zekhtau stumbled.
His massive form shuddered, momentarily losing his balance.
"FINISH THIS!"
Akira didn't waste a second.
"Destroy or topple every remaining spear! Don't let a single one stand!"
Everyone moved.
Eve fired precision shots, eliminating smaller projectiles with deadly efficiency.
Zhao Yun unleashed powerful energy blasts, shattering the larger ones.
Draco and Lunar focused on aerial control, ensuring no new spears launched.
Elina and Osiris reinforced the defenses, blocking any counterattacks.
Meanwhile—Li Changyuan and Akira focused on Zekhtau himself.
The battlefield roared with synchronized action—the team moving like a single entity, seamlessly executing their roles.
For the first time since the battle began—
Zekhtau smiled.
"Now THIS… is a fight."
The centaur warrior braced himself, preparing for his final stand.
Because he knew—
This wasn't over yet.
And the real battle was only just beginning.
Part (4/5) "Storm of Steel: The Last Stand"
The battlefield roared with gunfire.
Eve's relentless barrage tore through the air, each shot blazing with raw fury.
Every pull of the trigger was an act of vengeance—a firestorm of bullets fueled by the rage of losing Uncle Pong.
Her aim was unerring. Each shot struck its mark, the force of impact sending metallic clangs echoing through the arena. The very air seemed to vibrate with the sheer power of her wrath.
Yet—Zekhtau only smiled.
A cold, knowing smile.
"So, you've figured it out, have you?"
His voice was calm—but the undertone of menace was undeniable.
Then—he moved.
A flash of motion.
Zekhtau surged forward, a living thunderbolt, grabbing the lightning spears embedded across the battlefield.
Then—he hurled them.
One after another.
A hailstorm of deadly projectiles.
FWWWOOOSH! BOOM!
Shockwaves exploded outward, blinding light and fire ripping through the air. The ground trembled under the sheer force, metal plating denting and buckling from the repeated impacts.
The team was forced to scatter.
There was no time to attack. No time to destroy the remaining spears.
The assault was too relentless.
Too precise.
Only Eve—positioned at higher ground—could still retaliate.
And she did.
With surgical precision, she destroyed every spear Zekhtau reached for.
Her bullets found their marks without fail.
Her reaction speed was impossibly fast—as if she could see his movements before they happened.
Zekhtau's smirk faltered.
"Annoying pest!"
A growl rumbled in his throat as he lunged, seizing even damaged spears and flinging them at Eve.
Yet—she evaded.
Every. Single. One.
Her movements were fluid, instinctive.
Zekhtau's attacks couldn't touch her.
But even his patience had limits.
His cold amusement twisted into something darker.
Then—he reached for his halberd.
A surge of energy rippled outward.
Lightning flared around him, and in the next instant—
Every remaining spear across the battlefield lifted into the air.
And then—they were unleashed.
Like a net of electrified steel, the projectiles blanketed the sky, raining down in all directions.
There was nowhere to run.
Nowhere to hide.
Eve—trapped.
For the first time—she couldn't escape.
CRASH!
The impact slammed her against the grandstands.
A horrifying, gut-wrenching sound.
The team's shouts of alarm were swallowed by the chaos.
When the dust settled—
She didn't move.
Her small frame lay still amidst the wreckage.
Armor shattered.
Her rifle—silent.
No one spoke.
A crushing weight settled over the battlefield.
Another loss.
Three down.
And Zekhtau knew it.
He stood at the center of the storm, untouched, triumphant.
"Fun, isn't it?"
His voice was as cold as steel.
"But I doubt you're enjoying this anymore."
The team was reeling.
For the first time—true despair crept in.
400 points.
That was all that remained of Zekhtau's energy.
They had reduced him to half.
But at what cost?
800 still stood between them and victory.
And they were down three fighters.
Their courage wavered.
But then—
Akira gritted his teeth.
His fists clenched.
No.
He wouldn't let this break them.
He wouldn't let them fall apart now.
His voice cut through the silence, sharp as a blade.
"WE'RE NOT LOSING ANYONE ELSE."
His resolve burned.
Stronger than the fear.
Stronger than the pain.
"No more mistakes. No more casualties."
They weren't done.
Not yet.
Not while they still stood.
Because this wasn't just a battle anymore.
This was survival.
Part (5/5) "Storm of Steel: The Countdown to Annihilation"
Zekhtau stood at the center of the battlefield, gripping one of the lightning spears with an almost casual curiosity. His metallic gaze gleamed, scanning the weapon as if studying an unfamiliar puzzle. Then, his fingers brushed across the floating holographic interface.
Suddenly—
A system message flashed into existence before them all.
"Incoming damage will no longer be counted towards the score."
Akira's eyes narrowed. He turned his gaze from the message to Zekhtau, who was now testing something.
With no hesitation, the centaur warrior plunged the lightning spear into the ground.
CRACK!
Electricity surged from the impact point, arcing across the field.
And then—the unthinkable happened.
Their team's score increased.
"What the—?" Akira muttered.
Zekhtau did it again. Another spear planted. Another burst of electricity.
Their score continued to rise.
The entire team exchanged bewildered glances. Was this… a flaw in the system? An exploit?
But just as hope flickered—Zekhtau stopped.
He surveyed the remaining lightning spears scattered throughout the battlefield.
Then—he grinned.
A chilling, predatory grin.
"Alright then! Let's see how THIS works!"
WHOOSH!
He activated every remaining lightning spear simultaneously. Then, with a mighty swing of his halberd, he sent them raining down across the battlefield.
FWWWWOOSH!
The spears plummeted, not aimed directly at the team—but at the purified water covering the field.
Akira's heart clenched.
He understood immediately.
"STAND ON ONE FOOT! NOW!"
No hesitation.
Despite their confusion, the team followed his command without question.
BOOM! BOOM!
Lightning erupted across the battlefield. Pure chaos.
Electricity coursed through the water, transforming the entire field into a death trap.
But not a single teammate was electrocuted.
Instead—
Zekhtau took the full brunt of the attack.
CRACKLE!
His massive form jerked violently as arcs of blue engulfed his body. His metallic plating burned white-hot, the sheer voltage overloading his circuits.
His score plummeted.
600 remaining.
Meanwhile, their team remained unharmed.
Zekhtau stood there—silent.
Then, he slowly turned to face Akira. His eyes gleamed with intrigue.
"Akira… why did the lightning shock ME, but not YOU?"**
Akira smirked.
"Because while water is a great conductor—purified water, free of ions and impurities, is practically an insulator."
Zekhtau's expression twitched.
His mechanical pupils dilated, processing this revelation.
Then—
He burst into laughter.
A deep, booming, almost maniacal laugh.
"HAHAHAHA! INCREDIBLE! YOU ACTUALLY THOUGHT OF THAT?!"
He clutched his sides, his frame still crackling with residual electricity.
"You even used magic to create a liquid that REFUSES to absorb ions from the environment?! That's the most ridiculous use of science I've ever seen!"
Still laughing, he turned to Akira, his gaze filled with a strange sense of admiration.
"I like you, kid. You're sharp. I'll even give you bonus points for that trick."
The team froze.
Did they hear that right?
After all their struggles—Zekhtau was actually impressed?
Akira scratched his head awkwardly as his teammates stared at him in utter disbelief.
Then—Mirelle spoke up.
"Wait. But why did we have to stand on one foot?"
Zekhtau grinned at her, now in an almost teacher-like demeanor.
"Simple. Electricity needs a continuous path to travel. Standing on two feet creates a complete circuit, allowing current to flow through your body. But standing on ONE foot? The circuit is broken. The current can't complete its course. And so… no shock."
The logic made sense—but the fact that it was coming from their enemy made it all the more surreal.
Then—the air changed.
A holographic scoreboard appeared once again, updating their progress.
Akira and Eve remained the highest scorers.
Zhao Yun and Osiris still lagged behind.
Tension returned.
Zekhtau stood tall, inhaling deeply before exhaling in satisfaction.
"Three phases down. You've nearly halved my score. Not bad at all."
His metallic eyes sharpened.
"And you've only lost three teammates. That's quite impressive."
A chill ran down their spines.
Only lost three?
Then—Zekhtau grinned wider.
"But… playtime's over."
His words sent ice-cold dread creeping into their veins.
"Let's start the real fight."
"WHAT?!"
The team recoiled in disbelief.
"Everything up until now… was just him playing around?!"
They barely survived the first three phases, and now… he was implying that none of it was serious?
Zekhtau turned, striding towards his halberd, which was still planted firmly into the battlefield.
As his hand gripped the shaft—
Symbols ignited.
Glowing blue sigils ran along the entire weapon, ancient engravings coming to life with radiant energy.
The arena trembled.
Elina's voice wavered. "That weapon… something's awakening."
A barrier of layered energy enclosed Zekhtau, multiple protective shields forming around him like concentric rings of reinforced plating.
Zekhtau's voice boomed.
"If you want to stop me—"
"BREAK THROUGH MY SHIELDS BEFORE THIS HALBERD FINISHES CHARGING!"
A ten-minute countdown materialized in midair.
The previous system message was gone.
Every attack from this point on—
WAS GOING TO COUNT.
Akira's heart pounded. This was it.
Their only chance to bring him down before he unleashed whatever final attack he was preparing.
No more games.
No more distractions.
He raised his blade.
"HIT HIM WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT!"
Their final stand had begun.