The lifeless body of 002 lay at Ryo's feet, blood pooling beneath him, the red glow fading from his cybernetic veins.
It should've felt like a victory.
Instead, it felt like a warning.
Because if Hellion was willing to create him—
How many more were waiting?
Then—alarms blared.
The system pinged.
> [WARNING: HELLION RESPONSE FORCE INBOUND.]
[ENEMY UNITS: HEAVY INFANTRY, WAR MECHS, AND ONE UNIDENTIFIED SIGNATURE.]
Ryo's fists clenched.
They weren't just sending soldiers.
They were sending something worse.
No Time to Breathe
Serra grabbed Ryo's arm. "We have to move. Now."
The prison's metal doors slammed shut, locking them inside.
Security drones dropped from the ceiling, weapons charging.
Ryo moved first.
He ripped a drone out of the air—
Slammed it into another—
And tore through the lockdown panel with his bare hands.
> [ACCESS OVERRIDE: SUCCESS.]
The blast doors slid open.
The path to the prison yard was clear.
And just beyond it?
Hellion's army was waiting.
The Iron Rebellion's First War
Vos's voice crackled over the comms.
> "Ryo! The entire goddamn facility is waking up!"
> "Karin and Krieg are holding the front, but we won't last long!"
Ryo gritted his teeth.
This wasn't just an extraction anymore.
This was a battle.
And if they didn't win here—
The rebellion died tonight.
The Enemy Descends
The sky darkened as Hellion dropships swarmed overhead.
Heavy mechs dropped from the sky, metal feet shaking the earth.
The first wave of soldiers marched into formation, rifles raised.
At the center of it all—
A single figure stepped forward.
Tall. Wrapped in black combat armor.
A long energy blade rested at their side.
And when they removed their helmet—
Ryo's heart stopped.
Because their face was familiar.
Too familiar.
> "You thought you were the only Ironborn?"
The woman's eyes glowed red.
And the system pinged again.
> [IDENTITY CONFIRMED: PROJECT 003.]
[DESIGNATION: IRON MAIDEN.]
Ryo exhaled slowly.
He had just barely survived 002.
And now?
Hellion had sent something even worse.