Aaron's gaze fixated on the figure standing before him, his heart skipping a beat. A bone-chilling sensation tightened its grip around his throat, rendering him speechless.
The scene unfolding before his eyes seemed like a surreal mix of confusion and disbelief. The once vibrant robot now lay lifeless, its screen blank, devoid of any signs of activity.
With an otherworldly elegance, the enigmatic figure began to move towards Serena, every step deliberate and measured. Aaron's mind swirled in a fog of uncertainty, struggling to comprehend the gravity of the situation.
In this overwhelming uncertainty, Clara's voice resonated within his consciousness, a soothing reassurance cutting through the chaos, stating, "No intent to kill detected."
As the stranger knelt before Serena, his piercing gaze focused on her wounded form. His movements radiated an aura of purpose and control, arousing both curiosity and trepidation within Aaron's trembling frame. Fear surged through him, causing him to shiver uncontrollably, his thoughts racing with questions about whether this newcomer was a friend or a foe.
His voice tinged with concern, he softly inquired, "Are you alright?" Each word he spoke carried weight and authority, permeating the air and echoing deep within the core of Serena's being.
"I'm... okay," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She closed her eyes, attempting to quell the pain coursing through her body, before finally gathering the strength to ask, "Who are you?" Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead as she struggled to maintain her composure.
The stranger turned his gaze towards Aaron, who stood nearby, his hand tightly gripping the hilt of his sword. Shaking his head, the stranger assured, "Calm down. I won't harm you... And you're welcome," the stranger said with a calm yet sarcastic tone.
Aaron, still confused, asked, "What for?"
The stranger moved away, scanning the surroundings, and replied, "For saving your life from that humanoid, of course!"
Aaron, feeling a bit irritated, retorted, "I could have handled her."
The stranger turned around with a smirk on his face, "Well, if I was a second late, you were surely going to attack its spine, right?"
Surprised by the stranger's astute observation, Aaron asked, "How do you know that?"
The stranger slowly turned around a broken stall and said, "Your stance and the way you held your sword made it obvious. Plus, if you had struck her spine, it would have self-destructed."
Aaron looked at Clara for confirmation, and she replied, "Hmm, well, he's not wrong. It could have happened."
Shocked by Clara's response, Aaron couldn't believe Clara.
"Wow, a fairy?!" the stranger exclaimed, jumping as his eyes caught Clara hovering over Aaron's head.
Clara blushingly replied, "Oh no no no, but I'm flattered, hehe."
Ignoring their playful banter, Aaron cautiously approached Serena, his gaze fixed on her bloodied shoulder. She mustered the strength to rise, leaning on a nearby pillar for support.
Her wounded shoulder throbbed, staining her surroundings with crimson hues. Concern etched on his face, Aaron looked at her injured shoulder, wanting to assess the damage.
With a gentle touch, Aaron examined Serena's wound, trying to assess the extent of the damage. "You're lucky it's not too deep," he said with a mixture of relief and concern.
Serena managed a weak smile, appreciating Aaron's care. "But it stinks...," she said softly, her voice weak.
Interrupting their silent exchange, the enigmatic figure introduced himself as Drake. "My name's Drake. I heard about the attack on the city, so I came with my team," he stated, his demeanor both confident and mysterious.
Aaron's curiosity piqued, and he inquired, "What team?"
Drake glanced at Aaron, a shrug accentuating his response, but before he could elaborate, Serena interjected weakly, "So, you're one of the rebels?"
Clara, having made her way back to Aaron and Serena, calmly stated her analysis, "I cannot detect his capabilities, as I haven't witnessed his fighting prowess. His intentions appear genuine, but engaging in combat would be unwise." Aaron's H.A.I. system still displayed the same uncertainty.
"Furthermore, Serena's condition is deteriorating rapidly. If this continues, she will not survive," Clara concluded. "For now, tightly wrap a piece of cloth around her shoulder to control the bleeding," she advised. Aaron carefully tore a piece of his shirt, focusing on the task at hand.
Drake, continuing his conversation with Serena, clarified, "We don't consider ourselves rebels. We are the revolutionary army. We warned your city about aligning with the machines."
Serena persisted, her voice strained, "Why would the machines attack us?" Aaron, absorbed in his task, continued wrapping the cloth around Serena's shoulder, seemingly oblivious to the conversation. His aloof demeanor suggested a lack of interest in understanding the situation.
The stranger glanced at Serena, clearing his throat to regain her attention. "Your city broke the cardinal rule, which is saving their victims," he scoffed, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats.
Serena winced from the pain but managed to gather her strength to respond. "We only sought to help," she said, a mix of frustration and desperation in her voice.
Drake's expression softened slightly as he observed Serena's determination. "The machines don't see it that way. They view any interference as a threat to their control," he explained. "And now they've declared war on all human settlements in this area."
Aaron, having finished tending to Serena's wound, finally joined the conversation. "So, you're here to fight against the machines?" he asked, his tone more engaged than before.
Drake nodded, his resolve evident in his eyes. "Yes, we won't stand by while they continue to oppress and destroy innocent lives," he asserted.
Serena leaned on Aaron for support, finding a sense of safety emanating from his artificial arm as it pulled her closer protectively.
Meanwhile, Drake observed the fallen female humanoid with audible relief, muttering, "Thank goodness it was not controlled by Admiral Leon. Otherwise, you guys would be doomed."
His words hung in the air, intriguing Aaron. "Who is Vice Admiral Leon?" he inquired.
Drake turned around to face Aaron and replied, "He rules the east along with Admiral Xu. They are not human nor AI." Aaron was puzzled and asked, "Then what are they?" Before Drake could respond, Serena interjected, seeking clarification, "Whose humanoid is it?"
Drake brought his wristwatch closer, examining it closely. "Hmm, I don't know. Maybe some new commander from this area?" he speculated. "I am from the east, so I don't know much about other regions."
As he said he tapped his watch. At that moment, a man entered the marketplace from the same direction Aaron and Serena had come.
He possessed a sturdy build, towering over the crowd, and his piercing gaze locked onto Serena and Aaron before shifting to Drake.
Dressed similarly to Drake, he saluted and announced, "Hen reporting! We managed to save 214 individuals, but there are over 3000 casualties. The fleet is ready!"