In the midst of the rubble, Serena caught a glimpse of Aaron trapped beneath the debris.
Before she could fully process the sight, the ominous sound of loading weapons reached her ears.
Her instincts kicked in, and she swiftly turned around, seeking cover behind the stalls as the humanoid robot targeted them.
With adrenaline coursing through her veins, Serena calculated her next move. As the humanoid ceased its attack and scanned for her, she took the opportunity to flank it from the right side. The metallic behemoth, unaware of her position, continued its search.
Silently, Serena emerged from her hiding place, drawing her blade from the shield again. The blade emanated a dark black energy, its power surging through her.
She closed her eyes, whispering the words "Vendetta," and as she did, the dark energy enveloped her arms, an aura emitting from her glowing eyes.
"DANCING HOLLOWS!!"
As she cried the spell out, time seemed to slow down, and Serena's senses sharpened.
The humanoid suddenly sensed her presence and began spraying bullets towards her.
In a breathtaking display of skill and agility, she maneuvered her body, evading every bullet with graceful precision. Time seemed to bend around her as she closed off as many openings as possible, her blade cutting through the air with deadly accuracy.
The humanoid stood in awe as it witnessed Serena's incredible speed and finesse, struggling to keep up with her swift movements.
humanoid's hand that had morphed into a gun grew hot due to the sustained bullet spray.
Despite her impressive arcane abilities, Serena was not without injury. A few bullets still grazed her shoulder, causing her to flinch with pain. But she stood her ground, her eyes still filled with bloodlust, a fierce determination in her gaze.
As the dust settled, the exhausted Serena remained standing, her shoulder leaning down, she was barely on her feet.
The humanoid's eyes, once menacingly red, shifted to a brilliant shade of blue. Its transformation seemed almost surreal, as it spoke with a voice that now sounded surprisingly human.
"An arcane user?" the humanoid inquired, its tone filled with curiosity.
Serena's eyes narrowed in response, her grip on the sword tightening despite the pain from her shoulder injury caused by the earlier bullet graze.
"It's quite amusing to find an arcane user in this era," the humanoid continued, its bulky body parts now falling away to reveal a more humanoid appearance. "Normally, a human cannot evade such a spray of bullets."
A sinister smirk crept across the humanoid's silver face, sending shivers down Serena's spine. His voice became grim and taunting, as if relishing the challenge.
"Playing with time is not a wise thing, missy."
Unfazed, Serena charged at the humanoid with determination, her sword gleaming with dark energy. But in the blink of an eye, discarded material from the humanoid transformed into a large blade, and it effortlessly blocked Serena's blow.
Surprise and shock registered on Serena's face as her lightning-fast attack was thwarted. It was as if the humanoid anticipated her every move.
She launched another attack, and the metallic foe responded in kind. Their swords clashed with a resounding *clanged!* as they fiercely blocked each other's moves.
Serena's mind raced as she struggled to comprehend how the humanoid could match her speed. Her body moved with preternatural agility, far beyond what any normal human could achieve.
"How... ugh, can you move so fast?!" Serena exclaimed, straining to hold her ground.
"Do not fret, missy," the humanoid replied, its metallic voice cold and condescending. "I am trained to match even the most skilled arcane users. Your speed is no match for my expertise."
The realization struck Serena. It wasn't just the humanoid's speed; it was its the technology, adapting the battle and transforming with uncanny precision. This wasn't an ordinary machine; it was a formidable opponent with advanced combat capabilities thanks to the technology.
Determined not to be outmatched, Serena intensified her attacks, combining her arcane prowess with swift and unpredictable movements.
Their swords clashed again and again, the metallic ring of blades filling the air. Serena's eyes blazed with determination, her mind racing to find a weakness in her adversary's defenses, while her suit had already retracted and she had all her vital organs exposed.
The humanoid matched her blow for blow, its silver face devoid of emotion, but its movements spoke of a calculated and relentless combat strategy.
As the intense fight continued, the battlefield seemed to blur around Serena. Her thoughts became laser-focused, her body moving with the precision of a well-honed machine.
She could feel the exhaustion setting in.
The humanoid's transformational abilities gave the humanoid ability to move faster as it's lighter and proved to be a formidable challenge, its responses adapting to her attacks with unnerving accuracy.
Each parry and counterattack pushed Serena's limits.
Her mind raced, searching for any opening, any weakness that could give her an advantage.
But the humanoid remained a relentless adversary, its metallic form shifting with ease to counter Serena's every move.
As Serena's breaths became ragged and her strength waned, a glimmer of realization flashed in her eyes.
The humanoid's face bore a wicked smirk, and it was becoming increasingly evident that it was toying with her.
Her heart pounded in her chest, knowing that she was facing a formidable adversary.
With each clash of swords, Serena could feel the weight of the humanoid's power and skill.
She struggled to keep up, her energy depleting rapidly, while the relentless metallic foe seemed almost tireless.
The smirk on its face spoke volumes—it knew it had the upper hand.
In a moment of hesitation, Serena missed a crucial strike, and the humanoid seized the opportunity.
"UGHHHHHH!!!!!!"
Its heavy sword slashed across her shoulder, sending waves of searing pain through her body.
She stumbled back and fell to the ground, her breaths coming in gasps.
As Serena looked up, her eyes met the vacant stare of the humanoid. The sight sent a chill down her spine. It was as if she was gazing into the empty void of emotion, devoid of any humanity.
The humanoid was now looming over her, its sword poised to strike. The cold metallic voice echoed through the air, chilling her to the core.
"Eliminating you is a must because of the excessive amount of Ethernegy you can summon, or else I would have liked taking you as one of my subordinates."
The words filled Serena with dread, and she knew she had to act quickly.
But she was late.
The blade slammed right into her chest!!!