In the few seconds given to her to grasp the situation, Eliza's gaze shot upward, revealing the source of the collision – a blue car. However, that's not what had caught her attention the most. It was the towering humanoid figure, standing at approximately nine feet tall, its white hair flowing like flames.
Before Eliza could react, still dazed by the collision, the humanoid unleashed a roar that echoed throughout the highway, "COMMENCING EXTERMINATION."
"What the hell just happened?" Vulcan said as he looked out of the window,.trying to make sense of the situation unfolding outside.
Eve winced in pain, her head having collided with the car's glovebox during the impact. Groaning, she said, "Nnnghh, Eliza, get us out of here. We don't want to get involved in any unnecessary fights."
As Eliza observed the developing situation, her concern was for the other passengers in the other car, assuming they might be injured. The humanoid, its presence ominous, slowly walked towards the blue car.
"Shouldn't we help the other people? Look at that 'thing'; it's getting closer to their car," Eliza suggested, a concern tone in her voice.
"I'm sure there's a reason that thing is after them, just hurry up and drive—" but before Eve could finish talking, Eliza impulsively got out of the car.
"Eliza! Vulcan, come on, grab your sword, and let's get out!" Eve commanded.
"Right, let's go, Eve," Vulcan replied, swiftly grabbing his sword from its sheath as they both hurried out of the car to join Eliza.
However, as soon as all three of them got out from the car, the humanoid's gaze shifted toward them, its blue eyes observing attentively. The situation grew tense as they became the focus of the towering figure's attention.
"TARGETS EVE KINHANA, ELIZA KINHANA, AND VULCAN GEORRA IDENTIFIED," the humanoid said out loudly, its voice echoing through the surroundings. "ORNAMENTS, UNKNOWN." The blue glow in its eyes intensified as it focused on them, seemingly to evaluate them.
"APPROACHING WITH CAUTION," the humanoid announced, its towering figure moving closer to Eve, Eliza, and Vulcan.
"Eliza! Get back into the car, in case we need to make a quick escape. Besides, you can't fight!" Eve ordered urgently, her eyes fixed on the approaching humanoid.
As Eliza reluctantly agreed, "Fine, but don't think we'll leave those people injured— eek!?" Her words were cut short when the humanoid's elongated arms stretched out towards her just as she was about to get back into the car.
"Ornament, Tempest!" As Eve yelled, a sudden strong gust of wind propelled her towards the humanoid, her hands engulfed in spheres made of powerful winds.
With determination and zero hesitation, Eve delivered a powerful punch directly to the humanoid's face; the wind sphere on her hand exploding upon impact. Sending it flying backwards, tumbling down the highway.
"T-thank you, Eve," without wasting a second, Eliza got back into the car and reversed, putting distance between her and the humanoid, wanting to avoid any further damage to the car.
"Hmm, it seems that's no monster, it's a robot," Eve said.
"And not to mention, it seems to know us," Vulcan added.
"You're right, it did say it identified us. But then why was it attacking the people in that blue car," Eve thought to herself.
The robot slowly stood up, observing Eve as it began to approach her. "Go check on them, Vulcan. I'll deal with this."
"Alright, just be careful, Eve," Vulcan said as he began to run towards the blue car.
Eve cautiously looked at towering robot approaching, slowly moving back instinctively. Carefully deciding her next move, remembering her training with Vaos.
The robot's tentacle-like arms smoothly transformed into blades, announcing, "METOD, PREPARING FOR COMBAT." Eve's eyes narrowed as she braced herself.
"Metod? That name sounds familiar, but where have I heard it before..? I wonder who sent you, how you know about us, and could you be related to the WWP?" Eve asked, but was met with no response.
Its two blue eyes intensified their glow, "ENTERING COMBAT." With swift and agile movements, Metod went into a sprint, going towards Eve on all fours.
Caught off guard by the Metod's movements, Eve said, "What the? Are you a dog or something?" Eve sighed as she unleashed her Ornament, "Gale razor!" The sudden rush of howling winds could be heard throughout the highway as Eve's hands became enveloped with wind resembling a saw.
"This can easily cut through boulders, I imagine. I can slice you like butter with a heated knife," Eve confidently said, pointing a finger at the approaching robot. The wind screeching around her.
Metod leaped into the air, its transformed arms, now deadly blades, swung downward with formidable force, aimed directly at Eve, who quickly braced herself.
Using both of her arms, Eve blocked the attack, the blades barely slashing through her natural magical barrier. A invisible protective barrier surrounding a person's body, only being inherent to those with an Ornament, though its sturdiness depends on the person.
Eve, with swift precision, skillfully used both of her arms to push away Metod's arms, leaving the robot wide open for any counterattack.
"I'm going to slice you in half!" Eve swung her hand downward in a knifehand strike, hoping to end the battle quickly. However, Metod was quick to react. Its arms shifted back into their tentacle like state, quickly wrapping around Eve's arm and stopping her attack.
Metod began to crush Eve's arm with relentless force, the pressure increasing with each passing second, its intention clear, to break her arm.
"What the? Let go, you little- urrgghh!?" Eve swung her other hand to cut Metod's arms off and free herself, but the robot bit down on her forearm, once again stopping her attack, blood flowing down her arm.
Eve winced in pain as she felt Metod's metallic teeth sink into her forearm. The struggle intensified, blood flowing down her arm, but determination burned in her eyes as she continued to resist the strong grip of Metod.
Eliza, reacting quickly, stepped out of the car, "Healing magic, power!" She conjured a spell, a red aura surrounded Eve. "I know I can't fight, but I can at least help. Now finish that thing, Eve!" Eliza exclaimed, her voice echoing with determination.
"Thank you, Eliza," Eve effortlessly pulled her arm away from being gnawed at, she then retaliated by cutting one of Metod's arms off. The robot, realizing the threat, released its grip to avoid losing the other limb.
"Healing magic, speed!" Eliza chanted, summoning another spell that engulfed Eve in a blue aura. The combination of the red and blue auras created a purple glow around her.
"I forgot you could enhance my abilities, Eliza. I really do owe you some hugs later," Eve smiled, "now come at me again, you damn robot!"
Metod's left side of his body began to convulse, and shortly after, another arm replaced the one that was cut off.
"A robot that has regeneration, huh? You're quite advanced, aren't you? Well, I guess I'll just have to slice you into countless pieces!" Eve rushed towards the robot, the wind hissing around her.
Metod opened its mouth, the inside of its mouth glowing brightly. As Eve closed in, the robot unleashed a barrage of countless energy blasts, Eve gracefully dodged and weaved through the onslaught of energy blast. Her agility on full display, looking for a opening that allowed her to counterattack.
"Tempest, lightning bolt!" Finding an opening, Eve took the opportunity, she threw a lightning bolt, directing it towards Metod's chest. The impact pushed the robot back, allowing for her to follow up the attack.
In a swift move, Eve thrust her hand through Metod's chest, "get the hell away!" She kicked the robot away, her foot engulfed in a wind sphere.
Metod was sent flying, slowly standing up with the hole in its chest gradually rebuilding itself. The regeneration of the robot proving to be a challenge for Eve.
Eve sighed, realizing, "So this is one of those cases where I have to go for the head, huh."
As the intense battle unfolded between Eve and Metod, Vulcan approached the blue car. He carefully opened the door, "hey are you three okay here?" He asked.
"I-I'm okay, what about you, Simon, Bard— huh, who are you?" The woman with pink hair looked up, blood flowing from her forehead, her eyes filled with a mix of pain and confusion as she looked at Vulcan.
"Mary, we're gonna have a long talk about your stupid decisions." The man with sark blue hair who sat besides her, composed himself, the airbag from the car shielding him from the crash.
"Mary, you damn idiot! I ought to kick your ass myself, but first, where's that damn robot..? This is its fault," the man in the backseat an angry look on his face, his broken sunglasses falling off his face as he got out of the car.
As the man from the backseat passed by Vulcan, the air around Vulcan slowly began to grow hotter, an aura of heat emitting from him.
His crimson eyes became fixated on the robot as it continued its intense battle with Eve, "I don't know who that is, but tell her to get out of the way. It's my turn now..." The air around them escalated in an warmth, no different to the heat of an midsummer day.
"Hellfire, volcanic explosion..."