"Wilkins stared out across the barren land, searching for his elusive prey. After hours of fruitless scanning, he finally caught sight of—
—his target. And this time, he wouldn't let it slip away, especially not when the confirmation of the kill was within reach. This was his chance to claim the trophy, to prove his worth. No, he wouldn't share this prize with anyone. He cut off communications and set off in determined pursuit.
Wilkins furrowed his brow in disbelief as the screen displayed the identity of his quarry — the Savage Beastframe! A quadrupedal mechanoid thundered towards him, standing seven meters long and four meters tall. Though it was still two kilometers away, it boasted two 55mm cannons mounted on its back. High-explosive armor-piercing rounds streamed out at fifteen rounds per second.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" A menacing sound.
Savage Beastframes were built for close-quarters combat. Their armaments differed significantly from the long-range models. Almost all their weaponry was designed for swift, intimate engagement — high-velocity and solid rounds capable of piercing the thickest armor.
A single hit could shred Wilkins into pieces.
Yet, there was no fear in him now, only a steely resolve. As he charged through the storm of fire, a calm filled his being. His eyes narrowed, slowing the chaos before him.
No, more than that! The legendary mastery of the Windstep was his! Mind and body united, moving at a speed beyond ordinary comprehension. Wilkins weaved through the barrage as if lifted by divine wings. This was mastery. All doubts of being trapped in the whirlwind vanished into thin air.
In that moment, Wilkins seized the essence of true swiftness — utter transcendence coupled with a mockery of death.
Yes, transcendence brought graceful agility, while the defiant smile erased all fear. Wilkins focused entirely on these extremes, heedless of the swirling flames.
His strides quickened, the colossal bullets now almost imperceptible. Boldly, he surged past the barrage, steadily distancing himself from the mech.
"His strides quickened, the colossal bullets now almost imperceptible. Boldly, he surged past the barrage, steadily distancing himself from the Savage Beastframe.
The gap between them widened.
Frustrated by consecutive failed attacks, the humiliated Savage Beastframe began to slow its pace, aiming for precise hits. Meanwhile, the terrain grew increasingly uneven, serrated ravines crisscrossing like giant blades had slashed through. The cumbersome frame of the Savage Beastframe wobbled on the rocky ground, further slowing its speed.
As Wilkins steadily pressed forward, the Savage Beastframe seethed, all rationale lost. It roared, slamming down on the controls.
Eight cluster missiles and four thermobaric rounds ignited instantly, engulfing the entire area in searing blue flames. Wilkins was stunned—just this ordnance alone could buy several sets of armor! Deploying such power against a light combat suit... it was a non-profitable gamble!
Though a wry smile flickered across Wilkins' face, he knew that without a power level of at least 10, escape was impossible.
Alas, it was still a futile fantasy.
Eight cluster missiles launched 400 projectiles within a two-square-kilometer range. Then the thermobaric devices would ignite, generating over 5,000 degrees of heat immediately. Nothing could withstand such scorching obliteration!
Or could something...?"
"Wilkins' eyes flashed with determination. With lightning reflexes, he snatched a grenade from his belt and hurled it into a narrow, thirty-meter-long ravine eroded into the terrain. As it detonated violently, he followed it in.
He calculated that the explosion, combined with the thirty-meter drop, would form a pit at least 24 to 25 meters deep, allowing him to take cover when debris sealed him in. Yes, the hardened protection of his armor suit and oxygen supply might offer a slim chance of survival — if no other explosive attacks occurred within ten meters and the Savage Beastframe didn't return to inspect.
But Wilkins' luck seemed to have run out. Just as he leaped, a projectile exploded less than ten meters above his head.
The savage force and heat slammed against his back. The sniper rifle affixed to his weapon rack shattered first. Then the ammunition collapsed the hardened rear plate, leaving a gaping hole.
Like a blacksmith's hammer, the shockwave slammed Wilkins to the bottom of the ravine. His face contorted, watching the red rock rush up to meet him. Then everything plunged into darkness as he hit the ground hard, his world fading away.
Yet, the spark of life persisted! Tenaciously, Wilkins clung on as the armor's medical systems pumped stimulants and trauma care through the wreckage of his battered body, pulling him back from the brink of oblivion. With oxygen levels plummeting and the integrity of his suit compromised, warnings blared, but he fiercely resisted his brutal fate.
Wilkins heard the unmistakable sound of his armor rupturing. Then, an immense force struck his chest, leaving him gasping for breath, his mouth filling with the taste of blood. Darkness engulfed him as he lost consciousness."
"Time had passed, how much Wilkins couldn't say. But slowly, painfully, consciousness returned. Sharp agony pierced through his chest — yes, ribs were definitely broken. Worse yet, the merciless burns on his back throbbed, sending cold sweats down his skin.
"How did I get injured...?" He gasped, bewildered and breathless. Then it all came rushing back, those earlier events. Startled, he jolted upright.
"Ah!" The sudden movement tore at his chest and back, bringing fresh agony, sweat trickling down his skin.
Carefully breathing a few times, waiting for the worst of the pain to ebb, Wilkins checked his display. The date showed August 17th, 2388 —
— nearly eight hours since he lost consciousness!
Activating radar and low-light vision, he scanned the enigmatic surroundings. To his surprise, he found himself in a deep underground cavern!
Confusion took hold. Wasn't he just buried in that ravine? How could this be a cave? Unless... unless he crashed into some hidden cave while falling at high speed?
Yes... that must be the only explanation.
Wilkins shook his head to clear his thoughts, assessing the condition of his suit. The back armor was completely shattered. The chest plate was caved in. Several critical control lines shorted out, rendering the micro-missile launcher and detectors inoperable. And — damn it — there were issues with the leg accelerators!
At least basic life support and oxygen reserves seemed intact. But for how long? The warning indicators ominously blinked on the vividly damaged schematic..."