Luca's voice echoed with calm and assurance: "3, 2, 1. Target acquired, repeat, target acquired."
"Fire the missile!" Max roared with a deep, commanding intensity.
Instantly, the top cover of the equipment box flew open, launching 24 micro-missiles. They soared skyward, their fiery trails slicing through smoke, targeting the enemy's still thundering heavy artillery.
As Max, Emily, and Sky's shoulder armor slid back, revealing hidden micro-missile launchers, three missiles whizzed out, tailing the initial volley towards the same destination.
The sky was ablaze with trails, reminiscent of a meteor shower. These were 42 micro-missiles from Max's battle suit launchers, carving precise arcs in the air, aiming straight for the enemy artillery positions.
Approaching the target, the soldiers at the artillery began to grasp the looming threat. In a panic, they scrambled for cover, only to realize the futility against the impending assault.
Seconds later, the first missile struck the artillery's loading zone, setting off a series of explosions. The blasts were deafening, with immense fireballs and thick smoke engulfing the site in a fiery hell.
The subsequent missiles relentlessly hit their targets, each impact a sledgehammer of destruction, triggering more explosions. Flames, smoke, blasts, and debris filled the air, creating a spectacular yet harrowing scene.
This fierce bombardment, as brief as it was fierce, akin to a sudden, intense downpour, obliterated the once-formidable artillery position. The battlefield was left with wreckage and flames, painting a picture of apocalypse, a vivid reminder of the brutal reality of war.
Over the squad's comm, Luca confirmed with clarity, "Target neutralized."
Hank chuckled mischievously, and Max commanded, "Retreat!"
Luca's urgent voice then cut in: "Alert, your position is exposed. A large enemy force is converging on your location, with over 20 mutants rapidly encircling from the flank."
"Expected," Max responded coolly, issuing his commands, "Luca, evacuate the battlefield immediately and bring the armored transport. Emily, determine the optimal escape route and rendezvous point, then share it with Luca."
Moments later, Emily's voice came through, "We can't evade the encircling mutants. We must break through their blockade. I've shared three potential rendezvous points with Luca. Based on the battlefield situation, choose the meeting point, Luca. The geomagnetic interference here severely disrupts communications beyond 100 meters, and maintaining contact over 1000 meters is challenging. Continuously track our positions using your sensory abilities."
"Roger that," Luca responded.
Meanwhile, Hank, with the massive equipment box now strapped to his back, grinned mischievously, "If these mutant bastards are itching for a showdown, let's give them one they'll never forget."
Hank was at the forefront, leading the group with Sky securing the rear. Max and Emily were strategically positioned on the left and right sides, respectively. The four of them formed a protective barrier around the researchers, quickly making their way to the nearest designated rendezvous point.
"The enemy is upon us!" Hank announced over the squad's comms as he surged forward. His shoulder armor unfolded, revealing two enormous gun barrels that rose up with mechanical precision.
These massive weapons, with their streamlined design, were dominated by a sleek black color, highlighted with striking red and yellow stripes, exuding a cool yet intimidating aura. Each barrel featured twelve revolving chambers, each loaded with ten bullets, all connected to the automatic ammunition system housed in his back-mounted gear box. At the rear of each barrel, a large heat sink was present, essential for dispersing the intense heat generated during firing.
Hank bellowed a war cry as he firmly gripped the control handles beneath each barrel, swiftly pulling them down to a ninety-degree angle to lock into attack mode, accompanied by a sharp clicking sound. He positioned himself to counter the formidable recoil, as the shoulder-mounted barrels started to whir and spin, rapidly unleashing a barrage of bullets. The fiery trails of the ammunition tore through the air towards the approaching mutated adversaries.
The metallic onslaught effortlessly shredded the front-line enemies, their protective scales shattered like brittle paper.
These mutants, seasoned in battle, shrieked and dispersed, adeptly dodging the relentless gunfire.
Hank quickly adjusted his aim, swiveling the barrels to the right. This action wreaked havoc among the mutants on that side, causing immediate casualties and confusion. However, a group of about a dozen mutants on the left seized this distraction and advanced. The leading trio hit Hank with a significant impact.
To their astonishment, Hank only staggered a few steps back but didn't fall. He maintained control of the guns with his left hand while his right hand grabbed a mutant clinging to him, forcefully yanking it off and slamming it to the ground. In a fluid motion, he unsheathed a chainsaw sword from his lower back.
The chainsaw sprung to life, its rotating blade plunging into another mutant, sending a horrific spray of blood and flesh in all directions.
Meanwhile, Max and Emily had swiftly adjusted their positions, continuously firing at the attackers. Sky had quickly moved to protect Arachne and her daughter, shielding them while providing additional firepower.
The last mutant clinging to Hank laughed maniacally, his hoarse voice taunting, "Let's find out just how tough this iron shell of yours is."
At that moment, a small device on the mutant's back started flashing red and emitted a series of urgent beeps.
Cursing under his breath, Hank wrapped his arms around the mutant, pinning it firmly to the ground as he piled his entire body weight onto it.
Suddenly, an explosion erupted, dirt and debris scattering in all directions. The blast, centered on the mutant under Hank, sent a shockwave rippling outwards. Hank's mech was thrown high into the air before crashing down with a heavy thud.
Max and Emily, positioned nearby, were knocked to the ground by the blast, which also flung several nearby mutants into the air.
Seeing their chance, the remaining mutants at a distance rapidly closed in.
Max quickly regained his footing and charged towards the oncoming mutants, shouting, "Emily, focus on the mutants with self-destruct systems first! Don't let them get a chance to detonate!"
"Understood!" Emily, also back on her feet, retreated to gain distance from the mutants. Moments later, her shoulder-mounted missile launchers opened up. Six micro-missiles, tails ablaze, rocketed out, striking six mutants and exploding into six towering infernos.
Max, already in the thick of battle, wielded his chainsaw sword against several mutants. Amidst the intense combat, he yelled with urgency, "Sky, some are heading towards you—intercept them and protect the researchers! Emily, provide backup to Sky now!"
Sky, taking immediate action, stepped forward to confront the mutants, his gunfire erupting wildly. His lack of battlefield experience was apparent, as his shots fell short of the mark compared to Max's precise firing. The mutants, using their grotesquely oversized claws as shields, rapidly advanced towards him. Sky hastily tried to draw his link sword, but in his panic, he failed to grab the hilt properly and was swiftly overpowered and knocked down by a mutant.
Barely having a moment to react, Sky felt a piercing pain in his left shoulder as a mutant's long, sharp clawed hand broke through his armor, injuring him. The mutant, exhilarated by its success, withdrew its bloodied claw, ready to deliver a lethal blow to Sky.
In a split-second decision fueled by a rush of adrenaline, Sky shifted his body, thrusting his right shoulder against the mutant's chest. He then launched a micro-missile with such powerful force that it sent the mutant flying into the air, where it exploded in a fiery spectacle.
A girl's scream echoed through the battlefield, sending a jolt of fear through Sky. He turned towards Arachne, only to see her lying on the ground, her father, researcher Duncan, using his body as a shield over her. His right chest was impaled by a massive claw. The father had bravely shielded his daughter from the mutant's deadly strike.
The claw was swiftly retracted, ready for another attack.
Driven by a surge of protective instinct, Sky lunged at the mutant about to strike Duncan again. He hit the ground hard with his injured shoulder, the sharp pain igniting a fierce determination within him. With his right hand, he drew his chainsaw sword, activating its energy blade, and began hacking wildly in a crouched stance.
Two additional mutants pounced on Sky from behind, disarming his chainsaw sword and fiercely attacking his back.
Sky fought back fiercely but was overpowered, struggling beneath the weight of his attackers, unable to rise. His back armor, bolstered with various weapon modules, offered a substantial defense. The mutants hadn't yet breached it, but his gear was starting to give way, with fragments scattering about.
Suddenly, the pressure on Sky's back lessened. Turning around, he saw Hank standing behind him, chainsaw sword in hand, his battle armor severely damaged, exposing the bloody wounds underneath.
Sky exclaimed in surprise and relief, "Hank, you're alive!"
Hank, showing a strained smile through his evident pain, replied, "Mk-V's heavy armor isn't so easily destroyed by a mutant's crude bomb." He coughed harshly, clearly enduring his pain, "Can you stand? My left arm is broken; I can't help you up."
Sky let out a bitter smile, a reflection of his helpless situation, and replied, "Of course, I can." He forced himself to stand, his left shoulder wound causing him such intense pain that he grimaced, but his full-face helmet thankfully hid his pained expression from others.
Surveying the battlefield, he asked in confusion, "Why have all the mutants retreated?"
Max, having carefully observed the battlefield before joining Sky and Hank, pointed to the rapidly approaching dust cloud: "My armored transport's arriving. They'd rather run than be shredded by its heavy machine guns." His mech suit was a testament to the fierce battle, riddled with cuts and oozing blood from several wounds.
Breathing heavily, Max suggested, "We should check on the researchers first."
Jolted back to reality by Max's words, Sky's concern immediately shifted to Arachne, and he quickly rushed over to her side.
There, he found researcher Duncan lying face-up on the ground, with Arachne kneeling beside him, weeping. She was futilely trying to stem the flow of blood from his wounds with a torn piece of cloth.
In his dying moments, Duncan shakily handed a silver metallic injector to Arachne and said weakly, "Arachne, daddy can't be with you anymore..." Turning to Sky, he pleaded, "Please, take care of my daughter, will you?"
Sky solemnly nodded, "Rest assured, I'll protect her with everything I've got."
Duncan then said to his daughter, "Arachne, this may be your last... your very last hope..." His voice faded as he lost the last vestige of life.
Arachne sobbed uncontrollably.
The armored transport rolled to a halt before them, its rear hatch opening with urgency. Luca's urgent voice called out, "Quick, get in! The enemy forces are closing in!"
Apart from Duncan, two other researchers had died, and two were injured. Max and Emily each carried an injured researcher into the transport, while Hank, limping, also managed to climb in.
Max shouted, "Sky, come on!"
With a heavy heart, Sky scooped up the still weeping Arachne with his right hand and entered the vehicle.
As the hatch closed, the transport vehicle sped off, leaving a trail of dust in its wake as it moved away from the battlefield.