Da-Mi and her team were forced to pull their eyes away from Zephyr's daring escape as the remaining Sentinels surged towards them. Their focus shifted from one fleeing figure to the immediate threat at hand.
Wei Zexian, his sniper rifle now silent and useless, wasted no time. With a swift maneuver, he switched his Exosuit configuration, transforming into a heavily armored Hyperion. He positioned himself as a resolute bulwark at the Main Gate, his presence a shield for Da-Mi and the others.
Hyperion's thick metal plating glinted in the afternoon sun, a stark contrast to the gnashing teeth and razor-sharp claws of the Sentinels. Their ferocious swipes and lunges met only with frustrating thuds as they bounced harmlessly off the nigh-impenetrable armor.
A surge of confidence washed over Wei Zexian as he held the line,
The NPC Legions, perhaps strengthened by random program changes, also rallied. Their initial chaotic barrage transformed into a coordinated fusillade, each shot finding its mark with deadly precision.
At the same time, the rhythmic thump of footsteps landing on the stone ground drew Da-Mi and Jae-Ya's attention. Zephyr emerged from above, his movements measured and calm. He stretched, brushing dust and grime from his clothing with practiced ease, a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded.
Jae-Ya's brow furrowed in confusion. Zephyr's demeanor seemed oddly relaxed, almost carefree, given the ongoing battle.
Da-Mi, ever the pragmatist, couldn't help but voice her concern. "Shouldn't you be helping them?" she asked, her voice laced with a gentle urgency. "There are still Sentinels left, and any further assistance would be invaluable."
Zephyr remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the battlefield. He took a deep, steadying breath, the faint tremor in his hands betraying the exertion of the previous fight.
"No need to worry," he finally replied, his voice slightly raspy. "That brat with Hyperion and the Legions have it under control. And with your other members here, the outcome is practically guaranteed." A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of Da-Mi's persuasive nature.
Da-Mi's lips pursed in a thin line. While she understood Zephyr's limitations, his unconcerned attitude grated on her. Yet, she knew forcing him wouldn't change the situation.
Her gaze flickered back to the battlefield. The tide had turned significantly. The remaining Sentinels, their numbers drastically reduced, lacked the overwhelming ferocity they once possessed. A sliver of relief washed over Da-Mi, replacing the gnawing worry that had gripped her moments before.
Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, she spoke, her voice firm yet laced with a hint of intrigue. "What was that back there?" she asked, gesturing towards the battlefield. "The shockwave from your Exosuit... it was unlike anything I've ever seen in Apex Online."
The unprecedented energy blast that Zephyr unleashed with the Polaris Exosuit had piqued Da-Mi's curiosity to a point she couldn't ignore. It was a phenomenon far beyond the realm of their virtual reality experience.
Zephyr fell silent, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. Energy shockwaves, he finally conceded, were a feature available in most Exosuits. But they came at a steep cost.
"It's a double-edged sword," he admitted, his voice low. "Effective, yes. But it drains the entire Aether Energy reserve, leaving the Exosuit powerless and the pilot vulnerable. If there are still hostiles around..." he trailed off, letting the implication hang heavy in the air.
Da-Mi's eyes widened in understanding. It explained his haste in ejecting from the Polaris. The drained battery rendered it useless, a significant loss in an environment like this.
"And the Exo-suit itself?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued. "Is it beyond repair?"
Zephyr shook his head. "Not necessarily. A complete overhaul might salvage it, but that's practically rebuilding from scratch. And with no mechanics around..." he shrugged, a hint of frustration in his voice. "The Central Apex region would need to open first."
He paused, contemplating for a moment. "Honestly," he continued, his gaze meeting Da-Mi's, "it's not something I recommend replicating. Discovering its benefits comes hand-in-hand with experiencing its consequences."
Da-Mi's gaze met Zephyr's, a spark of comprehension flickering in her eyes. Central Apex, a mere whisper in their current reality, held little meaning for her. But the potential of the energy shockwave resonated deeply. Despite the obvious drawbacks, the sheer effectiveness of the shockwave, capable of crippling and eliminating a large swathe of enemies, couldn't be ignored. It was a strategic trump card, a secret weapon waiting to get unleashed under the right circumstances.
Zephyr recognized the implication of her unwavering gaze. He knew his warning about the double-edged nature of the attack had fallen on deaf ears, but offering further unsolicited advice would be futile. He had a different agenda now.
His gaze drifted towards the battlefield, now eerily quiet. The immediate threat had been neutralized, granting him a much-needed respite. A wave of exhaustion washed over him, urging him towards rest.
A flicker of anticipation danced in his eyes as he contemplated checking the System later. The sheer number of defeated Sentinels promised a surge of wealth, a reward he eagerly awaited.
The allure of his virtual gains eclipsed any lingering interest in the completed pre-main quest. He yearned to delve into the spoils of his victory, content to leave the rest behind.
Meanwhile, Jae-Ya watched in bewilderment as Zephyr strode away from the Main Gate, leaving the battleground behind. The Sentinels they had been fighting were now dead. Their initial ferocity was replaced by the serene hush in the field.
Out of nowhere, a notification chimed, pulling Jae-Ya's attention away from the retreating figure. The pre-quest completion message flashed in the sky, a triumphant fanfare announcing the humans' victory.
Below it, another window displayed the individual kill counts, revealing Zephyr's undisputed dominance with 113 kills, followed by Wei Zexian's 21 and Da-Mi's 7. It served as a stark reminder of the varying contributions to the battle.
A pang of disappointment washed over Jae-Ya as she scanned the reward details. The top three received hefty rewards. The first was 1000 Shards, the second was 650 Shards, and the third was 200 Shards. The rest, including herself, would have to settle for meager consolation prizes of 50 Shards. Unfortunately, the number would decrease as the rank was lower.
The victory announcements continued. And the celebratory tone was at odds with the quiet aftermath of the battle. A new pop-up emerged, unveiling the global ranking for the pre-quest after the regional ranking.
Jae-Ya's breath hitched as she saw Zephyr's name at the top again, his kill numbers dwarfing the competition. Bovarin Yakov of the Sanctuary of the Sacred Flame placed second with 51 kills, followed by Cardinal Aymeri from the Stronghold of the Thunder and Thomas Fisher from the Haven of the Starlight.
Tring!
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[Apex World]
1. Zephyr Quinn (113 kills) Fortress of the Divine Light
2. Bovarin Yakov (51 kills) Sanctuary of the Sacred Flame
3. Cardinal Aymeri (49 kills) Stronghold of the Thunder
4. Thomas Fisher (48 kills) Haven of the Starlight
....
....
....
The prizes for the top three are 5000 Shards, 3000 Shards, and 1500 Shards. Others will get 500 Shards or less, decreasing according to rank.
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On the other hand, a wave of emotions washed over Da-Mi - admiration for Zephyr's prowess, frustration at her previous ignorance of the Exo-suit's energy shockwave capabilities, and a hint of envy towards the top Legions and their substantial rewards.
Suddenly, amidst the awe at the Main Gate, a stone's throw from the Legion Union, Zephyr came to a complete stop. His gaze drifted upwards, drawn to the colossal holographic display that dominated the sky.
A flicker of something akin to confirmation crossed his features as he watched the pre-quest completion message loop across the screen. This wasn't a mere drill. The sudden attack, a stark deviation from his past experiences, underscored the ever-shifting nature of history.
Despite unforeseen events, the outcome remained eerily similar – a relief tempered by the knowledge, etched deep within him, of the deceptive calm that often preceded the storm. The other three shelters stood resilient, a testament to the delicate balance of this altered timeline, yet Zephyr's heart remained heavy. The silence, punctuated only by his footsteps echoing off deserted buildings, felt ominous.