"Boom!"
The gate exploded as a rocket blasted through, seriously injuring the security guard, who collapsed to the ground. Immediately, mercenaries poured out of their vehicles, rifles at the ready, rushing into Blade Technology Industry.
Black Widow, hearing the explosion, was taken aback. This was Washington, DC—downtown, no less. How could such an audacious attack take place?
Zod, unfazed, brought up the surveillance feed, watching as the fully armed attackers stormed the premises. "I was expecting a package delivery, maybe a bomb hidden inside... but this?" he mused.
Black Widow quickly reported the situation to her boss, the one-eyed Nick Fury. Even Fury hadn't anticipated such a brazen attack. Were these mercenaries truly willing to throw their lives away for money?
"Natasha, protect Zod," Fury ordered. "Blade Technology has fifty War Machines on-site. That should be enough until the police or military arrive. I'll contact the National Guard."
Fury knew that after Zod cracked the cure for AIDS, he'd earned himself an unofficial "get-out-of-jail-free" card. Many powerful figures saw Zod as a beacon of hope. He might hold the key to solving human aging, cancer, and other terminal diseases. His potential value was incalculable, and anyone daring to harm him would be committing an affront to all mankind.
Within minutes, the military was mobilized, deploying helicopters to rush the response. Some of the War Machines Zod had sold to the U.S. government also joined the fight, with the remaining units in the area heading toward Blade Technology.
"Move faster!" the captain shouted.
Meanwhile, Blade Technology's own animalized soldiers suited up in War Machines and engaged the first wave of mercenaries, shredding them to pieces with the high-powered weaponry. The War Machines were a sight to behold, bristling with armaments. Each unit had a shoulder-mounted automatic gun that could lock onto targets autonomously, firing rounds capable of piercing 20mm steel. The left shoulder carried missiles with a silver sheen, chemical warheads that could destroy tanks with a single shot. The flames generated by the chemical reactions reached temperatures high enough to melt titanium alloy in seconds.
Two missile compartments on their chests held golden-tipped warheads, specialized for demolishing fortified targets. With such overwhelming firepower, the War Machines quickly suppressed the mercenaries.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a deafening noise echoed through the hallway as one War Machine's head exploded, its heavy body falling backward. A mercenary armed with an anti-materiel sniper rifle smirked—this was no ordinary bullet, but a high-caliber armor-piercing round designed to obliterate even the toughest armors.
His smugness was short-lived. To his shock, the fallen War Machine stood back up. The missile launcher on its left shoulder aimed directly at him and fired a sleek silver missile. Desperate, the mercenary rolled to avoid the blast, but the missile elegantly adjusted its trajectory mid-flight, locking onto him and detonating upon impact.
"Boom!"
The explosion left nothing of the mercenary but ashes.
The beastified soldier inside the War Machine cursed under his breath. The secondary Kryptonian gold plating on the machines had saved his life. A regular War Machine, made of steel alloy, would have been obliterated. But the ones at Blade Technology had superior armor, capable of withstanding armor-piercing rounds with minimal damage.
More helicopters and War Machines from the U.S. military arrived on the scene. The War Machines moved in first, with soldiers following close behind, using the massive machines as cover while taking potshots at the mercenaries.
One War Machine equipped with a Browning M2HB 12.7mm heavy machine gun unleashed a deafening barrage. The heavy gunfire rattled the building, though the solid construction of Blade Technology held firm, preventing any significant damage.
"Boom!"
Another War Machine's head exploded, toppling the giant to the ground.
"Fall back! The enemy has armor-piercing rounds!" one of the soldiers shouted.
The War Machines scattered quickly. They were highly agile despite their size, far more maneuverable than any human soldier, and capable of outpacing even the fastest of them.
The War Machines had faced similar threats before. While standard weapons couldn't breach their steel alloy exteriors, humanity had always been adept at finding new ways to destroy itself. Armor-piercing rounds, explosive munitions, and even depleted uranium shells had been developed to deal with machines like these.
Enraged by the attack, one War Machine retrieved a weapon case from the logistics team. Inside was a specialized rocket launcher.
Meanwhile, the mercenaries outside, having experienced little resistance recently, were relaxing, chewing gum as they waited. They assumed that the snipers inside had the War Machines pinned down.
Suddenly, one of the War Machines emerged from cover, moving faster than expected. The mercenaries' eyes widened as they saw what it was holding. One of them fumbled to aim his rifle, but before he could react, the War Machine launched two rockets in quick succession.
With laser guidance, the rockets had no trouble finding their mark. The mercenary barely had time to react before the rockets exploded, sending him flying. His internal organs were liquefied by the shockwave, and the flames consumed his corpse.
Back inside the office, Black Widow watched the battle unfold on Zod's surveillance feed. She now had a better understanding of the sheer power and sophistication of Blade Technology's arsenal. Yet, she still hadn't seen Zod's automated forces—his most fearsome asset—enter the fray.