The roar of the automated mechas echoed across the battlefield as they stomped forward, their massive forms illuminated by the harsh arena lights.
Luka stared in disbelief at the machines emerging from the shadows—hulking, towering constructs, each armed to the teeth with devastating weapons. These weren't ordinary competitors. They were monsters of metal, designed solely for destruction.
His heart pounded as the realization hit him. The council wasn't playing games anymore. This final round wasn't about survival against other pilots—it was about survival against these war machines.
"They're throwing everything at us," Kaela's voice came through the comms, steady but tense. "Those things are bigger than anything we've fought before."
Luka gripped the controls of Vigil, his knuckles white with tension. "And they're not piloted. They won't hold back."
The towering mechas lumbered toward them, their footsteps sending tremors through the ground. Their forms were bristling with weapons—massive cannons, missile launchers, energy blades that crackled with deadly intent. Luka could see that each machine was built for one thing: annihilation.
"We can't face them head-on," Kaela said quickly, her draconic mecha already shifting into a defensive stance. "We need to outmaneuver them, hit their weak spots."
Luka nodded, his mind racing as he analyzed the battlefield. The arena's layout was scattered with cover—pillars, debris, and remnants of past fights. They could use that to their advantage. But they would need to stay sharp. These automated mechas didn't tire, didn't hesitate, and wouldn't stop until their targets were obliterated.
"Stick to the plan," Luka said, his voice firm. "We stay mobile, hit them where it hurts, and keep our distance."
The first of the automated mechas fired, its massive shoulder-mounted cannon unleashing a torrent of energy that ripped through the ground where Luka had been standing moments before. He swerved *Vigil* to the side, dodging the blast as debris rained down around him.
"Kaela, move!" Luka shouted, his voice sharp with urgency.
Kaela's draconic mecha leapt into the air, its wings flaring as she dodged a second energy blast. She circled around one of the automated machines, her claws glowing with a faint blue light as she prepared to strike.
"I'm going for its joints!" Kaela called over the comms. "Keep them distracted!"
Luka grinned, adrenaline flooding his system. "Got it."
He charged toward the nearest mecha, Vigil's thrusters firing as he closed the distance. The machine turned its massive head toward him, its targeting systems locking on as it prepared to fire. Luka felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as the warning signals flashed on his HUD—incoming fire.
But Luka was already moving.
He darted to the side just as the automated mecha fired, the energy blast tearing through the space where he had been moments earlier. With a burst of speed, he closed in on the machine, slamming Vigil's blade into the joint of its massive arm.
Sparks flew as the blade dug into the metal, severing critical components and sending the machine staggering back. But even as the arm fell limp, the mecha wasn't finished. Its other arm swung around, a massive energy blade igniting with a deadly hum as it came down toward Luka.
"Too slow," Luka muttered under his breath, activating Vigil's thrusters to dodge the strike.
He circled around the back of the mecha, looking for another weak point. The machines were powerful, but they weren't invincible. Their sheer size made them slow, and Luka knew that if they could stay one step ahead, they had a chance.
Meanwhile, Kaela had landed on the back of another automated mecha, her draconic claws digging into the thick armor. She moved with precision, ripping through the machine's joints with calculated strikes. The mecha roared in response, its systems sparking and sputtering as it tried to shake her off.
"Got it!" Kaela shouted as the mecha collapsed beneath her, its legs giving out under the damage.
Luka couldn't help but smile. "Nice work. One down."
But there was no time to celebrate. The remaining mechas had recalibrated, their targeting systems now fully locked on Luka and Kaela. A barrage of missiles launched from the back of one of the machines, streaking through the air toward them.
"Move!" Luka shouted, diving behind a pillar for cover just as the missiles slammed into the ground around them, sending shockwaves through the arena.
Kaela darted into the sky, her wings carrying her above the explosions as she repositioned for another attack. "These things just keep coming."
Luka peeked out from behind the pillar, watching as the remaining mechas continued their relentless advance. He could see their weakness—their slow reaction times, their reliance on brute force over strategy. But their sheer power and the destructive force they wielded made them formidable opponents.
"We can't let them box us in," Luka said, his mind racing. "We've got to take them down one at a time. Hit hard, hit fast, and keep moving."
Kaela was already on it. Her mecha swooped down, claws extended as she targeted another of the automated machines. She slashed through its leg joints, crippling it in a matter of seconds before dodging another barrage of missiles.
Luka followed suit, charging at the nearest mecha with Vigil's blade raised high. He struck hard, slicing through the machine's torso and sending a shower of sparks into the air. But even as the mecha fell, another was already moving to take its place.
"They just keep coming," Kaela muttered, frustration lacing her voice.
Luka's brow furrowed as he dodged another energy blast. "There's got to be a limit. They can't have an endless supply of these things."
Kaela was about to respond when the ground beneath them began to tremble. Luka's stomach dropped as the ground in the center of the arena started to split open, revealing a massive, circular platform rising from below. And standing atop it was something far worse than the automated mechas they had just faced.
A colossal, armored machine emerged, towering over the battlefield like a metal titan. Its design was unlike anything Luka had seen before—sleek, deadly, and pulsating with raw Aether energy. Massive cannons lined its arms, and its eyes glowed with a deep, menacing red.
Kaela's voice came through the comms, her usual confidence replaced by shock. "What the hell is that?"
Luka's heart pounded as he stared up at the towering machine. This was the council's final move—the ultimate test. And it was clear that they were expected to defeat this monstrosity.
"This thing's off the charts," Luka muttered, his mind racing as he analyzed the machine's systems. "We're going to have to be careful. One wrong move, and we're done."
Kaela's voice was grim. "No kidding. But we're not backing down now."
Luka took a deep breath, his hands steady on the controls. "Let's finish this."
The colossal machine roared to life, its cannons powering up as it locked onto Luka and Kaela. The final battle had begun.
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Author's Note: The final challenge is here! What do you think of the council's ultimate weapon? Can Luka and Kaela take it down? Share your thoughts and strategies before the next chapter!