After another hour of trudging through dense, humid jungle, Atlas and I were finally making headway.
The tag we'd secured so far were only one but our progress solid, and it was looking like we might actually pull off something close to success this time too.
The harsh environment, though grating, had become somewhat familiar. Even the oppressive heat didn't bother me as much anymore. It was supposed to be a simple mission, a standard simulation in the grand scheme of things.
But then, it all went wrong in an instant.
The ground beneath us trembled. No, it shuddered.
A deep, unnerving rumble filled the air, and before either of us could react, the rocks around us began shifting, splitting apart like they'd been triggered by some unseen hand.
Large boulders started crashing down, blocking our only exit. The path was cut off.
I barely had time to process it before the wolves appeared.
And these weren't your average wolves. No, these things were massive—ferocious beasts with glowing eyes and teeth sharper than any natural predator should have.
They moved in packs, their coordination was uncanny. This wasn't just a random encounter; it was an ambush, and we were the prey.
"Looks like we're their meal," Atlas muttered, already pulling his sniper rifle from his back, positioning himself to get a better shot. His hands were steady, though the faintest trace of annoyance flickered across his face.
I couldn't help but grimace. "Yeah, real appetizing. Let's not make it easy for them."
The wolves snarled, their glowing eyes fixed on us like heat-seeking missiles. My drones immediately buzzed into action, forming a defensive line around us, projecting an electromagnetic barrier to keep the beasts at bay.
[System Notification: Deploying Electromagnetic Barrier]
"That should hold them for a minute," I said, fingers moving quickly over my comms console to reroute more power to the drones. They buzzed around, forming a protective ring around us, keeping the wolves at arm's length.
"Yeah, for about thirty seconds. Can't count on this holding up forever." Atlas's voice crackled in my ear. He was already scanning the horizon, eyes darting from one wolf to the next.
"I'll keep the wolves busy. You figure out how to deal with the guy controlling the terrain."
The problem wasn't just the wolves, though. It was the guy pulling the strings from the shadows.
A figure emerged from behind a rock outcrop—a tall, solid frame, his hands raised like he was conducting some invisible orchestra.
Jax Rylan, the Earth Manipulator. A- Rank.
One of the seniors, and the real threat here. I could feel the ground beneath my feet start to groan in response to his power.
"Dammit," I muttered under my breath as the earth around us began to shake. Rocks trembled as though they were alive, and I didn't need to look to know that Jax was already preparing to collapse the ravine on top of us.
"Jax, huh?" Atlas said, almost conversationally, as if the situation wasn't life-threatening. "I'll take care of the wolves. You deal with Mr. Rocky over there."
"Yeah, because I've got nothing better to do," I shot back. "Cover me, Atlas. I'll try to hold off Jax while you get that sniper shot lined up."
I glanced at my drones, mentally commanding them to maintain the barrier. They weren't invincible, but they'd buy us a little time. But I knew it wasn't going to last long.
System Notification: Electromagnetic Shield at 68% efficiency. Energy reserves depleting.
"Damn it," I cursed under my breath, watching as the wolves began testing the field. One of them lunged forward, its teeth snapping dangerously close to the drones, and I hit the button to redirect more energy into the shield.
"Stay on track, Noah! We can't keep this up forever," Atlas warned, his voice sharp and full of urgency.
"I'm aware!" I snapped back. "You get those wolves down, I'll keep Jax busy."
"On it," he muttered, and I could hear the distinct click of his rifle as he got into position.
The first wolf lunged, its claws raking across the barrier with a loud clang. The impact sent a ripple through the shield, and I could feel the feedback through the system.
One of the drones took the brunt of the attack, sparking and sputtering in mid-air before stabilizing.
"One down. You're good," I muttered, keeping my eyes trained on the field.
Atlas didn't respond immediately, his focus on his target. He was one of the best snipers I'd ever seen—so when he spoke again, it wasn't a question.
"Got him."
And just like that, the wolves' leader—the A-Rank Beast Tamer, Kara Thorne—dissolved into shimmering particles, her beasts disappearing with her. The remaining wolves hesitated for a brief moment, their bodies flickering and vanishing like smoke.
But Jax wasn't backing down. He raised his hands again, and the ground cracked beneath him. I watched in horror as the earth began to churn, chunks of rock rising from the ground, almost as if the ravine itself were waking up to crush us.
"Atlas!" I shouted, even though I knew he was already aware of the situation. "I need a clear shot! Now!"
He was silent for a second before responding in that calm, measured tone of his. "I've got one, but you've gotta make sure he doesn't collapse the entire place before I take it."
"Deal," I said.
I sent out a flurry of drones to keep Jax's focus divided. The electrical barrier around us flickered, but I could feel my reserves draining fast.
System Notification: Electromagnetic Barrier at 25% efficiency. Energy reserves critical.
With no other options left, I triggered a surge of electricity to keep Jax at bay. It wasn't much, just a quick shockwave, but it was enough to knock him off balance for a split second. It was all I needed.
System Notification: Target locked on Jax Rylan. Commencing attack.
Atlas's voice came through the comms loud and clear. "Now, Noah!"
A single shot rang out.
The world seemed to slow as I watched Jax's smirk falter, his hands freezing in mid-air. The bullet hit him square in the shoulder, and he staggered back. He didn't fall, but I could tell his focus wavered.
"That's our chance!" I shouted. "Hit him now, Atlas!"
The earth around us trembled again, but Jax couldn't concentrate enough to continue his assault.
My drones dove in, releasing a barrage of shockwaves and electromagnetic pulses. They surrounded him, zipping past at breakneck speed.
Jax tried to raise his hand, but the drones were too fast.
"Together now!" I barked.
Atlas didn't need another reminder. He took aim again, the rifle steady in his hands. This time, the shot was perfect.
The laser bullet struck Jax in the chest, just as one of my drones launched another blast of energy straight into his gut.
The combined force sent him crashing into the ground, his earth manipulation fizzling out like a dying ember.
"Got him," Atlas said, breathing out slowly.
I nodded, though my heart was still racing. The fight wasn't over. Not yet.
System Notification: Target Jax Rylan defeated. Two tags secured.
But as I looked around, the ravine still held an eerie stillness. It wasn't over.
System Notification: Multiple hostiles detected. Reinforcements incoming.
My heart skipped a beat.
"We're not alone," I muttered under my breath, already prepping for the next wave.
And then came the rumble. It wasn't the earth this time, but the distinct sound of footsteps.