The core of the jungle felt like a trap before we even reached the clearing. My drones hummed around us, feeding live data into my interface as I scanned the horizon.
The glowing monolithic pillar in the center of the clearing held five tags, each radiating an enticing, taunting glow. The challenge was obvious, but so was the danger.
"Too open," Atlas muttered, his eyes sharp. "Feels like bait."
"That's because it is," I replied, keeping my tone casual. My drones swept the area, their systems pinging. Their cameras zoomed in, feeding live data to my interface. The confirmation came immediately.
As expected, we weren't alone.
[System Notification: Threat Analysis Complete]
Hostiles Detected: 2
Identified: Reyna Voss (Energy Manipulator), Dante Kade (Shadow Blade)
"They're here," I said flatly, adjusting my stance.
"Two seniors," I said, gesturing toward the faint outlines of our targets emerging from the far side of the clearing. "Reyna's an Energy Manipulator. Shields, energy blasts, and a serious ego. Dante's a Shadow Blade. Teleportation, speed, knives that hit like freight trains."
Atlas's groan was audible. "Perfect. Couldn't just give us a couple of pushovers, huh?" He exhaled sharply, raising his rifle. "Guess they aren't handing out those tags for free."
Reyna stepped forward, crimson energy swirling around her as her shield flared to life. "Well, well," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "Rookies with ambition. How quaint."
Her smirk was infuriating, confident, and condescending all at once.
"Nice of you to show up," she said, her voice carrying easily. "We were getting bored waiting."
Dante emerged behind her, silent and deadly. His black armor blended with the shadows around him, his twin blades glinting ominously. He didn't waste time with words, his intense gaze saying all it needed to.
I felt the pressure mounting but refused to let it show. "They're guarding the tags, which means we just need to take them down. Easy."
"Define 'easy.'" Atlas shifted uneasily. "We have a plan, right?"
"Distract Dante. I'll deal with her shield," I replied, deploying my drones into a defensive formation.
Reyna's laugh echoed as she launched a blast of energy directly at us. Atlas dove into cover while I rolled away, narrowly avoiding the explosion that left a smoking crater where we'd stood.
Her shield flickered, and a blast of energy shot toward us. We barely dodged in time, the ground where we'd been standing erupting in a shower of dirt and debris.
"You were saying?" Atlas grumbled, rolling to his feet.
"Focus," I snapped, deploying my drones. "Distract Dante. I'll deal with her shield."
[System Notification: Defensive Hostile Engaged]
Reyna Voss: Threat Level - Medium
Suggested Tactic: EMP Disruption
"On it," Atlas said, sprinting toward the treeline for cover. He opened fire, his shots precise but ineffective against Reyna's shield.
I deployed two drones toward Reyna, their EMP charges primed. She raised her shield, the energy field shimmering as it absorbed Atlas's rifle shots with ease.
"Cute toys," she said, smirking. "But you're going to need more than that."
Meanwhile, Dante vanished in a swirl of shadows, reappearing behind me with alarming speed. I ducked just in time, his blade missing my neck by inches.
[System Notification: Shadow Blade Detected]
Tracking Movement...Predictive Algorithm: 80% Accuracy
I sidestepped his first strike, using a drone as a decoy to redirect his second. He teleported again, but my Electromagnetic Barrier flared to life, trapping him inside for a brief moment.
"Not today," I muttered, deploying another drone to intercept his movements. The drone's taser arm buzzed to life, forcing Dante to teleport yet again.
"You're not the only one with tricks," I muttered, sweat dripping down my brow.
Reyna laughed, her shield rippling as she absorbed Atlas's relentless barrage. "You really think you can break this? Adorable."
I ignored her taunts, redirecting two drones to her location. Their EMP charges detonated simultaneously, disrupting her shield for a brief moment. It was enough.
"Atlas, now!"
He didn't hesitate. A single well-placed shot from his rifle hit Reyna's exposed shoulder, staggering her.
Dante reappeared, furious, and lunged at me with both blades. I sidestepped, deploying an Electromagnetic Barrier around him.
[System Notification: Hostile Contained]
Duration: 15 Seconds
"Gotcha," I said, watching him slam his blades against the barrier to no avail.
Reyna tried to recover, but Atlas closed the distance, delivering a precise strike that left her disoriented. My drones finished the job, hitting her with another EMP burst.
The two seniors staggered, their forms flickering as the simulation's disintegration protocol kicked in.
With a final coordinated strike, both seniors faltered. Reyna's shield failed completely, and Dante's teleportation flickered, leaving him vulnerable.
[System Notification: Hostiles Neutralized]
Reyna Voss: Simulation Protocol Deactivated
Dante Kade: Simulation Protocol Deactivated
"No!" Reyna shouted, her confident smirk replaced by disbelief.
Dante glared at me one last time before both of them dissolved into shimmering particles.
Atlas let out a triumphant whoop. "We actually did it!"
I didn't share his enthusiasm yet. My eyes were locked on the pillar. The tags were unguarded now, glowing faintly in the sunlight.
"Don't celebrate yet," I said, striding toward the pillar.
The moment I reached out to grab the tags, a high-pitched whistle cut through the air. My drones shrieked warnings in my interface.
[System Notification: Incoming Projectile Detected]
Threat Level: High
Recommended Action: Evade
I threw myself to the side just as an arrow infused with crackling energy slammed into the ground where I'd been standing. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, leaving a charred crater in its wake.
"Are you kidding me?!" I shouted, rolling to my feet.
Atlas's rifle was already up, scanning for the source. "Where did that come from?"
From the shadows emerged a tall figure, bow in hand, another arrow already nocked. Drek Sin, the precision-obsessed Ranger, stepped into view, his icy gaze fixed on us.
"Nice dodge," he said, his voice calm, almost bored. "But you won't get lucky twice."
As if on cue, the ground trembled beneath us. A low, mechanical whir filled the air, and from the treeline emerged Morak Eyre. His robotic puppets flanked him, their movements unnervingly lifelike.
[System Notification: Additional Hostiles Detected]
Drek Sin (Ranger): Threat Level - Medium
Morak Eyre (Robotic Puppeteer): Threat Level - High
Units Detected: 6 Automated Puppets
Atlas's expression darkened. "Of course there are more of them."
I clenched my fists, scanning the battlefield. "Five tags, five seniors. We should've seen this coming."
Morak's smirk was infuriating as his puppets shifted into an offensive formation. "Rookies like you should've stayed in the jungle."
"Let's see how long you can keep dodging." Drek raised his bow, his energy-charged arrow aimed directly at me. "Run if you want. I'll enjoy the hunt."
The odds were stacked against us again. My drones buzzed nervously, their systems ready for my commands. I tightened my grip, my gaze locked on the two new threats.
"We're not running," I said, my voice steady. "Atlas, get ready. It's far from over."