The sky above the scrapyard darkened as night took hold. In the distance, faint mechanical hums and rhythmic stomping echoed through the air, growing louder with every passing moment. Ethan crouched behind the fortified barricades, gripping the Plasma Disruptor Cannon tightly. His Interface flickered with activity, scanning the incoming forces.
[Incoming Hostile Forces Detected:]
• Syndicate Assault Team:
• 10 Combat Drones (Heavy-Class)
• 6 Operatives (Advanced Combat Gear)
• 1 Heavy Mech Unit (Prototype Design)
• Dungeon Hunters Guild Strike Team:
• 8 Ground Units (Energy Shields)
• 4 Elite Snipers
• 1 Combat Commander (Tactical AI Support)
Threat Level: Critical.
Recommended Action: Prioritize elimination of heavy units and command elements.
Ethan's heart raced as the reality of their situation set in. This wasn't just an attack—it was a full-blown assault meant to crush them. He glanced at the others. Briggs stood by the barricade, his plasma rifle at the ready, while Garret loaded a fresh energy cell into his shoulder-mounted cannon. Rhea was in the fallback position, connected to her hacking console, and Shade had already melted into the shadows.
"They brought a mech," Briggs muttered, his voice laced with equal parts awe and dread. "That's a lot of firepower for a scrapyard."
Ethan smirked, masking his nerves. "Good thing we've got some firepower of our own."
The hum of the Syndicate's combat drones became a roar as they came into view, sleek and deadly with glowing red optics. Behind them, the Guild's heavily armed units advanced in tight formation, their energy shields shimmering under the dim light.
Ethan's Interface chimed.
[Defensive Protocols Activated:]
• Compact Plasma Turret Mk. II: Online.
• Barricades: Reinforced.
• Energy Amplifier: Functioning at 110%.
The first drone fired, its plasma bolt slamming into the barricade and sending a spray of molten metal into the air. Ethan ducked as more shots followed, the air crackling with energy.
"Turrets, now!" he shouted.
The Compact Plasma Turret Mk. II roared to life, its automated targeting system locking onto the nearest drone. A concentrated plasma burst tore through its chassis, sending it crashing to the ground. The turret swiveled and fired again, taking down a second drone in quick succession.
"Rhea, we need those drones out of the air!" Ethan called.
"I'm on it!" Rhea shouted back, her fingers flying over her console. The Interface provided a live feed of her progress as she hacked into the drone network.
[Skill Activated: Advanced System Override.]
Target: Syndicate Combat Drones.
Result: 2 drones disabled. Redirecting fire to enemy units.
Two of the drones turned on their own operatives, firing plasma bolts into the Syndicate formation. The operatives scrambled for cover, shouting in confusion.
"Nice work!" Ethan said, grinning.
But his smile faded as the Heavy Mech Unit emerged from the shadows. Towering over the battlefield, its armored frame bristled with weapons. The mech's primary cannon fired, obliterating one of the barricades in a single shot.
Ethan's Interface pinged urgently.
[Analysis Complete: Heavy Mech Unit.]
• Weakness: Overclocked Energy Core (Exposed during cooldown).
• Recommendation: Use Plasma Disruptor Cannon to destabilize core.
Ethan gritted his teeth. "Briggs, Garret, cover me. I'm going for the mech!"
"You're insane!" Briggs shouted, but he didn't hesitate to fire at the advancing Guild forces, buying Ethan the time he needed.
Ethan sprinted toward a secondary barricade, the Plasma Disruptor Cannon humming in his hands. The mech's cannon swiveled, locking onto him. He dove behind cover as a plasma blast incinerated the ground where he'd just been standing.
"Come on," he muttered, peeking over the edge of the barricade. The mech's energy core glowed faintly as it recharged, the exposed component visible for just a few seconds.
Ethan popped up, bracing the cannon against his shoulder. He aimed carefully, the Interface providing real-time targeting assistance.
[Skill Activated: Precision Targeting.]
Target Locked: Overclocked Energy Core.
The cannon fired, a blinding surge of plasma tearing through the air and slamming into the core. The mech shuddered violently, sparks and smoke erupting from its chassis. Its movements became erratic, its weapons firing wildly before it collapsed in a heap of burning metal.
[Enemy Neutralized: Heavy Mech Unit.]
+500 EXP.
Ethan didn't have time to celebrate. The Guild's snipers had taken position on a nearby rooftop, their scopes trained on the defenders. One of them fired, the shot grazing Briggs's shoulder and sending him stumbling back with a curse.
"Shade, snipers!" Ethan shouted.
A moment later, one of the snipers crumpled, a thin blade buried in their neck. Shade moved like a ghost, eliminating targets with surgical precision. The remaining snipers scrambled for cover, their confidence shattered.
Meanwhile, the Guild's ground units pushed forward, their energy shields absorbing turret fire as they closed the distance. Garret stepped forward, his cannon charging with a high-pitched whine.
"Come on, you bastards!" he roared, firing a concentrated blast that shattered two shields and sent their wielders flying.
Ethan's Interface pinged again.
[Enemy Commander Detected.]
• Name: Captain Dorian Vex.
• Class: Tactical Combat Specialist.
• Abilities: Enhanced Reflexes, Tactical AI Support, Energy Shield Manipulation.
Dorian Vex emerged from the ranks, his armor sleek and polished, his energy blade crackling with power. He moved with precision, cutting through the defenders' ranks and deflecting turret fire with ease.
Ethan cursed. "Briggs, fall back! We need to regroup!"
Briggs nodded, retreating toward the fallback position. Ethan followed, his mind racing. Vex was too skilled to take down with brute force—they needed a strategy.
"Rhea, can you override his AI support?" Ethan asked as they reached the workshop.
"I'll try," she said, her hands flying over her console. "But it's a high-level system. It'll take time."
"Do it," Ethan said. "We'll hold him off."
He turned back toward the battlefield, gripping the Plasma Disruptor Cannon tightly. Vex was advancing, his blade slicing through barricades as he closed in.
"Time to end this," Ethan muttered, stepping forward to meet the commander.
The cannon hummed as he aimed, the Interface locking onto Vex's energy shield. The commander's eyes narrowed as he raised his blade, prepared to deflect the shot.
Ethan fired, but not at Vex. Instead, the plasma bolt struck a damaged power node on the battlefield, sending a surge of energy through the ground. The overload shorted out Vex's shield, leaving him momentarily vulnerable.
Briggs and Garret opened fire, their shots striking true. Vex staggered, his armor sparking, but he didn't go down. He charged, his blade raised, but Shade intercepted him, his own blade clashing against Vex's in a flurry of sparks.
Rhea shouted from the fallback position. "I've got his AI! Shutting it down now!"
Vex froze mid-strike, his movements jerky and uncoordinated as the AI support failed. Ethan didn't hesitate. He fired again, the plasma bolt slamming into Vex's chest and sending him crashing to the ground.
[Quest Complete: Defend the Scrapyard—Second Wave.]
Primary Tasks Completed: All attackers repelled. Prototype weapon secured.
Optional Task Completed: Enemy commander neutralized.
Rewards Earned: +2,000 EXP, Faction Favor (Neutral Boost), Advanced Armor Blueprint.
Level Up!
Level 4 → Level 5.
New Attribute Points: +3.
Skill Unlocked: Master Mechanic's Intuition.
The battlefield fell silent once more. Ethan lowered the cannon, his body trembling with exhaustion. The others gathered around, their faces etched with relief and disbelief.
"We did it," Briggs said, his voice rough. "We actually did it."
Ethan nodded, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. For now, they had won. But he knew the war was far from over. Neo Arcadia-2 had taken notice of them, and the next battle would be even harder.
But as he looked at his team and the fortified scrapyard, he allowed himself a small smile. They weren't just surviving—they were thriving. And for the first time, he felt like they had a chance to take on whatever came next.