The second prototype moved like liquid steel, its motions unnaturally smooth and calculated. Every step it took was deliberate, exuding a menace far greater than Alpha's brutish strength. Ethan's grip on his weapon tightened as he assessed the room, the glow of malfunctioning machinery casting erratic shadows on the walls.
"This is bad," Ava muttered, clutching her side where Alpha's blow had landed. "That thing's leagues ahead of the first one."
Ethan glanced at her, his expression grim. "Can you still fight?"
"Try and stop me." She wiped blood from her mouth and straightened, blade in hand.
The prototype didn't wait for an invitation. It surged forward, covering the distance between them in seconds. Ethan fired, but the bullets seemed to pass through empty air as the machine twisted unnaturally to avoid them. Ava darted to the side, aiming a strike at its neck, but the prototype countered, its metallic arm catching her blade mid-swing.
"It's predicting our moves!" Ava shouted, pulling back before it could retaliate.
Ethan's mind raced. "Then we need to be unpredictable."
He switched tactics, aiming his next shots not at the prototype but at the ceiling above it. The weakened beams collapsed, raining debris down. The prototype hesitated, calculating its next move, and Ava seized the moment to strike its exposed leg. Sparks erupted as her blade found a weak joint, but the machine spun and kicked her away with a force that sent her crashing into a console.
"Ava!" Ethan shouted, rushing to her side.
She groaned, struggling to sit up. "I'm fine. Focus on that thing!"
The prototype turned its glowing eyes on them, its movements less fluid but no less dangerous. Ethan knew they couldn't keep this up. The machine wasn't just testing them—it was wearing them down.
Jason's Offer
Before the prototype could advance, the chamber filled with the now-familiar sound of Jason's voice.
"Bravo, Ethan. You're lasting longer than I expected. But let's face it—you can't win."
Ethan glared at the nearest speaker. "Come out and face me, Jason!"
Jason laughed, a sound devoid of warmth. "Why would I do that when I have Alpha and Beta to handle you? But I'll give you a choice. Surrender now, and I'll spare you both. Fight, and… well, you've seen what happens to those who defy me."
Ava struggled to her feet, her blade still in hand. "Don't listen to him. We can take this thing."
Ethan hesitated. Jason's games always had layers. If he wanted them alive, there had to be a reason.
"What's your angle, Jason?" Ethan demanded.
Jason's tone turned almost conversational. "Oh, Ethan. You've always been my favorite experiment. The only one who could truly challenge me. But even you have limits. And I'm curious—how far are you willing to go to survive?"
Ethan clenched his fists. "Farther than you think."
Turning the Tide
He grabbed Ava's arm and pulled her toward the central console, his mind forming a desperate plan. "Buy me time," he said.
Ava didn't argue. She turned to face the prototype, her movements sharp despite the pain. "Hey, tin can! Let's dance."
The prototype lunged, and Ava met it head-on, her blade clashing against its metallic limbs in a deadly rhythm.
Meanwhile, Ethan hacked into the console, navigating its labyrinthine code. Jason's voice taunted him through the speakers.
"You really think you can outsmart me, Ethan? This system is light-years ahead of anything you've seen."
"Maybe," Ethan muttered, his fingers flying over the keys. "But even geniuses make mistakes."
He found the override command for Beta, but it was locked behind multiple layers of encryption. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he worked, the sounds of Ava's battle ringing in his ears.
A sudden cry made him look up. Ava was on the ground, the prototype looming over her.
"Ava!"
She raised her blade, her defiance unyielding. "Just finish it, Ethan!"
Ethan gritted his teeth, ignoring Jason's taunts as he bypassed the final encryption. With a triumphant keystroke, he activated the shutdown command.
The prototype froze mid-strike, its glowing eyes dimming. Ava rolled away, gasping for breath.
"Nice timing," she panted.
Ethan helped her up, his eyes on the lifeless machine. "It's not over yet."
The Next Phase
The console screen flickered, and Jason's face appeared, his grin more sinister than ever.
"Well done, Ethan. You've passed the first phase. But don't get comfortable. The real test begins now."
The chamber shook violently, alarms blaring as the machinery around them began to overload. A new door slid open, revealing a staircase descending into darkness.
Ethan and Ava exchanged a glance.
"Do we have a choice?" Ava asked.
Ethan shook his head. "Not if we want to end this."
They stepped into the unknown, ready to face whatever Jason had in store.