Chapter 86: The Apex Arrive
The air grew thick with tension as the announcement of the Apex Faction's deployment rippled through the battlefield. The name alone sent a chill through Adam; he'd heard of them before. They were legends among players—an elite group of operatives rumored to operate with the precision of a machine and the ferocity of predators.
"They're sending them?" Lysandra asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The artifact in her hands hummed as if resonating with the impending danger.
Kaelith, standing a few paces ahead, tightened her grip on her twin blades. Her confident smirk faltered ever so slightly. "Apex, huh? Guess this just got a lot more interesting."
Adam clenched his fists, running the simulation again in his mind. If Apex Operatives were as powerful as the rumors claimed, their chances of holding the Nexus seemed slim.
"We hold the line," Adam said, his voice firm. "Lysandra, focus on stabilizing the Nexus. Kaelith, you're with me. We need to delay them for as long as possible."
"Delay them?" Kaelith chuckled, though it sounded forced. "You're ambitious, I'll give you that."
System Notification:
Elite Threats Incoming: Apex Operatives Deployment Imminent.
Warning: Engaging Apex Operatives is not recommended without adequate preparation.
In the distance, streaks of light marked the arrival of the Apex Operatives. They descended like meteors, their impact shaking the ground and sending waves of energy rippling across the battlefield.
When the dust settled, five figures emerged, each one exuding an aura of raw power. They wore sleek, black armor that seemed to shift and ripple with energy, and their weapons were unlike anything Adam had seen before—deadly, elegant, and clearly custom-made for their formidable owners.
The leader stepped forward, a tall figure wielding a massive glaive that crackled with dark energy. His helmet's visor lit up with a menacing red glow as he surveyed the battlefield.
"I am Commander Daecon," the leader announced, his voice amplified by the system. "By order of the Apex Faction, this Nexus is now under our control. Stand down, or be eliminated."
The players who had been battling for dominance moments ago now hesitated, their focus shifting entirely to the Apex Operatives.
"We're not standing down," Adam muttered, his gaze fixed on the approaching threats.
Kaelith laughed dryly. "Didn't think you would."
The first clash was immediate and brutal. Several factions, unwilling to relinquish their claims on the Nexus, charged the Apex Operatives in a desperate bid for survival. But it was a massacre.
Commander Daecon's glaive sliced through the air, releasing waves of dark energy that obliterated everything in its path. Another operative, a woman with dual pistols that fired energy bolts, picked off players with surgical precision. A third, wielding a massive shield, stood like an impenetrable wall, absorbing attacks and retaliating with devastating force.
Adam watched in grim silence, his mind racing. "We can't take them head-on," he said. "We need to outmaneuver them."
Kaelith tilted her head, watching as the Apex Operatives dispatched another wave of players with ease. "Outmaneuver? Sure, let's just casually outplay the most dangerous faction in the game."
"We don't have a choice," Adam shot back.
System Notification:
Nexus Activation: 90%
Warning: Apex Operatives Prioritizing Nexus Stabilization Disruption.
Lysandra worked furiously, her hands moving over the artifact as it pulsed with increasing intensity. "I need more time!" she called out.
Adam turned to Kaelith. "We split up. Draw their attention away from the Nexus. Can you handle that?"
Kaelith grinned, twirling her blades. "Oh, I'll handle it."
Without waiting for a response, she darted toward the Apex Operatives, her agile movements a blur as she weaved through the chaos.
Kaelith's approach was reckless, but it worked. One of the operatives, a heavily armored figure wielding a massive warhammer, turned his attention to her. He swung the weapon with terrifying force, but Kaelith danced out of reach, her blades slicing at the gaps in his armor.
Adam, meanwhile, activated his Simulation ability, searching for weak points in the operatives' strategy. The system highlighted a possible opening—Commander Daecon's glaive required a brief cooldown after its devastating attacks.
"Gotcha," Adam muttered, charging toward the commander.
As Adam closed the distance, Daecon turned, his glowing visor locking onto him. The commander swung his glaive, releasing another wave of dark energy. Adam dodged at the last moment, feeling the heat of the attack as it passed inches from his body.
Using the stolen Void Snare, Adam targeted Daecon, the tendrils of energy wrapping around the commander and immobilizing him.
"You're resourceful," Daecon said, his voice calm despite his predicament. "But this won't be enough."
The Void Snare began to crack under the sheer force of Daecon's energy, and Adam knew he had seconds at most. He activated Steal, targeting the commander's glaive.
System Notification:
Steal Activated: Target - Daecon's Glaive of Oblivion.
Item Obtained: Glaive of Oblivion (Bound).
The glaive disappeared from Daecon's hands, appearing in Adam's inventory. The commander's calm demeanor finally broke, his visor flaring with a bright red glow.
"You'll regret that," Daecon growled, breaking free of the Void Snare.
Adam didn't stick around to find out what would happen next. He sprinted back toward the Nexus, activating the glaive as he ran. The weapon responded instantly, its dark energy coursing through his body.
At the Nexus, Lysandra gave a triumphant shout. "It's done! The Nexus is stable!"
The structure's energy field pulsed brightly, a sign that the activation was complete. But their victory was short-lived.
System Notification:
Nexus Activation Complete. Nexus Control Initiated.
Warning: Apex Operatives Retaining Command Rights.
Commander Daecon and his remaining operatives regrouped, their focus now solely on Adam and his team.
"This isn't over," Daecon said, his tone icy.
Adam gripped the glaive tightly, his mind racing. They'd bought time, but at what cost?
"Let's see how far we can push this," Adam muttered.
End of Chapter 86.