The red tram stood still at the platform, its exterior covered with chaotic graffiti in green and red. Amidst the chaotic strokes, the bold letters NSAI were sprayed prominently at the center, like a deliberate emblem left behind.
"NSAI… What does it mean?" Akira murmured, his eyes fixated on the letters with curiosity.
"Don't bother with that for now," Elina replied without looking at him. "What we should worry about is the people inside the train."
Akira scanned the tram's interior. The passengers sat silently in an atmosphere thick with unease. Eyes darted cautiously toward his team, assessing every move. The tension was palpable, even though no one uttered a word.
"They're too tense… The train's spotless, though," Draco muttered as he sank into the seat next to Akira.
While the tram's exterior looked dilapidated, its interior was surprisingly pristine. The walls displayed images of serene natural landscapes, and soft music played—a gentle melody that mimicked birds chirping in a forest.
"This feels like a forest!" Yue exclaimed, clutching Akira's arm with excitement. Her wide eyes sparkled as she marveled at the illusion.
"But it's all just a facade," Mirelle said coldly, her gaze fixed on the window. Beyond the glass lay ruins—crumbling buildings and twisted steel frames. "What lies ahead won't be as peaceful as it looks in here."
Akira nodded in agreement. The calming music seemed at odds with the heavy silence of the passengers, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.
As the tram set into motion, the scenery outside shifted to the gritty depths of the Cyberpunk Zone. Broken buildings and the scars of battle blended with the black smoke rising ominously from the ground.
The music in the tram continued to play softly, but instead of easing the tension, it only heightened the sense of unease as they headed toward the unknown.
"Stay alert. We're entering Chaos territory," Elina warned, her voice low but firm. "And remember… don't let your guard down."
The tram came to an abrupt halt at the final station, its metallic screech echoing ominously. The team stepped out into a barren wasteland. The air was thick with the scent of rust and smoke, and the ground was littered with cracked concrete and scattered metal debris.
Elina stopped abruptly, pointing toward a pile of twisted scrap. "When Chaos spread through this area, most people were evacuated. But… not everyone made it out in time." Her tone was emotionless, but there was an undercurrent of pain in her words.
As the team ventured deeper into Chaos territory, the eerie silence was broken by grim sights. Bodies of cyberpunk-clad individuals lay strewn across hidden corners. Some bore scorch marks, others appeared emaciated, their lives seemingly drained away.
Yue raised her hand to cover her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes. "They… they didn't make it…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"They were consumed by Chaos," Elina explained, her voice heavy with sorrow. "And we couldn't save them in time…"
Yue knelt beside one of the bodies, clasping her hands together tightly. "Let me pray for their souls…"
Akira hesitated for a moment before nodding. He knew Yue's powers were precious and needed for the battles ahead, but he couldn't bring himself to stop her.
Yue's soft prayers filled the heavy air, carrying a sense of reverence and sorrow. The team continued forward, encountering more bodies, and each time, Yue paused to pray for them.
Mirelle sighed quietly. "Yue, you have such a kind heart… but we need to keep moving."
"Yes…" Yue replied softly, though her eyes still shone with compassion.
Akira watched Yue's weary expression and thought to himself, She needs to rest. If her spirit falters, it'll affect her in the long run.
Before Akira could dwell further, a metallic screech echoed from the ruins. The team halted, their senses on high alert. Elina raised her shield instinctively.
"They're here…" she murmured.
From the shadows of a crumbling building emerged a swarm of small robots, cobbled together from discarded household appliances. Their jerky movements betrayed an unnatural force driving them. Their red, glowing eyes burned with an ominous light as they charged toward the team at a terrifying speed.
"Formation!" Akira shouted.
The team quickly took their positions. Elina moved to the front line, using her large shield to block the oncoming assault. Akira and Draco joined her, Akira wielding his dual blades with precision while Draco delivered heavy punches, scattering the smaller robots like bowling pins.
Mirelle held the rear, casting fiery spells that incinerated clusters of enemies, while Yue stood in the center, focusing on buffing her teammates with enhanced speed and strength. She also healed their wounds whenever necessary.
At first, the enemy seemed uncoordinated, their attacks clumsy and easy to counter.
"This is too easy," Draco said, smashing another robot with a single punch.
"Don't let your guard down," Elina warned, her shield absorbing another blow.
Her caution proved warranted. The sound of machinery grew louder as more robots poured in from all directions. This time, larger, more advanced models joined the fray, their destructive power significantly greater.
Individually, each robot wasn't exceptionally strong, but they came in vast, ever-growing numbers—swarming the battlefield like an endless legion of ants from the depths of the Amazon rainforest. No matter how powerful a foe might be, such overwhelming hordes could devour anything in their path.
"We need a new strategy!" Akira yelled.
The team adjusted their formation, with Elina, Akira, and Draco forming a protective barrier around Yue and Mirelle. The unrelenting waves of enemies began to take their toll.
Mirelle's fire spells continued to scorch the battlefield, but her mana was draining fast. "I'm running low on energy…" she admitted, breathing heavily.
"Draco, to your right!" Akira shouted, slicing through a larger robot with his white blade.
Draco turned and slammed his fist into another robot. "It's like a nest of these things!"
Just as the team began to falter, a series of explosions erupted from the front lines. The shockwaves sent the Chaos-infused robots flying in every direction, their metal parts scattering like confetti.
"What's happening!?" Draco exclaimed, raising his fists defensively.
Through the smoke and flames, a bright figure emerged—a brightly colored vending machine robot, adorned with cheerful decals. It launched soda cans that exploded into fiery projectiles, obliterating the enemy robots with precision.
"Don't worry! Uncle Pong is here to save the day!" the vending machine announced in an upbeat tone.
The team stared in stunned silence as the vending machine robot continued its onslaught. It was soon joined by four smaller robots, each uniquely designed:
• A vacuum robot wielding a brush, darting through enemy lines to blind their sensors with paint.
• A delivery bot resembling a robotic dog, distracting enemies by spinning wildly and causing them to crash into each other.
• A trash collector bot, blasting loud music to lure enemies into disarray.
• A warrior bot, wielding an energy sword and moving with lightning-fast precision, slicing through enemies with lethal efficiency. It also possesses expert marksmanship with a powerful energy blaster, causing massive explosions and serving as the primary force behind wiping out entire swarms of enemy robots.
The synchronized teamwork of the five robots decimated the Chaos swarm, leaving the battlefield littered with smoldering remains. Their explosive rounds provided the perfect 'spark' to Mirelle's already blazing fire spells. Seizing the opportunity, Mirelle infused the flames with wind magic, whipping them into a raging inferno that spread far and wide—ultimately consuming the mass of household-appliance robots until not a single one remained.
As the dust settled, Uncle Pong rolled up to the astonished team. "These are my pals: Pang, Pung, Wallie, and Eve! Pretty impressive, huh?"
Akira stepped forward, still processing what he'd just witnessed. "You arrived just in time. Thank you."
"No problem!" Uncle Pong replied cheerfully. "Osiris sent us to help you. She figured you might need a little extra muscle. Follow us—we'll guide you to safety!"
The team exchanged glances, their exhaustion replaced by renewed determination.
"Let's go," Elina urged. "We can't waste this opportunity."
As they followed Uncle Pong and his colorful crew, Draco glanced back at the destroyed robots. He muttered to himself with a smirk, "Guess I'll treat my home appliances a little better from now on…"
The team moved forward, leaving behind a battlefield of Chaos and destruction, with newfound hope leading the way.