The descent was slow, each step echoing through the dark passageway. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation. Chronos led the way, his senses heightened as he scanned for any threats. Cleopatra and Athena followed closely behind, weapons ready. The stone walls around them were cold, the air damp, and the faint smell of mildew lingered. They reached the end of the staircase and were met with a steel door.
Falcon's voice crackled through their earpieces. "You're at the entrance to the underground chamber. Be careful. The Mechanic's personal guards are elite. If they find you, it'll be a bloodbath."
Chronos didn't need to be told twice. He motioned for the others to stay low. As they approached the door, Athena pulled a small explosive charge from her belt and planted it on the lock. They backed up just as the charge went off with a soft thud. The door groaned open, revealing a dimly lit hallway.
"Stay sharp," Chronos muttered as they moved forward, boots making little noise against the concrete floor.
They reached the end of the hallway, where a heavy steel door stood. Behind it, they could hear faint sounds—mechanical whirring and clanking. The Mechanic was close.
Cleopatra pulled out a small device and placed it on the door, activating a bypass system that would disable the security systems inside. After a tense few moments, the light turned green. She nodded, signaling the all-clear.
Chronos pushed the door open.
Inside, a vast chamber stretched out before them, filled with high-tech equipment and towering stacks of mechanical parts. At the far end, seated in a large chair, was the Mechanic—a man with greasy hair, a face obscured by a welding mask, and hands that were half-machine. He was known for his ruthless nature and his ability to build anything. He turned slowly in his chair, an eerie calm in his eyes.
"Ah, the Zentarō's finest newbies. How quaint." The Mechanic's voice was mechanical, distorted by his cybernetic enhancements.
"You know why we're here," Chronos said coldly, stepping forward. His katana gleamed under the dim lights.
The Mechanic smirked, his fingers twitching as though preparing for something. "Of course I do. But you won't leave this place alive. My creations never fail me."
In that moment, a dozen mechanical drones shot up from hidden compartments in the walls, their red eyes gleaming with malice.
"Cleopatra, Athena, handle the drones!" Chronos barked.
He leaped forward, his katana ready. The battle had begun.
Chronos stood amidst the wreckage of the destroyed drones, his breathing steady despite the chaos around him. The remains of the drones were scattered across the floor, their mechanical parts sizzling as they powered down. He wiped his blade clean, casting a glance at his teammates, each of them taking a moment to assess their situation.
"That's one problem down," Chronos muttered, his eyes scanning the compound. "But I have a feeling that's not the last of them."
As if on cue, the ground beneath them shook violently. A loud grinding sound echoed from deeper within the compound. Chronos' instincts kicked in, and he sprinted towards the source of the noise, his eyes narrowing. The others followed closely behind, weapons raised.
Ahead of them, a massive steel door began to open slowly, groaning under the strain. And then, out of the shadows, it emerged.
The Mechasuit.
It was a towering monstrosity, gleaming under the harsh light of the compound. Standing nearly fifteen feet tall, the suit was a fusion of brutal engineering and deadly weaponry. Guns mounted on its arms, reinforced plating across its body, and a cockpit in the chest where The Mechanic was sure to be seated. The sheer size and power of the suit radiated danger, and Chronos could feel his pulse quicken.
The Mechanic's voice crackled over the intercoms, a mocking laugh following his words. "My inventions never fail me."
With that, the suit came to life, the ground shaking under its weight as it stepped forward. The suit's massive arms swung into position, its guns aimed straight at the team. The Mechanic was clearly relishing in the terror he knew the Mechasuit would instill.
Chronos didn't hesitate. He turned to his team. "Get to cover, now!"
The team scrambled as the Mechasuit unleashed a hail of gunfire, the bullets tearing through the air and ricocheting off walls. Chronos dove for cover behind a stack of crates, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear the sounds of his teammates doing the same—Athena's heavy footfalls echoing as she ran, Cleopatra's sharp breaths as she ducked behind a pillar. Tank was already setting up in a shaft, his sniper rifle aimed at the Mechasuit, but Chronos knew it would take more than a few shots to take this thing down.
The drones had been a distraction, and while they had been a nuisance, they were nothing compared to the massive Mechasuit. The drones had been dispatched quickly, their weak points exploited by the team's precision and speed. Tank had picked off the first few from a distance with his sniper, while Athena and Cleopatra had taken out the rest up close, their weapons cutting through the swarm with deadly efficiency. Chronos had sliced through the last of the drones with his katana, sending sparks and mechanical debris flying as they fell to the ground in a heap.
But now, the real threat had emerged.
Tank's voice came over the comms, strained. "I can't get through the armor! I'm going to need backup!"
Chronos, eyes still locked on the Mechasuit's movements, gritted his teeth. He knew they needed a plan, and fast. The Mechasuit was an unstoppable force—nothing they had would pierce its armor, not without the right tools.
He scanned the inventory room they had taken shelter in. Its white walls were lined with glass cases filled with weapons, gadgets, and blueprints. He rushed inside, his eyes darting from one weapon to the next. Plasma swords, grenade launchers, high-tech guns—none of them would do.
And then his eyes landed on it.
A plasma katana, sleek and deadly, its blade humming with energy. Chronos grabbed it, testing its weight in his hands. It was exactly what he needed. He turned back toward his team. "I have a plan. We just need to buy some time."
Tank continued to fire, but the shots were ineffective. Athena and Cleopatra were forced to keep their heads down as the Mechasuit advanced, its guns firing indiscriminately, demolishing everything in its path.
Chronos dashed out from cover, the plasma katana igniting in his hands as he leapt into action. He charged at the Mechasuit, dodging gunfire and moving with lightning speed. Tank's voice came through the comms, urging him on. "Go for the joints! Aim for the weak spots!"
Chronos nodded, his focus absolute as he sprinted under the massive Mechasuit's swinging arms. He dashed toward its legs, the plasma katana cutting through the thick metal armor. Sparks flew as the blade slashed deep into the suit's joints, severing the mechanisms that allowed it to move.
The Mechasuit faltered, its movements growing sluggish as its legs were damaged. The Mechanic inside cursed, trying to regain control.
Athena was already moving in, her plasma sword flashing as she cut through the remaining joints of the Mechasuit's lower body. The massive machine groaned as it collapsed, crashing to the ground with an earth-shattering thud.
Cleopatra was close behind, but just as Athena moved in to finish the job, the Mechasuit's massive arm swung in a last-ditch attempt to stop them. In the chaos, a stray shot hit Cleopatra. She let out a sharp gasp of pain as the bullet pierced her thigh, her knee buckling beneath her. Athena reached out, but Cleopatra collapsed onto the ground, clutching her wound.
"Cleopatra!" Athena shouted.
Chronos, not skipping a beat, sliced through the remaining part of the Mechasuit's torso with his plasma katana, effectively halving the machine and exposing The Mechanic inside. The Mechanic let out a final scream as the cockpit was destroyed.
"You think you can stop me?!" he yelled, his voice strained. "You'll regret this!"
But it was too late. The Mechasuit, once a force of destruction, now lay in pieces. The Mechanic, trapped inside, was exposed. Chronos wasted no time, slicing the cockpit wide open, the plasma katana cutting clean through the armor.
The Mechanic's final scream echoed in the air as Chronos severed his head, placing it in a plastic bag as proof of the mission's completion.
The battle was over.
Athena moved to Cleopatra's side, quickly applying pressure to the wound. "We need to get her out of here."
Tank, perched high with his sniper rifle, lowered it and jumped down, rushing to Cleopatra's side. "She's going to need medical attention fast."
They arrived at the HQ, the atmosphere tense as Cleopatra was rushed to the medical bay. The sound of her groans as she was carried in made Chronos' stomach twist in concern. He could only watch as Agent Aspirin, a young B-rank medical officer with white hair, quickly prepped Cleopatra for surgery.
"She's in good hands," Athena said quietly as they all stood outside the medical bay, the sound of surgical tools clinking inside the room.
Minutes dragged by, each one heavier than the last. Finally, Falcon appeared, his presence cutting through the silence like a blade.
"I was just informed that the director would like to speak with us," Falcon said, his voice serious. "Follow me."
The team followed him through the facility, their footsteps echoing in the stark, sterile hallways. They reached an elevator, opposite the mission control center, and descended further underground. As the doors opened, Chronos stepped into an entirely different part of the facility. The atmosphere was opulent and elegant, a stark contrast to the utilitarian spaces they had passed through earlier.
The floor was covered in plush red carpets, and the walls were adorned with gold wallpaper. Priceless paintings hung on the walls, and the air smelled faintly of fine wood and expensive perfume. Guards stood at attention at every corner, their eyes sharp and alert. It was as if they had stepped into an entirely different world.
They reached a large gold door, its surface engraved with intricate drawings representing different cultures. The door slid open automatically, revealing a lavish, yet intimidating room. The director stood at the far end, his figure imposing as he looked up from behind a large desk.
"Where is the head?" the director asked, his tone cold and business-like.
Tank stepped forward, removing the plastic bag from the backpack he'd been carrying. "It's here," he said, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation.
The director took the bag with a careful, gloved hand and approached a large display case on the far side of the room. He placed the head inside, carefully arranging it next to the heads of past gang leaders. The case had a special chemical inside that preserved the heads, keeping them from decaying.
"I heard the Mechanic was developing a new weapon. Did you manage to secure the blueprints?" the director asked without looking back.
Before anyone could respond, Chronos stepped forward, pulling a blue piece of paper from his jacket. The others looked at him in shock. "Yes, I did," he said simply, handing the blueprints over to the director.
The director took the blueprints, his eyes scanning the intricate design of the Mechasuit. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "We can use this design for our nanotech suit," he murmured to himself. He turned to the team. "I will give this to the engineers to start the development."
Chronos watched, his expression unreadable. He wasn't here for the praise, but there was a part of him that appreciated the director's recognition. Falcon and Tank had earned their A-rank promotions, but Chronos couldn't help but feel a little frustrated. After all, he'd done as much, if not more.
The director's gaze flicked up from the blueprints. "One more thing," he said, his voice sharper now. "Falcon and Tank will be promoted to A-rank. The rest of you are now B-rank."
Chronos, Athena, and Cleopatra exchanged looks. Athena's face was stoic, but Cleopatra, still recovering from her injury, managed a small, tired smile. Chronos simply nodded, his mind already racing. A B-rank was a solid rank, but it was far from the goal he had in mind. Still, it was a step forward.
"Understood, sir," Tank said, his voice steady, while Falcon gave a small but appreciative nod.
The director didn't waste any more time. "You're dismissed. I'll have the necessary paperwork processed. We'll be in touch for your next mission." He turned to the side, signaling the end of their meeting.
As the team left the room, Chronos couldn't shake the feeling that their victory today was just another step in a much larger game. The mission was complete, but there was so much more ahead.