Gu Zhi adjusted her grip on the metal pipe, her pulse hammering as the mutant closed the distance. Its grotesque, patchwork body made erratic, jerky movements, steam hissing from exposed mechanical joints.
"Great, an undead Transformer," she muttered, bracing herself.
Cheng Ye remained calm, issuing a silent command. The drones shot forward, forming a defensive perimeter around them. Sharp metallic wings sliced through the air, targeting the mutant's weak points with mechanical precision.
The mutant roared in fury, swatting at the drones with its massive, malformed arm. Sparks flew as the drones narrowly avoided the swings, regrouping for another coordinated attack.
"Impressive toys," Gu Zhi quipped, sidestepping a piece of debris kicked up by the chaos. "But they're not doing much damage."
"They're gathering data," Cheng Ye replied coldly. "Unlike you, I prefer efficiency over theatrics."
Before she could retort, the mutant lunged toward her, its twisted claw aiming for her head. Instinct kicked in, and she ducked, swinging the pipe with all her strength. The impact rang out, denting the exposed mechanical limb and causing the mutant to stumble back.
"Not bad for theatrics," she shot back, adrenaline fueling her grin.
Cheng Ye gave her a fleeting glance, his expression unreadable. "Stay out of the way. This isn't your fight."
"Like hell it isn't!" she snapped. "If we're working together, I'm not just going to sit back and watch!"
Before he could argue, a second mutant appeared at the edge of the parking lot, its body even more grotesque than the first. Its mechanical enhancements gleamed under the dim light, and its glowing red eyes locked onto them.
Cheng Ye clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Typical. They always travel in packs."
"Then stop wasting time!" Gu Zhi yelled, positioning herself beside him. "You handle the drones; I'll keep them distracted."
"You're insistent," Cheng Ye muttered, issuing another command. The drones shifted their formation, targeting the incoming mutant.
Gu Zhi darted forward, her makeshift weapon swinging in a wide arc. She aimed for the joints, exploiting the weaknesses in the crude cybernetic enhancements. The mutant snarled, swiping at her with its oversized claws, but she was already rolling out of its reach.
"Focus on the head," Cheng Ye called out, his voice sharp. "That's the core processor."
"Would've been nice to know that earlier!" she retorted, dodging another swing.
The drones unleashed a coordinated barrage, striking the mutant's head with precise, concentrated force. Sparks and fluids sprayed as the creature let out a final, garbled roar before collapsing to the ground.
Gu Zhi leaned against a nearby pillar, catching her breath. "Two down. How many more of these things are out there?"
"Too many," Cheng Ye replied bluntly. He stepped forward, inspecting the fallen mutants. His drones hovered nearby, scanning the remains.
"Any brilliant ideas?" she asked, wiping sweat from her brow.
Cheng Ye straightened, his expression colder than ever. "We move. Staying here is suicide. Follow me."
Gu Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Finally giving orders again? Thought we were equals."
"Equals?" He let out a dry laugh. "You're reckless, underprepared, and relying on luck. The only reason you're still alive is because I allowed it."
"Wow," she said, feigning a pout. "Such high praise. I'm touched."
Cheng Ye didn't reply, already walking toward a nearby exit. The drones formed a protective circle around them, their soft hum the only sound in the eerie silence.
As they moved through the ruins, Gu Zhi couldn't help but steal glances at him. He moved with precision, every step purposeful. Despite his cold demeanor, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than the icy facade.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked suddenly.
Cheng Ye didn't slow down. "Doing what?"
"Fighting these things, trying to fix this world. If you're as heartless as you act, why bother?"
He stopped abruptly, turning to face her. For a moment, his piercing gaze made her forget how to breathe.
"Because," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "even a broken world deserves a chance."
Before she could respond, another distant roar echoed through the ruins. Cheng Ye's expression hardened. "Let's go."