Metal Poison: Restless Absolution

Chapter 3

[As the enemy charged at us, I could see flaming shells arching through the air as our paltry amount of artillery battered them to dust. Likewise, as their artillery rolled closer a volley of shells flew our way and smashed into our defenses. It was not long until both armies were fully intermingled with one another. Streaks of light could be seen going in all directions as it became a full-out firestorm with little regard for order. I scoped out the battlefield hoping to find my targets. Turning on the thermal sights, I could see red discrepancies in a sea of green and yellow. Most of these were munitions being fired, but there were larger ones. The first I noticed was my comrades also heading into battle. Cryo had a large cryogenic laser which he was using to sweep down entire ranks while Sand Shark burst out from the ground, crushing the sculptures of ice to bits. Meanwhile, in the air, I could see Silver swooping down to a munitions den and picking up boxes where shortly after I would witness the dazzling flames of a carpet bombing on the artillery while simultaneously deflecting beams from anti-air lasers with his wings. I spotted a cold zone in the chaos. I realized that it was being caused by Morpho who was hijacking hundreds of soldiers and forcing them to blast themselves into their own demise. And finally, I could see War Katzchen deep within the enemy formations completely impervious to all attacks as he effortlessly deflected every bullet, every bomb, and every struck a tank with such force that it launched into the air, rolling through bots like a wrecking ball. Unsurprisingly, I didn't see Mirage, but I'm sure they were helping out somehow. As I continued to scan, that's when I noticed it. Like a snake in the grass, an unknown was stalking down Morpho. It was clearly one of the enemy Blazers.]

Scorpion: Nice try, dude.

[As Morpho was controlling the masses, he leapt out from under the show. He appeared as some kind of twisted alien and he extended blades that dripped acid from his arms. It was too late for Morpho to react, but he was knocked aside and shredded by a hundred rounds in an instant as I gunned him down from my perch. Morpho looked at me and nodded in approval. That was one down. Now to seek out the rest. It wasn't long until I spotted another, some kind of Lizard. As he was shot at by various bots, bullets would stop just short of him and be suspended in the air before being returned their sender with twice the amount of power.]

Scorpion: Let's see how well you do against Mach 8 speed, pal.

[Just as I was about to squeeze the trigger I heard a voice behind me and felt a terrifying presence]

??: Move a muscle, and you die.

[I could hear the sound of a rifle being trained on me, only inches away. His voice sounded deep, and of an accent I instantly recognized. Undoubtedly someone from Starblitz was standing behind me. The light outside was dim, but I could vaguely make out his form in the reflection of my scope. He was huge, imposing, and uncanny. Neither a normal soldier nor Blazer, the only thing noticeable in his silhouette were two blue points, ominously staring through me.]

??: Worry not, it is not time for you to die yet. Be it beyond me as to why, but you will be spared as long as you stay out of my master's way. Continue as you are, but remember this thing which I've told you.

[As sudden as he appeared, he was gone. I was completely shaken by the encounter. None of it made any sense to me. I was only brought back to the present when a bullet whizzed by my head. I quickly identified the enemy sniper Blazer strapped to an air anchor high in the clouds. They were clearly another camouflage type, appearing as some sort of weasel. I ended them swiftly and resumed my scanning.]

Scorpion: Wind speed, idiot.

[I scolded them in a whisper under my breath as if it even mattered.]

[The battle raged on for 2 more days and I was exhausted by the end. The aftermath could only be described as a junkyard. Once the main threats such as the artillery were cleared out, it was only a matter of exterminating the thousands of insects that infested the field. The figure never approached me a second time during all of this, but I found myself constantly checking my six in case to catch a glimpse. By the end of the battle, I could barely move and my body felt stiff. As I watched the Blazers return to base, I figured that it was probably time to get up myself. I didn't think it was possible, but my body was resisting movement, perhaps too much time out in the cold and unmoving slowed some of the mechanisms down. As I stood I shook off the three feet of snow that accumulated on top of me. I slid down from my crow's nest in the mountainside making sure to be careful with the railgun as I was certain Cryo would disassemble me if I somehow broke it. Upon entering the base, everyone was rather quiet. Compared to myself who was still in relatively good condition, I could definitely see the battle wear on everyone else. Armour is shredded to pieces, dents and punctures in the body. The only ones as unscathed as me were Mirage and Katzchen. Though, I suppose Mirage had a very similar role, and Katzchen as far as I could tell was essentially invulnerable with his war paws.]