The Mushroom Kingdom Wars

Chapter 34

As they stepped into the chaotic lab, Guts Man couldn’t help but comment, "I gotta say, Doc, I like this lab a lot better than the one you activated me in. Feels more... alive, y'know?"

Dr. Wily grinned with pride, the compliment feeding his already inflated ego. "Welcome to my lair, Guts Man! This is where the true magic happens!"

Guts Man looked around, taking in the mess of wires, machinery, and half-finished projects scattered across the lab. He scratched his head in confusion. "It’s a mess in here, Doc. Are you sure you can find what you need?"

Wily’s grin only widened as he waved a dismissive hand. "Ah, chaos is merely a sign of genius at work! You'll see soon enough."

Wily's fingers danced across the control panel, sending a cascade of lights flickering to life as machines around the lab whirred into action. Gears began to grind and hum, and suddenly a hidden door slid open behind him, revealing a chamber shrouded in darkness.

Guts Man’s eyes widened. "What’s that?"

Wily turned with a dramatic flourish. "Behold! The culmination of my brilliance—Project Zero!"

Inside the hidden chamber stood a sleek, imposing figure—far beyond any of Wily’s previous creations. Clad in red armor with flowing blond hair and a cold, expressionless face, the robot exuded raw power. Its eyes, though dim, hinted at the destructive force within.

Wily stepped forward, his voice brimming with pride. "This," he said with a grin, "is Project Zero—though perhaps you’ll come to know him simply as... Zero."

Guts Man couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease as he stared at the figure. "Are you sure it’s ready, Doc? What if it doesn’t follow orders properly?"

Wily waved off the concern, his excitement palpable. "Nonsense, Guts Man! Project Zero is programmed for one purpose—to annihilate Mega Man. Everything else is secondary."

With a flourish, Wily pressed a button on the control panel, and Project Zero’s eyes snapped open, glowing a fierce red. Its expression remained cold, but the sense of menace was undeniable.

Wily approached with a glowing energy-saber in hand. "Here," he said, offering the weapon, "your Z-saber. Now, go forth! Destroy all Robot Masters and Mega Man!"

Project Zero accepted the Z-saber, its movements smooth and precise. It turned its gaze to Guts Man, who suddenly found himself the focus of the robot's attention.

Guts Man gulped, feeling uneasy. "Uh, Doc... I think—"

Before Guts Man could finish his sentence, Project Zero moved faster than the eye could track, closing the distance between them in an instant. The Z-saber cut through the air with deadly precision.

There was a sickening sound of metal being cleaved apart, and Guts Man’s eyes went wide in shock. He staggered backward, a massive gash split down his center, sparks flying from the deep wound. His mechanical systems sputtered and failed as he collapsed to the floor in pieces, his eyes flickering out.

Guts Man stumbled, sparks flying from the gaping wound in his frame. His voice, once strong and brash, faltered. “But... Doc... I... trusted you...”

Wily watched the scene with a mixture of awe and cold detachment. "Ah, the efficiency... absolutely flawless."

Guts Man’s shattered form lay in a heap at Project Zero’s feet, his once massive frame reduced to nothing more than scrap metal in mere seconds. Wily didn’t even glance down at his fallen creation, his attention wholly focused on the magnificent force he had unleashed.