My Glide On Death

Chapter 7: Phase 2: Defeating the Corrupted Robot

The floor of the fighting hall opened, and my breath caught in my throat. Before me stood not just one, but three machines-two Bashing Titans and a Combatant Type-3. I glanced at Nicholas, who was just as wide-eyed.

"What?! It can't be..." he muttered, equally shocked.

The Combatant Type-3, a ranged combat robot, stood front and center. Its dual plasma gatling guns gleamed menacingly where hands should have been. Mounted on its shoulders were a continuous-beam laser gun and a specialized flamethrower. The blue flame it emitted wasn't just for show-it burned hotter, fiercer, and deadlier than anything I'd ever encountered.

And then there were the Bashing Titans-two hulking monstrosities of metal and weaponry, equipped with massive shield-walls that could deploy hundreds of laser spikes on impact. These mammoth tanks could plow through anything in their path. The worst part? They moved at outrageous speeds, hitting 130 kilometers per hour-roughly 80 miles per hour-in a charge. If one of them struck me head-on, I'd be finished. Thankfully, their sheer size made it difficult for them to change direction quickly.

"So, Gust, are you ready?" Hastings' voice crackled over the comm.

I swallowed hard. "Y-Yeah... yeah."

The fight began before I could fully compose myself. I sprinted to the nearest piece of cover-a half-destroyed wall, debris scattered everywhere. Plasma bolts rained down as the Combatant Type-3 unleashed its gatling guns, the rounds tearing through concrete like it was paper. The screech of melting metal filled the air, drowning out my thoughts.

I dove, rolling into cover, heart pounding. The air sizzled with the intensity of the plasma fire, and I knew staying still meant certain death. With a deep breath, I sprang into action, vaulting over a broken piece of scaffolding. My armor enhanced my agility as I leapt between collapsed beams and crumbling walls. The landscape was chaotic-debris everywhere, a war-torn nightmare. Perfect for parkour.

I zigzagged across the battlefield, my feet barely touching the ground before I pushed off again. The Combatant tracked me, its plasma fire scorching the air around me. I slid behind a fallen transport truck, using it as a momentary shield. A barrage of lasers slammed into the side, shaking it violently.

I had to keep moving.

Kicking off the side of the truck, I grabbed the edge of a tilted metal panel, pulling myself up onto the top of a broken pillar. From my vantage point, I spotted the Combatant Type-3 stomping through the debris below, its head swiveling, searching for me. This was my chance.

I pulled out the Auto Laser Gun, targeting the Combatant's shoulder-mounted laser. I activated charge mode, feeling the hum of power surge through my weapon as it readied for a shot. I waited for the perfect moment.

Just as the Combatant turned toward me, I fired. A focused beam of energy shot out, striking the shoulder laser dead-on. Sparks flew as the gun malfunctioned, causing the Combatant to reel backward.

But it wasn't over. Not even close.

It roared in response, opening fire with both gatling guns. Plasma bolts zipped toward me like deadly streaks of light. I leapt off the pillar, executing a roll mid-air and landing behind a pile of rubble. The ground exploded around me as plasma rounds hit, sending shards of rock and metal flying.

The Bashing Titans, meanwhile, were on the move, their heavy footfalls echoing through the wreckage. One charged straight at me, shield raised. My mind raced. If that thing hit me, I'd be crushed in an instant. I had to act fast.

I sprinted toward the nearest wall, barely skimming the ground as I moved. At the last second, I kicked off the wall and launched myself onto a higher ledge, narrowly avoiding the Titan's charge. It slammed into the debris I had just vacated, sending chunks of concrete flying.