Gauntlet

Chapter 3

One year had passed, and the village of Meliodas had flourished into a thriving hub of activity. Merchants from distant lands, adventurers seeking rest, and farmers all passed through, drawn to the village's blend of modern technology and natural beauty. Thanks to Professor Roberts genius, Meliodas had transformed. His inventions, powered by gauntlets he personally designed, elevated life in the stronghold. People could farm, hunt, and carry out daily tasks with ease, aided by technology that merged seamlessly with nature.

The village was an eclectic mix—vines climbed the walls of sleek, modern buildings, while hanging gardens spilled over balconies. Trees intertwined with the structures, making the entire place feel alive. Despite the restrictions on robotics, Robert had repurposed spare robot parts into new gauntlets, further establishing himself as the village's innovator. Meliodas was a sanctuary of progress and peace—until the day everything changed.

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Far from the bustling streets of the village, Allyza snuck into the dense woods just beyond the outer walls. She had been perfecting her gauntlet for weeks and today, she was ready to test her latest upgrade. As she ventured deeper into the forest, the rustling of leaves and the soft padding of wildlife filled the air. Deer and wild pigs roamed freely, unaware of her presence.

Allyza spotted a deer grazing nearby and quickly hid behind a tree. Her heart raced with excitement. This is the perfect test, she thought, reaching for her gauntlet.

With a quick tap on the dial pad, she activated the camouflage feature. A shiver ran through her as her body pixelated and faded from view. Taking a deep breath, she began creeping toward the deer, careful to avoid stepping on any noisy leaves. Her invisibility held perfectly. She got closer and closer, until she was only a few feet from the animal.

“This is amazing! I’ve finally perfected it,” she thought, a grin spreading across her invisible face. She reached out, about to pat the deer's head, when suddenly, the deer jerked its head upward.

In an instant, the deer bolted, crashing into Allyza and knocking her to the ground. Her camouflage flickered, and she became visible again. She sat up, confused, as she noticed the other animals fleeing—birds took to the sky, wild pigs ran for cover. Something had startled them.

Allyza stood up, brushing dirt from her clothes, when she noticed the trees shaking. The air felt heavier, and in the distance, something caught her eye. A shadow moved across the sky. She squinted, watching as a sleek aircraft flew overhead.

“That’s not one of ours,” she thought. Then she saw more—aircraft after aircraft, heading straight for Meliodas.

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Suddenly, the ground shook beneath her feet. It was brief, but unmistakable. Allyza’s heart pounded as another tremor followed, stronger this time. The trees swayed violently as more aircraft appeared, streaking through the sky.

Her breath caught in her throat as the realization hit her. “They’re bombing the village.”

Without hesitation, Allyza sprinted toward Meliodas, her gauntlet flickering back to life as she boosted her speed with a surge of energy. She could see smoke rising in the distance, and her stomach twisted with fear. The quiet, thriving village that had been her home was under attack.

As she ran, her mind raced. Who are they? Why now? She remembered her father’s warnings, how he had always feared that the world outside their small sanctuary hadn’t forgotten about his work.

By the time she reached the outer edge of the village, chaos had erupted. Buildings crumbled, and fires raged where bombs had hit. People were running, screaming. Allyza watched in horror as a group of merchants tried to flee the burning marketplace.

Through the smoke, she saw her father, Professor Robert, standing in the center of the village. His gauntlet glowed bright as he worked to erect a massive energy shield over a cluster of villagers. He was fighting to protect them, but the strain was evident in his face. He couldn’t hold it for long.

Allyza raced toward him, weaving through the destruction, when an explosion knocked her off her feet. Dazed, she looked up to see one of the aircrafts hovering low, its weapons aimed directly at her father.

“No!” Allyza screamed, her heart pounding as she scrambled to her feet. Without thinking, she tapped the dial on her gauntlet, activating the camouflage once more. But this time, she didn’t just disappear—she pushed her gauntlet to its limit, sending a surge of energy through it.

Her body blurred, becoming a flicker of motion as she sped toward her father, faster than she had ever moved before.

The aircraft fired, but Allyza was already there. She tackled her father to the ground just as the blast hit the shield he had created, shattering it into fragments of light.

“Dad!” she shouted, shaking him as he groaned and tried to sit up.

“I’m... I’m okay,” He said weakly. He looked at her, eyes wide. “Allyza, you... you used the speed boost?”

“I had to,” she panted, her heart still racing. “What’s happening? Who are they?”

Her fathers expression darkened. “I don’t know, but they’re not here by accident. This is about the gauntlets. Someone—someone out there wants the technology. And they’ll stop at nothing to get it.”

Allyza’s mind reeled. The peaceful life they had known was crumbling around them. And now, it was up to her and her father to protect what they had built—and stop whoever was behind the attack before it was too late.

As more aircraft descended from the sky, Allyza clenched her fists, feeling the power of her gauntlet thrumming through her veins.

This wasn’t just about survival anymore. It was war.