Following the surprising decision of the cyborgs to join their side, they wasted no time revealing everything they knew about Zekhtau’s plans. Their leader spoke with a voice heavy with urgency. “Zekhtau is planning another assault… tomorrow.” His words fell like a hammer, silencing the camp. All eyes turned to him, brimming with unease.

“They used a fast-moving force in the last attack to test our defenses and divert our attention,” he explained gravely. “But their true objective is to seize Osiris before the Guardian forces arrive.”

Akira furrowed his brow, his gaze fixed on the holographic map as he tried to anticipate the enemy’s next move. Another cyborg stepped forward, his tone grim. “What we know is that the last attack was merely an introduction. They’ve prepared a second wave… and it’s far worse than the first.”

As the details of the second wave unfolded, Akira’s breath hitched. The words hung in the air like a death knell.

“This time, the assault will be entirely focused on long-range bombardment,” one cyborg began. “They’ll deploy heavily armored tanks at the front, capable of both withstanding and delivering devastating close-range attacks.”

Mirelle let out a deep sigh, while Yue clenched her fists, her worry evident.

“But the real nightmare lies in their long-range artillery,” another cyborg added. “High-arc projectiles designed to bypass cover, long-range rockets capable of massive destruction, and laser snipers that strike from distances you can’t even see.”

Akira’s fists tightened as tension etched itself into his features. The worst was yet to come.

“And then… there’s Zekhtau’s Archer Form,” the cyborg said, his voice trembling with barely concealed fear.

“Archer Form?” Draco repeated, puzzled. The cyborg’s reply came in a quiet yet terrified tone.

“It’s no ordinary archer. Its shots resemble a crossbow, but it fires prism photon lasers—a force so powerful it reflects off every surface it touches, regardless of their strength.”

Akira tried to maintain his composure as the cyborg continued, “Each volley releases six beams of light. Every shot devastates the area it strikes, and if it completes a full sequence… it obliterates everything, leaving nothing but ashes.”

Silence descended upon the room once more, heavier than ever. Sweat began to bead on Akira’s brow as the enormity of the threat sank in. He couldn’t afford to take this lightly any longer. Finally, he turned to his team, his eyes filled with both determination and concern.

“We have to retreat… now!” His voice wavered slightly but carried the weight of conviction, snapping everyone out of their stupor.

This was no mere suggestion. It was their only path to survival.

Akira’s sudden command left the team momentarily stunned. Shock flickered in their eyes, but no one dared to question him. They understood that this decision wasn’t born out of fear but a calculated assessment of a situation that had spiraled beyond their control.

Taking a deep breath, Akira continued, “Elina, contact the Guardians immediately. Request an extraction point as close as possible.”

Elina nodded firmly. “On it.” She pulled out her communicator and began transmitting a high-priority message.

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Turning to Osiris, Akira issued his next directive. “Osiris, relay all our data to Castor. We need a counter-strategy and reinforcements from other bases. And… I’m sorry we have to abandon this demonstration city of yours.”

Osiris lowered her gaze briefly before meeting his eyes with a bittersweet smile. “It’s disheartening, yes… to see something I built with so much care be destroyed like this. But if we don’t survive, it won’t matter anyway. We can rebuild—together.”

Yue chimed in with a warm smile, her voice a balm for the heavy atmosphere. “Yes, together. We’ll make it even better next time.”

Mirelle added resolutely, “And Undine will lend all its strength. I’ll even call in favors from Elfegreen. With their help, we can make something truly extraordinary.”

“You mean Brother Leanne, right?” Yue asked, her eyes sparkling with admiration. “He’ll definitely help us!”

Draco, who had been quietly listening, gave a small, supportive smile but said nothing. Akira, however, couldn’t help but wonder about this mysterious Leanne. What kind of person inspires this much trust from everyone? he mused silently.

Elina approached Osiris and gently clasped her hand. Her voice softened in a way no one had ever heard before. “It’s going to be okay. I won’t lose you again… Xiaolin. No—Osiris.” The rare tenderness in her tone, coupled with the mention of an old name, made Osiris freeze momentarily.

She looked up, her smile returning despite the sadness in her eyes. “Thank you… sis.”

That evening, the camp was abuzz with frantic activity. Everyone worked tirelessly to prepare for their escape, their movements fueled by the knowledge that time was against them. The urgency hung in the air, palpable and unrelenting. Meals were eaten on the go, with no one stopping to rest.

Their plan was to move under the cover of darkness, hoping the night would shield them from enemy detection. But as twilight fell, an ominous sound echoed from the direction of Zekhtau’s forces.

It started like fireworks, but there were no shimmering lights in the sky. Instead, a high-pitched whistle sliced through the air, piercing their ears. Everyone froze, confusion etched on their faces—until the whistling gave way to the thunderous impact of metal slamming into the ground.

BOOM!

The first explosion rocked the camp, sending everyone into a panic. Shouts erupted from all corners.

“They’re here!” someone screamed, while others ran for their lives. But above the chaos, one voice roared louder than the rest.

“Evacuate! Now!” Akira’s voice cut through the noise as he waved his arms, directing everyone.

They scrambled to grab whatever they could before fleeing the camp. Explosive projectiles rained down like a deadly storm, each impact shaking the ground and igniting flames that consumed everything in their path. A cyborg soldier yelled above the din, “It’s long-range artillery—howitzers! We can’t fight this—we have to run!”

The team followed the pre-planned escape route, but their luck ran out as enemy rockets struck ahead, engulfing the path in fire. Trapped and desperate, they barely had time to react before sniper lasers began streaking through the darkness.

Akira clenched his teeth, his mind racing. He tricked us… The plan to attack tomorrow—it was all a ruse. The realization hit him like a hammer. Zekhtau fed us false information to lower our guard, then launched a preemptive strike… He’s two steps ahead of us.

A blinding red beam tore through the darkness like a whip of death. It shot out from a gap in the towering building—one that Zekhtau had slashed open during his first attack. Akira, standing at the helm of the operation, clenched his teeth tightly as he witnessed the unfolding chaos.

“He planned this far ahead? The first assault was just a setup for this? This is insane!”

The beams from long-range rockets lit up the night, accompanied by deafening blasts and unrelenting explosions. The crimson laser from a sniper cut through the shadows like a harbinger of death. The devastation from this wave of attacks was so overwhelming it nearly broke everyone’s spirit. Many lives were lost amidst the screams echoing through the battlefield.

But the nightmare didn’t end there.

“Find cover! NOW!” a cyborg shouted as a blinding light appeared in the distance, growing brighter with each passing second. It wasn’t a beacon of hope—it was the prism photon laser.

The weapon’s devastating beam struck the remains of the gate Zekhtau had destroyed earlier. The gate exploded into fragments, but the beam didn’t stop. It ricocheted off every surface—walls, metal debris, and stone—turning the battlefield into a deadly kaleidoscope of destruction. The air grew hot, and the relentless energy transformed the area into a hellish wasteland.

Amid the chaos, a stroke of luck revealed itself. The laser’s destructive path breached part of the back wall, uncovering a narrow escape route. Akira saw it immediately.

“There! Head that way!” he shouted, his voice desperate but commanding.

The team sprinted toward the narrow opening, navigating through the pandemonium. The escape route was a steep incline—a risky choice under heavy artillery fire. Climbing the slope felt like baring themselves to enemy snipers, but there was no alternative.

The confusion among Zekhtau’s forces provided a slim window of opportunity. As the team scrambled up the hill, their survival instincts overpowered their fear. Hearts pounding, they pushed onward, fueled by sheer will to live.

When they reached the summit, they found unexpected safety. The elevated position shielded them from the ongoing bombardment below.

Breathing heavily, Akira surveyed the devastation they had narrowly escaped. Fires raged, illuminating the destruction in the distance.

As they regrouped, the team pressed on toward the Guardian extraction point, leaving behind a scorched battlefield and the haunting glow of lasers cutting through the night.

Tonight… it was the light of catastrophe they would never forget. But one truth burned brighter than the devastation around them:

They had to survive. No matter what.