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SIx [6] — Overkill

SIx [6] — Overkill

As Seven's mech rounded the corner, Riot unleashed a furious barrage of bullets in his direction. The building that had served as Seven's temporary shield now bore the scars of countless bullet holes.

With engines roaring, Riot gave chase, his crimson mech closing in on Seven. Riot turned the corner and found himself face to face with a deadly arsenal. Assault rifles and menacing cannons unleashed a devastating point-blank onslaught, tearing through Riot's medium armor as if it were paper. The cannons pierced him, the rifles found their mark, and Riot's iconic mech crumbled under the onslaught, now a blackened heap drenched in oil.

Seven didn't linger to witness the demise of his adversary. He dashed away, defying gravity, his mech skimming the ground, its towering presence barely peeking over the roofs of mid-sized buildings.

Alessia sat stunned, the brutality and precision of Seven's attack leaving her in awe. This was no ordinary confrontation. Seven had executed a swift and calculated assault reminiscent of the now-ancient assassin mechs, rarely seen but well-known in the scene. These elusive mechs utilized optical camouflage and jamming to infiltrate, eliminate their target, and vanish before detection. Yet, their combat capabilities were severely compromised, burdened by excess weight and inadequate armor. Head-on battles were their bane, a lost cause from the outset.

Riot hadn’t expected Seven to employ these traditional tactics of an assassin. But Overkill was no assassin mech, nor was it hindered by compromise. It was not the weighty stealth tech that had allowed Seven to get close; it was his insane piloting skill.

Alessia's thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Moonraker and Symphony closed in, maintaining their united front. They recognized the danger Seven posed. This was no inexperienced rookie they could intimidate; this was a seasoned veteran, a master manipulator who knew exactly how to exploit their weaknesses.

Seven's movements were erratic, a whirlwind of boosts and swift maneuvers, alternating between soaring at low altitudes and freezing in stillness.

Opting for a top-down perspective, Alessia watched as the battlefield transformed into a strategic chess match. Symphony and Moonraker sought to trap Seven without straying too far from one another.

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Driven by curiosity, Alessia ascended further, desperate to decipher the pattern unfolding before her. Her eyes widened as she realized Seven's intent. He was skillfully leading them away from the "blacksite" where he needed to extract critical data, while skirmishing and ducking away from their traps. The simulation had placed the blacksite near the banks of a dried riverbed. Was Seven baiting them or had their strategy of applying pressure begun to pay off?

A cascade of thoughts raced through Alessia's mind as she tried to anticipate Seven's next move. His adversaries possessed distinct advantages. Moonraker, agile and swift, could maintain a safe distance while unleashing searing laser beams that were almost impossible to dodge. Symphony, on the contrary, was an immovable behemoth, an imposing tank daring anyone to challenge him.

Together, they compensated for each other's weaknesses, a seemingly perfect team. But they had forgotten a crucial detail—this was no ordinary contest of dominance. It was a mission, and the mission took precedence.

Despite their complementary strengths, they remained a mismatched pair, vulnerable to Seven's exploitation of these very factors.

Seven retreated once more, backpedaling towards a position on the dry riverbed at the city's outskirts, far from the blacksite. Alessia could almost taste the anticipation radiating from Symphony's mech as he aimed his cannons at his seemingly cornered opponent.

Then, the unexpected occurred. Overkill sprang into action, showcasing movements Alessia had never witnessed before. Sections of its shoulders, torso, and lower legs opened, revealing powerful boosters that defied conventional understanding. In a burst of flame and blinding light, Seven's mech surged forward along the riverbank, leaving behind a scorched trail etched into the barren terrain. The roar blasted apart the remaining windows in the abandoned city as a storm of dust and flame followed in his wake.

Alessia reclined slightly, tuning out the muffled curses emanating from Symphony's mech.

Now, an impossible choice loomed before Moonraker and Symphony. Should they split up, allowing Seven the potential to divide and conquer, or should they remain united, permitting him to escape with the invaluable data? Moonraker glanced at Symphony’s cam, determination gleaming in his eyes. Ignoring the mismatch in armor, he surged ahead, hurtling towards the blacksite at full throttle, his nimble light mech pushed to its absolute limits.

As the battle raged on, the significance of the name Overkill transcended its initial mockery,assuming the role of an unsettling prophecy through the chaos of mechanized warfare.