The convoy of VTOLs cut through the thin, clouded atmosphere of the resource planet PX-173 like silent specters. Arthur sat near one of the reinforced windows, gazing out at the harsh, alien terrain below. The landscape stretched endlessly in jagged, ochre-hued ridges, dotted occasionally with black craters and patches of sparse, desiccated vegetation.

Inside, the mood was tense. The cabin was filled with ECHOs, each one clad in sleek, battle-ready armor. Arthur’s gaze flicked over to his team, Leo, Elena, and the others. Each was focused, silently preparing for what lay ahead.

Leo broke the silence, leaning slightly toward Arthur. “This is a long ride for a mission. We’re practically on the other side of the planet from the camp.”

Arthur nodded, his voice calm. “The ruins are in an isolated area. The Chimerians haven’t made a major push there yet. It’s also why the command is sending us in. They want it secured before the enemy can.”

Elena, seated across from them, was inspecting her sniper rifle. She glanced up briefly, her emerald eyes sharp. “Trust me. The moment we set foot there, we’ll be stepping into a fight.”

Arthur gave her a faint smile. “Good. That means we will be able to swiftly dispatch our enemies.”

Elena smiled as she shook her head and went back to her rifle, muttering, “Always the optimist.”

The pilot’s voice crackled over the comms, breaking through the low hum of the engines. {“ETA to the ruins, 5 minutes. All units, prepare for descent. Scanners show no immediate hostile activities, but keep your guards up.”}

Arthur adjusted the straps on his armor and sword, feeling good about his new upgrades. The denser alloy and reinforced gauntlets added a heft that would’ve been a challenge for anyone else. For him, it was just another tool in the arsenal.

Arthur also created a sword with extremely durable alloy, the plasma sword was practically useless in his previous fight as it was unable to cause much damage to the crystalline armor of the Chimerians without him attacking their weak points. So, he thought he was just going to use the old fashioned sword to do the job, but the sword still uses superheated plasma around its edges to improve its cutting ability.

Leo noticed the motion and grinned. “Still getting used to that thing?.”

Arthur gave him a sidelong glance. “Yeah…”

Leo patted the weapon slung over his shoulder. “You just keep the big ones off me, and I’ll make sure nothing gets close enough to touch you.”

Elena chimed in, her tone dry. “Or, you know, maybe don’t attract every enemy on the battlefield this time. Just a suggestion.”

The team chuckled lightly, the brief levity cutting through the tension.

As the VTOLs approached the mission destination, Arthur’s thoughts turned inward. His mind played over the briefing, the ruins were ancient, predating humanity’s knowledge of this region by millions of years.

The structure itself was partially buried, with only the uppermost spires visible above the surface. Recon drones had captured images of intricate carvings and symbols on the exposed walls, markings that no known species could identify.

The VTOL suddenly jolted slightly, and the pilot’s voice returned, more urgent now. {“We’re entering a high-wind zone. Hold steady. We’ll be landing just short of the ruins to avoid drawing too much attention.”}

Leo looked over at Arthur, his expression serious now. “Any thoughts on what we’ll find down there?”

Arthur met his gaze, his voice measured. “Most likely, trouble. Either way, we’re ready for it.”

The VTOL began its descent, the whine of its engines shifting pitch. Through the window, Arthur caught his first glimpse of the ruins. Jagged spires of an impossibly dark material jutted out from the ground like spears. Even from this distance, the ruins exuded a sense of foreboding.

The pilot’s voice cut in one last time. {“Touchdown in one minute. All units, gear up and prepare for deployment.”}

Arthur stood, gripping one of the overhead bars to steady himself, his team followed suit. As he secured his helmet, sealing it with a soft hiss, he felt the familiar surge of adrenaline.

The mission had officially begun. And whatever waited for them in the shadow of the ruins, Arthur knew they had to face it head-on.

…

The hum of the VTOL engines died down as the aircraft touched down on the barren surface. The winds carried fine, reddish dust, swirling around the landing zone.

Arthur stepped off the VTOL, his boots sinking slightly into the gritty soil. Around him, dozens of other ECHOs were already forming up into their respective squads, their movements efficient and disciplined.

Lt. Nakamura stood at the forefront, he gestured with a sharp motion, signaling the teams to fall in line. Arthur and his team fell into step behind him.

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Ahead, the ruins loomed ominously in the distance. The journey to the ruins would be made on foot, a precaution against any potential enemy detection. The ground beneath their feet was hard and cracked, the occasional sharp rock jutting out as a reminder of the planet's harsh environment.

Arthur’s eyes were fixed on the path ahead, his technopathy faintly buzzing in the back of his mind and his ‘Map’ opened as he remained alert for any signs of trouble.

As they neared the ruins, the eerie silence of the area grew more oppressive. Even the wind seemed to die down, leaving only the sound of their boots crunching against the dry ground. Lt. Nakamura raised a fist, signaling a halt.

“We will split up from others after entering the ruins,” he said, his voice carrying authority. “ Stay sharp, and report any anomalies immediately.”

Arthur gave a slight nod, his team falling into formation behind him as they approached the ruin’s entrance. The entrance was a jagged opening in the side of a massive spire, its edges smooth and unnaturally precise, as though cut by some advanced tool or force.

The moment they stepped inside, the temperature dropped sharply, a stark contrast to the dry heat outside. The darkness was absolute, swallowing every trace of light from the entrance as they moved further in. The air smelled stale, almost metallic, and the faint echoes of their footsteps only added to the sense of unease.

“Turn on your night vision,” Lt. Nakamura’s voice came through their comms.

Arthur tapped on the side of his helmet, activating his night vision. The darkness transformed into a surreal green-tinted world, revealing smooth walls covered in strange, flowing patterns. The markings seemed to shift slightly under his gaze, as though alive.

“This place…” Elena whispered, her voice barely audible. “It feels kind of ominous.”

Arthur agreed silently, his senses on high alert. He felt the ruins seemed to pulse faintly with some kind of energy. It was as if the structure itself was alive, watching their every move.

“Keep moving,” Nakamura ordered, his tone firm but cautious. “Stay in formation and don’t touch anything unless absolutely necessary.” And they separated from the other teams and went towards different paths of the ruins.

As they moved deeper, the corridor began to slope downward, the walls growing narrower and the patterns more intricate. Arthur couldn’t help but feel a strange pull, as if the ruins were calling to him. His technopathy buzzed louder now, a sensation he hadn’t felt before.

“It feels like we are being watched by something,” Arthur muttered, his voice low enough for only his team to hear.

Leo glanced at him, his rifle at the ready. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know yet,” Arthur replied, scanning the walls as they moved. “But we need to be ready for any movements.”

The team pressed forward, their breaths steady but their hearts pounding.

…

In the Chimerian Camp

Commander Vorsk stood tall in the dimly lit command chamber, his yellow glowing eyes fixed on the holographic map table in front of him. Beside him, Commander Zolar analyzed the layout of the ruins, as they exchanged thoughts.

Unlike Vorsk, whose towering physique and fiery temper often set him apart, Zolar exuded a calm, calculating presence. Both held equal authority, but their methods and ideologies frequently clashed.

"They’ve entered the ruins," Zolar said, tapping a claw against the map.

Vorsk snarled softly, his claws curling. "This is our opportunity. They’re overconfident, thinking they can waltz into the ruins and take what they please with us here."

The door slid open, and a Chimerian soldier stepped in, saluting crisply. "Commanders, confirmation has come through. The human ECHOs have entered the ruins. Their deployment numbers align with our intelligence, approximately 200 soldiers in total."

Vorsk leaned closer to the map, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "Perfect. Let them sink deeper into that place. It will become their tomb."

Zolar crossed his arms, his tone measured. "Remember Vorsk, don’t act recklessly after entering the ruins. The ruins may hold secrets that are far more valuable than your grudge against this Arthur."

Vorsk growled, his eyes narrowing. "Reckless? That human humiliated me. If we don’t take action now, he’ll grow into a greater threat."

Zolar growled in irritation thinking why Vorsk thought so highly of this human. Yes, he has massacred a group of elite Chimerians, but they could also do the same with much more efficiency.

Zolar then turned sharply to the soldier. "Ready the ships. Select only our elite forces. We’ll follow them into the ruins and strike from behind."

The soldier saluted and left, leaving the two commanders alone.

The two commanders left the chamber, their uneasy alliance bound by the shared goal of defeating their enemy and claiming the ruins spoils.

…

In the Human Camp

The command tent at the human camp buzzed with activity. Holographic displays projected live updates of the ECHO teams’ progress, while officers coordinated logistics and surveillance.

Commander Graves stood at the center, his hands clasped behind his back as he studied the situation. His calm demeanor masked the storm of calculations running through his mind.

A soldier entered the tent, his footsteps hurried. "Commander Graves, we’ve detected Chimerian activity near the ruins. Several ships have been deployed, likely carrying their elite units."

Graves didn’t look surprised. Instead, he gave a small nod. "Right on schedule. They never could resist taking the bait."

The soldier hesitated. "Sir, should we send reinforcements? The ECHOs might be walking into an ambush."

Graves turned to him, his expression firm. "No. The ECHOs were sent knowing the risks. They’re trained for scenarios like this. Sending reinforcements now would compromise the element of surprise on our end."

Another officer approached, her brow furrowed. "Sir, are you certain this gamble will pay off? If the ECHOs fail…"

Graves interrupted, his voice steady. "They won’t fail. They’re the best we have, and they know what’s at stake. Besides,..." He shook his head and didn't continue further. He has read about Arthur and his prowess and hoped if anything outside of their prediction happened they could take care of it together.

The officer nodded, though her concern was evident.

Graves leaned over the map, his tone lowering. "Monitor the situation closely. If the Chimerians make any unexpected moves, I want to know immediately. Until then, we let the ECHOs do their job."

The officers saluted and returned to their posts. Graves remained at the table, his eyes fixed on the holographic display of the ruins.

***