Chapter 37: Shock
As the smoke grenades ran out and the mist began to dissipate, 4th Nest, Hades, deployed its bio-mechanical robots to capture those who had made it to the surface. Screams filled the air, and things weren't any better than below ground.
Meanwhile, the underground refuge of Rockhill Valley was shrouded in smoke. With the bio-mechanical robots forcing their way through, casualties piled up, and the remaining resistance fighters were few in number.
Leo, though still managing to protect the gravely ill Rain, could tell his companion had reached his limit. Rain, despite Leo's efforts to help him lift his weapon, was too weak to continue.
"Commander, how are you holding up? No...!"
Leo steadied Rain, but he could see the person who had raised him like a father, his face pale and trembling, unable to hold on any longer. Tears started to well up in Leo’s eyes.
Although Rain knew his end was near, he mustered the strength to speak, gripping Leo’s hand tightly.
"...It's okay... death comes to us all... I still have one last plan... help me to the Resistance Headquarters..."
Leo, confused but determined, helped him.
Upon reaching the headquarters, Leo was shocked to find a powerful bomb in one corner of the room.
"If this detonates, it could wipe out the bio-mechanical robots," Rain said, his voice shaky.
"Leave the rest to me... go, quickly," Rain ordered.
Leo didn’t want to leave, but tears welled up as he held Rain tightly. Rain gently pushed Leo’s hand away.
"Survive, and there’s still hope... You’re young... in time, you’ll find a way to defeat these machines... go now!"
With a heavy heart, Leo stepped back, saluting Rain in the most honorable way he could.
"Thank you for everything... I'll remember it all my life."
Rain gave him one final smile.
"Good luck..."
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Outside the chaotic refuge, the streets were littered with bodies, casualties from the ruthless sweep of the bio-mechanical robots.
Fortunately, Max had managed to push the elderly woman and Maggie to safety, but with nowhere to go, they could only hide in the streets, frantically dodging the robots.
But their luck ran out. The bio-mechanical robots tracked them down and surrounded the trio.
"Damn it! I’ll fight you to the end!" Max shouted, as he grabbed a gun and opened fire. However, the thick armor of the robots made his attacks useless. One robot advanced, slamming Max hard, sending him crashing into a cement wall, where he immediately began to cough up blood, severely wounded.
Now, it was just Maggie and the elderly woman facing the cold-hearted killing machines.
As the robots advanced, guns drawn, Maggie stood firm, shielding the elderly woman.
"Don’t be afraid, Granny... I’ll protect you..." Maggie said, her voice steady in the face of certain death.
Without fear, Maggie closed her eyes, ready to embrace whatever fate had in store.
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Suddenly, the sweater Maggie had intended to give Alex slipped from her hands. The large letters on it — "For Alex Hawk" — caught the attention of the bio-mechanical robot.
For some unknown reason, the robot paused. It then began repeating the name, "Alex..."
It turned out, the real target of the operation was Alex.
Receiving new orders, the robot changed its course. Instead of killing Maggie, it knocked her unconscious, scooped her up, and prepared to take her away.
"Damned machines... give me back Maggie...!!"
Max, heavily injured, saw the bio-mechanical robots trying to take Maggie away. Without hesitation, he lunged at them, grabbing the robot’s leg, desperately trying to stop it from leaving with her—this was all he could do.
The bio-mechanical robot kicked Max away with great force, then coldly spoke:
"To save this woman, bring that one called Alex Hawke to Yubet."
With that, the robot leaped into the air, swiftly carrying Maggie back to the nest, leaving Max behind, screaming in agony:
"Maggie!... Give her back!...!"
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In the chaos and despair, a soft melody began playing through the air in Rock Hill Valley, like an old song. The bio-mechanical robots followed the sound, arriving at the rebel headquarters. It was the last effort of Rayne, who, using his remaining strength, had broadcasted the music through a loudspeaker.
At this point, there were probably no other survivors in the valley, only Rayne, a dying man. As the robots gathered around the headquarters, Rayne, holding a detonator, waited for them.
The cold-blooded robots raised their weapons toward the dying Rayne, but he wasn’t afraid.
Rayne thought back on his life, watching the world go from beauty to artificial intelligence awakening, then to humans forced underground, and eventually becoming the commander of the rebellion. He smiled because he didn’t know what the future would bring, and he wouldn’t be there to see it. His final thoughts were of his daughter, Anna.
He smiled at the machines before him and said:
"Goodbye... to this world... my daughter... and to you cold-blooded machines..."
Rayne then thought about how Alex had received the scientist’s power-enhancing serum and muttered:
"One day... humanity will create a new world and return to the surface... I believe that."
With that, Rayne pressed the detonator. A massive explosion erupted, obliterating the robots and consuming half of Rock Hill Valley. Streets were engulfed in flames, and debris flew everywhere.
The fate of Rock Hill Valley ended in the blaze.
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At dawn, the first light of day shone on Alex’s face as he finally woke up.
He struggled to sit up, his head pounding from a hangover, and noticed Judy had slept beside him all night.
Judy, now awake, smiled sweetly and moved to kiss Alex, but suddenly let out a scream, her face paling in shock.
Curious, Alex turned to see what had caused her alarm, and was immediately stunned...
He saw a huge column of thick smoke rising from the direction of Rock Hill Valley.
"What’s happening?!"
Alex’s eyes widened as he realized something was terribly wrong. Without hesitation, he grabbed Judy and sprinted toward the valley.
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When Alex and Judy reached the top of Rock Hill Valley, the three "nests" had already left. All that remained was a 70-meter-wide crater, with thick smoke rising from it. A bad feeling surged in Alex’s heart.
"What...?"
Judy covered her face, unable to believe what she was seeing. She felt deep down that something terrible had happened.
They descended into the valley, and as they opened the tunnel to the surface, they found it filled with the bodies of the fallen. Alex felt a heavy weight in his chest, while Judy couldn’t hold back her tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
"They... they’re all dead?!"
Alex couldn’t bear to imagine what had happened. Thinking of his parents, Maggie, and Max, he sped up, driven by urgency.
When Alex finally pushed open the door to his home, he froze in shock. The house, once the most luxurious in Rock Hill Valley, was now a wreck, a battlefield of destruction.
Alex picked up a mechanical part from the ground. He recognized it as coming from one of the mechanical spiders, and he could already guess what had transpired.
He was struck with a deep sense of shock and emotion, not knowing what to say. All he could think about was rushing to find his parents. But when he entered his home, the worst awaited.
He found his father, Bryan, and mother, Camilla, lying in pools of blood, both shot dead. He couldn’t process it. He broke down in uncontrollable tears, crying out in anguish.
Alex never imagined things would turn out like this. He had only been gone for a night, and yet his home was destroyed, and his family was gone.
He noticed an envelope lying nearby. He reached for it, but just then, he heard a voice calling for help—a woman’s voice, gasping as though she had no strength left:
"...Help! Somebody, please!..."