The guttural growl of the miniboss reverberated through the chamber, making the steel walls tremble as if the factory itself were alive. Red lights strobed across the room, illuminating the grotesque figure in flashes. Remnant loomed at the far end of the chamber, its massive frame a horrifying fusion of flesh and metal. The red glow of its eyes burned through the dim haze, locking onto its prey.
Greg instinctively stepped in front of Tempo, gripping his battered pipe like it was the only thing tethering him to courage. “Cora,” he said, his voice tense but steady, “please tell me there’s a better way out than right past this thing.”
Cora’s heart raced as she replayed the factory map in her mind. Every alternate route ended in a security checkpoint or a locked-down corridor. Her jaw tightened. “There isn’t. We need to go back the way we came.”
Greg chuckled dryly, the sound bitter. “Perfect. So, we beat this thing, then play dodge-the-drones. Just my kind of plan.”
----------------------------------------
Remnant tilted its head with an unnatural grind, the motion accompanied by the faint sound of static buzzing through its frame. Its voice broke through the tension, a distorted echo of something once human.
“...Escape... futile... you... will... fall...”
Then it lunged.
Its claws tore through the air, slamming into the ground inches from Greg’s feet. Sparks flew as deep gashes formed in the steel floor.
“Move!” Greg barked, shoving Tempo out of the way as he rolled to the side. His pipe swung in a wide arc, connecting with the exposed joint at Remnant’s leg.
The metallic clang reverberated through the chamber, but Remnant barely staggered. Its glowing eyes burned brighter as it swiped again, the claws narrowly missing Greg’s head.
“Tempo, wake up!” Greg yelled. “We don’t have all day!”
----------------------------------------
Tempo groaned, his body refusing to cooperate. His legs felt like lead, his lungs struggling to pull in enough air. The aftereffects of his second power weighed on him like chains.
“I’m... trying!” he gasped, gripping his baton weakly.
Cora fumbled with Blink, her hands trembling as she activated the small robot. “Blink, blind it!”
The tiny machine scuttled forward, its spindly legs clicking against the floor. With a high-pitched whir, Blink emitted a burst of blinding blue light, illuminating the chamber in a searing flash.
Remnant recoiled, screeching as its glowing eyes flickered erratically. The sound was a haunting mix of static and distorted wailing, reverberating off the walls.
Greg didn’t waste the opportunity. He swung his pipe again, this time aiming for the back of Remnant’s knee. The blow landed, and the creature dropped onto one leg, its jerky movements momentarily disoriented.
But even weakened, it lashed out with terrifying force. Its clawed arm swung upward, catching Blink mid-scuttle and smashing it into the wall. The robot crumpled into a sparking heap.
“Blink!” Cora shouted, her voice cracking.
----------------------------------------
Greg grimaced as he dodged another swipe. “Bad news, Cora. Your robot? Not making the MVP list this round.”
“We can’t beat it!” Cora snapped, her voice sharp with urgency. She grabbed Tempo’s arm, hauling him upright. “Not without better weapons. We need to move!”
Remnant’s voice crackled to life again, louder and more menacing. “...Running... pointless... your... effort... is... irrelevant...”
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
It surged forward, claws outstretched toward Cora and Tempo.
“Not happening!” Greg growled, stepping between them. He swung his pipe with all his strength, the impact buying just enough time for Cora and Tempo to move toward the exit.
----------------------------------------
The team bolted into the corridor, the factory’s oppressive hum growing louder, as though the building itself was responding to their presence. Red lights pulsed along the walls, casting flickering shadows that seemed to reach for them.
“Left!” Cora shouted, her voice echoing through the cold steel as she led the way.
The factory seemed alive with malice. Doors slammed shut behind them, cutting off alternate paths and forcing them deeper into the labyrinth. The clicking of drones echoed faintly in the distance, a reminder of the dangers they had left behind.
“Cora,” Greg said, his voice tight with effort, “this isn’t feeling like a great plan.”
“It’s the only plan we’ve got!” she shot back, though her voice wavered.
----------------------------------------
Behind them, Remnant’s heavy footfalls thundered, each impact sending vibrations through the floor.
Tempo stumbled, his legs buckling. “I can’t... I can’t keep going!” he gasped.
Greg grabbed him by the collar, practically dragging him forward. “You’re not quitting now, kid. Move!”
The corridor opened into a narrow bridge suspended over a vast production floor. Below, rows of enforcer pods gleamed under flickering lights. Their occupants, suspended in eerie stillness, flickered to life intermittently. Glass fogged with condensation revealed faint outlines of faces—human, but with eyes glowing faintly red.
Cora froze for a split second, her stomach churning at the sight.
“The staircase,” she said, forcing her voice to steady. “It’s on the far side of the room. We move fast.”
----------------------------------------
The team sprinted across the bridge, but halfway across, the structure groaned ominously.
“Uh, guys?” Greg said, glancing behind them. “Our buddy’s back.”
Remnant climbed up from the machinery below, scaling the supports with terrifying speed. Its claws sank into the metal beams as it ascended, its glowing eyes locked onto the team.
“Does this thing ever quit?” Greg muttered.
“Apparently not,” Cora replied through gritted teeth.
Remnant leapt onto the bridge, the impact sending a violent shudder through the structure. Bolts snapped under its weight, and the bridge swayed dangerously.
Greg raised his pipe instinctively, but Cora grabbed his arm. “Don’t fight it here! The bridge will collapse!”
“So, what’s the genius plan?” Greg asked, his voice edged with frustration.
----------------------------------------
Cora’s eyes darted to the emergency staircase ahead. The map she had memorized flashed in her mind—there was a maintenance hatch near the staircase. Their only shot.
“Greg, distract it! Tempo and I will get the hatch open. Then we run!”
Greg sighed heavily, swinging his pipe and yelling, “Hey, over here, you overgrown blender!”
Remnant lunged, claws carving deep into the metal floor. Greg dodged, his muscles screaming in protest as he swung again, aiming to keep its attention.
----------------------------------------
Cora and Tempo reached the staircase. Tempo stumbled, but Cora grabbed his arm, dragging him toward the hatch. Her fingers scrabbled at its edges, sweat dripping down her temples.
“Tempo, help me!” she hissed.
Tempo knelt beside her, his baton shaking in his grip as he wedged it beneath the hatch. “It’s stuck!”
“Try harder!” Cora snapped, her voice strained with desperation.
----------------------------------------
Greg ducked another swipe, the bridge groaning beneath them as bolts snapped loose. “Cora!” he shouted. “Any time now!”
The hatch gave way with a metallic pop, revealing a narrow shaft.
Cora turned, her breath catching as she saw Greg barely holding his own. “Greg, come on!”
Greg hesitated, then swung his pipe one final time, knocking Remnant back just enough to dart toward the hatch.
The bridge gave a final groan before collapsing, sending Remnant plummeting into the machinery below.
----------------------------------------
The team slid into the hatch, tumbling into a dim maintenance corridor. Their breaths came in ragged gasps as they lay sprawled on the cold floor.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Finally, Greg broke the silence. “Well,” he said hoarsely, “that sucked. Let’s never do it again.”
Cora managed a faint smile, though her hands still shook. “We got the data. Let’s hope it’s worth it.”
Tempo sat against the wall, his baton loose in his grip. “We barely made it out,” he murmured. “Feels like... we’re always one step behind.”
Far below, in the wreckage of the bridge, a faint red glow pulsed weakly in the shadows.
----------------------------------------
To Be Continued...
----------------------------------------