Wherever the towering giant strode, destruction followed. Most nearby civilians already knew their fate, having witnessed the robot skewering countless humans.
Just when they thought the end was near, they found themselves becoming weightless, lifted high in the air akin to how the strongest cultivators could.
"Divine intervention?" So of them rubbed their eyes, doubting their senses.
Just then they caught a glance at a flying figure high in the air, long green hair flustered in the strong wind, the man’s expression unreadable.
With a wave of his hand, Robert commanded the wind, taking the civilians with it.
In a heartbeat no living soul was left in a several-kiloter radius.
Of course his appearance didn’t remain a secret. Taking note of his existence, the sentient AI halted its rampage montarily. Its head creaked as it slowly rotated to face in his direction.
[So this is it... A Lord.]
The AI’s voice was cold. Naturally, it had studied cultivators in great detail. Even if its existence was perfect, that did not an it was invincible, at least not yet. From its observations, only Lords and stronger beings posed a true threat, which was why underestimating them was not an option.
[Weaker than expected.]
Yet after all the preparation it had made, it almost felt pointless as it watched the pitiful aura Robert gave off in comparison to its own.
Unfair comparison considering that the AI had extracted the spiritual energy from millions of humans, while Robert was just a single man. Regardless, what mattered at the end was power and nothing else.
Robert’s gaze hardened further.
"For a simple hunk of tal you seem to run your mouth quite a lot."
[...]
In bewildernt the giant tilted its head to the side. Had it perhaps... been insulted right to its face?
[You will perish here.]
The AI’s threatening eyes started to gleam crimson.
Robert responded in kind, his violet eyes shining more intensely.
BOOM!
A heartbeat later the very foundation of the capital seed to tremble under the mighty clash happening above it. It quickly beca apparent that Robert was on the losing end. Not only did the tallic creature possess a staggering amount of spiritual energy, but it also proved to be unbelievably fast.
Whoosh!
Its limbs moved akin to lightning cracking with raw power. The strides of the giant lengthened, the punches it threw aid to end the battle in a single strike.
Still, no trace of hesitation or fear was visible on Robert’s face.
If there was one thing that he excelled at, it was his speed. With his mastery over the wind elent, he masterfully dodged the robot’s attack by a hair’s breadth, leading it further away from the hole it had crawled up from.
Simultaneously as the giant distanced itself from the hole, the androids with power rivaling a General didn’t even spare their ruler a glance.
Long by now they had received their orders. Moving as one unit, they tore everything in their path, all headed to the sa destination.
The very center of Magmorious, where the capital’s leaders were located... The parliant. For as long as the building stood, it symbolized that the city was still in humanity’s control.
Should it fall, however... The capital would inevitably follow.
Thought humanity wouldn’t give in without a fight. With her status as the minister of defense, Livia’s orders traveled the whole capital in re minutes.
Full mobilization.
Regardless of a soldier’s rank, cultivation, experience, or age, any soldier called was sent to guard the parliant, where the capital would make its last stand.
Fortunately, the city’s designers had planned ahead. With a wide, empty expanse spanning five by five kiloters, it had no trouble containing the millions of soldiers who answered the call to arms.
The fastest, and perhaps largest, mobilization in Venus’ history. Millions of soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder, weapons in hand, ready to fight to the bitter end, their eyes fixed on two directions.
From one side, a surge of androids wielding the power of a General in battle approached in hot pursuit. On the other, the towering tal figure was still being held back by the selfless Lord, who fought with everything he had.
Either of these disasters could be expected to cause massive loss of life. But both at once?
Hopelessness etched on the warriors’ faces, so had considered running away. But with the hostile climate outside and the rumors of the aliens erging out of the lava lake, there was nowhere safe.
Like a caged animal, slowly cornered from all sides, that was how most people felt.
Michael and the crew were among the soldier ranks, their expressions grim.
"Boss, how do we get out of this one?" Richard’s words lacked their usually excited edge. Even for him, this was too much.
Michael didn’t answer imdiately, scanning the whole field instead.
"The army would be divided into two. One part deals with the androids, the other goes after the towering giant that seems to be their leader."
He explained what Livia’s plan was. With the comms she had given them, communication proved instantaneous.
"I believe we have to go after the big robot. It’s their leader after all!" Enzo reasoned.
"No, we must deal with the androids first. If they spread out, the damage would be monuntal." Ava exclaid.
"No..." Michael shook his head.
"I alone will go after their ruler. You will aid the efforts to get rid of the minions." He ordered in a tone that left no room for defiance. "This is the mont I have been preparing you for all this ti. I have faith in your abilities."
"..." They stared at him in silence.
"But... alone? You don’t want any of us to co with you?" Ruby clutched the fabric of her hood tightly.
"I will take Cyberfang with ." Michael added. "I believe you will be more useful dealing with the minions instead."
Despite their sour expressions, they didn’t argue, joining the other front.
Truthfully, Michael didn’t want them to join the effort against the towering robot for a single reason. He wholeheartedly believed that anyone that charged towards it would perish.
Grab!
As the crew left his side one by one, he reached out and gently took Victoria’s hand.
"Michael?" She froze for a mont, noticing the small flash drive in his hand. "What is this?"
"Reassurance." He sighed. "Should... the worst happen, this is what I am leaving you. Inside are docunts... Ones that I have written myself. They should answer most of the questions you’ve wondered about and provide you with clear, step-by-step instructions for how to proceed in the future."
Even with his experience... No, thanks to it, Michael knew that there was no battle with a guaranteed victory, much less the one he was about to embark on, which had close to zero odds of survival. Since he was a man who liked to be prepared for the worst possible outco, he had already made a plan for what should happen if he were to fall midway on his journey.
Clearly stunned, Victoria gazed at the little device. That flash drive held answers to questions she had longed to ask Michael but never had the courage to. Why could he hack into alien networks with such ease? Why could he remain unfazed even in front of her grandfather, a King... and so much more?
Yet strangely, now that she had the answers in her grasp, it all seed so aningless.
"Good luck, and don’t die." Michael exclaid, turning his back.
The reason he had entrusted Victoria with this was that she was the one who knew most of his secrets. That, coupled with her background, made her the most rational choice.
And yet...
Grab!
Unable to take a step forward, Victoria caught his arm as she whispered.
"One last thing..."
Turning toward her, he froze as she ca within an inch of him, their lips eting softly. They lingered together for several seconds, her touch proving astonishingly tender.
Slowly pulling away, she stared into his eyes.
"If I hadn’t done this now, I feared I would lose my only chance forever... So live okay? I... there are so many things I want to confess to you when this is all over."
Not waiting for his response, she bolted out.
Putting a finger to his lips, he still felt the lingering warmth of hers. Taking a deep breath, Michael glanced at the sky, his eyes closing tightly.
’No distractions.’
His expression returned to its stoic nature.
Abruptly an aura of unquestionable authority seed to surround him as he stepped into the ranks of the shaken soldiers ant to face against the giant.
"WARRIORS!"
In that mont their fears seed to lt away due to his shout that ripped through the chatter like a blade.
Instantly all eyes turned towards Michael.
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