The Duo Daggers and the Hydraulic Punch
?"MDMC! It’s the Duo Daggers from the Medallion Dog Mercenary Corp!" Fodio screamed, his voice cracking with terror.
?Before the echo of his voice died down, the two mercenaries moved with blinding speed, converging on Denki. Brendarg leaped in to intercept, and the chamber rang with the frantic melody of clashing steel. TING! TING! TING! Denki struggled to keep up with their erratic movements. SLASH! SLASH! Twin blades caught Denki across his thighs, drawing blood. Brendarg barely managed to parry a follow-up strike intended for Denki’s throat.
?Then—BOOM!!
?Brookhan unleashed a Hydraulic Punch. The force of the blow carved a deep furrow into the stone floor, ending in a thunderous explosion against the far wall. The two mercenaries jumped back just in time, their eyes widening at the destruction. Realizing the threat, they instantly shifted their focus. Brookhan was now the high-value target.
?"Sorry, kids, but we’ve already been paid to kill you," one of the daggers sneered, lunging toward Brookhan.
?"Protect Brookhan!" Denki roared. Brookhan raised his Shield Blast, using it as a bulwark while the internal pistons of his bionic arm began to hiss and recharge.
?It was a brutal three-on-two melee. Fodio and Krizz struggled to find a clear shot; the mercenaries moved so fast that the Heat Arrows whistled through empty air. TING! TING! BANG! BANG! After a frantic exchange, the Duo Daggers slid back, panting. One of them had lost an arm in the chaos, the limb cauterized by a Heat Blade swipe.
?On Denki’s side, everyone was gasping for air, their bodies covered in shallow cuts and bruises. The one-armed mercenary pulled a syringe from his belt and slammed it into his stump—a potent cocktail of adrenaline and painkillers. He charged again, his eyes glazed. But the dosage was too high; he didn't see Brookhan’s fist coming until it was too late.
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?BOOM!!!
?A massive cloud of dust erupted. When it cleared, the remaining mercenary stared in horror. His partner’s body had been pulverized against the floor, a gruesome smear of blood and shattered armor. Instead of retreating, the survivor’s face twisted into a mask of cold fury. He hit a trigger on his waist.
?The mechanical frames on his legs began to glow with an intense, humming light. He took off—doubling his speed. To Denki and the others, he became a blur. Brookhan took a defensive stance behind his shield, but they were being used as punching bags. Every few seconds, someone would cry out as a fresh cut appeared on their skin. They couldn't calculate his trajectory; they could only see the spray of their own blood.
?"GET DOWN!!!!" Fodio screamed at the top of his lungs.
?The team hit the dirt just as—CLICK... BOOM!!
?Brookhan triggered the Shield Blast at point-blank range. The spray of Heat Bullets caught the mercenary mid-stride. He was moving too fast to stop; the impact sent him hurtling uncontrollably into the stone wall. The sound of the impact was sickening. A fresh coat of crimson painted the ruins.
?"Hah... hah..." Fodio gasped, collapsing onto his back.
?"Damn... secure the area," Denki ordered, his voice weak. They lay there for several minutes, staring at the ceiling of the newly explored sector, letting the adrenaline fade. Once they were sure no more threats were coming, they limped toward the remains of the mercenaries.
?"That leg technology... it’s insane," Brendarg remarked, eyeing the glowing frames.
?"Take it," Denki said. "Lady Noin will want to see this for her research." Brookhan, despite his wounds, carefully salvaged the mechanical parts.
?After bandaging their wounds, the group retreated to a small, defensible room to rest. They had survived, and a new path lay open before them.
?Switch Scene: The Shadows
?"Dammit... what a waste of money," a voice grumbled from the darkness. "Those two were supposed to be professionals, and they still got outplayed. Ribbit..."
?To be continued...
