19 – The Mad Robot

In the end, I chose to upgrade Ciara's weapons and boost devices. Liz did that on a table in a room by taking the two things apart first.

"Unfortunately, we can't duplicate the energy cultivation system on these." Liz opened the conversation after we had been silent for a while. "There's some material I don't recognize in these things."

I choose to accompany her in silence because I don't want to disturb her. But since she started it, I replied. "Yeah…. By the way, do you feel the rebellious robots are right?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "I have never felt enslaved by humans. Of course, some hated me, but most were nice, including Mr. Roland. He once said that he thinks of me as his own daughter."

"I just want to make it clear that I'm not siding specifically with humans or robots." I elaborated more. "We're just trying to survive here. I will continue to try to protect you as part of this colony, Liz."

She paused for a few seconds, then resumed her work. "I see. Thanks."

I said those words to get her sympathy. So, she won't betray us or do anything that harms us.

She closed the bottom of Ciara's sword, then said. "I think we're done. Unfortunately, we don't have the tools to test this."

"We can only try it by asking Ciara to use it, then." I came out of the room, and Liz followed me, carrying those things.

After waking up Ciara, we moved to the front of the house. The super soldier immediately did a series of blitzes and jumped using her boost devices. So far, she hasn't encountered any problems, and I can see a significant speed increase.

She landed in front of me and explained. "This is wonderful, sir. I just need to adapt because these things are getting a little wilder."

"Good." I handed her the sword. "Now, practice your moves."

She picked up the weapon and took a few steps back, removing it from its sheath. After taking a breath, the black-haired girl took a stance.

However, after a few seconds, she didn't do anything. Her sword emits no light.

Shit.

"Too bad." Liz shook her head. "I tried, but it looks like…. Sorry."

"Let's get out of here then." I sighed, regretting my gambling. "We can't win without that sword."

Suddenly a burst of light came out from Ciara's sword. She was slightly knocked back but could hold herself up when the blade finally behaved normally, albeit with a layer of light that was redder than before.

"Ah, thank goodness." Liz put her hands on her hips. "I managed to increase that sword's power by more than 20%, maybe 25%."

"Strange, this sword feels lighter." Ciara looked at the light on her weapon. "Maybe I can carry out attacks faster than before."

She then did a big swing using her upgraded weapon.

"I took some useless parts from that thing." Liz rubbed her chin. "So, it does get lighter."

Ciara made a combination attack. The sound of a sword tip cutting through the air continued to echo.

"Fingers crossed," I sighed. "Although I will still bargain first with that robot."

***

We waited on the rooftops the next day.

"I'll never get used to a situation like this." Bonnie, already riding her E.E.S., grumbled. "I hate fighting."

I also had that impression from the first time I saw her face. She looks too innocent to go to war.

"Everything's okay, Axel," Liz said a few feet from us, sitting by the makeshift device consisting of metal balls with wires sprouting from them.

It looked nothing special, but it was inside that mattered. Liz has modified the spherical drones to explode on a remote signal.

"That's it." Ciara got up and walked to the edge of the roof. A deep roaring sound emerged from the distance.

I lined her. "Are you ready, Ciara?"

The super soldier displays her signature smile. "I'm always ready."

Not long after, a big dirty motorbike with no tires stopped in front of our house. Judging from the many thrusters on its back, I could tell that thing had been heavily modified.

"We're sorry for killing your friends!" I called out to the android on top of that vehicle. "I know you are sad after your friends died…."

"Sad?" The psychopathic robot laughed like crazy. "I didn't kill them because I hoped they could revive many robots that could fight me. I don't care about their existence."

He really is a mad robot.

"At least give me your name, sir!" I continued. "I'm Axel."

That android jumped down from his motorbike. "I'm Rhodes…. Although there's no point in revealing it to you guys. You guys will die anyway." He then spread his hands. "But before you lose your life, comfort me first!"

He laughed again

Feeling he couldn't be talked to, I signaled Liz. The mechanic connected some cables, and those drones flew fast into the air.

As per my order, Liz didn't aim at Rhodes directly but a few tens of feet above that psycho robot's head.