Revenge

After the chaos inside the ruins and the defeat of the radiation-mutated creatures, Takashima gathered Modeus, Abigail, and Marlene outside the facility. The air felt cold, though desert sand still swirled around them. The team stationed outside the ruins was busy finishing up, preparing heavier weaponry to face any remaining threats within.

Takashima glanced at his team before turning to the three expedition members. In a firm but relaxed voice, he spoke, "Alright, everyone, the survey mission is over. I'll handle the cleanup inside the ruins with heavier equipment. We've called in a more fully equipped backup team, and they'll be coming with specialized weapons, anti-radiation shields, and tracking devices to ensure nothing dangerous is left behind."

Modeus exhaled in relief, glad they wouldn't need to get further involved in the increasingly complicated situation. He lowered his Longstrike M-12 and glanced at Marlene and Abigail. Marlene, still looking a bit worn from the last fight, simply grinned, clearly satisfied with how the mission wrapped up.

"As promised," Takashima continued, reaching into his gear bag, "here's your payment. Two million nexbits each, just as agreed." He handed each of them a nexbit card, the balance visibly displayed on its small screen.

Abigail took his card, glancing at the balance before smiling with satisfaction. "Good. That's exactly what we agreed on, right?"

Takashima nodded. "And don't worry about the ammunition and gear you used up. I'll take care of all that when we get back to the Old World Network. I'll include the extra costs in the official report, so you won't have to worry about anything."

Marlene, who had been smoking for a few minutes, nodded coolly, blowing out a cloud of smoke. "Just make sure it gets logged. I don't want to see a negative balance later because someone forgot to record something."

Takashima gave a faint smile. "I understand. It'll all be taken care of."

Modeus, standing with his hands behind his head, looked at Takashima with curiosity. "So, what about the Aether processor we found? What are you going to do with that?"

Takashima glanced at his backpack, where the processor was securely stored. "That Aether processor is crucial. I'll report it to my superiors at the Old World Network. There might be further investigations into these ruins and the technology within. We might need to return after the radiation and remaining monsters are dealt with."

Abigail crossed his arms, eyes gleaming with interest. "So, there's a chance we'll be called back for another mission?"

Takashima shrugged. "It's possible. It depends on what the Old World Network finds in their analysis. But for now, you're free. The mission is over."

Marlene seemed to mull something over, taking a final drag from her cigarette before flicking the butt to the ground. "Good. At least I picked up a few interesting artifacts along the way." She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a few glowing quantum stones that shimmered in the desert sunlight. "They might not be as valuable as the Aether processor, but they'll fetch a nice price on the black market."

Modeus smiled, recognizing the quantum stones. "I grabbed a few things too. Not as much as you, but enough to add to the stash."

Abigail chuckled softly. "Same here. We didn't know what we'd find in these ruins, but at least these quantum stones will make this mission even more profitable."

Marlene patted her backpack with a grin, then turned to Abigail. "So, what's your plan? Heading back to the Old World Network now?"

Abigail nodded. "Yeah, it's time to head back and report. Plus, I've got a few things to take care of there."

Marlene seemed to consider something, then gazed out at the vast desert around them. "I've got some business around here. Some of my contacts mentioned another expedition that piqued my interest. I'll be sticking around for a few days before heading back to the Old World Network."

Modeus looked at Marlene with concern. "You sure you don't need any help?"

Marlene waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. I'm used to handling things like this. Besides, I could use a bit of a break. This trip has been exhausting enough."

Abigail smiled, then extended his hand toward Marlene. "Alright then. I guess this is where we part ways."

Marlene grasped Abigail's hand firmly. "Yeah, take care."

Modeus followed suit, extending his hand. "Good luck, Marlene. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything."

Marlene grinned, her eyes full of confidence. "Of course. I'll be fine."

After a few more goodbyes, Modeus and Abigail walked toward their motorcycles parked near a large truck. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the desert, painting the landscape in a haunting yet beautiful light.

They mounted their bikes. Abigail turned the key, and the roar of the engine filled the otherwise quiet air. Modeus followed, hopping onto the bike behind him.

As they sped through the desert, sand whipped around them. Modeus reflected on the day's events—battling mecha, escaping from radiation-spewing biological monsters. This mission had been far from ordinary. There was still so much hidden within the ruins, and the Aether processor might just be the beginning of something much larger.

Abigail, focused on the road ahead, seemed lost in his own thoughts. Though his eyes were fixed on the horizon, Modeus could tell he too was processing everything they'd faced. Occasionally, they passed barren stretches of desert or towering sand dunes.

Under the overcast sky of Fertissio, with the sun sinking low on the horizon, their bikes sped across the sand. The swirling dust behind them formed a thick trail, while the shattered remains of tall buildings loomed like dark monuments of a bygone era. Most of the structures had collapsed, though some still stood, tilted and cracked, like abandoned relics of a concrete forest.

"This place reminds us just how broken the world became before civilization fell," Abigail said through the intercom in their helmets. Modeus heard a hint of melancholy in his voice.

"Yeah," Modeus replied, eyes fixed on the sandy road ahead. "We're probably looking at what used to be called cities."

As they approached a massive ruin looming in the distance, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. Without warning, several missiles shot toward them from behind the crumbling buildings. Modeus barely had time to react, but Abigail's sharp instincts kicked in. He swerved the bike sharply, but it wasn't enough to fully evade. The shockwave from the explosion sent their bike flying into the air, and both of them crashed hard onto the rocky sand below.

Abigail hit the ground first, his body slamming hard into the dirt. His helmet flew off, and he was instantly knocked unconscious. Modeus was thrown several meters away, tumbling through the sand before finally coming to a stop amidst the rubble.

"Damn it," Modeus groaned, wincing as he tried to assess his aching body. Every inch hurt. He looked over and saw Abigail lying motionless nearby.

"Abigail!" he shouted, but there was no response. Shaken and still in shock, Modeus struggled to get to his feet. As he moved toward Abigail, the sound of heavy machinery echoed in the distance. He turned to see a mid-sized mecha, armed to the teeth, its weapons now aimed squarely at them.

He immediately knew they were in deep trouble. The mecha had locked onto them, and its missile launcher looked ready to fire again.

"I've got to move us!" Modeus muttered to himself. Ignoring the pain, he dragged himself toward the unconscious Abigail. With no time to waste, he grabbed Abigail's limp body and hauled him behind a large chunk of concrete debris, far enough from where they had initially fallen. Just as they cleared the area, the mecha unleashed a barrage of gunfire, shredding the sand and rubble where they had just been.

Breathing heavily, Modeus lowered Abigail behind the solid cover. He quickly checked for a pulse—thankfully, Abigail's heart was still beating, though he remained unresponsive. "What the hell just happened?" Modeus whispered under his breath, though he wasn't expecting an answer.

Suddenly, another sound filled the air—the heavy thud of the mecha moving closer to their position. "Shit!" Modeus cursed internally. The machine was now raining bullets down on the building they were hiding in. Explosions rocked the already fragile structure, and Modeus knew it wouldn't be long before the whole thing collapsed. They'd have no place left to hide.

Thinking fast, Modeus grabbed Abigail's automatic rifle and sprinted through a dusty corridor littered with broken glass and debris. He glanced back now and then, making sure Abigail was still out of harm's way. Bullets slammed into the walls around him, forcing him to keep moving. Every so often, he fired a few shots at the mecha, but the rounds bounced uselessly off the pulse shield protecting the machine.

"These shots are worthless," Modeus muttered through gritted teeth, ducking behind a pillar. "That shield's too damn strong."

Out of the corner of his eye, Modeus saw the mecha preparing its missile launcher again, this time aiming directly into the building. He didn't have much time. If those missiles hit, the structure would collapse on top of them. He needed to find a weakness in the mecha—something, anything, he could exploit before they were completely trapped.

Breathing hard, Modeus kept running, exhaustion creeping in after being chased for so long by this relentless machine. Every time he tried to dodge or take cover behind a structure, the mecha always found him. The heavy rumble of its engine and the whizzing of bullets around him formed the chaotic soundtrack of this one-sided battle.

"What about magic?" Modeus thought, realizing that bullets weren't going to get through the pulse shield. He shifted tactics, attempting to summon magic, gathering elemental energy in his hands. But the atoms of magic didn't react at all.

"An anti-magic field?" he wondered, cold sweat dripping down his face. The realization hit him hard—he was powerless. The mecha's anti-magic field rendered him completely defenseless. Even with his firearm, it was useless against this unstoppable machine.

As Modeus sprinted toward another standing building, he glanced back. The mecha was moving unnaturally fast for its size. Its heavy arms rained bullets down on the structure where Modeus had sought shelter. Concrete and glass shattered, the debris crashing down around his feet.

"Damn it! I'm out of time," he thought, feeling a surge of adrenaline push him forward. Bullets kept flying, tearing apart the walls that should've offered some protection.

Desperately, Modeus fired back. He aimed at a weak point he had spotted earlier, a vulnerable joint in the mecha's neck. But this time, the pulse shield activated instantly, and every bullet ricocheted harmlessly off its surface.

"Useless…" Modeus muttered to himself, frustration boiling over. Every time he tried to find an opening, the mecha adapted. It wasn't just any combat machine—it was designed to both withstand attacks and retaliate with precision, like a predator with an unbreakable instinct to hunt.

He dashed out from behind the rubble, heading for another building still standing. If he could just get inside, maybe he could buy himself a few seconds to catch his breath. But as he approached, a massive explosion rocked the building. The wall crumbled instantly, sending huge chunks of debris crashing down in front of him, blocking the entrance.

"Damn it!" Modeus was forced to stop for a moment, his body trembling from the exhaustion that was now overwhelming him. He glanced back, seeing the mecha locking onto him with yet another missile. There was no way out. The buildings around him were crumbling, one by one, destroying what little cover remained.

Desperation clawed at him as he started running again. This time, there were no more buildings ahead—just open ground, an empty field separating him from the next structure. If he couldn't reach it in time, he'd be an easy target.

"Come on!" he muttered under his breath, trying to convince himself he could still make it. But fear gnawed at him, especially with the mecha relentlessly chasing him down. Every step felt like a gamble with death.

Just as Modeus broke into the open, he heard the missile launch behind him. The deafening sound made his heart stop, and in a split second, he felt an intense pressure slam into him. A missile exploded nearby, the shockwave so powerful that it hurled him into the air.

Modeus was sent flying, his body crashing hard onto the rough sand below. Pain surged through him like fire. His bones felt as though they'd shattered from the impact. Gasping for breath, his vision blurred. He tried to push himself up, but his body refused. There was no strength left.

Blood trickled from wounds all over his body, especially from his arm, which now felt completely numb. Modeus lay there, motionless on the cold sand, utterly alone in the silent desert. The only sound was the rumbling of the mecha approaching, and Modeus knew his life was hanging by a thread.

"You've got to be kidding me," Modeus thought. But his body wouldn't respond. Every muscle screamed for him to stop, forcing him to accept the bitter reality. With whatever strength remained, Modeus turned his head to see the mecha now standing just meters away.

The machine raised one of its weapons, aiming directly at his broken body. The pulse shield around the mecha pulsed steadily, as if reassuring that no more resistance would come from its defeated target.

Modeus stared at the weapon, his heart heavy with despair. All his efforts, all his struggle, seemed pointless now. As the first bullet left the mecha's gun, he felt his life slipping further from his grasp.

The first shot struck him in the chest, sending a surge of unbearable pain through him. He choked on the blood rising in his throat, coughing weakly. The next shot shattered his leg, crushing the bones into fragments. Modeus grimaced, pain rippling through him, but no scream left his lips.

Bullets kept raining down on Modeus, leaving him no chance to endure any longer. Each shot seemed to steal whatever fragments of hope he had left. Within seconds, his body was torn apart, blood spilling onto the desolate desert floor.

In the eerie silence that followed, the mecha ceased its attack. Modeus lay still, his body now lifeless, like a broken puppet abandoned in the sand. The barren Fertissio desert returned to its quiet state, filled only with the soft sound of wind sweeping fine dust into the air.

Modeus's final vision, before darkness completely claimed him, was of the blood-red sky stretching above. It felt as if the heavens were silently witnessing his death, offering no comfort, only a silent farewell. The darkness then engulfed him entirely, pulling him into a soundless eternity.

The mecha turned and left, its heavy footsteps retreating, leaving behind Modeus's lifeless form in the still desert—a silent witness to an uneven battle that ended in utter devastation.

***