CHAPTER 12: A.I CONFRONTATION 2

Continuation....

Ultimate Tower

The doors to the Ultimate Tower training room slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing its vast, high-tech interior. Gleaming panels of light lines the walls, casting a soft glow over the polished floor. The room exudes power and potential—a fitting place for champions to hone their skills.

Trivium's eyes sweep across the space, his expression catches between awe and disbelief. "So, this is where you train?" he asked, his tone curious.

"Yes," I replied briskly, striding forward. "Is there a problem?"

"Not at all. It's beautiful," Samuel said, turning slowly to take it all in. "Actually, almost every room I've seen here is extraordinary."

Jessica smirks, crossing her arms. "Not almost every room. All of them."

"Alright, enough sightseeing," I cut in, halting in the center of the room. "Let's get down to business."

Jessica raises an eyebrow. "What business?"

"Training," I said, my voice firm. "You all heard what those defeated robots told us about their so-called leader, Cyberman. And Samuel's vision of the future confirmed it—Cyberman rules Earth. If we want to stop that from happening, we need to be ready. Fully ready."

Trivium lets out a scoff and turns on his heel. "Good luck with that. As for me, I don't need training."

I narrow my eyes at him. "You're sure about that?"

Trivium stops, spinning back to face me. "Absolutely. I'm not just the God of Thunder. I'm a trained soldier and the General of the armed forces on Ultra Planet. My strength surpasses all of yours."

Belteshazzar chuckles darkly, stepping forward. "Oh? Stronger than all of us? Why don't you ask the Ventures how I dealt with them?" His fists clench as a golden light begins to radiate from his eyes and hands.

"Enough!" I snap, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade. Both men freeze, their expressions simmering with pride and challenge. "i know you're strong—both of you—but strength alone won't be enough to stop Cyberman and his army. That's why we need to train. And the training starts now."

"Now?" John asked, his voice tings with disbelief.

"Yes, now." I step aside, pointing to Jessica. "Jessica, step forward."

She hesitates for a moment, then strides to the center of the room with a confident air. Her eyes lock onto mine, her stance already shifting to readiness.

"Joseph, step forward," I commanded.

Joseph steps forward, his movements deliberate. He stops a few paces in front of Jessica, his eyes steady and calculating.

"Get your weapons," I said. "The match begins in seconds."

Jessica frowns, turning toward me. "Wait. I thought this was going to be hand-to-hand combat."

"It's not," I replied firmly. "This is a weapons match. And to make it interesting, the winner gets the honor of challenging Leonard, our speedster."

Jessica glances at Joseph, her frown fading into a determined smirk. "Fine. Let's do this."

Jessica unsheathes her twin swords in one smooth motion, the blades catching the bright lights of the training room. She drops into a fighting stance, her eyes locked on Joseph.

Across from her, Joseph remains calm, his movements deliberate as he pulls an arrow from his quiver and fits it onto his crossbow. His gaze doesn't waver as he takes aim.

I step back, raising my voice to address them both. "This isn't about winning or losing—it's about pushing each other to your limits. Show me what you're capable of."

Jessica is the first to move. She surges forward, her swords slicing through the air in a deadly arc. Joseph sidesteps smoothly, releasing his arrow in the same motion. Jessica reacts instantly, her sword flashing as she deflects the arrow with a metallic clang.

I nod, impressed. "Quick reflexes," I murmur, watching intently.

Joseph doesn't waste time. He reloads with practiced precision and fires two arrows in quick succession. Jessica doesn't flinch. She leaps high, twisting mid-air as her swords blur in motion. The arrows miss by a hair's breadth, and she lands with effortless grace.

"Is that all you've got, archer?" Jessica taunts, a confident smirk on her lips.

Joseph's expression hardens, but he doesn't reply. Instead, he aims at the floor near her feet and fires. The arrow explodes in a burst of smoke, enveloping Jessica in a thick gray cloud.

"Clever," Samuel mutters from the sidelines. "Joseph's using tactics to level the playing field."

Through the smoke, Jessica's voice rings out, laced with irritation. "You're going to regret that."

As the cloud begins to clear, Joseph is already prepared. He fires again, this time catching Jessica off guard. The arrow grazes her shoulder, leaving a thin line of blood.

Jessica's eyes flash with determination as she charges forward, swords flashing like lightning. She strikes again and again, each blow coming faster than the last. Joseph blocks with his crossbow, parrying with surprising strength, but the relentless assault forces him to retreat.

Then, unexpectedly, Joseph drops his crossbow.

"What's he up to?" Trivium mutters from behind me.

Joseph answers the unspoken question by pulling a dagger from his belt just in time to meet Jessica's next strike. The clash of steel echoes through the room as the two combatants lock eyes.

Jessica takes a step back, breathing hard but grinning. "Not bad. I didn't think you had it in you."

Joseph flips the dagger into a reverse grip, his stance shifting. "You're better than I expected."

They begin to circle each other, the tension between them thick enough to cut. Without warning, Jessica lunges, her speed a blur. Joseph sidesteps, feints left, then pivots right, countering with a low sweeping kick.

Jessica stumbles, her balance faltering. Before she can recover, Joseph moves in, pinning her to the ground with his dagger poised at her throat.

"Yield," he says, his voice calm but firm.

Jessica glares up at him, her chest heaving as she catches her breath. After a moment of hesitation, she nods. "Fine. I yield."

I step forward, clapping slowly. "Well done. Both of you displayed exceptional skill, but Joseph wins this match."

Jessica rises to her feet, brushing off her clothes and sheathing her swords. "Don't get used to it," she mutters, her tone a mix of frustration and respect. "Next time, I won't hold back."

Joseph offers her a faint smile as he retrieves his crossbow. "I'll be ready."

I glance at Leonard, who's already bouncing on the balls of his feet, his cocky grin firmly in place. Green lightning crackles faintly around his hands as he stretches.

"Your turn, Leonard," I say, turning to Joseph. "Don't let your guard down. Speed is his greatest weapon."

Leonard steps onto the training ground, rolling his shoulders and flexing his fingers. "Let's see if your arrows can keep up," he says, the lightning around him sparking brighter.

Joseph exhales slowly, reloading his crossbow. "Try me."

The match begins.

The moment I give the signal, Leonard vanishes in a blur of green lightning. His speed leaves scorch marks on the floor, the air crackling with energy. Joseph stands his ground, his crossbow raised, scanning for even the slightest movement.

"Relying on instinct, not sight," I think, observing his steady composure.

Leonard's voice echoes from every direction, taunting. "Come on, archer. Let's see if you can hit what you can't see!"

Joseph doesn't reply. Instead, he kneels slightly, lowering his aim. Then, in one swift motion, he fires an arrow at the ground. The resulting explosion creates a blinding flash of light, forcing Leonard to skid to a halt.

Leonard winces, shielding his eyes. "Seriously?"

Joseph seizes the moment, releasing two arrows in rapid succession. The first grazes Leonard's arm, drawing a thin line of blood, while the second embeds itself in the ground just inches away from his feet.

"Not bad," Leonard admits, shaking off the disorientation as his vision clears. "But I'm just getting started."

The air grows heavier as Leonard's green lightning intensifies, crackling like a storm around him. He darts forward in an erratic zigzag pattern, his speed making him nearly invisible. Joseph's eyes narrow, trying to track the unpredictable movements, but Leonard is too fast.

Leonard closes the distance in the blink of an eye, his fist crackling with energy. Joseph dives to the side as Leonard's punch slams into the ground, leaving a smoking crater in the floor.

"Almost had you," Leonard says, grinning as Joseph rolls to his feet.

Joseph doesn't respond. Instead, he pulls out a glowing blue arrow and notches it onto his crossbow. His steady breathing reveals his confidence.

Leonard pauses for a split second, his grin fading. "What's that?"

"You'll see," Joseph replies, releasing the arrow.

The arrow explodes mid-air, releasing a glowing net of crackling energy. The net expands rapidly, homing in on Leonard with a hum of electricity. Leonard darts away, his green lightning clashing with the blue energy. He twists and turns, trying to outmaneuver it, but the net is relentless, closing in with every step.

For a moment, it looks like Joseph has him. The net lunges, wrapping around Leonard's legs. But then Leonard's lightning flares brighter than ever, and with a burst of sheer speed, he tears through the trap, shattering it into sparks.

Joseph's eyes widen. "What?"

Before Joseph can react, Leonard is in front of him. A green blur slams into his side, sending him sprawling to the ground. His crossbow flies out of reach, clattering across the room.

"You're good," Leonard says, standing over him, lightning crackling around his fists. "But not fast enough."

Joseph scrambles for his dagger, but Leonard moves faster, pressing a sparking hand against Joseph's chest. The sharp zap of energy forces him to freeze.

"Yield," Leonard demands, his tone firm but not unkind.

Joseph exhales sharply, glancing at his crossbow on the far side of the room. Realizing there's no way to recover, he nods. "I yield."

I step forward, clapping twice to signal the match's end. "Impressive, Leonard. Your speed and adaptability sealed your victory."

Leonard steps back, offering Joseph a hand. Joseph hesitates for a moment before taking it.

"You've got skill," Leonard says, helping him up. "Next time, though, try keeping up."

Joseph smirks faintly, brushing himself off. "I'll be ready."

Jessica crosses her arms, watching from the sidelines. "Don't get cocky, Leonard. I'll be the one to take you down."

Leonard grins, his green lightning flickering faintly. "You can try, but you'll need more than swords to catch me."

I raise my voice, addressing the entire group. "This is why we train. Leonard, you've demonstrated the value of speed and timing. Joseph, you've shown ingenuity and focus under pressure. Both of you performed well. But remember—this is only the beginning. Cyberman won't give you the luxury of second chances."

The room falls silent, the weight of the coming challenges sinking in. I glance at the group one last time before stepping back. "Now, who's next?"

The Banished Land

ZACK

The faint hum of flickering lights echoes through the shattered corridors as Terminator 1 and I stride into the half-destroyed building. Once a relic of war, we've transformed it into a grim palace—a throne room for my adopted brothers and me, a symbol of the power we've seized.

Chunks of rubble crunch underfoot as Terminator 1's metallic voice cuts through the silence.

"Newark took heavy damage," he begins, his tone neutral, yet carrying the weight of failure. "But our forces were unable to take the city."

I stop mid-step, turning to face him, my gaze sharp. He hesitates briefly before continuing.

"Also, it seems the Ultimate Ventures remain alive... and free."

A flicker of annoyance crosses my face, but I suppress it, turning back toward the throne at the center of the room.

"Pity," I mutter as I ascend the steps, lowering myself into the seat. Its cold steel feels oddly comforting. "But not unexpected. Conquering Newark was always an unlikely proposition."

The doors groan open as the rest of the Terminators file in, their faces a mix of tension and anticipation. They approach us in formation, their synchronized steps resounding like a drumbeat. Something has happened—whether good or bad, I can't yet tell.

Terminator 3 steps forward, breaking the silence. "Brothers, we bring news."

"What is it?" Terminator 1 asks, his head tilting slightly.

Terminator 3's glowing eyes seem to brighten. "Our robotic armies… Your army has successfully planted the machine beneath New York. It's ready. The time has come to fulfill your plans and cement your purpose on Earth."

A slow, wicked smile spreads across my face. "Excellent."

"If that's the case," Terminator 1 interjects, turning to me, "then why attack Newark at all?"

"Distraction," I reply, my tone calm but resolute. "Newark was never the true target. For the first time in centuries, New York and Earth are ours. Now only the humans stand between us and total conquest of New York City."

"A brilliant strategy," Terminator 2 remarks, nodding. "But... were you aware that Belteshazzar, Samuel, Zetacode, and the Lightning Man were among the forces that took down our army?"

I lean forward in my throne, my eyes narrowing as the names sink in. "They were there?"

Terminator 1's tone darkens. "Yes. The loss of life among our troops was... substantial."

I sit back, my expression hardening as a sinister smile curves my lips. "If they're as strong as they claim, they'll survive. If not... sacrifices are necessary to weed out the weak. Strength demands it."

"Then perhaps we should assist you," Terminator 4 suggests, his voice steady but insistent. "Conquering Earth is a monumental task. You shouldn't face it alone."

"The heroes will fight to protect Earth," Terminator 3 adds, "just as they fought to defend Newark. And they succeeded."

"No," I say sharply, my voice cutting through their concerns like a blade. "This is my fight, not yours. I will do whatever it takes to avenge my wife's death and annihilate the traitor city."

"Facing eight of Earth's strongest fighters alone is a death wish," Terminator 1 counters. "Let us fight alongside you. Together, we can crush them."

"I said no." My voice is firm, unyielding. I rise from the throne, towering over them. "If Emperor Erebus conquered hundreds of planets, why can't I?"

"Erebus is... different," Terminator 4 replies, his tone measured. "He's a skilled warrior—the greatest Megan has ever known. You're strong, but you're not him."

I glare at him, the air between us crackling with tension. "My final answer is no. My army and I will do this ourselves. Let the humans and their heroes come. They will fall."

A heavy silence settles over the room. The Terminators exchange glances but say nothing more. I turn away, my gaze fixed on the horizon beyond the shattered windows. New York will be mine, no matter the cost.

To be continued....