Chapter 9: The Fall of the Mad Scientist

The heavy metal doors of the control room slid open with a hiss, revealing the scientist stepping out into the dimly lit hallway. His once pristine white coat was drenched in blood—his own and that of the warlord he had just slain. His breath was ragged, his robotic gloves crackling with residual energy. He took a few steps forward, his boots leaving a crimson trail on the cold steel floor.

Then he looked up.

The battlefield outside was a disaster.

His grand army of machines, once an unstoppable force of destruction, lay in ruins. The Titan Robot had been reduced to scattered parts, its colossal frame now nothing more than scrap metal littering the city streets. Big Metal, one of his strongest creations, had met a gruesome end—its massive metallic skull now clutched in the hands of a shadowy figure.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he saw Michael, standing tall amidst the wreckage, his monster mask reflecting the raging fires around him. The scientist clenched his fists, trembling with rage. His creations—his legacy—had been annihilated.

A scream of pure fury tore from his throat. "NO! This isn't how it was supposed to go!"

Across the battlefield, the remaining guild members turned their attention toward him. The surviving Paragons, their armor dented and bloodied, saw their final enemy emerge.

Leon, standing atop a pile of broken machines, narrowed his eyes. "There he is."

Scarlet cracked her knuckles, her armor still glowing faintly from battle. "I say we end this now."

Ember, standing beside her, simply nodded. "He's the last threat."

The scientist's breathing grew heavy. His mind raced. He was alone now, outnumbered, overpowered. His genius had brought him this far, but even his greatest creations had fallen.

But he still had one last trick.

He slowly raised his bloodied hands and tapped a hidden command module on his glove. A pulse of energy shot out, and suddenly—

His body was encased in metal.

A robotic suit formed around him, plating after plating assembling in mere seconds. His once frail form was now a towering war machine, his mechanical armor humming with energy. His eyes glowed a deep crimson behind the visor.

"You think I'm done?!" his voice boomed, distorted through the helmet. "I am not just a scientist—I am a god of creation!"

Then he launched himself forward.

The battle began.

Scarlet was the first to strike, coating her entire body in molten steel, her sword glowing red-hot as she swung at him. The scientist raised his armored forearm, blocking the strike, the impact shaking the ground beneath them.

"Too slow!" he mocked before delivering a devastating backhand, sending Scarlet skidding across the battlefield.

August roared as he summoned his glowing blue hands, sending a barrage of colossal punches toward the scientist. But his opponent was faster than expected, dodging each one with unnatural agility. The scientist retaliated with a blast of concentrated energy, knocking August back.

Ember took her chance, channeling light into her armor, before releasing a massive beam of pure energy. The scientist, instead of dodging, raised his palm and absorbed the attack into his suit. His armor glowed brighter as he grinned.

"Did you really think light could stop me?" he taunted before redirecting the energy back at her. Ember barely had time to shield herself before she was blasted backward.

Michael remained still, watching the fight unfold. His hands tightened around his katanas.

"You're all insects!" the scientist roared. He slammed his fists into the ground, sending shockwaves of energy rippling through the battlefield, knocking back several Paragons.

But he was starting to slow down.

Leon, watching closely, noticed the slightest delay in his movements. His armor, while powerful, was draining energy at an alarming rate.

"He's burning himself out," Leon muttered. He turned to Scarlet, Ember, and August, who were already recovering. "We need to hit him all at once."

The three of them nodded.

Scarlet, her molten form glowing brighter than ever, lunged first, slashing downward.

The scientist barely managed to block, but before he could counter—

August pummeled him with two massive blue fists, sending him flying into the rubble.

As he tried to rise, Ember unleashed another beam, this time piercing straight through his armor, causing sparks to erupt.

He fell to one knee, his suit malfunctioning.

Michael walked forward, his voice eerily calm. "You're done."

The scientist, gasping for breath, coughed up blood inside his helmet. He could feel his life slipping away.

Memories flooded his mind.

He remembered the mockery he faced as a child. His so-called "friends" telling him he would never be a scientist. The constant ridicule.

He remembered his father, the man who killed his own wife in a drunken rage before ending his own life right before his eyes.

The scientist let out a weak, bitter laugh. "I tried..." he whispered.

Then, his body slumped. His suit flickered one last time before powering down.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

The mad scientist was dead.

The war had finally come to an end.