Chapter 6: The Pursuit Begins

The mechanical titan was running. Not regrouping, not recalibrating—it was retreating.

Alden Cross couldn't move. His mind screamed at him to chase, to do something, but he was still reeling from what had just happened.

I hit it. I actually hit it.

And it ran.

The thought lodged itself into his brain, repeating over and over like an alarm he couldn't shut off. Prototype Omega had stood against Sentinel Academy's elite security force, shrugged off a direct energy blast, adapted to Felix's brute strength—and yet, the moment it analyzed Alden's Overclock, it ran.

Felix stood beside him, arms crossed, staring at the retreating figure. "I've seen a lot of things in my life. That? That was new."

Alden swallowed, his heartbeat still hammering in his ears. "Yeah."

Iris materialized from a shadow portal, landing lightly on the cracked pavement. "Did I just see what I think I saw?"

Felix nodded. "Yup. Tin Can took one look at Overclock Boy here and bailed."

Iris turned to Alden, her golden eyes narrowing. "You scared a military-grade war machine into running away. I think it's time we start asking some questions."

Alden's hands clenched at his sides. He wanted to believe this was a good thing—that maybe, just maybe, this meant he wasn't helpless anymore. That after years of feeling like the weakest person at Sentinel Academy, he finally had something.

But the sinking feeling in his gut told him otherwise.

Because if a machine designed for battlefield domination had decided to run instead of fight… then something much worse was coming.

The intercom crackled in their earpieces.

"Alden, Felix, Iris—stand by. Security is tracking Prototype Omega's escape trajectory."

Professor Riggs' voice was tense.

Alden pressed his earpiece. "You saw that, right?"

"Of course I saw it," Riggs replied. "We just forced a top-tier classified superweapon to abort combat. That means it's either leading us somewhere, or it's calling for backup."

Felix cracked his knuckles. "Either way, sounds like fun."

Alden exhaled sharply. "Define 'fun.'"

Before anyone could answer, a massive explosion detonated at the outer perimeter.

The ground shook violently, and a tower of black smoke erupted into the sky, blotting out the moonlight.

A chilling silence followed. Then—

"SIR! WE'VE LOST VISUAL ON THE TARGET! IT JUST BREACHED THE EASTERN GATES!"

Another explosion.

Then another.

Alden's breath caught. This wasn't random destruction.

This was a coordinated escape plan.

Felix let out a low whistle. "I think we made it mad."

Iris scowled. "No. This was pre-planned. It had an escape route ready. We just sped up its timeline."

Riggs' voice cut in again. "You three. Move out. Now."

Alden blinked. "Wait, us?"

"You're the only ones who have engaged with it directly," Riggs said. "That means you're the best chance we have at stopping it before it reaches civilian areas."

Alden hesitated. "Shouldn't we—shouldn't we call in actual heroes?"

There was a pause. Then, for the first time since Alden had known him, Riggs sounded uncertain.

"We did. They're already too late."

Alden's stomach dropped.

Felix grinned. "Guess that means it's our show, huh?"

Alden groaned. "I hate this."

Felix clapped him on the back hard enough to nearly knock him forward. "You'll love it by the end, trust me."

Iris sighed. "We don't have time for this. If we lose Prototype Omega now, we might not get another chance."

Alden took a breath, forcing himself to focus.

His Overclock buzzed under his skin, waiting—anticipating. It was almost like his body wanted to move before his mind caught up.

This was it. No more thinking. No more doubting.

They had to go.

Alden launched forward.

The world blurred.

The trio moved like a strike team, weaving through the ruined academy grounds. Every few seconds, another explosion rattled the air as Prototype Omega tore through outer barriers.

Alden's vision sharpened. His Overclock wasn't just giving him bursts of speed anymore—it was processing data faster than he thought possible. He could hear the pattern of explosions, the rhythmic movements of the machine, the gaps in destruction that suggested a planned route.

It was like his brain was operating at another level entirely.

"Iris!" he called. "Can you get ahead of it?"

Iris vanished into a shadow portal, appearing farther up ahead. "I'll try to cut it off, but it's fast."

Felix grinned like a maniac. "I'll slow it down."

Alden wasn't sure what that meant until Felix grabbed an entire streetlamp, ripped it from the ground, and hurled it forward like a spear.

It hit Prototype Omega square in the chest.

The machine stumbled, its frame sparking from the impact. But it didn't stop.

Instead, it turned its visor toward Felix and spoke.

"REINFORCEMENTS DEPLOYING."

Alden's chest tightened.

Before he could react, the ground split open.

From the destroyed pavement, two more figures emerged.

Not just any figures. Two more Prototype units.

Identical.

Same massive armored bodies. Same red-glowing visors. Same built-in weapons.

Alden froze. "Wait. What?"

Felix whistled. "Oh, great. Triplets."

Iris landed beside Alden. "We need a new plan. Now."

The two new cyborgs stood on either side of Prototype Omega, weapons already primed.

Then, as one, they all turned their glowing red visors toward Alden.

They were scanning him.

A warning flashed in their display.

"THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME. PRIORITY TARGET IDENTIFIED."

Alden's entire body went cold.

"Uh. Riggs?" he said slowly.

The professor's voice was grim. "I see it."

"What the hell does 'Priority Target' mean?"

There was a pause.

Then Riggs answered, his voice deadly serious.

"It means they weren't here for Sentinel Academy."

"They were here for you."

Alden's heart slammed against his ribs.

The three machines raised their weapons.

And then—

They attacked.