The Battle of Blacksite Zero

The prison yard exploded into chaos.

Gunfire. Explosions. Screams.

Hellion's troops pushed forward, their heavy mechs stomping through the rubble, opening fire with rotary cannons.

The resistance fighters fought back, ducking between cover, their stolen weapons spitting plasma rounds into enemy lines.

And in the middle of it all—

Ryo and 003 clashed.

Fists vs. Blades

Ryo dodged left, the Iron Maiden's plasma blade carving through the air.

She was fast. Precise.

But Ryo was faster now.

He closed the gap, driving a brutal uppercut into her ribs.

CRACK.

003 **staggered—**but only for a second.

Then she countered.

A knee slammed into his gut, forcing him back.

Before he could react, she twisted, slashing across his chest.

Sparks flew as the blade seared through his armor.

Pain flared.

> [DAMAGE REPORT: SEVERE. SYSTEM COMPENSATING.]

Ryo gritted his teeth.

She was strong.

But so was he.

Hellion's Might

Across the yard, Krieg roared, tackling a Hellion soldier and slamming him into the dirt.

Karin fired off grenades, blowing apart enemy cover.

Vos took out a mech's pilot with a perfect headshot.

But for every soldier they killed, more kept coming.

Serra yelled over the comms. "We can't hold this position! We need an exit!"

Ryo saw it.

The reinforced security gates leading to the underground facility.

Their only way out.

And 003 was standing between them.

One Last Push

Ryo rolled his shoulders, blood dripping from his wounds.

003 smirked, flipping her blade.

> "You're slowing down, 001. You sure you're the one they should've kept?"

Ryo exhaled.

Then moved.

Faster than before.

The Finishing Blow

003 swung high.

Ryo ducked low.

Then—he grabbed her wrist.

Twisted.

And drove his knee into her stomach.

CRACK.

She gasped, eyes wide.

Ryo didn't stop.

He slammed an elbow into her back, forcing her to her knees.

For the first time—003 looked vulnerable.

He grabbed her by the throat, lifted her up.

And whispered—

> "You lose."

Then—he threw her straight through the security gate.

Retreat and Regroup

The resistance pushed forward, storming into the underground tunnels as Hellion's forces struggled to recover.

Karin hit the detonator. Explosions collapsed the entryway behind them.

They were in.

Ryo took one last look at the battlefield.

Hellion had sent their best.

And he had broken them.

But this war?

It was only beginning.