Chapter 11 : Ambush - Part 2

The Caberz, at first glance, might appear to be a strange creature or an AI-powered robot, but in reality, it's an AI-powered exosuit—that's where the difference lies.

This type of suit is specifically designed for use in warfare. It possesses high durability and internal support, allowing the user to move freely while operating it, whether entering or exiting the suit.

The suit isn't entirely made of metal. The joints are constructed from lightweight metal coated with a flexible silicone layer, enabling smooth bending and movement. This type of machine is called the Caberz, named after its inventor, the Colombian Luis Caberz.

One drawback of this suit is its heaviness and extremely slow movements. However, its strength compensates for this flaw, making it effective in battlefield assaults. Its massive appearance alone strikes fear into anyone who sees it. Dealing with them requires powerful weapons—something not everyone has.

"Is... is he even alive?!" Javier asked, his voice barely escaping his throat.

For the team, witnessing this scene left them nervous and stunned, frozen in place. None of them possessed the means to deal with the Caberz. With a single swing of its iron arm, Ron's body was sent crashing through a wall, slamming into the wall of the nearest building adjacent to the warehouse.

The Caberz moved toward Ron, who was barely sitting upright, his back against the wall that had shattered upon impact. He didn't move, only gasping for breath as blood streamed from his head, covering half his face.

"We need to act!!" Fiora screamed recklessly, filled with urgency.

"Stay where you are! We don't have what it takes to destroy this Caberz! And besides... we're surrounded again," Kanz said with frustration and caution, raising his hands in surrender.

The team's ammunition had already run out, and they hadn't had the chance to collect more from the bodies of the soldiers they had taken down. Ron's blow seemed to freeze time for them, leaving each member stunned and speechless. Meanwhile, more central government soldiers entered the warehouse, surrounding the area with weapons now trained on them.

"Damn it, that bastard's going to get us killed!" Hatan exclaimed angrily.

"Kanz, Ron... Ron... is Ron—?" Fiora tried to ask, but the tremor in her voice overwhelmed her.

Kanz stayed silent, trying to think and press himself to find a solution or escape. Yet, seeing the Caberz moving toward Ron after attacking him scattered his thoughts.

The machine approached Ron with heavy, earth-shaking footsteps, while the laughter of its operator grew louder with each step. Ron was still conscious, so hearing the approaching footsteps was natural, but he didn't lift his head. He remained silent, coughing up blood in his worst state.

"Look at what we have here—Ron Herald in the flesh, blood, and bone~. I feel like the luckiest person in the world," the man inside the machine spoke with a hysterical tone.

"Do you know how long I've been waiting for the day you're left powerless in my hands, so I can crush every bone in your body until you beg for death?" his voice grew increasingly manic.

"Ugh! Your voice is annoying," Ron replied between gasps, his tone dripping with indifference.

The Caberz came to a stop directly in front of Ron, leaving only two meters between them. At that moment, a steam-releasing sound emanated from the suit as the operator's head emerged. It was a bald man with a large scar across his scalp, a pale complexion, and bulging eyes that seemed ready to pop out of their sockets. His maniacal grin only added to his eerie appearance.

"Who are you again?" Ron asked while seated on the ground.

"You killed my brother, Vary!! The man whom the rebels now claim as the first Caberz user to fall at their hands!! You're the one who killed him!! But now!! I'm here for revenge! I am Varn, Vary's younger brother!! I'll rip your head off right here and now!" Varn screamed in anger and rage.

"Vary? Hmm... you mean that reckless fool whose neck I severed after his limbs? That's strange; I didn't expect him to have a younger brother," Ron said, struggling to lift his head as he replied coldly.

"Looking at your face now, with blood streaming from your eyes, I can tell you resemble him. Both of you are ugly as hell," Ron mocked Varn, his tone icy and provocative despite his condition.

Varn flew into a fit of rage, screaming like a madman. He attempted to crush Ron with the suit, sparing no mercy. After four seconds, the Caberz finally moved as Varn raised the massive iron fist above Ron.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!!" Varn screamed with hysterical anger.

"Never trust a hawk when it has you in its sights as prey," Ron said clearly and unexpectedly.

Varn heard Ron's words but paid no heed, continuing his attack. Inside the warehouse, the team heard the machine's loud movements. Anxiety and fear gripped them, knowing Ron was at the mercy of a madman in control of the Caberz. But in a fleeting moment, Varn's exposed head exploded.

"What the—?!"

"Commander Varn!!"

"I told you... never trust a hawk when it has you in its sights as prey," Ron repeated after Varn's head exploded in front of him.

The incident sent the soldiers into a panic. The card they had counted on to crush the revolution was now lost. Even the rebels inside noticed this through the soldiers' reactions. At the same time, the sound of gunfire erupted outside the warehouse, soon revealed to be a group of rebels arriving to provide support.

"Support? It's support! We've survived!" Kaura exclaimed with renewed hope.

The arriving squad began taking down the soldiers one by one. The team didn't stand idle either, rejoining the fight, gathering ammunition from the fallen soldiers, and thus helping the rebels defeat the central government troops who had set the ambush for the revolution leaders.

"Tsk, go to hell!" Hatan muttered angrily, kicking one of the bodies.

"Phew~ That was intense!" Kaura said, panting.

"What about Ron? Is he alright?!" Fiora asked, filled with worry.

Fiora didn't stay still. She hurried to check on Ron, her nerves on edge. When she reached the hole created by Ron's body crashing through the warehouse wall, she found Kanz standing and staring in shock.

"Huh? Kanz? Is Ron... alright?" Fiora looked in the same direction Kanz was staring and found herself equally stunned.

Both of them were looking at Ron, injured and sitting against the wall he had slammed into. The massive machine no longer obstructed the view, and they could see a figure sitting calmly next to Ron—a man in a long, tattered black cloak with streaks of red in his hair. He was carefully examining Ron.

"I didn't expect you to be here," Kanz said, his tone a mix of relief and slight tension.

"This... this..." Fiora stammered nervously.

Despite their closeness to Ron, Fiora and Kanz saw someone closer and more concerned for him. His presence both comforted and unsettled them, as he didn't appear pleased that they had survived in good health. This person was none other than the true deputy commander of the Seventh Squad—Cloud Minera.

"The commander is in a pitiful state, severely injured, while you two are unharmed. I expect a thorough explanation for what I'm seeing," Cloud said coldly, his sharp tone sending shivers down their spines as he glanced at Kanz and Fiora.

To be continued...