The Memory Calls
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[COMBAT INITIATED—LEVEL LOCK DISENGAGED]
[ WARNING: ALPHA THREAT ACTIVE—PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION ]
The metal walls around Zero were shaking and moving, not just from their old age, but from pressure.
The air in the vents passed as it breathed, expanding like lungs. The floor beneath him buzzed faintly with a pulse, like it had a heartbeat itself.
The mere presence of Alpha was controlling the space.
Zero clenched his teeth, feeling the rebar blade was pulsing faintly in his palm. His other hand gripped the nearly broken pipe tightly.
He knew one thing: this wasn't a fight he could win with just muscle.
"So you won't make it easy for me, huh?" He muttered, "If I die today, I will make sure to drag you with me."
The Alpha didn't move; it didn't flinch…
It stood like a monarch in its rusted throne room, backlit by blinking emergency lights, the faint glow of the stolen X-Core embedded in its chest pulsing in sync with Zero's own core.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then the Alpha opened its mouth.
*VRAHHHHHH!*
[ SYSTEM ALERT ]
[SONIC PULSE ROAR INCOMING—BRACE FOR IMPACT]
The sound that followed wasn't a roar.
It was violence made audible. Zero's ears rang instantly. His vision blurred. His balance shifted as his knees nearly gave out.
The implants in his spine shook, and Zero dropped to one knee, gripping the ground. It was like the world around him was distorted.
[ SYSTEM DAMAGE: 4% ]
[TEMPORARY IMPLANT DISRUPTION—6 SECONDS]
[ NEURAL STABILITY: UNSTABLE ]
The Alpha then suddenly charged.
Zero's body reacted before his mind did. He rolled to the left, feeling the sharp wind tear past his shoulder as claws slashed the space he had just been in.
*SCREECH!*
The Alpha's claws had ripped through the lab wall like paper.
The sparks flew…
Zero got back on his feet, half-limping, blade in hand.
The Alpha turned slowly; its movements were deliberate.
Like it knew it had all the time in the world, it could play with its play as much as it wanted.
"I'll… wipe that grin," Zero whispered. "If it bleeds, it can die!"
He lunged, swinging the rebar blade upward, aiming for the creature's exposed side.
*CLANG!*
The blade bounced off its shifting carapace. The reactive armor had responded just in time.
The Alpha didn't flinch. Instead, it grabbed Zero and smashed him into the ground!
*THUNK!!*
[BIO-SHELL DAMAGE—MIDSECTION FRACTURE SUSPECTED]
[ INTERNAL DAMAGE: MODERATE ]
[ SYNCHRONIZATION RATE: 53% ]
Zero flew back, crashing into a control panel. Sparks rained around him. He spat metal-flavored blood onto the floor.
His hands trembled, the pipe now too bent to be useful.
[ SYSTEM ALERT ]
[PRIMARY WEAPON—COMPROMISED]
[ SUGGESTED ACTION: SWITCH TO SECONDARY ]
Zero's vision doubled as he reached for the rebar blade still in his grip. His fingers screamed in pain, but his grip held firm.
"You want me dead?" Zero coughed, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth, "Not gonna happen today, I won't die! Come on! Move! Get up! This is not where we die!" Zero said to himself.
[SKILL AVAILABLE—CRITICAL THRUST]
[ COOLDOWN: READY ]
[BONUS: +25% DAMAGE WITH ECHO STRIKE STACK]
Zero's muscles screamed, yet his legs moved with sheer will and anger.
He sprinted low, sliding beneath a swinging arm and driving the blade upward, aiming between the X-Core and sternum plate.
*THUNK!*
The blade connected. Sparks flew. A deep growl escaped the Alpha, and for the first time…
It reacted.
[HIT SUCCESSFUL—ARMOR BREACH DETECTED]
[ X-CORE STABILITY: TEMPORARILY INTERRUPTED ]
[ENEMY NEURAL COMMAND: DISRUPTED—3.2 SECONDS]
Zero yanked the blade free. The Alpha staggered back.
Now!
He struck again.
*SLASH!*
A gash tore across its shoulder. Not deep enough. The armor shifted again, protecting vital points.
Still, Zero saw it: pain, agony…fear.
"Not so calm now, huh?" Zero jerked his hand.
[WARNING: CORE GAUGE SPIKE—BERSERK STATE IMMINENT]
The Alpha let out a scream that shook the lights.
Its body twitched, muscles bulged, and armor plates flared outward. Steam vented from under its carapace.
Then it leaped at Zero.
It was a blur for a second.
Zero barely reacted. He twisted just enough to avoid a fatal blow, but the claws raked his back.
Blood gushed out with some glowing violet liquid.
He screamed, falling onto his knees.
[SPINAL IMPLANT PARTIAL DAMAGE]
[ PAIN THRESHOLD EXCEEDED ]
[ ADAPTIVE RESPONSE: ENGAGED ]
And then—
[ SYSTEM OVERRIDE: PROTOCOL-99 UNLOCKED ]
[ EMERGENCY RELEASE — CORE LIMITER DISENGAGED ]
[ USER OVERDRIVE MODE: INITIATED ]
Suddenly time slowed for Zero.
Zero's vision sharpened. The pain faded. His blood felt like molten steel, burning through his veins.
[ CORE CHARGE: 100% ]
[ UNLOCKING TEMPORARY ACTIVE SKILL: GHOST STRIKE ]
>> Ghost Strike — Phase dash behind enemy, +80% damage to exposed weak points.
>> Duration: 3.5 sec | Cooldown: 90 sec
"Let's see how you like being hunted."
Zero's body vanished in a blink and reappeared above the Alpha.
He thrust the rebar blade deep into the unshielded joint between shoulder and spine in a flash.
*CRACK!*
[DIRECT HIT: MOBILITY REDUCED]
[ SYSTEM STABILITY: COMPROMISED—15% REDUCTION IN THREAT LEVEL ]
The Alpha roared in rage and spun, but Zero was already mid-air…
dodging, flipping, countering.
He moved like he was a weapon now, a weapon wielded by the God of War himself.
The dance between them grew violent and bloody, but it was one-sided.
Zero struck again—chest, ribs, neck—finding soft gaps and vulnerable spots.
But it wasn't enough; the Alpha, even wounded, was still a monster.
Its arm swiped wide, dragging air around with him and finally connecting.
*BOOM!*
Zero was flung across the room like a ragdoll, hitting the far wall.
He didn't move.
Blood pooled beneath him.
The Alpha limped forward, dragging its leg, one arm hanging, the other twitching.
It stood over Zero's broken body.
And grinned.
[ SYSTEM ALERT ]
[ VITAL SIGNS—UNSTABLE ]
[ SYNCHRONIZATION RATE: 61% ]
[MEMORY LOCK—LEVEL 1 UNLOCK AVAILABLE]
[ WOULD YOU LIKE TO UNLOCK? ]
The screen blinked.
[ Yes | No ]
Zero opened one eye.
"…Give it back."
[UNLOCKING MEMORY NODE: "THE FIRST FRIEND"]
A flash…
Screaming.
Fire.
Blood.
A friend's face, twisting.
A name.
A promise broken.
His eyes opened fully now, with rage behind them.
"I'm not dying here."
He pulled himself up.
Slowly Alpha's grin faded.