《New Reality [HIATUS]》Chapter 43: The Counterattack
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Author's Note: Robots. Robots. Robots.
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After a long trek, Null and the others make it back to Gnosia. Null sends the assassins to scout out Gnosia to see if there is anything out of the ordinary. After a long while of waiting, all the assassins return.
One of the assassins speaks. “Null, according to what I found, Winford installed a curfew. They have to be indoors by 7 pm.”
“Anything else?” Null asks.
Another assassin then says, “They built an execution stage in the center of the city. That's where Emmanuel, the top officers, and the ministers they managed to capture will be executed at 12:00.”
“Good. They haven't executed them yet.” Null says in relief.
“I have another re-”
“Yeah, no. We are not going through that shit again. Just say what you need to say!” Null says irritated.
The assassin nods. “Claris, some of the ministers, and other personnel are still inside Gnosia's defense system. Winford was not able to reach them, but he and his underlings had damaged the defense system, so they won't be able to help us as things stand now. I have also found the Gnosia army hidden in separate areas outside the city..”
“Now was that so hard?”
“Yes.”
Null ignores that remark and thinks, 'That might be a problem. I'll need to repair that defense system. That would significantly increase our changes of success. I can't do it now or I'll be swarmed by the rebels and rebels. Those Gnosia soldiers will make a good distraction.'
“Any news where they're being held?” Null asks.
All the assassins shake their heads.
'It would be stupid to just rush in blindly not knowing where anything is. I'll wait until tomorrow. Hope the soldiers can make a good enough destraction.'
They camp out for the night waiting for the next day. Tensions are high for the denizens of Gnosia, but for Null himself, who had constructed his own tent away from everyone else, he is just relaxing with an apathetic look. While they are concerned with tomorrow's battle, Null is just happy to finally get away from them.
Tomorrow soon arrives. Null and his group go back to Gnosia, careful not to alert any of the robot watch drones or rebels at outposts. They soon enter the city limits undetected. They notice the people's mood. There are bags under most people's red eyes. Everyone has their head down. This dreary atmosphere had only increased when they moved closer to the execution platform.
Null and the others decide to wait here and not cause attention to themselves. As time passes, the amount of people nearing the execution platform increases.
Soon, when 10:00 passes, rustling of chains is heard. The crowd looks at what the cause of this noise is. It is there that they see Emmanuel, the ministers, and all the high ranking personnel who decided not to follow Winford. They are all in worn, ragged white clothes, and are connected by one, unbroken thick chain.
Null's mana sense can't even detect the chain, as most of the mana he sends out is absorbed by the depleted mana stones that are distributed throughout the chain. There are various bruises and marks on the few patches of skin that people see. Seeing this, people frown.
The chained people are forcibly dragged to the execution platform. The crowd makes way, as to not wanting to be thought of as trying to break them out. Null contemplates whether or not he should save them now, but soon gives up on that idea.
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Winford is walking alongside the imprisoned along with a huge assortment of robots. Humanoid giant robots, flying robots, Null can even sense the mana of robots underground. The execution platform is also surrounded by the rebels. Null feels he would surely lose if he goes out now, he would be swarmed and would suffer the same fate as Emmanuel.
“Null?” Aldan asks.
“We wait.” Null says.
Emmanuel and the others are then chained to posts. Winford takes a seat on what looks like a throne. This blatant symbolism was not lost on the people below, causing them to frown even more. They are a democracy, and had done away with the system of kings and queens for thousands of years. They do not want to return to those times.
Time slowly passes. Soon, 11:00 arrives. Winford gets out of the throne-like chair walks towards the center front of the execution platform. His every step is measured and precise, as if he is trying to show the world his greatness. When he makes it towards the front, he looks down upon the audience with his hands behind his back.
Winford has his armor already on, as if he is preparing for a battle. Robots surround the platform, as if daring anyone to come by and rescue the prisoners.
“Greetings to all who came here today.” Winford says to everyone.
People look up and frown at Winford, but they know they can't do anything to him right now. Winford sees their foul moods, but he doesn't mind.
“I'm sure most of you will want an explanation for my actions. Why would I, one of Gnosia's most valuable assets, do what he did? I'm sure most of you are all wondering this right?”
There's silence, but they all curious as to why Winford did what he did. Winford had everything: Respect, prestige, money, and honor. He already had a lot of political power at his disposal. What was the point of all of this?
“Well, believe it or not, I'm doing all of this for you.” Winford says to everyone.
This causes everyone to curse in their heads. Doing this for us? How arrogant! How many lives were lost? How many homes were destroyed?
“Do you know why we are forced to flee from the rest of the world? Do you know why mages here aren't able to control the elements naturally and have to rely on a sub par transmutation circle?”
Of course they all know. They were cursed by the gods, but they don't even know why. The people look at Winford.
“The founder of Gnosia, the first librarian who you all look up to, must have made the gods curse us! What else reason are we not able to connect to the elements!? We all have no choice but to use these sub par methods of using transmutation circles! We might not know what happened during those missing years in our history, but it couldn't have been any good if the gods themselves have cursed us even to this day!”
The people are silent and think. The founder? What does he have to do with the gods? Winford is probably just grasping at straws.
Null just shakes his head listening to all this. 'Just another egomaniac justifying his atrocities with excuses. Even with differing cultures and differing values, humanity all reaches the same conclusions. The tyrants will rise to the top while the peaceful will either submit or be destroyed. Just another disgusting quality of us humans.'
“Cut the crap Winford!” Emmanuel yells out.
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With that shout, a huge number of people come out from hiding. They are the Gnosia Army.
“The army has finally arrived!”
“Good! They haven't given up!”
The people shout out with smiles. This is what they need right now: Hope.
“We don't know what happened during the missing history, but we know what happened before!” Archum yells angrily. “If you were a noble or rich, you lived great, but if you weren't, your life was a living hell! All knowledge was in the grip of those nobles! Our founder sacrificed himself to bring knowledge to the common people! We won't forgive anyone who tarnishes him!”
Winford squints. “So you finally come out. I knew you couldn't resist trying to rescue your precious librarian.”
Null then speaks to his group. “Everyone, get ready.”
Aldan nods and readies himself, saying, “What do we do?”
“While the army fights, Aldan, you go and rescue Emmanuel and others. Ferron, you block any robots coming his way. All the warriors, fight any of the rebels that come your way. While charging, pass as many of the new weapons as you can to the Gnosia army.”
“Okay. What will you be doing?” Aldan asks.
“When you free Emmanuel, I'll lend him the armor you made me. With that armor, that librarian should easily be able to handle Winford.”
“Okay? But what will you be doing?” Ferron asks.
“The defense system.”
“The defense system? What about the defense system?” Ferron asks astonished at Null's shamelessness.
“Winford damaged the defense system, so the people trapped inside can't do anything right now. While you are out risking your lives fighting, I'll go and repair that defense system to the best of my ability.”
Null knows this is a terrible thing to do, but he thinks that he has no choice. The truth is, Null has performance anxiety. It was formed from one of the various traumas that still haunt him to this day. If he is trying to do something to impress somebody else, or if there are a huge number of people focusing on him, he is doomed to failure in whatever it is he is trying to do. That's why he did so poorly at school before his change: Trying to focus on impressing Keimi and his parents.
Null might have changed, but that particular trait didn't go away. Due to the scheduled execution, more than 50000 people are currently watching events unfold. It would be a catastrophe if he were to go and fight someone like Winford under these conditions.
“So you want us to fight while you're repairing!?” Aldan asks in astonishment.
“It can't be helped. I'm the only one here with Weapon/Armor Repair.”
Ferron then says, “But Null, I also have-”
“We have to move! There's no time!” Null yells out while running away.
The others all look at Null's back as he's running away.
“...What a jerk!” Ferron says out loud.
The others all nod in agreement.
While this scene is playing out, the Gnosia army readies itself for battle. The mages step to the front and prepare their spells. There are snipers hidden on rooftops and in buildings. The audience starts to panic and run away from the battleground that's about to be laid down.
Winford was already prepared from the get go. He pointed at the army, and the robots, following Winford's command, run towards the army. He had after all designed this trap to draw the army out. He wants to get rid of any loose ends.
The mages fire their different elemental attacks. The archers try aiming for the robots sensors, but even the eyes where the armor is weakest can't even scratch the robots. The robots are just too powerful. Even when all the mages focus on one or two targets, it still takes too long to beat them.
The army starts to slowly retreat. The attacks that the Gnosia army perform seem very random. The first time Winford saw them fight, their attacks were very organized. Now, it looks like they are just randomly attacking. Winford knows that the general, Archum specializes in strategy. He just wants to know what Archum is planning.
Something akin to a ray of light shines down. That ray produces a sonic boom from its sheer speed. A powerful attack from Gnosia's most powerful archer was just launched. He had spent a lot of time charging his attack. The power he unleashed is even more powerful than the most powerful rifle in the real world. The attack is aimed at Winford.
Despite the powerful attack, all it did was push Winford back a little. While he was being pushed back, two warriors of considerable power rush towards Winford. They ignored all the robots surrounding them and solely aimed for Winford, timing perfectly from when Winford was hit to catch him off guard.
“Tch.” Winford remarks in disdain.
These people weren't even worth his time.
'Attack while the enemy is trying to orient themselves? Oldest trick in the book.' Winford thinks looking down on them.
Two tentacles go out to meet the warriors. While Winford was disoriented, his tentacles could still attack. The tentacles go forward to attack the two incoming warriors.
An explosion was soon heard. A bomb had exploded on Winford's back. Winford was not worried in the least. He knows the likes of them cannot even hope to scratch his armor. However, Winford realized he found it difficult to move. A green goo-like substance had was spread on his back, and started spreading to other parts of his armor.
'Damn. So this was their plan.' Winford thinks annoyed.
The goo-like substance currently covering Winford is made from very expensive chemicals that cannot be found in a short amount of time. The gooey substance is also difficult to make, such that someone has to have an Intermediate level in alchemy just to even hope to produce it.
Winford realizes that this was their all or nothing plan. If he had known that it was this goo bomb, he would have never let it get close to him, but they aimed at his back while he was distracted.
'There not trying to beat me. They're trying to save them. You'll all realize though that this was all for naught.'
Winford's armor changes until multiple vents were seen. They shoot out a strange colored fire, aiming to destroy the goo. However, progress was slow. It looks like it will take time for Winford to get rid of the goo.
“While Winford is occupied, charge forward and save the prisoners!” Archum yells out.
The warriors all charge towards the execution platform. However, they are all having a difficult time due to the robots surrounding the platform. Some extremely fast dragonfly like robots zip through attacking anyone who comes close, and they are so fast that it's extremely difficult to even touch them. There are also some extremely bulky giant robots that warriors find it difficult to break through.
They had a plan for Winford. They just don't know how they are going to rescue the prisoners before Winford gets out of the goo with all these robots in the way.
“Um, excuse me.”
While they are busy blindly charging forward, the army hears someone calling out to them. When they turn, they see Aldan, Ferron, and others running towards them.
“Hey, isn't that the crackpot?” A warrior asks.
“Crackpot, what are you doing here!? This battlefield is no place for you! Get back!” A mage yells at Aldan.
Aldan was worried that they wouldn't listen to him, but he knows now is not the time to be backing down.
“Everyone, take these weapons! You can fight the robots easier with these!” Aldan says trying to pass out the weapons.
The weapons look strange to the warriors. There are multiple glowing lines throughout the weapons. What are these supposed to be? Decorations?
“This is no time to be testing out your fashion accessories! We're in the middle of a battle!” Someone yells out.
"I don't care to try one of your failures, crackpot!" Another person yells.
The Gnosia army soon ignores Aldan and continues their seemingly hopeless rescue. Aldan looks down, slouching over in a somber mood, looking down with tears in his eyes. He's about to turn around and go when a hand is put on his shoulder. When Aldan sees who it is, he's surprised. Ferron actually supports him.
Ferron smiles and nods, then looks to the army fighting.
“You idiots!” Ferron yells to the army.
Some of the army that's on standby turn around.
“Idiots?”
“We're here risking our lives and you call us idiots!?”
Ferron shakes his head.
“Do you idiots even know why Aldan was called a crackpot in the first place?”
There is silence, but then their eyes open wide with realization.
“That's right! It's all due to Winford! He told us all that mana electricity was impossible. He said that mana electric based technology was impossible. He told us that Aldan is a crackpot because mana electricity is just a fable and you would be wasting your time if you research it. Now we know that he didn't want someone else to rediscover his tech!
Believe it or not, this guy managed to rediscover Winford's tech."
The army looks at Ferron skeptically.
"You don't have to believe us. Actions speak louder than words!”
Aldan was deeply inspired by Ferron's words. That's right. They did rediscover the mana tech. So what if no one believes them? They'll just prove it themselves.
The people that were in Null's group charge in, completely ignoring the army fighting. They seem to forgo all common sense and head towards the center of the robots.
“Are they insane?”
“They must be suicidal. Well, we refuse to rescue idiots.”
The army mocks.
Just then, one of the extremely speedy dragonfly robots rushes towards Aldan. Aldan activates his giant wrench. The wire lines on the wrench start glowing blue.
Winford eyes grow wide while seeing this.
'Im-Impossible! No, maybe it's just some glowing lines for intimidation. I refuse to believe a bumbling idiot like Aldan managed to recreate the technology I discovered.'
That speedy robot starts behaving strangely. It starts flying erratically and dramatically slows down while flying towards Aldan. It starts to shake and shiver as if it's being jammed. Seeing this moment of weakness, Aldan swings down his wrench on the robot's head. He hits the same spot three times before it finally falls and disappears.
Three hits. Three hits and the robot falls. The army's eyes open wide like dinner plates. Their mouths move, but no words come out. Even their most speedy warriors had great difficulty fighting that dragonfly robot, only barely managing to take it down after hundreds of hits, and yet Aldan, who isn't even a warrior, managed to strike it down in three moves?
More dragonfly type robots go in towards Aldan realizing how great a threat he is. However, the results were all the same. Three to five moves, and the dragonfly robots die. This is because Aldan built a giant mana magnet inside his wrench. This disorients any robot that comes close to him making them stand still as easy targets. The mana electricity flowing through the wrench then overloads them, destroying their bodies..
Seeing as how the dragonfly robots were ineffective against Aldan, a giant bearlike robot goes towards him. Aldan hits the robot with his giant wrench the same way as the dragonfly robots. However, this method proved to be less effective on these types of robots.
While Aldan's wrench was able to disorient the robot, the robot still attacked crazily. Aldan's wrench had jammed it's sensor's, inhibiting its judgement to judge friend from foe. It attacked everything in sight, even the other robots.
Aldan realizes he wasn't going to be able to beat this robot model. He looks at Ferron and nods. Ferron nods back and takes out his weapon. A giant hammer appears in his arm. He turns the weapon on and the same glowing blue lines appear on the weapon. However, this weapon was different from Aldans.
Ferron's weapon had bluish green electricity coming out from one of the hammer's faces. The head of the hammer was massive, taking up half the size of Ferron himself. With the weapon in hand, Ferron looks at the robot bear that was attacking everything in sight and grins. He jumps in the air and smashes down with all the force he could muster. If the robot was acting normally, it could have blocked this with heavy damage, but right now it was disoriented due to Aldan.
The robot's head smashes inward due to the force from Aldan's hammer. The mana electricity spreads throughout the robot's body, making it short circuit. The robot is still alive, but is shaking due to short circuits happening all around its body. Ferron jumps up and attacks the same way two more times before the robot finally went still. The red glowing eyes start to fade. It then fell to the ground and eventually disappeared as grey smoke.
This made everyone watching look even more surprised. Not only Aldan and Ferron, the other warriors who had Aldan's weapons were also taking out robots far, far faster than hundreds of the Gnosia army put together.
“What's going on?”
“Is this the crackpot?”
“Well, I guess he's not a crackpot anymore isn't he?”
“No, that's not quite right.” Archum says getting into the conversation. “He was never a crackpot. We were all just fools who fell for Winford's schemes and didn't see his genius." He walks up to Aldan and bows. "Aldan, I would be honored if you would gift us with your weapons.”
Everyone there agrees with Archum's statement. They then all run towards Aldan excited.
“Excuse me Aldan. I would like to apologize for all those times I've called you a crackpot.”
“Will you forgive us? We were all fooled by Winford.”
“Haha! Not bad! Not bad at all!” This archer says while patting Aldan on the back. “You should have these in arrow form shouldn't you? Shouldn't be hard for a brilliant guy like you!”
“Aldan, Aldan. I regret not looking up to you sooner. What a rare genius! Do you have any of those weapons of your in spear form?”
Aldan was swamped with complements, apologies, and respect. Aldan had never once been in this type of situation before. He had tears flowing down his face. All of his hard work had finally paid off.
“*sniff* Sure! I've got lots of weapons! *sniff* Take what you need! *sniff*”
People smile patting Aldan on the back. Null, who was far away fixing the various weapons surrounding the area one by one, saw everyone crowding around Winford. Even he couldn't help but slightly smile from that.
Winford's face however was ugly. He couldn't believe someone else discovered mana electricity. He had mostly gotten lucky when he discovered it, and yet someone like Aldan was able to make weapons out of that in just two weeks?
Gnosia's army charged forward and made quick work of the robots with Aldan's technology aiding them. They quickly made it to the prisoners. Emmanuel was pretty shocked that they actually made it to him. He had expected them to fail, or make it to him in far less numbers.
“Everyone. Hang tight. We'll get you out of here.”
The swordsman warriors cut through the chains keeping them at bay.
When the locks and chains fall off, Emmanuel and the others nearly fell to the floor, but others caught them. Their bodies were just too fatigued at the moment. Just then, footsteps were heard coming. When everyone looked they saw that it was Null.
“Nice work everyone.” Null says to the people in his group.
“...” They all looked at Null with a fed up expression.
“Where were you!?” Aldan says angrily.
“I told you. Fixing the defense system.”
“But-But-But we were fighting the robots!”
“You're still alive aren't you? So I don't see why you're complaining.” Null says walking away without care.
Null then faces Emmanuel. Since Null wasn't present when he had fought Winford, and he hadn't grown up hearing of the stories of Emmanuel, Null was less than impressed with Emmanuel, who right now looks like he's on death's door.
“So you're the Null I've heard so much about.” Emmanuel says while being held up with his arm over a warrior's shoulder .
“Yep.”
Emmanuel looks at him, then looks at the weapons in everybody's hands.
“Are you the one that had a hand in building these weapons?”
Null shakes his head. “No.”
“No?”
“It was all that guy over there.” Null says pointing at Aldan. “I was just there.”
“Hmmm...” Emmanuel says.
“What?” Aldan says surprised. 'It was because of Null that this technology was even made. Even now his dislike of people made him not take credit for his contribution?' Aldan wonders.
Null then says, “Wear this armor. Before, I heard you lost just because you were swarmed by Winford's robots. Wearing this, they shouldn't pose any problems to you. With a cleric here and enough mana potions, you should be good as new.”
Emmanuel shakes his head. “I won't be any help to you all in my current condition.”
“...Urk!” Null says in disbelief.
“...What?” Says Archum. All the hope that he had was now dashed and grounded up into little tiny pieces, then flushed down the toilet. Those tiny pieces would then wreck havoc upon the sewage system.
“We're doomed.” States Ferron matter of factly.
“What happened? Maybe I can help? Please let it be something I can help with!” Null says frantic.
"Winford had ground the depleted mana stones along with other mana inhibiting chemicals into a drug and forced me to drink it. "
“Oh? Is that all? This isn't actually that big a problem! If we hurry, I can probably make-”
An explosion is heard. Mechanical sounds whir on in the silence that had befallen everyone. Dread now fear the air, as Winford frees himself from the gunk he was stuck in, and he looks pissed. The prisoners they have with them have not yet escaped.
“Noooo!” Null yells out while holding his face in a panic.
Others are probably thinking that Null is panicking because of how the situation has gone down the gutter, but that's not why Null is panicking. Null feels all the eyes of over 50000 people looking at him. Each person that notices his existence represents another threat to his well being.
The more people that take note of him, the more potential enemies that threaten the solitude he seeks. Null has to concentrate to stop himself from shaking.
'It wasn't supposed to be like this!' Null thinks frustrated. 'They were supposed to fight the robots while I was in the background unnoticed fixing the defense system! Then, with Emmanuel freed, I would give him my armor he would be injured a little, but a cleric and mana potions would be a quick heal to that! Then, after I finished repairing the defense system, I would kill a few robots here and there, but ultimately remain unnoticed! Well fine! Luckily I'm so pessimistic! I have my backup plans!'
Null then says, “I'll take, um...”
Null snaps his fingers trying to remember Emmanuel's name.
“...Emmanuel.” Emmanuel says looking at Null like he's an idiot.
“Yes. I'll take Emmanuel and, um..." He doesn't even bother trying to remember the other people's names. "Um, the others to safety.” Null says preparing to take them away.
Archum shakes his head and says, “We appreciate the sentiment Null, but this is Gnosia's responsibility. Your power is needed elsewhere. You are strong, and you have that armor to help you. You're the best chance we've got to turn the tides!”
Null shakes his head. “I need to repair that defense system so that we can have a chance.”
“Already took care of it Null! I discussed with other blacksmiths and they are already on their way to repair it!” Ferron says smiling.
“Well, I need to find where those robots are being mass produced so that I can destroy them!” Null says getting irritated at Ferron.
“We are three steps ahead of you Null! Me and Aldan were just about to go look for that hidden robot factory. No need to worry about us, you're needed out here. Do us proud Null!” Ferron says to Null with an insidious smile while running away.
Null starts to shake. He has been checkmated on all fronts.
'My backup plans didn't work!' Null thinks in despair. 'It's not like I can run away. That would make people hate me more. *sigh*'
“You all block Winford and his robots while I get everyone incapacitated out of here.” Archum says to everyone.
Winford looks at everyone with an ugly face. “You think I'll just let you leave?”
He says this while walking towards the Gnosia army.
“You talk a big game Winford, but we have your weakness in our hands! Charge!” A warrior says.
A group of warriors all charge towards Winford with their newly acquired weapons.
“Idiots.” Winford says shaking his head.
The tentacles surrounding him start to glow bluish green and start humming.
“Take this!” A warrior says with a dark smile swinging his sword at Winford.
Winford effortlessly blocks the sword with one of his tentacles. Electricity from his tentacle then buzzes and overloads the sword that the warrior has on him, causing it to shut down. The glowing blue lines on the sword fade to black. Winford then stabs that warrior with one of his tentacles for his troubles. When other warriors rushed towards Winford, the same result happened. The weapons were overloaded and shut down.
“What's happening?” A mage says from far away. “These weapons worked so well on the robots before. Why isn't it working now?”
Winford looks at them with disdain and says, “I've been working on this technology for over ten years. You think a mere two weeks would be enough to stop the gap between us? You all got so overconfident for beating the weakest of my robots.
The same weaknesses that my robots have are the same for your weapons. How could you be so blind as to not see it? I don't have time to play with you idiots.” He looks at Emmanuel and the others fleeing. "I have bigger fish to fry."
Winford snaps his fingers and giant robots come from out of some of the buildings. They're the Robot: Humanoid Models XR2796 that Null had fought twice already.
“Upgrade.” Winford says.
The robots all start to glow and grow bigger. Extra attachments are seen like thicker armor and more powerful ranged weaponry.
Winford then focuses solely on the fleeing prisoners, and changes his armor as to pursue them.
“Stop Winford!” Someone yells out.
However, try as they must, Winford proved to be too much for them. Null even attempts to stop him, but he got so nervous that he tripped and slammed himself against a building without even making it close to Winford. This causes a deadpan reaction from everyone there.
"Wasn't this the guy who did so well against the robots before? With his new armor, he should be doing pretty well. What's he doing?" A warrior comments.
"Is this guy playing around? Is this a joke?"
"This is no time for jokes Null!"
Winford easily bypasses the Gnosia Army and heads towards the prisoners scheduled for execution. Just when it looked like Winford was about to catch up with the others, a bang sound is heard.
An artillery shell slams into Winford, careening him through a building. The people start to once again smile and celebrate.
“Hey, is that?”
“The defense system is back online!”
**********
“Ma'am. We've made a direct hit on Winford. The distance between him and the other prisoners is growing.”
“Good.” Claris nods. “Null was smart to fix the system before going to fight Winford. I couldn't imagine Gnosia falling before our eyes and not being able to do anything. Looks like I owe Null again.”
Everybody else agrees.
“Let's give Winford hell.” Claris says with an evil smile.
“Yes ma'am!”
************
The number of these giant robots were far less in number than the other robots, but the Gnosia army found the robots even more difficult to fight.
One of the robots raises an arm in the air as if he's about to release a punch.
“Everyone move!”
“It's attacking!”
Everyone flees from the area that robot is targeting. The robot punches down. A deafening sound is heard. People close to the impact zone have to cover their ears because of the loud shock wave being generated. Debris rises in the air. A massive crater is formed from where that robot punched. The surrounding windows shattered.
"That upgrade is not for show." A warrior says with wide eyes looking up at the robot.
"We have to hurry! Let's all concentrate on attacking one robot together."
"Okay!"
The warriors all rush towards one robot while the mages all attack where there are no warriors. They are doing far better than they would have if they didn't have Aldan's weapons, but otherwise they're doing poorly.
After a lot of time, one of those giant robots finally falls.
"Okay good! To the next one!"
“Whew! It took so much just to take out one.”
“We are not going to make it if we have to take each of those out individually.”
On one of the robot's chests, a hole starts to open up. The hole then transforms into a massive cannon. Massive amounts of energy is being gathered into the hole. He has it aimed at everyone below.
“Shit! That thing's trying to kill everyone here!” One warriors says pointing at that robot in shock.
“I remember that attack even before that transformation. If he fires that, not only us, but even the civilians will die!”
"There's no way we can defeat it in time before it unleashes its attack!
They all look in despair as that robot is about to fire his weapons. They didn't notice a blur that went towards the robot. It happened so fast, that no one noticed.
Another deafening sound was heard akin to the sound that robot made when it punched down. Green electricity pours from the center of that robots's chest. The massive power that was unleashed from the blow causes the robot's chest to cave in. It starts shaking from being overloaded. Briefly later, the robot then suddenly goes still.
The robot starts falling as if it were a giant tree that was just cut down. The people look on in awe. Even Winford has his jaw drop from what he saw. Not even he could take out of of the giant humanoid upgraded models in one blow.
When they see who had felled the robot, they are even more surprised. It's that clumsy idiot who had tripped and slammed into the wall!
“How? How is that even possible?”
“All that work we did just to take out one of those things, and he easily took it out in one blow!?”
“Who is that person?”
“That's Null!”
Null looks on in horror at what he's done.
'Craaaaap! I used too much power! I didn't mean to! I only wanted to stop that robot's attack, but I was too nervous! Stupid armor that's hard to control! Stupid robot breaking so easily! Stupid nerves! Now everybody is looking at me! Why me!?' Null sighs.
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Author's Note: And that's another chapter completed. This is hard.
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Dreamshards
As the 21st century creeps past its midpoint, Earth’s galactic neighbors make their presence known and send us a mysterious game. Those in power ponder how first contact will change the political landscape, game companies plan and plot how best to take advantage of their new competitor, but for one jaded game designer and tester, this may be the opportunity of a lifetime. This is my first publicly posted fiction, reviews and suggestions are welcome. New chapters come as I finish them, about once every 3 weeks at the moment. Contents: sci-fi, fantasy, full-dive VRMMO, progression, light elements of litrpg and cultivation
8 227Kate Emerson: Reborn-A LitRPG Apocalypse Adventure
Kate Emerson paralyzed veteran and former war fighter is recruited to take on a new mission, to protect the mining interests of Vision Dynamics. As a mega- international corporation they have the Nano-technology to help her walk again, and once more find her role as the soldier she always wanted to be. Her Nano-effective inlays and War Frame will make her, bigger, stronger and faster than she ever dreamed of being, and being reunited with her oldest friend, Rooker, seems like a Dream come true.But The City of Ur isn't even on the world she expected, the enemy isn't clearly defined, and for some reason there is a voice in her head that's doing its best to help her level up if she is going to survive this strange new world.
8 155Crossroads
Elena Cochran begged her father to take a safer job after nearly being shot to death. They end up moving to a small town in Georgia on a secret that she doesn't know about. For her protection, he hires the president of a motorcycle club - Michael Gilbert to be her bodyguard. Elena only knows of him being her annoying, hot tempered neighbor, but everything about him intrigues her and ignites a passion within her that she has never known. He believes he is damned to Hell. He is supposed to protect her when the only other person she needs protection from is him. He is not a good guy and she is too good for him. She is a job, but when he first sees her, he knows he wants nothing more than to protect her, to love her. She slowly breaks down his walls and he has to decide on whether or not to let his heart take the lead or to use her feelings against her to keep her safe. Will Elena ever be able to forgive him or her father when she finds out the truth?
8 87War of Auras
In a medieval world full of kingdoms and conflicts, everyone is born with so-called auras, powers derived from the monsters that once inhabited the land. In this world, a boy named Akin was born with a minimal and weak amount of aura, making him much weaker than everyone else. Even with these delimitations, Akin is determined to become the strongest person. He will meet many people with different goals, stories, and powers in his adventure. He will also have to face villains along the way. How will Akin make it? He's definitely going to need a lot of help.
8 69The Goose, the golden egg and the end of the world
After excreting golden eggs for a number of months, Robert is visited by a talking goose who informs him that he's been selected to go on a pilgrimage to awaken the earth's Guardians and stop the machinations of the Raven. A novel about the nature, manifestations and dangers of belief set against the backdrop of environmental apocalypse and global political turmoil.
8 207Infinite Trigger: Wandering Soul
The boy received an invitation to a different world, a world where his wishes can be granted. "Everything is a game, a game of reality. Everything has consequences, chance of encounter is always a possibility, and freedom of choice is ever-present. Whisper me your deepest desire as nothing is impossible in this world." Chosen as an apostle in a world rampant with wars between immortals and empyreans, he who deemed himself as an observer strived for answers and his belief.
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