With a quick strike, I cut into the floor and kicked up a cloud of dust, creating a momentary barrier between me and the aliens. Without hesitation, I bolted toward the food court.
Behind me, I heard the metallic clatter of their armor moving—and, to top it off, they laughed.
Great. If they were laughing, it meant they were still underestimating me.
"Z, show me where the deep fryers are in the fast food joints!"
Instantly, a map popped up on my visor, highlighting the spots with boiling oil in red. The closest one was at the third restaurant to my left.
I sprinted nonstop. I dove behind the counter just moments before I heard their heavy steps closing in. They were still laughing, thinking I was just some idiot.
"BOO!"
The two of them yelped, jumping back.
Perfect.
With a quick move, I grabbed the fryer handles and hurled the boiling oil at them.
SSHHHAAAAA!!!
Shrill screams filled the air. The oil seeped through the cracks in their armor, burning the flesh underneath.
"AHHHHH, BRO, HELP ME!"
Before the other one could react, I vaulted over the counter, spun midair, and struck the chest of the one crying for help. The blade didn't pierce deep enough to seriously hurt him, but it damaged his armor.
As soon as my feet hit the ground, I bolted again.
"COME BACK HERE, YOU COWARD! LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO MY BROTHER!"
They chased after me, but slower now. The boiling oil was taking its toll.
Good. Another step in the plan.
"Z, show me where the drinks are. Anywhere."
Another map flashed onto my visor, but this time the target was farther away.
Damn.
They'd catch me before I got there.
I pushed harder.
My whole body burned with the effort.
The plant pots along the path gave me an idea. With a single swipe, I smashed them. Dirt scattered across the floor, mixing with the dust and making it harder for them to run. A small obstacle, but enough.
I slipped into a store before they could see me. Grabbed some rags and the most alcoholic drink I could find.
"Welding mode."
CRASH!
The store's cash register flew through the air and landed near me, sparking on impact. They had arrived.
Time was still on my side.
With quick hands, I threw together four makeshift molotovs. They weren't strong—wrong materials—but they'd be enough for now.
"Z, patch my voice through the right-side speakers!"
[Connection established.]
My voice echoed through the store.
"I'M RIGHT HERE, WEAKLINGS!"
Their heavy footsteps pounded toward the sound.
Like fish chasing bait.
The aliens finally reached the speaker—and realized they'd been tricked.
"Wrong direction."
They whipped around to search for me, but I was already set.
I lit the molotovs, smirking.
"Fell for the oldest trick in the book."
I threw them.
The bottles flew through the air and shattered against their armor. The lingering oil boosted the flames.
Fire roared up as their screams echoed through the mall.
Without hesitating, I shoved a shelf onto them.
It crashed down with a boom, scattering highly flammable condiments everywhere.
The flames turned into a giant bonfire.
Screams.
The first alien to crawl out from the wreckage was the one I hadn't finished off yet.
Bad luck for him.
I lunged and struck him hard in the back. This time, the blade sank deep.
He roared in pain, but I didn't stick around to see what happened next. I ran.
Final stage of the plan.
Halfway there, I heard them roar and turn to chase me again.
They were furious. Their armor shifted into a deep wine-red color and they moved faster.
Damn.
They were going to catch me.
But… they forgot about the dirt.
When they stepped into the dust and broken pot remains, they slipped.
I grinned. It wasn't just their bodies that looked like ants—their brains matched too.
Without wasting a second, I sprinted toward a nearby clothing store.
The grand finale was about to start.
"Z, hook me into the store's system!"
The transmission started glitching.
"Th—the trans—mission's b—eing jam—med… h—old on a b—it… the rang—ers are on th—their way…"
[Co—co—connection established.]
Alright.
Just a little longer.
I just needed to hold on a little longer.
I stood in the center of the store.
I waited.
They came.
Their furious footsteps echoed across the shattered floor.
"Look who we found," one of them said, his voice dripping with malice. "Tired of running? Out of ideas?"
The other one laughed.
"He's accepted death, brother."
They positioned themselves.
One in front of me.
One behind.
Coordinated attack.
Cowards.
"Sword mode."
My blade materialized in my hand.
I stared them down.
"My death? Maybe."
I spun the sword through the air, making it flash under the store's dim lights.
"But I'm taking one of you with me."
They burst out laughing.
It was the last thing they did before I said:
"Fire system… ACTIVATE."
The fire suppression system kicked in with a deafening hiss.
Water burst from every direction, soaking the store and drenching the aliens.
The moisture seeped into the damaged parts of their armor.
Sparks flew.
Short circuit.
Perfect moment to strike.
Or so I thought.
I charged.
The instant I launched my first attack, one of them dodged quickly.
The other took advantage of my open guard and struck me from behind.
I was hurled out of the store like a sack of potatoes.
[Injury acquired: fractured rib.]
Pain exploded in my chest.
I was wrong.
They walked out of the store laughing, their voices thick with mockery.
"You really thought that water would affect our armor?"
The other one howled with laughter.
"It did… for ONE second! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Damn it.
Breathing hurt, but I couldn't stop.
I charged again.
Vertical strike.
He dodged.
Counterattack.
I slipped away.
Fatigue started creeping in.
I charged once more.
Faked a blow to the left, then attacked from the right.
A simple feint.
He fell for it.
My kick caught his foot, knocking him off balance.
Opportunity.
I attacked.
Too weak.
The blade only scratched his armor.
Shit.
Counterattack.
I tried to block with the sword.
Bad idea.
[Injury acquired: forearm muscle tear.]
Pain radiated through my arm.
The other alien circled me.
I dodged at the last second.
His blade barely grazed me, but my armor absorbed the hit, redistributing the force.
He slipped.
Fell beside me.
Perfect.
Please, Aloinem, let this work.
"Blood Vertical Slash."
My blade shone bright red.
I struck with everything I had.
The blade carved a crimson arc through the air with a deadly hum.
I backed off.
Watched.
One of his forearms hit the ground.
His scream was ear-shattering.
Rage. Pain. Hatred.
He spun without warning and lunged at me.
I tried to dodge.
I slipped.
Shit.
The attack hit my visor dead-on, ripping it off brutally.
The straps snapped open.
My face was exposed.
I stumbled back, gasping.
"How do you know that technique?"
His voice had a curious tone. Analytical.
Like, suddenly, I wasn't a threat anymore.
And he wasn't wrong.
"I saw your skill with the sword and thought I was imagining things. But that attack..."
His helmet seemed to gleam.
"That attack is unmistakable."
Silence.
"Not gonna talk, huh?"
His voice shifted back—cruel, sadistic.
"Doesn't matter. I'll rip it straight from your brain."
He raised his sword.
A beam of light shot toward me.
By some miracle, I dodged in time.
Before I even realized, he was already on me.
Two horizontal slashes.
I dodged.
A vertical strike.
I ducked at the last second.
I stumbled back toward the broken visor on the ground.
It was still emitting sound.
[Epinephrine released.]
My heart raced.
The pain dulled, almost nonexistent now.
My breathing lightened.
My vision sharpened.
And something deep inside me screamed:
Advance.
So I did.
The alien attacked.
This time, I didn't retreat.
Counterattack.
Aloinem's voice echoed in my mind.
My blade found his abdomen.
The other reacted instantly.
Vertical strike.
I dodged.
He tried to shove me.
I stood firm.
Horizontal slash.
I leaned back.
Grab attempt.
I slipped away at the last second.
No time to breathe.
I spun on my axis and punched the stump of the mutilated alien.
He howled in agony.
My eyes were wide open.
They attacked again without hesitation.
This time, no arrogance.
No mockery.
Just the primal need to kill me.
Coordinated attacks.
Zig-zag strikes.
Alternating, overlapping, simultaneous blows.
A relentless barrage of blades and fists.
One mistake and I'd be dead.
I dodged every attack.
But slipped on the last one.
The impact was crushing.
The final blow hit me dead-on.
I was launched into one of the stores, crashing through windows and shelves.
Dust and debris swallowed me.
One of the visor's loose straps coiled around my ear, forming a makeshift headset.
[Injuries acquired: thigh contusion, torn tricep, shoulder muscle tear.]
Pain.
It was there, but...
It didn't matter anymore.
I started laughing.
Low, at first.
But as I rose from the wreckage, my laughter grew louder.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The aliens looked at each other.
"What the hell is he laughing at?"
"He's gone insane, brother."
I lifted my head.
My eyes gleamed.
A smile spread across my face—wide, feral, sadistic.
They froze.
I had finally noticed it.
"NO."
My fingers tightened around the sword.
"I FOUND IT."
I stepped forward.
"I FIGURED IT OUT."
The blade gleamed.
"I FOUND THE PATTERN."
And for the first time...
They were afraid.