Chapter 33:A Cornered Beast Strikes Back
"Heh, you're really something. I don't even want to kill you directly… but tell me, have you ever heard of sonic localization?"
At first glance, Sixshot seemed to be at a disadvantage ... exposed and vulnerable, while Starscream lurked in the shadows. But that didn't mean Sixshot would remain that way for long. On the contrary, he was using every environmental advantage to locate his hidden enemy.
"Sonic… localization? Wait ... are you actually thinking of…?"
Sonic localization sounded like an advanced technique. Usually, only Transformers proficient in ultrasonic mechanics could use it. The principle was to calculate the time difference between sound and light propagation, then use high-speed computations to estimate the target's approximate direction. Could Sixshot truly use such a method?
When Starscream realized what was happening, he instinctively became defensive. In his giant wolf form, Sixshot suddenly spread the wings on his back and soared upward, toward the upper layers of the space. Then, using a crude mechanical targeting system ... seemingly inspired by Starscream's earlier attack ... he fired two rockets toward his chosen coordinates.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Another barrage of explosions erupted, sending sand and debris flying everywhere. A massive crater appeared where Sixshot had fired. It turned out he was using high-yield explosives. Did he not fear collapsing the entire area? Or had he already accepted that he might have to destroy it completely?
These elite Decepticons clearly thought differently from ordinary warriors. Compared to that seemingly deranged dinosaur, Salas, this normally calm Sixshot possessed far greater destructive power ... something Starscream hadn't anticipated.
But the explosion didn't so much as scratch him.
Sixshot was a genius among geniuses ... but even he had forgotten one crucial environmental factor: the electromagnetic field here was wildly unstable. In other words, theoretically, any place Starscream had recently been could show up as a false reading for sonic detection.
Moreover, Starscream was extremely cautious; he moved positions constantly after every brief exchange. He knew this territory inside out. But if Sixshot really intended to destroy the entire zone, then anything could happen.
The madness of this guy exceeded even Starscream's imagination. And Sixshot fully understood the stakes: even if the explosions revealed his hidden opponent, the resulting spatial and electromagnetic collapse could be fatal ... even for him.
It was a reckless, all-or-nothing gamble.
"Sixshot, I know what you're planning ... but think carefully! If this space collapses, we'll both be buried alive here. Even in your beast form, you're still an intelligent Decepticon ... you understand what I'm saying, don't you?"
For once, Starscream sounded genuinely panicked. He couldn't believe that in such a desperate situation, this lunatic would resort to such extremes. Were all of the top ten Decepticons this insane?
"Hahaha! So you figured it out! Honestly, I didn't want to use this method, but letting you live would pose a serious threat to the Decepticons' future! Even other supersoldiers would choose this path if they were in my place!"
Apparently, this wasn't Sixshot's first time pulling such suicidal tactics ... and worse, he seemed to think it was heroic.
"You're insane! I don't have time to play with you!"
Having made up his mind, Starscream dropped all pretense of stealth. He transformed into his jet form, unleashed a salvo of missiles directly at the frenzied Sixshot, and bolted toward the exit at full speed.
In that final moment, Sixshot seemed to catch a glimpse of Starscream's thrusters ... or maybe he only thought he did ... but at least he now knew his opponent was no longer disguising himself as Ultra Magnus.
As Sixshot tried to confirm what he saw, Starscream's missiles detonated all around him, triggering a chain reaction that accelerated the collapse of the unstable zone. It almost seemed like Starscream had gone mad ... was he trying to take control of the chaos?
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
"From this angle… it really does look like Starscream's tail! But do you think this illusion can fool me? A coward like Starscream would never pull something this bold!"
Sixshot had his suspicions ... but dismissed them. Meanwhile, the magnetic field in the zone was rapidly destabilizing. Metal fragments drifted everywhere; bright blue sparks flashed through the air. If they didn't evacuate soon, a massive electromagnetic eruption could occur at any moment.
Even a Decepticon as powerful as Sixshot couldn't guarantee survival from such a blast. Yet, the fleeing figure ahead had left faint traces ... a tiny spark of hope for pursuit.
But what Sixshot did next was completely deranged. Realizing he couldn't catch up, he transformed into his blaster mode and began firing laser after laser toward the distant glowing exit, as if declaring:
"If I can't get out… then neither can you!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
"Sixshot, you're completely insane! You've definitely earned your spot in the top three of the Decepticons' Ten Madmen!"
That was Starscream's curse ... half rage, half awe. Though he'd reached the exit, the light ahead was rapidly fading under Sixshot's relentless bombardment, forcing him to endure the full brunt of the surrounding electromagnetic explosions.
Fortunately, he was close enough to the exit that his situation wasn't as dire as Sixshot's, who was trapped near the center. But as a massive slab of metal came crashing down, Starscream's central processing unit was violently jolted.
To protect the AllSpark within him, his systems automatically entered a shutdown state ... and his consciousness went completely dark.
(End of chapter)}
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