The ground rushed up—
faster than expected.
For a split second—
Arjun understood.
This jump…
might kill him.
Then—
the system reacted.
The ground rushed up—
too fast.
For a fraction of a second—
Arjun knew.
This was a mistake.
Then—
[Adaptive Combat Suit Activated]
The armor tightened violently around his body.
Thrusters ignited.
Heat flared across his back.
His fall didn't stop—
but it slowed.
Forced into control.
He hit the ground hard.
The pavement cracked beneath him as he slid forward, boots grinding against concrete.
Dust exploded outward.
Then—
stillness.
Arjun stood.
Breathing steady.
Controlled.
"…Okay."
A short pause.
"…that worked."
[Combat Drone Online]
The drone beside him activated instantly.
A scanning beam cut through the dust—locking onto the creature.
A new interface appeared.
Target Identified
Hostile Unit: A1
Threat Level: High
Armor Density: Extreme
Weakness: Unknown
Arjun raised the plasma rifle.
Light.
Too light.
But the energy inside—
vibrated.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
"…First day with the system."
His grip tightened.
"…and I'm already fighting this."
The creature roared.
Its blue eyes locked onto him.
It hadn't noticed him before.
Now—
it did.
Its head tilted.
Studying.
Then—
it moved.
Charged.
Each step shattered the ground beneath it.
Arjun's heartbeat spiked.
"Right."
A breath.
"No time to think."
[Combat Assistance Active]
A targeting reticle appeared.
Centered.
Chest.
He fired.
A burst of plasma slammed into the creature.
Impact.
It staggered—
one step.
That was it.
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"…Not enough."
The creature roared—
and slammed its claw into the ground.
The street exploded.
Fragments of asphalt launched outward—
fast.
Too fast.
Arjun moved—
barely.
Debris tore past him.
A car behind him detonated on impact.
Heat flared.
Shockwave hit.
"Yeah…"
A short breath.
"…that would've killed me."
[Analyzing Enemy Structure…]
The creature lunged again.
Faster this time.
A claw ripped through the air—
aimed to crush.
Arjun rolled.
The impact behind him carved a crater into the street.
Dust swallowed everything.
He didn't look back.
Didn't need to.
[Analysis Complete]
Weak Point Detected
Location: Neck Joint
A red marker appeared.
Arjun locked onto it instantly.
"…There."
The creature charged again.
Cars crushed beneath its weight.
Distance closed.
Fast.
Arjun steadied the rifle.
Reticle aligned.
He fired.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Direct hits.
The armor cracked.
Blue fluid burst from the wound.
The creature screamed.
"Got you—"
But it didn't fall.
Instead—
its entire body pulsed.
Blue energy spread across it.
Violent.
Unstable.
[WARNING]
Enemy entering Phase Two
Arjun exhaled sharply.
"…Of course it is."
The creature vanished.
Then—
it was in front of him.
Too fast to track.
Impact.
The claw slammed into his chest.
Everything went white.
His body launched backward—
crashing through a car.
Glass shattered.
Metal folded.
The suit absorbed most of it—
not all.
Pain hit.
Sharp.
Immediate.
"…Damn."
The creature approached.
Slow now.
Deliberate.
Each step—
inevitable.
Arjun pushed himself up.
Breathing steady.
Not panicking.
Not freezing.
Thinking.
"System."
A beat.
"Give me something better."
[Combat Recommendation]
Overload Plasma Rifle
Power Output: 300%
Risk: Weapon Destruction
Arjun wiped blood from his lip.
Eyes locked forward.
"…One shot, then."
He adjusted the rifle.
Energy surged violently through it.
The barrel glowed—
unstable.
Cracking under pressure.
The creature raised its claw.
Closing distance.
No time left.
Arjun aimed—
at the red marker.
"Let's end this."
He pulled the trigger.
A beam erupted.
Massive.
The air warped around it.
Impact.
It tore through the creature's neck—
clean.
Silence.
For a moment—
everything stopped.
Then—
the head separated.
The body collapsed.
The ground shook.
Dust rose again.
Arjun lowered the rifle slowly.
"…That worked."
[Hostile Unit A1 Eliminated]
Notifications flooded his vision.
+500 Combat Points
+1 Authorization Level
Commander Rank Upgraded → E
Arjun stared.
"…That was fast."
Then—
another alert.
[New Alert Detected]
His expression changed.
Multiple Hostile Units entering city zone
Total Count: 147
Silence.
Arjun looked up.
The warship still hovered.
More creatures—
falling.
Not one.
Not ten.
Hundreds.
His grip tightened.
"…Yeah."
He raised the rifle again.
Eyes steady.
No hesitation now.
"This wasn't the fight."
A pause.
"It was the beginning."
Above him—
another creature broke through the clouds.
Bigger.
Faster.
And already locked onto him.