Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided-Chapter 66: First Strike

As they reached the southern riverside, the Esten Dam came into view. The massive concrete structure loomed over the river, its outlets gushing torrents of water that fed into the grand Riverfall of Hasenwald.

On the ground, approximately twenty Armatus suits were positioned around the dam. Nearby, the dam workers, dressed in blue jumpsuits, crouched with their hands over their heads in surrender.

Above them, another seven Armatus suits hovered in sentry mode, providing aerial surveillance for the knights below.

"Gents! We've reached altitude! Sending the live feed to your screens now!" David's voice crackled through their comms as an aerial view appeared on their displays.

"Thank you, David," Jack replied, his eyes scanning the battlefield. He focused on another group. Lupus's team positioned in the eastern forest, observing the enemy's movements. Nearly half of the knights were concentrated in the city centre.

"Good, they're spread too thin," Jack analysed.

"Jack... there's one silver and the rest are bronze," Rhok's voice came through the comms.

"We're in position! Awaiting your initial attack, Jackie," Lupus interjected, using the watch David had given her.

"We'll initiate the first strike!" Jack instructed, drifting his suit low over the tree branches.

"Let's..." Rhok signalled, his plasma cannon whirring to life while his blade heated up. His thrusters engaged, propelling the metal giant forward effortlessly.

The enemies quickly took notice. "Who are you? You're flying unregistered crafts! Identify yourselves, or we'll open fire!" The enemy's silver knight, clad in a red suit, aimed his cannons at Jack. The other knights followed suit.

No response.

The silver knight repeated, "Stop right there! You have three seconds. Three... two... one~"

"This is Gold Knight Rhok Wagner. Stand down," Rhok commanded, his dark Armatus drifting closer.

The silver knight hesitated, verifying Rhok's claim with his team. "Gold Knight Rhok Wagner?~"

In an instant, Rhok struck. His ionised blade cleaved vertically, shattering the enemy's shield and slicing through his left arm and leg. Chunks of severed metal plummeted into the river below, sending up a splash.

"What the~?!" The silver knight gasped in shock, engaging his thrusters to flee.

Before he could recover, Jack swooped in, his blade flashing. Jack's blade slashed through the enemy's hall, the arcanite engined exploded, shockwave pushing his suit back.

"Woah!" Jack scrambled to stabilise his thrusters. After a few attempts, he managed to regain control of his vessel.

Meanwhile, three Armatus suits under the silver knight's command lost connection and plummeted. Some crashed onto the concrete with a heavy thud, while others plunged into the water, sending splashes skyward.

Three Armatus suits unleashed suppressing cannon fire at Rhok, plasma rounds arcing through the air. Rhok veered westward, drawing their fire. Some shots struck his hull, but his shields absorbed the impact.

Jack surged forward, leaving a trail of blue light in his wake.

"Behind you!" one of the bronze knights yelled. They spun 180 degrees just as Jack cleaved the nearest one in half.

Another bronze on Jack's left rapid-fired his cannon. Jack rolled right, narrowly evading the plasma rounds. The enemy dashed in, raising his blade. Jack landed, his suit's joints hissing as they absorbed the impact.

His gleaming eyes locked onto the incoming knight. A smirk played on his lips, fingers twitching as he motioned the puny bot forward.

The blue-shielded vessel rammed the enemy, toppling him. Seizing the moment, Jack boosted forward and cleaved!

Bzzzzt!

The roaring clash of blades sent sparks flying. Another bronze knight intercepted, blocking Jack's attack.

"Damn it!" Jack cursed as two enemies surrounded him.

They swung. He dodged. They exchanged blows and parries for minutes.

"This is overwhelming!" Jack thought, sweat beading on his forehead. His eyes darted around, his mind racing for an opening.

Tossing his cannon aside, he gripped his blade with both hands, his expression calculating.

The enemies hesitated, confused by his move, before lifting their cannons.

"Alright! Now I'm a tryhard!" Jack roared, engaging his thrusters and launching toward them like a madman.

The enemy reacted instantly, sweeping his sword sideways. Jack's boosters flared, twisting his trajectory. He spun mid-air, both hands gripping his blade tightly.

Their edges collided with a thunderous impact, forcing the enemy's blade back. Jack's strike sheared through his opponent's hand, sending the bronze staggering.

Another enemy rushed in, swinging wildly. Jack sidestepped, boosting backward. His blade arced and severed the bronze's arm clean off.

Th𝗲 most uptodate novels are published on ƒгeewёbnovel.com.

Disarmed, the bronzes attempted to flee, but Jack anticipated their retreat. He cleaved through both, their metallic husks plummeting into the water.

"Haa... Haa..." Jack exhaled heavily, catching his breath. His eyes swept across the battlefield.

Rhok had already decimated the ground forces. Only one enemy remained. His dark suit stood nearly untouched. Even twenty bronzes were no match for a gold knight.

Rhok advanced toward the last knight, tossing his weapon aside. Behind them, the dam workers trembled, crouching in fear. His steel giant cast an eerie shadow over them.

"You good?" Jack's voice came through the HUD.

"Yes..." Rhok responded, his tone detached. These people were once his allies. Now, he had killed them without hesitation.

Without a second thought, Rhok raised his blade and drove it through the last knight's torso. The ionised blade screamed as it pierced metal, killing the pilot instantly.

The dam workers screamed as the defeated knight's suit teetered above them. Some ran, others curled into themselves.

But nothing happened. Rhok carefully motioned his suit, ensuring the wreckage toppled away from the workers, sparing their lives.

He glanced down at them, his thoughts drifting to Elfa Burrowbane and her brother... her smile...

He yearned for answers, for the reason behind their untimely deaths. But in the end, he found none.

Instead of victory, all he felt was emptiness.

Death followed him everywhere. And soon, he knew, it would be his turn.

"Rhok..." Jack's voice crackled through the comm as he made a soft landing. The dam was littered with debris — twisted metal remnants of what were once mobile suits. Such brutal destruction had occurred while he had been entangled in his own skirmish.

"Sorry. I lost focus," Rhok admitted, motioning for the workers to evacuate into the dense forest westward.

They nodded in appreciation, despite the terror they had just witnessed.

"Those used to be your allies. I can imagine what you've gone through..." Jack said gently, clearing a path for the fleeing workers. Soon, they disappeared into the treeline.

Steeling himself, Rhok exhaled sharply. "It's alright. Perimeter secured. We should press on toward the city centre and draw their fire." He pointed ahead, his Armatus towering over the wreckage.