SSS-Tier Extraction: From Outcast to Overgod!-Chapter 66: Checkmate in the Peaks

The first member of the Crimson Banner squad came flying over the edge of the island, landing in a perfect combat roll. He was fast, silent, and his eyes immediately locked onto the fake versions of Scarlett and Chris standing on the fragile ledge. He saw them as the main threat.

"Targets spotted! On the ridge!" he yelled.

Tom Kane and the other two soldiers landed right behind him. They were a terrifying sight, a blur of red and grey armor moving with deadly purpose. Without a moment’s hesitation, they charged towards the illusion.

"Wait," Kane suddenly barked, his eyes narrowing. His S-Tier talent, "Strategic Mimicry," was screaming at him that something was wrong. The way the fake Chris was standing, the angle of his shield, it was just a little too perfect, a little too obvious. "It’s a trap!"

But it was too late. The first soldier had already leaped onto the fragile ledge, his sword raised high to strike the illusion.

CRACK!

The sound was like a giant bone snapping. The entire ledge gave way. With a surprised yell, the Crimson Banner soldier tumbled into the endless, misty void below, his scream fading into nothingness.

"Man down!" another soldier shouted in panic.

Before they could recover from the shock, Chris "Boulder" Magnus, the real Chris, let out a mighty roar from his defensive position. "You want some of this? Come and get it!"

He was a giant, unmovable wall of muscle and metal, and he was impossible to ignore. Kane and his remaining two soldiers turned their attention to the real threat. They were professionals, and they adapted quickly.

One soldier charged straight at Chris, his weapon glowing with energy, while the other tried to run around the side to flank the rest of the team.

This was exactly what Scarlett had planned.

The flanking soldier ran right onto the patch of ground that Jennifer had identified as hollow. The dark illusion Scarlett had placed there vanished just as his boot touched down.

The ground beneath him groaned, then collapsed inwards, sending him falling into a shallow pit up to his chest. He was stuck, an easy target. Emma, who had been waiting for this moment, immediately fired a series of low-power but very annoying stun blasts from her sidearm, keeping him from climbing out.

Now it was two against four.

The last remaining soldier, a grim-faced woman with two long knives, clashed with Chris. Her blades were a blur, striking his shield again and again, creating a shower of sparks.

But Chris didn’t budge. He was like a mountain. He wasn’t trying to win; he was just trying to not lose, holding the line with a stubborn grin on his face. "Is that all you’ve got?" he taunted. "My grandma hits harder!"

This left Tom Kane facing Scarlett.

The two leaders circled each other, their eyes locked. Kane was a master tactician, his mind a supercomputer that analyzed every move. Scarlett was a ghost, her movements fluid and unpredictable.

Kane lunged, his blade a streak of silver. Scarlett sidestepped, her Sky Lord’s Mantle flaring out behind her like a pair of dark wings. She threw a handful of small, sharp caltrops she had crafted, forcing Kane to jump back. It was a tense, beautiful duel of skill against skill, speed against speed.

Kane was slowly gaining the upper hand, his incredible talent allowing him to start predicting Scarlett’s evasive moves. He was forcing her back, step by step, closer to the god Node.

He saw an opening. He feinted left, then spun right, his sword aimed straight for her chest. He was sure this was the final blow.

Just as his attack was about to land, a message flashed across every player’s interface.

[UNIFICATION CHALLENGE UPDATE]

[Provisional Governor Ryan Stone has successfully captured god Node Gamma. Capture timer initiated.]

The message was a hammer blow to the Crimson Banner’s morale. Kane heard his soldier who was fighting Chris let out a cry of despair.

They were too late. Even if they took this node now, Ryan already had one timer running and would have plenty of time to capture a third one while they were busy here. The fight was over. They had lost.

Kane hesitated for a fraction of a second. His perfect, killing blow faltered. That was all Scarlett needed. She ducked under his sword and kicked his leg out from under him, sending him stumbling to the ground. She pressed the tip of her knife against his throat. The duel was over.

For a long moment, Tom Kane lay there, the cold steel of Scarlett’s knife against his skin, listening to the sounds of his last two soldiers being overwhelmed by Jennifer and Emma.

He saw the numbers, the dwindling odds, the impossible mountain he still had to climb. His S-Tier talent wasn’t just for fighting; it was for strategy.

And right now, strategy told him that continuing this fight was pointless. It would only get more of his people killed.

From his high perch on the Alpha Titan’s island, Ryan watched the whole thing unfold. He had used his Sector Command Orb, the little pearl-like sphere from his treasure cache, to get a live video feed of the fight at Node Alpha.

He had seen Kane’s desperation, his team’s struggle. He felt a small bit of respect for his rival. Kane had fought hard.

Ryan raised his Weaver’s Interface Gauntlet. He could have ended it then and there. He could have brought a storm down on them, or collapsed the island they were standing on. But that wasn’t his style. He preferred to be more subtle.

He focused his mind, using his "Localized Reality Edit" skill from miles away. It was incredibly difficult, like trying to thread a needle from across a football field. He didn’t do anything dramatic.

He just changed the wind. A sudden, swirling gust of wind kicked up around Node Alpha. It wasn’t strong enough to hurt anyone, but it was disorienting. It made it harder to aim, harder to keep your balance. It was a final, gentle nudge to show Kane that he was completely outmatched.

Kane felt the strange, unnatural shift in the air. He saw the way the dust swirled in confusing patterns. He looked up, as if he could see Ryan watching him from across the sky. He knew what it was. It was a message. I can do this from miles away. Surrender.

He let out a long, slow breath of defeat. He had lost. It was time to admit it.

With a grim look on his face, he raised a hand. "Crimson Banner, stand down," he ordered, his voice heavy with the weight of failure. "Disengage. We are retreating."

His soldiers, relieved and exhausted, immediately stopped fighting. They helped their trapped comrade out of the pit, and together, they began to limp away, leaping to the next island, their heads held low in shame.

A final message from the god Warden confirmed their defeat. freewёbnoνel-com

[UNIFICATION CHALLENGE UPDATE]

[Crimson Banner forces have disengaged from Node Alpha. Outpost #7 maintains control.]

On the island, Scarlett, Chris, Jennifer, and Emma let out a collective sigh of relief. They had done it. They had held the line.

Chris pumped his fist in the air. "WE WON! WE WON! Did you see me? I was a total wall! An absolute fortress! I think I’m going to name my shield ’The Un-smashable’!"

The team shared a tired, happy laugh. They had faced the best and had come out on top. Their victory was complete.

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