The battlefield had somehow quietened.
Pieces of the destroyed fortress floated across the ocean, drifting slowly beneath the bright blue sky. The wind moved briskly over the water and the far-off surf could be heard.
But in the centre of the battlefield, the calm didn't last long.
Metal Nico remained motionless.
His body glinted in the sunlight. Blue metal armor reflected the ocean below. A light blue aura arced from his mechanical body, like a machine quietly waking from sleep.
Across from him, Nico slowly pushed himself up from the rubble.
Every muscle in his body screamed.
His breathing was heavy.
His vision still felt blurry from the exhaustion of losing his Super form.
But he forced himself upright.
In the rubble behind him, the five Phantom Rubies lay scattered, glowing faintly.
Nico immediately stepped in front of them.
Protecting them.
Dr. E smiled.
"Well well… look at that."
He adjusted the scanner over his eye.
The lens flickered.
Numbers scrolled across the display.
Then it locked onto Nico.
Power Output Level: 522
Dr. E chuckled.
"Oh dear."
Nico clenched his fists weakly.
"What?"
Dr. E tapped the scanner.
"Five hundred and twenty-two."
He shook his head.
"The power you demonstrated earlier is… well, that number is very underwhelming."
Nico gritted his teeth.
"…Shut up."
Dr. E continued speaking like he was lecturing.
"You see, that transformation had limits. I knew that."
He gestured toward Noir and Rex, who were still trading blows in the distance.
"That is precisely why I sent Noir first."
Metal Nico stayed perfectly still.
Dr. E walked slowly across the battlefield.
"You see, when you were in that Super form…"
He smirked.
"You were actually slightly stronger than Metal Nico."
Nico blinked.
"…What?"
Dr. E nodded.
"Oh yes."
He tapped Metal Nico's shoulder proudly.
"Not by much."
"But enough to be dangerous."
He spread his arms.
"So I needed someone to stall you."
His smile widened.
"And drain your transformation."
Nico looked back at Metal Nico.
The robot hadn't moved once.
It simply stared at him with glowing mechanical eyes.
Dr. E continued.
"Now your energy is exhausted."
He pointed to the Phantom Rubies behind Nico.
"And you have dropped the very items I came here for."
Nico stepped back.
Shielding them again.
"…Not happening."
Dr. E laughed.
"Oh Nico…"
He patted Metal Nico's shoulder again.
"You haven't even heard the best part."
He tapped the scanner again.
Metal Nico's blue aura intensified slightly.
"This form is called Drone Killer Mode."
The scanner flashed again.
Power Output Level: 9,500
Dr. E grinned.
"A tenfold increase to his combat output."
Nico swallowed.
"…Great."
Metal Nico suddenly moved.
There was no warning.
No buildup.
Just speed.
CRACK.
The punch landed before Nico could react.
Metal Nico's fist hit Nico's stomach and lifted him completely off the ground.
Nico's breath exploded from his lungs.
Then Metal Nico slammed him down.
BOOM.
Nico crashed into the rubble beneath him. The impact cracked the ground.
Dr. E smiled wider.
"Oh yes."
"This will be entertaining."
Nico groaned as he pushed himself up again.
But Metal Nico was already there.
Another punch.
CRACK.
The hit snapped Nico's head sideways.
He staggered backward.
Metal Nico followed instantly.
A kick to the ribs.
BOOM.
Nico flew across the battlefield, skidding across broken metal before slamming into a floating slab of debris.
Rex glanced over from his fight with Noir.
"…Oh crap."
Metal Nico appeared next to Nico again instantly.
Another punch.
CRACK.
Nico rolled across the rubble again.
He barely managed to stand.
Metal Nico grabbed him by the collar.
Then slammed him down again.
BOOM.
Dust exploded into the air.
Dr. E laughed.
"You see the difference in power now?"
Metal Nico lifted Nico again.
Then punched him.
CRACK.
Nico flew across the battlefield again.
He tumbled over the rubble and nearly fell into the ocean before stopping.
He struggled to stand.
His arms trembled.
Metal Nico landed in front of him.
Silent.
Expressionless.
Cold.
Nico raised his fists weakly.
"…Alright…"
He took a shaky breath.
"…Round two."
Metal Nico punched him again.
CRACK.
Nico's body lifted off the ground from the impact.
The robot followed with a spinning kick.
BOOM.
Nico crashed through a slab of broken metal.
He rolled across the rubble again.
His body barely responded.
Everything hurt.
Metal Nico landed beside him again.
Then kicked him in the side.
Nico groaned in pain.
Dr. E clapped slowly.
"Magnificent."
Metal Nico grabbed Nico again.
Then launched him into the air.
Nico barely had time to react before Metal Nico appeared above him.
And slammed him down.
BOOM.
The impact left another crater in the battlefield.
Nico tried to stand again.
His vision spun.
His legs shook.
Metal Nico grabbed him by the throat.
Lifted him.
Then punched him again.
CRACK.
Nico's body flew across the battlefield again, crashing into another piece of debris.
Rex shouted from across the battlefield.
"NICO!"
But Metal Nico did not stop.
He appeared again.
Another punch.
Another kick.
Another slam.
Every hit landed harder than the last.
Nico tried to block.
But he was too slow.
Too tired.
Every strike broke through his defense.
CRACK.
BOOM.
CRACK.
BOOM.
Nico crashed across the rubble again and again.
Dr. E smiled as he watched.
"This is what happens when you rely too heavily on power that isn't truly yours."
Metal Nico grabbed Nico again.
Then slammed him into the ground one more time.
BOOM.
The battlefield cracked under the impact.
Nico coughed weakly.
His arms barely moved now.
Metal Nico stood over him.
Blue energy radiating from his body.
Dr. E walked closer.
"Well…"
He smiled.
"That was quick."
Metal Nico raised his fist slowly.
Preparing the finishing blow.
But Nico barely managed to push himself onto one elbow.
Still breathing.
Still conscious.
Refusing to quit.
Dr. E sighed.
"…You are remarkably persistent."
Metal Nico raised his fist again.
Blue energy crackled around it.