The air was suffocating.
Arjun stood in the shattered street, his body tense, eyes locked on the Elite Unit.
Its entire form pulsed with violent blue energy.
The ground beneath it cracked continuously.
This wasn't the same enemy anymore.
This was something worse.
[Elite Unit — Second Combat State Active]
Arjun tightened his grip on the plasma rifle.
"Of course it gets stronger…"
The drone hovered beside him, its light flickering slightly under the pressure.
[Threat Level: Critical]
The Elite Unit moved.
Not fast.
Not slow.
But unavoidable.
Arjun activated Threat Prediction.
The signal came—
Too late.
The Elite Unit appeared directly in front of him.
A punch.
Arjun raised his arm.
BOOM.
The impact sent him sliding across the ground.
His boots tore through the asphalt as he struggled to stay upright.
[Suit Integrity: 58%]
"…Damn…"
The Elite Unit raised its hand again.
Energy condensed.
Denser than before.
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"If I get hit by that…"
He didn't finish the thought.
He moved.
The beam fired.
The street behind him vanished completely.
No debris.
No rubble.
Just empty space.
"Still not something I can tank."
The system flashed.
[Combat Analysis Update]
New data appeared.
Core Exposure Probability Increased
Damage to armor: 18%
Core stability: decreasing
Arjun froze for a fraction of a second.
"…Core?"
The drone responded.
[Elite Unit energy source located within central core.]
Arjun exhaled slowly.
"So that's the real target."
The Elite Unit charged.
Arjun didn't retreat.
This time—
He ran toward it.
The moment it paused—
He activated Speed Boost.
His body surged forward.
He moved past its first attack.
Barely.
The air behind him split apart from the force.
He reached close range.
Fired.
The plasma blast hit the cracked armor.
The fracture widened.
[Core Exposure: 22%]
"Not enough."
The Elite Unit retaliated instantly.
A backhand strike.
Arjun ducked.
But the shockwave alone threw him sideways.
He crashed into a broken wall.
Pain exploded through his body.
[Suit Integrity: 51%]
Arjun forced himself up.
Breathing heavy.
"…This isn't working."
The Elite Unit stepped forward again.
Unstoppable.
Arjun's mind raced.
"Think…"
He looked at the environment.
Narrow street.
Collapsed buildings.
Loose structures.
Then—
An idea formed.
"…If I can't break it directly…"
"…I'll force it open."
The system remained silent.
But didn't reject the idea.
That was enough.
Arjun moved.
Not toward the Elite Unit—
But toward the side of the street.
The creature followed.
Exactly as expected.
He fired a few shots.
Not to damage—
To provoke.
The Elite Unit charged.
Arjun ran past a half-collapsed building.
He turned sharply.
Stopped.
Raised his rifle.
The Elite Unit lunged.
Right into position.
"Now."
Arjun fired at the building's weakened structure.
The support column shattered.
The entire structure collapsed.
Tons of debris crashed down—
Directly onto the Elite Unit.
For a moment—
Silence.
Dust filled the air.
Arjun stood still.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…Did that work?"
Then—
The rubble exploded.
The Elite Unit emerged.
Damaged.
Heavily damaged.
The armor around its chest had shattered completely.
A glowing blue core was now visible.
[Core Exposure: 78%]
Arjun smiled.
"There it is."
The Elite Unit roared.
For the first time—
It sounded unstable.
Angry.
It raised both arms.
Energy surged wildly.
Uncontrolled.
The entire area began collapsing.
[WARNING: Area instability critical]
Arjun didn't hesitate.
He activated overload.
The plasma rifle screamed with energy.
[Weapon stability critical]
"Last shot…"
The Elite Unit fired.
A massive beam.
Wider than before.
Arjun moved.
Straight toward it.
Through the chaos.
Through the collapsing street.
Ignoring everything.
Closing distance.
Closer.
Closer.
The beam grazed his side.
The combat suit burned.
[Suit Integrity: 39%]
But he didn't stop.
He reached optimal range.
The core pulsed violently in front of him.
Arjun steadied his aim.
"End."
He fired.
A massive plasma blast erupted.
Direct hit.
The beam pierced the exposed core.
For a moment—
Everything froze.
Then—
The Elite Unit's body cracked.
Light burst from within.
The entire structure collapsed.
And exploded into fragments of blue energy.
Silence returned.
Arjun stood still.
Breathing heavily.
"…Did I…"
The system answered.
[Elite Unit A-E1 Eliminated]
Notifications flooded his vision.
+1500 Combat Points
+1 Authorization Level
Commander Rank Upgraded
New Rank: D
Arjun exhaled.
"…That's new."
But another message appeared.
Different.
Heavier.
[Major Reward Unlocked]
A new interface opened.
Special Equipment Available
Orbital Strike Beacon — Prototype
Arjun stared at it.
"…Orbital?"
The system responded calmly.
[Allows limited access to satellite-based weapon systems.]
Arjun looked up at the sky.
The warship still hovered.
Unmoving.
Watching.
He smirked slightly.
"…Now we're talking."
But the system wasn't finished.
[WARNING]
Multiple Elite Units responding to energy spike.
Incoming Count: 5
Arjun's expression hardened.
"…Of course."
He raised the plasma rifle again.
Now upgraded.
Now stronger.
But still—
Outnumbered.
The sky above flickered.
And new pillars of blue light began descending.