The world slowed.
Not truly—
But enough.
Arjun moved.
And everything else felt delayed.
[OVERDRIVE ACTIVE]
The first Elite Unit struck.
Arjun stepped aside.
Effortless.
The attack passed through empty air.
He raised his plasma rifle—
Fired.
Point-blank.
The blast hit the cracked armor.
This time—
It shattered further.
Fragments of blue energy scattered.
[Damage increased: 32%]
"…That's more like it."
The second Elite Unit attacked from behind.
Arjun turned.
Too fast.
Too sharp.
He grabbed its arm mid-motion—
And twisted.
The force broke its balance.
For the first time—
The Elite Unit staggered heavily.
Arjun fired again.
Direct hit.
The armor split.
A glimpse of its glowing core appeared.
[Core Exposure: 41%]
Behind him, the squad stood frozen.
"…What is he doing…?" the girl whispered.
The older man didn't answer.
He couldn't.
This wasn't the same person.
Arjun moved again.
Closing distance.
The first Elite Unit tried to retreat.
Too late.
Arjun stepped in.
Struck.
Not with the rifle—
With his body.
The impact sent the Elite Unit crashing into the ground.
The street cracked beneath it.
[Combat efficiency: 268%]
"…You're slower now."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Focused.
The Elite Unit rose again.
More aggressive.
Less controlled.
It fired.
A beam of blue energy.
Arjun didn't dodge.
He shifted slightly—
Letting it pass by inches.
The heat burned against his suit.
But didn't stop him.
He fired again.
The crack widened.
[Core Exposure: 63%]
The second Elite Unit charged.
Arjun turned instantly.
He stepped forward.
Not back.
The moment it attacked—
He slipped inside its range.
Too close.
Too fast.
He fired upward.
The plasma blast hit directly beneath its armor.
The structure shattered.
The core was now partially visible.
[Core Exposure: 58%]
"…Good."
Both Elite Units adjusted.
Now—
They attacked together.
Synchronized.
Faster.
Sharper.
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"Better."
He moved.
Between them.
Every motion calculated.
Every step precise.
Attacks passed him.
Barely missing.
He countered.
Again.
Again.
Again.
The battlefield turned into controlled chaos.
But for Arjun—
It was clear.
Simple.
Predictable.
[Threat Prediction + Overdrive synergy active]
He raised the rifle.
Aimed at the first Elite Unit's exposed core.
Fired.
Direct hit.
The core destabilized.
Energy leaked out violently.
The Elite Unit staggered.
Unstable.
[Core Stability: Critical]
"…One down."
The second Elite Unit reacted instantly.
Charging with full force.
Arjun didn't move.
He waited.
Timing it.
The moment it reached him—
He sidestepped.
Grabbed its arm.
And slammed it into the ground.
Hard.
The impact shook the area.
Before it could recover—
He fired again.
Directly into the exposed section.
[Core Exposure: 79%]
The Elite Unit let out a distorted sound.
Almost like a warning.
Or—
Fear.
Arjun stepped back.
Breathing steady.
But—
Something felt wrong.
The system flickered.
[WARNING]
Overdrive strain increasing.
Arjun ignored it.
For now.
He focused on the enemies.
The first Elite Unit—
Collapsed.
Its core shattered completely.
It disintegrated into blue fragments.
[Elite Unit A-E? Eliminated]
"…One."
The second stood.
Damaged.
Unstable.
But still active.
It raised its arm again.
Energy gathered.
More chaotic than before.
Arjun stepped forward.
"…Last one."
He moved.
Faster than before.
Closing distance instantly.
The Elite Unit fired.
A wide beam.
Uncontrolled.
Arjun ran through it.
The energy burned against his suit.
[Suit Integrity: 9%]
But he didn't stop.
He reached it.
Point-blank.
Raised the rifle.
Aimed at the exposed core.
"End."
He fired.
The blast pierced through.
The core shattered.
The Elite Unit froze.
Then—
Exploded into fragments.
Silence returned.
[All Elite Units Eliminated]
Arjun stood still.
Breathing.
Heavy now.
The world—
Returned to normal speed.
The sharp clarity faded.
Pain rushed back.
All at once.
[OVERDRIVE DEACTIVATING]
His legs gave out.
He dropped to one knee.
"…That's… the cost…"
The system displayed rapidly.
[Suit Integrity: 7%]
[Physical condition: Critical]
The squad rushed toward him.
"…Are you okay?!" the girl shouted.
Arjun didn't respond immediately.
His vision blurred.
"…Yeah…"
But even he knew—
That wasn't true.
The drone hovered closer.
[Emergency recovery recommended]
Arjun looked at the battlefield.
Empty.
Destroyed.
Silent.
"…At least it's over."
The system paused.
Then—
A new notification appeared.
[New Threat Detected]
Arjun's expression didn't change.
But his eyes—
Hardened.
"…Of course it is."