The Guardian didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't react like the others.
It advanced.
Relentless.
Arjun moved first.
Not attacking—
Positioning.
"…Keep distance," he said.
The squad spread out instantly.
More controlled now.
Less panic.
The Guardian's arm rose again.
Energy gathered.
Faster this time.
"…It's charging quicker," the girl said.
"…Because we're inside its zone," Arjun replied.
The beam fired.
Wide.
Sweeping.
Arjun dashed forward—
Not away.
Toward it.
"…What is he doing?!" the injured man shouted.
The beam passed behind him.
Too close.
Heat burned across his suit.
[Suit Integrity: 63% → 58%]
"…Still manageable."
He closed the distance.
The Guardian reacted—
Delayed.
[Reaction Delay: 1.6s]
"…There."
Arjun fired.
Point-blank.
The shot hit—
Still minimal.
"…Armor is layered."
The drone confirmed.
[Outer shell absorbing damage]
"…Then we break the structure."
Arjun stepped back.
Just enough.
The Guardian slammed its arm down.
Impact—
The street shattered.
Debris scattered.
Arjun watched carefully.
"…Not random."
A pause.
"…Fixed pattern."
The drone updated.
[Attack cycle detected]
Strike
Charge
Sweep
Pause
"…Cycle confirmed."
Arjun's eyes sharpened.
"…Then we control it."
He turned slightly.
"…Aarav—hold front."
The older man stepped forward without hesitation.
"…Got it."
A barrier formed.
Not perfect.
But enough.
The Guardian attacked.
Impact—
The barrier cracked.
But held.
"…Now!" Arjun shouted.
Anaya moved.
Fast.
Circling behind.
Targeting exposed joints.
Kabir activated support.
Energy pulse—
Interfering with Guardian movement.
"…Good," Arjun said.
Everything aligned.
For a moment—
They weren't survivors.
They were a team.
The Guardian turned—
Delayed.
Exactly as expected.
"…That's the window."
Arjun activated Speed Boost.
Time tightened.
He moved.
Straight toward the core marker.
Not stopping.
Not hesitating.
The Guardian reacted—
Too late.
Arjun reached its center.
Close.
Dangerously close.
"…End this."
He fired.
Full power.
The blast struck—
Not the armor—
Between the layers.
A crack formed.
For the first time—
Real damage.
[Core Exposure: 12%]
The Guardian roared.
The entire zone shook.
Energy surged wildly.
"…It's reacting," the girl shouted.
"…No," Arjun corrected.
"…It's destabilizing."
The Guardian's attacks changed.
Less controlled.
More aggressive.
The cycle—
Breaking.
"…That's not good," Aarav muttered.
"…It's phase shift," Arjun said.
The system confirmed.
[Guardian Phase 2 Initiated]
Silence.
Then—
The Guardian's core glowed brighter.
Visible now.
But—
So was the danger.
"…We pushed it too fast," Kabir said.
"…No," Arjun replied.
"…We pushed it just enough."
He raised the rifle again.
Eyes locked on the core.
"…Now we break it."
The Guardian stepped forward.
Faster.
Stronger.
Unstable.
And the real fight—
Had just begun.