[COMMANDER POV]
[6 DAYS LATER]
[Ship Bridge, Arkship]
"I see... Amon wins, and the Zerg, hybrid, Taldarim, and even Morbius Corp become our enemies? Over 30 years have passed? It's a shame all of these upgrades are still locked behind the vault. Damn, that's still a lot of stuff I need to catch up on."
I currently review a quick Terran history from a black matte iPad. Of course it's impossible to absorb all of the knowledge. This is just a personal side quest for me to have a better understanding about my new environment.
My main job as commander of this vessel is not just spamming the command center everywhere, gathering resources, and chucking out the army. But also about managing colonist well-being and ship overall maintenance. Most importantly, about repairing the critical damage around the ship that could be fatal for my survival on this Tyranid-infested planet.
According to the data log acquired from the outside camera. 14 hours before my supposed awakening from cryosleep. This vessel was heading towards a distant star or another side of the galaxy. A proximity of 50,000 light-years from the Koruplu sector running from Amon and his army. But something or someone pulls this vessel into a black hole inside warp space. All video feeds were cut off half an hour before suddenly crash landing on this planet. No information or a picture was captured about the planet this ship landed on. Yeah, I was thrown into a remaining Terran survivor from the future, which Raynor foresaw thanks to the Zeratul artifact.
A dark time where the main game antagonist, Dark God Amon, controls the entire sector and begins expanding his influence to the entire galaxy. An ancient race resembling Lovecraftian horror with godlike power that is responsible for setting all the events in the Starcraft universe. Including the creation of the Protoss and Zerg and the supposed extinction of his race.
This vessel was the answer to that expansion. With constant harassment and pushing from Amon's army. Terran's major powers such as the Dominion, the Kelmorian Combine, and the Umojan Protectorate weakened and eventually collapsed. So what happens to citizens, especially in far-flung colonies?. Consumed by the Zerg alive, or maybe even a worse fate happened to them.
With the remaining survivors from three factions happening to gather on one particular planet. Share the same circumstances, and maybe mutual understanding will form a new semi-government. They lived for a decade until Amon came and forced everyone to run again.
Of course they prepare for a long time during peaceful periods. With the remaining resources left, they begin constructing a massive ship for mass migration. Just like the Terran ancestors who came to the Koruplu sector with arkships. They will leave the sector in the same way but with the most advanced ship ever before.
Combining the efforts of technology with the three best quirks from different factions truly gives this vessel a set of unique technologies and looks. Better warp drive, defensive weaponry, and armory. Most importantly, self-sufficient technology such as agriculture and production. Not only that, but the survivor even created some sort of data bank containing all of Terran knowledge accumulated over years. From cutting-edge and innovative technology from the Umojan experiment, robust mass production capabilities and battle-proven design from Dominion, and vast resources, the best mining techniques, and adaptable equipment from Kelmorian. Some form of knowledge from UED tech was somehow inserted into those digital treasure chests, but it's a hassle to find them right now.
Obviously Dominion design is currently in more widespread use because it's the only technology I was allowed to access. To use the other faction's tech tree, I need to repair the ship first. In a nutshell, my situation is similar to STC stuff from Warhammer minus the risk of actually losing that very knowledge. Since there are three data vaults containing each faction's secrets and prizes. Plus, all research upgrades accumulated from Wings of Liberty to Legacy of the Void are locked behind a heavily armored vault located somewhere inside the ship's hull. Its creation was independent from the main three, but it has the Raynor Raider logo print on those steel plates. Too convenient for my liking, but a beggar can't ever have a dozen choices.
But again, Umojan has the best toys to play with in exchange for being more expensive. While technically Kelmorian is the least advanced technology among the three, it is still worth exploring, especially in dire situations like this. Naturally each faction has advantages, and thus I must find a way to utilize this quirk to the maximum. Since I realized it's not too late, I can still make adjustments with current and future strategy. I still have a lot of time to learn every secret store here, so for now I contend with what I've learned so far.
It has been almost 6 days now. Thanks to the adjutant's effort to find additional resources with time constraints. My defensive perimeter and territory now become big enough to cover a whole 50 km radius with the Arkship as the center. If I convert it into game value, it's around 40,000 minerals and 34,000 vespene gas and still counting.
Interestingly, minerals found here have rare properties even by Terran standards. Although this mineral contains a small amount of radiation, with the right refinements and purification technology. Small amounts of these minerals can produce alternative power sources comparable to cold fusion cartridges. Maybe it could last longer, especially for automated machines that rely on battery packs. The adjutant has already initiated in-depth research about this mineral, but further dedicated effort needs to be held for now.
But in general, any new mechanical unit equipment and structure made by this mineral has increased durability by 25 percent and power efficiency by a factor of 2. With a lot of turret nests and 7 command center outposts for mining and FOB, massive power demands are manageable. Thank god for Terran high-speed construction technology and the abundance of resources found nearby me. Basically I already have turned a small part of this wasteland region into almost developed land.
Unfortunately, this newly established outpost is not without problems. Without human oversight, even the most advanced automated machine AI made by the Protoss might face trouble. Even if I double the worker-type drones and SCVs, the combat types still can't effectively hold on their own for long periods.
Even worse, only two people, which is technically one, control the whole operation. Even with help from the adjutant, it is still really difficult to manage this without superpowers and a great foundation in statesmanship. If I can overcome this challenge, not only will my base reach higher efficiency, but also it will be much safer and more secure, even if a million space bugs come straight here.
I already think ahead that these challenges might develop current technology to the droid army level from Star Wars someday. But I don't want space terminator to happen under my nose yet, and I'm not even qualified to handle this. I have no idea who might be suitable for this type of job. Thanks to SYSTEM's generosity about rewards. I was allowed to preview the option panel. All Terran co-op commanders, as expected, are there minus Mengsk. Since that's probably set as the default army setting.
My prime choice is either a crazy hobo scientist Stettman or the best mechanics chief that screams, dwarf Rory Swann. In the end I will never get any of this guy unless I finish the quest. So I called the adjutant to give me a simple report about current developments. Yeah, calling it PAIMON feels weird though. Maybe I'll wait until the AI finally gains true sentience, or maybe it will stop giving me creepy feelings.
[[REPORTING IN ON THE LAST 48 HOURS OF THE GEOGRAPHY INVESTIGATION. WITHIN A 500 KM RADIUS, THIS REGION WITHIN OUR DRONE REACH CONTAINS VARIOUS EXOTIC RESOURCES TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY OUR DEFENSES BUT ALSO CONSTRUCTION FOR COLONIST SETTLEMENT. NOT TO MENTION, IT MIGHT CONTAIN CRITICAL ELEMENTS FOR SHIP REPAIR, AND FURTHER UPGRADES MIGHT BE POSSIBLE AND NOT LIMITED TO MILITARY EQUIPMENT ALONE.]]
Dozens of holographic images show pictures of geographic environments discovered so far. While most of them are just flat land with a couple of forests and hills. There is one unique biome where the land has nothing but crystal-like minerals covering its entire surface area. Located 343 km to the south, it is what I could describe as an island in the middle of the lake. Vulcan Point in the Philippines is the closest reference I could think of.
[[WHILE 7 MINING OUTPOSTS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED NEAR US AND HAVE PRODUCED STABLE OUTPUT SO FAR. HOWEVER, THESE LOCATIONS ARE EXPOSED TO ENEMY ATTACK DUE TO MOST OF THEM BEING BUILT IN THE NORTH, WHERE THE ENEMY COMES FROM. THESE HAVE FORCED THIS UNIT AND SUPPORT ADJUTANT TO DIVIDE AND SHIFT FOCUS TO DEFENDING THESE OUTPOSTS. THUS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN OUR DEFENSE PERIMETER WITH MORE CANNON TOWERS AND AUTOMATED TURRET NESTS. SEVERAL MORE ADJUTANT UNITS WERE BUILT AND ASSIGNED TO LESSEN THIS UNIT'S BURDEN. BUT WITH CURRENT TECHNOLOGY, WE STILL CAN'T BE FULLY INDEPENDENT FROM HUMAN OVERSIGHT YET.]]
"Yeah... (While it sucks that AI technology is still in development. I think we had done expanding our perimeter. Any further expansion can cause more complicated logistics problems. Now I want to begin the groundwork for a logistics highway to connect all bases, including outposts on the front line. Especially in mining bases for transporting those precious resources back to ship. How far is the progress of both building up the heavy-class automaton and that part of ship repair?"
[[TOTAL UNIT BUILD-UP SO FAR IS 12,456 AUTOMATONS. 40 PERCENT HAS BEEN ASSIGNED FOR PATROL AND GUARD DUTY IN ALL ESTABLISHED BASES THROUGHOUT THE REGION. AFTER SHIFTING TO HEAVY CLASS AUTOMATON PRODUCTION. SUCH AS WARBOT ARES & ERADICATOR, HAS REACHED A SUFFICIENT NUMBER FOR THE UPCOMING COUNTERATTACK. PROGRESS FOR THAT SHIP PART'S CRITICAL FUNCTION IS ALMOST COMPLETED. THE FACILITY TO PRODUCE THE AIR UNIT WILL BE AVAILABLE AND BEGIN THE PRODUCTION LINE IMMEDIATELY.]]
Despite my approach for a static defense strategy. As a player, there is no way that would work to win the game. Especially against Korean guys who love to harass your base with Zergling or drones in less than 5 minutes after the game starts. If the lesson I learned from the game ever taught me anything, it's that the best defense is the best offense. So I will attack them with something those bugs don't have.
" (When we secure air dominance. Winning with low casualties might be possible.) Adjutant, what kind of air asset is available to acquire right away?"
[[ STANDARD QUANTRADYNE APOD-33 DROPSHIP & AH/G-24 BANSHEE TACTICAL-STRIKE AIRCRAFT HAS THE FASTEST AIR ASSET PRODUCTION TIME SO FAR. THIS INCLUDES MODIFIED PACKAGE DATA WE RECOVER FROM INDEPENDENT VAULTS.]]
Pretty standard unit if you ask me. After several decades have passed from the original game timeline. I thought these people had a new unit if we're talking about their bullshit tech development. But after an interstellar-wide apocalyptic event happens, indeed that kind of disaster affects development to a certain extent. The good thing is, these two aircraft are somewhat familiar to use.
"Direct some of the resources to repair that facility and start making these two in bulk for now. Inform me if we have another aircraft available. Change of subject, any information about the enemy swarm we've learned so far? Show me what you analyze."
I lean on one of my hands. I look at the hologram projector more seriously.
Adjutant, heed my command and right away show me the image of the Tyranids in detail. There is no official name for them on the file, but with some great generosity, I give them a name based on what I remember about them.
[[BIO TITAN HIEROPHANT GORLOC STILL APPROACHING ARKSHIP AT SLOW SPEED. PROXIMITY AT A RANGE OF 388 KM AWAY. THEY ARE NO LONGER SENDING AN ARMY HERE TO PROBE OUR DEFENSES. IT SEEMS THEY ARE PLANNING AN ALL-OUT MAJOR ASSAULT SOON. THEY MIGHT DISCOVER SOMETHING WE DIDN'T KNOW. IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION FOR POTENTIAL GAP IS ONGOING AND WILL BE FIXED AND IMPROVED AT ONCE.]]
That is something to be expected. They are probably wary about guns mounted on the ship's hull, especially the Earth Shatter cannon. Dozens of times attacking, it's impossible not to notice the pointy thing from a distance. This ship's height is about 200 meters of combined flat land here. This place can be mistaken for a mountain from afar.
As for the scout unit, those pesky bastards always try to find a way to penetrate the defensive line to find a way to infiltrate inside the ship. Some already managed to delay, if not destroy, the construction site. Luckily those are watchtower outposts. Losing a couple of automatons and autocannons is not a big deal.
"So how about the construction progress of the FOB in the northwest?"
[[SLAYER OF GORLOC]] THE DESTROYER ARRIVED AT THE DESIGNATED AREA 4 DAYS AGO. ALL RESOURCES HAVE SPEEDED UP THE FORTIFICATION PACE AND ARE READY TO "ROLL OUT" AT YOUR COMMAND. The additional factory will be online in a few hours and will continue the production unit that was discontinued here.
"Good, when a sufficient number reaches. Send the latest info to the commander for errghhh... upcoming harassment ops. In the meantime, try to divert some spare resources to connect a road and secure airspace to that base."
Now a daily report for daytime has finished. Let's continue brainstorming some wild ideas to be implemented. The game might limit Terran potential for balance's sake. But in reality, an idea I got from the internet I once stumbled upon was finally put to use. It includes real-life military hardware and tactics that are strangely absent in Terran's own military physiology.
This includes stealing ideas from other IP or stuff that already exists in real life. Although some of the tools needed to achieve my goal are still out of my reach. But with creativity, the mind of a normal modern man could possibly succeed. Furthermore, with the help of Adjutant PAIMON, our armament research program no doubt will have smooth sailing.
But among all the files discovered, there is one thing that really stands out. Project "STAR BASE," a certain prototype that just finished the testing phase, managed to find itself inside the Arkship's valuable archives vault. There are more secrets to be uncovered, but it will not be anytime soon.
HERO POV
2 HOURS LATER
NOON,
HIGH LAND AREA,
PEAK MOUNTAIN,
230 km FROM ARKSHIP,
FORWARD BASE OPERATION,
COMMAND CENTER,
OBSERVATION ROOM,
"This is my second time seeing this stuff. Damn, how fast those robots build. Even the Chinese can't build fast without a lot of manpower."
As I see the whole construction process from the top of the command center building. In the game, this building looks small and light enough to fly by strapping it with a rocket engine. In reality, it's a three-story-tall armored steel brick that somehow flies. Durable enough to withstand punishment from state-of-the-art modern anti-air or anti-ship missiles.
Although this time, this new home I sleep in was an older model from the Brood War era. Inside, it's really comfortable with air conditioning, a water heater, and various electronic devices that are considered basic here but high-end in my time. To my surprise, there is stuff containing futuristic entertainment like holographic video games, cool robot toys, and movies.
Although the storyline is a bit bland or outright weird for my taste. Despite the fact that the Command Center design can be considered outdated, it will never be obsolete. Time after time has proven these command centers were crucial for Terran to survive across the sector. Giving this a hard time where progress is stale and leaning to innovation suits to face apocalyptic scenarios. So there is no new design beside those two.
[[FACTORY ONLINE, BEGINNING PRODUCTION LINE IN T-MINUS 10 MINUTES]]
"Great, my happy time has almost come to an end. Luckily I don't need to lift a finger here. At least not be fully lazy but be able to relax from stupid paperwork; it's refreshing. INHAL EXHALE"
It's not that I've been doing nothing in the past few days in this second body. Even though all kinds of knowledge are already stored in my brain. I still need to learn how to fight and use equipment to enhance my survival rate. One wrong move, and I die eaten alive or worse: mind rape by a psycho floating balloon unit thing.
After all, beyond a doubt, 'SYSTEM' will force me to risk myself to do this so-called mission despite the alternative being much safer and probably suited for a job. As I enjoy bathing in the sunlight in the morning. An alarm begins to emit a loud siren noise, breaking a serenity I have had in these past few days.
[[ TYRANIDS BIOSIGNATURE DETECTED ]]
"Welp... That's my cue."
As I head down using the elevator and go to my commander's bedroom. Changing cloth into a skin-tight-like suit after eating a few snacks. Then I go to the armory section at floor 1 and begin to equip the power armor I first wore after coming to this world. It was not a pleasant experience but probably similar to Tycus's suit-up sequence from the opening scene. Except the armor itself is not bulky and has an opening vault at the back for easy access, similar to how power armor works in Anthem.
When the suit powered up and sealed, I armed myself with combat gear, including a new weapon. All information from real time is fed directly into my HUD system on the helmet visor. When I'm ready, I decide to go to the briefing room on floor 2. The holographic table has a display of a 3D map of the geographic area, including the base in detail.
Since a dozen radar towers were built around the mountain to collect and send the information to the main computer for analysis. Adjutants at their peak capacity always monitor the surrounding area where the risk of landslides is to be avoided and maybe prevented with advanced construction techniques. Despite an early geography survey being conducted by drone. Before I arrived here, oddly, there was no native wildlife bigger than the size of an insect discovered.
So the conclusion I arrive at is that the Tyranids might already have consumed most of the lifeforms here to build something similar to a forward base. I don't know how large their influence is, but I'm glad I'm building a base here and investigating myself. Since the main army has yet to arrive, this is a golden time to train myself in live combat.
My mission perimeter is simple. After establishing a forward base here at the mountain peak for better vision. I needed to clear all hostile elements and secure logistics lines. So anything that threatens the link between FOB and Arkship will be removed. Since potentially hostile wildlife is absent here, the next agenda is to find enemy outposts. Destroy and gather intelligence to help upcoming operations.
I don't know how Tyranid buildings look, like hatcheries or hive structures. Now one of the scout drones has found it and marked the location. That is the good news; it was located in the valley in the northeast, not far from here. So I might have a high-ground advantage since there is a path wide enough for a vehicle to pass.
There are no hatchery equivalents, but there are hundreds of gaunts, AKA low-level grunts, scattered and forming a defensive circle. The majority of them are close quarters combat units as frontliners, and some are using bio-rifles, neatly hiding behind the cover of their brethren. The largest in the center, probably the one called Tyrant, is doing something to a certain monolith-like spire tower. One I know is really important to them, seeing the structure was not destroyed upon contact and all nearby units are on high guard. Protecting its leader, try to gain access to whatever that thing is.
"Adjutant, can you get a closer look? Magnificent on that monolith. I want to know what they try to gain."
I have a feeling they already know our presence here. This is probably not a scouting mission since they are not actively trying to approach the base or anything like that. As the flying drone tries to get closer without getting detected, I finally see what Tyrant is trying to do.
"Bastard, despite being big and ugly. That bug really has the skill to become tech-savvy."
Contrary to its original role as commander or commissar. It's four big hands delicately touching the structure. Each time it rubs it with its four-digit hand, the spire pulses with red color. Is the nearby Tyranid more intelligent?
"Should we test the water first? Adjutant analysis"
[[PSIONIC ENERGY SIGNATURE IMMITTED FROM THAT MONOLITH HAS AMPLIFIED ENEMY INTELLIGENCE. THE STRUCTURE INDICATES PLAYING A SIMILAR ROLE TO THE ZERG OVERLORD. WHILE A TYRANT CAN DO THE SAME BUT EFFECTIVELY, ITS RANGE IS SEVERELY LIMITED. CONCLUSION: THE REASON THE ENEMY HAD A SIMPLE PATTERN DURING THE FIRST ASSAULT WAS LACK OF THIS SPIRE STRUCTURE. THREAT LEVEL RED AND RECOMMENDED TO DESTROY IT WITH EXTREME FORCE]]
"Ah... This is good and bad at the same time. I want to blast it to the kingdom, but... sigh."
[Hero Sub-Quest: Black Marker]
Objective:
- Defeat Tyrant in CQC
- Eliminate and expel all hostile forces from the area
- Secure strange monolith with minimal damage
Reward:
- Access and upgrade to Psi-Disrupter
- New research material acquired
- New weapon unlock
Penalty:
- The enemy will gain a foothold in the region.
- Each day, enemy effectiveness increases by five percent.
- If the hero doesn't engage in CQC, electric shock will be more painful.
I see the floating invisible blue screen for a minute. While it's ridiculous to engage the enemy that close, and the punishment is getting more intense. I know this for my own development as a super warrior, whatever the owner of this "SYSTEM" is.
Even so, I'm afraid to die or even entertain testing the theory I came up with. Even so, I find some loopholes here. Since I'm already geared up, all I need to do is get some additional tools.
"Adjutant, I need some modification on my armor. Also build me more Predators and Sentry. Also, can you make some siege tanks? Preferably the Arclite model, modified to be equipped with an AI core. Oh, and don't forget about the new drone model I ordered long ago."
3rd POV
All combat automata are already waiting in the designated place. Watching the enemy from afar with a powerful magnifying camera installed on each unit. The predator, a cat-shaped combat robot, is ready to ambush while the lion roars. The Warbot sentry and Eradicator readied its weapon, aiming at the priority target. However, the Tyranid swarm is already aware of the presence of the mechanical army.
But it doesn't know why the automaton announces itself in the open. But it doesn't matter; all swarms nearby are already in defensive positions and ready to attack almost immediately. But its leader, the biggest and strongest among them, is not so easily fooled. Instead, it had already instructed several fast-moving units to scout the surrounding area to find the supposed enemy base of operations. Especially to neutralize these artillery pieces that always slaughtered its kin in thousands. these
Even finding it is futile, as long as the tyrant's purpose has been fulfilled. The hive mind will be pleased. Right now, even with additional special upgrades it received over years after the creation of this construct. The sheerly inefficient method to spread hivemind control proves to be fatal again and again.
The pesky other food stock always finds a way to destroy synaptic connections between its lesser brethren. This new one is no different than the others but is more sneaky and fearsome. They only send their metal army to fight and manage to inflict great casualties. They manage to build things faster than the rival hivemind's own capability.
Unlike others, they often send a lot of food stock to fight directly. Not to mention, building a fortress far beyond their territory takes time to build and is hard to defend. Which are really welcoming traits by the hive mind to get additional biomass. But this newcomer never even knew their faces. Only an army of machines and constant fighting from long-range attacks manage to hold the swarm without many casualties.
Even recycling its brethren and acquiring surrounding biomass on this land. The hive mind's hunger cannot be satisfied. Especially being forced to be stuck in a cursed world and locked down on this particular so-called continent by food stocks nonetheless. This is the reason why most biomass (mostly plants) are not immediately consumed.
Right now, this food stock dares to take a fight on hivemind territory. If not because of the great wound inflicted not long ago on that land. Hivemind already overwhelmed this metal army and its master long ago before they managed to set up fortifications. Especially losing its ability to produce flying units without consuming a lot of resources. Alas, the task to install the synapse tower is almost complete. Soon, its lesser brethren's combat intelligence shall increase. The hive mind will finally destroy this machine and soon consume its master on that massive ship.
The sound of explosion and war cry signals the fight finally beginning. The quad-legged metal creature is capable of slaying its lower kin with ferocious metal claws and a powerful bite. What makes it troublesome is its ability to unleash electric shock in a wide area, making swarm tactics less effective.
Combine with firepower from those blocky metal ones with one eye covering their rear from getting surrounded. Its projectile weapon proves to be deathly comparable to the enemy of the hivemind but more numerous. Its carapace, accustomed to withstanding low-level energy projectiles and single-shot explosive ordnance, makes it harder to withstand hypersonic bullets. Yes, it can survive getting hit by one or two, but a thousand at lightning-fast speed is too much.
Even so, like all previous battles before. The hivemind simply will overpower its enemy with sheer numbers. But this time, they are different from before. The meat grinder in front is nothing but a distraction to help it finish its task. While its guard surrounds it, it becomes lesser than before.
But it's still more capable of keeping these automata at bay. That's what Tyrant thought initially. Although it is considered intelligent, primal instincts are still strong in its blood. Out of nowhere in this chaotic battlefield. There is an anomalous present strong enough to trigger its impulse.
Stopping it to continue the work on the tower. Then something falls from the sky, creating dust and a crater in the middle of the defensive circle. A group of the same machine that currently battles its kin at the front, and in the middle of them, something it recognizes. Although this thing looks familiar, it isn't. Unlike other machines, it can sense that this unknown area is in fact a living being.
That thing might be smaller than certain food stocks. Two feet and limbs while holding a thin metal stick and projectile weapon. Covered in slim metal armor, but its face, instead of two red eyes, was a golden glass plate that reflected Tyrant's image back at a right angle. The creature's back is wearing some kind of bulky device to allow it to jump or hover shortly like that bigger livestock.
But the auras it releases are different. Much, much more dangerous than Scream Death. The Tyrant can feel their hunger even at a distance and recognize them as dangerous foes. It knows that a creature is thirsty for blood and currently aiming its metal stick at it. The creature spoke in language to another food stock group.
"Hello there."
Its mechanical servant makes a first move. Unleashing a storm of bullets and bluish flame. Killing its guard in a second. While nearby brethren have noticed the chaos and are ready to help. The same explosion that halted the great swarm army rains down upon them. Although its quantity is lesser, it's more than enough to stop reinforcement from getting close.
Now it is stuck alone with this smaller armored creature. Ready in battle stand and waiting. As if taunting to attack, and the tyrant gladly will respond back with a thundering roar. It's a biomorph weapon on both forearms, itching to test this creature's flesh.
With a powerful set of legs, the Tyrant makes a huge leap. Shortening its distance into an armored creature in less than a second. To Tyrant's surprise, this creature moves faster than other armored creatures it's ever encountered. Both of its blades missed the creature by a huge margin. When the tyrant tries to shift its body around, it is only met by a storm of light yellow bullets.
The Tyrant's thick carapace is more than enough to withstand the barrage. But the armored creature only aims for the head. Its movement was hindered, busy protecting its venerable face with its biomorph shield on its left hand.
Not wanting to stay idle, it powers up its right-hand biomorph rifle. The Tyrant blindly shoots in the creature's direction in a full burst. Its destructive power is more than enough to alter the area into a crater, and the dust rises to the sky. Not taking a chance to confirm the foes in front of it are alive. The tyrant resumed firing in short bursts into the smoke of dust.
The Tyrant expects at least some of the projectiles to hit its foes. Instead, all it seems to be is a charging rock heading towards the Tyrant with blinding speed. Those short bursts lack the stopping power to break the rock. Caught off guard, that rock smashes the Tyrant and pushes it three meters at the back.
The size of the rock is big enough to cover almost all of the body, and the weight could crush Tyrant if given a chance. These tiny creatures easily lift and even push much bigger opponents, such as themselves, which is remarkable. Even with help from that blocky device, it is not enough to actually deal the final blow. The contest of strengths is not long, as white smoke emerges from the metal creature. Blocking the tyrant's vision and its movement seal are not any better.
'It is desperation,' the tyrant screams as loud as it can. Command nearby kin to give aid as fast as possible. But the intensity of the explosion. Instead of a wide range of fiery fire that incriminates killing. This is a precision strike that explodes in a circle around the Tyrant and metal creature.
Although it is still a puzzle what is actually happening, the Tyrant is beginning to know what is going on. With this level of firepower, destroying the entire area is more logical than engaging directly. The price is none other than the Synapses Tower behind. This creature wants to study hivemind weakness, and it shall fail to do so.
In that instance, the struggle between two of them tilts in Tyrant's favor. With one last card, the Tyrant gathers all its psychic energy in its mouth in the form of a ball. A flash of light illuminated the fog until a single blast of heat and thunder punched through the rock. The fog dissipates, showing a deep hole of magma on the rock the tyrant struggles to hold.
No living creatures can withstand a direct hit of a fully charged psychic beam. Not even that other taller armored creature survives, even with help from a shield or even more heavy armor. The rock, which Tyrant fought for its life to stop from crushing it, has lost resistance. Thinking this foe has finally been brought down and lowered its guard.
After recuperating for a while, the Tyrant decides to resume its duty and call for more reinforcement. When Tyrant shows its back and begins heading towards the tower. On that single instance, bright lights of red, yellow, and blue emerge behind the rock. Then its vision splits into two, and finally it loses its vision. All the Tyrant could hear from behind was faint and gibberish at best. But the tyrant knew that the armored creature triumphed over it can claim the prize.