Theodore knew that in a world designed for tragedy and high-stakes combat, standing still was equivalent to a slow death.
He immediately prioritized speed.
He scanned the immediate vicinity using his heightened senses.
The most obvious landmark was a massive, collapsed commercial tower—a perfect vantage point, and likely a target for the Machine Lifeforms.
[Skill Activated: Wind Walk]
[Effect: +50% speed]
[Duration Remaining: 60 seconds]
He activated Wind Walk and launched himself off the ruined factory roof.
The increased agility made his leap cover an impossible distance, and he landed silently on a cracked highway ramp several hundred feet away.
He raced through the ruins, the increased speed making the broken streets blur.
He needed information, and the fastest way to get it was usually to cause enough trouble to draw the attention of the main players—both friend and foe.
It didn't take long. As Theodore sprinted through the overgrown, silent streets of the ruined city, he heard the distinct, whirring whine of combat.
He rounded a corner into a vast, flooded plaza overgrown with lush vegetation.
A small, white-haired android, clad in black combat attire, was engaged in a desperate fight against a swarm of the ubiquitous Machine Lifeforms.
These machines were simple, smiling robots, but they moved with surprising speed and coordinated effort, armed with crude spears and spinning blades.
Theodore instantly recognized the combat unit: YoRHa Unit 2B.
2B was in trouble.
While she executed flawless, graceful attacks with her katana, her movements were constrained by the sheer number of enemies, and her small Pod unit was struggling to maintain suppressing fire.
Theodore grinned, knowing this was his cue. He needed to make a loud, memorable entrance.
He charged the swarm.
[Skill Activated: Giant Strength]
[Effect: +50% strength]
[Duration Remaining: 60 seconds]
Theodore reached the edge of the conflict zone and, instead of drawing his sword, used his massively enhanced strength to perform a powerful, two-handed shove on a nearby, rusted-out bus shell.
KRRR-SSSHHH!
The bus, which weighed several tons, slid across the flooded plaza, slamming into the cluster of Machine Lifeforms surrounding 2B.
The force, augmented by his Giant Strength, was enough to crush several of the smaller units instantly and send the rest sprawling.
2B, mid-swing, paused, her visor fixed on the strange human who had just used a bus as an improvised weapon.
"What in the...?"
She murmured, her voice metallic and cool.
Theodore didn't wait. He drew his Ascalon sword.
The enhanced strength made the heavy sword feel weightless. He joined the fight, his movements a brutal mix of speed and power.
He used Wind Walk to dart between the surprised machines, using Giant Strength to deliver heavy, sweeping slashes.
The Ascalon, powered by Theodore's enhanced STR, tore through the thick chassis of the larger machines as if they were made of tin.
"You guys need to hit the gym!"
Theodore yelled, cleaving a Medium Biped Machine clean in half.
With Theodore's chaotic, brutal assistance, the remaining machines were quickly reduced to scrap metal and sparking components.
2B lowered her katana, her composure slowly returning. She stared at Theodore—a hyper-fast human clad in simple clothes, wielding a non-standard sword, and displaying physics-defying strength.
"Identify yourself,"
2B commanded, her Pod floating up, scanning Theodore with a red light.
"You are an unregistered human combat unit. Where did you acquire this combat data and why are you interfering with YoRHa operations?"
Theodore leaned on his sword, grinning.
"Relax, Just a friendly face looking to help. My name's Theodore Mayer. And I'm here because this run needs a serious buff."
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