The street went silent.
Arjun stood still, rifle raised, eyes locked onto the Elite Unit at the end of the narrow road.
No screams. No explosions.
Just pressure.
Heavy.
The Elite Unit stepped forward.
The ground cracked beneath it.
Arjun didn't move.
Not yet.
"Stay calm…"
The drone scanned rapidly.
[Threat Level: Extreme]
"…I know."
The Elite Unit vanished.
Arjun reacted instantly.
Threat Prediction activated.
A pulse—
Left.
He moved.
Just in time.
A blue strike erased the space he had occupied.
The wall behind him—
gone.
Arjun exhaled sharply.
"…Still ridiculous."
The Elite Unit reappeared.
Closer.
Arjun fired.
Three shots.
Fast.
Clean.
Direct hits.
This time—
it reacted.
Its arm lifted.
A faint energy shield flickered.
Arjun's eyes sharpened.
"…So it can be damaged."
The arm lowered.
Its eyes burned brighter.
Then—
movement.
Faster.
Arjun activated Speed Boost.
He didn't retreat.
He pushed forward.
Distance collapsed.
The Elite Unit raised its arm—
Arjun slid under it.
Twist.
Point-blank.
Fire.
Impact.
A crack formed across its armor.
The Elite Unit staggered—
half a step.
Arjun rolled away, rising immediately.
"…Good."
[Damage registered: 3%]
Arjun blinked.
"…Only three?"
The Elite Unit tilted its head.
Then raised both arms.
Energy gathered—
denser.
Stronger.
Arjun's instincts snapped.
"Move."
He jumped back.
Twin beams fired.
The street split apart.
Buildings vanished.
The shockwave hit.
Arjun was thrown—
hard.
He slammed into the ground.
Pain followed.
The suit strained.
"…Damn it…"
He forced himself up.
The Elite Unit kept advancing.
Slow.
Certain.
Unstoppable.
Arjun wiped blood from his lip.
"Not yet."
[Combat Analysis Updated]
New data formed.
Attack Delay: 0.8 seconds
Energy Charge: 2.3 seconds
Movement Burst: post-pause
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"…So it's readable."
He adjusted his stance.
"Then I adapt."
The Elite Unit paused—
fractional.
Arjun moved first.
The beam fired—
missed.
The ground behind him vanished instead.
"…Got it."
He fired again—
not center.
The crack.
Direct hit.
It widened.
The Elite Unit staggered again.
[Damage increased: 7%]
"…Better."
Its behavior shifted.
Faster.
More aggressive.
Less controlled.
Arjun smirked slightly.
"…You're adapting."
A breath.
"So am I."
It charged.
Arjun stepped forward—
not back.
Timing.
Pause—
fire.
Direct hit.
The crack spread.
The Elite Unit retaliated instantly.
A punch.
Too fast.
Arjun couldn't fully evade.
Impact—
his shoulder.
He was thrown sideways.
His body hit the wall.
The suit flickered.
[Suit Integrity: 71%]
"…That hurt."
The Elite Unit closed in.
Relentless.
Arjun pushed himself up.
Breathing heavier now—
but steady.
Focused.
"System."
[Yes.]
"If I break that section—"
[Critical probability: 68%]
"…Enough."
The Elite Unit raised its arm again.
Energy surged.
Stronger.
Arjun exhaled.
Decision made.
He switched the rifle.
Overload.
Energy spiked.
The barrel glowed—
unstable.
[Warning: Weapon stability decreasing]
"I know."
The Elite Unit fired.
Arjun moved.
Left.
Right.
Forward.
Closing distance.
The beam grazed past him—
burning the air.
He didn't stop.
Optimal range.
Locked.
The crack.
"End it."
He fired.
A massive blast erupted.
The Elite Unit tried to block—
too late.
Impact.
The cracked armor shattered.
The blast pierced deep.
For the first time—
it reacted.
A distorted sound.
Almost—
pain.
Arjun stepped back.
Breathing heavy.
"…Did that—"
The smoke cleared.
It stood.
Damaged.
Cracked.
But—
still standing.
Its eyes burned brighter.
[WARNING]
Elite Unit entering Second Combat State
Arjun paused.
"…You're kidding."
Its entire body ignited with blue energy.
The ground collapsed beneath it.
The pressure surged.
Heavier.
Crushing.
Arjun tightened his grip.
"…Alright."
He steadied himself.
"…Round three."
This time—
the pressure didn't just increase.
It focused.
Directly on him.
What Changed