Explosions and crashes echoed everywhere. Building debris and shards of metal littered the ground around them. Dust hung thick in the air, forming a gray haze that choked the lungs. In the middle of the chaotic battlefield, two figures stood firm, their bodies drenched in sweat and stained with blood: Sofia and Altair.
The Tyrant stood not far from them, its heavy breathing sounding like the thrum of an old engine. Its massive body appeared almost unscathed, though a few wounds from explosions and slashes marked its surface. But its strength wasn't the most infuriating thing—it was that mocking smile. As if this was all a game. As if they were mere puppets, here solely for its amusement.
Sofia's team and Raijin's team had fought with all they had. But now… they could only hold the line.
Altair slammed his electric staff to the ground, sending a shockwave that pushed the Tyrant back slightly. But the reaction was brief. It quickly returned to its original stance, raising one hand as if to strike down anyone foolish enough to approach.
"This can't go on," Altair muttered, panting. "If we stay here... everyone dies for nothing."
Sofia touched her damaged shoulder guard. Her hand trembled—not from fear, but from tension. Her body bore the strain of repeated healing magic. But she knew, one wrong move... and it would all be over.
Suddenly, Altair turned toward the remaining military soldiers behind them.
"RETREAT!!" he shouted, his voice booming louder than the earlier explosions.
But... no one moved.
Some only stood frozen, eyes wide in fear. Their weapons were gripped tightly, but none had the will to pull the trigger. They had lost half their team, lost their captain, lost their fighting spirit. What remained now was a primal survival instinct... that left them paralyzed.
Altair clicked his tongue in frustration. "Cowards!"
Sofia raised her hand, her voice softer but resolute. "All of you, fall back now. We'll hold this creature off. Go—before more lives are lost!"
One by one, they began to move. Then others followed. Viktor, Rina, Kamil, Dito, Yuna, Vivi—they, from Sofia's team, started pulling soldiers back one by one. Members of Team Raijin also moved swiftly, guarding the retreat path. It took time and a bit of force, but eventually the remaining group was pulled out of the combat zone.
The Tyrant noticed the movement... but did nothing. It simply stood still, its glowing red eyes fixed on Sofia and Altair who remained behind.
"He knows we won't leave until everyone's safe," Sofia whispered, tightening her grip.
"He's toying with us," Altair replied, his expression dark. "Testing how long we can last. Holding, not fighting."
The Tyrant took a step forward. The ground beneath cracked.
Sofia and Altair immediately blocked its attack together, combining light magic and electricity. The impact pushed them back nearly five meters, but they didn't fall. They stood once more, like two final walls separating total destruction from survival.
The Tyrant raised its fist again, but... didn't strike.
It stopped.
Suddenly, the massive creature turned away, then walked off without a word. It slowly stepped behind the ruins... and vanished—just like that.
Sofia and Altair stood still. Their breathing was heavy, their chests heaving rapidly. Not from fear—but from exhaustion and disbelief.
"...He left?" Altair murmured.
"Like... he was mocking us," Sofia answered softly, her eyes still fixed on the spot where the Tyrant disappeared.
No one followed. No sound remained. Only silence wrapped around them after the storm.
At last, they too retreated, heading to the predetermined emergency rendezvous point. An abandoned building that once served as a small-town police station now became their temporary base.
Inside, the surviving teams gathered. Some soldiers sat on the floor, tending to their wounds. Others just sat still, unable to process what had happened. Many faces were gone—faces that smiled and joked just hours ago, now reduced to names and memories.
Altair immediately opened his communicator and contacted command.
"This is Altair. Zephyr Unit reporting."
Static sounded briefly before General Reinhart's voice came through. "We read you. Report, Captain."
"The Tyrant struck first. We lost one of the vehicles within seconds. Captain Ivan is KIA. We tried to hold and re-form, managed to push it back for a while. But... that was part of its tactic. When we let our guard down, it shattered the formation and massacred the military. Our teams managed to pull the survivors out. When only Sofia and I remained, the Tyrant... stopped. It left on its own."
Silence.
Reinhart didn't respond right away. But when his voice returned, it was heavier in tone.
"Understood. Heavy losses, but this intel... is crucial. You survived. That's what matters."
Sofia lowered her head slightly as Altair ended the transmission.
"I feel... like I failed," she said quietly.
"No," Altair replied. "We did what we had to. We protected the lives we could. Not every battle is won with blood and glory. Sometimes, victory is just being able to stand."
Sofia nodded, though the weight in her heart remained. She looked at her team—Viktor bandaging Dito's wounded arm, Rina healing Yuna's twisted ankle, Kamil cleaning his weapon, and Vivi leaning against the wall, clutching her shield to her chest.
They were all still alive. Still whole.
But... for how long?
Outside, the sun began to set. The sky turned orange.