163 REACHING SILVER CITY
The monster didn't wait.
It lumbered forward, each step gouging deep craters into the scorched earth. Then, without hesitation, it fired.
Two plasma charges screamed through the air, tearing open the sky. Damen twisted midair, but one blast clipped his side.
"Arrgghh!"
"Damnit, I got hit", Damen shouted to complain.
Pain seared through him as he crashed to the ground, the impact sending dirt and ash erupting around him. The shockwave warped the air with heat.
Parts of his skin blistered and peeled from the plasma, though it hadn't burned deep.
"Big Brother!" Kail's voice crackled through the comms, panicked.
"Don't worry," Damen grunted, forcing himself up. "I'm not dead yet."
The Scorched Boss' plasma cannons were powerful—about Rank B in meta intensity—but Damen's armor was tougher. Rank BB protection could take a few more hits without cracking.
The creature hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing.
It hadn't expected Damen to survive.
For a brief moment, both predator and prey studied each other, recalculating.
Then the Scorched Boss reared its head, its mechanical jaws widening as a thunderous metallic roar split the air. Energy built within its twin cannons again, the glow blindingly bright.
Damen reacted instantly.
"Come on", he screamed.
In a blur, he Flash-Dashed forward. His fist slammed upward into the monster's jaw, snapping it shut. A spiral of vortex and electricity erupted from his arm—
Boom!
The unstable plasma detonated, the explosion hurling heat and debris across the field and tearing apart the tramway behind them.
The Boss staggered, its metal hides smoking from the burn.
"Got you", Damen screamed in excitement.
The creature shook itself, wounded but far from beaten.
Their strength was nearly equal. This was gearing up to be a long fight.
Then…
From above, two figures streaked through the clouds.
They wore sleek, color-coded combat suits and stylized masks. They were Meta Heroes, the guardians of the train lines.
Damen caught them with a glance.
"Rank B heroes," he muttered.
Twin lassos of energy shot from their hands, wrapping around the Scorched Boss's limbs and dragging it back.
"Rawwwr!" The creature bellowed, thrashing violently.
"This one's strong!" one of the heroes shouted. "Requesting backup from HQ—", he screamed to his comms.
"Help's already here," Damen cut in.
He lunged forth, his strike hammering into the Boss's neck—the weak point.
The blow crushed its plating inward.
Echoes of his Thunder Crush rippled through, doubling and redoubling the impact with each echo.
Damen didn't stop.
He struck again and again, until the neck twisted unnaturally and the creature collapsed with a metallic groan.
Silence followed.
The heroes released their lassos and floated down, surveying the wreckage.
"Which division are you from?" one asked. "How did you get here before us?"
"I'm not with any division," Damen replied.
The other frowned. "You're… not registered? Don't tell me you're one of the tourists?"
"I guess you could say that."
Their suspicion was palpable. Every meta-hero had to be registered in Silver city—operating outside the system was illegal.
"Show your Hero ID."
Damen sighed and waved his hand, summoning his holographic tag.
"I'm just a student. Heading to Silver City to register for college." He showed them his admission letter.
"Silver City University of Meta Science?" the hero said, eyebrows rising. "You are another college genius, huh? No wonder you could take down that beast."
Damen only smiled.
"Go back to your train. We'll handle the cleanup," the hero said. "But you won't get credit for this kill—you're not a registered hero yet."
"Fair enough." Damen nodded and turned back.
When he stepped onto the train, the passengers erupted in applause.
Damen froze, a little embarrassed—but couldn't help smiling.
For the first time in his life, he'd actually been a hero.
-----
The train continued its journey for many hours. This time, no one suggested stopping at the farm pods along the track—the risk was too great.
"Don't wake me up on the farm stops please", Damen warned them.
Damen thought back to the battle while resting.
The Scorched Boss had been strong—equal in raw power to him—but Damen had never truly been outmatched. He was faster, sharper, and more efficient.
Even without invoking his Annunakin form, he'd still dominated the creature.
He knew the reason.
The Cores he had assimilated had transformed him—his speed, perception, and power now far surpassed ordinary Rank Bs.
If he had to guess, he was invincible within his rank—perhaps even capable of defeating a Rank BB with the right strategy.
Eventually, they saw it on the horizon: an enormous dome of forcefield encasing a metropolis so vast that their mouths fell open in awe.
Airships and planes streaked across the skyline of Silver City, coming and going in endless streams. The sky above was alive—crowded with gliders, drones, and shuttles—a sight unheard of in Melrose City.
If a flight ever passed over Melrose, it vanished before anyone even noticed. But here, the air buzzed with constant motion.
"How are there so many towers and airplanes?" Kail asked, with his eyes wide.
"Don't act like a farm boy when you get in there," Zairgid warned. "Melrose City compared to this place is like a countryside outpost."
Although both shared the title of city, Melrose was little more than a provincial town beside this colossal hub.
Damen stared through the train window, his heart racing.
"This… this is where I belong."
He activated his Mining View.
The two heroes who had helped him defeat the Scorched Boss appeared on screen, their energy were being mined….and their pay was enormous.
"In this city," Damen mused, "I can mine Rank B, BB, maybe even Rank A continuously. My coin stash will skyrocket."
Hours later, the train finally pulled into Silver City's terminal. The group disembarked and joined the long line at customs.
The officers' faces were cold, expressionless; their eyes tracked each passenger as though they were carrying disease.
"The people here aren't friendly," Liorea whispered.
"Big cities lose their charm," Zairgid replied softly.
Even Zairgid, who usually carried authority wherever he went, had to wait in line. When he handed over his documents, the officer barely glanced at him…there was no smile, and no acknowledgment.
Aukouma Industry meant little here.
At last, they passed through the painstaking inspection and entered the welcoming hall. A crowd stood waiting, holding a large banner that read:
"Welcome, CEO Zairgid, Aukouma Industry to Silver City!"
They walked toward it—but as they drew closer, their expressions darkened.
Standing at the center of the group, smiling faintly, was someone they least expected.
Arom Aukouma—Zairgid's uncle.
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