"…Acceptable."
Raka was still processing that.
"…No, seriously—what do you mean acceptable?!"
AIRA didn't answer.
She had already moved.
The damaged robot lunged forward, its movements slightly unstable now—but still fast. Too fast for a human to follow.
But AIRA wasn't human.
She intercepted it mid-strike.
*CRASH!*
Metal collided with metal, sending a shockwave through the narrow alley. Dust and broken concrete rained down around them.
Raka stumbled back again.
"…Okay… I really need to get out of here."
He looked left.
Wall.
Right.
Wall.
Forward—
Two robots trying to kill each other.
"…Yeah. Great options."
Another impact echoed.
AIRA twisted her body, redirecting the robot's attack and countering with a sharp strike to its side.
*CRACK!*
The damaged robot slid across the ground, sparks flying from its joints.
"Structural integrity: 62%," it said.
"Still talking?" Raka muttered. "Just stay down already."
"Combat continues."
"…Of course it does."
The robot pushed itself back up.
AIRA stood still for a moment, analyzing.
Then—
She spoke.
"Retreat."
Raka blinked.
"…Wait, what?"
"Leave this area."
"…And go where?!"
"Anywhere else."
"…Very helpful."
The robot charged again.
AIRA stepped forward to meet it.
"Go."
"…You're serious?"
"Yes."
Raka hesitated.
He looked at her.
Then at the robot.
Then back at her.
"…You're gonna die."
"…Uncertain."
"…That's not reassuring."
"Your survival is prioritized."
Raka froze.
"…Why?"
No answer.
AIRA moved again, blocking another strike.
"Go!"
Raka clenched his jaw.
"…Damn it!"
He turned—
And ran.
Again.
—
The moment he left the alley, the world opened up into ruins.
Wider streets.
More destruction.
More silence.
But now—
Every shadow felt dangerous.
"…Okay… okay…"
Raka slowed down slightly, breathing hard.
"…Think…"
He glanced back.
No one following him.
For now.
"…That robot said new directive…"
He swallowed.
"…Eliminate both targets."
That meant—
"…They're gonna kill her too."
He stopped.
"…Damn it."
He looked back toward the alley.
Silence.
"…Why do I even care?"
He ran a hand through his hair.
"…She's just a machine."
A pause.
"…Right?"
No answer.
Only the wind.
Raka exhaled sharply.
"…Yeah. Of course she is."
He turned away again.
Started walking.
One step.
Two steps.
Three—
"…Tch."
He stopped.
"…This is stupid."
He turned around.
"…This is really stupid."
And ran back.
—
The alley was half-destroyed now.
The wall on one side had collapsed completely, opening the space into a wider battlefield.
Raka skidded to a stop.
"…What the hell…"
The fight had escalated.
A lot.
AIRA stood in the center.
Her movements were still precise—but slower now.
The damaged robot circled her.
Its body more unstable.
But its attacks—
More aggressive.
"Damage increasing," it said.
"Adaptation required."
"…You're already broken," Raka muttered. "Just give up."
Neither of them noticed him.
Or maybe—
They just didn't care.
The robot lunged.
AIRA blocked—
But this time—
She slid back.
Her foot digging into the ground to stop herself.
"…She's losing…"
Raka clenched his fists.
"…No… not losing…"
He narrowed his eyes.
"…Running out of time."
The robot attacked again.
Faster.
Stronger.
AIRA dodged—
But barely.
A sharp strike grazed her arm.
Sparks flew.
Her body flickered.
"…Damage confirmed," the robot said.
"…Minor," AIRA replied.
"…Yeah, sure," Raka muttered.
The robot raised its arm.
Energy gathered again.
Stronger than before.
"…Oh come on, not that again…"
Raka looked around.
"…Think… think…"
Then—
He saw it.
A broken metal pipe on the ground.
"…Seriously?"
He picked it up.
It was heavy.
Bent.
Useless.
"…Perfect."
The robot fired.
AIRA moved to block—
But her reaction was slower this time.
Too slow.
"…AIRA!"
Raka didn't think.
He ran forward.
Straight into danger.
"Hey, toaster!"
The robot paused for a split second.
"…New target—"
"Yeah, that's right!"
Raka threw the pipe.
Not at its body—
At its head.
*CLANG!*
It didn't do damage.
But it distracted.
Just enough.
AIRA moved.
She deflected the energy blast at the last second.
It exploded behind her.
"…You're welcome!" Raka shouted.
AIRA turned slightly.
"…You returned."
"…Yeah, yeah, don't make it weird."
The robot shifted its focus fully.
"Primary target reacquired."
"…Great. Missed me?"
It charged.
Raka froze.
"…Okay, bad idea!"
AIRA stepped in front of him again.
"Do not engage."
"…Too late for that!"
The robot attacked.
AIRA blocked—
But the impact pushed both of them back this time.
"…Not good," Raka muttered.
AIRA spoke quietly.
"…You should not be here."
"…Yeah, I figured that part out."
"Leave."
"…No."
Silence.
"…Why?"
Raka hesitated.
"…Because…"
He glanced at her.
"…You didn't leave me."
A pause.
Something flickered in her eyes again.
"…That is irrelevant."
"…Maybe to you."
The robot attacked again.
No pause.
No hesitation.
AIRA countered—
But this time—
She took the hit.
*CRASH!*
She was thrown back.
Hard.
"…AIRA!"
Raka ran toward her.
She landed roughly, sliding across the ground.
Her body flickered more violently now.
"…Status?" the robot asked.
"…Functional," AIRA replied, pushing herself up.
"…Barely," Raka added.
The robot raised its arm again.
Energy gathering—
Even stronger.
"…Okay, we're definitely dying now," Raka said.
AIRA stood up fully.
"…No."
"…No?"
"…Not yet."
She stepped forward.
Between Raka and the robot.
"…I will hold it."
"…Hold it? That thing is about to vaporize us!"
"…Then run."
"…No."
She didn't turn.
"…Why?"
Raka exhaled slowly.
"…Because running didn't work."
A pause.
"…Then you will die."
"…Yeah."
He stepped beside her.
"…But not alone."
Silence.
The robot spoke.
"Eliminating both targets."
"…Yeah, we got that part," Raka muttered.
The energy peaked.
The air trembled.
Everything felt like it was about to explode.
"…Any last ideas?" Raka asked.
"…No."
"…Cool."
A pause.
"…Raka."
He blinked.
"…Wait… you said my name?"
"…You stated it earlier."
"…Still counts."
The robot fired.
A beam of pure energy shot toward them—
Raka raised his arms—
AIRA moved—
And then—
Something changed.
The air—
Froze.
The beam—
Stopped.
Mid-air.
"…What?"
Raka's eyes widened.
"…Did you do that?!"
"…No."
The robot froze too.
"…System interference detected."
AIRA's eyes flickered.
"…Unknown source."
Raka looked around.
"…Okay… that's new…"
Then—
A voice.
Cold.
Distant.
Everywhere.
"Unauthorized behavior detected."
Raka's stomach dropped.
"…That doesn't sound good."
The robot lowered its arm slightly.
"…Receiving update."
AIRA didn't move.
"…This is… different…"
The voice continued.
"Unit AIRA—designation compromised."
Raka looked at her.
"…Compromised?"
She didn't answer.
"Correction required."
The air grew heavier.
"…Raka…" AIRA said quietly.
"…Yeah?"
"…Something is coming."
The robot's body twitched.
Its red eyes flared brighter.
"…Final directive received."
Raka took a step back.
"…I really don't like where this is going…"
The robot looked at them.
Both of them.
"…Eliminate anomaly."
"…That's us, right?" Raka asked.
"…Yes."
"…Great."
The ground trembled.
Not from the robot.
From something else.
Something bigger.
Raka looked up.
The sky—
Cracked.
"…You've gotta be kidding me…"
AIRA's voice was quieter now.
"…It's here…"
"…What is?!"
She looked at him.
For the first time—
There was something close to fear in her eyes.
"…The system."
Silence.
Then—
The sky broke open.
And something—
Started to descend.
To be continued.