The ground came fast.
Too fast.
For a fraction of a second—
Arjun knew.
Jumping was a mistake.
Then the system responded.
[Adaptive Combat Suit Activated]
The armor tightened instantly.
Thrusters ignited along his back.
His fall slowed—
not stopped.
Controlled.
He hit the ground in a sliding impact.
The pavement cracked beneath his boots as momentum dragged him forward.
Dust rose.
Then—
stillness.
Arjun straightened.
Breathing steady.
"…Okay."
A pause.
"…that worked."
[Combat Drone Online]
The drone beside his shoulder activated, projecting a scanning beam toward the creature ahead.
A new interface appeared.
Target Identified
Hostile Unit: A1
Threat Level: High
Estimated Height: 9.2 meters
Armor Density: Extreme
Weakness: Unknown
Arjun raised the plasma rifle.
It felt light.
Unnaturally light.
But the energy inside it—
vibrated.
Dangerous.
"First day with the system…"
He exhaled.
"…and I'm already in a battle."
The creature roared.
Its glowing blue eyes locked onto him.
It hadn't noticed him before.
Now it had.
The head tilted slightly—
studying him.
Then—
it charged.
Each step shook the ground.
Cracks spread across the street.
Arjun's heartbeat accelerated.
"Right."
A breath.
"No time to prepare."
[Combat Assistance Active]
A targeting reticle appeared over the creature's chest.
He aimed.
Fired.
A burst of plasma shot forward—
slamming into the monster.
Impact.
The creature staggered one step.
No real damage.
Arjun frowned.
"…Not enough."
The monster roared—
and slammed its claw into the ground.
The asphalt shattered.
Concrete fragments launched outward—
fast.
Arjun moved.
Barely.
Debris tore past him.
A car behind him exploded on impact.
"Yeah…"
A short breath.
"That would've ended it."
[Analyzing Enemy Structure…]
The creature lunged again.
Too fast.
A claw tore through the air toward him.
Arjun rolled across the street.
The impact behind him created a crater.
Dust filled the air.
He didn't look back.
Didn't need to.
[Analysis Complete]
Weak Point Detected
Location: Neck Joint
Armor Density: Reduced
A red marker appeared.
Arjun's gaze sharpened.
"…There."
The creature charged again.
Cars crumpled beneath its legs.
Arjun steadied the rifle.
Reticle aligned.
Fired.
One shot.
Two.
Three.
Direct hits.
The armor cracked.
Blue fluid sprayed from the wound.
The creature screamed.
"Got you."
But it didn't fall.
Instead—
its entire body pulsed.
Blue energy spread across its frame.
[WARNING]
Enemy entering Phase Two
Arjun narrowed his eyes.
"…Of course it is."
The creature moved.
Faster.
Too fast.
It vanished—
and reappeared directly in front of him.
Impact.
The claw struck his chest.
Everything went white.
He was thrown across the street—
crashing through the windshield of a parked car.
Glass shattered.
Metal bent inward.
The suit absorbed most of it.
Not all.
Pain hit.
Sharp.
"…Damn."
The creature advanced.
Slow.
Heavy.
Unstoppable.
Each step shook the ground.
Arjun forced himself up.
Breathing steady.
Controlled.
Not panicking.
"System."
A pause.
"Give me something better."
[Combat Recommendation]
Overload Plasma Rifle
Power Output: 300%
Risk: Weapon Destruction
Arjun wiped blood from his lip.
"…One shot, then."
He adjusted the weapon.
Energy surged through the rifle.
The barrel glowed—
unstable.
The creature raised its claw.
Closing distance.
No time left.
Arjun aimed.
At the red marker.
"Let's end this."
He pulled the trigger.
A massive beam erupted forward.
The air distorted around it.
Impact.
The beam tore through the creature's neck—
clean.
Silence.
For a moment—
everything stopped.
Then—
the creature's head separated.
Its body collapsed.
The ground trembled under the impact.
Dust filled the street.
Arjun lowered the rifle slowly.
"…That worked."
[Hostile Unit A1 Eliminated]
Notifications flooded his vision.
+500 Combat Points
+1 Authorization Level
Commander Rank Upgraded
New Rank: E
Arjun stared at the interface.
"…That was fast."
Then—
another message appeared.
[New Alert Detected]
His expression shifted.
Multiple Hostile Units entering city zone
Total Count: 147
Silence.
Arjun looked up.
The warship still hovered above the city.
More creatures—
falling.
Not one.
Not a few.
Dozens.
No—
hundreds.
Arjun exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
He raised the rifle again.
Grip steady.
Eyes focused.
"This wasn't the fight."
A pause.
"It was the beginning."
And this time—
he didn't hesitate.