Ray tightened his grip on the Gloster Jocker, the veins in his hands bulging with the effort. His eyes darted around the factory floor, taking in the sea of glowing red eyes and the metallic bodies advancing toward them. "They're trying to box us in," he muttered, his voice tense. "We need to move. Now."
"Move where?" Miles shot back, his tone edged with panic. He gripped the hilt of his sword, ready for whatever came next. "They've got the whole place surrounded!"
Ray's sharp eyes scanned the room, and he pointed to a long bridge overhead that stretched from one platform to another. The structure wavered in the smoke-filled air, a beacon of escape. "There. We need to get to that bridge."
Miles tilted his head incredulously, motioning toward the mechanical army closing in. "How? In case you haven't noticed, they're everywhere!"
The sound of gears grinding and shifting filled the room as the robots' hands transformed into sleek, menacing guns. The barrels glowed ominously, red energy pulsating with deadly intent.
"They've got you surrounded," Ray said, his voice suddenly calm, almost smug. He looked up at the bridge, his lips curling into a grin. "Not me."
"What the hell do you mean by—" Miles started, but before he could finish, the blue orb embedded in Ray's metallic vest began to spin rapidly. Sparks of energy burst from the device, crackling like lightning. In an instant, Ray's entire body flashed a brilliant blue.
The light dissipated as quickly as it came, and Ray was gone.
Miles craned his neck, following the faint hum of energy above him. There he was—Ray—clinging to the metal railing of the bridge. With a swift motion, he hauled himself over the edge, landing gracefully on the platform.
"Seriously?!" Miles shouted, his frustration bubbling over. "How about a little help down here?"
The robots drew closer, their red eyes locked onto Miles as their weapons charged. He tightened his grip on his sword, taking a deep breath. His mind raced, adrenaline surging as he whispered to himself, "Maybe I can do this. Just like back in the forest."
As if on cue, Miles unsheathed his blade, Fire," Miles commanded, and the sword obeyed. Flames licked at its edges, growing brighter and fiercer as he spoke."
The entire blade erupted in a fiery blaze, casting dancing shadows across the room. The heat was palpable, radiating from the weapon as the flames coiled and crackled around it.
"Whoa, I always love it when does this," Miles whispered, staring at the sword in awe.
But the robots weren't waiting for him to admire his weapon. The first shot fired—a sharp, red laser cutting through the air.
Miles snapped back to reality, swinging his blazing sword in a wide arc. The flames left a brilliant trail as they intercepted the laser, deflecting it harmlessly to the side.
Another shot came, and another. Miles moved with surprising agility, his sword slicing through the air with precision as he blocked each attack. The room lit up in bursts of red and orange, the clash of lasers and flames creating a chaotic symphony.
From above, Ray didn't waste a second. He pulled out his twin Gloster Jockers, the energy-based weapons humming to life in his hands. Aiming, he fired shot after shot, each blast finding its mark. The robots below exploded in showers of sparks and twisted metal, their bodies collapsing to the ground.
"Nice work down there, erm!" Ray shouted, his voice echoing across the cavernous room.
Miles gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his brow as he swung his sword in a tight arc, deflecting another barrage of lasers. "Miles is the name, and you could've told me about the teleportation thing earlier!" he yelled back, his frustration mingling with the adrenaline.
But even with Ray's support, the numbers were overwhelming. Miles spun on his heels, blocking a laser from the left and slashing through the arm of a robot on his right. The flaming blade cut through the metallic limb like butter, sending the severed piece clattering to the floor.
Then it happened.
One shot slipped through.
The red laser struck Miles square in the shoulder, searing through his coat and burning his flesh beneath. He staggered, a sharp cry escaping his lips as pain flared through his arm. The flaming sword faltered in his grip, the fire dimming slightly.
"Miles!" Ray's voice rang out, sharp and urgent.
Miles clutched his shoulder, gritting his teeth against the pain. His coat smouldered where the laser had hit, the fabric curling and blackening around the wound. But he didn't stop.
"Hang on!" Ray shouted from above. He aimed with both Gloster Jockers, the weapons glowing brightly as he fired a rapid volley of shots. The blasts rained down on the remaining robots, tearing through their ranks with precise, calculated strikes.
The floor around Miles was littered with broken metal and smoking circuitry, the mechanical army reduced to sparking wreckage.
Panting heavily, Miles glanced up at Ray, his vision slightly blurred from the adrenaline and pain. "Thanks for the assist," he called, his voice strained.
"Don't mention it, I still need your help getting to Page," Ray replied with a smirk as he reloaded his weapons. "Now, get up here before more of them show up!"
Miles climbed onto the platform, his breath heavy but determined. The searing pain in his shoulder throbbed with every movement, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on. There was no time to slow down.
"So, where are we heading now?" Miles asked, his voice steady despite the exhaustion creeping in.
Ray pointed to the far end of the platform. A white door stood there, its once-pristine surface now marred by soot and grime from the explosions. The faint glow of flickering light from behind the door gave it an ominous aura.
"That way," Ray said, his voice clipped. Then his tone turned icy. "You'd better hope Page isn't hurt. If she is, I'll kill you first—and then El."
Miles bristled at the threat but didn't flinch. "She's not hurt," he said firmly, his voice carrying an edge of conviction. "I'm sure of it."
They approached the door cautiously. Ray went in first, his Gloster Jocker raised and ready. The dim room was illuminated only by the erratic flickering of an overhead light. Shadows danced across the walls, creating an eerie, unstable atmosphere.
"Page!" Ray called out, his voice echoing slightly. "Are you here?"
Miles stepped in, closing the door quietly behind him. His gaze darted around the room, his instincts on high alert.
A sharp, repetitive beeping sound broke the silence. It came from a corner of the room, where a drawer sat slightly ajar. The faint blue glow of a flickering light pulsed in time with the sound.
Ray narrowed his eyes and approached the drawer, his fingers twitching as he reached for the handle. But before he could pull it open, the drawer slammed shut with a loud thud, hitting him squarely on the nose.
"Ah! What the—?!" Ray stumbled back, clutching his face.
Suddenly, a figure leapt out from behind the drawer, her eyes squeezed shut and her arms raised protectively. "You won't take me or my machine!" Page yelled, her voice cracking with desperation.
In her hands, she clutched a small, spherical device. The ball emitted a steady beep, the blue light on its surface flickering rapidly.
"Page! What the hell?! It's me, Ray!" Ray barked, lowering his weapon and rubbing his sore nose.
Page froze mid-stride, her eyes fluttering open in disbelief. Her gaze darted to Ray, recognition dawning on her face. "Ray?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "You're… you're safe?"
Ray grabbed her arm before she could bolt toward the door on her left. "Yeah, it's me," he said gruffly. "And I'm fine. But you need to stop jumping out of drawers like a maniac."
Relief washed over Page's face for a brief moment before her expression crumpled. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over as she choked out her words. "The others… the others in the Paranormal Brilliance crew… they're gone."
Ray's jaw tightened, his grip on her arms firm but steady. "I know," he said softly. "But we don't have time to mourn right now. We need to get out of here."
The beeping from the device in Page's hands grew louder, the blue light flickering more intensely.
"Okay, what's with that thing?" Ray asked, motioning to the device.
Page sniffled, wiping her tears with her sleeve. "It's the Transverse Finder," she explained, her voice shaky. "I don't know why it's beeping like this. I think is because I dropped it earlier."
Miles, who had been standing silently, stepped closer to Page. His gaze locked onto the device, and his brow furrowed. "Is that the machine El's after?" he asked, his voice cautious.
Page glanced at him, then back to the ball. As Miles moved closer, the beeping intensified, the blue light flickering wildly.
Page's eyes widened in disbelief. She took a small step back, her hands trembling as she held the device tighter. "You…" Her voice faltered, her gaze fixed on Miles. "You're also from the Outworld."