The street fell silent.
Arjun stood still, rifle raised, eyes locked onto the Elite Unit at the end of the narrow road.
No screams.
No explosions.
Just pressure.
Heavy.
Crushing.
The Elite Unit took one step forward.
The ground cracked beneath its foot.
Arjun didn't move.
Not yet.
"Stay calm…"
The drone hovered beside him, scanning rapidly.
[Threat Level: Extreme]
Arjun tightened his grip on the plasma rifle.
"…I already know that."
The Elite Unit vanished.
Arjun's body reacted instantly.
He activated Threat Prediction.
A sharp pulse flashed in his vision.
Left.
He moved.
Just in time.
A blue energy strike sliced through the air where he had been standing a fraction of a second ago.
The wall behind him disappeared.
Not shattered.
Gone.
Arjun exhaled sharply.
"Still ridiculous."
The Elite Unit reappeared.
Closer.
Much closer.
Arjun fired.
Three plasma shots.
Fast.
Accurate.
The blasts hit the Elite Unit directly.
For the first time—
It reacted.
It raised one arm.
The energy shield flickered slightly.
Arjun's eyes sharpened.
"…So it does take damage."
The Elite Unit lowered its arm.
Its glowing eyes intensified.
Then it moved again.
Faster than before.
Arjun activated Speed Boost.
His body surged forward.
He didn't retreat.
He charged.
The distance closed instantly.
The Elite Unit raised its arm to strike—
Arjun slid beneath it.
Twisting his body mid-motion—
He fired point-blank.
The plasma blast struck the Elite Unit's torso.
A visible crack appeared on its armor.
The Elite Unit staggered half a step back.
Arjun rolled away and stood up.
"…Good."
The drone spoke.
[Damage registered: 3%]
Arjun blinked.
"…Only three?"
The Elite Unit tilted its head.
Then—
It raised both arms.
Energy gathered.
This time stronger.
Denser.
Arjun's instincts screamed.
"Move!"
He jumped back as two beams fired simultaneously.
The entire street split apart.
Buildings collapsed instantly.
The shockwave threw Arjun off his feet.
He crashed hard into the ground.
Pain shot through his body.
Even the combat suit struggled to absorb the impact.
"…Damn it…"
He forced himself up.
The Elite Unit stepped forward again.
Unstoppable.
Unrushed.
Like it knew the outcome.
Arjun wiped blood from his lip.
"Not yet."
The system flickered.
[Combat Analysis Updated]
New data appeared.
Elite Unit Pattern Detected
Attack Delay: 0.8 seconds
Energy Charge Interval: 2.3 seconds
Movement Burst: Predictable after pause
Arjun's eyes sharpened.
"…So it's not random."
He adjusted his stance.
"Then I can read it."
The Elite Unit paused.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Arjun moved.
Right before it attacked.
The energy beam fired—
Missed.
The ground behind him was erased instead.
"Got it."
He fired again.
This time aiming not at the center—
But at the cracked area from before.
The plasma blast hit.
The crack expanded.
The Elite Unit staggered again.
[Damage increased: 7%]
"Better."
The Elite Unit's movements changed.
It became more aggressive.
Faster.
Less controlled.
Arjun smirked.
"…You're adapting."
Then he added quietly—
"So am I."
The Elite Unit charged.
Arjun didn't retreat.
He stepped forward.
Timing it perfectly.
The moment the Elite Unit paused—
He fired.
Direct hit.
The crack widened further.
The Elite Unit retaliated instantly.
A punch.
Too fast.
Arjun couldn't fully dodge.
The impact struck his shoulder.
He was thrown sideways.
His body slammed into a wall.
The combat suit flickered.
[Warning: Suit Integrity 71%]
Arjun gritted his teeth.
"…That hurt."
The Elite Unit advanced again.
Closer.
Relentless.
Arjun pushed himself up.
Breathing heavier now.
But his eyes remained focused.
Calm.
Calculated.
"System."
[Yes.]
"…If I destroy that cracked area—"
[Probability of critical damage: 68%]
Arjun nodded.
"That's enough."
The Elite Unit raised its arm again.
Energy gathered.
Stronger than before.
Arjun took a deep breath.
This was it.
He adjusted the plasma rifle.
Overload mode.
Energy surged through the weapon.
The barrel glowed intensely.
[Warning: Weapon stability decreasing]
"I know."
The Elite Unit fired.
Arjun moved.
Left.
Then right.
Closing distance.
Faster.
Closer.
Ignoring everything else.
The beam grazed past him—
Burning the air itself.
But he didn't stop.
He reached optimal range.
Aimed directly at the cracked section.
"End this."
He fired.
A massive plasma blast erupted forward.
The Elite Unit tried to block—
Too late.
The attack hit.
The cracked armor shattered.
The blast pierced deep into its core.
For the first time—
The Elite Unit let out a distorted sound.
Almost like—
Pain.
Arjun stepped back.
Breathing heavily.
"…Did it work?"
The smoke slowly cleared.
The Elite Unit stood there.
Damaged.
Cracked.
But—
Still standing.
Its glowing eyes burned brighter than before.
The system flashed urgently.
[WARNING]
Elite Unit entering Second Combat State
Arjun froze for a second.
"…You're kidding."
The Elite Unit's entire body began glowing with intense blue energy.
The ground beneath it started to collapse.
The pressure increased.
Ten times heavier.
Arjun tightened his grip on the rifle.
"…Alright."
He steadied his stance.
"…then round three."