As soon as the group of people ran towards their shelter’s area, it was immediately noticed by the scouts monitoring the surroundings.
So even without Rene’s information, Kai was already aware of what was going on.
"Good decision..." Kai muttered after realizing that Rene chose to deploy those smoke grenades.
He then watched as plumes curled across the garbage field through the periscope.
"Six humans... and eight Sentinels, huh."
Kai frowned as he saw the silhouettes of the Sentinels advance. He had no time to hesitate. They need to quickly prepare for battle.
"Wallace, Ralph... revolvers ready. Inform Rene to keep the smoke grenades going. We’ll lure them into the traps." Kai ordered as he also readied himself to join the battle outside.
"At least those Sentinels weren’t carrying human captives." Claire muttered as she looked through the periscope.
"That’s true. We can just focus on shooting them." Victor added.
He had actually just finished analysing some of the materials they looted and had given his report to Kai. He was about to return to the store room when this happened.
"Should I join you?" Victor asked before Kai could leave.
"No need. Just try to make those rifles work... But thanks for the information about the Energy Cell. We can handle this." Kai replied before finally leaving with the team.
Soon, they were outside the underground shelter, hidden behind the smoke created by Rene’s team, who had already retreated.
The fire traps were already primed... There were oil-soaked rags, bedding stuffed into cracks, plastics layered over wood, all smeared with grease.
One spark, and the fire trap would become a furnace.
Through the smoke, Kai saw them... the six survivors. Three men, three women, all of them wore the familiar Tier 1 Survivor Gear, and looking so desperate.
The men had revolvers in their hands while the women carried nothing as they ran as fast as they could.
"Go!" one of the men shouted, pushing the women ahead. "Run through the smoke! Humans are there... A shelter must be nearby! We’ll hold them off!"
Kai frowned as he saw the situation.
They were still too far, so helping them was not possible. Even shooting at the Sentinels could be dangerous and hit the Survivors instead.
They could only watch as the three men turned with their revolvers raised, firing into the advancing Sentinels.
The shots echoed across the garbage field. Soon, they saw sparks flying as bullets struck the Sentinels’ metal body.
For a moment, it seemed they might hold the machines back.
But then the Sentinels raised their rifles and shot a beam of energy!
Thud!
One man fell instantly, his left foot burned through. Another tried moving away, but a second blast dropped him after getting hit on his arm that was holding the revolver.
Soon, the third man screamed and emptied his revolver into a Sentinel’s head casing, but the machine’s armor held.
However, a shot from the advanced rifle stopped him...
"Aacck!"
He was also hit on his arm!
Kai’s jaw clenched.
’Are they planning to capture them?’
He immediately realized that the Sentinels weren’t planning to kill the three. Although they received grievous injuries, they were still alive!
However, if not treated any time soon, those three would die for sure.
In the meantime, the three women stumbled through the smoke and cried...
"Help us!"
"We’ll do anything! Please save Michael! Save them too!"
"I have a Talent that can help with making weapons! Please accept us!"
Kai was already planning to accept them, so he immediately sent Russel to guide the three through the secret tunnel. However, Russel must also guard them, just in case.
"Cover them!" Kai shouted as they made sure to make noise and disrupt the enemies.
Soon, Wallace and Ralph joined him...
At this point, Kai’s mind was already calculating.
Victor had told him just a few moments ago that Sentinel’s rifles had limited energy.
According to the energy cell of the Rifle that they had looted, it could only fire 20 times at maximum energy.
Once the rifles were out of the picture, dealing with the Sentinels would be a lot easier.
"Hold the line," Kai muttered. "Make them waste their fire."
Rene hurled another smoke grenade, and the cloud started thickening.
As they moved within the smoke, the Sentinels fired blindly. Their beams were still slicing through the haze, but it was striking nothing.
Each shot just drained their reserves!
"Draw them in!" Kai shouted.
The team fell back toward the traps, firing their revolvers to bait the machines. The Sentinels followed, while their rifles continued spitting beams.
It was getting more and more dangerous! However, the smoke forced them to move into clearer areas, exactly where Kai wanted them.
"Now!" He shouted as Kai lit the first trap.
Flames roared to life, consuming the pile of plastics and bedding.
Thankfully, three Sentinels stepped directly into the blaze, and it didn’t take that long as the fire consumed them!
The team cheered, seeing that the three were trapped and couldn’t get out.
Unfortunately, there were more of them!
The five other Sentinels who weren’t caught in the trap attacked!
"Keep moving!" Kai reminded.
Wallace fired his revolver, striking a Sentinel’s shoulder joint. Ralph’s shot ricocheted off a casing.
Still, the machines advanced and seemed unstoppable!
However, as they kept firing while using the smoke as a cover, it didn’t take long before the energy rifles of the Sentinels lost their power!
As soon as Kai noticed this, he gave his command!
"Charge!"