Irong Fetches would never be caught 'off guard'.
But even the process of visual system detection, logical calculation, command transmission, and mechanical response... all of these still required time.
And time was exactly what they didn't have.
Her laser-emitting eyes had already started moving downward, toward Anat, but as the lasers burned a hole into the pockmarked shoulder armor of Anat, the light abruptly stopped.
Because Anat's chainsaw sword arrived faster than even his roar of rage.
The roaring chainsaw blade, filled with fury as if returning from hell itself, struck Irong Fetches's mechanical spider body with a solid blow. The external metal defense shell could not stop the chainsaw sword; amidst a shower of sparks, a vast fissure was cut open, revealing the crackling electric light inside.
This directly led to a problem in the energy supply of Irong Fetches's entire body, and at the two places with the highest energy consumption: the energy shield and the high-energy beams emitted from her eyes, both abruptly cut off.
The next moment, Anat let go of his chainsaw sword and, summoning strength in his legs, leaped up, grabbing Irong Fetches's slender neck with one hand.
Her mouth opened slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but Anat ignored her completely and, with a sudden burst of strength, yanked to the side, snapping Irong Fetches's neck outright!
Her attractive head fell by Anat's feet, then was ruthlessly crushed under his crimson iron boot. With that forceful stomp, the head exploded into a mess of parts on the ground.
Afterward, Anat pulled out the chainsaw sword embedded in the spider's body and swung it wildly, dismembering the machine into pieces within a matter of seconds.
"Alright! Alright! Alright!" A comrade-in-arms who had caught up grabbed Anat's shoulder.
Anat, gasping for breath, turned around and saw it was Raman Kuwas.
He had just managed to save Kuwas.
But now, Kuwas seemed concerned.
He had been calling for Anat over the communicator earlier, but Anat had already taken off his helmet, and it seemed he had lost his earpiece too, unable to hear. Kuwas had no choice but to approach him.
To him, Anat's state was worrisome.
The earlier battle seemed normal at first.
But later on, Anat's chainsaw sword maniacally dismembered the spider machine, evidently losing control of his state of mind.
This was not the behavior expected from a calm interstellar warrior.
Kuwas asked, "What happened to you?"
Anat, breathing heavily, seemed somewhat bewildered.
Had he just felt completely engulfed by a fierce rage, his mind filled with nothing but desires to destroy, to demolish, to annihilate, as if devoid of all reason?
And now, as these feelings ebbed away like the tide, he felt an overwhelming weakness and a very intense pain all over his body.
He lowered his head to glance at his armor, which was severely damaged.
Sitting slumped on the ground, he didn't pay much attention to that. He said to Kuwas, "Never mind that, just go and complete our mission."
Kuwas indeed didn't say anything more; he knew now was not the time to worry about a comrade-in-arms' injuries. Although the drones were gone and the spider-shaped mechanical monster had been destroyed, there were still many cyborgs around. Like headless flies, acting on basic combat logic, they continued to reinforce the area relentlessly.
The other three interstellar warriors formed a defensive line to hold back the enemy.
Moreover, their situation wasn't much better. Aside from Anat himself, the other two brothers-in-arms who had charged with him lay fallen not far away.
The situation had to be resolved quickly and could not be delayed any longer. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire
Kurse gritted his teeth, turned, and left to retrieve thermite bombs from the bodies of the two fallen brothers-in-arms.
Clutching a bomb in one hand, he walked toward the missile silo. The pre-designated installation spot had already been communicated to him through the combat comm system. He set the timer on the two bombs, installed them in the correct positions, and then turned and left again.
After finding Anat again, Kuvas saw that the temporary squad leader had regained some strength and stood up, which was a relief.
"We won't leave any brother behind," Anat said.
Kuvas nodded silently and joined Anat at the side of the two downed Phoenix warriors. Each of them lifted one and began dragging them towards the evacuation point.
The other three warriors quickly surrounded them, pouring fire into their surroundings to defend their brothers as they retreated to the perimeter.
The evacuation route was the very path they had carved during their assault, where the bunkers had already been taken out.
However, the number of modified human soldiers closing in on them was increasing.
It was just bullets, which would have been manageable, but the appearance of enemies with rocket launchers and hand grenades could not be ignored.
Moreover, even the most ordinary bullets were now lethal—Anat had lost his helmet.
With a helmet on one side and supporting a fallen brother with the other, Kuvas fired at the enemy while also calling Wind Falcon over the built-in communication channel in his helmet.
"We've completed the mission and are breaking through to the designated evacuation point, but we have casualties and are surrounded by the enemy. We request air support," he called.
"Wind Falcon received. The new evacuation point has been adjusted and will be closer to you. Air support is on the way; hang in there," came the reply.
"Phoenix Squad received."
After the communication was over, Kuvas was still full of doubts, but now was not the time to ask questions; they had to reach the evacuation point first.
Fortunately, they didn't encounter any major issues along the way, especially after Wind Falcon arrived. By providing continuous strafing runs along the secure channel they had opened on the ground and facing weak anti-air fire, it helped alleviate a lot of pressure for the interstellar warriors.
Eventually, they successfully reached the evacuation point and all boarded a Wind Falcon that was waiting there. They took off, leaving the area behind.
Once on the aircraft, back in a safe environment, they finally had the opportunity to check the condition of the other two warriors they had dragged back.
The outlook was not optimistic.
They weren't dead, but their armor was severely damaged, and their bodies inside, though protected, were critically wounded. Heavy blood loss and brain damage had left them comatose.
The medical systems integrated into their armor, which should have been active, had failed to function because these devices were the first to be damaged.
But fortunately, they had not died on the spot.
That was the best news. Brought back with medical assistance, given the superhuman physiques of the interstellar warriors, they should be able to recover.
First, he gave his brothers two injections to sustain their vital signs. After finishing these tasks, Kuvas finally had a moment to turn to Anat with the question he had been holding back:
"What exactly happened back there?"
The question was loaded with meaning.
Why did you go crazy towards the end? Why were the other two brothers blown away, but you seemed to be fine?
But Anat looked perplexed.
He didn't know how to respond.