The tunnel roared with mechanical fury .
Kai gripped the energy blade tightly, it's blue light casting harsh shadow along the cracked subway wall.
Beside him lune was already moving smooth, efficient, deadly.
From the darkness ahead, the first enemy
emerged.
A mecha drone twisted and spidery skittered along the wall and ceiling.its metal limbs clicked sharply against the stone.red sensors locked onto kai flashing dangerously.
Don't hesitate! Lune shouted.
Kai movie instinctively, driven by something deeper than thought he lunged forward, slashing the glowing blade across the creature front.
Sparks exploded
The drone screeched , part flying as it collected.
( Enemy defeated: +50 xp)
( Skill: energy blade mastery Lv. 2)
The system cold voice echoed in his mind but kai had no time to celebrate.
More drone poured from the tunnel large ones now their bodies armored their weapons limbs snapping open.
Lune took the lead , unloading precise bursts from her rifle blade hybrid each shot struck with brutal efficiency joint sensors power cores.
Kai stuck close to her side blocking blows and counterattaching .
His movments grew Sharper with every swing,his body adjusting to the weapon weight the flow of battle .
But even with their growing skill the tide seemed endless.
They're sending scavenger pack lune called over the noise.they strip everything flesh , bone, metal!"
Kai grit his teeth and swung his blade in a wide arc clearing two drone in half one leapt from the ceiling and Lune intercepted it mid air with a slicing shot that split it down the middle.
Breathing heavily, kai realized something terrifying.
He loved this.
The adrenaline the danger, the clarity of the movement it made him feel more alive than he ever had in his old world.
[ New trait unlocked: battle instinct Lv. 1 ]
The system announcement barely registered as he fought stepping between crumbling pillars dodging incoming strikes , countering with vicious precision.
Finally, after what felt like hours but could have only been minutes the last drone sparked and crumbled to the ground.
Silence reclaimed the tunnel, broken only by the distance rumbled of the world above .
kai sagged against the wall, panting. His arms trembled from exhaustion, but his heart pounded with victory.
Lune surveyed the wreckage nodding slightly.
Not bad rookie she said reloading her weapon.most don't survive their first real battle.
Kai forced a smile , wiping sweat from his forehead.
' thanks.... I think.
Above them, the ruined city ground under it own weight.
somewhere bigger.
Stronger.
More deadly.
Lune met kai eyes, her expression grim.
This was just the beginning, she said.
If you want to live if you want to win you'll have to become something much more.
Kai tightened his grip on his energy blade.
He didn't know what the future held.
But he wasn't planning on dying in a forgotten tunnel.
Not any more.