Chapter 9: I will cleave our way path,,

She stood firmly, even after being struck by the massive arm of the robot, which sent her hurtling to the ground with tremendous force. Haruka struggled to catch her breath, her chest rising and falling with each labored inhale. Her grip on the sword tightened as she steadied herself, determined not to let the pain break her resolve. She was about to make her move, to run, but then the missiles, laser beams, and bullets came at her from all directions, faster than the speed of sound.

The attack was overwhelming, each strike coming from her own direction at once, all aimed with deadly precision. The sheer volume and speed of the assault shocked her. There was no way she could deflect everything in time. Her teeth clenched in frustration as she bit her lip.

Suddenly, a text box appeared in her vision, its message flashing urgently:

"Warning, an urgent announcement. Please choose 2 special abilities from the following: A. Telekinesis B. Regeneration C. Telepathy."

Haruka’s eyes widened in shock. She didn’t have time to process it fully, but the weight of the situation made her decision clear. Telekinesis was her best option to counter the incoming barrage, and Regeneration was essential after the brutal attack she had just endured. There was no time to hesitate.

She spoke quickly, her voice tight with urgency:
“Please, I choose Telekinesis and Regeneration. Apply these abilities to me now.”

As the words left her mouth, a surge of energy coursed through her body. The outline of her form began to glow, and she could feel the power flooding her, repairing the damage to her body and mind in an instant. Her eyes began to glow, a sharp light reflecting the newfound strength coursing through her veins.

But the attacks were already too close. She had no choice but to act immediately.

With a quick motion, she pointed her right hand at the incoming missiles, laser beams, and bullets. In that instant, time seemed to slow, and Haruka’s will manifested. The projectiles stopped mid-air, frozen in place, suspended by her newfound telekinetic power.

She clenched her fist, and with a surge of effort, the missiles exploded one by one. The bullets evaporated in the air, disintegrating before they could reach her. The laser beams fizzled out, their energy dissipating into nothing.

The battlefield fell silent, the only sound the pounding of her heart as she stood in the center of the destruction. The force of her actions had torn apart the incoming attack.

The man observing from behind the robots couldn’t believe his eyes. His gaze widened in disbelief, and his mouth fell open in shock. He quickly regained his composure, irritation flashing across his face.

He raised his hand, his voice dripping with anger and frustration:
“FOCUS MORE ON THE DOMINION WARRIOR! WE MUST ELIMINATE HER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!”

The Aether Sentinels locked onto Haruka, their crimson eyes flashing as she stood, her hair fluttering in the wind. The battlefield was tense, the air thick with the hum of impending violence. Without warning, a Utility Combat Robot launched itself at her, closing the distance with unnerving speed.

Haruka raised her right hand, her expression hardening. With a swift motion, she pulled the robot off balance, its massive frame being dragged toward her as if caught in an invisible force. In a flash, Haruka dashed forward, leaping into the air. Her sword slashed through the air, cleanly severing the robot’s head from its body. The decapitated machine exploded in a burst of sparks, and Haruka landed lightly on the ground, only to spring into motion again as missiles hurtled toward her.

She clenched her fist, and the missiles froze mid-flight. But rather than detonating, they reversed course, hurtling back toward their origin. The explosion that followed tore through the ranks of several Ranged Combat Robots, shaking the ground beneath Haruka’s feet.

She barely had a moment to catch her breath when two more Utility Combat Robots appeared on either side of her, fists raised to strike. Without hesitation, Haruka used her telekinesis to stop them in their tracks. Her hands gripped the air, and the robots exploded in a flash of force, their twisted metal flying in all directions. Haruka’s strength was overwhelming—none of the robots could touch her.

But all of a sudden, a creeping sense of heaviness weighed on Haruka’s limbs, and her movements became slightly slower, more cumbersome. She felt the drain of her powers, but she pushed through, continuing to cut down the remaining robots that dared to stand in her way.

Meanwhile, Ai watched from a distance, safe behind a shimmering barrier. The drones that clung to it exploded one by one, but the barrier held strong, not even a crack appearing in its structure. Ai sighed, her expression worried as she whispered to the pen at her side.

“Are you okay, Pelly-chan?” Her voice was laced with concern.

“Yes, I am fine. Thank you for your concern, Ai," the pen replied in its cheerful, mechanical tone. "But unfortunately, the energy sustaining this barrier is reaching its limit. Once it fails, I recommend using a gun, as close combat is not suited to your capabilities."

Ai nodded in agreement, her resolve hardening. “Please, when the energy reaches its peak, transform into a gun as quickly as possible.”

"I will certainly do that," Pelly replied, its tone reassuring.

Ai took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. As the drones intensified their assault, she knew the real fight was just about to begin.

After a few seconds, the barrier finally cracked. As it gave way, Pelly, the pen, quickly transformed into a gun. Ai instantly grabbed it and ran as fast as she could, shooting at the drones that kept chasing her. One by one, they exploded as her bullets hit their marks. Ai was on a roll, but just as she was about to get a little more distance, a Melee Combat Robot appeared behind her, its massive arm swinging toward her with deadly speed.

Ai didn’t notice the attack in time. As the robot's arm came crashing toward her, she froze, her fear taking over. With her heart pounding, she shut her eyes, bracing for the impact she couldn’t avoid.