The corridors of the simulated base were full of shadows and controlled by drones. Ashlem and Singla moved silently, their boots stepping on cold metal. Both carried flashlights that were part of their weapon and ammunition stock.
"Why are you really helping me?" Ashlem asked, as they hid behind a pillar.
Singla looked at him, her eyes glowing.
"Because Nero is a monster. He destroyed everything I was before. And because... I believe you can defeat him."
"Believing won't be enough," Ashlem said coldly. "We need to survive first."
Meanwhile, Tony infiltrated the arsenal. The place was heavily guarded, but he was quick, moving between boxes of ammunition and high-tech weapons. He found the explosives, but also something unexpected; a strange device, marked with Nero's symbol.
"What is this?" he muttered, picking up the object.
Before he could examine it further, an alarm sounded. He cursed softly, adjusting the explosives in his bag and preparing to face the soldiers already heading his way.
In the Control Room, Singla and Ashlem finally reached the main panel. Singla typed codes quickly, while Ashlem stood guard. Suddenly, the door opened, and Nero appeared in a hologram.
"I always knew you would try something like this," he said, with a cruel smile. "But you underestimated my control. Welcome to the real hell."
Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to shake, and the scenery around them changed. What once seemed like a base turned into a devastated battlefield, filled with monstrous creatures and relentless soldiers.
Singla looked at Ashlem, desperate, and said:
"He activated the Extreme Mode of the simulation. We can't escape now."
Ashlem gripped his weapon tightly, staring at the horizon full of threats:
"Then we'll fight until the end. If he wants war, he'll get it."
The metallic floor of the base trembled as the environment shifted. The fake sky dissolved into a red, and the battlefield revealed itself before them. Grotesque creatures emerged from the shadows, their forms blending exposed bones, sharp blades, and monstrous muscles, while robotic soldiers marched in formation.
Ashlem took a deep breath, feeling the Viko adjust to the new surroundings. His green eyes glowed intensely, revealing weaknesses in the soldiers and creatures; he seemed like a robot analyzing his enemies.
"Let's do this," he said, drawing a short black-bladed knife and adjusting his Glock.
Singla, beside him, wielded a weapon she had taken from one of the panels in the Control Room. It was some kind of energy rifle, with lights flashing to the rhythm of her quickened heartbeat.
"There’s no turning back now," she murmured.
Ashlem led the charge, shooting at the robotic soldiers that approached. His movements were precise, each shot hitting vulnerable points. The robots exploded into sparks and metal pieces, but the horde seemed endless.
Singla covered his back, shooting at the advancing monsters. Each shot from the energy rifle disintegrated the creatures into clouds of ash.
Ashlem spun quickly, his knife slicing through the creature's chest mid-air. It fell to the ground, writhing before turning into dust.
"Are these the weak soldiers?" Ashlem shouted, as a creature leapt toward him.
"Yes. And if these are the weak ones, imagine what comes next," she replied, kicking the body of another robot that tried to crawl.
Suddenly, Tony appeared on the left flank, his short sword glowing with a bluish hue. He cut through the robots with skill and efficiency, leaving a trail of metallic bodies behind him.
"I got the explosives, but you took so long, I thought I'd better lend a hand," he said, smiling despite the situation.
"We’re just getting started," Ashlem replied, not losing his rhythm.
The trio moved toward a wider corridor, where the drones buzzed. Singla pointed at them:
"These drones are lethal. They attack in swarms, targeting vital points."
"Then let’s take them down before they get close," Tony said, preparing his sword for the next strike.
Ashlem raised his Glock and shot at the drones. He moved with almost superhuman precision. Each shot hit the core of the drones, which exploded in the air in cascades of sparks.
Singla positioned herself beside him, using the rifle to take down those who escaped Ashlem's shots. Tony remained in the rear, eliminating any soldier or creature that tried to ambush them.
Finally, the corridor opened into a large room lit by flashing red lights. There, a larger group of soldiers awaited. They wore heavy armor and wielded weapons that emitted purple energy.
"Looks like we’ve leveled up," Tony said, observing the enemies.
"And it’s going to get worse before it gets better," Ashlem replied.
Without hesitation, the three of them charged forward. Singla fired at the soldiers, her energy bullets ricocheting off their armor until they found weak spots. Tony used his sword to disarm and knock down soldiers with quick, precise strikes. Ashlem, moving like a god, slashed with his knife and shot, knocking down one enemy after another.
The combat was intense but coordinated. The three of them worked in sync, each covering the other's weak points. However, the number of enemies seemed to increase with every second.
"We can't keep this up forever," Singla shouted, reloading the rifle.
"Just hold on. We’ll clear this room and use the explosives to make our way through," Ashlem replied, spinning in the air to avoid a strike and firing at the attacker.
Tony finished off the last soldier with a strike that split the enemy's armor in half.
"They were strong... but not strong enough," he said, raising the explosives. "Let’s see if these beauties take us to the next level."