74 Chapter 74: Optimus Prime vs Megatron

The two engaged in a fierce battle as they plummeted down the tunnel. Optimus Prime narrowly avoided having one of his arms sliced off by Megatron. Megatron swiftly transformed from his Cybertronian jet mode into a humanoid form, using his chain mace to restrain Prime's sword-wielding hand, initiating a brutal melee combat.

Don't doubt the fact that even Transformers, with their advanced technology, sometimes engage in a savage hand-to-hand struggle. Within a Transformer's body lies energy, and high-tech weaponry like energy-based particle cannons and metal cell-replenishing bullet missiles tend to waste a considerable amount of energy and weaken their bodies.

In fact, close-quarters combat is often the most energy-efficient method.

The tunnel they were in stretched for eight hundred meters, initially pierced by H'el from Sublevel 7, and then further expanded by Megatron's transformation into a Cybertronian jet. However, it couldn't withstand the thrashing of two ten-meter-tall Transformers.

Megatron and Optimus Prime were practically wrestling the entire way, tumbling through the dirt and falling repeatedly.

Every time Prime tried to stabilize his form by embedding his limbs into the cement walls, Megatron would fiercely engage him, smashing into him, and yanking him down.

After trying twice, Prime decided not to bother stabilizing himself and chose to engage Megatron during the fall. In the process, their bodies collided, splattering fluorescent green energy fluid and scattering mechanical parts, mixing with the cement dust as they tumbled down.

"You fool! Falling underground, I'll show you what happens to Bumblebee!" Megatron shouted as he fell, striking Prime's shoulder heavily with his chain mace. Prime grimaced in pain as energy fluid, coolant, and cleansing fluid oozed from his injured metallic cells, sparking in the process.

Prime wasn't one to back down. Despite the pain, he angrily thrust his sword into Megatron's thigh, demanding, "What did you do to Bumblebee?"

Prime had four capable comrades, and Bumblebee was one of them. Unlike the other three, who maintained serious and stern images, Bumblebee had a personality similar to Spider-Man's Peter Parker. He was known for his sharp wit and humor, often doing things that left everyone both amused and bewildered. However, his work capacity was exceptional, earning him the respect of Prime.

Bumblebee played a spy role during battles, often finding himself in dangerous situations. Prime would always protect Bumblebee when things got tough.

The hierarchical relationship couldn't hide their deep brotherly bond.

When Prime heard about Bumblebee's situation, he immediately suspected that Bumblebee had been captured by humans and subsequently went missing for a period of time.

A deep fury erupted from Prime's blue optics. Sensing the right moment amid his anger and rationality, he swiftly extended a large ion cannon barrel from his left forearm. The cannon emitted an ion-blue glow as energy crackled within, and with a resounding "BOOM," he fired it directly at Megatron.

Not a moment too slow, Megatron's eyes glowed with a fiery red, and a cannon barrel extended from his hand, meeting Prime's barrel head-on and deflecting the incoming blast.

"BOOM—"

A deafening roar echoed through the entire tunnel, a deep, resonant sound that reverberated throughout the Hoover Dam. Both humans and Transformers were momentarily stunned by the sudden noise. When they couldn't find the source and the rumbling ceased as quickly as it had started, they resumed their battle.

The immense impact endured by Optimus Prime and Megatron left both of them feeling the pain within their bodies. Their cannons clashed, resulting in the loss of an arm for each of them. Mechanical parts scattered, and their shoulders, filled with metallic cells, were shaken to the point where their sparks extinguished, and fluorescent green energy fluid seeped from various parts of their bodies.

Together, they tumbled amid the cement dust and mechanical debris until they landed in the area housing the Seed.

The heavy impact left both of them disoriented and groggy. Amidst the swirling dust and blurred vision, Prime spotted Bumblebee's distinctive shattered mechanical head.

"Bumblebee!"

The head was enormous.

When Bumblebee was enhanced by H'el, he grew to a staggering height of 120 meters. Even in his fragmented state, his head alone stood at five meters, half the height of both H'el and Megatron.

Prime's optics scanned around, and despite the dust, he saw pieces of Bumblebee's colossal mechanical body scattered everywhere.

"What wicked modifications have you done to Bumblebee!" Prime demanded as he lay on the ground, struggling to get up. He felt half his body was gone, making it incredibly challenging to even expel a droplet of energy fluid.

H'el knew that during their time on Cybertron, Megatron had a penchant for altering Transformers, spreading his High Council ideology, and turning many civilians into war machines, making them ruthless and insane.

Bumblebee's death reminded him of Megatron's past actions.

Although Megatron had hastily countered Prime's large ion cannon barrel earlier, he had previously used the AllSpark to replenish his energy. Therefore, his condition was far better than Prime's.

"Do you think I modified Bumblebee?" Megatron's optics blazed with crimson light as he stood amidst the dust and debris. With one arm severed, he extended the remaining one, revealing the cannon barrel, and pointed it at Prime.

"No, I don't have that capability."

Megatron's red optics gleamed brightly as he approached Prime, who was lying on the ground with a single arm, aiming the cannon barrel at him coldly.

"I admit I'm scared now, facing the power that even makes me struggle."

"He excels in manipulating the AllSpark like no other Cybertronian."

"He used the AllSpark to enhance Bumblebee to unprecedented levels. I've never seen a Cybertronian as powerful as Bumblebee is right now, and this was just his casual work."

Megatron walked through the dust, his optics flickering with red light as he approached Prime. With only one arm left, he extended the cannon barrel towards Prime, the coldness in his voice unmistakable.

"Now, answer me, Optimus. Are you here to help me retrieve the AllSpark and restore Cybertron, or are you going to meet your end beneath the barrel of my cannon?" Megatron's cannon barrel pressed against Prime as he spoke with ruthless determination.

Prime gazed at Bumblebee's mechanical head, then turned to face Megatron's blazing cannon barrel, and replied firmly, "I know you don't have the capability to modify Bumblebee like this."

"But despite that, I don't believe your words. Your coldness, cruelty, and ruthlessness have deeply hurt everyone on Cybertron for countless years."

"Megatron, I will not help you obtain the AllSpark, nor will I assist you in restoring the Cybertron you still desire to rule with brutality."

"I choose death!"

Facing the scorching cannon barrel and with determined blue optics, Prime stood his ground.

Megatron's red optics flickered with anger, and the cannon barrel in his hand emitted an intense burning sensation. Even though the heat was extreme, enough to melt the soft metal on Prime face, he remained resolute.

The red in Megatron's optics intensified until the cannon barrel reached its limit, then it extinguished. With a stern expression, he transformed the cannon barrel back into a mechanical hand and helped Prime to his feet.

"Let's cooperate. First, we'll reclaim the AllSpark, and then we'll determine its ownership through victory or defeat," Megatron said solemnly.

At that moment, Prime couldn't help but see a glimpse of the Megatron from a time before he became ruthless. They were once close comrades, defending Cybertron together before the onset of the civil war.

Prime fell silent, his blue optics filled with melancholy.

"Let's leave this place for now," Megatron assisted Prime, suggesting that they go elsewhere.

Only he knew how powerful the human was, rendering him completely helpless. Escaping the human's sight was a relief for Megatron.

As they were about to leave the passageway, a human approached them.

Harold, with his stern and cold demeanor, had dangerous flames burning in his eyes as he emerged from the corridor and stood before them.

He had witnessed everything from the observation deck: H'el seizing the AllSpark, the fatal retaliation against the army's special forces, Bumblebee's enhancement, his explosive end, Megatron's submission, and H'el breaking through underground. He had seen their battle and conversation, all through Harold's watchful eyes.

He was the one who knew everything from the very beginning.

Megatron halted in his tracks, his cannon barrel beginning to extend as he prepared to fire at Harold.

Prime placed a hand on Megatron's cannon barrel, lowering it, and said, "If you want to cooperate with me, you can't harm anyone."

Megatron's crimson optics flickered, but he maintained a composed expression and retracted the cannon barrel.

"We have a common enemy. Follow me, and I'll lead you out from another location," Harold said, his gaze shifting from Megatron to Prime. He then found an engineering vehicle and drove it, gesturing for them to follow.

Megatron and Prime exchanged a glance, and they found no other choice. If they were to seize the AllSpark, they might indeed need the assistance of the local inhabitants. They both contacted their respective subordinates and followed Harold out of the seventh sector.

"Decepticons, retreat."

"Autobots, retreat."

°°°

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