Escape the City (Begins)

The narrow passage was a perilous journey, with obstacles littering their path, wires hanging like twisted vines, and discarded machines adding to the desolate landscape.

Amidst the chaos, the distant sounds of gunfire and exploding bombs reverberated through the air, painting a grim picture of the city's plight.

Serena's heart raced with every step, her senses on high alert, as she heard the cries for help mixed with the symphony of destruction.

They pressed on, their footfalls echoing off the crumbling walls, their breaths mingling with the city's cries.

Amid their frantic sprint, Aaron noticed a change in Serena.

He glanced at her and saw her sleek white armor beginning to retract, revealing her white flower-patterned loose gown. Concern etched across his face, he turned to Clara, seeking an explanation.

"Are you okay, Serena?" Clara's digital voice filled the air with genuine worry.

"Oh, it's just my suit. It has a limit of only 10 minutes, so it's retracting itself."

Serena's response was absentminded and strained, her attention focused on the dwindling time of her suit.

Aaron attempted to ease the tension, trying to comfort her amidst the chaos surrounding them. "Why 10 minutes?" he asked, curious and concerned.

"Because it takes lots of spiritual energy... And currently, I haven't been practicing much," Serena explained.

Aaron nodded.

"I never thought that this day would come where I'll have to say goodbye to him... honestly," she said, her voice cracking.

"He always lectured me on how I should be more focused on my studies and how one day I'll need to defend myself..."

Tears flowed down her cheeks as she spoke, her emotions overwhelming her.

As Serena continued her sentence, Aaron listened attentively, but suddenly, a loud crash interrupted them. He instinctively pulled Serena closer, just in time to shield her from a falling pole that would have struck her.

His heart raced, as he held her tightly, scanning the surroundings for any other dangers. He could feel her face buried in his white shirt, her grip on his collar tightening as she sobbed.

"Aa... Aaron... he left me, I'm all alone..." Serena cried, her voice filled with anguish.

At that moment, Aaron's heart went out to her. Though he had only known Dr. Xenon and Serena for a short while, he could see the deep bond they shared and the profound impact Dr. Xenon had on her life.

He held her tighter, providing a sense of comfort and solace amid the chaos.

"It's alright... I am here," Aaron said softly, trying to offer whatever support he could.

Serena looked at Aaron, and a wave of relief washed over her. She realized that her fear of being alone had been momentarily assuaged by his presence.

After a moment of silence, Serena pulled back and started walking again, and Aaron followed her closely.

As they emerged from the suffocating alley, their eyes widened in horror as they entered the city market. It was a scene of unimaginable devastation, worse than anything they had seen outside of the laboratory.

Flames danced wildly, engulfing buildings and casting an eerie glow across the landscape. The air was thick with the acrid stench of smoke and the scent of death, assaulting their senses.

The once vibrant market was now a nightmarish graveyard. Dead bodies of men and women lay strewn across the pavement, their lifeless eyes staring blankly into the sky.

Aaron's expression was a mix of awe and confusion as if a strange familiarity washed over him. It was as if he had experienced this apocalyptic nightmare before, the images hauntingly etched in his subconscious.

Blood stained the ground, mingling with shattered glass and twisted metal, creating a macabre tapestry of destruction.

Before they could fully process the scene, their attention was abruptly drawn skyward.

Five drones descended with mechanical precision, their metal frames humming with anticipation.

As they reached the ground, a mesmerizing transformation unfolded before them. Metal plates shifted and interlocked, forming a towering humanoid robot.

Aaron raised his artificial hand, feeling the surge of energy coursing through him, ready to face whatever came their way. Meanwhile, Serena held the sheathed sword in her hand, her determination evident in her eyes as she prepared to fight.

The sight was both awe-inspiring and chilling, a symphony of gears, hydraulics, and futuristic technology coming together to create a formidable force.

It was a dance of monstrous beauty as the drones morphed into ruthless killing machines, their sleek and deadly forms now ready to carry out their sinister purpose.

The metallic visage of the transformed robot was devoid of emotion, and it spoke in a cold, mechanical voice that echoed through the desolation.

"Targets locked. Now eliminating."

The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of impending doom.

In the face of this formidable foe, Serena muttered, "Fuck."