Prepared For

Deep inside the cockpit of the first Resetter, the air was filled with a cold sense of efficiency. The operators monitored their stations, their faces lit by the glow of countless screens displaying data from the battlefield.

"The protective force field integrity is at 40%," one of the operators reported, his voice calm. "All combat systems are fully operational, and the Resetter can continue to fight without any loss of performance."

Another operator chimed in, "Core calculations predict an 83.3% chance of victory. The probability of eliminating the Avengers entirely is nearly certain."

Sitting in the command chair at the center of the room, the officer in charge let a smug smile tug at the corner of his lips. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes gleamed with confidence and ambition. He was not merely a soldier but a tactician. He oversaw every action of the massive war machine, from coordinating attacks to deploying its unique abilities. Victory wasn't just a goal for him—it was an opportunity to secure glory for his division.

These Resetters, deployed by the Church, were not ordinary machines. They were the pinnacle of the Church's technological might, capable of conquering entire planets single-handedly. However, the four Resetters sent to Earth weren't just here for a mission—they were also part of an internal rivalry. The divisions within the Church often competed for dominance, and this operation was no exception. Whichever Resetter performed the best in this battle would earn its team favor and influence within the Church's hierarchy.

The commander couldn't help but feel pleased. His team had been the first to enter Earth's atmosphere, and they had successfully engaged the Avengers head-on. If they could eliminate these so-called "Earth's mightiest heroes," the credit would belong to his division. It was the perfect chance to prove their superiority over the other Resetters.

At the start of the battle, the Avengers had been a formidable force. Their attacks came fast and heavy, forcing the Resetter to allocate all its systems to defense and counterattacks. But as the fight dragged on, the situation shifted. The superheroes seemed to lose their momentum. Their attacks became fewer and weaker, and they spent more time dodging and defending than retaliating.

The commander's confidence grew. "They're running out of energy," he thought, watching as the Resetter's weapons battered their defenses. He saw no need to hold back. "Finish them," he ordered.

The operators activated the Resetter's full arsenal. Beams of energy and explosive projectiles rained down on the Avengers, carving craters into the battlefield. The massive machine's systems worked at maximum efficiency, determined to end the fight quickly and decisively.

But something wasn't right.

Unknown to the Resetter's crew, the Avengers' apparent weakness wasn't due to exhaustion. Their operator, Charlie , had stepped away from direct control to summon reinforcements. While the heroes continued fighting on auto-pilot, the lack of strategic precision gave the illusion of fatigue. The Resetter's crew had no idea they were underestimating their opponents.

The commander was already celebrating his perceived advantage when a scout's voice shattered the calm. "Sir! Something is approaching from the southwest!" the scout called out, his voice high with urgency. "Its speed is… unbelievably fast!"

The commander's eyes narrowed. "What is it?" he demanded.

Before the scout could answer, the Resetter's automated defense systems sprang into action. Designed to react faster than any human, the system identified the threat and activated the giant cannons mounted on the machine's frame. Beams of purple energy surged across the sky, lighting up the horizon as they streaked toward the incoming object.

The target appeared on the radar, and the crew watched as the cannons hit their mark. A massive explosion followed, echoing like thunder and shaking the cockpit slightly. The display showed the target had been struck, and for a moment, the crew relaxed, thinking the danger had been neutralized.

Then the Resetter shook violently.

An unimaginable force slammed into the massive machine, far greater than anything the crew had anticipated. Warning sirens blared as the integrity of the force field dropped to zero in an instant. The cockpit lights flickered as the giant war machine's systems struggled to recover from the shock.

The impact sent the Resetter crashing to the ground. The colossal machine, which had stood tall and imposing, now fell onto all fours with a deafening crash. The ground beneath it cracked and caved in, creating a massive crater. Dust and debris billowed into the air, and the Resetter's once-mighty form now looked battered and vulnerable.

The commander gripped the armrests of his chair, his smugness replaced by alarm. "What just happened?" he barked, his voice sharp.

The operators scrambled to analyze the data. Screens flashed with streams of information, but the readings didn't make sense. Whatever had hit them was beyond anything the Resetter's systems had encountered before. It had not only bypassed their defenses but completely overwhelmed them.

One of the operators turned, pale and shaken. "Sir… the force was off the charts. We… we have no explanation."

The commander's confidence evaporated. He stared at the radar, which now showed no trace of the incoming object. For the first time, doubt crept into his mind. The battlefield had changed, and the Resetters were no longer in control. Something—or someone—had entered the fight, and it was clear that the game had just shifted in a way they weren't prepared for.