RUMBLE.
Suddenly, a violent tremor tore through the earth, making the stones beneath their boots grind together. The shockwave was radiating directly from the pulsing dungeon core.
"Everyone, get your weapons ready and prepare for battle!" Geldbarun roared over the noise.
A heavy, mechanical grinding sound echoed through the clearing, incredibly loud and grating, though just barely short of making their ears bleed.
"Main unit, assume defensive formation immediately!" Geldbarun ordered.
But before the soldiers could even set their shields, a pink blur shot past them. Without even bothering to draw her giant battleaxe, Rory leaped into the air with a wild grin and slammed her bare fist directly into the dungeon core.
BOOM!
The sheer kinetic force of her physical punch violently pushed the massive core backward, plowing it deeper into the dirt.
[ENEMY DETECTED.]
A cold, synthetic voice echoed through the open air, vibrating directly from the core itself.
"It... it can talk?!" Iris gasped, her eyes widening in pure surprise.
Stripping away her shock, she drew her sword in a single, fluid motion, a blinding, brilliant golden aura instantly cloaking the razor-sharp blade. "You three, get in there and back up Rory!"
"Yes, Iris-sama!" the special squad barked, rushing into the fray.
"
Iron Wall!
" Coil roared, casting his signature skill to massively boost his physical resistance.
Without a second's hesitation, he followed up with his S-rank taunt: "
Provoking!
"
A wave of hostile energy rippled outward, forcing the entity's aggression to lock entirely onto his massive frame instead of his allies and he notices skill has no effect on dungeon core.
So Coil firmly planted his feet directly in front of the enemy. In response to the threat, the earth ruptured around the dungeon core.
Four massive, mecha-like legs erupted from the dirt, locking instantly onto the core's central body with a sickening metallic screech.
"What the heck is this thing?!" Iris recoiled, absolute disbelief shattering her usual composure. Realizing the escalating danger, she yelled at the top of her lungs, "Everyone, fall back!! Rory, you too! Retreat!"
"Yes, ma'am!" the special squad and Rory shouted, quickly leaping backward to create distance.
But as they retreated, Iris, Rory, and the entire recon battalion stood frozen, forced to witness the absolute worst-case scenario materialize right before their eyes.