Maine and David both held their breath.
The timing couldn't have been worse. If the enemy had arrived just a few seconds later, they would've already crawled through the rubble into the deeper part of the cave. From there, even if the bastards collapsed the tunnel on them, Maine and David could've carved out a triangular pocket with their strength and speed—enough to wait for rescue.
But now… beside this pile of broken stone, they had no cover at all.
Maine grabbed his heavy machine gun from where he'd set it aside while moving debris and gave David a quick look before aiming the weapon at a corner deeper inside the cave.
They were about 14 meters from that bend. The entrance was maybe 20 meters farther. At that distance, the enemy wouldn't take long to reach them. Their only move was to fire the second anyone stepped into view, forcing the enemy to fall back. Then they'd rush up to the corner and try to use it for at least partial cover.
Running now was suicide—the echo of their footsteps would give them away immediately, and the enemy could use the sound to pre-aim and ambush them at the bend.
They knew this. It was their only shot.
With Maine's suppressive fire and David's Sandevistan, they had a chance.
The footsteps got closer.
Closer still.
Their breathing slowed to a near halt, both ready to pull the trigger the instant someone appeared.
Click.
Right before crossing the corner, the footsteps stopped.
Did they sense us?
Maine's gut tightened. Of course they were pros. Only an amateur walks blindly into a blind spot.
No more time. They had to move!
Just as Maine tensed to charge in, gunfire erupted from the corner—followed by shouting.
"Militech's here! Return fire! Damn corporate dogs really know how to time things—watch our flank! Those decoys might be hiding deeper inside! We could be caught in a pincer!"
David blinked in surprise. He quickly figured out what had happened.
The Arasaka squad that had been sent to kill them had just run into Militech's cleanup crew.
Talk about timing.
But before the thought had even fully formed—a figure burst around the corner.
Fast. Fluid. Deadly.
The man charged at them with blinding speed, twin thermal Mantis Blades gleaming in his arms, cutting through the air like molten razors aimed right at David.
David's heart slammed in his chest. His pupils contracted. For an instant, caught in the fear of that fatal edge—he froze.
"Don't space out, David!"
Maine didn't flinch. While David stood stunned, he reacted instantly—swinging up the heavy machine gun just in time to intercept the incoming blade.
Sparks flew as the thermal Mantis Blades met reinforced plating. Fireworks lit up David's vision, and the sting of the heat on his cheek snapped him back to reality.
They just shouted to "watch the flank," and then immediately attacked? It's like they knew we were here…
"Such a loud, obvious warning—almost like you were trying to make sure we heard it," Maine growled, hoisting the nearly-sheared machine gun with one arm while his cybernetic left arm morphed into a launcher. "I served in the New American Army. I'm used to you Arasaka mutts saying one thing and doing another."
"A vet, huh? Then I guess I bagged a big one."
The attacker wasn't wearing a helmet. Looked early thirties, peak form, lean but built like a tank. Despite Maine's size, the man matched him strength for strength, locking blades one-handed without budging. Even now, seeing Maine's launcher arm take shape, he didn't hesitate. He kept pressing the Mantis Blade down with his right, while swinging his left at Maine's head.
He'd come to take out the weaker-looking one first. The sneak attack didn't work—but he wasn't worried. He had full confidence in his power. Two mercs? No problem.
"Maine!"
David's reflexes kicked in. He activated his Dynalar Sandevistan Mk.3.
Time slowed to a crawl.
He didn't draw his gun. Instead, he turned his shoulder, winding up and—
SLAMMED his elbow into the attacker's side.
He knew better than to shoot.
Sandevistan didn't actually freeze time—it only made your body move faster, your reflexes sharper, your world slower. Bullets still had travel time.
But close-quarters?
Close-quarters was king.
And an elbow strike, especially under pressure, was deadly.
The triangle formed between the upper and lower arm created incredible leverage. The elbow itself—almost as hard as the human skull—was basically a natural hammer.
Combine that with David's subdermal armor and the sheer force of a panicked survival hit?
It could've shattered stone.
But when the elbow landed…
…the Arasaka agent barely flinched.
He wobbled.
Then, like a rock against the tide—he held steady.
In the slowed world of the Sandevistan, David saw his head turn slowly toward him.
"Nano coating, kid."
He didn't have a Sandevistan. But he did have a Reaction Enhancer—a support chip that kicked in under extreme danger, boosting reaction time with military-grade synchronicity.
Then he moved.
Thermal blades gleaming, the enemy raised one massive cybernetic arm high—
To strike again.
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🔥 Cyberpunk: The Relentless
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