ROAR!
The instant the Elite being showed itself, it released an ear-piercing roar that seemed to shock the whole moon.
As if by instinct, the nearby Higher tier aliens made way for the new arrival to move freely. With a height of 5 meters and four arms, nothing could deny its overpowering presence. In its two lower arms there were two edged blades, while on its two upper arms were large rifles that resembled cannons.
'Now this is troublesome.' Michael thought bitterly, remembering how hard it had been to defeat one Elite monster before. And then they weren't fighting hundreds of Higher aliens at the same time.
"Do we retreat?!" Ava might have reached the Early Expert realm, but that didn't mean she was reckless. Unsure if they could take on such a monster, she asked their leader.
"The earlier we retreat, the more foes our troops will have to fight and the more will die!" Victoria roared, her eyes shining like a fearless lioness, before charging against the threat.
"I will deal with the Elite. You keep the small fries busy!" She commanded.
"Lady Victoria!" Bryce shouted in a worried voice. "Elite tier beings should not be underestimated! Even the strongest Master will have trouble against one, and you are already exhausted!"
But to the old man's horror, his words fell on deaf ears. Even worse, everyone was too busy to provide proper support to Victoria. The best he could do was release energy shots when he saw the chance. But that wasn't going to be enough!
"Sir Bryce! I will go support her. You make sure that Ava isn't surrounded!" Michael, hearing Bryce's worry, dashed towards Victoria for support before anyone could stop him.
'Ah, how I miss being young.' Bryce thought, trying to keep his spirits high as he focused on the approaching foes.
Boom!
Victoria's heated blade met the alien's two great swords. A second later she was forced a meter back. To her displeasure, she realized that this being was superior to her when it came to physical prowess.
The Elite focused its two cannons it was carrying towards her elegant figure in an attempt to reduce her to ash.
'You think that a simple energy blast can stop me?' She thought of dodging.
But to her surprise, she didn't need to. A male figure collided with the Elite's side with such force that it was forced to retract its shot.
"Michael?!" Victoria exclaimed in shock. Even if he fought against an Elite alien before, that didn't mean she expected him to run to help her when the surroundings were full of Higher aliens.
"There is no way I can leave my general alone, can I?!" He roared with a smile, his fearless eyes locking on the giant foe.
ROAR!
The Elite became enraged from Michael's interruption. Redirecting its blade to him, it prepared to slash him in half.
'You don't!' But it wasn't able to, as Victoria made use of the moment to deliver a devastating strike.
Michael didn't linger for even a second as he joined the fray.
"Cad—Captain Michael I declared that I would deal with the Elite alone. Yet you arrived for support despite that. If you plan to go against my orders, it seems that you are in dire need of disciplinary action." Victoria teased, a small smile forming on her lips.
"Please have mercy on me, Lady Victoria. I was just recently promoted to captain. It seems that I might have gone over my head." He replied, deciding to play along.
Seeing that the two humans it was fighting were so relaxed that they chatted as they fought caused the Elite monster to get even angrier. And that caused it to make mistakes.
"I can't show favoritism. Otherwise the other captains would get jealous. When the battle is done, expect a fitting punishment." Victoria continued, cutting one of the Elite alien's arms. Capitalizing on the creature's mistake.
'I got it! The perfect thing to say in this situation is that you wish to be punished in bed!' Michael's weapon called out. 'I tell you there is no way she will refuse at this point!'
Ignoring the sword's perverted comments, Michael activated Blink, catching the Elite alien by surprise. Having a bad feeling, it turned around, not wanting to leave Michael out of its gaze.
But that left its rear open for Victoria. She didn't hesitate to take the opportunity as she pierced the being's head behind the skull, killing it on the spot.
With a sigh of relief, Michael glanced at Victoria before smiling. "See, nothing bad happened."
Her hair was messy, and her breathing was irregular. Since the Elite monster proved to be tougher than expected, she would have been greatly injured if she had fought it alone like she initially planned.
"Thank you for the assistance… But don't think that you will avoid a fitting punishment later." She teased again with a breathtaking smile, catching him by surprise.
'I tell you, make use of the moment!' The sword insisted.
Michael parted his lips, about to speak. But his words stopped midway as more pods carrying Elites fell on the surface.
"We have done enough." Victoria said, her playful demeanor gone in an instant.
"We retreat!" Her shout echoed in the battlefield, reaching her comrades that had been waiting for these words all this time.
"Thank goodness, I thought that this would be my end." Leo exclaimed before running toward the transporting vehicle sitting in the driver's seat.
Bryce and Ava cleared a way for Michael and Victoria. After everyone boarded the vehicle, Leo stepped on the gas with full force.
The artillery shells continued to rain over the aliens, slowing down their advancement.
Victoria quickly used her communication device to inform the outer line that they were retreating and that soon the aliens would follow after them.
'All things considered, it's going well.' Michael sighed. Compared to his first life, when Triton was caught by surprise. Now the bases were still functional, and they were prepared for a drawn-out battle.
"Michael, your cheek is bleeding." Ava realized once her heart calmed down.
He touched the left side of his face, realizing that he must have gotten the injury when he fought against the Elite alien. He had been so focused that he didn't even notice it.
"See, this is what happens when you go against my orders." Suddenly Victoria got closer, putting a healing cream over the wound.
"It stings." Michael chuckled. Feeling her delicate finger brush past his face gently.
Victoria shook her head in dejection. "Consider this your punishment."