Chapter 103: You're All Just Ants!
"Fine! I don't want to waste any more time talking. I'll end this quickly ...I have far more important things to do! To me, you're all ants, and you don't deserve to exist in this universe!"
Perhaps realizing there was no point in further conversation, the Fallen decided to end it once and for all. Having completed his transformation, the gigantic Fallen was ready to fight.
Since he controlled the surrounding space, he could easily locate and eliminate his enemies one by one.
Still, being looked down on like that infuriated Starscream. The brute's strength was far beyond anything they could imagine, but Starscream wouldn't give up so easily. Even if he couldn't win, he still had his unmatched speed ...escaping shouldn't be a problem, right?
"To me, you're just a giant pile of scrap! Dinobots, transform and attack!"
Compared to the silent Starscream, the newly revived Grimlock was much more hot-headed. Thanks to the energy he'd received, he could now unleash his full power. Although the Tyrannosaurus Rex form Grimlock transformed into wasn't enormous, his bulk still reached up to the Fallen's abdomen.
But even so, Grimlock fought with terrifying ferocity. He spewed flames from his mouth while a section of armor on his back suddenly opened, releasing more than a dozen energy missiles of various types ...all flying toward different parts of the Fallen's body in erratic trajectories.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A signature explosion echoed through the battlefield. The extent of the damage to the Fallen was unclear, but thick columns of smoke soon obscured everything from view.
"Better stay down!"
Taking advantage of the smoke, Mud the Thunder Dragon swung his massive armored body against the Fallen's left foot.
This mechanical Thunder Dragon wasn't as powerful or energy-rich as Grimlock, but he possessed overwhelming brute strength. His back armor was the toughest part of his body, built to withstand impacts. When he struck the Fallen's ankle, the colossal figure staggered backward.
"Ants, stop struggling! Your attacks are meaningless. Once your energy runs dry, I'll dismantle you one by one ...hahaha!"
Though surrounded and outnumbered by smaller foes, the Fallen emerged nearly unscathed, with only a few scorch marks and dents on his armor.
As the Dinobots launched their assault, eight veteran Autobots armed with ancient weapons ignored their wounds and followed up with a coordinated attack against the Fallen.
But compared to the Dinobots, these old warriors ...who could no longer even transform ...were completely outmatched. One by one, they were struck down or left crawling in the dirt, frantically collecting loose gears and parts.
"Host, while the Fallen's body is incredibly durable, it still has weak points. Based on my force analysis, several of his joints aren't fully aligned. I'll mark them ...we can try launching some guided missiles there!"
Don't be fooled by Starscream's apparent inactivity ...he was equipped with the most advanced weaponry among them all.
The Fallen might be the progenitor of the Decepticons, but he showed no mercy when it came to dirty tactics, attacking friend and foe alike.
That's why Starscream's cautious actions weren't cowardly ...they were pure self-preservation. According to incomplete records on Cybertron, the Fallen hadn't been exiled by Autobots alone ...even ancient Decepticons had turned on him. His cruelty had made him an enemy to all.
Perhaps that shared hatred was what allowed Autobots and Decepticons to coexist peacefully for a time ...until contact with the Fallen's kind was lost, and both sides eventually returned to a bitter, endless war.
"Alright, feed me the attack coordinates and activate the missile's auto-tracking system. I don't want to get too close to that giant ...much less touch him."
Watching those old Autobots rummaging for parts on the ground, Starscream's optics flickered nervously ...an ominous sign if there ever was one.
"No problem. His vision's blocked by the smoke; he has multiple blind spots. He won't react right away, and those three can hold him in place for now!"
The "three" clearly referred to the Dinobots. Though they couldn't defeat the Fallen outright, they could restrain his movement long enough for Starscream to strike.
The Decepticon air commander's weapon systems had been designed for complex, high-speed aerial warfare ...and now was the perfect time for Starscream to prove his worth.
Zash! Zash! Zash!
Crack! Crack!
Zash!
With a lightning-fast barrage, Starscream unleashed every missile in his arsenal.
The thick clouds of dust made it nearly impossible to see, but his laser-guided systems didn't need visibility to hit their mark.
Soon, the Fallen's furious roars echoed from within the smoke. Unable to identify the source of the attack, he vented all his rage on the three towering Dinobots before him.
Yet Grimlock, loyal as ever, didn't deny it ...he faced the Fallen head-on, as if he himself had torn off one of the titan's limbs.
"Didn't you say we were ants? How does it feel now, being wounded by us? It was a huge mistake not destroying you completely a thousand years ago! And now, in this oversized body, you think my attacks will miss?"
Judging by his words, this mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex ...once known as Lord Steel Chain ...must have been one of the key figures in the great war a millennium ago.
(End of Chapter)