AP(EX) Technomancer

The holo screen crackled with static before fading to black. Atlas stared at it in shock, his usually calm demeanor giving way to unease. 

I clenched my fists, my instincts screaming that something unprecedented was on its way. 

Whatever force was responsible for this disruption wasn't just strong—it was a direct threat, one we weren't fully prepared for.

Before I could process the implications, the Aegis Bastion jolted violently, shaking loose a few tools from the wall racks. 

The defensive barrier around the Bastion, designed to endure sustained assaults, was holding for now, but a pit in my stomach told me it wouldn't last much longer. Something was different this time—something far beyond the strength of the previous waves.

I pulled up the Sentinel feed, my eyes scanning for answers. The live feed displayed an unsettling scene: the outer barrier was being assaulted by concentrated plasma bolts, each impact creating a ripple of energy across its surface. 

Then came the follow-up—a continuous, high-energy plasma beam. The beam struck with precision, its relentless power visibly draining the barrier's energy reserves.

"Damn it," I muttered, fingers flying over the control panel to assess the barrier's integrity. "Atlas, the shield's integrity is dropping like a rock. We've got minutes, maybe less, before it fails. Get your gear and be ready to engage."

Atlas nodded, his usual cocky grin replaced by a grim determination. "On it. Whoever's out there, they're not messing around."

I wasted no time deploying the Vanguard Strikers. Sleek and deadly, the S-rank sentinels activated from it's dormant state, now zipped out of the Bastio's barrier like missiles, their systems synced to my commands. 

The Sentinels, positioned strategically around the fort, powered up with a mechanical roar, their weapons locking onto the source of the assault. Their intimidating forms, each several meters tall and bristling with advanced weaponry, stood as our first line of defense.

From the console, I monitored the attack patterns. The plasma bolts were too precise, their timing too coordinated to be random. This wasn't the work of a mob—it was an organized strike.

"These aren't amateurs," I muttered, glancing at the feed again. "Atlas, we're not just dealing with strength here. Whoever's attacking knows how to exploit weaknesses."

Atlas finished strapping on his stealth gear and gave me a nod. "So what's the plan? Hold the line?"

I smirked, despite the tension. "For now, yeah. The Bastion and Sentinels are automated to prioritize defense, but I'll keep the drones on manual control. We need to assess the threat first before we commit to a counterattack. Buying time is our priority."

"Understood," he replied, vanishing into stealth mode.

As I tracked the attackers' movements through what remained of the feed, my suspicion was confirmed. This wasn't just the next wave—it was a test. 

A new opponent had entered the field, and judging by the precision of their assault, they weren't playing by the same rules as the rest.

Just then, Codebreaker chimed in again, its cold, unfeeling voice cutting through the tension in my subconcious.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[New Mission: Survive the Attack]

Do you accept this mission?

I gritted my teeth, weighing my options. Rejecting wasn't even on the table—not with the stakes this high. 

With a quick mental command, I accepted the mission, the notification vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

"Alright," I muttered to myself, scanning the battlefield. "Time to see if the Aegis Bastion can handle a real threat."

The screen flickered back to life, revealing the attacker: a lone figure clad in sleek, dark armor. A faint, ominous glow emanated from the armor's surface, pulsing rhythmically like a heartbeat. 

The figure moved with unnerving precision, every step and gesture deliberate and synchronized, almost as if it were a machine. In its hands, it wielded an advanced plasma rifle, the energy core glowing an intense blue.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

Name: Cason Linus

Class: Plasmancer

Talent: Ranger

Rank: S

Armor: Black Plasma (S Rank)

"A Plasmancer," I muttered through the comms, my voice steady despite the tension coursing through me. My fingers hovered over the controls as I processed the system's data.

"Looks like this time, we're up against an elite. And judging by that gear, he's packing tech that's leagues above anything we've encountered so far. Atlas, stay hidden until I give the signal."

There was a pause on the other end before Atlas's voice broke through, laced with unease. "Wait, did you say Plasmancer?"

"Yeah, why?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at the screen.

A sharp exhale came through the comms. "If it's a Plasmancer, and he's wearing Black Plasma armor, then it's got to be Cason Linus. That guy's a genius awakener—he hit S rank two years ago. If it's really him, we're in deep trouble, Noah. He's ranked 12 in the GAIA Talent Academy."

"Ranked 12?" I repeated, a frown forming. "Atlas, we've got S-rank defenses and weapons. It's two against one."

"You don't get it," Atlas cut in, his voice low and urgent. "Ranked 12 in all of GAIA's Talent Academies, hands down. He's no ordinary S rank, Noah. He's the elite, even among elites."

The gravity of Atlas's words hit me like a cold wave. My expression hardened as I stared at the feed. A Talent Academy ranking in the top 15 was no joke. These were the prodigies, the ones destined to become the future giants of the awakeners' world.

"Alright," I said, keeping my voice calm, "we'll just have to focus on holding out. Phase Two ends in half an hour, and we're still leading in points. Our goal is survival, not victory."

I quickly toggled the Sentinels to autonomous attack mode, their targeting systems locking onto Cason. "Let the Sentinels handle the heavy lifting for now. Keep to your position, Atlas, and stay alert. We're not giving him any openings."

Through the screen, I watched as Cason stood still, analyzing the barrier with the detached focus of someone calculating the best way to dismantle it. 

Then, as if sensing the Sentinels' movements, he turned his head slightly toward one of the Strikers. The faint glow from his armor intensified, and the plasma rifle hummed ominously.