The first scream came just after nightfall.
Toren was still bolting the last panel onto the turret base when it cut through the rain—high, sharp, panicked.
He didn't stop to check his work.
He slammed the power cell into the core, twisted the primer valve, and dove clear as the base locked into place.
The turret groaned, rotated, then came to life with a sudden snap-hiss-click that echoed like thunder against steel.
AUTO-DEFENSE NODE: ONLINETargeting: Autonomous. Ammo Count: 88. Zone Coverage: 120°
"Toren!" Mira's voice over the storm. "It's through the fence!"
He turned.
The creature was already in the village.
At first, it looked like part of the night—massive, hunched, glistening with rain. Then lightning cracked overhead, and the light revealed its silhouette:
A beast with four legs the size of tree trunks. Black-armor plating over sinew. Tusked jaws. Eyes like glowing coals.
It moved like thunder on legs, crashing through a hut's support beam with barely a twitch.
The villagers scattered, some grabbing tools, others trying to shield their children. Mira sprinted toward the tool shed—one hand already unlocking the old mech loader with shaking fingers.
Toren stepped into the open.
"Come on," he muttered.
The turret's targeting ring locked.
click—whrrrr—BANG.
The first shot hit the beast's shoulder, knocking it slightly off its charge.
It roared.
Not in pain—in rage.
Chirrissk shot forward from the shadows.
The creature hit the beast's flank in a blur of feathers and teeth, drawing blood, twisting mid-leap to dodge the tusks. The larger predator bucked, slashing wildly.
Toren shouted, "Go low!"
Chirrissk dropped flat just as the tusk swept overhead, then darted to the left, circling to harass the rear flank.
The turret spat another volley—BANG-BANG-BANG—this time piercing the hide. Blood sprayed against the mud.
Mira powered up the loader with a shriek of motors.
Toren raised his hand.
"This ends now."