Building Zoids in a World of Titans

The System overlay flickered across Alex's vision as he queried the downloaded Warden database. Thermal signature. Seismic output. Morphological match.

Quake Bear. Rank B. Ursidae-Type. Territorial Lord.

"Quake Bear," Alex said. "Another B-rank."

Ziya's voice came tight over the comm. "Two of them in the same basin. That's not coincidence."

Rhian didn't answer. Her Arosaurer held position on the ridge, autocannons tracking the new arrival.

The Quake Bear planted its granite-plated forepaws and threw back its head.

GRRRROOOOOWWWLLL

The subsonic growl rolled through the ground more than the air, vibrating through the Liger Zero's armor plating. Amber eyes fixed on the Terra-Colossus across the lakebed.

The Colossus answered with a grinding rumble that shook dust from the canyon walls.

GGRROOOOANNNN... RUMMMMBLE...

The Quake Bear struck the earth. KABOOOOOMMMM. A focused shockwave rippled toward the Colossus, shattering rock in its path. Not a warning. A declaration.

The Colossus's drill-head rotated, crystalline deposits flaring.

"Is it challenging the Terra-Colossus?"

GRRRROOOOOWWWLLL

The Quake Bear's challenge rumbled through the basin, a subsonic growl that made the rocks beneath Alex's boots vibrate. Its massive form dropped to all fours, each paw the size of the Iron Mule, claws scraping stone.

The Terra-Colossus responded with a grinding rumble that shook dust from the canyon walls.

GGRROOOOANNNN... RUMMMMBLE...

The Quake Bear struck the earth.

KABOOOOOMMMM

A focused shockwave rippled toward the Terra-Colossus, shattering rock in its path. The Colossus's segmented body absorbed the impact without staggering, drill-cluster head rotating toward the Ursidae-type.

The Colossus answered with a blast of molten metal from its excavation arms.

FWOOOOSH

The superheated stream struck the Quake Bear's granite hide, sizzling against the living metal embedded in its flesh. The Bear roared, smoke curling from the impact site, and charged forward.

Six-legged limbs carried the Terra-Colossus smoothly despite its bulk. The Quake Bear's forepaws swiped in wide arcs. The Colossus ducked beneath the first strike, but the second connected.

KRAKOOOM

The impact drove the Colossus backward, cracking stone beneath it. The Quake Bear pressed its advantage, raining blows that sent shockwaves through the basin.

Alex watched, Liger Zero crouched low on the ridge.

"Ziya, status on that thing?"

"It's absorbing his attacks, but those hits are moving it. Whatever that driller is made of, it's not invincible."

The Terra-Colossus retaliated. Its drill-cluster spun faster, crystalline teeth whirring. It lunged forward, driving the spinning drills toward the Quake Bear's flank.

The Bear twisted away, but not fast enough. The drills scored deep furrows in its side. Molten metal splattered across stone.

GRRRAAAAAAWWWRRR

The Quake Bear's pain echoed across the basin. It backed away, steam rising from its wounds. The Colossus advanced, methodical, relentless.

Then the Colossus made its mistake. It raised its drill-head for another strike, exposing its underbelly. The Quake Bear saw the opening.

GRRROOOOAAAAAOOO

It charged, all six legs pumping, aiming to crush the Colossus beneath its weight. The Terra-Colossus tried to pivot, but its bulk betrayed it.

The Quake Bear slammed into the Colossus's side.

THOOOOOM

Stone cracked. The Colossus listed, drill-head skittering across rock. For a moment, Alex thought the Bear had won.

Then the Colossus's embedded living metal flared.

ZZZZZZZZZZZAP

Electrical discharge arced across its segmented carapace, striking the Quake Bear. The Bear convulsed, limbs locking. Its charge faltered.

The Terra-Colossus rolled, using its momentum to throw the Bear off. Drill-cluster spinning again, it drove forward.

FWOOOOSH... KRAKOOOM... FWOOOOSH

Three molten blasts struck the Bear's chest and neck. The Ursidae-type staggered, smoke pouring from its wounds.

GRRRAAAAAAA—

The challenge died in a gurgle. The Quake Bear collapsed, limbs splayed across the lakebed.

The Terra-Colossus stood over its fallen opponent. Drill-head whirred in a final, victorious rumble.

GGRROOOOANNNN... RUMMMMBLE...

Alex exhaled. "Ziya. Rhian. We just found out why the river disappeared."

"What?" Ziya's voice crackled through the comm.

"That thing didn't just divert the water. It claimed this entire basin. That's a territory marker."

Rhian's whisper came soft. "How strong is it?"

"Strong enough to kill a Quake Bear and not break a sweat."

The Terra-Colossus turned its amber eyes toward their position on the ridge. Recognition sparked in its gaze. Not curiosity. Assessment.

It had felt the Liger Zero's challenge earlier.

GGRROOOOANNNN...

The sound was softer now. A question. An invitation.

Alex's hand tightened on the controls.

The comm crackled. Rhian's voice came thin but steady.

"That thing's strong. Stronger than the Stalker. Stronger than the Mire-Devourer."

Alex didn't argue. The data scrolling across his HUD confirmed it. The Terra-Colossus had just dismantled a Rank B territorial lord without taking a scratch that mattered. Its drill-cluster hadn't even slowed.

"Yeah. It is."

He watched the Colossus lower its head, molten metal cooling along its excavation arms. The amber eyes held their position. Watching. Waiting.

"We've seen enough."

The words came flat. No hesitation. The Liger Zero's core thrummed beneath him, restless, hungry for the fight his pilot had just denied it.

"Ziya. Pack up. We're leaving."

"Already moving."

The Iron Mule's engine turned over in the quarry below, hydraulic ramps folding. Rhian's Arosaurer shifted on the ridge, cobalt armor catching the dull light as she fell into position behind the Liger Zero.

Alex didn't look back. He engaged the ion boosters, and the Liger Zero surged forward, carrying them away from the basin, away from the Colossus, away from the river's thief.

The Terra-Colossus didn't follow. Its drill-head rotated back toward the lakebed.

GGRROOOOANNNN... RUMMMMBLE...

The sound faded behind them. Alex didn't relax until the canyon walls blocked the view entirely.

The Liger Zero's boosters cut as Alex guided it into the quarry where the Iron Mule waited, hatches sealed. Rhian's Arosaurer clanked down the ramp behind him, cobalt armor dusted with basin ash. The Mule's engine turned over smooth, Ziya already in the driver's seat.

"Heading back," Alex said over the comm. "We know what diverted the river."

Rhian didn't answer right away. Her hands gripped the Arosaurer's control sticks, knuckles pale.

"Alex." Her voice came thin. "That thing. The Colossus. It killed a Rank B like it was nothing."

"Which is exactly why we're not fighting it."

"What?"

"We're not risking our lives for Millcross's water supply. I promised to investigate. Investigation complete."

"That's it? People are dying up there."

"People die on Terrax every day. We can't fix all of it."

The Arosaurer's tail lashed once. "You helped Veridia. You fought the Liger for them."

"Veridia was different. That was my home. These people—"

"Rhian." Ziya's voice cut through, calm and final. "We're going back to the Mule. We'll talk about options once we're moving. Not standing in a quarry with a B-rank terraformer two kilometers behind us."

The Arosaurer's cockpit hissed as Rhian keyed her mic. "Fine. But we're talking about it."

"Later." Alex engaged the Liger's thrusters, falling into escort position beside the Mule. "Once we're clear."

The Mule's tires crunched over quarry gravel, turning west toward Millcross. Rhian's comm crackled, sharp and low.

"Alex. You're not leaving them dry."

"We're reporting what we found. That's the job."

"Reporting doesn't refill wells."

His jaw tightened. The Liger's core thrummed, impatient.

"Ziya. Plot the fastest route back."

"Already on it. Two hours if we push."

"Good."

Rhian didn't answer. Her Arosaurer fell in line, cobalt armor catching dust.

Advance chapters on my p@tR$0n/Najicablitz.

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