Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1283: Captured

Dozens of narrow mechanical devices emerged from the walls.

At first, they looked like small sections of the wall itself had simply unfolded.

However, as the metal panels separated, the group realized that each device was actually a compact automated weapon concealed inside the facility’s walls.

Each one consisted of a long cylindrical barrel mounted on a rotating mechanical device.

Several smaller components moved around the barrel as the system adjusted its angle, while thin lines of blue-white energy began gathering around the muzzle. They were not large enough to resemble cannons, but the amount of energy accumulating inside them made it obvious that they were designed to kill rather than merely restrain intruders.

Tieria’s mechanical eye also analyzed the weapons.

"They’re targeting all three of us."

Sandara immediately drew her bow while Sylas changed his combat stance.

Soon, the weapons fired.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A barrage of concentrated energy bolts filled the corridor.

The attacks weren’t ordinary projectiles. Each bolt traveled almost instantaneously, leaving only a brief streak of light behind as it crossed the room.

It seemed like lasers!

Still, Sylas disappeared from his position before the first attack reached him.

His movement was so fast that even Sandara could barely follow him. He slipped between the incoming attacks, occasionally stepping onto the wall or ceiling to change direction before another projectile could reach him.

Sandara could only roll behind a raised section of flooring while Tieria extended his mechanical arm and activated a compact defensive barrier.

The first energy bolt struck it...

Bam!

Then another... Then five more arrived almost simultaneously.

The barrier trembled under the repeated impacts.

"They’re adjusting their aim based on our movements," Tieria said as his mechanical eye continued analyzing the weapons. "Every time we change position, their targeting system recalculates. Well, I hope Cloud’s targeting system was as responsive as this."

Another barrage followed.

Sandara moved from behind her cover and released two arrows in rapid succession. The first arrow struck one of the mechanical weapons mounted on the wall, while the second destroyed the energy emitter attached beneath its barrel.

The device immediately stopped glowing.

However, the other weapons simply adjusted their aim toward her.

Sandara’s expression changed.

"There are too many."

Sylas suddenly appeared beside her and pulled her backward.

"Stay behind me."

"I’m an archer, not someone who needs protecting."

"I know. That’s why I need you alive."

Before Sandara could respond, another attack came from the ceiling.

She immediately ducked as the energy bolt passed over her head and struck the wall behind them, leaving a deep mark across the metal.

Tieria’s mechanical eye then noticed something...

"Wait."

He stared at the weapons for several seconds.

"They’re not trying to kill us."

Sandara frowned.

"Not trying to kill us?"

"They could have targeted our heads from the beginning." Tieria’s expression became increasingly serious. "Instead, they’re targeting our limbs, forcing us into specific positions and measuring how we react."

Sylas looked around the corridor.

"So they’re testing us?"

"Probably... I’m still guessing here since I’m not sensing any killing intent. They’re certainly trying to harm us but not kill us."

The moment Tieria finished speaking, the weapons suddenly stopped firing.

The silence that followed was almost more unsettling than the barrage.

Sandara slowly lowered her bow.

"What are they doing?"

Nobody answered, and then the floor beneath them suddenly opened.

Tieria’s mechanical eye immediately filled with warning indicators.

"Move!"

Sandara jumped backward, but the section of floor beneath her had already collapsed.

She dropped several meters before Sylas reacted.

He then leapt forward and caught her wrist.

"Got you!"

Sandara’s body swung over the opening.

For a moment, Sylas managed to hold her with one arm.

Then something shot upward from the darkness beneath them.

A thick mechanical cable wrapped around Sandara’s ankle and immediately began pulling her downward.

"Sandara!"

Sylas tightened his grip and drew his blade with his free hand.

The cable suddenly accelerated.

Sylas cut through it in a single motion, and Sandara immediately swung back toward the edge.

He pulled her up just as another cable shot from the opening.

This time, it was aimed at Sylas.

He released Sandara and turned away, allowing the cable to pass through the space where his body had been.

Tieria stared into the opening.

His eye rapidly adjusted its focus.

"There’s an entire system beneath us."

More sections of the floor opened and then, the walls began to move.

Panels that had appeared to be nothing more than part of the ancient structure slid apart, revealing mechanical arms hidden behind them.

Some carried blades, others contained energy weapons, while several possessed long metal spears that extended several meters into the corridor.

The entire passage had transformed into a gigantic automated killing zone!

Sylas looked around.

"This place has a lot of surprises."

Sandara didn’t answer immediately. She looked around the corridor as she tried to determine which of the newly revealed weapons posed the greatest threat.

There were simply too many.

The mechanical arms had emerged from almost every direction, leaving only a narrow section of the corridor that wasn’t occupied by some kind of weapon.

Several of them were already moving, adjusting their positions as though the facility were calculating the most efficient way to attack the three intruders.

Tieria then pointed toward one of the mechanical arms.

"They’re trying to separate us."

The moment he said that, several of the mechanical arms moved simultaneously.

A pair of metal barriers suddenly dropped from the ceiling.

Sylas immediately moved toward Sandara, but one of the barriers slammed into the floor between them.

"Sandara!"

"I’m fine!"

Sandara stepped backward as another barrier descended behind her, cutting off the path she had been using to retreat.

Tieria’s expression changed.

"They’re dividing the corridor."

The mechanical arms suddenly began firing again.

This time, the attacks weren’t concentrated on a single target. Instead, the facility carefully positioned the weapons so that each barrage forced one of them toward a different section of the corridor.

Sylas immediately understood what was happening.

But soon, he noticed that Sandara had already disappeared!

No, even Tieria was nowhere to be seen!