Synthetic Survivor: Machine Age

Thunder rumbled across the skies over Dioz. Lightning illuminated the darkened lands below as the sounds of marching echoed in the distance. 

The dirt roads that connected the kingdom to the now destroyed Freetan Theocracy were now barren as a desert. No caravan or traveler dared to cross into the territory of the metal men.

But despite this, however. Even in the darkness of the storm above them, a lone mage stood at the border.

He wore a dark purple cloak that hid his face and a tunic to match. His eyes glowed purple as he took more steps towards metal men territory.

"Halt," A voice broke the the symphony of nature. 

The mage looked up and saw three figures floating in the sky in front of him.

He sensed no magic from them, instead, the soles of their feet and palms of their hand exhibited fire that made them float. 

"Interesting," He said. He then cast floating magic on himself and hovered at the exact same height as the three figures above.

The figure in the middle was a woman. A blonde beauty, to be exact. Her gleamed blue like the eyes of the man he was searching for, in fact, all their eyes gleamed blue.

"You are entering our borders, the Dioz Kingdom ȧssured us no traveler would be permitted to cross their side. You are violating the treaty," Hailey said. Her eyes shining brighter.

"I am only here to see the countryside, no need to be alarmed. Besides, I didn't know there was such a treaty in place," The mage said.

The mage, realizing his folly, decided to play dumb. He sensed immense bloodlust from the lady but none from the two metal men with her. But this wasn't something he could ignore either, the metal men had no magic, that meant that he won't sense their bloodlust. 

The woman in front of him, on the other hand, was surging in magical energy that surpassed his. 

He screwed up big.

"Your story does not add up from what we know," Hailey said.

"Ah, well, I am Patrick, pleased to meet you three, I will be go-" His eyes couldn't keep up with her speed. He underestimated their patience. Hailey was floating right beside him with her fist punched through his ċhėst.

He began to cough out blood as the purple in his eyes began to fade.

"You massacred the entire border patrol of the Dioz Kingdom. We are no fools," Hailey said as the mage died literally around her arm.

Hailey then pulled her arm out and let the mage's body down back to the ground. His blood splattering all over the road. 

[You may return to your positions," Hailey said.

Amid the trees and the bushes, hundreds of drones appeared from hiding and positioned themselves along the dirt road. Forming a sort of checkpoint.

The drones also began construction of the guard post Hailey had instructed them to. 

"Huh, this man took out 500 Dioz knights that were supposed to arrive at this checkpoint to aid in construction," Micheal said. He was the drone to the right.

"I expected more from him, seeing that his strength prompted us three to go here at such short notice," John said. He was the drone floating on the left.

"Sigh... handling this army of a hundred thousand droids is a tiring. I wonder how One handled you all so well," Hailey said.

"He is our father. Of course he is the most powerful and capable among us all," Micheal said.

"We still haven't found a trace of him," John said.

"Tsk, how about the little girl?" Hailey asked.

"Subject G-2 has successfully bonded with subject G-1 and are now currently being tended by the mother of G-1 and Vilvintine," John said. 

"Miss, don't forget about the rescue operation that will be conducted in a week to rescue our two mages from Yuhin," John continued. 

"Ah yes.. those two. The fact that Yuhin decided to spare them is a surprise but we all know what One would do once he found out about this," Hailey said.

"If commander was here, he would order a full-scale invasion of Yuhin. I bet he would even order the massacre of the surrounding villages to demoralize them," Micheal said.

"Our search for commander will remain at top gear. Judging from his last known coordinates, it can be ȧssumed that someone carried him over the peninsula," John said.

"Yes, John. We are aware of that but have you pinpointed where exactly in the main continent did they take him?" Hailey asked.

"That, milady, we are unsure of. Our radars aren't that strong enough to reach the main continent, yet," John explained.

The three then descended to the ground and looked at the Dioz Kingdom's side of the border.

"Was it really wise to agree with an alliance with Dioz?" Hailey asked herself.

"I don't see it as an alliance. More like the nobility and the king of that kingdom have lost all hope and are preparing for their eventual vassalization," John said.

"The Dioz Kingdom as vassals to us would benefit them and us in certain ways. But.. I can't help but wonder what One would want to do," Micheal said.

"He'd want to annex them straight away," The three of them said in unison.

A lone droid then walked towards the three.

"What is it?" Hailey asked.

The droid then pointed to a bush.

"Huh?" 

The droid then led them to the bush and sure enough, there was another person hiding behind it.

The man was hiding behind a magic shield around the bush. 

"Okay uh, who the hell is this?" Hailey said.

"Hey you!" Micheal stepped forward.

The man screamed in a high-pitched voice as Micheal punched through his shield and pulled him by his neck collar.

"Who are you?" Micheal said directly in his face.

"AHHH" The man fainted.

"Eh," Micheal said.

"You overdid it," John said.

"He pissed his pants," Hailey said.