I flew across the city. There were still dozens of robots despite my raining down lasers at them. I clicked my tongue, feeling a mixture of frustration, sadness and most of all guilt. This, without a doubt, was the action of the government and the American Monarch. All this destruction and pain captured me.

  Was all this…my fault? Had I not taken that money and refused, would all this have been avoided? Dozens of buildings are on fire or pulverized. People will lose businesses, workplaces, and their homes. All because I was stupid and naive.

  This is my fault, isn’t it? My thoughts snapped away as I spotted the large scorpion robot, wreaking havoc. I could feel it with my Mind’s Eye, there is no human piloting that machine, only an AI burning everything all to get to me. I fist clenched as lightning crawled around my arms. It still had not noticed me, shooting down buildings without a care in the world.

  I sure hope it's durable. The burning feeling inside me wanted an outlet, a punching bag. Unfortunately for this machine, it's the only thing nearby. I roared as I dived at it, creating a sonic boom behind me. Its head, which is shaped like a rectangle, turned to face me.

  It's far too late for him to react as I body check its torso, sending it flying. It was about to collide with some smaller buildings, but I didn’t allow it; I didn’t want to cause more destruction than I already had. I gripped its tail before it fell to the ground and flew high up, spinning the robot to make it dizzy, which was probably useless, but I still did it anyway. I was planning to throw that damn thing into space, if it weren’t for the fact that the metal I was touching started to emit electricity, zapping me. I gasped, instinctively letting go.

  Damn it! Looks like it has the same function as the SV4. It prevents me from grabbing it to toss it into space to end the fight quickly. The Scorpion Robot fell, but its multiple legs suddenly fired an intense, focused heat to slow its descent. Meanwhile, its tail suddenly fired dozens of bullets. And they weren’t small regular projectiles, no.

  Those things were about as tall as me and thicker than a cow. They were fast, too, but I managed to evade them pretty comfortably as I charged at the Scorpion Robot. The bullets whooshing past me, as I glared at the descending machine. Its twin canons suddenly fired at me, catching me off guard. I was so surprised that my idiot brain didn’t think to block and dodge as the beam hit me directly, sending me tumbling back, out of control.

  I hurriedly tried to regain my balance, my body already crashed into one of the skyscrapers' top windows. The glass behind me breaks like wet paper as I slowly roll around the floor, groaning. I was in some kind of office workplace. It wasn’t the problem, but what is, is that frightened desk workers who stayed behind, probably thinking that being up so high made them avoid the bots below. They were right, but the problem is that I knew what was going to happen next.

  “Everyone, get down!” I ordered, quickly getting up and exiting through the broken window.

  And like I expected, that damned robot had fired its two beam canons at me. The problem is that behind me is a building filled, according to my sensing ability, with about twenty people or more. Can’t exactly count as a powerful beam that could easily vaporize this entire skyscraper into ash, is coming at me at very high speeds. I charged into the blast with my hands raised to catch it. And I did.

  I could feel its intense heat despite my resistance to anything heat-related. It didn’t feel good on my hands as it felt like I was dipping them in boiling water, and trust me, I knew that feeling. I let out a primal cry as I see my hands getting charred and rapidly healing at the same time. After a full five seconds, the beam finally stopped. Allowing my hands to heal, finally.

  I didn’t just remain stationary as I forced myself to dive in. I was pushed into a vulnerable position, and I can’t allow myself to be put in that spot again! Especially if others are going to get involved. It started to fire its tail bullets at me again. I narrowed my eyes. If he wants to play the long-range game, then I’ll be happy to put it in its place.

  I started to whip my hands around in a slicing motion. “Cleave Breaker!”

  The invisible, sharp shockwaves cut apart the hail with giant bullets. Not only that, it begins to hit the Scorpion Robot. The Cleave Breaker’s air slashes weren't strong enough to sever the robot’s body or even make a dent. Only creating sparks as it collides with its tough metal armour. I see the canons lighting up again.

  “In your dreams, you glorified toaster!” I shout, shooting my laser beams at it.

  This time, my long-range attack actually made it go off balance, interrupting its cannon fire. Speaking of, that’s got to be its most annoying part of its arsenal. It would be a shame for someone to just take it.

  I zoomed to grab one of the cannons while the Scorpion Robot was still stunned. As if realizing what I was doing, its head turned to face me. I responded with a smug grin before roaring as, with some effort, I tore its canon off its shoulder. Almost immediately, I started to beat the ever-living crap out of the machine, using its own part as my baseball bat. I made sure to only swing downwards to make sure I don’t send the machine flying and then smash a building with its large, heavy body.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  It had had enough, managing to grab its cannon with its pincer arm before smacking me with its other one, sending my body skidding across the road. Unlike last time, I managed to get my balance back quickly. I dashed, accelerating before jumping, creating another sonic boom behind me as I quickly closed the distance from the Scorpion Robot, delivering a right hook at its head. It tried jumping away, but I was relentless. I didn’t give the toaster any break time or a chance to fight back, as I brutally smashed it to the ground with a hammer fist.

  At first, I was intimidated by its appearance. It looks like it's all a show. Nothing like SV4. Looks like I didn’t need to use World Breaker after all! After a couple of minutes, its whole body was damaged and looked barely functioning. It tried to strike me with a pincher, but I batted it away before delivering five jabs to the torso, before moving back.

  The machine creaked as it tried to move. Looks like just a couple more, and this thing is going to the scrapyard where it rightfully belongs. The machine’s body roared as it aimed its canon at me. I clicked my tongue. I should have torn his other one. No use crying about spilled milk, I’ll just do it after I block it.

  But then I felt someone’s silhouette nearby. I whipped my head to see a teenage girl unconscious on the floor, which wasn’t too bad. She was in a vulnerable spot, but she was in no immediate harm. Until I spotted her close to a building that was about to collapse. Even at a distance, I could see cracks that got bigger and bigger. It wouldn't be long until all the rumble would crush the girl.

  I moved in to save her, however, almost at the same time. That stupid robot thought it was the right time to fire its canon laser, which I had to block with my hands again. Despite losing its other shoulder cannon, it's still ferocious and a bit stronger. It seems the bot is putting all of its energy into this one attack. I gritted my teeth as I struggled to push past the massive laser.

  I was about to move out of the laser, until my SEE Goggles told me that behind me was another building filled with people. If I move away and try to save that girl, the people behind me are doomed! I whipped my head to face the girl, and the building finally gave out as a large rumble would soon crush her.

  “NO!!!” I screamed.

  But then, to my relief. Some giant dude about Gavin’s height and muscle mass managed to grab the girl and away from the falling rocks. I have no clue who he is, but I got to thank him later. Oddly, though, he seemed familiar. The beam then stopped. I thought it was just out of power, but it's actually some blonde guy with a baton smashing the canon into pieces, before jumping back to avoid the claw.

  Then an Asian woman rushed to the blonde’s side, throwing four black marbles that exploded into black tar, trapping the Scorpion Robot’s claw and leaving it unable to move. Wait a second, these guys are…

  Another blonde guy, this time with longer hair, fired his rifle from a nearby building. Managing to hit the robot every time a bullet is fired. Then the massive robot lifted, defying gravity before crashing hard to the ground. I spotted Emily or Kinetic, her hands outstretched, out of breath. Scarlet Knight appeared, jumping from the rooftop before plunging its metal rod into Scorpion Robot’s head.

  Its leg flayed around until it stopped moving. The mighty glorified toaster has now been slain. Good. I dropped back to the ground to rejoin Scarlet and Kinetic. I give them a grin and a thumbs-up.

  Emily copied my gesture while Gavin shook his head, but I could tell he was smiling behind his helmet. Then my smile turned to a frown as I faced Squad Nova. They weren’t wearing their power armour, allowing me to get a closer look at their face. I knew they were human behind those highly advanced helmets, but actually seeing their face showed me that yes, they are human. They looked like regular people, minus the fact that they looked like Hollywood actors.

  The guys looked handsome and cool, while the Asian woman looked gorgeous. Now that the threat is settled, we just stood around awkwardly and yet tensely. They helped me, and while I’m not sure if this is because they felt guilty or what, I was glad they came to help. Paladin held the unconscious girl in a bridal style, unharmed. Still, despite them helping my butt, it didn’t change the fact that they also kicked it.

  In both encounters, I won, and nobody died. But you don’t just beat the crap out of someone and expect them to hug it out after working together to face a common threat. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to say to them. I wanted to thank them and roast them at the same time. Then something unexpected happened, they took to their knees and bowed.

  “We apologize.”

  I blinked, before making a sound like: “I-er, what? I, who?”

  They ignored my weird Red Justice noises and explained what happened. How did they not know that the Monarchs are so desperate that they are willing to involve innocent people?

  “Regardless.” Said Fighter, who is the older blonde man. “I don’t expect you to forgive us; we still went along with the plan to capture you despite knowing how desperate they are to have you.”

  Fighter then looks up to me with eyes filled with strong conviction that I nearly took a step back by how intense they are.

  “We are sorry. Is there any way we can own up? Aside from our lives off course, that is…if you do seek a life as compensation, take mine, but leave my team out of this.” Fighter states, earning a look of shock from everyone.

  “What!?”

  “Michael, no!”

  His teammates cry out. But kept his head down, eyes closed and dropped to the side. Totally leaving him defenceless. He’s freaking serious. I shook my head furiously.

  “Whoa, whoa! Crapbaskets, I don’t want your life, do I look like you?”

  Squad Nova visibly relaxes after saying that. Fighter still had that guilty face. I released a deep sigh, carefully walking towards Fighter. I offered him my hand, and he stared at it, surprised, before he finally took it. I pulled him up.

  “Listen, it's going to be hard to forget all the haymakers and the damage to my ribs. But if you want to start to make things right, help me with the aftermath, it's going to be hard to clean up the city with just two helping me out.”

  I say, jabbing a thumb behind me, pointing at Scarlet and Kinetic. Fighter smiled and gripped his hand tighter. Not crushing but firm.

  “Very well, let’s clean up the city, then, Red Justice.”