super soldier system: rish of the strongest

Chapter 19: Battle of the Ironclad

The Ironclad Military Academy had always been a fortress of discipline and training, but tonight, it was a battlefield. The rogue faction's assault came as a storm of chaos, artillery fire ripping through the air and explosions lighting up the night sky. Alarm sirens blared across the campus as cadets scrambled to their defensive positions, adrenaline and fear pumping through their veins.

Ethan Cross stood at the center of the chaos, his heart pounding in rhythm with the distant sound of enemy boots marching closer. His squad was positioned on the eastern barricade, where the attack was most concentrated. His newly unlocked Adaptive Combat Mode flooded his vision with information—enemy movements, attack patterns, and potential weaknesses.

"Focus up!" Ethan barked, his voice cutting through the noise. "Jackson, cover the left flank! Mira, keep the center locked down! Lila, I need those comms clear for reinforcements!"

His squad snapped into action, their training and trust in Ethan overriding their fear.

"Ethan, we're outnumbered," Mira said, her voice trembling but steady. "How do we hold them off?"

"We don't just hold," Ethan replied, gripping his weapon tighter. "We push back."

---

The first wave of the assault hit like a tidal wave. Rogue soldiers surged forward, their shouts blending with the roar of gunfire. Ethan's squad opened fire, precision and teamwork keeping the line steady. Ethan himself darted between cover points, his movements fluid and calculated, thanks to the system.

The system's interface highlighted weak points in the enemy's formation.

Target Priority: Flank Units. Neutralize to disrupt advance.

Ethan relayed the command, and Jackson adjusted his fire, taking out the rogue soldiers trying to circle around.

"Good shot!" Ethan called, ducking behind cover as a grenade exploded nearby.

The cadets around him were holding strong, but Ethan knew this was only the beginning. The rogue faction wasn't just here to fight—they were here to destroy.

---

An hour into the battle, the second wave came, this one more brutal and organized. Ethan spotted enhanced soldiers among them, their movements unnaturally fast and their strength devastating.

"Ethan, we've got a problem," Lila said through the comms, her voice laced with urgency. "They've deployed their enhanced units. They're tearing through the west barricade!"

Ethan's mind raced. The west barricade was critical to their defense. If it fell, the academy would be overrun.

"Hold the line here," Ethan ordered his squad. "I'll handle the west."

"Alone?" Jackson protested.

"I'll be fine," Ethan said, activating Adaptive Combat Mode. "Trust me."

---

Ethan sprinted toward the west barricade, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to dodge incoming fire. When he arrived, the scene was chaos. Cadets were being overwhelmed by rogue-enhanced soldiers, their cybernetic implants giving them a terrifying edge.

Ethan wasted no time. He leaped into the fray, activating Precision Strike, his newly acquired ability. His movements became a blur as he struck with pinpoint accuracy, targeting the weak points in the enhanced soldiers' armor.

One soldier swung at him with a reinforced arm, but Ethan sidestepped, his system predicting the attack before it happened. He countered with a powerful strike to the soldier's exposed neck, dropping him instantly.

The cadets rallied around Ethan, their morale boosted by his presence. Together, they pushed back the attackers, reclaiming the west barricade.

---

As the battle raged on, Ethan returned to the eastern front, his squad still holding their position. But the relief was short-lived.

A loud, mechanical roar echoed across the battlefield, silencing the chaos for a brief moment. From the enemy's ranks emerged a figure that sent chills down Ethan's spine.

Logan Steele.

But this wasn't the Logan Ethan had known. The rogue faction's enhancements had transformed him into something monstrous. His once-pristine uniform was now a patchwork of cybernetic implants, his eyes glowing a menacing red. His movements were fluid yet unnatural, a predator stalking its prey.

"Ethan Cross," Logan called, his voice amplified by some mechanical device. "So this is where you've been hiding."

Ethan stepped forward, his squad watching in tense silence. "Logan, you don't have to do this. The rogue faction is using you."

Logan laughed, the sound cold and metallic. "Using me? No, Ethan. They've given me power. The kind of power you'll never understand."

Ethan's grip on his weapon tightened. "You don't know what you're doing. This isn't a game, Logan. People are dying."

"And more will die," Logan said, his tone devoid of remorse. "Starting with you."

Logan moved first, his enhanced speed almost too fast for Ethan to track. But Adaptive Combat Mode kicked in, slowing the world around him just enough for him to dodge the initial strike. Logan's fist slammed into the ground, leaving a crater where Ethan had been standing.

Ethan countered with a Precision Strike, aiming for Logan's exposed side. But Logan anticipated it, blocking with a reinforced arm and retaliating with a powerful kick that sent Ethan sprawling.

"You're out of your league, Cross," Logan sneered, advancing.

Ethan scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. Logan's enhancements were far superior to anything he'd faced before. But he wasn't alone.

"Lila," Ethan said through the comms, dodging another strike. "I need a weakness. Now."

"I'm on it," Lila replied, her fingers flying across her keyboard. "Hold him off for a few seconds."

Ethan gritted his teeth, activating Shield Burst to deflect Logan's next attack. The energy barrier held, but barely.

"Got it!" Lila said. "The implants in his arms are overloading his nervous system. Hit the joints—elbows and shoulders."

Ethan nodded, focusing his attacks on the weak points Lila had identified. Logan's movements became more erratic as Ethan exploited his vulnerabilities, chipping away at his strength.

But Logan wasn't done. With a roar, he unleashed a barrage of attacks, forcing Ethan on the defensive. Every strike rattled his shield, the strain taking its toll.

Warning:

System Overheating. Immediate Cooldown Required.

Ethan ignored the alert, pushing himself beyond his limits. This wasn't just a fight—it was a battle for the academy, for his squad, for everything he'd worked for.

With one final effort, Ethan activated Precision Strike and Shield Burst simultaneously, driving his fist into Logan's shoulder joint. The impact shattered the implant, sending Logan crashing to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Ethan stood over his fallen rival.

"You're better than this, Logan," he said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "Don't let them control you."

Logan looked up at him, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Ethan thought he saw a flicker of regret in his eyes.

But before Logan could respond, a retreat signal blared from the rogue faction's ranks. Their forces began to pull back, leaving behind chaos and destruction.

Ethan watched them go, relief washing over him. The battle was won, but the war was far from over.

As the academy's cadets cheered around him, Ethan knew one thing for certain: this was only the beginning.