Commander Kael’s voice crackled through the comms. “Yoshida, Alya, Squad Seven—focus on the wounded and fall back to the secondary defense line! We’ll cover you. Move!”

Jun turned toward the squad, his energy blade still humming faintly in his grip. Alya’s fiery aura flickered as she helped a limping candidate to his feet.

“Hey, powerless,” she called, her tone sharp but not as biting as before. “You gonna stand there all day, or are you helping?”

Jun nodded, sprinting toward a downed soldier nearby. The man groaned in pain, his leg pinned beneath a chunk of collapsed rubble. “Hold on,” Jun said, wedging the blade into the rubble and using his enhanced exo-frame strength to pry it loose.

“Thanks,” the soldier muttered, wincing as he stood.

“Don’t thank me yet,” Jun replied, glancing toward the advancing Harbinger forces.

Alya ran up, flames licking at her fingertips as she raised a protective wall of fire between their group and the approaching enemies. “This won’t hold long!” she shouted. “Let’s go!”

The squad moved quickly, carrying the injured toward the fallback line. Around them, Sentinel Strike Force soldiers held their ground, plasma bolts and explosions lighting up the chaotic battlefield.

At the Secondary Defense Line

The retreating squad reached the hastily constructed barricades, where medical personnel were already treating the wounded. Jun set the injured soldier down and scanned the area.

“Yoshida!” Kael’s commanding voice cut through the noise. She approached, her face streaked with dirt and sweat, but her presence as imposing as ever. “Good work getting them back here. Now I need you to—”

Before she could finish, a deafening roar shook the ground. All eyes turned toward the Harbinger leader as it advanced, its body shifting into something even more grotesque. Its arms transformed into massive blades that dragged along the ground, sparks flying with each step.

Kael narrowed her eyes. “They’re not letting up. Looks like we’re going to have to hold them here.”

“But how?” Alya asked, her voice trembling despite the flames curling around her fists. “Nothing stops them. They just... keep coming.”

Kael turned to her sharply. “That’s enough, Alya. Fear doesn’t win battles. Focus on what you can do.”

Jun stepped forward. “What’s the plan?”

Kael studied him for a moment, then nodded. “We hold the line. Every second we buy gives Command more time to deploy heavy reinforcements. You, Yoshida, and Alya will take point. Keep them distracted, hit their weak spots if you can. Don’t try to be heroes—just survive.”

Alya frowned. “Him? On point? He doesn’t even—”

“Enough,” Kael snapped. “You saw what he did out there. He’s earned his place.”

Jun didn’t respond. He simply adjusted his grip on the energy blade and stepped toward the barricade.

The Harbinger horde surged forward, their metallic bodies glinting in the flickering light of the battlefield. Jun, Alya, and the remaining squad members braced themselves as the first wave crashed into the barricades.

Jun moved with precision, dodging a Harbinger’s weaponized limb and slicing at its joint. Sparks flew as the creature stumbled, but it quickly regenerated, its arm reforming into a spiked club.

“Watch out!” Alya shouted, sending a blast of fire at the creature. The flames scorched its metallic skin, slowing its movements just long enough for Jun to deliver another strike.

Behind them, the Sentinel Strike Force’s turrets roared to life, sending a barrage of plasma bolts into the advancing horde. The air was thick with smoke and the metallic tang of ozone.

“Yoshida, to your left!” Kael’s voice barked over the comms.

Jun turned just in time to see a smaller Harbinger lunging at him, its arm morphing into a serrated blade. He ducked, driving his energy blade upward into its chest. The creature spasmed, its red eyes flickering out as it collapsed.

“Nice one,” Alya muttered as she unleashed a fiery barrage on another Harbinger.

“Thanks,” Jun replied, wiping sweat from his brow.

As the battle raged on, the Harbinger leader finally reached the barricades. It towered over the defenders, its crimson eyes scanning the field with cold precision. Kael stepped forward, her plasma rifle humming with power.

“Focus fire on the leader!” she commanded.

Sentinel Strike Force soldiers unleashed everything they had, but the Harbinger leader shrugged off the attacks as if they were nothing. Its body shimmered with a dark energy, and with a single swing of its massive blade-like arm, it tore through the barricade, sending soldiers flying.

Jun was knocked off his feet, landing hard on the ground. His ears rang, and his vision blurred, but he forced himself to stand.

“Jun!” Alya shouted, running to his side.

He shook his head, steadying himself. “I’m fine. We have to stop it.”

Kael’s voice crackled over the comms. “Fall back to the third line! We can’t hold it here!”

Jun looked at the crumbling barricades, the wounded soldiers, and the relentless Harbinger leader. “If we fall back, it’ll tear through everyone here.”

“And if we stay, we die,” Alya snapped, grabbing his arm. “Come on!”

But Jun didn’t move. He tightened his grip on the energy blade and stepped forward.

“Jun!” Alya called after him.

He glanced back, a determined look in his eyes. “You go. I’ll buy you time.”

Kael’s voice cut through the comms again. “Yoshida, stand down! That’s an order!”

Jun ignored her. He stood his ground as the Harbinger leader approached, its massive, blade-like arms raised for a killing blow.

The air was heavy with tension as Jun exhaled slowly, readying himself for the fight of his life.