The loader groaned as it took a step—unbalanced, ancient, more rust than metal—but Mira made it move like it was born in her hands.
She swung the arm down with a hydraulic hiss, slamming a crate into the predator's rear flank. The creature staggered, enraged more than wounded, and turned to face her.
"Over here, mud-licker!" Mira shouted, flipping a wrench in its direction before gripping the loader's controls with both hands.
Toren sprinted across the clearing, signaling with one arm.
"Wess—barricade the east side! Get the kids to the center ring!""Grum! Fuel lines—cut 'em if the beast comes close, we'll light it!""Linae, med tent—triage center!"
They didn't question him.
Not anymore.
They moved.
The turret rattled off another burst. Two rounds hit the creature's shoulder again; the third missed, striking the water barrel and sending a fountain of spray across the firelight.
Chirrissk lunged for the leg, claws slicing, keeping the beast spinning in circles.
System Alert: Coordinated Response DetectedMorale Boost Triggered: +10% Efficiency (All Active Units)Battle Pattern: Flank + Distract + Anchor – EFFECTIVE
Mira kept it pinned, loader arms grinding as they struggled to hold against the sheer bulk of the creature.
Toren ducked under a falling timber, grabbed a thermal coil from a half-collapsed workshop table, and jammed it into the heating cell beside the fence gate.
"Kora—ignite?"
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
"Affirmative."
The coil flashed white-hot, and the exposed cell exploded in a short-range burst of searing flame just as the beast turned toward the sound.
It staggered.
Snarled.
Took a step.
Then another—
And collapsed with a sound like trees falling.