Bab 46: The Machine Spirit
The smoldering wreckage of Zaitsev's behemoth lay beneath us, the final remnants of his last-ditch defense crumbling into dust. But as the Belkan facility settled into silence, one thing became abundantly clear: Zaitsev was still out there, somewhere in the shadows, watching us dismantle his empire piece by piece. His AI network was crippled, his drones grounded, and his last weapon destroyed, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that we hadn't seen the end of him. If anything, this was only the beginning.
We touched down at the base hours later, the quiet hum of engines fading as we dismounted. The adrenaline was still coursing through me, but the weight of unfinished business pressed down even harder. In the command center, Levi and Phantom Leader were already poring over the latest data from the Belkan facility, trying to piece together Zaitsev's next move. He had been on the run for too long, and we couldn't afford to let him slip away again.
Rook stood nearby, her arms crossed as she stared at the map on the screen. Raven was beside her, their silent connection palpable even in the midst of all the chaos. I could tell they were both processing the battle we had just fought, but there was something else lingering between them—something that gave them a quiet strength in the face of everything we were about to face.
Levi tapped a few keys, bringing up a new set of encrypted files. "We've cracked the last set of data from the Belkan facility. There's nothing definitive about Zaitsev's exact location, but there's a pattern here—one we missed before."
I stepped closer, my eyes scanning the screen. "What kind of pattern?"
Levi frowned, his eyes flicking between the files. "Zaitsev's been using AI systems to mask his movements, creating digital ghosts to throw us off his trail. But if we look at the places we've hit—Black Echo, the Osean and Erusean facilities, even here in Belka—there's one common thread."
Phantom Leader leaned forward, his voice cold and measured. "What are you saying?"
Levi brought up a map, connecting the dots between the sites we had attacked. "Zaitsev's not just running. He's been trying to lead us somewhere. Each of these sites is connected to one central location. It's not on any known maps, but it's deep inside the heart of Usea—an old military installation buried beneath the mountains."
My pulse quickened. "He's been baiting us this whole time."
Rook's eyes narrowed as she studied the map. "So what's waiting for us at this installation? Another AI network? More drones?"
Levi shook his head. "No. This is different. Zaitsev's not hiding another AI facility here. This is where he's been operating from the entire time. Everything—the drones, the AI systems, the weapons—they've all been controlled from this installation. If we take it out, we cut off Zaitsev's last connection to his network. But if we fail…"
Phantom Leader's voice cut through the tension. "If we fail, he'll disappear again. And this time, we won't be able to follow."
New Mission Objective: Locate and Destroy Zaitsev's Central Command
Objective: Infiltrate Zaitsev's hidden command center deep in the mountains of Usea and neutralize his operations once and for all.
Threat Level: Maximum
Reward: XP: 100,000, Zaitsev's Reign Ended
Failure Penalty: Zaitsev Escapes and Rebuilds
The mission brief was short, but the stakes were higher than they had ever been. This was it—the final move in a game that had been playing out for months. Zaitsev had led us here, stringing us along as he built his empire, but now we had a chance to end it. The coordinates led us deep into the heart of Usea, to a place buried beneath the mountains where no one had gone in years.
"Phoenix, we're going in first," I said, my voice steady as I looked over the team. "We'll breach the installation and clear a path for Hitman Squadron and the ground forces. Once we're inside, we shut Zaitsev down for good."
Rook glanced at me, her gaze hard but resolute. "He's been running from us long enough. It's time to end this."
As we prepared to launch, the tension in the air was almost suffocating. Every move we made from here on out had to be perfect. Zaitsev was cornered, but that made him more dangerous than ever. The installations we had destroyed before were nothing compared to this. If we failed here, Zaitsev would rebuild, stronger and more dangerous than ever.
New Feature Unlocked: High-Risk Breach Tactics
You now have access to advanced breach strategies for heavily fortified enemy installations, designed to neutralize high-level threats quickly and efficiently.
We lifted off into the night, the stars barely visible through the thick cloud cover. The mountains of Usea loomed ahead, jagged peaks cutting into the sky as the wind howled through the valleys below. The installation was buried deep beneath those peaks, a hidden fortress that Zaitsev had used to orchestrate every move of his campaign.
"Phoenix, we're approaching the target," I said over the comms, my voice calm despite the adrenaline surging through me. "Get ready for a hard breach. This place is locked down tight."
Viper's voice came through, steady and cold. "I see the outer defenses. We're going to need to hit them fast before they can mobilize."
Echo chimed in next, her tactical mind already analyzing the best approach. "I'm picking up missile batteries along the ridges, and there's a drone swarm inbound from the west. We'll need to split our forces to take them out."
"We can't give them time to respond," I replied, locking onto the first set of targets. "Phoenix, form up. We hit the defenses first, then we move on the installation."
New Mission: Breach Zaitsev's Mountain Fortress
Objective: Destroy the outer defenses of Zaitsev's command center and infiltrate the installation before his forces can retaliate.
Threat Level: Extreme
Reward: XP: 50,000, Facility Breached
Failure Penalty: Mission Failure, Zaitsev Escapes
We descended toward the mountain, the air thick with tension as the radar lit up with hostile contacts. Drones swarmed from the west, their sleek forms cutting through the darkness as they moved to intercept us. Missile batteries along the ridges fired in unison, their deadly payloads streaking toward us with terrifying speed.
"Drones incoming," Rook said, her voice tense but focused. "We need to clear them out before they reach the installation."
Viper and Echo were already in position, their jets cutting through the sky as they engaged the incoming drones. Missiles streaked through the night, lighting up the mountainside as the first wave of drones exploded in fiery bursts.
"I've got them," Viper muttered, his voice calm as he fired off another round. "Taking them down."
Echo's jet weaved between the missile trails, her missiles locking onto the drones' weak points with precision. "We're thinning them out, but those missile batteries are still hot."
Rook and I moved in on the missile batteries, our jets dodging the incoming fire as we targeted the exposed launchers. "Missiles away," I called out, firing off a volley of explosives. The batteries erupted in flames, sending debris cascading down the mountainside as the defenses began to fall.
"We've got an opening!" Rook shouted. "Let's take the installation."
New Objective: Infiltrate the Command Center
Objective: Breach the entrance to Zaitsev's command center and neutralize the facility's core systems.
Reward: XP: 50,000, Command Center Breached
Failure Penalty: Zaitsev's Forces Reinforce
The mountain rumbled beneath us as the outer defenses fell, but we didn't have time to celebrate. Zaitsev's installation loomed ahead, a massive fortress carved into the rock, its walls bristling with defenses. This was it—the final stronghold, the heart of Zaitsev's operation.
"Phoenix, we're going in," I said, my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest. "We take this place down, or Zaitsev gets away."
Missiles streaked through the sky as we made our approach, the installation's defenses scrambling to repel us. But this time, there was no escape.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone