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Fred shouted suddenly,
"Snake! Snake!"
But Maverick acted as if he hadn't heard a thing. He didn't even lift his eyes—just exchanged a glance with Dr. Chan before a slow, familiar smirk curled at his lips, like he was about to have some fun.
"Are you crazy? If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!" Fred clutched his head, his eyes bulging in panic.
"Relax." Maverick finally spoke, his voice as steady as a dull lab test."This is a good chance to try something."
Fred gawked at the metal rods in Maverick's hands—about the thickness of a thumb."Are you serious? You think those… toothpicks… can stop a snake?!"
Without answering, Maverick swiftly planted the rods into the ground, spaced thirty meters apart. A protective barrier took shape.
Fred was fuming."These guys are nuts," he muttered, storming off into the forest. But after a few steps, unease crept over him, forcing him to glance back.
Then—his pupils shrank.
A flash of silver slid out from the trees. A mechanical snake, two meters long, coiled its steel-like body, its red scanning lights glowing as it locked onto the pile of debris nearby.
Fred wanted to scream at them to run. But his legs felt like lead.
Maverick remained calm, still laying wires—so slow it was like he was setting a table. Only Dr. Chan reacted, stepping back cautiously, looking for cover.
The snake twitched—then accelerated!
Its target wasn't Chan. It was Maverick!
Fred's breath hitched."It's insane! I told them there was a snake! Even though it's just a scout model, it could wipe them out without a second thought!"
He clenched the iron rod in his hand, knuckles turning white. Should he rush in?
Before he could decide, the snake launched. It was a silver streak, lunging straight at Maverick, slipping between the metal rods—
"Crack!"
The air split open.
A web of electromagnetic pulses flickered to life, like lightning spun into a net. The mechanical snake slammed into the invisible trap.
It spasmed in midair, convulsing violently as the scent of burnt circuitry filled the air.
"Thud!"
The metal serpent crashed to the ground. Its tail twitched weakly—but it had lost all power.
Without looking up, Maverick stomped on its head, pried apart its shiny plating, and tossed armor fragments aside like shattered ice.
Fred stood frozen."He… just dismantled it?"
Silence. Even the forest seemed to be holding its breath.
Fred's eyes were wide enough to fit a cricket ball. His jaw hung open.
"We… won?" he murmured, barely believing it himself.
Maverick crouched beside the wreckage."This steel casing is useful."
He and Dr. Chan tore through the remains like kids disassembling a toy.
Fred just stood there, head spinning. He remembered how, moments ago, he'd nearly squeezed them both to death in his panic.
"Maybe… I messed up," he muttered, face burning with embarrassment.
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Just as regret started to settle, a rustling sound cut through the brush.
A second flash of silver.
Another mechanical snake slithered out of the shadows.
Maverick's brows lifted slightly. He tilted his head.
"It's here," he said.
"What?" Chan blinked.
Maverick didn't explain. He simply shifted aside and tossed the metal armor plate to Chan."Hold this in front of you. Don't move."
Fred, still catching his breath, sneaked back, pointing at the forest."Another one!" His voice was deeper this time—more determined.
Maverick sized up the creature and nodded.
But this time, the snake wasn't rushing in blindly. It slithered at the edge of the ruins, its scanning lights flickering, cautiously shifting side to side—studying.
"It's watching," Chan whispered, crouched behind an old pile of furniture. He bit his lip."Damn… it's learning."
"The first one attacked head-on. This one…" Fred's expression darkened."It figured out your trap, didn't it?"
Maverick didn't answer. He pulled a metal box from the cable pile, swapped the fuse, and plugged in another.
Chan caught on instantly and followed suit.
The snake didn't seem to notice. It slithered closer, slow but deliberate, circling the outer edge of the rods—avoiding the exact spot where the first had fallen.
"It's avoiding interference zones!" Chan realized.
"Then just stick another toothpick in!" Fred stomped.
"No time! They're coming too fast!" Chan didn't look up, still working on the wiring.
Fred snapped."Then what are we waiting for? Run!"
The mechanical snake turned sharply, its red lights flaring.
It lunged—straight for Fred!
This time, it prioritized the clearest"escape target."
Just then—
An old washing machine lid flew open with a snap.
Inside—was a hidden disruptor.
"Buzz!"
A ball of electromagnetic pulses burst out, snaking along the air, landing precisely on the mechanical snake's path.
Electric arcs crawled over its body.
The snake spasmed violently, trapped by invisible force. It struggled—then smashed headfirst into a discarded car door.
Its red light flickered—then went out.
Fred skidded to a stop too fast, nearly pulled a muscle, stumbling awkwardly back like a thief caught in the act.
Maverick patted the washing machine lid."Stealth mode. Activates on detection."
Fred twitched."You could've said that earlier."
He swallowed his complaints, cheeks heating up as he recalled his dramatic retreat. Not a word left his lips.
No one paid him any mind.
He watched as Maverick and Chan casually dismantled the second snake.
Casually.
They weren't stronger than him. Not in height, muscle, or speed.
Yet in minutes, they had effortlessly taken down two deadly scout snakes.
And he—he was still dealing with a leg cramp.
Fred clenched his teeth."This stuff… is it hard to learn?"
Maverick glanced up, then smirked. He pointed to Chan."He picked it up. What do you think?"
Fred opened his mouth to argue—but Maverick was already sifting through the second snake's remains.
His gaze sharpened. He pointed at a tiny glowing dot."The communication module is still on."
Chan leaned in."You mean… it sent data?"
Maverick nodded."Yes."
"So that means—"
"Third, fourth, maybe more," Maverick murmured."They know our tricks now."
His voice was calm.
But it sent a chill down their spines.
"The next one… won't be this easy."
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