18 Floors Above the Apocalypse



Jasper's reflexes were quick as lightning. When he hit the ground, he instinctively curled into a protective ball, avoiding any serious injuries.

Anticipated, scanned without blind spots - this level of Al sophistication was clearly military-grade. These killer machines hadn't been deployed before the catastrophe; they were the latest armaments from the defense sector.

If these were ever unleashed in large numbers on the battlefield, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Robot number two, fooled by a feint, charged at them again. Stella flicked her wrist in a deceptive gesture.

Her movement was captured, prompting the android to dodge. But once again, it fell for the trick.

Another feint, another dodge.

After several false moves, the robot's programming couldn't pin down Stella's actual intent, prompting a system recalibration.

This refresh was a disaster for the bot. No longer recognizing her hand movements as a threat, it didn't react - even as her real attack came. The result was the same as its predecessor: crushed beneath tons of steel rebar.

In the control room, the observer seethed with rage. These Australians were both cunning and devious!

Individuals with supernatural abilities who refused to be tamed were a threat if they couldn't be controlled.

The memory of fallen comrades and the recent defeat at the jaws of a red-eyed crocodile sparked fury. They had lost over a thousand troops in just a few skirmishes - a level of sacrifice not even the Russians would dare.

The leader's earlier joy had evaporated. "No need for caution, just leave them breathing."

Fingers danced over the keyboard, and new orders were dispatched.

The programming updated, and what was a one-on-one confrontation turned into a mob attack, completely disregarding any semblance of fair play. The octuplets unleashed their full combat prowess. They knew every fighting style from around the world; Australian martial arts was child's play to them. Their movements were textbook perfect, almost like a circus act.

But it was the numbers that were overwhelming. Against their imprable defenses, Stella's tricks were failing. She was thrown to the ground with such force she could taste the iron tang of blood in her throat.

As they pounced to finish her off, complying with their directive to leave her with a "breath," they understood the command quite literally - just enough breath for one more gasp.

Stella, cornered and desperate, absorbed them into Arcadia.

She planned to bomb them into oblivion once Arcadia ejected them. But why weren't they being kicked out?

Confused, she probed with her consciousness.

They were sitting in her living room, their programming malfunctioning without an enemy to target - they were completely baffled.

Stella realized, with a jolt, that Arcadia hadn't ejected them because they weren't human. Despite their human-like appearance, they remained Al- driven robots.

Needing program control, they were effectively offline in Arcadia, cut off from theirwork like a game without an inte connection.

But considering their advanced Al, Stella didn't want to take any chances with Arcadia. She quickly transferred them into a shipping container in The Garden. Thick walls and external locks should keep them contained, at least for a while.

Stella had bought herself some time, but Jasper was still in grave danger.

These machines were flawlessly designed.

She dashed to his aid, engaging the robots in combat while simultaneously capturing them.

The last two robots sensed the trap and tried to flee, but it was too late.

Stella cast her, scooping up the robots along with the rebar, and chucked them into the Arcadia container.

Both of them were battered and bruised, exchanging worried but relieved glances. These enemies were formidable - if not for their superpowers, they would have been goners.

"Does it hurt?" Jasper wiped the blood from her lip, guilt-ridden. "I should have protected you better."

Not wanting to worry him, Stella forced a smile through the pain. "I'm fine. What about you?"

Jasper felt as though his bones were falling apart. "I'm fine too."

Stella teased him. "Looks like someone finally managed to knock you down."

Jasper retorted, "Well, they're not you."

The control room observers,

watching the display of affection

between the two, were shocked and

infuriated. Their latest Al combat

machines, a secret military project, were now in enemy hands.

The leader, unwilling to accept defeat, commanded, "Deploy all personnel. Take no prisoners."

The idea of sending all three thousand troops for just two individuals seemed insane to the others.

"Big brother, deploying everyone for just two people? And they only came for Snowflake. Why not return the wolf to them?"

"Yeah, bro, let's just make peace, like we would with the Russians..."

But as the leader witnessed the control room's defenses crumble and his bioengineered bats outmaneuvered, his patience snapped. "Bang! Bang!"

The dissidents fell, each with a bullet hole in the forehead.

The leader coolly blew the smoke from his pistol, turning to the remaining three. "Any objections?"

One of them responded quickly, "No, big brother. I'm on it."

Unaware of the drama unfolding, Stella was determined not to leave the base standing.

She scattered hand grenades as she walked, igniting the oxygenated air with trails of gasoline.

Explosions rocked the facility, turning it into an inferno.

Stella, driven by a vengeful rage, forced them out of hiding.

And out they came, armed and relentless.

As the troops surged forward, Stella didn't back down. When

machine-gun fire erupted, she didn't dodge; instead, a bulletproof steel barrier materialized, shielding them from the onslaught. Content belongs

Seeing their evasion, the Base Team members swarmed in a mad rush, hoping to capture the two alive. But in the blink of an eye, they all vanished.

The next moment, they were booted out by Arcadia, not a single one missed.

Had they been kicked to the ground, it might have been better, but Stella faced the roaring inferno, and they were all kicked straight into the fiery hell.

"Arghhh..."

The screams went on without end.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Wherever Stella went, bloodshed followed in abundance, turning the place into a veritable hell on earth.