One piece: Without a system, I have to survive!

The battlefield was set.

Me, Selene, Shira, and Smoker—standing together against Admiral Zephyr.

The air was thick with tension. The wreckage of the dock smoldered behind us, waves crashing against the ruins.

Zephyr rolled his massive metal arm, the sound of gears clicking into place echoing through the silent battlefield. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp.

"You should have run when you had the chance," he said.

Smoker exhaled a puff of smoke. "You talk too much, old man."

Then—

The battle began.

⚔🔥🔥🔥

Zephyr vanished.

In the blink of an eye, he was behind Selene.

Her eyes widened.

"Too slow."

BOOM!

Zephyr's punch slammed into her, sending her flying across the battlefield.

I barely had time to react before he was already moving toward me.

Damn it! He's too fast!

I barely raised my arms in time—

CRACK!

His mechanical fist collided with my guard, the sheer force sending shockwaves through my bones.

I was launched backward, tumbling across the wreckage.

Pain exploded through my body.

But I forced myself up.

Shira leaped toward him, her katana flashing through the air.

Zephyr caught the blade with his bare hand.

"What?!" Shira's eyes widened.

Zephyr's grip tightened.

Then—

CRACK!

Her sword snapped in half.

Before she could react, Zephyr's knee slammed into her stomach, sending her crashing into the debris.

I gritted my teeth.

We can't win this.

Even with all of us attacking at once, we couldn't land a solid hit on him.

But we couldn't back down now.

🔥🔥🔥

"Smoker! Any plans?!" I shouted.

Smoker clicked his tongue. "Yeah. Don't die."

"Helpful!"

But before I could complain, he launched himself forward, his body turning into smoke.

"White Blow!"

Smoker's massive smoke fist shot toward Zephyr.

Zephyr simply raised his metal arm—

BOOM!

The impact shook the entire battlefield, but when the dust cleared—

Zephyr was still standing.

Unharmed.

Smoker's expression darkened.

"...That's not good."

Zephyr sighed. "Enough playing around."

Then—

He activated his ultimate technique.

His mechanical arm began to glow, energy surging through the metal. The air around him distorted from the sheer power.

"Battle Smasher: MAXIMUM DRIVE."

My heart dropped.

This was it.

We had seconds before he wiped us out.

I clenched my fists. Think, Ardan. THINK!

Then it hit me.

A desperate plan.

A suicidal gamble.

But it was our only chance.

I looked at the others.

"We're going all in," I said. "Follow my lead!"

They nodded. No hesitation.

Zephyr's attack was ready.

I took a deep breath—

And charged forward.