Chapter 90: A Gamble with the Dinobots
"To be fair, let's use the oldest method from Cybertron to decide who goes first, alright? What do you say, Starscream?"
Seeing Starscream's apparent enthusiasm, the two Dinobot warriors didn't suspect a thing. They simply assumed that having one more ally meant greater strength. Although the ordinary mechanical beasts around them were no match for any of them, conserving energy was still wise especially if they were to encounter the Fallen or his subordinates later.
"No problem let's decide the prey with PEM points!"
It was a game similar to "rock, paper, scissors." Sometimes, when Transformers needed to settle decisions, they released electromagnetic pulses into the air from a fixed point. Whoever produced the strongest pulse would win the right to go first, as the power of the pulse was directly proportional to the Transformer's combat strength.
As expected, the results were unsurprising: the Dinobot with the highest score was Sludge, the Thunder Dragon, followed by Dart, the Pteranodon, while our dear Starscream's overall power was clearly far below that of his two mighty allies.
"Hahaha, Mr. Starscream! It seems your system is a bit more advanced than ours, but your Fire Seed and Origin Power are pitifully weak. Still, I admire your courage for competing with us, the Dinobot Army! Even your leader, Megatron, once hesitated to challenge our commander Grimlock!"
The outcome was predictable, and the Dinobots were pleased. But even so, the contest had clear rules. Even if they earned the right to attack first, if neither Dinobot could defeat the target within three turns, the next participant would immediately take over.
If none of the three managed to take down the enemy, the cycle would repeat in order until someone emerged victorious.
Though Starscream appeared to be at a disadvantage, was that really the case? Perhaps it was all part of his plan.
"Hahaha! Enough talk let me go first! But keep an eye on the surroundings; this could be a trap. After all, the Fallen isn't someone who plays by ordinary rules!"
Facing the enormous, agile mechanical feline, Muddy launched his attack immediately in full dinosaur form. His first move was to channel all his massive strength into his two front limbs and slam them hard into the ground.
BOOM!
The impact carried the force of hundreds of tons, shaking the supposedly solid floor violently and splitting it with visible cracks.
If you were unlucky enough to face such a monster on the battlefield, you'd likely lose your footing instantly.
Yet the saber-toothed tiger remained unharmed. With a powerful whip of its tail and a leap backward, it dodged the quake with perfect timing, showing an almost flawless sensitivity to ground vibrations.
"ROAR!"
After evading the devastating strike, the tiger's metallic eyes gleamed arrogantly as it roared in defiance. A clear provocation.
"You miserable piece of scrap! I'll burn you to ashes!"
Infuriated by the mockery, the Thunder Dragon opened its massive jaws each over six meters wide and unleashed a blazing torrent of fire straight at the feline's face.
At such close range barely ten meters apart the flames hit almost instantly, catching the saber-tooth completely off guard. However, whether due to its fire-resistant metallic body or a calculated defense, the mechanical tiger, though scorched, could still move nimbly.
A flaming ball of metal rolled backward several meters, tumbling before springing back to its feet. The once gleaming blue-green armor now smoked and reeked of burnt steel. The saber-tooth had clearly realized the terrifying power of the mechanical dinosaurs.
"Hrrrraaa!"
With a desperate cry, the seemingly invincible saber-tooth suddenly turned tail and ran. Unfortunately for Muddy, even with his massive limbs, he couldn't match the feline's incredible speed.
"Flying Dart, I'll leave this one to you!"
Realizing the prey was escaping, Muddy quickly called for his partner. The mechanical pterosaur, already in full transformation mode, screeched and dove from above.
"Clever little cat! But judging from what I've seen, I'd say you're afraid of fire, aren't you?"
Although the saber-tooth darted left and right at blinding speed, it couldn't outmaneuver the aerial assault. The pterosaur soared over the fleeing beast and spat another stream of scorching flames.
Perhaps due to lingering animal instincts, the mechanical saber-tooth clearly feared fire its movements turned frantic, and soon its entire body was blackened with soot. Once again, it rolled across the ground to extinguish the flames.
Though its body appeared battered and dirty, the saber-tooth's internal systems remained intact. Its movements were still swift and coordinated, a testament to its remarkable endurance.
But Dart wasn't about to make the same mistake his partner had. As the tiger rolled on the ground, the flying pterosaur dove sharply, extending two massive, razor-sharp claws toward the creature's waist.
That spot whether on a mechanical being or a biological one was a critical weak point. A strike there wouldn't necessarily destroy the body outright, but it could immobilize the target completely.
(End of Chapter)
I invite you to read my new fanfic about Fullmetal Alchemist. It's 100% my own work, I hope you like it.
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Under the Law of Equivalence
https://www.webnovel.com/book/34562609200143405